State Government News
Bridging gaps: What four Native state officials had to say about their roles, identities: The Oklahoman spoke with four Native people who serve the state as lawmakers or advisers. Their tribal nations were all affected by the McGirt decision. Here's what the four had to say about how they view their roles and how their identities influence their work. [The Oklahoman]
Lawmakers push back on decision to pull highway patrol from urban areas: 'There has to be a better way': Two Oklahoma lawmakers are questioning the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's decision to withdraw resources from urban areas later this year. [The Oklahoman]
- Drunken driving, highway crashes are top concerns as OHP withdraws from Tulsa, OKC [Tulsa World]
Drummond calls for over $100 million in penalties in chicken waste lawsuit: Attorney General Gentner Drummond has proposed penalties totaling over $100 million for poultry companies found to be liable for causing degradation of the Illinois River and Lake Tenkiller water quality. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma Ethics Commission settles with former agency head, opens new investigation on lawmaker: The Oklahoma Ethics Commission approved a formal investigation into a state representative's financial records and settled a case with the former head of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation on Thursday. [KOSU]
- Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission under ethics investigation [Tulsa World]
Before you go hunting in Oklahoma, see these new laws on permits, foraging: The state Legislature passed about a handful of new laws that affect hunting, fishing and even foraging for nuts and fungi. [The Oklahoman]
Roundup: More money on tap for OKC water line breaks, DAs and DOJ start settlement talks: In a move to stem a flood of water main breaks, the City of OKC is flushing its pipe replacement plans with cash. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters has claimed yet another legal victory, this time in federal court against a former State Department of Education employee who was suing him for wrongful termination. [NonDoc]
Capitol Insider: State of Oklahoma revenues show slight increase in last 12 months: The state's new fiscal year began July 1st, so we now have a full view of the state's tax revenue for the just completed 2025 fiscal year. What those numbers tell us. [KGOU]
Opinion: Ryan Walters' free food stunt begs the question: Is he Oklahoma's biggest class clown: I can't figure out which character Ryan Walters is playing. Is he the kid who sits in the back of the classroom, quietly sowing chaos by chunking nasty spitballs at his classmates and blaming someone else when he gets in trouble? Or is Oklahoma's Republican state superintendent merely a well-intentioned but bumbling public official who hasn't got a clue about how things actually work? [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
- Critic says arguing merits of Walters' controversial ideas gives them unearned legitimacy [KFOR]
Federal Government News
States scramble to shield hospitals from GOP Medicaid cuts: The giant tax and spending bill President Donald Trump signed into law over the weekend includes the biggest health care spending cuts in U.S. history. In response, states are scrambling to shield their hospitals from the looming loss of hundreds of millions in federal funding. Indiana and Oklahoma considered bills this session to create grant programs for rural hospitals. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Hospitals across nation brace for Medicaid cuts under 'big, beautiful' law [The Hill]
- Think You're Safe From Medicaid Cuts. Your State Health Care Program May Not Be [Investopedia]
Medicaid cuts will be tough for people with disabilities, local agency says: Proposed federal Medicaid cuts could significantly impact hundreds of Oklahomans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, according to officials at A New Leaf, a nonprofit based in Owasso. [Public Radio Tulsa]
ICE tactics under fire as its clout swells: With the imminent arrival of a significant hike in federal funding, thanks to the July 4 enactment of the "big, beautiful bill," and the high court's ruling last month that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can swiftly deport migrants to locations outside their native countries, the administration promises a far larger ICE force as its tactics draw scrutiny. [The Hill]
- Americans have grown markedly more positive toward immigration over the past year, with the share wanting immigration reduced dropping from 55% in 2024 to 30% today. At the same time, a record-high 79% of U.S. adults say immigration is a good thing for the country. [Gallup]
Head Start will no longer enroll undocumented children, Trump administration says: Undocumented children will no longer qualify for federally funded preschool through the Head Start program under a major policy shift the Trump administration announced Thursday. Federal officials said the change would take effect as soon as it is published in the Federal Register. It has not been published, but has been submitted, the Trump administration said. [Chalkbeat]
New national school voucher program included in 'big, beautiful' law, with no cap on cost: A national private school voucher program is now law, though the school choice initiative comes with a huge caveat. States also choose — whether or not to participate. [Oklahoma Voice]
A controversial amendment cut from Trump's tax bill is to be reintroduced: At the last minute, an amendment forcing federal agencies to sell public lands got dropped from President Trump's tax and spending bill. Utah Senator Mike Lee is expected to reintroduce the controversial measure soon. He says the federal government owns too much land and at least some of it should be used to build housing. And that's teeing up a fight. [NPR]
Opinion: Oklahoma congressmen disappoint constituent wanting voice heard: We have seen the chaos and felt the pain since tariff and spending powers were ceded to the executive branch. Which legislative powers will Congress surrender next? How much uncertainty, poor decision-making and instability can our system bear? Congress, if you stand for anything, please stand for democracy. [Theresa Kaiser / Tulsa World]
Editorial: Our Congressional delegation should be home to explain themselves: Here's what should happen this time of year, especially after the passing of a federal law that changes so many things. We should all have a town hall on our calendars to go to with our members of Congress so we can hear them out, ask some questions and have a discussion about what life will look like in this new "One Big, Beautiful" world they have created for us. But as of this writing, nothing like that is scheduled. [Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
High court says no tax exemption for tribal citizens: On July 1, the Oklahoma Supreme Court rejected an attempt to exempt tribal citizens living and working within their own reservations from personal state income taxes. The 6-3 opinion supported the Oklahoma Tax Commission's fall 2022 decision that Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen Alicia Stroble is subject to state income taxation. [ICT]
Rematches set for 2025 Muscogee council elections: On the eve of the five-year anniversary of the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision that acknowledged its reservation's existence, the Muscogee Nation's election board announced that 18 full citizens filed to run for one of the eight "B" seats during the 2025 Muscogee National Council election cycle. [NonDoc]
Voting and Election News
IRS Rule Change Clears Way for Pulpit Endorsements: Last Monday, July 7, the IRS stated in a court filing that churches and other houses of worship may endorse political candidates to their congregants without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status. The decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed by two Texas churches and the National Religious Broadcasters Association. [Oklahoma Watch]
A racist campaign message caused ire among Oklahoma Democrats. But it wasn't real, it was AI: A recording began circulating of a voice, claiming to be state Rep. John Waldron, making inflammatory racial remarks about his opponent for Democratic Party chair. Evidence suggests the voice was actually generated by artificial intelligence. Who was behind the recording, and for what purposes, is still unknown. But the flash controversy points to what experts warn is a growing threat in Oklahoma and across the nation as AI becomes an increasingly easy tool to spread political disinformation and influence elections through lifelike audio and video clips. [The Oklahoman]
- AI poses threats of discrimination and violations of civil liberties, ACLU says [Oklahoma Voice]
Elon Musk says he'll launch the 'America Party.' Can he get candidates on the ballot: If the world's richest man seriously pursues his goal of standing up what he calls the America Party, he will have to navigate a patchwork of state-level requirements to get his party and its candidates on general election ballots across the country. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Elections are for the American people, not political parties: Who are elections for: the American people or political parties? The Constitution begins with "We the People of the United States." Elections are for the American people. That's what a movement in Oklahoma is seeking to restore. State Question 836 would change state elections to a unified ballot, also called a top-two primary election or open ballot. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Education News
Walters, Oklahoma districts dispute claims of free meal affordability: Disagreement between Oklahoma's top education official and public school leaders continued this week over whether districts are well-funded enough to afford free cafeteria meals for all students. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma school districts say Ryan Walters' claim they have millions to fund meals is untrue [The Oklahoman]
- Districts targeted by Ryan Walters over 'surplus' funds push back on inaccuracies [Tulsa World]
- School districts say Walters' claims of massive budget surpluses are verifiably false, damaging to public education [KFOR]
- Fact-checking Ryan Walters' claims on school lunch funding in Oklahoma [News 9]
- A State Chief's Order to Schools: Provide Free Meals for All—With No New Funding [Education Week]
PragerU, Oklahoma collaborate on teacher assessment to curb perceived leftist influence: If you're moving from a more progressive state, before you step up to the white board in Oklahoma, you're going to have to prove you're committed to providing an 'America first' education. [Fox 25]
- Oklahoma's proposed 'America First Assessment' for teachers draws mixed reactions [KOCO]
- Oklahoma Mocked as Teachers Set to Undergo 'America First' Screening to Obtain License: 'Trying to Uphold That 49th Out of 50th in Education' [The Latin Times]
Former Trump education official files complaint over 'discriminatory' TU programs: A former U.S. Department of Education official under President Trump filed a civil rights complaint Tuesday against the University of Tulsa, alleging discrimination based on race and gender. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Opinion: It's time to rethink summer break and invest in youth when school is out: Since 1976, Youth At Heart has been showing up for Tulsa youth and families — year after year, season after season. And every summer, we come back to the same problem: School's out. But life isn't. Last year, 31 community partners served more than 6,000 kids, This year, many of those programs have been downsized or disappeared altogether. Families are back to piecing together care like it's a group project and no one's replying to the group text. [Sara Framel / Tulsa World]
Opinion: Oklahoma doubled free school meal access. No child deserves to go hungry: Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a federal program that helps schools in high poverty areas serve meals to all students at no cost to their families. It is a crucial program that makes our food safety net effective. It helps schools, kids, teachers and families. Oklahoma's success shows how well it can work, especially when using the Medicaid option to reach more students who need help. But there's more to do. [Chris Bernard / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Opinion: Why childhood immunizations matter to protect Oklahomans: While most children receive their recommended vaccinations, there are still some gaps in Oklahoma that we can all share the burden in closing. Our state is ranked 48th in the nation for overall vaccinations and second-to-last for childhood immunizations, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. [Stephania Grober / Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Anti-government group leader, now in Oklahoma, says group takes credit for News 9 radar sabotage: A man who, years ago, became convinced a child sex-trafficking ring was operating at an abandoned cement plant in Tucson has moved to Oklahoma and found a new target: radar systems he believes the military and media use to control the weather. [The Oklahoman]
Suspect in cellmate's death allegedly supplied drugs that killed Oklahoma County jail inmate: A 35-year-old woman is accused of first-degree murder after allegedly supplying the drugs that killed her cellmate in March at the Oklahoma County Detention Center. [The Oklahoman]
Lawton correctional center to be renamed in new chapter at facility: The Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC) announced plans to rename the Lawton Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility to the Red Rock Correctional Center. This change will take effect on July 25, coinciding with the state's acquisition and operational takeover of the last privately operated facility in Oklahoma. [Fox 25]
Economy & Business News
Midwest farm economies suffered while some Sun Belt states kept rolling in early 2025: Global clashes and trade wars hammered Midwestern states' agricultural economies early this year, while a continuing boom in Southeastern states' housing and tech jobs kept their economies humming along. Oklahoma's annualized GDP declined by 1.58 percent from the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2025. [Oklahoma Voice]
Community News
Opinion: A renewed spirit of optimism about race relations in Tulsa: The Black Wall Street Legacy Festival and the announcement of the Greenwood Trust — a historic milestone aimed at bringing restoration and reparation to families and communities impacted by the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre — can help reverse the trend of hopelessness about racial equality and begin to inspire a renewed spirit of optimism about race relations. [Leroy Gatlin/ Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- New study ranks Oklahoma City among the top 15 for city management [The Oklahoman]
- OKC once again looking to tear down 1937 jail and police headquarters [The Oklahoman]
- Three major library projects may be up for a vote in OKC. Here's what they are [The Oklahoman]
- Two Homeland stores closing leave Oklahoma towns without a location [The Oklahoman]
- New $70 million retail development coming to Broken Arrow to include top retailers [Tulsa World]
