Oklahoma News
Oklahoma man and family members executed in Syria, officials say: An Oklahoman man and several of his family members were killed in Syria last week in executions that were broadcast over social media amid a wave of sectarian attacks in the country, according to U.S. officials. [The Oklahoman]
- Top US officials looking for answers in death of Oklahoman in Syria, Sen. Lankford says [KOCO]
- Oklahoma Christian University alum, family members, murdered in Syria [KFOR]
- US lawmakers speak out after Oklahoma man killed in Syria [KTEN]
State Government News
Oklahoma Education Department official resigned over 'fundamental' issues in the agency: Chief Compliance Officer Kourtney Heard resigned from the Education Department on April 4. Her resignation letter, which Oklahoma Voice obtained, alleges significant challenges, including manipulation of school accreditation, are hindering the Education Department from achieving better outcomes for students. [Oklahoma Voice]
State Superintendent Walters asks Oklahoma Supreme Court to lift stay on school Bible purchases: Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters filed a motion with the State Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking the court to lift a stay that pauses the purchase of Bibles for the upcoming school year. [KFOR]
As Oklahoma wants to ban junk foods from SNAP, federal changes loom: While Oklahoma is looking to restrict candy and soft drinks from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, the federal government is making changes of its own through President Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill Act. The state's waiver has not been approved yet, but federal changes would impact its rollout. [KOSU]
- Gap in federal spending for the hungry is not easily replaced, Oklahoma food bank CEO says [The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
House ending session early as Republicans clash over Epstein vote: House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, instead sending members home early for a month-long break from Washington after the week's legislative agenda was upended by Republican members who are clamoring for a vote. [AP via Public Radio Tulsa]
'One big, beautiful' law provision on Planned Parenthood funding partly blocked by judge: A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Monday, blocking a provision in Republicans' "big, beautiful" law that would have barred Medicaid funding from going to Planned Parenthood for one year. [Oklahoma Voice]
Postal workers union asks Oklahomans to contact Congress, oppose USPS privatization in new ad: Ads from the American Postal Workers Union will be playing on Oklahoma and Iowa stations beginning this week warning about a federal proposal to privatize the U.S. Postal Service, the union announced Monday. [Oklahoma Voice]
Would the 2026 NOAA budget proposal close the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman?: Yes. Proposed cuts in NOAA's 2026 budget eliminate Oceanic and Atmospheric Research as a line office and terminate both the NSSL in Norman and the University of Oklahoma's Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research. [Oklahoma Watch]
Public stations in Oklahoma hit hard by $1.1B federal funding cut: Public broadcasting stations in the Oklahoma City metro are trying to mitigate the loss of vital funding after Congress clawed back $1.1 billion in a rescission package earlier this month. [The Journal Record]
- Oklahoma's public radio, TV stations make plans for life after losing federal funding [The Oklahoman]
Confidence in Social Security waning as program nears 90th anniversary: Nearly 9 in 10 Americans ages 50 and older say they rely on Social Security for their income or plan to, while 78% of all adults worry it won't provide enough to live on in retirement, research released Tuesday by AARP reveals. [The Journal Record]
Military bases in New Jersey and Indiana will be expanded to detain immigrants: The Department of Homeland Security is preparing to use military bases in New Jersey and Indiana to detain immigrants who entered the country illegally, as well as to increase the number of immigrants detained at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, according to correspondence between DHS and the Pentagon obtained by NPR. [NPR via KOSU]
Opinion: President Reagan established National Immigrants Day. It should be celebrated: Need a holiday from anti-immigrant rants? I suggest Oklahomans observe National Immigrants Day on Oct. 28. If you're surprised to learn this is on the calendar, you'll be more surprised to learn it was Republican President Ronald Reagan who put it there in 1987, famously saying, "More than any other country, our strength comes from our own immigrant heritage and our capacity to welcome those from other lands." [Mary Kay Zuravleff / The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Missing, Murdered Native American Cases Delayed as Police Struggle to Work Together: Chaos, apathy and uncooperative interagency behavior are not uncommon in missing or murdered Native cases. That's according to Karrisa Newkirk, president and founder of Missing Murdered Indigenous Women Oklahoma, who said it can be difficult to get law enforcement at any level across the state involved, even in violent emergencies. [Oklahoma Watch]
Uriah Grass, Janis Dearman emphasize cultural preservation in Cherokee Nation District 4 runoff: As no candidate secured a majority of votes in the June 7 general election, Uriah Grass and Janis Dearman will appear in a July 26 runoff election for the open District 4 seat on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. [NonDoc]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma recreational marijuana petition to begin signature collection despite uncertainty: Recreational marijuana supporters are moving forward with an effort to get it on the ballot, despite uncertainty about the constitutionality of a new law that slaps more regulations on the process. [Oklahoma Voice]
Education News
Oklahoma will partner with online school focused on 'American principles', Walters says: State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters says the taxpayer-funded agency he runs, the Oklahoma State Department of Education, is partnering with an Arizona-based online private school to teach Oklahoma children. Walters, a politically far-right Republican, said on Tuesday, July 22, that the school, the American Virtual Academy, "is focused on promoting American principles rather than pushing a liberal agenda that has proven to be anti-American, antisemitic and anti-family." [The Oklahoman]
- American Virtual Academy, new conservative online school, comes to Oklahoma [KOCO]
- Charter school run by group Walters partnered OSDE with faces shutdown in Arizona over failing grades [KFOR]
New Oklahoma law bans cell phones in schools: What to know before fall semester begins: School boards across Oklahoma are implementing new policies to limit student cell phone use, following the passage of a new state law. The law requires public school districts to restrict student cell phone use during the school day ― from "bell to bell" — for the 2025-26 school year. [The Oklahoman]
Are Bibles really required in Oklahoma public schools?: State Superintendent Ryan Walters says every Oklahoma classroom must have a Bible — and that Bibles will be distributed to schools this fall. Here's where things stand and how we got here. [News 9]
First Watch: Stuff You Should Know: After a lot of reading of instructional texts meant for students from first grade to high schoolers in Advanced Placement classes, we found three things: some gave the new standards an apathetic nod, some ignored the hot-button requirements, and some decided they didn't want to do business with Oklahoma. [Oklahoma Watch]
Health News
Tuberculosis case prompts Tulsa Health Department investigation: Tulsa Public Schools has shared information about a tuberculosis investigation underway at the Tulsa Health Department, with potential exposures at McLain High School. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma's gun suicide crisis rising fastest in rural white communities: TW: This article contains graphic details about suicide. A new study reveals Oklahoma's rising suicide rate is impacting rural, white men the most, thanks largely to the state's loose gun laws. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Criminal Justice News
Former judge's attorney now claims Drummond violated second verbal agreement by speaking to News 4: The attorney representing a former Oklahoma judge accused in a drive-by shooting now claims Oklahoma's Attorney General violated a verbal agreement by speaking to News 4 about an ongoing dispute with the case. The attorney claims to have proof that the two had an agreement, but says he doesn't want to share it right now. [KFOR]
More holes poked in Oklahoma County jail budget claims; why it hasn't been flat after all: First, an Oklahoma County jail trustee called out jail administration for an "absolute lie" in a news release falsely claiming the jail would be broke by the end of this month. Now, another official has taken it to task over budget numbers. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Oklahoma lawmaker looks to address youth homelessness: Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, was one of 24 legislators and legislative staff selected for the 2025 National Conference of State Legislatures Youth Homelessness Fellows Program. The Frontier sat down with Pae to talk about what he's learned so far and what his goals are for addressing youth homelessness in Oklahoma. [The Frontier]
Long Story Short: Oklahoma Has Nation's Highest Average Homeowners Insurance Premiums (podcast): JC Hallman explores the reasons behind soaring insurance rates, while Jake Ramsey examines the link between childhood evictions and chronic absenteeism. Anna Kramer reports on the White House's shutdown of the flood warning system in Norman. [Oklahoma Watch]
Economy & Business News
What Oklahoma assets could be sold by oil and gas producer ConocoPhillips?: U.S. oil and gas producer ConocoPhillips is in advanced talks to sell assets in Oklahoma to privately owned Stone Ridge Energy for around $1.3 billion, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. [Reuters via The Oklahoman]
Community News
U.S. Air Force Band to perform at four Oklahoma venues: Oklahomans have several upcoming opportunities to see the U.S. Air Force Band of the West. The concert band will be stopping at four locations in Oklahoma and two in the Texas panhandle, performing their August 2025 tour. [The Journal Record]
'A foot in both worlds:' The surprising similarities between Pope Leo XIV and Blessed Stanley Rother: Given the similarities between the two men, what are the chances that the new pontiff will become interested in Rother's story and his place along the path to sainthood? [The Oklahoman]
Studies say Oklahoma is 'boring' with a low quality of life. Do Oklahomans agree?: Two recent reports, which criticized Oklahoma's quality of life and levels of excitement, caught our readers' attention. Needless to say, Oklahomans are proud (and vocal) about all the good things happening in our state. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Ascension St. John first in Tulsa to achieve highest trauma care designation [Tulsa World]
- Two accept $500,000 offer from city of Tulsa to end discrimination lawsuit [Tulsa World]
- South Tulsa residents have questions about Vista Shadow Mountain's planned reopening [Tulsa World]
- Norman City Council discusses plans for new neighborhood on Griffin Memorial campus [KGOU]
