Oklahoma News
Former death row inmate alleges Oklahoma AG entered into agreement to set him free: A man who faced execution nine times and had his conviction vacated by the U.S. Supreme Court is asking a judge to enforce what he says is an agreement between him and the state's attorney general that could set him free immediately. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Richard Glossip's defense team seeks release amid disputed plea deal [KOCO]
- Emails Reveal Oklahoma Attorney General Agreed to Release Richard Glossip [The Intercept]
- Richard Glossip asks judge to free him because of 2023 deal in his murder-for-hire case [The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma Death Penalty Tracker
Meet the woman watching over Oklahoma's children and families amid major federal cuts: "We're kind of like the canary in the coal mine," Annette Jacobi says about her agency, the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY). Her 30-member staff is on the alert for problems in the state agencies responsible for the welfare of the state's young people, and certainly they can see trouble ahead. [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Oklahoma Supreme Court stays new business courts, weighs constitutionality after oral arguments: A new law to create a pair of so-called business courts would violate a section of the state constitution prescribing the election of district court judges, attorney Bob Burke claimed during oral arguments to the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday. [NonDoc]
Three seek Tulsa County district judge appointment: Three candidates for a vacant Tulsa County District Court position have been forwarded by the Judicial Nominating Commission to Gov. Kevin Stitt for a final decision. The three were the only ones who applied to succeed Associate District Judge Clifford Smith, who retired. [Tulsa World]
Federal Government News
Education Department in the middle of a growing tug-of-war between Trump, Democrats: The U.S. Department of Education has emerged as central in the struggle over control of the power of the purse in the nation's capital. Democrats in Congress are pushing back hard on the Trump administration's freeze of $6.8 billion in funds for after-school programs and more at public schools, some of which open their doors a few weeks from now. [Oklahoma Voice]
GOP members of US Senate protest Trump freeze of $6.8B in school funding: Republican members of the U.S. Senate called on Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought in a letter Wednesday to release the $6.8 billion in funds for K-12 schools that the Trump administration is withholding. [Oklahoma Voice]
Education Watch: Supreme Court clears Trump's path to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education: The Supreme Court this week cleared the way for the Trump Administration to dismantle the federal Department of Education by firing more than 1,000 workers. The justices blocked a lower court order issued in May that required the Department of Education to reinstate nearly 1,400 employees and prohibited the government from moving student loans and special needs programs to other agencies. [Oklahoma Watch]
Senate approves cuts to NPR, PBS and foreign aid programs: The Senate has approved the Trump administration's $9 billion rescission package aimed at clawing back money already allocated for public radio and television — a major step toward winding down nearly six decades of federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. [NPR]
- US Senate Republicans advance bill stripping funds from NPR, PBS, foreign aid [Oklahoma Voice]
- PBS/NPR funding at risk as Senate votes on cuts package [Gaylord News]
- Opinion: Taking back public broadcasting funds is about politics, not content [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Bipartisan support helps foundations avoid tax increase in new Trump legislation: Two Republican senators and a broad bipartisan coalition of funders and nonprofits prevented a 600% increase in taxes levied on the endowments of the largest private foundations as part of President Donald Trump's the tax and spending legislation. [Associated Press]
Trump directive could bar some immigrants from accessing education, health services: President Donald Trump's administration announced restrictions for immigrants lacking permanent legal status from accessing certain education and health-related federal programs in a directive last week. [KOSU]
Medicaid rule rollbacks could leave millions without coverage: A provision in the sweeping Republican-backed "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" is poised to change how millions of Americans stay enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, and it's already taking effect. The new law repeals two key federal rules finalized under the Biden administration: one that allowed states to automatically renew coverage for people who had previously verified income and asset information (such as from SNAP or SSI), and another that streamlined enrollment for people with no reported income. [KOCO]
Federal disaster aid is uncertain for states even as Texas floods underscore need: With hurricane and wildfire season well underway across much of the country, state and local emergency managers say they have little idea how much support the federal government will provide if disaster strikes. And the recent deadly floods in Texas have shown just how dire the need can be. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: If we want safer, stronger communities, Congress must save the block grant program: First enacted in 1974 under the leadership of Republican President Gerald Ford, CDBG returns tax dollars back to local communities and gives local leaders ― the people with the best knowledge as to what is needed ― the flexible federal funds to invest in what works: housing, public safety, child and senior services, infrastructure, and economic development programs. [David Holt and Andrew Ginther / The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Magistrate judge in Bobby Barrick case: Tribal citizens have 'fewer constitutional civil rights protections': In the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Magistrate Judge Gerald L. Jackson has recommended that a lawsuit brought by the widow of Bobby Barrick be dismissed, finding that three law enforcement officers "were acting under tribal authority" when they allegedly tased and struck the Choctaw Nation citizen who had been detained by others at a closed gas station. [NonDoc]
Native American radio stations part of funding deal as US Senate takes up cuts to NPR, PBS: The U.S. Senate on Wednesday began debating changes to a bill that will cancel $9 billion in previously approved spending on public broadcasting and foreign aid — but with a deal for grants to some Native American radio stations that may help offset cuts to public media. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma oil and gas regulator dismisses environmental authority of Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes: After the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes established their Environmental Protection Commission, they asserted environmental oversight over their lands. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is intervening. [KOSU]
Choctaw Nation constitutional amendment fails: Changes to Choctaw Nation's constitution will not go into effect despite receiving overwhelming support from voters. In order for them to be approved, they would have had to receive 51% of the total number of qualified votes in the last Chief's election. Each of the five amendments failed to meet that threshold, including one that had been criticized by Choctaw Freedmen. [KOSU]
Comanche Nation closing assisted living center: The Comanche nation is closing its assisted living center, the Edith Kassanavoid Gordon Assisted Living Center. The decision to close the center, 1001 SE 36th, came from the Comanche Business Committee before the tribe's general election in April of this year, according to Comanche Nation Chairman Forrest Tahdooahnippah. He said the decision was made due to the tribe's declining revenue. [The Lawton Constitution]
Education News
Opinion: Ryan Walters wants free school lunches for all. Do Oklahoman readers agree?: Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters is demanding that all Oklahoma students get free lunches, saying local districts have plenty of money. The Oklahoman surveyed its readers for their opinions, and a strong majority were opposed to the superintendent's order. [William C. Wertz / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
OK County jail trustee demands apology over false press release on jail funds: The false alarm − a press release from the Oklahoma County jail trust falsely claiming the jail would be flat broke by the end of this month − was a "catastrophic blunder" and an "absolute lie" that "undermines the credibility" of jail leadership and the public trust itself, a trustee complained. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma County Courthouse is down to one working elevator. What if it goes down, too?: If the only working elevator in the Oklahoma County Courthouse goes down − down as in kaput − before the others are repaired, the courthouse will have to be closed and much county business brought to a halt.Even judicial proceedings would grind to a stop because the 70-year-old building would be out of compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. [The Oklahoman]
Black mayors are reducing violent crime across the nation: As efforts to address recent gun violence in Tulsa continue, a preview of Mayor Monroe Nichols' long-term plans appears to be on display in at least three other cities with Black mayors where violent crime is dropping. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Suspected puppy mill shut down, hundreds of Maltese dogs rescued from 'cruel' conditions: A social media post from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said many reports came in over the weekend about the "suspected puppy mill" in Stroud. Skiatook Paws & Claws Animal Rescue and Oklahoma Westie Rescue called for Oklahomans to make a plea to local law enforcement to close down Add Love Pets, a breeding facility and pet store that the Skiatook rescue said has been criticized for years. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Data Ties Childhood Evictions to Chronic Absenteeism in Schools: Students in Oklahoma experience housing instability at a higher percentage than the national average. That contributes to the state's chronic absenteeism rates, with evictions being linked to a decrease in school attendance. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahomans can apply for assistance to keep their homes cool this summer: Oklahomans who meet certain income requirements can now apply for assistance paying their electricity bill. It's part of a program that aims to keep air conditioners humming during summer's hottest months. [KOSU]
Economy & Business News
Tinker AFB looking to add 1,000 jobs with purchase of 131 acres for expansion: Tinker Air Force Base is looking at adding 1,000 new jobs with the $24.5 million purchase of 131 acres for expansion of its B-21 bomber campus. The purchase, which closed on June 23, followed several years of negotiations that required congressional and presidential approval along with a review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Oklahoma City mayor reveals new Thunder arena [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma City unveils new NBA arena design [KOSU]
- Mayor Holt tackles bond vote, homelessness in annual State of the City address [The Oklahoman]
- Tulsa Food Not Bombs supplies mutual aid no strings attached [The Black Wall Street Times]
- County commissioners OK zoning change for data center near Owasso [Tulsa World]
- Another youth curfew has been imposed in Green Country. What factors will determine success? [Public Radio Tulsa]
