Oklahoma News
Oklahoma parents, faith leaders drop lawsuit over Catholic charter school: An Oklahoma County lawsuit challenging a Catholic charter school has been dropped following the school's failed appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court's 4-4 stalemate upheld an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision against permitting the country's first religious charter school to begin operating in the state with taxpayer funds. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Taxpayer challenge to Catholic charter school proposal ended after U.S. Supreme Court ruling [Tulsa World]
- St. Isidore lawsuit in Oklahoma County court to be dropped following SCOTUS decision [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma St. Isidore lawsuit dropped in light of spring SCOTUS ruling [StateImpact via KGOU]
Restaurants at five Oklahoma state parks to reopen following contract dispute resolution: Restaurants at five Oklahoma parks are set to reopen Tuesday after the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation recently suspended operations in the midst of a contract dispute. The agency and vendor, the Lookout Kitchen, on Monday reached a conditional agreement to reopen the restaurants at Beavers Bend, Lake Murray, Robbers Cave, Roman Nose and Quartz Mountain state parks, the agency said in a press release. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma state park restaurants set to reopen as Lookout Kitchen repays money owed [KOSU]
Heartland Flyer to continue operations for another year, long-term funding remains uncertain: The passenger rail line connecting Oklahoma City to Dallas-Fort Worth has secured the funding it needs to continue operations — but only for the next year. [KGOU]
State Government News
Lawmaker, Oklahoma Policy Institute weigh in on Ryan Walter's school lunch mandate: State Superintendent Ryan Walters is requiring all school districts to pay for all student meals with money currently in their budgets. Several school districts have since responded by saying the way they allocate their funding is dictated by state law. We spoke with Shiloh Kantz, the Oklahoma Policy Institute Executive Director. [News on 6]
- Catoosa Public Schools questions state mandate to fund student lunches [News 9]
Ryan Walters appeals order to pay journalists' attorneys fees in First Amendment suit: State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters and his former spokesman are appealing a federal judge's order that they pay attorneys who successfully represented Oklahoma City television station KFOR in a First Amendment lawsuit more than $170,000 in legal fees. [The Oklahoman]
Former Oklahoma agency head prohibited from working for state, under settlement agreement: A former Oklahoma agency head and Cabinet secretary will pay a $20,000 fine and is prohibited from holding public office for two years for violating state ethics rules, according to the terms of a settlement agreement made public Monday. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Ethics Commission, Shelley Zumwalt agree on complaint settlement [The Journal Record]
- Former Oklahoma agency head barred from office for 2 years, fined $20,000 in ethics violation settlement [KOSU]
Federal Government News
Tax cuts take effect before spending cuts in 'One Big Beautiful Bill': Key parts of President Donald Trump's massive "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" will take effect at different times. Core to the bill, which Trump signed into law on the Fourth of July, is the permanent extension of his 2017 tax cuts that had been slated to end this year. That law changed tax rates across income brackets, and now the changes will carry forward beyond this year. [The National News Desk]
24 states sue Trump admin to unfreeze more than $6 billion in education grants: A coalition of 24 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration on Monday over the administration's decision to freeze more than $6 billion in federal education grants for K-12 schools and adult education. The move comes two weeks after the Trump administration first notified states that it was withholding the previously approved funds. [NPR]
FEMA Cuts Sink Norman's Automated Flood Warning Plan: The city of Norman was prepared to build an automatic flood warning system this year, the same kind of early warning system that Kerr County, Texas, could have used to help save lives during the deadly floods over the July Fourth weekend. But in April, the Trump administration said it was ending the wasteful and ineffective program that would have paid for it. [Oklahoma Watch]
Tribal Nations News
DA, sheriff want tribe's jurisdiction lawsuit paused as Supreme Court mulls similar case: Tulsa County officials have asked a judge to halt court proceedings in a jurisdictional challenge filed by the Muscogee Nation while the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether it wants to take up a similar case involving Gov. Kevin Stitt's brother. [Tulsa World]
13 Democratic Members of Congress Push to Restore Report on MMIP Crisis: Thirteen Democratic lawmakers are calling on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to reinstate the Not Invisible Act Commission Report on its website. The report, which contained vital findings and recommendations regarding the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis, was unexpectedly removed following the implementation of a recent executive order—effectively erasing years of essential research and community testimony. [Native News Online]
Choctaw Nation: Henry, Mabray win council seats, constitutional amendments fall short despite support: A provision in the Choctaw Nation Constitution requiring changes to receive support totaling at least 51 percent of all votes cast in the tribe's last chief election prevented five amendments from passing Saturday, even though each received more than 84 percent support from the more than 10,100 citizens who cast ballots. [NonDoc]
Seminole Nation chief, assistant chief races go to runoff: Amid a decrease in voter turnout, the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma races for chief and assistant chief are heading to an Aug. 9 runoff election, according to Saturday's unofficial election results released by the tribe. In its 2021 election cycle, the Seminole Nation saw record turnout, collecting 1,712 votes in the race for chief. This weekend, however, only 1,069 people voted in the chief race, a 37.6 percent decrease in turnout. [NonDoc]
Education News
State board calls for investigative audit of Epic Charter School: While pointing to mismanagement as the cause of mass layoffs and program cuts at Epic Charter School, state officials agreed Monday to hire an accounting firm to investigate further and recommend corrective action. [Oklahoma Voice]
- State board orders investigation into Epic Charter Schools' finances after mass layoffs [Tulsa World]
- Statewide Charter School Board to hire outside auditor to investigate Epic Charter Schools [The Oklahoman]
Broken Arrow, Owasso school leaders share funding freeze impact: For several area districts, Monday night brought the first school board meeting of the new fiscal year, as well as the first meeting since two announcements within the span of a week that could potentially upend budgets for schools across Oklahoma. [Tulsa World]
NSU social work students get extra support to help close mental health care gaps: Northeastern State University received a $2.3 million grant to support its students who are set to become social workers in rural northeast Oklahoma. The money will be distributed as stipends directly to students so they can focus on their social work during their studies. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Opinion: Hard truth? Oklahoma City is leaving your child out of our success story: Oklahoma City's future depends on ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality public school. Our community must work together to significantly increase the number of strong school options so that every student, in every neighborhood, has the opportunity to thrive. [Brent Bushey / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Measles reaches highest level in 33 years, now in 39 states: Measles cases have surpassed a recent 2019 record to reach the highest level since 1992, with at least 1,289 cases reported in 39 states. The milestone comes as health officials are increasingly alarmed by vaccine skepticism gaining a voice in the Trump administration under U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma health officials warn of measles risk in low vaccination areas [News 9]
Criminal Justice News
Trying to prevent deaths, Oklahoma County Jail installs radar first designed for outer space: Since the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority took over day-to-day operations at the county jail five years ago, the facility has seen a steady stream of detainee deaths from a variety of causes, but jail officials are hoping the tide can be turned by deploying radar technology in the coming months and years. [NonDoc]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Leader says 'nasty' opposition spurred ministry serving homeless to pull zoning application: The leader of a ministry focused on homelessness said it has withdrawn its zoning application that would have allowed it to relocate east of downtown after some neighbors "got really nasty" in their opposition. [Tulsa World]
What's behind Oklahoma's skyrocketing home insurance costs?: Oklahoma has claimed the top spot in the U.S. for the most expensive home insurance rates, with an average rate of $6,133. Homeowners in Oklahoma pay 119% more than the national average of $2,801. Lending Tree Analyst Rob Bhatt said there are many reasons for this number, but one of the main factors that insurance companies blame rate increases on is the weather that we experience, such as tornadoes, wind damage, and hailstorms. [News 9]
Oklahoma launches improved website for filing unemployment claims: Unemployed Oklahomans may have an easier way to file for benefits after the state launched an improved website to submit their claims. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) launched a new claimant portal that is expected to reduce the time spent filing a claim. It's also designed to be more secure, more intuitive to navigate and easy to use on mobile devices, OESC said. [The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
OKC has a long history with the aerospace industry, and it's still growing: A new survey released by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber reports the aerospace industry is a leading contributor to the local economy generating $8.98 billion annually in goods and services and supporting more than 80,200 jobs. [The Oklahoman]
Big Energy Companies at Forefront of State Emissions Rebates: Some of the state's largest energy companies are at the front of the line for a $50 million state incentive to upgrade oil and gas equipment. The fund to limit methane emissions established under a Biden administration rule is now under review by the Trump administration. [Oklahoma Watch]
An oil spill 33 years ago has led to a new groundwater restriction in OKC. What happened?: In 1992, a hydrocarbon spill occurred at the Phillips 66 Oklahoma City Products Terminal at 4700 NE 10, at the north edge of the Del City limits. The pollution recently bubbled to the surface of the public record, although the extent of the spill, and the kind of petroleum product it was, could not be determined. [The Oklahoman]
Fed manufacturing survey offers a glimmer of optimism: Manufacturing activity in Oklahoma and surrounding states continues to lag, but there is a growing sense of optimism that the economic environment will improve over the next six months, according to a June survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. [The Journal Record]
Data center vote is Wednesday: Here's what you need to know: A proposal to build a massive new data center complex in unincorporated Tulsa County near Owasso had been sailing along toward approval until last week's Tulsa County commissioners meeting. Commissioners last week postponed a vote to approve a zoning change for "Project Clydesdale" after county residents pleaded for more time to gather additional information about the proposed center. [Tulsa World]
Grocery store closures in small Oklahoma towns potentially leave 85 employees jobless: Four grocery stores in small Oklahoma towns are closing on Aug. 16, potentially leaving 85 employees without jobs and communities scrambling to provide support. The closures include United Supermarkets in Kingfisher, Discount Foods in Ponca City and Homeland stores in Jay and Pauls Valley. Homeland Acquisition Corp. cited financial and operational factors as the reason. [KOCO]
- 4 Oklahoma grocery stores slated to close next month [KOSU]
Local Headlines
- Bartlesville boil order lifted after later E. coli tests come up negative [Tulsa World]
- Tulsans push back on Reworld's plan to burn medical waste [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- McKinley Park could be getting some big upgrades: What to know about bond up for council approval [The Oklahoman]
- New $1 billion Oklahoma City arena will open with a new name with end of Paycom deal [The Oklahoman]
- New Edmond City Hall debuts with first City Council meeting [The Journal Record]
- League of Women Voters to host 'Civic Conversations' on federal changes affecting Stillwater [Stillwater News Press]
