State Government News
DA's request for OSBI to help sheriff investigate Ryan Walters' TV sparks confusion: The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office says District Attorney Vicki Behenna did not speak with Sheriff Tommie Johnson III before Behenna formally requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to assist the sheriff's office's investigation into whether a television in state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters' office displayed images of naked women during a board meeting. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma County Sheriff 'surprised' by DA's request for OSBI to assist in Ryan Walters investigation [News 9]
- Investigators: Walters' TV could stream explicit content, what actually played still unclear [KFOR]
- Investigations continue week after allegations of nude images shown on Ryan Walters' office TV [KOCO]
- In Depth: Cybersecurity firm releases preliminary report for investigation into Supt. Walters' TV [Fox 23]
- Digital forensics firm releases report on Ryan Walters TV [News 9]
Calls to impeach Ryan Walters resurface: Is it possible? How impeachment works in Oklahoma: An investigation is ongoing after two Oklahoma State Board of Education members said they saw images of naked women on a TV screen in the office of Oklahoma's top education official, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. [The Oklahoman]
Tipton defends OHP plan to redirect troopers from metros to rural areas: Politicians and law enforcement leaders in Tulsa and the Oklahoma City metro area have expressed irritation about Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Tipton's decision to transfer "primary call responsibility" on traffic incidents to local law enforcement agencies, but the Department of Public Safety leader says shifting Highway Patrol troopers to ensure 24/7 coverage across the rest of Oklahoma's interstate system will address a long-time problem exacerbated by increasing traffic. [NonDoc]
State employee upset at mandate, says there is not enough office space: The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is requiring employees to return to the office. The first day back is Monday, but an employee there who wants to remain anonymous says, not only is there not enough space in the building for all of the workers, it isn't safe either. [KFOR]
Gov. Kevin Stitt issues Pro-Life Executive Order: Thursday, Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an Executive Order that will direct state agencies to cease all public funding for any individual or organization affiliated with abortion providers. [News 9] | [Read the executive order]
Poultry companies argue they should not have to pay Oklahoma for water pollution: Oklahoma is still tussling with several Arkansas-based poultry companies about how to deal with pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. [KOSU]
- Poultry industry blasts AG's proposed fines in Illinois River pollution lawsuit [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma Arts Council budget cuts are showing up at Capitol, unfilled positions: Despite her agency finally winding up with a budget for the new fiscal year that's essentially flat, Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples said visitors to the state Capitol will see blank walls in some places that would normally showcase eye-catching works by Sooner State artists. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma's annual back-to-school sales tax holiday kicks off Friday: Oklahoma's back-to-school sales tax holiday begins Friday and runs through the weekend. Clothing and shoes under $100 are exempt from taxes during the annual three-day event. The state reimburses cities and counties for lost revenue. [Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
U.S. Reps. Tom Cole and Frank Lucas spoke to several Oklahomans this week. Here's how it went: The state's two most veteran U.S. representatives are meeting with Oklahomans to discuss their work in Congress, including the freshly signed budget reconciliation bill that has been at the center of controversy since its introduction. [The Oklahoman]
New federal school voucher program poses a quandary for states: Opt in or opt out?: When President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, he gave state leaders — not federal regulators — the power to decide whether and how to participate in the first-ever national tax credit scholarship program. [Oklahoma Voice]
Trump's big proposed cuts to health and education spending rebuffed by US Senate panel: The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Thursday largely rejected Trump administration proposals to slash funding for education programs, medical research grants, health initiatives and Ukraine security assistance. [Oklahoma Voice]
Half-baked' USDA relocation irritates members of both parties on US Senate Ag panel: Members of both parties on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee chastised a U.S. Department of Agriculture official Wednesday for not consulting Congress before proposing to shift thousands of jobs out of the Washington, D.C., area. [Oklahoma Voice]
'Tax on the death': OK cemetery says granite tariff costs could hurt grieving families: The director of an Oklahoma City cemetery says she's been struggling to avoid passing off tariff costs to her customers, brought on by higher prices for granite. [KFOR]
Did President Barack Obama Oversee the Jeffrey Epstein Plea Agreement as Sen. Markwayne Mullin Claimed?: No. Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, supervised by then-U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta, offered a non-prosecution agreement in July 2007, which Epstein signed in September and led to his guilty plea and incarceration in June 2008. All of that occurred while George W. Bush was president. [Oklahoma Watch]
Tribal Nations News
Why a nickel refinery is operating in southwest Oklahoma despite tribal opposition (podcast): KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Indigenous Affairs reporter Sarah Liese about her recent three-part series on Westwin Elements, a nickel refinery in southern Oklahoma. [KOSU]
Cherokee Nation opens its first Head Start with day care at MidAmerica in Pryor: On Thursday morning, officials with the Cherokee Nation and MidAmerica Industrial Park celebrated the opening of the tribe's new Pryor Child Development Center and Head Start. [Tulsa World]
Education News
Ryan Walters-backed online school denied participation in Oklahoma's private school tax credit: A conservative online private school partnering with the Oklahoma State Department of Education cannot participate in the state's Parental Choice Tax Credit program, despite its initial messaging to potential parents. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma Tax Commission denies American Virtual Academy's eligibility [KOCO]
Oklahoma's Social Studies rewrite sparks backlash: Oklahoma has officially adopted new social studies standards that require public school students to be taught about "discrepancies" in the 2020 presidential election — language critics say mirrors debunked conspiracy theories. Despite the lack of evidence supporting claims of widespread voter fraud, the state's new standards embed references that educators and parents fear could mislead students and turn classrooms into ideological battlegrounds. [The Frontier]
Oklahoma districts work to fill teaching vacancies just weeks before students return: Part of the preparation for state school districts involves making sure they are not shorthanded with teachers and staff. KOCO 5 spoke with districts across the metro about their hiring process and where they stand. [KOCO]
- Oklahoma Back-to-School Guide: What you need to know before students return to class [KOCO]
- Which Oklahoma schools already qualified for free lunches? See our statewide map [KOCO]
Ryan Walters calls Supreme Court ruling a 'D-Day Liberation' for public education: Oklahoma's superintendent of public instruction is calling the Supreme Court's recent decision a "D-Day liberation for education." The ruling allows the Trump administration to move forward with releasing nearly 1,400 employees from the U.S. Department of Education, part of a larger plan to ultimately eliminate the department and shift education authority back to the states. [Gaylord News via The Journal Record]
15 Oklahoma school districts to get funds to fight opioid addiction: In the spring, 15 school districts will be the recipients of approximately $3.7 million to address the opioid epidemic in their communities. Next month, more money will also be allotted to counties, municipalities and public trusts. [KOSU]
Opinion: Oklahoma schools have been at the forefront of immigration fights before. This time feels different: Oklahoma schools find themselves in a challenging position, suddenly caught in the middle of the Trump administration's push to deport illegal immigrants. Schools have found themselves at the forefront of immigration debates before, but this feels different. [John Thompson / Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: A scripture on hypocrisy is appropriate for Oklahoma schools chief Ryan Walters: Instead of décor, the sacred text is supposed to act as a shepherd's crook, pulling us away from danger and guiding us towards paths of righteousness. Indeed, Matthew 7:5 could have been (and still might be) helpful to State Superintendent Ryan Walters, whose relentless crusade to put the Bible in every public classroom could be interpreted as an indication of his active engagement with its contents, but that is not at all evident. [Rev. Lori Allen Walke / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Faith groups can make a big difference for a neighborhood public school: If every faith organization asked a neighborhood public school what it needs in supplies or volunteers, imagine the difference that would make. Forging this kind of relationship builds strong communities. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Health News
Opinion: My father taught me chronic disease prevention is everyone's responsibility: When we invest in prevention education and resources and support families in making sustainable lifestyle choices, we lay the foundation for lasting change. [Dr. Ashley Weedn / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Predator Hunters' Tactics Draw Fans, but Concern Police and Advocates: Oklahoma Predator Prevention is one of many predator-catching groups that proliferated across the internet since the rise of social video-sharing sites such as YouTube. In 2022, the Washington Post identified at least 160 such groups across the United States. Their tactics frustrate police efforts, and only about half their targets, some of whom are intellectually disabled, are ever charged with a crime. [Oklahoma Watch]
Family of man killed by Wilson Police officers awarded $10 million in compensation: The family of a man killed by police officers in Carter County has been awarded compensation. In 2019, Wilson Police Officers Joshua Taylor and Brandon Dingman responded to a disorderly conduct call on July 4 involving 28-year-old Jared Lakey. [News 9]
Oklahoma Attorney General requests delay for execution of Tremane Wood: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is asking a judge to push back the execution of Death Row inmate Tremane Wood. Wood was sentenced to death for the fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old during a robbery in 2001. [News 9]
Community News
Oklahoma nonprofit aims to combat financial insecurity, increase student literacy: Tens of thousands of students have received financial literacy and career readiness training through a new Oklahoma City program designed to simulate real-world experience. [Oklahoma Voice]
Local Headlines
- New OKC law requires permit, inspection to repair your roof: What homeowners need to know [The Oklahoman]
- Bar K ownership in question as rent and dog flu troubles may have contributed to closure [The Oklahoman]
- Former Sand Springs teacher accused of killing Arkansas couple [AP via Public Radio Tulsa]
- Lawton defense technology accelerator FISTA is taking off [The Journal Record]
- Crypto mining operator takes Muskogee annexation fight to court [Tulsa World]
