State Government News
Gov. Stitt says Oklahoma won't 'stand by' amid shutdown, orders review of federal funding: Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt has ordered leaders of state agencies to review their federal funding streams and plan how they can continue to serve Oklahomans amid the federal government shutdown. [The Oklahoman]
Legislative sports betting gridlock costing Oklahoma millions in revenue: Oklahoma is losing out on millions in sports betting revenue to other states and illegal operators, a Senate panel was told Thursday. Sports betting is legal in 39 states, creates about 2 million jobs and has about a $325 billion dollar impact, said Frank Sizemore, who is with the Sports Betting Alliance, which is made up of five companies. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Lawmakers kick off new round of talks on sports betting with eye on tribal compacts [Tulsa World]
Up against a deadline, dozens of marijuana growers sue the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics: Dozens of marijuana growers have filed lawsuits alleging unfair treatment by the state's drug enforcement agency. The conflict stems from a state law that requires growers to obtain a certificate of occupancy, a document submitted to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics that proves any structures comply with building safety and fire codes. While many growers tried to comply with the law, the requirement created a backlog that delayed certificates from being issued. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: New state superintendent, 'No Kings' rally, 2028 Summer Olympics and more: The panel talk about moves by new State Superintendent Lindel Fields to undo initiatives championed by his predecessor, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission files a lawsuit against Oklahoma City Democratic Representative Ajay Pittman and state lawmakers investigating the use of automated license plate readers. The trio also discusses the "No Kings" rallies held in Oklahoma and OKC joining the city of Los Angeles in recognizing 1,000 days until the 2028 Summer Olympics. [KOSU]
Opinion, Seiling Public Schools Superintendent: A long-term vision — and wind energy development — have helped our schools: Across western Oklahoma, advanced energy projects have brought stability and opportunity to rural communities. In places like Garfield and Dewey counties, these additional revenues have allowed schools to move "off the formula," directing those state funds to other districts, while also providing the ability for our school to fulfill immediate needs. [Dr. Kyle Reynolds / The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Shutdown on day 22 sets record as second-longest in US history, with no sign of a deal: The government shutdown became the second longest in U.S. history Wednesday, though the mounting repercussions for dozens of federal programs, including food aid for some of the country's most vulnerable residents, failed to spur any momentum in Congress. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma farm groups raise alarm over Trump's plan for more beef imports: The Trump Administration mentioned it's cooking up a plan to import more Argentinian beef to bring prices down. But local and national farm groups say the plan would harm American producers. [KOSU]
- 'A slap in the face': Ranchers feel betrayed by Trump's plan to buy Argentine beef [NPR via KOSU]
Education Department layoffs illegally burden students with disabilities, advocates say: Proposed mass layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education have raised alarm among disability advocates and Democratic lawmakers over the potential impact on millions of students with disabilities. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
MCN Okmulke District runoff: Lowe, Harjo offer different Freedmen perspectives: Ahead of their runoff election for the Okmulke District "B" seat on the Muscogee National Council, incumbent Nelson Harjo Sr. and challenger William Lowe both say they are running to strengthen sovereignty and improve communication among branches of the government, but they take slightly different stances on what has become a controversial topic: a recent court decision determining the descendants of Muscogee Freedmen should be entitled to tribal citizenship. [NonDoc]
Choctaw Film Festival launches this weekend in southeast Oklahoma. Here's what you need to know: Choctaw Nation District 9 Elders put their heads together to create an event that shows their stories on the big screen — and this weekend they'll get to see the idea they've worked on for a year finally come to fruition. What they came up with is the Choctaw Film Festival, which takes place all day Saturday in Calera at no cost to all attendees. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma woman faces felony charge for voter fraud: The Oklahoma Multi-County Grand Jury indicted a woman Thursday, accusing her of casting multiple ballots in the November 2024 general election. According to the Oklahoma State Election Board, 31-year-old Victoria Vincenza Dill allegedly voted in person in Oklahoma County while also submitting an absentee ballot in Payne County on the same day. [KFOR]
Education News
Oklahoma State Board of Education approves $4 billion budget request: A $4 billion budget request for Oklahoma public education flew through the state's top school on Thursday and continues to the state Legislature for consideration. If lawmakers approve the request for the 2027 fiscal year, it would represent a mostly flat budget compared to current funding levels, with only a $23.7 million spending increase caused by the rising cost of public educators' insurance premiums. The only cut is an expiring $50,000 expense to purchase a curriculum on the Civil Rights Movement. [Oklahoma Voice]
- After rejecting Walters' proposal, Oklahoma state education board approves new $4B budget [The Oklahoman]
- Stitt's newly appointed state superintendent tackles $4B annual education budget request [Tulsa World]
State Board of Education to 'reset' accreditation process, review social studies standards: The Oklahoma State Board of Education opted not to act on the accreditation status of 14 school districts during a meeting today owing to concerns that other districts' details "may have been altered" and "tainted" under former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters' administration. [NonDoc]
- New Oklahoma state superintendent expects 'changes' to controversial social studies standards [Oklahoma Voice]
- Walters-backed social studies standards will likely be changed, says Oklahoma schools chief [The Oklahoman]
- Ryan Walters' controversial social studies standards could be overhauled under successor [Tulsa World]
- Changes could be headed to Walters' controversial social studies standards [KFOR]
- OSDE board reviews budget, teacher retention, and literacy initiatives [News 9]
- Legislature looks to reinstitute mandatory retention for third grade reading scores [Tulsa World]
Higher education leaders ask Oklahoma Legislature to increase budget by millions: The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education on Thursday unanimously approved a request for an additional $426 million from the state Legislature for next budget year. Regents said they will need hundreds of millions more on top of their over $1 billion current legislative allocation for deferred maintenance, workforce development programs and research projects. [Oklahoma Voice]
Protest planned at TU as unproven rumor of new president spreads: Students at the University of Tulsa have taken to a large group chat to organize a campus demonstration set for Thursday afternoon. The goal of the demonstration is to convince the university's leadership not to tap U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern for the school's top job. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Opinion: Oklahoma schools finally catch a breath of fresh air: This week's crisp fall temperatures weren't just a meteorological event. They also registered Oklahoma's collective exhale, nearly a month after state Superintendent Ryan Walters' resignation. [Arnold Hamilton / The Journal Record]
Health News
AG Drummond presses for answers in failed managed Medicaid care in Oklahoma: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is pressing for answers regarding the failed managed Medicaid care in Oklahoma, also known as SoonerCare. Drummond is insisting that the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) provide answers in a letter sent detailing that the program's community-based providers, who care for Oklahoma kids, are being squeezed financially while out-of-state corporations profit. [KFOR]
Opinion: Mental health funding cuts will reshape Oklahoma's social, economic landscape: Imagine a single mother in Durant, fighting opioid addiction, losing her weekly counseling sessions — her lifeline to sobriety and supporting her children — overnight. As of Oct. 1, this is the grim reality for thousands of Oklahomans, as the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) has slashed over 300 contracts, cutting $40 million in funding for community-based providers. These cuts stem from a $43 million budget deficit, a crisis born from the agency's fiscal mismanagement, leaving providers and patients to bear the consequences. [Dorothy McKinnon / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Oklahoma faces mental health crisis. We need a professional, not political, leader: It's time to take politics out of how we appoint our state's top mental health leader. For most of the year, public debates about the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse have focused on investigations into mismanagement and irresponsible spending practices by its previous leaders. Meanwhile, our state loses more than 800 lives to suicide annually, one of the highest rates in the nation. And drug overdose rates across the state more than doubled from 2019 to 2023. [Zack Stoycoff / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
OKC Police Are Withholding Reports, Alarming Transparency Advocates: A 2023 policy change is allowing Oklahoma City police to shield some police reports from public view. In February, Oklahoma Watch filed a public records request with the Oklahoma City Police Department to gather information about a Yukon teacher confronted by vigilante predator-catchers at his home. The public information officer refused to provide police reports involving people who were not arrested or charged with a crime, even though incident reports have long been considered public records, regardless of arrest. [Oklahoma Watch]
New DUI law set to go into effect November 1: A major change in Oklahoma's drunk driving law goes into effect on November 1 and it could mean felony charges even for first time DUI offenders. Under Senate Bill 54, signed into law earlier this year after a legislative veto override, first-offense DUIs in Oklahoma will carry much steeper penalties if specific aggravating factors are involved. [Fox 23]
Convicted teen rapist skips prison time; deal sparks outcry in Stillwater: Outrage has erupted in this college community an hour north of Oklahoma City after a high school student who faced years of incarceration for sexual offenses against two victims was instead sentenced to rehabilitation and community service. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Oklahoma ranks among the worst states for domestic violence; we must do better: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and it gives us an opportunity to confront one of the hardest truths about our state: Oklahoma continues to rank among the highest in the nation for domestic violence. That reality is more than numbers on a page; it represents spouses, parents, children, friends, colleagues and neighbors whose lives have been devastated or cut short by abuse. [State Rep. Erick Harris / The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Tulsa food pantries brace for a surge in need with looming SNAP cuts. This is how you can help: Tulsa's charitable organizations are preparing for a vast increase in need as food stamps face a Nov. 1 cutoff due to the government shutdown. [Tulsa Flyer]
Tulsa County sheriff calls for treatment-first approach to dealing with homelessness: Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado, who testified Monday at an interim study on homelessness held at the Capitol, told lawmakers that he believes the state needs to become more aggressive in making treatment mandatory for people who find themselves living on the streets because of their addictions or mental health issues. [Tulsa World]
From camp to village: Tulsa organization is moving city's unhoused into affordable homes: A Tulsa nonprofit is wrapping up construction on more than two dozen homes for some of the city's unhoused residents at the 23-acre City Lights Village near 46th Street North and North Peoria Avenue. [Tulsa Flyer]
Have Oklahoma electric bills increased at a proportionally higher rate since 2020 than neighboring states?: Yes. Oklahoma residential electricity costs have increased by 33.6% since 2020, the highest percentage increase among neighboring states and above both the 30.9% and 31.7% average increases for the West South Central states and the U.S., respectively. [Oklahoma Watch]
Economy & Business News
Bank of Oklahoma and Mastercard to host Hispanic Business Growth Summit: The inaugural Empower OKC: Hispanic Business Growth Summit on Wednesday, November 12, will focus on Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurs but open to all business owners across Oklahoma, will offer practical resources, expert insights and networking opportunities to help them build, grow and scale their businesses. [The Journal Record]
Community News
ICE sign in man's front yard sparks controversy amongst neighbors: A man in Spencer is exercising his right to free speech, and his neighbors are exercising theirs in return. Tempers flared Thursday afternoon in a metro neighborhood next to a school. It is all over a sign referencing ICE, and an arrow pointing to a Hispanic family's home. [KFOR]
'Focus: Black Oklahoma': book bans, budget cuts, Indigenous community wellness (audio): This episode of Focus: Black Oklahoma features stories on the impact of book bans on student learning opportunities, how budget cuts affect students with special needs and people with multiple sclerosis, and a nonprofit promoting wellness in Indigenous communities through growing and cooking food. [KOSU]
Opinion: Free Speech Is Fading. Diversity May Be Its Only Lifeline: Free speech in America is in crisis. Nearly nine in ten Americans say the principle means listening to people we disagree with. Yet almost seven in ten believe the nation is heading in the wrong direction when it comes to protecting that freedom. This gap is more than a polling anomaly; it's a warning sign that the cornerstone of our democracy is crumbling. [James S. Bridgeforth, Ph.D. and Emma Roshioru / The Black Wall Street Times]
Local Headlines
- State education department moves 3 Sperry High School staff members from suspension to probation [Fox 23]
- OSU Police share update on shooting near residential hall [Fox 23]
