Oklahoma News
After food aid vanished, calls for rent help surged and some faced eviction: A temporary loss of SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown left Oklahoma families scrambling to cover rent. Thousands of calls have poured in to the Oklahoma City nonprofit Neighborhood Services Organization seeking rent assistance in the last two months. [The Frontier]
State Farm Dodged Billions in 2018 Settlement, Now Faces Fresh RICO Charges in Oklahoma: On Dec. 4, Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a petition accusing State Farm of violating ORICO, Oklahoma's version of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (1970), the so-called RICO laws that were passed to dismantle La Cosa Nostra, the Italian mafia. State Farm has been accused of racketeering before; the first time reads like something from The Godfather saga. [Oklahoma Watch]
State Government News
Frustrated by 'serious issues,' Ethics Commission could walk back Guardian 2.0, return to prior system: Amid a long-delayed database upgrade that has left the public unable to view campaign finance reporting and lobbyist activities, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission is set to consider "reinstatement or reactivation of the prior Guardian System and reengagement with Civix" during its Friday meeting. [NonDoc]
- Campaign site still offline. Will state scrap new site, return to old? [The Oklahoman]
Reductions to Oklahoma child care subsidies to remain: Reductions to a child care subsidy program will remain in place for now despite a lawsuit from an advocacy group challenging the legality, an Oklahoma County judge said. [Oklahoma Voice]
Early Oklahoma bills focus on protecting taxpayers, investing in schools and excluding immigrants: Bill filing for Oklahoma's 2026 legislative session began in earnest early this month, and more than 100 new laws have already been proposed. The deadline to introduce measures is Jan. 15 at 4 p.m, so there is still plenty of time for lawmakers to file what normally ends up being thousands of bills. [KOSU]
Ajay Pittman denies fraud allegations, Anastasia Pittman seeks paper shredder for 'surgery recovery': As the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office continues to investigate her campaign finances, Rep. Ajay Pittman has responded to the civil lawsuit filed against her and has shared an Amazon "surgery recovery gift list" requesting a paper shredder and more than 100 other items for her mother, a fellow elected official whose Microsoft account is alleged to have fabricated a letter supporting her daughter's case. [NonDoc]
Oklahoma History Center running out of room, seeks upgrade: The Oklahoma History Center is running out of space to store the many artifacts, photographs and art pieces in its collection, an Oklahoma Historical Society executive told state lawmakers this week. [The Journal Record]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Social studies standards, independent voters, OG&E projects approved and more (podcast): The panel talks about State Supreme Court ending controversial social studies standards, a new group forms to represent Oklahoma independent voters as they are getting left out of all political primaries for at least the next two years and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission allows OG&E to move forward with $506 million in new projects. The trio also discusses Attorney General Gentner Drummond getting out of a lawsuit against ClassWallet and Gov. Kevin Stitt criticizing President Trump's efforts to halt wind projects. [KOSU]
Opinion, State Auditor Cindy Byrd: My legal duties are often misunderstood: A recent guest column from Vance Winningham, urging that the attorney general investigate a funding scandal at Oklahoma State University, incorrectly stated that the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector's Office [SA&I] had conducted the audit of OSU, and had to be corrected. Sadly, this columnist's error is just one drop in an ocean of misinformation about my office. [Cindy Byrd / The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Judges hear case on requiring immigrants without legal status to register and carry documents: A panel of appellate judges seemed skeptical during Thursday oral arguments that the Trump administration erred in relying on a decades-old statute to require millions of noncitizens to register with the federal government and carry documentation. [Oklahoma Voice]
Trump claims he's cut energy costs. Has he?: U.S. President Donald Trump took credit during his White House speech on Wednesday night for reducing gasoline prices, increasing power generation, and boosting the coal industry. Here's a fact check. [Reuters]
Opinion: Tariffs punish small businesses, not foreign countries: I never imagined I'd be writing about tariff policy, much less how it rocks the boat of the business I've poured my life into. But I am, because not offering this particular perspective would mean pretending everything is fine when it isn't. The truth is, the recent tariffs are breaking small designers and manufacturers like mine, right here in Oklahoma City. [Colt Westbrook / The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Oklahoma AG's opinion orders wildlife officials to stop ticketing tribal citizens on reservations: Attorney General Gentner Drummond says tribal wildlife plans in Oklahoma supersede the state's on their reservations. Drummond issued a binding formal opinion Thursday, saying the state's wildlife code does not usurp tribes' sovereignty over wildlife management on their reservations. [KOSU]
- Drummond says Oklahoma can't prosecute tribal hunters on tribal land [The Oklahoman]
- Drummond legal opinion: Stitt's enforcement of state hunting laws against tribal members illegal [Tulsa World]
Education News
Oklahoma education board to rewrite social studies standards after court ruling: Oklahoma's State Board of Education is working on new social studies standards following a state Supreme Court decision that nullified the previous version due to a violation of the Open Meeting Act. [KOCO]
- Oklahoma working to replace controversial social studies standards [The Oklahoman]
- State Department of Education to develop new social studies standards after court decision [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma Board of Education tackles emergency-certified teacher issue: The Oklahoma Board of Education approved 92 emergency-certified teachers, with plans to address the high number of requests for such certifications in the upcoming year. [KOCO]
How this small Oklahoma school district became one the state's top performers: Public schools across Oklahoma are now implementing strategies Warner has been employing for years — a cellphone ban throughout the school day, frequent benchmark testing and tracking of students' individual scores. The district changed its culture and policies more than a decade ago after receiving disappointing results on state report cards. [Oklahoma Voice]
How five years and $250M of drone investments are preparing Tulsa students for takeoff: Tulsa hopes these amateur drone racers become part of its economic future. Over the last five years the region has built a $250 million runway toward becoming the "drone capital of the world." But, even with rapid expansion of opportunities and funds, Tulsa's youth need more support if the city wants to make good on its promise. [Tulsa Flyer]
Southwestern Oklahoma State University president resigns: Diana Lovell, who's been the president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford since July 2021, has resigned, effective at the end of December. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Too many Oklahoma teachers are retiring too soon: Policymakers must stop a staggering educational crisis unfolding in Oklahoma: Only 23% of teachers remain in the profession after five years. Educators throughout the state agree that this alarming rate of teacher attrition constitutes an unsustainable systemic failure that directly harms student achievement and Oklahoma's future. Teachers enter the classroom eager to facilitate student growth, but low self-efficacy and insufficient preparation often lead to "reality shock" and burnout, causing them to abandon their careers in large numbers. [Alexis Bowen / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Measles cases rise amid holiday travel: The number of measles cases is continuing to grow, reaching 1,958 confirmed cases in 43 states through Dec. 16 and threatening to undo next year the United States' status as a nation that has eradicated the disease, according to a report released Dec. 17 by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Oklahoma Voice]
Criminal Justice News
Charge dropped against Rev. Scobey; he aims to watch 'racial dynamics': A misdemeanor charge of trespassing against the Rev. Derrick Scobey has been dropped, the activist pastor said, but his arrest for refusing to leave an Edmond women's boutique after his wife, Angela, was allegedly groped by an employee has him committing to be "more involved in the fabric of the city." [The Oklahoman]
Second pastor indicted in Oklahoma over child sex accusations from 1980s: A second pastor has been indicted in Oklahoma over alleged child sex crimes in the 1980s. Joseph Lyle Campbell, 68, is a former youth pastor at the Eastland Assembly of God Church in Tulsa. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Tulsa moves 55 people into housing as it clears two more homeless encampments: Tulsa officials said Thursday the city has closed two homeless encampment sites as part of the mayor's Safe Move Tulsa initiative. So far, 55 people have been housed as part of the $10 million effort to end street homelessness by providing people with housing and services. [Tulsa Flyer]
- More homeless encampments decommissioned; 55 people now housed, city says [Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
Westwin Elements will not build a large-scale commercial facility in Lawton for now: A controversial nickel refinery project in southwest Oklahoma is stalling out. Lawton Economic Development Authority officials voted to approve a joint resolution between their agency, the City of Lawton and Comanche County Industrial Development Authority (CCIDA), acknowledging Westwin Elements' decision not to move forward with a large-scale commercial refinery in Lawton at this time. [KOSU]
OKC Chamber to focus on education, county government reform in 2026: The NBA championship city is no longer a best-kept secret but is earning national recognition as a visitor destination and is known for its quality of life and business climate. [The Journal Record]
Community News
Broken Arrow mosque moves forward in marathon planning commission meeting: Several hundred Broken Arrow residents contacted the Broken Arrow Planning Commission in no uncertain terms Thursday night they wanted it to reject two zoning changes sought by the Islamic Society of Tulsa. They were disappointed. After a five-hour meeting largely taken up with public comment from people opposed to the IST project, the commission voted 3-2 for both proposals. [Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Moore City Council proposes 1¢ sales tax increase to fund city projects [News 9]
- Wildfire risk rising across Oklahoma heading into weekend [KOSU]
