Oklahoma News
Gov. Stitt calls for state question to shut down Oklahoma medical marijuana: In his State of the State address Monday, Gov. Kevin Stitt called Oklahoma's cannabis market a threat to public safety. He pushed for the medical marijuana issue to be put on the ballot again, in hopes voters would shutter the industry. [OPMX via KGOU]
- Gov. Stitt requests referendums, denounces tribal sovereignty in final State of the State [The Journal Record]
- What would happen if Oklahoma 'shut down' medical marijuana like Gov. Stitt wants? [Tulsa World]
- Stitt calls marijuana industry 'one of the greatest threats to public safety' (video) [The Oklahoman]
- Gov. Stitt making a final push for these policies in last year as governor [The Oklahoman]
Long Story Short: Oklahoma Farmers Face Uncertain Future as Comprehensive Farm Bill Splinters (podcast): Stephen Martin provides an overview of recent developments in the Farm Bill and its specific impact on Oklahoma farmers. Jennifer Palmer's latest story digs into the latest school enrollment data for Oklahoma public schools. Ginnie Graham wrote about a projected $18 million deficit at the OU School of Community Medicine in Tulsa and how it is addressing the shortfall. [Oklahoma Watch]
State Government News
Gov. Stitt proposes flat FY 2027 budget: After Gov. Kevin Stitt's State of the State address on Monday, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services released his proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year. However, lawmakers are under no obligation to adhere to it. [The Journal Record]
Lawmakers eye long-term solutions to Oklahoma child care crisis: As Oklahoma struggles with a lack of child care options, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and advocates are looking toward long-term solutions. [Oklahoma Voice]
Legislator looking to pause development on data centers: Data centers have become a very hot topic in Oklahoma as of late. Now, one state lawmaker wants to put a pause on bringing data centers to the state. [KFOR]
Oklahoma seeks interstate designation for two more turnpikes: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority on Tuesday voted to seek interstate designations for two eastern Oklahoma turnpikes. The panel voted to designate the nearly 33-mile Creek Turnpike in south Tulsa as Interstate 644 and to designate the 52-mile Muskogee Turnpike from Tulsa to Interstate 40 near Webbers Falls as Interstate 343. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: As the Legislature begins, the 'readings' of bills are important: I told someone the other day that this time of year is when I am most optimistic for our state to see better, but that I am also highly concerned about what direction Oklahoma will go through policy. [Joe Dorman / Pauls Valley Democrat]
Federal Government News
Records: DOJ repeatedly emailed demands for Oklahoma voter data to wrong address: Public records obtained by News 4 show the U.S. Department of Justice has been demanding Oklahoma turn over confidential voter data for months, despite the state Election Board saying last week it never received a formal request, because the DOJ repeatedly sent its emails to the wrong address. [KFOR]
Trump signs funding bill, setting up immigration enforcement debate: The partial government shutdown that began this weekend ended Tuesday when President Donald Trump signed the funding package that both chambers of Congress approved within the last week. [Oklahoma Voice]
US Education Department paid up to $38M to civil rights workers on leave, watchdog says: The U.S. Department of Education exhausted millions in taxpayer dollars trying to eliminate a chunk of its Office for Civil Rights, a government watchdog found in a report released Monday. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma Episcopal bishop supports immigration enforcement statement: The Episcopal bishop of Oklahoma joined a group of more than 150 Episcopal Church bishops in calling for the nation to confront crucial questions about the dignity of all humans in the current moment of "crisis" regarding immigration enforcement. [The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Native American community responds to Gov. Stitt's remarks on tribal sovereignty: Tribal communities across Oklahoma are responding to Governor Stitt's remarks concerning tribal sovereignty in his 'State of the State' address on Monday. Tribal sovereignty is a right for Native Americans to exist and govern their own affairs, as tribes were formed long before the United States of America and the federal government even existed. [KFOR]
Stitt, ODWC sue Drummond over tribal hunting rights opinion: Not content to let Attorney General Gentner Drummond settle tribal hunting matters through an opinion, Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Department of Wildlife Conservation sued Drummond on Tuesday, asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to declare the opinion "not binding" and "advisory only." [The Journal Record]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma State Election Board releases yearly voter registration report: The Oklahoma State Election Board released its official annual report on voter registration Monday. Here is how the state electorate breaks down ahead of this year's midterms. [KOSU]
Ahead of HD 35 special election, candidates talk rural infrastructure, education, property tax: Rural interests are front and center in the race to succeed former Rep. Ty Burns in representing House District 35, which is set to conclude with a Feb. 10 general election between Republican Dillon Travis and Democrat Luke Kruse. [NonDoc]
Supreme Court: Referendum challenge to Norman arena TIF 'insufficient': The Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled against a referendum that would have allowed Norman residents to vote on a controversial tax increment financing district for the development of a new arena. While it is not immediately clear whether opponents of the project will circulate another petition to trigger a referendum election, the decision was celebrated by Norman business leaders as a green light to move forward. [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma Supreme Court clears path for Rock Creek Entertainment District construction [KGOU]
- Supreme Court clears way for Norman entertainment district, OU arena without public vote [KFOR]
Education News
Gov. Stitt's property tax freeze proposal sparks education funding concerns: Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt's recent State of the State address included a call for a State Question to freeze property tax growth. This proposal has sparked concerns among various professionals in Oklahoma. [News 9]
State lawmaker proposes new school activities organization amid Governor's calls to disband OSSAA: Senator Casey Murdock of Felt has proposed legislation that would create a new organization under state oversight to govern activities and athletics at Oklahoma secondary schools. The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association has been in charge of it for more than 100 years. [News on 6]
Oklahoma lawmaker proposes bill targeting screen time, student access: House Speaker Pro Tem Anthony Moore of Clinton has filed multiple bills aimed to improve education in the state. [KSWO]
Tulsa Public Schools board to consider resolution of lawsuit over superintendent hiring: At its next regular meeting, Tulsa Public Schools' board of education will consider a resolution regarding a 2-year-old lawsuit over the hiring of Superintendent Ebony Johnson. [Tulsa World]
Health News
Oklahoma ACA insurance premiums surge as federal subsidies expire: Oklahomans purchasing health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace are facing significant premium increases, with some plans rising by as much as 60 to 75%. [KTUL]
Nonprofit builds 'villages' of community, help for Black families: Reletta LeBlanc left the hospital after giving birth to a healthy baby, but she began to experience unsettling symptoms. Those symptoms gave way to a horrifying reality when she had a heart attack just weeks after giving birth at age 26. So when she learned about Imani's Village, a local nonprofit committed to enhancing birth outcomes for mothers and babies in the Black community, she knew she had to connect with the organization. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Oklahomans need more education about cannabis' risks: Despite its rapid expansion, the state's medical marijuana program has been lacking two very important components: physician education and public information on the side effects of cannabis. [Tessa Manning / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma County jail sees first death of 2026 as budget shortfalls continue: Jail officials say a 22-year-old man died in custody at the Oklahoma County Detention Center in January. His death is the first in more than six months, but follows in a long line of deaths at the troubled facility. [KOSU]
Illegal Oklahoma pot operation tied to China has been 'crushed,' AG says: An alleged drug "kingpin" behind a Chinese syndicate's illegal marijuana operation in Oklahoma has been captured in New York City, Attorney General Gentner Drummond has announced. [The Oklahoman]
- $1.5 billion in black market marijuana seized, Oklahoma AG says [Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Bill Would Let Churches Build Affordable Housing Without Zoning Restrictions: In Oklahoma, affordable housing is scarce, which contributes to the state having the sixth-highest eviction rate in the nation, according to the most recent available data. Catholic Charities seeks to change that with its affordable housing options. [Oklahoma Watch]
Community News
A Tulsan's guide to participating in Oklahoma's 2026 legislative session: Oklahoma lawmakers are officially back at the capitol for the 2026 legislative session, and thousands of bills are up for debate — from economic investment and education reform to data center oversight and AI regulation. From joining legislative programs to contacting lawmakers, Tulsans can get involved with this year's legislative session in a variety of ways. Here are a few options. [Tulsa Flyer]
Local Headlines
