Oklahoma News
Oklahoma's Housing Paradox: Vacant Units Everywhere, Affordable Ones Nowhere: Data from the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency's Housing Needs Assessment shows the state has more than 220,000 vacant housing units, including nearly 39,000 listed as available for rent. But that number masks a more complicated reality. The issue isn't how many units exist. It's whether they can be rented. The gap between what it costs to build housing and what renters can afford has widened to the point that many projects never get off the ground. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson is resigning: Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson is resigning and will leave office seven months after a Norman woman he worked with accused him of sexual misconduct. [The Oklahoman]
- Embattled Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson resigns [NonDoc]
State Government News
They're here': Bill seeks to protect Oklahoma ratepayers from data centers, other large energy users: With data centers already in Oklahoma — and more on the way — legislation intended to protect residential ratepayers from bearing the brunt of infrastructure costs for large-load electric use is sailing through the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. [NonDoc]
Oklahoma lawmakers could change how prisoners get medical parole: Lawmakers are considering whether to streamline the process to release people with serious health problems from Oklahoma prisons. Senate Bill 1255 would the allow the chief medical officer of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to submit cases for medical parole directly to the Pardon and Parole Board, which makes the ultimate decision on who is granted release. [The Oklahoman]
Stitt executive order calls for analysis of Oklahoma public schools' 'spending efficiency': Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an executive order Friday calling for a comprehensive analysis of public school spending around the state. [KOSU]
- Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt orders review of public education spending [The Oklahoman]
- Stitt issues executive order for deep dive into state's education finances [Tulsa World]
Legislative Roundup
- Oklahoma Legislature expects busy week ahead of Thursday deadline [Tulsa World]
- Bill would require Oklahoma to participate in federal summer nutrition program [Tulsa World]
- Week 8: Something big brewing [Monday Minute / NonDoc]
Opinion: Stitt education funding review won't help without stable plan: On the surface, Gov. Kevin Stitt's executive order reviewing education funding sounds like a step in that direction. Transparency is a good thing. No one should argue with that. But transparency alone doesn't teach a child to read. This kind of review would have been more meaningful several years ago when the Oklahoma State Department of Education was in turmoil. [Former Rep. Mark McBride / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Oklahoma Republicans want to curtail our political power. When will they see resistance is growing?: Consider this: State Question 836, which the Oklahoma secretary of state said fell short of the needed signatures to make it onto a statewide ballot, could be one of the last times voters here have a legitimate opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to even consider a ballot initiative. That's because Republican lawmakers continue their crusade to curtail everyday Oklahomans' ability to participate in the democratic process. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
Trump's tariffs were ruled illegal. Where's the refund of $166 billion — plus interest?: Weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's emergency tariffs as illegal, an army of small business owners are unsure if they'll be made whole after a year of increasing costs and uncertainty. [Oklahoma Voice]
Education Department to transfer management of defaulted student loans to Treasury: The U.S. Treasury Department will take over the Department of Education's responsibility for collecting on defaulted federal student loan debt, President Donald Trump's administration announced Thursday. [Oklahoma Voice]
US Senate tees up final vote on Mullin confirmation to lead Homeland Security: The U.S. Senate voted Sunday to advance Oklahoma GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin's nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security. The 54-37 procedural vote sets up a final vote on Mullin's confirmation as early as Monday. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Markwayne Mullin, the 'hardest worker,' takes on toughest job yet at DHS [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and His Likely Senate Appointee to Meet With Trump on Sunday [NOTUS]
- Oklahoma's Mullin closer to DHS Secretary confirmation, Tulsa energy executive expected to fill seat [KOSU]
- Mullin may get final Senate vote Monday; new name in replacement rumor mill [Tulsa World]
- D.C. Digest: Few Republicans publicly back Paul in dispute with Mullin [Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma voters facing deadlines for upcoming election cycle: The deadline is approaching for voters to change party affiliations. March 31 is the deadline for registered voters to change parties or designate as an independent. May 22 is the cutoff date for first-time voters to register to participate in upcoming primaries, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board. [Oklahoma Voice]
Education News
Tulsa Public Schools bond proposal includes $104.7 million for technology, cybersecurity investments: Proposition No. 3 of TPS' five-year, four-part $609 million bond proposal would include $104.7 million for technology needs, including $68.3 million to refresh and replace laptops and other classroom devices used by teachers and students. [Tulsa World]
Health News
Drop in opioid overdose deaths nears 50% since 2023: Since their peak less than three years ago, opioid overdose deaths dropped nearly by half as of October, according to a Stateline analysis. The drop comes as a shrinking fentanyl supply has made the drug weaker and less deadly and volunteer efforts get more people into treatment. Oklahoma has seen its number of deaths drop by nearly 36%. [Oklahoma Voice]
Snapshot: Mental Health: Local reporters are exploring how people experience the mental health system, the barriers many face when trying to access care and the programs working to close those gaps. The reporting highlights both the challenges within Oklahoma's mental health safety net and the community-driven solutions being developed to support people in need. [Tulsa Flyer]
- 'Just pray about it': Black Tulsans move to break social stigma surrounding mental health [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- New avenues are opening for Black Tulsans to seek mental health treatment [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- Her dad was deported when she was a toddler. Today's ICE enforcement brings back the trauma. [La Semana via Tulsa Flyer]
- 'Menace of joy': LGBTQ+ Tulsans face increasing anti-trans rhetoric and mental health crisis [Tulsa Flyer]
- Oklahoma has one of the highest suicide rates in the country. 988 is here to help [Tulsa Flyer]
- Letter from the editor: Why we decided to explore Oklahoma's mental health crisis [Tulsa Flyer]
Opinion, Hospital CEO: Medicaid expansion has stabilized rural hospitals in Oklahoma: If Medicaid expansion were weakened or repealed, Wagoner Community Hospital could lose more than $3.5 million in Medicaid funding that today helps support patient care and sustain hospital operations. For a rural hospital, losses of that magnitude can determine whether services are maintained, reduced, or eventually eliminated. [Jimmy Leopard / Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Records request shows lack of transparency about Oklahoma City license plate reader use: A public records request by a citizen journalist has revealed that Oklahoma City lacks transparency rules for automatic license plate readers. [KOSU]
How millions raised for Black Lives Matter OKC ended up in one woman's bank account: In the weeks after George Floyd's murder, national bail funds routed millions to a small Oklahoma City protest group. A federal indictment now alleges the Rev. T. Sheri Dickerson spent donations on houses and travel. The charges come as progressive groups face increased scrutiny under the Trump Administration. [The Frontier]
Lexington prison guard charged with sexual assault of inmate: A now-former guard at a prison south of Norman is accused of raping an inmate after grooming him for weeks. [The Oklahoman]
Midwest, Del City leaders oppose county sales tax to fund new jail: A coalition of city leaders in Oklahoma County are banding together to oppose a proposed sales tax increase meant to fund replacing the county jail. [The Oklahoman]
Public safety commissioner, council chairwoman propose City of Tulsa public safety advisory board: The mayor's public safety commissioner and the chairwoman of the City Council are proposing to establish a Public Safety Community Advisory Board with the hope of having it in place by July 1. [Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
The pay gap between women and men widened last year, analysis finds: The earnings gap between men and women slightly widened last year, according to a new analysis published Thursday. The Economic Policy Institute calculated women last year earned 18.6% less than men per hour on average. That's up slightly from 2024, when the wage gap narrowed slightly to 18%. [Oklahoma Voice]
Inola aluminum smelter environmental concerns: Hear from a company official, local opponents: Emirates Global Aluminium, the company planning a $4 billion aluminum smelter at the Port of Inola, wants to alleviate environmental concerns. Meanwhile, organizers of a Facebook group called Stop the Inola Smelter wants answers. [Tulsa World]
Community News
Two Goldsby firefighters, including longtime Oklahoman journalist, killed in tanker crash: Two Goldsby volunteer firefighters died early Friday, March 20, while responding to a structure fire in McClain County, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has confirmed. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma's last synagogue outside its two biggest cities has closed, but the legacy continues: What's known as Oklahoma's last Jewish temple outside of its two largest cities has closed its doors. For about 60 years, Temple Emanuel was the home of Ponca City's Jewish congregation. Now, its last member has been clearing it out. [KOSU]
'Focus: Black Oklahoma': Enid's Hispanic community, Turning Point USA in Tulsa, menopause (audio): This episode of Focus: Black Oklahoma features stories on immigration fears and concerns in Enid's Hispanic community, the new Turning Point USA chapter at the University of Tulsa and one woman's journey with menopause. [KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective]
