Oklahoma News
The battle for the ballot: How Southern legislatures are trying to block economic progress by restricting access to ballot initiatives: In the few Southern states where voters can access ballot measures—Arkansas, Florida, and Oklahoma—conservative legislators are waging war against the ballot initiative process itself, attempting to obstruct the will of voters and make it permanently more difficult for the public to directly decide on policy choices. [Economic Policy Institute]
ICE's Warehouse Purchases Strip Tax Revenue From Communities: Across the country, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been purchasing warehouses for accelerating detention operations, a trend concentrated in metropolitan areas but increasingly reaching a handful of rural communities, where the loss of property tax revenue can hit far harder. Once federally owned, properties become tax-exempt, stripping income from municipalities and school districts that might rely on already-thin tax bases. [Daily Yonder]
Oklahoma School District at Center of First-in-Nation ICE Agreement Controversy Denies Signing Anything: A small Oklahoma public school district with its own police force became the first school in the nation to have an agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the agency's records. But just as quickly, the agreement disappeared from ICE's website, and school officials deny entering into it. [Oklahoma Watch]
State Government News
House advances bill barring Oklahomans who don't select party affiliation from the rolls: Oklahomans who fail to select a party affiliation would not become registered voters under a bill heading to the Senate despite concerns that it will disenfranchise thousands of voters without their knowledge. [Oklahoma Voice]
Lawmakers to consider raising parental choice tax credit cap: While literacy concerns surrounding grade school children remain top of mind for many lawmakers, some have been looking to increase the annual cap for the parental choice tax credit, allowing more families to take advantage. [The Journal Record]
Greenwood Remembrance Day petition effort withdrawn: An effort that might have resulted in Oklahoma's designation of an annual Greenwood Remembrance and Reconciliation Day apparently has stalled. Supporters of an annual observance to honor the memory of victims who died and others who suffered as a result of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre proposed a vote on a state question that would have established June 1 for annual events to memorialize the tragedy. [Tulsa World]
Session Watch: Week Seven: As the annual Sunshine Week on government transparency wraps up, a few bills are still alive at the Legislature that would improve openness in Oklahoma government. [Oklahoma Watch]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Markwayne Mullin confirmation hearing, State Question 836, Oklahoma County Jail Trust and more (podcast): The panelists talk about the confirmation hearing for Oklahoma U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security, the political fallout of Mullin's nomination and the disqualification of nearly 60,000 signatures on a state question to open primaries in Oklahoma. The trio also discusses a protective order issued against Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson and Oklahoma County taking the first steps to dissolving the trust over seeing its jail. [KOSU]
Opinion: Plan to favor private political parties fails. Good news: In recent days, Oklahomans from a wide range of backgrounds made their voices heard about HJR 1019 and the potential consequences it could have for our elections. Their engagement in the democratic process shows that residents are paying attention and are willing to stand up when they believe something could undermine the long-term interests of the people of this state. [Caedmon Brooks / The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Congress could soon be asked by Trump to come up with $200 billion for his Iran war: President Donald Trump on Thursday didn't rule out asking Congress for an additional $200 billion to cover the cost of his war in Iran, a substantial sum that will likely be difficult to move through both chambers. [Oklahoma Voice]
US Senate displays sharp divisions over SAVE voting bill demanded by Trump: U.S. senators debated Wednesday whether the federal government should change how Americans register to vote and cast a ballot, with Republicans maintaining alterations are necessary to safeguard elections and Democrats arguing a new law would add unnecessary obstacles. [Oklahoma Voice]
- If SAVE Act passes, you'll need these documents to vote in Oklahoma [The Oklahoman]
Is the government still shut down? Latest vote, updates on DHS funding debate: The government shutdown has lasted over a month, and a Senate vote on Thursday could end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown that is prolonging several TSA lines. [The Oklahoman]
Markwayne Mullin's confirmation moves on. OK leaders, activists are mixed: With Senator Markwayne Mullin's nomination as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security advancing out of committee, leaders from the political parties in his home state shared differing opinions ahead of his potential full confirmation next week. [The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Farm bill draft would permanently block return of Fort Reno to Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes: Congressional language that has blocked the transfer of federal land at historic Fort Reno for more than a decade would become permanent under provisions in the pending 2026 farm bill, raising new questions about the future of the site and long-running claims to the land by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. [NonDoc]
Tulsa's Sterlin Harjo to receive Peabody Trailblazer Award this summer: The Peabody Awards Board of Jurors recently announced director and screenwriter Sterlin Harjo is receiving the Peabody Trailblazer Award, recognizing him as an innovative storyteller who has impacted culture and effected social change. [KOSU]
Education News
'Blind trust is the opposite of oversight': Audit shows alleged embezzlement, missing funds at Varnum Schools: Varnum Public Schools is under fire from State Auditor Cindy Bird after a report released Thursday found check tampering, undocumented purchases and missing money from June 1, 2018 to June 30, 2022. [KOSU]
Stitt appoints Dustin Hilliary to the OU Board of Regents: Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed telecom executive Dustin Hilliary today to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, which governs OU, Cameron University and Rogers State University. [NonDoc]
- Stitt appoints senior adviser to University of Oklahoma governing board [Oklahoma Voice]
- Dustin Hilliary picked for OU regents, drops Mullin seat bid [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: OK's 'Teachers' Bill of Rights' may weaken state schools: SB 1237 would grant educators the ability to refuse participation in certain instruction or training, including about the evil perpetuated by the Nazi regime, based on individual conscience or religious belief. [Mike Korenblit / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Nicotine Products in Oklahoma Prisons Raise Revenue, Public Health Concerns: The agency claims the e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches will help calm the prison population and thwart the flow of contraband tobacco. Critics contend that the products are highly addictive, carry significant health risks and could come back to bite taxpayers in the form of high medical bills. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma County judge was victim of social media threats, feds say: A California man threatened an Oklahoma County judge in social media posts after she issued an emergency protective order against him last year, federal prosecutors allege in a criminal charge. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
A new path to affordable homeownership opens in north Tulsa's Flat Rock Ridge development: Capital Homes' Flat Rock Ridge development seeks to make home ownership attainable. It's designed as a community of mixed-income tenants who can apply for voucher-supported, affordable or market-rate units in north Tulsa. [Tulsa Flyer]
Oklahoma City rents rise 2.6% as national market cools, Zillow report shows: Oklahoma City renters are seeing modest rent increases even as the national rental market shows signs of easing, according to Zillow's latest Rental Market Report released March 19. [The Journal Record]
Economy & Business News
As oil giants exit, these OKC companies say they're staying. Here's why: Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy were for more than a quarter-century among the most powerful corporate names in Oklahoma City. [The Oklahoman]
East Tulsa data center rezoning for Project Anthem delayed: A decision on whether to rezone more than 300 acres in east Tulsa for a proposed data center project is on hold for at least two weeks. A Tulsa-area rezoning committee approved a request from the developer for additional time to present more information, despite planning staff recommending denial of the proposal. [Tulsa Flyer]
Community News
Tulsa pastor's deportation leaves a family broken, church community empty: Wulfrano Portillo, a long-time pastor at east Tulsa's La Hermosa Church, was detained at his routine immigration check-in appointment in Oklahoma City and deported to Mexico the following morning. Now, Portillo's family and church community are grappling with an absence they say can never be refilled. [Tulsa Flyer]
