Oklahoma News
Sealed Records, 11-Minute Hearings, Hidden Conflicts: Inside Oklahoma's Broken Guardianship System: Multiple attorneys, former judges and national experts who spoke with Oklahoma Watch — some on the condition of anonymity — described systemic problems in both the adult and child guardianship systems in Oklahoma. In the former case, the crisis will grow acute as Oklahoma's population ages. [Oklahoma Watch]
Long Story Short: Inola Residents Say Trump's Industrial Push Is Coming at Their Expense (podcast): Plans unfold for the nation's largest aluminum plant at the Port of Inola, sparking a clash between economic promises and local outcry. Plus, an examination of a possible $175 million surge in federal immigration funding for Oklahoma law enforcement and AG Gentner Drummond's escalating legal battle over a controversial Jewish charter school application. [Oklahoma Watch]
State Government News
Oklahoma lawmakers start preparation for the 2030 Decennial Census: Oklahoma lawmakers are starting to prepare for the 2030 census with three House bills approved this week. The decennial census is a massive undertaking involving federal, state, tribal and local governments. The goal is to count as many people living in the country as possible. [KOSU]
Some of Oklahoma's thousands of orphaned wells could find a new purpose under this state bill: Proposed legislation would allow companies to convert abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal and energy storage use. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
Federal Government News
Markwayne Mullin faces Senate questions for Homeland Security secretary: Mullin, a Republican U.S. senator, stands to become the second Cabinet secretary from Oklahoma. President Donald Trump picked Mullin, his longtime ally, to lead the Department of Homeland Security as it faces nationwide scrutiny over the actions of immigration enforcement officers. [The Oklahoman]
- Mullin stays composed as DHS nominee faces scrutiny in Senate hearing [The Oklahoman]
- Can Markwayne Mullin Be Trusted to Lead DHS? Senators Press Accountability and Judgment [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Markwayne Mullin Faces Sharp Scrutiny, Fiery Exchange With Rand Paul at Homeland Security Confirmation Hearing [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Top Republican opposes Trump's Homeland nominee over inflammatory rhetoric [Reuters]
- Mullin confronted about 'anger issues' by Rand Paul in tense DHS confirmation hearing [Oklahoma Voice]
- Sen. Paul confronts Sen. Mullin over violent rhetoric at his DHS confirmation hearing [NPR via KOSU]
- Senator Mullin faces tough confirmation hearing, pledges permanent FEMA director [The Journal Record]
- Senator Mullin questioned during nomination hearing Wednesday [KFOR]
- Recapping the Senate hearing for Markwayne Mullin's cabinet nomination [KOCO]
- Mullin says overseas classified trip was official business at Senate hearing [The Oklahoman]
Markwayne Mullin made millions while in Congress. Where it came from: Through a combination of stock trades, property investments and the sale of large assets, Mullin has seen his net worth exponentially grow since becoming a public official, raising questions from ethics experts. [The Oklahoman]
Elections officials decry costs heaped on states in SAVE America voting bill: The voting overhaul measure that the U.S. Senate began debating Tuesday would cause major headaches for underfunded state and local election officials, without meaningfully stopping fraud, according to a collection of voting rights advocates and elections officers. [Oklahoma Voice]
Republicans hope to label Democrats as party of election fraud in voter ID debate: Senate Republicans, facing a tough midterm election campaign, hope to turn the Senate's likely rejection of President Donald Trump's voter-ID bill into a liability for Democrats that analysts say could be used to bolster claims of voter fraud in the November balloting. [Reuters]
Opinion: Wildly misguided farm policy creates oceans of red ink for taxpayers across US: Let's face it: $1.4 trillion dollars is a lot of dough. Adding $20 billion, $10 billion and then $12 billion makes it real money — all for a new farm bill, recoupment from weather and market losses, and fallout frrom the tariffs. President Donald Trump proclaims this stupefying deluge of subsidies farmers' "golden age." He and his advisors will not pronounce the obvious: It's a red age. American agriculture is hemorrhaging red ink. [Greg Frazier / Oklahoma Voice]
Voting and Election News
Candidates for Oklahoma offices set to file next month: Candidates for state, judicial, federal, district attorney offices will file April 1-3 at the Capitol. All statewide elective offices are up for grabs as well as 101 state House seats and 25 Senate seats. Also, Oklahoma voters will decide who will fill one U.S. Senate seat and all five U.S. House seats. [Oklahoma Voice]
Education News
Education Watch: School Calendar Proposal Passes House, Moves to Senate: House lawmakers advanced a bill to extend the minimum school year by seven days and increase school funding by $175 million. It's the first firm proposal from the House this session to boost money for schools after a Senate plan to redirect $254 million from apportioned revenue for the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System faced significant pushback. [Oklahoma Watch]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma County Budget Board recommends jail trust dissolution, tables supplemental funding: Led by District 1 Commissioner Jason Lowe, the Oklahoma County Budget Board took the initial step in dissolving the jail trust during a special meeting on Wednesday while also delaying $2.6 million in supplemental funding for the troubled facility. [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma County officials call in 6-1 vote for jail trust to be disbanded [The Oklahoman]
- Facing financial shortfall, Oklahoma County officials move to dissolve jail trust [KOSU]
- Oklahoma County jail faces potential layoffs amid budget shortfall [KOCO]
Erin Engelke: ReMerge 'breaking generational cycles' for justice-involved mothers: Launched in 2011 through a partnership between the Inasmuch Foundation and the United Way of Central Oklahoma, ReMerge has evolved into an effective diversion program for mothers in the criminal justice system. Since the organization's inception, more than 230 women have graduated from its programs. [NonDoc]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Tulsa's affordable housing push draws national attention — and a touring group of real estate pros: As Tulsa pushes to add affordable housing and curb chronic homelessness, the city is poised to be a national leader in providing solutions to longstanding housing dilemmas, according to national and local Black real estate leaders. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Economy & Business News
Corporation Commission deems nuclear option feasible but with obstacles: Fifty years since the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission decommissioned the Kerr-McGee Cimarron nuclear fuel facility near Crescent, state leaders have been exploring the feasibility of generating nuclear energy to meet rising energy demand. [The Journal Record]
Community News
Tulsa-area pastor deported after routine immigration check-in, family says: A Tulsa-area family says their husband, father and pastor was deported after what they believed would be a routine immigration check-in. [Fox 23]
Local Headlines
- OKC leaders want your ideas for downtown's future. Here's how to share [The Oklahoman]
- OKC Human Rights Commission seeks volunteers to flag discriminatory language in documents [Fox 25]
- Enrollment open for Tulsa Public Schools Summer Learning Program [Fox 23]