Oklahoma News
Volatile oil market due to Iran conflict a double-edged sword for Oklahoma: Oklahomans grimacing at the gas pump as prices hit $3 per gallon may find cold comfort in knowing the geopolitical crisis affecting their fuel budget could deliver a significant boost to the state's oil-dependent economy. [The Oklahoman]
"America, Not Americans": Inola Residents Say Trump's Industrial Push Is Coming at Their Expense: As President Trump tries to reignite domestic industry in his bid to make America more self-reliant, the EPA has moved to roll back dozens of environmental protections, including air pollution standards. According to critics, the administration's attitude is that any money businesses spend on environmental compliance is wasted, even if Americans suffer. Oklahoma advocates argue against major industrial projects that would have enormous environmental impacts, they have come to understand Trump's "America First" slogan as being focused on the country to the exclusion of individual citizens. America, not Americans. [Oklahoma Watch]
Opinion: The people have lost a battle on SQ 836, but need to fight on: Oklahoma's politicians have been passing law after law intended to take away the power of the people through administrative strangulation. That deserves a strong legal challenge. [William C. Wertz / The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Oklahoma debates effort to end in-state tuition for undocumented students: Republican state lawmakers want to codify a federal court ruling that ended in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants while the ruling faces a legal challenge. [The Oklahoman]
Bill requiring complete 'political party' voter registration section passes House: Oklahomans who mark "other" or leave the "political party" section blank on their voter registration applications would be ineligible to vote under legislation passed Tuesday by the state House of Representatives. [Tulsa World]
Study looks at feasibility of nuclear power in Oklahoma: While generating nuclear power in Oklahoma is certainly feasible, significant challenges would have to be overcome, not the least of which would revolve around financing and public perceptions, a new study produced for the state shows. [Tulsa World]
Legislative Roundup
- Oklahoma Senate approves bills to expand teacher scholarships, regulate adjuncts [Oklahoma Voice]
- Two Oklahoma bills aiming to ban 'obscene' material from schools advance [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma House advances measure to bolster state gas, AI and space research [KOSU]
- House advances measure limiting some pay raises at Oklahoma agencies [Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
Trump sends mixed signals on Iran war end, pushes election overhaul bill: President Donald Trump on Monday told House Republicans, who were gathered in Florida for a policy retreat, that he expects the war in Iran will wrap up "quickly," though he didn't give a specific date or detail exactly what he wants to do before ending the hostilities. [Oklahoma Voice]
- 5 things to know about the SAVE Act changing voter registration rules [Tulsa World]
- What is Trump's approval rating after Iran strikes? See March polls [The Oklahoman]
State, local policies on immigration enforcement targeted by US Senate Republicans: Senate Republicans during a Tuesday hearing laid the groundwork for legislation that would prevent state and local governments from making decisions on whether to limit cooperation with the federal government on immigration enforcement. [Oklahoma Voice]
Federal funding for people in poverty heading to anti-abortion centers instead: The federal government gives TANF grants to assist families experiencing poverty with basic necessities and child care funds to each state as a lump sum, and states get to decide how to spend it. Block grants like this can be used broadly, and there isn't much oversight after the funds are distributed — including to crisis pregnancy centers. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion, Sen. Grant Green: Trump wants to protect ratepayers. Oklahoma has blueprint: President is right to demand that Big Tech, not ratepayers, should pay for the industry's enormous energy use. Oklahoma has set an example for how this approach can be win-win. [Sen. Grant Green / The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Tribal Roundup: Osage general set, Peoria chief reelected, incumbent barred from Ponca ballot: Several tribal nations headquartered in Oklahoma are facing elections on their ballots this year. In Pawhuska, the Osage Nation's general election is on the horizon after the Feb. 23 primary propelled Joe Tillman and Scott BigHorse into a matchup for principal chief. Other tribes have kept voters on their toes. Learn more about those elections and other Indian Country developments. [NonDoc]
Tribes urged to address prediction markets in light of potential impact on compacts: Gaming regulatory experts are urging tribal leaders to pay close attention to the potential impact of prediction markets on compacts and other revenue sources. [Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
Mulready, David, Tedford among CD 1 possibilities: With Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell out and several others in, the pool of possible Republican candidates for the 1st Congressional District continued to evolve on Tuesday. A CD1 opening was not even contemplated until a few days ago, when incumbent Kevin Hern signaled he would be a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Markwayne Mullin. [Tulsa World]
Stitt in the Senate? What Oklahoma Constitution says about Mullin's seat: A flurry of questions about who could become Oklahoma's next U.S. senator are circulating around Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt. [The Oklahoman]
- Several identified as potential temporary successors to Mullin [Tulsa World]
Education News
Tulsa Public Schools superintendent: $609M bond package will make students 'proud' of classrooms: If Tulsans want a school district they can be proud of, Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Ebony Johnson said Tuesday supporting the district's $609 million bond package is necessary. The package on the April 7 ballot is split into four propositions. [Tulsa Flyer]
- Tulsa superintendent answers bond package questions during forum [Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
They were arrested for misdemeanors. Then they died in Tulsa's city jail: The Tulsa Municipal Jail has had at least seven deaths since the beginning of 2023. The deaths occurred after jail staff repeatedly warned that the facility's intake practices, inadequate medical care, and overcrowding and understaffing were putting detainees in danger, according to a review of hundreds of pages of records and interviews with eight current and former employees. [The Frontier]
Opinion: Oklahomans need right to counsel from the start. Pass SB 1381: By providing low-income people with counsel right away, Oklahoma can speed up the process toward release when appropriate, saving taxpayer dollars immediately. [Emma Stammen / The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
A red tape tangle threatens food security in Oklahoma. How one nonprofit is helping: The state needs help to address food insecurity, says Chris Bernard, president and CEO of Hunger Free Oklahoma (HFO), a nonprofit organization that works to develop and support programs, like SNAP, that help alleviate food insecurity in the state. They're not a traditional food bank, but an organization that tries to initiate and modify policies and programs that will help and step in when problems arise. [The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
'We're still farmers': The lasting impact of rural Oklahoma wildfires: Wildfires swept through Northwestern Oklahoma last month, including the Ranger Road Fire that burned hundreds of thousands of acres in Beaver, Harper and Woods Counties. The immediate danger is gone, but people are only beginning to recover from the toll on their homes, livestock and emotional well-being. [KOSU]
Tulsa officials will consider a year-long moratorium on data centers. Here is what that could mean: Tulsa City Council is poised to vote Wednesday on a 365-day moratorium on the construction of incoming hyperscale data centers. [Tulsa Flyer]
Local Headlines
- Federal funding deadline hangs over major Oklahoma County construction projects [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma tornado season 2026 is already second-most deadly in last decade [The Oklahoman]
- In Tulsa's newest housing investment, which communities could benefit the most? Developers chime in [Tulsa Flyer]
- Amazon to build four new delivery facilities across Oklahoma [Tulsa Flyer]
