Oklahoma News
Oklahoma Editors Reflect on the Challenges Faced by Small-Town Newspapers: Depending on which editor you talk to, the Oklahoma media intelligentsia is horrified, nonplussed, or grateful for a parallel ecosystem of vigilante or alternative journalists who in recent years have swarmed into a void left by newspapers large and small struggling in the modern media ecosystem. [Oklahoma Watch]
- City of Yukon pulls advertising dollars from local newspaper, causing stir [KOSU]
Your data was leaked in the Oklahoma Tax Commission breach. Here's what to do now: An undisclosed number of Oklahomans received letters this week informing them that their data had been leaked in a breach of the Oklahoma Taxpayer Access Point (OkTAP) system. [KOSU]
- Questions remain after Oklahoma Tax Commission reveals data breach [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Oklahoma leaders struck a budget deal. What will they spend on education?: A proposed Oklahoma state budget would push public education spending north of $4 billion while teacher wages, school days and private school tax credits grow. The budget agreement between the House, Senate and governor would raise classroom teachers' minimum salaries by $2,000 at the cost of $85 million. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Private school tax credits, Medicaid questions: What's in OK's early budget deal? [The Oklahoman]
- Democrats, Republicans clash over education appropriations, Medicaid [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma leaders reach $12.79B budget deal [The Journal Record]
- Session Watch: Week Nine [Oklahoma Watch]
Election season is 'rushing' Oklahoma lawmakers to end session early, Democrat says: Democrats said Thursday they expect Oklahoma's legislative session will end early, but worry lawmakers' rush to get home to campaign will result in the state budget and other legislation not being thoroughly considered. [Oklahoma Voice]
Legislature moves closer to asking voters for lower property tax increase cap: The Oklahoma Legislature on Thursday moved closer to asking voters to lower the annual cap on property valuation increases by as much as two-thirds. Senate Joint Resolution 39, by Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, and Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, cleared the House Rules Committee Thursday morning, meaning it is only a House floor vote from the governor's desk. [Tulsa World]
TSET director resigns while trust fund overhaul faces Senate uncertainty: As lawmakers weigh a sweeping "reset" aimed at funding education efforts, the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust's director submitted her resignation Thursday, while the potential state question's House author is asking Senate leaders to keep their word and send the idea to a vote of the people. [NonDoc]
Homeless shelter oversight bill among housing measures advancing at Oklahoma Capitol: A bill that would create state oversight of homeless shelters and several other measures addressing housing and homelessness have survived a key deadline in the Oklahoma Legislature. Bills to strengthen tenant protections and lengthen Oklahoma's eviction timeline cleared a major legislative deadline. [The Frontier]
Oklahoma pension fund's fraud case against Musk cleared for class action: A federal judge on Tuesday said former Twitter investors who accused Elon Musk of defrauding them by waiting too long to disclose his initial investment in the social media company may pursue their case as a class action. [The Journal Record]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Budget deal reached, new social studies standards, 2026 elections begin and more (podcast): The panel talks about a new budget agreement between legislative leaders and the governor, the legislature passing a major bill deadline at the State Capitol and new social studies standards passed by the State Board of Education. The trio also discusses filling for public office to officially kick off the 2026 election season in Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus gubernatorial debate with all the major Republican candidates for governor except the front-runner Gentner Drummond. [KOSU]
Editorial: Teachers need a raise, and OK needs bold education investment: At the half-way mark, taxes and education have dominated this session of the Oklahoma Legislature. In a year of flat revenue and an uncertain economy, those priorities are colliding. Improving our near last-place education ranking will take bold action and sustained investment. Cutting taxes — something legislators continue to push — will mean less revenue to make that investment possible. The state simply can't afford to do both on a meaningful scale. Business leaders have been unequivocal: Weak public schools are a drag on the state's ability to recruit and grow companies. [The Oklahoman Editorial Board]
Federal Government News
Where is ICE spending the most money? Oklahoma near the top, data shows: Oklahoma is receiving the second-largest share of funding in the country from partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to a leaked federal ledger analyzed by The Oklahoman. [The Oklahoman]
Trump's SAVE America Act would end voter registration drives nationwide: The SAVE America Act would effectively ban voter registration drives, a mainstay of college campuses and neighborhood events. [Oklahoma Voice]
Trump asks for massive 43% boost in defense spending in new budget request: The Trump administration released its fiscal 2027 budget request Friday, asking Congress to increase spending on defense programs by 43% and decrease funding for non-defense accounts by 10%. The proposal kicks off what will be a monthslong process on Capitol Hill as lawmakers write the dozen annual government funding bills ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
Choctaw Nation Labor & Delivery unit joins statewide TeamBirth initiative: The Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority Labor & Delivery unit has joined the TeamBirth Initiative through the Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative at the Oklahoma Hospital Association, marking a new commitment to improved communication and patient-centered care during childbirth. [The Journal Record]
Voting and Election News
Hundreds file to run in 2026 elections in Oklahoma: The line of candidates for state office stretched across the Oklahoma Capitol rotunda and through the doors outside. Wednesday, April 1, marked the first on three days that candidates can officially file to run for office in state, county and federal elections. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa Public Schools bond supporters, opponents make final Election Day push: The Tulsa County Republican Party and supporters of Tulsa Public Schools' four-part, $609 million bond package can at least agree on one thing. They want people to either participate in early walk-in voting on Friday or go to their polling place on Tuesday. [Tulsa World]
- With early voting underway, Mayor Nichols adds his support to the $609M TPS bond [Tulsa Flyer]
Norman, Moore to vote on sales tax, guest tax on April 7. What to know: Next week, the cities of Moore and Norman will vote on a tax increase that could change the way the city collects revenue from customers and visitors. [The Oklahoman]
Once divided, Sand Springs residents band together to demand recall of elected officials: Opposition to the Sand Springs government's handling of a massive data center came to a head this week when critics gathered over 1,600 signatures to recall three city councilors. [Tulsa Flyer]
Education News
Stitt appoints Trevor Pemberton, Brian Beller to State Regents for Higher Education: Over the past week, Gov. Kevin Stitt filed what could be his final two appointments to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. [NonDoc]
Health News
Letter: Domestic violence is a public health crisis for children in Oklahoma: Each year, thousands of domestic violence incidents occur across our state, and children are present, exposed to fear, instability and chronic stress during critical stages of development. [NonDoc]
Criminal Justice News
Judge orders new trial in civil case of 14-year-old shot by OKC officer: A federal judge has ordered a new trial to determine whether a young man shot by an Oklahoma City police officer in 2019 should receive monetary damages. [The Oklahoman]
OK County renews contracts with DA and TEEM, names new jail trustee: Criminal justice dominated Oklahoma County commissioners' agenda this week, leading to the renewal of two big contracts, one for defense and one for diversion, and a new appointment to the county jail trust. [The Oklahoman]
5 things to know about Tulsa Police Department's Blue Envelope Program: More than 50,000 drivers in the U.S. are pulled over every day by police. For some, the flashing lights and blaring sirens can induce feelings of fear and anxiety. The Blue Envelope Program promises to make those interactions easier. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Jury awards $126M for Oklahoma traffic fatality caused by speeding off-duty cop: A jury has returned a $126 million verdict in a federal lawsuit against the City of Moore and a former police officer who caused a traffic fatality in 2019. Killed was Emily Alexis Gaines, an 18-year-old Moore High School senior. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Hunger Free Oklahoma report finds growth and gaps in Food is Medicine programs: Hunger Free Oklahoma has released its 2026 Oklahoma Food is Medicine Landscape Analysis, a statewide report identifying both measurable health benefits and persistent barriers facing programs that integrate nutritious food with health care to prevent and manage diet-related chronic disease. [The Journal Record]
- Jenks student places second in C-SPAN contest for documentary on food insecurity under Trump [KGOU]
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma's aerospace and defense industry soars with new jobs: Oklahoma's aerospace and defense industry experienced unprecedented growth in 2025, securing $450 million in new capital investment and creating 1,325 jobs across 37 new or expanding businesses, according to a report released Wednesday by the state's Department of Commerce. [The Oklahoman]
