State Government News
What's left for lawmakers as Oklahoma's 2026 legislative session winds down: There are still more than 600 bills left to be considered between the House and Senate, heading into the final weeks of the legislative session, according to the legislative tracking service LegisOK. And the governor has more than 200 measures already on his desk, waiting for a signature. [KOSU]
- Capitol Insider: Legislative leaders focus on major issues in session's final weeks [KGOU]
Oklahoma voters will decide on property tax cap changes. What that means: When voters head to the polls this November, they’ll decide whether or not to approve Senate Joint Resolution 39, a measure promising property tax relief for homeowners. But opinions vary on how impactful and widespread the benefits are for Oklahomans if it were to pass. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma property tax growth cap heads to voters, raising concerns for schools, services: Oklahoma voters could soon decide whether to slow the pace of rising property tax valuations, a change supporters say would help homeowners keep up with climbing home values but critics warn could squeeze funding for schools and other local services over time. [KTUL]
Problems possibly persist with privatized OK managed care: It has been nearly two years since the state attempted to privatize managed care, and since then, there have been many allegations of missed payments and wrong reimbursements. On Thursday, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond requested an audit of the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority. [KFOR]
Treasurer responds to lawsuit over information request: The office of Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ has answered to allegations that it failed to respond to requests for records pertaining to the state’s Way2Go program. [Tulsa World]
‘It’s their own’: New Oklahoma law ensures foster care children get duffel bag: A new law is aimed at helping Oklahoma’s foster care children feel like they belong. For many foster care children, moving from home to home is a reality and when they’re moving often times they’re placing their items in trash bags. [KFOR]
Heartland Flyer to run through 2026 amid Texas funding cuts, ODOT says: Despite losing financial support from Texas, the Heartland Flyer isn’t stopping just yet, Oklahoma officials confirmed this week. [The Oklahoman]
Arch being constructed at Oklahoma Capitol nears completion: In 2024, state lawmakers created a fund to support appropriations and donations for the project, which was estimated to cost $4.3 million. Construction of the arch is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. [The Oklahoman]
Legislative Roundup
- Lawmakers Send Anti-Revolving Door Bill to Stitt’s Desk [Oklahoma Watch]
- Oklahoma bill criminalizing the delivery of abortion-inducing drugs heads to governor's desk [KOSU]
- Lawmakers, dancers divided over stricter stripping laws in Oklahoma [The Oklahoman]
- Sine die in sight [Monday Minute / NonDoc]
- Political notebook: Legislature may conclude its work this week [Tulsa World]
Opinion: Apparently, it’s a man’s world when it comes to overhauling Oklahoma sports and other contest rules: What the heck were leaders of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association thinking when they proudly announced they had chosen only men to serve on a powerful new committee to review the governing body’s rules? Do they think we still live in 1911, when the body was first created and women weren’t even constitutionally guaranteed the right to vote? [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
A US Supreme Court ruling hammered voting rights. What does it mean and what happens now?: The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision gutting the federal Voting Rights Act could upend American politics and trigger a new rush to redraw congressional districts. As the nation responds to the decision, here’s a States Newsroom look at the decision, what it means and what could happen next. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Trump, US House speaker prod GOP states to gerrymander after voting rights ruling [Oklahoma Voice]
D.C. Digest: Oklahoma reps sigh with relief as House log jam breaks: After months of wrangling, the House was able to pass three significant measures: Department of Homeland Security funding, a farm bill, and an extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. [Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
GOP candidates revive anti-Islam attacks as midterms approach: Sen. David Bullard is working on a constitutional amendment that would bar courts and municipalities in Oklahoma from using any foreign law or religious code that would undermine the U.S. or state constitutions. [Oklahoma Voice]
In Oklahoma governor's race, candidates spend millions more than they raise: New campaign finance records show Oklahoma gubernatorial candidates are spending more than they have coming in. The candidates raised a combined $1.3 million from January through March but spent more than $6.3 million to propel their campaigns before the June 16 primary elections. [The Oklahoman]
- Three leading Republican gubernatorial candidates subsidizing their campaigns [Tulsa World]
Hear from the GOP primary candidates for Oklahoma governor: To assist readers in their decision-making process, The Oklahoman has asked the candidates running the primary election for information about their positions on various issues. [The Oklahoman]
Crowded Republican primary largest ever for 1st Congressional District: If the June 16 1st Congressional District's Republican primary seems more crowded and confusing than usual, it's because it is. In fact, it's never been more so. [Tulsa World]
Regulate It: GOP insurance commissioner debate set: All four Republican candidates for insurance commissioner — Chris Merideth, Marty Quinn, Greta Shuler and Bob Sullivan — have agreed to participate in a public debate hosted by NonDoc and Griffin Communications at 5:45 p.m. Monday, June 8. [NonDoc]
Education News
Jewish charter school spurs local, federal legal fights: As Attorney General Gentner Drummond and the Statewide Charter School Board sling mud in and out of court, they are co-defendants in a federal lawsuit filed by a religious charter school the board supports despite rejecting its application. In doing so, the board cited the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling in Drummond’s prior push to block St. Isidore of Seville, a Catholic charter school. [NonDoc]
TPS board rejects proposal to cut from special education, gifted and talented programs: Despite a projected multimillion-dollar shortfall on the horizon, Tulsa Public Schools’ board of education rejected a proposal Friday night that would have cut positions from the district’s Special Education and Gifted and Talented programs. [Tulsa World]
- After 12-hour session, Tulsa school board rejects proposal to cut special education staff [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Oklahoma Senate confirms four to Regional University System board: The Oklahoma Senate confirmed four appointments by Gov. Kevin Stitt to the Regional University System of Oklahoma Board of Regents. Confirmed were Haley Hope Frix of Muskogee, Michael McElroy of Ada, Carl McKenzie of Bixby, and Dr. Michael Peck of Enid. [The Journal Record]
Health News
Facing Financial Pressure, Rural Hospitals Adapt to Survive: There is a growing gap in the healthcare system — one that rural hospitals are increasingly stepping in to fill. Patients who no longer need acute hospital care but aren’t ready to go home often struggle to find placement in traditional rehabilitation facilities. At some rural hospitals, that gap has become an opportunity and, in some cases, a lifeline. [Oklahoma Watch]
Opinion: Measles is back. Oklahomans deserve straight answers from DC: Measles — the world's most contagious disease — is spreading across America at the fastest pace in decades. Oklahoma alone recorded 17 cases last year, and just to our south across the Red River, the virus infected over 800 Texans and killed two children. In fact, the United States could soon lose official measles elimination status, which we've held for a quarter-century. [Matthew Vermillion / The Oklahoman]
Justice System News
Mass shooting at Arcadia Lake leaves 10 injured, police search for suspect: At least 10 people were hospitalized after a mass shooting at a lake north of Oklahoma City on Sunday night, officials said. The tally of those injured is expected to rise as others among the victims make their own way to seek treatment. [The Oklahoman]
- 13 injured in Arcadia Lake shooting, officials say [KFOR]
Plea deal for Oklahoma sheriff prompts scrutiny after years of questions: When Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason resigned, he called his time in office “one of the greatest honors and privileges” of his life. He delivered his resignation minutes after he’d exited a judge’s courtroom, convicted of a felony charge. [The Oklahoman]
Former Oklahoma State student gets major settlement in jail strip search lawsuit: A former Oklahoma State University student who was strip-searched at the Stillwater City Jail has accepted a $2.55 million settlement to end her federal civil rights lawsuit over the incident. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa firefighter's email questions response to fatal Holland Hall crash: After two open records requests and intervention from the state Attorney General’s Office, the city has released an internal Fire Department email questioning 911’s handling of calls related to the Feb. 13, 2025, car crash that left two Holland Hall students dead. [Tulsa World]
- City of Tulsa withheld records related to fatal Holland Hall crash until AG's Office intervened [Tulsa World]
Former Tulsa County deputy charged after striking detainee: A former Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office deputy faces one count of misdemeanor simple assault after a detainee was punched multiple times while in jail. [Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
How Oklahoma City is emerging as a top tech hub: For tech professionals seeking an up-and-coming city to boost their careers, Oklahoma City’s “Silicon Prairie” is high on the list in 2026. [The Journal Record]
Google operations manager in Pryor touts data center benefits: Google's operations manager for its second-largest data center in the world at MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor outlined how it has been operating — amid public outcry and concerns for other planned data centers. [Tulsa World]
Data centers should pay costs for electricity, older Oklahomans tell AARP: A new AARP survey says 92% of Oklahomans age 50 and older believe elected officials should ensure residential customers do not pay for additional costs for new large data centers. [Tulsa World]
Community News
How a mailbox helps turn donations into dinner for families: Stamp Out Hunger, in its 34th year, is conducted through a partnership between the food bank, the National Association of Letter Carriers and the U.S. Postal Service. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- 2019 floods devastated west Tulsa. Now, $191M will be spent to restore levees. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- ‘Just the beginning’: North Tulsa leaders celebrate next chapter of Greenwood Entrepreneurship at Moton [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- Tulsa city councilors hear pitch for modifying funding plan for Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan [Tulsa World]
- Battle over Greenwood and Kirkpatrick Heights development heats up [Public Radio Tulsa]
