Oklahoma News
Gov. Stitt defends 16 phone calls to Rod Polston, denies favoritism: Gov. Kevin Stitt defended his 16 phone calls to friend and donor Rod Polston after state grand jurors reported the evidence "deepens our concerns" about Polston's wife's early release from prison in February on a drunken driving offense. [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Beyond smelter talk, electric rate proposal has some feeling ‘sacrificed at the altar of big business’: At a public hearing to help determine the fate of an electric utility’s proposed 15 percent rate increase, two dozen displeased citizens — alongside a dozen nonprofit and contractor partners supporting Public Service Company of Oklahoma — filled Thursday afternoon with public comment for and against the hefty hike. [NonDoc]
- Many speak out against PSO rate hike proposal [Tulsa World]
Some of these new Oklahoma laws starting July 1 could affect you: Dozens of new laws are hitting the books on July 1, which is one of the dates that Oklahoma lawmakers choose when writing new legislation. Typically, legislation is allowed to go into effect months after passage in November, but some bills are considered more important, or an "emergency," and allowed to become law more quickly. [The Oklahoman]
New lawsuit aims to stop Oklahoma turnpike project: Concerned citizens are mounting a last-ditch effort to stop a contentious turnpike project that many worry could negatively affect Lake Thunderbird and the Canadian River in southern portions of the Oklahoma City metro area. [The Oklahoman]
- Federal lawsuit targets OTA project over alleged environmental violations [KFOR]
Political notebook: Health Care Authority says no provider cuts: The state’s Medicaid administrator, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, last week approved a fiscal year 2027 budget that includes no cuts in provider rates. The authority’s own health has been in question because of expected decreases in federal funds and the extent to which Oklahomans have utilized Medicaid expansion. The OHCA asked for an additional $495 million in appropriations this year but received only $250 million. [Tulsa World]
Advisory board, extended services mark new opportunities for Oklahoma youth: Earlier this year, Oklahoma launched a new initiative to improve foster care through centering the voices of youth who have gone through the system. [KGOU]
Opinion: Oklahoma lawmakers should get a clue about the importance of childcare, and here it is: It’s become clear over the past few months that a majority of Oklahoma leaders have no grasp of how our state’s childcare industry works. That alone is not super surprising given that we’re led by a governing body that traditionally leans older and male, and because we live in a state where women traditionally take on the burden of caregiving. What is surprising is that despite Republican claims that we’re open for business, Oklahoma is not willing to make the financial investment needed to shore up our childcare industry when it is so critical to the economy. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: We know how to address Oklahoma's runaway insurance rates: State leaders are pointing to a recent reform — House Bill 3781, signed into law May 12 but not effective until November — as evidence that progress is being made to address gaps in Oklahoma's insurance regulatory framework. But Oklahomans should be clear-eyed about what that change does and does not accomplish. [Josiah Daniel IV / The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Oklahoma's SNAP error rate increased, officials are working to cut it down: As the State of Oklahoma stares down a deadline to lower its error rate for federal food benefits, numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show the rate has slightly increased. [KOSU]
- SNAP recipient’s benefits slashed: ‘Who lives on $24 a month?’ [KFOR]
Trump Taps Former Oklahoma Trooper as New ICE Director: The president said he was nominating Lance Schroyer, an adviser to Markwayne Mullin, the D.H.S. secretary, to lead the high-profile agency. [New York Times]
- Trump taps former Oklahoma Highway Patrolman Lance Schroyer to lead ICE [The Oklahoman]
- Former OK trooper gets nomination from President Trump for ICE Director [KFOR]
D.C. Digest: ‘Eating the camel’ translates to ‘pass the bill’ for Brecheen: Second District Congressman Josh Brecheen cited the Bible and the U.S. Constitution last week in arguing for passage of the SAVE America Act demanded by President Donald Trump. [Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
Chickasaw Nation's new governor Chris Anoatubby sworn in as his father Bill Anoatubby steps down: After almost 40 years, Chickasaw Nation has a new leader. Bill Anoatubby stepped down as Chickasaw Nation’s governor on Friday, passing the torch to his son, former Lt. Gov. Chris Anoatubby. [KOSU]
National Native American boarding school oral history project reaches final stop in Tulsa, closes in ceremony: After recording more than 380 stories from Indigenous boarding school survivors in 19 states, a national oral history project made its final stop in Tulsa on Friday. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
Voters can’t trust their own eyes as political ads evolve with AI; experts weigh in: The Wesleyan Media Project, which tracks political advertising, said ad spending for the Republican gubernatorial primary reached $37.4 million through June 14 — meaning the final tab will be even higher. That ranked sixth among states this election cycle, with the five above Oklahoma — California, New Jersey, Georgia, Virginia and Michigan — all considerably bigger. [Tulsa World]
Democratic nominee for Oklahoma superintendent pushes back on criticism after City Elders event: Democratic nominee for state superintendent, Jennettie Marshall, took to social media last week to address criticism about a 2025 speaking engagement with the Tulsa-based political and religious group, City Elders. City Elders calls itself a “biblical model of city governance” to “establish a divine order in spiritual and civil governance.” According to its website, it aims to “prohibit the powers of darkness from infiltrating government systems or any structure of authority and making laws contrary to nature and nature’s God.” [KGOU]
Oklahoma Republican superintendent candidate pledges education administrative spending audit: A Republican vying for state superintendent is calling for a statewide audit of educational dollars, should he take up the mantle. [KGOU]
Sam Wargin Grimaldo fills House vacancy in Oklahoma City: A central and south Oklahoma City House district finally has a representative after spending the past legislative session without one. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma Voter Turnout Varies Widely by County: Oklahoma’s low voter turnout, particularly for primary and special elections, is no secret. The trend held true in the June 16 primary election. Just 26% of the electorate turned out to vote on State Question 832, the sole issue available for all registered voters to decide. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma Republican Party faces growing dispute over unpaid rent: A trust created to support the Oklahoma Republican Party alleges the political group now owes $28,000 in unpaid monthly office-space payments, setting up a dispute that could eventually leave the party searching for a new headquarters in Oklahoma City. [The Oklahoman]
Education News
Capitol Insider: State Regents approve tuition and fee increases for higher education: Tuition and mandatory fees are going up at many colleges and universities in Oklahoma as approved by the State Regents for Higher Education Thursday. How much was the increase? [KGOU]
Puentes y Puertas: Putnam City district’s first charter school to offer English-Spanish immersion: In an effort to meet a growing need in the northwest portion of the Oklahoma City metro, Putnam City Schools has approved a dual-language immersion charter school to open for the 2027-2028 school year. The effort stands as the first charter school authorized by the Putnam City Schools Board of Education and an attempt to embrace the district’s continued diversity. [NonDoc]
Justice System News
Convicted Oklahoma County killer to seek clemency: A man who shot his live-in girlfriend in front of her pregnant daughter is seeking clemency. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board on July 14 is expected to consider the clemency request of Oklahoma County killer Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez. [Oklahoma Voice]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Housing Voucher Inspections Are Slowing Oklahoma City’s Effort to Close Encampments: Key to Home, Oklahoma City’s public-private collaboration that strives to prevent homelessness in the city, has a housing-first approach that has proven successful. But the cumbersome, time-consuming process has posed challenges. There are several roadblocks on the path to housing, including the rental property inspection process to ensure habitability. [Oklahoma Watch]
Economy & Business News
Tulsa leaders urged to build a more inclusive economy at Chamber event: Building a more racially and ethnically inclusive economy is the only sustainable competitive strategy for Oklahoma, a keynote speaker at a Tulsa Regional Chamber event said last week. However, she said the current system that has been in place for decades — if not centuries — must be changed by private companies, nonprofits and government. [Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- More than 500 animals rescued from OKC home during undercover drug bust [The Oklahoman]
- County pauses economic development agreement with Greater OKC Chamber [The Oklahoman]
- Board in dark as county seeks pay for swapping jail site's oily soil [The Oklahoman]
- With Tulsa jail going away, talks resume about holding city prisoners in county jail [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa mayor appoints former Mayor Kathy Taylor to lead downtown hotel project [Tulsa World]
- Court overturns Rogers County decision blocking PSO power plant project [Tulsa World]
