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Service Oklahoma focuses on hiring, new programs to reduce wait times
OKLAHOMA CITY — Tim Hartshorn arrived at Service Oklahoma six hours before it opened, and as he sat on the concrete at the start of a growing line of people, he wished he had brought a camping chair. The 66-year-old Oklahoma City resident needed to replace his lost driver’s license, and after waiting for five […]
New gunsmithing degree program meant to attract firearm businesses to Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY — State officials could have a new weapon in their arsenal as they try to lure gun and ammunition manufacturers to Oklahoma. Murray State College leaders say the school’s gunsmithing program could become a huge economic development driver thanks to a $10 million legislative investment that will allow the college to offer the […]
Oklahoma DHS plans 80 new offices. Some rural counties won’t benefit.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Department of Human Services will move much of its staff out of large, dilapidated office buildings into smaller, more centrally located facilities. Once the transition is complete within the next year, many DHS offices will feel less like government buildings and more like Apple stores, one agency official said. But […]
Oklahoma corrections department aims to revive state’s prison rodeo in McAlester
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s corrections director is backing a $9.3 million effort to revive the state’s prison rodeo, an event that was once among the largest in the nation, drawing thousands of spectators to McAlester every year. Although rodeo fans have long advocated for the state to re-launch the event that was stopped in 2010 […]
At odds with the tribes, Stitt stripped of power over Native American education council
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma lawmakers curtailed Gov. Kevin Stitt’s influence over a board devoted to Native American education as the state’s chief executive continues to feud with tribal leaders. Lawmakers stripped Stitt of eight of his nine appointments to the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education — a lesser known state board that could play […]
Oklahoma to continue lethal injections as Alabama eyes nitrogen gas executions
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma prison officials are watching closely as Alabama attempts to become the first state to use nitrogen hypoxia to carry out an execution. Steven Harpe, Department of Corrections director, said in an interview that he’s open to the alternate method, but he’d like to see nitrogen hypoxia used in a series of […]
Oklahoma Ethics Commission seeks new executive director after Kemp resigns citing poor resources
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is searching for a new executive director after the current agency head announced she will resign by the end of the year due to a lack of state funding. In tendering her resignation, Director Ashley Kemp accused legislators of underfunding her state agency, which she said made it difficult to enforce […]
Oklahoma law to tackle missing, murdered Indigenous crisis remains unfunded
OKLAHOMA CITY — Two years after Oklahoma lawmakers passed bipartisan legislation to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people, a state law enforcement entity has not secured federal funding to carry out the new law. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, in following the law, has appointed an agent to tackle these cases. […]
Oklahoma’s National Guard border deployment estimated to cost $825,000
OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt’s decision to deploy Oklahoma National Guard troops to the Texas-Mexico border is expected to cost taxpayers at least $825,000. The National Guard estimates the 30-day mission, which concludes this month, will cost $825,000. The bulk of those funds will be used to pay the roughly 50 Guard members deployed […]
Packed State Board of Education meetings raise public access concerns
OKLAHOMA CITY — Mike Howe knew he had to get in line early just to have a chance at one of the few seats at the State Board of Education meeting on Thursday. So, the 74-year-old retired Tulsa Public Schools educator arrived before dawn in the hopes of urging the board to support public schools […]
Legalized syringe exchange programs help thousands in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY — Andrea Haddox has seen too many friends and loved ones overdose or get sick after sharing used needles. Her own past battle with drugs is the driving force behind her nonprofit’s mission to distribute free supplies aimed at reducing harm — like sterile syringes, fentanyl test strips, opioid-reversing agents, condoms, emergency contraception […]