kevin stitt
Oklahoma governor hosts event to honor Native American heritage, families
OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt hosted several dozen tribal members at a special event Tuesday designed to celebrate and honor Native American heritage and families. Attendees said the event at the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion was a fitting way to commemorate the end of Native American Heritage Month, but also served as a way for […]
Stitt says Oklahoma tribal tags present fairness issue, urges tribes to compact
OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt said he didn’t know an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper was going to ticket an Otoe-Missouria citizen for having a tribal license plate while living outside her tribe’s boundaries, but that he “100%” supports the action. In an interview, Stitt said he did not direct the Oklahoma Department of Public […]
Report: Oklahoma to pay $3.3 million for Stitt’s tribal legal fees
OKLAHOMA CITY — As Gov. Kevin Stitt’s administration continues to clash with Oklahoma’s tribes in the courtroom, the state is paying his legal costs using gaming compliance fees from the tribes. The state will pay at least $3.3 million in legal fees associated with ongoing tribal disputes, according to a report issued by a legislative […]
Oklahoma governor says China is buying up the state’s farmland. The data shows otherwise.
Saddling a horse on his family’s east Oklahoma ranch, Gov. Kevin Stitt told a Fox News reporter his state’s land was under threat from the Chinese “Communist Party.” Thousands of acres were being bought by China-based companies and individuals to build marijuana farms, if not for more nefarious purposes, the Republican governor said. “We pulled […]
Opinion: Oklahomans deserve and should expect a fully functioning state-tribal relationship
The feud involving Gov. Kevin Stitt and tribal leaders has gone on long enough. People deserve a fully functioning relationship between our 39 federally recognized tribes and the state. It’s time for someone — anyone — to step up and lead Oklahoma out of the morass. For nearly four years now, residents have watched in […]
Tribes, Oklahoma law enforcement clash over tribal license plate citation
OKLAHOMA CITY — Multiple Native American tribes said they were caught off guard Thursday by an alleged change in how the state enforces tribal license plate protocols. Otoe-Missouria Tribe officials accused the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety of unexpectedly altering its position on tribal vehicle registration after one of its members received a $249 ticket. […]
Oklahoma tribal leaders urge collaboration, respect in crafting state compacts
OKLAHOMA CITY — Although Gov. Kevin Stitt wasn’t in attendance at a Tuesday legislative hearing, his presence loomed large as key tribal leaders spoke about the importance of compacts between the state and Oklahoma’s tribes. Four tribal leaders told lawmakers collaboration, cooperation and mutual respect are key to the state and tribes working together to […]
Tribal officials, Oklahoma lawmakers not consulted on Stitt’s sports betting plan
OKLAHOMA CITY — Tribal officials and state lawmakers say they weren’t consulted on Gov. Kevin Stitt’s new plan to implement sports betting. While Stitt was in Israel, his office unveiled an unexpected plan on Thursday to legalize sports betting. It included details on how mobile and in-person sports betting would be taxed and who could […]
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt visits Israel ‘in a show of solidarity’ amid war with Hamas
OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt traveled to Israel on Thursday to show support for the Jewish people amid the country’s war against Hamas militants. Stitt and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials and planned to visit a hospital in Tel Aviv to meet with families […]
Stitt Cabinet official’s concerns over Oklahoma education agency finances prompted resignation
OKLAHOMA CITY — The governor’s former education secretary said she resigned from her position after three months because the state superintendent’s administration limited her oversight of his agency. Katherine Curry said she repeatedly asked for financial documents showing how the agency budgeted and spent money, but the Oklahoma State Department of Education never provided them. […]
Ryan Walters endorses Donald Trump, plans to join his reelection team
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s top education official has endorsed former President Donald Trump for reelection, a split from Gov. Kevin Stitt’s choice for the Republican nominee. State Superintendent Ryan Walters said on Wednesday he received a call from Trump this week and would join the former president’s reelection team. “I fully stand behind President Trump, […]
Oklahoma’s governor presses NCAA to change transgender student athlete participation policy
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s governor is pressing the nation’s top collegiate sports governing body to overhaul its transgender student athlete policies to “guarantee a fair environment” for female athletes. In a letter, Gov. Kevin Stitt and eight other Republican governors wrote that the NCAA has “the chance to guarantee an environment where female college athletes […]