A new $72 million transmission line connecting two substations northwest of Oklahoma City was designed to relieve grid congestion, but before it is even built, it has made the surrounding area one of the most sought-after locations for AI data center development in Oklahoma, drawing multiple large-scale developers and sparking community pushback. The post A Transmission Line Built to Fix Grid Congestion Has Become Oklahoma’s Hottest Data Center Address appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously denied Attorney General Gentner Drummond's effort to intervene in the State Farm hail claim case but simultaneously told him exactly how to proceed instead. Within hours, Drummond announced a new independent lawsuit against State Farm, filed the next morning, invoking racketeering laws and alleging massive fraud against Oklahoma policyholders. The post Oklahoma Supreme Court Signals the Way Forward on State Farm While Denying Drummond’s Intervention appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Oklahoma Watch · Outside Political Money & Oklahoma’s Frozen AI Legislation Keaton Ross and summer intern Maya Henry track a historic flood of outside political spending and targeted ad campaigns shaking up the June 16 primary elections. Plus, as states push forward with artificial intelligence laws despite federal warnings, reporter Andrea Eger reveals why nearly […] The post Long Story Short: Outside Political Money & Oklahoma’s Frozen AI Legislation appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
As Congress debates the BUILD America 250 Act, a sweeping five-year transportation reauthorization proposal, Oklahoma officials and economic developers are watching closely. The bill's emphasis on freight corridors, bridges, rail and transit aligns with Oklahoma's push to position itself as a logistics hub — but rising costs and Highway Trust Fund uncertainty complicate the picture. The post Freight, Bridges, Rail and Transit: How the BUILD America 250 Act Could Reshape Oklahoma appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Here is the audio of Oklahoma Watch’s published stories for the week of June 15, 2026. – Full Week Playlist: Listen to all the stories back-to-back, without interruption. – Individual Stories: Select and play any story you’d like to hear, at your convenience.
Oklahoma City's eviction rate has doubled over the past decade to 12%, more than double New York City's rate, according to new data from the Eviction Lab at Princeton University. More than 40% of evictions in Oklahoma County come from just 100 properties, and Black renters face eviction at nearly double their share of the renter population. The post OKC Evictions Have Doubled in a Decade appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Jackson Lahmeyer, the candidate previously backed by President Donald Trump in Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, dropped out of the race one day after advancing to a runoff in the GOP primary. NOTUS first reported earlier Wednesday that he was expected to drop out of the race. “After prayerful consideration with my wife, Kendra, and my […] The post Pastor Once Backed by Trump Quits Oklahoma House Race appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Oklahoma Watch · Helter Smelter, Jail Visitations and Norman's Homelessness Crisis Andrea Eger heads to Inola to find the local residents who actually want a controversial $4 billion aluminum smelter built in their town. Plus, Jennifer Palmer and Maya Henry investigate a major shift in how Oklahoma county jails handle inmate visitations, and Jake Ramsey […] The post Long Story Short: Helter Smelter, Jail Visitations and Norman’s Homelessness Crisis appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Incumbency and presidential endorsements proved beneficial in Tuesday’s primary election, which attracted nearly $60 million in candidate and outside spending. The post Incumbency, Presidential Endorsements Beneficial in Oklahoma’s Primary Election appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
State Question 832 (Proposal to Raise the Minimum Wage) Republican Primary Races Democrat Primary Races The post Election Results appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Outside groups have spent nearly $3 million on Oklahoma legislative races ahead of the June 16 primary election. Political action committees with obscure funding sources are fueling the spending. The post Outside Money Ad Blitz Targets Oklahoma Legislative Candidates appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Here is the audio of Oklahoma Watch’s published stories for the week of June 8, 2026. – Full Week Playlist: Listen to all the stories back-to-back, without interruption. – Individual Stories: Select and play any story you’d like to hear, at your convenience.
Outside groups have reported nearly $26 million in independent expenditures ahead of the June 16 primary election, almost triple the amount spent in 2022. Several Republican candidates for governor say reform is needed. The post Republican Primaries for Governor, Attorney General Drive Record Outside Spending appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Four Republican candidates for Oklahoma insurance commissioner squared off Tuesday over whether insurance executives found guilty of bad faith should face potential jail time, with candidates splitting sharply on the question. The forum comes as the Oklahoma Supreme Court weighs the State Farm intervention case and new rate-challenge authority takes effect in 2027. The post Candidates Weigh Hypothetical Jail Time for Insurance Executives appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
By Jake Ramsey, Oklahoma Watch The Norman Night Shelter was shut down for four days after an anonymous complaint triggered a state fire marshal inspection revealing multiple code violations. The closure left more than 50 people without shelter, coming amid encampment sweeps under Operation SAFE and a broader wave of anti-homeless policy in Norman and statewide. The post Encampment Sweeps, a Shelter Shutdown and Nowhere Left to Go: Norman’s Homeless Crisis Deepens appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
The post Would SQ 832 make it more difficult for businesses to continue to claim tax breaks for the number of employees they have on government assistance programs? appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
A Trump administration plan to preserve coal-fired power generation is reshaping Oklahoma’s energy landscape. The Grand River Dam Authority has abandoned plans to retire its last coal unit, securing millions in federal funding to extend operations despite past concerns over costs, emissions regulations and long-term viability. The post With Assist From Trump Administration, GRDA Sticks With Coal Power appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Oklahoma Watch · A Cannabis Crash, The Inola Smelter and A Treasurer’s Commute Stephen Martin breaks down how oversupply and regulation are crashing Oklahoma’s cannabis boom, while Elizabeth Caldwell investigates how two gubernatorial candidates view a massive proposed aluminum smelter in Inola. Plus, Paul Monies details an investigation into the state treasurer’s frequent use of […] The post Long Story Short: A Cannabis Crash, The Inola Smelter and A Treasurer’s Commute appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Inola is deeply divided over a proposed $4 billion aluminum smelter that would deliver substantial property tax revenue to the school district and local government but raise serious concerns about toxic air emissions near farms, ranches and a school three miles from the site. Supporters and opponents both say they want what's best for the community. The post The Quiet Supporters of Inola’s Aluminum Smelter Are Running the School District and Career Tech Center appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
The post Have 70% of casualties in the Russia-Ukraine war been caused by drones, as Rep. Tom Cole claimed? appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
More than two-thirds of Oklahoma county jails have eliminated in-person visitation, replacing face-to-face visits with costly video calls that generate revenue for counties and private contractors. Advocates say the shift harms detainees, most of whom have not been convicted, and damages family bonds that research shows reduce recidivism. The post “That’s Not a Visit”: How Pricey Video Calls Replaced Human Contact in Oklahoma Jails appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Here is the audio of Oklahoma Watch’s published stories for the week of June 1, 2026. – Full Week Playlist: Listen to all the stories back-to-back, without interruption. – Individual Stories: Select and play any story you’d like to hear, at your convenience.
Oklahoma may have passed legislation requiring large data centers (75+ megawatts) to fund their own infrastructure costs and provide 60 days' advance notice before purchasing land, according to Oklahoma Watch reporting.
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready initially denied a request for a public hearing on homeowners insurance competitiveness in April, then reversed course six weeks later by calling for an identical hearing. Consumer advocates criticized the reversal as both delayed and procedurally compromised, citing Mulready's pre-determination that the market is competitive before the hearing even occurs.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond sued to halt construction of a major proposed aluminum smelter at the Port of Inola, citing pollution and public nuisance concerns. The filing came hours after rival gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei, backed by a Trump endorsement, announced his support for the project.
Oklahoma Watch is fact-checking a claim by Rep. Kevin Hern that identical medical services provided by the same physician can cost up to four times more when hospitals acquire independent physician offices.
Oklahoma Watch previews three stories: a discussion of a fatal Panhandle accident, an examination of Oklahoma's legislative overhaul of reading instruction in schools, and reporting on a new federal crackdown (specific target not specified in excerpt).
Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ is using a state-funded unclaimed property office in Clinton as a personal commuting hub, with GPS data showing state vehicle use for the 85-mile commute from Oklahoma City. The treasurer's office lacks authorization for personal commuting use of state vehicles.
Oklahoma's cannabis industry, once promoted as a major economic engine, is contracting as wholesale prices fall and supplies exceed demand. Governor Kevin Stitt is actively pushing for industry shutdown, threatening secondary businesses, property values, and local economies built around cannabis commerce.
Oklahoma Watch published audio versions of its weekly journalism stories for May 25, 2026, available as a full playlist or individual segments.
A Wyoming-based dark money group offered Oklahoma donors the chance to win a cruise for contributing at least $50 to preferred 2026 election candidates, prompting questions about compliance with state campaign finance and sweepstakes laws. The group's website went offline citing compliance concerns.
An eight-year-old girl and her grandfather were killed in Guymon when a drug task force officer's vehicle, traveling 85 mph in a 70 mph zone, struck their car. An investigation into the crash revealed significant procedural failures—no photographs were taken, no witnesses were interviewed, and the collision report was incomplete—raising concerns about a potential cover-up.
Oklahoma educators are preparing to implement the Strong Readers Act, which will require struggling third-grade readers to be retained starting in 2027-28. Teachers and reading specialists are expressing concern that one year may not provide sufficient preparation time, given that Mississippi's comparable literacy reform initiative took a decade to establish.
The post Were 150,000 – 250,000 noncitizens paroled into the United States per week under the Biden Administration? appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Oklahoma Watch · The Treasurer, the Whistleblower, and the Eviction Engine Reporter Paul Monies digs deeper into the state’s Invest in Oklahoma program, tracking a campaign contribution linked to State Treasurer Todd Russ’s re-election campaign. Plus, J.C. Hallman returns with an exclusive look into a mysterious State Farm whistleblower with deep Oklahoma roots, and Jake […] The post Long Story Short: The Treasurer, the Whistleblower, and the Eviction Engine appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Here is the audio of Oklahoma Watch’s published stories for the week of May 18, 2026. – Full Week Playlist: Listen to all the stories back-to-back, without interruption. – Individual Stories: Select and play any story you’d like to hear, at your convenience.
A federal bill introduced Wednesday would require private equity firms to divest from youth sports within two years and ban practices like stay-to-play, where tournament participation is contingent on booking specific hotels. The legislation follows a 2025 Oklahoma Watch investigation into stay-to-play's impact on Oklahoma families. The post Federal Bill Would Ban Stay-to-Play and Force Private Equity Out of Youth Sports appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Oklahoma has signed a law creating an automated expungement system that advocates say will clear records for more than 300,000 Oklahomans with nonviolent convictions and pardoned offenses. The law follows a 2022 Clean Slate Act that faced technical delays, and is part of a broader package of criminal justice reforms passed this session. The post Automatic Expungement, Easier Medical Parole and Better Good-Time Credits: Oklahoma’s Criminal Justice Reforms appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
The post Were all 36 votes against a recently passed bill that bans child marriage cast by Republican lawmakers? appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Internal State Farm documents released by a whistleblower reveal a decades-long pattern of profit-driven claims handling and minimized payouts dating to the 1970s, according to materials surfaced at an Oklahoma City law office.
Oklahoma Watch publishes a roundup examining the state's education funding paradox, the impact of global conflicts on local soybean farmers, and recent education law changes.
Oklahoma's tenant protection bills failed to pass during this legislative session, with advocates blaming election-year politics and landlord industry influence. House Bill 2015, which would have empowered courts to hold landlords accountable for housing code violations, and a companion bill extending eviction timelines both stalled without advancing.
An article examines U.S. agricultural export statistics, specifically the proportion of domestically-raised cotton and winter wheat that are exported internationally.
Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ steered a $2 billion investment consulting contract to a Christian firm whose principals were deeply intertwined with his own advisors and anti-ESG allies during the bidding process, even as the incumbent firm was delivering record returns. The process raises serious questions about whether the bid was competitive. The post TSET Investment Consultant Partnered with Russ Allies During Bid Process appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Here is the audio of Oklahoma Watch’s published stories for the week of May 11, 2026. – Full Week Playlist: Listen to all the stories back-to-back, without interruption. – Individual Stories: Select and play any story you’d like to hear, at your convenience.
The firm that won Oklahoma's Invest in Oklahoma investment advisory contract has withdrawn after Oklahoma Watch uncovered a campaign donation from the firm's owner to the state treasurer who ran the bidding process. Federal pay-to-play rules prohibit investment firms from receiving state pension advisory contracts within two years of such donations. The post Campaign Contribution May Have Scuttled Investment Advisory Bid appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
The post Were 90% of private school tax voucher recipients already enrolled in private schools and less than 1% financially disadvantaged? appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
Oklahoma Watch · Abolitionists, Assets, and the Minimum Wage Ben Fenwick breaks down how an ultra-ideological faction is quietly capturing control of the state Republican Party and targeting incumbent lawmakers. Plus, Paul Monies reports on the fallout after the governor’s former chief of staff wins a bid to manage key state pension assets, and Keaton […] The post Long Story Short: Abolitionists, Assets, and the Minimum Wage appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
As the legislature prepares to adjourn for the year, some of the most consequential changes coming to public schools include reading reforms and longer school calendars. The post Oklahoma’s Education Overhaul: What’s Changing in Schools Next Year appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .
The post Does America spend nearly double per individual with worse health outcomes when compared to similarly developed countries, as Rep. Josh Breechen claimed? appeared first on Oklahoma Watch .