Nitrate is quietly polluting rural drinking wells. How researchers are working to help Across the central U.S., nitrate from crop fertilizer and livestock facilities is seeping into water underground. Many family wells are no longer safe to drink from without pricey treatment.

Across the central U.S., nitrate from crop fertilizer and livestock facilities is seeping into water underground. Many family wells are no longer safe to drink from without pricey treatment.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections installs full-body scanners to prevent contraband The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is increasing security measures at some of the state’s largest prisons to prevent the spread of contraband.

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is increasing security measures at some of the state’s largest prisons to prevent the spread of contraband.

Full-body scanners are being installed in five Oklahoma facilities.

Lost identity: How an Oklahoma policy change made ID renewals harder for the unhoused An Oklahoma policy change made state ID renewals harder for the unhoused.

Last year, Oklahoma lawmakers removed the option for individuals to replace their ID through fingerprint verification, meaning it now requires a birth certificate or another personal document — which many unhoused Oklahomans don't have.

Oklahoma Music Minutes for April 20-24: Music you should hear this week Norman Music Festival returns this weekend, with hundreds of musicians performing over a three-day period. KOSU is featuring artists you can see at NMF on the Oklahoma Music Minute.

Happy Monday! This week's Oklahoma Music Minutes preview Norman Music Festival, featuring local artists Wet Muscles, Douglas, Chase Kerby, The Geoffs and AJ Harvey.

Oklahoma County Commissioners reject funding cut for local Extension office Oklahoma County’s OSU Extension office will not see a proposed funding cut, after a vote from the Board of County Commissioners.

Oklahoma County’s OSU Extension office will retain its funding after the Board of County Commissioners voted against a cut. The board is trying to navigate financial challenges related to the county jail.

Gov. Kevin Stitt signs $12.8 billion Oklahoma budget bill The FY2027 budget, which begins on July 1, was passed by both chambers by April 9, but Stitt’s signature officially puts it into action.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday signed the state’s budget bill for the next fiscal year. It includes items like $192 million for education, $250 million for Medicaid services and $136 million for capital improvement projects.

Oklahoma lawmakers advance 211 resource hotline funding, prohibit abortion-related services Oklahoma lawmakers are advancing a measure that would create a revolving fund for the state’s 211 resource hotlines, with an added provision.

Oklahoma lawmakers are advancing a measure that would create a revolving fund for the state’s 211 resource hotlines, with an added provision that prohibits any state money from going to abortion-related services.

Record Store Day is Saturday. Here's what to expect in Oklahoma From Record Store Day activities in the state to a documentary on a rural Oklahoma blues club, here's our weekly round-up of local music news.

Record Store Day, an independent record store celebration, is this Saturday. Here's how you can participate in Oklahoma.

KOSU intern wins student broadcaster award KOSU intern Miranda Martinez won first place for best audio hard news story at the 2026 Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards.

KOSU student intern Miranda Martinez was recently recognized by the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association for a story she reported about the struggles of small businesses in Stillwater. Congrats, Miranda!

As millions of birds migrate through Oklahoma, experts urge residents to turn out the lights Migrating birds are headed north for nutritious insects, budding plants and nesting locales. But scientists say artificial outdoor lights are disrupting their journeys.

Migrating birds are headed north to breeding grounds, passing through Oklahoma along the way. But scientists say artificial outdoor lights are disrupting their journeys — and encourage residents to use them sparingly.

Oklahoma House advances $26 million early literacy overhaul bill with third grade retention The Oklahoma House overwhelmingly passed a bill Monday that would overhaul the state's literacy policy with elements like third grade retention, a multi-tiered system of supports, statewide literacy c...

The Oklahoma House overwhelmingly passed a bill Monday that would overhaul the state's literacy policy with elements like third grade retention, a multi-tiered system of supports, statewide literacy coaches and more.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt wants states to have say in immigration In an exclusive interview with KOSU, Gov. Kevin Stitt recapped his approach to immigration enforcement in Oklahoma and laid out his vision for how such enforcement should look going forward in his sta...

Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican businessman from Tulsa, is in the midst of serving his eighth and last year as Oklahoma’s 28th governor. In an interview with KOSU's @lionelramos.bsky.social, he talked about a topic he thinks states need more input on: immigration.

Oklahoma lawmakers advance measures to change Medicaid expansion, block special election Oklahoma senators passed two measures Tuesday that could pave the way for changes to voter-approved Medicaid expansion, but blocked efforts to put those changes on an August ballot.

Oklahoma senators passed two measures Tuesday that could pave the way for changes to voter-approved Medicaid expansion, but blocked efforts to put those changes on an August ballot.

Oklahoma lawmaker suspends reelection campaign following AI kissing video A Tulsa Democrat will no longer seek reelection following reports he used artificial intelligence to fabricate images of him kissing a woman.

A Tulsa Democrat will no longer seek reelection to the Oklahoma House following reports he used artificial intelligence to fabricate images of him kissing a woman.

@oklahomavoice.com

Measure heading to August ballot could cost counties, Oklahoma schools millions The Senate on Thursday passed House Joint Resolution 1087 by a vote of 38-7 that would let voters decide how much if any is reimbursed by the state. The measure passed the House in March.

Oklahoma counties and schools could lose millions under a proposition lawmakers put on the Aug. 25 ballot.

But legislators say the tax reimbursement program in question is getting very expensive for the state.

@oklahomavoice.com

Oklahoma lawmakers nix bill to extend black bear hunting season Oklahoma Senate lawmakers have killed a measure that would have expanded Oklahoma’s bear hunting season.

Oklahoma Senate lawmakers have killed a measure that would have extended Oklahoma’s bear hunting season. The additional dates would have fallen during the time bears prepare for hibernation.

Oklahoma sees decline in SNAP participation in wake of Big Beautiful Bill Participation in the nation’s biggest program to help pay for groceries fell across the U.S. last year. In a year, Oklahoma saw a 10% drop in the number of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program pa...

Participation in the nation’s biggest program to help pay for groceries fell across the U.S. last year. Oklahoma saw a 10% drop in the number of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants.

Your grocery bill could get even more expensive as fuel prices climb The economic uncertainty brought on from war in Iran will likely drive up U.S. food prices, especially for fresh produce.

The economic uncertainty brought on from war in Iran will likely drive up U.S. food prices, especially for fresh produce.

Thousands of Oklahomans switched party affiliation ahead of primary elections Since Jan. 1, independent voters comprised the largest shift in party affiliation with more than 6,100 selecting a party, according to data from the State Election Board, which allows them to particip...

Since Jan. 1, more than 6,100 Oklahoma voters formerly registered as independents have selected a party, which allows them to participate in Oklahoma’s partisan primaries in June and August.

@oklahomavoice.com

'Songwriter Circle' opens doors to new artists in Stillwater Musicians take their first steps in performing at Bad Brad’s Bar-B-Q in Stillwater.

Thursday nights at Bad Brad’s Bar-B-Q have become a Stillwater staple for the restaurant's “Songwriter Circle” event, which gives musicians of all ages and styles an opportunity to take the stage and launch their careers.

Oklahoma lawmakers add data center restrictions to groundwater metering measure Lawmakers advanced a bill that would reshape how Oklahoma tracks the water it pulls out of the ground. After a change during the legislative process, the measure would also add requirements for data c...

Oklahoma lawmakers advanced a bill that would reshape how the state tracks the water it pulls out of the ground. After a change during the legislative process, the measure would also add requirements for data centers seeking to use Oklahoma groundwater.

Oklahoma Senate moves forward with state question on judicial reform Oklahoma lawmakers are pushing through a measure to change how judges are selected in the state. Critics worry the move would make the process more partisan.

Oklahoma lawmakers are pushing through a measure to change how judges are selected in the state. Critics worry the move would make the process more partisan.

Oklahoma senators delay vote on measures that would send Medicaid expansion back to the ballot Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton said lawmakers need more time to meet with health care leaders.

Oklahoma lawmakers held over two bills Thursday that could pave the way for changes to Medicaid expansion. Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton said lawmakers need more time to meet with health care leaders.

$275 million Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit expansion bill advances from House A bill to expand the Parental Choice Tax Credit advanced from the House floor Thursday.

A bill to expand Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit, raising its cap from $250 million to $275 million, advanced from the House floor Thursday.

The program gives tax credits for parents to send their kids to eligible private schools.

Former Oklahoma Democratic Party chair confirms resignation came after AI kissing video An Oklahoma representative confirmed this week that his resignation as chair of the state’s Democratic Party came after he used artificial intelligence to generate a clip of him kissing a potential ca...

BREAKING: An Oklahoma representative confirmed this week that his resignation as chair of the state’s Democratic Party came after he used AI to generate a clip of him kissing a potential candidate for office, @nondocmedia.bsky.social reports.

Oklahoma Supreme Court rules energy discrimination law can't force state retiree system to divest A law requiring state entities to divest from financial companies that have policies deemed hostile to fossil fuel companies is unconstitutional, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday.

A law requiring state entities to divest from financial companies that have policies deemed hostile to fossil fuel companies is unconstitutional, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday.

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UFL will expand pro football to Oklahoma City in 2028 Professional football is coming to Oklahoma, after the United Football League (UFL) announced on Thursday it will expand to Oklahoma City in spring 2028.

Professional football is coming to Oklahoma, after the United Football League (UFL) announced on Thursday it will expand to Oklahoma City in spring 2028.

The Choctaw Nation and the Texas Historical Commission unveiled a historical marker in Fort Worth last week to honor the tribe’s World War I code talkers.

An Oklahoma bill that would add alpha-gal syndrome to the state’s list of tick-borne illnesses is advancing, a move advocates say is needed to tackle a growing public health concern.

Oklahoma cancer survivor, advocates say undoing Medicaid expansion could cost lives The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network says two measures that would clear a path for adjusting or reversing Medicaid expansion could threaten access to preventive care and screenings.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network says two measures that would clear a path for adjusting or reversing Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma could threaten access to preventive care and screenings.