Oklahoma public schools saw 10,000 fewer students enroll this year—the largest drop since the pandemic. What’s behind the decline? Experts point to falling birth rates and increased school choice options. Read more: ow.ly/zn9J50Y4NE7

#OKLAED #PublicSchools #Enrollment #EducationNews #OklahomaWatch

SNAP benefits could be cut off next week More than 680,000 Oklahomans could have their food assistance benefits cut off next week if the federal government shutdown doesn’t end, state leaders said Tuesday.

Beneficiaries of SNAP for October can continue through month's end, but the agency doesn’t know if any carryover funds can be used in November or if funds will be retroactively available once the shutdown ends, said Jeffrey Cartmell, Okla. Depart. of Human Services director.
#OklahomaWatch

Oklahoma District Attorneys Gain Ally in Glossip Case - Oklahoma Watch Attorney General Gentner Drummond appointed the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council’s assistant executive director as a special assistant prosecutor in the Richard Glossip case, raising eyebrows in le...

Oklahoma District Attorneys Gain Ally in Glossip Case
oklahomawatch.org/2025/07/25/o... by Keaton Ross July 25, 2025 #OklahomaWatch

State Housing Assessment Shows Small Homes In Demand - Oklahoma Watch The state’s new Oklahoma 2024 Housing Needs Assessment shows the state’s greatest need is for the types of homes that are hardest for Oklahoma builders to accomplish – small and affordable.

State Housing Assessment Shows Small Homes In Demand - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/12/30/s...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

Stitt Ends State Employee Telework Options - Oklahoma Watch Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order requiring most state employees to return to office full-time by February 2025, reversing pandemic-era telework policies. The policy includes several...

Stitt Ends State Employee Telework Options - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/12/20/s...

#Oklahoma #OKGovernor #OklahomaWatch

Proposed Rules Would Require Students to Prove Citizenship or Legal Immigration Status - Oklahoma Watch Children would have to show proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status to enroll in a public school under new rules proposed by the Oklahoma Department of Education, a practice that could r...

Proposed Rules Would Require Students to Prove Citizenship or Legal Immigration Status - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/12/17/p...

#Oklahoma #OKEd #oklaed #OklahomaWatch

Good to se you here sir! Thanks for the work you and your #OklahomaWatch folks do.

HUD Ends Section 8 at Duncan Apartments, Residents Told To Leave - Oklahoma Watch After years of mismanagement, a national slumlord may be held accountable but low-income residents in Duncan face the holidays with uncertainty knowing soon, they’ll be forced to vacate their homes.

HUD Ends Section 8 at Duncan Apartments, Residents Told To Leave - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/12/13/h...

#Oklahoma #DuncanOK #OklahomaWatch

State’s New Mental Health Center Faces Huge Construction Cost Overrun  - Oklahoma Watch Oklahoma’s Donahue Behavioral Health Center faces a $125 million funding shortfall due to underestimated costs, inflation and design changes. Delays may push its opening to 2028.

State’s New Mental Health Center Faces Huge Construction Cost Overrun  - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/12/04/s...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

Rent-To-Buy Company Has Big State Investment, Limited Customer Options - Oklahoma Watch Berry-Rock Homes is just one of many contract-for-deed companies filling a gap between rental companies and regular mortgage lenders. But there’s a twist: One of its biggest investors is the state of ...

Rent-To-Buy Company Has Big State Investment, Limited Customer Options - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/12/02/r...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

Straight-Party Voting Declines - Oklahoma Watch Oklahoma State Election Board data shows 37.9% of Oklahoma voters chose the straight-party voting option in the Nov. 5 general election, down from 45.5% in 2020. Voters in southeastern Oklahoma were t...

Straight-Party Voting Declines - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/11/15/s...
#Oklahoma #OKVotes #OklahomaWatch

State Walks Away from Tens of Millions Meant for Needy Families - Oklahoma Watch Oklahoma’s leaders have a complicated relationship with federal grant money. They love the federal cash. Just don’t tell them what to do with it or how to do it.

State Walks Away from Tens of Millions Meant for Needy Families
oklahomawatch.org/2024/08/29/s...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

Tax Credit Program Sparks Statewide Surge in Private School Tuition - Oklahoma Watch With private schools statewide now eligible for up to $7,500 in tax credits per student through the Parental Choice Tax Credit Program, many are raising tuition. How are schools able to do this and wh...

Tax Credit Program Sparks Statewide Surge in Private School Tuition - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/08/13/t...

#Oklahoma #OKEd #oklaed #OklahomaWatch

Oklahoma Tenant Unions Give Voice to Renters' Concerns - Oklahoma Watch In Oklahoma, several tenant unions act to protect people’s rights, safety and homes with positive results in many cases. However, Oklahoma lacks some important tenant protections that make some Oklaho...

Oklahoma Tenant Unions Give Voice to Renters' Concerns - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/08/02/o...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

Oklahoma Western District Court Among the Slowest in the Country, Data Shows - Oklahoma Watch Three federal judges are responsible for almost all delays in the Western District and account for nearly half of all delays statewide.

Oklahoma Western District Court Among the Slowest in the Country, Data Shows - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/07/30/o...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

Have gun ammo vending machines been installed in Oklahoma? - Oklahoma Watch Automated vending machines selling ammunition have been installed in multiple Oklahoma grocery stores. Manufactured by the Texas-based company American Rounds, the machines require an ID and facial re...

Have gun ammo vending machines been installed in Oklahoma? - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/07/25/h...

Yes.

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch #FactCheck

Sunset of Counselor Corps Leads to Budget Cuts, Staff Reductions - Oklahoma Watch Funding for the state's successful Counselor Corps program is running out, leading some school districts to reduce or eliminate mental health services for students.

Sunset of Counselor Corps Leads to Budget Cuts, Staff Reductions - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/07/26/s...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

Dozens of Counties Don’t Apply for Mental Health and Diversion Grants - Oklahoma Watch The counties are mostly in rural areas that aren’t allotted as much money from the County Community Safety Investment Fund.

Dozens of Counties Don’t Apply for Mental Health and Diversion Grants - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/07/24/d...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

AG Opinion Opens Funding for Eviction Prevention - Oklahoma Watch Oklahoma Attorney General Getner Drummond on July 12 issued an opinion stating that municipal funds can constitutionally be allocated to nonprofit organizations for eviction prevention services, such ...

AG Opinion Opens Funding for Eviction Prevention - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/07/22/a...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch #OKAttorneyGeneral

State Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit Alleging Inhumane Conditions at Hinton Prison - Oklahoma Watch The seven prisoners suing the state did not exhaust the Department of Corrections’ grievance process, a prerequisite for incarcerated people to file a federal lawsuit.

State Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit Alleging Inhumane Conditions at Hinton Prison - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/07/16/s...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

Cities Addressing Emergencies with More Mental Health Professionals - Oklahoma Watch The state of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Police Department became the subject of a Department of Justice investigation in 2022 for potentially inadequate mental health response to th...

Cities Addressing Emergencies with More Mental Health Professionals - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/07/11/c...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

Camping Bans Found Constitutional Despite Lack of Shelters - Oklahoma Watch A much anticipated U.S. Supreme Court decision allows municipalities to enact laws banning camping on unauthorized public lands. Previously considered Cruel and Unusual Punishment, the Court ruled fin...

Camping Bans Found Constitutional Despite Lack of Shelters - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/07/02/c...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch #SCOTUS

Corrections Board Greenlights Lawton Prison Contract Extension - Oklahoma Watch The agreement will keep state prisoners at the Lawton prison, one of the most violent in the state, through June 2025.

Corrections Board Greenlights Lawton Prison Contract Extension - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/06/27/c...
#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

Outside Spending Soars Ahead of Primary Election - Oklahoma Watch Politically involved nonprofits have poured more than $2.5 million into state legislative races, nearly triple what was spent in 2020.

Outside Spending Soars Ahead of Primary Election - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/06/17/o...

#Oklahoma #OKVotes #OklahomaWatch

Supreme Court Rejects Education Department’s Attempt to Ban Books - Oklahoma Watch In a unanimous decision, the Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled in favor of Edmond Public Schools in a battle over books in its school libraries.

Supreme Court Rejects Education Department’s Attempt to Ban Books - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/06/12/s...

#Oklahoma #OKEd #oklaed #OklahomaWatch

Memorial Day Weekend Could See Mass Evictions - Oklahoma Watch A blockbuster day at eviction court in Oklahoma County is set for Thursday as Memorial Day’s Monday closing means Judge Trent Pipes will preside over 387 eviction hearings.

Memorial Day Weekend Could See Mass Evictions - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/05/22/m...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

Stitt Signs Hundreds of Bills Into Law as Budget Negotiations Continue - Oklahoma Watch With less than a month left to go in the legislative session, House and Senate leaders are inching closer to a budget agreement and Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed hundreds of bills into law. But disagree...

Stitt Signs Hundreds of Bills Into Law as Budget Negotiations Continue - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/05/01/s...

#Oklahoma #OKGovernor #OklahomaWatch

Zoned Out: How Oklahoma Zoning Laws Contribute to the Housing Crisis - Oklahoma Watch In Oklahoma’s three largest cities, single-family zoning regulations create obstacles for affordable housing development. As Tulsa and Oklahoma City budget large influxes of tax dollars for housing, s...

Zoned Out: How Oklahoma Zoning Laws Contribute to the Housing Crisis - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/04/30/z...

#Oklahoma #OklahomaWatch

Long Story Short: Oklahoma Supreme Court considers arguments over Catholic charter school Oklahoma Watch, April 24, 2024

Long Story Short: Oklahoma Supreme Court considers arguments over Catholic charter school | KGOU
www.kgou.org/show/oklahom...

#Oklahoma #OKEd #oklaed #OKSC #Podcast #OklahomaWatch

Uncontested: Nearly Half of Legislative Races Have Already Been Decided - Oklahoma Watch About one-third of House and Senate seats up for reelection will appear on the November ballot.

Uncontested: Nearly Half of Legislative Races Have Already Been Decided - Oklahoma Watch
oklahomawatch.org/2024/04/10/u...

#Oklahoma #OKVotes #OklahomaWatch