Oil tycoon and major GOP donor Harold Hamm has reportedly approached Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to request an appointment to the state’s newly vacant U.S. Senate seat. The founder of Continental Resources and close ally of Donald Trump is one of several candidates being considered as the governor weighs his options for the high-profile opening.
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MAPS 4 Animal Welfare Center Hits Halfway Mark in Construction
Construction on the new MAPS 4 Louisa McCune Animal Welfare Center has reached its halfway point, officials announced Tuesday with a ceremonial “topping out.” The $42-million, 70,000-square-foot facility is on track for completion this fall. Funded through MAPS 4, the center will play a key role in making Oklahoma City a safer, more welcoming place […]
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Wait: who’s paying for the new arena?
Last October, Oklahoma City voters overwhelmingly passed all 11 propositions tied to a $2.7 billion bond election––the largest in state history. The 2025 general obligation bond was designed to address growing infrastructure needs, maintain past investments, and enhance residents’ quality of life. Among the 547 itemized bond projects is $25 million for the buildout of […]
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Iowa Tribe Partners with Caesars to Open Harrah’s Oklahoma Casino in Chandler
The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma is partnering with Caesar’s Entertainment to open the new Harrah’s Oklahoma Casino in Chandler, the first property in Oklahoma managed by Harrah’s. Projected open date is April 9, and the currently existing Ioway Casino will close in March to make way for the new operation. Jake Keyes, Chairman of the […]
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Stuck in Math Jail
Oklahoma County’s plan to plug the funding gap for its new jail quietly collapsed last month after commissioners declined to pursue a sales tax increase. Voters already approved a $260 million bond, but the price tag for the new facility has ballooned to more than three times that amount. While Commissioner Brian Maughan helped pump […]
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OSDE Audit Chaos
Auditor Cindy Byrd gave former Supt. Joy Hofmeister a clean bill of financial health, but the rest of the Oklahoma State Department of Education looks like a wild barnyard. OCAS still runs on the honor system, 23 districts spent outside cost limits, and a $1 million math vendor deal skipped competitive bidding. And Ryan Walters? Let’s just […]
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Weather Woes
As February comes to a close, Oklahomans are bracing for unpredictable weather, with meteorologists suggesting a chance of snow flurries—or sunbathing near the lake. Only in Oklahoma can you experience winter and spring in one week!
Posted inChicken-Fried News
Outlawed: Tito’s or Karens?
After allegations surfaced that some Oklahoma senators were knocking back drinks during late-night debates, Sen. Shane Jett (R-Shawnee) filed a bill aimed at keeping lawmakers from mixing Tito’s with taxpayer business. That didn’t sit well with Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton (R–Tuttle), who fired back by calling Jett a “Karen” during a press conference, […]
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Protecting Our Fluttering Neighbors
Springtime is on the horizon: days are lengthening and flowers are blooming—with the help of the monarch butterfly. Their pollination rituals, which promote biodiversity, are a vital part of what makes an ecosystem thrive. But, due to pesticides, habitat loss, and climate change, monarch butterflies have become a threatened species. The Oklahoma Monarch Society (OMS) […]
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Education Audit
A long-awaited special audit of the Oklahoma State Department of Education found no misuse of taxpayer funds under former state Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd released the findings during a news conference Wednesday. Gov. Kevin Stitt requested the audit in 2021 while at odds with Hofmeister, who was term-limited in 2023. […]