In The News 04.02.2026

Here are the headlines shared on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

• Oklahoma officials announce $12B budget deal (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma Editors Reflect on the Challenges Faced by Small-Town Newspapers (Oklahoma Watch)

• OK Tax Commission at center of massive data breach (KFOR)

• Tulsa unveils Oklahoma’s first musical road along Route 66 (KTUL)

• Cherokee Nation principal chief talks about his fight to preserve tribal rights (KOSU)

• Thousands of Oklahomans participate in No Kings demonstrations across state (Oklahoma Voice)

• Former TPS teacher calls for accountability after pension scandal (KTUL)

• Former firefighter charged with setting 8 grassfires in western Oklahoma (KOSU)

• Oklahoma County Budget Board bails out jail ahead of possible layoffs (Nondoc)

• Jenks student places second in C-SPAN contest for documentary on food insecurity under Trump (KWGS)

• Legislation would require minors to demonstrate an eighth-grade reading level before receiving a license or permit (KSWO)

• National Landlord Left Oklahoma Family in Barely Habitable Home, Then Evicted Them for Withholding Rent (Oklahoma Watch)

• Lawmakers aim to circumvent Oklahoma voters by putting state questions on low turnout election (Oklahoma Voice)

• Candidates head to Oklahoma Capitol to file for top races (KOKH)

• Battle Over Cryptic State Farm Documents Reaches OK Supreme Court (Oklahoma Watch)

• Oklahoma Democrats criticize FY 2027 budget secrecy (The Journal Record)

• Your personal data might set your grocery prices. States aim to crack down. (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma Railway Museum rolls out full schedule of spring train experiences (KWTV)

• Oklahoma lawmaker proposes morel mushroom as state symbol (KSWO)

• Federal judge rules Trump’s public media order violated First Amendment. Here’s what that means for KOSU (KOSU)

• New synthetic opioid linked to death in Oklahoma raises concern among health experts (KGOU)

• Bipartisan US senators want an investigation into farm equipment companies moving jobs to Mexico (News From The States)

• Attorney General Pam Bondi out at DOJ (NPR)

Oklahoma is currently experiencing an aggressive expansion of drought conditions, with 99% of the state now affected. The latest report highlights that Oklahoma City recently recorded its driest 90-day period on record, contributing to a massive spike in Extreme Drought (D3), which now covers nearly 35% of the state. This intensification is being driven by unseasonable heat—with temperatures as much as 15°F above normal—and critical moisture deficits in the Arkansas-White-Red river basin, where snow water equivalents have plummeted to just 8% of the median.

Oklahoma summary of the National Drought Summary for March 31, 2026

County Burn Bans

Candidate Filings

Candidates filed for Federal, State, Legislative, Judicial, and County offices on April 1-3, 2026. You can review who filed here: OK Candidate Filing

A public drawing to determine candidate order will be held on April 6.

You can view pictures of candidates filing on the Oklahoma State Elections Board’s Facebook page.

Board of Education General Election

An election will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Polls will be open 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM.

For more information on voting in Oklahoma, please visit the Oklahoma Elections Board at oklahoma.gov/elections.

Artemis II Launches Astronauts to the Moon (Official NASA Recap)

Experience NASA’s Artemis II Moon Launch in 360° (NASA)

The YouTube-ification of our vocabulary (Amy Shira Teitel)

I’m An Idiot. But Here’s How I Figure Out What’s True On The Internet (WheezyWaiter)

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Until next time.

– K. @}-;--

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