In The News 05.21.2026

Here are the headlines shared on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

• Oklahoma Voice launches voter guide ahead of June 16 primary election (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oily sludge is flooding their dream home. Oklahoma regulators say they can’t help. (The Frontier)

• Election Year Politics Killed Oklahoma’s Eviction Reform Bills, Advocates Say (Oklahoma Watch)

• Mexican Ambassador discusses bringing investments to Oklahoma (KOCO)

• Federal grants aim to boost Indian Country energy production in Oklahoma, beyond (KGOU)

• Campaign Contribution May Have Scuttled Investment Advisory Bid (Oklahoma Watch)

• EPA announces $27 million for Oklahoma lead pipe replacement projects (KWTV)

• Oklahoma governor, attorney general spar over Health Care Authority audit request (KGOU)

• Efforts to resolve intra-tribal dispute continue to stall after Oklahoma Supreme Court decision (KOSU)

• Stitt says new law is ‘ending penalizing student athletes for transferring schools.’ OSSAA clarifies. (KGOU)

• Oklahoma files appeal of settlement rejection in poultry pollution lawsuit (KGOU)

• Black dust covers Oklahoma town as residents face pollution fears (KOCO)

• Oklahoma halts weatherization program, audit reveals questionable spending (KOCO)

• WITHDRAWN: Tulsa County Sheriff pulls name out of consideration for ICE director (KJRH)

• Cherokee Nation awards $483,000 in grants to 138 rural volunteer fire departments (KTUL)

• Oklahoma’s 211 hotlines secure state funding (The Frontier)

• Historical documents showcased in new book unlock history of Iowa Tribe in Oklahoma (KOSU)

• Personalized Route 66 centennial license plate now available (KJRH)

• New Cherokee park honors first female principal chief (KWGS)

Oklahoma experienced a significantly dry week as below-normal precipitation persisted across the state, with most areas recording less than 0.50 inches of rainfall. This lack of moisture led to widespread departures of 0.75 to 1.50 inches below historical averages, exacerbating drought conditions across the region. Consequently, the state saw a worsening of its drought status, marked by the introduction of exceptional (D4) drought in the Panhandle and the expansion of extreme (D3) to severe (D2) drought categories in other parts of the state. These dry conditions were accompanied by intense, anomalous warmth, with the western half of the region, including Oklahoma, experiencing temperatures 6°F to 15°F above normal.

Oklahoma summary from the National Drought Summary for May 19, 2026 / South

Oklahoma Primary Election - Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

The last day to register to vote for this election was May 22. If you didn’t get registered in time, you’ll have to wait until the next election in August. You can register to vote anytime. So why put it off?

Absentee ballots must be requested before June 1st. Early voting is on June 11th, 12th, and 13th.

There is one State Question on the primary ballot. All eligible voters can vote for the State Question regardless of political party.

Sample ballots are now available in the Oklahoma Voter Portal.

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

State Question 832

If you would like a quick summary of SQ832, read this article at Oklahoma Voice: State Question 832- Raising the minimum wage | Voter Guide: 2026 Oklahoma Primary Election

Here is the text of the SQ832 as it appears on the ballot

STATE QUESTION NO. 832
INITIATIVE PETITION NO. 446

This measure amends the Oklahoma Minimum Wage Act (OMWA) under the Oklahoma Statutes to increase the state minimum wage. Employers must pay employees at least $9 per hour beginning in 2025, increasing $1.50 annually for a final rate of $15 per hour in 2029. Beginning in 2030 and continuing indefinitely, the minimum wage would automatically increase annually based on the increase in the cost of living, if any, as measured by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers; the minimum wage increase would continue with any successor agency or index. Such increase would also not require approval from Congress or the Oklahoma Legislature. This measure eliminates several exemptions in the current OMWA, including the exemptions for employers subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act; part-time employees; certain students and individuals under age 18; farm and agricultural workers; domestic service workers; newspaper vendors or carriers; and feedstore employees. Effectively, eliminating these exemptions results in current employees not covered by the OMWA now being entitled to the minimum wage. The measure also repeals title 40, section 197.5. Federal and state employees will not be covered under the OMWA. Volunteers; employers with ten or fewer employees and grossing $100,000 or less; some employees of carriers engaged in interstate commerce; employees working in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity; outside salesmen; and reserve deputy sheriffs will remain excluded from the OMWA’s coverage. Because counties, municipalities, and school districts are not excluded, a fiscal impact on the State will result, possibly necessitating a revenue increase by new taxes or elimination of existing services. The measure will be effective the January 1 following approval and will not apply retroactively.

Shall the proposal be approved?

FOR THE PROPOSAL - YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL - NO

“The Marketplace Took it as Far as it Could” - Broadcasters Admit NextGen TV Defeat (Lon.TV)

The Touch (Reformatted Edition) - Knights of Unicron ft. Stan Bush | The Transformers: The Movie

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Until next time.

– K. @}-;--

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