In The News 07.09.2026

In The News

Here are the headlines shared on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

• Tourism industry hopes 2028 Summer Olympics will be boon for Oklahoma economy (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma AG Drummond sues Allstate over alleged underpaid wind and hail claims (KOKH)

• Waurika implements mandatory water restrictions amid increased usage (KSWO)

• After years of black dust complaints, Oklahoma cites Continental Carbon for 81 alleged violations (The Frontier)

• Oklahoma’s SNAP error rate increased, officials are working to cut it down (Oklahoma Voice)

• Left Behind: People Deported by ICE Leave Behind Families of Citizens and Lasting Trauma (Oklahoma Watch)

• Oklahoma teacher pay raise sparks calls to boost school support staff wages (KOKI)

• Drone delivery company to launch service in Tulsa, factory to build delivery drones (KOTV)

• Judge orders State Farm to turn over more evidence in Tulsa hail damage lawsuit (KOKH)

• 10,000 Texts per Hour: How Campaigns Are Reaching Oklahoma Voters Whether They Like It or Not (Oklahoma Watch)

• New recess law, state policy change causing surprise challenges for Oklahoma schools (Oklahoma Voice)

• What Oklahoma House members want to study this interim - Capitol Update (Oklahoma Policy Institute)

• Last known American using iron lung dies in Oklahoma (KOSU)

• Portions of Wichita Wildlife Refuge to temporarily close for feral swine control (KSWO)

• Oklahoma is only 3 counties away from reaching full coverage of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (KGOU)

• Author explores women’s work on Route 66 in new book (KWGS)

• Oklahoma State University’s Storybook Trail marries literature and nature (KGOU)

Oklahoma Drought Monitor

Oklahoma Elections

The next election is the Oklahoma Primary Runoff on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. The deadline to register to vote for this election is July 31, and the deadline to request an absentee ballot is August 10.

There are two state questions on the August ballot. Everyone is encouraged to vote.

• State Question 844: Tax administration

• State Question 846: Voter ID

I’ll be sharing my write-up about these state questions in a separate newsletter next week. (I need a little more research time on SQ 844.)

Extras

Dust Motel Vol. 1 (Full Mix) – Funky Trip-Hop Desert Dub | Lofi Chill Music (High Desert Beats)

It was extra warm in the home office while I put the newsletter together. Seemed fitting to listen to some desert lofi.

Obsidian for Writers (No Boilerplate)

An interesting way to use Obsidian. Obsidian has been my note app of choice for a while.

Ammo Counters. (Ahoy)

Ahoy has a way to make something seemingly trivial, like ammo counters in video games, seem very interesting. Plus, he’s a first-rate narrator.

The Looney Tunes Character Carved From a Ventriloquist Dummy | The Animation Dossier (Anthony’s Animation Talk)

A little fun Looney Tunes history.

Feedback Welcome

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Until next time.

– K. @}-;--

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