In The News 09.16.2026

Here are the headlines shared on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

• Oklahoma lawmakers send voter ID state question to August ballot (Oklahoma Voice)

• Governor signs Oklahoma budget bill (Oklahoma Voice)

• Property tax exemption measure faces Oklahoma Supreme Court challenge (The Journal Record)

• Oklahoma lawmakers advance state question to cap property tax growth (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma legislature to cut Heartland Flyer from budget (KGOU)

• Oklahoma lawmakers race to save suicide hotline as federal funding is set to expire (KFOR)

• What a super El Niño could mean for Oklahoma’s weather (KGOU)

• Medicaid expansion could change under 2 Oklahoma bills (KOSU)

• Senate puts kibosh on Aug. 25 Medicaid election plan (Oklahoma Voice)

• Restrictions on in-state tuition and welfare benefits among Oklahoma immigration bills moving forward (The Frontier)

• Oklahoma tribes face digital crossroads in tribal gaming (The Journal Record)

• Senate advances bill to make school cellphone ban permanent (Oklahoma Voice)

• Turning off lights at night can help migratory birds in Oklahoma (KOKH)

• City of Muskogee investigates storm siren delay after severe weather (KOTV)

• AG Drummond files motion to dismiss all claims against him in Ben Gamla lawsuit (KFOR)

• Oklahoma’s Landlord-Tenant Act Has Seldom Changed In Its Nearly 50 Year History (Oklahoma Watch)

• Many states, including Oklahoma, don’t report losses from data center tax breaks, study says (Oklahoma Voice)

• Swapping one tax for a worse one doesn’t pay off (Oklahoma Policy Institute)

• OU linebacker Owen Heinecke wins case against NCAA, is immediately eligible to play for Sooners (KOTV)

• Slow it down: Highway 69 speed limit drops in Stringtown (KTEN)

• Claremore police warn public to stay out of city’s underground tunnels (KJRH)

• Walmart announces store upgrades in Oklahoma; see which stores made the list (KTUL)

• AM RADIO: Congress considers AM radio mandate for US automakers (KJRH)

• 7 Oklahoma towns Route 66 helped shape (KWTV)

• Roblox reaches kids safety agreement with Nevada (KFOR)

While Oklahoma received significant precipitation—exceeding 150% of normal for the period—it remains largely unchanged on the drought map, as the moisture was mostly sufficient to prevent further decline rather than trigger widespread recovery. The state’s primary challenge shifted to extreme heat, with departures of 12–15 degrees above normal in western Oklahoma. Aside from a minor expansion of severe drought (D2) in the panhandle, the state has held steady, in contrast to neighboring Texas, which saw significant one-category improvements.

Oklahoma summary of the National Drought Summary for April 14, 2026 / South

IMPORTANT!

Keep an eye on the August 25 primary run-off election. The Oklahoma legislature is attempting to pack a few important State Questions into this typically low-turnout election.

Primary Election

The next regularly scheduled election is the Primary Election, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. The last day to register to vote in the primary election is May 22. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is June 1.

Contest of Candidacy

The contest of candidacy hearings were held on April 16, 2026. One candidate was stricken from the ballot, one retained, and the others were all withdrawn by the petitioner. Documents and recordings can be found here.

Family Home DESTROYED by Abandoned Oil Well - Fort Gibson, OK (BowmanTV)

DRM Fight: What Broadcasters Haven’t Learned From the Music Industry’s Near Death (Lon.TV)

10 Editing Cuts Every Video Editor Should Know (Jonny Duncan)

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Until next time.

– K. @}-;--

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