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Oklahoma Voice

@oklahomavoice.com

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We provide independent, nonpartisan reporting that holds officials accountable and expands knowledge of the political process. Read our content at oklahomavoice.com or subscribe to our newsletter at https://oklahomavoice.com/subscribe.

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 9h

More than 1,000 people joined a No Kings protest Saturday outside City Hall in Oklahoma City, donning ponchos and inflatable costumes in the rain to rally against President Donald Trump.

Over 1,000 gather in Oklahoma City as part of nationwide No Kings protests • Oklahoma Voice

More than 1,000 people joined a No Kings protest Saturday outside City Hall in Oklahoma City, donning ponchos and inflatable costumes in the rain to rally against President Donald Trump.

Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 1d

More than 2,600 nonviolent demonstrations against President Donald Trump’s administration are slated Saturday as part of No Kings day.
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No Kings day expected to draw millions for anti-Trump mass protests • Oklahoma Voice

WASHINGTON — More than 2,600 nonviolent demonstrations against President Donald Trump’s administration are slated Saturday as part of No Kings day. The second No Kings day, following another in June,…

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 1d

The federal courts will run out of funding “to sustain full, paid operations” Monday due to the ongoing government shutdown, though they “will maintain limited operations necessary to perform the Judiciary’s constitutional functions,” according to an announcement released Friday.
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Federal court system to shift to limited operations during government shutdown • Oklahoma Voice

WASHINGTON — The federal courts will run out of funding “to sustain full, paid operations” Monday due to the ongoing government shutdown, though they “will maintain limited operations necessary to…

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 1d

A state agency that regulates the ethical behavior of candidates and politicians filed suit Thursday against Rep. Ajay Pittman.
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Ethics Commission lawsuit targets Oklahoma City lawmaker • Oklahoma Voice

A state agency that regulates the ethical behavior of candidates and politicians filed suit Thursday against Rep. Ajay Pittman.

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 1d

President Donald Trump has argued that he needs to deploy National Guard troops across state lines to protect federal personnel and property or to support overwhelmed local law enforcement in cities he claims are “overrun” by crime.
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Trump isn’t sending troops to cities with highest crime rates, data shows • Oklahoma Voice

President Donald Trump has argued that he needs to deploy National Guard troops across state lines to protect federal personnel and property or to support overwhelmed local law enforcement in cities…

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 1d

A state Senate education leader said he hopes to give Oklahoma families recourse at the state level for special education complaints while related federal jobs face cuts.
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Oklahoma should add special education support amid federal uncertainty, state lawmaker says • Oklahoma Voice

State leaders in Oklahoma are exploring ways to bolster local support for special education amid Trump administration layoffs.

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 1d

A federal grand jury indicted former National Security Advisor John Bolton, a one-time staffer to President Donald Trump who turned publicly against the president by the end of his first term, on charges he mishandled classified information.

Trump critic and former aide John Bolton indicted for mishandling classified documents • Oklahoma Voice

A federal grand jury indicted former National Security Advisor John Bolton, a one-time staffer to President Donald Trump who turned publicly against the president by the end of his first term, on…

Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 2d

The new Oklahoma state superintendent led his first CareerTech board meeting since being appointed and said he plans to continue attending these monthly meetings, a marked change from former Superintendent Ryan Walters who attended only one meeting this year.

New state superintendent brings ‘drastic’ tone shift to partnership with Oklahoma CareerTech • Oklahoma Voice

The new Oklahoma state superintendent on Thursday led his first CareerTech board meeting since being appointed and said he plans to continue attending these monthly meetings.

Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 2d

The quality and cost of Medicare coverage depend on where you live, according to new research.
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Quality, cost of Medicare coverage vary by state, report finds • Oklahoma Voice

The quality and cost of Medicare coverage depend on where you live, according to new research. The Commonwealth Fund, a research nonprofit focused on health care, on Thursday released a report…

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 2d

Rep. Alexis Simmons waited until conservative Earl Glynn finished a lengthy presentation of proposed reforms to Kansas election law before raising objections with colleagues about the partisan approach of committee assigned to work on campaign-finance transparency.
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Personal attacks derail interim Kansas legislative committee hearing on election reform • Oklahoma Voice

Kansas Legislature's committee on election transparency engages in lights-out argument about partisanship in crafting the list of invited speakers.

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 2d

The latest candidate for Oklahoma attorney general pledged to hold the political elite accountable to the law and to "bring a sense of independence to the office."
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Former federal prosecutor runs for Oklahoma attorney general as a Democrat • Oklahoma Voice

Former federal prosecutor Nick Coffey is the first Democrat to enter the 2026 race for Oklahoma attorney general.

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 2d

Oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday drew protests from activists and lawmakers who warned the case threatens to gut a key provision of the Voting Rights Act and strip minority populations of the chance to elect candidates to Congress.
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Voting Rights Act supporters rally outside Supreme Court as justices hear Louisiana case • Oklahoma Voice

WASHINGTON — Oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday drew protests from activists and lawmakers who warned the case threatens to gut a key provision of the Voting Rights Act and strip…

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 3d

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday, blocking the Trump administration from moving forward with the thousands of layoffs it initiated after the government shutdown began on Oct. 1, as well as any others the administration might want to carry out.
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BREAKING: Federal judge blocks Trump from carrying out thousands of layoffs during shutdown • Oklahoma Voice

WASHINGTON — A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday, blocking the Trump administration from moving forward with the thousands of layoffs it initiated after the government…

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 3d

Oklahoma's new education chief made a significant policy departure from his predecessor, Ryan Walters, with an announcement Wednesday he will not distribute copies of the Bible to public schools.
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New state superintendent has ‘no plans to distribute Bibles’ in Oklahoma public schools • Oklahoma Voice

State Superintendent Lindel Fields indicated he will not fight in court to defend his predecessor's mandate on Bible instruction in schools.

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 3d

In a clear rebuke of recent federal health policy, 15 Democratic governors announced today they’ve formed a public health alliance that breaks with guidance from the Trump administration and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
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Democratic governors launch multistate public health alliance to counter Trump, RFK Jr. • Oklahoma Voice

In a clear rebuke of recent federal health policy, 15 Democratic governors announced today they’ve formed a public health alliance that breaks with guidance from the Trump administration and U.S.…

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 3d

The U.S. Senate returned to Capitol Hill on Tuesday following a four-day weekend, but neither Republicans nor Democrats appeared ready to work toward ending the government shutdown following another failed vote to advance a short-term funding bill.
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Trump targets ‘Democratic programs’ as shutdown standoff heads for third week • Oklahoma Voice

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate returned to Capitol Hill on Tuesday following a four-day weekend, but neither Republicans nor Democrats appeared ready to work toward ending the government shutdown…

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 4d

Abortion will remain available at Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri, the Western District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday, rejecting a request by the attorney general’s office to reinstate several restrictions on the procedure.
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Missouri appeals court rules against attorney general, allows abortions to continue • Oklahoma Voice

A Missouri appeals court unanimously rejected arguments by the attorney general that abortion regulations do not cause "irreparable harm."

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 4d

Oklahoma’s updated campaign finance reporting system will launch on Oct. 28 after delays because of technical issues.

Updated Oklahoma campaign finance system will launch in two weeks • Oklahoma Voice

Oklahoma’s updated campaign finance reporting system will launch on Oct. 28, according to a news release.

Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 4d

Cody Balmer, the Harrisburg man accused of firebombing the Governor’s Residence in April as Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests slept inside, pleaded guilty to attempted murder with a sentencing enhancement for terrorism on Tuesday.
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Harrisburg man pleads guilty to attempted murder and arson in Governor’s Residence firebombing • Oklahoma Voice

Balmer, 38, will serve a total sentence of 25 to 50 years. He’ll be eligible for parole in 2050 when he is 63 years old.

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 4d

Growing up in a religious family, Florida Republican state Sen. Alexis Calatayud has seen how many church communities are no longer anchored to a single building in the way they used to be.
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Can states, and a little bit of faith, convert church land into affordable housing? • Oklahoma Voice

Yes In God’s Backyard? Some states hope so. Lawmakers see the potential for much-needed housing on church-owned land.

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 4d

New data shows that while Indiana teacher pay has climbed in recent years, Hoosier educators still earn less than peers in neighboring states — a gap union leaders and some legislators say threatens teacher retention and classroom success.
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‘Harder to keep teachers’: Indiana fiscal policy panel weighs salary gaps, educator shortage • Oklahoma Voice

New data shows that while Indiana teacher pay has climbed in recent years, Hoosier educators still earn less than peers in neighboring states

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 5d

After just over two years in Hamas captivity, the surviving Israeli hostages were released Monday as President Donald Trump visited Israel and Egypt to celebrate a U.S.-brokered peace deal to end the war in Gaza.
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Trump, U.S. leaders celebrate end of hostilities in Gaza • Oklahoma Voice

WASHINGTON — After just over two years in Hamas captivity, the surviving Israeli hostages were released Monday as President Donald Trump visited Israel and Egypt to celebrate a U.S.-brokered peace…

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 5d

States are doing what they generally do during a federal government shutdown: continuing to operate programs serving some of the neediest people.
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‘This shutdown feels different.’ States might not get repaid when government reopens. • Oklahoma Voice

States are continuing to operate federally funded programs during the shutdown. But they say they can only front those costs for so long — and some are worried about getting repaid.

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 5d

A recent state law meant to provide some abuse victims sentencing relief in criminal cases may need tweaking, two of the measure’s authors said.
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Law may need ‘tweaking’ after Oklahoma inmate files for sentencing relief, officials say • Oklahoma Voice

A recent state law meant to provide some abuse victims sentencing relief in criminal cases may need tweaking, two of the measure’s authors said.

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Oklahoma Voice @oklahomavoice.com · 5d

States are doing what they generally do during a federal government shutdown: continuing to operate programs serving some of the neediest people.
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‘This shutdown feels different.’ States might not get repaid when government reopens. • Oklahoma Voice

States are continuing to operate federally funded programs during the shutdown. But they say they can only front those costs for so long — and some are worried about getting repaid.

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