Calls grow for Sessions to withdraw from Russia probe

A growing number of Republicans joined Democratic leaders Thursday in calling for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to step aside from an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 White House election. Top Democrats demanded that Sessions go further and resign as the nation’s top law enforcement officer after the revelation that he had twice talked with Moscow’s U.S. envoy during the campaign.

Oklahoma Senate panel approves Real Id compliance measure

Members of an Oklahoma Senate panel criticized the costs of bringing the state’s drivers licenses into compliance with a federal anti-terrorism law before deciding to send the proposal to the floor for a final vote. Following more than one hour of discussion and debate, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 34-9 for the House-passed measure and sent it to the full Senate for consideration.

Emails: EPA chief Pruitt cozy with fossil fuel industry

In this Tuesday photo, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt speaks in Washington. While Oklahoma’s attorney general, emails show that new Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt was in frequent contact with fossil fuel companies and special interest groups working to undermine federal efforts to curb planet-warming carbon emissions.

Senate on track to confirm Scott Pruitt as EPA administrator

In this Jan. 18, 2017, file photo, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator-designate, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. On inauguration eve, five law professors filed a brief in support of a 2015 regulation giving EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers discretion to regulate tributaries and wetlands far upstream from navigable lakes and rivers to protect water quality.

It’s not just Donald Trump feuding with the courts. States are doing it, too.

In a speech to law enforcement officials, Feb. 8, President Trump read federal law giving broad him broad authority to set immigration restrictions, adding, “a bad high school student would understand this.” As President Trump escalates his confrontation with the judiciary branch in tweets and speeches, lawmakers in some half a dozen states are testing their state courts’ independence with actual legislation.

Abortion bill stalls as activists rally at Oklahoma Capitol

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin shows the large crowd a map of the United States in which Oklahoma is declared the most pro-life state during her her speech to pro-life Oklahomans during Red Rose Day events, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, at the state Capitol. Oklahoma State Sen. Jason Smalley holds four-month-old Mikaylie during a visit to his Capitol office by the baby’s mother, Marisa Shouse, standing next to Smalley, and some of Shouse’s relatives on Red Rose Day, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2017, at the state Capitol.

No answers found in Kansas skydivera s death in Oklahoma

The Federal Aviation Administration has been unable to determine why a Kansas woman became disconnected from her parachute and fell to her death in northern Oklahoma. Twenty-six-year-old Sheralynn Neff of North Newton, Kansas, had jumped with an instructor from 10,000 feet on July 24 and deployed her parachute at about 6,000 feet.

Oklahoma fans say president delivering on his promises

Missy Ligon of Yukon cheers for Donald Trump as Republican Party backers gathered on election night Main Event Entertainment in northwest Oklahoma City as election returns rolled in the presidential race against Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton. [Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman Archives] President Donald Trump has his share of opponents, some of whom have taken to the streets in protest, including here in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma lawmaker accused of sexual harassment won’t testify

In this Jan. 3, 2017, file photo, Oklahoma state Rep. Dan Kirby, R-Tulsa, top, sits in the Oklahoma House in Oklahoma City. Kirby, who has been the subject of sexual harassment complaints, said Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, he will not testify before a special closed-door House committee looking into the allegations and the use of government funds to settle with one of his accusers.

More

Attorneys generals from six states, including New York’s Eric Schneiderman, have sent a letter urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject the nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general. Attorneys generals from six states, including New York’s Eric Schneiderman, have sent a letter urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject the nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general.

Meryl Streep overrated? Donald Trump picks a decorated star

President-elect Donald Trump took to Twitter on Monday, calling Meryl Streep “one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood” following her speech Sunday night at the Golden Globe awards. While “overrated” is an opinion, Streep, who took aim at Trump in her speech while accepting the Globes lifetime achievement award, holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations of any actor.

Oklahoma superintendent seeks $221M boost for schools

Oklahoma state Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Mustang, gestures as she talks with a colleague on the House floor in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. Oklahoma’s Department of Education says it needs $221 million more in funding for the next school year just to keep pace with student growth.

The Latest: SC win gives Trump 44 of 270 electoral votes

Graphic shows disparities between population and electoral votes among states; 4c x 5 inches; 195.7 mm x 127 mm; WASHINGTON – The Latest on the Electoral College meeting Monday to formally elect Donald Trump the nation’s 45th president : With a win in South Carolina, Donald Trump now has won 44 electoral votes of the 270 he needs to formally win the presidency. Clinton won the popular vote in the Nov. 8 election.

Oklahoma Republican lawmaker abandons anti-abortion bathroom signs law

An Oklahoma Republican lawmaker on Friday abandoned a measure that required public bathrooms to display anti-abortion signs after an outcry from business leaders and health providers who said it would cost millions of dollars. Republican Sen. A.J. Griffin, who had sponsored the original bill passed by the Legislature, proposed an amendment that would require the signs only at abortion providers and would direct the state Department of Health to launch a social media campaign on how to avoid abortions.