Oklahomans oppose proposed wind tax, according advocacy group poll

Almost three-fourths of Oklahoma voters are opposed to Gov. Mary Fallin's proposed half-cent tax on wind generation, according to a new poll sponsored by a wind advocacy group. The State Chamber also is voicing opposition to the plan.

Tribes hope Trump’s ‘America first’ helps first Americans

Native Americans hope President Donald Trump doesn't forget America's first inhabitants as he promises to put "America first." Tribes have been reaching out to the Republican administration since it took office last month, saying they're ready to help it meet its campaign promises of improving the economy and creating more jobs for Americans.

Exception to Oklahoma Reading Law Could Be Permanent

Some Oklahoma lawmakers are seeking to make a permanent exception to the state's requirement for third-grade students to be reading proficient before moving on to the next grade. The Oklahoman reports that currently, Oklahoma's Reading Sufficiency Act requires students in the third grade to score proficient on the state reading test in order to go into fourth grade.

Current, former EPA workers urge Congress to reject nominee Pruitt

Hundreds of current and former employees of the Environmental Protection Agency spoke up loudly on Monday, hoping it will persuade the U.S. Senate to reject Scott Pruitt as President Donald Trump 's leader in the agency. Still Oklahoma's attorney general until confirmed, Pruitt is nominated as EPA administrator but his appointment has been met with staunch opposition -- partly due to questions surrounding his stance on global warming.

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.

Pruitt’s leadership at EPA will restore its constitutional role

That slogan should be printed on t-shirts and given to every protestor who comes to disrupt the confirmation hearing for Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Appearing before Congress in 2015 in his capacity as a state attorney general, Pruitt noted how the EPA is an important agency that plays a vital role in protecting our environment.

Klinsmann believes US Soccer made progress before his firing

Freezing rain moved into the southern Plains early Friday, creating icy condition that prompted flight cancellations and school closures as forecasters warned that the weather could cripple the region through the... A thick glaze of ice covered roads from Oklahoma to southern Illinois on Friday amid a winter storm that caused numerous wrecks, forced school cancellations, grounded flights and prompted dire warnings for people to stay... A senior U.S. official says the Obama administration is aware of frequent contacts between President-elect Donald Trump's top national security adviser and Russia's ambassador to the United States.

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.

Nearly $870M budget hole awaits Oklahoma lawmakers in 2017

The problems will be familiar in the 2017 Oklahoma legislative session: crowded public schools with teachers desperate for a pay raise, overcrowded prisons, a Highway Patrol facing furloughs and dozens of other cash-strapped agencies that have cut services to the bone. But lawmakers who return to the Capitol in February will also be faced with a budget hole of nearly $870 million - about 12 percent of state spending - resulting from slumping energy prices, years of tax cuts and costly tax subsidies for businesses and industries.

Trump picks climate sceptic Pruitt

ELECT Donald Trump has tapped Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, criticised as a climate change denier and a staunch fossil fuel ally, to head the Environmental Protection Agency. The announcement on Thursday morning comes after Leonardo DiCaprio met with Mr Trump on Wednesday to discuss how jobs centring on preserving the environment can boost the economy.

Insure Oklahoma Funded For Another Year

The federal government will continue for another year to fund an Oklahoma program that uses a combination of state tobacco tax revenue and federal Medicaid money to help provide health insurance coverage for nearly 20,000 low-income Oklahoma workers. Governor Mary Fallin announced that a one-year extension has been approved by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Insure Oklahoma program.

Group continues Bible reading ‘precedent’ at State Capitol

Steve Buck, director of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs, reads from the Book of Isaiah during a public Bible reading event on Monday in the fourth floor rotunda at the State Capitol to commemorate the International Day of the Bible. [Photo by Carla Hinton, The Oklahoman] A public Bible reading returned to the State Capitol for the third year as an event commemorating the National Bible Association's International Day of the Bible.

Editorial Roundup: Recent editorials in Oklahoma newspapers

As the county puts the finishing touches on two new general population jail pods we get some surprising news: They aren't needed, at least not right now. Tulsa County voters approved a 15-year extension of a 0.26 percent sales tax April 1, 2014, to fund the new pods and two others dedicated to prisoners with mental health issues.

Oklahoma’s first new abortion clinic in 40 years opens doors

Despite facing some of the nation's strictest anti-abortion laws, a Kansas-based foundation opened a new facility in Oklahoma City - the first new abortion provider in the state in 40 years. The Trust Women South Wind Women's Center welcomed the first patients last week to its clinic on the city's south side.

Lawsuit: Ballot Rewrite on Medical Marijuana Misleading

Oklahoma Republican Attorney General Scott Pruitt's rewrite of a proposed ballot question on medical marijuana is intentionally misleading and could confuse people into thinking they were voting to fully legalize marijuana in the state, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday. The lawsuit was filed with the state Supreme Court on behalf of Oklahomans for Health, a group that gathered enough signatures to have the question placed before voters.