Tag Archives: Oklahoma

Roll Call reports: Oklahoma Sen. James M. Inhofe said Friday he would resign from the Senate next year, prompting a scramble to fill the seat in a solidly red state ahead of a June 28 primary. Inhofe, 87, made the announcement to supporters in the Oklahoma History Center by phone because he has a mild case of COVID-19. The phone …

Politico reports: Sen. Jim Inhofe is expected to announce his retirement in the coming days, according to a person familiar with his plans, likely triggering a special election to replace him this fall. The 87-year-old Oklahoma Republican was elected to another six-year term in 2020, but has missed more votes than usual recently and told reporters in December his wife …

The Oklahoma Frontier reports: Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor is reviewing dozens of books found in public school libraries to determine whether they violate state obscenity law. Books under review range from classics such as Of Mice and Men and Lord of the Flies to newer titles that cover LGBTQ and social justice issues. The Frontier obtained a list of …

Oklahoma City’s NBC News affiliate reports: Mercy Hospital has filed a restraining order against the founder and director of an Oklahoma church group that’s been protesting outside the hospital and making threats against hospital staff on social media. “People are dying, not because of Covid but literally because they’re following Fauci’s death sentence,” Daniel Navejas told News 4 last week. …

The Huffington Post reports: The Oklahoma Legislature started its 2022 session this week with a slew of anti-abortion bills, which isn’t uncommon. “This is my 12th year in the legislature now, and it feels like every year we go through this,” said Oklahoma House Minority Leader Emily Virgin (D). But this year’s anti-abortion bills ― 11 were pre-filed before the …

Hemant Mehta reports at Only Sky: A newly proposed bill in Oklahoma from State Senator Rob Standridge would punish any public school teacher who promotes any position “in opposition to closely held religious beliefs of students.” Which — let’s face it — means the bill would punish any public school teacher. Senate Bill 1470 was prefiled this week by Standridge, …

Tulsa’s CBS News affiliate reports: A Republican Oklahoma representative, and former Christian Bible bookstore owner, has filed a bill that would make the Holy Bible the state’s official book. House Bill 3890 was crafted by Rep. Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore. The bill will be taken up for consideration by Oklahoma State Legislators on Monday, Feb. 7. If passed, the Holy Bible …

The Hill reports: An Oklahoma federal judge on Tuesday denied an attempt from the state to block the Department of Defense’s coronavirus vaccine mandate for National Guard members. In a 29-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot denied a motion from Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) and Attorney General John O’Connor to preliminarily enjoin the mandate, saying the plaintiffs’ claims …

The Oklahoman reports: Despite state health officials recommending all eligible Oklahomans get a COVID-19 booster shot, Gov. Kevin Stitt says he doesn’t plan on getting another inoculation. Stitt said Monday he hasn’t received a booster shot nor does he plan on getting another jab. “I’m perfectly healthy, and my doctor hasn’t told me I need to get it,” said Stitt, …

Raw Story reports: An Oklahoma lawmaker has introduced a bill that would give any parent the power to ban books in school districts. The legislation also empowers parents to collect at least $10,000 for each day a book is not removed. State Sen. Rob Standridge (R) introduced Senate Bill 1142, which would allow parents to request that a book be …

The Tulsa World reports: State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister is running for governor — as a Democrat. The 57-year-old lifelong Republican told the Tulsa World in an exclusive interview that she is changing her party registration on Thursday in order to launch a bid to unseat Republican incumbent Kevin Stitt. “Gov. Stitt is running the state into the ground,” said Hofmeister. …

Oklahoma City’s NBC News affiliate reports: A rural Oklahoma doctor said patients who are taking the horse de-wormer medication, ivermectin, to fight COVID-19 are causing emergency room and ambulance back ups. “There’s a reason you have to have a doctor to get a prescription for this stuff, because it can be dangerous,” said Dr. Jason McElyea. Dr. McElyea said patients …

Oklahoma City’s ABC News affiliate reports: Hundreds of people gathered at the state Capitol on Saturday for what they called the Oklahoma Freedom Rally, with many protesting against mandates on the COVID-19 vaccine and masks. While hundreds of people made it inside the Capitol rotunda for the rally, hundreds more were still outside as of 5 p.m., waiting to get …

Tulsa’s ABC News affiliate reports: The Rev. Wade Morris, 51, an evangelist who spoke across the country, died Tuesday morning after contracting COVID-19. He was a guest speaker at Falls Creek Youth Camp last month. Morris spoke at the Christian summer camp near Davis, Oklahoma during the week of July 5, according to Brian Hobbs, Communications Director of Oklahoma Baptists, …

The Washington Post reports: On Friday, John Bennett, the chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, posted on the group’s Facebook page and made a striking comparison: Private companies requiring employees to get the vaccine, he said, are just as bad as the Nazis forcing Jews to sew the yellow Star of David onto their clothes. Despite the stark disapproval from …

The Oklahoma News-Press reports: An Oklahoma Republican Party Facebook post on Friday was condemned for likening COVID-19 vaccine mandates to the persecution and murder of millions of Jews. The picture was part of a Facebook post made Friday morning urging Republicans to “politely request” that Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell call a special session to address private employer vaccine mandates. “These …

The Tulsa World reports: Oklahoma Republican Party chairman John Bennett told reporters that Sen. James Lankford’s decision not to object to the results of the 2020 presidential election after the Jan. 6 insurrection was proof that the senator couldn’t keep promises made to constituents. Bennett reportedly also said being a Republican doesn’t necessarily make someone “the right pick.” “It’s more …

The Tulsa World reports: A Tulsa man faces federal charges on allegations that he sent a local television station emails threatening to kill President Joe Biden and unnamed members of Congress. John Jacobs Ahrens, 58, was charged by criminal complaint in Tulsa federal court on Monday with making threats against the president after he allegedly admitted to sending the emails …

The Independent reports: Witnesses have described the terrifying moment crew asked for ‘strong men’ to help subdue a passenger who tried to open a door on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta. An eyewitness said on Twitter that passenger grabbed the public address system in the front galley and made an announcement telling others to take their seats …

The Washington Post reports: Biden plans to travel to Oklahoma on Tuesday to mark the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, the ravaging of a once-prosperous Black business district and neighborhood by a White mob that stands as one of the worst episodes of racial violence in U.S. history. In addition to delivering an address, Biden is scheduled to …