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Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 4:43 PM

STATE NEWS

Native American Leaders Are Furious With Trump’s Tribal Education Shakeup
 Native American Leaders Are Furious With Trump’s Tribal Education Shakeup Native American tribal leaders say the Trump administration's push to dismantle the Department of Education has left tribal education programs in limbo, with transfers to other federal agencies already underway. A February consultation with tribal leaders drew hundreds of participants but left many feeling the decision had already been made without them. The post Native American Leaders Are Furious With Trump’s Tribal Education Shakeup appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.Publication date: 02/26/2026Source: oklahomawatch.org
From Top Half to Near Last: How Oklahoma’s Schools Lost Three Decades of Ground and What Can Be Learned from Mississippi
 From Top Half to Near Last: How Oklahoma’s Schools Lost Three Decades of Ground and What Can Be Learned from Mississippi Oklahoma's student outcomes have fallen to near the bottom nationally, ranking 48th on the Nation's Report Card after dropping from the top half in the 1990s. Researchers point to states like Mississippi, which climbed from last to middle, as models for the literacy and math reforms Oklahoma is now considering. The post From Top Half to Near Last: How Oklahoma’s Schools Lost Three Decades of Ground and What Can Be Learned from Mississippi appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.Publication date: 02/25/2026Source: oklahomawatch.org
Long Story Short: More Than 30 Oklahoma Agencies Sign Immigration Enforcement Agreements
 Long Story Short: More Than 30 Oklahoma Agencies Sign Immigration Enforcement Agreements Oklahoma Watch · More Than 30 Oklahoma Agencies Sign Immigration Enforcement Agreements J.C. Hallman updates the State Farm hail claim saga, Paul Monies details shifts in the state’s $2.2 billion tobacco trust fund, and Ben Fenwick examines the rise of “Operation Guardian” immigration enforcement. Shaun Witt hosts. The post Long Story Short: More Than 30 Oklahoma Agencies Sign Immigration Enforcement Agreements appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.Publication date: 02/24/2026Source: oklahomawatch.org
Bad Landlords, No Registry: How a 2014 Oklahoma Law Protects Problem Property Owners
 Bad Landlords, No Registry: How a 2014 Oklahoma Law Protects Problem Property Owners A 2014 Oklahoma law bars cities from creating rental registries, leaving tenants struggling to identify negligent landlords and hold them accountable. Two Oklahoma City renters discovered their landlords' troubled histories only after moving in. Advocates say lifting the prohibition would shift the burden of accountability from tenants to municipalities. The post Bad Landlords, No Registry: How a 2014 Oklahoma Law Protects Problem Property Owners appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.Publication date: 02/24/2026Source: oklahomawatch.org
Audio Stories: February 16, 2026
 Audio Stories: February 16, 2026 Here is the audio of Oklahoma Watch’s published stories for the week of February 16, 2026. – Full Week Playlist: Listen to all the stories back-to-back, without interruption. – Individual Stories: Select and play any story you’d like to hear, at your convenience. Full Week Playlist: Individual Stories: Fact Briefs: Oklahoma Watch Is Looking for […] The post Audio Stories: February 16, 2026 appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.Publication date: 02/23/2026Source: oklahomawatch.org
Cigars, Bourbon and Burnt Bacon: How Two Unlikely Allies Are Getting Government Funded
 Cigars, Bourbon and Burnt Bacon: How Two Unlikely Allies Are Getting Government Funded Republican Tom Cole and Democrat Rosa DeLauro lead the House Appropriations Committee from opposite sides of the aisle, yet their unlikely friendship has helped Congress pass all 12 annual spending bills this fiscal year. Their trust, transparency and shared belief in congressional spending authority have made the committee a rare bipartisan bright spot. The post Cigars, Bourbon and Burnt Bacon: How Two Unlikely Allies Are Getting Government Funded appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.Publication date: 02/23/2026Source: oklahomawatch.org
Did Kamala Harris only win in states that do not require voter ID, as Sen. Mullin claimed?
 Did Kamala Harris only win in states that do not require voter ID, as Sen. Mullin claimed? The post Did Kamala Harris only win in states that do not require voter ID, as Sen. Mullin claimed? appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.Publication date: 02/20/2026Source: oklahomawatch.org
Republicans Push Back on Data Centers in Oklahoma, Other States
 Republicans Push Back on Data Centers in Oklahoma, Other States Oklahoma Sen. Kendal Sacchieri proposed a three-year pause on data center construction, joining Republican legislators in at least six states pushing back against the industry despite Trump administration support. She argues data centers suck resources from communities while receiving taxpayer subsidies, comparing the situation to opposition against green energy subsidies. The post Republicans Push Back on Data Centers in Oklahoma, Other States appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.Publication date: 02/20/2026Source: oklahomawatch.org
TSET Investment Board Adopts Anti-ESG Policies Backed by State Treasurer 
 TSET Investment Board Adopts Anti-ESG Policies Backed by State Treasurer  The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust investor board approved new anti-ESG investment rules championed by Treasurer Todd Russ, requiring the $2.2 billion fund to reflect so-called Oklahoma values in proxy voting and asset management decisions. The move aligns the trust with conservative groups and intensifies a broader political fight over corporate ESG policies. The post TSET Investment Board Adopts Anti-ESG Policies Backed by State Treasurer  appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.Publication date: 02/19/2026Source: oklahomawatch.org
Kevin Stitt Is ‘Excited to Go’ to the White House Dinner He’s Been Fighting With Trump Over
 Kevin Stitt Is ‘Excited to Go’ to the White House Dinner He’s Been Fighting With Trump Over Gov. Kevin Stitt will attend Saturday's White House dinner but stripped it of National Governors Association status after President Trump barred two Democratic governors. Trump called Stitt a RINO in response. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who was disinvited, said God determines his worthiness, not the president. The post Kevin Stitt Is ‘Excited to Go’ to the White House Dinner He’s Been Fighting With Trump Over appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.Publication date: 02/18/2026Source: oklahomawatch.org

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