Oklahoma’s refusal to share county-level measles data during outbreaks has sparked concerns from health experts, including Dr. George Monks, who argues the data is crucial for public safety. The state's stance contrasts with how it handles other diseases like West Nile.

The post Oklahoma Health Department Refuses to Share County-Level Measles Data appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Rep. Jim Shaw’s “Save Oklahoma Plan,” a seven-point conservative agenda, is gaining traction ahead of the 2026 elections. It focuses on issues like taxpayer-funded lobbying, anti-renewable energy policies and turnpikes, earning endorsements from several Republican statewide candidates and grassroots groups.

The post Freshman GOP Lawmaker Finds Statewide Backers For Save Oklahoma Plan  appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Months of delays by Oklahoma land commissioners in approving a commercial lease for a Lawton-area data center led the developer to withdraw, costing the state potential education revenue.

The post State Delays Push Data Center Developers to Private Land appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

The TSET investment board, led by Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ, pressed five asset managers to adopt proxy voting advice aligned with “Oklahoma values.” The move deepens Russ’ broader anti-ESG push amid conflicts, policy forums and questions over influence by outside conservative interest groups.

The post TSET Investors Board Puts Asset Managers On Notice In Anti-ESG Push appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Oklahoma’s soaring homeowners insurance rates are straining families and drawing scrutiny from lawmakers, who are likely to consider additional consumer protection bills in 2026. Regulators cite inflation and severe weather, but critics blame weak state oversight.

The post Lawmakers Get Earful As Oklahoma Home Insurance Rates Skyrocket appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

A surprise August hearing was for many the first sign of a huge change in workers’ comp insurance in Oklahoma that critics say is an effort to rob policyholders of millions of dollars.

The post Critics Say CompSource Plan Will Hurt Policyholders appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ is directing the $2 billion Tobacco Endowment Settlement Trust’s new investment consultant to rank fund managers by alignment with state values, extending beyond typical investment criteria and injecting culture-war issues into public investment decisions.

The post Oklahoma Treasurer Pushes Values Test for Tobacco Endowment Managers  appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Oklahoma’s Land Office commissioners have rejected wind and solar leases on school trust land, defying staff recommendations and Gov. Kevin Stitt. The votes, swayed by anti-renewable sentiment and absentee commissioners, could cost education millions in revenue projected from long-term renewable projects.

The post Land Commissioners Turn Away Projects Amid Anti-Renewable Pressures appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

More than 8,500 state employees are working remotely at least some of the time, with the arrangement mostly from a lack of space at agencies.  The Office of Management and Enterprise Services compiled the latest numbers after a December executive order issued by Gov. Kevin Stitt mandating a return to the office for state employees.  [...]

The post Thousands of State Employees Still Working Remotely appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ pushed an investment board for the state’s tobacco settlement trust to target 10 major companies with 2026 shareholder proposals on abortion drugs, DEI, ESG and “gender ideology.” The effort continues conservative-led, anti-ESG activism despite past shareholder support on previous resolutions below 1%.

The post Oklahoma Treasurer Making Another Attempt to Change Corporate Policies appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.