The Oklahoma State Capitol. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch) Happy New Year! From far-reaching policy decisions to hotly contested elections, there promises to be no shortage of Oklahoma news to follow in 2026.  Here’s a look at five political storylines to follow in 2026:  Who Emerges From a Crowded Field of Republican Gubernatorial Candidates? With Gov. Kevin [...]

The post Five Political Storylines to Follow in 2025 appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

The Pardon and Parole Board may only consider medical parole if the Department of Corrections director requests it. Pending legislation could change that.

The post Attorney General: Only the DOC Director Can Refer Prisoners For Medical Parole appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Following a pandemic-era decline, the state’s prison population has ticked up every year since 2023.

The post Oklahoma’s Prison Population Climbed in 2025 appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission voted unanimously on Friday to restore public access to the state’s online campaign finance database and seek legal action against a software developer that failed to deliver on a revamped system.

The post Oklahoma’s Campaign Finance Database is Back Online appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Luther residents Swen Nordlang, left, and Phyllis Dragus sign in and receive their ballots and cast their votes for the primary election at the town's only polling station on June 28, 2022. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch) For the first time in a decade, registered independents will be barred from voting in all partisan primaries for the [...]

The post Political Parties Opt to Close Upcoming Primaries appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

The agency has spent millions to purchase the devices and store footage, but says it can’t release recordings due to security concerns.

The post Department of Corrections Refuses to Release Body Camera Footage appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Oklahoma National Guard Soldiers, Sgt. Dale Moody and Spc. Blake Morgan, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, performs border operations along the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas, August 16, 2023. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Reece Heck) More than 160 members of the Oklahoma National Guard deployed to Washington, D.C., last week, just months [...]

The post Oklahoma Sends National Guard Members to D.C. appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

A home in Yukon is seen in January. An initiative petition filed on Nov. 21 looks to eliminate property taxes on this house and hundreds of thousands of others statewide. (Paul Monies/Oklahoma Watch) One former and two current state lawmakers are leading an effort to gradually reduce residential property taxes to zero by the end [...]

The post Former, Current Legislators File Initiative to Eliminate Property Taxes appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Gov. Kevin Stitt, flanked by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert and Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, is shown during his February State of the State Address. (Legislative Services Bureau) Pay raises are on the horizon for a slew of Oklahoma elected officials.  The Statewide Official Compensation Board voted Nov. 18 to increase base salaries for every [...]

The post Boards Hike Pay for Statewide Elected Officials, Legislators appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday heard oral arguments over the constitutionality of Senate Bill 1027, the sweeping legislation enacted in May that imposes several requirements on initiative petition organizers.  The high court’s ruling will shape the future of voter-led ballot initiative campaigns in Oklahoma, which have brought criminal justice reform, legalized medical marijuana and [...]

The post Oklahoma Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Initiative Petition Bill appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.