Astute readers, the vacation is over. Let’s get caught up! While I was away …
Jake Ramsey wrote about a Broken Arrow teacher who once faced housing insecurity created a semester-long project pairing students with homeless organizations. Students researched causes, launched drives, made videos, proving youth can meaningfully impact communities.
Keaton Ross reported that Oklahoma’s prison population grew for a third straight year, reaching 23,498 inmates in December. Tougher sentencing and stalled medical parole persist. A proposed bill would expand elderly prisoner parole eligibility.
J.C. Hallman continued his insurance coverage, writing about Oklahoma’s Insurance Department proposed laws addressing homeowners insurance that critics call inadequate. The package avoids premium caps or rate reform but adds new barriers to policyholder lawsuits against insurers.
Paul Monies wrote that freshman Rep. Jim Shaw, who upset a powerful incumbent, launched the Save Oklahoma Plan targeting taxpayer-funded lobbying, renewable subsidies, turnpikes, and vaccine mandates. Backed by grassroots and gubernatorial candidates, Shaw targets conservative voters.
J.C. Hallman reported that Judge Amy Palumbo granted Attorney General Gentner Drummond full intervention in a homeowner’s lawsuit against State Farm, accused of racketeering. State Farm denied 27,764 of 120,755 Oklahoma claims. Palumbo warned their obstruction must stop.
And on Friday, Keaton Ross reported on the attorney general’s opinion that Oklahoma’s Pardon and Parole Board cannot bypass the Department of Corrections in medical parole decisions. Medical parole referrals collapsed after 2021. Proposed legislation would transfer recommendation authority.
More worth reading:
Amendment Would Let Lawmakers Suspend University Funding
An ultra-conservative state legislator has filed a joint resolution seeking an amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution he says would give lawmakers the power to temporarily freeze, suspend or withhold state-appropriated funding from Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities. [The Oklahoman ▲]
PSO Rates Could Jump 15%
A rate review case filed at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission by Public Service Company of Oklahoma could result in a hefty bill increase for PSO customers. If approved as filed, the average residential customer using 1,100 kWh per month would experience an increase of about $25, or 15%, by July 2026, the company said in a news release. [Tulsa World ▲]
American Heartland Defendant Accused of Using AI for Legal Briefs
As litigation over the American Heartland Theme Park project continues, Rick Silanskas — one of two men accused of impersonating God to manipulate a retired businessman — now faces accusations of using generative AI to write his legal briefs.. [NonDoc]
▲=Possible paywall
Bought a round-trip ride today,
Throwed the come-back part away.
Oklahoma’s dear to me.
—Paul Westmoreland
Ciao for now,
Ted Streuli
Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch
tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org
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