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Oklahoma Republican Josh Brecheen Re-elected to Congress, Marking Continued Native American Representation

Oklahoma Republican Josh Brecheen Re-elected to Congress, Marking Continued Native American Representation

Oklahoma Republican Josh Brecheen, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, has secured re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. His victory means he will continue to represent his state in Congress. This re-election is part of a broader trend of increased Native American representation in federal and state politics. In the same election cycle, Kansas Democrat Sharice Davids, a Ho-Chunk citizen, also won re-election to the House. Additionally, New York Democrat Claire Valdez, a citizen of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, and Michigan Democrat Sean McCann, a citizen of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, became the first Native Americans elected to represent their respective states in Congress. These outcomes highlight a growing presence of Indigenous voices in American legislative bodies.

Oklahoma Enacts New Uniform Health Care Decisions Act, Updating Advance Directive Laws

Oklahoma Enacts New Uniform Health Care Decisions Act, Updating Advance Directive Laws

In May 2026, Oklahoma enacted House Bill 1687, known as the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act of 2026. This legislation represents the state's first significant update to its advance directive laws since the 1990s, according to its House author, Rep. Cynthia Roe. The new law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027. Key provisions of the act include allowing advance health care directives to address mental health care, presuming individuals have the capacity to make or revoke health care decisions unless legally determined otherwise, and prohibiting the withholding of food and liquids necessary to sustain life unless specifically directed by the patient in an advance directive. The act will replace both the existing Advance Directive Act and the Health Care Agent Act, consolidating them into a single framework. Directives created before July 1, 2027, will remain valid if they comply with the new act or the law of the state where they were made at the time of creation.

Georgia-Pacific Seeks Business Intelligence Engineer for Muskogee Paper Mill Operations

Georgia-Pacific Seeks Business Intelligence Engineer for Muskogee Paper Mill Operations

Georgia-Pacific Seeks Business Intelligence Engineer for Muskogee Paper Mill Operations

Opening Odds: Mizzou falls out of AP Top 25, big underdog at Georgia

Opening Odds: Mizzou falls out of AP Top 25, big underdog at Georgia

Mizzou’s CFP dream is over, but the schedule isn’t getting easier.

Eminent Domain Challenges Impede Clean Energy Infrastructure Development

Eminent Domain Challenges Impede Clean Energy Infrastructure Development

Legal arguments against the use of eminent domain are increasingly being leveraged to oppose clean energy projects, such as wind farms and transmission lines, across the United States. This trend sees environmental activists, traditionally opposed to fossil fuel infrastructure, aligning with private property rights advocates to challenge the forced sale of land for public use. The R Street Institute highlights that this 'left-right political marriage' is creating significant hurdles for developers of renewable energy infrastructure. Projects like the Wind Catcher wind farm in Oklahoma have been canceled due due to such legal battles, and states like Iowa have banned the use of eminent domain for high-voltage transmission lines carrying wind energy. This development marks a shift where legal tactics previously used against oil and natural gas pipelines are now being applied to clean energy initiatives, slowing their deployment and increasing risks for investors.

Norman City Council Adopts New Bicycle Ordinance Allowing 'Idaho Stop' Rule

Norman City Council Adopts New Bicycle Ordinance Allowing 'Idaho Stop' Rule

The Norman City Council has adopted a new bicycle ordinance, effective November 12, which permits cyclists to proceed through stop signs and red lights under specific conditions. This ordinance, often referred to as the 'Idaho Stop' or 'Idaho Rule,' aligns Norman's municipal code with existing Oklahoma state law (Title 47, Section 11-202.1). Under the new rule, bicyclists approaching a stop sign must slow down and yield to pedestrians and other traffic; if the intersection is clear of immediate hazards, they may proceed without coming to a complete stop. At steady red lights, cyclists are required to come to a complete stop before cautiously proceeding through the intersection when it is safe. City officials emphasize that this ordinance does not grant unrestricted permission to cyclists to disregard traffic signals but rather allows for cautious movement when the intersection is clear and safe. The Norman Bicycle Advisory Committee unanimously recommended this ordinance in August, and the City Council app...

Waste Management Details State-Specific Consumer Data Privacy Rights and Practices

Waste Management Details State-Specific Consumer Data Privacy Rights and Practices

Waste Management has issued a State-Specific Privacy Notice outlining how it handles Personal Data for residents in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. This notice clarifies that 'Personal Data' refers to information linked or reasonably linkable to an identified or identifiable natural person residing in these states, subject to their respective privacy laws. The company details the categories of Personal Data it processes, including identifiers, commercial information, internet activity, geolocation data, and sensory data. It also specifies the purposes for processing this data, such as providing services, improving customer experience, and ensuring security. Waste Management states it does not sell Personal Data for monetary consideration in the traditional sense but engages in marketing, advertising, and data analytics activities that co...

Oklahoma Experiences Significant Improvement in Drought Conditions Following Recent Rainfall

Oklahoma Experiences Significant Improvement in Drought Conditions Following Recent Rainfall

Oklahoma has seen substantial improvements in its drought situation, with the latest Drought Monitor update showing a dramatic reduction in exceptional drought conditions. The percentage of the state experiencing exceptional drought (level 4 out of 4) has decreased to just 1%, a significant drop from 7% at the end of October. Extreme drought (level 3 out of 4) also saw a notable improvement, falling to 19% from 29%. These positive changes are attributed to several weeks of above-average rainfall, including Oklahoma City recording its fourth wettest October on record with 8.77 inches of rain. This rainfall pattern is consistent with the impacts of a strong El Niño, which is expected to continue through the fall and into early 2027, bringing more above-average moisture.

World War II Submarine USS Batfish Requires Costly Relocation in Oklahoma Due to Flood and Levee Project

World War II Submarine USS Batfish Requires Costly Relocation in Oklahoma Due to Flood and Levee Project

The USS Batfish, a 3.2-million-pound World War II submarine serving as a museum exhibit in Muskogee, Oklahoma, must be relocated from its current resting place on the Arkansas River bank. The submarine, which floated 75 feet from its moorings during a 2019 flood, is now in the path of a levee construction project. The Muskogee War Memorial Authority announced on September 16 that it has secured $7 million and is preparing to solicit bids from contractors for the complex moving operation. The Batfish has been on the riverbank since the early 1970s, having been transported upriver from New Orleans. Its current predicament is compounded by a scour hole that developed under its forward section in 2021, requiring $210,000 to fill. The museum has been closed to the public since the 2019 flood, severely impacting its visitor numbers.

S Global Ratings Upgrades Norman Regional Hospital Authority to CCC Following Debt Default Remediation

S Global Ratings Upgrades Norman Regional Hospital Authority to CCC Following Debt Default Remediation

S Global Ratings Upgrades Norman Regional Hospital Authority to CCC Following Debt Default Remediation

Crowell Moring to Host Webinar on Microplastics: Science, Regulation, and Legal Risk

Crowell Moring to Host Webinar on Microplastics: Science, Regulation, and Legal Risk

Crowell Moring to Host Webinar on Microplastics: Science, Regulation, and Legal Risk

Cleveland County Deputies Assigned to Patrol State Property Near Norman Homeless Encampment Amid Safety Concerns

Cleveland County Deputies Assigned to Patrol State Property Near Norman Homeless Encampment Amid Safety Concerns

Two Cleveland County deputies have been assigned to patrol state-owned property in Norman, Oklahoma, specifically near a homeless encampment located at Main Street and Reed Avenue. This deployment follows a visit by State Sen. Lisa Standridge to the encampment, where she emphasized the need for increased patrols due to safety concerns raised by nearby residents. The encampment, situated near Food and Shelter Inc., has re-emerged after being cleared multiple times. Residents have expressed fears about checking their mail and the safety of their children, as a school is located nearby. City and state leaders are currently debating long-term solutions for the growing encampment, with city officials actively seeking a resolution until a new shelter can be constructed. Camping on state property is illegal, and previous attempts to clear the encampment, including one in August as part of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s Operation Safe initiative, resulted in arrests.