INSIDER
A Texas execution is renewing calls for clemency. It's rarely granted
Read full article: A Texas execution is renewing calls for clemency. It's rarely grantedTexas rarely grants clemency for death row inmates, but that's not stopping a group of bipartisan lawmakers from showing their support for a man scheduled to be executed in October.
Oklahoma executes a man for a 1992 killing despite board recommending his life be spared
Read full article: Oklahoma executes a man for a 1992 killing despite board recommending his life be sparedOklahoma has executed a man for his role in the 1992 shooting death of a convenience store owner during a robbery.
Public funds for religious charter school would be unconstitutional, Oklahoma high court says
Read full article: Public funds for religious charter school would be unconstitutional, Oklahoma high court saysThe Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled that the approval of what would be the nation's first state-funded Catholic charter school is unconstitutional.
DOJ adds Oklahoma to the list of states it's suing to block their immigration laws
Read full article: DOJ adds Oklahoma to the list of states it's suing to block their immigration lawsThe U.S. Department of Justice is suing Oklahoma over a new state law that seeks to impose criminal penalties on those living in the state illegally.
FEMA administrator surveys Oklahoma tornado damage with the state's governor and US senator.
Read full article: FEMA administrator surveys Oklahoma tornado damage with the state's governor and US senator.Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell says “our heart aches for the loss of life” in tornadoes that left four dead and about 100 injured in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma towns hard hit by tornadoes begin long cleanup after 4 killed in weekend storms
Read full article: Oklahoma towns hard hit by tornadoes begin long cleanup after 4 killed in weekend stormsSmall towns in Oklahoma are beginning a long cleanup after tornadoes flattened home and buildings and killed at least four people, including an infant.
How Republican-led states far from the US-Mexico border are rushing to pass tough immigration laws
Read full article: How Republican-led states far from the US-Mexico border are rushing to pass tough immigration lawsOklahoma is the latest Republican-led state to impose criminal penalties for those who reside in the state illegally.
Republican lawmakers are backing dozens of bills targeting diversity efforts on campus and elsewhere
Read full article: Republican lawmakers are backing dozens of bills targeting diversity efforts on campus and elsewhereDiversity initiatives would be defunded or banned from universities and other public institutions under a slate of bills pending in Republican-led legislatures, with some lawmakers counting on the issue resonating with voters in this election year.
‘So fed up with it’: Serenata Beach Club members receive ‘bizarre’ email from owner announcing temporary closure
Read full article: ‘So fed up with it’: Serenata Beach Club members receive ‘bizarre’ email from owner announcing temporary closureMembers of the Serenata Beach Club in Ponte Vedra Beach are feeling more confused than ever after receiving a note from the owner saying the club is temporarily closing due to financial issues.
Federal judge in Oklahoma clears the way for a ban on medical care for transgender young people
Read full article: Federal judge in Oklahoma clears the way for a ban on medical care for transgender young peopleA federal judge in Oklahoma has declined to stop a new law from taking effect that makes it a felony crime for health care workers to provide gender-affirming care to young transgender people.
Oklahoma death row inmate plans to reject chance for clemency despite maintaining his innocence
Read full article: Oklahoma death row inmate plans to reject chance for clemency despite maintaining his innocenceAn Oklahoma death row inmate scheduled to be executed in September for the 1996 killing of a University of Oklahoma dance student says he plans to reject his chance for a clemency hearing.
DeSantis argues he's top Trump alternative even as ex-president's indictment overshadows 2024 race
Read full article: DeSantis argues he's top Trump alternative even as ex-president's indictment overshadows 2024 raceRon DeSantis ventured far from the usual presidential campaign trail Saturday, heading to a rodeo in reliably red Oklahoma to make the case that he’s the top alternative to Donald Trump — even as the former president’s indictment threatens to upend the 2024 Republican primary race.
At graduations, Native American students seek acceptance of tribal regalia
Read full article: At graduations, Native American students seek acceptance of tribal regaliaFor Native American students, tribal regalia is often passed down through generations and worn at graduations to signify connection with the community.
Oklahoma inmate supported by 'Dead Man Walking' author, nun
Read full article: Oklahoma inmate supported by 'Dead Man Walking' author, nunProminent death penalty opponent Sister Helen Prejean, whose book “Dead Man Walking” was turned into a movie, is calling on Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to grant a 60-day reprieve to a prisoner scheduled for execution.
'The damage is unbelievable:' Tornadoes kill 3 in Oklahoma
Read full article: 'The damage is unbelievable:' Tornadoes kill 3 in OklahomaCrews scrambled to restore power to thousands of residents after tornadoes plowed through Oklahoma during another deadly spring storm in the U.S., killing at least three people and damaging dozens of homes.
Oklahoma officials accused of talk of killing journalists
Read full article: Oklahoma officials accused of talk of killing journalistsGov. Kevin Stitt is calling for the resignations of four officials in southeast Oklahoma after a newspaper's audio recording apparently captured some of them talking of knowing hit men and complaining about two of the paper's journalists.
Tyson, others, lose Oklahoma lawsuit over poultry pollution
Read full article: Tyson, others, lose Oklahoma lawsuit over poultry pollutionThe world's largest poultry producer is among nearly a dozen poultry companies that face a March 17th deadline to reach agreement with the state of Oklahoma on how to clean a polluted watershed.
Deadly tornadoes hit Texas and Oklahoma, flatten buildings
Read full article: Deadly tornadoes hit Texas and Oklahoma, flatten buildingsResidents in southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas began assessing damage and working to recover Saturday after tornadoes tore through the region and killed at least two people.
Supreme Court seems divided in Oklahoma Indian Country case
Read full article: Supreme Court seems divided in Oklahoma Indian Country caseA seemingly divided Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday over Oklahoma’s authority to prosecute some crimes on Native American lands, following a 2020 high court decision.
Justices to hear Oklahoma appeal in tribal jurisdiction case
Read full article: Justices to hear Oklahoma appeal in tribal jurisdiction caseThe Supreme Court will hear arguments in Oklahoma's ongoing battle with Native American tribes over the state’s authority to prosecute people accused of crimes on Native American lands.
Oklahoma bid for Guard exception to vaccine mandate denied
Read full article: Oklahoma bid for Guard exception to vaccine mandate deniedDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin has rejected a request by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt that his state’s National Guard be exempt from a Pentagon requirement that all military members be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Oklahoma challenging Pentagon's vaccine mandate for Guard
Read full article: Oklahoma challenging Pentagon's vaccine mandate for GuardA dispute between the Oklahoma governor and the Pentagon over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is setting up the first critical test of the military’s authority to require National Guard troops to get the shot.
Oklahoma GOP leaders upset over nonbinary birth certificate
Read full article: Oklahoma GOP leaders upset over nonbinary birth certificateRepublican leaders in Oklahoma are expressing outrage after learning the State Department of Health issued a birth certificate this year with a nonbinary gender designation.
The Latest: 4 tiny Georgia districts close in-person classes
Read full article: The Latest: 4 tiny Georgia districts close in-person classesFour tiny Georgia public school districts have temporarily shut down in-person instruction within days of starting school, saying high COVID-19 case counts among students and staff makes it unsafe to continue.
Oklahoma passes bill that can protect drivers who hit protesters
Read full article: Oklahoma passes bill that can protect drivers who hit protestersOklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law that grants immunity to drivers who unintentionally injure or kill protesters while attempting to flee a riot.
The Latest: SKorea's daily virus increase tops 500 again
Read full article: The Latest: SKorea's daily virus increase tops 500 againSouth Korea’s daily increase in coronavirus infections exceeded 500 for the fourth straight day, a pace unseen since January, as experts raise concern about another viral surge amid a slow rollout in vaccines.
The Latest: Japan to tighten border control against variants
Read full article: The Latest: Japan to tighten border control against variantsJapan has confirmed 345 cases of the more contagious new variants, mostly the kind first found in Britain, the health ministry said. ___WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand has removed remaining coronavirus restrictions on the city of Auckland after containing a small outbreak. Ad___WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is planning to announce during his prime-time address Thursday night that he’ll deploy 4,000 additional U.S. troops to support coronavirus vaccination efforts. Thursday’s announcement from the Department of Corrections comes a year after suspending visits at prisons because of the coronavirus pandemic. John Bel Edwards has loosened his COVID-19 restrictions.
The Latest: Most of a Mississippi city is without water
Read full article: The Latest: Most of a Mississippi city is without waterAnother man died at a health-care facility after a lack of water pressure made medical treatment impossible. ___OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt pleaded with residents Thursday to limit water usage after city officials said some hospitals faced what Holt called a crisis because of a sharp drop in water pressure. Integris Baptist lost water pressure at two of its hospitals, according to city utilities director Chris Browning. The drop in water pressure was due largely to customers running faucets to prevent frozen and burst water lines, and nearly tripling the amount of water used, according to city utilities director Chris Browning. She says “‘Frozen’ is always a good choice.”Ad___AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Gov.
The Latest: Oklahoma gov seeks federal disaster declaration
Read full article: The Latest: Oklahoma gov seeks federal disaster declaration(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)The Latest on winter weather across the U.S. (all times local):OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Gov. Stitt’s disaster declaration request for all 77 Oklahoma counties comes a day after the governor spoke with Biden by phone. ___NEW ORLEANS — Rolling power blackouts necessitated by severe winter weather hit water systems in at least two Louisiana cities. He implored residents to stop running water, noting that temperatures had risen above the freezing mark___RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. — The Louisiana Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed three deaths related to winter weather this week.
Oklahoma seeking to return $2M worth of hydroxychloroquine
Read full article: Oklahoma seeking to return $2M worth of hydroxychloroquineFILE - In this Feb. 21, 2017, file photo, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter sits at a meeting in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office is attempting to return $2 million worth of an anti-malaria drug once touted by former President Donald Trump as an effective treatment for COVID-19, a spokesman said Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. Alex Gerszewski, a spokesman for Attorney General Mike Hunter, said Hunter is attempting to negotiate a return of the 1.2 million hydroxychloroquine pills Oklahoma acquired in April from a California-based supplier, FFF Enterprises. He said the office was acting on a request from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, which authorized the purchase. The attempt by Oklahoma to return the hydroxychloroquine was first reported by the online news publication The Frontier.
The Latest: Hawaii imposes new COVID-19 travel restrictions
Read full article: The Latest: Hawaii imposes new COVID-19 travel restrictionsThere were 1,225 new confirmed COVID-19 cases increasing the state total to 60,873. ___WASHINGTON -- Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech will seek emergency government approval for their coronavirus vaccine, as the U.S. aims to begin administering doses by the end of the year. ___LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Kentucky reported a new daily record of 3,649 coronavirus cases Thursday amid warnings by Gov. He and public health experts are warily watching the number of patients hospitalized with the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus. ___WASHINGTON — Infection disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci says he “wants to settle” concerns about a coronavirus vaccine as he returns to the White House podium for the first time in months.
The Latest: NZealand mulls masks on Auckland public transit
Read full article: The Latest: NZealand mulls masks on Auckland public transitHealth officials had asked workers in central Auckland to stay home on Friday while they investigated the case but say they can now return to work. — Surge of coronavirus cases appears to be slowing in Germany and France, but still straining hospitals. Alaska has had over 20,000 cases, including 477 new cases reported Thursday. She is scheduled Friday to address the situation and is expected to announce new public health restrictions aimed to curbing spread. That’s the impassioned message that dozens of parents and school administrators are sending to public health officials in Pennsylvania’s third-most populous county.
As cases rise, states say they’ll work with Biden on virus
Read full article: As cases rise, states say they’ll work with Biden on virusGary Herbert speaks as he joins state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn at a press conference at the Capitol in Salt Lake City, clarifying the state's mask mandate on Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. Minnesota’s per-capita new case counts are better than neighboring Wisconsin and the Dakotas, which have some of the country’s highest transmission rates, but have still raised alarm with the state's health officials. In Idaho, where 1 of every 223 residents tested positive for the virus over the last week, Republican Gov. With Trump still not conceding the race, some Republican governors have greeted Biden’s efforts in a more measured way. In Oklahoma, where cases also are on the rise, Republican Gov.
The Latest: Alaska hits daily new coronavirus case record
Read full article: The Latest: Alaska hits daily new coronavirus case record(AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska on Saturday reported hitting a daily record in new coronavirus cases. ———MILAN – Italy registered a record 39,811 daily confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday. — Nebraska reported a record 2,681 coronavirus cases and a record 748 people in the hospital. The world reached 400,000 daily confirmed cases on Oct. 15; 500,000 on Oct. 26, and 600,000 on Friday. The global death toll hit a daily record of 11,024 confirmed deaths on Wednesday.
Hospitals feel squeeze as coronavirus spikes in Midwest
Read full article: Hospitals feel squeeze as coronavirus spikes in MidwestLike other states, health officials in Wisconsin had warned since the pandemic began that COVID-19 patients could overwhelm hospitals. Nearly 678 COVID-19 infections per 100,000 people have been diagnosed over the past two weeks, leading the country for new cases per capita, according to the COVID Tracking Project. The space isn't exclusively for coronavirus patients but could be used to treat them if needed. Last week, the state had the nation’s sixth-highest rate of coronavirus infections per 100,000 people, according to a White House coronavirus task force report dated Sunday. The number of reported coronavirus cases in Oklahoma increased by 980 on Wednesday, with 13 additional deaths, state health officials said.
The Latest: Concerns over coronavirus upticks in California
Read full article: The Latest: Concerns over coronavirus upticks in CaliforniaThe directive comes amid concerns about an uptick in coronavirus cases in certain Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods with large Orthodox Jewish populations. New York City’s current overall infection rate remains low, but official figures indicate the affected neighborhoods accounted for 20% of the city’s coronavirus cases in recent weeks. ___BOSTON — An outbreak of coronavirus infections at a major Boston hospital has grown to 19 confirmed cases. ___DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa has reported a jump of 1,086 new coronavirus cases, the second consecutive day of new cases exceeding 1,000. There are currently nearly 985,000 worldwide coronavirus deaths.
Baseball season teeters, while states resist mask rules
Read full article: Baseball season teeters, while states resist mask rulesNebraska's online virus tracker on Monday showed 800 cases were confirmed Friday through Sunday, bringing the state's total to 24,618 since the outbreak began. Florida reported 191 new deaths, another one-day high for the state, while Arizona recorded 104, and Arkansas had a single-day record with 20. Mississippi Republican Gov. His return came on the same day the state reported over 1,400 new cases the second consecutive day of record highs. The storm pounded the Rio Grande Valley, where hospitals have been overwhelmed with coronavirus cases.
Oklahoma voters to decide whether to expand Medicaid
Read full article: Oklahoma voters to decide whether to expand MedicaidOKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma voters will decide Tuesday whether to expand Medicaid to tens of thousands of low-income residents and become the first state to amend their Constitution to do so. While an increasing number of Oklahoma voters took advantage of mail-in voting for Tuesday's primary, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. statewide. Amending the Oklahoma Constitution will prevent the Republican-controlled Legislature, which has resisted Medicaid expansion for a decade, from tinkering with the program or rolling back coverage. Oklahoma is one of 14 states, along with neighboring Texas and Kansas, that have not expanded Medicaid under the 2010 federal Affordable Care Act. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority has projected that about 215,000 residents would qualify for a Medicaid expansion, for a total annual cost of about $1.3 billion.
Medicaid, GOP congressional primary top Oklahoma ballot
Read full article: Medicaid, GOP congressional primary top Oklahoma ballotOklahoma voters will vote in Tuesday's primary election on State Question 802, which would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to expand Medicaid health insurance. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, Pool, File)OKLAHOMA CITY A question on whether to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma and a crowded Republican field vying to challenge the state's lone congressional Democrat are drawing the most attention ahead of Tuesday's primary election. According to the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, states that have expanded Medicaid through a ballot measure include Idaho, Maine, Nebraska and Utah. This is going to cost our state $200 million," Stitt said during an event this week with Americans for Prosperity. Republicans clearly see OK-5 as one of their best chances to flip' a House seat, and theyre correct to see it that way," said Matthew Motta, a political science professor at Oklahoma State University.
Metal barriers, Trump gear: Crowd readies for Tulsa rally
Read full article: Metal barriers, Trump gear: Crowd readies for Tulsa rallyTULSA, Okla. Supporters of President Donald Trump were lining up Saturday outside metal barriers surrounding the Tulsa stadium where the president will hold his first rally in months, ready to welcome him back to the campaign trail despite warnings from health officials about the coronavirus. Trump also will speak at an outdoor event to be held inside the barriers. Protests also are planned for Saturday, and some Black leaders in Tulsa have said they're worried the visit could lead to violence. Tulsa has seen cases of COVID-19 spike in the past week, and the local health department director asked that the rally be postponed. The Trump campaign said it will hand out masks and hand sanitizer, but there is no requirement that participants use them.
6 staffers setting up for Trump rally positive for COVID-19
Read full article: 6 staffers setting up for Trump rally positive for COVID-19WASHINGTON President Donald Trump's campaign says six staff members helping set up for his Saturday night rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, have tested positive for coronavirus. The campaign's communications director, Tim Murtaugh, said in a statement that quarantine procedures were immediately initiated and no staff member who tested positive would attend the event. Murtaugh said campaign staff members are tested for COVID-19 as part of the campaign's safety protocols. Tulsa has seen cases of COVID-19 spike in the past week, and the local health department director asked that the rally be postponed. The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Friday denied a request that everyone attending the indoor rally wear a mask, and few in the crowd outside Saturday were wearing them.
Oklahoma governor seeks larger event for Trump's Tulsa rally
Read full article: Oklahoma governor seeks larger event for Trump's Tulsa rallyOKLAHOMA CITY So many people have expressed an interest in attending President Donald Trumps rally Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that the governor said hes asked the campaign to consider a larger, outdoor venue to accommodate them. Kevin Stitt said Monday after talking with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence that nearly one million people have requested tickets to the event. Some Trump supporters have already started waiting in line outside the 19,000-seat BOK Center in downtown Tulsa. The Trump campaign didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on whether theyre considering moving the event to a larger venue or accepting Stitts invitation to tour the Greenwood District. Oklahoma County Republican Party Chairman David McLain said Monday that the Trump campaign intends to fill every one of the venues seats.
462 Oklahoma inmates to be released Monday
Read full article: 462 Oklahoma inmates to be released MondayCNN Video(CNN) - Hundreds of Oklahoma inmates will leave prison Monday before their original sentences are over. In the largest mass commutation in US history, 462 non-violent inmates will be released Monday, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board said. A total of 527 inmates had their sentences commuted Friday, but 65 of them have detainers and will be released later. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections held its first "transition fairs" for inmates at 28 facilities across the state, the Pardon and Parole Board said. "These fairs connected 781 inmates with the services they may need once released."