AGP Executive Report

Oklahoma Elections: Voters have until July 31 to update registration for the Aug. 25 runoff election, and party switching is blocked from April 1 to Aug. 31 in even-numbered years. State Questions: Oklahoma voters will also weigh State Question 844, which would let the Legislature stop reimbursing local governments and schools for property-tax revenue lost when new manufacturing projects use the state’s five-year exemption—school leaders warn it could mean less money statewide. Federal Voting Fight: A federal judge in New Jersey blocked DOJ access to unredacted voter rolls, adding to a growing court fight over Trump’s vote-by-mail restrictions. Immigration & Courts: The DOJ is using a decades-old Alien Terrorist Removal Court for the first time to pursue deportation of an Afghan lawful permanent resident tied to an ISIS-inspired Election Day plot. Public Safety/Tech: Oklahoma City announced its first Advanced Critical Incident Response Team K9, aimed at helping in high-stress incidents and supporting child interviews. Turnpike Finance: The Oklahoma Council of Bond Oversight approved up to $2.9 billion in turnpike bonds, even as litigation seeks to halt further issuance over an East-West Connector project.

Nuclear Energy Push: The U.S. Department of Energy named Oklahoma as one of five potential host states for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, with Gov. Kevin Stitt touting major investment and jobs as the state explores a full nuclear fuel-cycle hub. Local Government & Accountability: In Coweta, a data-center proposal sparked allegations of “political identity theft,” with supporters’ messages reportedly generated using real residents’ information without permission. Domestic Violence Spotlight: An Owasso murder-suicide involving influencer Sara Gilson and estranged husband Shawn Duffey is renewing attention on Oklahoma’s high rates of women killed by men and the limits of protective orders. Courts & Elections: Republican-led states asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revive parts of Trump’s election-integrity order after a judge blocked key provisions on voter lists and mail-ballot standards. Public Safety & Justice: Oklahoma County opened a homicide investigation after a woman’s body was found in the North Canadian River near Jones. Education Policy: New school-year rules include a statewide teacher pay raise and a daily recess requirement for K-5, with districts adjusting schedules to comply.

Federal Election Fight: Oklahoma and other GOP-led states asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let Trump’s vote-by-mail restrictions take effect, setting up a major showdown over federal power vs. state election control. Nuclear Energy Push: Oklahoma is a finalist for DOE’s Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, but safety critics warn the tech is still experimental and regulators may not be ready for the risks. Local Voting Access: North Tulsa leaders say early voting plans still don’t give densely populated areas enough clarity or access ahead of the Aug. 25 runoff. Statehouse Clash: Rep. Tom Gann says House leadership rejected his interim studies on issues including the Inola smelter and license plate readers, calling it censorship. Insurance & Consumer Costs: AG Gentner Drummond and Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready trade accusations over an overdue roof-claims report and storm-related insurer oversight. Public Safety & Courts: Tulsa County DA asked OSBI to review seven jail deaths after a Frontier investigation; meanwhile, nine people were charged in an alleged OkCity Crisis Nursery donation embezzlement scheme. Community Safety: After a murder in OKC’s Asian District, business owners and residents pressed police and lawmakers on homelessness and mental health response.

Oklahoma Election Finance: A new Supreme Court ruling is reshaping Oklahoma’s campaign finance fight by boosting political parties’ ability to coordinate spending in state and federal races, with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission issuing guidance that could mean more party-driven ads and get-out-the-vote efforts. State Question 844: Voters will decide this August whether to let lawmakers adjust reimbursement rates tied to a property tax exemption for new and expanding manufacturers—an approach supporters say could rein in costs, but critics warn could squeeze some school districts. Education & Homelessness: Norman City Council approved zoning for a permanent homeless shelter while postponing votes on public camping rules, and Oklahoma universities face a civil rights complaint over a Native American nursing scholarship program. Nuclear Policy: Oklahoma is among five states selected as finalists to explore DOE Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, a plan that could include waste storage and fuel-cycle work. Community Under Pressure: Tulsa Food Not Bombs says it’s continuing to feed the unhoused despite legal pressure from the city.

Nuclear Energy Push: The U.S. Department of Energy picked Oklahoma as a finalist for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, a plan that could pair nuclear fuel-cycle work with waste disposition and promises major investment and jobs. State Government & Tech: Oklahoma launched its BEACON AI platform to help agencies deploy AI with shared standards, governance, and security. Public Safety: Oklahoma’s new DUI law closes a “loophole” for prosecutors, while Oklahoma Highway Patrol is investigating a wrong-way crash in northwest OKC tied to an impaired driver. Education Governance: OKCPS Board Chair Paula Lewis resigned after moving outside district boundaries, setting up a leadership transition. Health & Food Safety: The CDC says the Cyclospora outbreak now involves nine states, including Oklahoma, with officials urging people to avoid recalled lettuce. Tribal Health: A program in Oklahoma has 41 college students presenting research aimed at tackling tribal public health challenges. Elections: Oklahoma voters will see two state questions on the Aug. 25 runoff ballot.

Federal Funding & Politics: A new report argues the Trump administration is allocating federal resources based on whether states voted for or against him, echoing the old “spoils system” but with modern federal muscle. Foreign Policy Leadership: With Lindsey Graham’s death, Republicans are wrestling with a foreign-policy leadership gap and what it means for the Trump orbit. Oklahoma Education & Courts: Oklahoma’s revised social studies standards are headed to classrooms after the state Supreme Court blocked the Ryan Walters-era version over Open Meetings Act violations. GOP Runoff Deadline: Oklahoma voters have until July 31 to register for the Aug. 25 GOP runoff between AG Gentner Drummond and former Sen. Mike Mazzei. State Government Tech: Oklahoma is launching the BEACON AI platform to modernize state government operations. Local Governance & Water: Cedar Lake residents say unpermitted upstream dams are draining their lake and wells, sparking a neighbor dispute. Environment & Accountability: Chickasha businessman Brannan Bordwine pleaded guilty in federal court over improper disposal of recalled hand sanitizer classified as hazardous waste. Public Health: A national blood crisis is hitting Northeast Oklahoma, with the Red Cross urging immediate donations. Immigration & College Costs: DOJ lawsuits continue targeting states’ in-state tuition benefits for undocumented students, including Oklahoma. School Safety: Oklahoma’s social host law is highlighted as communities warn about underage drinking ahead of summer.

Elections: Oklahoma’s Aug. 25 runoff is coming fast, with Friday the deadline to register to vote for the primary runoff. State Government & Tech: Oklahoma agencies are preparing to roll out “Beacon,” an AI system aimed at saving workers 6 to 8 hours a week by helping with data analysis and legal research. Public Safety: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority says wrong-way prevention has to start at the exit ramp, after an incident on the Kilpatrick Turnpike ended without a crash. Local Government: Bartlesville is pushing more than $10 million in infrastructure improvements and launching programs including a Central Park incubator and a sidewalk cost-share. Health & Consumer Watch: Oklahoma’s Insurance Commissioner fight heats up as AG Gentner Drummond demands release of documents tied to insurers’ roof-claim handling; separately, Norman Regional is going out of network for Aetna policyholders. Justice & Courts: Tulsa police are investigating possible victims after arrest of an RN accused of sexually assaulting a patient. Crime & Accountability: Questions continue around Flock camera use as privacy concerns grow alongside claims of public-safety benefits. Tribal Affairs: The Muscogee Nation is forming a task force to study data centers and AI impacts on air, land, water, culture, and cybersecurity. Nonprofits: OKC’s Sisu Youth Services received a $1.5 million gift to expand support for unhoused transition-age youth. National Politics: Gov. Kevin Stitt and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker discussed reducing political divide at a National Conference of State Legislatures event.

Oklahoma Politics & Government: A NOTUS review says newly sworn-in Sen. Alan Armstrong, R-Oklahoma, violated the STOCK Act by disclosing about 700 stock trades more than two months late, with the trades valued in the millions. State Policy Watch: Oklahoma lawmakers’ push to cap early-grade classroom screen time failed, even as other states moved ahead with limits and device rules. Tribal Legal Fight: Freedmen descendants filed a federal lawsuit seeking to force the Muscogee Nation to recognize their tribal citizenship after a 2025 ruling and a subsequent pause on citizenship cards. Public Safety & Courts: A federal lawsuit challenges South Carolina’s 1,000-foot tattoo ban near churches and schools—Oklahoma is cited as the only other state with similar rules. Economy & Jobs: Park Aerospace announced a $65 million Tulsa-area composites facility at Tulsa International Airport, targeting 100+ jobs by 2028. National Health: CDC reports U.S. measles cases hit a 35-year high, with most cases tied to unvaccinated people.

Oklahoma Attorney General Race: With the general election 100 days away, both AG candidates laid out what they’d do in the first 100 days, including proposals aimed at public integrity and enforcement priorities. State Government & Tech: Oklahoma is rolling out BEACON, an AI platform meant to modernize state government, as other states push to regulate AI and data-center impacts on residents. Water & Housing Accountability: An OKC mother says her family’s apartment complex went nearly a month without running water, raising questions about property management and tenant protections. Public Safety & Health Policy: A new study links state abortion bans to increased suicidal thoughts among female teens, adding pressure to the policy debate. Military: The Oklahoma National Guard’s Brig. Gen. Andrew Ballenger retired after 34 years of service. Tribal Gaming Development: Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes broke ground on a new Lucky Star Casino in Elk City, expanding gaming and related amenities.

Oklahoma Politics & Government: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former Sen. Mike Mazzei, and the third remaining GOP gubernatorial candidate squared off at a Tulsa agriculture forum, with Drummond leaning on his rural background and Mazzei pushing a no-income-tax pitch. Elections & Courts: A federal appeals court setback keeps Trump’s 2026 election-integrity order blocked in 23 states and D.C., preventing DHS from distributing federal citizenship lists and limiting USPS mail-ballot changes. Immigration & Education: The DOJ’s push against in-state tuition for illegal immigrants continues, with courts backing the administration’s view that states can’t treat illegal residents more favorably than citizens. Public Safety: Claremore Police earned reaccreditation from the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission. Local Economy/Tribal Gaming: Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes broke ground on a new Lucky Star casino in Elk City, with plans for a hotel, convention center, and more phases. Crime & Courts: The Sara Gilson case in Owasso remains in focus after police said she was killed by her estranged husband, who then died by suicide.

Election Integrity Fight: A Biden-appointed majority on the First Circuit refused to lift an injunction blocking key Trump election-integrity steps in 23 states and D.C., keeping limits on DHS citizenship lists and new mail-ballot requirements through the 2026 cycle. Immigration & Education: The DOJ sued Colorado over in-state tuition and financial aid for illegal immigrants, arguing it violates federal law that bars unequal postsecondary benefits. Health Care Policy: A nationwide Medicaid ban on routine care at Planned Parenthood expired, restoring eligibility for non-abortion services in states that allow reimbursements. Food Safety: The CDC expanded its cyclospora investigation tied to shredded lettuce at Taco Bell, now including Oklahoma and bringing confirmed cases to 1,947 with 98 hospitalizations. Tribal Gaming: Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes broke ground on a new Lucky Star Casino in Elk City, with a casino, hotel, and plans for expansion phases. Oklahoma Politics & Government: Sen. James Lankford pushed a bill to prevent federal shutdowns by keeping lawmakers in Washington during funding lapses. Local Watch: Oklahoma City’s child-advocacy group OICA held details on its Heroes Ball and ongoing policy concerns for kids. Sports Business: Spencer Jones agreed to a two-year, $12 million offer sheet with the Thunder, with Denver having until Sunday to match.

Oklahoma Politics: House Speaker Kyle Hilbert says Rep. Danny Williams has been removed from committee chair roles and his Capitol office after a complaint alleging “improper conduct” toward a House employee, with the matter referred to the House Rules Committee and an outside investigation launched. Public Health: The CDC expanded a cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell to include Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania; cases now total 1,947 with 98 hospitalizations, and officials say the likely source is Taylor Farms lettuce. Energy & AI: Oklahoma utilities and data-center backers are rallying around the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, arguing AI growth shouldn’t hike bills for existing customers as projects like Meta’s Project Anthem move forward. State Government Tech: Oklahoma launched BEACON AI to modernize state government, including tools aimed at helping legislators and procurement. Weather & Safety: A heat advisory covers Kiowa County Sunday with temperatures expected around 100–105 degrees, warning of heat illness risk. Community: An Oklahoma City nonprofit, Operation Christmas Train Set Foundation, opened a permanent facility to distribute school supplies and other essentials year-round.

Oklahoma Politics: House Speaker Kyle Hilbert says Rep. Danny Williams is under investigation for “improper conduct” toward a House employee, with Williams removed from committee chair roles and moved from his Capitol office while an outside review is underway. Education & Elections: Oklahoma voters head to an Aug. 25 decision on State Question 844, which would end the Legislature’s requirement to reimburse local governments and schools for property-tax revenue lost to the state’s five-year manufacturing tax exemption. Public Safety & Courts: Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols ordered the city to close its municipal jail after a Frontier investigation into a detainee death; most detainees are to be transferred by July 31. Health: The CDC expanded a Cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell to include Oklahoma, with 1,947 reported illnesses and 98 hospitalizations. State Tech: Oklahoma launched BEACON, a statewide AI platform meant to help agencies modernize operations and speed up work on regulation review and procurement. National/World: Measles cases hit a 35-year high nationwide, and LeBron James announced he’s signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Tribal Citizenship Fight: Freedmen descendants are suing the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in federal court, alleging the tribe is ignoring its own Supreme Court ruling on full citizenship rights under the 1866 treaty. Local Government & Transparency: Coweta residents are pushing back on a proposed data center after an open-records dispute surfaced alleged misleading or fraudulent email support for the project. Data Centers & Utilities: Congress and the White House are moving to stop large data centers from shifting grid upgrade costs onto regular ratepayers, while Oklahoma’s OG&E signed the White House ratepayer protection pledge. Public Health: Oklahoma’s naloxone kiosks face an uncertain future as funding and legal protections for harm-reduction supplies—especially fentanyl test strips—remain in flux. Elections: Oklahoma voters have a fast-approaching deadline to request absentee ballots for the Aug. 25 runoff/special elections. State Politics: Rep. Danny Williams is under investigation over misconduct allegations, with House leadership saying he was removed from his Capitol office. Education Tech: An AI-powered, teacher-light private school chain is set to open in Oklahoma this August. Energy & Cost of Living: Gas prices in multiple Oklahoma counties stayed near the low-$3 range in the week ending July 18, according to GasBuddy.

Oklahoma Tribal Rights Fight: Black members of the Muscogee (Creek) Freedmen are suing in federal court to force the Muscogee Nation to issue citizenship cards after a 2025 tribal Supreme Court ruling—claiming officials are stalling and blocking their voting rights. SNAP Cuts Pressure Oklahoma: A new report and state-by-state data show SNAP enrollment falling sharply since last year’s federal changes, with Oklahoma down about 18%—and mayors across the country, including Oklahoma City, urging Congress to reverse the cuts. Heat, Safety, and OKC Impacts: Oklahoma is bracing for another week of triple-digit temperatures; the OKC Zoo is shortening hours to 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and officials are warning residents to limit outdoor time and watch for heat illness. Courts and Public Safety: An ex-convict accused of spitting food on an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper is headed for a mental competency exam ahead of an Aug. 27 hearing. Education & Community: A Pauls Valley High School shooting suspect appeared for a preliminary hearing as testimony described the moments before the principal tackled him.

Oklahoma Housing & Courts: Tenants at former Vesta Realty properties in OKC say they’ve endured weeks without running water plus mold, leaks, and other damage, with Legal Aid saying Oklahoma law offers limited repair and utility remedies even as residents weigh options like lease termination. Federal Immigration & Oklahoma Politics: A report says ICE has used neck restraints, chokeholds, and other dangerous tactics repeatedly during 2025 enforcement, adding pressure to a White House push that’s already sparked tension with DHS leadership. Defense & Congress: The House passed the $1.15 trillion NDAA in a near-party-line vote, with Oklahoma Rep. Josh Brecheen among the Republicans voting no, setting up a Senate fight. Elections & Deadlines: Oklahoma voters face an Aug. 25 runoff election, with registration due July 31 and absentee requests due Aug. 10. State Government & Health: Oklahoma AG launched a probe into alleged Medicaid fraud failures at the state agency. Military in Oklahoma: Rep. Frank Lucas highlights Vance AFB’s role as a main operating base for the Air Force’s new T-7A Red Hawk training program. Public Safety: Law enforcement is searching for a missing 42-year-old mother near Kaw City. Local Government: The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will break ground Aug. 14, with new exhibits using AI.