Oklahoma Voice

Oklahoma lawmaker proposes bill to prohibit AI from reaching personhood status

A House lawmaker filed legislation to prevent artificial intelligence from having the same rights as humans in Oklahoma.

Local & Regional

Oklahoma utility companies say they are ready for expected extreme weather

Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice

Oklahoma’s public utilities and transportation agencies say they are prepared for dangerously cold temperatures, snow and ice moving into the state.

A poster reads, "bell to bell, no cell" at the Jenks Public Schools Math and Science Center on Nov. 13, 2024. All Oklahoma public schools are under a yearlong ban on student cellphone use from the morning bell until dismissal.

Local & Regional

Oklahoma lawmakers to pursue permanent school cellphone ban

Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice

Rep. Chad Caldwell’s tagline last session when passing a one-year statewide cellphone ban in schools was “try it before you buy it.”

The Oklahoma Supreme Court chamber is pictured Dec. 7, 2023.

Local & Regional

Controversial Oklahoma TSET law unconstitutional, high court rules

Barbara Hoberock

The Oklahoma Supreme Court found the new law affects TSET’s independence by making tenures on the board dependent on the goodwill of the appointing authority.

A sign on a building marks an Oklahoma DHS office in Oklahoma County on Aug. 31, 2023.

Local & Regional

Providers warn child care access could worsen amid end of Oklahoma subsidy program

Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice

A popular pandemic-era subsidy program that has helped offset the cost of child care for families and providers will end in April, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services announced.

Voters wait in line outside the Oklahoma County Election Board on Oct. 30 to cast a vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Local & Regional

Group seeks Oklahoma political party status

Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice

A new political party hopes to gather enough signatures to appear on this year’s ballot.

A truck transporting an oversized load on Dec. 16 struck six bridges over the Will Rogers Turnpike near Claremore in Mayes and Rogers counties.

Local & Regional

Agency to pay nearly $500,000 to repair 6 Oklahoma bridges damaged by oversized load

Barbara Hoberock

The agency’s governing board approved paying $491,700 to Built-Right Construction following an emergency declaration that allowed immediate repairs to be made to the six bridges over the Will Rogers Turnpike.

Oklahoma State Capitol Building. Editor’s note: This story is part of Oklahoma Voice’s end-of-year series that provides updates to some stories that captured the interest of Oklahomans in 2025.

Local & Regional

New Oklahoma laws take effect Jan. 1. Food stamp changes delayed.

Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice

A dozen new laws take effect Jan. 1, including one designed to provide more consistency in sentencing of felony crimes.

State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd reviews numbers during a Friday meeting of the Board of Equalization at the Capitol. Editor’s note: This story is part of Oklahoma Voice’s end-of-year series that provides updates to some stories that captured the interest of Oklahomans in 2025.

Local & Regional

Funding, staffing cuts hamper release of special Oklahoma audits

Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice

A number of high-profile audits have yet to be released by the State Auditor and Inspectors office.

Gov. Kevin Stitt, pictured June 5, 2025, sent a letter to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission pushing for decisive action on the state's campaign finance system.

Local & Regional

Governor pushed for Oklahoma ethics board to act on issues with election reporting system

Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice

In an unusual move, Gov. Kevin Stitt wrote a letter leaning on a state ethics board ahead of a key vote to take action on the future of Oklahoma’s campaign finance system after it had been offline for months.