Monday, February 23, 2026 • Sunny, low-to-mid 50s. Warmup coming! ☀️

By Libby Hobbs, Tulsa Flyer
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Oklahoma taxpayers could pay the price for the state’s high food stamp error rates, but that’s likely a last resort. 

Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could cost the state an extra $270 million next year, according to State Auditor Cindy Byrd. SNAP provides upwards of $125 million a month in food benefits to more than 684,600 Oklahomans in need. 

Byrd said taxpayers might be the ones forced to cover the new costs but later told the Flyer raising tax rates was unlikely. 

“It would be horrific for the state of Oklahoma to raise taxes to cover mistakes made by a state agency that is not properly stewarding our tax dollars that we’re receiving,” Byrd said of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. 

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A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:

• Former OKC resident living in Mexico describes unrest in parts of country after El Mencho killing (KOCO)

• “Traumatizing" — witness recalls moment car went into crowd during Starbird car show (News On 6)

• D.C. Digest: Mullin downplays Supreme Court decision on tariffs (Tulsa World)*

• Trump's White House meeting with governors 'turned out well,' Oklahoma Gov. Stitt says (The Oklahoman)*

• Oklahoma woman in need of heart transplant faces uncertainty amid UnitedHealthcare, Integris rift (KOCO)

• OKC firm invests 10 million in Oklahoma-based business as Devon and Expand make its exit (News 9)

• Lawyers, guns and money: OHRC questions remain despite OKBred Fund report (NonDoc)

• Nichols nominates 3 for Tulsa Housing Authority Board as 2021 audit released (NonDoc)

• EMBARK celebrates 2 years of BRT success, 1 million riders (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• Sheriff, multiple deputies resign from Harmon County (KSWO)

• Alysa Liu skates to Olympics gold to Oklahoman's song 'MacArthur Park' (The Oklahoman)*

• 'It's a big deal': Green Country man lands big role in Olympics closing ceremonies (2 News Oklahoma)

• Drunk driver arrested after crashing into Topgolf in northwest Oklahoma City (KFOR)

• Forrest sparks OSU in Cowboys' dominant 32-11 win against Iowa (The O’Colly)

The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that President Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs was invalid — ordering repayment of funds collected under the policy.

John Croisant, a candidate for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, said the decision reinforces separation of powers and places responsibility back on Congress.

Meanwhile: The investigation tied to Jeffrey Epstein is expanding internationally.

We discuss both topics in this episode of the Oklahoma Memo podcast.

A daily briefing connecting Oklahomans to the state’s best journalism — and original content from Oklahoma Memo.

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