Democrat announces run for governor, anti-homeless legislation — and Ice Cube tour headed to OKC

What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is April 16, and here are a few quickies:

• 4 students were injured in a shooting in the Dallas Independent School District on Tuesday. A suspect was arrested late Tuesday night.

• Rap legend Ice Cube is headed to OKC in October. Tickets go on sale this Friday.

• The new Forbes billionaires list just dropped. Here’s a list of the Oklahomans who made it.

• Business: OpenAI is thinking about creating a new social network to compete with Elon Musk’s X platform.

Don’t forget to support local journalism wherever you can, if you’re able. For journalism to thrive, it’s important that journalists be supported.

Today’s featured newsrooms include KOSU, The Frontier and Oklahoma Voice.

Subscribe to get this FREE newsletter in your inbox every morning. Your free subscription supports Oklahoma Memo.

Our email is [email protected].

Weather Update ⛅

Windy and warmer. Also, local meteorologists are starting to sound the alerts about the possibility of severe weather on Friday evening.

🌡️ Wednesday's high in OKC 81°
🌡️ Wednesday’s high in Tulsa 78°

Allergy Report for April 16 🤧

Tree pollen will be Very high today.
Grass pollen will be high.
Ragweed pollen won’t be an issue.

For more depth on Wednesday’s allergy news, click here.

Rep. Cyndi Munson jumps in the race for Oklahoma Governor

By Lionel Ramos, KOSU
Click here to read the story.
Donate to KOSU.

She’s the only Democrat and one of two women vying for the top executive seat in the state.

Rep. Cyndi Munson is the latest candidate for Oklahoma Governor in the 2026 General Election. The House minority leader made her official announcement just outside the Oklahoma State Capitol Tuesday morning.

Munson is the only Democrat to announce candidacy for governor or any other statewide office in 2026 so far. First elected in 2016, she represents northern Oklahoma City’s House District 85.

Surrounded by her close family and a few supporters in front of the statehouse, Munson made her case as to why Oklahomans should vote for her.

Click here to finish the story.

In Oklahoma, a growing trend of anti-homeless legislation

By Maddy Keyes, The Frontier
Click here to read the story.
Donate to The Frontier.

Service providers are celebrating after a bill to restrict the locations of homeless shelters in Oklahoma failed. But they are nervous about a growing trend of legislation that criminalizes homelessness.

Senate Bill 484, authored by Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, would have banned homeless shelters within 3,000 feet of any school or school property in cities with fewer than 300,000 residents. The only cities that would not have been affected by the bill are Oklahoma City and Tulsa, which have populations greater than 300,000. The bill included exemptions for previously existing shelters, youth and domestic violence shelters and shelters operated in places of worship. An earlier version of the bill would have banned most Oklahoma cities from providing homeless services altogether.

“I don’t think that the bill failing in committee necessarily means that the state legislature is more friendly to people who are homeless,” said April Doshier, executive director of the nonprofit Food and Shelter. “I firmly believe we’re going to continue to see more pieces of legislation come out that are moving to criminalize homelessness and make it more difficult for people who are homeless to get out of that situation. So we will just have to continue our advocacy efforts and hope that whatever comes up next that we can advocate, rally our communities and defeat those bills as well.”

SB 484 was the latest in a string of measures aiming to criminalize homelessness or restrict services in the state. In November, Oklahoma’s anti-camping law, which fines or jails people for camping unauthorized on state-owned property, went into effect. A bill proposed this session looks to amend the camping ban to explicitly include county and municipal land. Another active bill would make possession of a shopping cart punishable by up to a $1000 fine,a year in jail or both. Critics of the bill say it unfairly targets Oklahoma’s homeless population.  

Click here to finish the story.

Panel passes bill putting restrictions on Oklahoma voters ability to get measures on the ballot

By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
Click here to read the story.
Donate to Oklahoma Voice.

OKLAHOMA CITY – A House panel on Tuesday passed a controversial bill that would make it more difficult for residents to get issues on the ballot.

Senate Bill 1027 would limit the number of signatures that can be collected in each county to 11.5% of votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election for a statutory change. For a constitutional change, the number of signatures collected could not exceed 20.8% per county.

Critics say changing the state’s initiative petition process would dilute the voting power of those in urban counties, while supporters argue that it is important to ensure election integrity and transparency.

“It pushes out the signature gathering process to make sure that it’s not all confined to the metros,” said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, the House author.

Currently, signature gatherers aren’t going to some rural counties, Hilbert said.

“All this does is require people to go out to multiple counties instead of just sticking to the two urban metros to get their signatures,” Hilbert said.

Click here to finish the story.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

A concise summary of the latest news from across the state. Do you like the new format with the headlines organized by category? Message me anytime at [email protected].

Government and Policy

• Controversial Tulsa County contracts pulled; House forms ODMHSAS investigative committee (NonDoc)

• House speaker sets Thursday hearing on Mental Health Department (Tulsa World)

• Senate Education Committee narrowly passes bill allowing adjunct teachers in early childhood classes (Oklahoma Voice)

• State plan highlights urgent increasing need for elderly housing options (Tulsa World)

• VA workers, others protest proposed DOGE cuts (Muskogee Phoenix)

• Lawmaker urges Gov. Stitt to halt forestry misinformation (2 News Oklahoma)

• Applications open for Oklahoma’s Energy Crisis Assistance Program (Black Wall Street Times)

Crime and Justice

• Wrongful conviction lawsuit claims TPD, DA in decades-long coverup scheme (2 News Oklahoma)

• Alleged shooter arrested in Mexico after ambush slayings of two Tulsa teens (Tulsa World)

• Woman shot by neighbor while driving over bridge, Tulsa Police say (News On 6)

• Atoka County deputies arrest seven on drug charges (KTEN)

• Man arrested in Carter County for attempting to attack someone with a hammer (KXII)

• Man acquitted of killing 20-year-old at 2023 El Reno Halloween party (KOCO)

• Former Watonga police officer under investigation for punching autistic teen will not face charges (News 9)

Education

• Hilldale Public Schools faces potential loss of resource officers due to staffing crisis (KTUL)

• Police searching for stolen Owasso Public Schools truck (Fox 23)

• Higher education chancellor visits Seminole State College (Seminole Producer)

Infrastructure and Environment

• 'Environmentally clean' OK County jail site has issue with unstable, wet soil (Oklahoman)

• Miami, Oklahoma battles decades of flooding, takes on GRDA (News On 6)

• Sinkhole swallows portion of road in west Oklahoma City (KFOR)

• Broken elevator causing concerns at Edmond independent living apartment (KFOR)

• County approves demolition of annex building: Site to be used for new parking lot (Ardmoreite)

Business and Economy

• OKC's Simple Modern facing $100 million tax bill with escalating China tariffs (Oklahoman)

• Popular food truck spot marked as state property, vendors must relocate (Guthrie News Page)

Politics and People

• Sen. Markwayne Mullin takes to social media about family health setbacks (Tulsa World)

• Former OU coach Bob Stoops submits letter protesting rezoning of proposed development near Norman home (OU Daily)

Unusual/Interesting

• SWAT sniper requests song from rooftop during Stillwater concert (News On 6)

SPORTS 🏀⚾🥎🏈

• OU baseball defeats Oklahoma State 11-1 in run-rule victory (OU Daily)

• Former Cal running back Jadyn Ott commits to Oklahoma (OU Daily)

• Cowgirls softball run rules Wichita State (OKState)

• Week 10 Sooner Softball Report: Sooner bats must turn around against Bulldogs (Clay Horning)

Community Notes 🏡

The Jones Assembly to Host Thunder Playoff Watch Parties for Away Games

The Jones Assembly in downtown Oklahoma City will host watch parties for all Oklahoma City Thunder away games during the NBA Playoffs, offering fans a place to gather and celebrate the team’s postseason run. Sponsored by Michelob Ultra, the events will be held on The Jones' patio and will include live music from DJ LiTEBRiTE, basketball bingo, giveaways, and themed food and drink specials.

Organizers say the venue will also feature photo opportunities and a lively atmosphere to rally support for the Thunder when the team is on the road. The initiative is part of a broader effort by The Social Order Dining Collective to engage the local community throughout the playoff season. Additional details, including menus and photos from the events, are expected to be released soon.

🗣️ Story Tips, Ideas, Feedback

My inbox is always open. If you have a link I should add to the newsletter, a story that isn’t getting enough attention, a press release, a press event you’d like to invite me to—or you just want to offer some good old-fashioned feedback, I’m available to you.

Maybe you’re interested in sponsoring Oklahoma Memo?

The mission is to amplify quality journalism, rekindling the daily news habit!

Best way to reach me is via email at [email protected].