Friday, February 6, 2026 • Upper 60s, plenty of sun! ☀️ Fantastic weekend ahead.

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By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
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OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday passed a measure designed to protect churchgoers from those seeking to disrupt their religious services.

Senate Bill 743, by Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville, passed by a vote of 31-15 and heads to Gov. Kevin Stitt for consideration. The measure was a holdover from the last session. 

Gollihare said the measure was needed in the wake of incidents on Jan. 18 at the Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., and in March at his church, Blue Bell Freewill Baptist Church in Creek County.

In Minnesota, protestors last month disrupted a service as they chanted, demanding justice for a woman who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. That church’s pastor also serves as an ICE field director.

Gollihare said individuals upset with his vote against an unconstitutional abortion bill showed up at his church before a service and told the pastor they were there to “admonish” Gollihare. They were asked to leave more than once before the pastor called law enforcement, he said.

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Send me your photos, and they might end up in Oklahoma Memo — like this one from my friend Scott Mitchell. He’s here with Jonathan “Coop” Cooper and Haley Hetrick, as Griffin Media goes all out to cover the start of the 2026 legislature on Monday.

By Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch
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Republican gubernatorial candidates have poured $7.6 million of their own money into their campaigns ahead of the June 16 primary election, eclipsing donations from individuals and political groups. 

Mike Mazzei leads the pack in self-funding, incrementally loaning his campaign $3 million from April through December. As of Dec. 31, the last reporting deadline, about 88% of the former state senator’s aggregate campaign funds came from personal loans. 

Former House Speaker Charles McCall and Chip Keating, who served as secretary of public safety under Gov. Kevin Stitt, have also eclipsed the $2 million mark. McCall’s personal loans total $2.6 million, while Keating has loaned his campaign $2 million, including a $1.75 million loan authorized on New Year’s Eve.  

While Oklahoma Ethics Commission rules cap individual donations at $3,500 per election, candidates are allowed to give unlimited contributions and loans to their own campaign. If self-funded, the loans are interest-free and may be repaid with contributions received later in the campaign. 

The U.S. Supreme Court has defended self-funding as necessary for many new candidates to launch competitive campaigns. Critics contend that the widespread usage of large personal loans keeps all but the wealthiest of prospective candidates from seeking office. 

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

• Oklahoma Senate leader opposes Gov. Stitt’s call for new vote on medical marijuana (KOCO)

• Mustang High School students say they were pepper-sprayed during student led ICE protest (News 9)

• 2 deputies shot in Okmulgee County; suspect in custody (2 News Oklahoma)

• Wagoner County Sheriff's Office investigating suspicious death near Whitehorn Cove (Fox 23)

• Bill advances prohibiting use of Oklahomans’ credit information to set insurance rates (Oklahoma Voice)

• Oklahoma at center of multi-state $1.5 billion weed bust, AG claims (KOSU)

• Higher education officials project higher enrollment, price tag for Oklahoma’s Promise (Oklahoma Voice)

• Stitt executive order addresses Oklahoma university degree programs, tenures (KGOU)

• Stitt suggests reducing bachelor's degree hours by one-fourth (Tulsa World)*

• Oklahoma’s Black rodeo culture takes center stage with February exhibit, live event (The Oklahoma Eagle)

• The Black Wall Street Times’ Black History Month 2026 honorees (The Black Wall Street Times)

• Hoskin, tribal leaders fire back at Stitt’s speech (Cherokee Phoenix)

• Big 12 investigating if OSU fans used anti-Mormon chants during win over BYU (Tulsa World)*

• Small Oklahoma casket business sues state funeral board over casket selling law (KFOR)

The ‘Oklahoma Memo’ mission is simple: Reignite the daily local news habit by connecting Oklahomans and those who love Oklahoma to quality sources of news and vetted information.

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