Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 • Sunny and cooler. Mid 50s.

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Today’s Memo:

• $120M Oklahoma turnpike expansion: State panel approved major contracts for the East-West Connector linking I-44, I-35, and I-40.

• ACA hikes loom for rural Oklahoma: Expiring tax credits could sharply raise premiums, hitting rural residents hardest.

By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
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OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority on Tuesday awarded more than $120 million in contracts to move forward with a turnpike improvement and expansion program.

The largest contract was for nearly $97 million to Crossland Construction Co., Inc., for bridges and paving on the East-West Connector turnpike in the Newcastle and Oklahoma City areas, said Darian Butler, OTA engineering director. 

The bridges will be over Pennsylvania Avenue and the Canadian River, he said. 

The project includes 2,412 feet of mainline roadway including earthwork, drainage and paving.

The 28-mile East-West Connector will link Interstate 44 in the area of Newcastle and Tuttle at Oklahoma Highway 37 and cross the Canadian River east to Interstate 35. The tollroad will continue northeast to Interstate 40 to connect to the Kickapoo Turnpike in eastern Oklahoma County.

Click to read the full story.

By Anna Pope, OPMX
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Many Oklahomans will see health insurance rate hikes unless Congress extends expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits. Rural residents will be hit hardest, according to a researchers from the Oklahoma Policy Institute.

More than 300,000 Oklahomans rely on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace for health insurance, and the vast majority of them receive advanced premium tax credits, according to KFF.

Oklahoma Policy Institute researchers say nearly everyone buying insurance through the marketplace will be affected if enhanced tax credits are not extended. Kati Malicoate, who works in communications with the institution, said the state's rural residents will be hardest hit.

"In certain areas, for example, Texas County, they could see increases of up to $1,000 per month, and over 100,000 rural Oklahomans use the marketplace, which makes this a huge issue," Malicoate said. 

Click here to read the full story.

Editor’s note: Links requiring subscriptions have an *.

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

• ‘Given bad advice’: Coal County sheriff’s suspension invalid after legal snafu (NonDoc)

• Several injured after head-on crash involving Oklahoma Department of Corrections bus (KOCO)

• Free speech leaders commend OU over handling of Fulnecky essay dispute (The Oklahoman)

• Oklahoma Republican lawmakers ask attorney general to investigate COVID-19 response, protocols (KGOU)

• $92M headed to Tulsa-area groups for cancer research, maternal health and more (The Oklahoma Eagle)

• Driver accused of hitting mother and daughter in Warr Acres admits to taking NyQuil, Suboxone (KOCO)

• Frederick pair arrested following shooting death of teenager (KSWO)

• NTSB releases preliminary report on Weatherford anhydrous ammonia leak (KOCO)

• KILLED TRYING TO HELP: Man accused of running over good Samaritan in Jenks (2 News Oklahoma)

• Public launch of updated Oklahoma campaign finance system still delayed (Oklahoma Voice)

• State delays push data center developers to private land (Oklahoma Watch)

• City's Route 66 Centennial celebration to include a Musical Road (Tulsa World)

• TPS updates proposed bond package to include bus equipment, school renovations (Public Radio Tulsa)

• East Tulsa’s homeless spent ‘24/7 outside.’ This winter, they have a warm place to stay. (Tulsa Flyer)

• Legal roundup: AI filings kicked, KFOR defamation case continues, CVS Caremark settles for $5 million (NonDoc)

• Ponca City pilot and passenger escape injury in Nebraska plane crash (Kay News Cow)

• A different kind of sleigh ride: Tulsa motorcycle crew delivers toys to Dream Center (The Oklahoma Eagle)

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