Recreational marijuana paperwork filed; lawmakers pan Stitt idea — and new sushi place opening in Tulsa

What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is April 4, and here are a few quickies:

• Grab an umbrella. Friday’s going to be a wet one. ☂️

• National headlines: Force reduction coming for the U.S. Army? Some Republican lawmakers are fighting President Trump on tariffs.

• Hungry? Mr. Nobu Sushi in Tulsa (E. 81st St.) will open on Monday. Speaking of food, did you see that several Oklahoma chefs and an OKC restaurant were nominated for James Beard awards?

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Weather Update ⛈️❄️

More storms, and some of them could be severe Friday morning into the afternoon. Maybe some snow in OKC on Saturday night? (Seriously.)

🌡️ Friday's high in OKC 60°
🌡️ Friday’s high in Tulsa 56°

Allergy Report for April 4 🤧

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

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

Lawmakers balk at suggestion to eliminate Oklahoma Forestry Service after historic wildfires

By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
Click here to read story.
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislative leaders on Thursday panned Gov. Kevin Stitt’s proposal to eliminate the state Forestry Service after the Republican criticized its response to wildfires last month.

The legislative remarks came a day after Stitt told reporters he wanted to axe the agency amid frustrations about its response to wind-fueled wildfires that ripped through parts of the state, damaging or destroying over 400 homes. Stitt said he lost a ranch in the blaze. 

He later fired Mark Goeller, the head of the Oklahoma Forestry Service. Goeller has said nothing was held back after Stitt criticized his agency’s response. The agency is responsible for preserving the state’s forests and is the primary state body responsible for wildland fire detection, prevention and suppression. Several firefighters have defended how Goeller handled the historic wave of fires that swept across the state.

Stitt on Wednesday said officials can’t get answers about where the resources were and questioned why the state had the agency, which takes up 33% of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry’s budget to the tune of $75 million a year.

He suggested getting rid of it or giving a portion of the funds directly to local fire departments.

Republican lawmakers on Thursday criticized the suggestion.

Click to read the rest of the story.

Report: As coal declines, Oklahoma continues to replace it with renewables

By Chloe Bennett-Steele, StateImpact Oklahoma
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Donate to KGOU.

National energy data show the country is winding down coal generation and replacing it with renewables.

Renewable energy from wind turbines and solar panels generated more electricity in the U.S. than coal last year, a first for the country since coal peaked in 2007. A report from Ember, a global energy think tank, shows coal is at a historic low of 15% generation. Wind and solar energy produced 17% of the nation’s electricity.

The report states coal’s presence was three times larger in the U.S. in 2018 than wind and solar combined. Generation from solar rose by 27% last year, while wind increased by 7% and coal fell by 3%.

Oklahoma saw an increase in wind and solar generation, which makes up about 41% of its electricity. That’s according to information from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), which was used in the new report. Natural gas, the largest source of energy in the state, is also increasing.

The news comes as the state legislature considers a number of bills aiming to restrict the location of new wind turbines and solar projects.

Click to finish the story.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

A concise summary of the latest news from across the state.

• Paperwork filed on state question seeking to legalize recreational marijuana (Tulsa World)

• Tulsa-area car dealers brace for impact of the automotive tariff (KTUL)

• OSDE facing lawsuit seeking records related to appointment of controversial ‘Libs of TikTok’ influencer (KFOR)

• ‘Pulling in opposite directions’: Budget hole triggers Oklahoma mental health system pain points (NonDoc)

• Janet Grigg pleads no contest to Seeworth Academy embezzlement charges (NonDoc)

• Scott Mitchell (MitchellTalks) talks energy with Jerry Bohnen—ROFR and the Trump administration’s stand against it (OKEnergyToday)

• Man accused of raping Lyft driver in Del City will go to jury trial (KFOR)

• Suspect surrenders after shooting at Antlers grocery store (KTEN)

• Authorities identify suspect killed, deputies injured in Logan County officer-involved shooting (News 9)

• STATE OF EMERGENCY: Owasso leaders issue emergency after EF-1 tornado hits (2 News Oklahoma)

• Tornado leaves trail of destruction in Owasso; Osage SkyNews 6 surveys damage (News On 6)

• City of Owasso waiving building permit fees for storm damage related work (Fox 23)

• Committees demand investigation into operations of Indian schools (Gaylord News)

• New Ronald McDonald House breaks ground in Oklahoma City (KOCO)

• Former Delaware County Sheriff's deputy charged after allegedly stealing evidence (Fox 23)

• Muskogee Police investigate death of man found injured in roadway (Fox 23)

• Two dead in highway crash near Tushka (KTEN)

• High winds topple big rig on Love County freeway (KTEN)

• Oklahoma Birth Equity Initiative helps to improve Maternal Health (Black Wall Street Times)

• Video: Small plane catches fire at Guthrie Edmond Regional Airport (Guthrie News Page)

• City Council hears proposed remodel of Highland Park pool (Guthrie News Page)

• OKCMOA prepares for biggest-ever Art in Bloom fundraising event (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• New faces coming to Chickahsa City Council (The Express-Star)

SPORTS 🏀⚾🥎🏈

Taking stock of Sooner men's hoops

By Clay Horning, Oklahoma Columnist
Click to read the column.
Support Clay’s work.

Let’s talk Sooner hoops.

Let’s talk the program some love to hate precisely because they once loved it.

They loved it and can’t understand why losing conference season after losing conference season, matched with no NCAA tourney success, continues to be met with apparent indifference.

One, though it’s hard to be pleased Porter Moser remains coach, it’s not too difficult to except.

His fourth Oklahoma team really did make an end-of-season push to finally return to March Madness; though the roster’s undergoing another offseason reconstruction, there’s finally some good vibes fueling the effort; not to mention $7 million-plus has been saved not having to buy out his contract.

There’s still no good reason to believe he’s the guy to bring OU back to prominence, but there’s reason enough, given the saved dough, to give him another season to convince us.

Click to finish reading his column.

More Sports Headlines 👀

• Sooners drop baseball opener to LSU Tigers 2-0 (SoonerSports)

• April 12 Crimson Combine Details Announced (SoonerSports)

• Gilgeous-Alexander scores 33 as Thunder top Pistons 119-103 for 11th straight win (News On 6 / AP)

• 5 Thunder takeaways: OKC’s trio dominates in 11th straight win (News On 6)

• OU female athletes attend conservative activist Riley Gaines’ speech on transgender women in sports (OU Daily)

• An OSU sister reunion: Family bleeds bright orange after Tyla Heard's transfer to Cowgirls (Tulsa World)

• Oklahoma State rides Ruby Meylan, Megan Bloodworth to 4-0 win over Arizona State (O’Colly)

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