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- Rep. Tom Cole Says DOGE Is ‘Pretty Responsive’ to His Concerns
Rep. Tom Cole Says DOGE Is ‘Pretty Responsive’ to His Concerns
This is a round-up of Oklahoma news coverage for March 26, 2025
What’s happening, Oklahoma?
If you just can’t wait to get the ‘Oklahoma Memo’ each morning, you don’t have to wait.
Get the update on Substack the evening before.
Oh, and I highly recommend reading the NonDoc piece I’ve linked to below. It’s about an Oklahoma judge who was reprimanded for how she treated the Oklahoma County sheriff. It’s a terrific read.
Weather Update 🌧️…⛅?
We stay in the 70s. Rain chances early this morning in OKC.
Sunny and beautiful in Tulsa!
🌡️ Tuesday's high in OKC 75°
🌡️ Tuesday’s high in Tulsa 79°
1️⃣ Rep. Tom Cole Says DOGE Is ‘Pretty Responsive’ to His Concerns

Rep. Tom Cole shown at a meeting in Baltimore in 2024. (Maryland GovPics/Courtesy Photo)
By Em Luetkemeyer, Oklahoma Watch
Click to read the story.
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Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole told constituents with concerns about government-slashing efforts at the Department of Government Efficiency that he’d been able to get it to change course when it set its sights on projects related to his district.
He said he’d been able to get results by flagging issues to DOGE like any other agency, adding that while it’s made some mistakes in its efforts to cut spending, it had reversed course in at least one instance when his office brought an issue to its attention.
“We’ve found, at least, if you work it just like you would any other government agency, they can be pretty responsive,” Cole said in his telephone town hall on Thursday.
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2️⃣ Oklahoma reports 7 confirmed, 2 probable measles cases in latest update

Colorized transmission electron micrograph of a measles virus particle (red). (KOSU)
By Jillian Taylor, StateImpact Oklahoma
Click here to read the story.
Donate to KOSU.
Oklahoma is reporting five new measles cases, with seven confirmed and two probable cases total as of Tuesday. The State Department of Health (OSDH) reports these cases are among unvaccinated individuals in northeastern Oklahoma.
A probable measles case shows symptoms consistent with the national standard surveillance definition and lacks a confirmatory test result or a link to a laboratory-confirmed case. A confirmed case shows symptoms consistent with the national standard surveillance definition and has a confirmatory test result or a link to a laboratory-confirmed case.
OSDH said in a press release that two of the four previously reported probable cases have been updated to confirmed cases because they were linked to a close contact who had confirmatory measles testing.
The agency said investigations into the five new cases found no additional public setting exposures. OSDH said no cases have resulted from exposure to public settings at this time.
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3️⃣ Oklahoma could be the next state to require schools to show fetal development video

A screenshot of the "Baby Olivia" video produced by anti-abortion organization Live Action.
By Beth Wallis, StateImpact Oklahoma
Click to read the story.
Donate to KGOU.
Oklahoma schools could be required to show students a fetal development video — such as a prominent one produced by an anti-abortion activism group.
House Bill 1603 by Rep. Emily Gise (R-Oklahoma City) passed the House Floor Monday. The bill would make viewing the video a graduation requirement, but only for students whose parents or guardians opt-in.
“Baby Olivia” is a three-minute, high-definition, computer-generated animated ultrasound video from the anti-abortion group Live Action.
Click to finish the rest of the story.
Oklahoma News Headlines 📰
• Judge Amy Palumbo reprimanded after beef with Sheriff Tommie Johnson (NonDoc)
• Oklahoma leaders ask Trump administration to cut federal strings on education funds (Oklahoma Voice)
• U.S. Supreme Court hears Oklahoma case over where environmental challenges should be heard (Oklahoma Voice)
• Bill would ban opening new homeless shelters near schools in most Oklahoma cities (Oklahoma Voice)
• State, counties remain contradictory over Oklahoma burn ban laws (2 News Oklahoma)
• Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority recalls products due to contamination concerns (KTUL)
• Oklahoma man indicted in largest dog fighting operation bust in federal history (KOCO)
• ‘Mayor of my hometown’: Stephen Tyler Holman visits Norman spots influential to mayoral journey (OU Daily)
• Cherokee Nation gives $7.6 million in car tag revenue to schools (Tulsa World)
• Oklahoma House moves to ban lab-grown meat (Tulsa World)
• Atlantic reporter group chat with defense leaders: U.S. Senator James Lankford, other lawmakers react (News On 6)
• Domestic assault, witness intimidation charges leveled against Duncan man (Lawton Constitution)
• New rules proposed for four-wheeler trail in Marshall County (KTEN)
• Logan County Commissioners discuss change orders for new Administration Building (Guthrie News Page)
• Bill banning lab-grown meat products in Oklahoma advances to Senate (News 9)
• Oklahoma man charged in dog fighting, trafficking investigation (KFOR)
• Wacky, oddball, left-of-center films screening all over OKC (Oklahoma City Free Press)
• Which states have the highest grocery costs? Oklahoma ranks in top 10: See the list (The Oklahoman)
• Good News: Monarch butterflies returning to Oklahoma (Fox 23)
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SPORTS 🏀⚾🥎🏈
🚨 BASEBALL UPDATE: Oklahoma improves to 21-3 on the season with a mid-week 11-2 win over Oral Roberts in Tulsa. (Click for box score.)
Week 7 OU Baseball Report: Though still winning, Sooners need more pitching

Oklahoma pitcher Dylan Crooks prepares to throw a four-seam fastball against Mississippi State last weekend. (OU Athletics Photo)
By Clay Horning, Oklahoma Columnist
Click to read the column.
Subscribe to Clay’s Substack.
Oklahoma enjoyed just enough pitching to continue its winning ways this past weekend.
It needs more.
The Sooners still claim one of the nation’s best starting pitchers in Kyson Witherspoon and one of the nation’s best relievers in Dylan Crooks.
Last weekend, Witherspoon took a loss despite allowing just one earned run over 6 2/3 innings against Mississippi State, his longest appearance of the season, lowering his earned run average to 1.80. Meanwhile, Crooks earned a win and save against the Bulldogs, tossing three scoreless and hitless innings.
And despite early struggles, Jason Bodin’s finally earning the opportunities OU coach Skip Johnson keeps giving him.
See more on him below.
After Witherspoon, though, the starting rotation’s a crapshoot.
More Sports Coverage 👀
• No. 1 recruit Aaliyah Chavez commits to Oklahoma women's basketball (OU Daily)
• Sooners softball goes to Wichita State on Wednesday (SoonerSports)
• Gundy, Players Meet with Media After First Spring Practice (OKState)
• Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy proposes Bedlam spring game with Sooners (Oklahoman)
• New Tulsa coach Tre Lamb wears his opening day enthusiasm on his head (Tulsa World)
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