Tuesday, February 17, 2026 • Warm, windy, highs in the low-to-mid 70s. ⛅

🚨 Critical, elevated fire risk across parts of Oklahoma today.

By Beth Wallis, StateImpact Oklahoma
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State Superintendent Lindel Fields and Secretary of Education Dan Hamlin responded Friday morning to an open letter from lawmakers calling for an investigation into student-led ICE protests.

Last week’s letter requested disciplinary actions for teachers who facilitated the protests, but did not provide evidence they were involved.

Fields and Hamlin said in a statement they have not found proof that any of the demonstrations at schools across the state were organized or endorsed by school districts.

👉 Click here for the full story.

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

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

• Lankford backs bill that would cut oil tax for Superfund cleanup (KGOU)

• For cities like Tulsa, Indianapolis’ battle over data centers could provide a blueprint to the resistance (Tulsa Flyer + Mirror Indy)

• Election Board decision to keep voter data private garners support from Oklahomans (Oklahoma Voice)

• Okla. lawmaker wants burn ban criteria changed (2 News Oklahoma)

• Woman to be released from prison 70 days into eight-year sentence after DUI crash (News On 6)

• Bill's author concerned Oklahoma classroom time lags behind other states (Tulsa World)*

• Grieving woman planning funeral instead of wedding after fiancé shot and killed at OKC apartment (KOCO)

• Valero facing legal action after Ardmore refinery fire (KTEN)

• Cole leads bipartisan push to uncover history of Indian boarding schools (NonDoc)

• Former Cherokee Supreme Court Justice Troy Poteete killed, wife charged with murder (NonDoc)

• Panel passes bill to increase Oklahoma homestead exemption (Oklahoma Voice)

• 'Survivor' hid an immunity idol somewhere in Oklahoma. Here's how to find it and win big. (The Oklahoman)*

Oklahoma could soon blow up the OSSAA and replace it with a 19-member commission appointed largely by the governor and legislative leadership — and columnist Clay Horning says lawmakers may not fully understand what they’re dismantling. In this week’s Oklahoma Memo podcast, Horning breaks down how a transfer dispute involving five athletes became the catalyst for Senate Bill 1890, why he believes the proposed replacement creates serious conflicts of interest, and how centralizing control of high school sports under political appointees could reshape everything from eligibility rules to state championships.

Watch the conversation above, and subscribe to Clay on his Substack.

Senate Bill 1421 cleared the House Health and Human Services Committee, an early but key step in the legislative process. The bill would require nonviolent interaction training for professionals who work with children in state-funded settings, including child welfare programs, crisis services, and residential facilities.

Supporters say the measure would strengthen child safety, provide clearer standards for frontline workers, and reduce costly incidents tied to injuries, turnover, and liability. Backers emphasize the bill focuses on training and prevention, not criminal penalties, as it moves forward in the Legislature.

A daily briefing connecting Oklahomans to the state’s best journalism — and original content from Oklahoma Memo.

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