Tulsa Police hope to keep records secret; Stitt vetoes bill that would have supported MMIW efforts

What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is May 7, and here are a couple of headlines before we get started:

• REAL ID rules go into effect today. However, federal officials say you’ll still be able to fly…for now.

• Pakistan says it is responding to 'act of war' after India missile strikes

• President Trump’s meeting with Canada Prime Minister Carney didn’t go “full Zelensky” but it was tense.

• Stock futures rise in anticipation of U.S.-China talks and the Fed’s interest rate announcement on Wednesday. Click for live updates.

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Warmer for your Wednesday. Rain on and off through Thursday, but then… beautiful for Mother’s Day weekend.

🌡️ Wednesday's high in OKC 71°
🌡️ Wednesday’s high in Tulsa 72°

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Tulsa police union seeks to keep officer disciplinary records secret

By Ashlynd Huffman, The Frontier
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A police union has sued to prevent the release of officer disciplinary records after The Frontier asked Tulsa for the documents. 

The Tulsa Police Department already released over 100 pages of records to The Frontier on April 17, which show disciplinary actions for officers who were found to have violated agency policies. The violations ranged from failing to clean a police vehicle to excessive use of force. 

The Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police asked a Tulsa County judge for an emergency order to prevent the city from releasing any more records on April 28. The police union said in a court filing that it was notified that the police department would release officer personnel records at 3 p.m. that afternoon.

The police union argued in a court filing that its collective bargaining agreement requires the city to purge and expunge officer disciplinary records from divisional files after periods ranging from one to five years, depending on the seriousness of the action. The agreement states the records will still be retained by Tulsa Police internal affairs in accordance with the City of Tulsa’s records retention policy. 

The release of records would cause “certain and irreparable harm” to members of the Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police, the union argued. 

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Oklahoma Gov. Stitt vetoes bill to bolster OSBI office for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples; Cherokee Chief calls Stitt’s position “breathtaking ignorance”

By Katie Hallum (ᏧᏟ), KOSU
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As people gathered around the Oklahoma Capitol to support victims and their families, Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed a bill tweaking a law he signed to help solve the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis.

Ida’s Law, signed by Stitt in 2021 with strong bipartisan support, was created to fill the gap between state, federal and tribal bureaus in MMIP investigations. It mandated that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation create an office and hire liaisons dedicated to these cases through federal funding.

The OSBI was unable to secure this funding. Despite this, the office hired Special Agent Dale Fine and Josh Patzkowski to lead MMIP case efforts. The two even addressed a crowd of people rallying to commemorate Missing and Murdered Indigenous People’s Day on the steps of the state Capitol on Monday.

Representative Ronald Stewart, D-Tulsa, aimed to change the federal funding requirement with House Bill 1137, which amended the language in the original bill to remove the federal funding requirement. That would mean the OSBI would receive direct funding for its MMIP office through the state.

The bill received almost unanimous support in the House and Senate, except for one “no” by Cherokee citizen Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, and landed on Stitt’s desk on April 29.

In his veto message, Stitt wrote that he “cannot endorse legislation that singles out victims based solely on their race.”

“Creating a separate office that prioritizes cases based on race undermines the principle of equal protection under the law and risks sending the message that some lives are more worthy of government attention than others,” Stitt wrote.

Tribal leaders have expressed their disappointment in his decision.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a statement Stitt’s decision was a show of his “breathtaking ignorance” in the face of a crisis.

“HB 1137, a bipartisan amendment to Ida’s Law was a housekeeping measure designed to strip an unnecessary federal funding requirement," Hoskin said in the statement.. “Gov. Stitt’s veto message, issues on a day we raise awareness across the country on MMIP issues, exposes that he lacks the foggiest idea that Ida’s Law is on the books, what it does on a low budget cost high impact basis, or what the simple amendment was designed to do.”

Oklahoma ranked second in the nation for MMIP cases in 2024. At that time, the state had 86 missing tribal members. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, one of the biggest barriers to solving these cases stems from a lack of resources and collaboration among law enforcement agencies.

Bill banning DEI on Oklahoma university campuses heads to governor’s desk

By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice
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OKLAHOMA CITY — After two hours of debate and discussion, House lawmakers on Tuesday sent legislation to Gov. Kevin Stitt that would ban Oklahoma colleges and universities from using state funds for “diversity, equity and inclusion” jobs, activities or programs. 

If signed by Stitt, Senate Bill 796, authored by Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, would also prevent institutions from requiring DEI statements on applications, the disclosure of pronouns and  training related to diversity, equity or inclusion. Schools would have until July 1, 2026, to comply. 

Despite criticisms that the bill would claw back advancements in civil rights and inclusion, it advanced from the House and Senate with party line votes as proponents argued outcomes should be based on merit. 

Crosswhite Hader said DEI has forced students in Oklahoma to take courses or classes that are irrelevant to their degree, prolonging the time and cost of obtaining a postsecondary degree. 

Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, said DEI discriminates against white men and punishes people who “work hard.”

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Despite OCC pushback, utility bill that would boost natural gas plants in Oklahoma heads to governor

By Chloe Bennett-Steele, StateImpact Oklahoma
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Senate Bill 998 passed through the House on Tuesday with a 51 to 39 vote.

The legislation was written by Senators Todd Gollihare (R-Kellyville) and Grant Green (R-Wellston) with Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Faxon) serving as the House author.

It would allow companies to recover construction expenses from consumers before a new or expanded facility is operational, as long as the site generates natural gas. It would also direct the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) to speed up its review time and give special rates for construction recovery expenses to the companies.

Utilities that terminate their projects would be required to issue refunds of the recovered expenses within 90 days.

During the House session, Caldwell said the proposed law is intended to meet growing energy demands through natural gas.

“A vote yes on this piece of legislation is a vote for lower utility costs in the state of Oklahoma, but also for a more secure grid,” he said.

The lawmaker said some of the bill’s text was formed from a request from the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma, a trade association and lobby group for the oil and gas industry.

Before the bill’s passage, the OCC sent a memo to lawmakers urging them to vote no on the legislation. The agency, which regulates public utilities, oil and gas and some transportation, said its authority would erode under the proposed law.

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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• OKC district reeling after shooting injures 9 outside The Collective: 'It has to stop' (Oklahoman)

• Advocacy group says community must come together to end gun violence after Midtown shooting (KOCO)

• The Collective says staff treated gunshot victims after shooting began outside (KOCO)

• Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office financial practices criticized (NonDoc)

• Body of former Guthrie educator found in lake (Guthrie News Page)

• Cellphones will be banned in Oklahoma schools for 2025-26 school year: What to know (Oklahoman)

• 6-year-old boy dies after dog bite in Cleveland County; no arrests made (KOCO)

• Catholic churches across eastern Oklahoma hold Mass to pray for cardinals ahead of conclave (Fox 23)

• SHORT STAFFED: Closures, reduced service at Oklahoma recreation areas (2 News Oklahoma)

• Citing local control worries, municipalities oppose bill aimed to limit ‘NIMBYism’ (NonDoc)

• TU President Brad Carson stepping down at end of month (Tulsa World)

• 'Perfect place, perfect time:' Tulsans save man's life on flight home from Ugandan mission trip (News On 6)

• OHP recovers bodies of 2 drowning victims in Muskogee County (KRMG)

• Moore firefighter injured in house fire sustained second- and third-degree burns (KOCO)

• Cherokee, Muscogee nations return with summer food benefits (KWGS)

• Coal County man who didn’t appreciate invitation to Bible study accused of terroristic threats (KTEN)

• 1 dead in Love County crash (KXII)

• Investigation reveals deadly collision in Kansas involved tragic passing maneuver (KTUL)

• Tillman County officials seek help from public in reporting flood-related damages (KSWO)

• Lawton chamber searching for new president (Lawton Constitution)

• ‘Hatch’ restaurant coming to Enid (Enid News & Eagle)

• Oklahoma runner loses toes before doctors discover artery blockage (KFOR)

SPORTS 🏀⚾🥎🏈

NBA Playoffs Game 2: Oklahoma City vs. Denver

Nuggets lead best-of-seven series 1-0. Game 2 is Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV/Max.

• 6 takeaways from the Thunder Game 1 loss to Nuggets: Missed chances, clutch shots & coaching questions (News On 6)

• Did OKC Thunder's lack of clutch-time experience lead to Game 1 collapse vs. Nuggets? (Oklahoman)

• OKC Thunder squanders Game 1 vs Denver Nuggets and Chet Holmgren knows he must 'be better' (Oklahoman)

• Daigneault defends decisions, praises Presti and Holmgren after Game 1 loss (News 9)

• Thunder reveal Game 2 playoff shirt ahead of semifinals matchup with Nuggets (News 9)

• Thunder GM Sam Presti earns 2024-25 NBA Executive of the Year honors (News 9)

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