Articles written by Sean Murphy
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Oklahoma education board OKs safety plan, makes it optional
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma State Board of Education approved a COVID-19 response plan on Thursday for actions local districts should take to slow the spread of coronavirus, but narrowly voted to make the plan optional instead of mandatory....
Oklahoma high court: Governor overstepped with tribal deal
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt overstepped his authority when he reached a casino gambling agreement with two Native American tribes, the state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. In a 7-1 decision, the high court determined the compacts...
Education group pans Stitt's private school funding plan
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt faced criticism Monday for his decision to spend $10 million in discretionary public funds to pay Oklahoma families to send their children to private schools. Stitt outlined his plan late last week to...
Oklahoma moving inmates from private prison in Cushing
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Department of Corrections has announced plans to move about 1,400 inmates out of a medium-security private prison in Cushing that has been the site of some of the state's worst prison violence in recent years. The...
Justices rule swath of Oklahoma remains tribal reservation
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a large chunk of eastern Oklahoma remains an American Indian reservation, a decision that state and federal officials have warned could throw Oklahoma into chaos. The court's 5-4 decision,...
Pro-police group seeks to oust Oklahoma mayor, council
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — A group of citizens in Oklahoma's third-largest city has launched a petition drive seeking to oust half of the City Council and the mayor for cutting police funding, building on resentment over the mayor's order requiring...
Tulsa mayor prepares mask order as coronavirus cases surge
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Tulsa's mayor said Friday he's preparing a local order to require masks be worn in public as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to surge. Mayor G.T. Bynum said in a Facebook post that he expects the ordinance...
Oklahoma reports a new daily record of confirmed COVID cases
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma hit a new daily record high of confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, with 858 reported in the last 24 hours, health officials said. The Oklahoma State Department of Health also reported five additional deaths from...
Health official: Trump rally 'likely' source of virus surge
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa in late June that drew thousands of participants and large protests "likely contributed" to a dramatic surge in new coronavirus cases, Tulsa City-County Health Department...
Businesses tied to Oklahoma congressmen enjoy federal loans
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Family businesses of two Oklahoma congressmen received at least $1.8 million from a federal rescue program meant to keep small businesses afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, according to data released Monday by the U.S....
Oklahoma City voters to pare down crowded 5th District field
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Voters in central Oklahoma on Tuesday will pare down a crowded field of congressional hopefuls seeking to represent the 5th District in Washington. Nine Republicans are vying for the seat held by first-term U.S. Rep. Kendra...
Oklahoma voters narrowly approve Medicaid expansion
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma voters narrowly decided on Tuesday to expand Medicaid health insurance to tens of thousands low-income residents, becoming the first state to amend its Constitution to do so. With 100% of precincts reporting...
Medicaid, GOP congressional primary top Oklahoma ballot
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A question on whether to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma and a crowded Republican field vying to challenge the state's lone congressional Democrat are drawing the most attention ahead of Tuesday's primary election. State Question...
Oklahoma City mayor reports 'tsunami of cases' among young
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City's metro area is witnessing an alarming spike in COVID-19 infections among young people that is being driven largely by "super spreader" indoor events like church activities, fitness classes, weddings, funerals...
Protests begin peacefully at Trump campaign rally in Tulsa
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Black Lives Matter protests against President Donald Trump began peacefully Saturday as the president held his first campaign rally in months in Tulsa, despite warnings from public health officials about the coronavirus....
Court says Trump rally attendees don't have to wear masks
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Friday rejected a request to require everyone attending President Donald Trump's rally in Tulsa this weekend to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing inside the arena to guard against the...
Don't ask Tulsa's mayor about Trump rally plans
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — For most mayors in deep-red states like Oklahoma, the prospect of hosting the first rally for President Donald Trump in months would be a delight. It would showcase the city on an international stage and draw revenue for local...
Oklahoma man's dying words in cop custody: 'I can't breathe'
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City police have released body-camera videos of an armed black man who died in police custody last year after telling arresting officers 'I can't breathe.' The footage of the May 2019 arrest released late Monday was...
Oklahoma schools reopening plan recommends wearing masks
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma State Department of Education released guidance Wednesday for how public schools could reopen in the fall that includes recommending the use of masks for staff and students to help prevent the spread of the coronav...
Oklahoma health department to no longer release detailed data
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma State Department of Health announced Monday it will no longer release specific information about COVID-19 infections and deaths in nursing homes, cities or by zip code. Agency spokeswoman Donelle Harder said...
Oklahoma scraps plan to expand Medicaid on July 1
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's administration is scrapping a plan to expand Medicaid on July 1, citing a lack of state funding. The state's Medicaid Director Melody Anthony notified the U.S. Department of Health and Human...
Legislature OKs letting governor's emergency powers expire
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Legislature wrapped up its 2020 session on Friday after approving a resolution that calls for sweeping powers granted to the governor under a health emergency to expire at the end of the month. The resolution calls...
Legislature passes bills to boost Medicaid funding
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Republican-controlled Oklahoma Legislature gave final approval Friday to two separate measures designed to boost funding for the state's Medicaid program. The House narrowly approved a bill that will increase a fee that...
Oklahoma reopens bars, weddings, funerals in next phase
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma reopened bars on Friday and allowed weddings, funerals and organized sports to resume under the next phase of Gov. Kevin Stitt's statewide reopening plan. Stitt said earlier this week that data supports moving...
Governor's pick to lead health agency lacks Senate support
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gov. Kevin Stitt's pick to lead the Oklahoma State Department of Health doesn't have enough support in the state Senate to secure the job, a key senator said Monday. Sen. Greg McCortney, chairman of the Senate Health and Human...
