The Frontier

The author of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s report on AI in Oklahoma argues the state must act quickly or risk falling behind as artificial intelligence transforms work, education and public policy.

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Oklahoma lawmakers propose changes to laws on housing, homelessness and eviction Bills filed ahead of the 2026 session would let residents sue cities over camping enforcement, expand tenant protections and make it easier to build affordable housing.

Bills filed ahead of the 2026 session would let residents sue cities over camping enforcement, expand tenant protections and make it easier to build affordable housing.

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The more people who read our stories, the easier it is to create impact that shapes Oklahoma. Want to know when we publish a new story? Sign up for The Frontier Texting Club.

New bills seek to rein in oil companies’ pollution of Oklahoma groundwater The legislation comes after The Frontier and ProPublica found over 150 incidents where oilfield wastewater had gushed from the earth, releasing toxic chemicals — including some that cause cancer — nea...

New bills seek to rein in oil companies’ pollution of Oklahoma groundwater

An Oklahoma state senator has introduced legislation to strengthen regulations on how oilfield wastewater is injected underground following an investigation by The Frontier and ProPublica.

Full story linked in the comments.

New bills seek to rein in oil companies’ pollution of Oklahoma groundwater The legislation comes after The Frontier and ProPublica found over 150 incidents where oilfield wastewater had gushed from the earth, releasing toxic chemicals — including some that cause cancer — nea...

The legislation comes after The Frontier and ProPublica found over 150 incidents where oilfield wastewater had gushed from the earth, releasing toxic chemicals — including some that cause cancer — near homes and farms and into drinking water sources.

Oklahoma lawmaker proposes new oversight of homeless shelters, with funding at stake The measure would require state health officials to create and enforce health and safety standards for shelters. Providers say they are already subject to federal and local rules.

Oklahoma lawmaker proposes new oversight of homeless shelters, with funding at stake.

Homeless shelters would lose public funding if they don’t comply with regulations set by the state, according to a measure proposed ahead of the 2026 legislative session.

Full story linked below.

‘The risk is moving too slow’: How Oklahoma's government wants AI to reshape the state's economy The author of Gov. Kevin Stitt's report on AI in Oklahoma argues the state must act quickly or risk falling behind as artificial intelligence transforms work, education and public policy.

‘The risk is moving too slow’: How Oklahoma’s government wants AI to reshape the state’s economy.

Oklahoma lawmakers file a flurry of bills seeking to regulate AI Proposed legislation would regulate AI in political ads, restrict chatbots for children.

Proposed legislation would regulate AI in political ads, restrict chatbots for children.

Despite court orders to improve, report shows growing waitlist for mental health treatment in jail Court-appointed monitors warn the state is falling behind on promised reforms as hundreds remain jailed while awaiting care.

Court-appointed monitors warn the state is falling behind on promised reforms as hundreds remain jailed while awaiting care.

Oklahoma lawmaker proposes new oversight of homeless shelters, with funding at stake The measure would require state health officials to create and enforce health and safety standards for shelters. Providers say they are already subject to federal and local rules.

“The reality is that we do have (homeless shelters), and they need to be done in the most transparent and public-safety minded way that can be done,” West told The Frontier. “And that’s what I’m trying to address with this legislation.”

Oklahoma lawmaker proposes new oversight of homeless shelters, with funding at stake The measure would require state health officials to create and enforce health and safety standards for shelters. Providers say they are already subject to federal and local rules.

Homeless shelters would lose public funding if they don’t comply with regulations set by the state, according to a measure proposed ahead of the 2026 legislative session.

Read more about House Bill 3131 ⬇️

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Oklahoma lawmaker proposes new oversight of homeless shelters, with funding at stake The measure would require state health officials to create and enforce health and safety standards for shelters. Providers say they are already subject to federal and local rules.

The measure would require state health officials to create and enforce health and safety standards for shelters. Providers say they are already subject to federal and local rules.

As calls grow, Oklahoma’s 211 hotlines could get long-sought state money The proposal would provide at least $3 million in state funding to keep the free, statewide hotlines operating around the clock amid rising food and housing insecurity.

The proposal would provide at least $3 million in state funding to keep the free, statewide hotlines operating around the clock amid rising food and housing insecurity.

www.readfrontier.org/stories/as-c...

As calls grow, Oklahoma’s 211 hotlines could get long-sought state money.

Full story linked below.

Oklahoma parole board rejects clemency for death row inmate Kendrick Simpson Victims’ families and the sole survivor urged the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board to reject clemency for the man sentenced to die for a 2006 double murder.

Victims’ families and the sole survivor urged the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board to reject clemency for the man sentenced to die for a 2006 double murder.

As calls grow, Oklahoma’s 211 hotlines could get long-sought state money The proposal would provide at least $3 million in state funding to keep the free, statewide hotlines operating around the clock amid rising food and housing insecurity.

The proposal would provide at least $3 million in state funding to keep the free, statewide hotlines operating around the clock amid rising food and housing insecurity.

'I’ll trade places with him:’ Ex-death row inmate pleads for brother’s freedom The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board unanimously voted to reduce Tony Mann’s life-without-parole sentence after his younger brother — now free — told members Mann didn’t participate in the murder that...

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board unanimously voted to reduce Tony Mann’s life-without-parole sentence after his younger brother — now free — told members Mann didn’t participate in the murder that sent them both to prison.

A fragile aquifer, a proposed mine and a fight over Oklahoma’s water State regulators are reviewing a proposal to expand sand mining over the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer, despite Oklahoma’s moratorium on new mines in the area.

www.readfrontier.org/stories/a-fr...

Read our story - A fragile aquifer, a proposed mine and a fight over Oklahoma’s water - at the link in the comments.

A fragile aquifer, a proposed mine and a fight over Oklahoma’s water State regulators are reviewing a proposal to expand sand mining over the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer, despite Oklahoma’s moratorium on new mines in the area.

State regulators are reviewing a proposal to expand sand mining over the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer, despite Oklahoma’s moratorium on new mines in the area.

Listen Frontier: Inside Oklahoma’s data center surge and the potential hidden costs Frontier reporter Clifton Adcock unpacks how state leaders are selling the data center boom, what utilities are asking regulators to approve, and why ratepayers feel left in the dark.

Listen Frontier: Inside Oklahoma’s data center surge and the potential hidden costs.

Oklahoma’s data center boom is about to hit the grid — and your power bill A wave of big data centers is triggering a scramble for new electricity generation. OG&E and PSO are pushing to charge ratepayers more as they race to keep up.

A wave of big data centers is triggering a scramble for new electricity generation. OG&E and PSO are pushing to charge ratepayers more as they race to keep up.

Oklahoma bill would let inmates earn good-time credits sooner while awaiting prison transfer A Tulsa lawmaker’s bill would start prisoners at a higher privilege level to reward good behavior.

A Tulsa lawmaker’s bill would start prisoners at a higher privilege level to reward good behavior.

The hidden costs of losing local investigative journalism From exposing corruption to challenging secrecy, research shows why local investigative journalism matters. Reader support makes our work possible in Oklahoma.

From exposing corruption to challenging secrecy, research shows why local investigative journalism matters. Reader support makes our work possible in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma lawmaker will try again to slow state’s eviction timeline, which includes holidays. The state has one of the quickest processes in the country, churning out nearly a quarter of a million eviction filings over the past five years.

The state has one of the quickest processes in the country, churning out nearly a quarter of a million eviction filings over the past five years.

Fact Check: Are claims about Oklahoma data centers holding up? From the state’s ‘Behind the Meter’ power law to promises about electric bills and transparency, The Frontier reviewed the facts behind recent statements on data center development.

Believe @readfrontier.bsky.social on this. Data centers are NOT required to use their own power plants. Fact Check: Are claims about Oklahoma data centers holding up? share.google/Pj7oKbpcM0AY...

Fact Check: Are claims about Oklahoma data centers holding up? From the state’s ‘Behind the Meter’ power law to promises about electric bills and transparency, The Frontier reviewed the facts behind recent statements on data center development.

From the state’s ‘Behind the Meter’ power law to promises about electric bills and transparency, The Frontier reviewed the facts behind recent statements on data center development.

Toxic Wastewater From Oil Fields Keeps Pouring Out of the Ground. Oklahoma Regulators Failed to Stop It. Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, is spewing from old wells. Experts warn of a pollution crisis spreading underground and threatening Oklahoma’s drin...

Salt water laced with cancer-causing chemicals, a byproduct of oil and gas drilling, keeps shooting out of the ground in Oklahoma.

Experts say it means even more wastewater is spreading underground, poisoning the state’s water supply.

Published Oct. w/ @readfrontier.bsky.social