Maddy Keyes

Outcry over 73-day prison stay spurs push to tighten Oklahoma early release program Norman resident Sara Polston was released a few months into her seven-year prison sentence for a crash that left Micaela Borrego with a traumatic brain injury. The case is fueling a legislative effort...

Norman resident Sara Polston was released a few months into her seven-year prison sentence for a crash that left Micaela Borrego with a traumatic brain injury. The case is fueling a legislative effort to prevent people convicted of similar crimes from qualifying for GPS-monitored early release.

As data centers boom in Oklahoma, so does water demand From Pryor to Stillwater and Muskogee, local officials say supplies are sufficient, even as Google alone used more than 1.1 billion gallons in a single year.

From Pryor to Stillwater and Muskogee, local officials say supplies are sufficient, even as Google alone used more than 1.1 billion gallons in a single year.

Oklahoma bill would make it easier to prosecute fentanyl overdose deaths House Bill 2941 would require first responders to alert police, a move critics say could deter 911 calls. The bill would make any detectable amount of fentanyl a cause of death in overdoses, strengthe...

House Bill 2941 would require first responders to alert police, a move critics say could deter 911 calls. The bill would make any detectable amount of fentanyl a cause of death in overdoses, strengthening homicide prosecutions — even against friends who share drugs.

Their Water Was Undrinkable. Oklahoma’s Oil Regulators Failed to Help. State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to fin...

State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to find the culprit — then closed the case.

Fact check: What Stitt got right — and wrong — in his final State of the State address We rate Gov. Kevin Stitt’s statements on personal income, Medicaid, marijuana and Ronald Reagan from his State of the State address.

We rate Gov. Kevin Stitt’s statements on personal income, Medicaid, marijuana and Ronald Reagan from his State of the State address.

From limiting tax breaks to moratoriums, Oklahoma legislators eye new rules for data centers A slew of bills at the Legislature this year would pause new developments, limit nondisclosure agreements and require companies to shoulder infrastructure costs as opposition grows.

A slew of bills at the Legislature this year would pause new developments, limit nondisclosure agreements and require companies to shoulder infrastructure costs as opposition grows.

Oklahoma lawmakers push sweeping immigration agenda touching colleges, jobs and land ownership Dozens of bills filed this session would expand cooperation with federal immigration authorities, restrict access to public assistance, driver’s licenses and higher education, and limit foreign land o...

Dozens of bills filed this session would expand cooperation with federal immigration authorities, restrict access to public assistance, driver’s licenses and higher education, and limit foreign land ownership.

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.

Sign up to get text message updates when we publish a story 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.

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...

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 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.

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.

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.

Oklahoma lawmakers push ahead with plans to propose state oversight of homeless shelters Service providers say added regulations could hinder their ability to help people in need.

Homeless service providers urged lawmakers during the Oct. interim study to find solutions to help house people instead of adding more regulations that could hinder providers’ ability to assist the homeless population. www.readfrontier.org/stories/okla...

Oklahoma lawmakers consider adding state oversight for homeless shelters Two legislators behind a controversial bill that would have limited the locations of homeless shelters will hold a hearing at the Oklahoma Capitol on creating new regulations.

Public conversations surrounding state-level monitoring of shelters began when lawmakers proposed an interim study on the topic: www.readfrontier.org/stories/okla...

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 ⬇️

www.readfrontier.org/stories/okla...

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

Full story linked below.

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.

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 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.

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.

Held without bail in Oklahoma’s ICE facilities, immigrants turn to federal courts for release Oklahoma has seen a spike in immigrants challenging their detention in federal court. Hundreds of detainees are being held in county jails and for-profit facilities across the state as the Trump admin...

Oklahoma has seen a spike in immigrants challenging their detention in federal court. Hundreds of detainees are being held in county jails and for-profit facilities across the state as the Trump administration ramps up deportation efforts.

How would you feel if your homeland slowly, but inevitably, changed in front of your eyes?

Maddy Keyes, for @insideclimatenews.org, shares her report on locals’ testimonies from the town of Nuuk, Greenland.

Full article: www.onlynaturalenergy.com/surviving-th...

#Greenland #Inuit #ClimateChange

After food aid vanished, calls for rent help surged and some faced eviction A temporary loss of SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown left Oklahoma families scrambling to cover rent.

A temporary loss of SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown left Oklahoma families scrambling to cover rent.

Fact Check: Sorting truth from spin in Stitt and Drummond’s fight over tribal hunting rights As the governor attacks the attorney general over wildlife enforcement in Indian Country, we reviewed state, federal and tribal law — and found some of Stitt’s claims about hunting rules don’t hold up...

As the governor attacks the attorney general over wildlife enforcement in Indian Country, we reviewed state, federal and tribal law — and found some of Stitt’s claims about hunting rules don’t hold up.

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.

Why we report on Oklahoma’s homelessness crisis Sustained, accountable reporting matters now more than ever, and we need your help to keep doing it.

I reported how the number of unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma has increased by nearly 40% since 2019, yet the resources available to them are dwindling. One of the youth I spoke with said they feel stuck with nowhere to go.

Oklahoma deserves the truth. Help us fight for it This Giving Tuesday, you can help The Frontier continue to do the reporting our state deserves.

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