@StateImpactOK

Explaining the impact of education, environment and health policy on Oklahomans. A collab of @NPR, @KGOUNews, @KOSURadio, @KWGSNews, @KCCURadio

 Oklahoma
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Joined June 2011
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121Media
Millions of birds have flown over the state’s night skies in recent months. But finding food can be difficult in urban areas and vast agricultural land. To help Oklahoma’s wildlife, some are spending their free time repairing natural habitat. kgou.org/oklahoma-news/2026-…

Oklahoma volunteers restore wildlife habitat amid peak fall bird migration

Millions of birds have flown over the state’s night skies in recent months. But finding food can be difficult in urban areas and vast agricultural land. To help Oklahoma’s wildlife, some are spending...

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Oklahoma lawmakers are considering a tax credit that incentivises businesses to donate money they would otherwise pay in state taxes to nonprofits supporting families. Representatives from states with the tax credit testified in favor of it Monday: bit.ly/47i8zhS

Oklahoma Republicans explore tax credit to boost donations to nonprofits serving families

Oklahoma lawmakers considered a tax credit that incentivises businesses to donate money they would otherwise pay in state taxes to nonprofits supporting families.

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In a surprising turn of events, the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board rejected the application for what would have been the nation’s first publicly funded religious school Monday: kgou.org/education/2026-10-1…

Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School narrowly rejected by Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board

In a surprising turn of events, the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board rejected the application for what would have been the nation’s first publicly funded religious school Monday.

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The Oklahoma State Department of Health received more than $9.5 million to expand access to home-visiting services that support maternal and child health: bit.ly/4ygsHfo

Rural Oklahoma families could see more home-visiting services under new federal funding

These voluntary, evidence-based services are meant to help support families’ health, education, development and economic self-sufficiency.

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Human activities leading to habitat loss, over-harvesting, illegal trade, invasive species and climate change are partly to blame for increased rehabilitation intake. kgou.org/politics-and-govern…

Oklahoma wildlife rehabilitators detail challenges amid record patient intake

Some Oklahoma wildlife rehabilitators are seeing a record number of patients.

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Only 27% of Oklahoma’s rural hospitals offer labor and delivery amid financial pressures and workforce shortages. After more than a decade without deliveries, one facility is bringing the service back, using a model it hopes will sustain access to care: bit.ly/4hIPom0

A rural Northwest Oklahoma hospital is bringing back maternity care. Can it survive healthcare cuts?

Newman Memorial hopes the model it’s building can sustain access despite looming reductions to federal Medicaid spending signed into law last year alongside the dollars fueling its project.

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Scale Datacenter says it is building a power plant with decommissioned natural gas units. kgou.org/energy/2026-10-06/o…

Oklahoma City data center campus invests in off-grid power plant

Scale Datacenter, which launched two years ago, is reusing buildings for its operations on the former Chesapeake Energy campus in Oklahoma City.

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Oklahoma Gas & Electric, which serves about 917,000 customers, filed a rate review with the Corporation Commission this week. kgou.org/oklahoma-news/2026-…

OG&E is proposing a base rate increase. What’s behind it?

Oklahoma Gas & Electric, which serves about 917,000 customers, filed a rate review with the Corporation Commission this week. Customers could see bill changes as early as next spring.

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A Jewish charter school was handed a win last week by a federal court, paving the way for it to become the first state-funded religious school. A Catholic school that attempted the same feat in 2023 says it has no plans to move forward. kgou.org/education/2026-09-2…

Despite Jewish charter school win, Oklahoma archdiocese says it has ‘no plan’ to advance St. Isidore

As an Oklahoma Jewish charter school continues forward to becoming the nation’s first state-funded religious school, a Catholic institution that started the fight says it has "no plan" to try again.

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After the State Board of Education granted library deregulation requests for 56 districts, member Becky Carson wants Oklahoma lawmakers to do more to prevent repeat requests. A rural superintendent says certified librarians are scarce in remote areas: kgou.org/education/2026-09-2…

With school librarians in short supply, the Oklahoma education board begrudgingly grants 56 waivers

The State Board of Education approved requests Thursday from 56 districts to reduce library hours or replace supervision with a library aide instead of a certified librarian.

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A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction allowing the Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School to begin operations for the 2027-28 school year while a lawsuit works through the courts. It would be the nation's first publicly funded religious school: kgou.org/education/2026-09-2…

Oklahoma Jewish Charter school secures win in federal court

What would be the nation’s first publicly funded religious school is closer to becoming a reality. A federal judge ruled Thursday the state cannot exclude the Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School from its...

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The U.S. Department of Energy announced it will provide $250 million for a proposed transmission line linking Oklahoma’s grid with Colorado. kgou.org/oklahoma-news/2026-…

Oklahoma to get millions in federal funding for planned electricity transmission project

The U.S. Department of Energy announced it will provide $250 million for a proposed transmission line linking Oklahoma’s grid with Colorado.

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Two Oklahoma mothers are challenging state abortion bans in a new lawsuit filed last week. StateImpact’s Jillian Taylor spoke with lead plaintiff Magon Hoffman about her experience: bit.ly/3Tmyh1i

‘What happened to me wasn't right’: Magon Hoffman speaks out about Oklahoma abortion lawsuit

Two Oklahoma mothers are challenging state abortion bans in a new lawsuit filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights last week. StateImpact’s Jillian Taylor spoke with lead plaintiff Magon Hoffman...

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American black bears once roamed all of Oklahoma, but unregulated hunting and severe habitat loss wiped out the population. Decades later, bears began wandering across state lines after Arkansas reintroduced the species. kgou.org/oklahoma-news/2026-…

Black bears are slowly increasing in Oklahoma. Scientists are taking a closer look

Researchers plan to spend four years studying black bears in the Ouachita Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma and the Ozark region in the northeast.

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Ascension St. John Nowata has become a rural emergency hospital, losing inpatient services despite a months-long community battle to keep them: bit.ly/46ZILXL

Ascension St. John Nowata lost inpatient care. What happens next?

Hospital leadership says the new status allows the facility to “better align our resources with the healthcare needs of the community.” Nowata residents are grappling with how to move forward without...

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Oklahoma Rare is hosting the state’s inaugural rare disease fair on Sept. 30. The group hopes to bring patients, caregivers, providers and politicians together to explore ways to improve care for Oklahomans with rare diseases: bit.ly/4xEKJaN

‘Stronger together’: Grassroots organization to host inaugural Oklahoma Rare Disease Fair

The event will feature several panels, resource tables and portraits of patients with rare diseases.

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The resource fair, hosted by Bethany Children's Health Center, will feature hands-on experiences with equipment and assistive technology and information on how Oklahoma children can participate in adapted sports: bit.ly/46vCCSU

Bethany Children's Health Center to feature assistive technology, adapted sports at resource fair

The free event was born out of a desire to meet the needs of children with physical and intellectual disabilities and their families.

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The USDA recommended discontinuing a federally funded meals program in Oklahoma after compliance issues with some participants. Then, the state department announced the decision to districts after school had already started: kgou.org/education/2026-09-1…

Oklahoma is ending a school meal program. Districts are left to figure out how to feed kids

Oklahoma schools are scrambling to find ways to continue serving students after the State Department of Education recently ended a federally funded school meal program.

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The women are suing state leaders after they were denied access to an abortion for their effectively nonviable pregnancies and forced to seek care outside of the state: bit.ly/4gXr8gX

Two Oklahoma women were denied abortions after receiving fatal fetal diagnoses. Now they're suing

The lawsuit, filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights, challenges two state abortion bans.

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The yellow letters inform Oklahomans of new federal Medicaid work requirements, which will start on Jan. 1, 2027. They were mailed to individuals with coverage under the state’s voter-approved Medicaid eligibility expansion: bit.ly/4yq4Uds

Over 250,000 Oklahomans received a letter about new Medicaid work requirements. What does it say?

The yellow letters were mailed to Oklahomans with coverage under the state’s voter-approved Medicaid eligibility expansion, which includes adults making up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or...

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