AGP Executive Report

Tulsa Accountability: A citizens’ group is seeking a grand jury investigation of District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler, who won reelection in June. The group cites concerns including case handling, conflicts of interest and campaign spending. November Ballot: State Sen. Julie Daniels is backing proposals to change Oklahoma’s judicial-selection process and slow property-tax increases. Local Projects: Norman is suing builders over leaks at the Trae Young Athletic Center. Inola residents are also facing a dispute with Tulsa Ports, which is considering legal action over the town’s opposition to a proposed $4 billion aluminum smelter. State Oversight: Oklahoma lawmakers want more scrutiny of campaign loans, while the state Supreme Court plans a three-year pilot of an AI-assisted court-recording system.

Norman Lawsuit: The city is suing contractors over leaks and unfinished work at the Young Family Athletic Center, saying it is protecting taxpayers. Norman is withholding $1.5 million in payments until the dispute is resolved. State Oversight: The Oklahoma Supreme Court will test an AI court-recording system in a three-year pilot, while lawmakers are calling for greater scrutiny of campaign loans. Economic Development: Tulsa Ports is considering legal action against Inola over a proposed $4 billion aluminum smelter. Oklahoma CareerTech, meanwhile, is seeking a $73 million funding increase for schools and workforce training. Governor’s Race: A new poll puts Republican Mike Mazzei and Democrat Cyndi Munson in a statistical tie, with Mazzei slightly ahead.

Campaign Finance: Oklahoma lawmakers from both parties want the Ethics Commission to scrutinize candidate loans more closely, after gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei made multimillion-dollar, interest-free loans to his campaign. Business and Growth: Tulsa Ports is weighing legal action against Inola over a proposed $4 billion aluminum smelter. Oklahoma City also unveiled a Will Rogers Airport expansion plan aimed at handling up to 20 million passengers. Workforce: Oklahoma CareerTech is seeking a $73 million funding increase for schools and workforce training. Conservation: A Johnston County landowner has restored 130 acres of his family’s former cattle farm as habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. College Football: Oklahoma State visits Houston in a key Big 12 matchup.

Local Elections: Oklahoma County District 3 hopefuls outlined their priorities, while candidates for governor, state superintendent and treasurer made their cases ahead of the Nov. 3 election. A registration portal failure has left the number of affected voters unclear. Economic Development: Tulsa Ports is weighing legal action against Inola over the town’s proposed $4 billion aluminum smelter, as residents react to the dispute. Jobs and Training: Tulsa workforce projections point to growing demand for health care workers, tradespeople and drivers; Oklahoma CareerTech is seeking a $73 million budget increase for schools and workforce training. Taxes and Utilities: State lawmakers are considering the future of property-tax exemptions for renewable energy companies, while an Oklahoma widow is challenging OG&E’s demand for a $400 deposit after her husband’s death. Infrastructure: Oklahoma City unveiled a major Will Rogers Airport expansion plan, with the airport aiming to accommodate as many as 20 million passengers. Small Business: Norman’s Bluebonnet Bar will mark 10 years under local ownership, celebrating its place in the community and the effort to preserve a historic gathering spot.

Inola Smelter Dispute: Tulsa Ports is weighing a lawsuit against Inola over restrictions on industrial development tied to a proposed $4 billion aluminum smelter. Some residents oppose the project over emissions concerns; the town’s moratorium runs through April 2027. Workforce & Economy: Oklahoma CareerTech is seeking a $73.37 million funding increase, while state officials develop tools to identify workforce gaps, including limited training capacity for nurses. Lawmakers are also examining property-tax exemptions for renewable-energy companies. Election Watch: Oklahoma’s governor, state superintendent and treasurer races are drawing attention ahead of November’s election. Voter registration ended Oct. 9 after a brief online system outage, and the number of applicants affected remains unknown. Public Services: Oklahoma City received $11.5 million in federal grants to expand children’s mental-health care, including school and community-based support. Airport Expansion: Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport opened a $7 million terminal, while Will Rogers World Airport has announced an expansion plan aimed at serving up to 20 million passengers.

Airport Expansion: Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers International Airport plans about $114 million in near-term work and up to $1.1 billion in longer-term projects, aiming to grow capacity from 4.6 million passengers a year to 20 million. Election Watch: A new poll puts gubernatorial candidates Mike Mazzei and Cyndi Munson in a statistical tie, while Oklahoma lawmakers are seeking closer scrutiny of campaign loans and disclosures. Jail Reform: Oklahoma County’s district attorney warned lawmakers that overcrowding and weak pretrial release practices could bring more costly lawsuits; the county has paid at least $9 million this year to settle cases involving two jail deaths. Household Costs: Oklahoma gas customers are still paying monthly charges tied to the 2021 winter storm, as utilities recover costs from the surge in natural-gas prices. Tulsa County: A citizens’ group is asking for a grand jury investigation of District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler after his reelection, citing concerns that include case handling, conflicts of interest and campaign conduct.

Campaign Finance: Rep. Jared Deck is asking banking regulators and the Ethics Commission to review a loan to gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei, whose campaign has reported about $11 million in personal loans. Bipartisan lawmakers also want clearer disclosure rules for candidates who lend to their campaigns. Food Insecurity: Oklahoma lawmakers are studying SNAP participation and food-bank capacity ahead of the 2027 session; officials cited a 14% drop in SNAP participation and warned food banks cannot replace lost benefits. Workforce and Costs: Legislators are weighing reforms to license suspensions for unpaid fines and other non-driving violations. Advocates estimate about 180,000 Oklahomans have suspended licenses, potentially limiting access to work. Health Research: OU researchers received $300,000 to develop a digital diabetes-prevention program for blood donors at risk, while a separate $3.4 million NIH grant will support a chronic-pain app designed with and for Native Americans.

Election Watch: Oklahoma’s voter-registration portal failed on the final day to register for November’s election, raising fresh concerns about access as sample ballots become available. A new governor’s race poll puts Republican Mike Mazzei and Democrat Cyndi Munson in a statistical tie, with Mazzei slightly ahead. Data Center Debate: Oklahoma data centers are drawing scrutiny over air pollution and water use, while a state lawmaker is asking for public input on Flock surveillance cameras amid privacy concerns. Small-Business Support: The Choctaw Nation opened its third Chahtapreneur center in McAlester, offering workspace, training and business advising to entrepreneurs. Infrastructure: Will Rogers International Airport is targeting capacity for 20 million passengers by 2050, and the state is advancing $7.75 million for a spaceport operations center. State Policy: Lawmakers are weighing childcare cost-sharing and a pause on new medical marijuana rules, while a judge ordered the charter board to reconsider a former Norman teacher’s license revocation.

Education: An Oklahoma judge ordered the state school board to reconsider former Norman teacher Summer Boismier’s license revocation, finding former Superintendent Ryan Walters’ role raised a conflict-of-interest concern. Families and Work: Lawmakers are weighing a childcare plan that would split costs among the state, employers and parents, aiming to help families who earn too much for subsidies but still struggle to pay. McAlester Economy: The Choctaw Nation, city and library system opened a coworking business center alongside the renovated main library, offering space and support for small businesses. Transportation: Will Rogers International Airport’s expansion plan aims to accommodate up to 20 million passengers a year by 2050, with a parking garage among the first projects. Elections: A voter-registration portal failure on the October 9 deadline left the number of affected Oklahomans unclear; nearly 2,000 people registered online by that date. Governor’s Race: A new poll puts Republican Mike Mazzei and Democrat Cyndi Munson in a statistical tie, with Mazzei slightly ahead.

Election Access: Sample ballots are now available for Oklahoma’s Nov. 3 general election, after the state’s voter-registration portal failed on the Oct. 9 deadline. The number of would-be voters affected remains unknown. Property Taxes: State Question 847 would slow annual assessment growth, not directly cut tax bills. State estimates project $45.78 million less for local governments in the next fiscal year, with school groups warning losses could grow over time. Rural Business: Oklahoma’s marijuana growing industry has shrunk from 9,402 active licenses in 2021 to 1,703, leaving abandoned sites and cleanup costs. A state law requires growers to post at least $50,000 in bonds, but officials are examining how well the rules work. Oklahoma Economy: Private equity firms have agreed to buy Broken Arrow-based Paragon Films for about $900 million. The packaging manufacturer makes stretch and shrink films and plans to complete the deal late this year. Farm Finances: The Farm Bureau warns Oklahoma farmers that deductions for fertilizer supposedly embedded in newly purchased land lack clear IRS approval and could bring back taxes, penalties and legal costs.

Charter Schools: Oklahoma’s charter board rejected Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School for a second time. Its founder now projects just 10 first-year students, raising questions about demand and viability. Election Access: A state voter-registration portal error on the final day left the number of affected Oklahomans unknown. A new report also details barriers Native voters face, including unreliable mail, limited internet and distant polling places. Tulsa Economy: Tourism leaders want to raise the hotel tax from 5% to 9.9% to upgrade venues and compete for major events; it has not changed in 40 years. State Politics: Gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei proposes cutting the income-tax rate from 4.5% to 3% in 2027 and phasing out property taxes on seniors’ and veterans’ primary homes. Regulation: Oklahoma lawmakers are weighing tighter rules or a possible ban on kratom, while medical-marijuana testing and safety concerns prompt calls for more oversight.

Business: Broken Arrow-based Paragon Films has agreed to a roughly $900 million sale to private equity firm Atlantic Ridge Capital, in one of the largest deals for a newly launched buyout firm. The maker of industrial stretch film expects the transaction to close in the fourth quarter. Voting Access: Oklahoma’s online voter-registration portal failed on the Oct. 9 deadline. The state says 1,906 people registered online that day and the glitch was quickly fixed, but the number of people who may have been unable to register remains unclear. Tribal Gaming: An Oklahoma tribe’s partnership with prediction-market company Kalshi has sparked a sovereignty dispute, with tribal leaders warning the platform could undermine existing gaming compacts. State Politics: A proposed ballot measure could shift influence over Oklahoma’s judicial selection panel, while the Statewide Charter School Board again rejected a Jewish online charter school, falling one vote short of approval.

Data Center Debate: Oklahoma has 64 data center projects—34 operating, six under construction and 20 planned—making development a key issue in the governor’s race. Republican Mike Mazzei backs growth with guardrails; Democrat Cyndi Munson has promised a day-one moratorium. Election Access: Oklahoma’s voter registration portal failed on the final day to register for November’s election, raising concerns about access just weeks before voting. Health Policy: A legislative study examined kratom and THC-infused drinks, with lawmakers and families warning about youth access and potential harms. New workforce data also found only 31% of 5,404 licensed behavioral health providers reported at least 21 hours a week of direct client care, offering a clearer picture of service capacity. State Economy: The Oklahoma State Fair drew about 825,000 visitors and generated an estimated $93.4 million in direct spending for Oklahoma City, despite extreme heat. Tribal Affairs: Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town’s partnership with prediction-market company Kalshi has drawn opposition from the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, which says such markets disregard tribal gaming authority.

Election Tech: An Oklahoma City consulting firm says its AI tool nearly nailed the state’s Republican gubernatorial primary, predicting Mike Mazzei’s win within half a percentage point. Experts caution that the system is new and its accuracy remains unproven. Child Care: Providers warn that rising costs and a planned Feb. 1 income-eligibility cut—from 70% to 55% of state median income—could push families out of Oklahoma’s subsidy program and strain centers. Current recipients keep their eligibility until renewal if they still meet program rules. Air Quality: Attorney General Gentner Drummond says proposed DEQ rules for emissions offsets could ease the path for a controversial aluminum smelter, despite the agency’s claim the update would not apply to the project. Tribal Gaming: Oklahoma’s tribal gaming association says prediction-market apps threaten tribes’ compact rights and gaming revenue; sports-betting talks in the Legislature have stalled. Voting Access: The state voter-registration portal failed on the Nov. 3 election’s final registration day, leaving some Oklahomans to print and mail forms before the deadline. Judicial Selection: State Question 845 would change the makeup of the panel that vets judicial candidates. Critics warn it could give one party too much influence; supporters say the current system does not reflect Republican control of the state. Business Law: Proxy adviser Glass Lewis is suing Oklahoma over a new law regulating its shareholder-vote recommendations, joining a similar challenge from rival ISS.

Sooners’ Upset: Oklahoma’s 27-24 Red River Rivalry win sent Texas tumbling from No. 1 to No. 7 in the latest AP poll; Georgia now leads the rankings. Oklahoma Politics: The lieutenant governor’s race and an Oklahoma County jail sales-tax vote are drawing attention ahead of November’s election. A voter portal failure also left some Oklahomans unable to register on deadline day, while Rep. Danny Williams faces an ethics investigation. Household Costs: Gas prices near $5 a gallon are straining rural Oklahoma drivers, and OG&E is seeking a rate increase. Families and Services: Cherokee Nation leaders say scarce, costly childcare is limiting families’ work and education choices, as state lawmakers study possible solutions. Oklahoma SNAP enrollment has also fallen 20%, with local food banks feeling the effects. Tulsa Concert: Ella Langley defended canceling her BOK Center show after a reported bomb threat, saying audience safety came first; police said they found no credible threat.

Red River Upset: Oklahoma stunned No. 1 Texas 27-24 on Tate Sandell’s final-play field goal, sealing a rivalry win with a blocked-punt touchdown and a defensive score. Household Costs: Gas prices are nearing $5 a gallon at some rural Oklahoma stations, while OG&E is seeking a $395 million rate increase. State Politics: The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is investigating a state lawmaker over alleged misuse of office. Separately, a voter-registration portal failure left Oklahomans unable to register on the deadline day. Food Assistance: SNAP enrollment in Oklahoma has fallen 20%, adding pressure on local food banks.