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As the campaign enters its final days, Harris and Trump use starkly different messages to woo voters. Harris and Trump appeal to voters with starkly different tones in final campaign daysSipa via AP; Getty ImagesFormer President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris spent the final weekend of their campaigns bouncing between battleground states, hoping to ramp up last-minute support. More on the election:➡️ The final national NBC News poll of the 2024 presidential election finds the contest is neck and neck between Harris and Trump. ➡️ In an interview with NBC News' Dasha Burns Trump didn’t rule out banning vaccines if he becomes president. ➡️ Here’s why election night vote counts can make it hard to tell who will win the presidency.

Persons: Harris, Trump, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, “, ”, ” Trump, NBC’s, Dasha Burns Trump, ➡️, ➡️ Trump, Oklahoma Bryan Terry, Kevin Stitt, Stitt, NFL Jeffrey Becker, Greg Rosenstein, 💪, arnold, alf, 🏃, Ari z, Bea, ove, gad Organizations: NFL, Trump, AP, Getty, NBC, ➡️, NBC News, Senate, Imagn, Oklahoma Gov, Oklahoma City Fire Department, Video, National Weather Service, Oklahoma, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, dow Locations: Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Lititz , Pennsylvania, Oklahoma City, Arkansas, Missouri, Ste l

CNN —More severe weather is expected in the South and the Southern Plains Monday, including in Oklahoma, where residents are surveying the destruction from tornado-spawning storms that injured at least 11 people and leveled homes over the weekend. Tornado sirens rang out Monday morning in Oklahoma City, where residents are still surrounded by the destruction and debris caused by the weekend’s severe storms, after the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning. There were no confirmed tornadoes or reports of damage from Monday morning’s storms. A level 2 of 5 threat of severe thunderstorms spans from central and eastern Texas to the Illinois-Missouri border – including Dallas, threatening damaging wind gusts, large hail and tornadoes, according to the SPC. Nearly 40 structures were destroyed in the Oklahoma City area, the Oklahoma City Fire Department said in a Facebook post.

Persons: OCFD, Katie Anderson, ” Anderson, ” Thomas Shaver, KOKH, Shaver, –, we’re, ”, Kevin Stitt, Stitt, “ We’ll, PowerOutage.US Organizations: CNN, Plains, National Weather Service, Oklahoma, SPC, Tornadoes, Oklahoma City Fire Department, KOKH, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Gov, Harrah Locations: Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Dallas, Gulf of Mexico, Kansas, “, Cleveland

☆ Oklahoma executes a man for a 1992 killing despite board recommending his life be spared
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Emmanuel Littlejohn, 52, received a lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary and was declared dead at 10:17 a.m. His execution came after Republican Gov. The five executions would also mark another grim milestone — 1,600 executions since the death penalty was reinstated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1976, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Littlejohn was 20 when prosecutors say he and co-defendant Glenn Bethany robbed the Root-N-Scoot convenience store in south Oklahoma City in June 1992. Littlejohn’s attorneys also argued that killings resulting from a robbery are rarely considered death penalty cases and that prosecutors today would not have pursued the ultimate punishment. Because of the board’s 3-2 recommendation, Stitt had the option of commuting Littlejohn’s sentence to life in prison without parole.

Persons: Emmanuel Littlejohn, Kevin Stitt, “, ”, Stitt, Littlejohn, Glenn Bethany, Kenneth Meers, Meers, Bethany, Emmanuel, he’d, Caitlin Hoeberlein, Attorney Bob Macy, Julius Jones ’, Jones, Bigler Stouffer, James Coddington, Phillip Hancock Organizations: Oklahoma State Penitentiary, Republican Gov, Wednesday, U.S, Supreme, Oklahoma, Attorney Locations: McALESTER, Okla, — Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Alabama, U.S, Oklahoma City

☆ Oklahoma man says he didn't commit the crime he's set to die for. Will the governor spare him?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Abigail Brooks | Abigail Brooks Is A Producer For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

“I would have been OK with a life sentence,” Littlejohn said in an interview last month. “But a death sentence for robbery? Kevin Stitt, a Republican, after the state parole board voted 3-2 to recommend commuting his sentence to life without parole. It is not the first time Littlejohn has faced an opportunity to overturn his death sentence. In 1998, the Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals vacated the death sentence and ordered a resentencing.

Persons: Emmanuel Littlejohn, he’s, Littlejohn, Kenneth Meers, Meers, — Littlejohn, Glenn Bethany, “, ” Littlejohn, ”, Kevin Stitt, Bethany, —, Glenn didn’t, Glenn, ’, ” Bethany, sentencings, ‘, ’ ”, Gentner Drummond, Stitt, “ Governor Stitt Organizations: Gov, Republican, Emmanuel Littlejohn . Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Oklahoma, “ Locations: Oklahoma, Oklahoma City

Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota would presumably become the first Native American woman to lead a state. But the state Constitution allows Flanagan to assume the governorship if Walz, for whatever reason, vacates office. The Native vote helped Joe Biden secure a win against Trump in the state in 2020. "Donald Trump made a career demonstrating and celebrating behavior that perpetuates violence against Native women and girls," she said at the time. "We finally have Native representation in the governor's office and Native women in the Legislature."

Persons: Peggy Flanagan, Flanagan, Tim Walz, Kamala Harris, Walz, Donald Trump, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Walz's, Joe Biden, Trump, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Pocahontas, Ivanka Trump, Paul, MinnPost, Kevin Stitt Organizations: Democratic, Gov, Republican, Minnesota, Trump, Democratic National Convention, Alaska Natives, Indigenous, Oklahoma Gov, Cherokee Locations: Minnesota, American, Harris, Pocahontas, St

☆ These 13 states — including Florida and Texas — opted out of a $2.5 billion federal food program that would help feed low-income kids this summer
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

During the pandemic, the federal government covered the entire cost of the Summer EBT program, but starting this summer, states will be on the hook to split administrative costs 50/50. AdvertisementThirteen Republican-led states ultimately opted out of the program this summer, citing myriad reasons, including redundancy, insufficient support, and politics. AlabamaAccording to the state's Department of Health, one in four children in Alabama faces food insecurity. The state will reconsider joining the summer program once the backlog is dealt with, the outlet reported. Brian Kemp told local outlet 11 Alive that the state already has a summer food program in place.

Persons: —, Brian Kemp, Republican Sen, Cindy Carlson, Kim Reynolds, Reynolds, Kevin Stitt, Stitt, Biden, Henry McMaster, Scott Olson, Iran Fury, Kristi Noem, Chalkbeat, Fury, Megan Degenfelder, Degenfelder Organizations: Service, Department of Agriculture, SUN, Business, The, Agriculture, state's Department of Health, SUN Bucks, Alabama, state's Department of Education, Assistance, SNAP, state's Department of Children, Families, Florida Department of Children, Republican Gov, Republican, Idaho Education, Iowa, Iowa Iowa Gov, Human Services, Biden Administration, Mississippi The Mississippi Department of Human Services, Magnolia Tribune, Oklahoma Republican Gov, South Carolina Republican Gov, The Texas Tribune, state's, Human Services Commission Locations: Alabama, Alaska Alaska, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, SUN Bucks, NurPhoto Idaho, Idaho, Iowa Iowa, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Dakota South Dakota, Iran, Texas Texas, Wyoming Wyoming, Wyoming

☆ Oklahoma Was a Legal Marijuana Utopia. Then Came the Mass Murder
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Matt Stroud | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +32 min

Fourteen months after the murders, the garage of the abandoned marijuana farm on prairie tableland northwest of Oklahoma City sits frozen and dark. Broadway Avenue in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, about 30 miles south of where Wu Chen, 47, executed four people at a marijuana farm. When Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana, the only real requirement was that Oklahoma residents had to be involved in marijuana growing and selling. But Oklahoma required 75% of any marijuana business to be owned by an Oklahoma resident. Deputies from the Kingfisher County Sheriff's Office were the first to arrive at the scene of a quadruple homicide at an abandoned marijuana farm.

Persons: Wu Chen, Mike Simons, Kevin Stitt, Sean Hannity's, Dan Newhouse, Liu, Chen, Yi Fei Lin, Mark Woodward, —, OBN, Adria Berry, BI Adria Berry, I'm, Barb Miuccio, Jeremy Grable, Jeremy, Barb, she's, Barbara Miuccio, Treez, Matt Stacy, Stacy, Stitt, Jeremy they'd, he'd, OMMA, didn't, Barb didn't, Barbara, Stacy —, she'd, Stacy hadn't, BI Jonathan Riedlinger, Riedlinger, Lin, Qirong Lin, Hechun Chen, Qiang Chen, Fang Lee —, Wenbo Lin, Wu Chen —, Wenbo Lin didn't, Reidlinger, Jed Green, Matthew Alan Stacy, Barb —, — he's, He'd, Woodward, Helen Carillo, He's, Kevin Pham, Pham, BI Pham, ProPublica, recriminations, Green, It's, they're, I'd, Ken Thompson, Thompson, Chen didn't, He'll, Jonathan Riedlinger, Kiki, I've Organizations: Oklahoma City, Broadway, BI, Marijuana, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, Republican, Sean Hannity's Fox, Fox News, Chen Inc, Narcotics, BI Adria, Oklahoma's Army National Guard, OBN, Business, Oklahoma State Bureau of, Sheriff's, Prosecutors, CSI Accounting Services, Whitney Economics, NBC, Cannabis, Virginia Slim, Florida . Police Locations: Oklahoma, Kingfisher County , Oklahoma, Ames , Oklahoma, Kingfisher , Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, California, Arkansas, Republican Washington, China, Kingfisher County, Dallas, Moore , Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, He's, Moore, Kingfisher, Hennessey , Oklahoma, OMMA, Mexico, Edmond, Tulsa, Russia, Bulgaria, Armenia, Steakhouse, Virginia, Florida, Miami Beach, Miami

☆ Second largest wildfire in Texas history has scorched 850,000 acres
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Joe Sutton | Steve Almasy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A satellite image shows Fritch, Texas in August 2023. Maxar Technologies Satellite images show homes in Fritch, Texas, before the wildfire (in August 2023), and after (on Wednesday). Maxar Technologies Satellite images show homes in Fritch, Texas, before the fire (in August 2023), and after (on Wednesday). A sudden shift of wind direction in the Texas panhandle this week contributed to the explosion in size of the Smokehouse Creek wildfire. Latest developments* The Smokehouse Creek Fire grew from 500,000 acres to 850,000 on Wednesday, according to fire officials.

Persons: Joyce Blankenship, Fritch, ” Frank Probst, ”, “, Adam Turner, Snow, Andy Holloway, Greg Abbott, Kevin Stitt, ” Hutchinson, Tyler McCain, Fritch’s, McCain, Addison, Addison can’t, ” McCain, Windy Deuce, Probst, CNN’s Caroll Alvarado, Amanada Jackson, Monica Garrett, Sharif Paget, Sara Tonks, Lucy Kafanov, Andi Babineau Organizations: CNN, Maxar, M Forest Service, AgriLife, Texas, Oklahoma Gov, Amarillo National Bank, Panhandle Disaster Relief Locations: Texas, Rhode, state’s, Oklahoma, Stinnett ., , Texas, Fritch , Texas, Hemphill, Hemphill County, Canadian, Amarillo, Amarillo ., Hutchinson County, Stinnett, Borger, Fritch

☆ Nex Benedict death: Police video shows non-binary teen describe fight in high school bathroom
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Sara Smart | Steve Almasy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Nex Benedict, whose family and friends say identified as nonbinary, died February 8, a day after they told their family they were involved in a fight with others at Owasso High School. Body camera video from February 7 shows an Owasso police officer interacting with Nex and their guardian, Sue Benedict, in a hospital after the fight in a school bathroom between two groups of students. Nex eventually got thrown onto the ground and the other students proceeded to beat them up, Nex says in the video. Another video shows Nex being escorted by the school’s security officer to the nurse’s office and then to the principal’s office. Benedict says Nex is “not doing good at all” and was breathing, but their eyes were rolling back.

Persons: Nex Benedict, Nex, Sue Benedict, ”, “, ” Nex, Nex ‘, Benedict, Kevin Stitt, Andy Rose, Whitney Wild, Taylor Romine, Caroll Alvarado Organizations: CNN, Owasso High, Toxicology, Owasso Police, ’ Police, Owasso Public Schools, Oklahoma, Gov, American Civil Liberties Union Locations: Oklahoma, Nex

☆ Republicans are panicking about IVF treatment being restricted in Alabama
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The former president's statement came as Republicans try to distance themselves from an Alabama ruling. The Alabama Supreme Court controversially found that frozen embryos are children. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump on Friday broke his silence on a controversial Alabama Supreme Court ruling that has threatened the future of access to in vitro fertilization. Trump's comments come after the White House and Democrats have torn into Republicans over the Alabama ruling. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall's office said that he "has no intention of using the recent Alabama Supreme Court decision as a basis for prosecuting IVF families or providers."

Persons: Trump, —, Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, Joe Biden's, Kellyanne Conway, NRSC, Jason Thielman, kZR5LqRt5p — Lauren Fox, Zev Williams, Kevin Stitt, Stitt, Politico, Jay Mitchell, Mitchell, Steve Marshall's, Kay Ivey Organizations: Alabama Supreme, Service, White House, Democrats, The New York Times, Senate Republican, Republican, Trump White House, National Republican, CNN, Pew Research Center, Columbia University Fertility Center, Oklahoma Gov, GOP, US, Alabama Republicans, Alabama Locations: Alabama, America, Oklahoma

☆ Nex Benedict: Death of Oklahoma teen after fight in school has LGBTQ+ advocates seeking answers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Andy Rose | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A 16-year-old student died following a fight at an Oklahoma high school – and as an investigation into the cause of death continues, advocates point to a heightened and hostile climate against the LGBTQ+ community. Nex Benedict, whose family says identified as nonbinary, died February 8, one day after they told their family they and a transgender student were involved in a fight with others at Owasso High School. It is not clear if or how the fight contributed to Nex’s death. An Owasso school resource officer went to Bailey Medical Center, where Nex was examined, and interviewed both Nex and their parent about the incident. Nex’s death comes after advocates have strongly criticized Oklahoma officials for actions perceived as targeting LGBTQ+ residents.

Persons: Nex Benedict, Nex, ”, Sue Benedict, Benedict, ” “, ‘ You’ve, don’t, ’ ” Benedict, “ Nex, ” Benedict, “, I’m, Kevin Stitt, Ryan Walters, ” Walters, CNN’s Whitney Wild, Taylor Romine, Caroll Alvarado Organizations: CNN, Owasso High School . Police, Police, Independent, High School West, Bailey Medical, Owasso Fire, KOKI, Oklahoma, Gov, Public Schools, Lambda Legal, ACLU Locations: Oklahoma, Owasso, ”, Nex

Some bills would bar financial institutions from discriminating against those who refuse to participate in DEI programs. Meanwhile, Democrats have filed about two dozen bills in 11 states that would require or promote DEI initiatives. The Supreme Court’s June decision ending affirmative action at universities has created a new legal landscape around diversity programs in the workplace and civil society. Rob Standridge, who has authored four bills aiming to hollow out DEI programs in the state, said it has become a salient campaign theme. In a 2023 report, White said Mississippi’s public universities are spending millions on DEI programs instead of student scholarships.

Persons: JACKSON, Republican Oklahoma Sen, Rob Standridge, Standridge, “, Trump, ” Mike Gonzalez, Josiah Magnuson, ” Magnuson, Kevin Stitt, it’s, Sen, Marko Liias, Liias, Ron DeSantis, ”, Shad, White, Becky Currie, Currie, Spencer Cox, Cox, Robin Vos, Jonathan Butcher, ” Butcher, Fentrice, ” Driskell, Trisha Ahmed, David Lieb, Hannah Schoenbaum, Todd Richmond, ___ Michael Goldberg Organizations: Republican, Associated, Democratic, Republican Oklahoma, Heritage Foundation, Rep, Republican Gov, Oklahoma State Regents, Higher Education, ”, Washington, Utah Gov, The Heritage Foundation, Democratic House, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Miss, Washington, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Jefferson City , Missouri, Salt Lake City, Madison , Wisconsin

And it certainly wouldn’t be the first time states have lent a hand to Abbott to help border security efforts. Kevin Stitt also sent National Guard troops to the border last year – about 50 of them each – to, at least symbolically, bolster Abbott’s efforts. “[Abbott] is exactly right to invoke Texas’ constitutional authority to defend itself,” she said in a statement. “It's unfortunate that there is a governor in Texas, Governor Abbott, who has politicized this issue of what's happening on the border. “Governor Greg Abbott is using the Texas National Guard to obstruct and create chaos at the border,” Rep. Joaquin Castro, Texas Democrat, said in a statement.

Persons: Gregg Abbott, Biden, Abbott, ” Abbott, ”, “, Bertrall Ross, James Madison, Trump, –, ” Trump, Ron DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Kristi Noem, Kevin Stitt, Mike Johnson, Alejandro Mayorkas, Karine Jean, Pierre, Governor Abbott, ” Jean, we’ve, he's, – Jean, Greg Abbott, Joaquin Castro, Abott Organizations: Texas Gov, White, University of Virginia, Karsh Center for Law and Democracy, U.S ., Appeals, Circuit, Border Patrol, Texas National Guard, National Guard, Florida Gov, U.S, South Dakota Gov, Oklahoma Gov, Biden Administration, Republican, Homeland, Mayorkas, White House, CNN, Republicans, Democrats, ”, Texas Democrat Locations: U.S, Mexico, Texas, United States, “ Texas, Florida, Alabama , Arkansas, Georgia , Idaho , Iowa, Louisiana , Montana , Nebraska, North Dakota , Oklahoma, South Carolina , Tennessee , Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming, ”

☆ Nikki Haley won the backing of New Hampshire's GOP governor. It's a key advantage she just won't have again for a long time.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Chris Sununu's endorsement of Nikki Haley seemingly boosted her in NH despite her loss to Trump in the state's primary. The S.C. primary will be a key test, but Haley will also need backing from Republicans in Super Tuesday states. AdvertisementWhen New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu threw his support behind former UN ambassador Nikki Haley's presidential bid last month, it was a huge coup for her campaign. Phil Scott is the only other GOP governor currently backing Haley's presidential bid.

Persons: Chris Sununu's, Nikki Haley, Haley, —, Chris Sununu, Nikki Haley's, Phil Scott of, Trump Haley, Henry McMaster —, Donald Trump, McMaster, Trump, Phil Scott, Glenn Russell, VTDigger, Joe Lombardo, Scott of Vermont, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Greg Abbott, Kevin Stitt, Mike Dunleavy, Glenn Youngkin, Kay Ivey, Spencer Cox, Bill Lee, she's, Sununu Organizations: Trump, Republicans, Service, New Hampshire Gov, Republican, Phil Scott of Vermont ., Gov, GOP, Arkansas, Texas Gov, Oklahoma Gov, Alaska Gov, Virginia Gov, Alabama Gov, Utah Gov, Tennessee Gov, Trump ., New Locations: Super, New Hampshire, Phil Scott of Vermont, Phil Scott of Vermont . Vermont, South Carolina, Vermont, Nevada, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Utah

☆ ‘America Is Under Attack’: Inside the Anti-D.E.I. Crusade
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Nicholas Confessore | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +44 min

‘America Is Under Attack’: Inside the Anti-D.E.I. “In support of ridding schools of C.R.T., the Right argues that we want nonpolitical education,” Mr. Klingenstein wrote in August 2021. In a 2023 exchange, Dr. Yenor and two associates discussed how to defend Amy Wax, a conservative law professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Yenor and his allies bristled at the conventions of academic life as overly solicitous toward female and nonwhite students. Samuel Ginn, Claremont donor“The president then told him, ‘Things will change,’” a Claremont fund-raiser wrote to Dr. Yenor and other officials there.

Persons: “ wokeism ”, Chancellor Sharp, Sam Ginn, DeSantis, !, Searle, Scott Yenor's, Alabama Jeff Sessions, peter thiel, thiel, Dan Patrick, Patrick, Texas Long, Claudine Gay, Harvard’s, Trump, Ron DeSantis, Peter Thiel, Heather Mac Donald, ”, Scott Yenor, “, ” Scott Yenor, Claremont, Critics, George Floyd, Donald J, Trump’s, Thomas D, Thomas Klingentstein, ” Mr, Klingenstein, Yenor, Christopher Rufo, fromScott Yenor, Floyd, Mao Zedong’s, Ryan P, Williams, Jack Miller, Ryan Williams, Miller, zealots, Mao Zedong's, ” Claremont, Taube, tothe, Arthur N, Chris Ross, Dockweiler, Elizabeth Ailes, Roger Ailes, Daniel C, Searles, fromChris Ross Ryan, I'd, Dorian Abbot, Mr, Ross, Dr, Amy Wax, Wax, Wax’s, David Azerrad, . Azerrad, fromScott, Azerrad, —, ’, Mac Donald, Mac Donald1 —, fromDavid Azerrad Heather, that's, Thiel —, Thiel’s, bristled, Riffing, Bill Burr, hadn’t, Burr, George W, Bush, ” Tennessee’s, Susan Kaestner, Jeff Sessions, Samuel Ginn, Christopher B, Roberts, Roberts “, Ginn, ” Bowdoin, Thomas Klingenstein, Janet Mills, Mills, ‘, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Kevin Stitt, he’d, fromThomas, Glenn, sputtered, retool, didn’t, Jim Banks, Banks’s, Banks, Gay, Elise Stefanik Organizations: MIT, Trust, Texas, Claremont, Republicans, Senate, The New York Times, Republican, Claremont Institute, Gov, D.E.I, New, Manhattan Institute, Maine Policy Institute, ”, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Equity, Jack Miller Family, Jack Miller Family Foundation America, Capitol, Freedom Trust, Rupe Foundation, Scaife, Fox News, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Hillsdale College, Boise State University, Boise, University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, Trump, Boise State, University of Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn University, University of Alabama, Auburn, Bowdoin College in, NAS, Bowdoin, Democratic, Mr, Maine Public Radio, American, Association, Maine Department of Education, Indiana Republican, Education, Harvard, New York Republican Locations: Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maine, Montana , Utah , Oklahoma , Texas, South Carolina , Florida, Louisiana, America, defund, Alabama, Tallahassee, Union, California, Florida, Maine , Tennessee, Idaho, New York, Florida , Louisiana, North Carolina , Oklahoma , Tennessee, Wisconsin, Darling, Dallas, Utah, C.R.T, United States, Hillsdale, Eau, India, Boise State, Boise, Manhattan, Canadian, Dixie, Maine —, Bowdoin College in Maine, Colonial America, ”, Maine’s, la, Portland, Northern Maine, Arkansas, Yenor, Indiana, Israel

Two of the laws were already put on hold by a district court judge. About a month later, the U.S. Supreme Court stripped away women’s constitutional protections for abortion, which led to abortion bans in more than 20 states. The number of abortions performed in Oklahoma immediately dropped dramatically, falling from about 4,145 in 2021 to 898 in 2022, according to statistics from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. In at least 66 cases in 2022, the abortion was necessary to avert the death of the mother, the statistics show. Abortion statistics for 2023 are not yet available, a health department spokeswoman said.

Persons: The, Rabia Muqaddam, Gentner Drummond, ” Drummond, Phil Bacharach, Kevin Stitt Organizations: OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma Supreme Court, Senior, Center for Reproductive Rights, Oklahoma, Republican Gov, U.S, Supreme, Oklahoma State Department of Health Locations: The Oklahoma, Oklahoma, New York

Oklahoma's Republican Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Friday sued to stop a state board from establishing and funding what would be the nation's first religious public charter school after the board ignored Drummond's warning that it would violate both the state and U.S. constitutions. Drummond filed the lawsuit with the Oklahoma Supreme Court against the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board after three of the board's members this week signed a contract for the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School, which is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The school board voted 3-2 in June to approve the Catholic Archdiocese's application to establish the online public charter school, which would be open to students across the state in kindergarten through grade 12. A message left Friday with Rebecca Wilkinson, the executive director of the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, was not immediately returned, although Wilkinson has said previously she wouldn't comment on pending litigation. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a nonprofit organization that supports the public charter school movement, released a statement Friday in support of Drummond's challenge.

Persons: General Gentner Drummond, Drummond, Isidore of, Rebecca Wilkinson, Wilkinson, Isidore, Kevin Stitt, “, Stitt, Stitt's, ” Drummond Organizations: Republican, Oklahoma Supreme, Oklahoma Statewide, Charter School Board, Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School, Archdiocese, Oklahoma City, Catholic, Oklahoma's Republican Gov, GOP, Oklahoma, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Locations: U.S, Isidore of Seville, Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal judge in Tulsa declined to stop a new law from taking effect that makes it a felony crime for health care workers in Oklahoma to provide gender-affirming medical care to young transgender people. Heil wrote that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated that parents have a fundamental right to choose such medical care for their children. At least 22 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and most of those states face lawsuits similar to the one in Oklahoma. A federal judge in June declared that Arkansas’ ban was unconstitutional, the first ruling to overturn such a prohibition. Arkansas was the first state to enact a ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors.

Persons: John Heil III, Heil, ” Heil, Kevin Stitt, Gentner Drummond, Bill, Drummond, Phil Bacharach, Jenner, Block, ” “, ” Organizations: OKLAHOMA CITY, —, Oklahoma's Republican, Gov, Enforcement, American Civil Liberties Union, Oklahoma, Lambda Legal, U.S, Circuit, Arkansas Locations: Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S, Arkansas

☆ Here are all of Republican elected officials backing Ron DeSantis' 2024 presidential campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ron DeSantis is officially announced his 2024 presidential campaign in May, launching the most formidable challenge yet to former President Donald Trump. In the two months before DeSantis' announcement, Trump locked up the support of most of the Republican House members from Florida — and he's garnered far more endorsements overall than DeSantis. As of June 20, five House members and one governor have announced they're backing DeSantis for the 2024 GOP nomination. Thomas Massie — the Kentucky congressman and outspoken libertarian endorsed DeSantis in April, saying he's been "honored to call Ron DeSantis a friend for over a decade." Rich McCormick — the Georgia congressman endorsed DeSantis in May, saying in a Twitter video that the 2024 "election is about winning" and "who can earn victory in Georgia."

Persons: Ron DeSantis, —, Donald Trump, DeSantis, Trump, he's, Republican Sen, Cynthia Lummis of, dislodging Trump, Kevin Stitt —, Joe Biden, Bob Good —, Kevin McCarthy's speakership, Laurel Lee, Thomas Massie —, Rich McCormick —, Chip Roy — Organizations: Florida Gov, Trump, Service, Gov, Capitol, Republican House, Capitol Hill, Republican, GOP, Republicans, Five, State, Caucus Locations: Florida, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Oklahoma, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, Texas

☆ Trump arrives in Miami for arraignment on first-ever federal charges against an ex-president
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In that case, Trump would go to the courthouse to surrender, but his arraignment and plea may be delayed, according to NBC. The two lead attorneys who had been representing Trump in the case resigned Friday, just one day after Trump announced he had been indicted. A source with direct knowledge later told NBC that Blanche traveled with Trump to Florida. The charges mark the first time a former U.S. president has been charged with a federal crime. Trump traveled to Florida from his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Persons: WASHINGTON —, Donald Trump, Trump, Walt Nauta, Hunt, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Jack Smith, Melania Trump, Joe Biden, Kevin Stitt, Ron DeSantis Organizations: WASHINGTON, NBC News, NBC, Southern District of, Trump, Southern, Oklahoma Gov, GOP, Gov Locations: Miami, Southern District, Southern District of Florida, Florida, Esq, New York, Trump, U.S, Bedminster , New Jersey

☆ Oklahoma Approves First Religious Charter School in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Sarah Mervosh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Oklahoma approved what would be the nation’s first religious charter school on Monday, handing a victory to Christian conservatives but opening the door to a constitutional battle over whether taxpayer dollars can directly fund religious schools. The online school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, is to be run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa, with religious teachings embedded in the curriculum. But as a charter school — a type of public school that is independently managed — it would be funded by taxpayer dollars. After a nearly three-hour meeting, and despite concerns raised by its legal counsel, the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the school in a 3-to-2 vote, including a yes vote from a member who was appointed on Friday. Kevin Stitt, a Republican who supports religious charter schools, and leaders of the Republican-controlled State Legislature.

Persons: Isidore of, Kevin Stitt Organizations: Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Statewide, Charter School Board, Gov, Republican, Legislature Locations: Isidore of Seville, Tulsa

☆ Italy's Enel to invest more than $1 bln in Oklahoma solar panel factory
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Nichola Groom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A logo of Italian multinational energy company Enel is seen at the Milan's headquarters, Italy, February 5, 2020. The facility will be among the largest to produce solar equipment in the United States, where most projects are built with imported panels. It is also one of the first U.S. factories to produce silicon-based solar cells on a large scale. The investment is one of the biggest in solar manufacturing since the passage of U.S. President Joe Biden's landmark climate change law, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), last year. Enel, which had first said last year it planned to build a U.S. solar factory, selected a site in Inola, Oklahoma, near Tulsa.

☆ Oklahoma governor wages war on PBS station after claiming it is indoctrinating children with LGBTQ content
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —America’s most-watched PBS station is on the verge of going dark. The Republican governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt, recently vetoed a bill that would have renewed the license and provided millions in funding for the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, the statewide PBS network that reaches more than 650,000 viewers a week. The fundamental goal of PBS KIDS remains supporting children as they learn and grow through programming they have come to know and love. While the Oklahoma station receives $6.3 million in funding from donors and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, $2.9 million comes from the state government. It produces and airs the “Oklahoma News Report,” the only state news program that reaches every county in Oklahoma.

☆ What to Know About the Case of Richard Glossip, Death Row Prisoner
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Remy Tumin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But after a parole board was split on whether to recommend clemency last month, Mr. Stitt signaled that he would not issue another stay. Mr. Glossip, 60, was convicted of arranging the 1997 murder of Barry Van Treese, who owned a motel in Oklahoma City where Mr. Glossip worked as a manager. Prosecutors argued that Mr. Glossip promised the motel handyman, Justin Sneed, $10,000 to kill him. According to interviews from inmates incarcerated with Mr. Sneed on unrelated charges, Mr. Sneed said he had acted alone to rob Mr. Van Treese of money that Mr. Sneed and his girlfriend planned to use to buy drugs. Mr. Sneed also has a history of mental illness, which was not disclosed at the time.

Programming note: The full interview with Richard Glossip will air Friday, May 5, on “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” which starts at 4 p.m. Lea Glossip, left, wife of death row inmate Richard Glossip, listens with death penalty opponent Sister Helen Prejean, right, during a news conference on Thursday, May 4, in Oklahoma City. Sneed admitted to killing Van Treese, but at trial, prosecutors portrayed the killing as a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by Glossip. Ultimately, Reed Smith concluded “that no reasonable juror hearing the complete record would have convicted Richard Glossip of first-degree murder,” said Stan Perry, a partner at the firm. The Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, where Richard Glossip is set to be executed, is seen in 2015.

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