AGP Executive Report

Inola Smelter Fight: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is asking a judge to block a proposed aluminum smelter in Inola after ranchers warned it could harm cattle and land, including claims of toxic grass samples near smelters elsewhere. Gubernatorial Runoff Economics: Ahead of the Aug. 25 GOP runoff, Mike Mazzei and Drummond are pitching competing plans to cut costs for families—Mazzei pushing no income tax and property tax relief for seniors and veterans, plus pressure on insurance premiums. Health Costs Pressure: Oklahoma Voice reports experts expect health insurance premiums to jump again, with state employees facing possible double-digit increases and broader impacts for everyone. Workforce Focus: In the labor commissioner GOP runoff, candidates Kevin West and John Pfeiffer agree Oklahoma needs help filling jobs, but differ on how the Labor Department should expand workforce development. Tribal Health Investment: Cherokee Nation leaders say new wellness and medical facilities are already boosting memberships and patient admissions, aiming to reduce barriers to care. Local Business & Literacy: Oklahoma bookstores report sales slipping as affordability squeezes families, raising fresh worries about literacy and reading access. Cyberattack Update: Coweta says a ransomware incident is mostly resolved, with no financial loss reported for utility payments and emergency services operating normally.

Oklahoma Election Watch: Oklahomans will vote Aug. 25 on State Question 846, which would add voter ID requirements to the state Constitution and expand lawmakers’ power to set election rules, including how ID works for mail voting. Health Care & Costs: Experts warn Oklahomans should brace for health insurance premium spikes, with state employees facing possible double-digit increases and broader projections pointing to similar shocks for many residents. Local Government & Planning: Nowata’s school board approved key agreements, grants, and meal pricing for the coming year, while the Nowata Board of Education also moved ahead with updates tied to bond work and alternative education needs. Business & Jobs: Hapco broke ground on a new Oklahoma City manufacturing facility expected to create 80+ jobs, expanding production of aluminum lighting poles. Tribal Data Centers: The Cherokee Nation banned hyperscale data centers on tribal lands, citing citizen opposition and concerns over energy, water, air quality, and cultural impacts. Public Safety Reminder: On National 811 Day, Oklahoma officials urged anyone digging to call 811 first to avoid hitting underground utilities. Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Poteau among Oklahoma cities with scam reports in June, underscoring ongoing fraud losses statewide.

DOJ Immigration Lawsuit: The Trump Justice Department sued New York, Connecticut and Vermont over in-state tuition and financial aid for undocumented students, arguing it violates federal law and unfairly treats U.S. citizens as “second-class.” Oklahoma Health Costs: Experts warn Oklahomans should expect health insurance premium spikes, with state employee plans potentially jumping into the high teens. OKC Downtown Overhaul: Oklahoma City leaders unveiled a downtown transformation plan that could double the number of residents living downtown, including an entertainment loop and a possible conversion of the county jail into a film studio. Climate and Heat: NOAA says July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded across the contiguous U.S., with every state in the warmest third of its July history. Back-to-School Safety: The Grand River Dam Authority urged families to follow electric safety basics for the new semester, including not stapling or nailing extension cords and keeping kids away from high-voltage equipment. Education Workforce: Northeastern State University partnered with the state to help emergency-certified educators earn full classroom teacher certification.

Pretrial Justice Watch: Oklahoma lawmakers are pressing for changes after concerns that bail hearings in Oklahoma County give defendants only about 20 seconds and don’t consistently follow constitutional rules for individualized consideration. Criminal Law Reform: A new look at Oklahoma’s felony murder rule highlights how children can face first-degree murder charges for deaths tied to certain felonies, even without personally committing the killing. Public Safety Roundup: Owasso police are investigating a fatal stabbing at a Quality Inn, while Tulsa detectives search for a teen suspect accused in a residential shooting that left four teenagers wounded. Tribal Sovereignty & Data Centers: Cherokee Nation leaders say they won’t support hyperscale data centers on tribally owned or trust lands without proper consultation, and they’re also calling for meaningful input on a proposed aluminum smelter near the reservation. Economy & Taxes: Lawmakers are asking voters to change Oklahoma’s property tax breaks for manufacturers—arguing the state has been covering the local revenue hit, but wants to alter the rules as more businesses use the exemption. Health & Research: OU researchers report triple-negative breast tumors may recruit nerves via immune cells, pointing to a potential new target for treatment. Business: Tulsa-based AAON posted record Q2 results and raised its 2026 outlook, citing strong demand and improved execution.

Oklahoma Education Politics: Oklahoma’s GOP runoff for state superintendent is set for Aug. 25, with classroom educators Robert Franklin and James Taylor facing off after a crowded primary; both are pitching different ways to involve parents and shape priorities ahead of the November matchup. Tribal Gaming Oversight: A federal watchdog vacancy is stalling Harrah’s management plans for the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma’s new Chandler casino, raising concerns that the National Indian Gaming Commission can’t fully enforce rules or approve deals without a chairperson. Health & Safety: Louisiana health officials are warning Gulf Coast beachgoers about a summertime surge of Vibrio vulnificus infections, a flesh-eating bacteria found in warm coastal waters. Public Policy Watch: Oklahoma’s child marriage ban since 2020 is highlighted as more states move to restrict the practice, even as it remains legal in most of the U.S. Local Community & Culture: The Medicine Wheel Ride’s seventh annual ride in South Dakota brought attention to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives, with riders using red ribbons and a route through Sturgis and Deadwood.

Sales Tax Map: In McAlester, a 10% sales tax is split across state and local services—4.5% to Oklahoma, with 1.5% earmarked for Pittsburg County needs like roads, the county jail, and rural fire protection. Food Safety & Local Impact: A new FDA report adds detail to the Taylor Farms lettuce recall, tying “potential Cyclospora contamination” to hundreds of thousands of cases and naming major retailers and restaurant chains, including Taco Bell, with Oklahoma among the affected states. Tribal Gaming Oversight: The National Indian Gaming Commission can’t fully enforce rules or approve deals because it’s operating without a chairperson, putting Oklahoma’s Harrah’s casino management plans on hold and raising concerns for the $46 billion tribal gambling industry. Oklahoma Education Politics: Two longtime educators—Robert Franklin and James Taylor—advance to the Aug. 25 runoff for Oklahoma superintendent, setting up a high-stakes contest ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Community & Culture: Oklahoma Comic Con returns to Tulsa with cosplay, celebrity guests, and a big weekend turnout, highlighting the state’s growing pop-culture scene. Local Business Support: Arvest’s Million Meals campaign tops $633,513, including $22,650 for Southwest Oklahoma food partners.

Oklahoma Superintendent Race: Oklahoma’s GOP superintendent nomination is down to educators Robert Franklin and James Taylor after a crowded primary; they’ll face Democrat Jennettie Marshall in November. Education & Politics: The campaign trail is also heating up around CD-5, where Jena Nelson is pushing four debates with incumbent Stephanie Bice on education, healthcare, affordability and AI data centers. Public Health: Tick season is stretching longer, with more states scrambling to track where ticks are spreading and what diseases they may carry. Energy & Costs: Oil prices are climbing again, boosting tax collections for energy-producing states, while the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve keeps falling to 304.81 million barrels amid supply-risk worries. Local Business & Community: Arvest’s Million Meals campaign hit $633,513 total, with $22,650 earmarked for Southwest Oklahoma food partners. Consumer Safety: Oklahoma cities continue to post scam reports on BBB Scam Tracker, with Oklahoma City and Tulsa leading statewide totals in June. Health Care Access: A childcare crisis is pushing Oklahoma families toward financial brink, as infant care costs rise.

Oklahoma Politics & Campaigns: CD-5 challenger Jena Nelson is pushing for four debates with Rep. Stephanie Bice, aiming to focus on education, healthcare, affordability and the rush of AI data centers. Local Governance: Yukon Mayor Brian Pillmore faces a growing recall effort after residents say data center plans are changing the community; the petition has enough valid signatures to move to a council review. Tribal Policy & Data Centers: The Cherokee Nation has banned hyperscale data centers on tribally owned and trust land, citing concerns over energy and water use, air quality, infrastructure and cultural impacts. Federal Appointments: The Senate confirmed Cameron Hamilton to lead FEMA, as Democrats warn disaster relief could be politicized and the agency still reels from recent turmoil. Public Safety & Courts: A federal grand jury returned indictments in Oklahoma, including cases involving unlawful reentry and firearms charges. Health: Oklahoma is among states reporting rising cyclosporiasis cases tied to iceberg lettuce, with the CDC now listing 15 states. Housing & Affordability: HUD Secretary Scott Turner visited Oklahoma to discuss barriers to homeownership, including deregulation efforts and youth homelessness. Business & Manufacturing: The SBA launched a $20 million Critical Suppliers Prize Competition to boost domestic production in areas like advanced metals and energy components.

Transit & Downtown OKC: Oklahoma City’s streetcar is going fare-free indefinitely after a six-month pilot boosted ridership by about 71% year over year, with officials saying it should improve downtown access, ease congestion, and help businesses. Housing & Homelessness: HUD Secretary Scott Turner visited Oklahoma to highlight homeownership roadblocks for tribal nations and discuss efforts to protect homeless youth, pointing to deregulation work and a best-practices push. Native Data Centers: The Cherokee Nation released its Principal Chief’s Data Center Task Force report, warning about energy, water, air quality, infrastructure, and cultural impacts, and saying it won’t support hyperscale projects without proper consultation. Disaster Response Leadership: The Senate confirmed Cameron Hamilton as FEMA chief, signaling possible shifts after Trump’s earlier threats to eliminate the agency, while Democrats accuse politicizing disaster aid. Oklahoma Politics (Runoff): Attorney General Gentner Drummond says he’ll release financial and health records and plans to publish drug-test results ahead of the Aug. 25 GOP gubernatorial runoff. Public Health: Candida auris is rising again nationwide, with reports in 27 states this year, while Oklahoma is also listed among states tied to the broader lettuce-linked cyclosporiasis outbreak.

Veterans Tax Fight: Former Sen. Mike Mazzei says he won’t cut Oklahoma’s sales tax exemption for 100% service-connected disabled veterans, Gold Star mothers, and surviving spouses ahead of the Aug. 25 GOP runoff against AG Gentner Drummond. Local Infrastructure: Oklahoma County’s jail plan takes another step as commissioners consider a new four-tenths-of-a-cent sales tax to cover a growing funding gap. Education Politics: Two longtime educators, Robert Franklin and James Taylor, advance to the Aug. 25 runoff for Oklahoma superintendent, with both promising an academic turnaround. Energy & Industry: A Reuters report spotlights the $4 billion rural aluminum smelter as a wedge issue dividing Republican voters in the governor’s race. Data Centers & Power: Oklahoma’s data-center growth is colliding with ratepayer concerns, with officials pushing protections so households don’t foot the bill. Health & Food Safety: A national cyclosporiasis/lettuce outbreak keeps widening, while restaurant chains respond to salmonella risks by pulling items. Osage Nation Budget Crisis: The Osage Nation declares a state of emergency and closes programs tied to projected revenue shortfalls. Business Watch: Dutch Bros moves to buy former Salad and Go sites across multiple states, converting them to coffee shops after the salad chain’s shutdown.

Data Centers & Utilities: Gov. Kevin Stitt signed two bills aimed at keeping data-center growth from driving up Oklahomans’ power bills and from straining water supplies, with lawmakers and industry leaders saying it’s about accountability, not blocking development. Education & AI: UCO announced new AI degree programs launching this fall, built around employer input and hands-on use of the university’s “BuddyGPT” supercomputer. Courts & Religious Freedom: A federal court heard arguments over Oklahoma’s ban on religious charter schools, with the case centered on whether the rule violates First Amendment free-exercise protections. Healthcare Expansion: OSU Medicine broke ground on an $11.5 million Collinsville clinic to expand primary, specialty, urgent care, and testing services, with a temporary site planned to open sooner. Local Culture: Pauls Valley’s Toy and Action Figure Museum will close Aug. 30 after 20 years, citing budget and funding disputes. Business Watch: Dutch Bros is buying up to 65 former Salad and Go locations in Oklahoma and other states, planning conversions to Dutch Bros drive-thru coffee shops.

Oklahoma Education & Workforce: OKCPS Foundation landed a $50,000 NBA Foundation grant to expand its Teacher Pipeline Program and add mentorship for future educators, aiming to ease Oklahoma City’s teacher shortage. State Infrastructure & Finance: The Council of Bond Oversight conditionally approved up to $1.9 billion in turnpike bonds for ACCESS Oklahoma’s next phase, with requirements to follow any federal court orders and redirect funds if projects change. Tribal Health & Major Construction: The Chickasaw Nation broke ground on a 160-acre Health Newcastle Medical Center campus in the OKC area, positioning it as one of the largest First American hospital systems in the U.S. Energy & Local Power Costs: Oklahoma’s data-center debate keeps heating up as officials push ratepayer protection rules and allow behind-the-meter power options, trying to stop households from footing the bill. Local Housing Crisis: Tenants tied to Vesta Realty face confusion over who manages their apartments amid ongoing court fights, leaving residents unsure about rent and oversight. Environment & Public Safety: A new federal study is set to evaluate whether Oklahoma’s plains spotted skunk should get endangered status, after researchers flagged it as increasingly rare.

Turnpike Fight in Norman: OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. backed two new South Extension Turnpike interchanges, calling them “absolutely essential” for economic prosperity despite local opposition and environmental concerns. Food Safety & Local Impact: The cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce has expanded to 15 states, with Oklahoma among those affected as officials focus on Taylor Farms; consumers are shifting away from bagged lettuce while some local farms see demand spike. School Year Pressure on Child Welfare: CASA of Oklahoma County reports a record waitlist of 112 children needing court-appointed advocates as the school year begins. Education Pipeline: OKCPS Foundation’s Teacher Pipeline Program is helping paraprofessionals and aides earn certified teacher degrees while staying in classrooms. Nuclear Plans in Federal Docs: DOE materials show Oklahoma is a finalist for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, outlining how such a site could operate and manage safety. Cybersecurity Watch: Oklahoma City says its water systems remain secure as federal agencies investigate coordinated cyberattacks on utilities in multiple states. Business Shockwaves: Salad and Go filed for Chapter 11 and is closing all locations; Dutch Bros is seeking to buy many of the drive-thru leases, including in Oklahoma.

Federalism Push: Oklahoma lawmakers and governors say Washington has grown too powerful and they want more authority returned to states, with bipartisan groups focusing on elections, energy, education and other core issues. Nuclear & Waste Politics: Oklahoma is among finalists for DOE “Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses,” a plan that could reshape the state’s energy economy while keeping nuclear waste disposal front and center. Food Insecurity: SNAP use is dropping fast nationwide, with Oklahoma down about 18%—a trend that’s pushing more families toward food banks. Local Schools: Kingfisher Public Schools Superintendent Andy Evans resigned after board members raised concerns about finances, including a reported swing of more than $1.3 million. Public Health & Business: Salad and Go is shutting down all locations after Chapter 11, blaming weak demand, rising costs, and fallout from a Cyclospora outbreak it says it wasn’t tied to. Immigration Scrutiny: DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s comments on work visas drew backlash from parts of Trump’s base, as ICE enforcement and visa debates stay in the spotlight. Tech & Daily Life: Oklahoma’s digital driver’s license may be nearing support in Apple Wallet, hinting at a faster path to mobile IDs.

Court Fight Over Religious Charter School: The Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School founders will argue in federal court Wednesday that Oklahoma’s charter law requiring schools to be nonsectarian is religious discrimination, with the earliest possible virtual opening now pushed to fall 2027. Turnpike & Local Growth: OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. backed two Norman interchanges on the South Extension Turnpike, calling them “absolutely essential” for safety and economic prosperity. County Jail Funding Push: Oklahoma County’s jail plan advanced after a citizens committee recommended a 0.4% sales tax for 25–30 years, targeting about $600 million and adding accountability steps like a bed cap and tighter financial oversight. Health Coverage Squeeze: A KFF analysis says millions lost Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage after enhanced subsidies expired, with Oklahoma among the biggest enrollment drop-offs. Public Health Watch: Oklahoma cyclosporiasis cases climbed past 400, and an OKC nonprofit says lettuce orders from local farms surged as people look for trusted food sources. Medicaid Fraud Enforcement: AG Tim Griffin joined a multi-state push urging Congress to pass the STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act to expand fraud investigations beyond providers to beneficiaries and recipients. Education Literacy Push: The Oklahoma State Chamber launched a privately funded literacy initiative with 10 schools and literacy coaches ahead of stronger reading requirements starting in 2027–28.

Oklahoma Business & Consumer Choice: Diamond Consulate is opening in Oklahoma City this November with an appointment-only, private consultation model for engagement rings and custom jewelry, aiming to replace the usual in-store pressure with one-on-one design and education. Immigration & Work Visas: At the National Governors Association meeting in Oklahoma City, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin pushed for changes to employment-based visa programs to address labor shortages, drawing a sharp response from business and political voices. Health Coverage: ACA marketplace enrollment fell to 19.2 million nationwide, with declines in every state but New Mexico; Oklahoma’s drop was just over 32%. Education & Rights: Oklahoma’s elite state boarding school is refusing to adopt Title IX protections, with a departing administrator warning it’s “a crisis waiting to happen.” Local Research Funding: OMRF received a $12.8 million NIH grant to expand its Center for Cellular Metabolism Research. Tech & Cybersecurity: Oklahoma AGs are among 15 states demanding OpenAI preserve records tied to the Hugging Face hack, alleging unsafe agent behavior. Weather Tech: OU and the National Weather Service demonstrated new vertical atmospheric drones tied to Oklahoma’s 3D Mesonet to improve forecasts and alerts. Wildlife Alert: Officials are searching for a missing 3-foot caiman in Cleveland County and urge residents not to approach it.