StateImpact Oklahoma@StateImpactOK

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

 Oklahoma
kgou.org/show/stateimpact-ok…
Joined June 2011
121 Photos and videos
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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Oklahoma City Public Schools and Metro Technology Centers are teaming up to help students explore healthcare careers without leaving their high schools. The partnership will support students in meeting new graduation requirements: bit.ly/4cpPYDx

Oklahoma City high school students get hands-on healthcare experience through new partnership

Oklahoma City Public Schools and Metro Technology Centers are teaming up to help students explore healthcare careers without leaving their high schools. The partnership will support students in...

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The update comes as Oklahoma prepares to enter the second budget period of a five-year federal funding opportunity meant to transform rural health: bit.ly/4gEXyeP

Oklahoma officials outline progress on Rural Health Transformation Program initiatives

The update comes as Oklahoma prepares to enter the second budget period of a five-year federal funding opportunity meant to transform rural health.

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OSSAA's "Linked Rule" is designed to deter students from following coaches from one district to another. This spring, the legislature pulled it from statute. Thursday, OSSAA announced updates to the rule: kgou.org/education/2026-08-2…

OSSAA votes to change controversial ‘Linked Rule,’ but leaves parts intact

The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association changed a controversial rule regarding student athletes.

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For decades, community-based organizations have received direct federal funding to provide HIV prevention services. Now, the Trump administration is changing course, and one Oklahoma group stands to lose money it has received since 2002: bit.ly/4xonm5Z

The Trump administration is shifting funding for HIV prevention. Vulnerable Oklahomans could suffer

For decades, community-based organizations have been on the front lines of providing HIV prevention, receiving funding directly from the federal government. Now, the Trump administration is changing...

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Hall of Fame educator Robert Franklin has clinched the Republican nomination for Oklahoma superintendent: kgou.org/education/2026-08-2…

Longtime educator Robert Franklin takes Republican nomination for Oklahoma superintendent

Hall of Fame educator Robert Franklin received the most votes Tuesday for the Republican state superintendent nominee.

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In western Oklahoma, the Kiowa Tribe is preparing to plug abandoned oil and gas wells and remediate the surrounding sites. kgou.org/energy/2026-08-25/k…

Kiowa Tribe plans to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells on its land

A federal grant is funding the Kiowa Tribe’s orphaned well plugging program.

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Oklahoma used to be home to more than 2 million acres of wetlands. But human activities shrunk that acreage by nearly 70%. Now, conservationists are working to restore them. kgou.org/oklahoma-news/2026-…

With ‘relatively few left,’ Oklahoma works to restore wetlands to its landscape

The state is investing in a declining ecosystem to benefit landowners and wildlife.

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Most of the reported exemptions were non-medical, representing 7.2% of Oklahoma kindergartners. That’s about a 33% increase from the previous year: bit.ly/4gx8cEq

More Oklahoma children are entering kindergarten with vaccine exemptions, CDC reports

Most were non-medical, representing 7.2% of Oklahoma kindergartners. That’s about a 33% increase from the previous year.

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"When you're talking about, 'Am I Democratic enough? Am I Republican enough?' What I go back to is, 'Are you about public education enough?'" State Superintendent candidate Robert Franklin sat down with StateImpact ahead of next week's runoff: kgou.org/education/2026-08-2…

Superintendent candidate Robert Franklin wants ‘political rancor’ out of Oklahoma education

The Republican runoff election for the state superintendent is Aug. 25. StateImpact’s Beth Wallis sat down with candidate Robert Franklin to talk Oklahoma education.

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AI is increasingly being integrated into healthcare to predict risks, monitor patients and automate administrative tasks. New research from OSU found that rural hospitals are lagging in AI use and makes the case for investments in these facilities: bit.ly/3Uo5zx2

AI use is growing in healthcare. An Oklahoma researcher found rural hospitals are slow to adopt it

The researcher makes the case for investments in facilities that lack the funds to evaluate and implement it safely.

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