Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has called for the resignation of a group of McCurtain County politicians after a recording of them discussing plans to hire a hitman to kill and bury two newspaper reporters was made public. He has ordered the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate and asked the McCurtain County District Attorney and the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to review the conduct of the officials and take any necessary action. Stitt has stated that he is committed to ensuring that the people of Oklahoma are represented by officials who share the same values of respect and dignity.
Posts tagged as “Oklahoma”
Colorado and Michigan have recently taken steps to protect the rights to abortion and gender-affirming services, while neighboring states have moved to restrict such procedures. In Colorado, Governor Jared Polis signed a trio of bills to further protect these rights, while in Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill repealing the state's 1931 abortion ban. These developments demonstrate the current political climate surrounding abortion in the US, with some states actively working to protect individuals' reproductive rights and others attempting to restrict access.
Idaho has become the first state to pass a law explicitly restricting some out-of-state travel for abortions, making it punishable by two to five years in prison to help a pregnant minor get an abortion. This is seen as a way for red states to limit access to abortion for minors, and is likely to face legal challenges as a violation of the right to privacy and a restriction on the right to travel.
On Saturday night, three people were killed and three others were injured in a shooting at the Whiskey Barrel Saloon in Oklahoma City. Police are currently investigating the scene and have asked anyone with information to contact the Oklahoma City Police Department. No arrests have been made and the motive is still unknown.
Idaho has become the latest state to turn to older methods of capital punishment due to a nationwide shortage of lethal-injection drugs, with Republican Governor Brad Little signing a bill allowing execution by firing squad. Pharmaceutical companies have largely barred executioners from using their drugs, prompting other states in recent years to revive older methods of execution. One Idaho death row inmate has already had his execution postponed multiple times due to the drug scarcity, and the new law is expected to take effect on July 1, 2020.
The Senate Ethics Committee has admonished Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for violating Senate rules during a Fox News appearance last November by directly soliciting campaign contributions for Herschel Walker in the Russell Senate Office building. The committee has asked Graham to respond to the letter within 30 days, and it is unclear what action, if any, the committee will take against Graham if he does not comply.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently ruled that women have the right to an abortion when pregnancy risks their health, expanding the right to an abortion beyond medical emergency cases. The ruling is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and a federal judge will decide if the FDA-approved abortion pill should be blocked across the country pending the outcome of the appeal. The outcome of the appeal could have far-reaching implications for abortion rights in the United States.
The US is accelerating the delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine to support their fight against Russia’s invasion. The older M1A1 model of America’s main battle tank will be sent instead of the newer M1A2 version, as it is easier for Ukrainian forces to learn to use and maintain. 65 Ukrainian soldiers are currently training on the systems at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the tanks could be there before the end of the year.