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OSDH Encourages Families to Prepare Now for Back-to-School

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – As the summer winds down, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is reminding families to start thinking about their back-to-school checklist before kids go back into the classroom. “Now is the time to begin gathering the documents parents and caregivers may need before kids return to the classroom,” said Erica Rankin-Riley,…

Friday Night 5G Lights Competition

Tulsa Beacon

This year’s Friday Night 5G Lights competition officially kicked off July 15th.  Last season, nearly 1,750 high schools from all 50 states – including Crest Ridge High School — brought unmatched energy and creativity, rallying their communities and the nation, ultimately crowning Inola High School from Inola, Oklahoma the grand prize winner. The unveiling of…

OK Supreme Court: McGirt does not extend to Civil and Regulatory Law

Tulsa Beacon

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which held that the pre-statehood reservation of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation was never formally disestablished for purposes of federal criminal law, created vast uncertainty regarding regulatory issues across most of eastern Oklahoma. The multiple “reservations” effectively recreated by McGirt cover nearly half the state and…

‘Big Beautiful Bill’ law requires Medicaid recipients to seek work

Tulsa Beacon

When Congress passed, and President Donald Trump signed, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” work requirements for able-bodied individuals on Medicaid were among the changes enacted. Under the legislation, able-bodied adults who have no children and are between the ages of 19 and 64 are required to complete at least 80 hours per month of…

Civil rights complaint filed against the University of Tulsa

Tulsa Beacon

A civil rights complaint has been filed against the University of Tulsa (TU), alleging the school has engaged in illegal discrimination. Adam Kissel, a visiting fellow on Higher Education Reform for The Heritage Foundation who previously served as the deputy assistant secretary for Higher Education Programs with the United States Department of Education, filed the…

Oklahoma ranked as a top 10 state in Education Choice

Tulsa Beacon

A new report ranks Oklahoma among the 10 best states in the nation for parental empowerment and educational choice. The 2025 Parent Power! Index, released by the Center for Education Reform (CER), analyzes educational opportunities state by state and highlights the success and failure of laws to ensure the availability of education that meets the…

Online enrollment for Energy Assistance is open

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 15, 2025) – Oklahoma Human Services is now accepting online applications for the low income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP), at OKDHSLive.org. This federally funded program helps income-eligible families with their summer cooling utility bills. LIHEAP LIHEAP is offered two times a year for winter heating and summer cooling. Additionally, the Energy…

Lookout Kitchen Restaurants to Reopen in Oklahoma State Parks after being closed by the OTRD

Tulsa Beacon

The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OTRD) and the Lookout Kitchen (Lookout) have reached an agreement to conditionally reopen the Lookout restaurants in Oklahoma State Parks. The Lookout locations at Beavers Bend, Lake Murray, Robbers Cave, Roman Nose, and Quartz Mountain will reopen Tuesday, July 15, subject to the operating hours of each restaurant. Pursuant…

Best & Worst Cities for First-Time Home Buyers (2025)

Tulsa Beacon

Buying a home for the first time is an exciting and important milestone for many Americans. Their purchases make up a sizable chunk of the market, too. In 2024, a historic low of 24% of home purchases were made by first-time buyers, down from 32% the previous year. For people willing and able to invest…

Gas prices rose over the past week

Tulsa Beacon

Average gasoline prices in Tulsa have risen 12.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.82/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 321 stations in Tulsa. Prices in Tulsa are 4.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 38.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average price…