News

Filing begins for municipal and school board offices

November 27, 2025

Candidates interested in filing for municipal office in four Tulsa County municipalities and filing for the Board of Education in 14 Tulsa County school district will file Declarations of Candidacy beginning 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 Gwen Freeman, Secretary of the Tulsa County Election Board, said Declaration of Candidacy forms must be completed and…

2026 state races draw candidates

November 20, 2025 The Oklahoma Constitution newspaper staff

The candidate filing period for offices for the 2026 Oklahoma elections will be April 1-3, and numerous candidates have already announced for the various offices. In non-presidential election years, a host of state offices are up for election. The list includes the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer,…

Tulsa permanent sales tax and hotel tax increases referred back to committee

November 20, 2025

Earlier this month Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols proposed permanent sales tax and hotel tax increases. He asked the Tulsa City Council to approve these proposed tax hikes to be voted on by the public in time to be put on the ballot in February. The sales tax would be permanently increased by 0.7 cents bringing…

New Tulsa VA Hospital

November 20, 2025

In 2026, the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System will expand health care for Veterans by opening a new 58-bed VA hospital in Tulsa. Located at 7th and Houston in downtown Tulsa, the VA hospital will be part of the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Medical Center Campus and the first VA hospital in the nation…

Legality of $1B plus PSO Bond Payments, Rate Increases now in Hands of OK Supreme Court

November 20, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY – In a brief filed Monday, State Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, reiterated his challenge to $250 million in recent rate increases and more than $1 billion of bond payments approved by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) and currently being collected from customers of electric utility Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO). PSO primarily…

Candidates announce for state races

November 13, 2025 The Oklahoma Constitution newspaper staff

Ruling reaffirms state’s power to prosecute crimes within tribal bounds

November 13, 2025 Ray Carter

A U.S. District Court judge has rejected the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s request for a preliminary injunction that would prevent Oklahoma state and local governments from prosecuting American Indian defendants who are not members of the Muscogee tribe but allegedly commit their crimes on land within the boundaries of the tribe’s pre-statehood reservation. The opinion and…

Oklahoma plans for Route 66 Centennial Celebration

November 13, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – November 11, 2025 – As the Mother Road marks its 99th anniversary this year, Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell and the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission today unveiled early plans and programming for the upcoming Route 66 Centennial in 2026. The yearlong celebration will spotlight Oklahoma’s leadership role in preserving and…

2026 State races draw candidates

November 6, 2025 The Oklahoma Constitution newspaper staff

Tulsa Mayor calls for increase in sales tax

November 6, 2025

Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols plans to present a 0.7 cent sales tax increase to Tulsa City Councilors this week. If approved by the councilors the new sales tax would be voted on in the February 10, 2026 election. “It’s seven-tenths of a penny to invest in things like public safety, to really help us get…