Oklahoma
'We Are Going To Take Oklahoma To The Next Level:' New Economic Development Push
A new bill has been proposed to take a new approach to economic development and business retention in Oklahoma. The legislation would create a new state agency that is solely dedicated to economic development, the Oklahoma Office of Economic Development, Growth and Expansion (OkEDGE).
Senator Kristen Thompson, the lawmaker who filed the bill, is hoping this changes the way that Oklahoma does business. “We are going to take Oklahoma to the next level,” said Sen. K. Thompson, (R ) Edmond.
Senator Thompson is calling this the “COMPETE Act.” “Creating Oklahoma’s modern plan for economic transformation and effectiveness,” said Sen. Thompson.
The bill would create a new state agency specifically dedicated to economic development, growth, and expansion. Those duties currently fall under the Department of Commerce. “This is how we move our state forward, this is how we create jobs, this is how we pay less taxes, this is how we have better roads, better bridges, better schools for our kids.”
After years of failed business deals between the state and outside companies including Panasonic, Tesla, and Volkswagen, Senator Thompson says we need a modern approach to economic development. “This was born from the conversations that we started having as soon as the state was notified that Panasonic was not going to open an operation here,” said Sen. Thompson.
The senator from Edmond is proposing a one-time investment of $698 million specifically designated for business retention and expansion efforts and she’s hoping for an 8% return on investment, that will translate to an annual allocation of $55.84 million. “We are looking not only to recruit new industries but our focus is definitely going to be to grow what we have now,” said Sen. Thompson.
Thompson says the new agency itself won’t cost much to initiate because it will be absorbing employees and responsibilities from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. “This is where all of the economic development functions for the state of Oklahoma on all different levels will start,” said Sen. Thompson.
The new agency will be governed by a nine-member board of directors. Those members will be chosen by the Governor, Senate Pro Tem, and House Speaker.
Senator Thompson also wants to require at least one of those appointees to be from a community of 100,000 people or less, so the board can be made up of people who understand urban, suburban, and rural areas.
If the bill passes, Sen. Thompson is hoping to have the new agency up and running by 2025. Within 30 days of the law’s enactment, the board must be appointed and they must have their first meeting within 60 days of the law going into effect. “Time is of the essence. The longer we wait and the less efficient the opportunities are, we’re gonna miss out on them,” said Sen. Thompson. “We want people to know Oklahoma is not only open for business, but this is where you can thrive.”
The bill will be presented when the session starts next month.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma leaders react after U.S. and Israel launch joint attack on Iran
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — State leaders are reacting after the United States launched an attack on Iran Saturday morning.
U.S. Senator James Lankford said he is praying for the safety of the American service members involved in the attack.
“Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and has long threatened the United States and our allies. Today’s military actions underscore the seriousness of that threat and the need to prevent Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Lankford said. “I’m praying for the safety of every American service member involved in these operations and for their families at home. God bless our troops and God bless America.”
Lankford also said that any Americans in the Middle East should keep an eye out for advisories and guidance from the U.S. Department of State.
U.S. Representative Tom Cole released a statement following the attack:
It’s a time of reckoning for those who chant ‘Death to America.’ President Trump is right when he calls the effort to eradicate Iran’s nuclear weapons program and give its people the opportunity to seize their freedom ‘a noble mission.’ The evil Iranian regime has been the leading state sponsor of terror for decades. It has killed thousands of people within and beyond its borders, including hundreds of Americans. It must be defanged and dismantled.
The President did not take this action lightly or impulsively. He has warned Iran repeatedly that it must change its policies and its actions. He has negotiated with Iran in good faith and with great clarity. It was the Iranian regime that chose to ignore those warnings and make a mockery of those negotiations. In doing so, its tyrannical leaders made an enormous miscalculation.
Our Commander in Chief has made clear that his goal is not just to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. It is also to give the Iranian people a chance to take back their country. Self-determination and freedom will be theirs to claim. I hope they will.
Like every American, my thoughts and prayers are with our brave and capable men and women in uniform who are carrying out this noble but hard and dangerous mission. I know that they will have the unwavering support of every American, and I am confident that they will acquit themselves with honor and distinction.
May God protect our troops and the innocent Iranian people – and once again – as He so often has, bless America.
U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin said he is praying for the United States’ men and women in uniform in a post on Saturday.
“May God bless and protect our men and women in uniform—the greatest peacekeeping force in the history of the world. Americans are praying for your safety in this mission,” Mullin said.
U.S. Representative Kevin Hern said the Iranian regime is a threat to the U.S. and President Trump was left with no other choice than to take action.
As the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, the Iranian regime is an active threat to the United States, our allies, and stability across the Middle East.”
Iran’s refusal to accept a deal left President Trump with no choice other than to take decisive action to ensure the regime never possesses a nuclear weapon. There is no peace without strength, and the United States will not sit by while this regime pursues their nuclear ambitions, fuels their terrorist proxies, and brutalizes the Iranian people. I’m praying for our brave troops in the region. May God bless them, and may God bless the United States.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a social media post that his prayers are with President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth as they work to achieve a safer world.
“God bless and protect the men and women of the United States military engaged in the Middle East this weekend. My prayers are with our military, President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and our Generals, as they use American force to achieve a safer world for the future of our children and grandchildren,” Drummond said.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma County commissioners weigh state audit of jail trust amid detention center woes
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. (KOKH) — An investigative audit into the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority; it’s something the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners is considering.
Fox 25 has been covering issues with the Oklahoma County Detention Center for years, from failed inspections to staffing issues and missed paychecks.
The issues had members of the Jail Trust recommending last June they undergo a performance review. Now, in a letter recently issued, county commissioners are asking State Auditor Cindy Byrd to look into the county Criminal Justice Authority, also known as the jail trust. But whether it’s tied to those ongoing issues remains unclear.
“I really wouldn’t know. I wouldn’t know where to begin with that. I just wouldn’t even want to speculate, honestly,” said Commissioner Myles Davidson.
Commissioner Davidson told FOX 25 if the audit were to happen, it wouldn’t be cheap.
“To go into a budget that we’re extremely tight on, and start adding hundreds of thousands of dollars, and time, these audits don’t happen overnight. I don’t know that we would have an answer to any question we could possibly ask before the budgetary cycle is over,” said Davidson.
Davidson said that cycle ends June 1. Instead, he’s suggesting they look into existing audits to see if there’s any useful information there first.
“I would simply say that we need to look at the audits that have been submitted already to the state auditor that the jail trust has already paid for, and then if we have questions about those, we need to bring in that auditing agency and question them. We do have the authority to do that,” Davidsons said.
However, Davidson isn’t sure they have the authority to request this audit.
“When it comes to statute, we have to have it lined out, expressly in statute that we have this authority, and every county commissioner across the state has to abide by that,” he said.
Davidson said they’ll be meeting Monday to find out whether or not they do have the authority to request this audit. He told FOX 25 the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office reached out to folks with Cindy Byrd’s office and was told the audit would cost $100,000, adding that she’s so swamped that she can’t do it this calendar year.
FOX 25 also reached out to Jason Lowe’s office but they said they have no comment.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma lawmakers vote to rename turnpike in honor of Toby Keith
OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) — Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to honor country music artist and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 recognizes Keith’s lasting impact on music and proposes renaming a planned turnpike in his memory.
The concurrent resolution was authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Morgan, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman.
The planned route will extend from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35, then continue east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike.
Copyright 2026 KSWO. All rights reserved.
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