Oklahoma

Oklahoma Senate passes bill to ban any ‘unauthorized camp’ on state land

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2024

Oklahoma Senate passes bill to ban any ‘unauthorized camp’ on state land

A bill that critics say would effectively push homeless people off public rights-of-way and state-owned land passed the Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday, despite an impassioned plea by one senator who grilled the bill’s sponsor with questions for more than 15 minutes before the vote.

By a 37-6 vote, the Senate approved Senate Bill 1854, which was cast by its author, Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, as a safety issue. The bill now can be considered by the state House of Representatives.

The bill would prohibit any “unauthorized camp” – defined as “any tent, shelter, or bedding constructed or arranged for the purpose of or in such a way to permit overnight use on a property not designated as a campsite” – on public rights-of-way or state-owned lands.

The bill would subject violators to a misdemeanor charge, but says the first violation would be considered as a warning, “and a citation may not be issued unless the person refuses any assistance offered to them by the arresting officer. Such assistance may include, but is not limited to, transportation to a shelter, food pantry, or other place where resources are made available to assist the indigent and homeless.”

Weaver, a former director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control and an inductee into the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame, had a back-and-forth exchange with Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, about the bill on the Senate floor. Kirt has a passion for addressing issues involving the homeless and served as a founding member and co-chair of the Legislative Mental Health Caucus.

“What I am concerned about is criminalizing someone who doesn’t have a home,” Kirt said. “That’s not solving our problem. We talk about moving someone across the street (to non-state-owned land) but that is still in our community. We’ve not solved the challenge that that individual is facing. This is written in a very broad manner that makes it difficult to analyze who would be impacted.”

She added: “What I see is we need to flip the way we’re approaching the challenge of people who are unsheltered. If somebody is sleeping under a bridge, they have nowhere else to sleep.”

Bill’s author says it won’t apply to local municipalities, only state-owned properties

Under questioning, Weaver said the bill won’t apply to municipalities in Oklahoma, only state-owned land, although he frequently referenced people staying near highway underpasses. He specifically mentioned people who often can be seen camping around Interstate 240 underpasses in south Oklahoma City.

“We’ve had a lot of challenges in our community, one of which is safety,” Weaver said. “This has to do with safety. This is not a ‘solve all the problem for homelessness.’ That’s not what the intent of this bill is. The intent of this bill is very specifically a safety issue when it comes to these roads and … where we have jurisdiction in this body, on state-owned lands. I don’t want no member to believe that this is going to solve our homelessness (issue).”

Weaver said, “At some point, even individuals that are homeless have some level of responsibility for the safety of themselves and the people around them. … It’s something we maybe don’t want to talk about, but it’s true.”

Asked how many people would be affected by the bill, Weaver said he didn’t specifically know, saying only “several.”

According to the annual “point in time” count in Oklahoma City in 2023, the city had 1,436 homeless people counted, up about 100 from the 2022 count. About 20% of that number are families with children, about 9% are military veterans, about 28% are considered chronically homeless and 31% are unsheltered. Kirt said homeless people often wouldn’t have the financial resources to pay any fine that might be levied if the bill becomes law.

“As a general rule, criminalizing homelessness is counterproductive,” said Dan Straughan, the executive director of the Homeless Alliance in Oklahoma City. “Misdemeanors generate fines that people experiencing homelessness can’t easily pay, which leads to a failure to appear in court, which leads to needless bench warrants. All this to say, making the infraction a misdemeanor doesn’t really prevent it from leading to jail time. Once an individual has entered the criminal justice system, that creates yet another barrier to getting back into housing. Housing is the proper response to homelessness. Needless fines are simply a step backward.”

The six senators who voted against the bill included five Democrats – Kirt, Kay Floyd of Oklahoma City, Jo Anna Dossett of Tulsa, George Young of Oklahoma City and Kevin Matthews of Tulsa – along with Republican Dave Rader of Tulsa.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Thunder writer wants apology from Seattle fans if Sonics return

Published

10 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma City Thunder writer wants apology from Seattle fans if Sonics return

The Seattle SuperSonics haven’t touched the floor in almost 20 years since the beloved team was taken to Oklahoma City to become the Thunder in 2008.
It’s been two decades since one of the most painful relocations in the history of professional sports. That year, Oklahoma investor Clay Bennett moved the Sonics to Oklahoma City after purchasing the franchise from Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz two years prior.
Seattle fans still haven’t gotten over the move all these years later, and who could really blame them after the way their team was ripped out of their city. However, Sonics fans are closer than ever to getting the Sonics back after the NBA went public with its hopes to expand to 32 teams by placing teams in Seattle and Las Vegas.
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You would think this would be a story that would be celebrated across the universe. And since Oklahoma City just won a championship with the Thunder and are the favorites to win another NBA title this year, you would think that Seattle getting back their Sonics would be the least of their concerns. They won and they continue to win. Seattle getting the Sonics name, history, and colors back from the Thunder already has precedent with the re-christening of the Charlotte Hornets and the complicated web between Charlotte and New Orleans franchises. So what’s the big deal, right?
Well, USA Today’s OKC Thunder wire reporter Clemente Almanza doesn’t quite see it that way.
In a column entitled, “If Sonics want history back, Seattle owes OKC Thunder an apology,” Almanza makes the case that aggrieved Sonics fans should say sorry after actively rooting against the Thunder for so many years.

If the Sonics are brought back, how do the Thunder address the giant elephant in the room? Of course, I’m talking about Seattle’s NBA history from 1967 to 2007. Does OKC gift it back to Seattle, when it technically doesn’t have to, when you look at the nitty-gritty of the original contract details?

The Thunder give the Sonics back their history, it’s not that hard. They’re not going to take the 2025 NBA Finals trophy with them! And it’s not even like the Thunder are using Sonics-inspired throwback jerseys with the famous green and gold color combos like the Tennessee Titans do with the history of the Houston Oilers.

Yeah. Sure. Might as well. Not like the Thunder acknowledges the Sonics’ history even though they technically own it.

Ok good, now everyone is on the same page and we should be able to move forward together.
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But under one caveat — an apology.

* insert blinking guy gif here *
Sonics fans in Seattle owe Oklahoma City and Thunder fans an apology? After going without a basketball team for 20 years and seeing the franchise that was taken away from them build the best young team in the league that looks like they are turning into a dynasty before their eyes? What about other fans that have had to suffer from losing their teams? Should Oakland A’s fans just thank John Fisher for the memories and wish them well in Sacramento and Las Vegas and wherever else they actually play?

For 18 years, Thunder fans have dealt with Sonics fans’ bitter behavior. When an inconvenience happens to OKC, Seattleites are the first to celebrate with online parties. Angered over a dramatic divorce, that group of people is directing their emotions at the wrong group.
Sonics fans should really be mad at Howard Schultz and the previous group. After all, they’re the ones who sold the NBA franchise to Bennett. Once that move was made, the writing was on the wall with an eventual relocation — especially since Seattle didn’t want to pony up for a new NBA arena.

Professional sports fans are beginning to warm up to the idea that billion dollar local government bailouts for billionaire owners aren’t exactly the best use of public funds. There were even serious questions about the renovation of KeyArena (now Climate Pledge Arena) when it happened in 2018 and that was without a guarantee that the Sonics would ever return. Now Seattle has an NHL team and perhaps an NBA team on the way. But it has certainly come at a significant cost.
And for that matter, are Thunder fans really watching over their shoulder worried about what people in a city almost 2,000 miles away think about their basketball teams? It’s not like Seattle fans are conducting operations in the streets of Oklahoma City to deface Thunder billboards or anything. Where are the Thunder fans who are so agonized that Seattle didn’t enjoy their title as much as they did in Oklahoma City?!?
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They weren’t the ones who refused to accommodate an NBA team. They weren’t the ones who sold the team to an out-of-state ownership group when local groups were interested. They weren’t the ones who were gullible enough to believe an out-of-state ownership group had a real interest in staying put.
I digress. Feels like that should be water under the bridge soon. Seattle should get an NBA team by the end of the decade. But if they want their Sonics’ history back, an apology is in order. That’s what happens when you have nearly two decades of misguided anger.

Telling Sonics fans not to be angry at Clay Bennett for moving the Sonics to Oklahoma City is like asking Cleveland Browns fans not to be angry at Art Modell. It’s never going to happen in a million years. Seattle basketball fans got to see Kevin Durant’s rookie season and then he left. That’s one of the biggest teases in sports history. Let alone multiple eras of sustained success in Oklahoma City. You can understand there might be some bitterness! And it’s totally natural and understandable. As are the replies on social media that aren’t exactly in agreement with Almanza’s column.
Trying to hold the Sonics history hostage for a mythical apology is a hot take that not even ChatGPT could conjure up if you asked it to create the most scorching opinion about the entire situation. The column may get some cheers locally, and maybe that’s all it’s meant to do. But the only thing it will really accomplish is making the bad blood in Seattle boil even more after being told what to do by someone representing who they believe truly wronged them. That first visit of the Thunder to Seattle will only be matched by LeBron James’ first game back in Cleveland after joining the Miami Heat. And it’ll be must-see TV for basketball fans everywhere.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma County Commissioner comments on news of Myles Davidson’s resignation

Published

22 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma County Commissioner comments on news of Myles Davidson’s resignation

Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson is resigning.

Commissioner Brian Maughan released a statement to Fox 25 Friday night regarding Davidson’s resignation saying it “allows us to focus on solving the problems with our budget this year and the construction of the new jail.”

News of his resignation comes just over a week after a Cleveland County judge granted a final order of protection against Davidson. Court records show the order is effective until March 11, 2029.

There have previously been calls for him to resign after allegations of sexual assault came to light in September.

Fox 25 is working to obtain more information about Davidson’s decision to resign.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma vs Idaho predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament First Round

Published

1 day ago

March 20, 2026

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Oklahoma vs Idaho predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament First Round

The First Round of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament continues Friday with a slate featuring No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Idaho on the 16-game schedule.

Here is the latest on Friday’s March Madness matchup, including expert picks from reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering the women’s NCAA Tournament to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.

USA TODAY Studio IX: Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more

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