Oklahoma
Nearly $2M in school choice tax credits were spent on parents’ debt instead
OKLAHOMA CITY — Almost $2 million from a tax credit program intended to help families afford private school instead went to parents’ debts and delinquent taxes.
The Oklahoma Tax Commission has deducted 1,249 parental choice tax credit payments from applicants who had unpaid taxes or a debt claim filed against them, the agency reported in response to an open records request from Oklahoma Voice.
Payments were reduced by a total of $1,926,240. The program’s total budget this year is $150 million.
Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed into law a bill meant to prevent future deductions. House Bill 3388 clarifies the credits are non-taxable income and can’t be reduced for outstanding debts.
The legislation that created the tax credit program last year included no such prohibition, prompting lawmakers to clarify the law this session.
“The Tax Commission was following the law as written at the time of implementation,” Stitt said in a statement. “I’m always grateful when agencies operate with due diligence. Moving forward, lawmakers have changed that statute and I have signed that into law.”
More: Oklahoma’s parental choice tax credit update: ‘Non-priority’ applications now being reviewed
Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said the clarification was necessary so a parent’s debt wouldn’t hamper a student’s opportunity to attend private school.
“We don’t tell a child they can’t go to public school because their parent’s behind on taxes, and we’re not going to tell a child in need that they can’t go to a private school that meets their needs based on their parent’s lack of compliance,” Treat said while speaking with reporters last week.
Legislative Democrats questioned whether the measure is another hand-out to families already enrolled in exclusive schools.
“For anybody else, if they had a tax liability, they would be required to pay it, and these folks are not,” Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, said. “So, we’re giving them taxpayer dollars, and we’re saying you don’t have to pay what you owe the people of Oklahoma.”
What to know about the private school tax credit
The refundable tax credits offer $5,000 to $7,500, depending on total household income, to offset costs of sending children to private schools. Although a credit reduces a family’s state tax obligation, the commission issues a check to recipients to reimburse approved educational expenses, like tuition, tutoring or testing fees.
The initiative launched in December to significant demand. About 36,000 people have applied, most of whom did so in the first 90 minutes of the application window.
There is no income limit to apply, but children from households earning $150,000 or below had priority consideration.
The Tax Commission is still reviewing applications and disbursing funds. About 16,800 priority applicants and 4,300 without priority have been approved, accounting for $125 million of the $150 million budget, the agency reported this week.
Oklahoma will allocate $200 million for the program in 2025 and $250 million in 2026.
Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions:info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice onFacebook andTwitter.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is taking action against Uber Technologies LLC and Uber USA LLC after alleging the use of deceptive and unfair practices in selling subscription services.
According to the Drummond office, the lawsuit against Uber Technologies LLC and Uber USA LLC seeks to uncover an alleged variety of unfair operations in selling Uber One subscription services.
On Monday, Drummond, alongside a coalition of 21 other state attorneys general, joined the lawsuit filed initially by the Federal Trade Commission.
Drummond says the lawsuit alleges the following:
- Uber is accused of improperly using negative option marketing tactics when it offered free trial subscriptions – a practice that automatically charges consumers if they do not cancel a free trial.
- Uber allegedly misled consumers about the amounts they could save when subscribing to Uber One and made it extraordinarily difficult for consumers to cancel once enrolled.
- Uber is also accused of charging consumers before their billing date, including users whose free trial had not yet ended.
“Oklahoma law prohibits deceptive trade practices and I will always fight to hold accountable any company who breaks the law,” Drummond said. “Unless Uber is stopped in court, they are likely to continue cheating and harming hardworking Oklahomans.”
The AG’s office says the lawsuit seeks restitution, penalties, costs, and an injunction against Uber for alleged violations of Oklahoma’s Consumer Protection Act and the U.S. Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act.
The lawsuit is currently scheduled for trial on February 2027, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Here is the state coalition list; in addition to Oklahoma, it includes Maryland, Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as the District Attorney for Alameda County in California.
Click complaint to read the lawsuit.
Oklahoma running back Jovantae Barnes was upgraded on the second College Football Playoff availability report of the week.
Barnes appeared on Tuesday’s report as probable, but he was left off Wednesday’s report, meaning he will be available for Friday’s contest against Alabama.
Barnes appeared in four games during the regular season, carrying the ball 19 times for 45 yards and a touchdown. He also caught one pass for 16 yards.
The senior running back was able to redshirt by only playing in four games. Postseason games, including the College Football Playoff, do not count against eligibility, so Barnes will be able to maintain eligibility in 2026 and still be able to take the field for the Sooners in the CFP.
Oklahoma’s main injury concern, center Jake Maikkula, continues to linger.
Maikkula was listed as questionable on the report for the second straight day.
Maikkula missed OU’s regular-season finale against LSU due to what Brent Venables labeled as an “infection”. He was fully suited up during a brief 15-minute practice viewing window on Monday, but he was working off to the side instead of with Oklahoma’s starting offensive line group.
Read More Oklahoma Football
Oklahoma’s best news of the week came on Tuesday.
Star pass rusher R Mason Thomas was not listed on the week’s first availability report, meaning he’s good to go to take on the Crimson Tide.
Thomas earned All-SEC First Team honors in 2025 despite missing a majority of Red November.
He appeared in nine regular-season games, totaling 23 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Thomas also forced two fumbles, and he scooped up a Joey Aguilar fumble and returned it all the way for a touchdown. He sustained a quad injury on the play, however, which cost him the Alabama, Missouri and LSU games.
Thomas also missed the first half of OU’s SEC opener against Auburn after he was ejected in the second half of Oklahoma’s win over Temple for targeting.
Defensive backs Gentry Williams, Kendel Dolby and Jeremiah Newcombe were all ruled out for the CFP opener on Tuesday.
Dolby announced that he intends to enter the transfer portal on Wednesday.
When asked about the defensive back after Dolby’s announcement on Wednesday, Venables was short.
“I’m not going to talk about anybody that’s not here,” he said.
Alabama tight ends Josh Cuevas and Danny Lewis Jr. were both upgraded to probable after the tight end duo was listed as questionable on the week’s first availability report.
The Sooners and the Crimson Tide will battle at 7 p.m. on Friday, and the game will air on ABC and ESPN.
Oklahoma
Six bridges damaged by semi truck hauling ‘illegally over-height’ load, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority says
Oklahoma authorities are investigating multiple bridge strikes that occurred along the I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike on Tuesday afternoon.
On December 16, 2025, “an illegally over-height commercial motor vehicle drove this afternoon from Tulsa to near Miami,” causing damage to “multiple county bridges above the I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike,” according to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA).
The OTA notes that “it is illegal for trucks taller than 14 feet to travel the state highway system without permits and approved routes. The bridges damaged today range from 14 feet and 11 inches to 15 feet and 4 inches in vertical clearance, well above the legal limit.”
“We are continuing to see damage to our state transportation infrastructure from illegal, over-height semi-trucks. This is a critical issue that puts the traveling public at risk and is unacceptable. We are extremely grateful no one was injured in this incident,” OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle said. “We implore truck drivers to follow all Oklahoma laws and work with the state’s Size and Weights permitting office to ensure that all travelers are safe on our roadways and that our infrastructure remains undamaged by these careless acts.”
Officials say that the following bridges were struck:
- E. 530 Rd. – closed between S. 4130 Rd. and Lakeway Rd.
- S. 4220 Rd. – closed between E. 460 Rd. and E. 470 Rd. east of Claremore
- N. 429 Rd. – closed between E. 390 Rd. and SH-28
- N. 4300 Rd. – closed between E. 380 Rd. and W. 390 Rd.
- N. 4310 Rd. – open
- W. 370 Rd. – open
The Will Rogers Turnpike is open, but drivers should expect temporary delays as crews continue to inspect the damaged bridges.
“OTA is working closely with officials from Rogers County, City of Claremore, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and ODOT in response to this incident,” the agency said.
Who was Nuno Loureiro? MIT professor gunned down in apartment near university
Detroit man to stand trial in ex-wife’s murder
Body cam footage released in South San Francisco police shooting
Change In Eagles’ Red-Zone Philosophy Opens Opportunities For Dallas Goedert
Democrat Eileen Higgins sworn in as Miami’s first female mayor after 30 years of GOP control
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Texas Republicans launch ‘Sharia Free America Caucus’ aimed at defending ‘Western civilization’
UK police arrest four people for pro-Palestine ‘Intifada’ calls
BBC Verify Live: Fact-checking Trump’s unusual new White House presidential plaques
Border Patrol chief, progressive mayor caught on camera in tense street showdown: ‘Excellent day in Evanston’
European Parliament asks for EU funds to finance abortions abroad
-
Iowa4 days agoAddy Brown motivated to step up in Audi Crooks’ absence vs. UNI
-
Washington1 week agoLIVE UPDATES: Mudslide, road closures across Western Washington
-
Iowa5 days agoHow much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals
-
Maine2 days agoElementary-aged student killed in school bus crash in southern Maine
-
Maryland4 days agoFrigid temperatures to start the week in Maryland
-
Technology1 week agoThe Game Awards are losing their luster
-
South Dakota4 days agoNature: Snow in South Dakota
-
Nebraska1 week agoNebraska lands commitment from DL Jayden Travers adding to early Top 5 recruiting class