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Oklahoma bill would let counties create animal control programs

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Oklahoma bill would let counties create animal control programs


There are over 300 animal shelters and animal welfare organizations across Oklahoma, all working to care for thousands of homeless, abandoned, and rescued animals. But as stray animal populations continue to grow especially in rural areas lawmakers are considering a bill aimed at giving counties more control.

House Bill 3902 would allow all Oklahoma counties to create animal control programs and regulate dogs running at large. Current law limits that authority to counties with populations over 200,000.

If passed, the bill would take effect November 1, 2026.

Supporters of HB 3902 say Oklahoma’s stray animal problem is particularly severe outside city limits, where many counties lack animal control officers or shelters.

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The bill was introduced in response to growing concerns about animal overpopulation, worsened by post-pandemic increases in unspayed and unneutered pets. Lawmakers behind the measure say removing population restrictions would allow counties to tailor solutions to their own communities.

Animal welfare groups, including the Humane Society of Tulsa, say the change is long overdue.

“We are such a rural state that I don’t think people realize how many stray animals, dumped animals happen outside of city jurisdictions,” said Lawrence DePriest, Director of Operations for the Humane Society of Tulsa.

DePriest says the Humane Society of Tulsa receives 10 to 12 calls every day from people reporting stray or at-large animals many from outside city limits.

However, as a private organization, the Humane Society does not take in stray animals, because it lacks the legal authority and resources to process stray holds. Instead, it relies on municipal shelters to handle those cases.

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“If all my kennel space is full, I don’t have the luxury of bringing in another animal, even though we want to help,” DePriest said.

In a News Channel 8 poll, viewers were asked whether Oklahoma should require animal control programs statewide or leave the decision up to local governments.

Responses were mixed with many saying animal control should be statewide only if state funding is provided.

HB 3902 remains under legislative review as lawmakers continue discussions on how best to address Oklahoma’s stray animal crisis.

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Oklahoma City artist returns with Thunder-themed window art for NBA playoffs

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Oklahoma City artist returns with Thunder-themed window art for NBA playoffs


Melissa Griggs-Hendricks and her team are back to paint Thunder-inspired designs on windows across Oklahoma City, spreading excitement for the NBA playoffs

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Oklahoma City artist returns with Thunder-themed window art for NBA playoffs

Melissa Griggs-Hendricks and her team are back to paint Thunder-inspired designs on windows across Oklahoma City, spreading excitement for the NBA playoffs

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WELL, OKLAHOMA CITY, IT IS ALMOST TIME FOR THE NBA PLAYOFFS AND WE ARE READY TO THUNDER UP. I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, OUR CITY SURE KNOWS HOW TO SHOW UP AND SHOW OUT. FROM WATCH PARTIES TO HOUSE DECORATIONS, OKC HAS GOT IT GOING ON AND THAT INCLUDES A LOCAL PAINTER. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER FROM LAST SEASON. OUR KOCO EVAN ONSTOT JOINING US LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM. WE HAVE THIS IN OUR NEWSROOM. EVAN, WE’RE ABOUT TO SEE BLUE AND ORANGE ALL OVER OKC. RIGHT. AND A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO BE THANKS TO ARTIST MELISSA GRIGGS HENDRICKS. WE WATCHED MELISSA AND HER TEAM CREATE THUNDER MAGIC ALL OVER OKLAHOMA LAST YEAR, AND NOW SHE IS BACK. AND MAYBE EVEN BETTER THAN BEFORE. MELISSA AND HER ASSISTANT CANDACE PAINT THUNDER IMAGES ON WINDOWS. ABBY, YOU MENTIONED WE HAD ONE RIGHT HERE IN THE KOCO NEWSROOM. AND SO THIS YEAR, THESE LADIES ARE BACK TO SPREAD SOME THUNDER EXCITEMENT. THEY SAY THEY’VE GOT EVEN MORE DESIGNS THIS YEAR AND THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN DOUBLE THE ART THIS SEASON. THEY JUST CAN’T WAIT FOR THE PLAYOFFS TO START. LAST YEAR FOR THE PLAYOFFS, WITHIN A TWO AND A HALF MONTH SPAN, WE PAINTED 157 LOCATIONS. SOME OF THOSE WERE HUGE AND SOME WERE SMALL. AS ONE WINDOW, WE HAVE A GUESS OF ABOUT 25 GALLONS. WE MAY HAVE MISSED A FEW. IT DOESN’T TAKE A TON OF PAPER FOR DESIGN TYPICALLY, BUT YEAH, ABOUT 25 GALLONS LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR I THINK WE’RE GOING TO DO A WHOLE LOT MORE. IT FEELS AMAZING TO BE BACK. I’M SO EXCITED. WE JUST HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME LAST YEAR AND I’VE REALLY MISSED THIS COMMUNITY OF JUST GETTING TO SEE EVERYBODY AND JUST BE A HUGE PART OF ALL THE EXCITEMENT FOR THE PLAYOFFS. YEAH, THEY DO INCREDIBLE WORK. NOW. MELISSA SAYS THAT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING ANY OF YOUR WINDOWS PAINTED, YOU JUST GOT TO CONTACT HER THROUGH EMAIL. WE’RE GOING TO POST A

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Oklahoma City artist returns with Thunder-themed window art for NBA playoffs

Melissa Griggs-Hendricks and her team are back to paint Thunder-inspired designs on windows across Oklahoma City, spreading excitement for the NBA playoffs

Updated: 7:52 PM CDT Apr 10, 2026

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Oklahoma City is preparing for the NBA playoffs, and artist Melissa Griggs-Hendricks is bringing Thunder spirit to life with her signature window art. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning NewsletterGriggs-Hendricks, along with her assistant Candace, is painting Thunder-themed images on windows throughout the city, including one at the KOCO newsroom. “Last year for the playoffs, within a two-and-a-half-month span, we painted 157 locations. Some of those were huge and some were small as one window,” Griggs-Hendricks said. “We have a guess of about 25 gallons. We may have missed it. It doesn’t take a ton of paint for a design. Typically, they get about 25 this year. I think we’re going to do a whole lot more.” She expressed her enthusiasm for returning this season. “It feels amazing to be back. I’m so excited. We just had such a great time last year, and I really miss this community of just getting to see everybody and just be a huge part of all the excitement for the playoffs,” Griggs-Hendricks said. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Griggs-Hendricks and her team say they have even more designs planned this year and believe they can double their output from last season. Top HeadlinesWoman dies after being hit by a train in Pauls Valley, OHP saysOut-of-this-world playlist: Here’s what the Artemis II astronauts have been listening in spaceOHP releases details of deadly crash involving Oklahoma State softball team’s busRollover crash involving multiple vehicles causes significant traffic on SB I-35 near GoldsbyPennsylvania woman’s Ring camera captures machete-wielding neighbor

Oklahoma City is preparing for the NBA playoffs, and artist Melissa Griggs-Hendricks is bringing Thunder spirit to life with her signature window art.

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>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter

Griggs-Hendricks, along with her assistant Candace, is painting Thunder-themed images on windows throughout the city, including one at the KOCO newsroom.

“Last year for the playoffs, within a two-and-a-half-month span, we painted 157 locations. Some of those were huge and some were small as one window,” Griggs-Hendricks said. “We have a guess of about 25 gallons. We may have missed it. It doesn’t take a ton of paint for a design. Typically, they get about 25 this year. I think we’re going to do a whole lot more.”

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She expressed her enthusiasm for returning this season.

“It feels amazing to be back. I’m so excited. We just had such a great time last year, and I really miss this community of just getting to see everybody and just be a huge part of all the excitement for the playoffs,” Griggs-Hendricks said.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

Griggs-Hendricks and her team say they have even more designs planned this year and believe they can double their output from last season.


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Oklahoma City man claiming to be financial investor charged with fraud

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Oklahoma City man claiming to be financial investor charged with fraud


A federal grand jury has charged an Oklahoma City man with dozens of counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.

From June 2021 through December 2025, officials say 36-year-old Matthew Mclain Veazey presented himself as a successful financial investment professional. Public records indicate that Veazey encouraged friend and family to send him money by claiming he had special access to favorable investment opportunities due to his connections.

However, authorities say Veazey kept the money for himself and used it for personal expenses.

Court records allege that investors gave Veazey $2.38 million, but those funds were never repaid. Authorities say Veazey fabricated text messages and email communications from real people to convince victims that his investment activities were real.

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This week, a federal grand jury returned a 30-count indictment charging Veazey with 21 counts of wire fraud, five counts of money laundering, and four counts of aggravated identity theft.

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If convicted, Veazey faces up to 20 years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000 for each count of wire fraud, up to 10 years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000 for each count of money laundering.



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PORTAL TARGET BREAKDOWN: Oklahoma State guard Amari Whiting

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PORTAL TARGET BREAKDOWN: Oklahoma State guard Amari Whiting


Portal season is just getting underway. The Iowa Women’s Basketball team suffered five losses to the transfer portal, leaving them, at this moment, with six players on next year’s roster, including just two guards. For the first time since the portal became commonplace in college sports, the Hawkeyes, led by head coach Jan Jensen are […]



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