Oklahoma
Oklahoma Democrats highlight concerns about state budget transparency
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — Democrats in the Oklahoma legislature are raising their concerns about what the state budget could look like this year.
Democratic leadership held a press conference on Tuesday to speak on funding concerns they have on everything from healthcare to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to education as power in how the state budget is crafted rests mainly in the hands of Republicans.
“Oklahomans are really drowning and we’re not throwing them a rope right now,” Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City) said.
As Oklahoma lawmakers enter their second month of the 2026 legislative session, budget negotiations and conversations are intensifying in what is expected to be a tight budget year.
Democrats say transparency is lacking from their Republican colleagues.
“There’s so many major troubles in the public eye around our budget when it comes to affording homes, affording childcare, being able to find the healthcare they need, and we are not seeing transparency from our Republican colleagues,” Kirt said.
Kirt said years of tax cuts have left the state with no flexibility coming into this year.
“We’ve had an estimated 1.6 billion in tax cuts in the last five years limiting our options a lot,” she said. “And so when we see these challenges what are we gonna see in terms of solutions? We have not had that transparency to give you any idea what’s happening but we wanna raise the alarm that it’s gonna be too late for people to chime in if they don’t speak up now about what they think the priorities should be.”
House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City) echoed the same sentiment.
“We’ve heard rumors about cuts to agencies and that there will be flat budgets, but we know that they will go deeper as years go on if the legislature doesn’t get it together and figure out a way to increase revenue to pay for core functions of government,” Munson said.
About a month and a half ago, Republican State Senators proposed a $254 million funding plan that would redirect funds from the Teacher Retirement System.
“I find myself wondering how we will pay for this massive package we’re talking about, the third grade reading and math initiatives that we have set in play and have been highlighted as cornerstones of what we hope to accomplish this session. And it’s exciting and terrifying at the same time. The final price tag of those things continues to swing from one extreme to the other,” State Rep. Melissa Provenzano (D-Tulsa) said.
Right now, nothing concrete has been announced on what the final budget number will be.
Oklahoma
High-speed chase ends in crash at Oklahoma car dealership
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Authorities are searching for two suspects following a high-speed chase that ended at a car dealership.
Early Friday morning, officers were attempting to pull over a vehicle that was believed to be stolen. However, the driver took off and refused to pull over.
Multiple agencies were involved in the pursuit, which ended at a car dealership near I-240 and Shields Blvd.
It appears that multiple vehicles were damaged at the lot.
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Officials say two suspects fled the scene and are still on the run.
Oklahoma
Can a Local Product Emerge as Oklahoma’s Answer to Depth at Linebacker?
NORMAN — One of the major challenges for Oklahoma’s defense this spring is rebuilding the depth that was lost this past winter.
Linebacker is no exception.
Kendal Daniels, who emerged as Brent Venables’ do-everything man at outside linebacker, graduated.
Kobie McKinzie and Sammy Omosigho both hit the portal as well, leaving Kip Lewis and Michigan transfer Cole Sullivan as the Sooners’ only two guys who have played significant snaps in college.
If Owen Heinecke can return, that would boost the group, but Venables, inside linebackers coach Nate Dreiling and outside linebackers coach Wes Goodwin are looking for other answers to emerge.
Physically, James Nesta is an imposing figure standing on the practice field as he commits to fully growing into his football body after splitting time with baseball early at Oklahoma, but the other linebacker returning the most experience is Taylor Heim.
The Bethany, OK, product earned a role on special teams last year, but he also rotated into a handful of games in the later stages of blowouts.
He totaled 12 tackles, including 0.5 sacks and one quarterback hurry.
Heim’s special teams snaps gave him a glimpse of what life is really like as a weekly contributor.
“Just feeling that game day environment, feeling the blood rush you get when you run out. I actually have a role to play. It’s different,” he said.
Heim has plenty of experience learning the cheetah position, but he said he was able to learn a lot over the past year by watching how Daniels handled all of the responsibilities of the role.
“He was a big one, a big mentor, because he was kind of my frame, my stature,” Heim said. “He definitely showed me the ropes and stuff and (I) just progressed as a player.”
Heim knew he couldn’t wait for spring ball to try and get a jump on growing into a larger role.
His work started as soon as he reported for winter workouts to get stronger, but also take his mental game to the next level.
“(I’m) gaining weight, being more physical, footwork,” he said. “Just trying to take that next step and always progress and never look back.”
Reggie Powers III, who rotated with Daniels last year, will play plenty at cheetah, but there’s no real proven depth behind him.
Defensive back Jeremiah Newcombe is often praised by OU’s coaching staff, but an injury halted his ability to earn real in-game experience last year.
At linebacker, Heim is battling for attention with Nesta and Marcus James behind Lewis and Sullivan.
Knowing every responsibility for all of those positions is difficult, but Heim believes he has the capability to play anywhere for the Sooners.
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“It’s definitely something you’ve gotta prepare for,” he said. “You don’t just have to focus on one. You have to really take a look at two. But I feel like they kinda play similar to each other.
“They play the same technique sometimes, but kinda opposite. So a little bit of learning curve there. But it’s good.”
With two seasons of eligibility remaining, the 6-foot-5, 225-pounder said he’s feeling the urgency this spring, but he’s just focused on improving incrementally every practice.
“I wouldn’t consider it pressure,” he said. “Obviously, with this sport comes pressure, but you either rise to it or fall. You’re always progressing or you’re declining, and you don’t wanna decline.”
Oklahoma
No. 3 Oklahoma Hosts Kentucky in Final Tuneup Before Texas
NORMAN — There’s no place like home.
No. 3 Oklahoma is excited to get to spend an entire weekend at Love’s Field after spending much of the last two weeks on the road.
The Sooners first traveled to Memphis before rolling to Oxford for a three-game series with Mississippi.
How to Watch Oklahoma vs. Kentucky
- Game 1: Thursday, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network+
- Game 2: Friday, 1 p.m., SEC Network+
- Game 3: Saturday, 11 a.m., SEC Network+
OU then trekked to Baton Rouge to battle LSU, before finally returning to Love’s Field to roll past Wichita State on Tuesday night.
Oklahoma senior Isabela Emerling acknowledged that the consecutive weekends spent on the road take their toll, but at this stage in the year, you have to find a way to push those thoughts to the side.
“It’s just not letting those outside factors get too big,” Emerling said on Tuesday. “And acknowledging that when you’re feeling tired, not suppressing it. Acknowledge it, kind of take it for what it is and then get over it.”
One emotional lift for the team has been the return of associate head coach and pitching coach Jennifer Rocha.
Patty Gasso’s longtime assistant rejoined the program for the LSU series, and on top of getting back into her typical work flow, she’s just excited to get back to working with her pitching staff.
“I think they’ve done well,” Rocha said on Tuesday. “Again, I think we have a really young, inexperienced ‘Oklahoma’ staff. And so this is really their first season. (Kierston Deal) is our most experienced pitcher on our staff. Two transfers coming in, and a young Audrey Lowry still and Berkley (Zache). So just getting them reps. I think they got a lot of good reps early in the season. I think we’re trending up right now, to answer your question shortly.
“We’re trending up, and still a lot of room to grow. So they’re doing a lot of good things right now. So I’m anticipating that we’re only going to continue to get better.”
Oklahoma’s (35-3, 8-1 SEC) pitching staff will have to contend with a Kentucky lineup this weekend that has plenty of pop.
The Wildcats (22-16, 1-11) are hitting .288 as a team, but they’ve launched 46 home runs.
But OU’s power has been overwhelming at Love’s Field.
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In Tuesday’s victory over the Shockers, Oklahoma moved to sixth all-time for home runs in a season after just 38 games.
Freshman phenom Kendall Wells set the SEC single-season home run record in the win, and she has the NCAA freshman record of 30 bombs — which is shared by Jocelyn Alo (2018), Lauren Chamberlain (2012) and Kelly Majam (2010) — in her sights.
“Kendall came in more ready than any hitter I’ve ever seen, and that is what we’re witnessing right now,” Gasso said on Tuesday.
Thursday’s series-opener will get going at 6:30 p.m. at Love’s Field, but the start time for Friday’s contest has been brought forward to 1 p.m.
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