Oklahoma

Oklahoma gets third positive rating outlook

Published

2 years ago

February 12, 2024

Oklahoma gets third positive rating outlook

Oklahoma’s credit quality is looking up, rating agencies say, with Fitch Ratings joining Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings in revising the state’s rating outlook to positive from stable.

Fitch, which rates Oklahoma AA, said Friday the revision reflects sustained improvements in expenditure flexibility and overall fiscal management, “particularly its adherence to conservative budgeting practices through economic cycles including the recent period of revenue volatility caused by the coronavirus pandemic.”

“Oklahoma has long been the best-kept secret, and the secret is out,” he said in a statement. “Fitch, S&P, and Moody’s all see that, and their positive ratings prove it.”

Oklahoma Treasurer’s Office

“The state has consistently taken timely action to address revenue shortfalls and budgets only 95% of projected operating revenues,” it added.

Moody’s, which rates Oklahoma Aa2, revised its outlook in October, while S&P, which rates the state AA, moved the outlook to positive in July.

State Treasurer Todd Russ said Oklahoma has worked to diversify its economy, lower its debt, and “stand strong as a leader in many industries.”

“Oklahoma has long been the best-kept secret, and the secret is out,” he said in a statement. “Fitch, S&P, and Moody’s all see that, and their positive ratings prove it.”

The outlook revisions come as Oklahoma is avoiding debt issuance by tapping a $600 million revolving loan fund created last year for projects and Gov. Kevin Stitt pushes for an income tax cut.

Three projects totaling $135 million that had been slated for bond issuance through the Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority were authorized for these loans, according to the treasurer’s office.

As of the end of 2023, Oklahoma had no general obligation bonds outstanding, according to the annual state debt report. Lease revenue bonds issued through OCIA had outstanding principal of $1.336 billion.

The Republican governor has been pushing to phase out the personal income tax, citing the state’s “record-breaking” reserves and other surplus funds. The Republican-controlled Senate has held off on any action until certified budget numbers from the Board of Equalization are released Thursday.

The proposed tax cut comes amid a trend of declining state revenue, both nationally and in Oklahoma, where gross receipts in calendar 2023 were down 2.8% compared to 2022.

Oklahoma’s tax revenue could be adversely impacted by a case before the state Supreme Court on whether Native Americans who live and work on reservations should pay state income taxes.

A decision by the high court, which heard oral arguments Jan. 17, can come at any time. In a court filing, the Oklahoma Tax Commission said a tax exemption for tribal members would result in “tens of millions of dollars in tax refunds and deprive the state of billions more in future taxes.”

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma sues company over failed campaign finance website

Published

35 minutes ago

January 23, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma sues company over failed campaign finance website

Oklahoma is suing the company that state officials blame for the failed launch of a new campaign finance website.

RFD & Associates, Inc. did not complete a working site, even after the Oklahoma Ethics Commission repeatedly extended deadlines, according to the suit filed by Attorney General Gentner Drummond.

The website, dubbed Guardian 2.0, was supposed to allow Oklahomans to monitor donations to candidates seeking public office. Delays tied to its launch left Oklahoma without a campaign finance site for three months as the 2026 election season got underway.

The state is seeking in excess of $800,000 to recoup the costs of the project, according to the suit, which was filed in Oklahoma County District Court.

Drummond contended that RFD failed to meet six of seven contractual milestones, on top of failing to produce the site.

“Timely and reliable reporting systems are essential to transparency and public trust in our elections,” Drummond said in a statement. “RFD & Associates, Inc. failed to deliver the system it promised, despite repeated opportunities to correct course and must now be held accountable.”

RFD & Associates did not respond to a request for comment about the suit or the state’s claims by publication.

The state had allocated $2.2 million to the new website project, and had spent a total of $960,000 on the site, Commission Executive Director Lee Anne Bruce Boone said at a recent budget meeting. The money that the Ethics Commission had not yet spent is in a revolving fund.

After officially deciding to scrap Guardian 2.0, state officials struck a three-year deal with Civix, the government software provider that built and maintained the original campaign finance site.

The contract will be for $217,000. Bruce Boone said there is a possibility the state will be able to renew the contract after three years.

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Oklahoma

Live OKC weather updates: Oklahoma braces for winter storm, snow

Published

13 hours ago

January 23, 2026

Press Room

Live OKC weather updates: Oklahoma braces for winter storm, snow

A severe winter storm is expected to bring a glaze of ice, dangerously cold temperatures, and potentially a foot of snow to Oklahoma City over the weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, the entire state should expect snow or a wintry mix to start on Friday, Jan. 23, during an “impactful winter weather event.” Temperatures are expected to drop and stay in the single digits through the weekend, and travel conditions north of Interstate-40 may be hazardous.

The storm is part of a major, widespread winter system that’s likely to spread damaging ice and heavy snow across several southern states, like Texas and Oklahoma, into the Carolinas and mid-Atlantic states. According to AccuWeather, the volume of snow and sleet could greatly impact communities not accustomed to winter weather, such as the southern Plains and Mississippi Valley, and schools or child care centers will likely close.

Check here for live weather updates and to check road conditions, power outages and school closings in real time.

➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location

Oklahoma snow plow tracker

The City of Oklahoma City operates all snow route clean-up throughout the city, while ODOT and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority are responsible for their respective roads.

Roads are cleaned, including inside suburbs, for weather events like snow, blizzards, freezing rain and ice storms.

Find maps and snowplow locations at oksnowplows.org

OKC live traffic cameras

How are the roads in OKC?

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation provides a map of all highways, interstates and streets going through the state. Some parts of the roadways feature live cameras, allowing you to see active traffic flow throughout the state.

As these are live, you can also see how the weather may have impacted the roadway throughout the day.

More: See live traffic flows in, around Oklahoma City metro.

Also included in the map, you can see traffic flow patterns, indicated by the green, yellow and red paths.

Oklahoma snowfall tracker

Note: The graphic shows the chance of receiving 4 inches or more of snow or ice. Click your area to see the forecasted probability over the next three days

Weather alerts: See where winter weather watches, warnings have been issued

Live Oklahoma power outages map

See live updates on how winter weather is impacting power across Oklahoma.

One of the hardest parts about losing electricity in the winter is trying to stay warm. According to OSU-OKC, there are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to heating your home during a power outage:

Do not use gasoline, propane or charcoal-burning devices inside your home or garage to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Do not use your oven to heat your home.
Use fireplaces, wood stoves and other combustion heaters only with proper ventilation.
Keep space heaters more than three feet away from anything that could catch fire. Never cover your space heater.
Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
Install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector.
Have extra blankets and layered clothing on hand to help keep warm.

How to keep your house warm during a winter storm?

Set the thermostat to around 68°F to 70°F while awake and lower it while you’re asleep or away from home.
Set your water heater’s temperature to 120°F.
Change or clean air filters, which can lower energy consumption by 5% to 15%. Dirty filters cost more to use and overwork the equipment.
Apply weatherstripping and caulk to seal gaps and cracks around doors and windows.
Install foam gaskets on electrical switches and outlets.
Change the rotation of ceiling fans to a clockwise rotation to push warm air downward.

What roads are closed?

The ODOT also shares road closures throughout the state. Using the map below, you can click through and see if there are any active closures on highways, turnpikes or other state-operated roadways throughout Oklahoma.

Closings due to the weather

Keep up with school, church and event closings using the link below.

Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text

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Oklahoma

What’s next for former OKC indoor soccer facility after $4.12M sale?

Published

1 day ago

January 22, 2026

Press Room

What’s next for former OKC indoor soccer facility after .12M sale?

A former indoor soccer facility in north Oklahoma City is now under new ownership.

Property deed history on the Oklahoma County Assessor’s website shows a transaction on Dec. 18 in the amount of $4.12 million for the Oklahoma City Sports Center at 11100 N. Kelley Avenue.

The more than 45,000-square-foot building with a metal frame and a gable roof was constructed in 2015 as an indoor tennis club, according to the site. Let’s Play Soccer hosted games at the facility as recently as 2024, social media posts show.

Terry Klaus, of Klaus Realty, who handled the buyer side, said the transaction on the property that sits on more than five acres closed on Dec. 22.

“(It’s) a special purpose sports-related facility in very good condition, with many parking spaces,” Klaus said. “It’s located in an up and coming area, near another high quality property occupied by The Academy of Classical Christian Studies North Campus.”

The new owner is now remodeling the interior of the property to accommodate a “high-quality tenant, with occupancy toward mid-year,” Klaus said, adding that the property is easily accessible, just east of Broadway Extension and Hefner Road.

Klaus said development is increasing in the area around the building, including residential expansion to the north and the nearby school, and its proximity to the highway makes it attractive for its future use. He said he couldn’t disclose what that use is, but he did mention a tenant is involved in a separate lease.

“It’s 10 years old, but it has all kinds of things we don’t usually see with buildings like that,” Klaus said. “It doesn’t look that old at all.”

The industrial property was featured earlier this month on a social media post by Newmark Robinson Park, acknowledging Karley Harper as lead broker alongside Brett Price and Kris Davis representing the seller side.

“This transaction underscores our team’s ability to create value through strategic execution and trusted relationships, even beyond the open market,” the post reads.

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