Oklahoma
Oklahoma House Passes Bill To Hold Companies Liable For Publishing Obscene Material
The Oklahoma House has passed a bill geared toward protecting children from obscene material online.
House Bill 3097, would make commercial entities liable for publishing or distributing obscene material to minors.
The bill would require any website that has pornography to have an age verification system. It would allow parents or the Attorney General to sue any companies that don’t comply. On Monday, lawmakers agreed children need protection from specific online material.
“It is the right thing to do,” said Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, on the House floor on Monday.
However, Fugate and Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, disagreed on how to accomplish that goal. “I don’t believe there’s any member of this body who believes that porn is good for kids,” said Rep. Andy Fugate, D-OKC, on the House floor on Monday.
Hasenbeck authored the bill. “We are simply trying to make it more difficult for minors to actually consume pornography in the state of Oklahoma,” Hasenbeck said.
Fugate said the bill is redundant and pointed out current Oklahoma law. “Title 21 section 1040.8 already prohibits the publication of obscene material,” Fugate said.
Hasenbeck said people should be allowed to sue companies that fail to verify the ages of people who consume adult content. “If the pornography dealer is not using a really good verified-age verification system, they’re gonna have problems,” she said.
Fugate said this bill could step on the rights of adults to view material online. “This bill is one-hundred percent government governmental parenting, and it does it at the expense of first amendment rights of adults,” Fugate said.
Fugate agreed children need online safeguards, but he argued this bill provides what already exists. “Parents can already restrict what their kids can view,” Fugate said. “This bill is unnecessary.”
Some lawmakers are concerned that online verification systems could compromise people’s personal information. Despite the debate on the House floor, this bill passed 85-13. It now heads to the Senate for consideration. Click here for information on other bills that made their way through the legislature on Monday.
Oklahoma
2026 Hemmings Great Race at Will Rogers Memorial Museum
The 2026 Hemmings Great Race, a nine-day rally featuring 120 antique and classic vehicles, will make a stop at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum on June 22. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the 2,300-mile event travels from Springfield, Illinois, to Pasadena, California, with 17 stops across eight states and visits to many iconic landmarks along the historic highway.
Will Rogers Memorial Museum
09:30 AM – 11:30 AM on Mon, 22 Jun 2026
Event Supported By
Oklahoma Historical Society
405-521-2491
Oklahoma
Oklahoma primary election guide for Bartians
Early voting opens June 11
Primary Election day in Oklahoma is June 16.
Across the state voters will weigh in on the potential next governor and whether the minimum wage should be raised.
Here’s what to know to be ready.
Closed primaries across the state
In Oklahoma, closed primaries mean only voters who are registered with a major party can participate in the Primary Election.
To check your registration visit the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s website. The last day to register to vote in the primaries was may 22.
Tight governor’s race
Nine GOP candidates want to succeed Gov. Kevin Stitt, while just two Democrats are seeking the state’s highest office.
Cyndi Munson, the Democratic House leader, and Connie Johnson, a former state senator, will be on the Democratic ticket.
GOP’s crowded ticket includes Attorney General Gentner Drummond, former state public safety adviser Chip Keating, former state Sen. Mike Mazzei, former House Speaker Charles McCall, former state Senator Jake Merrick, small business owners Jennifer Domenico, Leisa Mitchell Haynes and Kenneth Sturgell, and Calup Taylor.
Domenico, 62, is from Bartlesville.
“If I am elected governor, this animosity will stop. It must stop. We live in a state that experiences tornadoes and other natural disasters. Do Oklahomans want to be at the point that we are not going to help each other if someone is in distress and has a Trump flag still flying or a Resistance flag flying after a tornado ripped through a residence? No! This is Oklahoma,” Domenico said in a Q&A with the Oklahoman.
Washington County Assessor
The race for Washington County Assessor will be decided in the primary between Republicans Steve Campbell and Chris Standridge.
Campbell, the incumbent, has served in his role for four years. Standridge is a former employee of the Assessor’s Office.
Other races, questions on the ballot
Lieutenant Gov.
- H. VICTOR FLORES (R)
- T. W. SHANNON (R)
- DARRELL WEAVER (R)
- DAVID OSTROWE (R)
- JUSTIN JJ HUMPHREY (R)
- BRIAN HILL (R)
Attorney General
- JON ECHOLS (R)
- JEFF STARLING (R)
State treasurer
- TODD RUSS (R)
- CINDY BYRD (R)
Superintendent of Public Instruction
- JENNETTIE MARSHALL (D)
- CRAIG McVAY (D)
- TONI HASENBECK (R)
- JOHN COX (R)
- ROBERT FRANKLIN (R)
- JAMES TAYLOR (R)
- ADAM PUGH (R)
- DEBRA A. HERLIHY (R)
- WILLIAM E CROZIER (R)
Comissioner of Labor
- JOHN PFEIFFER (R)
- LISA JANLOO (R)
- KEITH SWINTON (R)
- KEVIN WEST (R)
Insurance Commissioner
- CHRIS MERIDETH (R)
- GRETA SHULER (R)
- MARTY L QUINN (R)
- BOB SULLIVAN (R)
Corporation Commissioner
- DONALD ANTHONY CLYTUS (D)
- RHONDA EASTMAN (D)
- HAROLD D. SPRADLING (D)
- BRAD BOLES (R)
- JUSTIN HORNBACK (R)
U.S. Senator
- TROY W. GREEN (D)
- ERVIN STONE YEN (D)
- R.O. JOE CASSITY JR. (D)
- N’KIYLA JASMINE THOMAS (D)
- JIM PRIEST (D)
- NICK HANKINS (R)
- GARY TY ENGLAND (R)
- KEVIN HERN (R)
- SEAN BUCKNER (R)
- BRIAN RAGAIN (R)
U.S. House District 2
- JOSH BRECHEEN (R)
- WILL WEBB (R)
- ERIK TERWEY (D)
- BRANDON WADE (D)
State House District 10
- JAKE BAIR (R)
- JUDD STROM (R)
- CUEN FUNDERBURKE (R)
State House District 11
- JOHN B. KANE (R)
- WENDI STEARMAN (R)
State Questions
- NO. 832, INITIATIVE PETITION NO. 446
Bartlesville voting locations
Early voting begins Thursday, June 11.
Early voting can be done at the Washington County Election Board located at 401 Johnstone Ave., Ste. 4 during the following days and times.
- 8 a.m. top 6 p.m. on June 11
- 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 12
- 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 13
Oklahoma
Parsa Fallah, Kashie Natt Seeking Eligibility Waivers to Play at Oklahoma State Next Season
STILLWATER — There’s a chance that Parsa Fallah dons the orange and black again next season.
Oklahoma State coach Steve Lutz told reporters Tuesday that Fallah has filed for an eligibility waiver that would see him gain a sixth season.
“Parsa is petitioning the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility because of some circumstances he had when he first came over to the United States,” Lutz said. “So, yes, I am holding the scholarship for him at this point.”
Fallah was a fan favorite in what was initially thought to be his lone season at Oklahoma State and became even more of a fan favorite late in the year when he tore his ACL at the end of OSU’s win against West Virginia just to hobble into the postgame news conference and pour his heart out for the university.
Fallah’s eligibility will be interesting.
He came to the United States from Iran, but it wasn’t as simple as hopping on a plane and heading over. He had to go to a U.S. embassy in Africa — a process he thought would take two days, but he ended up being in Africa for sixth months with $400.
By the time he got to Southern Utah, his first college program, Fallah redshirted. He went on to play 58 games with Southern Utah across the next two seasons, averaging 7.7 points and 3.8 boards a contest before transferring to Oregon State. In one year with the Beavers, Fallah averaged 12.8 points and four boards a contest before averaging 14.7 and six last season with the Cowboys.
“He’s around,” Lutz said. “He comes to the team meetings and practices, and he works out with (strength coach) Gavin (Roberts), and Kevin (Blaske), the trainer, and our physical therapist. He’s a lot thicker, but that’s because he’s not running. But he told me the other day, if I’m not mistaken, he should be running here very soon, or jogging pretty soon.
“So, he’s doing great. Positive attitude, excited about the future — whether it be with us in basketball or he’s had some job opportunities presented to him here in Stillwater and beyond. So, he’s living the dream.”
It’s hard to tell anymore in terms of what the NCAA is thinking when it comes to waivers. Then on top of that, it’s tough to determine just how much power the NCAA actually has to enforce a decision. Just Monday, a Texas judge ruled that Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is eligible despite his gambling situation.
Fallah’s isn’t the only waiver the Cowboys are waiting on, either.
Reigning Conference-USA Defensive Player of the Year Kashie Natt signed with the Cowboys this offseason, but he’s in need of some extra eligibility.
“I don’t have any updates,” Lutz said of Natt’s situation. “There’s been waivers filed with the NCAA, and then obviously depending on what they say, you obviously have to take it to the courts.”
Natt’s path to that extra year seems a little more straight forward. Last season was Natt’s first at the Division-I level, where he averaged 10.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a pair of steals a game at Sam Houston.
Natt started his college career at Southern University-Shreveport — a junior college — before spending two seasons at LSU-Alexandria — an NAIA school. He was a two-time All-American at LSU-Alexandria and was the 2025 NAIA National Player of the Year.
He’s also apparently made quite the impact in a short period of time this summer in Stillwater.
“He’s an unbelievable human being,” Lutz said. “He’s constantly bringing energy. He’s constantly bringing energy. Today, we started off practice … you get a towel, and you have hold the towel over your head. And then you have to do step slides, defensive step slides, like old school. I’ve never really said you have to say ‘ball’ or you have to say whatever, and Kashie decided, ‘Hey, coach, we’re gonna call ball, ball, ball, ball.’ Well, it’s contagious, and he’s just got that personality. So, it’s been enjoyable.”
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