Oklahoma
Oklahoma seeing decrease in STD cases through 2024: See the data
Oklahoma legislator asks for definition of STD in sex ed bill committee
Rep. Danny Williams made the comments after statistics around higher rates of STIs in rural Oklahoma, notably around older residents.
In 2022, Oklahoma saw some of the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections in the nation, specifically in syphilis and chlamydia. Now in 2024, the state has made great strides and Oklahoma is seeing improvement in trends.
According to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States saw a decrease in cases for a majority of notifiable STIs between 2023 and 2024.
Sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis and gonorrhea, are notifiable diseases, which means health providers are required by law to report positive tests to state or local public health officials. This data is then used by officials to track and prevent outbreaks. However, some STIs can remain asymptomatic, and those not regularly getting tested can unknowingly pass on an infection to a partner.
Here’s a look at how Oklahoma has progressed in STI rates through 2024:
Chlamydia
Oklahoma saw 18,729 cases of chlamydia, the state’s most prevalent STI, from the start of 2023 to mid-December. This places the state near the top 10 states in the nation for highest Chlamydia rates at No. 11.
According to CDC data, the number of cases in Oklahoma decreased 44% in 2024 to 10,461 statewide. This moves Oklahoma to the middle of the nation’s positivity rates and the lowest in the region, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.
The drop is not singular to Oklahoma, either. All states, except South Carolina, saw a decrease in new cases, with over a quarter of a million fewer cases in 2024.
Syphilis
Oklahoma was previously a leader in syphilis cases across the nation in 2022. But new Oklahoma cases have been cut in half compared to just last year.
The CDC reports that in 2023 there were 1,112 primary and secondary cases of the infection and 78 for the congenital variant. However, by the end of 2024, both numbers had dropped substantially. Congenital syphilis cases dropped to 50 cases throughout the year, while the primary and secondary cases dropped over 50% to 517 total cases.
The nation’s year-end data also reflects this as well. Only four states weren’t a part of the national decrease. There were almost 20,000 fewer cases in 2024 than in 2023 for primary and secondary syphilis and roughly 1,200 fewer cases for the genital variant.
Gonorrhea
Similarly, the nation’s gonorrhea cases have decreased by over 100,000, with all states reporting lower numbers than in 2023. Oklahoma reported 6,774 new infections to the CDC in 2023 and will report 3,842 new cases in 2024.
Similar decreases were seen around the nation, with the total number of cases dropping from almost 600,000 in 2023 to 484,453 in 2024.
Hepatitis B
The CDC tracks three different forms of Hepatitis B: acute, chronic, and perinatal.
Acute Hepatitis B is the only CDC-reported STD that saw an increase nationwide, increasing about 150 cases. Oklahoma, however, did not contribute to the rise as the state fell from 19 cases to 4 throughout 2024.
The CDC has not published the nation’s chronic Hepatitis B cases for 2023. In Oklahoma, there were 213 reported positive cases in 2023. For comparison, the country reported 263 new cases just in the week ending Dec. 21, 2024. The Sooner state sits in the lower half of the country for total cases, while the country reaches 17,864.
Oklahoma did not contribute to any of the nation’s 7 Perinatal cases.
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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