Oklahoma
Oklahoma's Own In Focus: Green Country TikTok Influencers Against Potential Ban Of App
The federal House overwhelmingly approved a bill that could ban the social media app TikTok on Wednesday.
The bill would require TikTok to separate from its Chinese parent company or be banned from US app stores in six months.
US House Passes Bill That Could Lead To Nationwide TikTok Ban
Supporters of the bill have national security concerns arguing the Chinese government could force the company to handover data from its 170 million American users.
The company denies they would share data.
“So many people, not only 5 million small businesses, rely on it, but 170 million people rely on this app for more than just their livelihood. They rely on this app for their mental health,” TikTok Influencer J.T. Laybourne said.
People in Green Country who make a living on TikTok are against the proposed ban.
TikTok influencer Katie Harris says not only would a ban hurt her content, but it would prevent her followers from seeing things they may never experience on their own.
Social media influencers are part of a rapidly growing industry.
With nearly 70,000 followers, Tulsan and TikTok influencer Katie Harris says the growth came as a surprise.
“My content is pretty casual. I don’t want it to ever feel like I’m forcing myself to film, and it’s not something I would have already been doing,” Harris said.
Her journey on TikTok began in 2022. She initially focused on daily vlogs before transitioning to highlighting the hidden gems of Tulsa.
“I started posting a lot of things to do in Tulsa because I love Tulsa, and I don’t think a lot of young people know everything amazing that Tulsa has to offer,” Harris said.
Her dedication to showing off her city’s attractions quickly garnered attention.
However, looming legislative actions threaten to disrupt Harris’s creative endeavors and home renovation projects.
“I do all my budgets based on my 9 to 5 job, but the money I make on TikTok currently, I’m basically just pumping back into my house to make more content,” Harris said.
Harris remains optimistic. She says she has a supportive community, and the platform fosters creativity for everyone.
“It’s fun to watch and see other people succeed, so it just kind of helps you boost your confidence and your creativity to keep going,” Harris said.
TikTok’s impact on younger users is a concern for Harris. She stresses the importance of parental supervision and accountability.
“I think most of the issue with TikTok is how it affects children under 18. Just like any app, you need to monitor what your child is watching,” Harris said.
The bill will move to the Senate for a vote. President Joe Biden says if it reaches his desk, he will sign it into law.
Oklahoma
‘I cannot stay silent’ Oklahoma City moves to dismiss former attorneys claims seized cash
A legal fight is escalating between former Oklahoma City municipal attorney Orval Jones and the city over how the Oklahoma City Police Department handled cash seized during arrests.
The city has filed a motion asking a judge to strike Jones’ claims, arguing he has no legal standing and calling the criminal-case process a “restitution scheme.”
Jones says he spent eight years “cleaning up” the OKCPD property return process from 2017 to March 2025 until he resigned “due to duress” in September.
He filed an affidavit claiming OKCPD seized more than $400,000 in cash from arrests and deposited it into the city’s bank account.
In his audit, Jones made lists of seized cash amounts, including amounts under $250, from $250 up to $500, and more than $500.
In its motion, the city argues Jones is no longer an attorney for the city or the district attorney’s office, is not an owner of any of the property “properly disposed of,” and has not suffered an injury.
The city also alleges Jones filed his motion with “half-truths” and without support or proof.
Jones responded in a rebuttal affidavit that the issue involves injury to the state, the county, other counties, crime victims, and property owners who received no notice. Jones said, “I had a professional duty to tell the court that these filings were legally defective and potentially fraudulent. I cannot stay silent.”
In an email in April 2025, OKCPD Chief Ron Bacy said the department had 288,000 overdue property and currency claims needing a disposition update, and that many investigators assigned to those cases are no longer employed with the department. Bacy said the department developed programs to assist the Property Management Unit.
Court documents show more than 350,000 pieces of property held in the Property Management Unit, more than $2.5 million in the unit’s bank account, and that 80% of the property and money are due for disposition.
If a judge agrees with Jones, the funds may be returned to the owners.
If the judge agrees with the city, the case will be dropped.
The city and OKCPD had not responded to open records requests submitted Feb. 10.
When asked whether the city conducted or requested an internal review into the allegations, the city said it does not comment on pending litigation.
A hearing has been set later this month.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma AG Drummond backs Trump EPA bid to rescind 2009 greenhouse gas finding
OKLA. — Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is seeking to join a federal court fight over the Environmental Protection Agency’s move to roll back a key climate change finding that has underpinned vehicle emissions regulations for more than a decade.
Drummond filed a motion to intervene with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on March 9, 2026, backing the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate what his office called “radical regulations of carbon emissions.”
The dispute centers on the EPA’s decision to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding.
In a Final Rule issued earlier this year, the EPA concluded it lacked statutory authority to establish the Endangerment Finding, which had been used to justify vehicle emission restrictions under the Clean Air Act.
Drummond joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general seeking to support the EPA after “a gaggle of special-interest groups” petitioned the D.C. Circuit to review the Final Rule.
“Thankfully, the Trump Administration is correcting the outrageous overreach that was the hallmark of the Obama-Biden Administration,” Drummond said. “Oklahoma’s energy industry, and that of our nation, should not be hobbled by unnecessary regulations born from a radical climate agenda. A panoply of would-be vehicle emission standards would be disastrous for a robust oil and gas industry, adversely impact our economy, hurt the reliability of our electrical grids and undermine national security.”
Drummond’s office said that since taking office he has filed more than 25 legal actions opposing environmental regulations, including tailpipe emission standards and efforts aimed at eliminating gas-powered vehicles.
In addition to Oklahoma, the states joining the motion to intervene are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma adds explosive 4-star commit on offense
Oklahoma adds explosive 4-star commit on offense appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 college football season is still months away from kicking off, but coaches are already hitting the College football Recruiting trail for players in the class of 2027. Oklahoma has already landed some talented players.
Advertisement
Now, they have added another solid player, according to Hayes Fawcett of On3.
Athlete Greydon Howell, rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals, has committed to Oklahoma. Howell is from Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and chose to go to the Sooners over Oklahoma State, Miami, Penn State, Stanford, and Arkansas. He visited Oklahoma over the weekend, attending a recruiting event.
The 4-star recruit has been a dominant force at his high school in the sports landscape. He plays football, basketball, baseball, and track. This past season, he played quarterback for his team, passing for 2,817 yards with 27 scores, while adding 1,514 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. He is expected to play wide receiver for the Sooners.
Rivals ranks him as the 13th best athlete in the nation, and 425th overall. Still, other ranking services have him lower. 247Sports has Howell ranked as a three-star player and the 25th best athlete in the nation.
Advertisement
Regardless, it is another major signing for Brent Venables and the Sooners. They have 19 commitments so far, and have the number one-ranked class for 2027 according to 247Sports. They have been great at keeping in-state guys at Oklahoma. Kaeden Penny is the top player in the state for the class of 2027, and he is going to Oklahoma. Cooper Hackett is ranked third in the state and is also a future Sooner.
The Sooners open their 2026 campaign on September 5 against Utep.
Oklahoma Sooners land 4-star safety over Florida, Georgia
Oklahoma lands top tight end over Kentucky, Notre Dame
-
Wisconsin1 week agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Maryland1 week agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Pennsylvania5 days agoPa. man found guilty of raping teen girl who he took to Mexico
-
Florida1 week agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Sports6 days agoKeith Olbermann under fire for calling Lou Holtz a ‘scumbag’ after legendary coach’s death
-
Virginia6 days agoGiants will hold 2026 training camp in West Virginia
-
Miami, FL6 days agoCity of Miami celebrates reopening of Flagler Street as part of beautification project