Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s Own In Focus: How OKC is working to prevent homelessness
Oklahoma City has shifted its focus on homelessness toward efforts to prevent it. News 9 has followed the city’s efforts over the past year as case management teams connect with people in need.
OKC’s Key to Home partnership
One of those solutions is OKC’s Key to Home partnership made up of more than 50 non-profits. Through their Encampment Rehousing Initiative, case managers go directly into camps and work to house everyone within four to six weeks.
So far, 97% of the people in this program have stayed in housing. Leaders at the Homeless Alliance want to keep people from losing their housing options.
Homeless Alliance’s new diversion program
They launched a new program diversion program this year to tackle that issue. Homeless Alliance chief shelter officer Ian Apfelbaum said they want to stay ahead of problems.
“In the longer term, we’re spending less money,” Apfelbaum said. “We’re getting more people housed.”
Apfelbaum understands that life can take many complicated turns. He helps coordinate the diversion program to help people who experience homelessness for the first time.
“Help them through it and have a solution for them,” Apfelbaum said. “Connect to people quicker. “We can work through creative budgeting strategies and help out with small things like groceries so that they can save up enough money to be able to pay for a deposit.”
Apfelbaum said people struggle to navigate this crisis alone.
“It can be a lot, and that can be really crippling and debilitating to have to be like start everything all over again,” Apfelbaum said. “Just that little extra helping hand and nudge in the right direction has been super successful.”
Basic life changes can lead to homelessness
Apfelbaum said the path to homelessness doesn’t take much for some people.
“A lot of us are living paycheck to paycheck and all it takes is the loss of your job for a couple weeks,” Apfelbaum said.
How diversion supports people with immediate needs
Apfelbaum remembered a man this new program helped after his truck broke down on a cross-country road trip.
“He had housing in another state but couldn’t afford to fix his truck,” Apfelbaum said. “We were able to pay for transportation to get him back up there.”
Apfelbaum said their aid can keep a person on the right path and save money from long-term services.
“Everyone deserves a home over their head,” Apfelbaum said.
If this program continues its success the Homeless Alliance will make it a permanent tool. They could expand the program citywide after this year’s test period.
Affordable housing investment in OKC
Oklahoma has one of the highest eviction rates in the country. Experts said the lack of affordable housing drives up homelessness rates.
The city is investing $55 million into affordable housing through MAPS 4. One of those projects is renovating the Bricktown Motel 6 building into housing. The OKC Housing Authority said it wants to create 3,000 housing units through those funds.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) — Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to honor country music artist and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 recognizes Keith’s lasting impact on music and proposes renaming a planned turnpike in his memory.
The concurrent resolution was authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Morgan, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman.
The planned route will extend from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35, then continue east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike.
Copyright 2026 KSWO. All rights reserved.
Governor Kevin Stitt has said he wants the State Superintendent of Education to be a governor-elected position instead of an elected one. Political analyst Scott Mitchell examines what this would mean for the state.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is urging lawmakers to send a state question to voters that would make the state superintendent an appointed position, as he named Lindel Fields of Tulsa to the role and announced a turnaround team to help implement his education agenda.
Is the State Superintendent an elected role?
Yes, the State Superintendent of Education is still an elected role. Elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
Cons of making the superintendent an appointed position
Mitchell said making this position appointed could cause distrust among some Oklahomans
“Over the years, we’ve seen that capture of regulatory sort of is easy to do when you have term limits, then lobbies become more powerful, and they have all the history. It’s very complicated.
He also said if the position were to be elected, they would likely have the same agenda as the governor.
“Yes, and I think the governor would be absolutely saying, ‘Yes, they’re going to do what I want them to do.’”
Changing how the superintendent is chosen changes what the founding fathers set.
“Voters are going to have to say yay or nay if it gets to them, is whether or not we want to change the way that the founding fathers set up the way that we make sure that power is not concentrated in Oklahoma,” he said.
Is Ryan Walters’ term the reason Stitt wants to make this position appointed?
Mitchell said he believes the former State Superintendent played a role in the government wanting to appoint this position.
During his time as superintendent, Walters was known to have multiple controversies. He resigned in 2025, allowing Stitt to appoint Lindel Fields.
“His impact on this, even though he’s gone, is certainly evident,” said Mitchell. “Walters left midstream, right? And so the governor had a chance to appoint someone. Well, it wasn’t just an appointment; it was chaos before and relative calm and competency after. And that has given the governor an opening for people to see with their own eyes. Yeah, you can put somebody in, we’re talking about Lindel Fields, that appears to get up every day, not trying to find some, get a click on social media, but rather to do his job. And across the board, for the most part, this guy’s getting thumbs up.
Stitt said electing Fields has already given him some leverage since he has been well perceived so far.
“That allows a governor to say, Look, I’ve got some standing, some leverage to go to the voters and say, let’s put expertise as the main reason that a person’s there, not because they were able to win an election because they had some sort of populist or dramatic ideas.”
Who is running for Oklahoma State Superintendent?
Republican Ballot
- Sen. Adam Pugh
- John Cox
- Rep. Toni Hasenbeck
- Ana Landsaw
Democrat Ballot
- Craig Mcvay
- Jennettie Marshall
Independent
To learn more about each candidate, click here.
A full breakdown of candidates in the 2026 Oklahoma State Superintendent race, including party affiliation, background and key education priorities.
An Oklahoma highway could soon be named after the late country superstar, Toby Keith, pending new legislation.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 would rename a proposed turnpike project the “Toby Keith Expressway.” This roadway is set to be built from Interstate 44 East to Interstate-35, continuing East and North to Interstate 40. This road is a part of the ACCESS Oklahoma Long-Range Plan, which is meant to update and expand the state’s turnpike system.
This resolution was adopted by the House on Wednesday.
“Toby Keith was more than a country music star. He was a proud Oklahoman who never forgot where he came from,” said Rep. Jason Blair, R-Moore. “Naming this turnpike in his honor is a fitting way to recognize a man who represented our state with ultimate patriotism and generosity.”
Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, raised in Moore and resided in Norman. He died on February 5, 2024, in a battle with cancer.
“Over the course of his legendary career, Toby Keith never forgot where he came from or what he stood for,” said Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman. “His Oklahoma roots shaped him, and his love of America defined him. He was a country music superstar and a true patriot. I can think of no better way to honor his memory than by naming this future stretch of Norman turnpike in his honor, creating a lasting tribute to the legacy he leaves behind.”
During his career, Keith sold over 40 million records and more than 20 number-one singles
Legislation authors believe this would commemorate the life and legacy of Toby Keith.
The bill will now head to the Senate.
To read the full House Resolution, click here.
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