Oklahoma
'We Are Going To Take Oklahoma To The Next Level:' New Economic Development Push
A new bill has been proposed to take a new approach to economic development and business retention in Oklahoma. The legislation would create a new state agency that is solely dedicated to economic development, the Oklahoma Office of Economic Development, Growth and Expansion (OkEDGE).
Senator Kristen Thompson, the lawmaker who filed the bill, is hoping this changes the way that Oklahoma does business. “We are going to take Oklahoma to the next level,” said Sen. K. Thompson, (R ) Edmond.
Senator Thompson is calling this the “COMPETE Act.” “Creating Oklahoma’s modern plan for economic transformation and effectiveness,” said Sen. Thompson.
The bill would create a new state agency specifically dedicated to economic development, growth, and expansion. Those duties currently fall under the Department of Commerce. “This is how we move our state forward, this is how we create jobs, this is how we pay less taxes, this is how we have better roads, better bridges, better schools for our kids.”
After years of failed business deals between the state and outside companies including Panasonic, Tesla, and Volkswagen, Senator Thompson says we need a modern approach to economic development. “This was born from the conversations that we started having as soon as the state was notified that Panasonic was not going to open an operation here,” said Sen. Thompson.
The senator from Edmond is proposing a one-time investment of $698 million specifically designated for business retention and expansion efforts and she’s hoping for an 8% return on investment, that will translate to an annual allocation of $55.84 million. “We are looking not only to recruit new industries but our focus is definitely going to be to grow what we have now,” said Sen. Thompson.
Thompson says the new agency itself won’t cost much to initiate because it will be absorbing employees and responsibilities from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. “This is where all of the economic development functions for the state of Oklahoma on all different levels will start,” said Sen. Thompson.
The new agency will be governed by a nine-member board of directors. Those members will be chosen by the Governor, Senate Pro Tem, and House Speaker.
Senator Thompson also wants to require at least one of those appointees to be from a community of 100,000 people or less, so the board can be made up of people who understand urban, suburban, and rural areas.
If the bill passes, Sen. Thompson is hoping to have the new agency up and running by 2025. Within 30 days of the law’s enactment, the board must be appointed and they must have their first meeting within 60 days of the law going into effect. “Time is of the essence. The longer we wait and the less efficient the opportunities are, we’re gonna miss out on them,” said Sen. Thompson. “We want people to know Oklahoma is not only open for business, but this is where you can thrive.”
The bill will be presented when the session starts next month.
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.
Sheriff’s Office backpedals on controversial facial recognition deal
Soccer Frenzy: Cities, Fans, and What to Know | Futbol HQ
Fan behind Anthony Edwards’ orange bracelet has beaten cancer
New bridge over 96th Street adds to Nickel Plate Trail connections
Pittsburgh International’s T. rex could soon disappear from view
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Where Iran’s ballistic missiles can reach — and how close they are to the US
Has India’s influence in Afghanistan grown under the Taliban?
Bill Clinton to testify before House committee investigating Epstein links
Read Judge Schiltz’s Order
Vulnerable House Dem lashes out at Trump’s ‘racist’ SOTU challenge: ‘That was uncomfortable’
-
World2 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts2 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Montana1 week ago2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
-
Oklahoma1 week agoWildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city
-
Louisiana5 days agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Denver, CO2 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Technology6 days agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Technology6 days agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making