Kansans voted to protect abortion rights Tuesday. The vote ensures another of Oklahoma’s neighboring states can still perform the procedure.
Kansas voters spiked a constitutional amendment that would have allowed abortion bans. The opposition won with more than 58%.
Abortion has been illegal in Oklahoma since this spring, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas and Louisiana have all banned abortion as well. Colorado and New Mexico were certain to continue offering the procedure, but Kansas was in the air given the vote.
Planned Parenthood Great Plains serves Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri. Its president, Emily Wales, says while Oklahomans and other patients can still go to Kansas for care, they might not be able to get an appointment.
"At the end of the day, Kansas still only has five places in the state where you can access abortion. We are happy to serve every patient who needs us, but we are realistic that there is more need than we can provide at this time," said Wales.
Oklahoma lawmakers tried to put a similar vote on the ballot here, but the measure never got its final hearing before the House of Representatives.
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to recommend clemency to death row inmate James Coddington.
Coddington’s attorney opened the hearing by recounting the many ways Coddington was abused and neglected in his childhood, including being given alcohol as a baby and cocaine as an 11-year-old by family members.
Representatives from the State Attorney General’s Office argued that didn’t matter. They pointed out Coddington committed a string of robberies before the murder.
Two of Hale’s children and a grandchild also joined the hearing via Zoom to request the Pardon and Parole Board not recommend clemency.
Coddington himself joined to say he feels remorse for his actions and has worked to improve himself while in prison over the last 25 years.
Though the board ultimately decided to recommend clemency, the final decision will fall to Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Coddington is on death row for the 1997 murder of his friend Albert Troy Hale in Choctaw.
Oklahomans looking to obtain a medical marijuana business license now have a little longer to get one before a licensing moratorium takes effect. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority is extending the window for processing new applications until Aug. 26.
Oklahoma’s legislature passed a bill this session that would halt the OMMA from processing any new grower, processor or dispensary business license applications. The idea is to give the agency a chance to catch up on applications, inspections and investigations before issuing any new licenses. The moratorium expires in August 2024 or earlier if the agency is able to catch up before then.
OMMA Executive Director Adria Berry says the agency misinterpreted the effective date of the bill. State law requires a certain amount of votes for bills to take effect sooner than 90 days after the session adjourns, and it didn’t receive enough votes for that to happen. The OMMA will now stop processing applications on Aug. 26 at 12:01 a.m.
Oklahoma City has received millions in federal funding to combat youth homelessness.
According to a news release, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the city more than $3 million from the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program. That money will be distributed among several metro nonprofits that focus on youth homelessness, including Sisu Youth Services and HOPE Community Services.
Oklahoma City is the first in the state, and one of nearly two-dozen cities in the country to get federal money to help homeless youth.
Back to school season means it’s time for an annual tradition: Oklahoma’s sales tax holiday.
The first weekend in August is a sales tax holiday in Oklahoma.
That means people can buy an article of clothing that’s under $100 and have any state or local sales taxes waived Friday through Sunday.
Sales tax holidays are popular across the country, and proponents say they provide relief for working families as they gear up for the school year.
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