The Great Benjamins Circus makes its debut in Tulsa, Okla. under the Big Top at Plaza Santa Cecilia Indoor Mall March 12-15. John Davenport, a third-generation circus performer, is bringing his show to town for only four days to perform a traditional circus with incredible acts including clowns, acrobats, aerialists and daredevils.
U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) Wednesday introduced the Promoting Regulatory Independence, Mastery, and Expansion for Meat Processing in Indian Country Act, also known as the PRIME Meat Processing in Indian Country Act.
This bill will support tribal meat processing operations by establishing self-governance authority for the inspection of tribal meat processing facilities. This authority would keep processing local and available and facilities running smoothly and safely.
In 2020, Medicaid expansion was approved by the narrowest of margins through a ballot measure placed before voters via the initiative-petition process. The proposal added hundreds of thousands of able-bodied adults to the welfare program and put taxpayers on the hook for paying the medical bills of numerous adults who were capable of gainful employment but not pursuing it.
The measure was strongly rejected by election-day voters and majorities in roughly 90 percent of counties. It passed only because of absentee votes. Yet today, Oklahoma faces a reported Medicaid shortfall of roughly a half-billion dollars that is due largely to the expansion. Every dollar going to expansion takes money away from schools, roads, public safety, or tax relief for working families.
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the March Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury.
Wednesday, March 4, Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd released the findings of her extensive audit of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) requested by Oklahoma Attorney General Genter Drummond. The audit, in PDF format, is posted with this story.
After the release, AG Drummond issued the following statement, “While the audit did not uncover criminal misconduct, the findings should not be mistaken for an agency’s clean bill of health. The audit made clear the need for increased oversight, accountability and transparency at the OTA. A court finding that an agency willfully violated the Open Meetings Act is not a case of bureaucratic red tape. It is a signal that an agency believes it can operate beyond the scrutiny of the public it serves. I urge the OTA’s leadership to take the audit’s findings seriously and use this as an opportunity for meaningful reform. My office will continue to monitor the OTA’s operations and will not hesitate to act should future conduct warrant further review.”
