Oklahoma

Court Tosses Oklahoma Education Department’s Lawsuit Against Freedom From Religion Foundation Over Student Prayer Case

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MUSKOGEE, Okla. — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Oklahoma State Department of Education against the Freedom From Religion Foundation, marking a significant development in a legal battle that began earlier this year. The lawsuit arose after the foundation sent a cease-and-desist letter to a local school that had permitted a student to pray over the intercom. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced its decision on the grounds that the state lacked legal standing in the case. According to court documents, the state was unable to … Read more

Oklahoma Supreme Court Pauses TSET Law, Sparking Debate on Tobacco Control Measures

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OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Supreme Court has issued a stay on the law governing the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), halting its implementation temporarily. The decision comes amid ongoing debates about the future of the trust and its financial strategies. The stay was granted in response to legal challenges aimed at specific provisions of the TSET law, which primarily focuses on how funds from tobacco settlement revenues are utilized in the state. This legal move puts a pause on any changes to the management and allocation of those resources, which have been integral to … Read more

Legal Battle Erupts as Lawsuit Claims Oklahoma Transportation Agencies Ignore 25-Year-Old Law on Turnpike Tolls

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TULSA, Okla. — A lawsuit has been initiated against the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, with claims that the agencies are not adhering to a 25-year-old law concerning tolls on the Will Rogers Turnpike. The suit argues that the agencies should honor the legal requirement stipulating that this section of the highway from Catoosa to Claremore is to be toll-free. Kevin Easley Jr., the attorney representing the case, insists that the agencies must follow the law equally as everyone else is expected to do. Central to the lawsuit is House Bill … Read more

Oklahoma Judge Affirms Ongoing Poultry Pollution Crisis in Illinois River Watershed Amidst 20-Year Legal Battle

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Oklahoma City, Okla. — A federal district judge announced Tuesday that the State of Oklahoma has offered sufficient evidence to demonstrate that poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed (IRW) has not significantly changed since the onset of a lengthy legal battle. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell highlighted that phosphorus from poultry waste continues to pose serious threats to the waters of the IRW and Lake Tenkiller. Although a final decision in this ongoing lawsuit has not yet been issued, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond expressed optimism about reaching an agreement … Read more