WatchDog
Video
State budgets revenue from tribal gaming operations
Oklahoma state officials continue to include anticipated exclusivity fee revenue from tribal casinos in state budgets, despite...
Featured Links
- Sr. Reporter:Nolan Clay
- Investigative Reporter:Randy Ellis
Video
Blackwell police officer ordered to face trial over fatal shooting
PERRY — In a decision that stunned his supporters, a Blackwell police lieutenant was ordered Wednesday to face trial over the...
Options for widening I-35 in OKC unveiled
Many residents got their first look at proposed designs for widening Interstate 35 in eastern Oklahoma City Tuesday night...
OKC police: Abandoned car may be tied to Calif. slaying
Two people seen abandoning a car outside Remington Park in Oklahoma City may be involved in a Los Angeles-area homicide, police...
Two tribes face opposition in requests to participate in lawsuit over gaming compacts
Five Oklahoma gaming tribes have asked a federal judge to reject requests by two other tribes to participate in their lawsuit...
Video
Attorney: Client mentally ill, not responsible for parent deaths
Rachel Walker was still alive when she told her youngest son to call the police in the early morning hours of March 4. Isiah...
National Headlines
- NFL player reps won't vote on labor terms approved by owners; union wants more negotiations
- Oklahoma AG to dismiss federal opioid case, refile in state
- FDA approves drug that lowers cholesterol in a new way
- Armani rails against baring trends by fellow designers
- Wells Fargo to pay $3B to resolve probes into fake accounts
- First Solar, TrueCar fall; Deere, Dropbox rise
- Iranians vote in parliament elections favoring conservatives
- Oklahoma governor appoints new regents to OU, OSU boards
- Energy Transfer LP and Energy Transfer Operating, L.P. File 2019 Annual Reports
- South Korea becomes newest front in shifting virus outbreak
Oklahoma City man who killed his family no longer facing death penalty
An Oklahoma City man convicted of killing his wife and her four children in 1993 will be getting off of death row unless the...
Video
Families of Oklahoma murder victims say justice may be closer
At her murdered parents' graves, Debra Wyatt made a solemn promise to see their killer executed. She has been waiting 16...
Video
Tribes: Stitt unwittingly renewed tribal gaming compacts
Gov. Kevin Stitt unwittingly triggered the automatic renewal of the state's tribal gaming compacts last December — at the same...
Prosecutors will retry man after mistrial in infant murder case
A jury deadlocked early Saturday morning after deliberating 13 hours in a murder case against an Oklahoma City man accused of...
Video
Layn Phillips selected as mediator in gaming compact dispute between governor and tribes
Former U.S. District Judge Layn R. Phillips has been selected to serve as the mediator in a dispute between Oklahoma's gaming...
Work continues to shift management of Oklahoma County jail
The process of transitioning management of the Oklahoma County jail may not be on top of the public’s "most interesting" list,...
Sovereign immunity cited in appellate court ruling in Kaw tribal dispute
A Kay County judge exceeded his authority when he issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the then-chair and acting police...
Prosecutor withdraws bond revocation for former superintendent charged with sex crimes
NEWKIRK – The Kay County District Attorney’s Office has withdrawn a motion to revoke the bond of a former public school...
Video
Oklahoma to resume lethal injection executions
Oklahoma officials pledged Thursday to resume executions — by lethal injection — to get justice for the families of murder...
Video
Oklahoma Death Row: 26 inmates eligible for execution dates
When the state of Oklahoma halted executions in 2015, convicted murderer Richard Eugene Glossip was within an hour of being...
Guardrails go up at deadly bridge
A company hired by Oklahoma City has already installed guardrails on the south side of a concrete bridge where four people have...
Video
State education department fines Epic $530,000
Epic One-on-One virtual charter school has been fined $530,527 for exceeding a legal limit on administrative costs. The...
Video
Judge orders mediation in compact dispute between Gov. Stitt and Oklahoma's gaming tribes
An Oklahoma City federal judge has ordered mediation in a compact dispute between Gov. Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma's gaming...
Pardon and Parole Board discusses proposal to consolidate agency with Department of Corrections
The executive director of the Pardon and Parole Board said Monday he’s optimistic that combining the agency with the Department...
By land and air, weather researchers track tornadic storms
SALINA, Kan. — For the first time in almost a decade, meteorologists from across the Midwest will track and intercept tornado birthing grounds as part of a large-scale collaborative research project. The TORUS Project, or Targeted Observation...
Exclusively from The Oklahoman 
Couple accused of animal cruelty in dog-fighting case
A husband and wife are accused in a criminal charge of abusing 19 pit bulls used for fighting. Casper Ingram, 45, and Celeste...
Oklahoma City oilman fined $100,000 for lying to the FBI
A longtime Oklahoma City oilman known for helping others was fined $100,000 Monday for making a false statement to the FBI....
Embattled Oklahoma County judge sued twice over debts
After a tumultuous first year on the bench, Oklahoma County District Judge Kendra Coleman has been sued — twice — at the start...
Oak Tree Country Club owners settle class action lawsuit over gratuities
Current and former owners of Oak Tree Country Club have reached a tentative settlement in a class action lawsuit filed by wait...
Police say threat made against school 'not credible'
MOORE — Police in Moore and Oklahoma City on Friday investigated online threats made against three junior highs in the Moore...
Video
Ad campaign to challenge adequacy of contributions to state government by Oklahoma tribal casinos
A new organization is hitting the airwaves Friday with ads questioning whether casinos operated by Indian tribes are...
Cherokee Nation lawsuit to become test case in search for global solution to expansive opioid litigation
The Cherokee Nation's lawsuit against opioid distributors and pharmacies has been sent back to federal court in Muskogee where...
Video
'We’ve got an ambulance headed that way': 911 calls from deadly crash near Moore High School
In the moments after a deadly crash near Moore High School, emergency calls reveal the panic and chaos that ensued as kids...
Video
Moore suspect had multiple DUI arrests
For most of his life, the suspect in the Moore High School tragedy has had trouble with drugs, alcohol and the law. Max Leroy...
Video
Second student dies after crash near Moore High School
MOORE — A second student died Tuesday in the aftermath of a crash in which a pickup struck several runners near Moore High...
Warrant issued for ex-employee accused of embezzling more than $253,000 from Catholic church in Del City
DEL CITY — An arrest warrant has been issued for a former church employee accused of embezzling more than $253,000 from St....
Video
Update: Two Moore High School students killed, four hurt after pickup hits runners
MOORE — A second student has died in the aftermath Monday’s vehicle crash in which a pickup truck struck several runners near...
Inhofe says he'll vote for acquittal
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe said Monday that he will vote to acquit President Donald Trump on both articles of impeachment, making...
Featured Links
- Sr. Reporter:Nolan Clay
- Investigative Reporter:Randy Ellis
Opioid distributor moves case to federal court
Oklahoma's lawsuit against opioid distributors has been moved to federal court in Oklahoma City. Opioid distributor McKesson...
Widening I-35 to be discussed at public meeting.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has scheduled a public meeting for Feb. 18 to discuss the need for widening and...
Modifications coming to Canadian County intersection that was site of fatal motorcycle accident
A Canadian County intersection that was the site of a fatal motorcycle accident on Nov. 24 is being modified in an effort to...
Video
Alleged shooter, mom, among those charged in mall shooting
The alleged gunman in last month's shooting at Penn Square Mall and his mother are among five people facing felony charges....
Jailers mocked dying man as he begged for help, video shows
From an isolation cell in the Ottawa County Jail, Terral Ellis begged for someone to help him. He could not feel his legs and...
Plans to auction off counterfeit Mustangs creates furor
SHAWNEE — The Pottawatomie County district attorney has created a furor among owners of classic Shelby and Boss Mustangs by...
Undercover operation results in arrest and recovery of underage sex trafficking victim
An undercover operation resulted in the arrest of two females engaging in prostitution, one of whom was 16. The Oklahoma...
Video
In Oklahoma, a cold case heats up: Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office says they have identified victim of homicide 40 years ago
On April 18, 1980, in brush on the bank of the North Canadian River near Jones, some fishermen found a young woman, dead from...
Why did deadly OKC bridge not get fixed?
The crosses at the base of a bridge in northeast Oklahoma City bear witness to a sad truth about this lonely spot in the road....
Jury convicts ex-UCO football star of rape; recommends 10 year prison sentence
A jury Wednesday evening convicted a former University of Central Oklahoma football star of sexually assaulting a...
Oklahoma's tribal gaming compacts historically entangled with efforts to save horse racing
Did the state's compacts with Oklahoma gaming tribes expire on Jan. 1 or did they automatically renew? It sounds like a simple...
Video
David Boren discloses history of gift-giving to OU
NORMAN — In a surprise move, David Boren has released how much he and his wife gave to the university he led for nearly 24...
Estranged wife told police prosecutor hit and choked her
A jailed Oklahoma City prosecutor struck his estranged wife multiple times and then choked her to the point of unconsciousness...
Norman again at odds with state lawmakers after recommendation to become sanctuary city
NORMAN — As Norman residents push for increasingly progressive policies, conservative lawmakers continue attempts to shut down...
Police: Homicide victim was on rival gang's hit list
MIDWEST CITY — Police are alleging that a gunman was forced by a street gang to do a killing or be killed himself. Tyrone...
Judge OKs bail reduction for ex-corrections officer
A former female corrections officer accused of kissing and groping multiple female inmates remained in jail Thursday despite...
Video
Gov. Stitt and tribal leaders verbally spar over gaming compacts
Gov. Kevin Stitt and representatives of Oklahoma's gaming tribes resumed their war of words Thursday, with Stitt claiming a...
I-235 closure delayed a week
Plans to close a section of Interstate 235 in north Oklahoma City this weekend are being pushed back a week, state...
Video
Joe Exotic vows to appeal
A showman to the end, Joe Exotic jumped up Wednesday in court when it came his turn to talk to the judge at his sentencing in a...
Video
Governor files response to federal Indian gaming lawsuit
Attorneys for Gov. Kevin Stitt filed a response to a lawsuit filed by three Oklahoma gaming tribes Wednesday, asking a federal...
Video
Oklahoma Supreme Court hears challenges to independent redistricting petition
The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday heard two legal challenges to an initiative petition seeking to implement a redistricting...
Video
Archdiocese adds to list of priests accused of sexual abuse
The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City has revoked the authority of the Rev. Marvin Leven to serve as a priest after substantiating...
Caps on legal fees to private attorneys proposed by Senate majority leader
State agencies and officials would be prohibited from paying more than $10 million to outside attorneys for legal work in a...
Video
'It was chaos': Deputy recounts chasing shooter from Penn Square Mall
As he ran out of the doors of AMC Movie Theater at Penn Square to the sound of gunshots, Lt. Justin Kimbrough unholstered his...
David Boren paid University of Oklahoma after internal audit
NORMAN — OU employees did landscaping and other improvements at David Boren's personal residence more than 100 times while he...
Video
OSBI in sex probe asking if David Boren traded promotions for cooperation
OSBI agents have begun a new round of interviews in a major push to wrap up their sexual misconduct investigation of retired...
Oklahoma County DA says investigator fired over affair
In response to a wrongful termination claim, Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater reported Friday that he fired a...
Oklahoma City bail bondsman charged
Oklahoma City bail bondsman Howard Barnett was charged Friday with first-degree manslaughter over a fatal shooting at a hotel...
Verdict: Man guilty of murder in OKC deadly drug deal
A 22-year-old Oklahoma City man has been found guilty of murder in a case of a drug deal that turned deadly. Late Thursday, a...
Video
Unaccountable: Oklahoma lawmakers introduce midwife legislation
Several Oklahoma lawmakers have introduced legislation seeking to regulate or altogether ban certain midwives in the state....
Financial irregularities discovered in audit of Garfield County town
KREMLIN — A state audit of the small Garfield County town of Kremlin has revealed numerous financial irregularities, including...
Murder defendant denies planning fatal drug robbery
A murder defendant who took the witness stand Thursday told a jury he did not plan a drug robbery that claimed the life of a...
Video
Pardon and Parole Board recommends commutation for another 149 people eligible for single-stage docket
The Pardon and Parole Board voted Wednesday to recommend commutation for another 149 nonviolent drug offenders who were...
Featured Links
- Sr. Reporter:Nolan Clay
- Investigative Reporter:Randy Ellis
Trial begins about slaying tied to pot sale
The son of a former county sheriff was unaware of the "death trap" that awaited him and his best friend when they drove four...
I-235 closure planned for weekend of Jan. 24
Interstate 235 will be closed to through traffic at the Interstate 44 interchange during the weekend of Jan. 24, state...
Bill filed to allow firearms inside state Capitol
Some lawmakers hope 2020 will be the year firearms are finally allowed inside the state Capitol. A newly filed bill from Rep....
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter files lawsuit against opioid distributors
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter filed a state lawsuit against three major opioid distributors Monday, accusing them of...
OKC man who killed nephew in 'heat of passion' gets 7 years
A man who admitted fatally shooting his nephew during an argument pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was sentenced to seven...
Statewide rape kit tracking system takes effect
Sexual assault survivors will now be able to monitor the location and status of their rape kit through a statewide electronic...
Sheriff's deputy announces campaign for Oklahoma County sheriff
Sheriff’s office deputy Mike McCully announced last week he intends to run for Oklahoma County sheriff. McCully, 63, stationed...
Norman dispute headed to court
NORMAN — Four former mayors on Friday asked a judge to block a citywide vote on the future of development at University North...
Woman gets 25 years in prison for fatally stabbing neighbor
A woman who admitted to fatally stabbing a neighbor during a fight over strewn mail was sentenced to 25 years in prison Friday...
Oklahoma criminal justice reform task force requests extension
A governor-created task force charged with making criminal justice reform recommendations has asked for a one-year extension to...
Opioid manufacturer Endo Pharmaceuticals reaches $8.75 million settlement with Oklahoma
Drug manufacturer Endo Pharmaceuticals has agreed to pay Oklahoma $8.75 million to resolve potential litigation over the...
Submit a tip to The Oklahoman
What stories do you wish The Oklahoman was chasing? Tell us through our new tip sheet. Contact information is optional.
Former Oklahoma police chief charged
A former Luther police chief is being accused in a felony charge of keeping a $310 payment from a traffic stop. Tony Shaun...
Metro-area residents needed for Oklahoma City's housing market and affordability survey
Oklahoma City is asking metro residents to fill out a housing market and affordability survey to help city planners identify...
Video
Man wounded in mall shooting jailed for not completing rehab stay
NORMAN — A man shot twice inside a Penn Square Mall shoe store last month was jailed Wednesday for violating a court order....
Efforts underway to reform Oklahoma County drug court
On a recent Monday morning, roughly 30 drug court participants filed into Oklahoma County Judge Kenneth Stoner’s courtroom. To...
Embattled Oklahoma County district judge criticized again
Two appellate judges sharply criticized an Oklahoma County district judge Wednesday for not taking herself off criminal cases...
Video
Holtzclaw asks U.S. Supreme Court to review convictions
Former Oklahoma City Police officer Daniel Holtzclaw has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review his state convictions of sex...
OKC family attacked in Mexico identified
A family from Oklahoma City attacked in Mexico, resulting in the death of a 13-year-old boy, was identified Tuesday afternoon....
DHS continues to experience alarming decline in therapeutic foster homes
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services continues to experience an alarming decline in the number of therapeutic foster homes...
OKC man who pleads no contest to rape charges sentenced to 380 years
An Oklahoma City man accused of raping two women and trying to kidnap three others has been sentenced to nearly 400 years in...
Video
Accused mall shooter released from jail after family posts bond
Accused Penn Square Mall shooter Elizha Sanders is out of jail after his family posted bail, Sanders' attorney told The...
New OKC turnpike opening Thursday
Commercial warehouses and distribution centers in southwest Oklahoma City are scheduled to get a huge boost Thursday with the...
Oklahoma County jail to get extended commissary service, new staff meal plans
Starting in March, inmates at the Oklahoma County jail will see increased days of commissary service, and jail employees will...
Man who blamed wife for military discharge to spend rest of his life in prison for killing
A man who claimed government agents and others were in control of his body when he fatally shot his wife in the head and face...
Man shot by woman in downtown Oklahoma City domestic incident, police say
A woman shot a man who was a passenger in her car in Downtown on Monday morning. Oklahoma City Police said they got a call of...
Accused Oklahoma County judge reassigned
An Oklahoma County district judge accused of tax evasion will not be presiding over any criminal cases in 2020. Kendra Coleman...
Former Oklahoma tag agent repays embezzled funds
A former Calera tag agent pleaded guilty Friday to embezzlement and was put on probation for two years after repaying the...
Video
Governor selects out-of-state law firm to represent Oklahoma in tribal gaming dispute
Gov. Kevin Stitt has selected Seattle-based law firm Perkins Coie to represent the state in its ongoing dispute with Oklahoma...
Gov. Stitt approves one-year extension of Seminole Nation's tobacco compact
Gov. Kevin Stitt has approved a one-year extension of the state's tobacco compact with the Seminole Nation. "The Tobacco Tax...
Video
Shepard receives death penalty
SHAWNEE — A judge on Friday agreed with jurors' death penalty recommendation for a man convicted last month in the 2017 murder...
Moore police officer charged in fatal crash
NORMAN — A Moore police officer was charged Thursday with first-degree manslaughter after an investigation determined he was...
Woman arrested in deadly trailer home fire
A 19-year-old woman has admitted she set the fire at a trailer home near Harrah that killed her sister and sister's boyfriend...
Featured Links
- Sr. Reporter:Nolan Clay
- Investigative Reporter:Randy Ellis
OKC firefighter placed on adminstrative leave after arrest
OKLAHOMA CITY OKC firefighter on administrative leave after arrest A veteran Oklahoma City firefighter has been placed on...
Video
Tribes sue Gov. Kevin Stitt over renewal of gaming compacts
Oklahoma's three largest gaming tribes have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Kevin Stitt, asking a federal judge to rule that the...
Hunting and fishing compacts extended for two Oklahoma tribes
The Choctaw and Cherokee Nations have reached agreements with the governor's office to extend their hunting and fishing...
Accused company pays $3 million settlement over Fort Sill dam
A defense contractor has paid $3 million to the federal government to settle a civil complaint over a Fort Sill project....
Video
Tribe says no to state audit of gaming activity
The Chickasaw Nation has told the state it cannot conduct its own audit of the tribe's gaming operations. The state notified...
Will NRA get insider info?
Payne worked as a television reporter and anchor in Oklahoma for years before joining Ackerman McQueen in 2015. She has said...
Oklahoma Supreme Court retains jurisdiction of appeals filed in state case against opioid manufacturer
The Oklahoma Supreme Court will retain jurisdiction of appeals filed in a case in which a $465 million verdict was rendered...
OKC gunman killed by police in and out of prison
In 2006, longtime felon Elray Barber was sentenced to prison for 20 years for robbing a woman of her car in Oklahoma City. He...
Video
Signature gathering for petition seeking to end certain sentence enhancements to begin
A sentencing reform group can begin collecting signatures Thursday for a constitutional ballot initiative that would prohibit...
Video
Oklahoma Secretary of Native American Affairs resigns from governor's cabinet, citing disagreement over gaming compacts
Gov. Kevin Stitt's cabinet Secretary of Native American Affairs abruptly resigned Monday, citing irreconcilable differences...