StateImpact Oklahoma
Fridays at 6:45 a.m., repeated throughout the morning at 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.
StateImpact Oklahoma reports on education, health, environment, and the intersection of government and everyday Oklahomans. It's a reporting project and collaboration of KCCU, KOSU, KWGS and KGOU, with broadcasts heard on these NPR Member stations.
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Tribal nations in Oklahoma are navigating an influx of corporate interest in Indian Country. Thomas Pablo reports on their leaders’ responses to an A-I data center development boom.Mentioned in this episode:Social Media tags
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A new law is restricting gender-affirming care for Oklahoma adults if those services were covered by Medicaid and public funds, or provided on state property. Transgender Oklahomans and the already-limited providers offering gender-affirming care in the state are now being forced to adapt to the new policy with little time to prepare. Mentioned in this episode:Social Media tags
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Oklahoma's natural world is the subject of a new book from author Priscilla Crawford.Mentioned in this episode:Social Media tags
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Childcare costs are soaring. Infant care at childcare centers rose 27% from 2023 to 2025, according to the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness. As daycare prices skyrocket to all-time highs, state lawmakers are deploying a patchwork of measures to change the industry. But some Oklahomans say the state should do more to prioritize affordability for families.Mentioned in this episode:Social Media tags
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Scientists use long-term monitoring of natural areas to help them understand environmental changes. Oklahoma surveyors are keeping track of local species, including a rare salamander that could offer clues into the well-being of its environment.Mentioned in this episode:Social Media tags
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The 2026 legislative session has come to end. Logan Layden talked with StateImpact Oklahoma reporters about their takeaways on legislation impacting education, health, science and the environment.Mentioned in this episode:Social Media tags
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Three years ago, a new federal designation for rural hospitals went into effect, allowing facilities to receive enhanced support for outpatient and emergency services if they gave up their more expensive inpatient care.The rural emergency hospital provider type is meant to support small rural facilities amid challenges like lower volume, aging populations and rising costs. As the designation gains traction in Oklahoma, some providers said it has become a lifeline for their facilities, which would otherwise close. But critics argue there is a need for other solutions.Mentioned in this episode:Social Media tags
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Oklahoma is again ground zero for a battle over publicly funded religious education as a proposed Jewish charter school looks to the courts for vindication. That’s despite members of the state’s Jewish community saying they weren’t consulted and are “deeply concerned” about the threat to the separation of church and state.Mentioned in this episode:Social Media tags
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Oklahoma Republicans want to send Medicaid expansion back to voters so lawmakers can have more control in addressing spending. But medical and policy experts worry the effort is shortsighted.Mentioned in this episode:Social Media tags
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Incarcerated people at four correctional facilities are planting native gardens with the help of a nonprofit conservation organization.Mentioned in this episode:Social Media tags