{"id":754238,"date":"2026-01-05T05:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T11:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/?post_type=newspack_nl_cpt&#038;p=754238"},"modified":"2026-01-04T17:11:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T23:11:26","slug":"first-watch-stuff-you-should-know-378","status":"publish","type":"newspack_nl_cpt","link":"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/newsletter\/first-watch-stuff-you-should-know-378\/","title":{"rendered":"First Watch: Stuff You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-secondary-variation-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/donate\/\">Donate to Oklahoma Watch<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"478\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/salvation-donation-0080mh_orig.jpg?resize=600%2C478&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-754240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/salvation-donation-0080mh_orig.jpg?resize=600%2C478&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/salvation-donation-0080mh_orig.jpg?resize=300%2C239&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/salvation-donation-0080mh_orig.jpg?resize=768%2C612&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/salvation-donation-0080mh_orig.jpg?resize=780%2C622&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/salvation-donation-0080mh_orig.jpg?resize=400%2C319&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/salvation-donation-0080mh_orig.jpg?resize=706%2C563&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/salvation-donation-0080mh_orig.jpg?w=1004&amp;ssl=1 1004w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/salvation-donation-0080mh_orig-600x478.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/markhancockphotography.weebly.com\/\">Mark Hancock<\/a>, Oklahoma City<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Astute readers, the vacation is over. Let&#8217;s get caught up! While I was away &#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/12\/22\/inside-a-high-school-project-tackling-homelessness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jake Ramsey wrote<\/a> about a Broken Arrow teacher who once faced housing insecurity created a semester-long project pairing students with homeless organizations. Students researched causes, launched drives, made videos, proving youth can meaningfully impact communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/12\/23\/oklahomas-prison-population-climbed-in-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Keaton Ross reported<\/a> that Oklahoma&#8217;s prison population grew for a third straight year, reaching 23,498 inmates in December. Tougher sentencing and stalled medical parole persist. A proposed bill would expand elderly prisoner parole eligibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/12\/26\/too-little-too-late-too-weak-critics-react-to-proposed-insurance-legislation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">J.C. Hallman continued his insurance coverage<\/a>, writing about Oklahoma&#8217;s Insurance Department proposed laws addressing homeowners insurance that critics call inadequate. The package avoids premium caps or rate reform but adds new barriers to policyholder lawsuits against insurers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/12\/29\/freshman-gop-lawmaker-finds-statewide-backers-for-save-oklahoma-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Paul Monies wrote<\/a> that freshman Rep. Jim Shaw, who upset a powerful incumbent, launched the Save Oklahoma Plan targeting taxpayer-funded lobbying, renewable subsidies, turnpikes, and vaccine mandates. Backed by grassroots and gubernatorial candidates, Shaw targets conservative voters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/12\/31\/judge-allows-attorney-general-to-intervene-in-state-farm-hail-lawsuit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">J.C. Hallman reported<\/a> that Judge Amy Palumbo granted Attorney General Gentner Drummond full intervention in a homeowner&#8217;s lawsuit against State Farm, accused of racketeering. State Farm denied 27,764 of 120,755 Oklahoma claims. Palumbo warned their obstruction must stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And on Friday, <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2026\/01\/02\/attorney-general-only-the-doc-director-can-refer-prisoners-for-medical-parole\/\">Keaton Ross reported<\/a> on the attorney general&#8217;s opinion that Oklahoma&#8217;s Pardon and Parole Board cannot bypass the Department of Corrections in medical parole decisions. Medical parole referrals collapsed after 2021. Proposed legislation would transfer recommendation authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.att.com\/cfd\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1250\" height=\"521\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ATT-OK-OKWatchOnline-ad-600x250-1.png?resize=1250%2C521&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-745346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ATT-OK-OKWatchOnline-ad-600x250-1.png?w=1250&amp;ssl=1 1250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ATT-OK-OKWatchOnline-ad-600x250-1.png?resize=300%2C125&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ATT-OK-OKWatchOnline-ad-600x250-1.png?resize=600%2C250&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ATT-OK-OKWatchOnline-ad-600x250-1.png?resize=768%2C320&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ATT-OK-OKWatchOnline-ad-600x250-1.png?resize=1200%2C500&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ATT-OK-OKWatchOnline-ad-600x250-1.png?resize=1024%2C427&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ATT-OK-OKWatchOnline-ad-600x250-1.png?resize=400%2C167&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ATT-OK-OKWatchOnline-ad-600x250-1.png?resize=706%2C294&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ATT-OK-OKWatchOnline-ad-600x250-1.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>More worth reading: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Amendment Would Let Lawmakers Suspend University Funding<\/strong><br>An ultra-conservative state legislator has filed a joint resolution seeking an amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution he says would give lawmakers the power to temporarily freeze, suspend or withhold state-appropriated funding from Oklahoma\u2019s public colleges and universities. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.oklahoman.com\/story\/news\/politics\/state\/2026\/01\/02\/oklahoma-rep-files-resolution-to-give-lawmakers-power-to-freeze-college-funding\/87993703007\/\">The Oklahoman<\/a> \u25b2]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PSO Rates Could Jump 15%<br><\/strong>A rate review case filed at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission by Public Service Company of Oklahoma could result in a hefty bill increase for PSO customers. If approved as filed, the average residential customer using 1,100 kWh per month would experience an increase of about $25, or 15%, by July 2026, the company said in a news release. [<a href=\"https:\/\/tulsaworld.com\/news\/state-regional\/business\/article_917f9f2d-269b-4e4a-beee-677ee1f8deeb.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tulsa World<\/a> \u25b2]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>American Heartland Defendant Accused of Using AI for Legal Briefs<br><\/strong>As litigation over the American Heartland Theme Park project continues, Rick Silanskas \u2014 one of two men accused of impersonating God to manipulate a retired businessman \u2014 now faces accusations of using generative AI to write his legal briefs.. [<a href=\"https:\/\/nondoc.com\/2026\/01\/02\/rick-silanskas-accused-of-ai-filings-in-american-heartland-theme-park-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NonDoc<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u25b2=Possible paywall<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Bought a round-trip ride today,<br>Throwed the come-back part away.<br>Oklahoma&#8217;s dear to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>\u2014Paul Westmoreland<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Ciao for now,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ted Streuli<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"153\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Ted-Signature.png?resize=512%2C153&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-733429\" style=\"width:109px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Ted-Signature.png?w=512&amp;ssl=1 512w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Ted-Signature.png?resize=336%2C100&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Ted-Signature.png?resize=400%2C120&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Ted-Signature.png?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch<br><a href=\"mailto:tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org?subject=&amp;body=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Ted-250x.jpg?resize=250%2C250&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-734027\" style=\"width:105px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Ted-250x.jpg?w=250&amp;ssl=1 250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Ted-250x.jpg?resize=140%2C140&amp;ssl=1 140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Ted-250x.jpg?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Ted-250x.jpg?resize=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Ted-250x.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Ted-250x.jpg?w=400&amp;ssl=1 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Help Us Make a Difference<\/strong><br><br>Oklahoma needs high-quality investigative journalism. That is our mission at Oklahoma Watch. We produce stories that hold government and public officials accountable and make transparent what some prefer to keep secret. We depend on financial support from readers like you to sustain our coverage. Will you help us make a difference?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-secondary-variation-background-color has-background has-large-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/donate\/\">Donate Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/newsletters\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"257\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sign-up-for-Ted-Streulis-Newsletter-4.png?resize=771%2C257&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-733889\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sign-up-for-Ted-Streulis-Newsletter-4.png?resize=771%2C257&amp;ssl=1 771w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sign-up-for-Ted-Streulis-Newsletter-4.png?resize=336%2C112&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sign-up-for-Ted-Streulis-Newsletter-4.png?resize=768%2C256&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sign-up-for-Ted-Streulis-Newsletter-4.png?resize=1536%2C512&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sign-up-for-Ted-Streulis-Newsletter-4.png?resize=1200%2C400&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Sign-up-for-Ted-Streulis-Newsletter-4.png?resize=1024%2C341&amp;ssl=1 1024w, 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