In  Oklahoma , there is a growing effort among some lawmakers to support  independent pharmacies  — small, local businesses that have struggled to compete in a changing health care marketplace. That instinct is understandable. Independent  pharmacies , like many Main Street businesses, have faced years of economic pressure. They are important parts of their communities, especially in rural areas. Wanting to support them is a goal most Oklahomans can agree on. But good intenti

New statewide polling released today by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), in partnership with independent pollsters Amber Integrated, shows overwhelming support among likely Republican primary voters for action to address the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) generated sexually explicit images involving minors. The Oklahoma survey – conducted March 6–8 among 603 likely Republican primary voters – found near-universal concern about the issue and strong backi

There is no question that artificial intelligence (AI) is helping improve many areas of our lives. Researchers use it to analyze medical data, businesses rely on it to streamline logistics and operations, and educators are even beginning to explore how it might support learning in the classroom. However, as with any powerful technology, there are also risks, particularly when children are involved. Over the past several years, it has become clear that the digital world our ch

The Oklahoma Senate has signed off on a bill that would turn domestic violence in front of a child into a felony, sharply raising the stakes for a first conviction. Under Senate Bill 1238, a first offense would carry a one- to five-year prison term and could bring a maximum $7,000 fine, a notable jump from the current six-month-to-one-year county-jail range. The measure now heads to the Oklahoma House and would still need the governor’s signature before it could become law. C