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On
News
April 10, 2025

On a quest to cut waste, Oklahoma House releases its list of ‘DOGE Ideas of Note’

By EMMA MURPHY OKLAHOMA VOICE 

OKLAHOMA CITY — Over 30 complaints of government waste and inefficiency in Oklahoma have been flagged as “ideas of note” and considered by House lawmakers during budget discussions.

House budget chair Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, said the House’s Government Efficiency Portal, which launched in December, received around 250 complaints, but many were “spammy and junk.”

The portal, which was modeled after President Donald Trump’s federal Department of Government Efficiency, received about 75 actual submissions, about 20% of which are legitimate claims of waste, he said.

Some of the submissions were used in budget hearings to inform questions lawmakers asked of agency directors, he said. Some of the “spam” was as simple as what people receive in their email inboxes, Caldwell said, but many were filled with “vitriol against a specific statewide elected officer.” Caldwell said he did not want to name that person.

House leaders voluntarily provided a list of 35 submissions, which they’ve identified as “DOGE Ideas of Note” in response to a request by Oklahoma Voice.

Ideas on the list ranged from consolidating within state agencies to reducing the number of traffic signs on Oklahoma highways.

Three submissions recommended reducing the number of school districts to consolidate administrative staff and share resources, while another recommended doing the same with the state’s 25 public institutions for higher education.

Consolidation of state storage and warehouse facilities, state vehicle fleets, and printing services were also recommended.

Other submissions noted inefficiencies when working with state agencies to obtain car tags, medical assessments, food stamps, childcare, health care and “vital records.”

One submission said the “over abundance” of unnecessary traffic signs “numbs drivers” and “litter” highways. An example included “speed limit signs increasing over a short distance” because “people know how to speed up.”

A couple of submissions questioned the need for Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to air television and radio advertisements. Someone else questioned why the OTA and the state Department of Transportation were separate agencies and if there was overlap in services.

Another recommended comparing job titles of state employees to consolidate duplicative tasks and re-evaluating the salaries of highly paid public servants.

The submissions provided to Oklahoma Voice only included the submitted idea and not any identifying information about the person using the portal.

Oklahoma Voice (oklahomavoice.com) is an affiliate of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, supported by grants and donations. Oklahoma Voice provides nonpartisan reporting, and retains full editorial independence.

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Enforcement of Oklahoma immigration law blocked indefinitely
News
Enforcement of Oklahoma immigration law blocked indefinitely
By NURIA MARTINEZ-KEEL OKLAHOMA VOICE 
June 7, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma City federal judge this week placed an indefinite ban on enforcement of a state law criminalizing undocumented immigrants living in Oklahoma. The decision from U.S. Distric...
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Aromas Coffee Shop celebrates 25 years
A: Main, Main, News
Aromas Coffee Shop celebrates 25 years
By JACIE EUBANKS TIMES INTERN 
June 5, 2025
On Thursday, Deborah Cates, the founder and owner of Aromas Coffee Shop, celebrated her 25th year as a business owner in Sallisaw. Cates, along with her husband Ricky and son Will, moved to Sallisaw i...
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Winds damage District 1 county barn
A: Main, Main, News
BREAKING NEWS
Winds damage District 1 county barn
By Lynn 
June 5, 2025
The fierce winds that raked Sequoyah County Friday morning and reportedly spawned a tornado in the western part of the county, took their toll at the District 1 county barn, located at 2311 N. Maple. ...
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Former Sallisaw officer pardoned in 2011 high-profile cattle theft case
A: Main, Main, News
Former Sallisaw officer pardoned in 2011 high-profile cattle theft case
By Amie Cato-Remer Editor 
June 5, 2025
Wendel D. Hughes, the former Sallisaw Police officer once at the center of one of Sequoyah County’s most unusual criminal cases, has received a full pardon more than a decade after pleading guilty to ...
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Sallisaw’s first Pride event set for June 14
A: Main, Main, News
Sallisaw’s first Pride event set for June 14
By JADE PHILLIPS TIMES INTERN 
June 5, 2025
It is June, which is also known as Pride Month. Pride is celebrated for all people who identify as LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer), those who are out of the closet, those who aren’...
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RRI scholars outline summer research projects
A: Main, Main, News
RRI scholars outline summer research projects
By Lynn Adams Staff Writer 
June 5, 2025
Rural Renewal Initiative (RRI) scholars Amy Rodriguez and Emma Buchanan, college students who are in Sallisaw for 10 weeks this summer conducting research in association with Oklahoma State University...
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05/19/2025 05/25/2025 During the period of May 19-25, 2025, Sequoyah County law enforcement tended to 18 animal calls, 189 traffic stops, and numerous medical and domestic calls according to police re...
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Sallisaw players, coaches participating in Saturday’s All-State Matches in Bristow
B: Sports
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Three Sallisaw soccer players and the entire Black Diamonds coaching staff will get one more set of high school matches for the 2025 season. Sallisaw Lady Diamonds player Kyra Taylor, the Sallisaw Bla...
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Marble City Flutter Fest is Saturday
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