AM NewsBrief: Aug. 14, 2026

The governor threatens to build Tulsa and Oklahoma City for the state-led clearing of homeless encampments, and Oklahoma carries out its third execution of the year. Details coming up on the KGOU AM News Brief for Friday, August 14th. I'm Nick Daniels. Governor Kevin Stitt is threatening to invoice Tulsa and Oklahoma City Police Departments for costs associated with clearing homeless encampments on state land. Sierra Pfeiffer reports. Neither municipality has received formal charges, but the state says it will pursue every available avenue to find them if local police departments don't, quote, enforce the laws and address unlawful encampments. The threats stem from a controversial state-led initiative called Operation Safe. Under the efforts, Stitt unilaterally ordered state troopers to clear encampment sites in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Norman. State officials estimate the efforts cost more than $500,000 in Tulsa and more than $375,000 in Oklahoma City. Neither city asked for the initiative, but the threat from Stitt's office suggests they may have to shoulder the price. I'm Sierra Pfeiffer. Oklahoma executed a man Thursday convicted of killing his common-law wife more than 20 years ago. KGOU's Hannah-France reports. 70-year-old Carlos Quista Rodriguez was executed via lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAllister. The Associated Press reports his breathing was labored for several minutes before being pronounced dead at 10.13 a.m. Quista Rodriguez was sentenced to death for the 2003 fatal shooting of his common law wife, Olympia Fisher, in their Oklahoma City home. He was denied a recommendation for clemency from the Oklahoma Parted and Parole Board last month. His execution is the third Oklahoma has carried out this year. Across the country, another man, 66-year-old Anthony Darrell Jim Himes, was executed within the same half hour in Tennessee. I'm Hannah France. Oklahoma Attorney General and Republican candidate for Governor Gettner Drummond's comments calling some members of his party fascists are causing a stir. Lionel Rommel's reports on Drummond's comments at the Tulsa Press Club's candidate forum this week. When asked what he thinks about opponents in his own party, calling him a fake Republican, Drummond says he thinks the two major political parties are no longer relevant to statewide elections. There's four million Oklahomans. Not all rich, not all poor, not all Republican, not all Democrat, but I aspire to be the governor of all. And that sometimes draws me in sharp contrast with the extreme members of the Republican Party. But I don't think they are real Republicans. I consider them more fascist. Drummond's GOP runoff opponent, Mike Maisie, quickly took to social media to condemn Drummond's characterization of far-right MAGA politicians. So did U.S. Congressman Josh Burkine and President Trump, who panned Drummond on truth social, saying he has a bad attitude. I'm Lion O Ramos.

Across the nation, rural health care facilities are navigating distinct challenges, including limited resources, staffing shortages, and stretched finances as they care for underserved communities. State Impacts Jillian Taylor reports a new course aims to support the people who lead these changing operations. The Rural Healthcare Leadership Training Academy will be offered through Canadian Valley Technology Center. It covers topics including budgeting, data management, healthcare operations, strategic planning, and community and public relations. Len Lacefield is the CEO and owner of Strategic Medical Consultants. He designed this program and hopes it strengthens the capabilities of current and emerging healthcare leaders and equips them with practical tools and peers. I would hope that folks really can wrap their arms around what they're struggling with on a daily basis and recognize that it's real and recognize that there's a solution. The course is open for enrollment for the fall. For State Impact, I'm Jillian Taylor. Read more news at KGOU.org and follow the KGOU PM News Brief podcast. The fatal shooting of a teenager at a protest in Seattle has gone unsolved for six years. This is open in your face. How are there no answers? Our investigation has uncovered new evidence and witnesses who say they've never talked to police. Did police ever call you? Not once. Listen to We Keep Us Safe, a new true crime series on the Embedded podcast from NPR.