AM NewsBrief: Aug. 11, 2026

Oklahoma lawmakers begin interim studies ahead of the 2027 session, and Norman's Hayday Entertainment is set to close at the end of this month. Details ahead on the KGOU AM News Brief for Tuesday, August 11th. I'm McDaniels. Oklahoma lawmakers are beginning to prepare interim studies. State Capitol reporter Lionel Ramos reports these meetings in the fall can offer a glimpse of policy priorities during the legislative session. Interim studies are publicly held meetings meant to inform lawmakers and the public about an impending political or social issue. This year, there are about 90 approved studies in each chamber and several overlap topically. suggesting where lawmakers' priorities lie ahead of the next legislative session. A group of Republicans and Democrats, for example, will study delays in processing sexual assault test kits and how non-reported kits are stored. Rural development and water infrastructure studies are also seeing bipartisan and bicameral interest, with several studies looking into water infrastructure generally and specific rural water districts. Most studies are not yet scheduled, but lawmakers must complete them by the end of October. I'm Lion-O-Ramos. Hayday Entertainment in Norman will close August 28th after selling its property to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority for planned highway construction. The Family Entertainment Center has operated in Norman for nearly 20 years, offering bowling, laser tag, mini-golf and arcade games. Hayday says it will continue hosting previously scheduled private events through September. The owner says the company may consider rebuilding nearby after construction is complete. Oklahoma will be home to several more battery energy storage systems in the coming years. State impacts Chloe Bennett Steele reports the state's largest utilities are investing in the facilities. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved OG&E's proposal to build a battery energy storage system last week. It also gave permission to PSO to invest in three battery projects earlier this year. Experts say battery energy storage systems are important for renewable energy use. While the sun sets and the wind doesn't always blow, excess energy from those sources can be stored and used later. But the facilities have faced pushback from some communities. Although rare, utility battery energy storage systems can start fires. OG&E says it previously piloted a battery project for research and development. Commissioners Kim David and Brian Bingman voted to approve the project while Commissioner Todd Hyatt voted against it. In a dissenting opinion, Hyatt wrote the cost recovery was a burden on consumers. O'G&E's project is expected to increase average. customer bills by about $2.21. Starting next year. For State Impact, I'm Chloe Bennett's deal. A new report puts Oklahoma near the bottom of the country for average teacher salary. KGOU's Jack Walters has more. It's no secret that Oklahoma ranks low when it comes to education. Wallet Hub's most recent survey put Oklahoma schools at 49th in the nation overall.

Now, a new report from the National Education Association puts the state at a similar ranking for average teacher salaries. Oklahoma's starting salary for teachers is roughly $41,000, coming in at 48th in the nation. This is substantially lower than the national average, which the report found to be roughly $48,000. Oklahoma fares better in average teacher salary overall, but is still well within the lower half of the country, coming in at 37th. And in terms of support professional earnings, Oklahoma ranks 50th across categories for both K-12 and higher education. While teacher salaries continue to increase annually, they haven't kept up with inflation. The NEA reports that when adjusted, teachers earn around 5% less than they did 10 years ago on average. I'm Jack Walters. Read more news at KGOU.org and follow the KGOUPM 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.