Articles
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Culture & the Family
Calls to reopen nursing homes mirror school debate
Parents and various public officials have urged that most Oklahoma schools be open for in-person instruction, saying COVID-19 infection represents less of a threat to children and staff than the many negative consequences of continued shutdown.Ray Carter | August 26, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma voters continue ousting tax-increasing incumbents
This week’s primary runoff elections saw voters oust several incumbent lawmakers who voted for one of the largest tax increases in Oklahoma history.Ray Carter | August 26, 2020
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Education
School shutdowns urged despite local COVID-19 rates
Under a proposal developed by staff at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, school-closure mandates would have been tied to a state Department of Health map that color-codes counties based on per-capita COVID-19 infection rates.Ray Carter | August 24, 2020
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Education
OKC school staff children get on-site ‘distance’ learning
Oklahoma City Public Schools officials will not offer in-person instruction to students for at least the first nine weeks of school this year.Ray Carter | August 24, 2020
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma AG defends election security laws, opposes ballot harvesting
Attorney General Mike Hunter pushed back Friday against a Democratic lawsuit that seeks the elimination of many absentee-ballot safeguards and the legalization of “ballot harvesting” in Oklahoma.Ray Carter | August 22, 2020
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Law & Principles
Federal government approves new state-tribal compacts
The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) has allowed two new state-tribal gaming compacts to take effect, a move that could result in greater competition in Oklahoma’s casino market and provide a higher share of gaming revenue to state government.Ray Carter | August 20, 2020
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Higher Education
Oklahoma Christian University hosts social-justice training
As part of its focus on diversity, Oklahoma Christian University recently hosted a speaker who encourages her clients to read or view works that include a project linking the United States’ founding to slavery and another work criticized as portraying all white people as racists.Ray Carter | August 20, 2020
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Education
Teacher numbers decline despite pay raises
Lawmakers were told Wednesday to expect an outright decline in the number of teachers in state schools this year.Ray Carter | August 20, 2020
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Education
Stitt education program proving popular across Oklahoma
Nearly one in three Oklahoma school districts has already applied for a program launched by Gov. Kevin Stitt that will provide advanced courses online.Ray Carter | August 20, 2020
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Law & Principles
Slave-owning past remains problem for Choctaws
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is now opposing federal efforts to require that descendants of the tribe’s former slaves be given promised rights before the tribe can receive federal housing funds.Ray Carter | August 19, 2020