Articles
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Culture & the Family
Shawnee pastor’s ‘Children’s White House’ highlights Christianity’s role in U.S. history
Ed Moore, longtime pastor in the Shawnee area, has built a small-scale replica of the White House to serve as a “U.S. Children’s White House,” teaching that America’s founding was deeply rooted in Christian faith.Ray Carter | September 4, 2025
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Higher Education
Federal judge strikes down Oklahoma's in-state tuition for illegal immigrants
A federal judge has struck down an Oklahoma law that allowed illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities. The decision follows an April executive order from President Trump warning colleges nationwide of federal sanctions if they continued such practices.Ray Carter | September 3, 2025
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Education
Despite more money, Oklahoma students struggle
Since 2018, Oklahoma’s per-pupil school funding has surged by 51 percent—yet student outcomes have declined. Much of Oklahoma’s education spending goes to bureaucracy rather than classrooms, with less than half of school employees being teachers.Ray Carter | August 26, 2025
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Education, Law & Principles
OSSAA faces conflict-of-interest questions in Glencoe case
Four Glencoe High School basketball players were ruled ineligible by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA). The OSSAA board vote included members from rival Class A schools that could directly benefit from sidelining Glencoe’s athletes.Ray Carter | August 25, 2025
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Education
Report ranks Oklahoma 50th in education, warns money no cure-all
WalletHub has ranked Oklahoma’s public school system 50th in the nation, even as state funding for education has increased significantly in recent years.Ray Carter | August 20, 2025
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Education, Culture & the Family
Amid state and national backlash, OSSAA still touts DEI
The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) continues to tout DEI on its website, declaring that promotion of “groups that have social and cultural differences is an integral part of education-based activities” and claimed DEI is part of that effort.Ray Carter | August 20, 2025
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma hailed as leader on state pension reform
For years, Oklahoma was ranked near the bottom of the 50 states based on the unfunded liabilities of its state pension systems. But reforms that took effect a decade ago have totally changed those statistics, and experts participating in a recent legislative study told lawmakers Oklahoma is now considered a national model.Ray Carter | August 20, 2025
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Education, Law & Principles
LNH reform opens doors for more special-needs children
Oklahoma lawmakers eliminated the one-year public school requirement for Lindsey Nicole Henry (LNH) scholarships, making it easier for families of children with special needs to afford private education that meets their needs. The reform ensures parents no longer have to choose between financial help and their child’s educational stability.Ray Carter | August 18, 2025
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Education, Law & Principles
Lawmaker: Time to dismantle OSSAA
The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s has voted to prevent four teenage boys from playing basketball for Glencoe High School because they transferred into the district, effectively undermining Oklahoma open-transfer law. Now one lawmaker is urging his colleagues to dismantle the OSSAA.Ray Carter | August 15, 2025
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Education
OSSAA embroiled in controversy & lawsuit … again
In what has become a recurring pattern, the governing board of the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) has been accused of interfering with student transfers despite state law allowing open transfer between public-school districts and the association’s own rules.Ray Carter | August 14, 2025