Articles
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Good Government
Recall effort highlights Norman mayor’s unpopularity
Citizen efforts to force a recall election of Norman Mayor Breea Clark have fallen short, yet the recall effort also showed broad public displeasure with Clark’s performance. The number of citizens who supported Clark’s ouster was 153-percent greater than the number of citizens who voted to elect Clark mayor in 2019.Ray Carter | September 15, 2020
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Criminal Justice, Culture & the Family
Sober living through community
Tucked away in south Tulsa, on a street where residential homes have mostly been converted to commercial businesses, sits Sangha (pronounced SAHN-guh, Sanskrit for “community”). Sangha is a sober-living house that typically houses around six men working to kick addiction.Ryan Haynie & Kaitlyn Finley | September 15, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Economy
Oklahoma lawmakers oppose federal bailout of states
Twenty-three Oklahoma state legislators have joined colleagues from across the country to oppose additional federal bailouts for state governments.Ray Carter | September 14, 2020
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Education, Health Care
Teachers union, parents, in opposition
As parents across Oklahoma call for local schools to reopen and provide in-person instruction, one of the most vocal opponents they face is the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA), the state affiliate of the National Education Association.Ray Carter | September 11, 2020
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Criminal Justice
Does SQ 805 allow criminals to break into your home with impunity?
“Property crime” is an umbrella term that encompasses everything from destruction of property to robbery to embezzlement. Because SQ 805 would apply to many property crimes, it’s not uncommon for people to get confused about what that means.Ryan Haynie | September 10, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Parental demand may change school-choice landscape
Schools that are currently refusing to provide in-person instruction are drawing fierce backlash from parents across Oklahoma. One legislative leader on education issues says that parental activism may be changing the political landscape for school-choice issues.Ray Carter | September 10, 2020
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Criminal Justice
Myth vs. Fact: SQ 805 and sexual crimes
As it turns out, child prostitution and human trafficking are included on the list of violent offenses. They remain untouched by SQ 805.Ryan Haynie | September 4, 2020
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Education
Facing parent pushback, Owasso district announces reopening
With its school-board members facing a voter-recall effort, officials at Owasso Public Schools announced Friday that the school will reopen for in-person instruction on September 17.Ray Carter | September 4, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma increases transportation ranking without massive spending hikes
In 2004, Oklahoma had 1,168 structurally deficient bridges and ranked 49th in a federal report on bridge upkeep. Fifteen years later, the state has made a monumental jump to 9th with only 86 bridges now reported structurally deficient.Curtis Shelton | September 4, 2020
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Education
Owasso school board’s actions prompt recall effort
Earlier this year in Owasso, school officials celebrated when the support of about 1,000 voters allowed the issuance of $11 million in bonds. But when it comes to reopening the district for in-person instruction, critics say the wishes of a far larger group of parents are being ignored.Ray Carter | September 3, 2020