Articles
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Education
Oklahoma public schools to go online
While public school buildings will remain closed to students, the system will shift to educating children online and through other distance-learning methods under an order approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Education.Ray Carter | March 25, 2020
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Economy, Culture & the Family
Businesses ordered closed in 19 Oklahoma counties
Gov. Kevin Stitt has ordered the closure of “nonessential” businesses in the 19 Oklahoma counties that have at least one confirmed positive COVID-19/coronavirus case. Those employers must stay closed for the next 21 days.Ray Carter | March 24, 2020
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Culture & the Family
Calls for unity quickly abandoned for partisanship
Calls for national unity in dealing with the COVID-19/coronavirus event have quickly fallen by the wayside at both the state and federal levels.Ray Carter | March 24, 2020
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Education
In north Tulsa, educators innovate to continue learning
Due to coronavirus and concerns about students’ access to the Internet, Oklahoma public schools have been ordered to halt learning through at least April 6, a mandate that applies to all options, including online learning. But it’s full steam ahead for one private school serving working-class students in north Tulsa.Ray Carter | March 24, 2020
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Education
Resources available for parents thrust into homeschooling
The Homeschool Oklahoma website has vital information for parents “thrust into home education without any preparation.” They have joined other homeschool organizations nationwide to reach out to parents who suddenly find themselves with children at home and schools canceled for the indefinite future.Mike Brake | March 23, 2020
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Culture & the Family, Good Government
Pursue innovation, remember working families during COVID crisis
“The Covid-19/coronavirus represents a true threat to public health. But even in the midst of unprecedented action, an important balance must be preserved: Action must be taken to reduce public spread of this virus, but it must be done in a way that minimizes the damage to people’s lives."Jonathan Small | March 22, 2020
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Culture & the Family
Legislature to close for another week
Due to the COVID-19/coronavirus event, the Oklahoma Legislature will not convene in session at the Oklahoma Capitol for at least another week, officials have announced.Ray Carter | March 20, 2020
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Health Care
Thousands added to Medicaid through expansion already have coverage
As Oklahoma expands its Medicaid program to include up to 628,000 able-bodied adults, one feature of the expansion that is often overlooked is that tens of thousands being added to the program already have coverage or access to care.Ray Carter | March 20, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma budget shortfall looms
The total decline for the 2021 state budget could approach $600 million. And that doesn’t appear to account for new spending mandated by Medicaid expansion, which could cost up to $374 million annually.Ray Carter | March 20, 2020
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Education
State could suspend student testing, school grades
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister has announced that the state will seek a federal waiver to suspend both state testing for the 2019-20 school year and school report cards, two major transparency measures that have allowed officials to track the trajectory of public education in Oklahoma.Ray Carter | March 19, 2020