Articles
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Criminal Justice
Change in felony threshold tied to increased crime
In 2016, Oklahoma voters approved State Question 780, which raised the felony threshold for property crime to $1,000 per occurrence. Retailers, law enforcement officials, and private citizens recently told members of a Senate committee that the result of the state question has been an increase in crime.Ray Carter | October 28, 2019
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Education
School budget request approved despite concerns
The State Board of Education has approved a budget for K-12 public schools that requests an additional $219 million, but board members expressed concern the proposal misleads by omission and fails to provide a carefully considered long-range plan for Oklahoma schools.Ray Carter | October 25, 2019
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Budget & Tax
State officials lose track of money
State government’s reputation for oversight of finances took a hit at a recent Senate study when officials discussed longstanding confusion over how much money has been placed in a fund in existence for more than six decades, and conceded they are not certain how that money has been spent.Ray Carter | October 23, 2019
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Criminal Justice
Oklahoma fees may be excessive, unconstitutional
Oklahoma’s use of court fines and fees may be excessive and potentially unconstitutional, according to experts who spoke at a recent Senate meeting. But law enforcement officials stressed that repeal of those fees will require an offsetting increase in state appropriations.Ray Carter | October 23, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma’s gaming activity, by the numbers
Oklahoma’s gaming activity has grown at one of the fastest paces in the country since voters first approved the State-Tribal Compacts in 2004. Since then Oklahoma’s gaming revenue has grown by nearly 200 percent and has doubled its share of Oklahoma’s economy.Curtis Shelton | October 23, 2019
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Health Care
Tennessee seeks block grant to curb Medicaid costs
Tennessee announced it is seeking to cap total Medicaid spending by utilizing block grants. If the state’s proposal is approved by the Trump administration, other states would likely follow suit.Kaitlyn Finley | October 22, 2019
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Criminal Justice
Risk assessment urged for bail process
Under existing Oklahoma law, people arrested for crimes can post bail and be released even if they pose a threat to others, while other individuals posing no threat remain behind bars awaiting a hearing because of poverty, officials told lawmakers at a legislative study.Ray Carter | October 22, 2019
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Education
Don’t overregulate choice
There is no real need to regulate private schools, in choice programs or otherwise, for anything other than health and safety. Parents are the real accountability system.Greg Forster, Ph.D. | October 22, 2019
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Education
Top school makes case for building funds
One of the top-performing schools in Tulsa is also among the Oklahoma schools facing the greatest challenge when it comes to facilities—because it is a charter school.Ray Carter | October 21, 2019
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Health Care
Walmart dives into the primary-care market
Walmart is shaking up the health care industry by offering low-cost primary-care services to its retail customers.Kaitlyn Finley | October 21, 2019