Articles
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Higher Education
OU must answer allegations of racial discrimination in financial aid
A federal judge has allowed a class-action lawsuit alleging race-based financial aid practices at the University of Oklahoma to proceed.Jonathan Small | October 12, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Local Government
OKC rail plan would add roughly $200 a year to the average resident’s sales tax burden
The tax hike required for the proposed passenger rail line connecting Edmond, Oklahoma City, and Norman would add an estimated $226 to the annual sales-tax burden of the average Edmond resident, $204 for an Oklahoma City resident, and $182 for a Norman resident.Curtis Shelton | October 9, 2026
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Local Government
OKC mayor says rail will ease traffic. Transportation experts disagree.
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt is pitching a proposed 39-mile passenger rail system (and tax increase) as one way to ease traffic congestion. But according to one expert, “It’s an established fact among researchers that transit does not meaningfully reduce congestion, and nobody should argue that it does.”Ray Carter | October 8, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects tax hike, requires county officials to follow the law
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has invalidated a voter-approved 2% lodging-tax increase in McCurtain County because county officials failed to comply with a state law requiring proposed county tax measures to be published in a local newspaper for four weeks before the election.Ryan Haynie | October 8, 2026
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Law & Principles, Local Government
Report finds socialists are targeting state, local, and school board elections
A new State Policy Network report finds that the Democratic Socialists of America is pursuing political influence primarily through state, local, and school board elections.Ray Carter | October 7, 2026
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Higher Education
OU’s H-1B filing raises questions about jobs for its own graduates
The University of Oklahoma is seeking an H-1B visa extension for an employee working as a sports video production manager at a salary of $55,931, a filing that has drawn attention because OU operates a video-production degree program that prepares students for careers in the field.Ray Carter | October 6, 2026
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Local Government
OKC’s proposed commuter rail won’t be faster than driving
Oklahoma City metro-area officials are asking voters to help fund a $1.8 billion, 39-mile commuter-rail system connecting Edmond, Oklahoma City, and Norman. Available evidence suggests the train will not get commuters to their destinations faster than driving.Ray Carter | October 6, 2026
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Higher Education
Oklahoma Supreme Court lets OU keep misconduct report secret
The University of Oklahoma hired the law firm Jones Day to investigate allegations that it misreported financial information to U.S. News & World Report and to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct involving former OU President David Boren. The resulting report remains secret.Ryan Haynie | October 5, 2026
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Education
Early school-choice deadline shutting out low-income, military families
Private-school officials say the June 15 application deadline is preventing some working-class, military, and first-time private-school families from participating in Oklahoma’s Parental Choice Tax Credit program.Ray Carter | October 5, 2026
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Education
How hard is it not to teach students that one race is superior to another?
There are only two potential explanations for critics’ opposition to HB 1775. Either opponents truly struggle to understand simple English, or opponents genuinely embrace horrific racism and sexism.Jonathan Small | October 5, 2026