Articles
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Education
Literacy improvement a major focus of Oklahoma leaders
Oklahoma lawmakers are making early literacy a top priority this session, filing a slate of bills aimed at reversing the state’s decline in reading outcomes. Led by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, legislators want to revive and strengthen proven, science-based reading reforms.Ray Carter | January 16, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
Oklahoma House Speaker: No taxpayer benefits for illegals
Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert has introduced two bills aimed at ensuring that taxpayer-funded assistance programs—from SNAP and TANF to Medicaid and WIC—are provided only to individuals who are lawfully present in the United States.Ray Carter | January 16, 2026
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Higher Education
OSU keeps employee who confronted conservative student, records show
An Oklahoma State University employee who sparked national controversy for berating a conservative student—and for falsely claiming that student-government rules banned his Turning Point USA hat—remains on staff.Ray Carter | January 15, 2026
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Higher Education
College official defends reliance on out-of-state students
Oklahoma taxpayers are subsidizing other states’ workforces as colleges increasingly enroll non-resident students—most of whom leave Oklahoma after graduation. Oklahoma’s chancellor of higher education defends the strategy as “importing talent and growing our workforce.”Ray Carter | January 14, 2026
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Law & Principles
As U.S. Supreme Court transgender cases loom, Oklahoma officials defend women
As the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in two high-profile cases over whether states may bar men from competing in women’s sports, Oklahoma officials are urging the Court to uphold those laws.Ray Carter | January 13, 2026
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Education
‘Life-changing’: Oklahoma working-class families shift to private schools
Oklahoma’s school-choice tax credit is transforming education for thousands of families, including those living paycheck-to-paycheck. Parents say the program has opened doors they never imagined.Ray Carter | January 12, 2026
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Economy
Oklahoma continues to attract movers
A new U-Haul Growth Index report shows Oklahoma remains one of the nation’s most popular destinations for movers, ranking 14th in net inbound traffic. According to U-Haul, blue-to-red state migration “continues to be a discernible trend.”Ray Carter | January 8, 2026
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Higher Education
As Trump seeks higher-ed transparency on foreign influence, an Oklahoma lawmaker moves to ban foreign funding
Foreign entities have poured more than $150 million into Oklahoma universities through contracts, restricted gifts, and donations. President Donald Trump is ramping up federal enforcement and transparency requirements for such funding, while one Oklahoma state lawmaker is taking an even more aggressive approach.Ray Carter | January 7, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Education
Oklahoma school spending and staffing up, but ACT scores fall
Oklahoma’s public schools are spending more than ever and hiring faster than enrollment grows, yet ACT scores have dropped to a new low.Ray Carter | January 6, 2026
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma restaurant owner warns SQ 832 will kill jobs, businesses
Restaurant owner and state Sen. Kristen Thompson warns that SQ 832 would devastate independent restaurants, pointing to California’s recent wage hike that led to job losses, reduced hours, higher menu prices, and increased automation.Ray Carter | January 6, 2026