Articles
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Judicial Reform
Study: Oklahoma Supreme Court judges consistently liberal
The trend in Oklahoma defies trends in nearly all other states, which have seen their courts’ judicial ideology fluctuate over time with periods of more conservative jurists.Ray Carter | January 10, 2024
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Law & Principles
Proposed rules from Pardon and Parole Board are unlawful, unwise
Proposed rules recently introduced by the current Pardon and Parole Board seek to undermine the process of correcting overly harsh sentences by making it much more difficult for an individual to seek a commutation.Ryan Haynie | January 10, 2024
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Judicial Reform, Economy
Report shows JNC system harming Oklahoma economy
A new report from the State Chamber Research Foundation shows, indirectly, that Oklahoma’s Judicial Nominating Commission has resulted in the appointment of judges who have, on net, harmed the state’s legal climate and negatively impacted Oklahoma’s economic competitiveness.Ray Carter | January 5, 2024
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Education
Working-class families benefit from Oklahoma school-choice program
Nearly half of Oklahoma families that have applied for the state’s new private-school tax credit are from lower-income or middle-class backgrounds. And because tuition at many private schools is relatively inexpensive, the average tax credit so far is only $6,035.Ray Carter | January 4, 2024
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Education
DEI commitments influence hiring in Tulsa Public Schools
Tulsa Public Schools unashamedly embraces the principles of “diversity, equity, and inclusion”—and that influences the district's teacher-hiring decisions.Ray Carter | January 3, 2024
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Economy
Study shows minimum wage hike will cost jobs, opportunity
A ballot measure to raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2029 took a blow recently when a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) study showed a similar federal proposal would eliminate many entry-level jobs for workers.Ray Carter | January 2, 2024
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Higher Education
OSU president Kayse Shrum in denial
If we want college leaders to stop the subterfuge and start listening to the taxpayers, making them personally liable for their actions will go a long way.Jonathan Small | January 2, 2024
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Budget & Tax
With surging state revenue, Stitt, McCall push for tax cuts
Oklahoma lawmakers are set to have an additional $457.9 million for the 2024 legislative session, with a total of around $11 billion in recurring revenue, leading Governor Kevin Stitt to say those conditions make a tax cut easily achievable in the 2024 legislative session.Ray Carter | December 22, 2023
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Education
Rural charter school to expand into Okmulgee
The State Board of Education has approved a request by The Academy of Seminole, a rural charter school, to open a new branch in Okmulgee after community leaders voiced support, citing parental dissatisfaction with the academic results produced by the community’s traditional public school.Ray Carter | December 22, 2023
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Education
Walters calls for elimination of DEI in public schools
Following Gov. Kevin Stitt’s recent executive order that restricts “diversity, equity, and inclusion” programs and staff in state colleges and universities, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters said the Oklahoma State Department of Education is proposing new regulations that will impose similar restrictions on public K-12 schools.Ray Carter | December 21, 2023