Articles
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Criminal Justice, Law & Principles
Expungement reform signed into law
Legislation that simplifies the process of expunging the criminal record of certain individuals has been signed into law.Ray Carter | May 5, 2022
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Law & Principles
Stitt Administration investigating dubious uses of education funds
State documents show Gov. Kevin Stitt’s administration is poised to sue a vendor for alleged failure to abide by its contract, thereby potentially allowing several hundred thousand dollars in alleged misspending to occur.Ray Carter | May 4, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Education
School spending surge brings complaints, not improvement
Education spending and teacher pay are up dramatically, but so far Oklahomans are simply paying more for less.Ray Carter | May 4, 2022
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Law & Principles
Amid publicity, Moore vote on election integrity shifts
State Rep. Anthony Moore recently voted for legislation that would require a voter-fraud investigation when 10 or more people appear to be voting from one house—despite having previously voted against an almost identical bill that he decried as a waste of prosecutors’ time and “unconstitutional.”Ray Carter | May 3, 2022
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Law & Principles
Legal reform almost killed by GOP defectors
Legislation that would cap contingency fees paid to private law firms by state government narrowly passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives due to some Republican lawmakers joining Democrats in opposition.Ray Carter | April 29, 2022
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Education, Good Government
School bathroom bill clears House
Oklahoma public schools will no longer be allowed to force female students to share public bathrooms with male students under legislation that received broad approval in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.Ray Carter | April 29, 2022
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Criminal Justice, Law & Principles
Oklahoma law enforcement issue goes before U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Oklahoma’s bid to assert jurisdiction over non-Indian criminals who prey upon Indians living on lands declared part of reservations by a prior U.S. Supreme Court ruling.Ray Carter | April 28, 2022
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Education
House votes to bar union freeloading on state system
Teacher-union employees—who do not work in a school classroom—could no longer be counted as state employees under a bill passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives.Ray Carter | April 27, 2022
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Higher Education
College leaders duck question on OSU ‘drag queen story hour’
The Oklahoma State University Office of Multicultural Affairs recently announced it was hosting a “Drag Queen Story Hour” that was “geared towards ages 2-8.” For the most part, officials have adopted a “duck and cover” policy in response.Ray Carter | April 26, 2022
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Law & Principles, Culture & the Family
Did state superintendent candidate violate reporting law?
As voters consider the campaign pitches of the five individuals seeking the office, their evaluations will include weighing whether one candidate—current Shawnee Superintendent April Grace—committed a crime by failing to report to law enforcement that a suspected pedophile was on her staff.Ray Carter | April 26, 2022