Authors
Ray Carter
Director, Center for Independent Journalism
Ray Carter is the director of OCPA’s Center for Independent Journalism. He has two decades of experience in journalism and communications. He previously served as senior Capitol reporter for The Journal Record, media director for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and chief editorial writer at The Oklahoman. As a reporter for The Journal Record, Carter received 12 Carl Rogan Awards in four years—including awards for investigative reporting, general news reporting, feature writing, spot news reporting, business reporting, and sports reporting. While at The Oklahoman, he was the recipient of several awards, including first place in the editorial writing category of the Associated Press/Oklahoma News Executives Carl Rogan Memorial News Excellence Competition for an editorial on the history of racism in the Oklahoma legislature.
Recent Articles
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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
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Education, Law & Principles
New Oklahoma law closes loophole allowing abusive school employees to hop districts
A new Oklahoma law aims to end the practice known as “passing the trash,” in which school employees accused of abusing students resign and quietly move to another district without their misconduct being disclosed.Ray Carter | December 22, 2025
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Budget & Tax, Education
Lawmakers seek to address Oklahoma’s reading crisis
After a decade of steep declines in student reading performance, two Oklahoma lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at restoring literacy as a core focus of K-12 education.Ray Carter | December 19, 2025
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Higher Education
Out-of-state students leave Oklahoma after graduation
State data show that two-thirds of nonresident OU graduates leave Oklahoma within five years, compared to more than 80 percent of in-state graduates who remain.Ray Carter | December 18, 2025
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Health Care
GAO finds Obamacare fraud is easy
Government Accountability Office officials told Sen. James Lankford that 19 of 20 fraudulent test applications for Obamacare—submitted using entirely fake identities, Social Security numbers, and documents—were approved through HealthCare.gov or insurance brokers.Ray Carter | December 17, 2025
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Law & Principles
Holt calls state leaders ‘bitterly unpopular’—but they outpoll him
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, who promotes “Pride Month” celebrating transgenderism and other sexual identities, recently dismissed Oklahoma statewide elected officials as “bitterly unpopular.” Holt says a California-style election system will produce superior governance.Ray Carter | December 17, 2025
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Higher Education
OU professor to promote ‘accurate’ science education on evolution, climate change
A University of Oklahoma associate professor has been named a 2025 Sound Science Fellow by the National Center for Science Education. The fellowship is “aimed at advancing the teaching of evolution, climate change, and accurate scientific education.”Ray Carter | December 15, 2025
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Higher Education
Survey shows college students support violent responses to unwelcome speech
A new nationwide survey taken after the Sept. 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk shows a significant share of college students—especially those on the political left—now believe that physical retaliation can be justified in response to speech they dislike.Ray Carter | December 11, 2025
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