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
-
Culture & the Family
Legislature passes bill shielding Oklahoma parents who decline ‘transgender’ affirmation
Oklahoma lawmakers have approved the “Right to Raise Act,” which bars the state from denying adoption placements or pursuing child-abuse charges against parents who decline to support a child’s gender transition or use opposite-sex pronouns.Ray Carter | April 30, 2026
-
Education
Oklahoma Senate votes to open OSSAA hearings, scrap transfer-year penalty
The Oklahoma Senate has approved legislation requiring most Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association eligibility and rules-violation hearings to be conducted under the state’s open-meeting laws.Ray Carter | April 29, 2026
-
Economy
Report finds Oklahoma poverty fell far more without wage hike
A report released by supporters of State Question 832 estimates only a one-point reduction in poverty under a $15 wage, far below the decline Oklahoma achieved from 2010 to 2019.Ray Carter | April 29, 2026
-
Education
Oklahoma Senate approves longer school year, sends bill to Stitt
The Oklahoma Senate has approved legislation to increase the state’s minimum school year from 166 to 173 days beginning in 2027-2028, sending the measure to Gov. Kevin Stitt.Ray Carter | April 28, 2026
-
Education
Demand pushes Legislature to expand Oklahoma school-choice program
With nearly 40,000 students using Oklahoma’s Parental Choice Tax Credit program this year and demand projected to exceed the current $250 million cap, state lawmakers have approved a $25 million increase for the 2026-2027 school year.Ray Carter | April 28, 2026
-
Good Government
State treasurer attacked for awarding contract to lowest bidder
Oklahoma State Treasurer Todd Russ faced criticism from an online publication for voting to award an investment-advisory contract to the lowest bidder. Russ says the report “is not journalism—it’s an attempt to create suspicion where none exists.”Ray Carter | April 27, 2026
-
Budget & Tax
Oklahoma Senate panel advances plan to redirect tobacco-settlement funds
Oklahoma lawmakers are moving to give voters a say in redirecting a portion of the state’s $2.2 billion Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, citing decades of poor health outcomes despite heavy TSET spending.Ray Carter | April 23, 2026
-
Education
Democrat lawmakers express frustration over public school failures for vulnerable students
Democratic lawmakers Aletia Timmons and Ellyn Hefner recently expressed frustration that some Oklahoma public schools fail to follow federal special-education law.Ray Carter | April 23, 2026
-
Education, Good Government
Bill forcing OSSAA meetings into public view clears Senate panel
A Senate committee advanced House Bill 2153, which would force the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association to hold open, public meetings whenever it rules on student eligibility, rule violations, or hardship waivers.Ray Carter | April 21, 2026
-
Education
Stitt signs sweeping literacy law
Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1778 into law, ushering in one of the nation’s most aggressive literacy reforms amid dismal reading scores that place Oklahoma near the bottom nationally.Ray Carter | April 21, 2026
-