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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Law & Principles
Lawmakers seek to reduce Oklahoma regulations
Oklahoma imposes more state regulations than most U.S. states, due in part to a review process that currently allows little time for lawmakers to thoroughly examine proposed agency rules. Two lawmakers want to change that.Ray Carter | January 21, 2025
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Energy
Court ruling bolsters Oklahoma anti-ESG law
A U.S. district court judge has ruled that “environmental, social, and governance” (ESG) investing violates the fiduciary duty of pension plan managers since it is not based solely on maximizing returns and pensioners’ retirement security.Ray Carter | January 20, 2025
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Education
Teachers’ union holds anti-Trump webinar
Members of the National Education Association, whose state affiliate is the Oklahoma Education Association, held a webinar with sessions on “defending LGBTQ+ civil rights in public schools” and keeping U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “out of schools.”Ray Carter | January 20, 2025
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Education
Lower-income families benefiting from Oklahoma school choice tax credit
New data from the Oklahoma Tax Commission show that the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit program has benefited far more children from lower-income families than children from families in the program’s top income bracket.Ray Carter | January 17, 2025
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Judicial Reform
Oklahoma Supreme Court applicants include Democratic donors
At least five of the 14 individuals who have applied for the open seat on the Oklahoma Supreme Court have previously contributed to the political campaigns of Democratic candidates or to a political action committee that funded Democrats.Ray Carter | January 17, 2025
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Culture & the Family
Oklahoma Democrats fight to let men use women’s bathroom
Democratic lawmakers started the new year arguing that men should be allowed to use the women’s bathroom at the back of the Oklahoma House chamber.Ray Carter | January 16, 2025
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Budget & Tax
Bills to repeal Oklahoma income tax increase in number
Another state lawmaker is urging his colleagues to repeal Oklahoma’s personal income tax, which is often referred to as the state’s penalty on work and investment.Ray Carter | January 16, 2025
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Education
Bill would move Oklahoma school-board elections to November
Extremely low voter turnout is the norm in Oklahoma school-board elections. One state lawmaker wants to move school-board races to general-election ballots that generate much higher levels of community involvement.Ray Carter | January 15, 2025
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Culture & the Family
Survivor of communism warns Oklahoma audience of Chinese influence
Lily Tang Williams warned an Oklahoma City audience of the perils of communism and against allowing the Chinese government to increase its leverage through business ties and higher education.Ray Carter | January 14, 2025
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Higher Education
Transparency sought for Oklahoma universities’ foreign funds
Some Oklahoma universities receive millions of dollars from foreign sources. Under legislation filed by state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, they would have to publicly report any foreign funding received and its purpose.Ray Carter | January 10, 2025
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