Oklahoma State Auditor Q&A: ‘I Believe People Own the …
WEBMar 14, 2022 — Oklahoma Watch is marking Sunshine Week (March 13-19) with a series of stories promoting open government. “I believe people own the government and government entities are just stewards of the people’s checkbook. And my role is to go and make sure those checkbooks are in order,” Byrd said. She brings a “rural girl” perspective from ...
Pottawatomie Jail Investigator Promoted Amid Cover-Up Allegations
WEBOct 26, 2023 — Whitney Bryen is an investigative reporter at Oklahoma Watch covering vulnerable populations. Her recent investigations focus on mental health and substance abuse, criminal justice, domestic violence and nursing homes. Contact her at (405) 201-6057 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @SoonerReporter.
Oklahoma Starts Year With Its Most Emergency Teachers On Record
WEBSep 1, 2021 — A record number of emergency certificates were approved in 2019-20. However, that that year there were 2,319 by August. Jennifer Palmer has been a reporter with Oklahoma Watch since 2016 and covers education. Contact her at (405) 761-0093 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @jpalmerOKC.
AG to Lay Out Evidence in Epic’s Multi-Million Dollar …
WEBMar 25, 2024 — AG to Lay Out Evidence in Epic’s Multi-Million Dollar Embezzlement Case. Epic Charter Schools co-founders Ben Harris and David Chaney and CFO Josh Brock. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch) The size of the scandal alleged at the state’s largest online school befits the school’s name: epic. Investigators say two men at …
Five Criminal Justice Bills to Watch in 2024
WEBJan 19, 2024 — Here are five bills to watch in the 2024 legislative session, which convenes on Feb. 5: Cracking Down on Domestic Abuse. Bill Number: Senate Bill 1211. Sponsor: Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond. As Oklahoma’s domestic violence rate trends up, several bills look to increase punishments for abusers. Thompson’s proposal would increase the …
Seven Years in the Making, Oklahoma Online Voter Registration …
WEBJul 21, 2022 — The delay has caused Oklahoma to lag behind nationally. Forty states now offer online voter registration, with full implementation taking between one and three years on average, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.. Phase one of Oklahoma’s online registration portal rolled out in September 2018, allowing already registered voters to virtually update their party ...
How Oklahoma Lawmakers Have Loosened Gun Regulations the …
WEBJun 3, 2022 — As lawmakers moved to loosen gun regulations, Oklahoma’s firearms mortality rate increased 31.8% between 2014 and 2020, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Gun deaths from homicides, suicides and accidental discharges are included in the firearms mortality rate. At 20.7 deaths per 100,000 residents, Oklahoma ...
Examining Oklahoma Teacher Salaries
WEBJan 6, 2022 — To come to that conclusion, LOFT adjusted the reported salaries for “tax burdens and cost of living.”. When “real buying power” is factored into Oklahoma’s average 2019 teacher salary of $52,397, it jumps to $55,161, the report found. State Rep. John Waldron, a former history teacher, called it a “smoke-and-mirrors report.”.
Students Walk Out to Protest Death Sentence - Oklahoma Watch
WEBNov 19, 2021 — It was something to practice. Public pleas for clemency for Julius Jones intensified this week, driving students to action: staging walkouts from high schools, leading public protests and visiting the state Capitol. Jones was scheduled for execution Thursday afternoon, but Gov. Kevin Stitt commuted his death sentence to life without parole.
Nonprofit Dissolves After Federal Investigators Froze Funding
WEBJul 29, 2023 — Whitney Bryen is an investigative reporter at Oklahoma Watch covering vulnerable populations. Her recent investigations focus on mental health and substance abuse, criminal justice, domestic violence and nursing homes. Contact her at (405) 201-6057 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @SoonerReporter.