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Oklahoma Voice
Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing
Violent crime in the United States dropped significantly in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the same period last year, according to the FBI’s Quarterly Uniform Crime Report released earlier this month. The FBI’s data, collected from nearly 12,000 law enforcement agencies representing about 77% of the country’s population, suggests violent crime dropped by […] The post Despite what some politicians say, crime rates are decreasing appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Golf, abortion, Jan. 6 and felonies: Biden and Trump’s memorable debate moments
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump debated at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday night, the first showdown of the 2024 general election season for the presumptive presidential nominees. The debate was heated, with candidates accusing one another of lying about their and their opponent’s positions on the debate stage. Both presidential […] The post Golf, abortion, Jan. 6 and felonies: Biden and Trump’s memorable debate moments appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma board rejects judge’s advice to keep Summer Boismier’s teaching license intact
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s top school board has voted to ignore a judge’s finding that former Norman teacher Summer Boismier should keep her teaching license after posting a link in her classroom to an online library containing banned books. The Oklahoma State Board of Education on Thursday unanimously voted to reject the judge’s recommendation and […] The post Oklahoma board rejects judge’s advice to keep Summer Boismier’s teaching license intact appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma schools ordered to use Bible in history teaching
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s top education official on Thursday ordered all public schools in the state to incorporate the Bible into their curriculum as a historical text. State Superintendent Ryan Walters said he wants the Bible kept and taught in every Oklahoma classroom, particularly how it is referenced in America’s history and founding documents. “We’re […] The post Oklahoma schools ordered to use Bible in history teaching appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Tuition hikes approved at 12 Oklahoma public universities
OKLAHOMA CITY – Of the 14 colleges and universities that requested increases in tuition, the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education fully approved 11 proposals for the 2024-25 school year. Presidents of Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities presented their proposals for hikes in tuition and fees on Wednesday to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher […] The post Tuition hikes approved at 12 Oklahoma public universities appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma executes man convicted of 1984 rape and murder of his 7-year-old, former stepdaughter
OKLAHOMA CITY – Convicted killer Richard Norman Rojem, Jr., was executed Thursday by lethal injection in the 40-year-old killing of his former stepdaughter, who was 7 when she died. He was pronounced dead at 10:16 a.m. at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Rojem was sentenced to die for the July 7, 1984 kidnapping, rape and […] The post Oklahoma executes man convicted of 1984 rape and murder of his 7-year-old, former stepdaughter appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
U.S. House Democrats push for federal gun reform following surgeon general advisory
Democratic U.S. House members pushed for legislative action to address gun violence Wednesday, the day after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared the issue a public health crisis. Murthy released a 40-page advisory Tuesday. It called gun violence the leading cause of death for children and adolescents, causing just over 4,600 deaths in 2022. More […] The post U.S. House Democrats push for federal gun reform following surgeon general advisory appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Presidential election seen as climate turning point as CO2 hits record
Recent data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicate that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been at record high levels the past two years. The jump from 2022 to 2024 is the largest two-year increase NOAA has recorded in the 50 years the agency has collected data. As the presidential election approaches, […] The post Presidential election seen as climate turning point as CO2 hits record appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, The GEO Group, reach 1-year contract agreement
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Board of Corrections on Wednesday agreed to a one-year contract with The GEO Group, which operates a Lawton prison. It will allow The GEO Group to continue running the prison while the state will begin to take operations over. The facility will be completely state-run by next summer. The agreement comes […] The post Oklahoma Department of Corrections, The GEO Group, reach 1-year contract agreement appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Kansas legislative committee jumps into battle over selection of Medicaid contractors
A committee of the Kansas Legislature opened an inquiry into the Kelly administration’s replacement of one of three Medicaid contractors with a Blue Cross and Blue Shield entity linked to the disgraced company that stiffed Kansas health care providers for millions of dollars when forced out of the program in 2018. The Kansas Department of […] The post Kansas legislative committee jumps into battle over selection of Medicaid contractors appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities request tuition increases
OKLAHOMA CITY – Fourteen presidents of Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities on Wednesday asked the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for hikes in tuition and fees. Many presidents said inflation was a reason for the proposed increases. But 12 presidents did not propose increases in tuition and fees, including Oklahoma State University, which marks […] The post Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities request tuition increases appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Biden to pardon vets discharged for same-sex relationships
President Joe Biden will pardon U.S. military veterans who were discharged or convicted under military law for consensual same-sex relations, the administration announced Wednesday. The White House could not provide an exact number of veterans who will be pardoned, but the administration estimates thousands were convicted over several decades and may be eligible. The convictions […] The post Biden to pardon vets discharged for same-sex relationships appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Four states to begin voluntary testing for bird flu in dairy farm milk tanks
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that four states will launch voluntary pilot programs in the days ahead to test bulk milk tanks on dairy farms for bird flu — a move that’s aimed at making it easier for farmers to ship herds across state lines and for public health officials to track spread […] The post Four states to begin voluntary testing for bird flu in dairy farm milk tanks appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Undecided voters are the prize for both Biden and Trump in Thursday presidential debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will get a crucial opportunity to reach undecided voters and set the terms for the 2024 presidential campaign at Thursday night’s debate in Atlanta. Partisans on either side have already made up their minds about which candidate they’ll support. And with this year’s race serving as a […] The post Undecided voters are the prize for both Biden and Trump in Thursday presidential debate appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Here’s a peek at how our nonprofit news is funded
People often ask me about how sustainable Oklahoma Voice’s operations are. It’s a fair question in an ever-shifting media landscape that’s plagued by layoffs, publication closures and lots of uncertainty about the future of our industry. We’re lucky to be a part of States Newsroom. This nonprofit network has obtained sustainable, recurring funding for the […] The post Here’s a peek at how our nonprofit news is funded appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma’s ‘aging plan’ to address needed care for older adults
OKLAHOMA CITY – Adults over the age of 60 are expected to outnumber children for the first time in Oklahoma by 2034, according to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. The agency unveiled a 10-year plan on Tuesday to improve care for older adults and to strengthen the infrastructure for the aging population. Deborah Shropshire, […] The post Oklahoma’s ‘aging plan’ to address needed care for older adults appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma Supreme Court strikes down Catholic charter school
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Supreme Court has rejected the existence of a publicly funded Catholic charter school in the state. In a majority opinion issued Tuesday, six of the state’s nine justices agreed with Attorney General Gentner Drummond that the contract creating St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Charter School must be rescinded. The ruling […] The post Oklahoma Supreme Court strikes down Catholic charter school appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma Veterans Commission considering closing 126 beds, but no veterans would be turned away
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Veterans Commission is considering removing 126 beds across three veterans homes from its inventory. If approved, the beds would no longer be available in the Claremore, Ardmore and Sulphur facilities. In a proposal during the June 10 meeting, commissioners were asked to consider decertifying those beds to “bring supply into […] The post Oklahoma Veterans Commission considering closing 126 beds, but no veterans would be turned away appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signs bill to poach Kansas City Chiefs, Royals from Missouri
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday signed legislation that offers hundreds of millions of dollars to the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to relocate from Missouri. The legislation, an expansion of one of the state’s tax incentive programs, could help finance up to 70% of the cost for one or both teams to build a […] The post Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signs bill to poach Kansas City Chiefs, Royals from Missouri appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
For both sides, abortion policy two years after Dobbs decision hinges on November
Exactly two years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, the battles rage among both advocates and lawmakers over the future of reproductive rights at the state and federal levels. Anti-abortion groups that have achieved considerable success in deep-red parts of the country are working to sway voters away from […] The post For both sides, abortion policy two years after Dobbs decision hinges on November appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
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Oklahoma Voice provides original, objective reporting examining the intersection of policy, impact and power. We deliver unflinching, nonpartisan coverage of how Oklahomans are affected by the decisions made in our state capital and beyond. A nonprofit, independent news outlet, our content will always be free. Our name is a nod to the state’s robust history of oral storytelling and our mission to elevate the voices of Oklahomans too often sidelined by the political process. You’ll never hit a paywall on our site, and you won’t find advertisements either. Oklahoma Voice is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and donations. The Voice retains full editorial independence.
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