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Oklahoma Voice
Operation and equipment grants available for Oklahoma sheriffs
OKLAHOMA CITY – Grant funding is available for county sheriffs to bolster services. Passed last session, House Bill 2914 created the $18 million Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office Funding Assistance Grant Program administered through the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office. Counties can apply for grants ranging from $150,000 to $300,000, depending on their total tangible property valuation. Sheriffs […]
2024 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year known to ‘take people under her wing’
OKLAHOMA CITY — An Ada High School teacher known as a mentor to her colleagues and students has been crowned the 2024 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. Rachel Keith was announced the winner of the prestigious award on Monday night among a group of 10 finalists. Keith has taught for 19 years, including 11 years […] The post 2024 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year known to ‘take people under her wing’ appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma Republican senators select new leader designate
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Monday tapped Lonnie Paxton as its Senate President Pro Tem designate. Paxton, R-Tuttle, said he was honored his colleagues put their faith and trust in him. “I plan to lead from the front and further unify our caucus, while reaching across the aisle, across the rotunda and to […] The post Oklahoma Republican senators select new leader designate appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Senate unanimously condemns political violence in Oklahoma resolution
OKLAHOMA CITY – The state Senate passed a resolution condemning political violence Monday after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally over the weekend. SR 1, which passed unanimously and with bipartisan support, condemned “political violence in any form” and recognized the victims of Saturday’s shooting. It also called for “unification […]
State Senate confirms new member to Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents
OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt’s third nomination to the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents stuck when senators convened Monday for a special session. Jennifer Callahan’s nomination was approved with a unanimous vote from the Education Committee Monday morning. The full Senate convened afterward and approved her appointment with another unanimous vote. Callahan will serve […] The post State Senate confirms new member to Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Will Matthew McConaughey run for office? He’s on a ‘learning tour,’ the star tells governors
Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey, who has made past headlines for toying with the idea of running for public office, whether it be for Texas’ governor or a presidential bid, again wouldn’t give a definitive answer Friday — but he left the door open. “Yes, I’ve thought about running (for public office),” the actor said in […] The post Will Matthew McConaughey run for office? He’s on a ‘learning tour,’ the star tells governors appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma minimum wage petition supporters submit nearly double number of required signatures
OKLAHOMA CITY – Supporters of an effort to hike the minimum wage on Monday turned in nearly double the required number of signatures to get the issue on the ballot. Supporters needed 92,263 signatures and turned in just shy of 180,000 to the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office, said Amber England, a spokesperson for Raise […] The post Oklahoma minimum wage petition supporters submit nearly double number of required signatures appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma officials make education look like the ‘Twilight Zone,’ and no one wants to see the twist
Every time it seems like our public school policies can’t get any more bizarre, our education officials manage to up the ante. In the past month alone, they’ve announced that: Bibles must be used in public school classrooms. Not as a dust collector or doorstop but as a historical text. Rather than relying on traditional […] The post Oklahoma officials make education look like the ‘Twilight Zone,’ and no one wants to see the twist appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Updated: Victims and shooter identified in assassination attempt on Trump at Butler rally
The FBI said early Sunday it had identified the man who shot former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler on Saturday as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks was killed at the scene. Trump was pronounced safe shortly after the incident. Corey Comperatore, 50, of Sarver, who was at […] The post Updated: Victims and shooter identified in assassination attempt on Trump at Butler rally appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Trump recovering after a shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania
BUTLER, Pennsylvania — Former President Donald Trump was recovering Saturday after a shooting at a campaign rally in Butler that left a rally-goer and the gunman dead, authorities said. Two people were critically injured in the incident, according to the U.S. Secret Service. Shortly after Trump took the stage at 6 p.m., several loud pops […] The post Trump recovering after a shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Legislation doubling pay for election precinct officials takes effect
OKLAHOMA CITY – Precinct officials’ pay for a workday has doubled. Effective July 1, precinct officials received a pay increase from $110 a day to $225 a day for inspectors and from $100 a day to $200 a day for judges and clerks. Oklahoma’s 77 county election boards are required to have these three precinct […]
Oklahoma Senate to convene for special session Monday, elect next Pro Tem
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma senators will return to the Capitol Monday for another special session to elect the next Republican Senate leader and to approve a nomination to the Oklahoma A&M Board of Regents. Senators will convene for a vote on Jennifer Callahan’s nomination at 10 a.m., followed by a 1 p.m. Republican Caucus meeting. […] The post Oklahoma Senate to convene for special session Monday, elect next Pro Tem appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
No country for old men
A new world is straining to be born, and at some point it requires new American leadership. Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the last of their generation, are both trying to stand in its way. Trump hopes to block and even reverse the emergence of that new world through brute authoritarian force, trying to “Make […] The post No country for old men appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Sports betting legalization stalls again in the Oklahoma Legislature
OKLAHOMA CITY – Ongoing disagreements between the governor and the state’s tribes created a difficult path forward for Republicans’ latest hopes of legalizing sports betting, a top gaming official said. Matthew Morgan, Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association chairman, said despite Gov. Kevin Stitt’s public push to legalize sports betting during the last session, there seemed to […] The post Sports betting legalization stalls again in the Oklahoma Legislature appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
‘This is going to kill us’: Oklahoma nursing homes brace for new federal staffing mandate
Cayley Inmon was born into long-term care. The registered nurse (RN), who currently works at a nursing home in Duncan, grew up at Country Club Care Nursing Home and Rehab owned by her grandparents. She started in the kitchen at 18 and worked her way up to its director of nursing. The nearly 60-year-old home […] The post ‘This is going to kill us’: Oklahoma nursing homes brace for new federal staffing mandate appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
In this Kansas town, an insular Catholic sect leaves some residents feeling left out
ST. MARYS, KANSAS — A growing Catholic sect has divided this small Kansas town between those who view the church’s influence as idyllic or disturbing. Shops selling Bibles, crosses and modest garb line the main street, where parents stroll by with their children. American flags dangle to showcase patriotism. There are homes with manicured lawns […] The post In this Kansas town, an insular Catholic sect leaves some residents feeling left out appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma County jail refuses inspection, setting up fight with state Health Department
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma County jail has twice refused surprise inspections from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, setting the stage for a potential standoff between the county’s district attorney and the state agency tasked with ensuring county jails are safe. The decision to block what should be a routine annual inspection has raised […] The post Oklahoma County jail refuses inspection, setting up fight with state Health Department appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma lottery generating record amounts for education
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s lottery revenue has reached new highs following a decision by lawmakers to increase the prize amounts offered. The Oklahoma Lottery Commission recorded an all-time high of about $380.5 million in sales revenue and about $87.6 million was reinvested in education in fiscal year 2023. It is projected to have its second […]
Missouri governor on Kansas City Chiefs: ‘I’m not too worried about Kansas at this point’
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said Monday he doesn’t think the Kansas City Chiefs want to leave Arrowhead Stadium for Kansas, though he acknowledged he hasn’t actually talked to the team’s owners. Speaking to reporters after a bill signing in Kansas City, Parson said he thought the reigning Super Bowl champion wasn’t that interested in building […] The post Missouri governor on Kansas City Chiefs: ‘I’m not too worried about Kansas at this point’ appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Republicans want to kill the Dept. of Ed and privatize education. Billionaires are helping them.
In the fall, the Department of Education will mark 45 years since its inception, but that anniversary could be its last if Donald Trump gets his way. The federal agency is one of several he’s vowed to slash if reelected president. “We’re going to end education coming out of Washington, D.C.,” he said in a […] The post Republicans want to kill the Dept. of Ed and privatize education. Billionaires are helping them. 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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