A divided Legislature passed a new congressional map Friday that could transform Oklahoma’s political landscape for the next decade.
The Invisibles: Dealing With a Gambling Addiction
Nearly eight years into addiction recovery, Nicole Zoellner is still paying off $180,000 in gambling debt.
Does Oklahoma’s maternal mortality rate exceed the national rate?
Oklahoma’s maternal mortality rate from 2018 to 2022 was 30 deaths per 100,000 live births — higher than the national rate of 23 per 100,000 births. The U.S. is considered an outlier among wealthy nations; the average maternal mortality rate across high-income countries was 12 deaths per 100,000 births in 2020. Racial disparities are also […]
Oklahoma Treasurer Adds Bank to Blacklist Weeks After It Sold Higher Ed Bonds
Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ added global bank Barclays to his list of financial firms thought to be discriminating against the oil and gas industry just weeks after it led the sale of $230 million in bonds for the University of Oklahoma.
Long Story Short: Millions More Go To Oklahoma Hospitals As Managed Care Begins
Oklahoma Watch · Millions More Go To Oklahoma Hospitals As Managed Care Begins Paul Monies looks into how hospitals across Oklahoma are getting extra payments as part of the state’s move to a managed care payment model for its Medicaid program. Keaton Ross on several consequential bills affecting Oklahoma’s courts, prisons and jails. Jennifer Palmer […]
Key Criminal Justice Bills in Limbo as Session Winds Down
One bill cracking down on retail theft would partially roll back a voter-approved criminal justice reform effort. Lawmakers face a May 31 deadline to finalize business.
Millions More Go To Oklahoma Hospitals As Managed Care Begins
An extra $500 million a year will be going to Oklahoma hospitals as the state transitions to a managed care model for its Medicaid program. The money is meant to close the gap between what the government pays for health care for children and low-income people covered by the program and what hospitals get for providing care to patients with private insurance.
Long Story Short: How Oklahoma Zoning Laws Contribute to the Housing Crisis
Oklahoma Watch · How Oklahoma Zoning Laws Contribute to the Housing Crisis Heather Warlick recently wrote about how Oklahoma’s restrictive zoning ordinances may stand in the way of solving the state’s affordable housing shortage. Paul Monies discusses the latest developments at the Capitol, where lawmakers are in the last month of the regular session. Keaton […]
Staff Oversight Lax As Lawton Prisoner Murdered, Left Undetected in Trash Can
Three Lawton Correctional Facility officers were terminated after footage showed they failed to conduct required prisoner counts and investigate suspicious behavior.
Long Story Short: The Unique Challenges of Health Care for The Unhoused
Oklahoma Watch · Sick to Death: The Unique Challenges of Heath Care for The Unhoused Reporter Jennifer Palmer discusses her story about the high rate of teacher turnover in Oklahoma, Paul Monies reports on the state’s Free Speech Committee, and Heather Warlick talks about the health care challenges unique to those experiencing homelessness. Ted Streuli […]
Stitt Signs Hundreds of Bills Into Law as Budget Negotiations Continue
With less than a month left to go in the legislative session, House and Senate leaders are inching closer to a budget agreement and Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed hundreds of bills into law. But disagreements over potential income tax cuts remain a sticking point among the Republicans in charge at the Capitol.
Zoned Out: How Oklahoma Zoning Laws Contribute to the Housing Crisis
In Oklahoma’s three largest cities, single-family zoning regulations create obstacles for affordable housing development. As Tulsa and Oklahoma City budget large influxes of tax dollars for housing, some policymakers recommend reconsidering zoning laws.