One of our primary goals at Oklahoma Watch is to report on how public policy affects people. 

This requires traditional reporting techniques, such as combing through records, listening in on public meetings and tracking down officials. But it’s equally crucial for us to meet and build relationships with everyday Oklahomans. 

On the June 28 primary election date, the Oklahoma Watch reporting staff scattered across the state to talk with voters outside their polling place. We’re formulating similar plans for the Aug. 23 runoff election and Nov. 8 general election date. 

Several of my stories, including reports on the closure of a private prison in Hinton and the impact of prison gerrymandering in Holdenville, relied on on-the-ground reporting outside of the Oklahoma City metro area. 

Our work is enhanced tremendously by your input and perspective. That’s why I created a survey (see below) aimed at informing our democracy coverage. 

The form asks a handful of questions about your satisfaction with state government and voting experience. If you could take a few minutes to fill it out, I’d greatly appreciate it. 

We won’t contact you or share your response without your permission. If you’d prefer to share your experience more directly, you can email me at Kross@Oklahomawatch.org or DM me on Twitter.

What I’m Reading

• Sen. Jim Inhofe Has a Strained Relationship with the Man Favored to Succeed Him: Markwayne Mullin’s efforts to enter Afghanistan with large amounts of cash to rescue an American woman and her four children in August 2021 left Retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe unhappy. [The Frontier]
• Tom Woods v. Keith Barenberg: SD 4 Runoff Gets ‘Dirty’ Over Mental Health Remarks: Woods, the first-place finisher in the June primary, said one of his opponents seeking treatment for depression made him mentally incompetent and unfit for office. [NonDoc]
• Oklahoma DHS Expects to Clear Disability Waiting List by 2024: Armed with $32.5 million in new funding approved by the Oklahoma Legislature, The Oklahoma State Department of Human Services plans to expedite its 13-year waiting list for developmentally disabled Oklahomans awaiting government-funded services. [The Oklahoman]

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Oklahoma needs high-quality investigative journalism. That is our mission at Oklahoma Watch. We produce stories that hold government and public officials accountable and that make transparent what some prefer to keep secret. We depend on financial support from readers like you to sustain our coverage. Help us make a difference.