An elderly Oklahoma City couple were evicted from their home by a family member. Instead of leaving peacefully, the man set himself and the home on fire.
Posted inFact Briefs
Is the Oklahoma National Guard being deployed for the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse?
In anticipation of a significant influx of tourists for the 2024 eclipse, Oklahoma’s National Guard will be deployed to assist communities in McCurtain County. Parts of southeast Oklahoma lie in the solar eclipse’s rare path of totality, where tourists will flock to watch the moon completely block the sun. National Guard troops are trained in […]
Posted inDemocracy
Campaign Finance Task Force Takes Aim at Outside Spending
The nine-member task force suggested additional reporting requirements and lifting caps on candidate contributions to curb dark money spending.
Posted inEducation
Oklahoma Supreme Court Considers Arguments Over Catholic Charter School
The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday morning heard oral arguments in the case against St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. The school is testing the bounds of the separation of church and state.
Posted inPodcasts
Long Story Short: Preliminary Hearing Continues for Epic Charter Schools Founders
Oklahoma Watch · Preliminary Hearing Continues for Epic Charter Schools Founders Jennifer Palmer on the preliminary hearing that ran all of last week for the founders of Epic Charter Schools. Keaton Ross discusses several developments regarding capital punishment in Oklahoma. Heather Warlick on her story that looks into the Right to Counsel for tenants in […]
Posted inHousing
Tenant Advocates Push for Right to Free Counsel
Donnie Pompey, 32, found himself in Oklahoma County eviction court on March 11. He knew his rent was late; Pompey said he had a medical problem that caused him to fall a month behind. Pompey showed up at the courthouse without a lawyer. In general, only about 10% of people facing eviction filings arm themselves […]
Posted inPodcasts
Long Story Short: Legislature Focuses on Budget, Policy at Halfway Point
Oklahoma Watch · Legislature Focuses on Budget, Policy at Halfway Point Paul Monies discusses the first half of the legislative session, which saw a new budget process used by the Senate and leadership elections on the GOP side. Keaton Ross breaks down where criminal justice legislation stands at the Legislature’s unofficial halfway point. both join […]
Posted inEducation
Preliminary Hearing Continues for Epic Charter Schools Founders
Oklahoma Watch is covering the week-long hearing in the embezzlement case against David Chaney and Ben Harris, who created Epic Charter Schools. Check this post for daily updates from the courthouse.
Posted inEducation
AG to Lay Out Evidence in Epic’s Multi-Million Dollar Embezzlement Case
A hearing in the embezzlement case against Epic Charter Schools founders David Chaney and Ben Harris begins Monday in the Oklahoma County District Court. Their former chief financial officer is expected to be one of several witnesses.
Posted inGovernment
Legislature Focuses on Budget, Policy at Halfway Point
Hundreds of bills have survived the Oklahoma Legislature’s first big policy deadline, new Republican leaders have been chosen and the House and Senate are starting budget negotiations in the weeks leading up to candidate filing for this year’s election.