You hear this phrase a lot: break the cycle. It has become part of the lexicon, a phrase we toss around loosely in relation to a great many things. In doing so, we’ve made it commonplace, and its meaning has become muddled. What does it really mean to break the cycle? How does that work, […]
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Inevitable change
In Sam Anderson’s brilliant 2018 history of Oklahoma City, Boom Town, the New York-based writer offered some observations of OKC that at the time were very true, but 2012 — the year his assignment began — was the last year those things were true. “In the larger economy of American attention, Oklahoma City’s main job […]
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Oklahoma Trailblazer: Shannon Rich
Shannon Rich is the CEO and president of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame at Gaylord-Pickens Museum in Oklahoma City. After working in the hospitality sector, Rich joined the state’s Hall of Fame in 2004, which for nearly 100 years has honored exceptional Oklahomans and hosted various educational events and scholarship programs. Oklahoma Gazette: You were […]
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Train derailed?
The Heartland Flyer, Oklahoma’s only passenger train service, is chugging toward its final stop, thanks to budget cuts in Texas. While the train, which connects Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, averages just a couple hundred passengers a day, ending the route will be a blow for a city that has been trying to increase rail […]
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Care crisis
Congress is eyeing over $880 billion in Medicaid budget cuts as part of President Trump’s grand budget and tax plan. Apparently, making America great again includes making rural hospitals poor again. The loss of these funds could be devastating for some rural hospitals in Oklahoma, where roughly 1 million Oklahomans rely on Medicaid (SoonerCare). “For […]
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Parents opt out
State Supt. Ryan Walters has long championed more parental choice in Oklahoma schools. Well, he’s finally getting his wish! It turns out many parents are opting their children out of social studies lessons that would teach skepticism about the 2020 presidential election results. Walters, who slyly snuck “conspiracy theory 101” into the state’s curriculum, has […]
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Housing hit
Democrats rarely manage to pass a bill these days, but Oklahoma City Democrat Sen. Julia Kirt nearly pulled off a miracle by securing bipartisan support for Senate Bill 128. This bill would’ve extended eviction wait times, giving renters a much-needed breather. Despite getting a thumbs-up from the Oklahoma Legislature, a feat in itself, Gov. Kevin […]
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Session showdown
The Oklahoma Legislative session adjourned sine die on May 30. Gov. Kevin Stitt celebrated the win for policy priorities set out in his February State of the State address, including: quarter point tax cut (lower than the half point desired), the establishment of business courts, elimination of virtual school days and a ban on phones […]
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Enforcement of Oklahoma immigration law blocked indefinitely
An Oklahoma City federal judge this week placed an indefinite ban on enforcement of a state law criminalizing undocumented immigrants living in Oklahoma. The decision from U.S. District Judge Bernard Jones extends the two-week hold he implemented for House Bill 4156 on May 20 to last until he makes a final ruling on a lawsuit […]
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Oklahoma governor apologizes for disparaging remarks, celebrates session victories
Gov. Kevin Stitt said Wednesday he had apologized to a state senator after making disparaging remarks about him and his wife last week. Stitt also defended his choice for interim commissioner of the state mental health department, despite his lack of experience in mental health. Stitt drew the ire of lawmakers Thursday as they worked […]