As a dedicated advocate for Oklahoma’s children and a firm believer in the power of public education, I am compelled to address a growing concern that threatens the very foundation of our educational system. The increasing push to expand school vouchers and tax credits poses significant risks to public schools and the students they serve. […]
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Fra-gee-lay
For the last two years, the town of Chickasha has attracted visitors to see its 40-foot replica of the Leg Lamp from the movie A Christmas Story. But like the mom in the movie who was determined to bring the lamp down, Warner Bros., the studio behind the movie, has ordered that the lamp be […]
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Stitt-Walters feud
Gov. Kevin Stitt, who essentially gifted Ryan Walters to Oklahoma, is now criticizing him for creating “political drama” in the state Department of Education. The governor recently replaced three members of the state board of education who have provided some resistance to Walters’ agenda. Walters has desperately tried to become a mini Donald Trump, and […]
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Court Blocks Superintendent Walters’ Bible Purchase, For Now
The Oklahoma Supreme Court temporarily blocked the state from purchasing Bibles for Oklahoma classrooms. A court order issued Monday bars Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, the Department of Education, the Board of Education and the Office of Management and Enterprise Services from further implementing or enforcing Walters’ Bible mandate until a lawsuit over the […]
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It’s about education, stupid…
Listening to our State of the State address this week and reading about just some of the literally thousands of bills being proposed for the now in session 2025 legislative buffet, I somehow feel Oklahoma lawmakers are missing the point about leading our state forward. We have to get our public schools on a path […]
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New jail?
Oklahoma County is really good at arresting people and locking them up. What the county hasn’t been good at is managing a safe and secure jail. Advocates have long argued that the county needs to invest more in its jail and enact meaningful criminal justice reforms to decrease the jail population. Now that downtown development […]
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Plain fun
The Oklahoma City Thunder seem determined to mummify Nick Gallo, the team’s television reporter, who players drape in towels during the post-game interview. The new “tradition” highlights a level of camaraderie and immaturity that has made this team so easy to root for. However, after a game in January, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chastised his teammates for […]
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Lightened workload
State Supt. Ryan Walters has a pretty busy life. State Sen. Mark Mann wants to help. Mann, an Oklahoma City Democrat, recently filed Senate Bill 374, which moves oversight of the Accreditation Standards Division away from the state Department of Education. It would also take teacher certificate duties away from the agency. “Ryan Walters has […]
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Traffic stop
State Sen. Regina Goodwin, a Tulsa Democrat, drew attention last month after a traffic stop in which she accused the officer of “making things up.” A Tulsa County sheriff’s deputy said Goodwin had failed to completely stop at two stop signs. Goodwin initially refused to provide her driver’s license and was handcuffed. When the deputy […]
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Under investigation
While Oklahoma tends to drift toward the very bottom ranking in national education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters is currently at the top of news headlines regarding two recent investigations launched against him by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. The commission is often regarded as an organization lacking in resources, but the State Ethics […]