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Cooking dreams

The Education and Employment Ministry, TEEM, offers inmates the chance to gain cooking skills.

Deborah Palmer and Joby Johnson were two of 10 incarcerated Oklahomans who found hope and healing in the kitchen this fall.

By Nazarene Harris Jan 11, 2019

TEEM The Education and Employment Ministry Deborah Palmer Joby Johnson Kris Steele Steven Joule National Restaurant Association

Declining health

Researchers find a link between expanding Medicaid for low-income adults and insuring children.

A damning statistic has been making headlines across the nation since its release in November.

By Nazarene Harris Jan 3, 2019

SoonerCare Medicaid Joan Alker Olivia Pham Oklahoma Healthcare Authority Katelynn Burns David Murphey

Labor pains

Criminal justice reform in Oklahoma sheds light on what life is like for female inmates.

Twenty-six-year-old Kayla Jo Jeffries remembers the night she gave birth to her now 2-year-old daughter, Emersyn, the way most women do — as if it were yesterday.

By Nazarene Harris Dec 28, 2018

Kayla Jo Jeffries inmate maternity maternity Mable Bassett Correctional Center OU Medical Center Mary Fallin The Oklahoma Reclassification of Some Drugs and Property Crimes as Misdemeanors Initiative Question 780 House Bill 3393 Regina Goodwin U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division Oklahoma County Jail Matt Elliott Brittany Chavez First Step Act

Opportunity overlooked

Education advocates hope to raise awareness of career technology programs.

During his three decades as an educator, Mid-America Technology Center administration superintendent Dusty Ricks said he has seen no educational opportunity in the state that is quite as valuable yet underrated as a local career technology center.

By Nazarene Harris Dec 27, 2018

CareerTech Mid-America Technology Center Dusty Ricks Paula Bowles Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education Smith-Hughes Act Joy Hofmeister Individual Career Academic Plan ICAP House Bill 2155

Glory road

A look back at Oklahoma’s leading female corporate executive sheds light on the state’s road to feminism.

A story or two has been told of an Oklahoma girl who grew up and made her small town proud.

By Nazarene Harris Dec 21, 2018

Carlene Roberts American Airlines Linda Cavanaugh KFOR Louisa McCune The Kirkpatrick Foundation

Taking time

Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform plans on moving forward with commutation and possible expungement efforts.

She has been called the face of a movement.

By Nazarene Harris Dec 20, 2018

Kayla Jo Jeffries Oklahoma County Jail Mary Fallin Glen Blake Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform commutation University of Tulsa School of Law SQ 780 Oklahoma Reclassification of Some Drugs and Property Crimes as Misdemeanors Initiative SQ 781 Kris Steele Greg Mashburn Sarah McManes

Painful consequences

A new law created by Senate Bill 1446 aims to reduce opioid dependency but might have unintended negative effects on sufferers of chronic pain.

In October, chronic pain sufferer Dan Freeman (not his real name) received a letter from his pain management doctor stating that a severance of treatment was necessary due to a new law on the horizon.

By Nazarene Harris Dec 12, 2018

Oklahoma Senate Bill 1446 chronic pain acute pain pain management opioid addiction Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision Lyle Kelsey

Oklahoma divided

Results from Oklahoma’s Nov. 6 elections reflect a divide between urban and rural counties.

Results from Oklahoma’s Nov. 6 elections caused emotions to stir across a state that ushered in new governor Kevin Stitt and turned representation in Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district over to a Democrat for the first time in 43 years.

By Nazarene Harris Nov 16, 2018

Kevin Stitt Oklahoma Oklahoma City elections University of Central Oklahoma Louis Furmanski Drew Edmondson Oklahoma Education Association Carrie Coppernoll Jacobs Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Michael Kelsey

Smooth voting

While other areas of the country faced long lines and technical errors, Oklahoma and Cleveland counties saw few Election Day problems.

Election officials are pleased with yesterday’s smooth operations at polling sites.

By Miguel Rios Nov 7, 2018

Giving tree

A new program transforms an old shelter into a one-stop-shop for parents working toward family reunification.

Nicole Lopez is no longer the perfect wife of her soon-to-be ex-husband.

By Nazarene Harris Oct 24, 2018

Nicole Lopez Pauline Mayer Children’s Shelter Oklahoma City Department of Human Services DHS Casey White Family Tree NorthCare OU Physicians Fostering Hope Clinic University of Oklahoma’s Center on Child Abuse and Neglect Court Appointed Special Advocates of Oklahoma County CASA Georgeann Duty Deb Shropshire

Essential testing

Work is being done to force Oklahoma to test more than 7,000 untested rape kits.

Sexual assault advocates say the revelation that thousands of rape kits have been left untested in Oklahoma is serving as a catalyst for reform within a state that is finally joining a national movement towards justice for victims.

By Nazarene Harris Oct 17, 2018

Kay Floyd Mary Fallin backlog untested rape kits rape kits rape Oklahoma Danielle Tudor sexual assault domestic violence Joyful Heart Mariska Hargitay YWCA DNA testing

Sonic sale

With the sale of Sonic Corp. to Inspire Brands, Oklahomans hold tight to their memories and the beloved ice.

On Sept. 25, Oklahoma City-based Sonic Corp. officials announced the sale of their company and its more than 3,600 Sonic Drive-In locations to Inspire Brands Inc., owners of Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, for $2.3 billion.

By Nazarene Harris Oct 2, 2018

Sonic Corp. Inspire Brands Arby's Buffalo Wild Wings Christi Woodworth Jill Johnston Luker Jonathan Fowler Sonic Sonic ice Phil Cross Makayla Smith Carrie Underwood Troy Smith Bob Blackburn Oklahoma Historical Society Dollie Smith Leslie Baugh Troy Smith Jr. Rusty Taco

Homesick

Eight-year-old Elijah Muhammed’s letter, written while in DHS custody, sheds light on visitation policies.

Oklahoma parents found it hard to ignore a letter 8-year-old Elijah Muhammed left for his grandmother before he ran away in July.

By Nazarene Harris Sep 19, 2018

Elijah Muhammed Oklahoma County Jail Oklahoma Department of Human Services DHS Foster care visitation

Corporate intimidation

Oklahoma Corporation Commission employees claim Bob Anthony used intimidation to maintain his position.

There’s a common adage that where there’s smoke there’s fire.

By Nazarene Harris Sep 12, 2018

Oklahoma Corporation Commission harassment physical intimidation bigotry toxic work environment The Fidelis Group Bob Anthony Joe Briley Sandra Fendrych

Riding home

Arnall Family Foundation commits to donating $1 million to help parents visit their children in foster care.

It’s hard for Sheena Grayson to recount the night her children were taken away from her.

By Nazarene Harris Aug 30, 2018

Sheena Grayson Sue Ann Arnall Arnall Family Foundation Department of Human Services DHS foster care United Way of Central Oklahoma Lindsay Laird Sheree Powell transportation

Up to speed

In 2018, many Oklahomans still have limited internet access or cellphone connections.

In the quarter century since the internet first became available for most Americans and the two decades since average citizens started carrying cellphones, most users have learned to take the good with the bad.

By George Lang, Ben Luschen, Jeremy Martin and Jacob Threadgill Aug 3, 2018

internet connectivity internet BroadbandNow Pawnee County Pushmataha County Federal Communications Commission dead zone McKinsey & Company Economics & Statistics Administration U.S. Department of Commerce Federal Reserve Brian Whitacre Oklahoma University OSU Okemah Public Library Teresa Labbé Creek Nation Sprint FCC David Bergman Ohio Consumer Council broadband internet satellite internet Cox Communications AT&T Electronic Frontier Foundation Ernesto Falcon fiber internet Jameson Zimmer WISPs Wireless Internet Service Providers Wi-Fi technology

Saving smoke

Two proposed state questions could offer the protection supporters of medical marijuana are looking for.

Regulatory actions following the June 26 approval of State Question 788, the Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, appear to be shrouded in a cloud of special interests and bureaucratic deliberation.

By Joshua Blanco Jul 25, 2018

Question 788 medical marijuana marijuana cannabis recreational marijuana Question 796 Question 797 SQ788 SQ796 SQ797 Isaac Caviness Green the Vote Norma Sapp NORML National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws Chad Moody Oklahoma Board of Health. Board of Health petition National Survey on Drug Use and Health