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State

Rooted in love

Muslim Oklahomans continue celebrating Ramadan and repelling hate with love amidst growing Islamophobia across the world.

Ramadan is considered the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, a month of high spirituality in which Muslim people fast and focus on reflection and growth.

By Miguel Rios May 15, 2019

Ramadan Muslim Islam Oklahoma Muslims ImagelineStudios Qazi Islam Imad Enchassi Imam Imad Enchassi Adam Soltani CAIR Council on American-Islamic Relations CAIR-OK white supremacy Islamophobia discrimination prejudice Hijacked by Hate Christchurch shooting Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City ISGOC Donald Trump

Factchecking Oklahoma: Is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau driving up banking costs for Oklahomans?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau might have the driest name in federal government since Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, but drama surrounding the agency that regulates financial services like payday loans is anything but boring. The CFPB was created in 2011 in response to financial institutions’ actions connected to the Great Recession.

By Mollie Bryant May 13, 2019

Cover: Shadow of doubt

Seven years after DACA was implemented, Dreamers continue wrestling with the uncertainty of their future.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) opened doors for me that had been locked for a long time.

By Miguel Rios May 10, 2019

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals DACA Dreamers immigration undocumented Donald Trump Trump administration Barack Obama Obama administration Denver Juarez Colorado Mexico college scholarships driving Javier Hernandez immigration attorney Tasneem Al-Michael Taz Al-Michael Brisa Ledezma Miriam Ortega Yovana Medina ywca historic Capitol Hill Santa Fe south Merlin Bell Chelsey Branham Oklahoma Bar Association Jalisco CATO Institute Migration Policy Institute economy American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 deportation Video

Health gap

Several organizations are calling on lawmakers to expand health coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Oklahomans.

Oklahomans throughout the state are urging lawmakers to expand health care coverage before the legislative session ends.

By Miguel Rios May 1, 2019

Medicaid Health care health Emily Virgin Carly Putnam Rebecca Greenhaw Coalition to Expand Coverage Rally for Coverage Affordable Care Act Joseph Alsay SoonerCare St. Augustine of Caterbury Episcopal Church Legislature Marcus McEntire health insurance ballot initiative Question 802 League of Women Voters of Oklahoma ACLU of Oklahoma Oklahoma Policy Institute Oklahoma Senate Oklahoma House of Representatives Kevin Stitt governor Gov. Kevin Stitt Gov. Stitt Medicaid expansion

Strong foundation

Rep. Kendra Horn raised the most money among the state’s Congressional delegation, but she stays focused on addressing the needs of Oklahomans.

Freshman congresswoman Kendra Horn completed her first 100 days in Congress boasting support for bipartisan legislation and community outreach.

By Miguel Rios Apr 24, 2019

Kendra Horn Congress Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District Shutdown to End All Shutdowns Act education health care women families Markwayne Mullin Tom Cole Indian Health Service Violence Against Women Act Paycheck Fairness Act For the People Act of 2019 Save the Internet Act economy

Child care

State and city officials reaffirmed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and local organizations are working to increase awareness.

April has been Child Abuse Prevention Month since the ’80s, but state and city leaders are making it a point to support the designation.

By Miguel Rios Apr 11, 2019

Sherry Fair Cindy Allen Oklahoma County Juvenile Center Prevent Child Abuse America Prevent Child Abuse Parent Promise Child Abuse Prevention Month David Holt Kevin Stitt Department of Human Services DHS adverse childhood experiences ACE ACEs David Prater Oklahoma Department of Health OSDH CARE Center Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Center Systems of Care Head Start Stacy McNeiland Oklahoma county

Figures of speech

Two state legislators are running a bill that purports to protect free speech on college campuses.

Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, and Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore, have coauthored Senate Bill 361, which protects “any lawful verbal, written, audio-visual or electronic means by which individuals may communicate ideas to one another.” Both lawmakers were invited to the White House by President Donald Trump because of their work on the bill.

By Miguel Rios Apr 5, 2019

Mark Lepak Julie Daniels Senate Bill free speech Bob Nelon Hall Estill House of Representatives Senate House Judiciary Committee

High impact

At least two nonprofits will receive $100,000 grants for new or existing programs that benefit specific populations of the community.

By Miguel Rios Apr 4, 2019

Impact Oklahoma Jilian Larimore Will Rogers Theatre Central Oklahoma Humane Society OK Humane Humane society Palomar Dana McCrory OKC Metro Alliance Women’s Firstep Connie Schlitter Putnam City Schools Foundation STEM STEM labs Jennifer Seal Sooner Theatre Light the Way Nancy Coggins Variety Care Healthy Expectations Straka Family Center Carol Martin

Act of hate

Racist and anti-LGBTQ+ graffiti is plastered on the office housing Oklahoma Democratic Party.

Around 6 a.m.

By George Lang Mar 28, 2019

Oklahoma Democratic Party David Walters graffiti hate crimes racism Rhonda Walters Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County Oklahoma City Police Department Roberta S. Clark Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City propaganda racist propaganda

Standardized testing

Legislation is moving forward to create a uniform way of testing and tracking sexual assault kits.

Senate minority leader Kay Floyd authored three bills that work together to reform the way the Oklahoma agencies handle sexual assault kits, also known as rape kits.

By Miguel Rios Mar 27, 2019

Kay Floyd Matthew Stillwell Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation OSBI rape kits sexual assault kits sexual assault legislation sexual assault forensic evidence task force Mary Fallin Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office Senate Bill 967 SB 967 Senate Bill 971 SB 971 Senate Bill 975 SB 975 Oklahoma Police Department Tulsa Police Department

Cover: Prepping schools

After a unanimous vote on the Pathway to Greatness plan, Oklahoma City Public Schools District is working to make sure schools are ready by the first day of next term.

The Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) board of education voted March 4 to adopt a plan that will shut down 15 schools and reconfigure 17 others.

By Miguel Rios Mar 22, 2019

Oklahoma City Public Schools OKCPS Sean McDaniel Rebecca Budd Carrie Coppernoll Jacobs Charles Henry Ruth Veales Pathway to Greatness P2G education public schools school closures school reconfigurations Alliance for Better Community Schools T. Sheri Dickerson Jose Sanchez Pela Calderon Christina Simmons

Reform justice

Criminal justice experts are following and supporting reform bills that could upend Oklahoma’s system and tackle the state’s biggest issues.

Criminal justice reform is a major agenda topic in this year’s legislative session.

By Miguel Rios Mar 15, 2019

Damion Shade Kris Steele criminal justice criminal justice reform politics legislature legislation house senate house bills senate bills mass incarceration prison reform bail reform prison sentences Oklahoma policy institute oklahomans for criminal justice reform community impact ments smart reform OCJR

Beyond February

Black Oklahomans deal with deep, significant challenges that have faced them for decades and will continue to affect them disproportionately without criminal justice reform.

After the abolition of slavery, black Oklahomans continued struggling in the fight for equality.

By Miguel Rios Feb 28, 2019

black Oklahomans Jim Crow laws Civil Rights Act of 1964 Nappy Roots Books Camille Landry Oklahoma Policy Institute black history month The Sentencing Project Prison Policy Initiative Tatyana Fazlalizadeh Christopher G. Acoff Original Flow Oklahoma Is Black Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center

Black Oklahoma

Black Oklahomans discuss navigating life as marginalized people in the Sooner State.

The history of black Oklahomans is tied to the Trail of Tears, as slaves came with their Native American masters to what became known as Oklahoma.

By Miguel Rios Feb 20, 2019

Black History Month Christopher G. Acoff Original Flow Camille Landry Tatyana Fazlalizadeh Oklahoma Is Black America is Black Oklahoma Contemporary Nappy Roots Books Black Oklahoma

Finding justice

Anita Hill keynotes a fundraising gala for an Oklahoma university’s new social justice center.

Former University of Oklahoma law professor Anita Hill entered the national spotlight in 1991, testifying against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, whom she accused of sexual harassment.

By Miguel Rios Feb 13, 2019

University of Oklahoma University of Oklahoma College of Law Anita Hill Brandeis University Clarence Thomas Supreme Court Brett Kavanaugh Christine Blasey Ford University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma USAO Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Center for Social Justice and Racial Healing Social Justice Racial Healing OU Board of Regents Oklahoma History Center USAO gala

Youth protection

An Oklahoma representative introduced a bill that would ban conversion therapy for minors.

Sara Cunningham is the founder of Free Mom Hugs, an organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights.

By Miguel Rios Feb 6, 2019

Free Mom Hugs Sara Cunningham LGBTQ+ rights LGBTQ+ Pride Jason Dunnington Youth Mental Health Protection Act conversion therapy reparative therapy aversive therapy affirmative therapy counseling Sam Brinton the Trevor project UCLA School of Law The Williams Institute

Head start

Rep. Kendra Horn was just sworn in at the beginning of January but is already preparing for the 2020 election as Republicans take aim at her seat.

Kendra Horn pulled off a surprising upset in November after defeating incumbent Rep. Steve Russell for the state’s 5th Congressional District.

By Miguel Rios Jan 31, 2019

Kendra Horn 5th congressional district Steve Russell U.S. Rep. Steve Russell Common Sense for Oklahomans Cole Community Center town hall meeting congresswoman horn rep horn National Republican Congressional Committee NRCC government shutdown border security education higher ed metro tech student loan debt student loan health care criminal justice reform connecting with Kendra space foundation space infrastructure GPS NOAA 2020 midterm

Oklahoma turnaround

Kevin Stitt has five pillars to make Oklahoma a top 10 state, but Oklahomans have their own ideas of what he should do.

Oklahoma’s 28th governor took the oath of office last week, right before giving an inaugural address that echoed many of his campaign promises.

By Miguel Rios Jan 25, 2019

Governor Oklahoma Andy Moore Richard Johnson David Blatt Let’s Fix This Oklahoma City University political science Oklahoma Policy Institute OK Policy Kevin Stitt Gov. Stitt Mary Fallin budget education economy healthcare rural hospitals Pauls Valley Regional Medical Center Becker’s Hospital Review Morning Consult Oklahoma’s Turnaround justice reform medicaid Department of Human Services Department of Corrections

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