Take Shelter, represented by Oklahoma City attorney David Slane, has alleged in court documents that Fallin, Attorney General Scott Pruitt and the State Chamber of Commerce conspired to defeat the petition drive, which required 160,000 signatures so the measure could be decided by voters. Slane claims the emails are necessary for a Feb. 25 Oklahoma […]
Governor
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Sarge in charge?
Fully aware that his two mayoral opponents — Mayor Mick Cornett and Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid — have more financial backing, Nelson isn’t betting on himself to win the March 4 mayor’s election. “I know it’s far from happening, but I do have people who take me seriously, even if the people on the […]
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Community demands governor action over boy’s death
The teenager, born with Chromosome 9 Ring disease, was unable to care for himself and required help with tasks as easy as lifting a fork to his mouth. He died Jan. 4, 2013, at Children’s Hospital from pneumonia complications, according to the state medical examiner. But the youngster’s sister, Valerie Wood-Harber, contends he died from […]
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Faux-smoke free city
This isn’t her first time to ban a product on state property. Two years ago, Fallin signed a similar order that prohibits the use of real tobacco products. C’mon Mary, surely you have something better to do such as promoting economic development, showing support for the American Indian Cultural Center or helping write constitutionally sound […]
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Back to the future
Fallin offends everyone,straight and gayOklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin put the state in the national spotlight in 2013, but not in a positive way. Fallin, in her infinite wisdom, decided unilaterally that a federal mandate directing spousal benefits to same-sex couples in the military would not take place in Oklahoma. As a result, Fallin pulled spousal […]
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Lunch lady land
Gov. Mary Fallin’s former personal chef is now working for Southeast High School. That’s right. She debuted her special, Happy Trails Stir-Fry over Steamed Brown Rice, to fanfare — and requests for seconds — late last month, reports NewsOK. Robin Obert-Magturo will help decide what 41,000 Oklahoma City Public School children eat, in accordance with […]
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What are Oklahoma progressives to do?
Prominent Democrats with clear name recognition have yet to announce candidacies for major statewide offices, such as governor. People involved in our political scene point to the negative impact President Barack Obama’s sheer existence will have on his same-party candidates in Oklahoma. The GOP here has demonized the president to the point of absurdity, but […]
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Failing forethought
Researchers contend that crushing poverty is more significant than failing public schools or bad teachers. Two years ago, a Stanford University study documented the new “income achievement gap.” The report showed family income is the “biggest determining factor in a student’s academic achievement.” The same year, writer Joanna Barkan published a report in Dissent Magazine […]
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Dotted line
Fallin hasn’t directly opposed the initiative petition drive, but she doesn’t plan to endorse it either, according to her spokesman, Alex Weintz. Instead, the governor has commented that money used for storm shelters will reduce funding for other educational needs. “She’s just trying to inject some form of realism here,” Weintz said. However, storm shelter […]
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Our ‘Twist’-ed governor
In an unscripted moment during a luncheon to benefit the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Checker told audience members if they would help support the food bank’s mission to help the hungry, he and the governor would perform the twist. Keeping his promise, Checker took Fallin by the hands and started dancing and singing […]