For the first time ever, Freedom Oklahoma lobbied at the capitol in support of a bill with momentum that would protect LGBTQ+ individuals. Historically, the nonprofit organization has had to play defense and oppose a slew of bills that would discriminate against the community. The Youth Mental Health Protection Act (House Bill 3872) passed out […]
state news
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Cover: Governor’s fight
Seven months ago, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced his plans to negotiate a new tribal gaming compact through an op-ed in Tulsa World. Since then, despite being a widely unpopular move even with his Republican allies, Stitt has continued fighting for an increase in the fees that the tribes pay to operate their casinos. But tribal […]
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Serious challenger
Abby Broyles has spent most of her life either wanting to be a journalist or being one. Now, she’s challenging Sen. Jim Inhofe for his senate seat. After working at KFOR as a reporter and anchor covering the state capitol, she went to law school in hopes of advocating for Oklahomans in a way she […]
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2020 state
The governor’s FY 2021 executive budget is attached below. Gov. Kevin Stitt kicked off the 2020 legislative session last week by delivering his second State of the State address, discussing education, health care, the disagreement with tribes on casino gambling and criminal justice reform. “Let me get right to the point. The state of our […]
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Animal companions
Common Bonds is made up of about 25 organizations with the shared goal of increasing the state’s animal save rate to 90 percent. The group hosted a press conference last week to lay out the ways it plans to achieve its goal. “We’re all here today because of a problem, and that is the high […]
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Cities’ equality
Norman earned Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s distinction as an “All Star” city for advancing LGBTQ+ equality without relying on state law. Human Rights Campaign (HRC) annually ranks cities across the country in various categories from 0 to 100 through its Municipal Equality Index. Norman more than doubled its ranking from 41 in 2018 to 92 […]
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Not politicians
A coalition of citizens wants to end partisan redistricting. Members argue that the practice, known as gerrymandering, essentially lets politicians pick their voters instead of the other way around. People Not Politicians, the coalition led by Let’s Fix This and League of Women Voters of Oklahoma, filed an initiative petition last week in hopes of […]
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Abortion ruling
An Oklahoma judge made history by upholding a law banning a second-trimester abortion procedure. District judge Cindy Truong’s ruling affects a 2015 bill that bans dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortions in the second trimester. Reproductive rights activists are calling the decision “rogue” because other states — including Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky and Texas — passed similar […]