Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit news organization that produces in-depth and investigative journalism on important public-policy issues facing the state.
Oklahoma Watch, a statewide media nonprofit, was formed in 2010 to produce investigative journalism on the state’s most significant social welfare issues. Oklahoma Watch publishes its content on a website, oklahomawatch.org, and
distributes stories, data and multimedia to more than 100 Oklahoma news outlets for republication or broadcast. It also conducts public forums on important issues and provides training and work experience to students in journalism and marketing/public relations.
Oklahoma Watch, a statewide media nonprofit, was formed in 2010 to produce investigative journalism on the state’s most significant social welfare issues. Oklahoma Watch publishes its content on a website, oklahomawatch.org, and
distributes stories, data and multimedia to more than 100 Oklahoma news outlets for republication or broadcast. It also conducts public forums on important issues and provides training and work experience to students in journalism and marketing/public relations.
Operating as usual
Despite discussion earlier in the session, the final budget agreement did not include the elimination of the state’s share of grocery sales taxes.
Republican lawmakers provided details Tuesday on their $9.7 billion state budget plan, which included one-time payments to help Oklahomans deal with rising inflation, but notably absent from their…
The $8-million Bridge the Gap Digital Wallet program used federal coronavirus relief funds to distribute $1,500-grants to families. The grants were supposed to be used to purchase school supplies and laptops, but hundreds bought TVs, gaming consoles, home appliances and other items.
Democrats in the House of Representatives on Wednesday called on Gov. Kevin Stitt to ask the state secretary of education to resign over his handling of a federal COVID-19 relief program for students.
Oklahoma doesn’t collect data on the average jail stay or racial makeup of its detention centers. The state also doesn’t track decisions made by 27 district attorney’s offices, including the initial charging of crimes, plea agreements, and bail recommendations.
Criminal records are public records, and it’s simple enough to keep up with a single case and actions of criminal justice stakeholders like prosecutors and judges. It’s much more difficult to aggregate data from all criminal cases and draw reasonable conclusions.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s actions regarding his appointees to the Pardon and Parole Board have been “grossly improper” and the board’s commutation process was focused on speed over public safety, according to an Oklahoma County grand jury report.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s actions regarding his appointees to the Pardon and Parole Board have been “grossly improper” and the board’s commutation process was focused on speed over public safety, according to an Oklahoma County grand jury report.
Twenty-three of 27 district attorney races have already been decided without a single vote.
Twenty-three out of 27 district attorney races will be decided without a single vote.
NEW: Grand jury report alleges Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board's "overall push was ‘volume’ over anything else."
"Corners were cut and processes were ignored in order to get the highest number of people onto the commutation dockets."
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s actions regarding his appointees to the Pardon and Parole Board have been “grossly improper” and the board’s commutation process was focused on speed over public safety, according to an Oklahoma County grand jury report.
Do you think any of the bills that failed to pass should be reconsidered? Or are there other proposals you would like to see?
A package of bills that would've made it harder for state questions to get on the ballot, or pass on Election Day, are among the bills no longer moving forward this session.
House Democrats on Wednesday called on the governor to ask Secretary of Education Ryan Walters to resign following an investigation into the Bridge the Gap Digital Wallet program. https://oklahomawatch.org/2022/05/11/democrats-call-for-education-secretary-walters-to-resign-over-handling-of-relief-program/
Democrats in the House of Representatives on Wednesday called on Gov. Kevin Stitt to ask the state secretary of education to resign over his handling of a federal COVID-19 relief program for students.
Feroz Bashari once served as U.S. Sen. John McCain’s personal interpreter in Afghanistan. Now, he lives on the fourth floor of an Oklahoma City hotel with his wife, Maria, and their five children.
Their hopes for a new life here hinge partially on their former lives — and a scarcity of affordable legal aid.
"Oklahomans foot the bill for the preparation of this report,” said Kathryn Gardner, an attorney for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. “They should know what it says, especially since it concerns the expenditure of millions of taxpayers dollars meant to support the public education system during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
An attorney for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press says the state has given no valid reason to keep the report secret or delay its release.
No agency in Oklahoma collects aggregate data on the average jail stay or racial makeup of detention centers. The state also doesn’t track decisions made by 27 district attorney’s offices.
Criminal records are public records, and it’s simple enough to keep up with a single case and actions of criminal justice stakeholders like prosecutors and judges. It’s much more difficult to…
New from Oklahoma Watch and The Frontier: Oklahoma is keeping secret a review of a pandemic relief program where some families spent money intended for school supplies on video game consoles and barbecue smokers.
An attorney for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press says the state has given no valid reason to keep the report secret or delay its release.
More than 74,000 Afghan evacuees were airlifted out of Kabul and paroled into the United States. 1,800 arrived in Oklahoma. Now they face an uncertain legal future.
Their hopes for a new life here hinge partially on their former lives — and a scarcity of affordable legal aid.
New podcast episode: we discuss our open records lawsuit against the state, the Tulsa police controversy involving a 70-year-old woman experiencing a mental health crisis and how cash for students and teachers paid for video games, TV sets and Christmas trees. Ted Streuli hosts.
Topics: Oklahoma Watch's open records lawsuit against the state. Investigating the governor's use of federal education relief funds. Tulsa police's handling of a 70-year-old woman in mental health…
On the House and Senate floors, there was no debate or opposition again as lawmakers quickly give the green light to the government transparency measure.
Gov. Kevin Stitt stopped the move in its tracks this week when he vetoed the proposal.
After the state has loosened its financial disclosure requirements over the years, a proposal to add more transparency fails after Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoes popular legislation.
“We found the Governor Kevin Stitt administration had an opportunity to set up guardrails to prevent extraneous purchases and chose not to.”
How we calculated nearly $500,000 spent on items like TVs and smartwatches from a Stitt program to provide families federal money for school supplies.
New: Millions of federal dollars. A no-bid contract to a for-profit, out of state company. A choice to forgo guardrails against fraud in order to empower parents. What could go wrong? New story from Oklahoma Watch and The Frontier.
Oklahoma gave a Florida company a no-bid contract to distribute $18 million in pandemic relief money as a test-run for school vouchers. Now federal investigators are eyeing the deal.
The state ranked second in the country for access among 4-year-olds and met 9 of the 10 quality benchmarks measured by the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University, which compiles the annual report.
Oklahoma ranked second in the country for access to preschool among 4 year olds.
LaDonna Paris was in the throes of a manic bipolar episode when Tulsa police kicked in the door of the bathroom where Paris had locked herself, knocked her to the ground and handcuffed her.
An Oklahoma Watch review of Tulsa police policies, hours of body camera footage and interviews with law enforcement experts raise questions about the department's procedures and the officers’…
Oklahoma Watch has filed a lawsuit against the Office of Management and Enterprise Services over its decision to keep $18 billion in applications for federal coronavirus funding a secret.
#transparency #FOI #okgov #okleg #ARPA
Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services
Freedom of Information Oklahoma
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Oklahoma Watch has filed a lawsuit against the Office of Management and Enterprise Services over its decision to keep $18 billion in applications for federal coronavirus funding a secret.
“I came out of nowhere. My own brothers and sisters don’t even know me anymore. It’s a detachment that occurred and nobody can do anything about it.”
A Mile In Another's Shoes: Perry Lott is rebuilding his life after spending 31 years in prison for crimes he didn’t commit.
You spoke and we've listened. Website improvements are here. Now you will be able to manage your account. You'll have the ability to change your credit card info, manage your donation amount, and more! - https://mailchi.mp/oklahomawatch/oklahoma-watch-website-updates
Federal lab inspectors have resolved their major concerns with Oklahoma’s relocated public health lab in Stillwater after re-inspecting the facility, although many types of tests remain outsourced more than a year after the new lab opened.
The state's new public health lab in Stillwater has lots of new, state-of-the-art equipment. Much of it is sitting idle.
“I’m running against Senator James Lankford because he proved on 1/6 that he was a part of the group that wanted to overthrow the government. And I don’t think somebody who’s trying to overthrow the government should sit in the United States Senate.”
Why a Tulsa teacher is running for U.S. Senate against James Lankford.
An Oklahoma correctional officer recruit earns $15.74 per hour, on par with entry-level positions at convenience stores and chain retailers.
But will it be enough to remedy Oklahoma's prison staffing woes?
Oklahoma Watch talked with some candidates as they filed their paperwork to see why they want to hold statewide, congressional, legislative or judicial offices.
Hundreds of state candidates officially formally joined the 2022 campaign season last week. A cross-section of them explain why.
Senate Bill 1204 proposes creating a 30-member Oklahoma Commission on Race and Equality. The governor and majority leaders of the Senate and House would each appoint seven members. #okleg
State Sen. George Young has proposed similar legislation multiple times, again failing to receive a committee hearing this session.
New: Of the 125 legislative seats on the 2022 ballot, 44% have already been decided. Fewer than one-third will be contested in November. #okleg
Hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma won’t have a say in selecting their state lawmaker this year as the number of uncontested legislative races is on the rise.
“Oklahoma’s incarceration disparities with the rest of the United States are almost entirely accounted for by racial disparities.”
State Sen. George Young has proposed similar legislation multiple times, again failing to receive a committee hearing this session.
Tax rates would remain steady if voters approve the measure and decrease slightly if it’s defeated.
A $260 million bond proposal would fund most of the construction of a new county jail. County commissioners have set a June 28 election date.
Hundreds of candidates are headed to the State Capitol this week to formally file for 2022’s set of state, federal and judicial elections. Here’s what you need to know.
Many candidates have announced plans to run for one of the many federal, state and judicials races on the ballot. They have to file for office during a three-day window that starts Wednesday.
Oklahoma Watch 500 North Broadway Ave., Ste LL10
Oklahoma City, OK
73102
Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to produce in-depth and investigative journalism on public-policy issues facing the state. Put succinctly, our mission is: Through investigative journalism, uncover and examine the most significant quality-of-life issues facing Oklahoma, with a focus on the vulnerable. Amplify the voices of those who have none. Promote understanding and discussion of critical policy issues. Help develop the journalists and journalism of the future. In practice, we dig beneath the surface of issues of public importance, provide insightful analysis and reveal meaningful trends, facts, issues, underlying causes and possible solutions. We are nonpartisan and strive to be balanced, accurate and comprehensive. We collaborate with university journalism colleges or schools, especially the University of Oklahoma’s Ga***rd College of Journalism and Mass Communication, to help train future journalists and promote the career of journalism.
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
In-depth journalism in the form of text, audio, video and photography.
Searchable or visualized data, presented on a special web page or with other content.
Public forums on key issues, featuring leaders and experts.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Oklahoma Watch posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to Oklahoma Watch:
Reporters Jennifer Palmer and Whitney Bryen answered readers' questions and talked about our latest investigation into Epic Charter Schools. https://oklahomawatch.org/2020/02/27/epic-charter-grads-less-likely-to-enroll-in-college/
Fewer than one in five 2019 graduates of Epic Charter Schools enrolled in an Oklahoma public college last fall. Some graduates say the school should have done more to prepare them for what's next.
Look for our investigative report tomorrow on college-going rates for Epic Charter Schools students.
Oklahoma law regards domestic abuse as nonviolent crimes. Ardmore resident Tarra Bond endured years of abuse by her ex-boyfriend. The violence only stopped after she fought back. This is her story. Warning: this video contains graphic descriptions of domestic violence.
Part of our mission is to help develop the journalists of the future by providing internship opportunities. This includes public relations interns. As 2019 closes, please join us in congratulating Vivian Tran, who played a valuable role for us in PR, events and marketing this year. Vivian just earned a bachelor's degree in strategic communications from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is about to set sail toward what we know will be a successful career. Thank you for all of you of the hard work, Vivian!
"I think abuse in our community and our city and our state is a lot more rampant than people want to admit or that people even think about." https://bit.ly/2mme8Zb
We’re live tonight at our forum on the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases and spread of drug-resistant germs.
Our next installment of “The Invisibles” video series: Oklahoma has the nation’s second highest percentage of people without health insurance, and like Tim Cundiff of Stillwater, they risk financial ruin in the event of a medical crisis. Via reporter Whitney Bryen: Journalist & Photographer.
More from 'The Invisibles' series: Last year, 266 immigrants were deported from the Tulsa County Jail. In many cases, their families were left behind, dealing with the financial and emotional fallout. From multimedia reporter Whitney Bryen.
In recognition of #internationalwomensday we are celebrating the women involved in our organization. Whitney Bryen, Dena Drabek, Sue Hale, Jennifer Palmer and Vivian Tran thank you for championing a healthy free press in Oklahoma!
Don't miss this powerful video, the latest in "The Invisibles" series: For Oklahomans who fall on hard times, the consequence is often eviction. They fail to pay rent on their houses or apartments, are forced out and find themselves in a cyclical housing crisis.
The Invisibles video series is back today: Thousands of Oklahomans suffer from depression, sometimes to a debilitating degree. The problem is especially common and invisible among aging residents. Victor Guillermo, of Oklahoma City, an Air Force veteran, has struggled daily with depression since his wife died.
The Invisibles video series continues: Months after his 18th birthday, Joshua Hoaks uses his experience in foster care to face the future. He represents many young people whose families tumbled into crisis and lost custody of their children.
Oklahoma’s high rate of drug addiction has taken a heavy toll on families, including grandparents and great grandparents. In Dedra Ray’s case, her granddaughter’s drug addiction left Ray to spend retirement raising her great granddaughter. Watch the full video: https://bit.ly/2S26S2V
Our "The Invisibles" video series continues: Fewer people in Oklahoma City are homeless, according to the latest counts. But more are without shelter at night, even in winter. So Oklahoma Watch asked those on the streets, "Where do you sleep?"
Weather Rampage With Adrian Howard
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma