StateImpact Oklahoma

The great tech debate: Should Oklahoma students use screens in the classroom?

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

The Oklahoma legislature is considering measures to push back against the rising tide of ed tech.

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Finding Tiny Tim: How Oklahoma's citizen scientists contribute to conservation

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0500

The federally threatened plant commonly known as Tiny Tim was discovered in Oklahoma within the past few years. Now it’s on the road to being removed from a federal list of endangered species.

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Oklahomans seek cheaper ways to pay for health care after ACA enhanced premium tax credits expire

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Enhanced premium tax credits for the ACA Marketplace expired last year, leaving people to pay a larger share of — or full price for — their health coverage.

This year, nearly 50,000 fewer Oklahomans selected a plan, and even more are expected to drop out amid higher costs. Consumers are now navigating the consequences of this expiration with limited choices.

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As electricity demand and investments grow, what’s being done to shield Oklahomans from higher monthly bills?

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Electricity demand is up nationwide and in Oklahoma, partly because of large load customers like data centers. Several initiatives are addressing concerns of rising residential rates.

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StateImpact Oklahoma previews the 2026 legislative session

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0500

The Oklahoma Legislature is back in session for 2026, with thousands of bills up for consideration. StateImpact Oklahoma focuses on health, education, science and the environment. Logan Layden talked with the team about what they’ll be watching.

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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's 2026 State of the State address

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:20:00 -0500

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt kicked off the 2026 legislative session with his eighth and final State of the State address on Monday. After boasting about his accomplishments over the past seven years, the governor laid out his policy priorities for the session. Those include bolstering school choice by removing the cap on the Parental Choice Tax Credit, as well as eliminating the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA), which organizes and regulates secondary school athletics and activity competitions in the state. Stitt expressed his desire for the governor to appoint a superintendent of public education rather than the voters electing one, saying it is better for leadership alignment. It’s important to note that Stitt appointed Ryan Walters as his Secretary of Education before endorsing Walters in his race for Superintendent. Then, Stitt found himself at odds with Walters during his brief tenure in office. Stitt also called for the creation of three state questions: one to cap recurring spending growth, specifically making adjustments to Medicaid expansion. Another proposed state question would freeze property tax growth and a third would overturn State Question 788, which made medical marijuana legal in Oklahoma. The governor’s policy priorities are essentially his wish list. He still has to get lawmakers on board to accomplish these, but his priorities and those of state lawmakers don’t always align. Thank you to OETA for providing the audio feed of the speech. We’ll have more coverage and offer context on the radio, on this podcast, and online at KOSU.org.

Lawmakers eye bringing a literacy ‘miracle’ to Oklahoma

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

After overhauling literacy policy in 2013, Mississippi went from 49th to a top 10 state in fourth-grade reading. It’s been dubbed the “Mississippi Miracle,” but those involved say it was more of a marathon. State lawmakers are now hoping to perform that same miracle in Oklahoma this legislative session.

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Oklahoma climatologist Gary McManus on what to expect in 2026

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

2026 starts with drought across much of southern Oklahoma and La Niña still in place. What does that mean for the rest of the year? StateImpact’s Logan Layden talks to state climatologist Gary McManus about what to expect.

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As AI becomes part of traditional Medicare reviews, some Oklahomans worry they’ll lose out on care

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Traditional Medicare rarely requires providers to seek approval before delivering care. That is changing this month in six states, including Oklahoma. A federal pilot is using private companies with AI tools to process prior authorizations and reduce spending on certain treatments.

Oklahoma providers and patients are concerned about how the program could impact access to care for the nation’s growing aging population.

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Oklahomans continue generational tradition of Christmas Bird Count

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:30:00 -0500

One of the longest-running citizen science projects wrapped its annual event Monday. Birders across Oklahoma had eyes to the skies to find out which species are living in or visiting the state during early winter. StateImpact’s Chloe Bennett-Steele joined some of them earlier this week.

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StateImpact Oklahoma discusses what’s to come in the new year

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

2025 is coming to a close, and StateImpact Oklahoma’s Logan Layden sat down with StateImpact’s reporters to talk about some of the issues they’ve covered this year and how they’ll evolve in 2026.

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OU researchers propose solution to Indian Health Service underfunding

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The federal government has a trust responsibility to fund Indigenous health care. But the Indian Health Service (IHS) has long been underfunded by it.

June Zhao, an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health, said she learned about this issue in conversation with leadership at an IHS clinic in the state. They shared how limited financial resources result in challenges with hiring staff and maintaining facilities. This has impacted their ability to provide health care.

She decided she wanted to help address this fundamental problem.

StateImpact’s Jillian Taylor and KOSU’s Sarah Liese spoke with Zhao about her recent research, which explores a solution that could help increase and sustain IHS funding.

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What’s being done to bring down Oklahoma’s costly home insurance rates?

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Oklahoma ranks high nationally for its pricey home insurance premiums. As climate change brings more extreme weather and inflation affects purchasing power, some look to policy changes to settle escalating insurance costs.

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Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell previews Route 66 centennial celebrations

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

StateImpact’s Logan Layden sat down with Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, who also serves as chairman of the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission, to discuss the significance of America’s Main Street and plans to celebrate its 100 year anniversary in 2026.

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New book details impacts of drug rehabilitation industry on patients, inspired by story in Oklahoma

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

America’s opioid epidemic has been a prolonged public health crisis, resulting in countless overdose deaths and billions in settlement funds from opioid manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

But another crisis is afoot. That’s what investigative reporter Shoshana Walter from The Marshall Project presents in her first book, “Rehab: An American Scandal.” StateImpact’s Jillian Taylor spoke with Walter about her findings on the treatment industry and how it chased profits over patients.

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Oklahoma is seeking part of a $50 billion rural health fund. Could it transform care amid other cuts?

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Alongside the passage of billions of dollars in Medicaid spending reductions over a decade, Oklahoma is also vying for an opportunity available to all 50 states to fund sustainable rural health care initiatives.

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As a deadly disease imperils North American bats, researchers say Oklahoma’s population is hanging on

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Flying mammals of the night have been under threat of white-nose syndrome in the U.S. for years. Oklahoma researchers are tracking their populations and finding positive results.

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Despite loss of federal protections, lesser prairie chicken conservation persists on private land

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0500

The ground-dwelling bird’s preferred grassland habitat overlaps with agricultural and energy-rich regions, putting the species’ future in the hands of private landowners. In the second installment of a two-part series, StateImpact’s Chloe Bennett-Steele reports on continued conservation efforts for the species.

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What's next as Oklahoma's highway system strains against growth?

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Inflation compounds an already tough situation for Oklahoma’s highway infrastructure.

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‘Isn’t that wonderful?’ Intergenerational programs combat loneliness, create purpose for seniors

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Intergenerational programs are working throughout the state in small numbers to bring different age groups together through ongoing, mutually beneficial activities. As Oklahoma’s aging population grows, officials are looking to expand the model to accomodate them.

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Migrating monarchs return to Oklahoma amid concerns over population decline

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0500

The beloved orange butterfly is imperiled due to habitat loss, insecticides and climate change. Growing certain plants along their route can help.

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Oklahoma regulators to balance costly nuclear potential with projected wave of energy demand

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Elected state officials voted to require the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to investigate whether the Sooner State could generate nuclear energy or hold off on welcoming the industry.

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Crossroads Mall has sat largely empty for years. A new nonprofit wants to turn it into a community hub

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Crossroads Mall – a once dominant shopping destination in South Oklahoma City – has sat relatively empty for years.

A new faith-based nonprofit is hoping to change that and serve an entire community with a resource hub.

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4-H students await judgment as Oklahoma State Fair starts

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0500

The Oklahoma State Fair officially starts Thursday. But for young 4-H members from across Oklahoma, Wednesday was the most important day of the year.

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The sun is setting on federal solar tax credits. Here’s how one Oklahoma tribal nation used them

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Federal incentives to lessen the financial burden of solar panel installations are ending earlier than originally planned after the July 4 passage of the tax and spending law.

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Oklahoma students navigate a declining vaccination landscape this back-to-school season

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500

More Oklahoma children are entering kindergarten with exemptions from vaccines. This data comes as preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough have seen record spreads nationally.

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How policies from the 2025 legislative session will impact Oklahoma students’ school days

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500

As schools across the state are starting classes, students and parents may notice some changes this year, thanks to the legislature. StateImpact’s Logan Layden and Beth Wallis discuss what’s new for Oklahoma students this school year.

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Threatt Filling Station takes its place among iconic Oklahoma Route 66 landmarks

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 08:00:00 -0500

The Threatt Filling Station along Route 66 near Luther was an oasis for people of color traveling through Oklahoma during the Jim Crow era. A monument dedicated to preserving that history was unveiled last week.

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Oklahoma emergency management head talks disaster preparedness, hazard mitigation

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0500

This summer saw immense river flooding that resulted in more than 130 deaths in Texas and heavy rainfall that blocked roadways in Oklahoma. Disaster preparedness and hazard mitigation are becoming more important as climate change causes more severe and unpredictable weather, scientists say.

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A new proposal could allow Medicaid to fund more services for eligible kids in Oklahoma schools

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Pending federal approval, Oklahoma schools could recoup more Medicaid dollars from providing school-based services to eligible students, like occupational and physical therapy, and behavioral health supports.

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Oklahoma fertility rate trends downward amid economic pressures, low child well-being ranking

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Every state saw a decline in its fertility rate in 2023, according to a new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts. Oklahoma saw a nearly 12% drop from just a decade prior.

StateImpact’s Jillian Taylor spoke with Dave Hamby, the Oklahoma Policy Institute's communications director, about what Oklahomans can learn from the report.

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‘We knew it was coming’: Oklahoma deploys tiny wasps to control invasive forest pest

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Foresters are using parasitoids to reduce the spread of the emerald ash borer beetle, following the lead of many states to the east.

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This program was getting more counselors into rural Oklahoma schools. Then Trump pulled funding.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500

A program promising much-needed mental health professionals for rural Oklahoma schools is on the chopping block of funding cuts from the Trump Administration.

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Meet the new group in charge of millions in state money to help pregnant women after Oklahoma banned abortion

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500

A program reimbursing nonprofits with state money to support abortion alternatives has expanded, despite past challenges with dollars reaching the women it hopes to serve. Meet the new organization that plans to distribute funds to pregnancy resource centers and churches.

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A recap of Oklahoma's 2025 legislative session

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:45:00 -0500

The 2025 legislative session is over. Our StateImpact Oklahoma reporters were following several bills and issues related to education, healthcare and energy policy. StateImpact managing editor Logan Layden looks back with them as they discuss the highlights.

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While Oklahoma foster care payments stay stagnant, foster parents rely on community support

Thu, 29 May 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Lawmakers attempted to secure more financial support for Oklahoma foster parents this legislative session. While they weren't successful, other resources are available.

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The grief and relief of rural school annexation in Oklahoma

Thu, 22 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In south central Oklahoma, a rural school is having to consider what more than a hundred Oklahoma districts have before it when enrollment drops below sustainability: annexation.

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More than a fifth of Indigenous Oklahomans are uninsured. The price they pay can be steep.

Thu, 15 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

More than a fifth of Indigenous Oklahomans are counted by the U.S. Census Bureau as uninsured – including those who solely use the Indian Health Service as health care coverage.

For some, having no insurance can be costly.

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Why some Oklahoma lawmakers want more control over judicial selection

Thu, 08 May 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Legislative efforts to reform the judicial selection process in Oklahoma have gone on for the better part of the last decade. And this year, just like in years past, they’ve failed, even with the support of the governor.

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Amid Oklahoma tornado season, scientists warn NOAA cuts could impact forecasting, public safety

Fri, 02 May 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Norman is a nexus of national weather and climate science. But swift layoffs and deep budget cuts could disband it and other organizations nationwide.

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Oklahoma’s St. Isidore case will be heard by SCOTUS next week. Here’s what’s at stake.

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond case next week.

The case will decide whether the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School can be a state-funded public school. The lawsuit was brought by Oklahoma’s attorney general against the state charter school board that approved St. Isidore’s application.

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Oklahoma youth commemorate Oklahoma City Bombing 30th anniversary through music

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

As the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing approaches, a group of young musicians is connecting with the tragedy through performing themes of resilience.

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That April Morning: The Oklahoma City Bombing

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 08:01:00 -0500

April 19, 2025 marks 30 years since a bomb destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. 168 people were killed — including 19 children — and hundreds more were injured. It forever shaped our community.

"That April Morning: The Oklahoma City Bombing" is a production of KOSU, KGOU, StateImpact Oklahoma and our partners with the Oklahoma Public Media Exchange.

How one group is educating Oklahomans on reproductive health care amid state abortion ban

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Since Oklahoma’s near-total abortion ban went into effect, providers and thousands of people who have left the state to receive care have experienced its impacts.

A new group hopes to educate Oklahomans on those continued effects by bringing people from all walks of life together to have conversations about reproductive health care.

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Off-campus religious education courses expand to growing number of Oklahoma schools

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Thanks to a new law, schools across the state are now required to allow off-campus religious instruction during elective courses. Those courses are currently operational or in the final stages of development in at least six Oklahoma schools.

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Oklahoma birders report seeing fewer migrating species as extreme weather, development expands

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0500

A report released this month states at least a third of the nation’s birds are in peril. Local community scientists are contributing information critical to understanding the decline.

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The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away:’ Historic Kiowa church to be rebuilt after Oklahoma wildfire

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Last week, wildfires raged across Oklahoma, claiming thousands of acres of land and hundreds of buildings. KOSU’s Sarah Liese reports for StateImpact that the flames also destroyed a historic church in Kiowa County, leaving a congregation to rebuild.

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New rules, rising costs putting some Oklahoma child care providers in peril

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500

New Oklahoma Human Services rules approved this year require non-accredited five-star child care programs to provide proof of an accreditation application submission by April 10 and get nationally accredited by Sept. 1 — or face a star reduction tied to their reimbursements.

Providers said the timeframe to comply with a process that typically takes one to two years is too short and could cost them thousands.

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New book details ‘untold story’ of lethal injection, chronicling its Oklahoma roots

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 05:30:00 -0500

A book coming out next month argues the way states perform executions is inhumane. KOSU's Sierra Pfeifer talks to University of Richmond Professor Corinna Barrett Lain about her new book Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection, and Oklahoma's role in how the condemned are executed for StateImpact.

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An Oklahoma wildlife refuge has widespread abandoned oil, gas wells. This group is cleaning them up

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Over the next four years, the Well Done Foundation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife will plug more than 100 orphan wells on public land.

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Trump’s agenda complicates Oklahoma’s plan to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0500

The state expected millions of dollars to plug wells abandoned by their owners. But the funds are in limbo under a new federal administration.

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Rural administrators flock to East Central University’s new rural education doctoral program

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

ECU debuted its first-ever doctoral program this January, which focuses on administrative issues in rural education.

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OU preps tomorrow’s medical providers to care for body and mind in rural Oklahoma

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

None of Oklahoma’s rural counties have enough primary and mental health care providers. A federal grant is training University of Oklahoma physician assistant students to serve rural communities in both areas.

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Oklahomans push back on transmission projects, even as the state's energy needs continue to grow

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Oklahomans are using more and more electricity. But as energy companies meet with landowners to build the needed infrastructure, opposition is growing. KOSU’sAnna Pope reports for StateImpact on one transmission project troubling Oklahomans.

This story was co-reported by KOSU’s Graycen Wheeler.

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Oklahoma’s largest universities buck national trends for post-COVID enrollment with record highs

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Nationally, college enrollment has declined over the last 15 years. But Oklahoma’s land-grant institutions managed to avoid the post-COVID fallout and are now at all-time highs.

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StateImpact Oklahoma previews what's to come in 2025

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Change and uncertainty abound as 2025 begins. But you have the StateImpact Oklahoma team to guide you through and keep you informed about the seismic shifts coming in education policy, healthcare and the climate crisis. StateImpact managing editor Logan Layden and the StateImpact reporters to preview what’s to come.

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Students with disabilities are spending more time in general education. Are teachers being prepared?

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

More students with disabilities than ever before are spending at least 80 percent of their school day in general education classrooms. Federal data show that share of students has more than doubled in the last 35 years.

But how are teacher prep programs at universities changing to meet the needs of more inclusive classrooms?

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Boost in federal dollars could strengthen prenatal, early childhood Oklahoma home visiting services

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

The federal government is increasing funding for a program that offers families free, voluntary home visits by health professionals from pregnancy to kindergarten. The state hopes to use those dollars to fill maternal and infant health care gaps.

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StateImpact Oklahoma welcomes environment and science reporter Chloe Bennett-Steele

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500

StateImpact managing editor Logan Layden introduces us to new science and environment reporter Chloe Bennett-Steele.

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Offering AP courses is now required in Oklahoma, but most schools still aren’t teaching them

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Four years ago, lawmakers passed a bill requiring all Oklahoma public schools to offer at least four Advanced Placement courses. It went into effect this fall. But, according to data analyzed by StateImpact, most schools still aren’t teaching four AP courses — and rural schools say the law has had little impact.

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LeadingAge Oklahoma CEO breaks down lawsuit challenging federal nursing home staffing rules

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Oklahoma nursing homes are working to meet federal staffing rules, which require them to have a registered nurse on site 24/7 and employees to spend a minimum amount of time with each resident every day.

Facilities say the unfunded mandate asks them to find staff they can’t afford and that doesn’t exist. Oklahoma is one of about 20 states that recently joined a lawsuit against the federal government over it.

StateImpact’s Jillian Taylor spoke with Claire Dowers-Nichols, the CEO of LeadingAge Oklahoma, which represents 58 nonprofit nursing homes.

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‘You can't gripe if you don't vote’: Early voting kicks off in Oklahoma

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 06:30:00 -0500

Oklahomans took to the polls Wednesday for the first day of early voting. Oklahoma has four early voting days this year — that's two more than in the 2020 Presidential general election.

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Oklahoma higher ed workers navigate gaps in paid parental leave: lawmakers say it’s time to fix that

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500

A growing list of Oklahoma colleges and universities are offering their workers paid parental leave. But it’s still a minority. The momentum comes after Oklahoma mandated maternity leave for state employees and teachers last year. Lawmakers say it's time for the state to intervene for higher education workers.

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A growing number of Oklahoma schools are adopting digital hall passes for safety, student accountability

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Oklahoma schools use technology apps to manage everything from attendance to grades to parent communications. And now, a growing number of districts are updating hall passes to the digital age. They say the new tech is helping them curb behavioral issues that have spiked since the pandemic.

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Convicted of murder as a teenager, Wayne Thompson hopes for a second chance at freedom

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 06:30:00 -0500

He was 15 when he killed his sister’s abuser. Even after years of good conduct, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has rejected recommending him for release.

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Surgery during ‘rocket attacks’: Ukrainian doctors train at OU Health to provide reconstructive care

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500

As the war between Russia and Ukraine rages on, Ukrainian physicians are tending to a historic volume of patients with complex head and neck injuries from missile attacks and rocket blasts. OU Health is teaching some of these surgeons reconstructive techniques they can take back home.

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'We’re ready for the fight': Southeast Oklahomans push back on proposed hydropower project

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Many Southeast Oklahomans are gearing up to fight a proposed hydropower project that could displace hundreds of people. For this week's StateImpact Oklahoma in-depth, KOSU's Graycen Wheeler has more on the project and the response from residents and officials."

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New investments in CareerTech aim to provide relief for booming waitlist, agency hopes for more

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Oklahoma CareerTech oversees 29 technology centers across 60 campuses statewide. It takes about 500,000 yearly enrollments and offers courses to students in about 400 school districts and adults.

And about 7,500 students are sitting on a waitlist to get in.

To tackle the waitlist, the Oklahoma Legislature allocated $26.7 million in new one-time funds for the agency this year. The money was recently disbursed to schools and is now being used across the state for facility upgrades, expanded programming and more.

CareerTech Director Brent Haken is grateful for the boost, but he cautions against considering it a windfall that would fully eliminate the waitlist. He plans to return to the legislature next year with the same pitch — that increasing base funding is the only way to fully reach the thousands of Oklahomans hoping for a spot in a CareerTech program.

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Help wanted: Oklahoma works to lower barriers to long-term care careers

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Recruiting long-term care CNAs can be challenging, and fighting consistent turnover is costly. But groups in Oklahoma are finding ways to invest in these workers’ education and futures.

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Painting brighter futures: OKC schools partner with community for mediation, mentorship

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Oklahoma students face many barriers to high school graduation, even more so since the pandemic. But educators at two Oklahoma City area high schools have teamed up with a new community organization to tackle root causes of student behavioral issues.

Because of the efforts of educators and nonprofits, communities are finding solutions to help young people in Oklahoma City avoid violence and turn their lives around.

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How one rural hospital hopes to be an oasis in Oklahoma’s maternity care desert

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0500

The farther a woman has to travel to receive maternity care, the greater risk they have of maternal morbidity and adverse infant outcomes.

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From caves to caterpillars: How Oklahoma schools are working to beat the ‘summer slide’

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0500

“Summer slide” is the phenomenon of students losing ground academically during the summer break. It usually refers to learning loss in reading and math, though other areas of child development can be affected, like behavior.

On average, students lose about 20% of their school-year gains in reading and 27% in math.

StateImpact visited two Oklahoma schools that provide free, multi-week summer programming to see how districts hope to make a dent in learning loss.

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'This is going to kill us': Oklahoma nursing homes brace for new federal staffing mandate

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Oklahoma nursing homes are preparing for staffing rules finalized in April by the Biden administration, meant to improve safety and quality of care in long-term care facilities.

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What to expect in the coming months as La Niña impacts Oklahoma's weather

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Far out in the Pacific Ocean, the latest El Niño cycle is at an end, and La Niña is expected in the coming months. But what does that mean for Oklahoma’s weather?

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Lawton officials attempt to mitigate East Cache Creek issues amid growing concerns

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0500

After a TikTok video went viral about water pollution in East Cache Creek, City of Lawton officials have explained their plan to restore water levels.

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StateImpact Oklahoma wraps up the 2024 legislative session

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0500

StateImpact education reporter Beth Wallis and health reporter Jillian Taylor talk with managing editor Logan Layden about some of this year's legislative highlights.

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Oklahoma’s transition to managed Medicaid brings new benefits, challenges

Thu, 30 May 2024 08:00:00 -0500

More than 600,000 Oklahomans on Medicaid are now seeing their care coordinated by private insurance companies. Proponents say the change incentivizes preventative care, and its rollout has been going well. But, it has caused problems for some Oklahomans on Medicaid and smaller providers.

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Edmond ‘bike bus’ puts a healthy spin on kids’ school commute

Thu, 23 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Keeping kids active and healthy can be an uphill battle, especially in the age of smartphones, video games and other distractions. A new volunteer initiative in Edmond is getting kids’ hearts pumping — and their wheels turning.

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Oklahoma schools need bus drivers and are straining to fill the gaps

Thu, 16 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Statewide, Oklahoma public schools are experiencing a shortage of bus drivers — and they’re struggling to adapt.

StateImpact analyzed every public school district in Oklahoma and found that of the 400-plus schools with hiring listings accessible on their websites or that answered a superintendent survey, over 40% showed open driver positions. About a quarter of the 80 surveyed superintendents said they or other school administrators drive a bus.

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How Oklahoma’s transition to managed Medicaid happened and what’s next

Thu, 02 May 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Most of Oklahoma’s Medicaid population is transitioning to managed care. This means that instead of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority paying providers directly, it’s paying private companies to coordinate some enrollees’ care. Proponents say the new system incentivizes better preventative care, which could cost the state less in the long run.

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Oklahoma immigrant communities rally in face of state policy to arrest people in country illegally

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0500

As a crisis continues on the U.S. Southern Border, Oklahoma lawmakers are among counterparts from about a dozen states taking things into their own hands. For StateImpact, Lionel Ramos reports on their efforts and the backlash they face from immigrant communities.

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The end of pandemic-era federal dollars may mean the end for the school programs it funded

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0500

In Tulsa, there are about 450 after-school programs at risk of shrinking to just 75 once ESSER funds are gone.

One of those programs is an after-school gardening club at Tulsa Public Schools' Eugene Field Elementary. There, each participant gets a garden box to plan, decorate, plant and harvest from throughout the school year.

Schools across the country may be on the brink of making tough calls once these "pennies from heaven" run out.

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First over-the-counter birth control pill offers family planning amid Oklahoma’s abortion ban

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Opill, which was approved by the FDA last July, is the nation’s first over-the-counter birth control pill, and it’s hitting pharmacy shelves now.

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Eclipse brings tourism and challenges as Oklahoma goes under the shadow of the Moon

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Any point on the globe can expect to see a total solar eclipse about once every 400 years. This Monday, it’s far southeast Oklahoma’s turn.

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What education measures are still alive at the 2024 legislative session’s halfway point?

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Lawmakers are at the halfway point in this year’s legislative session, and just a fraction of the education bills filed at the top of the session have survived big legislative deadlines. StateImpact’s Beth Wallis spoke with Oklahoma Voice education reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel about the bills that still remain on the legislature’s radar.

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Oklahoma social workers face barriers in getting licensed, a bill could help them get to work faster

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0500

This legislative session, lawmakers are working with faculty from OU’s School of Social Work and Oklahoma Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, advocating for Oklahoma’s requirements to be reduced to 3,000 hours.

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Oklahoma paraprofessionals provide critical student services — but many are barely making ends meet

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

School support staff received a statewide pay raise after the 2018 Oklahoma Teacher Walkout, but while teacher pay remains a major legislative priority, support staff pay hasn’t. StateImpact’s Beth Wallis reports many paraprofessionals, who often provide critical support to students with disabilities, live paycheck to paycheck.

Watchdog agency failed to perform required inspections at elite Oklahoma high school plagued by culture of harassment

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

An Oklahoma Watch investigation last year revealed a pervasive culture of harassment at an elite Oklahoma high school. StateImpact’s Beth Wallis spoke with Jennifer Palmer, the reporter behind the story, about a recent update: the agency responsible for addressing those issues failed to perform required inspections for 16 years.

What to expect from Oklahoma lawmakers on healthcare in 2024

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Abortion restrictions, the ongoing opioid crisis and access to mental healthcare are in focus this legislative session. Jillian Taylor is StateImpact Oklahoma’s health reporter, and spoke with managing editor Logan Layden about what to expect from lawmakers in 2024.

What to expect from Oklahoma lawmakers on education in 2024

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0500

The state legislature is back in session, and there’s no hotter topic than education policy. StateImpact education reporter Beth Wallis talked with StateImpact managing editor Logan Layden about what to expect from lawmakers in 2024.

Oklahoma’s Education Department awarded teachers life-changing bonuses — and created a nightmare for some by demanding them back

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

The Department of Education overpaid at least $290,000 in teacher bonuses and is working to claw back the money mere months after it was distributed. Nine teachers have been issued demands for repayment, and five additional teachers are under review.

Shawnee enacts no sit, no lie ordinance as future for homeless residents is uncertain

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 22:00:00 -0500

At least 150 of Shawnee's 30,000 residents are homeless. And because of an ordinance enacted this month, life might be getting a little more difficult for some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.

The road ahead for Tulsa Public Schools: five months into Walters’ mandated improvement plan

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 04:00:00 -0500

No district in Oklahoma is under the State Board of Education’s microscope quite like Tulsa Public Schools. StateImpact’s Beth Wallis and OPMX’s Max Bryan have this update on how TPS’ state-mandated improvement plan is going so far and the work that lies ahead.

StateImpact Oklahoma on the year that was and what's next

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0500

2023 is coming to a close, and it’s been an eventful year for StateImpact Oklahoma’s reporters. Managing editor Logan Layden talks with the team about highlights of this year and what to expect in 2024.

How Oklahomans are navigating the ‘chaos’ of SoonerCare unwinding

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Over 300-thousand Oklahomans have lost SoonerCare coverage as state agencies remove ineligible people after a pandemic pause. StateImpact’s Jillian Taylor has more on how confusion around the Medicaid unwinding process is affecting members.

Tulsans regrow urban tree canopy after summer’s severe weather

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Severe weather damaged thousands of trees in the Tulsa area earlier this year. A million cubic yards of green waste was collected, and many trees were bent or broken. StateImpact’s Britny Cordera reports on how the community is coming together to regow the city’s uban tree canopy.

'This is their story': Why a teacher in Osage County wants to teach Killers of the Flower Moon

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 04:00:00 -0500

The new Killers of the Flower Moon movie is sparking a conversation about Oklahoma’s difficult history. But those conversations in schools are complicated by Oklahoma’s law limiting lessons that make students feel uncomfortable about their race or sex.

Oklahoma schools turning to the new, old way of teaching students to read

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

The science of reading is returning to the limelight, and Oklahoma schools and universities are using those techniques to teach literacy to the next generation.

Oklahoma doesn’t mandate sex ed, some churches are trying to fill the gaps

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Some Oklahoma churches are providing comprehensive sex ed to fill gaps in a state that doesn’t require it in schools.

An Oklahoma non-profit uses Hip-Hop to increase mental health awareness

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0500

A local non-profit is hosting rap battles and other events to advocate for mental health awareness in Oklahoma. The organization called SoulBody Cyphers is working to destigmatize conversations around mental health and cultivate a community of MC’s.

What Oklahomans need to know about student loan repayment

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0500

This month, millions of Americans will have to make student loan payments after a three-year pandemic era pause. But since 2020, there have been some big changes made to the repayment system, and StateImpact’s Beth Wallis is here to break it down.

How is the first commercial rollout of COVID-19 vaccines going in Oklahoma?

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0500

After its recent FDA approval, the CDC recommended everyone six months and older get an updated COVID vaccine. But getting it hasn’t been easy for some Oklahomans, with appointments canceled day of due to insurance snags and issues finding a place that carries it.

Butterflies are on the move, and Oklahomans are keeping track of them in monarch conservation effort

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Monarch butterflies, like many insects and birds, migrate twice a year, in the spring and in the fall.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, before the weather gets cold, monarchs travel over two thousand miles from North America to central Mexico to hibernate.

What does it mean for Oklahoma to partner with PragerU?

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Earlier this month, State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced a partnership with conservative nonprofit media group, PragerU.

Existing PragerU Kids content now populates the state’s social studies website, and Walters says PragerU and the State Department of Education are collaborating on an Oklahoma-specific curriculum.

So what is PragerU? StateImpact spoke with parents, teachers, legislators and Walters to find out.

Oklahoma trans youth, providers face uncertainty in gender-affirming care access

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0500

A bill in Oklahoma banning all forms of gender-affirming care for trans youth was paused by Oklahoma’s attorney general amid litigation from the ACLU of Oklahoma. Now, trans youth and providers are coping with all the uncertainty.

OKC community comes together to collect data on impact of urban heat islands

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0500

More than 250 volunteers collected temperature and air quality data around Oklahoma City through a community science project in August to study urban heat islands. StateImpact’s Britny Cordera reports the NOAA funded project could help the city prepare for extreme heat.

Oklahoma schools adapt recreational activities to sweltering summer heat

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Faced with the dangers of excessive heat, educators around the state are getting creative to keep kids safe and cool while still providing recreational opportunities.

StateImpact Oklahoma welcomes health reporter Jillian Taylor

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0500

StateImpact Oklahoma’s health coverage informed listeners through the COVID-19 pandemic, the state’s voter-mandated expansion of Medicaid, and the opioid epidemic. StateImpact managing editor Logan Layden introduces us to Jillian Taylor, the new reporter continuing the work to tell health stories that impact you, your community and the entire state.

'I’m talking about what’s best for the Greenwood area': What the removal of a highway could do for Black Wall Street

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Tulsa’s North Peoria Church of Christ used to call Greenwood home. That was before I-244 displaced it and cut through historic Black Wall Street.

StateImpact’s Britny Cordera talked with State Rep. Regina Goodwin, who represents the area and attends the church, about its legacy and a planning grant to study the removal of the expressway.

What you need to know as Oklahoma’s state board of education weighs Tulsa Public Schools’ accreditation

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Next Thursday, the State Board of Education will consider changing the accreditation status of the state’s largest school district, Tulsa Public Schools. This comes after over a year of remarks from State Superintendent Ryan Walters targeting the district. StateImpact’s Beth Wallis and Public Radio Tulsa's Max Bryan break down what’s behind the battle for TPS.

Private landowners in Oklahoma are stepping up to preserve habitat for prairie chickens

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Rebecca Jim owns a mile and a half acreage just north of Vinita, Oklahoma, at the northern edge of the Cherokee Nation. She inherited this land from her family who used to ranch cattle here. She said her land is longer than it is wide, perfect for bringing back prairie chickens. She is turning two fields on the land into prairies to bring back prairie chickens.

Big Bonuses, Bigger Risks: Oklahoma’s New Teacher Sign-On Bonus Program Raises Concern

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Signing bonuses of as much as $50,000 are what Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters said is needed to attract new and retired teachers to the classroom.That’s also what makes his new bonus plan a risky policy. StateImpact's Beth Wallis teamed up with Oklahoma Watch education reporter Jennifer Palmer for this story.

StateImpact breaks down Oklahoma's 2023 education budget

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0500

StateImpact’s Logan Layden sat down with education reporter Beth Wallis for a breakdown of what education measures Oklahomans are going to get for their money after a contentious 2023 legislative session.

‘We will strive to survive the Ryan Walters time’: Oklahoma superintendents respond to Walters’ claims, rhetoric

Thu, 25 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Walters repeatedly emphasized his focus on open communication with superintendents around the state. But when StateImpact sent out a survey to those superintendents, a much more complex picture emerged.

The battle for Oklahoma education funding

Thu, 11 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

The Oklahoma legislature has been deadlocked for weeks as it hashes out a plan for education funding. StateImpact’s Beth Wallis sat down with Oklahoman newspaper education reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel to talk about the events at the Capitol that led up to this moment.

Health secretary's ouster gives a look into "frustration" between the Senate and Gov. Stitt

Thu, 04 May 2023 08:00:00 -0500

The governor and the Legislature have been at odds over the state’s Medicaid agency, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. That fight came to a head last week, when the Senate booted the agency director from his Secretary of Health position. StateImpact’s Catherine Sweeney talks with Tres Savage, the editor of nonprofit outlet NonDoc, about what led lawmakers to reject Secretary Kevin Corbett's re-instatement.

OU’s swatting event was a hoax, but the trauma it caused was real

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Run. Hide. Fight.

Those were the words that ended the first of several text updates from OU’s emergency alert system on the night of April 7.

The Norman Police Department had received calls that appeared to be coming from OU’s campus. The caller told police there was a shooting at the Bizzell Memorial Library and that one of the caller’s friends had been shot. And in secondary calls to Norman dispatch, gunshots can be heard.

But as it turns out, it was a swatting incident — that is, a big hoax.

Oklahoma nursing schools ramp up admissions amid worker shortage

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 08:00:00 -0500

The state ranks 46th in the nation for nurses per capita, and of course, the pandemic has only made that worse.

But all along, one of the major contributing factors to that shortage has been nursing school. There are a finite number of slots offered, and Oklahoma hasn’t had enough. Why? It’s complicated.

Five years after the Oklahoma Teacher Walkout, the stakes are higher than ever

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Even though funding measures advocated for by 2018 Oklahoma Teacher Walkout participants were stymied largely by Republican lawmakers, Oklahoma’s GOP is now authoring record-level education funding measures that include teacher raises, along with a slew of labor rights bills for educators. But the funding bills are far from a done deal — in fact, due to a disagreement in how those bills should operate, there could be no deal at all.

StateImpact Oklahoma discusses the state's newly extended postpartum Medicaid benefits

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Oklahoma offers pregnant residents special Medicaid coverage. That coverage used to last only 60 days after delivery, but under a new policy, that coverage will run for a full year instead. StateImpact’s Logan Layden and Catherine Sweeney discuss how the policy will affect thousands of new parents in Oklahoma.

A proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors would affect Oklahoma adults too

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0500

House Bill 2177 is making its way through the statehouse. It purports to ban gender-affirming care for children and teens in Oklahoma. Supporters say children and teens aren’t equipped to make life-altering health decisions for themselves. One provision says no health facility receiving state funds can administer gender-affirming care to anyone of any age. Another provision would ban insurance companies from covering gender-affirming care, again, for all Oklahomans, no matter how old they are.

Trans Oklahomans find community through music amid heightened anti-queer rhetoric in legislature

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Recent pushes from the Oklahoma legislature to target queer issues in schools and medicine have mobilized some Oklahomans to fight back. The Transgender Action Choir is one group lifting their voices to speak up.

Oklahoma legislation would require insurance companies to cover high-tech medical screenings called biomarker tests

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Biomarker testing is a tool that doctors use to get a clearer picture of a medical problem — often cancer. Providers and patients say it can be difficult to get insurance companies to cover it. Oklahoma lawmakers are working to change that.

Will Oklahomans vote to be the 22nd state to legalize recreational marijuana?

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Voters are just days away from deciding whether Oklahoma will legalize recreational marijuana. But results of similar ballot initiatives in Arkansas and Missouri could help predict the fate of State Question 820. KOSU's Xcaret Nuñez reports for StateImpact Oklahoma.

How Oklahoma's mismanagement of federal education funds could leave $18 million on the table

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 04:00:00 -0500

At the end of January, Oklahoma's new Attorney General, Gentner Drummond, announced he would change course on a high profile debacle involving Secretary of Education and now State Superintendent Ryan Walters — and lots of federal money.

Due to the state’s handling of its previous round of funding, Oklahoma now has nearly $18 million of federal education funding sitting untouched — and time is running out to spend it. StateImpact’s Beth Wallis sat down with Oklahoma Watch education reporter Jennifer Palmer for a recap of just what happened with the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund.

Another pandemic relief policy is ending, making groceries even more expensive for low-income Oklahomans

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0500

During the pandemic, the federal government started giving extra help to families who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — often called SNAP or food stamps. Officials were trying to make sure families could still put food on the table during the sudden economic downturn. But when Congress passed its big omnibus bill in December, they nixed the extra help, putting a sudden expiration date on three years of emergency payments. The roughly 700,000 Oklahomans who have benefitted from SNAP monthly are set to see a big decrease in their food aid.

‘Never took a sick day in seven years’: Oklahoma teacher moms and the realities of no paid maternity leave

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Karli Myers is a first-time parent and an English teacher at Sapulpa High School. And without any sick leave left to take, Myers had to return to her classroom the previous day, cutting short her time at home with Luke.

That’s because public schools in Oklahoma aren’t mandated by the state to offer paid maternity leave to school faculty and staff — even though three out of four teachers in Oklahoma are women.

In a push to combat the state’s record teacher shortage by attracting and retaining more educators, one bill unveiled by Oklahoma Senate Republicans in January seeks to give moms like Myers some relief.

StateImpact talks with Secretary of Health Kevin Corbett about Oklahoma's pivot to managed Medicaid

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, SoonerCare, is on its way to profound change. StateImpact’s Catherine Sweeney talked with its director, Secretary of Health Kevin Corbett, this week about the transition to managed care.

A decade of scandal at Epic Charter Schools

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 04:00:00 -0500

As more news emerges about embezzlement schemes at Epic Charter Schools, it might be difficult to keep up with the saga. That’s why StateImpact’s Beth Wallis asked Oklahoman newspaper reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel to get us up-to-speed on the last decade of Epic’s scandals. Martinez-Keel covers education at The Oklahoman and has been with the publication for four years.

Methamphetamine is killing more Oklahomans than any illicit drug. A collaborative in Tulsa models how the communities can fight the epidemic.

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

In 2013, Tulsans accounted for only about 13 percent of the state’s methamphetamine treatment admissions. In 2020, that figure climbed to one-third of the state’s admissions. That year, local nonprofits, treatment centers, law enforcement and government officials announced a collaborative, community-based initiative to help Tulsans find access to recovery services.

'A learner of learners': Staving off the "deprofessionalization' of Oklahoma's teachers

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Oklahoma’s teacher shortage led to a record-breaking 3,780 emergency teaching certifications issued in 2022. From 2001-2018, Oklahoma’s enrollment in university education programs dropped by 80%.

As the state's schools struggle to fill classrooms with teachers holding standard teaching certificates, provisionally certified teachers have had to step in to fill the gap. But do students lose out when hiring traditionally certified teachers becomes a luxury this teacher-strapped state can’t afford?

State data paints a dire picture of Oklahoma teenagers' mental health

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 16:22:00 -0500

State data released this year showed half of the teens who participated in an annual survey checked yes on the traditional depression symptom of feeling so sad or hopeless for two weeks in a row that they lost interest in usual activities. It found that in 2021, nearly one in four respondents had contemplated suicide in the past year. Among girls, that rate was closer to one in three.

Methamphetamine may not be the center of attention, but it's killing more Oklahomans than any other drug.

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 11:09:00 -0500

Billion-dollar lawsuits and prestige television shows have made the opioid epidemic impossible to overlook. But it is far from the only drug epidemic the country — and Oklahoma — are facing. Overdose deaths from opioids, including prescription drugs as well as illicit forms of fentanyl, have increased over the past few years, likely because of struggles amid the pandemic. But one drug in particular is killing Oklahomans at an even higher rate: methamphetamine.

Pt. 2: ‘Disasters that define us’: Examining Northeast Oklahoma’s patchwork of flood protections

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Heavy rains in May 2019 revealed major disparities in flood protections across Oklahoma. While residents in Tulsa benefitted from decades of flood preparations, smaller communities lack the infrastructure and resources to keep the waters at bay. In the second of a two-part series with OPMX’s Graycen Wheeler, StateImpact’s Beth Wallis reports on how one riverside community came together to take care of each other.

Pt. 1: ‘Disasters that define us’: Examining Northeast Oklahoma’s patchwork of flood protections

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

As climate change continues to raise the stakes of severe flooding events, some Oklahoma communities are prepared to weather the storm, and some aren’t. During the extreme flooding of May 2019, communities were put to the test. In the first of a two-part series in partnership with StateImpact’s Beth Wallis, OPMX’s Graycen Wheeler reports on how two neighboring cities responded to disaster.

How social media affects the ways two Tulsa teenagers get their news

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Nathalie Valero and Elodie Musungayi are Tulsa teenagers who spoke about how social media is amplifying youth voices and how it impacts mental health for them and their peers. KOSU reporter Kateleigh Mills went to Tulsa to speak with them.

'It had to be more than just teachers and their families voting': Oklahoma educator responds to election outcome

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 04:00:00 -0500

Leading up to the midterms, throngs of teachers and education advocates rallied around democratic candidates for governor and superintendent. But after the ticket went to Gov. Kevin Stitt and Education Secretary Ryan Walters, some of those teachers are thinking about leaving the state altogether.

Jami Jackson-Cole is a fifth grade teacher at Duncan Public Schools and manages the Oklahoma Edvocates Facebook page, which is a community of thousands of teachers and parents around the state. StateImpact’s Beth Wallis spoke to her about how Oklahoma teachers are looking at the road ahead.

StateImpact Oklahoma reporters react to midterm election results

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Unlike some other states, Oklahoma’s midterm election results are in the books. The results have big implications for education, health, and the environment in our state. Managing editor Logan Layden discussed what the outcome means with the StateImpact Oklahoma reporters.

The Adderall shortage has made its way to Oklahoma.

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 17:14:00 -0500

Workforce problems, federal regulations and an increase in demand are creating a shortage of ADD and ADHD medications. Local medical providers started seeing an issue this summer. There are ways around the shortage, but they involve jumping through hoops.

Oklahoma lawmakers tried to limit four day school weeks, but they’re hanging on in rural communities

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 04:30:00 -0500

Four day school weeks have become more common across Oklahoma over the last decade. Lawmakers have tried to limit the practice. But as StateImpact’s Robby Korth reports, the rural districts that use them are fighting to keep them.

When Oklahoma voters choose a governor in November, they'll be voting on the future of SoonerCare.

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 11:18:00 -0500

The governor's race has had plenty of hyper-partisan debates, but one major issue falls away from party politics. Gov. Kevin Stitt wants to fundamentally alter the state's Medicaid program. His plan would bring in private-sector insurance companies to manage the no-cost health insurance that covers 1.3 million Oklahomans. The gubernatorial election will determine whether he gets to. Democratic challenger Joy Hofmeister argues that Stitt's plan to partially privatize SoonerCare simply funnels money into insurance companies' profits, and that the state should instead invest in health infrastructure directly.

What more can be done to save the Lesser Prairie-Chicken?

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0500

In June 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to list the Lesser Prairie-Chicken on the Endangered Species List — a move that would’ve triggered significant federal protections for the imperiled grouse. However, the Service has yet to finalize its proposal to do so, despite its June 2022 deadline.

If the bird does get listed, industries will be required to mitigate their development impacts through conservation measures. But if the delay continues or the bird is never listed, advocates say this rare, dancing bird is running out of time.

Alumni gather at Oklahoma City's old Northeast High School to honor 1970 student activism

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 04:30:00 -0500

A group of alumni from the former Northeast High School in Oklahoma City returned to their alma mater this weekend to remember their old school and activism many engaged in more than 50 years ago. StateImpact’s Robby Korth tagged along. Listen to his story below.

How important is education in Oklahoma’s race for governor?

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 05:30:00 -0500

As Governor Kevin Stitt gears up for his challenge from State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister in November, StateImpact’s Robby Korth reports on what effects education policy could have on the race.

As pandemic response wanes, Oklahoma schools adapt to the end of universal free lunch

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 12:15:00 -0500

Over the past year, pandemic relief efforts have been winding down. One of the first to go: universal free lunch for public school students.

For more than two years during the pandemic, the waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture meant all kids qualified for free breakfasts and lunches. It saved families with one child hundreds of dollars per year, and for families with multiple kids, it saved thousands. It meant families who might qualify for free or reduced lunches didn’t have to handle paperwork, and no students had to navigate lunch debt.

But Congress decided to let the program lapse. Across Oklahoma, schools are figuring out how to help families weather the change.

Where should we put our country's nuclear waste? StateImpact Oklahoma goes underground to find out

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0500

More than 2,000 feet underground in Carlsbad, New Mexico, sits the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).

WIPP is the country’s only deep geological repository for nuclear waste of any kind — the U.S. doesn’t have a permanent repository for high level waste like spent nuclear fuel . But its other claim to fame is it’s also a case study in “consent-based siting,” which is the practice of getting community buy-in for nuclear storage sites.

Now, a $3 million research project led by the University of Oklahoma’s Institute for Public Policy Research is aiming to develop a new framework for consent-based interim siting of spent nuclear fuel. As the nation’s nuclear waste storage crisis becomes increasingly more imminent, researchers hope they can craft policy that will incentivize communities to volunteer themselves as interim storage sites.

Plaintiff: challenging Oklahoma's transgender bathroom ban 'just the right thing to do'

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Three Oklahoma students are suing the state over its law that bars transgender students from using the bathroom corresponding with their gender identity.

Andy Bridge is the lead plaintiff. The suit argues Senate Bill 615 is unconstitutional and should be overturned.

Bridge and his parents, Aysha Prather and Eli Bridge, sat down with StateImpact Oklahoma reporter Robby Korth to share why they think it was an important step to take.

StateImpact answers some common questions about HB 1775

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 06:00:00 -0500

StateImpact has gotten many questions about House Bill 1775, Oklahoma’s so-called critical race theory ban. So education reporter Robby Korth tried to address the most common ones. Here he is talking with Logan Layden about answering those frequently asked questions.

Sharing Indigenous Oklahoma stories at Field Museum exhibit ‘really inspiring’ for Stilwell students

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Stateimpact is on a tour around Oklahoma to gather voices, stories and more from youth. Education reporter Robby Korth and KOSU engagement reporter Kateleigh Mills talked with two Stilwell High School students about their art and how they fit in as Cherokee in Oklahoma.

A new wastewater monitoring program means Oklahoma doesn't have to rely solely on testing to find COVID and monkeypox.

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 10:31:00 -0500

Researchers at the University of Oklahoma started developing a monitoring program in 2020. Now, they're working with state health officials to scan for about a dozen pathogens — including COVID, monkeypox and West Nile Virus.

‘Something that can’t be replaced’: What a turnpike project could mean for Oklahoma wildlife

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0500

The ACCESS Oklahoma Turnpike project from the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is a 15-year, $5 billion project to build several turnpike routes in central, southern and northeastern Oklahoma. Residents in the paths of these turnpike extensions who regularly see deer grazing in their yards and eagles soaring overhead are wondering, what’s going to happen to all the wildlife and the facility that takes care of them? And how far does the law go to protect them?

Texas students help make up for enrollment losses at Oklahoma colleges

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 05:30:00 -0500

As Oklahoma colleges struggle to maintain enrollment, they’re increasingly turning to other places to recruit new students. StateImpact’s Robby Korth reports the top target is the Sooner state’s neighbors to the south.

In StateImpact conversation, Tulsa high schoolers ask peers ‘Will you accept me as I am?’

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0500

StateImpact is on a listening tour with Oklahoma’s youth. And we’ve brought along our microphones. StateImpact’s Robby Korth and KOSU’s Kateleigh Mills talked to a couple of Tulsa high school students about race, gender and how they interact with their peers at school.

Oklahoma allows abortions in life-threatening situations, but how much danger is enough?

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Several states that banned abortion created exceptions for medical emergencies, but the laws fail to make clear which conditions qualify for the exception. That leaves room for interpretation, which has already caused delays in life-saving care.

Oklahoma educators don’t shy away from difficult conversations at Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial & Museum event

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0500

As lawmakers, parents and school boards debate what kids should or shouldn’t learn in the classroom, teachers are still trying to find ways to lead tough conversations. StateImpact’s Robby Korth reports on a day a couple dozen educators at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum spent figuring out just that.

Pt. 2, Sustaining sustainability: The waste problem in Oklahoma’s cannabis industry and the innovators at the helm of change

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0500

One Oklahoman is taking it on herself to chip away at the mountains of packaging waste left by the booming industry.

Taylor Davis, a 28-year-old Edmond resident, drives hundreds of miles every week to pick up tubs full of pop-top drams, glass jars, tiny cardboard boxes and Mylar bags from dispensaries around the state. Since February, she’s held these recycling drives at dispensaries all over Oklahoma, which she advertises on her Instagram, @RecycleYourEmpties. She said everywhere she goes, she meets people who just can’t bring themselves to toss piles of packaging into a landfill.

Pt. 1, Sustaining sustainability: The waste problem in Oklahoma’s cannabis industry and the innovators at the helm of change

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0500

With Oklahoma’s medical marijuana scene growing rapidly, industry professionals and cannabis patients are feeling the weight of packaging waste. But a lack of recycling infrastructure and an unwillingness to raise prices for sustainable packaging have left Oklahoma unprepared to handle the growing mountains of plastic packing the state’s landfills.

Tulsa teenagers discuss how to be allies to their friends during uncertain times

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0500

StateImpact is on a listening tour with Oklahoma’s youth. And we’ve brought along our microphones. KOSU’s Kateleigh Mills and StateImpact’s Robby Korth talked to a couple of Tulsa teenagers about being allies for their friends, following the news and about their own roles as Oklahomans.

Two more COVID strains have made their way to Oklahoma. Here's what to know.

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 10:55:00 -0500

The health department confirmed that two new variants account for about 40 percent of new cases. And according to state data, the number of officially reported cases per week doubled in June. StateImpact's Catherine Sweeney talked with Dr. David Holden, the president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, about how contagious these variants are and what risk factors Oklahomans should be considering.

'When a right is created by the Supreme Court, it can go away': What overturning Roe could mean for contraception access, sexual privacy and marriage equality

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0500

In the recent Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision, Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey were struck down. In his opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote three previous rulings that used the same constitutional mechanism as Roe and Casey had been decided erroneously and should be reexamined.

StateImpact Oklahoma reporter Beth Wallis interviewed Kathleen Tipler — an OU political science professor who specializes in gender, sexuality and the law — to understand how the Dobbs decision could impact other precedents related to contraception, sexual privacy and marriage equality.

For years before the Saint Francis shooting, health workers have experienced on-the-job violence at alarming rates.

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 10:41:00 -0500

And they say the pandemic has made it worse. One national survey of nurses found 44 percent of them experienced physical abuse at work in early 2020.

Oklahoma City teenagers ask policymakers not to ‘downplay' their experiences

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 05:45:00 -0500

StateImpact is on a listening tour with Oklahoma’s youth. And we’ve brought along our microphones. Two recent high school graduates from Oklahoma City - Aspen Harrod and Ahmari Sango - talk about their comfort levels in the classroom, how they fit in society and representation. StateImpact’s Robby Korth talked with them in late May.

Tulsa mass shooting reignites gun policy debate in Oklahoma

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0500

On the afternoon of June 1, a man walked into a local gun store and bought an AR-style rifle. A few hours later, he used that rifle and a handgun he’d purchased two days before to kill four people at a Tulsa medical center before turning the gun on himself.

This came just a week after an 18-year-old bought an AR-style rifle and days later massacred 19 children and 2 teachers in Uvalde, Texas.

And that came a little over a week after an 18-year-old, who had previously threatened a murder-suicide at his high school, purchased a semiautomatic rifle and killed 10 people in Buffalo.

As mass shootings continue to make headlines around the country, advocates for gun reform in Oklahoma have a long and uncertain road ahead.

Critics say Oklahoma’s abortion and Critical Race Theory crackdowns rely on fear

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 22:15:00 -0500

Under the state's new abortion bans, are Oklahomans allowed to donate to abortion funds? Are they allowed to advise patients on their options in other states? The slew of contradictory bills passed this year weren't explicit. Vague laws leave residents wondering what’s legal and what isn’t. Opponents argue that is by design.

‘It’s utterly ridiculous:’ trans Tulsa students react to Oklahoma’s school bathroom ban

Thu, 26 May 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Governor Kevin Stitt on Wednesday signed a bill to bar transgender students from using the bathroom corresponding with their identity. StateImpact's Robby Korth and KOSU's Kateleigh Mills went to Tulsa the day the bill was sent to the governor for a conversation with three trans high schoolers. The teenagers talked about identity and how political conversations surrounding the bathrooms they use affect them.

Substitute shortage persisted even after Oklahoma school closures slowed down

Thu, 19 May 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Earlier this year a teacher shortage in Oklahoma forced hundreds of school districts to close their doors because of a lack of substitutes to fill in for educators out with the coronavirus. But StateImpact’s Robby Korth reports even though it’s no longer in the headlines, the substitute teacher shortage persists.

'Oklahoma doesn't want us': Families grapple with looming displacement from turnpike

Fri, 13 May 2022 03:00:00 -0500

On February 22, Governor Kevin Stitt announced plans for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to embark on a $5 billion, 15-year project to expand Oklahoma’s turnpike network. Two families facing displacement from the turnpike project told their stories to StateImpact’s Beth Wallis.

In Part 2, you’ll hear the story of Darla and Cedric LeBlanc, a Norman family whose home and horticulture business sits in the path of the proposed South Extension route. Beth Wallis visited the family’s home, where they were hosting an Easter egg hunt.

'That home is sacred to me': Norman woman joins fight against turnpike

Thu, 12 May 2022 03:00:00 -0500

On February 22, Governor Kevin Stitt announced plans for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to embark on a $5 billion, 15-year project to expand Oklahoma’s turnpike network. The effort to expand the turnpike loop around Oklahoma City south and west, through the Moore and Norman areas is raising concerns about water quality, the preservation of wildlife, property rights and even the rare rose rock. But for some, it’s personal.

In Part 1 of this 2-part piece, you’ll hear the story of Lisa Meyer, a Norman resident whose home sits by the path of the proposed South Extension route. The home was built by her husband Paul to accommodate their late son Clinton, who lived with disabilities until his death in 2008. Lisa is also active in the newly formed turnpike opposition group, Pike Off OTA.

Oklahoma already ranked among the highest in the country for sexually transmitted infections. The pandemic likely made it worse.

Wed, 04 May 2022 21:04:00 -0500

The newest round of CDC numbers sound bad. No. 11 for chlamydia. No. 5 for gonorrhea. No. 4 for syphilis. these high rates — revealed in the CDC’s STI data for 2020 — aren’t new for Oklahoma. But local experts believe the pandemic worsened STI rates in much the same way that it worsened other health outcomes.

How Oklahoma Watch and The Frontier teamed up to investigate an $18 million no-bid contract between Oklahoma and a Florida company

Mon, 02 May 2022 05:00:00 -0500

A joint investigation by nonprofit news outlets Oklahoma Watch and The Frontier found that Governor Kevin Stitt and his now-Secretary of Education Ryan Walters pushed $18 million to a Florida company called Class Wallet to distribute CARES Act funds. StateImpact’s Robby Korth spoke with one of the authors of that article, Clifton Adcock, about his work on the story.

Read the full story here: https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/stitt-gave-families-8-million-for-school-supplies-in-the-pandemic-they-bought-christmas-trees-gaming-consoles-and-tvs/

StateImpact wants to hear from marginalized Oklahoma youth

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 04:30:00 -0500

In Oklahoma, culture wars can feel exhausting to marginalized youth. So StateImpact’s Robby Korth and KOSU’s Kateleigh Mills are embarking on a listening tour and they’re bringing microphones. Now, they need your help.

‘I love a place that hates me,’ how two transgender Oklahoma teens navigate current events in their home state

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0500

StateImpact is on a listening tour with Oklahoma’s youth. And we’ve brought along our microphones. In the first session, two transgender high school juniors from Tulsa share how they feel about their education and their place in the state. Their names are MJ and Dominik, and they sat with StateImpact’s Robby Korth earlier this month.

StateImpact’s Robby Korth and KOSU’s Kateleigh Mills produced this story as part of the America Amplified initiative using community engagement to inform and strengthen local, regional and national journalism. America Amplified is a public media initiative funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

If you are an organization that works with youth and would like to schedule a listening session with StateImpact and KOSU call 405-896-4327. That’s 405-896-4327.

Striking gold in the green rush: entrepreneurs tap into Oklahoma's weed economy

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 03:00:00 -0500

The economic impact of Oklahoma’s blossoming industry reaches far beyond cannabis business owners — from packaging and banking partners to storefront landlords and thousands of employees. But as for state and local revenue from cannabis taxes, officials hesitate to characterize the industry as a silver bullet to the state’s economic woes. Hear the story of one entrepreneur who struck gold in Oklahoma's green rush.

How property tax protests are hurting Oklahoma schools

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Oklahoma schools have an $80 million problem. That’s how much money county assessors say local governments are owed in taxes but are currently held in escrow amid protests. StateImpact’s Robby Korth reports on a property tax fight that’s hurting schools.

Oklahoma abortion laws would send providers to prison for up to a decade and further strain on out-of-state clinics

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 18:56:00 -0500

Oklahoma lawmakers are in a mad dash to eradicate abortion in Oklahoma, passing a slew of bills to restrict — and in some cases, even criminalize — the procedure. These laws now stand a better chance of going into effect, and that if they do, will have a major impact on the region, not just Oklahoma.

Memory loss, debilitating fatigue and more: Oklahomans share their experiences with long COVID symptoms

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 20:55:00 -0500

Even though cases are down, thousands of Oklahomans are still dealing with COVID symptoms. As many as one in three who are infected with the virus will continue to have symptoms for weeks — or even months — after recovery.StateImpact talked with more than a dozen Oklahomans about their experiences with long-term COVID symptoms. What did those symptoms look like? To be honest, the experiences were all over the map, but there were a few things that came up time and again: lung issues, heart issues, brain fog — and frustration.

Listen for more.

Long-embattled, rare beetle offers hope of new discoveries

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 10:01:00 -0500

The rare American Burying Beetle could hold the key to new medical treatments and novel meat preservation methods. But these beetles are facing threats that could wipe them out of Oklahoma — and perhaps most of the country. And some conservationists say the government hasn’t done enough to protect the dwindling population of ABBs.

What does school choice look like in rural Oklahoma?

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 04:45:00 -0500

Oklahoma Republicans are split on Senate Bill 1647. The measure would give private school families vouchers to pay for tuition. But many rural state lawmakers say school choice in their towns is different. So, StateImpact’s Robby Korth went to one small town to see. What does school choice look like in rural Oklahoma?

Psychedelic mushroom research could soon be legal in Oklahoma

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 22:11:00 -0500

Research into how psychedelic mushrooms could help patients with mental health conditions is gaining momentum, even in Oklahoma. Some state lawmakers are interested in the idea — if it helps veterans.

The road to electric: Oklahoma navigates transition to embracing electric vehicles

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0500

This new frontier of electric vehicles in Oklahoma isn’t without its challenges — accessibility, range anxiety, infrastructure and competing in a state with a historic reliance on oil and gas production. But Oklahoma is paving the road ahead by building out its charging network and rethinking its motor fuel tax structure.

StateImpact Discusses: Critics argue Oklahoma's lethal injection protocol could constitute cruel and unusual punishment — and that the state shouldn't be allowed to hide the details behind it

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 16:15:00 -0500

Oklahoma secrecy laws allow the state to obscure where it gets lethal injection drugs. Given the state's track record, the critics say, that shouldn't be the case. StateImpact Editor Logan Layden talks with health reporter Catherine Sweeney about the state's controversial protocol, the drugs it uses to execute Oklahomans, and the secrecy laws that obscure where officials buy them.

How Oklahoma’s classroom curriculum bans affect Black educators and families

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0500

For the last year Oklahoma Republicans have derided Critical Race Theory as a racist way of teaching that discriminates against white students. StateImpact’s Robby Korth reports it’s been a difficult debate to watch for at least one Black father and scholar of the subject.

"There's going to be a real blip." Medical professionals are concerned about delayed routine screenings and their long-term effects.

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 16:21:00 -0500

Residents have been missing out on cancer screenings, diabetes management and other services that prevent and detect disease.

'A world of wounds': Decline in grasshopper populations offers window into consequences of climate change

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 10:12:00 -0500

For the last two decades, the grasshoppers of the Konza Prairie Biological Station in Manhattan, Kansas, have been declining significantly — even as their main food source, grass, has nearly doubled in abundance. Researchers analyzed decades of grass samples and found that increased CO2 and climate change have caused these plants to become less nutritious. And this process — nutrient dilution — is happening all over the world.

Amid noisy controversies Oklahoma school librarians do their best to create ‘informed citizens’

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

The books in Oklahoma school libraries don’t end up on the shelves by accident. A few parent groups and legislators are trying to limit what appears in school libraries. StateImpact's Robby Korth reports on how librarians decide which books are available to kids.

Medicaid, marijuana, and culture wars: StateImpact Oklahoma discusses the upcoming legislative session

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 05:45:00 -0500

The Oklahoma Legislature is back in session on February 7th. Managing editor Logan Layden led a discussion with the StateImpact Oklahoma reporters on what they'll be covering, including how to deal with Medicaid expansion, new regulations on the marijuana industry, and the influence of state government on what's taught and read in schools.

Newly released records shed light on issues in Oklahoma's public health lab and pandemic center

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 22:26:00 -0500

When Gov. Kevin Stitt announced in October 2020 that his administration would soon move the state’s Public Health Laboratory from Oklahoma City to Stillwater, opposition came quickly. The Frontier’s Kassie McClung and Kayla Brand partnered with StateImpact and spent more than a year requesting emails, invoices and other documents related to the public health lab and the state’s newly Pandemic Center for Innovation and Excellence.

The Omicron variant is hitting Oklahoma hard and creating troubles unseen in earlier surges

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 19:44:00 -0500

Oklahoma recorded some of its highest daily case counts of the pandemic in the past week. You wouldn’t think so, just looking around. Virtually no mask mandates in businesses or cities. Many employers requiring in-person work. Schools and universities welcoming all of their students back to the physical classroom. But health officials say new issues have cropped up this time: more dire work shortages, new causes for vaccine hesitancy and hospitals already strained by other viruses.

Unintended consequence of SQ 780 may impact access to drug treatment courts

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 17:00:00 -0500

Drug treatment courts help those charged with drug and alcohol offenses straighten out their lives, with documented success, such as with former Oklahoma Sen. Cal Hobson. But efforts to reform the state’s criminal justice system are causing unintended consequences for the program.

Even with green light, few Oklahoma schools are requiring masks

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Fewer Oklahoma schools are requiring masks in their classrooms than at any point during the pandemic. In a conversation with StateImpact Managing Editor Logan Layden, education reporter Robby Korth says going into the spring 2022 semester that already dwindling number could get even smaller.

Oklahoma City's arts scene is growing, but rising rents and COVID fallout are squeezing its artists

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 17:27:00 -0500

Population growth, short housing supply and slow wage growth are threatening the city's affordability. Artists, who suffered lost gigs and fewer opportunities throughout the pandemic, are feeling the strain.

‘It's like WPA Money’: How federal COVID-19 relief funds are helping schools make infrastructure improvements

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 05:30:00 -0500

Federal relief money for the coronavirus has injected more than $1 billion into Oklahoma’s public schools. StateImpact’s Robby Korth reports that in many places, it’s giving schools a chance to catch up on much needed infrastructure improvements.

Politics dial up intensity at Oklahoma school board meetings

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0500

School board meetings used to be pretty boring. But now they’ve become a battleground over big political topics like the coronavirus and race. StateImpact’s Robby Korth reports with The Oklahoman’s Nuria Martinez-Keel on what’s happening at these meetings in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma's cafeterias have been hit hard by the coronavirus

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0500

A national food shortage means lunchrooms across Oklahoma are short on much of what they need to serve students. StateImpact’s Robby Korth reports on the efforts child nutrition employees make to ensure kids are fed.

Oklahoma's recent COVID-19 hospitalization spike created a strain on oxygen — and not just for hospitals

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 18:44:00 -0500

As thousands of Oklahomans battled COVID-19 in ICUs earlier this year, hospitals’ demand for liquid oxygen skyrocketed. The strain highlighted supply chain and infrastructure challenges inside and outside the medical system.

ACLU lawyer discusses challenge to Oklahoma’s critical race theory ban

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 05:00:00 -0500

Earlier this week, the ACLU announced it would lead a coalition of civil rights and educational groups suing Oklahoma over its controversial critical race theory ban in federal court. StateImpact’s Robby Korth talked with ACLU of Oklahoma legal director and attorney Megan Lambert about the legal action.

Oklahoma School for the Deaf welcomes new, more inclusive Bison mascot

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0500

Host: Earlier this month Oklahoma School for the Deaf unveiled a fresh logo featuring their new Bison mascot. StateImpact’s Robby Korth reports the Bison name flips a new page in the storied history of Oklahoma’s school for deaf students.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPING PAGE FLIP

RK: John Reinenger is thumbing through a book of old newspaper clippings. The pages are from his days as a student at Oklahoma School for the Deaf here in Sulphur, a school that competed under the name Indians in his time. He’s speaking here through an interpreter.

REINENGER (through interpreter): It brings back a lot of memories. Definitely nostalgic. So yeah. I feel very, very closely connected to OSD. It’s like my second home, really. (11)

RK: The Midwest City man has a son here. His parents met here. He is a 2000 graduate. But there was one thing his mother Sylvia told him not to do at school.

REINENGER: My mother told me never to dress like in costume as an Indian, like any kind of Indian costumes. (06)

RK: John and his mother are both citizens of the Muscogee Nation. And people did dress up in costume regularly at football games and pep rallies.

REINENGER: I mean, I didn't honestly really think much about it. And then as life went on and I've gotten older, then I've looked at it and realized, Ooh. [air sucking grimace] Yikes. OK. (08)

RK: There’s been a community-wide realization here as well. The Indians mascot was officially retired this year and replaced with the Bison. Superintendent Chris Dvorak.

DVORAK: It really kind of came to a head where there were some serious conversations within the administration that had links to alumni. And we just got the sense that the time is now, you know, we can we really need to have a serious conversation. The writing is on the wall. (18)

RK: So he tasked OSD alum and director of student life Trudy Mitchell with creating a task force and leading the charge toward a new mascot. She spoke to StateImpact through an interpreter.

MITCHELL: The change is needed. I'm excited that it's going to be something new, it's going to be a new vision for our school. (08)

RK: Mitchell met and spoke with dozens of alumni about the potential for change. It wasn’t well received at first, but she says, after several discussions many in the community have come around to the idea.

MITCHELL: Oh we had lots of options. We had painted horse, a T. Rex, a Tasmanian Devil. There was an eagle.

RK: But more than two-thirds ended up voting for Bison. Oklahoma School for the Deaf was hardly alone in its use of an Indigenous-themed mascot in Oklahoma. A StateImpact review of school nicknames found at least 75 public school districts - almost 15 percent - use Indigenous themed mascots. Corey Bunch, Education Services executive director for Cherokee Nation, says that can be hurtful.

BUNCH: The chants from opposing teams and the slogans that kind of are associated with the mascots and the imagery they can quickly get carried away. And they just don't represent Native people. (14)

RK: The movement to change offensive names is gaining momentum in western states. Laws in Washington and Colorado passed this year are compelling schools to stop using Indigenous-themed mascots. Such a bill has not even been introduced in Oklahoma - the state with the highest proportion of Native Americans in the lower 48.

BUNCH: Certainly, Cherokee Nation nor other tribal nations are out twisting anybody's arm, telling them that they ought to change their mascots. But when we are asked we are certainly happy to participate. (13)

RK: Individual districts are considering changes. Tulsa Union recently announced it would change its nickname. Tulsa Public Schools is looking at changing mascots at some sites as well. Bunch served as an advisory member for the review boards at both districts. And he says he always wants to advocate for Native students.

BUNCH: We don't want them to be ashamed for any reason to just be the people that that they are. (08)

CHATTER IN GYM

MITCHELL(through interpreter): Are you ready?

RK: Back in Sulphur, Reinenger is standing by his son as a group of alums unveil the new Bison logo.

CHEERS

REINENGER: Yeah, I like it, I think it's cool. (02)

RK: Cool in that the animal has a symbolic relationship with deaf people, he says.

REINENGER: People who are deaf rely on things like vibrations. Thinking about like herds and movements and vibrations, I think it really connects well with the deaf community. (07)

RK: It’s a proud moment for the Reinenger family. A new era for Oklahoma School for the Deaf. For StateImpact, I’m Robby Korth.

Oklahoma urgent cares face cutbacks and shutdowns amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic strain

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 12:32:00 -0500

In a weekly update to state agencies, the Oklahoma State Department of Health warned that strain has led to cutbacks. It reads, in part, "Urgent care centers are reporting decreased hours or are shutting down due to inability to serve patient volume or redirect staff to other facilities to support increase in patients." Like all other health providers, the centers are experiencing staff shortages, high demand and burnout.

White House COVID-19 response adviser talks boosters with StateImpact Oklahoma

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 20:53:00 -0500

Dr. Cameron Webb is the senior policy adviser on COVID-19 equity on the White House’s response team. After federal regulators approved Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for booster doses, Webb talked with StateImpact about who should get the third dose and why.

Santa Fe South was the first district to implement a mask mandate in Oklahoma this fall. Here’s how it’s going

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 05:45:00 -0500

A growing number of schools around Oklahoma are starting to mandate masks in their hallways, with opt out provisions. StateImpact’s Robby Korth takes us inside the first public school in Oklahoma to require masks this semester.