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The Tulsa Beacon

 

Ray Carter

Center for Independent Journalism

Ray Carter is the director of OCPA’s Center for Independent Journalism.

Oklahoma lawmaker seeks end of wind-power subsidy

Tulsa Beacon

A newly elected state senator says it is time to end taxpayer subsidization of wind farms. “Oklahoma taxpayers have already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies for wind farms across the state, and it’s beyond time to end this costly practice,” said state Sen. Jonathan Wingard, R-Ada. “While new wind projects no longer…

Survivor of Communism warns Oklahoma of Chinese Influence

Tulsa Beacon

In 2024 Lily Tang Williams gained national fame as the Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District. She fell short in that race but is now using her platform to warn Americans of the perils of communism and against allowing the Chinese government to increase its leverage in…

Transparency sought for Oklahoma Universities’ Foreign Funds

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma colleges and universities would have to publicly report any foreign funding received and its purpose under legislation filed by state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom. Senate Bill 349, by Bergstrom, would require all state and accredited private institutions of higher education in Oklahoma to submit a quarterly report detailing any contracts, gifts, grants, endowments, awards, or…

Poll finds Oklahoma’s School-Choice model popular with parents nationwide

Tulsa Beacon

In 2023, Oklahoma Lawmakers Passed The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, Which Provides Refundable Tax Credits To Families To Help Cover The Cost Of Private School Or Homeschooling. The Program Proved Extremely Popular With Parents In Its First Year As The Demand For Tax Credits Quickly Exceeded The Supply. Now A New Poll Shows…

OKC mayor, conservative Republicans differ on California-style election scheme

Tulsa Beacon

When officials with Oklahoma United launched an initiative petition to effectively end primary elections in Oklahoma and instead adopt a California-style “jungle primary” system, they touted the support of Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. Under the proposed system, all candidates from all parties would compete on a single June ballot with all voters able to…

Bergstrom pursues Oklahoma personal income-tax repeal

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma’s personal income tax rate would be immediately reduced and then gradually eliminated under legislation filed by state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom. Senate Bill 1, by Bergstrom, would cut the state personal income tax from its current rate of 4.75 percent to 4.5 percent in the 2025 tax year. The bill provides for additional, automatic income-tax…

National Supermajority agrees with Oklahoma-Style transgender laws

Tulsa Beacon

In recent years, Oklahoma has been at the forefront of states that have prohibited males from participating in women’s sports as “transgender women” and made it illegal to perform sex-change surgeries on children. Opponents claimed those laws would cause people to leave Oklahoma and prompt businesses to avoid the state. But a new poll shows…

Oklahoma group launches effort to adopt California Voting System

Tulsa Beacon

Officials with Oklahoma United announced they have launched an initiative-petition effort to place State Question 835 on the ballot in 2026, asking Oklahoma voters to effectively end primary elections and instead replace them with a June general election followed by a November runoff general election. The proposed system is similar to California’s election process. The…

GOP Easily Holds Legislative Majorities In Oklahoma

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma Republicans easily held onto their supermajorities in the state legislature during this week’s elections, emerging unscathed. Republicans went into the 2024 election cycle holding 81 seats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives to the 20 districts held by Democrats, while in the Senate the GOP held 40 seats to the eight held by Democrats….