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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.

Biden Administration threatens St. Francis’ accreditation

Tulsa Beacon

The Biden administration has threatened to strip Saint Francis Hospital South of accreditation that allows it to serve Medicare and Medicaid patients because the hospital maintains an eternally lit candle as a religious symbol in its hospital chapel, according to a legal organization representing the hospital. Lori Windham, vice president and senior counsel at the…

Senate, House at odds on school choice

Tulsa Beacon

Just a day after their counterparts in the Oklahoma House of Representatives supported creation of a major school-choice tax-credit program, members of the state Senate did the same thing, easily advancing a similar measure. Large majorities in both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature have now passed major school-choice legislation twice apiece, setting the stage for…

Gov. Stitt calls for tax cuts

Tulsa Beacon

Noting state government has both record savings and revenue far exceeding what is required to maintain existing government services, Gov. Kevin Stitt has renewed his call for passage of major tax cuts this year. “If not now, when?” Stitt said. “If we don’t cut taxes this year, when are we going to do it? We…

Crimson & Queens drag show at OU

Tulsa Beacon

According to officials at the University of Oklahoma, the school’s annual “Crimson & Queens” drag show is not only “the largest annual drag show in Oklahoma” but also “one of the largest collegiate drag shows in the U.S.” In drag shows, performers impersonate men or women while dancing and singing/lip synching. The programs are often…

Oklahoma parents, students rally for school choice

Tulsa Beacon

Hundreds of parents and students urged lawmakers to enact robust school-choice policies this year that will allow Oklahoma families to more easily access private schools and homeschooling, speaking out at a Capitol rally on Thursday. “Every parent has dreams for their child’s future,” said Blessing Omeke, a mother of three. “And God puts a natural…

OEA advises to hide information from parents

Tulsa Beacon

In recent years, Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to restrict access to school bathrooms based on sex, and have voted to prevent males from competing in girls’ sports as transgender females. But even with those laws on the books, a guidebook provided by the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) to its members advises teachers to do the…

OK Senate restricts pornography in schools

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma school libraries would be required to restrict children’s access to materials based on the age-appropriateness of materials, following public outcry after numerous reports of sexually graphic and pornographic materials in many schools, under legislation approved by the Oklahoma Senate. “We want to allow kids to be kids, and there’s certain things we don’t necessarily…

School Board election timing

Tulsa Beacon

In an effort to significantly increase voter turnout and input into local schools, lawmakers have advanced two bills that would shift school-board elections to a November general-election ballot. “I believe we need to increase voter turnout in school-board elections,” said state Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore. “And we all in our communities recently—two weeks ago—had those…

Fetal Images are Obscene?

Tulsa Beacon

During discussion of legislation that would bar performing lewd or obscene acts in the presence of children, one Democratic lawmaker suggested public display of fetal images violates existing state obscenity laws. Senate Bill 503, by state Sen. David Bullard, would make it illegal for any political subdivision to “allow or permit a public display of…

School grades: Too easy to understand?

Tulsa Beacon

Citing concerns that the system is too easily understood by the public, members of a state House committee have voted to scrap A-F school grades that inform parents of how their local public school stacks up against other public schools. “Language matters,” said state Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa. “There’s a big difference between saying this…