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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.

Stopping attacks on pro-life groups

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor has joined 18 of his state counterparts to urge federal law enforcement officials to take action against the rising tide of domestic-terrorist attacks on pro-life organizations and also vowed to devote state resources to those prosecution efforts. “We cannot tolerate assaults on religious and pro-life groups,” O’Connor said. Since June…

Cherokee chief orders Oklahoma flag not be displayed

Tulsa Beacon

Through a new executive order, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. has prohibited display of the state flag of Oklahoma at tribal facilities. Hoskin’s executive order declares that the chief of staff of the Cherokee Nation shall “cause all flags of the State of Oklahoma to be removed from Cherokee Nation properties” by Sept….

Gov. Stitt switches yearly shortfalls to budget surpluses

Tulsa Beacon

The election of Kevin Stitt, a successful businessman who was a political unknown before he became governor, marked a dramatic change in how the Oklahoma state government operates. Since Stitt entered office, the state government has shifted from having massive annual budget shortfalls to having historic levels of savings, and from constantly enacting tax hikes…

Critical Race Theory is taught in Okla. public schools

Tulsa Beacon

When House Bill 1775 became law in 2021, banning the teaching of certain concepts broadly associated with Critical Race Theory (CRT), opponents claimed CRT was not taught in Oklahoma schools. Critics continue to make that claim today. But a recent request from the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA), the state’s largest teachers’ union, indicates that union…

Owasso teacher is allowed to resign

Tulsa Beacon

An Owasso teacher has been allowed to resign despite a public allegation that he engaged in grooming, following publicity regarding the teacher’s social media postings. On April 11, the “Libs of TikTok” Twitter account shared a TikTok video posted by Owasso teacher Tyler Wrynn in which Wrynn declared, “If your parents don’t accept you for…

Panelist claims OU football celebrates white supremacy

Tulsa Beacon

During a recent program touted as a “conversation about race and race relations in Oklahoma,” one featured panelist declared that football games at the University of Oklahoma involve repeated “celebration of white supremacy.” “The University of Oklahoma, their mascot or their whole thing is the ‘Sooners,’” said Sarah Gray, director of movement building and organizing…

Governor Stitt Signs “Save Women's Sports Act” Into Law

New law will keep biological males from women’s sports

Tulsa Beacon

Surrounded by women of all ages, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed legislation that prevents Oklahoma girls from having to compete against transgender women—biological males who identify as female—in sporting events. “These talented, hardworking young women, they’re the reason we’re here,” Stitt said. “This bill, the ‘Save Women’s Sports Act,’ to us in Oklahoma is just common…

Trans bathrooms in Stillwater schools?

Tulsa Beacon

Parents in the Stillwater school district report that students have been allowed to select bathroom facilities based not on their biological gender, but on the identity the student professes that day—even though the district has single-occupant bathrooms for gender-nonconforming students. That has left parents feeling frustrated and powerless in the face of what they view…

Open transfer policy affects Tulsa, OKC

Tulsa Beacon

A new open-transfer law that allows students to shift from one public school to another has been touted as a significant expansion of opportunity for Oklahoma children. But a review of public data, conducted by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), shows a significant share of the slots available through open transfer are in…

Hofmeister wants giant increase

Tulsa Beacon

While State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister’s budget request includes a modest percentage increase in funding for school districts, it includes a much larger increase of 27 percent for her agency’s budget. The request for increased administrative spending comes even as lawmakers note it appears less money is going to classrooms in Oklahoma than…