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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.

OK Supreme Court to decide if ‘reservation’ Indians pay income tax

Tulsa Beacon

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2020 ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which declared that the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s Oklahoma reservation was never formally disestablished for purposes of federal major-crimes law, has now led to a state court case that will determine if all American Indians in the affected areas are now exempt from paying Oklahoma state…

School Choice Education Bill Passes

Tulsa Beacon

After weeks of negotiations, Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders announced they have reached an agreement on a public-school funding plan that also clears the way for enactment of a major expansion of school choice in Oklahoma. “Right now, we’re not top 10 in education,” Stitt said. “And so that’s why I appreciate the House…

Oklahoma’s ESG law gets Blackrock’s notice

Tulsa Beacon

Under Oklahoma law, investment companies that politically boycott oil-and-gas investments are now prohibited from receiving state contracts to manage hundreds of millions of dollars in state pension funds. That has grabbed the attention of one of the companies barred from handling those funds. This week, officials with Blackrock, Inc., met with Gov. Kevin Stitt to…

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…