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Oklahoma Voice
In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think
A little more than two years ago, a clean energy record was broken. For the first time, a regional transmission organization met more than 90% of its electric demand, called load, with renewable power. But if you don’t follow the electric industry closely, you might be surprised where it happened. On March 29, 2022, Southwest […] The post In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Yet again, men are deciding to hurt women, This time, it’s how they engage in Oklahoma politics.
Oklahoma’s Legislature and political culture remains a boy’s club. Nothing illustrates that more clearly than the makeup of the people invited to participate in the governor’s historic “Budget Summit” last week. Of the roughly dozen participants permitted to sit at the “adult table” last week to decide how billions of dollars would be allocated, only […] The post Yet again, men are deciding to hurt women, This time, it’s how they engage in Oklahoma politics. appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
‘Mom’ legislators see their numbers, influence grow but barriers to elected office remain
For the second time while serving in the Nevada Legislature, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro gave birth last year. And again, she publicly pledged to continue full participation in her duties. As the nation’s groundbreaker when it comes to working moms in a state capital, Nevada made history in 2019 as the only female-majority legislative […] The post ‘Mom’ legislators see their numbers, influence grow but barriers to elected office remain appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Hispanic advocates plan rally at Oklahoma Capitol to voice frustration about new immigration law
OKLAHOMA CITY – Hispanic and other communities on Wednesday are expected to rally at the Capitol. Organizers of the annual Hispanic Cultural Day at the Capitol have changed the format following the signing of a controversial immigration law. The event has traditionally been held inside the Capitol and included advocacy, exhibits, food, dancing and booths. […] The post Hispanic advocates plan rally at Oklahoma Capitol to voice frustration about new immigration law appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Even as interest in women’s college sports rises, report finds big gap in participation
WASHINGTON — A congressional watchdog in a new report called on the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to improve its enforcement of Title IX compliance in college athletics. The U.S. Government Accountability Office in the report issued Thursday appeared critical of the OCR’s oversight in expanding opportunities for women in college athletics, […] The post Even as interest in women’s college sports rises, report finds big gap in participation appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Asylum seekers with criminal records would be more quickly removed under Biden proposal
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced Thursday it’s proposing changes to the asylum system that would allow immigration officials to reject asylum seekers who have a criminal record that poses a threat to national security or public safety and quickly remove them. Those changes will occur during the initial screening stages, a senior U.S. Department […] The post Asylum seekers with criminal records would be more quickly removed under Biden proposal appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma budget negotiations appear to yield progress
OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders on Thursday met for a second day of public budget negotiations where tax cuts figured in prominently. House leaders and Stitt floated the idea of flattening the state’s tax brackets to benefit those earning $27,100 or less who would pay nothing. They also proposed tying an […] The post Oklahoma budget negotiations appear to yield progress appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Bill that adds math credit, subtracts world language requirement passes House
OKLAHOMA CITY — Both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature have agreed to require a fourth math credit for students to graduate high school, but some have complained it comes at the expense of foreign language classes. House Bill 3278 is on the cusp of heading to the governor’s desk after the state House passed Senate […] The post Bill that adds math credit, subtracts world language requirement passes House appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Robert F. Kennedy files to run as independent presidential candidate in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma voters now have another choice for president in November. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 70, completed his statement of candidacy and paid Oklahoma’s $35,000 fee to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate, State Election Board officials confirmed Thursday. The campaign said in a statement Oklahoma marks the fifth state where […] The post Robert F. Kennedy files to run as independent presidential candidate in Oklahoma appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma AG Drummond pushing for Congress to cut ties with UN aid group in Gaza
Utah’s Sean Reyes and Oklahoma’s Gentner Drummond are two of 24 Republican attorneys general lobbying Congress to stop funding the United Nations agency that oversees humanitarian efforts for Palestinian refugees, calling the group “terrorist-embedded.” On Tuesday, the group penned a letter to U.S. House and Senate leadership urging them to “stop funding antisemitic education efforts […] The post Oklahoma AG Drummond pushing for Congress to cut ties with UN aid group in Gaza appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
U.S. House Republicans pass bill to stop census from counting noncitizens
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans passed a bill Wednesday to add a citizenship question to the census and exclude noncitizens from the official headcount when determining population for representation in Congress and electoral votes. The legislation, which passed on a 206-202 party-line vote, is part of a trend of House GOP bills relating to immigration […] The post U.S. House Republicans pass bill to stop census from counting noncitizens appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Closure of Oklahoma women’s leadership program causes outcry over anti-DEI action
OKLAHOMA CITY — The closure of a popular women’s leadership program has caused uproar among female officials at the state Capitol and across Oklahoma, who say the governor’s executive order against diversity, equity and inclusion is striking down initiatives meant to improve representation. The University of Oklahoma announced last week the National Education for Women’s […] The post Closure of Oklahoma women’s leadership program causes outcry over anti-DEI action appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Montana could be a model as more GOP states weigh Medicaid work requirements
Two decades ago, Jeff Beisecker and his family returned to Great Falls, Montana, from a religious mission to the Philippines. Beisecker had no health insurance and no steady source of income, and neither did his wife. Fearful of being without coverage, Beisecker enrolled himself, his wife and their four children in Medicaid for nearly a […] The post Montana could be a model as more GOP states weigh Medicaid work requirements appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
OG&E customers to receive $25 a month reduction
OKLAHOMA CITY – Hundreds of thousands of OG&E customers will see their bills drop by about $25 a month starting in June due to a reduction in fuel costs. But the utility has asked the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for a rate increase of $332 million, a figure which could change. The $332 million would be […] The post OG&E customers to receive $25 a month reduction appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma DOC halts prison rodeo funding request
OKLAHOMA CITY – Efforts to reestablish a prison rodeo appear to be stalled. Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Steven Harpe on Tuesday told a legislative panel his agency was no longer pursuing an $8.3 million appropriation this session to restart the prison rodeo at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Instead, the agency wants the Legislature […] The post Oklahoma DOC halts prison rodeo funding request appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
TikTok sues to block new U.S. law banning app if it is not sold
TikTok and its Chinese parent company on Tuesday challenged a recently enacted federal law banning the short-form video platform from the United States if it is not sold to a non-Chinese owner. TikTok Inc., the U.S. company that operates the popular social media service, and ByteDance, its parent company founded by Chinese entrepreneurs, filed suit […] The post TikTok sues to block new U.S. law banning app if it is not sold appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
Oklahoma tribal leaders advocate for new FCC code to aid in MMIP crisis
Leaders of the Chickasaw, Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee and Seminole nations are urging the FCC to establish a new event code to help locate missing and endangered adults — a crucial tool for tribal nations impacted by the MMIP crisis. The potential code would alert the public if an adult goes missing through the IPAWS network, […] The post Oklahoma tribal leaders advocate for new FCC code to aid in MMIP crisis appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
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Oklahoma Voice provides original, objective reporting examining the intersection of policy, impact and power. We deliver unflinching, nonpartisan coverage of how Oklahomans are affected by the decisions made in our state capital and beyond. A nonprofit, independent news outlet, our content will always be free. Our name is a nod to the state’s robust history of oral storytelling and our mission to elevate the voices of Oklahomans too often sidelined by the political process. You’ll never hit a paywall on our site, and you won’t find advertisements either. Oklahoma Voice is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and donations. The Voice retains full editorial independence.
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