Carmen Forman Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday assigned a criminal justice reform measure to come up for a vote on Nov. 3.Stitt to place State Question 805, which seeks to end the use of sentence enhancements for repeat nonviolent offenders, on the general election ballot.The only alternative was for Stitt to call a statewide special election this year for Oklahomans to decide the measure.Advocates for SQ 805 say the question will reduce Oklahoma’s prison population and save taxpayers upwards of $190 million over the next 10 years."This is a great day for Yes on 805, and for all Oklahomans who...…Carmen Forman Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday assigned a criminal justice reform measure to come up for a vote on Nov. 3.Stitt to place State Question 805, which seeks to end the use of sentence enhancements for repeat nonviolent offenders, on the general election ballot.The only alternative was for Stitt to call a statewide special election this year for Oklahomans to decide the measure.Advocates for SQ 805 say the question will reduce Oklahoma’s prison population and save taxpayers upwards of $190 million over the next 10 years."This is a great day for Yes on 805, and for all Oklahomans who...WW…

Carmen Forman Update:Out-of-work Oklahomans may see a $300 boost in their unemployment benefits.Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Monday the state has submitted an application to unlock additional federal funds to supplement state unemployment benefits.If approved, Oklahomans who are out of work will see an additional $300 a week in their unemployment benefits.Instead of kicking in an additional $100 to match the federal funds, Oklahoma will provide its required match using dollars already included in an individual’s weekly unemployment payment.Claimants must receive at least $100 in weekly...…Carmen Forman Update:Out-of-work Oklahomans may see a $300 boost in their unemployment benefits.Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Monday the state has submitted an application to unlock additional federal funds to supplement state unemployment benefits.If approved, Oklahomans who are out of work will see an additional $300 a week in their unemployment benefits.Instead of kicking in an additional $100 to match the federal funds, Oklahoma will provide its required match using dollars already included in an individual’s weekly unemployment payment.Claimants must receive at least $100 in weekly...WW…

Carmen Forman Supporters of independent redistricting tweaked and refiled Monday an initiative petition seeking to take redistricting power away from Oklahoma's GOP-controlled Legislature. seeks to qualify the petition for the statewide ballot in 2022 after the coronavirus pandemic complicated efforts to qualify the measure for a vote this year.If passed, the new petition seeks to alter Oklahoma's constitution to immediately form an independent redistricting commission that would promptly redraw the state's legislative and congressional districts. Previously, People Not Politicians sought...…Carmen Forman Supporters of independent redistricting tweaked and refiled Monday an initiative petition seeking to take redistricting power away from Oklahoma's GOP-controlled Legislature. seeks to qualify the petition for the statewide ballot in 2022 after the coronavirus pandemic complicated efforts to qualify the measure for a vote this year.If passed, the new petition seeks to alter Oklahoma's constitution to immediately form an independent redistricting commission that would promptly redraw the state's legislative and congressional districts. Previously, People Not Politicians sought...WW…

Carmen Forman Oklahoma Health Commissioner Lance Frye seeks to roll back a recently approved agency rule that would add another step before parents can opt their school-aged children out of receiving vaccinations.Citing emergency rulemaking powers, Frye issued an emergency rule last week that would effectively undo a rule approved in June when Gov. Kevin Stitt approved en masse proposed agency rule changes.Health Department officials, before Frye was appointed to lead the agency, proposed a rule to require parents undergo a "brief instructional presentation" before exempting their children...…Carmen Forman Oklahoma Health Commissioner Lance Frye seeks to roll back a recently approved agency rule that would add another step before parents can opt their school-aged children out of receiving vaccinations.Citing emergency rulemaking powers, Frye issued an emergency rule last week that would effectively undo a rule approved in June when Gov. Kevin Stitt approved en masse proposed agency rule changes.Health Department officials, before Frye was appointed to lead the agency, proposed a rule to require parents undergo a "brief instructional presentation" before exempting their children...WW…

Carmen Forman Gov. Kevin Stitt tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, becoming the first governor to have caught the highly contagious virus.Despite the diagnosis, Stitt said Wednesday he has no plans to enforce stricter measures to reduce the surge of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Oklahoma.Oklahoma's first-term Republican governor announced his positive test results on a conference call with reporters."I personally get tested periodically throughout this whole thing," Stitt said. "I got tested yesterday for COVID-19 and the results came back positive." The governor was first...…Carmen Forman Gov. Kevin Stitt tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, becoming the first governor to have caught the highly contagious virus.Despite the diagnosis, Stitt said Wednesday he has no plans to enforce stricter measures to reduce the surge of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Oklahoma.Oklahoma's first-term Republican governor announced his positive test results on a conference call with reporters."I personally get tested periodically throughout this whole thing," Stitt said. "I got tested yesterday for COVID-19 and the results came back positive." The governor was first...WW…

Carmen Forman Election 2020 A progressive community organizer in the heart of Oklahoma City defeated a top Democrat in Oklahoma's House. defeated incumbent by 250 votes for the Democratic nomination in House District 88, which includes the Paseo and Plaza Districts.“Growing up as a Black, Muslim, queer woman in Oklahoma, I never thought that something like this would be possible,” Turner said. “Nevertheless, I never thought that I would be the person that moved Oklahoma in this direction. It’s a really humbling experience, and I’m really grateful for the folks in House District 88 for...…Carmen Forman Election 2020 A progressive community organizer in the heart of Oklahoma City defeated a top Democrat in Oklahoma's House. defeated incumbent by 250 votes for the Democratic nomination in House District 88, which includes the Paseo and Plaza Districts.“Growing up as a Black, Muslim, queer woman in Oklahoma, I never thought that something like this would be possible,” Turner said. “Nevertheless, I never thought that I would be the person that moved Oklahoma in this direction. It’s a really humbling experience, and I’m really grateful for the folks in House District 88 for...WW…

Carmen Forman Election 2020 Oklahoma is poised to become the 37th state to expand Medicaid to cover more low-income residents after voters narrowly approved State Question 802 on Tuesday.Voters in Oklahoma's urban metro areas overwhelmingly approved the question to expand Medicaid, but rural voters largely opposed the measure.State Question 802 passed by 6,488 votes, making Oklahoma the fifth state expand Medicaid through a ballot initiative.The question will enshrine Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma’s constitution — effectively preventing Oklahoma’s GOP-controlled Legislature or Republican...…Carmen Forman Election 2020 Oklahoma is poised to become the 37th state to expand Medicaid to cover more low-income residents after voters narrowly approved State Question 802 on Tuesday.Voters in Oklahoma's urban metro areas overwhelmingly approved the question to expand Medicaid, but rural voters largely opposed the measure.State Question 802 passed by 6,488 votes, making Oklahoma the fifth state expand Medicaid through a ballot initiative.The question will enshrine Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma’s constitution — effectively preventing Oklahoma’s GOP-controlled Legislature or Republican...WW…

Carmen Forman Related coverageOklahoma will begin issuing Real ID driver’s licenses Monday, making it one of the last states to seek compliance with federal legislation passed in 2005.The state’s journey to comply with the federal Real ID Act is 15 years and roughly $20 million in the making.The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety will begin issuing Real ID-compliant licenses Monday at its Oklahoma City headquarters, 3600 N Martin Luther King Ave., and at its Edmond location at 28 E Main St. Several Edmond tag agencies also will start issuing the IDs next week.Through the end of the year,...…Carmen Forman Related coverageOklahoma will begin issuing Real ID driver’s licenses Monday, making it one of the last states to seek compliance with federal legislation passed in 2005.The state’s journey to comply with the federal Real ID Act is 15 years and roughly $20 million in the making.The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety will begin issuing Real ID-compliant licenses Monday at its Oklahoma City headquarters, 3600 N Martin Luther King Ave., and at its Edmond location at 28 E Main St. Several Edmond tag agencies also will start issuing the IDs next week.Through the end of the year,...WW…

Carmen Forman After facing criticism for an upcoming rally in Tulsa that would occur the same day as a holiday that marks the end of slavery, President Donald Trump has announced he has pushed his rally back a day. In a Friday evening, Trump announced he was rescheduling the date out of respect for the Juneteenth holiday on June 19, which is observed by many Black communities around the country. "We had previously scheduled our #MAGA Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for June 19th – a big deal," Trump tweeted. "Unfortunately, however, this would fall on the Juneteenth Holiday. Many of my...…Carmen Forman After facing criticism for an upcoming rally in Tulsa that would occur the same day as a holiday that marks the end of slavery, President Donald Trump has announced he has pushed his rally back a day. In a Friday evening, Trump announced he was rescheduling the date out of respect for the Juneteenth holiday on June 19, which is observed by many Black communities around the country. "We had previously scheduled our #MAGA Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for June 19th – a big deal," Trump tweeted. "Unfortunately, however, this would fall on the Juneteenth Holiday. Many of my...WW…

Carmen Forman A political action committee formed this week seeks to fight a state question to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma.The Oklahoma state director for Americans for Prosperity is serving as the chairman of the — a PAC that plans to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight the state question that will be on the ballot on June 30.Expanding Medicaid will strain Oklahoma’s already stretched-thin state budget, Oklahoma state Director John Tidwell said in a statement.“State Question 802, which will force Medicaid expansion, will overwhelm our already struggling state budget and hurt...…Carmen Forman A political action committee formed this week seeks to fight a state question to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma.The Oklahoma state director for Americans for Prosperity is serving as the chairman of the — a PAC that plans to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight the state question that will be on the ballot on June 30.Expanding Medicaid will strain Oklahoma’s already stretched-thin state budget, Oklahoma state Director John Tidwell said in a statement.“State Question 802, which will force Medicaid expansion, will overwhelm our already struggling state budget and hurt...WW…