Listen Frontier: Recent Episodes
The Frontier
Listen Frontier is a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of The Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma's most important stories. At The Frontier, our mission is to hold public officials accountable, give a voice to the powerless and tell the stories that others are afraid to tell, or that illuminate the lives of people in our community. We will shine a light on hypocrisy, fraud, abuse and wrongdoing at all levels in our community and state. We will delve into complex issues and explain them to our readers, arming them with the information they need to make change.
Frontier: We spoke back in the spring about the cellphone bill you ran that would remove cell phones from classrooms. Catch our listeners up on where that stands today.
Seifried: It’s been in effect for almost two months in Oklahoma, and the results and the feedback have just been amazing. I heard from schools and administrators early on, talking about the lunchrooms being louder and the hallways being more crowded. My favorite recent anecdote is library books are being checked out at a higher frequency than at this point last year, so a lot of really positive feedback.
Frontier: That kind of leads us into what we're talking about today, which is you have an interim study about technology in schools. So tell us a little bit about that study and what you hope to learn from it.
Seifried: Yeah, this study sort of really dovetails off of my work on removing cell phones, because as I went around the state and talked about it over the last two years, I would meet with parents who were concerned about the use of screens and laptops in their child's classrooms. And they would question if learning was happening, or how much students are using screens. And at first, I sort of didn't want to become the anti-screens girl. But I think it's a good conversation to have.
This study got to be a little bit more academic. We got into the neuroscience of how we learn and or how we don't learn. I also serve as chair of the technology committee, so I sort of get to wear these two really fascinating hats. As we're trying so desperately to increase our academic achievement, I want us to make sure that we're doing the right things. And maybe the right thing isn't the new and shiny technology or the new and shiny software, or this platform that promises the moon.
Frontier: That’s not only a conversation that's taking place as it relates to schools. Right now, what's the main conversation we’re having in the state? It's AI, it's about data centers, the impact of this technology and this industry. And there is that discussion among adults, too, about the use of AI as a tool. Is it productive to give your creative juices to a computer as opposed to just doing this yourself? How much of our brain power are we giving over to computers? And does that, in a sense, make us less human? You have mentioned technology and how it should be used, with caution, as a teaching tool. And I just kind of wondered at this point in this process, what evidence would you want to see before deciding if a specific type of technological platform or in-class technology is truly improving learning outcomes?
Seifried: One of the main things that we really took away was there are a lot of things that can improve educational outcomes. Like the air conditioning, or just a little bit of extra tutoring that kind of moves the needle. But what we should be asking, really, is not, does this move the needle, but does this move the needle better than something else. So for example, if we spend $10 million on this software across the state of Oklahoma, is that going to move the needle for our students more than taking that $10 million and investing it into our teachers or our reading specialists or giving stipends to teachers who are just crushing it in the classroom?
AI is an amazing tool. But you have to master those foundational educational blocks, right? You have to be able to do the hard thing first. One of our speakers likened it to learning how to drive. If you learn to drive a stick shift, and then you go to automatic, no problem. But if you start with an automatic and you go stick, you have so much more difficulty going backwards and mastering those topics. And so I just wondered, do these softwares and platforms and AI chat bots really help us learn more than a quality teacher sitting down and working with your student?
Frontier: You're essentially talking about opportunity cost here. If you’ve got $10 million to add some technology to classrooms, could that $10 million get you better results in another way? You’ve mentioned investing in some proven supports, like reading specialists,or upping teacher pay, instead of this theoretical technology that might possibly make something in the classroom better. Do you think that maybe there's too much focus or too much spending on tech for classrooms, and not enough focus and not enough spending on more traditional support systems for students?
Seifried: That's a really hard question. But that was my point – I want to start talking about it, because I want to start framing these discussions and investments. I've been on the Appropriations Committee, and everyone has the best shiny thing, that this will be the silver bullet, and this will be the unicorn. And I think sometimes just the old fashioned way (is best.) And so I started to take that same principle into spending. Sometimes just hard work, or doing it the old fashioned way, is actually the right way.
Frontier: I think that's probably a good lesson for everyone in every walk of life. Change is not necessarily always synonymous with progress. So being willing to take a critical look, even backwards, is always helpful. And you mentioned AI in your last response, and I want to talk about that a little bit, because when it comes to AI in classrooms, the toothpaste is sort of out of the tube at this point. But do you see the potential for AI to enhance teaching and learning? Or at this point, are you more concerned about its risks and limitations?
Seifried: Can I answer yes to both of those? We had people at this study who didn't all agree on policy or on their approach to technology. But we had one teacher talk about her previous district, that software where she was able to monitor what each student was doing on their laptop in their class, in her classroom. And I thought to myself, we are experiencing a severe teacher shortage. We know that teachers are getting burned out at a higher frequency. So I said how can you possibly teach a classroom and teach a lesson plan and watch each student and observe and see look in their eyes and figure out, okay, this student's getting the lesson. And then also observe some software that's making sure that they're doing what they're supposed to be doing? It's so nuanced, but I think this will be a topic of conversation we'll be talking about for many years.
Frontier: We talked about that a little bit with your cell phone ban bill, that if everyone continues to kick this can down the road, eventually it becomes too late to untie that knot.
Seifried: There absolutely is a place (for technology and AI,) but it can't replace a teacher. And so we talked a little bit also about how learning should be cognitively demanding. It should be a challenge. And if you put students on computers where it's challenging, and that same computer offers that kind of dopamine hit of like, oh, I can also go and do this application, or I can check my phone … they can kind of just zone out for a little bit and sort of back away from the challenge. That means they’re not progressing and moving forward. There's just sort of that human element that you can't replicate in computers. It just sort of solidified for me that the number one factor in a student's education and their success is the teacher. And we're asking teachers to do more and I totally understand why they're like, this is too much
Frontier: We're preparing these kids for the future, and they are going to get into a job market where they have to be comfortable and familiar with technology, but you’re saying it does them no good to be familiar with technology but not have learned the things necessary to actually be productive as an adult.
Even in journalism, people get left behind if they can’t keep up with technology. So it is about finding a balance.
Seifried: I want to teach our Oklahoma students how to think, not what to think, right? They'll be able to intuitively adjust with technology as it advances. I'm don’t think we need to introduce technology earlier and earlier, or that they need to be using it earlier and earlier, because they need to be prepared for something that's going to happen in 10 and 15 years. That isn’t quite as compelling to me as focusing on getting the foundations of learning down.
Frontier: I’ve seen that in my son. He’s 6 years old and if you know any 6-year-old boys, you know what they're like with technology. Even when he was younger I would have to watch him, because I would think my 4-year-old doesn't need to be on the phone watching YouTube. And somehow, if he got my phone, he knew how to find YouTube and to find a video he wanted to watch. But as good as he is with technology, the biggest change I've seen in him in the last six months is that he learned how to read. And I saw how the world sort of opened up to him because of that ability to read in a way that dwarfed the way that world opened up to him through technology.
Seifried: We talked about how computers are a production tool. They're not a learning tool, but they're also an extremely narrow learning environment, because you're staring at a screen? Whereas, if you're up and you're talking, you're listening to the teacher, you're kind of observing the classroom. Maybe you're writing notes, depending on your age, maybe you're doing something else. And so there's a little bit more of a tactile learning environment when you're doing that. If you're a thoughtful person who has the foundations, who can problem solve, you'll be successful in life. But if you don't have that etched into you, then it will be a struggle.
Frontier: At this point are there any policy changes or any legislative ideas for the future on this topic that you came out of that study with?
Seifried: No, I think this topic is just still so new. My personal next steps will be to check in with my local superintendents and teachers and kind of get feedback. What's hard is that I represent the whole state. So that means you have to put something in statute that is applicable to everyone. It took me two years to pass something as easy as removing cell phones from classrooms. So I think this will be a long term project.
klahoma voters won’t choose their next governor for another year, but the Republican primary is already heating up. Recent polling from former Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall’s campaign suggests the race between McCall and Attorney General Gentner Drummond is closer than you might think. But as other candidates begin to join the fray, the Drummond camp says that’s not true.
The survey, conducted September 23–25, found Attorney General Gentner Drummond leading with 35% support, closely followed by House Speaker Charles McCall at 33%, while 32% of respondents remained undecided.
The Frontier spoke with pollster Chris Wilson about his recent survey for the McCall campaign and Matthew Parker, Drummond’s campaign chairman, about how the candidates are positioning themselves to voters. The following is a condensed transcript of the conversation. For the full interview, listen to our podcast. The margin of error is 3.5%.
This week on Listen Frontier, we’re looking at Operation SAFE, Governor Kevin Stitt’s effort to clear homeless encampments in Tulsa with the help of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Frontier sat down with Gov. Stitt, who told me the operation isn’t about solving homelessness, but about enforcing the law. He said Oklahomans are experiencing “compassion fatigue,” and that many of the people removed from encampments “didn’t want help.”
We also spoke with Steven Whitaker, CEO of Tulsa’s John 3:16 Mission, who offered a different view. Whitaker acknowledged the risks of being too compassionate, but stressed that the people living on Tulsa’s streets are our neighbors, and most of them are in desperate need of empathy, shelter, and support.
Together, their perspectives paint a complicated picture of homelessness in Tulsa, and the deep divide over how the state and city should respond.
Oklahoma is racing to attract data centers, facilities that store and process the information powering everything from streaming services to artificial intelligence, to the Sooner State.
Governor Kevin Stitt has touted them as a cornerstone of economic growth, but as more projects roll into communities, residents and lawmakers are asking questions: How much water and electricity will these centers consume, and why is so much of that information kept under wraps?
Cities and companies often sign nondisclosure agreements, meaning details about utility use and long-term costs are hidden from the public. That lack of transparency has fueled concern from those who worry about higher bills, strained resources, and the environmental impact of these projects. At the same time, state leaders see them as a chance to make Oklahoma a national hub for tech investment.
Today on Listen Frontier, we’re joined by Representative Amanda Clinton, a Tulsa Democrat hosting an interim study on data centers, and Frontier reporter Kayla Branch, who’s been covering the issue. We’ll talk about what’s known, what’s still secret, and why the fight over data centers is really a debate about policy, accountability, and public trust.
On Wednesday, Tulsa’s City Council is set to vote on an ordinance that would limit what Tulsans can do on sidewalks and medians. The proposed ordinance comes after two incidents, one in 2023, and one in 2024, where two separate people were killed while standing in center medians.
Councilor Phil Lakin, who spoke to The Frontier on Monday about the ordinance, said it was about public safety. Many medians in Tulsa are narrow, and in zones where the speed limit is above 25 miles per hour, he believes standing in the median is a safety hazard. The ordinance would also potentially apply to sidewalks that are within 18 inches of the street as well.
But when it comes to enforcement, some, including City Councilor Laura Bellis, fear the ordinance will only be applied to those panhandling, and she fears fines associated with the ordinance could prove too costly.
On this episode of Listen Frontier, we hear from Bellis, Lakin, and Deputy Council Administrator Sarah Davis ahead of Wednesday’s meeting.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
Five years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma decision affirmed much of eastern Oklahoma as Indian Country, some towns are still issuing traffic and municipal tickets to tribal citizens. In this episode, we talk with reporters Clifton Adcock and Allison Herrera about their investigation into why this happens, how it plays out in municipal courts, and what that means for tribal sovereignty.
The conversation looks into the tension between local governments and tribal nations, the burden on everyday citizens caught in the middle, and the patchwork of settlements and agreements reshaping law enforcement. We also explore whether tribal courts and police departments have the resources to handle the cases being shifted their way, and what models of cooperation might point the way toward a lasting solution.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
Chuck Hoskin Jr. has served as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation since 2019, leading the tribe through a period of historic legal shifts, economic investment, and political tension.
At the center of much of it is McGirt v. Oklahoma, the landmark 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision that affirmed much of eastern Oklahoma remains reservation land. That ruling reshaped how justice is administered in Indian Country and how tribal sovereignty is understood and exercised today.
On this episode of Listen Frontier, Hoskin pushed back on critics who claim the McGirt decision led to “legal chaos.” He also reflected on the strained relationship between tribal nations and Gov. Kevin Stitt, discussed how he hopes the next governor will mend that relationship, and talked about how the Cherokee Nation is working to lift up long-neglected communities while simultaneously facing the challenges that come with increased jurisdictional authority.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
Oklahoma has officially adopted new social studies standards that require public school students to be taught about "discrepancies" in the 2020 presidential election — language critics say mirrors debunked conspiracy theories.
Despite the lack of evidence supporting claims of widespread voter fraud, the state’s new standards embed references that educators and parents fear could mislead students and turn classrooms into ideological battlegrounds.
The standards, approved earlier this year by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, include mandates criticized for their similarity to talking points from conservative media outlets rather than academically sound instruction. Teachers, parents, and education experts worry the inclusion of partisan narratives threatens the integrity of education and places pressure on educators.
On this episode of Listen Frontier, we speak with Aaron Baker, an Oklahoma-based U.S. History teacher, Sandra Valentine, whose daughter is entering high school and will soon be taught these concepts, and Heather Goodenough, President of the Oklahoma Council for the Social Studies.
In this episode of Listen Frontier, we sit down with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt just days after the Thunder captured their first NBA championship — a moment that’s left the city buzzing.
Holt reflects on what this unforgettable Finals series meant not just for basketball fans, but for the city itself. We talk about the energy in the arena, the grit of the team, and how the Thunder's run became something bigger than sports — a symbol of how far Oklahoma City has come.
We also dive into the deeper story behind the celebration. Holt opens up about how this moment of triumph connects to Oklahoma City’s long journey since the bombing 30 years ago — and why he sees the Thunder’s win as a powerful chapter in that story of resilience.
Gentner Drummond. Ryan Walters. Matt Pinnell.
A year out from the 2026 primary elections, those three names have emerged as leaders to be Oklahoma’s next Republican candidate for governor. The catch? Only one of them has officially declared their candidacy.
Drummond, Oklahoma’s Attorney General, has a large -— though not insurmountable lead — according to polling released Wednesday by Sooner Survey, which asked 500 registered Republican voters in Oklahoma about their thoughts on likely GOP candidates for governor. Walters, Oklahoma’s state schools superintendent, and Pinnell, the lieutenant governor, lag behind Drummond.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson has entered a growing contest to replace Kevin Stitt as Oklahoma’s next governor. The odds are stacked against Munson - when election day rolls around next year, it will have been 20 years since Oklahoma last elected a Democrat as Governor.
But that’s not slowing down Munson, who said she hopes to provide an alternative to the conservative candidates currently duking it out ahead of next summer’s primary elections.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, told The Frontier she hopes her bill will help Oklahoma schools limit cellphone use and increase learning outcomes.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton is “100 percent on board” with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s proposed half-percent income tax cut – but it’s a cautious 100 percent.
Paxton told The Frontier that recent Board of Equalization figures, which show Oklahoma’s budget to be short of expectations following last year’s grocery tax cut, make him wary of the possibility of a return to the state’s budget woes of last decade.
“I can easily say I’m 100% in favor of an income tax cut,” Paxton told The Frontier.
But he also remembers when the state was facing a more than $1 billion budget deficit in 2016. Stitt has pushed for “half and a path,” his term for a half-percent cut and a path toward eventually eliminating personal income taxes. Recent Board of Equalization figures show Oklahoma’s revenue projections are less than anticipated, though the state has about $4.6 billion in reserves. Those figures come after the state eliminated its portion of the grocery tax last year, which resulted in a loss of more than $400 million in tax revenue. Stitt, while urging a cut to personal income taxes, has also called for state agencies to have flat budgets for this fiscal year.
On this episode of Listen Frontier, I talk to Paxton about what an income tax cut might mean - both good and bad - for Oklahomans.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Oklahoma to vacate the murder conviction of Richard Glossip, the state’s most famous death row inmate, finding that prosecutors violated Glossip’s civil rights during his trial more than 20 years ago.
“Glossip is entitled to a new trial,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in the majority opinion for five justices. She was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justices Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, Kentaji Brown and Amy Comey Barrett, who dissented in part.
Glossip has spent 26 years on death row, had two trials, nine execution dates and three last meals. Tuesday’s ruling came as Oklahoma prepares to execute its first inmate of the year in March, the 16th since the state resumed executions in 2021.
On today's podcast, I'm joined by former Republican lawmaker Kevin McDugle. In his time in the Legislature, McDugle advocated for Glossip, as well as for various reforms to Oklahoma's use of the death penalty.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
Federal courts have found a man’s videotaped confession in the 1984 death of an Ada convenience store clerk to be almost entirely false but the state of Oklahoma is still fighting in court over whether it can be used against him in a new trial.
The confession is one of the few remaining pieces of evidence the state has against Karl Fontenot in the abduction and killing of Donna Denise Haraway. Fontenot, 60, and Tommy Ward, 64, were twice-convicted of the kidnapping and murder of Haraway, who went missing from McAnally’s convenience store in Ada on April 28, 1984. The two men were arrested for the crime in months later after both allegedly confessed to investigators that they had kidnapped, raped and murdered Haraway. The case was the subject of the 2006 John Grisham book and a popular 2018 Netflix documentary The Innocent Man.
In their Dec. 20, 2024 briefing to the state appeals court, Fontenot’s attorneys pointed out that more than two and a half years have passed since the state’s attempt to have the federal appeals court’s decision overturned was denied, opening the door to refiling charges against Fontenot.
“Now, 926 days later, the State has not retried Mr. Fontenot, or set a trial date for Mr. Fontenot, or uncovered any new evidence that implicates Mr. Fontenot in the abduction of Denise Haraway,” the brief states. “In fact, the State of Oklahoma has stipulated to the absence of any new evidence on February 23, 2024, and admitted that the loss of evidence admitted at the previous trial, and the unavailability of many witnesses has compromised both side’s ability to move forward with the case.”
Today on the podcast we're joined by Frontier reporter Clifton Adcock, to update us on the cases against Fontenot and Ward.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
During his penultimate State of the State address earlier this month, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt called for "half and a path" - his term for a half-percent income tax cut that would put us on a "path to zero" income tax.
Joining us on the podcast today is Aanahita Ervin, fiscal policy analyst for the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Ervin said the state cannot afford even a half-percent income tax cut, and urged the Legislature to look at modernizing tax credits instead.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
The race is on.
Oklahoma Attorney General Genter Drummond has thrown his hat into the ring, seeking to replace term-limited Kevin Stitt as Oklahoma's Governor in 2026. Drummond is the first candidate to announce, and has been considered a strong contender to replace Stitt since being elected to his AG post in 2022.
On this episode of Listen Frontier, we talk with Republican political strategist A.J. Ferate about Drummond’s announcement, what he needs to do to capitalize on his head start, and who else might enter the race.
A group is seeking to boost voter participation in Oklahoma by opening primary elections to all voters, regardless of political party.
State-level races are often decided in Republican primaries in Oklahoma, because there are no Independent or Democratic candidates on the ballot, leaving many voters locked out.
“Voters are showing up with nothing to vote for and all the meaningful decisions are happening in the primary.” said Jeremy Gruber, an organizer for the group Oklahoma United. “That’s why everyone needs a chance to participate.”
The change would come through Oklahoma’s Initiative Petition process. Gruber said if signature collection goes well, the group hopes to get the measure on the ballot as a State Question in 2026, when Oklahoma will be selecting a new governor.
Independents are the fastest growing voter demographic in the state, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board. There are 481,817 Independent voters registered in the state, a 32.4% increase since 2020. Meanwhile, Democrat voter registration declined by 12.2% during the same period. Republican voter registration has increased 13.1% in Oklahoma since 2020.
Oklahoma currently allows political parties to hold closed primary elections. In recent years, the Oklahoma Democratic Party has allowed independents to vote in primaries, but the Republican and Libertarian parties have continued to hold closed primaries.
Gruber said there are multiple systems of open primaries in use across the country, but the version the group hopes Oklahomans will soon see on a ballot mimics municipal elections most are already familiar with.
“Many of those municipalities across the state, which are arguably some of our more functional forms of government, use a unified primary,” former State Sen. AJ Griffin, who supports open primaries, said.
“Voter participation is a sign of a healthy democracy,” Griffin said. “This isn’t a partisan issue … but it is a way to engage all of the voters in the process and increase civic participation in a state with one of the highest ratings for election integrity in the country.
Gruber said every state that has enacted an open primary system has seen voter turnout increase.
“It's not hard to understand why,” he said. “You let more voters vote, you get higher voter turnout. It's basic math.”
Only 64% of Oklahoma voters participated in this year’s 2024 general election.
The Republican mayors of both Oklahoma City and Tulsa favor the switch.
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said in September that he hopes a statewide open primary system would wipe out some of Oklahoma’s partisan divide.
“People say ‘Gosh it sure seems like you’re electing mayors that unify people, that seem competent, that are well-liked across the political spectrum,” Holt said. “It’s not magic … every voter gets to see all the candidates, and all the candidates have to face all of the voters.”
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum told The Tulsa World earlier this year that he now supports open primaries, after he campaigned against them as a city councilor more than a decade ago.
“I think it is important to point out, there is a Republican dominance right now (in Oklahoma), but we have had for a longer period of time in Oklahoma with Democratic dominance, and I think we would have benefited from this under either scenario,” Bynum told the paper.
Griffin said Holt’s political career – he has been elected under a closed primary model to the state Legislature, and an open primary model as Oklahoma City’s mayor – is a prime example of how the system should work.
“When you’re in (an open) system, you are beholden to everybody in your district,” Griffin said. “Which means it’s your responsibility, as it always should be as an elected leader, to meet with, represent and lead everybody.”
Tulsa voters this week effectively locked Republicans out of the city’s mayoral election in November.
Two Democrats - state representative Monroe Nichols and Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith - advanced to the runoff on Nov. 5 by narrowly defeating Republican Brent Van Norman by the slimmest of margins. The result guarantees Tulsa will have a Democrat mayor for the first time since Kathy Taylor left office in 2009.
On this episode of Listen Frontier, we talk with Nichols and Keith about the result, what it means for Tulsa, and how the race changes now that it’s transitioned to a head-to-head battle.
As local jails have morphed into some of the largest mental health treatment facilities in the U.S., many counties have outsourced medical care to private companies that promise to contain rising costs. Turn Key is one of the fastest growing in the middle of the country.
At least 50 people who were under Turn Key’s care died during the past decade, an investigation by The Marshall Project and The Frontier found. Our reporting unearthed company policies and practices that have endangered people in jail — especially those with mental illness.
On this episode of Listen Frontier, Frontier executive editor Dylan Goforth speaks with Frontier managing editor Brianna Bailey and Cary Aspinwall, reporter for The Marshall Project.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
Thousands of Chinese immigrant laborers suffer abuse and exploitation in a U.S. marijuana underworld dominated by Chinese mafias. A human rights advocate says: “They have not escaped the darkness of China.”
Today we speak with Frontier reporters Garrett Yalch and Clifton Adcock about their reporting series looking at Oklahoma's medical marijuana black market, as well as their new story about the human and labor trafficking allegedly done at some of these farms.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said at a press conference after the execution that Layla Cumming’s family finally has justice after 40 years. Cummings' family didn’t attend the press conference. But Drummond read a letter on behalf of Layla’s mother, Mindy Cummings.
“Today marks the final chapter of justice determined by three separate juries for Richard Rojem’s heinous acts nearly 40 years ago when he stole her away like a monster he was,” Mindy Cummings wrote.
On this episode of Listen Frontier, Frontier executive editor Dylan Goforth speaks with reporter Ashlynd Huffman about her coverage of the Richard Rojem case.
Rojem, Oklahoma's longest-serving death row inmate, was convicted for the 1984 murder of his 7-year-old stepdaughter Layla Cummings.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
Judge Gary Lumpkin made the remarks during a hearing Tuesday on the state’s request to further delay the time between executions from 60 days to 90 days to reduce strain on staff.
A special legislative session called by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will begin on Monday. Stitt hopes lawmakers will pass a quarter-cent income tax cut, though that appears unlikely.
Leadership in the Oklahoma House of Representatives has indicated they’ll pass the cut, calling it another step toward leading Oklahoma to zero income tax, but the Senate’s leader says Stitt hasn’t shown a detailed plan, and they won’t vote in favor. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat told The Frontier that lawmakers could opt to take up the tax cut during the regular session, which starts Feb. 5.
Oklahoma’s current top income tax rate is 4.75%. Stitt’s proposed cut would drop the top rate to 4.5%. The Oklahoma Legislature last passed an across-the-board quarter-percent tax cut in 2021.
On this episode of Listen Frontier, we talk to House Speaker Charles McCall and Treat to get their takes on the upcoming special session.
Firearms have been the leading cause of domestic violence homicides in Oklahoma since 1998. The state’s anti-red flag law bans any efforts to seize weapons by court order.
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services continued to refer clients to a troubled center for people with developmental disabilities for months after reports of systemic abuse first surfaced. A former Greer Center staff member said coworkers retaliated against her after she reported the allegations.
Frontier reporter Kayla Branch has been covering the story for months, and on this episode of Listen Frontier, she speaks with us about her investigation, what she learned during her reporting, what developments there have been recently, and where the case is headed.
This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.
To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.
Ebony Johnson replaced former superintendent Deborah Gist in September.
It was a chaotic start - TPS, the state's largest school district with more than 30,000 students, was under the threat of takeover by the state board of education, as state Superintendent Ryan Walters targeted Gist and TPS with criticism and ultimatums.
Gist eventually stepped down, Johnson was appointed, and tensions cooled slightly.
"I feel like right now, leadership is needed in a way that it's never been needed before, and I'm honored to do that," Johnson told The Frontier.
Karen Keith worked as a television reporter before moving to the local chamber of commerce and later a post in the mayor's office. She now serves as one of three Tulsa County Commissioners.
Next up? Possibly the most powerful position in local city government.
On this episode of Listen Frontier, Keith talks with us about her past, why she wants to be mayor, and what she thinks she can accomplish.
Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa, is one of the more outspoken members of Oklahoma's Legislature. Now he wants to take his talents to Tulsa's City Hall where he would become Tulsa's first Black mayor.
The election isn't for 12 months, but Nichols declared his candidacy early in order to get a head start campaigning, and, he said, to give him the time to dive more deeply into the issues facing Tulsa. On this edition of Listen Frontier, we speak with Nichols about his time in the Legislature, as well as his plans for Tulsa and his thoughts on the economy and education.
Sen. James Lankford, now Oklahoma’s Senior Senator following the retirement of Jim Inhofe, took time this week to speak with The Frontier about immigration, abortion, the McGirt decision and the state of “Trump-ism” in the Republican Party.
When Brandi Garner took over as Interim CEO of the Oklahoma County Detention Center in January, she inherited an aging facility with chronic staffing shortages and a high number of prisoner deaths.
Frontier Managing Editor Brianna Bailey spoke with Garner about her plans to turn things around.
Following his inauguration last month, new Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has wasted no time in making his mark on the state.
Drummond was elected in November and sworn in last month, but he truly began preparing for the job last summer after he defeated former AG John O’Connor in the Republican Primary.
Despite facing an opponent many believed would give him a challenge in his bid for re-election, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt coasted to victory on election night. Now that his second-term is beginning, he spent time with us to go over his priorities for the next four years.
The state is deeply red, but the two most high-profile races this cycle are seemingly up for grabs. Depending on who you believe, incumbent Gov. Kevin Stitt is trailing Democrat challenger Joy Hofmeister, who has served two terms as the state’s Superintendent of schools.
And Republican Ryan Walters, who is attempting to replace Hofmeister as Superintendent, is fighting for votes against Jena Nelson, a public school teacher from Oklahoma City.
On this episode of Listen Frontier, I speak with Ryan Tupps, a partner at Amber Integrated, an Oklahoma City-based polling firm.
Gov. Kevin Stitt is traveling to rural Oklahoma, defending his record and hitting up the state's metro areas, stumping with national figures like Ted Cruz and Glenn Youngkin. Challenger Joy Hofmeister is on a "50-stop bus tour" preaching unity, advertising her "aggressively moderate" brand, and vowing to help "all Oklahomans." On this episode of Listen Frontier, I speak about the final days before the election with our reporter Reese Gorman.
Oklahoma’s primary election day led to a few surprises, a number of runoffs and some big wins that set up a number of fascinating storylines leading into the next few months. Incumbent governor Kevin Stitt won his party’s nomination, as did Democrat Joy Hofmeister, who will face Stitt in November. Stitt’s attorney general, John O’Connor, was defeated by Tulsa lawyer Genter Drummond, a vote that will likely reshape the relationship between Stitt’s camp and the attorney general’s office. But Stitt’s pick for state superintendent, Ryan Walters, shook off recent controversies enough to reach the run off in August against fellow republican April Grace. On today’s Listen Frontier, I talk with Frontier reporters Clifton Adcock, Kayla Branch, and Reese Gorman about those elections, as well as the congressional races and the Oklahoma County jail bond vote.
The United States Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed a lower court ruling from 2021, instead deciding that Oklahoma can prosecute non-Native Oklahomans who commit crimes against tribal members on tribal land. The court’s decision overturns a previous ruling by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals that vacated the Tulsa County conviction of Victor Manuel Castro-Huerta. Castro-Huerta, a non-Native American, was convicted in 2017 of child neglect after his 5-year-old stepdaughter, who is Native American, was found in terrible conditions.
On this episode of Listen Frontier, I speak about the decision with KOSU Indigenous Affairs reporter Allison Herrera, as well as Ryan Leonard, who serves as Special Counsel for Native American Affairs to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt.
United States Senator Jim Inhofe has been a fixture in Oklahoma politics since the 1960s. But in February the 87-year-old announced he would be resigning less than two years into his most recent term. The timing of his announcement is key. Inhofe said he would stay in office until next year, meaning that Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt can’t nominate an interim replacement. Instead, a special election will be held later this year. The surprise opening of a coveted Senate seat resulted in a number of dominoes falling as candidates started appearing out of thin air. Today on Listen Frontier, Frontier reporter Reese Gorman discuss Inhofe’s resignation, how the race is shaping up, and a pending lawsuit that might stop the process just as it’s getting started.
"Critical Race Theory" has become, for some, a blanket term that can encapsulate any number of things. On this edition of the Listen Frontier podcast, Clifton Adcock talks about his most recent story, where he noted that lawmakers here were moving beyond just outlawing Critical Race Theory, and were https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/after-banning-critical-race-theory-oklahoma-lawmakers-seek-further-school-curriculum-restrictions/ (linking other school teachings to "leftist indoctrination." )
When Joy Hofmeister announced last year she would run for governor in 2022, it wasn’t a surprise. Her name had been tossed around for the last couple years as a potential opponent for incumbent Republican Kevin Stitt. But what did come as a surprise for some was that Hofmeister, a lifelong Republican, was running as a Democrat. Many wondered what that meant … would she govern as a dDemocrat? Was she running as a Democrat merely in order to avoid a costly primary battle with Stitt? And where does she fall on topics like abortion access? On today’s Listen Frontier podcast, I talk with Hofmeister about these topics and more.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday gave a wide-ranging 45 minute State of the State Address, touching on a number of topics including education, criminal justice, the McGirt decision, medical marijuana but, notably, not the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On today's Listen Frontier, host Dylan Goforth discusses the speech with Frontier State Government reporter Kayla Branch.
In 2020, former McAlester Public Schools teacher Ryan Walters was appointed as the youngest Secretary of Education in Oklahoma’s history. Earlier this month, with schools ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic and the highly infectious omicron variant, Gov, Kevin Stitt announced the Guest Educator Program. It simplified the ability for schools facing COVID-19 related teacher shortages to bring in substitute teachers from the outside, either from state agencies or from private businesses. The plan was met with mixed reactions. While many parents are thankful their kids are able to stay in the classroom, some are worried about the quality of education these “guest educators” can provide on such short notice. And many teachers, already dealing with the effects of risking COVID-19 exposure in the classroom, have said the “guest educator” program made them feel devalued and that it makes it seem like anyone can just step into a classroom and teach. On today’s Listen Frontier podcast, I talk with Walters about the program, about how it will be judged as a success or failure, his relationship with teachers across the state, and how he weighs his responsibility to both teachers and students.
Loopholes in state residency requirements have led to an influx of out-of-state investment through ‘ghost owners.’
On this edition of Listen Frontier, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt sits down with me to talk about, among other things: Oklahoma City’s voter base, how he labels himself politically, how long he wants to be mayor, his American Indian heritage, and his thought process behind which topics he chooses to weigh in on.
The Omicron variant has not been found in Oklahoma as of this recording, though state health officials are certain it’s already spreading here. The variant has the potential to cripple hospitals if health officials are right about its extreme transmissibility, and it is hitting the country right before millions plan to gather for the holidays. On today’s Listen Frontier Podcast, I talk with Tulsa County Health Department Director Bruce Dart about the Omicron variant – What we know about it and what we don't, and what you can and should do to keep yourselves safe over the holidays.
Bigler Stouffer is set to be executed on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. 24 hours before his execution, he spoke with The Frontier about his feelings about being the second person to be executed this year following a six-year moratorium on usage of the death penalty in Oklahoma.
Dylan Goforth and Ben Felder discuss the execution of John Grant on Oct. 28, which included details that raised questions about the state's ability to resume executions without problems.
Ben Felder and Dylan Goforth discuss the parole board's recent vote to commute Jones' sentence from death to life. Jones will now wait on the governor to ultimately decide on whether to accept the commutation request.
Kassie and Ben discuss the Oklahomans behind Covid-19 death statistics, including one man who blazed a trail for Hispanic media. We also discuss the continued rollout of the vaccine and how state health officials can't account for more than $20 million in protective equipment spending, which you can https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/oklahoma-health-officials-cant-account-for-more-than-20-million-in-protective-equipment-spending/ (read about here).
Oklahoma City police lead the state in fatal shootings and have one of the nation’s highest rates. But while police say the use of deadly force is often necessary, more charges have been filed against Oklahoma City police officers in the last 18 months than in perhaps any other time in recent history. Recently, five Oklahoma City police officers were charged with first-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Stavian Rodriguez, a 15-year-old robbery suspect who was killed by police after he had placed his gun on the ground outside a convenience store. Dylan Goforth, The Frontier’s editor and chief, and Ben Felder discuss the recent charges and whether it represents a turning point.
Julius Jones has spent the last 22 years on death row but his case has drawn increasing attention from advocates who say he was wrongly convicted. On this episode of Listen Frontier, Ben Felder and Dylan Goforth discuss the Jones case and his appeal for commutation, which will go before the state Pardon and Parole Board on March 8. Recent coverage of Jones' case: https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/julius-jones-co-defendant-admitted-in-prison-to-paul-howell-slaying-inmate-says/ (Julius Jones' co-defendant admitted in prison to Paul Howell slaying, inmate says) https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/da-asks-pardon-and-parole-board-member-to-recuse-from-julius-jones-case-over-2019-retweet-of-kim-kardashian/ (DA asks Pardon and Parole Board member to recuse from Julius Jones' case over 2019 retweet of Kim Kardashian)
A snow storm last week stretched utility companies, delayed action at the state capitol and impacted Oklahoma’s rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. On today’s episode of Listen Frontier we will discuss all those issues, plus an effort by some lawmakers to change the state’s initiative petition process.
Kassie, Kayla and Ben discuss the start of a new legislative session, Gov. Kevin Stitt's State of the State address and the latest with the governor's push for managed care.
Ben and Kassie discuss the rollout of a Covid-19 vaccine in Oklahoma and new details on coronavirus death data.
In this episode of the Listen Frontier podcast, we journey with John Creter through his first semester as a teacher, which operated under a distant learning model for all but one week.
The Frontier's Kassie McClung discusses the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine this week and how state officials plan to distribute it in the months to come. We also hear from The Frontier's Clifton Adcock about the upcoming redistricting process that will see state House and Senate districts reconfigured around new population figures. https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/coronavirus-vaccine-rollout-continues-in-oklahoma-as-initial-doses-are-distributed-across-the-state/ (Read more about the vaccine in Oklahoma)
Kassie, Brianna, Dylan and Ben discuss Tuesday's elections and the results from Oklahoma, including Stephanie Bice's win in the 5th Congressional District, the defeat of two state questions and how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted voters.
Dr. Marsha Herron is the chief of equity and student supports for the Oklahoma City Public School district. She discussed student mobility, a challenge for the district that has only gotten worse during the COVIDF-19 pandemic.
U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn spoke with Ben Felder in The Frontier's Oklahoma City office about her reelection campaign for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
State Sen. Stephanie Bice spoke with Ben Felder in The Frontier's Oklahoma City office about her campaign for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district.
Ben Felder speaks with Kassie McClung about her recent story on Oklahoma nursing home violations during the COVID-19 pandemic and why some advocates say the state needs to do more. https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/state-cites-45-long-term-care-facilities-for-violations-during-pandemic/
The Frontier's Ben Felder talks with Megan Prather of NonDoc.com about recent protests in Norman over virtual learning, a debate that is taking place across the state.
Dylan talks with Ben about the recent release of videos that capture the moments before and during when a man shot two Tulsa police officers, killing one.
On this week's episode of Listen Frontier, Kassie McClung and Brianna Bailey speak with Ben about their reporting on the spread of COVID-19 cases inside Oklahoma prisons, including at a women's minimum security facility where nearly all the inmates have tested positive.
Kassie and Ben discuss the science and politics of mask mandates, which appear to be working.
Ben, Kassie and Dylan discuss this week's mayoral election in Tulsa, the reelection of GT Bynum and what it says about Tulsa politics.
Oklahoma County Commissioner Carrie Blumert shares her thoughts on a recent vote to rush through federal funds for the county jail, and The Frontier's Brianna Bailey talks about her recent reporting on the jail.
Sarah Edwards with Yes on 805 discusses the state question's effort to end sentence enhancement for nonviolent offenders, which will be on the ballot on Nov. 3, 2020.
On this week's episode, The Frontier's Brianna Bailey discusses her reporting on the struggle to keep hospitals open in rural Oklahoma. Kassie McClung also provides an update on the latest COVID019 trends in the state.
This week's episode is an interview with State Supt. Joy Hofmeister on the plan to start a new school year as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
On this week's episode we discuss the political and health impact of President Trump's June 20 rally in Tulsa.
This week's episode takes a closer look at the struggle many Oklahomans face to receive unemployment assistance, the state’s struggle to get information from the private company handing debit card disbursements and what it looks at when hundreds of desperate people spend hours in a line looking for help.
Kassie and Ben discuss Gov. Kevin Stitt's response to the latest spike in COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma.
On this week's episode of Listen Frontier we speak with two candidates running in a state Senate Republican primary in rural Oklahoma, and with Tres Savage of NonDoc about which races he most interested in next Tuesday.
Dylan, Kassie, Clifton and Ben break down Saturday's Trump rally in Tulsa, which included a 90 minute speech inside the BOK Center and protestors in the street outside.
Ben and Kassie discuss the recent spike in new coronavirus cases and the nation's first major indoor event during the pandemic that is planned in Tulsa this Saturday.
The Oklahoma City council will vote next week on whether to study a series of proposals that would alter the way local policing is conducted. We hear from members of the city council and the president of the police union.
On this special episode of Listen Frontier we take a closer look at the protests in Oklahoma City and Tulsa against police brutality and racism.
This week Kassie and Ben talk about mounting number of coronavirus deaths and the people behind the numbers.
On this week's episode we talk with the manager of a food pantry and an advocate for food security policies. The coronavirus-caused economic crisis has resulted in an increase demand for food in Oklahoma, which was already one of the most food insecure states in the nation.
On this week's episode of COVID-19 in Oklahoma Kassie and Ben discuss the state's frantic search for PPE and whether the latest data shows a trend in the right direction.
This week's episode features an Oklahoma man who used the prison CareerTech program to secure a job upon his release. But last month found himself unemployed as businesses across the state were hit by the coronavirus-caused economic slowdown.
Kassie and Ben discuss whether Oklahoma is testing enough people and why a saliva test is the best way to test nursing home residents.
On this week's episode of Listen Frontier we take a closer look at a state question before voters next month that would expand Medicaid in a state that had long resisted that provision of the Affordable Care Act.
Kassie and Ben discuss what infectious disease experts are saying about the move to reopen businesses, the continued push to test more Oklahomans and the role of contract tracing in the coming weeks.
Joe Dorman of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) and Sherry Fair of Prevent Child Abuse Oklahoma about the impact the coronavirus pandemic and related school and business closings are having on Oklahoma children.
Kassie and Ben discuss the responses by the mayors of Tulsa and Oklahoma City to Gov. Stitt's plan to reopen businesses, what a phased is approach to reopening may look like and why some businesses may not go along with it.
On this week's episode of Listen Frontier we explore Gov. Kevin Stitt's suggestion that some COVID-19 emergency education funds be used for program that offers private school tuition through tax credits.
In this emergency episode of COVID-19 in Oklahoma Kassie and Ben discuss Gov. Stitt's plan to reopen the state during the coronavirus pandemic.
Kassie and Ben talk about the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes and whether the curve is flattening in Oklahoma.
Kassie and Ben discuss an update from Gov. Kevin Stitt that he is working to reopen businesses, restarting elective surgeries and believes the curve is flattening in Oklahoma.
Kassie and Ben talk about a court decision ion Gov. Stitt's declaration that abortions are not essential medical procedures during the coronavirus pandemic. We also talk about trends we might be seeing when it comes to hospitalizations and deaths in Oklahoma.
Ben speaks with Susan Agel of Positive Tomorrows, an Oklahoma City school that serves homeless students. She talks about the work of her schools during this time of distance learning.
Kassie, Ben and Clifton discuss rising unemployment, the state’s forecast of a possible coronavirus peak and what else to watch for this week.
Kassie and Ben discuss new modeling data from the state that shows a possible peak in COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma. We also discuss the continued issue of Oklahomans accessing coronavirus tests.
Kassie and Ben discuss the importance of demographic data from coronavirus tests, the process of getting a test at one of the state’s mobile drive through sites and the impact school closures are having on homeless students.
Kassie and Ben speak with Mike Brose, the chief empowerment officer of Mental Health Association Oklahoma, about the impact the coronavirus is having on mental health.
Ben talks with Rep. Kendra Horn about her work in ensuring federal funds are making their way to Oklahomans and local businesses.
Kassie and Ben discuss new testing data from private labs that give a better picture of how many Oklahomans have been tested.
Ben speaks with House Floor Leader Jon Echols about the Legislature's return this week with the state facing a budget shortfall of more than $400 million.
Oklahoma City Councilwoman JoBeth Hammon talks about a proposed care site for those experiencing homelessness and the risk the coronavirus has for the city's must vulnerable residents.
Kassie and Ben discuss new information on the coronavirus impact in nursing homes, what the difference is between state and city shelter at home orders and whether the state increase testing.
Ben speaks with The Frontier's Clifton Adcock about his stories on the governor's non essential business order and the dramatic rise in unemployment claims.
Kassie and Ben talk about Gov. Stitt's expanded order to close non essential businesses statewide and his focus on personal responsibility in the fight against COVID-19 .
NonDoc editor in chief Tres Savage talks with Ben about what is and isn't happening in the state Legislature during the coronavirus pandemic, and the budget shortfall waiting lawmakers when they return.
Kassie and Ben talk about the new coronavirus modeling expected soon from the state, plus the reality that hospitals are likely to be stretched beyond capacity.
Ban and Kassie speak with Dr. Kasey Shrum, the Secretary of Science and Innovation and Elizabeth Pollard, Deputy State Secretary of Science and Innovation, about their work on the governor’s coronavirus taskforce.
Oklahoma City mayor David Holt talks about his city's "shelter in place" order, how he is tracking the spread of the coronavirus and his strategy in communicating with residents.
Ben and Kassie discuss Gov. Stitt suspending abortions during the coronavirus pandemic and criticism over some COVID-19 modeling.
Kassie and Ben discuss the latest COVID-19 in Oklahoma news, including a possible outbreak at nursing homes and how schools re preparing for distance learning.
State Supt. Joy Hofmeister discusses the decision to close all school buildings for the rest of the academic year, plus Ben and Kassie talk about the latest COVID-19 news.
Kassie and Ben discuss Gov Kevin Stitt's new orders closing businesses and suspending nonessential medical procedures.
A daily podcast from The Frontier taking a closer look at the coronavirus in Oklahoma, including interviews and conversations with reporters.
A daily podcast from The Frontier taking a closer look at the coronavirus in Oklahoma, including interviews and conversations with reporters.
A daily podcast from The Frontier taking a closer look at the coronavirus in Oklahoma, including interviews and conversations with reporters.
A daily podcast from The Frontier taking a closer look at the coronavirus in Oklahoma, including interviews and conversations with reporters.
A new daily podcast from The Frontier taking a closer look at the coronavirus in Oklahoma, including interviews and conversations with reporters.
Over the past week, the coronavirus has spread in many U.S. cities and states, including reported cases in Oklahoma. Beyond the health implications of what world health officials are now calling a pandemic, coronavirus has sent stocks tumbling, especially in the energy sector, which is a critical Oklahoma industry. But it has also put a squeeze on workers in the service industry who may lose employment if events are canceled, tourism declines and public consumption habits begin to change.
The midterm elections of 2018 saw Democrats retake the U.S. House of Representatives, picking up 40 seats across the country, including in Oklahoma’s fifth congressional district, which was labeled by some as the biggest upset of the election. Republican Steve Russell had lost his reelection bid to Kendra Horn, who took advantage of changing demographics in parts of Oklahoma City and deployed a successful ground game in suburban communities that had long been Republican strongholds. Today, headed into the 2020 election, Horn is the incumbent with a sizable war chest. But she isn’t abandoning her underdog energy, especially as a slate of Republican candidates have pledged to emerge from their primary and retake the only Democratic seat in the state. On this episode we speak with Horn and State Sen. Stephanie Bice, one of several Republicans running in the primary. We also speak with JR Day of OkiePolls about which Republican candidate might have the best chance of upsetting Horn.
This week's episode features an interview with Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board member Adam Luck and his work on the board, plus a conversation with Allison Herrera and a recent story she did on failure to protect laws.
Check out the new Listen Frontier podcast on Feb. 28, which takes you deeper into the investigative journalism of The Frontier and features conversations with those on the frontline of some of Oklahoma's most important stories.