Latest news with #Oklahomans
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Oklahoma state superintendent under investigation after board members report seeing naked women on his office TV
Oklahoma's controversial state superintendent is under investigation after state Board of Education members alleged they saw images of naked women on his office's television during a closed meeting last Thursday. State Superintendent Ryan Walters, the fiery Republican pick leading one of the nation's lowest-ranked education systems, was in the middle of a meeting during an executive session of the Oklahoma State Board of Education when images of naked women allegedly popped up on his television screen, two board members told The Oklahoman. 4 Pictures of naked women were allegedly seen on a television behind Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters during a meeting last Thursday. BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images One of the board members said she could barely believe what she was seeing. 'And I was like, 'Those are naked women'. And then I was like, 'No, wait a minute. Those aren't naked, surely those aren't naked women. Something is playing a trick on my eye. Maybe they just have on tan body suits. This is just really bizarre',' board member Becky Carson told the outlet. 'I saw them just walking across the screen, and I'm like, 'No.' I'm sorry I even have to use this language, but I'm like, 'Those are her nipples.' And then I'm like, 'That's pubic hair.' What in the world am I watching? I didn't watch a second longer. I was so disturbed by it, I was like, 'What is on your TV?' I was very stern, like I'd been a mother or a classroom teacher. And I said, 'What am I watching? Turn it off now!'' Ryan Deatherage, another board member, added that Walters was sitting with his back to the television, so he wasn't able to see the alleged X-rated video in the moment. 4 Walters has denied all allegations about the situation — calling them 'falsehoods.' DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'I am in shock and I'm not wanting to distract them. I'm trying to listen. Quite frankly, I didn't know how to handle it. I was just in shock. I was being human and I didn't know what to think. I kept thinking that it was just going to go away and so I quit watching it,' Deatherage told the outlet. Carson wound up having to tell Walters about the lewd images lingering on the screen behind him, which he then shut off without any explanation or apology. Walters later issued a statement Sunday denying all claims as 'categorically false.' 4 Two Oklahoma Board of Education members claimed that Walters offered no apology or explanation for the bizarre images. AP 'These falsehoods are the desperate tactics of a broken establishment afraid of real change. They aren't just attacking me, they're attacking the values of the Oklahomans who elected me to challenge the status quo. I will not be distracted. My focus remains on making Oklahoma the best state in the nation, in every category,' Walters said. Other members of the board told the outlet that while they didn't see the images themselves, Walters appeared 'shook up' and 'flustered or embarrassed' by whatever Carson pointed out. Walters, a staunch conservative, has previously made national headlines for his stances and policies in Oklahoma schools. He repeatedly sought to enforce strict rules about what's permitted inside the classroom, including restrictions against LGBTQ+ students that have come under fire from critics on the left. 4 Walters is best known for the anti-LGBTQ+ policies he's put forward, along with other rules loosening restrictions on Christian education in public schools. DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images At the same time, he's loosened prohibitions on the separation of church and state by requiring the Bible to be taught in public schools as a 'historical document.' Deatherage and Carson said Walters should hold himself to the same standards he enforces on educators, noting that the board has 'suspended teaching certificates for less than this.' It's unclear who may have been responsible for the racy images and why they were bizarrely featured on the government office's system. The investigation into the incident is being led by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Here are the 5 biggest US cities where the most Oklahomans are moving, according to U-Haul
A new analysis from U-Haul found the five biggest US cities where the most Oklahomans are moving. The moving truck rental company looked at its one-way customer transactions between January and July 2025, for moving containers bound for the 35 metro areas with populations greater than 2 million. It then determined the most common state and metro-area origins for those trucks. Folks from Oklahoma and the OKC metro area were in the top lists for five US cities. Here's what we know. 5 biggest US cities Oklahomans moved to in 2025 As it turns out, Oklahomans that are moving to large cities are most commonly staying in the region. Four out of the five cities for which Oklahoma or Oklahoma City was a top origin area were in Texas, while the fifth is the bi-state metropolitan area of Kansas City, which straddles Missouri and Kansas. Here's which big metropolitan areas Oklahomans were moving so far in 2025: Austin Oklahoma was the sixth-most common origin state, excluding Texas, for people moving to Austin. Dallas Oklahoma was the top most common origin state, excluding Texas, for people moving to Dallas. Oklahoma City was the top most common origin metro area, outside of Texas, for people moving to Dallas. Houston Oklahoma was the fifth-most common origin state, excluding Texas, for people moving to Houston. Oklahoma City was the fifth-most common origin metro area, outside of Texas, for people moving to Houston. Kansas City Oklahoma was the third-most common origin state, excluding Missouri and Kansas, for people moving to Kansas City. San Antonio Oklahoma was the eighth-most common origin state, excluding Texas, for people moving to San Antonio. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: U-Haul: The 5 biggest US cities Oklahomans are moving to in 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A growing lack of attorneys in rural Oklahoma counties is creating access disparities
Oklahoma Supreme Court Vice Chief Justice Dana Kuehn and Justice M. John Kane IV speak July 10, 2025, to the Stillwater Frontier Rotary Club. (Photo by Barbara Hoberock/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — After earning his graduate law degree from New York University, Brent Howard accepted a job in Oklahoma City. But he quickly decided the long hours that came with practicing law in a metropolitan area wasn't for him, and moved back to his hometown of Altus and the family farm. 'I didn't feel I had the quality of life I wanted to pursue,' said Howard, who also serves as a Republican state senator. 'I just felt a calling to be back home, work with my family and have my own practice.' Howard, who is also a fifth generation family farmer, is one of 40 attorneys who lives in Jackson County, a county of about 25,000 residents in southwestern Oklahoma. Neighboring Harmon County has four attorneys while Greer has just two. The counties are among a growing number grappling with a shortage of lawyers, which experts say is requiring Oklahomans to travel further to obtain legal representation and creating access disparities between those who can afford attorneys and those who cannot. Howard said it also creates a conundrum for the state's criminal defense process because defendants facing charges are constitutionally guaranteed the right to an attorney if they cannot afford one. In all, an estimated 20 Oklahoma counties have been classified as a 'legal desert,' meaning they have fewer than one licensed attorney for every 1,000 people, according to an Oklahoma Bar Association analysis. Another 29 had fewer than 1.5 lawyers per 1,000 residents, according to the group's latest analysis. The shortage of lawyers is a national issue, but Oklahoma's dearth has captured the attention of Oklahoma Supreme Court Vice-Chief Justice Dana Kuehn. She talked about the issue recently during a presentation to the Stillwater Frontier Rotary Club. When people go to law school in Norman, Oklahoma City or Tulsa, many don't return to practice in the rural communities they came from, Kuehn said after the meeting. 'It is called a drought in the rural communities,' she said. While Oklahoma and Tulsa counties have thousands of practicing attorneys, others have fewer than a handful. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that in Oklahoma, the state's practicing attorneys are aging, said Dale Kenyon Williams Jr., Oklahoma Bar Association president. More of the organization's members are now over 70 than under 30, he said. He said most Oklahomans also cannot afford legal services, which has increased the number of people representing themselves in legal proceedings or who are relying instead on the internet or artificial intelligence for legal advice and assistance, Williams said. 'In person interaction is absolutely the best way to establish a trusting relationship and work together to accomplish the client's goals,' he said. Williams, who has practiced since 1977, said the skyrocketing cost of a legal education coupled with a bad reputation for the profession has contributed to the shortages. 'Lawyers do much more than plaintiffs' work,' said Marc Roark, University of Tulsa College of Law interim dean. 'They do probate. They do family matters. They represent families when they find themselves in criminal problems. They represent school children as they are navigating the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process for accommodations in schools.' He said the price of law school has gone up nationally. The Education Data Initiative, which compiles statistics about higher education, reported in July that the average cost of law school is $217,480, which includes an average tuition cost of about $46,000 per year. In-state tuition rates at public university law schools increased nearly $1,300 between 2023 and 2024, the group found. The standard rate at the University of Tulsa for tuition is a little more than $30,000 a year, he said. 'Oklahoma law schools are some of the most affordable in the country, yet it is still a lot of money for most people,' said David Holt, dean of the Oklahoma City University School of Law. Holt said some other states have experimented with apprenticeship models as opposed to requiring attorneys to pass the bar exam. 'Some find that attractive and might make a commitment to practice in underserved areas in exchange for that opportunity,' said Holt, who is also the mayor of Oklahoma City. Solving the problem could also involve assistance with education, teaching students at an earlier age about the profession and making office space and establishing a practice more affordable for young attorneys, said Williams, president of the state bar. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Northern lights could be visible in Oklahoma tonight. Here's how to watch
The night sky had a few more colors than usual, and in case you missed it, you may have another chance tonight. The northern lights are caused by solar flares that reach Earth. When the flares get close enough to Earth's atmosphere, the planet's magnetic field protects us from the high-speed electrons and protons. The magnetic field redirects the recent activity to the north and south poles, making it almost pertinent to view the lights immediately following the activity. While Wednesday, July 16, had a higher likelihood of visibility, another coronal mass ejection is set to strike late on July 17. Here's what to expect for Monday night's light show. More: Dazzling northern lights display captured on video: Watch enchanting time-lapse footage Will the northern lights be visible in Oklahoma? It's possible! Sunday night's light show was more active than predicted for Monday night, but active levels are still forecast for tonight. According to the NOAA, geomagnetic activity is forecast to start at 6 p.m. CT. However, when the sun sets at 8:45 p.m., a peak is expected from 9 p.m. until midnight. The best chance of seeing auroras late at night is to look north between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time, and away from city lights. This far south, the lights are best seen with a camera, even the one that comes equipped with your smartphone. Although some maps and forecasts have predicted low visibility in southern states, some Oklahomans have still documented nights throughout the summer when they saw the lights in the late-night hours. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NOAA northern lights forecast: Will we see them in Oklahoma tonight? Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers discuss eliminating property tax during fall study
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma state senators will discuss 74 interim studies during the fall at the State Capitol. At least two senators have requested to discuss ways to eliminate property taxes. Tax reform was a hot topic at the Capitol during the session. Recent legislation led to cuts to state income and grocery taxes. Senators David Bullard (R-Durant) and Shane Jett (R-Shawnee) have requested interim studies to evaluate ways to reform the tax, which funds schools, law enforcement, and roads. Lawmakers agree on Oklahoma budget, could see income tax cut 'We're looking at what is a sound and meaningful way to make sure that we're protecting the property owners and we're also properly investing in the services that they care about,' said Jett. Bullard said he has already started collecting data on ways to replace property taxes. He said one idea would be with a consumption tax, which is a tax that a person pays when they spend money, rather than when they earn it.'With a consumption tax, if we can move that way when the economy's up, there's no end to how much they could get in revenue coming in,' said Bullard. 'The problem is going to be what do you do when it's down.' Bullard said there would be a risk because of the ebb and flow of that type of tax as a solution. According to the Tax Foundation, in 2024, Oklahomans paid an average of $914 in state and local property taxes per capita. It was among the lowest in the nation. New Jersey had the highest property taxes, with people there paying $3,539 per capita. Democratic Senator Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City) questions why the state would want to eliminate a reliable form of funding for something that was uncertain.'Tell me the five-year plan. Tell me the 10-year plan, because we better be looking down the road,' said Kirt. 'What are [Oklahomans] willing to give up? Are they willing to give up having a county jail? Are they willing to give up having sheriffs if they need help in rural Oklahoma? I don't think they are.' Interim studies at the Capitol are expected to get underway in the coming weeks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
