Latest news with #StateImpactOklahoma
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Walters will pay $18,300 to settle with Oklahoma Ethics Commission
State Superintendent Ryan Walters delivers opening remarks at the Aug. 22, 2024, State Board of Education meeting. (Photo by Beth Wallis/StateImpact Oklahoma) The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is settling another campaign finance issue with State Superintendent Ryan Walters. The Republican will pay $18,300 for an improper transfer of funds from his campaign war chest to a local school board election committee in Jenks. The payment was $2,100 to the local campaign committee, 'Cross for Jenks,' which backed candidate Ashley Cross for school board in the district. She expressed concern about 'oversexualization' in schools during her 2022 election bid. She eventually lost to incumbent school board member Terry Keeling. The total payment must be received by the end of September, according to the settlement. The first installment of $5,000 is due on May 30. It's the second time Walters has paid a fine in recent months, after another $5,000 settlement for improper use of his official social media account for political purposes in March. In that case, the Commission found 10 of Walters' social media posts advocating for the election of President Donald Trump and the defeat of former Vice President Kamala Harris violated Oklahoma Ethics Rules. In good news for Walters, the Ethics Commission also dismissed a separate complaint against him for endorsing an alternative membership organization to a union for teachers, which a Democratic lawmaker had brought. Rep. Ellyn Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, filed the complaint. She told StateImpact that state law provides two avenues for potential violations: using state resources for private purposes and the obligation of state officers to avoid conflicts of interest and preferential treatment. She argued that the union was a private organization and that public resources should not be used for advocacy on its behalf. This article was originally published by KOSU. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oklahoma senator pulls school-based medical services bill after backlash
Sen. Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, talks to Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, during the announcement of the newly established Oklahoma Freedom Caucus outside the Oklahoma State Capitol, Sept. 3. To their left, Sen. Dana Prieto, R-Tulsa, stands attentively. (Photo by Lionel Ramos/KOSU) Following heat from educators, parents and advocates, a bill regarding school-based medical services in schools is being pulled. Senate Bill 1017 by Elgin Republican Dusty Deevers would have disallowed medical services like occupational therapy and speech therapy from being written into students' Individualized Education Programs, which are federally backed documents that prescribe goals and methods of attainment for students with disabilities. It also would have pulled Medicaid coverage of those kinds of therapies, as well as services like eye and health exams. Opponents say the bill conflicted with federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act, and would have forced some parents to pay out-of-pocket for services. A petition to reject the bill has gathered more than 3,000 signatures in three days. Deevers issued a news release Wednesday afternoon announcing he was canning the bill. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'It has become evident that the language of SB1017 needed to more precisely reflect my intent — protecting the necessary services for our special needs students while ensuring that parental rights remain intact,' Deevers said. 'I regret any confusion or concern this has caused and sincerely apologize for the turmoil it has created.' He said the intent of the bill was to prevent Oklahoma from providing reproductive and gender-affirming care, such as in California, where students can access birth control without parental consent. Deevers said he still wants an audit of school-based Medicaid funds, and has 'secured a commitment' from OSDE to 'take a closer look' at its audits. This article was originally published by StateImpact Oklahoma. StateImpact Oklahoma is a partnership of Oklahoma's public radio stations which relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond.
