Feb 27 Texas Panhandle wildfire expands rapidly, prompting evacuations By Associated Press Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties as the largest fire burned nearly 400 square miles. Continue reading
Feb 25 Communities hold vigils for nonbinary Oklahoma teen who died after school bathroom fight By Associated Press Vigils took place across the nation on Friday and Saturday for an Oklahoma teenager who died the day after a fight in a high school bathroom in which the nonbinary student claimed to be a target of bullying. Continue reading
Feb 23 After Nex Benedict’s death, LGBTQ+ Oklahomans vow to ‘not let the hate take over’ By Adam Kemp While many details around the death of 16-year-old Nex Benedict remain unknown, what has become clear for those within Oklahoma’s LGBTQ+ community is they do not feel safe. Continue reading
Feb 22 Watch 5:20 Family seeks answers after nonbinary teen in Oklahoma dies following school altercation By Amna Nawaz, Adam Kemp, Courtney Norris There are new details about an Oklahoma teenager who died the day after a physical altercation in a school restroom. Nex Benedict, who was nonbinary, attended high school in Owasso, a suburb of Tulsa. Nex's death is raising concerns in… Continue watching
Feb 01 A new federal program helps provide meals to kids when school is not in session. These states opted out By Adam Kemp Oklahoma is one of 15 states that declined to administer the program, though three of the state’s Native American tribes have announced their intent to offer the benefits to any child on their reservations. Continue reading
Jan 30 Oklahoma asks teachers to return up to $50,000 in bonuses the state says were paid in error By Sean Murphy, Associated Press Kristina Stadelman said she's crushed to learn she's being forced to repay $50,000, much of which she already spent on home improvements and a down payment for a new car. Continue reading
Jan 22 Supreme Court will review Richard Glossip’s case a second time. Here’s why that matters By Adam Kemp After more than 26 years in prison and three “last” meals, Oklahoma death row prisoner Richard Glossip’s appeal over his claim of his innocence will be considered by the U.S. Supreme Court. Continue reading
Jan 10 Oklahoma is the latest state to target DEI programs. What’s next? By Adam Kemp Oklahoma has now joined other states, like Florida and Texas, that have moved to limit DEI programming in higher education institutions. Continue reading
Dec 27 Watch 5:09 Why thousands of congregations are leaving the United Methodist Church By Amna Nawaz, Adam Kemp, Dorothy Hastings One of the dominant Christian denominations in the U.S., the United Methodist Church, is experiencing a major split. Since 2019, more than 7,000 congregations have received approval to leave the church. The factions have disagreements in theology, namely how the… Continue watching
Dec 21 A lifetime in the United Methodist Church, and the complicated process of breaking away By Adam Kemp In the last four years, more than 7,600 congregations across the U.S. have received approval to leave the United Methodist Church. Nearly three-quarters of those exits occurred this year. Continue reading