Lionel Ramos
State Government ReporterLionel Ramos covers state government for a consortium of Oklahoma’s public radio stations.
Previously, Ramos has reported for investigative news site Oklahoma Watch covering race and equity, reporting on the rising political capital of Latinos in Oklahoma, the resettlement of Afghan refugees, the stakes for Indigenous Oklahomans in the Supreme Court's 2023 Brackeen v. Haaland decision, unemployment, housing, and veterans’ issues.
Born into the circus, Ramos traveled across the country in an RV with his family for the first half of his life. He eventually landed in San Antonio, Texas, where he attended high school and community college before transferring to Texas State University in San Marcos. He holds a bachelor's degree in English with a focus on creative writing. While a student at Texas State, he covered local and student government for the college newspaper, The University Star.
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Oklahoma lawmakers are starting to prepare for the 2030 census with three House bills approved this week. -
Days after the Oklahoma Secretary of State's office announced the failure of State Question 836, it filed a certification summary with the Oklahoma Supreme Court. That summary helps explain why voters won't see the initiative on a ballot. -
Oklahoma lawmakers advanced a measure to bolster Oklahoma’s research capabilities on Tuesday. Rep. Nick Archer’s House Bill 3176 hopes to position the state as a federally designated National Laboratory. -
Oklahoma’s Secretary of State announced on March 6 that a state question to open Oklahoma’s primary elections failed to meet signature requirements. But voters may still have a chance to vote on the future of the state's primaries. -
As Oklahoma’s U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin transitions into a new role as President Donald Trump’s latest Secretary of Homeland Security appointment, Gov. Kevin Stitt will pick his replacement. Here’s how, according to state law. -
The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual State Spotlight luncheon on Wednesday. The event included a frank discussion around proposed property tax cuts in the legislature. -
March 5 is a major deadline date at the Oklahoma State Capitol. All advancing bills must be approved by committees and made available for floor discussion by Thursday evening. Hundreds of measures are up for floor discussion leading up to Thursday. -
In a party-line vote Thursday, Oklahoma Republican lawmakers in the House approved a pair of bills to report unauthorized migrants who apply for welfare assistance to law enforcement. -
New federal mandates within Congress's "One Big Beautiful Bill" make states pay potentially hundreds of millions more for administering the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Oklahoma lawmakers are scrambling to find a solution as they face a possible budget shortfall this year. -
Oklahoma lawmakers are looking to wrangle the use of artificial intelligence, or AI, in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1521 by Sen. Warren Hamilton proposes limiting minors' use of the tech.
