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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Gov. Kevin Stitt tapped Travis Jett to serve as Oklahoma's newest Supreme Court Justice Monday. Jett is Stitt's fourth appointment to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. -
Oklahoma Bar Journal analysis shows St. Isidore case likely to bring down wall between church, stateGov. Kevin Stitt anticipates the U.S. Supreme Court will accommodate state-sponsored religious education in its upcoming hearing of oral arguments in the St. Isidore Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond case. A recent study published in the state's Bar Association Journal suggests he's right. -
Oral arguments over the constitutionality of Oklahoma’s — and the nation’s — first state-funded religious charter school are scheduled for April 30. Meanwhile, Gov. Kevin Stitt is trying to get ahead of the conversation with an executive order this week, doubling down on his vision of religious freedom in the state. -
The Oklahoma House of Representatives updated its online budget transparency portal over the weekend. It shows a proposed $107 million decrease compared to last year. -
Oklahoma House lawmakers want to lower Insulin's cost for uninsured Oklahomans with diabetes. One bill that passed the chamber this week partners the state with federally funded nonprofits to accomplish the goal. -
As lawmakers aim to limit how close renewable energy developments can be to certain occupied buildings in Oklahoma, the governor worries about dissuading potential investors in the state. Others say the matter should be left to counties and property owners. -
Lawmakers are ready to reduce the number of state and local elections occurring yearly in Oklahoma. That means some “common sense” consolidating. -
As wildfires continue to rage across Oklahoma, President Donald Trump approved federal aid Thursday to help the state rebuild from tornadoes that hit last November. State lawmakers planned for this eventuality last spring. -
The Trump administration's Department of Justice has dropped its federal lawsuit against Oklahoma over the new state crime 'impermissible occupation,' established by last year’s House Bill 4156. The move opens the door for broad state-level immigration enforcement. -
High winds and low humidity caused dozens of fires to race across the Oklahoma plains Friday. By Saturday, the healing had begun.
