Paul Monies

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond refused to approve a contract for an investment advisor in the Invest in Oklahoma program, citing collusion and undisclosed conflicts of interest that tainted the bidding process.

Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ hired the same lobbying firm as a company he later recommended for a major state investment contract. The fast-tracked bidding process and undisclosed ties involving Gov. Kevin Stitt adds to transparency questions.

Outbreaks of measles and whooping cough in Oklahoma have led to calls for greater transparency from the Oklahoma State Department of Health as the state stands alone in only sharing measles cases on a statewide basis.

More than 8,500 state employees are working remotely at least some of the time, with the arrangement mostly from a lack of space at agencies.

Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ is making another run at using a state tobacco settlement investment portfolio to put his stamp on social and cultural issues at publicly traded companies.

Candidate loans remain unlimited in Oklahoma, fueling concerns over costly campaigns and barriers for everyday citizens seeking public office.

About one-fourth of Oklahoma’s state employees have maintained their employment flexibility after Gov. Kevin Stitt issued a return-to-office executive order in December.

Oklahoma officials have released the names of the thousands of taxpayers who received the new Parental Choice Tax Credit for tuition and expenses at private schools.