2017 was a whirlwind year for news all over the world, and Oklahoma was no exception. Between two special legislative sessions, politicians accused and convicted of sexual misconduct, and investigations into rehab work camps, KGOU and our news partners rarely got a break. Here's a look back at our top local stories of the year, featuring contributions from the Journal Record, Oklahoma Watch, StateImpact Oklahoma and Reveal and KGOU.
Autopsies Reveal A March Of Infant Deaths Tied To Unsafe Sleeping
An Oklahoma Watch investigation by Mollie Bryant and Jeff Raymond found that co-sleeping and other unsafe sleeping practices lead to 12 percent of infant deaths from 2014 to 2016.
They Thought They Were Going To Rehab. They Ended Up In Chicken Plants
Reveal's Amy Julia Harris and Shoshana Walter investigated judge-mandated rehab programs that required recovering addicts to work for free.
For Those With Storm Anxiety, Just The Threat Of Bad Weather Can Be Agonizing
KGOU's Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with mental health experts and meteorologists about tornado season's effect on Oklahomans' mental health.
Proposed Electric Vehicle Fee Stirs Resentment Among Oklahoma Owners
Stateimpact Oklahoma's Logan Layden explored how a proposed fee could affect electric car owners in the state.
Oklahoma Priest Stanley Rother To Be Beatified In Oklahoma City
KGOU's Jacob McCleland reported on the Catholic Church honoring one of Oklahoma's own.
New Roadside Scanner Contract Brings Uninsured Drivers Closer To Automatic Tickets
A program intended to reduce the high rates of uninsured drivers in the state could also bring in millions of dollars in revenue for district attorneys' offices. Ben Botkin reported for Oklahoma Watch.
How A Recent Court Decision Could Affect Casinos On Tribal Lands
KGOU's Jacob McCleland interviewed the Journal Record's Molly Fleming about tribal jurisdiction.
As Cities Remove Confederate Monuments, Cherokees Grapple With Civil War Past
The Cherokee Nation debated what to do with a monument honoring slaveowner and general Stand Watie. Jacob McCleland reported from Tahlequah.
State Sen. Ralph Shortey Charged With 3 Prostitution-Related Felonies
In a story that made national headlines, former State Sen. Ralph Shortey was found in a Moore motel room with an underage boy. Jacob McCleland helped cover the story for KGOU.
Nurse Practitioners Stuck In The Middle Of Opioid Dilemma
KGOU's Jacob McCleland interviewed the Journal Record's Sarah Terry-Cobo about pain relief treatments that are alternatives to opioids.
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