StateImpact Oklahoma

Thursdays at 6:44 a.m., repeated throughout the day at 8:44 a.m., 12:35 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.

StateImpact Oklahoma reports on education, health, environment, and the intersection of government and everyday Oklahomans. It's a reporting project and collaboration of KGOU, KOSU, KWGS and KCCU, with broadcasts heard on these NPR Member stations.

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Education

Allocation ‘shell game’: Lawmaker asks for attorney general opinion on funding for Walters’ classroom Bibles

Beth Wallis

Rep. Mark McBride (R-Moore) sent a letter to Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond last week for an opinion on whether funds allocated by the legislature for another purpose can be transferred to pay for State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ classroom Bible initiative.
Education

Walters moves to dismiss Bixby superintendent’s defamation lawsuit

Beth Wallis

State Superintendent Ryan Walters filed a motion Wednesday in Tulsa County District Court to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Rob Miller.
Health

OSDE, OHCA outline plan to expand school-based Medicaid services in interim study

Jillian Taylor

Oklahoma lawmakers hosted an interim study on expanding Medicaid-billable services in schools. State agencies are laying the groundwork to help schools better address students’ health.
Health

Getting the COVID vaccine during pregnancy protects newborns from hospitalization

Jackie Fortier

Babies under six months can't be vaccinated directly against COVID. A new study found that most infants hospitalized for COVID had mothers who didn’t get the vaccine while they were pregnant.
Health

Oklahoma represents nearly one-third of pregnancy-related prosecutions a year after Roe’s end

Jillian Taylor

From June 2022 to June 2023, there were at least 210 pregnancy-related prosecutions in the U.S. Oklahoma trailed Alabama, at 68 prosecutions.