In a wide-ranging interview with Observer Editor Arnold Hamilton, new Oklahoma Education Association Executive Director Jim Keith, right, discusses the impact of last year’s teacher walkout, what public education stakeholders expect from this year’s legislative session, OEA’s priorities for the next five years-plus, the challenges facing Oklahoma educators and the state’s changing political landscape. [Recorded…
BY RON SHARP I was disappointed when my HB 1953 wasn’t approved this week. It would’ve allowed state agencies to voluntarily pay their employees for up to 200 hours of their annual leave as long as they had 120 hours remaining. Members of the Oklahoma Public Employees Association [OPEA] requested it so employees would stop…
Proposed Reforms Take Aim At Punitive Licensing Barriers That Illogically Block Ex-Cons From Some Higher Paying, Skilled Jobs BY BRETT DICKERSON It didn’t matter that I have mostly gray hair and only ordered iced tea for a drink. If I am sitting at Alyssa Scott’s bar in Picasso’s in Oklahoma City, I have to show…
BY CHRISTIAAN MITCHELL Mayor Pete is having a moment right now that has captured much of the nation’s attention. Of course, there are skeptics. And we have seen these kinds of moments with candidates before where they burn bright and fast. But this moment has all the signs of durability that could well rocket him to highest office…
