State Auditor releases audit of Talihina Schools, finds thousands in improper spending by superintendent

CINDY BYRD RELEASES TALIHINA SCHOOLS AUDIT

“Transparency, oversight, and accountability were disregarded.”

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (November 16, 2023) -- Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd today publicly released her audit of Talihina Public Schools. This investigative audit was requested by the citizens of the school district.

The primary findings of interest are the credit card expenditures of the school superintendent. Superintendent Jason Lockhart failed to provide receipts for more than $11,000 worth of purchases. 

State Dep't of Ed releases statewide school report card; Walters call scores "unacceptable"

OSDE Releases Statewide School Report Card

Stagnant, Unacceptable Results Show Need for Back to Basics

Oklahoma City, Okla (Nov. 15th) – The Oklahoma State Department of Education released the statewide School Report Card today, showing results for testing in Spring, 2023.

OK Congressional delegation asks Navy to name ship in honor of Checotah's heroic WWII sailor Paul Henry Carr

This is such a great idea. A year ago, I read 'The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors' by James D. Hornfischer (highly recommend), which focuses on an major but lesser-known naval engagement in the Pacific during WWII, the Battle off Samar (part of the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf). 

Oklahoma had several native sons who received the highest military honors for their gallant service during this unequal conflict between a lightly armed/armored American naval task force ("tin cans") and the biggest, baddest ships the Japanese navy had afloat - including the battleship Yamato, heaviest ever built and with the largest guns ever placed on a ship. Checotah's Paul Henry Carr is one of those heroes; you can read more about him here, here, and here (Muskogee's Ernest E. Evans was another).

Lankford Leads Oklahoma Congressional Delegation to Request US Navy Ship Naming to Honor Oklahoma WWII Sailor

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today led the Oklahoma congressional delegation in a letter to Secretary of the United States Navy Carlos Del Torro to recommend the naming of a new Constellation-class frigate in honor of Oklahoman Paul Henry Carr, from Checotah, Oklahoma, who gave his last full measure of devotion to our nation aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in World War II.

LtGov Pinnell decries OK Supreme Court's pro-abortion actions

In the below statement, Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell decries the latest pro-abortion actions by Oklahoma's Supreme Court (read here and here for more detail).

My statement on the temporary injunctions placed yesterday by the Oklahoma Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/aRgPtfHfnt

— Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell (@LtGovPinnell) November 15, 2023

Small: Private school critics ignore reality

Private school critics ignore reality

By Jonathan Small

School-choice opponents have tried, and failed, to convince parents to oppose policies that grant greater educational opportunity to their children.

So now school-choice opponents have a new tactic: They’re urging Oklahomans to ignore reality.

Under the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, all families in Oklahoma are now eligible for refundable tax credits of $5,000 to $7,500 per child to pay for private-school tuition. The lower a family’s income, the larger the tax credit. The program takes effect in January.

Cong. Brecheen files 'Stop Climate Hysteria in Diplomacy Act'

Congressman Josh Brecheen Introduces Stop Climate Hysteria in Diplomacy Act

Washington, D.C. (Nov. 8th) – Congressman Josh Brecheen introduced the Stop Climate Hysteria in Diplomacy Act, which would ensure President Biden’s Executive Order 14027, which created the Climate Change Support Office at the State Department, would have no force or effect.

“President Biden has used the excuse that climate change is an existential threat to create additional bureaucracy inside the State Department. The Climate Change Support Office is nothing more than a pet project for John Kerry to integrate climate change into all aspects of American foreign policy decisions. With this bill, Congress can eliminate a useless office and prevent the United States from prioritizing radical climate policy over our national security,” said Congressman Josh Brecheen.

Breitbart’s Sean Moran wrote an exclusive report on the bill, which you can read here.

Original co-sponsors include: Representatives Glenn Grothman (R-WI) and Eric Burlison (R-MO).

Sens. Lankford and Mullin, Gov. Stitt return from visiting OK Nat'l Guard unit in Africa

Lankford Leads Congressional Delegation to Visit Oklahoma National Guard Members Deployed to Africa

WASHINGTON, DC (Nov. 14th) – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) returned today from a congressional delegation trip he led to the Horn of Africa to connect with members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard in the USAFRICOM area of responsibility (AOR) as part of Task Force Tomahawk.

Also traveling with Lankford were Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), who serves on the Armed Services Committee, Oklahoma Governor J. Kevin Stitt, and Major General Thomas Mancino, Adjutant General of Oklahoma. Representatives Jim Banks (R-IN) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) also participated in the CODEL as Indiana National Guard members are also part of Task Force Tomahawk.

Dr. Chris Emerson seeks GOP nomination for open State Senate District 37 seat

The following is a press release from Chris Emerson, candidate for State Senate District 37:

Republican Dr. Chris Emerson Announces Candidacy for Open State Senate Seat - Senate District 37

[November 14, 2023] - Republican Dr. Chris Emerson announces his candidacy to serve Oklahomans living in Senate District 37 which includes the cities of Jenks and Sand Springs in Tulsa County. The Republican primary election takes place on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Dr. Emerson’s campaign is in full swing and is currently making stops throughout the district and meeting with voters. 

AG's Organized Crime Task Force seizes 72k pounds of illegal marijuana

Photo courtesy of the Attorney General's office

 Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force seizes 72,000 lbs. of illegal marijuana 

OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 14, 2023) – The Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) last week seized more than 36 tons of illegal marijuana in searches conducted in Wagoner County and Lincoln County. Attorney General Gentner Drummond established the task force earlier this year to combat Oklahoma’s many illegal marijuana operations.

“Our state has been overrun with criminals who are trafficking drugs in our local communities and throughout the country,” Drummond said. “I will not tolerate this serious threat to public safety. I am proud of the work of the Organized Crime Task Force and our law enforcement partners for their efforts to eliminate this blight on our communities.”

Sen. Lankford condemns Biden Admin for funding abortions for minors at the border

Lankford Condemns Biden Admin for Funding Abortions for Minors at the Border

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (Nov. 3rd) — Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Steve Daines (R-MT) led their Republican colleagues in submitting a comment letter to the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) condemning the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) proposed “Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule,” which blatantly violates prohibitions on the use of taxpayer funds to facilitate abortions on unaccompanied minors at the border. 

“Instead of adhering to the law, responding to Congressional inquiry, heeding Congress’ warning, and treating unaccompanied minors with the dignity and respect they deserve as young mothers, HHS ORR has decided to codify these flagrant violations of the Hyde Amendment through the proposed rule,” the Senators wrote.

LOL: OK House Dems Leader calls CPAC a "Right-Wing Extremist Organization"

This is so laughable.

First of all, the "extremists" in the Oklahoma Legislature are the House and Senate Democrats, rabidly in favor of abortion without limitation whatsoever (i.e. the unabated murder of the preborn), the "trans-ing" and sexual perverting of kids via the LGBT agenda, et cetera; so far politically outside of the mainstream of Oklahomans that they have been reduced to a tiny "super-minority" in the Legislature.  

Rep. Munson essentially finds any generic Republican/conservative thought to be "right-wing extremism", so... her take is pretty much nonsense.

Furthermore, CPAC has affirmed and celebrated conservative homosexual groups over the past several years, particularly since Donald Trump's rise to prominence and his general friendliness to things LGBT. On many issues, especially social and moral ones, CPAC and the American Conservative Union are not quite the paragons of conservatism they once may have been.

Read on for a good laugh:

Leader Munson Responds to Ranking by Right-Wing Extremist Organization

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City) responded to the recent praise for Oklahoma’s Legislature receiving a high ranking by a right-wing extremist organization, the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Speaker McCall touts CPAC rating of OK Legislature as 2nd most conservative in nation

McCall Touts Latest CPAC Rating for OK Legislature

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, today issued a statement praising the conservative rating for the Oklahoma Legislature after the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Foundation's Center for Legislative Accountability (CLA) released its 2023 ratings of the voting records of state legislators in all fifty states. Oklahoma was ranked as the second most conservative legislature in the country, trailing only West Virginia.