Disability rights watchdog opens probe into Tulsa city jail after Frontier investigation A federally designated watchdog is examining conditions at the municipal jail, citing concerns over medical care and treatment of people with mental illness.

Impact: @readfrontier.bsky.social’s
reporting on deaths at the Tulsa city jail gave an oversight group cause to investigate.
www.readfrontier.org/stories/disa...

Disability rights watchdog opens probe into Tulsa city jail after Frontier investigation A federally designated watchdog is examining conditions at the municipal jail, citing concerns over medical care and treatment of people with mental illness.

A federally designated watchdog is examining conditions at the municipal jail, citing concerns over medical care and treatment of people with mental illness.

Oklahoma County cuts jail monitoring staff to close a budget gap, meaning fewer eyes on detainees It will be up to detention officers at the understaffed jail to monitor detainees as county officials look to cut costs. The jail is "running with a skeleton crew,” an administrator said earlier this ...

It will be up to detention officers at the understaffed jail to monitor detainees as county officials look to cut costs. The jail is “running with a skeleton crew,” an administrator said earlier this year.

Oklahoma County cuts jail monitoring staff to close a budget gap, meaning fewer eyes on detainees It will be up to detention officers at the understaffed jail to monitor detainees as county officials look to cut costs. The jail is "running with a skeleton crew,” an administrator said earlier this ...

Oklahoma County is cutting jail monitoring staff to save money — even as the facility struggles with chronic understaffing and a history of preventable deaths. by @maddykeyes.bsky.social
www.readfrontier.org/stories/okla...

At the Oklahoma County jail, a lack of staff means security checks often get skipped When jailers don’t check on arrestees, the consequences can be deadly. Jail officials have tried boosting detention officer pay and hiring a private staffing company to help, but say more funding is n...

A previous @readfrontier.bsky.social investigation found chronic understaffing at the jail means sight checks are routinely missed. For some detainees, the consequences are deadly. www.readfrontier.org/stories/at-t...

“Not only will this create a dangerous and potentially deadly environment for detainees, it will put employees at risk as well," said Mark Faulk with the People’s Council for Justice Reform.

Oklahoma County cuts jail monitoring staff to close a budget gap, meaning fewer eyes on detainees It will be up to detention officers at the understaffed jail to monitor detainees as county officials look to cut costs. The jail is "running with a skeleton crew,” an administrator said earlier this ...

🧵 To cut costs, the Oklahoma County jail terminated a contract for 'safety checkers' who checked on detainees. There are now just 74 detention officers monitoring an avg. of 1,500 detainees. That's a 45% drop in DOs since late Aug.

www.readfrontier.org/stories/okla...

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Restrictions on in-state tuition and welfare benefits among Oklahoma immigration bills moving forward Dozens of bills targeting illegal immigration did not advance this legislative session, but a few proposals have survived.

Dozens of bills targeting illegal immigration did not advance this legislative session, but a few proposals have survived.

One of the companies behind a planned Oklahoma smelter has a history of air pollution violations Century Aluminum paid a settlement and fines tied to emissions issues as it pitches a new facility near Tulsa that it says will be cleaner.

Century Aluminum wants to build a new smelter in Oklahoma.

In other states:
• Residents reported headaches, nosebleeds
• Regulators cited pollution violations
• The company paid to settle claims
Now Inola residents are raising concerns.
Our latest:

Homeless shelter oversight bill among housing measures advancing at Oklahoma Capitol Surviving bills target eviction reforms, and strengthening tenant protections.

Abill that would create state oversight of homeless shelters and several other measures addressing housing and homelessness have survived a key deadline in the Oklahoma Legislature.

Some mental health funding has been restored in Oklahoma, but providers say damage from cuts remains After the state mental health agency slashed contracts to address overspending, nonprofits say they’ve had to eliminate programs and scramble for new funding.

After the state mental health agency slashed contracts to address overspending, nonprofits say they’ve had to eliminate programs and scramble for new funding.

BLM OKC leader accused of using millions in protest donations to buy homes, travel and retail goods A federal indictment alleges T. Sheri Amore Dickerson spent millions raised after the 2020 protests on real estate, vacations and personal purchases.

In the weeks after George Floyd’s murder, national bail funds routed millions to a small Oklahoma City protest group. A federal indictment now alleges the Rev. T. Sheri Dickerson spent donations on houses and travel.

When Oklahoma police officers suspected of misconduct move between agencies, the public can’t track them Charges against one officer illustrate how confidential records can hide when officers accused of wrongdoing move between departments.

Charges against one officer illustrate how confidential records can hide when officers accused of wrongdoing move between departments.

Markwayne Mullin’s committee to support political allies has spent nearly $1.5 million on travel, events and other expenses Federal rules do not require Oklahoma’s U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin to shut down his leadership PAC if he is confirmed to lead the Department of Homeland Security. The committee has spent money on f...

Federal rules do not require Oklahoma’s U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin to shut down his leadership PAC if he is confirmed to lead the Department of Homeland Security. The committee has spent money on flights on private jets, limousine rentals and luxury hotels.

Oklahoma Ignored Records Revealing 600 Illegally Operating Injection Wells Oklahoma took on an ambitious project to catalog all of the state’s injection wells, which shoot toxic waste generated by oil drilling back into the ground. Despite records showing risk of drinking wa...

Years ago, oil regulators took on an ambitious project to catalog all of Oklahoma’s injection wells, which shoot toxic waste generated by oil drilling back into the ground. Despite finding hundreds of rule violations, the state chose not to act.

Six Navy suicides in one year at Tinker Air Force Base The Frontier wants to talk to service members and their families about access to mental health care at Tinker.

Six deaths in one Navy unit: The Frontier wants to talk to anyone with information about the recent deaths or access to mental health care at Tinker Air Force Base.
www.readfrontier.org/stories/six-...

Seven people died in Tulsa’s city jail. Records show repeated warnings about medical care. After a man died from a treatable illness in Tulsa’s city jail, records reveal a pattern of preventable deaths and ignored warnings.

After Brian Bonner died from a treatable illness in Tulsa’s city jail, records reveal a pattern of preventable deaths and ignored warnings.

Oklahoma has finalized a deal to pay for housing after Gov. Kevin Stitt cleared homeless encampments in Oklahoma City.

The state will spend up to $800,000 to house people displaced by Operation SAFE.

Here’s what our reporting found.
www.readfrontier.org/stories/the-...

The state finalizes a deal to pay for housing after Gov. Stitt cleared homeless encampments in Oklahoma City Oklahoma has agreed to spend up to $800,000 to house about 40 people after Gov. Kevin Stitt’s Operation SAFE — a shift from his earlier opposition to using tax dollars for homelessness housing.

Oklahoma has agreed to spend up to $800,000 to house about 40 people after Gov. Kevin Stitt’s Operation SAFE — a shift from his earlier opposition to using tax dollars for homelessness housing.

Groups that serve victims of crime in Oklahoma face shrinking funding Oklahoma organizations serving abused children and domestic violence survivors have lost up to 80% of their federal support, even as demand continues to rise.

@readfrontier.bsky.social “You’re talking about some of the most vulnerable people in our communities."

Oklahoma organizations serving abused children & domestic violence survivors have lost up to 80% of their federal support, even as demand continues to rise. www.readfrontier.org/stories/grou...

Groups that serve victims of crime in Oklahoma face shrinking funding Oklahoma organizations serving abused children and domestic violence survivors have lost up to 80% of their federal support, even as demand continues to rise.

Oklahoma organizations serving abused children and domestic violence survivors have lost up to 80% of their federal support, even as demand continues to rise.

Outcry over 73-day prison stay spurs push to tighten Oklahoma early release program Norman resident Sara Polston was released a few months into her seven-year prison sentence for a crash that left Micaela Borrego with a traumatic brain injury. The case is fueling a legislative effort...

Norman resident Sara Polston was released a few months into her seven-year prison sentence for a crash that left Micaela Borrego with a traumatic brain injury. The case is fueling a legislative effort to prevent people convicted of similar crimes from qualifying for GPS-monitored early release.

As data centers boom in Oklahoma, so does water demand From Pryor to Stillwater and Muskogee, local officials say supplies are sufficient, even as Google alone used more than 1.1 billion gallons in a single year.

From Pryor to Stillwater and Muskogee, local officials say supplies are sufficient, even as Google alone used more than 1.1 billion gallons in a single year.

Oklahoma bill would make it easier to prosecute fentanyl overdose deaths House Bill 2941 would require first responders to alert police, a move critics say could deter 911 calls. The bill would make any detectable amount of fentanyl a cause of death in overdoses, strengthe...

House Bill 2941 would require first responders to alert police, a move critics say could deter 911 calls. The bill would make any detectable amount of fentanyl a cause of death in overdoses, strengthening homicide prosecutions — even against friends who share drugs.

Their Water Was Undrinkable. Oklahoma’s Oil Regulators Failed to Help. State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to fin...

State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to find the culprit — then closed the case.

Fact check: What Stitt got right — and wrong — in his final State of the State address We rate Gov. Kevin Stitt’s statements on personal income, Medicaid, marijuana and Ronald Reagan from his State of the State address.

We rate Gov. Kevin Stitt’s statements on personal income, Medicaid, marijuana and Ronald Reagan from his State of the State address.

From limiting tax breaks to moratoriums, Oklahoma legislators eye new rules for data centers A slew of bills at the Legislature this year would pause new developments, limit nondisclosure agreements and require companies to shoulder infrastructure costs as opposition grows.

A slew of bills at the Legislature this year would pause new developments, limit nondisclosure agreements and require companies to shoulder infrastructure costs as opposition grows.

Oklahoma lawmakers push sweeping immigration agenda touching colleges, jobs and land ownership Dozens of bills filed this session would expand cooperation with federal immigration authorities, restrict access to public assistance, driver’s licenses and higher education, and limit foreign land o...

Dozens of bills filed this session would expand cooperation with federal immigration authorities, restrict access to public assistance, driver’s licenses and higher education, and limit foreign land ownership.

Oklahoma lawmakers propose changes to laws on housing, homelessness and eviction Bills filed ahead of the 2026 session would let residents sue cities over camping enforcement, expand tenant protections and make it easier to build affordable housing.

Bills filed ahead of the 2026 session would let residents sue cities over camping enforcement, expand tenant protections and make it easier to build affordable housing.