KOSU reporters wrote more than 1,000 stories in 2023. Each one brought you the news and fact-based information you've come to rely on from the station.
But these five stories were read more than any others on the site. Here are the top five stories from 2023:
1 'Killers of The Flower Moon' puts Osage Reign of Terror in spotlight, but there's more to the story
The Osage Reign of Terror didn't just include one family, and it didn't stop and start in the 1920s. KOSU examined obituaries, death certificates and talked with family members who say the deaths of great-grandfathers and mothers in their family tree have left lingering questions about what happened.
KOSU published this look back at what’s in the Killers of the Flower Moon movie, what isn’t and the rich history of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma.
2. Oklahoma Highway Patrol and tribal ticketing
In November, a traffic ticket sent shockwaves through Indian Country. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol appeared to abandon decades of precedent of honoring many tribal nation car tags.
The move represented a major shift that penalizes tribal citizens who live outside their nation’s boundaries for not having state of Oklahoma plates. And it left listeners with a host of questions, that KOSU answered here.
3. Osage Citizens react to 'Killers of the Flower Moon' hitting the big screen
As Killers of the Flower Moon was set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, KOSU put Allison Herrera on a plane to cover the event.
She captured the mood of Osage citizens who said they are anxious and hopeful that the movie shed light on one of the worst chapters in the tribal nation's history.
4. Black vultures and their impacts on farmers and more
KOSU’s dedication to covering agriculture and rural affairs is well-documented. You can see it in our partnership with Harvest Public Media.
KOSU listeners particularly flocked to this story, by Xcaret Nuñez, on how black vultures are harming ranchers in Oklahoma and beyond.
5. Oklahoma voters reject recreational marijuana
In March, Oklahoma voters shot down State Question 820, which would have made recreational pot legal in the state.
The overwhelming rejection was big news – and a little surprising – as Oklahomans had previously approved State Question 788 in 2018, which legalized medical marijuana.
KOSU listeners and readers took to our election pageto catch the latest on the results.
