Keaton Ross of Oklahoma Watch
Keaton Ross is a Report for America corps member who covers prison conditions and criminal justice issues for Oklahoma Watch. Contact him at (405) 831-9753 or Kross@Oklahomawatch.org.
-
Oklahoma’s prison population rose 2.3% from late 2021 to 2022, a notable shift after years of steady decline. -
With less than five months until Oklahoma’s presidential primary elections, former President Donald Trump has built a significant fundraising advantage among Republican candidates.
-
While the corrections department does not suspect the deaths are heat-related, prisoner advocates say the situation highlights a need for universal air conditioning in Oklahoma’s prison system
-
Dozens of the state’s city and county jails have repeatedly failed inspections since 2020, endangering the safety of detainees and highlighting flaws in the state’s mental health response.
-
Oklahoma lobbyists have spent nearly $380,000 this year on gifts, meals and beverages for state legislators and other elected officials through May, a 42% increase over the same period two years ago.
-
The agency has five staff members and operates on a $688,000 annual budget, less than it did eight years ago.
-
QuikTrip, Devon Energy and owners of the Oklahoma City Thunder were among the top contributors to January events celebrating the governor’s re-election.
-
Lawmakers were high on this organization’s ability to catch fraud and boost registration. The GOP majority soured amid debunked claims of privacy violations and partisan influence.
-
Restrictions on absentee voting, hurdles for state questions and protections for poll workers are among the proposals up for consideration this year.
-
As a growing number of rural and suburban Democrats opt not to run, most Oklahomans won’t select legislative candidates in November.
