Oklahoma Watch serves Oklahomans by delivering impactful investigative journalism. Our commitment lies in holding government and public officials accountable, shedding light on issues often obscured from public view.
We uncover and scrutinize critical challenges facing our state through rigorous, fact-driven reporting, fostering informed public discourse. By engaging all Oklahomans and amplifying essential conversations, Oklahoma Watch drives meaningful change, guided by our No Favorites, No Falsehoods and No Fear principles.
Oklahoma Watch Influence
Hail Storms Do Not Explain Oklahoma’s Outrageous Homeowners’ Insurance Rates
J.C. Hallman’s reporting exposed the truth behind Oklahoma’s soaring homeowners’ insurance costs, revealing that hail and storms aren’t the real culprits. His investigations revealed that weak oversight, lenient regulations, and industry-friendly policies have enabled insurers… [Read More ]
Traffic Scheme Nets Texas County DA’s Office Millions
An investigation by J.C. Hallman uncovered how the Texas County district attorney’s office quietly turned traffic stops into a multimillion-dollar cash machine. Drivers were pressured to pay “donations” directly to the DA’s office… [Read More]
OSDE Seeks Bids for 55,000 Bibles
Oklahoma Watch reporters discovered a request for proposals from the Oklahoma State Department of Education seeking bids for 55,000 Bibles to be placed in classrooms statewide. The bid specifications were written so narrowly… [Read More]
Epic Charter Schools Scandal
Jennifer Palmer’s investigation into the Epic Charter Schools began in 2016. Her reporting shone a spotlight on the school’s leaders, who are now charged with embezzlement. Jennifer continues to follow this story as the trial unfolds. [Read More]
American Rescue Plan Act Funds
In February of 2022, Paul Monies started investigating the $1.87 Billion in (ARPA) American Rescue Plan Act Funds Oklahoma received. In April 2022 Oklahoma Watch filed a transparency lawsuit against OMES over federal relief funds. [Read More]
OSSM Harassment Coverups
Jennifer Palmer investigated the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics revealing a school fraught with sexual harassment and coverups. Jennifer continues to follow the school and will provide updates. [Read more]
Winter Storm Uri
Paul Monies looked into the reasons behind Oklahomans being saddled with a $1.4 billion bill after Winter Storm Uri and explored why the Attorney General has taken legal action against natural gas companies. [Read more]
Influence Archive
We reported that Gov. Kevin Stitt’s nominee for secretary for veterans and military affairs led a company being accused in a lawsuit of violating federal labor laws by underpaying veterans. More than a week later, the nominee withdrew his name from being considered for the cabinet position.
Our investigation found that dozens of private schools offering tax-credit scholarships exclude disabled students from their posted policies against discrimination. In response, the state’s largest tax-credit scholarship fund told at least 60 schools to comply or be removed from the program.
Our report revealed that Oklahoma schools were “lunch shaming” students who had overdue meal accounts, stamping their hands and giving them a cold sandwich instead of a hot plate. In response, a church donated money to Tulsa schools to pay for all students’ meals, and an individual launched a GoFundMe campaign to pay for meals for Oklahoma City students.
An exclusive revealed an overlooked Appeals Court ruling that found the state’s sodomy law doesn’t apply when the victim is unconscious. An uproar caused the legislature to quickly revise the law.
After our investigation found that each virtual charter school counts attendance differently, legislation was passed to revise attendance rules for online schools.
Facts unearthed in our 2014 investigative report on “dark money” were central elements in criminal charges filed in 2016 against the state schools’ superintendent. We were highlighted in the criminal affidavit.
Amid public outcry after Oklahoma Watch’s story, Gov. Mary Fallin directed the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety to delay use of recently obtained portable card readers capable of freezing or seizing funds from prepaid debit cards.
An official in the governor’s office confirmed “Unprofitable Wells Now a Big Tax Break,” added momentum to a proposal, which passed, to cap this tax break in order to help plug the budget shortfall.
In direct response to an Oklahoma Watch story, the state school board voted to change the Department of Education policy to allow for release of graduation rates for all Oklahoma school districts, regardless of the size of the student body.
State Senator Kay Floyd says Oklahoma Watch’s 2014 story about homeless children was the tipping point in her deciding to propose a bill in the 2015 session, which passed to conduct a study of homeless students in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Watch followed up with another in-depth story in May 2015.
In response to an Oklahoma Watch inquiry, Norman police revived a probe into a wrongful-conviction rape case and charged a new suspect.
A public defender claims Oklahoma Watch’s report, “New Push to Allow Juvenile Competency Hearings,” helped in the successful effort to get the state legislature to permit court hearings to determine whether juvenile offenders are competent to stand trial.