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 Paul’s stories of what he discovered below.
Broadband Providers Raise Coverage Concerns Over Millions In Relief Funding
The Oklahoma Broadband Office is getting ready to award more than $382 million in projects under funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. But some existing broadband providers say the proposals might duplicate their existing networks.
Why Oklahoma is Still Sitting On COVID-19 Relief Funds
Oklahoma lawmakers spent last summer vetting hundreds of applications for funding from the latest round of federal coronavirus relief and allocated more than $1.6 billion in the fall. But some are frustrated with the executive branch’s slow pace of sending the…
What Pandemic Relief Projects Oklahoma Lawmakers Approved, Omitted in Special Session
Included is a provision banning gender-reassignment medical care at OU Health. Not included is $95.2 million to expand childcare services, food programs and aid to domestic violence victims.
Lawmakers to Allocate $1.87 Billion This Week
After a summer of committee meetings to vet hundreds of projects, the Oklahoma Legislature is expected to take up scores of bills in a special session this week that will see most of the state’s share of money under pandemic relief…
Pandemic Relief Committee Approves $323 Million in Projects
Oklahoma lawmakers have approved $323 million in projects to deal with the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic to votes in the full House and Senate expected by late September.
Find Out Who Requested Federal Relief Money Using Our New Searchable Database
You can search by the entity requesting the money. You can also browse by spending category and see a list of the 50 largest requests for funding.
Almost $70 Million in Pandemic Relief Projects Head to Governor
The House approved a package of seven bills involving nonprofit relief, water projects, nursing education and optometry programs.
Oklahoma Officials Release Requests For Billions In Federal Pandemic Relief Funds
See which state agencies, nonprofits and companies applied for $1.87 billion in funds for coronavirus relief.
Stitt Call For Greater Transparency in Federal Relief Funds, Vetoes Some Budget Bills
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signaled support for releasing applications by state agencies, the public and businesses for billions of dollars in requests for federal coronavirus relief funds, effectively reversing a stance by the state’s purchasing agency.
Lawmakers Call Special Session Over Pandemic Relief Funds
The special session will allow lawmakers to come back after the regular session to enact a spending plan for $1.8 billion in relief funds.
Oklahoma Watch Files Transparency Lawsuit Against State Agency Over Federal Relief Funds
Oklahoma Watch has filed a lawsuit against the Office of Management and Enterprise Services over its decision to keep $18 billion in applications for federal coronavirus funding a secret.
Federal Inspectors Clear Oklahoma’s Public Health Lab of Major Infractions
The state’s new public health lab in Stillwater has lots of new, state-of-the-art equipment. Much of it is sitting idle.
Oklahoma Deems Billions In Federal Covid Relief Fund Applications A Secret
Billions in requests for federal money from both state agencies and the private sector are being kept secret by Oklahoma’s purchasing agency.