The Oklahoma State Department of Health had as many as 175 contact tracers last year, but is down to about 30 today. It needs to almost double that number to deal with a growing number of COVID-19 cases.
A lack of genomic testing so far has limited the understanding of how far the more transmissible variant has spread across the state
With no statewide mask mandate, mayors, city councils and county governments were left to determine which safety measures were put in place and deal with the political consequences.
After agreeing to payments of $100,000 to each of the Race Massacre’s three living survivors, as well as a pledge of $2 million to a fund for the survivors and their descendants, their attorney asked for more money.
Jones allegedly had a cell phone charging cord in his cell and made an unauthorized conference call to a family member in 2020, records show.
The attention comes as the board is playing a more pivotal role than ever in the criminal justice system in Oklahoma, finding itself embroiled in a high-profile death penalty case and hearing more commutation requests than ever.
Deaths in the state peaked in January and quickly fell off once COVID-19 vaccines were rolled out en masse. Now that the most vulnerable are vaccinated, the burden for herd immunity falls on younger Oklahomans.
Curtis DeLapp left the bench after allegations he abused his power by ordering people to jail for talking in court or arriving late. Now he’s seeking office again in Washington and Nowata counties.
