The Oklahoma Constitution entitles parents to a trial in front of a jury before their rights are terminated and children in foster care can be adopted. Some lawyers and foster parents say this right causes delays in child welfare cases.
Critics of the decision to move a state laboratory from Oklahoma City to Stillwater said they are not surprised a federal investigation found problems with staffing levels and COVID-19 testing protocols.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began an on-site investigation of the Public Health Lab on Sept. 21 following months of turmoil after the lab was relocated from Oklahoma City to Stillwater.
‘I joined the staff of The Frontier to cover state government thanks to people who believe this information is critical to the future of Oklahoma and make the choice to donate to our newsroom.’
“She was able to really see another person’s aloneness, and then try to make them feel welcome.”
Oklahoma is spending millions to expand its mental health crisis response system.
The money will provide iPads for law enforcement across the state, build new mental health centers and expand mobile crisis services.
The money Oklahoma saved from sending fewer people to prison was supposed to finance county mental health programs. But the Legislature has never sent any money to the fund and no rules have been written for how the money can be spent.
“People would gravitate toward him.”