Oklahoma County promised to fix its jail more than 10 year ago, but deaths and staffing issues continue

View this email in your browser THIS WEEK AT THE FRONTIER Have ideas for other stories you'd like to see in The Frontier or want to give us feedback? Please email us. Your financial support for our investigative journalism is now tax deductible. To become a Friend of The Frontier, click here. This newsletter is edited by Brianna Bailey. Contact her at brianna@readfrontier.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  Oklahoma County promised to fix its jail more than 10 year ago, but deaths and staffing issues continue Six detention officers at the Oklahoma County jail have been charged with assault and mistreatment of inmates since October. Seven inmates have died there in the last three months and at least 84 inmates there have died since 2009, a rate more than double the national average. ‘No mental help:’ Man’s death in jail preceded by pleas for help from family, they say Stephens’ mother Shannon Stephens and his aunt say they left messages at the detention center’s administrative offices dozens of times in the months leading up to his death. Utility companies to spread winter weather costs to customers out over years, as expenses run in the billions Documents show that many of the natural gas and electric purchase price increases in early and mid-February sent several utilities that serve Oklahoma scrambling to find funds and open new lines of credit to pay for the increased fuel and electrical costs, most of which begin coming due by the end of March. Listen Frontier: Winter storm delays vaccines and stretches the energy grid A snow storm last week stretched utility companies, delayed action at the Oklahoma State Capitol and impacted the state’s rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. All that and an effort by some lawmakers to change the state’s initiative petition process on this episode of Listen Frontier. Attorney general says evidence of ‘market manipulation’ on natural gas prices during crisis Even before the worst of the winter weather hit on Tuesday, Feb. 15, natural gas markets showed an enormous spike in spot prices. Julius Jones to appear before Pardon and Parole Board in March Jones, whose case has caught the attention of celebrities, athletes and musicians across the country, will be the first death row inmate to appear before the board as he seeks to have his death penalty sentence commuted. From the state Capitol – House broadens public school transfer policies The Frontier is tracking Oklahoma’s state government during the 2021 legislative session. Here is the latest news from the state Capitol. Facebook Live chat with State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister Join us Tuesday for a live interview with State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. We will discuss how schools continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and also what the state Department of Education’s focus will be as schools hopefully begin to return to normal later this year. Medicaid managed care company files protest over state’s contract picks One of the losing bidders for the contracts to handle Oklahoma’s Medicaid program has filed a protest to challenge the state’s decision, claiming the bid process was flawed and unfair. Oklahomans we’ve lost Have you lost a loved one to COVID-19?  Help support us as we tell the stories of Oklahomans we’ve lost to COVID-19 Our goal is to ensure their stories are never forgotten and to help their friends and family members commemorate their lives. Oklahoma’s COVID-19 hospitalizations fall under 600 for first time since September Show your love for Oklahoma journalism with our new merchandise   Copyright © 2020 The Frontier, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive our weekly newsletter. Our mailing address is: The Frontier 302 Reconciliation Way Tulsa, OK, 74120 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Copyright © 2020 The Frontier, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive our weekly newsletter. Our mailing address is: The Frontier 302 Reconciliation Way Tulsa, OK, 74120 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

This email was sent to <<Email Address>> why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences The Frontier · 2121 east 26th place · Tulsa, OK 74114 · USA

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Help support us as we tell the stories of Oklahomans we've lost to COVID-19

Those who pledge at least $100 will have their name placed on the Supporter Page for the project.

Oklahomans We've Lost More than 4,000 Oklahomans have died due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this spring we're launching a project to help tell their stories. Our goal is to ensure their stories are never forgotten and to help their friends and family members commemorate their lives. Want to help support us as we collect, research, and report these stories? Donations to the project are tax-deductible and will directly support our reporting. All donors who pledge at least $100 to the project will get their name on the sponsor page. Thank you for your support. Donate to the project here Copyright © 2021 The Frontier, All rights reserved. from The Frontier Archive Feed https://ift.tt/3aZ8pzv

Join us for a chat with State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister

Join us on Facebook for a live interview about the pandemic and its effect on Oklahoma schools

View this email in your browser How will schools move forward during the COVID-19 pandemic?   Join The Frontier for a one-on-one live interview with State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister Tuesday, March 2, at 1 p.m. Streamed live online, we will discuss how schools continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and also what the state Department of Education's focus will be as schools hopefully begin to return to normal later this year.  Copyright © 2021 The Frontier, All rights reserved. from The Frontier Archive Feed https://ift.tt/37HrPqI

With few options, cannabis lounge becomes Oklahoma town’s only shelter for the homeless during deep freeze

View this email in your browser THIS WEEK AT THE FRONTIER Have ideas for other stories you'd like to see in The Frontier or want to give us feedback? Please email us. Your financial support for our investigative journalism is now tax deductible. To become a Friend of The Frontier, click here. This newsletter is edited by Brianna Bailey. Contact her at brianna@readfrontier.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  With few options, cannabis lounge becomes Oklahoma town’s only shelter for the homeless during deep freeze "We watched it for about half an hour and saw no one step up and said forget that … We’re going to show what compassion and love look like.” Natural gas customers warned to brace for higher utility bills in the coming months Meanwhile, Attorney General Mike Hunter said his office was looking into the natural gas market price increases this week. Winter storm delays thousands of COVID-19 vaccine deliveries, shots in Oklahoma Hazardous weather over the past week has slowed Oklahoma’s vaccination efforts and several local health departments announced delays in vaccination appointments. Oklahoma prepares for possibility of more power outages as winter storms push demand for electricity Tens of thousands of Oklahomans temporarily lost power this week as snow and sub-zero temperatures rolled in. Those power outages might continue in the days ahead. Oklahoma’s leading pro-gun group endorses ‘Anti-Islam’ former lawmaker for chairman of state’s Republican Party John Bennett, who said Islam “is a cancer” and asked Muslim students if they “beat their” wives while he served in the House of Representatives, is one of two men seeking the role of Republican Party chair Lawmakers target Oklahoma’s initiative petition process after uptick in successful state questions After five years of sweeping policy changes led primarily by voters in the state’s metropolitan areas, the Republican-controlled Legislature is poised to make substantial revisions to the initiative petition process during the 2021 legislative session.   State’s poultry waste data falls short After four years of annual reports the general public no longer has access to a detailed accounting of how nearly 200,000 tons of waste produced by Oklahoma’s Poultry Feeding Operations is exported or applied on state lands, including sensitive watersheds. Copyright © 2020 The Frontier, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive our weekly newsletter. Our mailing address is: The Frontier 302 Reconciliation Way Tulsa, OK, 74120 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list Copyright © 2020 The Frontier, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive our weekly newsletter. Our mailing address is: The Frontier 302 Reconciliation Way Tulsa, OK, 74120 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

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