Five years after voters approved landmark criminal justice reforms, counties are still waiting for mental health funding

The Legislature has never sent any money to the fund and no rules have been written for how it can be spent.

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.  Five years after voters approved landmark criminal justice reforms, counties are still waiting for mental health funding 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 it can be spent. Investigation by Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommends Julius Jones not be executed Oklahoma’s Attorney General is seeking to put Jones to death in October, a move that has placed Jones’ upcoming commutation hearing into question. Governor largely silent on the pandemic as COVID cases surge in Oklahoma Outside of a few swipes at cities and states that shut down during the pandemic last year, Gov. Stitt skirted the topic of COVID-19 in remarks to business leaders, instead focusing on economic growth and his social media war with the animal rights group PETA. School-age children make up Oklahoma’s largest increase in COVID-19 cases With schools legally barred from enacting mask mandates, data shows cases in school-age children are driving Oklahoma’s surging COVID-19 case load.   More than 1,600 people in Oklahoma are hospitalized with COVID-19 as new cases spike The three-day average for hospitalizations was at 1,602 patients on Friday.   Oklahoma City will mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for police and fire recruits Oklahoma’s largest city has not yet mandated vaccination for existing police officers and firefighters, which would require negotiations with their unions. Oklahomans We’ve Lost: A family man who served his country and community “People would gravitate toward him.” The Frontier is documenting the stories of Oklahomans who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about other Oklahomans here. Have you lost a loved one to COVID-19? Help us tell their story.    Tell us what you think about The Frontier As The Frontier continues to grow, we’d like to know more about what our readers like and how we can do better. Fill out our 2021 reader survey and tell us how we’re doing. Bruce's World  Bruce’s World is a weekly look into Oklahoma’s hottest topics, filtered through the brain of Bruce Plante. 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 Donate

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