Category Archives: State

OSU Media Gift from SEL Alumnus

By David Arnett

Analysis: Friday August 29, Oklahoma State University announced a historic gift to the School of Media and Strategic Communications from OSU alumnus Keith Garton and his husband, David Sheehan.

The commitment is the largest in program history and will establish the Garton Family Endowed Chair for Media and Strategic Communications, but despite a specific request from this writer, OSU declined to specify the gift amount writing, “the donors requested we not publicize the amount of their gift.”

The funds will “support rural journalism and student organizations within the school,” according to the release.

Keith Garton, President & Publisher of Red Chair Publishing holds over 30 years of experience with child-specific educational publishers such as DC Heath, Scholastic, Macmillan McGraw-Hill, Pearson and TIME for Kids. The company specializes in Social, Emotional, Learning (SEL) ideology indoctrination of children.

The Garton Family (Photo: Provided & Identified by OSU Foundation)
Continue reading →

Annual Round Barn Ukulele Festival

By David Arnett

Did you know there are ukulele clubs in Oklahoma City, Stillwater and Tulsa? 

“One of the best local ukulele groups is ‘MISSPENT UKES’ from Stillwater, Oklahoma,” remarked Round Barn Music Director Joe Baxter. The “Misspent Ukes” are a silly group of serious musicians and singers who love to perform at community events, Baxter said. “I was impressed with their knowledge and mastery of their music & vocals.” 

Quick history: Developed in the 1880s, the ukulele became popular in Hawaii because of great support and promotion by the last of the monarchs, King Kalakaua. High caliber musicians like George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon all played the ukulele. Harrison was a great lover of the instrument and often gave them to friends, including Tom Petty, whom he taught to play.

Continue reading →

Protecting Pension Progress

By Jonathan Small, OCPA

Oklahoma was once ranked among the worst states in the nation when it came to the financial stability of our state pensions. That meant many state workers, including teachers, were at risk of reaching retirement without sufficient income to live out their golden years in comfort. Fortunately, reforms that took full effect roughly a decade ago have now made Oklahoma a national model.

“What you did, starting in 2010 all the way to now, really is the gold standard for other states to look at,” said Caren Lock, a managing director with TIAA-CREF, a national financial services firm.

Continue reading →

Rep. Gann Challenges PSO

By Staff Report

An appeal brief filed Thursday by Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, asks the Oklahoma Supreme Court to invalidate some $700 million in ratepayer-backed bonds issued to cover costs incurred by Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) during February 2021’s Winter Storm Uri. Payments for those bonds have been collected on the monthly bills of PSO’s customers since the bonds were issued in September 2022. They are scheduled to continue for another 17 years.

Gann’s brief tells the court that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) failed to provide a required audit of the bonds in PSO’s most recent rate case. He also argues PSO’s original 2021 Uri costs that were securitized into the bonds were never audited either.  Gann asserts the audit failures are fatal in both cases, making the OCC’s orders void.

Rep. Tom Gann
Continue reading →