The deluge of proposed legislation ahead of the annual legislative session is, as yet, only a trickle. But there are some items of interest among the 50 or so bills and resolutions already in the hopper. Also, scores of bills filed last session and still in various stages of the legislative process will be eligible…Read More
Oklahoma is less than two weeks away from the state’s next scheduled execution. Death row inmate Bigler Stouffer is scheduled to be put to death on Dec. 9 for the 1985 killing of an Oklahoma teacher. Stouffer’s attorneys are appealing a judge’s decision to not stop his execution because of concerns about the drugs Oklahoma…Read More
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) – A federal judge has denied a stay of execution for death row inmate Bigler Stouffer. Attorneys for Stouffer argued the lethal injection drugs currently being used in Oklahoma are unconstitutional. They had hoped to get him added to the lawsuit challenging the state’s execution method. Those protocols are at the center…Read More
The Oklahoma Corrections Department has agreed that condemned prisoners in the future can have a personal spiritual advisor in the execution chamber. The spiritual advisor will have to pass a background check. Confirmation of the policy change came Monday during a hearing on a death row inmate’s request for an execution stay. The inmate, Bigler Jobe…Read More
Oklahoma’s Attorney General joined a nationwide investigation into Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook, and one of its platform’s impacts on young users. “It’s going to be a little bit of a challenge,” said Patrick Allmond, the owner of Focus Digital Media. “What we have to remember about these social media companies – they don’t…Read More
Oklahoma Gov. J. Kevin Stitt today commuted the death sentence of an inmate, hours before his scheduled execution. Julius Jones, who was scheduled to be executed today at 4 p.m. for a murder he says he did not commit, will have to serve a life imprisonment instead, without the possibility of parole. “After prayerful consideration…Read More
An Oklahoma Teacher of the Year nominee, Bristow Middle School teacher Lauren Vandever, has declared that it is important to be supportive of children exploring transgender transition. “I am not transgender. I’ve never experienced being transgender or on the LGBTQ spectrum,” Vandever said. “But I definitely think it is something that is an important thing…Read More
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board on Wednesday recommended clemency for another death row inmate in part because of concerns about the last execution. “That process is obviously flawed,” board member Larry Morris said before voting to recommend clemency. “We have had individuals on the table suffering for 20 and 30 minutes apiece. And I don’t think…Read More
With the fate of death row inmate Julius Jones in the hands of Gov. Kevin Stitt, legislators are making their voices heard in the remaining hours. Several Republican and Democrat lawmakers stated that they do not want to see Jones put to death. Over the days leading up to the scheduled execution day, several lawmakers…Read More
Mercedes Schlapp, the White House Director of Strategic Communications under Trump, called on Governor Stitt to spare Julius Jones’ life. “We are pleading, praying for the Governor of Oklahoma to make the right decision,” Schlapp said. “I think it’s really important to be able to bring in the people who know Julius and can talk…Read More