Listen Frontier

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services continued to refer clients to a troubled center for people with developmental disabilities for months after reports of systemic abuse first surfaced. A former Greer Center staff member said coworkers retaliated against her after she reported the allegations.

Frontier reporter Kayla Branch has been covering the story for months, and on this episode of Listen Frontier, she speaks with us about her investigation, what she learned during her reporting, what developments there have been recently, and where the case is headed.

This is Listen Frontier, a podcast exploring the investigative journalism of the Frontier and featuring conversations with those on the frontlines of Oklahoma’s most important stories. Listen to us Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. 

To donate to The Frontier and help support our efforts to grow investigative journalism in Oklahoma, click here.

Ebony Johnson replaced former superintendent Deborah Gist in September.

It was a chaotic start - TPS, the state's largest school district with more than 30,000 students, was under the threat of takeover by the state board of education, as state Superintendent Ryan Walters targeted Gist and TPS with criticism and ultimatums.

Gist eventually stepped down, Johnson was appointed, and tensions cooled slightly.

"I feel like right now, leadership is needed in a way that it's never been needed before, and I'm honored to do that," Johnson told The Frontier.

Karen Keith worked as a television reporter before moving to the local chamber of commerce and later a post in the mayor's office. She now serves as one of three Tulsa County Commissioners.

Next up? Possibly the most powerful position in local city government.

On this episode of Listen Frontier, Keith talks with us about her past, why she wants to be mayor, and what she thinks she can accomplish.

Rep. Monroe Nichols, D-Tulsa, is one of the more outspoken members of Oklahoma's Legislature. Now he wants to take his talents to Tulsa's City Hall where he would become Tulsa's first Black mayor.

The election isn't for 12 months, but Nichols declared his candidacy early in order to get a head start campaigning, and, he said, to give him the time to dive more deeply into the issues facing Tulsa. On this edition of Listen Frontier, we speak with Nichols about his time in the Legislature, as well as his plans for Tulsa and his thoughts on the economy and education.

Sen. James Lankford, now Oklahoma’s Senior Senator following the retirement of Jim Inhofe, took time this week to speak with The Frontier about immigration, abortion, the McGirt decision and the state of “Trump-ism” in the Republican Party.

When Brandi Garner took over as Interim CEO of the Oklahoma County Detention Center in January, she inherited an aging facility with chronic staffing shortages and a high number of prisoner deaths.

Frontier Managing Editor Brianna Bailey spoke with Garner about her plans to turn things around. 

Following his inauguration last month, new Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has wasted no time in making his mark on the state.

Drummond was elected in November and sworn in last month, but he truly began preparing for the job last summer after he defeated former AG John O’Connor in the Republican Primary. 

Despite facing an opponent many believed would give him a challenge in his bid for re-election, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt coasted to victory on election night. Now that his second-term is beginning, he spent time with us to go over his priorities for the next four years.

The state is deeply red, but the two most high-profile races this cycle are seemingly up for grabs. Depending on who you believe, incumbent Gov. Kevin Stitt is trailing Democrat challenger Joy Hofmeister, who has served two terms as the state’s Superintendent of schools.

And Republican Ryan Walters, who is attempting to replace Hofmeister as Superintendent, is fighting for votes against Jena Nelson, a public school teacher from Oklahoma City.

On this episode of Listen Frontier, I speak with Ryan Tupps, a partner at Amber Integrated, an Oklahoma City-based polling firm.