This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Right Attorney Ryan Kiesel about a new report from the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency against the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust's spending on cessation programs, Epic Virtual Charter School's new board giving $2.5M to a company owned by the brother of its former chairman and a study looking at 18 fatalities from police pursuits over a five year period.

The trio also discusses the closing of the William S. Key minimum security prison in northwest Oklahoma and a new committee to oversee how the state spends $1.9B expected from the federal government on COVID-19 relief funds.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel talk about Oklahoma County handing its redistricting process over to state House and Senate staff, the governor mulling his decision for a replacement for former Attorney General Mike Hunter and a new study showing the power of prosecutors on legislation at the State Capitol.

The trio also discusses the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission freezing jobless claim checks for some residents after concerns over fraudulent activity and an Oklahoma City Police detective retracts his statement in the officer-involved shooting death of a Black man.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel talk about Oklahoma City passing it's budget for next year to include a $1.3M increase for its police department despite calls to reduce the funding, nearly 100,000 Oklahomans sign up for Medicaid expansion in its first week online and the Department of Education uncovered $1.6M in fraud over a federal program to feed children during the pandemic.

The trio also discusses a lawsuit filed against former Attorney General Mike Hunter by a member of Governor Stitt's cabinet and the state's first Chief Operating Officer John Budd announcing he's leaving the position.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel talk about President Biden's visit to Tulsa to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, the State Supreme Court invalidated Governor Stitt's plan to partially privatize Medicaid and lawmakers bring an end to the 2021 Legislative session.

The trio also discusses registration beginning for the expansion of Medicaid and State Treasurer Randy McDaniel announcing he will not seek reelection to the office in 2022.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the announcement from Attorney General Mike Hunter over his resignation effective July First, the Governor signing the state budget for the 2022 Fiscal Year and a bill to use medical marijuana revenue to help charter and public schools with funding.

The trio also discusses plans by President Biden to visit Tulsa for the centennial commemoration ceremonies for the 1921 Race Massacre and the Director of the Public Health Lab leaves after just four months on the job.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the governor's plan to get people back to work by opting out of federal supplemental unemployment payments and offering a $1200 bonus, legislative leaders agree on a budget for the 2022 fiscal year starting on July First and legislation banning new Oklahoma residents from applying for disability services to try and reduce the backlog of current people on the waiting list.

The trio also discusses how the US Supreme Court deciding to hear a Mississippi anti-abortion case will impact Oklahoma and changes to the Oklahoma County Jail Trust including a new leader, a new member and new public speaking rules.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney about the growing controversy over Governor Stitt signing a bill to ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory in Oklahoma schools, lawmakers considering recommendation of a grand jury investigation for Epic Virtual Charter School and Congressman Cole working on legislation allowing the Chickasaw and Cherokee Nations to compact with the state over criminal jurisdiction.

The trio also discusses the state allowing kids between the ages of 12 and 15 to get the Pfizer Coronavirus vaccine and what to expect in the final two weeks of the 2021 legislative session.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about Governor Stitt ending the COVID-19 State of Emergency and the Tulsa Race Massacre Commission urging Governor Stitt to veto a bill prohibiting schools from teaching subjects dealing with race and diversity.

The trio also discusses the Department of Transportation halting construction on a project after fights between the governor and tribes and lawmakers take their first step in redistricting for the next ten years.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and sitting in for Ryan Kiesel in ACLU Oklahoma Executive Director Tamya Cox-Touré about the settlement between the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board and Epic Schools to avoid termination hearings along with new bills signed by the governor including one requiring a fiscal impact statement on initiative petitions and several more making it harder to get abortions.

The trio also discusses new laws cracking down on protests and overhauling the state's human resources system.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civil Rights Attorney Ryan Kiesel about the State House unanimously approving a bill to help fund charter and traditional schools with low property taxes, Epic Virtual Charter School agreeing to the demands of the state in the hopes of avoiding contract termination proceedings and the Norman City Council voting to remove $865,000 from its police for community programs.

The trio also discusses a pause in moving the Shaun Bosse case from the state into federal jurisdiction and a state lawmaker calling for federal intervention in the Oklahoma County Jail.