Tulsa World Opinion

"He keeps using rhetoric that's not grounded in reality, that he doesn't present evidence for... he's ignoring the very important practical day-to-day operations of the state department of education, the things that are really gonna matter to the 700,000 Oklahoma school children." Rep. John Waldron, a Democrat, represents Tulsa’s District 77 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He discusses the American Library Association's Rainbow List, a 190-book set of LGBTQ+ inclusive books for readers of different ages. Rep. Waldron said state superintendent for public instruction, Ryan Walters, has twice sent this list as examples of questionable books, but has neglected other job responsibilities, like the state's education budget.

Related content:

Opinion column by Rep. Waldron: Oklahomans ought to be more concerned with censorship than pornography

Ryan Walters says 'pornographic' books found in Oklahoma schools. Districts say otherwise

State school board unanimously passes rules targeting library content, disclosure requirements

Stitt, Walters pressure lawmakers to pass contested agency rules

Proposed rules on libraries, disclosure draw public criticism

Ryan Walters wants to downgrade schools with obscene library materials

Ginnie Graham: Parents getting mixed messages from lawmakers

Ginnie Graham: Brooklyn Library welcomes Oklahomans' use of QR code as free speech symbol

Editorial: Some Oklahoma lawmakers piling on to harass former teacher over books

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Marcela Swenson is the executive director of Tulsa Responds, a partner of the Goodwill VITA program. Ginnie Graham and Swenson talk about the importance of filing taxes this month, particularly for lower and middle income households, and how the community can receive free assistance to file. Plus, households can still claim last year's tax credits by filing this year.

Related content:

Opinion column by Marcela Swenson: Free tax filing services benefit families and greater community

Get Your Refund Tulsa Appointment Form

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Jesse Guardiola is an award-winning 25-year veteran Tulsa Police Officer specializing in Community Outreach Innovation Strategies and workforce development. He is also a member of the Tulsa World Community Advisory Board. In this episode, Ginnie Graham and Guardiola talk the college degree requirement for law enforcement; why they think it's important; and how the community is helping recruit potential officers to get the education they need, regardless of their background.

Related content:

Opinion column by Jesse Guardiola: College degree requirement for law enforcement is a critical standard

Column by Jerry Griffin: Get rid of bachelor's degree requirement for Tulsa Police

Editorial: Long-term thinking needed for recruiting Tulsa Police

With $15k signing bonus secured and retention help on the way, Tulsa police recruiters 'cautiously optimistic'

Tulsa's $15,000 police signing bonus 'welcome surprise' for agency still short on staff

Rotarians hear from Tulsa police chief on Saint Francis shooting, staffing shortages, gun violence

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"We meet the need." Matt Lay is the president of Tulsa Firefighters IAFF Local 176 and member of the Tulsa World Community Advisory Board. In this week's episode, Ginnie Graham and Matt Lay talk about all of the things local firefighters do besides respond to house fires, including emergency medical incidents, handling hazardous materials and more. Lay also talks about how the fire department recruits potential new firefighters and about his role as union president.

Related content:

Opinion column by Matt Lay: Tulsa firefighters a force for simple good in a complex world

Arbitrator approves Tulsa's offer for firefighters contract with varied raises

From August 2021: Tulsa Fire Department down 60 firefighters, City Council is told

From June 2020: Tulsa mayor announces Michael Baker as city's 12th Tulsa Fire Department Chief

From February 2019: Proposal would change minimum age requirement for Tulsa firefighters from 21 to 18

From May 2018: A TCC course could help train new firefighters, save taxpayer dollars

From March 2013: 29 new Tulsa firefighter grads bring force to nearly full strength

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In this week's episode, Ginnie Graham and Barry Friedman discuss the legalization of recreational marijuana, which will be voted on March 7. Will State Question 820 pass? Should it pass? What are the pros and cons? Ginne and Barry debate the different sides of a complicated issue.  

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Related:

Ginnie Graham: Health insurance no guarantee to mental health access and affordability

Ginnie Graham: DEI programs are not what many people think

Oklahoma governor, attorney general oppose recreational marijuana state question

Oklahoma to vote on recreational marijuana: How would State Question 820 work?

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Ginnie Graham talks with Zack Stoycoff, executive director of the Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, about a new report showing private insurers are not providing Oklahomans with needed mental health care.

Related content:

Column by Zack Stoycoff: Ways Oklahoma lawmakers can continue building a better mental health system

Estimated 300,000 Oklahomans to lose Medicaid coverage

Editorial: Fully fund public services before cutting taxes

Among Super Bowl ads, Kristin Chenoweth PSA promotes Oklahoma's 988 mental health lifeline

From 'happy and healthy' to 'terribly wrong': Kunzweilers discuss family experience with mental illness at Republican Women's Club

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"For us to throw money at a merit-based system thinking that's going to be some magic bullet to solve the issues that we're dealing with is just not well-informed." Ginnie Graham talks with Bixby Superintendent Rob Miller about the state legislature potentially using merit pay raises for public school teachers, and why he feels the idea does not work.

Related content:

Gov. Kevin Stitt to push for tax cuts, more education funding this year

Five takeaways from Gov. Kevin Stitt's fifth State of the State speech

Oklahoma lawmakers grill state superintendent on his new education budget

State Superintendent Ryan Walters takes push for state-funded private school students, home-schoolers to rural OK

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"Everybody seems to be simmering all the time: If you don't think like me look like me, worship like me, love like me, you're wrong; and I just wasn't raised that way." Ginnie Graham talks with Oklahoma state labor commissioner Leslie Osborn about how partisan rhetoric has led to wedge issue bills taking limited session time away from important state issues; why most states no longer have straight-party balloting; and how the fringe partisanship is holding the state back from attracting businesses; and more.

Related content:

February 2023 column: Get back to governing; stop growing 'morality police state'

2022 endorsement: Supporting Leslie Osborn for labor commissioner

Leslie Osborn column from 2019: On this Labor Day, let's start working for safer workplaces. And more civil ones too.

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Ginnie Graham talks about International Holocaust Remembrance Day with Chloe Kirk, Director of Holocaust Education and Community Relations with the Jewish Federation of Tulsa. Why is education important for children and adults alike, and where can people go for information locally?

Related content:

Ginnie Graham: Tulsa physician's risky flight from the Nazis hold lessons for today

Ginnie Graham: Holocaust education gives lessons to make sense of today's difficult times

Ginnie Graham: Making choices, human behavior at the center of Holocaust education

Editorial: Holocaust education opens door to hard discussions, true history

Tim Stanley: Tulsa Holocaust survivor says late father's Star of David, once intended as an insult, now 'a badge of honor'

Jewish Federation of Tulsa calls out state GOP for using Star of David in vaccine dispute

Ginnie Graham: Taking teenager to Tulsa's Holocaust Center prompts deeper discussions

Tim Stanley: Marking D-Day 77th anniversary, Jewish Federation unveils memorial to Oklahoma's WW2 'liberators'

Tulsa Holocaust survivor to celebrate 100th birthday after recently beating COVID

Tim Stanley: Remembering Schindler gravesite, the story behind it, on annual Holocaust commemoration week

Ginnie Graham: Growing use of Nazi and Hitler comparisons insensitive and dangerous

Editorials Editor Ginnie Graham’s most memorable stories of 2022

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"If you're reaching youth, you have to include their voice in it." Ginnie Graham hosts Tulsa Dream Center executive director Tim Newton to discuss preventing teen crime. How do youth react to reputations of their neighborhoods? How do lack of family support, lack of money and peer pressure lead to teen crime? And finally, how can people help?

Related content:

2022 brought some 'firsts' for Tulsa Police Homicide Unit while teen gun violence trend continued

'They need to see a pathway': Area nonprofits hungry for collaboration after report on youth justice disparities

Tulsa organizations address gang violence at its roots: 'There are other avenues'

`We can serve better." Tulsa Dream Center 's A.J. Johnson provides beacon of inspiration

Editorials Editor Ginnie Graham’s most memorable stories of 2022

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Contact us

Editorial Editor Ginnie Graham: Email | Twitter | Follow her stories

Subscribe to this podcast at: Apple | Google | Spotify

Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.