The Source - The Oklahoman

Employees at the Penn Square Mall Apple Store are voting to create a union. If the employees are successful, it will be the second Apple Store in the country with a union workforce. Co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt discuss this, as well as an important announcement about the future of The Source podcast. 

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill to appropriate American Rescue Plan funds to the University of Oklahoma health system on the condition that none of its medical facilities offer "gender reassignment medical treatment" to children. Reporter Carmen Forman joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

As Oklahoma struggles with dry conditions, the weather is harming ranchers across the state and could have serious impacts on future generations. Reporter Ben Felder joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

In 2020, Oklahoma had one of the deadliest years on record for victims of domestic abuse. But a new domestic violence center planned in Oklahoma County would offer help to these victims. Reporter Jessie Christopher Smith joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

The Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Joe Biden last month outlines many policies, including one that gives $81 million to clean up abandoned wells in Oklahoma. Business reporter Dale Denwalt details this and more alongside co-host Nuria Martinez Keel. 

Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor issued a memo to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors across the state, laying out the grounds for criminal charges under Oklahoma's new abortion laws. The Oklahoman's health reporter Dana Branham joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

One Oklahoma County Sheriff's deputy died last week after being shot while serving a lockout order. Before this, the shooter's mother had filed a protective order with the courts, writing that her son would carry guns in her home. Still, nothing was done to remove the weapons. Reporters Ben Felder and Josh Dulaney join co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

State Question 820 would legalize recreational marijuana for Oklahomans 21 and older. But the question may not clear all its procedural hurdles in time for November. Reporter Carmen Forman joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

As the primary runoff election for dozens of races across Oklahoma looms, several candidates have leaned on ideology –– not policy –– to gain support from voters. Reporter Ben Felder joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

On July 28, the Oklahoma State Board of Education dropped Tulsa Public Schools and Mustang Public Schools to accredited with warning over HB 1775 violations, a law restricting the teaching of certain race and gender topics. At the same time, districts in the state are facing a teacher shortage as these jobs have become less attractive to candidates. Co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt discuss. 

Star Shells, 28, a mother of two sons who was pregnant with another, was struck and killed last year by a stolen truck fleeing from Oklahoma City police. An investigation by The Oklahoman found she wasn't the only one who has died during pursuits. Reporters Jana Hayes and Josh Dulaney join co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

Champions, a mobile crisis team, helps Oklahoma City police respond to mental health calls by bringing a licensed therapist, case manager and resources to the person in need. Reporter Jana Hayes joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

During Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt's State of the City address, he called for discussions to begin on a new NBA arena in downtown. Reporter Steve Lackmeyer joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss potential plans, locations and funding for the arena. 

State officials have asked a judge to remove the president of the Western Heights Board of Education after failing to file the district's annual audit. Co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt discuss.

Twenty-five inmates now have execution dates set through the end of 2024, with the first one scheduled for Aug. 25, 2022. Reporter Nolan Clay joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

Voters submitted their ballots on Tuesday during Oklahoma's primary election. Reporters Carmen Forman and JaNae Williams join co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss plans for a new Oklahoma County jail and why some primary results were different than anticipated. 

Co-founders of Epic Charter Schools Ben Harris and David Chaney, as well as their chief financial officer, Josh Brock, were charged Thursday with wrongfully taking and spending millions of dollars intended for students. Co-host Nuria Martinez-Keel explains her reporting with guest co-host Addison Kliewer.  

The Oklahoma House approved a package of tax cuts during special session, but the state Senate looks reluctant to do the same. State politics reporter Carmen Forman joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

The mass killings in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Uvalde, Texas, have added to the list of shootings that have plagued America in recent decades. The Oklahoman's Executive Editor Ray Rivera talks about his coverage of these, as well as the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. 

As the 50th anniversary of Title IX nears, advances in women's sports can be seen in Oklahoma City's Hall of Fame Stadium. Sports columnist Jenni Carlson joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

After a third-party investigation found the denomination suppressed reports of sexual abuse by ministers and workers, Southern Baptist Convention leaders are preparing to release the names of the alleged predators. The Oklahoman's religion editor Carla Hinton joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

Speculative industrial parks are exploding across Oklahoma, partially due to consumers' continued shift to online shopping. Senior business reporter Richard Mize joins co-host Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

This year, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed two bills that ban nearly all abortions in the state. Reporters Carmen Forman and Dana Branham join co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to break down what this means for Oklahoma.

Oklahoma conservatives have spoken out against a policy at Stillwater Public Schools that allows transgender students to use the bathroom relating to their gender identity. Co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt discuss. 

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an incentive to help attract large companies, one which is believed to be Panasonic, to the state. Reporter Steve Lackmeyer joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss.

Swadley's lucrative contract with the state has come under scrutiny after a former employee alleged the company purposely overcharged the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation. The Oklahoman's food editor Dave Cathey joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

On Nov. 4, 2019, over 400 Oklahoma prisoners were released in a mass commutation effort. Since then, over 200 of those released have been re-arrested. Reporter Nolan Clay joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

Oklahoma County voters will decide June 28 on a bond to help fund a new jail. Reporter JaNae Williams joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

Six girls were killed at an infamous intersection in Tishomingo last week. Reporters Jessie Christopher Smith and Hogan Gore join host Nuria Martinez-Keel to discuss. 

Mothers of transgender children spoke with The Oklahoman's Ben Felder about legislation that targets the health care and athletic opportunities of transgender youth in Oklahoma. Ben joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss.   

Gov. Kevin Stitt said Harrah, a town with a population of about 7,000, could experience rapid growth in the near feature, with over 2,000 new homes already under construction. Co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt discuss.    

An Oklahoma plan to expand the Kickapoo Turnpike would allow the state to buy properties in its path by eminent domain. Reporter Jessie Christopher Smith joins co-host Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

Council members voted 8-1 to implement 39 recommendations from 21CP Solutions to improve the Oklahoma City Police Department. Reporter Jana Hayes joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

In Gov. Kevin Stitt's State of the State address, he said he would like to see the best Oklahoma teachers make $100,000. Co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt discuss. 

In 2013, 12-year-old Billy Lord was killed by a drunken driver. The driver was convicted of manslaughter the following year. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt highlighted the case during his State of the State speech, claiming the McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling could allow the driver to walk free. The Oklahoman's reporters discuss. 

In his annual speech at the state Capitol, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt laid out his priorities for this year's legislative session. Reporters Carmen Forman and Ben Felder join co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

Administrators at Oklahoma City's Mount St. Mary Catholic High School have been accused by current and former students of ignoring claims of sexual assault and harassment for years. Reporter Josh Dulaney joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

Three candidates hoping to become the next mayor of Oklahoma City participated in a debate this week. Current Mayor David Holt was not in attendance. Reporter Hogan Gore joins co-hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

This week, four Oklahoma hospital systems made a plea for compassion as emergency rooms overflow across the state. Additionally, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced an executive order to address staffing shortages in schools caused by the raging Omicron variant. Health reporter Dana Branham joins hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

Two petitions supporting the legalization of recreational marijuana could make their way to an Oklahoma ballot. Reporter Carmen Forman joins hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

As COVID-19 numbers are on the rise in Oklahoma, the Omicron variant spreads across the nation. While the state has not detected the variant within its borders, Oklahoma ranks last in COVID-19 sequencing. Health reporter Dana Branham joins hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt to discuss. 

The Oklahoma County jail has been at the center of controversy in recent years. This week, Oklahoma County commissioners voted unanimously for a new $300 million jail. Host Nuria Martinez-Keel and reporter JaNae Williams discuss the proposed facility and non-binding vote. 

Native American graves –– and items buried alongside them –– were dug up by archeologists in Oklahoma tribes' ancestral homelands. The University of Alabama's Jones Archeological Museum showcases dozens of objects and human remains from these graves. Now, tribes are working to repatriate these remains. 

Inside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on Nov. 18, Julius Jones was to be executed at 4 p.m. With less than four hours before he was to be put to death, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced he was commuting Jones' sentence to life without the possibility of parole. Host Nuria Martinez-Keel and reporter Josh Dulaney discuss. 

Oklahoma City Public Schools terminated the employment of six teachers who refused to wear masks after the district announced a requirement for teachers. Hosts Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt discuss. 

Death row inmate Julius Jones was recommended for clemency by the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole board Monday, and his fate now lies with Gov. Kevin Stitt. Last week, Oklahoma executed John Grant and even more questions have lingered about the state's lethal injection process.