Podcasts about state boards

We're diving into the lawsuit filed this week against Ryan Walters and the State Board of Education—brought by parents, grandparents, and educators, and led by former Republican Attorney General Mike Hunter. We're also breaking down key education bills that survived deadline week at the Capitol—what made it through, what didn't, and what it all means for Oklahoma public schools.

A. Philip Randolph Institute v. North Carolina State Board of Elections

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about more testimony from the struggling Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the U.S. Supreme Court taking up the issue of a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma and one of Gov. Kevin Stitt's four nominees to the State Board of Education failing to get a sponsor.The trio also discusses the Ethics Commission's dismissal of an investigation against Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett and Texas lawmakers choose to not fund their portion of the Heartland Flyer.

In dieser Folge sprechen wir mit Dr. Veronica Hinterhuber, Expertin für die Archäologie und Kulturgeschichte Nordostafrikas. Sie studierte Ägyptologie und Sudanarchäologie an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, mit einem Studienaufenthalt in Rom, und promovierte 2021 über Festarchitektur der 25. Dynastie in Ägypten und Nubien. Wissenschaftliche Stationen führten sie unter anderem an das Deutsche Archäologische Institut, die Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften und die Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Seit 2022 ist sie wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin an der LMU München. Ihre Forschungsschwerpunkte liegen auf der Kulturgeschichte des alten Sudan, Ägyptens und Nubiens im 1. Jahrtausend v. Chr., dem Kulturtransfer zwischen Ägypten und Nubien sowie der Sakral- und Festarchitektur im kuschitischen Theben. Sie war an zahlreichen Ausgrabungen in Ägypten und im Sudan beteiligt. Veronica ist Soroptimistin im Club München-Schwabing. https://www.clubmuenchenschwabing-soroptimist.de/Neue archäologische Forschungen in Assur: Im April 2022 bewilligte das irakische State Board of Antiquities and Heritage ein mit Geldern des Leibniz-Preises gefördertes Forschungsprojekt mit dem Titel „Ausgrabungen und geophysikalische Untersuchungen in Assur sowie Restaurierung des Andrae-Hauses“, das von Karen Radner und Prof. Dr. F. Janoscha Kreppner (WWU Münster) gemeinsam geleitet wird. Mehr dazu unter: https://www.ag.geschichte.uni-muenchen.de/personen/mitarbeiter/hinterhuber/forschung/assur-projekt/index.htmlhttps://www.en.ag.geschichte.uni-muenchen.de/staff/staff/hinterhuber/index.html Women Peace an Security Index:https://giwps.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WPS-Index-full-report.pdf

We're catching you up on everything you've missed in the past few weeks at the #okleg—including a disappointing move by lawmakers not to send the new education standards back to the State Board, despite strong concerns from educators and the public. If you're feeling frustrated, you're not alone—and this episode helps you make sense of what's happening at the Capitol and what comes next.

In this episode of the NASP Podcast, Sheila Arquette, President & CEO of NASP, speaks with Jeffrey S. Baird, Esq., Chairman of the Health Care Group at Brown & Fortunato, P.C. and Bradley W. Howard, shareholder and director at Brown & Fortunato, P.C. In today's environment, it is challenging enough to profitably run a specialty pharmacy. The pharmacy needs to avoid the additional challenge of inquiries, audits and investigations by governmental agencies and PBMs. This podcast will discuss the proactive steps the specialty pharmacy can take to lower the risk of inquiries, audits and investigations. This podcast will also set out steps the pharmacy can take to resolve inquiries, audits and investigations before they spin out of control. The podcast will focus on the following: • Corporate Compliance Program – The specialty pharmacy needs to implement a robust compliance program that is specific to the pharmacy's business model. Such a program will head off many problems before they arise…and a compliance program will resolve problems, once arisen, before they spin out of control. • PBMs – A PBM is in a stronger negotiating position than that of the specialty pharmacy. At the end of the day, the PBM “possesses the pharmacy's money.” This podcast will discuss the steps the pharmacy should take to establish a “win-win” relationship with a PBM. Doing so will eliminate uncertainty and prevent many problems from arising. However, if the PBM ends up bringing an inquiry, audit or investigation against the pharmacy, the podcast will set out the steps the pharmacy should take to resolve the inquiry, audit or investigation without it devolving into an adversarial action. • Governmental Agencies – There are a number of federal and state governmental agencies that a specialty pharmacy may have to deal with. These include (i) the Department of Justice, (ii) the Office of Inspector General, (iii) the DEA, (iv) the FDA, (v) state Attorneys General, and (vi) State Boards of Pharmacy. This podcast will discuss the steps the pharmacy should take when it is investigated by a governmental agency. As with working with PBMs, the pharmacy should strive to resolve a government investigation before it spins out of control. 

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about controversial social studies standards surviving a deadline at the State Capitol, Governor Stitt appointing a new person to the State Board of Education and the governor's task force on March wildfires releases its first report.The trio also discusses the final month of the 2025 state legislature as lawmakers work to craft a budget for the fiscal year starting on July First and the Oklahoma Arts Council cancels its biennial conference amid uncertainty in state and federal funding.

You can read the full op-ed here: https://bit.ly/4iscFH7 This is a reading of an op-ed written by Susan Pendergrass titled "A Bad Deal for Missouri's Children", published in The Heartlander on April 24, 2025. In this piece, Susan critiques the tradeoff being discussed in the Missouri Legislature, where a weak open-enrollment bill is being tied to a measure that would strip the State Board of Education (BOE) of its authority to hold schools accountable for performance. She argues that this compromise is a bad deal for Missouri's students and emphasizes the importance of holding school districts accountable. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

The governor makes another appointment to the State Board of Education.The State Election Board could be asking you to confirm your address.Senator Lankford hears from supporters and opponents at an Oklahoma City book signing.You can find the KOSU Daily wherever you get your podcasts, you can also subscribe, rate us and leave a comment.You can keep up to date on all the latest news throughout the day at KOSU.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Blue Sky and Instagram at KOSU Radio.This is The KOSU Daily, Oklahoma news, every weekday. Mentioned in this episode:Find out how to help prevent federal funding cuts to public media.

#realconversations #nursing #medicationerrors #patientsafety#healthconsumer CONVERSATIONS WITH CALVIN WE THE SPECIESMeet DR JULIE SIEMERS: “When I look in the mirror everymorning during the shaving routine, I see the reflection of a proactive, healthconsumer advocate. I thought I knew broad health concepts. Until just meetingand interviewing Dr Julie Siemers, who is a leading authority in patient safetyas a nurse educator and founder of Lifebeat Solutions. Julie has over 40 yearsof experience in nursing care. What a brave new world of discovery for me. ANDyou. Perhaps up to 250,000 people die from preventable ‘stuff.' Enough said. DrJulie Siemers is riveting and necessary.” Calvinhttps://www.youtube.com/c/ConversationswithCalvinWetheSpecIEs503 Interviews/Videos  8970 SUBSCRIBERSGLOBAL Reach. Earth Life. Amazing People.  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE **DR JULIE SIEMERS; The Nurse Who's Saving a Million Lives OnePolicy at a Time; Professor; Dean; LIVE from VirginiaYouTube:  https://youtu.be/ZPB8av2NMvsBIO: Dr. Julie Siemers brings more than four decades ofexperience and expertise in nursing practice, education, and executiveleadership to the healthcare arena. Dr. Siemers direct patient care experienceincludes a wide variety of roles on the medical/surgical care floor, IntensiveCare Unit, emergency department, and trauma resuscitation department atUniversity Medical Center, Las Vegas.Dr. Siemers currently serves as Campus Executive Directorfor a large Nursing University in California and is responsible for providingstrategic direction to successfully achieve academic and operationalgoals—building upon past successes and driving excellence in nursing education.She has served as Chief Flight Nurse and Regional Program Director for MercyAir Services in Las Vegas. Dr. Siemers is passionate about education inhealthcare; she served as an education consultant and Account Executive for a largemedical device company for several years and was instrumental in impactingpositive changes in patient monitoring practices. Dr. Siemers has been a memberof State Boards of Nursing Education Councils to contribute her expertise toenhancing safe nursing practice.Dr. Siemers' has been a great influence in nursing educationfor the past fourteen years serving in various capacities of Professor ofNursing for Adult Health and Critical Care courses, Program Director of theBachelor of Science in Nursing at Touro University, Dean of Academic Affairs,Campus President in Arlington Virginia and Jacksonville Florida for ChamberlainUniversity. Dr. Siemers has been a member of State Boards of Nursing EducationCouncils to contribute her expertise to enhancing safe nursing practice.Current and future nurses need to be vigilant in their practice and care ofpatients to improve patient outcomes and save lives.Dr. Siemers focus and vision for creating radical changes inhealthcare to protect patients from unintended harm and preventable medicalerrors is to inform and educate each and every patient and their familymembers. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. We are all in this together.**Linkshttps://www.drjuliesiemers.comwww.tiktok.com/@drjuliesiemers**WE ARE ALSO ON AUDIOAUDIO “Conversations with Calvin; WE the SpecIEs”ANCHOR https://lnkd.in/g4jcUPqSPOTIFY https://lnkd.in/ghuMFeCAPPLE PODCASTSBREAKER https://lnkd.in/g62StzJGOOGLE PODCASTS https://lnkd.in/gpd3XfMPOCKET CASTS https://pca.st/bmjmzaitRADIO PUBLIC https://lnkd.in/gxueFZw

National Council of State Boards of Nursing research director Brandan Martin joins Lisa Dent to discuss the the results of NCSBN’s latest research. A national survey of 800,000 nurses outlines how the profession is faring since the COVID-19 pandemic and what challenges remain. Martin goes into detail on the issues plaguing the profession and the possible […]

There's a major nursing shortage across the US, and stress and burnout make it even harder. We talk with Brendan Martin with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing about what needs to be done to help our healthcare heroes

Over five months after voters cast their ballots to elect a North Carolina Supreme Court Justice, the election remains uncertified.  The losing candidate has taken to the courts in an attempt to change the rules of the contest long after Election Day and, so far, two state courts have been willing to do so.  Lindsay Langholz joins Christopher Wright Durocher to discuss the legal case at the heart of this election contest, the courts who have and will be hearing the case, and what it could mean for the rest of the country.Join the Progressive Legal Movement Today: ACSLaw.orgHost: Christopher Wright Durocher, Vice President of Policy and Program Guest: Lindsay Langholz, Senior Director of Policy and Program, ACSLink: Griffin v. State Board of Elections Case Tracker, State Court ReportLink: Justice Earls' Opinion, Griffin v. State Board of ElectionsLink: North Carolina's ongoing descent into authoritarianism, by Melissa Price KrommVisit the Podcast Website: Broken Law PodcastEmail the Show: Podcast@ACSLaw.orgFollow ACS on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube-----------------Broken Law: About the law, who it serves, and who it doesn't.----------------- Production House: Flint Stone Media Copyright of American Constitution Society 2025.

Melissa Cropper, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers and Secretary-Treasurer of the Ohio AFL-CIO, joined America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the dismantling of the fair school funding formula, cuts to library funding and a push to eliminate elected positions on the State Board of Education. Alyssa Goodstein, Communications Director for the Illinois AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss her background in labor history, the impact of storytelling in union organizing and an upcoming digital media workshop aimed at empowering labor communicators.

North Carolina is getting ​closer to a resolution in the N.C. Supreme Court case between Allison Riggs and Jefferson Griffin. Host Dawn Vaughan and politics reporters Kyle Ingram and Avi Bajpai talk extensively about the latest in the race between Riggs, who is the Democratic incumbent on the court, and Griffin, the Republican candidate and a Court of Appeals judge. Plus, another court case about the composition of the State Board of Elections and what to expect at the General Assembly this week. Stay tuned to the end for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Avi Bajpai, Kyle Ingram Executive Producer: Laura Brache Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It's sent to your inbox Monday to Friday and Sunday. Sign up here. Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you're already a subscriber, thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

https://dstribute.io/ofccp-compliance-job-posting Tired of dealing with complicated and time-consuming OFCCP job posting tasks? Dstribute.io takes the stress out of compliance by automating the whole process—so you can focus on finding the right candidates instead of worrying about posting rules. Here's how it works. dstribute.io Job Distribution Software City: San Marcos Address: 251 N City Dr Website: https://dstribute.io Phone: +1 760 664 5003 Email: hello@dstribte.io

Resources for further information: National Council of State Boards of Nursing: https://www.ncsbn.org Find your state’s board of nursing here: https://www.ncsbn.org/membership/us-members/contact-bon.page Nurses Service Organization: https://www.nso.com/risk-management/individuals

Ohio educators want professional development opportunities that give them the tools to be the best educators possible for their students. But, too often, school districts prescribe PD that doesn't feel like a valuable use of anyone's time. Ohio's Educator Standards Board set out to change that by making the state's Professional Learning Standards more user-friendly and more useful. Educator Standards Board member Eugene Mach walks us through the process and the changes that are in the pipeline for educators around the state.SEE THE CURRENT STANDARDS | If you'd like to look at the previously adopted Standards for Professional Development to see how they compare to the new Professional Learning Standards as proposed, click here to read the full document. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE NEW STANDARDS | The Educator Standards Board voted to move their newly developed Professional Learning Standards forward to the State Board of Education for consideration in March. The Professional Learning Standards document is not on the agenda for the State Board of Education's April meeting. Check the State Board of Education's webpage to keep tabs on when the document moves forward and to see the latest version of the document under consideration. Please note, the Educator Standards Board voted on March 7, 2025, to move forward this version of the Professional Learning Standards without the words 'equity' or 'inclusion,' despite the objections of several ESB members, including Eugene Mach, who is featured in this episode. This episode was recorded before that vote took place, so discussions about those changes are not included in the conversation you hear here.  SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to listen on Spotify so you don't miss a thing. You can also find Public Education Matters on many other platforms, including YouTube. Click here for links for other platforms so you can listen anywhere. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.Featured Public Education Matters guest: Eugene Mach II, Warren Education Association President, Ohio Educator Standards Board memberEugene is a high school business teacher at Warren G. Harding High School. He serves on the Ohio Educator Standards Board, NEA Resolution Committee (Citizenship and Right subcommittee Co-Chair), OEA/NEOEA Resolutions Committee, NEOEA Summer Leadership Committee, and is the President of the Warren Education Association. He has served on various other committees during his time as an active OEA member, is a former Warren City Council member and a former candidate for state representative. He holds a bachelors degree in Integrated Business Education, a Masters in Education Administration, and is currently working to complete a Masters in Business Administration with a focus in Human Resources Management. Connect with OEA:Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topicsLike OEA on FacebookFollow OEA on TwitterFollow OEA on InstagramGet the latest news and statements from OEA hereLearn more about where OEA stands on the issues Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative WatchAbout us:The Ohio Education Association represents nearly 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio's schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio's children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio's schools.Public Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May 2020, after a ten-year career as an Emmy Award winning television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children. This episode was recorded on March 6, 2025. 

A look at the biggest issues facing education from teacher pay to executive orders, funding, immigration and more

The Nebraska Department of Education is losing about $9 million left over from federal COVID-19 relief funds, Commissioner Brian Maher told the State Board of Education at its meeting Friday.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and Civic Leader Andy Moore about the State Board of Education meeting canceled over concerns of violating the Open Meetings Act, Democrats at the State Capitol filing resolutions to reject social studies standards from the SBE and Superintendent Ryan Walters suing a national watchdog group over religion in public schools.The trio also talks about Governor Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond trading jabs over religion in public schools and Stitt coming under fire for critical remarks against the former state forestry chief over recent wildfires.

Hosts: Leah Murray and Adam Gardiner  White House: Maryland man wrongly deported due to “administrative error”  An El Salvadorian man who’s been living in Maryland legally was deported to a prison in El Salvador due to claims he was part of a foreign gang. Now, the Trump Administration admits the deportation was due to an error, but that there’s not much they can do to get him back to the United States. It’s something immigration activists were worried about due to the lack of a thorough due process. Hosts Adam Gardiner and Leah Murray share updates on this story and give their thoughts on these hasty deportations.    What can we expect to see in tomorrow’s ‘Liberation Day’  Tomorrow, President Trump is set to announce a massive new round of reciprocal tariffs. There's still not a ton of detail on what the tariffs will be and who they will affect; several different kinds of drafts are circulating right now, but nothing will be official until tomorrow. The Inside Sources hosts hear from the White House Press Secretary and discuss their concerns with the so-called ‘Liberation Day.’    Drama over proxy voting among House Republicans  A battle is shaping up in the House of Representatives over a proposal allowing proxy voting for new parents. Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida has been pushing for the ability to vote by proxy; she just had a baby. Now, Rep. Luna has resigned from the conservative House Freedom Caucus and is teaming up with Democrats to push back on House leadership. The Inside Sources hosts talk about the challenges of being a parent and a member of Congress.    Sen. Cory Booker speaks on Senate floor for more than 21 hours  Democrats are voicing their concerns with President Trump's agenda... literally. Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey is still speaking on the Senate floor, roughly 21 hours after he began. He says he’s speaking to show frustrated supporters that Democrats are actually doing things to fight against President Trump. Is this the way to do it?     State Board of Education member pushes resolution to ban DEI in Utah schools  A new resolution proposal in front of the Utah State Board of Education would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Utah's schools. You might be thinking, "wait, didn't the state already ban those things?" And you'd be correct -- it happened during the 2024 legislative session. But state school board member Christina Boggess says it's not happening -- Utah's schools have found other ways to keep DEI going, and she wants it to stop. We hear her argument from earlier today and fellow Utah School Board member Sarah Reale joins us to share her point of view on the resolution and the language used in the resolution comparing DEI to communism.    Senate Republicans working on reconciliation  President Trump's agenda is a pricey one -- there's plenty he wants to do but only a limited budget to do it. So now, Republicans are looking for places to make cuts. And Senate Republicans are working on their proposal this week. Adam and Leah dig into the latest budget reconciliation plan.    Are Utah’s pro-growth policies influencing Democratic messaging?  The Democratic Party has been searching for a new message following their devastating losses in the November election. Now, could they be looking to Utah for guidance? Specifically, Utah's pro-growth messaging? Leah Murray and Adam Gardiner finish the show discussing how Utah could play into national Democratic messaging.   

Hosts: Leah Murray and Adam Gardiner  A new resolution proposal in front of the Utah State Board of Education would eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Utah's schools. You might be thinking, "wait, didn't the state already ban those things?" And you'd be correct -- it happened during the 2024 legislative session. But state school board member Christina Boggess says it's not happening -- Utah's schools have found other ways to keep DEI going, and she wants it to stop. We hear her argument from earlier today and fellow Utah School Board member Sarah Reale joins us to share her point of view on the resolution and the language used in the resolution comparing DEI to communism. 

Legislation makes changes to State Board of Education agenda policies.Tribal leaders raise sovereignty concerns under President Trump.What to expect if you are traveling for Spring Break.You can find the KOSU Daily wherever you get your podcasts, you can also subscribe, rate us and leave a comment.You can keep up to date on all the latest news throughout the day at KOSU.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Blue Sky and Instagram at KOSU Radio.This is The KOSU Daily, Oklahoma news, every weekday.

The Nebraska Department of Education provided an update at Friday's State Board of Education meeting that national conversations have not yet impacted the state education department. NDE Commissioner Brian Maher also spoke about the state of mental health training funds that failed to be approved last month.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former House Democratic Leader Emily Virgin about Attorney General Gentner Drummond criticizing State Superintendent Ryan Walters over an opinion request, the State Board of Education voting in favor of new controversial social studies standards and a scathing audit against Tulsa Public Schools.The trio also discusses a ruling in a challenge to Governor Stitt's return-to-work order for state employees and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation touring the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City.

Get to know the AZ State Board of Pharmacy.  Join President Lorri Walmsley, RPh, FAzPA and Executive Director Kam Gandhi, PharmD as they share more about the role of the Board and key topics that are important to us all. 

Meet Zach Grimm, OEA's new VP and a Spanish teacher from Moore! We get to know him and dive into the shifting tone at the State Board of Ed with Ivy Riggs at 14:05. What's changing, what's not, and what it all means for public schools. Don't miss this one.

Updated state school social studies standards, with significant increase in references to religion, are approved by State Board of Education and sent to the legislature.

In this hour, KMOX Anchor and Reporter Scott Jagow joins the show to share a great Toronto hockey story. Missouri House passes bill to shift St. Louis police control back to state board. Cardinals Broadcaster Mike Claiborne joins the show to talk about the 4 Nations Cup, Binnington success, Cardinals start games tomorrow and Yankess allowing beards now. Finally The Egg Beat.

We report from the International Bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas as migrants who entered the US illegally are handed over to Mexican Immigration. Plus, an exclusive look at the declining deportation numbers and what's causing the decline. And Oklahoma's governor fires State Board of Education members over political immigration tensions, while new immigration laws take shape beyond Texas. Yami Virgin and Photojournalist Paul Sanchez are joined this week by Jordan Elder, who covers the border in Texas and Brenna Rose with our Sinclair station in Tulsa, Oklahoma for a new episode of "Immigration Crisis: The Fight for the Southern Border."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A North Texas Republican wants to abolish the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education. Freshman state Rep. Andy Hopper, R-Decatur, filed House Bill 2657, a proposal to transfer the powers and duties of the Texas Education Agency and the education commissioner to the State Board of Education, TEA's policy-making body. In other news, the Texas Senate gave unanimous approval Thursday to proposals to cut property taxes by raising the Texas homestead exemption to $140,000, sending the measures to the House; a Texas judge on Thursday ordered a New York doctor to pay more than $100,000 in penalties for prescribing abortion pills to a woman near Dallas, a ruling that could test “shield laws” in Democratic-controlled states where abortion is legal; and how did a North Texas bookstore get so popular, so quickly? Dallas-Fort Worth's newest romance bookstore, The Plot Twist, is off to a steamy start. And just in time for Valentine's Day. When the Denton shop opened in January, nearly 800 romance readers huddled in the chilly Texas weather on grand opening weekend, waiting to meet a few of their favorite authors. The Plot Twist owners, the mother-daughter duo Dawn Conner and Darci Middleton, opened The Plot Twist because they shared a love for romance novels and was created for those who read new romance novels, from contemporary to fantasy to young adult to dark and salacious. It's a big time for “romantasy” and BookTok. Fiction and nonfiction saw a slight decline in sales between 2023 and 2024, but science fiction and fantasy were up. They took a leap of faith to open up their shop and it seems to be working: Books are flying off the shelves so fast, the mother-daughter duo is restocking shelves during business hours to keep up. If you'd like to check them out, The Plot Twist Romance Bookstore & Bar is at 227 W. Oak St., in Denton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Big changes at the State Board of Education, state leaders at odds, and plenty of drama unfolding in #oklaed. This week on Fried Okra, we're breaking it all down—what's happening, why it matters, and what it means for our schools. Don't miss this one.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former Democratic State House Speaker Steve Lewis about Governor Stitt firing three members of the State Board of Education and nominating three replacements and an audit of the Tulsa Public School District.The trio also discusses legislative leaders pulling back on Governor Stitt's tax cut plan and Operation Guardian to identify, arrest and deport illegal immigrants gets underway.

Today on MetroNews This Morning: --Governor Morrisey talks revenues and technology during his State of the State Address--Pocahontas County Schools go under the control of the State Board of Education--The SSAC Board of Control will have to revamp it's ideas for determining school classifications--In Sports: Marshall is on the road tonight at South Alabama

The State Board of Dental Examiners says its seen an increase in unlicensed people posing as dental professionals over the last year and a half. Many patients are drawn in by low prices in social media advertisements. WRAL's Sarah Krueger explains how you can protect yourself.

Changes are coming to the State Board of Education.We have results of elections across Oklahoma.Landowners are keeping their forests to offset carbon emissions.You can find the KOSU Daily wherever you get your podcasts, you can also subscribe, rate us and leave a comment.You can keep up to date on all the latest news throughout the day at KOSU.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Blue Sky and Instagram at KOSU Radio.This is The KOSU Daily, Oklahoma news, every weekday.

The legislative session is in full swing, and staying informed is more important than ever! Tune in to this week's IASP Legislative Update Podcast for the latest insights on key education policies shaping our schools. In this episode:

A grant program for teacher mental health training is at a standstill after falling short at the State Board of Education on Friday.

The holidays are behind us; you know what that means—it's tax season! But before you start gathering your W-2s and receipts, there's an important question: Do you know who will prepare your taxes this year?With a nationwide shortage of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and tax professionals, waiting too long to find a preparer could leave you scrambling—and vulnerable to scams. Here's how to protect yourself and find a trusted tax preparer.Who Can Prepare Your Taxes?When hiring a tax professional, your preparer will likely fall into one of three categories:Certified Public Accountant (CPA): These professionals undergo rigorous education, exams, and licensing requirements. Many specialize in tax preparation and can also provide broader financial guidance. Enrolled Agent (EA): Licensed by the IRS, EAs are tax experts who can prepare and file returns, represent clients before the IRS, and provide tax planning services. Tax Attorney: These legal professionals specialize in tax law and are particularly useful for complex tax situations, audits, or disputes.Each of these professionals is highly qualified—but the problem is there aren't enough of them.There is a growing shortage of CPAs and tax professionals, mainly because fewer young people are entering the field. Some firms are even hiring high school interns at $22 an hour to recruit future CPAs.What does this mean for you?Longer wait times to book a tax preparerHigher fees due to increased demandGreater risk of falling into the hands of fraudulent preparersWhen people are desperate to file their returns, they can become easy targets for scammers who fake credentials or engage in tax fraud.How to Avoid Tax Scams and Find a Qualified PreparerTo protect yourself, follow these IRS-recommended steps when choosing a tax preparer:1. Choose a Year-Round Tax PreparerA reputable preparer should be available beyond tax season. You don't want your tax preparer to disappear if you get audited.2. Verify Their IRS CredentialsAsk for the IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). All paid tax return preparers must register with the IRS and enter their PTIN on every return they file.Check their status using the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers at IRS.gov.3. Look for Professional CredentialsAsk if the preparer holds a credential such as:CPA (Check with the State Board of Accountancy)Enrolled Agent (Verify at IRS.gov under "Verify Enrolled Agent Status")Tax Attorney (Confirm with their State Bar Association)Additionally, inquire about continuing education—since tax laws change frequently, professionals should stay current.4. Be Cautious About FeesBeware of tax preparers who:Charge fees based on a percentage of your refundClaim they can get you a larger refund than competitorsA legitimate preparer should charge a flat or hourly rate based on the complexity of your return.5. Verify IRS E-File CapabilityMost tax preparers handling more than 10 clients must file electronically. If your preparer refuses to e-file, that's a red flag.6. Ensure Proper DocumentationA trustworthy tax preparer will ask for the following:Your W-2 and 1099 forms (not just a pay stub)Records of deductions and creditsIf a preparer doesn't ask for supporting documents, walk away. The IRS requires proper documentation to verify your return.7. Understand Representation RulesOnly CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and tax attorneys can represent you before the IRS if you're audited.Non-credentialed tax preparers—including your math-savvy cousin Bill—cannot represent you in an audit.8. Never Sign a Blank or Incomplete Tax ReturnPlease review your return carefully before signing. Ensure all information is accurate, and ask questions if anything appears incorrect.9. Your Refund Should Go to You—Not the PreparerCheck the routing and account number on your tax return to ensure your refund is deposited into your own account, not your preparer's.Looking for a Faith-Based Financial Professional?If you want to work with a tax professional who aligns with biblical financial principles, consider finding a CPA, Enrolled Agent, or tax attorney with the Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA®) designation.To find a trusted, faith-based financial professional, visit FaithFi.com and click “Find a Professional.”With tax season here, choosing a reputable, qualified tax preparer is more important than ever. Don't wait until the last minute—start your search today to avoid scams and ensure your taxes are filed accurately and ethically.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:As I turn 70 and a half, is it advantageous for me to start doing my charitable giving from my IRA? Or should I wait until 73, when I have to do the required minimal distribution (RMD)?I have $10,000 in a savings account with my local bank, but I only earn about 10 cents in monthly interest. Since I've never invested before, I'm interested in investing that money elsewhere to create some extra available money. What would you suggest?I ran a landscaping company into the ground, but I've now rededicated my life to Christ and started a new handyman business. I need help managing the money in my company and being a better steward of the resources God has entrusted me with. I'm looking for guidance on the best direction to take.Considering Trump is now in his second term, would it be a good time for me to sell my house and buy another home? Should I wait? I'm thinking about the potential impact on prices and interest rates.Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly PublicationBankrateChristian Community Credit Union (CCCU)Business By The Book: Complete Guide of Biblical Principles for the Workplace by Larry BurkettLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Brian Maher outlined the state's plan to improve K-12 literacy in schools. The State Board of Education will vote on the plan at its meeting Friday.

Michigan State University Assistant Professor of Music Education and elected member of the State Board of Education provides insight on what teachers, students, and communities are facing at the state and federal level.

If you're passionate about public education in Oklahoma, the Fried Okra podcast is a must-listen. This week we're breaking down the latest from OSDE, including new rules, the State Board of Ed meeting, and the freeze in federal funding. Plus, we're looking ahead to the start of the legislative session next week.

DC Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker and Ward 5 State Board of Education Representative Robert Henderson connect over the tragic plan crash at DCA that occurred Wednesday, January 29, 2025. They also discuss recent National Assessment for Educational Progress scores for DC students showing significant growth. Representative Henderson welcomes thoughts and feedback at robert.henderson@dc.gov. Communications Director Melissa Littlepage gives an overview of highlights in this week's edition of the Ward 5 Weekly Newsletter. Read at ward5.us/news and subscribe at ward5.us/newsletter.

This Week in Oklahoma Politics, KOSU's Michael Cross talks with Republican Political Consultant Neva Hill and former Democratic House Speaker Steve Lewis sitting in for Ryan Kiesel about President Trump's executive order to freeze federal funding grants, the State Board of Education advancing a new rule requiring parents to give citizenship status upon enrollment of their children and State Superintendent Ryan Walters announcing Oklahoma history standards had changed to include the Gulf of America and Mount McKinley.The trio also discusses the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to take up a Catholic charter school in OKC and the State Supreme Court making a ruling over tribal compacts.

On this episode of Raise the Line, we're going to learn about the organization behind one of the most important exams in healthcare: the NCLEX, which is the licensing exam for nurses in the US. The influence of the test, which is overseen by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), is hard to overstate because of its role in driving what nursing students and educators focus on. That was made evident when the heavily revamped Next Generation NCLEX, launched in 2023, placed much greater emphasis on clinical judgment than had been the case on past exams. “I think the education transformation prompted by the new exam is still going on. The launch was more of a catalyst than I expected,” says Dr. Philip Dickison, CEO of NCSBN, who was director of Health Professions Testing at Elsevier before joining the Council in 2010. Through administering licensing exams and serving as the collective voice of nursing regulators across the country, Dickison says NCSBN strives to achieve its ultimate goal, which is building public confidence in the competence of nurses.  “I see our job at the Council as making sure there is a moment of trust between a patient and their nurse.” Join host Liz Lucas, Senior Content Manager for Nursing at Osmosis from Elsevier, as she explores the important work that goes on behind the scenes in the healthcare industry to help ensure public health and safety, and uncovers what Dickison learned as a military medic that still influences his work today.Mentioned in this episode:National Council of State Boards of Nursing 

In this week's podcast, Cindy Long and Dr. Todd Bess provide an overview of the recent State Board of Education meeting, as well as the education committee meetings in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The discussion includes an overview of school accountability presented by the State Board of Education, along with legislative updates on key topics such as absenteeism, school counseling, teacher compensation, and more.

For the first time in years, Charlotte may get snow. We detail the forecast. In the election that will not end, the NC Supreme Court has ruled the State Board of Elections should not yet certify a victory for a Democrat. Gov. Josh Stein continues to issue executive orders related to Helene relief. Plus, baby steps in improvement for Charlotte sports.

Despite a $100 million done deal, questions linger for some, like environmentalists Susan Marsh and Jared Baecker, about how the Kelly Parcel will be managed. Park superintendent Chip Jenkins says the process of deciding exactly that begins now. And a future of the money from the sale may further oil and gas development according to Governor Mark Gordon and the State Board of Land Commissioners. The process makes some in Jackson Hole itchy.    Jackson Hole Fire/EMS is trying to move on from stress with new leadership like assistant Fire Chief Brian Coe. This, even as a former boss, Stephen Jellie, has filed a lawsuit against some firefighter's spouses, like Coe's. Firefighter Natty Hagood is raising money for their defense though his own personal capacity.   And for all those who look up to their parents, renowned DJ Matthew Dear dishes inspiration in an interview with KHOL's Jack Catlin.    Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson's only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

MORGAN SMITH: Welcome to the Intersect Ed Podcast, where the stories of public education policy and practice meet. I'm your host, Morgan Smith, and I am back with you just in time for the 89th Legislative Session. And heading in, it's fair to say lawmakers have a lot of unfinished business when it comes to education policy.Let's do a brief review of how we got here. If one word defined the Legislature's approach to education policy in 2023, it was gridlock. Bill after bill — including crucial proposals for school funding and teacher pay raises — fell victim to lawmakers' battle over vouchers. This only intensified the pressure on Texas public schools, leaving them to deal with teacher shortages, budget shortfalls, and rising inflation as they continued to serve the state's 5.5 million public school students. Today, we'll discuss how our state's leaders can start this session ready to act on essential education policy items and focus on one area you're likely to hear a lot about as the session gets underway — how teacher workforce issues, including a shortage of certified teachers, are affecting Texas students. BOB POPINKSI: It's not like Texas doesn't know what to do when it comes to our teacher workforce issues. Prior to the last legislative session, they came out with a couple of dozen recommendations under the Teacher Vacancy Taskforce Report.  These recommendations included enhancing teachers' total compensation packages to incentives for hard-to-staff areas.MORGAN SMITH: This is Bob Popinski, the Senior Director of Policy for Raise Your Hand Texas.BOB POPINKSI: But the problem is only one of those recommendations was actually implemented last legislative session. The State Board of Education has been going through the rulemaking processes over the last year, and that's the high-quality instructional materials. The other 23 recommendations were left untouched. Part of that has to do with a lot of those policies were in the legislative package that failed during our regular session and four subsequent special sessions.MORGAN SMITH: There are multiple ways to become a public school teacher in Texas, but traditionally, all of them have required someone who wants to teach to become certified. The goal of preparing teachers through high-quality programs with a clinical teaching component is to combine learning about the practice of good pedagogy and classroom management with practical hands-on experience, says Jacob Kirskey, an assistant professor at Texas Tech's College of Education whose areas of research include the education labor market and teacher pipeline. JACOB KIRKSEY: That means they're watching an experienced veteran teacher model classroom management. So what happens when a student is disengaged in a moment, and you don't want to detract from other students' learning, but you also want to make sure that that student becomes engaged if they're not already.What do you do when you have varying sets of abilities in the classroom based on prior learning or what students are just simply coming in based on demographic differences in the household? How do you as a teacher manage those differences and make sure that, again, kids are staying on track who are already there, but also that kids are a little behind those kids catch up to where they need to be. These are all things that you can read about, but they're not always things that it is easy to translate what you're reading into practice. And so a high-quality teacher preparation experience is one, again, that brings that tangible experience to what candidates are learning in the process of becoming a teacher.MORGAN SMITH: But as Texas school districts struggle to fill vacancies amid budget cuts and teacher shortages with a very limited pool of candidates, educators are increasingly entering classrooms via another route — with no certification at all. In the 2022-23 school year, uncertified teachers accounted for 1 in 3 of newly hired public school educators in the state, with 43% of them being at the elementary and early education level. They also made up over 80% of new hires in 40 Texas counties. And, according to Jacob Kirksey's research, almost three out of four uncertified teachers have had no prior experience working in Texas public schools, and nearly one in five do not hold a bachelor's degree. JACOB KIRKSEY: So an uncertified teacher is one that has no record of being in a teacher preparation program. They have no record of completing any coursework. There's literally no record of them in the state Board of Educator Certification, which is our state body that issues the teaching certifications.MORGAN SMITH: The consequences of relying on uncertified teachers show up in student outcomes. Studies show that students with new uncertified teachers lose about four months of learning in reading and three months in math unless the teacher has previous experience working in a public school. They are also significantly underdiagnosed for dyslexia and miss more days of school. None of this is surprising, as we know teachers are the single most important in-school factor when it comes to student success. LORI POWELL: The day-in and day-out struggle is that the pedagogy that's missing that teaches them how children acquire knowledge. And I think every teacher who comes in the building loves kids and wants to work with kids and wants to help kids, but I see how some of these new teachers who are hired straight out of college who have gone through a traditional path hit the ground running as teachers. There's so much that they know about classroom management and how to be prepared, how the kids need to learn something, and a teacher who hasn't gone through that process, there's just so much of that that you don't know. And you don't know that you don't know it.MORGAN SMITH: This is Lori Powell, a public school teacher of 17 years who is currently a gifted and talented specialist at Northside Independent School District's Carnahan Elementary School in San Antonio. LORI POWELL: A certified teacher has such a bigger box of tools to use, to help the students and to understand the process of the learning. And that just takes time, and exposure and truly understanding. You can't really put a lesson plan in a teacher's hand and say, "Read this word for word and the kids are going to learn." It takes an understanding. So, the process of certification and experience is how you get that understanding… That time with students in the classroom and watching the flow with a teacher who's a master teacher, it's not something to miss. And I understand we're in times that many of these pieces are unavoidable, but you can't replace it, the learning that happens from that teacher who has refined the art. It's an art and it's a science. And it just takes some time to get there.MORGAN SMITH: Lori Powell says that having an uncertified teacher in the classroom also places an increased burden on certified staff to help fill in the gaps in student learning and to provide the skills and knowledge uncertified teachers are missing. LORI POWELL: Nobody's willing to let go of a student and just say, "Oh, they're with a long-term sub, that child doesn't matter. I can't help that child." We really look at the groups of students as all ours, that they're all our students. Every weak link, any group is only as strong as its weakest link, and so where you have a weak link... And I wouldn't say that all of our uncertified teachers are weak links, but when there's a weakness in the background, then there is going to be a weakness there, even if that is a strong advocate for the kid in the person.MORGAN SMITH: Uncertified teachers are also more likely to leave the profession sooner than certified teachers. A study that looked at teacher retention rates in rural Texas communities found that only 45% of uncertified new teachers stay in teaching beyond three years, while almost 80% of fully qualified new teachers continued in the profession. So, given all we know about the challenges that uncertified teachers face — and the benefits of having a well-prepared teacher in the classroom with our students —why are school districts turning to them in the first place? MYRNA BLANCHARD: When you have such a high teacher vacancy - we don't have a lot of people going through traditional certification programs - then that vacancy is going to create some pressure points on districts. It creates pressure points on principals, on the district administration, on teachers. MORGAN SMITH: This is Myrna Blanchard, who is the Director of Talent and Acquisition at Castleberry Independent School District, where she has worked for four years overseeing the human resources department. She is describing the bind school districts across the state find themselves in as they struggle to find qualified teachers.MYRNA BLANCHARD: And the biggest thing we don't want to do is allow those pressure points to bleed into being pressure to our other teachers. So if we just don't hire certified teachers and we increase the class sizes of our teachers, well, now our current teachers that are certified are going to start feeling that pressure point. And then now we have a bigger problem.MORGAN SMITH: At a legislative hearing over the summer, some lawmakers on the House Public Education Committee suggested that schools may be turning to uncertified teachers because they are cheaper. That, Myrna Blanchard says, is simply not true.MYRNA BLANCHARD: We still hire them at the same rate of pay as first-year teachers. And the reason why we do that is because competitively, for some of those positions, they could go make those same people who are coming to teach with us could make $20,000, $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 or more in the industry, and not in teaching.We don't have the option of paying them less. It's not cheaper for us. If we hire uncertified teachers, let's think of this, we've got to train them. We do usually put them with a mentor, which costs money. We also need to support them sometimes with getting their certifications or supporting them somehow in that. And so the myth of they're cheaper really doesn't pan out because those soft costs that we apply to the time, for instance, I'll give you an example of the time that I spent as an HR director talking to their CERT program, following up with our uncertified teachers to say, "Hey, how are you doing? Okay, if you didn't pass this test, what's your next state that you're going to take? Oh, you're confused about that. Let me guide you." That is not cheaper. I'm not saving money by doing that. I'm actually putting time and money as a resource into those uncertified teachers.MORGAN SMITH: The reality is that school districts are hiring uncertified teachers because they don't have any other options. The students are there, and school districts need someone in the class to teach them. JOLISA HOOVER: We are asking schools to do things beyond their mission. We're asking them to not only teach students but to teach teachers, and we aren't going to recruit our way out of this problem. We have to start doing strategies that are going to retain the teachers we have. We need strategies that are going to incentivize teachers who have left to come back, and then we also need to make this a profession that is attractive to the current generation of college students. MORGAN SMITH: This is JoLisa Hoover, Raise Your Hand's Teacher Specialist. JOLISA HOOVER: Our schools are having to support these teachers, and they're very grateful to have someone who is willing to step up, but that gratefulness does not mean those people are prepared. You're looking at uncertified teachers and support staff having to add to their workload to make sure these people have the tools that they need to do their job.MORGAN SMITH: And until the state addresses the underlying challenges that are forcing districts to turn to uncertified teachers, they will continue to be a growing presence in Texas classrooms, which only hurts the ability of Texas students to get a quality education. JACOB KIRKSEY: So whether you are a parent, a grandparent, an education researcher, a policymaker, I think what we can all agree on is that we want a high-quality teacher in the classroom who is going to positively contribute to the learning of our kids. And so if we think about what we want that teacher to look like, what we want their experiences to be, we want that teacher to feel prepared. We want them to feel like they know what they're doing. They know how to address challenges that they're going to face. We want them to be able to feel like they are making a difference.And in order to do that, we have to think about the preparation that these teachers have received, the experiences that these teachers have that they can leverage to do a lot of good in the classroom. And we have to think about ways that we can keep them to stay. It all comes down to who do we want to be at the face of the classroom that our kids are interacting with on a daily basis? And that comes down to a teacher who feels prepared has done this before, and wants to stay.MORGAN SMITH: But here's the good news: as lawmakers gather for the new legislative session, they already have the building blocks they need to improve teacher preparation and retention in Texas public schools. The Future Texas Teacher Scholarship Program already exists but remains unfunded. As we mentioned earlier, the governor-appointed Texas Teacher Vacancy Taskforce has already made over two dozen recommendations aimed at attracting and retaining teachers, ranging from compensation, teacher mentoring, and expanded access to training. Here is JoLisa Hoover again.JOLISA HOOVER: I think in the end, we may be talking about the issue of uncertified teachers and teacher shortages, but we can't lose sight of the fact that we're actually talking about our Texas students. This isn't an issue about the adults in the equation. We're talking about children and teens in Texas. If we want to improve student outcomes, Texas must invest in teacher workforce solutions to ensure that all students receive a quality education.OUTROIf you would like to review detailed policy recommendations from Raise Your Hand Texas, please visit the Policy Priorities section of Raise Your Hand Texas' website.To stay informed on critical education issues, you can sign up online for Raise Your Hand's Across the Lawn weekly newsletter and text alerts at www.RaiseYourHandTexas.org/Get-Involved. Today's episode was written by me, Morgan Smith. Our sound engineer is Brian Digg, and our executive producer is Anne Lasseigne Tiedt.