The Durant Daily Democrat

Initiative Petition 420 is part of national plan

The Oklahoma Supreme Court heard arguments this week on a case that is getting little attention but could have huge implications on the local, state and national levels. The case concerns … more

1/24/20 04:39 PM

OEA membership slide continues

The Oklahoma Education Association (OEA), an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), has long claimed to speak for state teachers. But it now represents considerably fewer than half of … more

By Mike Brake
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs | 1/24/20 04:21 PM

Youthful suffragist, elderly saint waiting: Dorothy Day

Throughout the 72 years of the United States women’s suffrage movement prior to the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment were full of forceful women whose names we know — Susan B Anthony, … more

By Joe Littlejohn | 1/24/20 03:00 PM

Voter registration by party

(Oklahoma City) – Official Oklahoma voter registration statistics released yesterday show 2,090,107 Oklahomans are registered to vote heading into the 2020 election cycle. Oklahoma’s … more

Oklahoma State Election Board | 1/18/20 03:00 PM

Standing for what we believe

The hateful, demeaning verbal exchanges that many of us engage in nowadays are a topic I’ve brought up several times in recent columns. I’ve also bemoaned the virtual disappearance of … more

By Joe Littlejohn | 1/18/20 01:00 PM

Growth is good, but it must be managed

Figures from the Oklahoma Tax Commission confirm what everyone already knows: The Durant and Bryan County economies are growing even as the surrounding economies slow. Sales tax revenues are up, … more

1/18/20 07:00 AM

Policy Matters: Fixing the broken criminal justice system

This should not be a news flash to anyone who follows Oklahoma’s state of affairs, but our state’s criminal justice system is broken. Oklahoma’s punishment-first approach to … more

By Ahniwake Rose
OkPolicy.org | 1/17/20 02:00 PM

Fiscal restraint will be tested in 2020

The Oklahoma State Board of Equalization has released the first revenue estimate for fiscal year (FY) 2021. The Board certified $8.3 billion for next year, only a 2.5 percent increase from the … more

By Curtis Shelton
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs | 1/11/20 03:58 PM

You can’t make people care

A recent social media post raised the question of how to get people between the ages of 30 to 40 involved in politics. The answer is both simple and frustrating because it’s almost impossible. … more

1/11/20 03:15 PM

A public vote on the minimum wage?

If Oklahomans want a higher minimum wage, they will have to place the issue before voters, not the Legislature. In Arkansas and Missouri, two neighboring red states where state lawmakers fought … more

The Journal Record | 1/11/20 08:33 AM

Trying something new with those New Year’s Resolutions

It’s not too late to make those New Year’s resolutions! If I said that in certain places, I’d be laughed around the block — or called “stupid” all the way down … more

By Joe Littlejohn | 1/3/20 05:45 PM

Where is the focus on sentencing reform?

The Criminal Justice Reclassification Council has approved its report that will make 10 recommendations to the governor and legislative leaders for the legislative session. The Council was created in … more

By Steve Lewis
OkPolicy.org | 1/3/20 05:32 PM

Legislature should require openess for everyone

A Shawnee state senator has filed bills to improve government transparency in Oklahoma. But, in typical “do-as-we-say-not-as-we-do” state legislature fashion, the proposed bills would put … more

1/3/20 05:27 PM

Who truly governs Oklahoma’s public schools?

Recently, voices have called for the governor to be able to appoint the state superintendent of schools. When it comes to improving governance of public schools, Oklahoma should think bigger. The … more

By Greg Forster
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs | 1/3/20 05:23 PM

Dear Editor

A chamber’s greatest asset are its people! We are so blessed to work with people who see the advantage of strong partnerships and works together as we secure a stronger future for our city, … more

12/28/19 03:43 PM

Can medical and recreational cannabis coexist?

With 228,000 licensed patients, more than 5 percent of Oklahoma’s population is registered to use medical marijuana. That makes Oklahoma home to the largest medical marijuana program in the … more

The Journal Record | 12/28/19 03:27 PM

Women have the right to choose for themselves

State Senator David Bullard was quoted in a recent “Durant Democrat” report about his speech to a local Conservative and Republican group as vowing “to keep pushing a pro-life … more

By Marion Hill | 12/28/19 03:15 PM

Leadership will determine next decade’s success

When the next issue of the Durant Democrat is published, we will be celebrating the first day of a new decade. If the past decade is any indication, Durant and Bryan County have some great days ahead … more

12/28/19 12:15 PM

Medicaid ‘mortality’ study bears closer scrutiny

A study from the progressive Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, estimates that “over a four-year period, the lives of 476 older people were lost because Oklahoma did not expand Medicaid to … more

By Kaitlyn Finley
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs | 12/21/19 12:08 PM

An Open Letter from the Bryan County Federation of Democratic Women of Oklahoma

Open letter to Oklahoma Senators Jim Inhofe and James Lankford: Now that the House of Representatives has impeached President Trump, you will soon be required to judge whether the President has … more

12/21/19 11:10 AM