By Barbara Hoberock | Senior reporter
“We hope this case reminds public bodies to act with careful consideration when choosing secrecy over transparency because the public has an inherent right to know about the workings of their government and taxpayers have to foot the bill when the government erroneously withholds records under the act.” - Leslie Briggs of a lawsuit over a public record
The headquarters of the Department of Wildlife Conservation pictured in December 2023. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice)
By Barbara Hoberock
After more than two years of litigation and tens of thousands in legal fees, a state agency Thursday released the severance agreement for its former executive director.
The agreement between the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission and J.D. Strong showed nothing revealing, but only was released after Oklahoma Voice obtained a judgment requiring it be made public.
It outlines the terms of Strong’s $169,341 severance payment and indicates that he was “being separated from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation” under a state law permitting reduction in force.
Members of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education listen to a speaker during a meeting on May 29, 2026 in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)
By Emma Murphy
Three Oklahoma universities were given the greenlight to offer the state’s first reduced credit hour bachelor degree programs.
An Iowa man is taking Nintendo and Pokémon Company International to federal court for allegedly refusing to grant him “Pokémon Professor” status. (Letter courtesy of the U.S. District Court system; main photo by Getty Images)
By Clark Kauffman
A federal judge has dismissed an Iowa man’s lawsuit over the denial of his status as a “Professor of Pokémon,” calling the case a “completely frivolous waste of the court’s time and resources.”
Exterior of the Richard Sheppard Arnold Federal Courthouse in downtown Little Rock. (Photo by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)
By Andrew Demillo
A federal judge rejected an effort Wednesday to block two Arkansas news outlets from publishing details about an agreement regarding a West Memphis data center, in a case that alarmed free speech groups who say restricting publication would have undermined the First Amendment.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 29, 2024. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom)
By Ariana Figueroa
A federal judge in Maryland Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump’s second attempt to redefine birthright citizenship.
ICYMI
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