Focus: Black Oklahoma

In November, Monroe Nichols was elected Tulsa’s first black mayor. On December 2nd, Nichols was sworn into office at the Cox Business Convention Center where he outlined his vision for the city over the next two years. Cory Ross has more. In the fall of 2020, Michael Hill, a Black citizen of the Cherokee Nation, woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone banging on the windows of h...

On November 5th, Monroe Nichols was elected Tulsa’s first Black mayor in the city’s 129 year history. FBO’s Jamie Glisson followed Nichols and his team for the day. In the fall of 2020, Michael Hill, a Black citizen of the Cherokee Nation, woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone banging on the windows of his home. He called police for help, but the police arrested Michael in his...

Dueling Visions for Oklahoma & the United States at the 2024 RNC & DNC In this special episode we reflect on the distinct political climates of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions held this year. In this special episode we highlight the contrasts of the two events: the RNC's urgent call to defend traditional American values and the DNC's optimistic vision for an inclusive fu...

Greenwood Rising: The Rise of Black Wall Street is a new full-length motion picture that was released October 11th on the Fawesome and Future Today streaming platforms. This movie centers on O.W. Gurley, a visionary and trailblazing businessman whose hard work laid the foundation for Tulsa’s Greenwood District. The film’s director, Aaron L. Williams, and lead actress Fatima Marie, who plays Emma G...

On October 8, an Oklahoma City man who was born in Afghanistan was charged in federal court for an alleged terror plot. 27-year-old Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi faces one count of conspiring to conduct a terrorist attack, according to an affidavit filed by the FBI. While the story has made international news and went viral on social media, few are examining the potentially negative impact it could have on...

Opposition to Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters continues to grow, including among some Republican lawmakers. Allegations of abuses of office also continue to mount. Attorney General Gentner Drummond has now ordered an emergency opinion for Walters to immediately release security funds for schools. Shonda Little brings us an update on the impeachment battle and thoughts from lawmakers in...

The Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice, or FCJJ, was raided on Friday morning July 12th. Investigators with several law enforcement agencies spent an entire day and night removing boxes and electronic equipment from the Center, located at 500 W Archer St. in Tulsa. Investigators have begun working under a warrant, issued by the Tulsa Police Department, with the goal of finding evidenc...

Tulsans will head to the voting booths on August 27th to choose a new mayor in a non-partisan, general election. Two-term incumbent mayor G.T. Bynum has declined to seek re-election to a third term in office. This segment covers some of the seven mayoral candidates' remarks at two recent public forums. One of the most controversial issues that local candidates have been weighing on is the federal...

1:09 The Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice, or FCJJ, was raided on Friday morning July 12th. Investigators with several law enforcement agencies spent an entire day and night removing boxes and electronic equipment from the Center, located at 500 W Archer St. in Tulsa. 11:21 In Oklahoma City, frustration mounts as state officials highlight a $400 million dollar, funding shortfall for...

We are releasing this interview ahead of the full podcast so fans and fans-in-the-making will have time to listen before the Paris 2024 Olympic BMX Racing events, which begin on August 1st and finish on August 2nd. Tulsa bid Kamren Larsen, the first Black BMX Olympian, farewell in style. Although this will be his first Olympic competition, Kam is an accomplished rider, having won gold at the 2023...

In May, Governor Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 4156, the controversial immigration legislation, into state law. The United States Justice Department reacted quickly by keeping its promise to file a lawsuit deeming the measure unconstitutional under the Supremacy clause. Proponents and opponents agree the law will drastically change the landscape of immigration in Oklahoma. As Oklahoma Attorney Gen...

The Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, considers a new way to alert the public when adults go missing. The tool looks a lot like the Kasey alerts that launched five months ago as a way to address the Missing & Murdered Indigenous People, or MMIP, crisis in Oklahoma. Both are similar to the AMBER alert & Silver alert system. KOSU / OPMX’s Sarah Liese reports on how the Kasey alert s...

After Oklahoma voters decisively passed State Question 802 in 2020, mandating expansion of Oklahoma's Medicaid coverage to low-income citizens similar to the Affordable Care Act, Governor Kevin Stitt has worked to privatize the joint federal and state run healthcare program. As SoonerCare transitions to SoonerSelect, on April 1, 2024, the program will be operated by three private companies; Aetna...

This is a podcast special episode that combines three segments of our ongoing coverage of health inequities, especially as it relates to Black and Brown women. In the first story (originally aired on episode one in January 2021) Dr. Autumn Brown speaks with women who have experienced the trauma many Black women face during the process of childbirth. She speaks with Marnie Jackson and Laba Williams...

The United States has been at the forefront of the global war on terror for more than two decades. Now one Oklahoma lawmaker, District 19 Republican State Representative Justin Humphrey, proposed House Bill 3133 seeking to expand that conflict by introducing a bill to designate people of Hispanic descent as “terrorists” if they’re convicted of certain crimes. Francia Allen speaks with Francisco Tr...

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid program, or FAFSA, is undergoing significant changes, resulting in a critical need for college counselors. High School counselors help navigate changes which are vital for students facing the complexities of college admissions and financial aid. Anthony Cherry speaks with Jennifer Sack and Erica Walker. Sack is the lead school counselor at Booker T. Was...

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt's recent executive order aims to cut state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) personnel, sparking debate about the future of these programs. Shonda Little speaks with Oklahoma Democratic Chair Alicia Andrews and Jacob Rosecrants- Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 46th district. Some believe part of the solution is ensuring more white men are sp...

Lee Anne Bruce Boone takes over as the new director of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission amid challenges of inadequate funding and tackling 'dark money' in politics, a concern highlighted by her predecessor Ashley Kemp and Democratic leaders. Shonda Little has details. Carlos Moreno introduces us to Nem Lun, a (Zomi) Myanmar immigrant, and the new Immigrant Affairs Manager with the City of Tulsa...

People across the country of all religious faiths and cultural ethnicities are rallying in support of a ceasefire in Palestine. This month, Oklahomans Against Occupation held two events in an effort to raise awareness about the tragic battle for Gaza. Here’s Britny Cordera. In a landmark ruling with far-reaching implications, a Muskogee Nation District Judge in Oklahoma granted citizenship to two...

Recently the Oklahoma state legislature joined the wave of book bannings across the US by requiring school libraries to reflect “community standards.” But who decides what those community standards are? Charlie Chadwick asks the librarians themselves. Free Mom Hugs, a nationwide movement of love, visibility, and acceptance for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community was born right here in Oklahoma. Love Revoluti...

This is a podcast special episode that combines all three segments of our Blacks & Cannabis series. In the first episode of the series (originally aired on episode six in June 2021) Juddie Williams explores the inequities of Oklahoma's growing cannabis industry. In the second segment (originally aired on episode seven in July 2021) we hear the experiences of a North Tulsa based dispensary owne...

In the midst of the world's urgent call for clean energy, a new project in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana casts a contentious light on the line between economic progress and environmental destruction. At the center of this new project is the proposed liquified natural gas (LNG) export facility, which is projected to provide prosperity to some while posing environmental risks to others. Two corporat...

A 2021 study published by The Lancet Medical Journal revealed Oklahoma has the highest mortality rates from police violence in the United States, with Tulsa and Oklahoma City in the top 20 cities with the most fatal police shootings. Against this backdrop, the newly elected  District Attorney for Oklahoma County has stirred controversy with her decision to drop charges against seven officers...

In Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, a battle against environmental and climate injustice is underway. As an Oklahoma energy company sets its sights on the Gulf, Nick Alexandrov reports on concerns mounting over the potential harm inflicted on historically Black towns in the area. Partner Tulsa, a collaborative effort of civic leaders in the City of Tulsa, is spearheading revitalization plans for the...

Last month (May 2023), FBO correspondent Dr. Nick Alexandrov introduced us to a west Texas community under threat from the ONEOK Saguaro Connector Pipeline. In this installment he also updates our Battle for Greenwood special that first aired in September 2021. On this episode, we air the second part of his story. Tulsa has been known as a for everything from oil and gas, to art deco, and western...