Sex scandals and whistleblowers routinely make national headlines, but for years one Oklahoma whistleblower’s report has been swept under the rug. Dr. Whitney Louis was fired in January 2023 from her job as a prison psychologist at the Dr. Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft, after she reported numerous instances of rape and sexual assault of inmates by prison staff. Jeremy Kuzmarov has the story.

In Oklahoma, just on the border of Kansas, stands a ghost town haunted not by ghosts or evil spirits but by extreme pollution. The abandoned town of Picher is part of the Tar Creek Superfund Site, so declared in 1983 due to contamination from mining operations. Over 40 years later, little cleanup progress has been made but two non-governmental organizations are working to change that. FBO’s Roma Carter has more.

In recent months the City of Tulsa has introduced myriad solutions to address the issue of homelessness. These programs and policy changes — ranging from additional shelters, increased access to services, and the installation of boulders at the Denver Avenue bus station downtown — have many Tulsans raising questions about how these decisions are made and whether they will achieve their intended outcomes. Listen to Carlos Moreno for more.

The third annual Legacy Open Rodeo will take place Saturday August 23rd in Purcell. Focus: Black Oklahoma is a sponsor of the Legacy Open Rodeo, which is the only rodeo in the state led by a woman. Jamie Glisson tells about this Oklahoma original.

It’s been said that "laughter is the best medicine," but when Sondra Slade was trapped at an airport gate with a loquacious lady, she had to come up with a new cure of her own.

 Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew.

Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Jordan Sinkfield, Jess Grimes, & Roma Carter.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For people convicted of a crime, punishments can extend beyond time behind bars. They can lose the right to vote, own a gun, or lose access to certain career fields- and with colleges and universities screening for criminal history on admission applications, they can lose access to higher education. However, a legal movement is working to change that. FBO’s Dr. Nick Alexandrov has more.

A curfew prohibiting anyone under the age of 18 to be in downtown Tulsa on weekends was established in late June. The new policy was implemented in response to downtown business owners telling city leaders they believe the presence of youth near their establishments is harmful. A recent string of violent incidents this year involving young people downtown was the catalyst for this curfew. We hear from some young people who say that there is much more to consider with this policy. Carlos Moreno has the story.

When the Trump administration cut nearly $400 million dollars in AmeriCorps grants – almost half the agency’s budget – it left programs across the country reeling. In Guthrie, the impact was immediate: volunteer capacity plummeted, youth and education programs stalled, and staff morale sank as the community’s safety net frayed. FBO’s Jordan Sinkfield has more.

A new chapter of international friendship is unfolding. In April 2024, Tulsa signed its ninth Sister City agreement with Mwanza, Tanzania—its first new partnership in nearly 20 years. For Tulsans and Tanzanians alike, this connection offers a chance to deepen cultural ties, build business relationships, and challenge the stereotypes that often cloud perceptions of the African continent. FBO’s Zaakirah Muhammad has more.

Turns out, finding out you’re allergic to coconut after eating half your birthday cake isn’t the best party favor. For 11-year-old Sondra Slade, what started as the perfect day of pancakes, bike rides, and backyard BBQ ended with a dramatic faceplant into the condiment table – and a family still convinced that “just wiping it off” fixes everything.

 Focus: Black Oklahoma is produced in partnership with KOSU Radio & Tri-City Collective. Additional support is provided by the Commemoration Fund & Press Forward. Our theme music is by Moffett Music.

Focus: Black Oklahoma's executive producers are Quraysh Ali Lansana & Bracken Klar. Our associate producers are Smriti Iyengar, Jesse Ulrich, & Naomi Agnew.

Our production interns are Alexander Evans, Jordan Sinkfield, Jess Grimes, & Roma Carter.

You can visit us online at KOSU.org or FocusBlackOklahoma.com & on YouTube @TriCityCollectiveOK.

You can follow us on Instagram @FocusBlackOK & on Facebook at Facebook.com/FocusBlackOK.

You can hear Focus: Black Oklahoma on demand at KOSU.org, the NPR app, NPR.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Despite a valiant effort by KOSU listeners and public media supporters nationwide, Congress has voted to rescind $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

This money had already been promised and budgeted for at KOSU and public media stations across the country. Losing it is devastating, and one NPR estimate shows that roughly 18% of the country’s public radio stations will close imminently, and nearly a third of listeners would lose access to NPR programming.

The rescission package is expected to be signed by President Trump soon, as he initially requested the move from Congress.

To be clear, this does not mean KOSU is going away. Thanks to you, KOSU is set up well for the future. However, this loss of foundational funding will likely result in a reduction of programming or local news without additional support.

1. Support KOSU directly by making a donation, or increasing your existing monthly or annual gift. This is the most effective thing you can do for KOSU. Support from people like you makes up the largest part of KOSU’s budget.
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3. Spread the word. Share this page with your family and friends, and tell them what KOSU's news, information and music service means to you and our community.

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