Oklahoma News Report

March 23, 2012

President Obama visits Oklahoma to promote a key part of his energy plan. Oklahoma's quality jobs program has been touted as one of the strongest incentives for creating new jobs, but it faces an uncertain future. People with concealed weapons permits may soon be allowed to openly carry guns. Oklahoma lawmen generally think that's a bad idea. Legislators put new state laws make it on the books every year, but a few may not stay there. And lack of state funding may be putting an American Indian Cultural Center project in jeopardy. Those stories and more, on ONR.

Related Topics: Business & Economy, Government, Politics, Science & Technology, Women, Race & Ethnicity, Social Issues

Originally broadcast on March 23, 2012

Oklahoma News Report

Lilly Ledbetter 2

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For nineteen years, Lilly Ledbetter worked at the Goodyear tire plant in Gadsden, Alabama. She rose to manager, received regular pay raises and earned a top performer award. Little did she know she was making 40% less than her male counterparts...until she received an anonymous note. That prompted a lawsuit and a ten year legal battle that culminated with a change in the law, giving women a better chance to receive equal pay for equal work. Lilly Ledbetter achieved a rare distinction: she fought back against the U.S. Supreme Court, and won, and saw the new law named in her honor. We recently spoke with Lilly Ledbetter about her battle for women's rights. Lilly Ledbetter’s story is detailed in her new memoir, "Grace and Grit: My Fight For Equal Pay and Fairness At Goodyear and Beyond."

Related Topics: Business & Economy, Government, Women, Biography & Profiles

Originally broadcast on March 16, 2012

Oklahoma News Report

March 16th, 2012

A mystery from the deep it was a sight no one had seen before, thousands of huge dead catfish dead along red river. What caused it is still unknown. Oklahoma drivers can expect to see a lot more construction zones ahead as state highway bridges get replaced or receive long overdue repairs. One Oklahoma city shows how the state can turn around its ailing national health ranking. The remains of an ancient culture that rank with the treasures of the Egyptian pharaohs are found along Oklahoma's Highway 9. An equal pay advocate discusses how she took on the Supreme Court...and won. Those stories and more, on ONR.

Related Topics: Civilizations, Business & Economy, Government, Politics, Environment, Women, Social Issues, Health, Biography & Profiles

Originally broadcast on March 16, 2012

Oklahoma News Report

March 9th, 2012

Cuts to Oklahoma military bases have cost more than a thousand positions so far, but much bigger cutbacks are still possible if congress fails to act. As the nation marks "sunshine week", advocates of open government step up efforts to increase transparency at the state capitol. Oklahoma is losing its fight against addiction, as the scourge of substance abuse, legal and illegal, continues to grip large segments of our population. A crusader for gender equity in the workplace talks about her fight for equal pay. And we look at how design, art, and risk-taking combine to drive the passion of one Oklahoman entrepreneur. All of that and more, next on ONR.

Related Topics: Business & Economy, Government, Politics, Women, Social Issues, Health, Education

Originally broadcast on March 9, 2012

Oklahoma News Report

Newsmaker Interview Lilly Ledbetter Part 1

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March is Women's History Month. This week, a woman who recently achieved a place in American history came to Oklahoma to tell her story of fighting for equal pay. After Lilly Ledbetter learned she was making forty percent less than male managers at a Goodyear tire plant in Alabama, she took her case to court. Ten years later, and after losing at the U.S. Supreme Court, she turned out to be a winner when congress passed, and the president signed, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act...a law that re-instated a long-standing portion of the equal pay act that the Supreme Court had changed. We spoke with Lilly Ledbetter on Thursday, International Women's Day.

Related Topics: Business & Economy, Government, Women, Social Issues

Originally broadcast on March 9, 2012

Oklahoma News Report

Women in Recovery

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Oklahoma continues to send more women to prison than any other state. 63 percent of them suffer from substance abuse. Despite treatment in prison, many of the women get out, start using again and eventually end up back behind bars. A relatively new therapy is looking at addiction from a gender based perspective. It explores women's childhood traumas as the springboard to their cycle of drug and alcohol abuse.

Related Topics: Community, Health Care & Illnesses, Women, Issues & Advice, Women, Social Issues

Originally broadcast on October 14, 2011

Oklahoma News Report

Food Insecurity (6:29)

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New figures from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services show the number of Oklahomans needing help to put food on the table each day has just reached an all time high. And a national study shows 17% of Oklahomans are "food insecure". The face of hunger in Oklahoma often involves the working poor and their children.

Related Topics: Food, Government, Women, Social Issues, Health

Originally broadcast on September 9, 2011

Oklahoma News Report

Addiction Treatment & OK Watch (13:20)

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Oklahoma continues to send more women to prison than any other state. 63 percent of them suffer from substance abuse. Despite treatment in prison, many of the women get out, start using again and eventually end up back behind bars. A relatively new therapy is looking at addiction from a gender based perspective. It explores women's childhood traumas as the springboard to their cycle of drug and alcohol abuse. According to the institute for child advocacy there are 27,000 children of incarcerated parents in Oklahoma. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Oklahoma finds mentors to help these children break the inter-generational cycle of crime through the "Amachi" program. However due to federal budget cuts that program is now in jeopardy. We spoke with Jaclyn Cosgrove who is covering this issue for Oklahoma Watch.

Related Topics: Women, Government, Women, Social Issues, Health

Originally broadcast on October 14, 2011

Oklahoma Forum

Women in Leadership (27:45)

We discuss changing roles of women in leadership with: Major Gen. (Ret.) Rita Aragon, Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs Laura Boyd, Ph.D., Business Owner and Former State Representative Sheryl Lovelady, Director, Women’s Leadership Institute, Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, OU Charifa Smith, Owner, Sage Restaurant

Related Topics: Community, Gender & Sexual Identity, Business & Economy, Government, Politics, National Security, Women, Social Issues, Education

Originally broadcast on October 16, 2011

Oklahoma News Report

Women in Leadership (13:06)

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A generation after the peak of women's liberation, women nationally make up more than 50% of the workforce and 57% of students attending college. Academically and in both low and mid-level jobs women often out-perform men. But, in Oklahoma the number of women in top leadership positions in business and politics is still low. While several factors hold women back, the next generation - the so-called millennials -- is poised to shatter the glass ceiling. Also, Dick Pryor spoke with former state representative, Dr. Laura Boyd, who was the first female nominee for Governor in 1998 and was the democratic nominee for Lieutentant Governor in 2002. And, Major General Rita Aragon, the first female commander of the Oklahoma Air National Guard, who currently is Oklahoma's Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Related Topics: Government, Politics, Women

Originally broadcast on September 23, 2011