# fact brief (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 2 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover fact brief. Page: Feed: --- ## [Has every educational statistic gotten worse since the Department of Education was created?](https://oklahomawatch.org/2026/08/20/has-every-educational-statistic-gotten-worse-since-the-department-of-education-was-created/) _2026-08-20 · Matthew Yim · Oklahoma Watch_ The post Has every educational statistic gotten worse since the Department of Education was created? appeared first on Oklahoma Watch . ## [Tax Hikes, Democrat Donations and Defending Trump: Fact-Checking Claims Made in Runoff Election Ads](https://oklahomawatch.org/2026/08/20/tax-hikes-democrat-donations-and-defending-trump-fact-checking-claims-made-in-runoff-election-ads/) _2026-08-20 · Keaton Ross · Oklahoma Watch_ Outside groups and candidates have spent more than $13 million on Oklahoma's August 25 runoff since July 1, most of it on the GOP governor's race. Several advertisements make claims that warrant scrutiny, from allegations of tax hikes and smelter spending to accusations about gender transition surgeries and Trump impeachment. The post Tax Hikes, Democrat Donations and Defending Trump:… ## [Fact brief: Are there maternity care deserts in South Dakota?](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/fact-brief-south-dakota-maternity-care-deserts/) _2026-08-20 · Emily DeCock · South Dakota News Watch_ Regions with no obstetric clinicians or birthing facilities are most prominent in the Midwest and South. ## [Utility Shock, Housing Protections and Juvenile Murder Laws](https://oklahomawatch.org/2026/08/19/utility-shock-housing-protections-and-juvenile-murder-laws/) _2026-08-19 · Oklahoma Watch · Oklahoma Watch_ Oklahoma Watch · Utility Shock, Housing Protections and Juvenile Murder Laws Andrea Eger breaks down what is driving the massive spike in Oklahomans’ electricity bills, while Jake Ramsey examines the lack of legal recourse for tenants dealing with negligent landlords failing to provide essential services. Plus, Brenna Witchey details Oklahoma’s controversial felony murder doctrine, which \[…\] The… ## [From the Mississippi Miracle to Consolidation and Cursive: Fact-Checking the Oklahoma State Superintendent Runoff Debate](https://oklahomawatch.org/2026/08/19/from-the-mississippi-miracle-to-consolidation-and-cursive-fact-checking-the-oklahoma-state-superintendent-runoff-debate/) _2026-08-19 · Oklahoma Watch · Oklahoma Watch_ Republican state superintendent runoff candidates Robert Franklin and James Taylor debated Monday ahead of the August 25 election, sparring over literacy reform, private school vouchers and religion in public schools. Oklahoma Watch reviewed their major claims and found several that were inaccurate, overstated or missing key context. The post From the Mississippi Miracle to Consolidation and… ## [CUPs: What they are, why Crooks residents sued Sioux Falls](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-smithfield-crooks-sioux-falls-lawsuit/) _2026-08-19 · Molly Wetsch · South Dakota News Watch_ The lawsuit over a conditional use permit reflects a longstanding tension between residents, often of rural areas, and those who make decisions about how the land around them gets used. ## [Is Oklahoma among the states with the shortest life expectancies for women?](https://oklahomawatch.org/2026/08/18/is-oklahoma-among-the-states-with-the-shortest-life-expectancies-for-women/) _2026-08-18 · Matthew Yim · Oklahoma Watch_ The post Is Oklahoma among the states with the shortest life expectancies for women? appeared first on Oklahoma Watch . ## [Oklahoma Kids Use Drugs at Higher Rates Than the National Average. A New Initiative Wants to Change That.](https://oklahomawatch.org/2026/08/18/oklahoma-kids-use-drugs-at-higher-rates-than-the-national-average-a-new-initiative-wants-to-change-that/) _2026-08-18 · Brenna Witchey · Oklahoma Watch_ Oklahoma's attorney general is offering school districts a free, evidence-based drug prevention curriculum through a new initiative funded by opioid abatement grants. But educators and substance abuse experts warn the program alone cannot address the state's youth substance use crisis, which exceeds national averages in most drug categories, without adequate counseling staff. The post Oklahoma… ## [Fact brief: Did a recent poll specifically ask South Dakotans whether they approve of Trump?](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/fact-brief-south-dakota-poll-trump-approval/) _2026-08-18 · Michael Klinski · South Dakota News Watch_ A check of recent reports on the president's popularity. ## [South Dakota voter guide](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-voter-guide-primary-general-election/) _2026-08-18 · Molly Wetsch · South Dakota News Watch_ Everything to know about registering and voting in statewide elections, and who and what are on the ballot. ## [Open directory of blogs (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/ULTljpp1EIkY) _2026-08-18 · **Sponsored**_ Drop URLs or OPML — get per-blog pages plus machine-readable JSON, OPML, text ## [The Secret Documents: Attorneys Unveil Insurance Scheme](https://oklahomawatch.org/2026/08/17/the-secret-documents-attorneys-unveil-insurance-scheme/) _2026-08-17 · J.C. Hallman · Oklahoma Watch_ Lawyers who have accumulated more than 1,200 bad faith insurance cases against State Farm and Allstate are now speaking publicly for the first time about secret documents that reveal decades-long schemes to deny roof damage claims. Meanwhile, a judge set a December trial date in the Hursh case and another ordered the deposition of State Farm's CEO. The post The Secret Documents: Attorneys Unveil… ## [SD taxpayers spend millions on cyberattacks after federal grant rejected](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-cyberattacks-government-spending/) _2026-08-17 · Bart Pfankuch · South Dakota News Watch_ Recent security hacks on local governments in South Dakota are latest of more than 1,000 in the state over past five years. ## [Here’s Why Oklahoma Electric Bills Are Going Up and It’s Not Just Data Centers](https://oklahomawatch.org/2026/08/14/heres-why-oklahoma-electric-bills-are-going-up-and-its-not-just-data-centers/) _2026-08-14 · Andrea Eger · Oklahoma Watch_ Oklahoma electric customers are seeing higher bills this summer driven by utility rate increases, rising regional transmission costs, grid infrastructure investment and summer air conditioning demand. Data centers are a contributing factor but not the primary cause, state lawmakers and regulators said at a Tulsa town hall Thursday. The post Here’s Why Oklahoma Electric Bills Are Going Up and It’s… ## [Special education federal shift: commitment remains, but future is unclear](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-special-education-federal-shift-civil-rights/) _2026-08-14 · Elena Tittel · South Dakota News Watch_ A recent federal shift in special education oversight raises uncertainty in future handling of civil cases involving discrimination based on disability. ## [Are vaccines a partial cause of autism, as Secretary Markwayne Mullin suggested?](https://oklahomawatch.org/2026/08/13/are-vaccines-a-partial-cause-of-autism-as-secretary-markwayne-mullin-suggested/) _2026-08-14 · Matthew Yim · Oklahoma Watch_ The post Are vaccines a partial cause of autism, as Secretary Markwayne Mullin suggested? appeared first on Oklahoma Watch . ## [Job Corps program in Black Hills open and fully funded](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-job-corps-nemo-government-funding/) _2026-08-13 · Bart Pfankuch · South Dakota News Watch_ The job-training facility for low-income youths and young adults at Nemo was under threat of closure by the Trump administration for nearly a year. ## [“I Can’t Believe This is Ours.” OKCPS Opens New High School on City’s South Side.](https://oklahomawatch.org/2026/08/13/i-cant-believe-this-is-ours-okcps-opens-new-high-school-on-citys-south-side/) _2026-08-13 · Jennifer Palmer · Oklahoma Watch_ Oklahoma City Public Schools opened a $116 million Capitol Hill High School on the city's south side Tuesday, replacing a 1920s building that lacked modern amenities and efficient air conditioning. The new campus serves a predominantly Latino community where 99% of students are economically disadvantaged and half are English-language learners. The post “I Can’t Believe This is Ours.” OKCPS Opens… ## [Fact brief: Is it legal to wear only body paint as clothing at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally?](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-fact-brief-body-paint-sturgis-rally/) _2026-08-13 · Emily DeCock · South Dakota News Watch_ The rally started Aug. 7 and runs through Aug. 16 in the Black Hills town. ## [Ahlers announces lt. gov. pick, finalizing November ballot for SD Democrats](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-ahlers-mccleery-governor-democrats/) _2026-08-12 · Molly Wetsch · South Dakota News Watch_ Steven McCleerey is a farmer and former legislator from Sisseton seeking the Democratic office of lieutenant governor for Ahlers. ## [Fact-Checking the Debate, Title IX Resistance and Tenant Fallout](https://oklahomawatch.org/2026/08/12/fact-checking-the-debate-title-ix-resistance-and-tenant-fallout/) _2026-08-12 · Oklahoma Watch · Oklahoma Watch_ Oklahoma Watch · Fact-Checking the Debate, Title IX Resistance and Tenant Fallout Keaton Ross discusses Oklahoma Watch’s fact-check of the August 3 debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates Mike Mazzei and Gentner Drummond, while Jennifer Palmer looks into an Oklahoma high school’s resistance to following federal laws such as Title IX. Jake Ramsey details the fallout \[…\] The post… ## [One Cloud, Every AI Layer (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/MrC4sl7fweV0) _2026-08-12 · **Sponsored**_ Run agents, inference, and infrastructure on one stack — economics improve as you scale. ## ['A new canvas:' Freeman Academy enters transitional period](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-freeman-academy-transition-private-school/) _2026-08-12 · Elena Tittel · South Dakota News Watch_ After over 120 years of serving the Freeman community, the private school is closing its doors to students and entering a transitional period.