Oklahoma

Nearly $2M in school choice tax credits were spent on parents’ debt instead

Published

2 years ago

May 17, 2024

Nearly M in school choice tax credits were spent on parents’ debt instead

Nuria Martinez-Keel
| Oklahoma Voice

OKLAHOMA CITY — Almost $2 million from a tax credit program intended to help families afford private school instead went to parents’ debts and delinquent taxes.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission has deducted 1,249 parental choice tax credit payments from applicants who had unpaid taxes or a debt claim filed against them, the agency reported in response to an open records request from Oklahoma Voice.

Payments were reduced by a total of $1,926,240. The program’s total budget this year is $150 million.

Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed into law a bill meant to prevent future deductions. House Bill 3388 clarifies the credits are non-taxable income and can’t be reduced for outstanding debts.

The legislation that created the tax credit program last year included no such prohibition, prompting lawmakers to clarify the law this session.

“The Tax Commission was following the law as written at the time of implementation,” Stitt said in a statement. “I’m always grateful when agencies operate with due diligence. Moving forward, lawmakers have changed that statute and I have signed that into law.”

More: Oklahoma’s parental choice tax credit update: ‘Non-priority’ applications now being reviewed

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said the clarification was necessary so a parent’s debt wouldn’t hamper a student’s opportunity to attend private school.

“We don’t tell a child they can’t go to public school because their parent’s behind on taxes, and we’re not going to tell a child in need that they can’t go to a private school that meets their needs based on their parent’s lack of compliance,” Treat said while speaking with reporters last week.

Legislative Democrats questioned whether the measure is another hand-out to families already enrolled in exclusive schools.

“For anybody else, if they had a tax liability, they would be required to pay it, and these folks are not,” Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, said. “So, we’re giving them taxpayer dollars, and we’re saying you don’t have to pay what you owe the people of Oklahoma.”

What to know about the private school tax credit

The refundable tax credits offer $5,000 to $7,500, depending on total household income, to offset costs of sending children to private schools. Although a credit reduces a family’s state tax obligation, the commission issues a check to recipients to reimburse approved educational expenses, like tuition, tutoring or testing fees.

The initiative launched in December to significant demand. About 36,000 people have applied, most of whom did so in the first 90 minutes of the application window.

There is no income limit to apply, but children from households earning $150,000 or below had priority consideration.

The Tax Commission is still reviewing applications and disbursing funds. About 16,800 priority applicants and 4,300 without priority have been approved, accounting for $125 million of the $150 million budget, the agency reported this week.

Oklahoma will allocate $200 million for the program in 2025 and $250 million in 2026.

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions:info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice onFacebook andTwitter.

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Oklahoma

Rapper Snoop Dogg to star in, produce ‘God of the Rodeo’ film shot in Oklahoma

Published

4 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Rapper Snoop Dogg to star in, produce ‘God of the Rodeo’ film shot in Oklahoma

Rapper and hip hop icon Snoop Dogg is set to produce and star in a feature film that will be shot in Oklahoma this year.

“God of the Rodeo” is based on a 1998 book from New York-based journalist and author Daniel Bergner, who reported on inmates competing in a controversial rodeo inside Louisiana’s Angola Prison in the 1960s. According to Deadline, the film centers around Bucckey, an inmate serving a life sentence who “finds a glimmer of redemption” through the rodeo. Snoop’s role has not yet been announced.

The film is directed by Rosalind Ross, who is best known for writing, directing and executive producing “Father Stu.” Snoop will produce alongside Sara Ramker, Giannina Scott and Ridley Scott, Deadline reports.

The Oklahoma Department of Commerce confirmed to News 9 on Friday “God of the Rodeo” was pre-approved for the state’s film incentive program through Oklahoma Film + Music.

Filming is scheduled in Oklahoma for June 15 through July 31, according to Oklahoma Film + Music’s website. The website also lists Tulsa-based production company Rebellium Films as working on the film. Filming locations have not been announced yet.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Comets preliminary 2026 roster

Published

16 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma City Comets preliminary 2026 roster

The Oklahoma City Comets, the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, unveiled their initial roster on Thursday, with opening day set for Friday night in Oklahoma City against the Albuquerque Isotopes, a Rockies’ farm team.

Among the 43 players on the Dodgers 40-man roster, 10 are on the injured list (three on the 60-day IL, which expands this list to 43), and 26 are active in the majors. Six of the seven remaining 40-man players for the Comets.

River Ryan is the only unaccounted 40-man player not on the preliminary Oklahoma City roster, but he could join them soon. Ryan is slated to pitch this weekend in Arizona, Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic reported Thursday.

Hyeseong Kim lost out to Alex Freeland for a spot on the opening day roster, with the Dodgers wanting Kim to split time between second base, shortstop, and center field in Triple-A.

“There’s no doubt that Hyeseong at some point is going to come help us out. I think the driver, as far as at the outset, is giving Hyeseong an opportunity to play every day, play all over the diamond,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday.

Kyle Hurt is among the relievers. After an impressive spring training, the Dodgers opted to slow-play the right-hander missed all of last season after Tommy John surgery. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get called up as a need arises in the majors.

Paul Gervase also impressed in spring, and left-hander Ronan Kopp is in his first year on the 40-man roster. Expect a lot of strikeouts from that pair.

Ryan Ward is also on the 40-man roster for the first time, but he returns to Oklahoma City, where the reigning Pacific Coast League MVP he holds several club records in the Bricktown era, a period since the current ballpark opened in 1998. Michael Siani will patrol the outfield for the Comets, likely flanked by Zach Ehrhard and/or James Tibbs.

Ehrhard and Tibbs, acquired from the Boston Red Sox for Dustin May last July, impressed as non-roster invitees in camp and as the older and more experienced of the plethora of stellar Dodgers outfield prospects are the closest to the majors among the group.

Jack Suwinski was briefly on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster this offseason, as was utility man Ryan Fitzgerald, who will likely play all over the infield and potentially some outfield for the Comets. Defensive whiz Noah Miller will play shortstop for Oklahoma City, whose infield also has Nick Senzel and Ryan Fitgerald, all of whom were non-roster invitees this spring for the Dodgers.

Veteran pitchers Cole Irvin and Keynan Middleton are on the Comets’ staff. Other Oklahoma City pitchers with major league experience are River’s brother Ryder Ryan, Garrett McDaniels, and Carlos Duran (pitched one game for the Athletics last season).

Irvin and Ryder Ryan will start the first two games, followed by Christian Romero on Sunday, per play-by-play broadcaster Alex Freedman.

Left-hander Antoine Kelly and right-hander Chris Campos, who were the last two non-roster pitchers standing in Dodgers camp this spring, each are on the Comets preliminary roster. left-hander Logan Allen, who signed a minor league contract last week, is also with Oklahoma City.

Pitcher José Rodríguez, who was touted as a potential Rule 5 Draft pick last December but went unselected, was a non-roster invitee this spring training but did not pitch. He starts the season on the 60-day injured list, as does veteran first baseman Matt Gorski.

Oklahoma City preliminary roster

Starting pitchers (4): Cole Irvin, Ryder Ryan, Cristian Romero, Carlos Duran
Right-handed relievers (8): Kyle Hurt*, Paul Gervase*, Chris Campos, Keynan Middleton, Jordan Weems, Wyatt Mills, Antonio Knowles, Jerming Rosario
Left-handed relievers (4): Ronan Kopp*, Antoine Kelly, Logan Allen Garrett McDaniels
Catchers (2): Eliézer Alfonzo, Seby Zavala
Infielders (4): Ryan Fitzgerald, Noah Miller, Nick Senzel, Austin Gauthier
Outfielders (4): Michael Siani*, Ryan Ward*, Jack Suwinski, Zach Ehrhard
Infielder/outfielders (2): Hyeseong Kim*, James Tibbs III
Injured list (2): rhp José Rodríguez (60-day), 1b Matt Gorski (60-day)

The Comets will finalize the roster before Friday’s season opener.

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Oklahoma

Snoop Dogg’s new movie ‘God of the Rodeo’ to film in Oklahoma

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Snoop Dogg’s new movie ‘God of the Rodeo’ to film in Oklahoma

Snoop Dogg will star in and produce the upcoming movie “God of the Rodeo.”
The film is set to shoot this summer in Tulsa and the historic Black town of Boley, Oklahoma.
Shia LaBeouf is also cast in the film, which is produced by Ridley Scott and Giannina Scott.

Grammy-nominated pop-culture icon Snoop Dogg will star in and produce an upcoming movie set to film this summer in Oklahoma’s second largest city as well as one of the Sooner State’s historic Black towns.

The hip-hop legend, television personality and actor is the second A-lister to board the period piece “God of the Rodeo.” Deadline reports that Snoop has not only been cast in a starring role, but he and his Death Row Pictures partner, Sara Ramaker, also have signed on to produce the historical drama.

They are joining actress-turned-producer Giannina (Facio) Scott (“House of Gucci”), who is producing for Cara Films, and her husband, celebrated British filmmaker and four-time Oscar nominee Sir Ridley Scott (the “Gladiator” movies), who is producing via his Scott Free Productions.

“Linking up with Scott Free Productions and working with Ridley Scott and Giannina Scott on God of the Rodeo is life changing and an honor,” Snoop told Deadline.

“Me and the team at Death Row Pictures stepping in as producers, I’m acting in it, and Death Row Records is building the soundtrack — and this one got soul. … We’re bringing an important story and something special to the screen.”

Snoop joins embattled actor Shia LaBeouf (“Holes”), whom Deadline reported last year was starring in the project, in the cast of “God of the Rodeo.”

“Snoop Dogg is one of the most gifted and influential artists alive, with admirers and fans all over the world and from every generation transcending music, sports and culture,” Giannina Scott told Deadline. “Ridley and I, with our companies Scott Free and Cara Films, are so excited and blessed to have Snoop join the cast, and for him, Sara and Death Row Pictures to partner with us to produce this important and soulful project from Rosalind Ross.”

What is the upcoming movie ‘God of the Rodeo’ about?

The film is based on the work of New York City-based author and journalist Daniel Bergner, whose 1998 nonfiction book “God of the Rodeo: The Search for Hope, Faith, and a Six-Second Ride in Louisiana’s Angola Prison” was named a notable book of the year by The New York Times.

Set in 1967 inside Louisiana’s Angola Prison — now the largest maximum-security prison in the country and historically one of the most dangerous in the South — the forthcoming film centers on Buckkey, a hardened inmate serving a life sentence who finds a glimmer of redemption in an unlikely opportunity: the prison’s first-ever inmate rodeo.

As Buckkey and his fellow inmates prepare for a last grasp at glory, they’re confronted with the reality that the rodeo is nothing more than a gladiatorial showcase — a grueling fight for survival designed to satiate the public’s bloodlust and fulfill the warden’s delusion of godliness.

Rosalind Ross (“Father Stu”) is writing and directing the project, and Snoop praised her adaptation of “God of the Rodeo” as “a story with heart and grit, and that’s what I’m about” in the Deadline story.

“It’s a thrill and an honor as a filmmaker to bring the legendary swagger, soul and eccentricity of Snoop to this story in what will be a completely transformative role for him,” Ross said, according to Deadline.

“Moreover, I’m deeply gratified by the kindred artistic spirit and conviction of cause that Snoop, Sara and Death Row Pictures have for this collaboration with myself, Giannina, Ridley, and the rest of our incredible producing team.”

When and where in Oklahoma is the movie ‘God of the Rodeo’ set to film?

“God of the Rodeo” also is a project of Rebellium Films, a prolific Tulsa-based production company behind the recent Oklahoma made-movies “Brian,” a comedy that premiered earlier this month at South By Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, and “The Gates,” a thriller featuring the late James Van Der Beek’s final film role that opened this month in select theaters.

“God of the Rodeo” will film in Boley and Tulsa and use the state film incentive as well as the new Tulsa Film Incentive, Rebellium Films owner and producer Randy Wayne told The Oklahoman.

The largest and best-known of Oklahoma’s historically all-Black towns — and one of only 13 still in existence — Boley has a rich rodeo history. Since 1903, the the Okfuskee County town has hosted the Boley Rodeo, the nation’s oldest Black community-based rodeo and a longstanding Memorial Day weekend tradition.

“God of the Rodeo” is scheduled to film June 15 to July 31 in the Sooner State, according to the Oklahoma Film + Music Office.

Will Shia LaBeouf be able to star in ‘God of the Rodeo?’

While Snoop Dogg has been experiencing a career resurgence — the rapper served as Team USA’s first honorary coach for the 2026 Winter Olympics, was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025 and recently spent two seasons as a coach on NBC’s “The Voice” — LaBeouf has been embroiled in more legal trouble since his casting in “God of the Rodeo” was announced last year.

During last month’s Mardi Gras celebrations, the controversial actor and former child star was arrested in New Orleans for a pair of alleged assaults, USA TODAY reports. A NOLA judge subsequently ordered to LaBeouf to return to rehab as well as submit to weekly drug tests.

Plus, his former partner FKA Twigs is suing LeBeouf, alleging he tried to use an “unlawful” nondisclosure agreement to silence her, years after she accused him of sexual battery and assault. In a legal complaint filed Wednesday, March 25, the British electronic pop artist set out to block LaBeouf from enforcing parts of the NDA that she claims violate California law and public policy.

She previously accused LeBeouf of sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress in a 2020 lawsuit that was settled in July 2025.

LeBeouf has filmed in Oklahoma before, including on the 2016 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize-winning road movie “American Honey,” which was partially made in Muskogee.

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