Connect with us

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Tries to Revoke Teacher's License Over Facebook Photo

Published

on

Oklahoma Tries to Revoke Teacher's License Over Facebook Photo


The Oklahoma State Department of Education is attempting to remove a teacher’s license over a 2019 social media photo.

Regan Killackey shared a photo five years ago showing him and his family in a costume store posing with a mask of Donald Trump. Killackey and one of his children are holding plastic swords, intimating an attack on the mask.

The photo, shared to Facebook, was of no consequence until five years later when — in the aftermath of Trump’s first assassination attempt — someone sent a screenshot of the post to the Oklahoma Department of Education with a description: “Posted picture on personal Instagram account of the fictitious stabbing of fake presidential candidate mask.”

A person wearing glasses, making a grimace, and holding a toy sword stands beside a child whose face is blurred. Another child wearing a mask resembling a person with blonde hair and also holding a toy sword stands in front of them. They appear to be in a store.
Screenshot of the 2019 post, via Oklahoma Watch.

Oklahoma Watch reports that the department took swift and harsh action, dishing out the toughest discipline possible: revoking Killackey’s teaching certificate.

The case is being overseen by Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters who Oklahoma Watch describes as “prioritizing punishing a teacher over political speech he disagreed with in order to score political points.”

Advertisement

Walters, a Donald Trump supporter, has previously stated that: “There is no place for a teacher with a liberal political agenda in the classroom.”

“We want to make sure to send a message loud and clear: no one will be able to teach in the state of Oklahoma if they advocate for the assassination of President Trump, or any elected official,” Walters said at a July 31 meeting, referring to Killackey.

However, the First Amendment prevents disciplining a teacher for political speech — or in this case, a photo — made as a private citizen.

“It doesn’t matter if people find the remarks unpalatable,” Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, tells Oklahoma Watch. “No amount of political outrage can undermine their constitutional rights.”

Killackey teaches AP English in Edmond and is one of the plaintiffs suing Oklahoma over HB 1775, a bill that bans the teaching of certain concepts around race and gender.

Advertisement

“Well number one, I was shocked,” Killackey tells News 4 about his reaction. “And number two, I thought it was some sort of mistake or some prank or something like that.”

Killackey has been a teacher for over 20 years but the department has taken the first steps to remove his license. For now, he remains certified.

If the case turns into a legal process, it will be taxpayers who foot the bill and Tommy Adler of Adler Markoff & Associates tells News 4 it would be an easy case to win.

“The Supreme Court’s been incredibly clear. I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your ability to say it. It’s the core of First Amendment speech,” says Adler.


Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.

Advertisement





Source link

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State outlasts UCF in overtime, Houston next

Published

on

Oklahoma State outlasts UCF in overtime, Houston next


ORLANDO, Fla. –

The Oklahoma State Cowboys men’s basketball bounced back in a big way Tuesday night.

Anthony Roy scored 27 points and Kanye Clary added 23, including seven in overtime, as Oklahoma State defeated the UCF Knights men’s basketball 111-104 in Orlando.

The Cowboys controlled the extra period, finishing overtime on an 11-4 run and outscoring UCF 17-10.

Advertisement

Clary played a major role in closing it out. He hit a key 3-pointer and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in overtime to help seal the win.

The victory moves Oklahoma State to 18-12 overall and 6-11 in the Big 12, and gives the Cowboys two wins in their last three games after snapping a five-game losing streak. UCF, now 20-9 (9-8 Big 12), has dropped two straight.

Roy and Clary led a balanced offensive effort. Jaylen Curry and Christian Coleman each added 16 points, while the Cowboys shot 49% from the field (35-of-72) and 80% from the free throw line (32-of-40).

Themus Fulks led UCF with 22 points, while Riley Kugel added 18.

Late-game drama forces overtime

Advertisement

The final seconds of regulation were chaotic.

With 24 seconds remaining, Isaiah Coleman threw down a dunk to give Oklahoma State a 94-91 lead.

But UCF answered quickly when Chris Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left, tying the game at 94-94.

Oklahoma State had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Jaylen Curry missed a shot, and John Bol blocked Roy’s attempt, sending the game to overtime.

Cowboys respond after tough loss

Advertisement

The Cowboys showed resilience after Saturday’s lopsided loss to Cincinnati.

The team traveled directly to Orlando following that defeat and was pushed through two intense practices by head coach Steve Lutz and the coaching staff.

The response was clear.

Led by Roy’s scoring and Clary’s clutch overtime performance, Oklahoma State delivered a gritty win and swept the season series against UCF

Advertisement





Source link

Continue Reading

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon

Published

on

Oklahoma City police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon


Oklahoma City Police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon Monday night.

The shooting happened near Northwest 10th Street and South Yukon Parkway near the border of Yukon and Oklahoma City.

Police are on the scene, and officials said the victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the hip.

OKCPD said they have at least one person in custody.

Advertisement

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

For more local news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here.



Source link

Continue Reading

Oklahoma

Oklahoma lawmakers consider bill to require annual fee for transmission lines on private property

Published

on

Oklahoma lawmakers consider bill to require annual fee for transmission lines on private property


As consumer electricity needs grow, lawmakers are discussing strategies to ease the burden on landowners who don’t want the towers and wires carrying that energy on their property.

As it’s written now, the bill would require transmission owners to pay landowners $2 per foot of line annually. During the committee meeting, Murdock said he introduced the legislation to “start a conversation.”

“ This is an idea of, maybe moving forward, if the landowners are getting a royalty off of the power being pushed across their property, it may make it a little more palatable for someone to have a transmission line go across their property,” he said.

Landowners can enter into easement agreements with companies to set aside portions of their land for the builds. But in some cases, eminent domain is used to obtain a right-of-way.

Advertisement

“ I’m not saying that this is going to do away with eminent domain,” Murdock said. “What I’m hoping is this just makes it a little more palatable.”

Murdock said he spoke with utility companies about the legislation, though he didn’t name them. The bill’s language could change after creating an alternative rate based on conversations with the companies, he said.

Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, said the bill could raise utility rates for consumers living in Oklahoma’s most populous counties if companies charge more to make up for the annual fee.

Murdock pushed back, noting the lines are necessary to deliver electricity to other counties.

“You understand that you flip that light on because — and have that ability to have electricity because — the people in my district have a transmission line that goes across them, getting you that power,” he said.

Advertisement

StateImpact Oklahoma is a partnership of Oklahoma’s public radio stations which relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending