Oklahoma
What Is PragerU: Controversial Conservative Platform Entering Classrooms In Florida And Oklahoma
Topline
PragerU, a nonprofit known for producing short and often controversial videos promoting conservative viewpoints of different civic topics, had its content approved for use in Oklahoma’s public schools Tuesday—about a month after Florida adopted the use of the content in its own classrooms, prompting backlash over its presence in public classrooms.
Key Facts
State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced the PragerU initiative in Oklahoma on Tuesday, which will allow teachers to independently show videos produced by PragerU Kids, a division of the nonprofit that produces “pro-American kids shows for every grade” meant to combat “woke agendas,” according to its website.
Content on the PragerU Kids YouTube channel, which has received backlash, includes a video depicting a cartoon Christopher Columbus saying slavery wasn’t an issue during his time period because of its widespread use and another describing George Floyd as a “Black man who resisted arrest.”
Fracking billionaires Dan and Farris Wilks provided most of the seed money for PragerU in the platform’s early stages, according to multiple outlets.
The nonprofit’s main source of income comes from donations, with $65 million in donations raised from more than 100,000 donors in 2022, according to an annual report.
Key Background
Florida and Oklahoma are both conservative states making changes to their education systems this year, pushing back on what they claim is an increasingly “woke” agenda in classrooms. Florida recently approved a K-12 curriculum that requires teachers to teach students that the skills developed by slaves could be used for their personal benefit. The change received widespread pushback, including from some Republican congress members. The Florida Department of Education told the Miami New Times the PragerU Kids material “aligns to Florida’s revised civics and government standards.” PragerU is named after one of its founders, Dennis Prager, who founded the company alongside screenwriter Allen Estrin in 2009. Prager is a conservative talk show host and a Judaism book author who initially intended for PragerU to become a real university, according to the New York Times. That was before Estrin suggested an online university that eventually materialized into popular, five-minute conservative educational videos on YouTube. From there, PragerU focused on the digital platform it had and began dumping money into marketing. In 2018, BuzzFeed News reported the company spent more than 40% of its $10 million annual budget that year on marketing.
Big Number
3 million. That’s how many people are subscribed to the PragerU YouTube channel, which covers topics related to economics, race relations, politics and climate change—the latter subject of which the company has played down.
Chief Critic
In 2018, the Southern Poverty Law Center said some of PragerU’s videos function “as dog whistles to the extreme right,” referring to videos hosted by right-wing commentators Candace Owens and Dinesh D’Souza.
Forbes Valuation
We estimate Dan Wilks’ net worth at $1.5 billion and his brother’s, Farris Wilks, at $1.4 billion. The brothers received a combined $3.5 billion in pre-tax income when they sold their fracking company, Frac Tech, to Singaporean state-owned investment firm Temasek in 2011. The billionaires have also acquired more than 672,000 acres of land in six different Western states, which placed them among the U.S.’s 12-largest landowners in 2019.
Crucial Quote
“America’s education system has been hijacked by one side,” PragerU CEO Marissa Streit told Time last month, suggesting teachers are somehow “held hostage to” left-leaning education systems.
Further Reading
The 2022 Ranking Of Free-Market Think Tanks Measured By Social Media Impact (Forbes)
What It Means That Florida Will Allow Conservative PragerU Content in Schools (Forbes)
Oklahoma
2024 NCAA softball bracket: Women's College World Series scores, schedule
The 2024 NCAA DI softball tournament is here. The bracket was announced on Sunday, May 12 in an ESPN2 selection show. Regional action will run May 17-19, followed by super regionals from May 23-26. The tournament culminates with the eight-team 2024 Women’s College World Series starting on May 30 in Oklahoma City.
AUTO-BID TRACKER: Every conference tournament champion and automatic bid
The 2023 Women’s College World Series finals ended with Oklahoma sweeping Florida State to win a third-straight national championship. Below you can find all the information about the 2024 DI softball tournament.
2024 NCAA DI softball tournament bracket
👉 Click or tap here to get a closer look at the 2024 bracket
2024 NCAA DI softball tournament schedule
Here are the key dates for the 2024 NCAA DI softball tournament:
- Selection show: May 12 at 7 p.m. ET | ESPN2
- Regionals: May 16/17-19
- Super Regionals: May 23-25 or May 24-26
- Women’s College World Series: May 30-June 6/7 in Oklahoma City
2024 DI softball regionals (May 17-19)
*All times Eastern
Austin Regional – Austin, Texas
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6: TBD vs. TBD | 1 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 3:30 p.m.
Norman Regional – Norman, Oklahoma
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 3 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 5:30
Knoxville Regional – Knoxville, Tennessee
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | noon
- Game 7 if necessary | 2:30 p.m.
Gainesville Regional – Gainesville, Florida
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | noon
- Game 7 if necessary | 2:30 p.m.
Stillwater Regional – Stillwater, Oklahoma
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 3 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 5:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Regional – Los Angeles, California
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 6 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 8:30 p.m.
Columbia Regional – Columbia, Missouri
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 2 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 4:30 p.m.
Stanford Regional – Stanford, California
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 5 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 7:30 p.m.
Baton Rouge Regional – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 4 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 6:30 p.m.
Durham Regional – Durham, North Carolina
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 1 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 3:30 p.m.
Athens Regional – Athens, Georgia
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 2 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 4:30 p.m.
Fayetteville Regional – Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 4 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 6:30 p.m.
Lafayette Regional – Lafayette, Louisiana
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 2 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 4:30 p.m.
Tuscaloosa Regional – Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 2 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 3:30 p.m.
Tallahassee Regional – Tallahassee, Florida
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 1 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 3:30 p.m.
Bryan-College Station Regional – Bryan-College Station, Texas
- Friday, May 17
- Saturday, May 18
- Sunday, May 19
- Game 6 | 3 p.m.
- Game 7 if necessary | 5:30 p.m.
2024 Women’s College World Series schedule (all times ET)
May 30
- Game 1: TBD vs. TBD, noon | ESPN
- Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, 2:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 3: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. | ESPN2
- Game 4: TBD vs. TBD, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2
May 31
- Game 5: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. | ESPN2
- Game 6: TBD vs. TBD, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2
June 1
- Game 7: TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m. | ABC
- Game 8: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. | ESPN
June 2
- Game 9: TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m. | ABC
- Game 10: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. | ESPNU
June 3
- Game 11: TBD vs. TBD, noon | ESPN
- Game 12 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD, 2:30 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 13: TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. | ESPN2
- Game 14 (if necessary): 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2
June 5
- WCWS Final Game 1: TBD vs. TBD, 8 p.m. | ESPN
June 6
- WCWS Final Game 2: TBD vs. TBD, 8 p.m. | ESPN
June 7
- WCWS Final Game 3 (if necessary): TBD vs TBD, 8 p.m. | ESPN
How the championship works: Regionals — at 16 sites — are double-elimination and scheduled for May 16/17-19. The 16 winners advance to super regionals and play a two-team, best-out-of-three series either May 23-25 or May 24-26. The eight winners earn spots in the 2024 Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. The WCWS begins May 30 in double-elimination format. The final two teams play a best-of-three series for the national championship beginning June 5.
How to get tickets for the Women’s College World Series
You can purchase tickets for the 2024 WCWS here. The Women’s College World Series is played at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Softball Championship: Future dates
REGIONALS | SUPER REGIONALS | WCWS | |
---|---|---|---|
2025 | May 16-18 | May 22-25 | May 29-June 6 |
2026 | May 15-17 | May 21-24 | May 28-June 5 |
2027 | May 21-23 | May 27-30 | June 3-11 |
Women’s College World Series championship history
Below is the complete, year-by-year NCAA DI softball national championship history since 1982.
Year | Champion (Record) | Coach | Score | Runner-Up | Site |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | *Oklahoma (61-1) | Patty Gasso | 3-1 | Florida State | Oklahoma City |
2022 | *Oklahoma (59-3) | Patty Gasso | 10-5 | Texas | Oklahoma City |
2021 | Oklahoma (56-4) | Patty Gasso | 5-1 | Florida State | Oklahoma City |
2020 | Canceled due to Covid-19 | — | — | — | — |
2019 | *UCLA (56-6) | Kelly Inouye-Perez | 5-4 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma City |
2018 | *Florida State (58-12) | Lonni Alameda | 8-3 | Washington | Oklahoma City |
2017 | *Oklahoma (61-9) | Patty Gasso | 5-4 | Florida | Oklahoma City |
2016 | Oklahoma (57-8) | Patty Gasso | 2-1 | Auburn | Oklahoma City |
2015 | Florida (60-7) | Tim Walton | 4-1 | Michigan | Oklahoma City |
2014 | *Florida (55-12) | Tim Walton | 6-3 | Alabama | Oklahoma City |
2013 | *Oklahoma (57-4) | Patty Gasso | 4-0 | Tennessee | Oklahoma City |
2012 | Alabama (60-8) | Patrick Murphy | 5-4 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma City |
2011 | *Arizona State (60-6) | Clint Myers | 7-2 | Florida | Oklahoma City |
2010 | *UCLA (50-11) | Kelly Inouye-Perez | 15-9 | Arizona | Oklahoma City |
2009 | Washington (51-12) | Heather Tarr | 3-2 | Florida | Oklahoma City |
2008 | *Arizona State (66-5) | Clint Myers | 11-0 | Texas A&M | Oklahoma City |
2007 | Arizona (50-14-1) | Mike Candrea | 5-0 | Tennessee | Oklahoma City |
2006 | Arizona (54-11) | Mike Candrea | 5-0 | Northwestern | Oklahoma City |
2005 | Michigan (65-7) | Carol Hutchins | 4-1 | UCLA | Oklahoma City |
2004 | UCLA (47-9) | Sue Enquist | 3-1 | California | Oklahoma City |
2003 | UCLA (54-7) | Sue Enquist | 1-0 | California | Oklahoma City |
2002 | California (56-19) | Diane Ninemire | 6-0 | Arizona | Oklahoma City |
2001 | *Arizona (65-4) | Mike Candrea | 1-0 | UCLA | Oklahoma City |
2000 | *Oklahoma (66-8) | Patty Gasso | 3-1 | UCLA | Oklahoma City |
1999 | *UCLA (63-6) | Sue Enquist | 3-2 | Washington | Oklahoma City |
1998 | Fresno State (52-11) | Margie Wright | 1-0 | Arizona | Oklahoma City |
1997 | Arizona (61-5) | Mike Candrea | 10-2 | UCLA | Oklahoma City |
1996 | *Arizona (58-9) | Mike Candrea | 6-4 | Washington | Columbus, Ga. |
1995 | *#UCLA (50-6) | Sharron Backus | 4-2 | Arizona | Oklahoma City |
1994 | *Arizona (64-3) | Mike Candrea | 2-0 | Cal State Northridge | Oklahoma City |
1993 | Arizona (44-8) | Mike Candrea | 1-0 | UCLA | Oklahoma City |
1992 | *UCLA (54-2) | Sharron Backus | 2-0 | Arizona | Oklahoma City |
1991 | Arizona (56-16) | Mike Candrea | 5-1 | UCLA | Oklahoma City |
1990 | UCLA (62-7) | Sharron Backus | 2-0 | Fresno State | Oklahoma City |
1989 | *UCLA (48-4) | Sharron Backus | 1-0 | Fresno State | Sunnyvale, Calif. |
1988 | UCLA (53-8) | Sharron Backus | 3-0 | Fresno State | Sunnyvale, Calif. |
1987 | Texas A&M (56-8) | Bob Brock | 4-1 | UCLA | Omaha, Neb. |
1986 | *Cal State Fullerton (57-9-1) | Judi Garman | 3-0 | Texas A&M | Omaha, Neb. |
1985 | UCLA (41-9) | Sharron Backus | 2-1 | Nebraska | Omaha, Neb. |
1984 | UCLA (45-6-1) | Sharron Backus | 1-0 | Texas A&M | Omaha, Neb. |
1983 | Texas A&M (41-11) | Bob Brock | 2-0 | Cal State Fullerton | Omaha, Neb. |
1982 | *UCLA (33-7-2) | Sharron Backus | 2-0 | Fresno State | Omaha, Neb. |
*Indicates undefeated teams in final series.
#-UCLA’s 1995 national championship was later vacated by the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions
Oklahoma
Sen. Lankford Pushes Bill To Increase Transparency On Foreign Farmland Purchases In Oklahoma
Lawmakers met with farmers to discuss the future of agriculture here in the state.
U.S. Senator James Lankford (R- Okla.) says it’s time to crack down on the foreign land purchases happening in Oklahoma threatening national security.
The discussion inside a closed-door roundtable revolved around the need to pass a bill sponsored by Lankford that would allow oversight and transparency on foreign purchases of U.S. farmland.
“They’re not American citizens who are purchasing the land here, affecting water, electricity, and safety. It’s a lot of people illegally present,” said Lankford.
Lankford says that Oklahoma farming land has been turned into Marijuana grow farms since the passage of the marijuana laws in 2018.
Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says Canadians own the most acres in Oklahoma, but Lankford’s big concern is Chinese nationals. “No one is complaining about the land owned by Canadian people because they follow the rules. But if you are talking about Chinese nationals, they are not following the rules,” said Lankford.
The SOIL Act was introduced last year. Now, he’s hoping to make more progress with it with the help of a ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
The goal is to get it inside the next Farm Bill. “Congressman Frank Lucas (R- Okla.) is also working on the House side, and I am working on the Senate side, trying to deal with what we see in Oklahoma as a major issue.”
Groundwork on the Senate’s farm bill is expected to start next week.
Inside that farm bill, they also want to see safety nets for farmers, trade tools conservation, and research.
Oklahoma
Nearly $2M in school choice tax credits were spent on parents’ debt instead
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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