Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small today issued a statement in response to a false suggestion made about OCPA during a House legislative study on the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC).

During the Oct. 9 meeting, state Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, asked, “My understanding is that opponents to the JNC or people or groups seeking to have the JNC abolished or changed considerably were invited to participate and they either declined or they did not respond. Is that correct? I wanted to make sure that we got that on the record so that we know that this wasn’t stacked.”

State Rep. Erick Harris, an Edmond Republican who ran the study, responded, “That is correct.”

The nationwide rash of campus radicalism, particularly anti-Semitism, has been disturbing. Even more disturbing is the fact that it is appearing in Oklahoma.

Eyal Yakoby, an incoming Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) student who self-describes as being “dedicated to combating Jew-Hate and anti-Americanism,” highlighted an email distributed to students at Oklahoma State University that touted Students for Justice in Palestine (SPJ) events.

“The official diversity committee at Oklahoma State University’s psychology department sent an email soliciting students to participate in the ‘Week of Rage’ sponsored by SJP,” Yakoby wrote. “The first event is on Oct. 7th to celebrate the massacre. This is systemic antisemitism.”

Rancher Bud Beaston and District Attorney Mike Fisher (Osage and Pawnee Counties) may not agree on anything except that Osage County disputes have raged for a long time. Beaston says corruption in Osage County begins with zoning and planning efforts, extends to questionable land and building sales, construction of public facilities, and even elected officials intimidating citizens and ignoring votes. DA Fisher calls the allegations “baseless with no evidence to support it.” Beaston counters he has the evidence and awaits lawful authority willing to hear the case.

Early in September Beaston sent a registered letter to Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. He also sent copies of that letter to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, various additional officials including the US Department of Justice, and thirty legacy media outlets throughout the state. As of today, no one other than this reporter has called in response, Beaston said.

Last week, the Oklahoma State Work Permits and Visas Task Force published their report, making several recommendations to the legislature for immigration-related bills. Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, spoke forthrightly against the recommendations and encouraged his fellow legislators to do likewise.

“As legislators, we must look out first and foremost for the well-being of Oklahomans,” Sen. Deevers said. “I’m afraid these recommendations fail to do that.”