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The Oklahoman's Watchdog team is a dedicated group of journalists here to expose corruption in Oklahoma. If you have any information about possible fraud, waste or abuse click on the Whistle Blower link below or call (405) 475-3322 and let us know.
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Overcrowding of DHS shelters for children violates Oklahoma state law

News | Published: Sun, Feb 12, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment

The number of abused and neglected children being kept at Oklahoma's two state-run shelters has soared this past year in disregard for Oklahoma law.

Watchdog Stories from The Oklahoman

Overcrowding of DHS shelters for children violates Oklahoma state law Published: Sun, Feb 12, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment The number of abused and neglected children being kept at Oklahoma's two state-run shelters has soared this past year in disregard for Oklahoma law. Read More
Oklahoma DHS officials re-evaluate use of children's shelters Published: Sun, Feb 12, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment “Babies should not be in children's shelters.” National experts say it. Oklahoma Department of Human Service workers agree. But walk into the Oklahoma City's state-run Pauline E. Mayer Children's Shelter for abused and neglected children and there they are. Read More
Oklahoma children's shelters worry national child welfare experts Published: Sun, Feb 12, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment Oklahoma's use of shelters to house abused and neglected babies and other children is cause for major concern, according to several national child welfare experts. Read More
Former Blanchard officials indicted on bribery charges Published: Thu, Feb 9, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment Oklahoma grand jury alleges the men offered a bribe to incoming city councilman. Read More
Oklahoma woman told statute of limitations has passed in rape case Published: Sun, Feb 5, 2012 Charlotte Pemberton-Ropp, 32, of Blackwell, OK, recently obtained a paternity test as evidence that her stepfather raped her when she was 14. The statute of limitations has run out on her rape case, and authorities say they can't prosecute him unless she can show it was reported before then. Read More
Keystone pipeline is ready to come through Oklahoma Published: Sun, Feb 5, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment Oklahoma landowners who live, farm and ranch in the path of the Keystone XL oil pipeline fought their battles during the past three years and most have now washed their hands of the matter even as it becomes a key issue in Washington politics. Part of the pipeline has been constructed in Oklahoma. Read More
FBI created fake company during investigation of Oklahoma Legislature Published: Sun, Feb 5, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment Undercover operation was part of larger investigation. Read More
Did FBI make political donations in Oklahoma? Published: Sun, Feb 5, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment Donations may have been made to Oklahoma campaigns by lobbyist for Federal Bureau of Investigation. Read More
Oklahoma county district judge orders halt to Community Health Charities of Oklahoma's bonuses Published: Sat, Feb 4, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment An Oklahoma county district judge Friday ordered a local health charity not to give any more employee bonuses without court approval. Read More
Woodward former police detective charged with evidence theft Published: Fri, Feb 3, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment A former Woodward police detective was charged Thursday with repeatedly stealing methamphetamine from the police department's evidence room to support his wife's drug habit. Read More
Two plead guilty in Oklahoma City child-in-closet case Published: Fri, Feb 3, 2012 An Oklahoma City grandmother admitted she didn't do enough to stop the mistreatment of her 5-year-old granddaughter who was malnourished and forced to live in a closet. Read More
Settlement agreement reached in lawsuit for Blackwell residents over old smelter Updated: Tue, Jan 31, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment Attorneys in the case say the agreement will pay out $500-$7,000 to about 4,000 Blackwell, OK, property owners affected by the old Blackwell Zinc Co. Some say they plan to protest the settlement proposal, claiming the attorneys are getting millions while the property owners are the ones who have had to put up with... Read More
Blanchard man put on suicide watch after arrest in wife's death Published: Tue, Jan 31, 2012 Justin Adams, arrested in the death of his pregnant wife, told his attorney he was stripped of his clothes during his first 48 hours in the Oklahoma County jail. Read More
Released by judge, Oklahoma convict is accused of fatally shooting drug dealer Published: Tue, Jan 31, 2012 Oklahoma County District Judge Kenneth Watson acknowledges he made mistake in releasing convict early. Read More
Many seek answers after three Edmond teen suicides Published: Sat, Jan 28, 2012 Edmond, OK, officials offer counseling and suicide prevention to help students recover from the loss of three teens in unrelated suicides in the past two weeks. Read More
Judge approves restraining order in Community Health Charities case Published: Wed, Jan 25, 2012 An Oklahoma County district judge signed a court order Tuesday halting a takeover of Community Health Charities of Oklahoma until she can hear arguments over who should govern the charity. Read More
Community Health Charities of Oklahoma accused of financial irregularities Published: Tue, Jan 24, 2012 Officers and employees at a local health care charity allegedly paid themselves large, unauthorized bonuses and engaged in other financial malfeasance, according to documents filed Monday in Oklahoma County District Court. Read More
New witness found in Oklahoma bribery case against former Senate leader Published: Mon, Jan 23, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment The jury trial for former Senate president pro tem Mike Morgan, prominent attorney Martin Stringer and lobbyist Andrew Skeith is set to begin Feb. 13 in Oklahoma City federal court. The new witness is Jerry Dale Cash, the former chief executive officer for Quest Resource Corp., Quest Energy Partners and Quest... Read More
Oklahoma legislator wants workers' comp benefits over traffic accident Published: Sun, Jan 22, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment Mike Christian says he was ‘on duty' when injured in a hit-and-run collision Read More
Texas water district seeks U.S. Supreme Court review of lawsuit against Oklahoma Published: Fri, Jan 20, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment A large Texas water district Thursday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review an appellate court decision upholding Oklahoma laws that restrict the exportation of stream water. Read More
Former DHS employee charged with sex crime against 15-year-old foster child while on staff Updated: Wed, Jan 18, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment A former employee of the state Department of Human Services has been charged with committing a sex crime against a teenage girl in foster care while he was on staff with DHS. Read More
Blanchard city councilman claims fraud spoiled election in April Published: Tue, Jan 17, 2012 A Blanchard city councilman has asked the FBI to investigate allegations of voter fraud in last April's Blanchard municipal election. Read More
Doctor's report narrows time Edmond's baby Jake was injured Published: Sun, Jan 15, 2012 The president of the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a medical opinion stating he believes the injuries that killed an Edmond baby 10 months ago were sustained at the home of his baby sitter. Read More
State grand jury to get involved in investigation of Edmond baby's death Published: Fri, Jan 13, 2012 The baby was in the care of Traci Kramer, the wife of Kevin Lee Kramer, a drug lab supervisor at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Parents Zane and Leah Hedger have been critical of Edmond police's handling of the investigation. Read More
DHS settlement will bring big changes to child-welfare agency Published: Sun, Jan 8, 2012 | Comment on this article Leave a comment This week's settlement of a federal class-action lawsuit likely signals the beginning of major changes within Oklahoma's child-welfare agency. Read More


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Randy Ellis

Randy Ellis
For the past 30 years, staff writer Randy Ellis has exposed public corruption and government mismanagement in news articles. Ellis has investigated problems in Oklahoma's higher education institutions and wrote stories that ultimately led to two college presidents being sentenced to prison and a former chancellor being forced to resign. He has written about abuses of Oklahoma's workers' compensation system, corruption in the state's municipal bond industry, bid-rigging by county officials, self-dealing by state housing officials, misconduct involving state legislators and a variety of other topics. Ellis has won more than 80 state, regional and national awards for journalistic excellence. Prior to joining The Oklahoman in 1982, Ellis worked at Arkansas newspapers. He is a 1977 graduate of Kansas State University. University.
phone: (405)475-3522
email: rellis@opubco.com

Ann Kelley

Ann Kelley
Ann Kelley has been an Oklahoma journalist for 10 years. She was a reporter for The Ada Evening News and The Shawnee News-Star before joining The Oklahoman in 2002. Kelley has received numerous awards for breaking news, investigative and government reporting. In 1999, she was an Associated Press sweepstakes winner for her stories about two wrongfully convicted men. Her work is featured in John Grisham’s bestselling book, “The Innocent Man,” and used as a source in “Actual Innocence,” co-authored by attorney Berry Scheck, founder of the Innocence Project.

Kelley is a graduate of Fresno State University. Prior to her career in jounalism, she worked as a social worker and as a legal assistant.
phone: (405)475-4097
email: akelley@opubco.com

Vallery Brown

Vallery Brown
Vallery Brown has been covering Oklahoma since she started working for Oklahoma Today magazine. She spent time in Washington, D.C. learning about national government. She has a journalism degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and is working toward a master's degree. Brown joined The Oklahoman in 2008 covering health and medical news before joining the watchdog team, where her work has aided in the prosecution of criminals, business reform and government accountability. Born in Montana, Brown is an accomplished vocalist.
phone: (405)475-3464
email: VBrown@opubco.com

Nolan Clay

Nolan Clay
Nolan Clay was born in Oklahoma and has worked for The Oklahoman since 1985. He covered the bombing trials and witnessed bomber Tim McVeigh's execution. His investigative reports have brought down public officials, exposed shysters and resulted in reforms in such areas as day care oversight and workers' compensation court. He is a proud father and Sooner football fan. His wedding in 2001 was on the 50-yard line of Owen Field.
phone: (405)475-3929
email: nclay@opubco.com