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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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Stimulus funds help buy FEMA trailers for Kiowas

News | 8 hr ago | Comments

More than a half-million dollars of taxpayer stimulus money will fund new FEMA mobile homes and storm shelters for poor Kiowa tribal members.

Nichols Hills police detail stabbing evidence

News | 9 hr ago

NICHOLS HILLS — Police investigating the fatal stabbing of a boy collected three knives as evidence from the home, court records show. Ongoing Coverage Read the search warrant and other documents
View/sign the guest book for Tommy Wolf

Stimulus data assign funds to fake districts in Oklahoma

News | Yesterday | Comments

Millions in stimulus dollars are apparently flowing to nonexistent congressional districts in Oklahoma because of data entry problems with the federal government’s Web site. Your Right to Know

Watchdog Stories from The Oklahoman

Stimulus funds help buy FEMA trailers for Kiowas 8 hr ago | Add a comment More than a half-million dollars of taxpayer stimulus money will fund new FEMA mobile homes and storm shelters for poor Kiowa tribal members. The agency’s own tests have shown that about...

Nichols Hills police detail stabbing evidence 9 hr ago NICHOLS HILLS — Police investigating the fatal stabbing of a boy collected three knives as evidence from the home, court records show. One was broken and another had a bent blade, according...

Medicus workers ask for drug test in inquiry 17 hr ago | Add a comment SEMINOLE — Some Medicus employees asked Thursday to take a drug test to clear themselves as potential suspects in the investigation into missing narcotics at the city-owned ambulance service,...

Stimulus data assign funds to fake districts in Oklahoma Yesterday | Add a comment Millions in stimulus dollars are apparently flowing to nonexistent congressional districts in Oklahoma because of data entry problems with the federal government’s Web site. The tally...

Missing drugs spark Medicus ambulance inquiry Wed, Nov 18, 2009 | Add a comment SEMINOLE — Law enforcement officials are investigating allegations that narcotics are missing from Medicus, the city-owned ambulance service. An agent from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics...

Oklahoma City police name suspect in fatal shootings, fire Tue, Nov 17, 2009 Police have identified a suspect in the fatal shooting of four people whose bodies were left in a burning Oklahoma City house. Police are looking for David Allen Tyner, 28, of Locust Grove. A judge...

Grady County Assessor Bari Firestone to fight records decision Tue, Nov 17, 2009 | Add a comment CHICKASHA — Grady County Assessor Bari Firestone is fighting a judge’s recent ruling that limits her to charging no more than $26 for electronic copies of land records. Firestone claims...

Oklahoma City police name suspect in shooting deaths, house fire Mon, Nov 16, 2009 Police have identified a suspect in the fatal shooting of four people whose bodies were left in a burning Oklahoma City house. Police are looking for David Allen Tyner, 28, of Locust Grove. A...

Online survey: Share your thoughts on lying Mon, Nov 16, 2009 | Add a comment Thank you for participating in this survey.

Oklahoma tax debts now put online Sun, Nov 15, 2009 | Add a comment Fraudsters and failed business owners top the list of the highest unpaid tax delinquencies in the state, with one man owing more than $112 million. The state Tax Commission on Nov. 2 began posting...

Oklahoma tribes receive millions from stimulus Sun, Nov 15, 2009 | Add a comment Oklahoma Indian tribes have been awarded more than $135 million in federal stimulus dollars and are hastily developing projects ranging from housing construction to Head Start programs. The...

Oklahoma City fire victim had criminal past, records show Fri, Nov 13, 2009 The male homicide victim whose body was found in a burned house is a suspected gangster who had convictions for drug offenses, bail jumping and a drive-by shooting, records show. Casey Mark...

2 Oklahoma troopers cleared in use of force case Fri, Nov 13, 2009 | Add a comment Two state troopers used an appropriate amount of force in the October arrest of a Holdenville man, Department of Public Safety officials said. The man’s attorney disagrees. "Why in...

3-time Oklahoma City killer gets 3 life sentences Fri, Nov 13, 2009 A triple murderer has been sentenced to three consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole for fatal shootings in Oklahoma City. Raymond "Mono” Pillado also was given a life...

Two Oklahoma troopers cleared of excessive force allegations Fri, Nov 13, 2009 | Add a comment A Department of Public Safety review board has cleared two state troopers of allegations of excessive force in connection with the October arrest of a Holdenville man. Troopers Tommy Allen and...

Were you arrested for a crime you did not commit? Fri, Nov 13, 2009 | Add a comment Were you arrested for a crime you did not commit? Is your record now holding you back from employment? Staff reporter Vallery Brown is looking for people who would like to have their record...

Oklahoma City seminar's makeup tips make cancer patients feel better Fri, Nov 13, 2009 | Add a comment Susan Adair is bound and determined not to wear the worry of cancer on her face. Adair confidently abandoned her wig and makeup Tuesday for a makeover at the Look Good ... Feel Better program. She...

How will the lack of a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment in 2010 affect you? Thu, Nov 12, 2009 | Add a comment The Social Security Administration recently announced there would be no cost-of-living adjustment for 2010. If you currently rely on Social Security benefits, how do you think this will affect you?...

Have you ever tried to have your criminal record expunged? Thu, Nov 12, 2009 | Add a comment Have you ever tried to have your criminal record expunged? Are you trying now? Tell Vallery Brown about the experience at vbrown@opubco.com or call 475-3464.

Oklahoma kids in DHS care face dangers, report finds Thu, Nov 12, 2009 | Add a comment TULSA — Treatment of children in Oklahoma’s child welfare system has been "incomprehensible, unimaginable, outrageous and immoral,” a child welfare expert stated Wednesday in...

Demonstrators protest firing of Larry Jones in Oklahoma City Wed, Nov 11, 2009 | Add a comment OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Several demonstrators gathered outside Oklahoma City-based charity Feed the Children to protest the firing of the charity's founder, Larry Jones. About a half-dozen...

Fired president Larry Jones files lawsuit against Feed the Children Wed, Nov 11, 2009 | Add a comment Larry Jones is seeking in a lawsuit to be reinstated as president of Feed The Children. Jones filed a wrongful termination lawsuit Tuesday in Oklahoma County District Court. He alleges his...

8,700 clunkers helped rev up Oklahoma auto sales Wed, Nov 11, 2009 | Add a comment Oklahomans stayed fairly loyal to their old car brands when they took advantage of the Cash for Clunkers rebate program earlier this year. State residents traded in more than 8,700 of their gas...

Grady County assessor loses open records suit Mon, Nov 9, 2009 An attorney won his fourth case against county assessors found violating the state Open Records Act by charging excessive fees for electronic copies of land records. Grady County District Judge...

Disability may keep ECU student from staying in dorm room Mon, Nov 9, 2009 | Add a comment ADA — A Tupelo quadriplegic is wrangling with East Central University officials over whether he can live in the campus dorms. Joshua Jackson, 35, an East Central University junior, was...

Midwest City slaying suspect’s kin say she’s mentally ill Fri, Nov 6, 2009 A Midwest City woman who admitted killing a retired nurse after a chance encounter suffers from bipolar disorder, a boyfriend and relatives told a judge Friday. "She seemed to be getting worse...

Insurance, donations help cover costs for Duncan baby’s care Fri, Nov 6, 2009 | Add a comment DUNCAN — Kayden Ward has known the kind touch of helping hands his whole life. This week, his family felt it too. Kayden’s parents and grandmother learned Tuesday that SoonerCare will...

Police allege Newalla man used 'quick draw method' in indecent exposure case Fri, Nov 6, 2009 HARRAH - A Newalla man is accused of exposing himself using what law enforcement officials are calling the "quick draw method." Michael Scott King III, 22, was arrested Wednesday on indecent...

Pontotoc County will open a new 200-bed jail Thu, Nov 5, 2009 | Add a comment ADA — Pontotoc County Sheriff John Christian is getting a new jail for Christmas. "I’ve been in law enforcement for more than 25 years, and I never thought it would happen in my...

Oklahoma City pharmacist to face trial Thu, Nov 5, 2009 The pharmacist who fatally shot a robber was ordered Wednesday to face a murder trial. Oklahoma County Special Judge Greg Ryan agreed prosecutors had sufficient evidence against pharmacist Jerome...

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Watchdog Blog

The Watchdog team keeps you up to date with new developments, upcoming stories and important information about fraud, waste or abuse

Mark Hutchison - Watchdog editor

Mark Hutchison has been in Oklahoma newspapers since 1986, first at the Enid Morning News & Eagle. He joined The Oklahoman in 1989 in the Lawton Bureau and has been a reporter and editor since. He has won several state and regional reporting awards for investigative, breaking news and feature stories. Among them are coverage of an American Indian chief who was indicted and imprisoned; malfeasance that led to the resignation and firings of public officials and problems within the state juvenile justice system. A journalism graduate from the University of Kansas, he has three daughters.

phone: (405)990-6160
email: mhutchison@opubco.com

Randy Ellis

For the past 26 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, 52, 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.

phone: (405)475-3522
email: rellis@opubco.com

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

Paul Monies

Paul Monies is the Database Editor for The Oklahoman. He’s in charge of maintaining the newsroom’s databases for everything from voter information and state finances to inspections and campaign finance. Paul has worked at newspapers in Texas and Missouri and spent five years as an award-winning business reporter for The Oklahoman. He is a native of Scotland who graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and has a master’s degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

phone: (405)475-3730
email: pmonies@opubco.com

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 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

Sonya Colberg

Sonya Colberg has worked as a reporter and editor in Oklahoma since 1986, first for the Sapulpa Herald, then Tulsa World before joining The Oklahoman in 2000. She has received state and regional awards for investigative, business and feature stories. Her stories include those on the fatal Interstate 40 bridge collapse; problems with a state foreign trade office; and a multi-million dollar investor scam. A journalism graduate from Colorado State University, she is married and has one son.

email: scolberg@opubco.com