Dacoda Wahpekeche

Oklahoma

Reporter at KOCO-TV (Oklahoma City, OK)

@koconews Reporter | Kickapoo/Absentee Shawnee | Oklahoman | @GaylordCollege alum

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Articles

Oklahoma lawmakers pose tough questions for state health department

1 week ago | koco.com | Dacoda Wahpekeche

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. LAWMAKERS JUST ADJOURNED A LITTLE BIT AGO AFTER THAT LENGTHY TESTIMONY THAT WAS UNDER OATH FROM COMMISSIONER ALI FRIESEN WITH THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES. NOW, THERE WERE MANY CONCERNS BROUGHT UP BEFORE THIS, BEFORE THIS HEARING. AND LAWMAKERS, THEY ASKED ABOUT THOSE AND HAD MANY QUESTIONS ON HOW THIS COULD IMPACT MANY OKLAHOMANS. OUR GOAL IS CERTAINLY TO BE A RELIABLE AND ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT ORGANIZATION.
Oklahoma lawmakers to shed spotlight on mental health department

1 week ago | koco.com | Dacoda Wahpekeche

GOVERNOR THIS AFTERNOON. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. FOR A FEW MONTHS, WE’VE HEARD ALL KINDS OF ALLEGATIONS ABOUT WHAT LED TO A BUDGET SHORTFALL IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. WHILE THE GOVERNOR, KEVIN STITT, TODAY SAYING THE STATE NEEDS TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE DEPARTMENT AND HOLD THE BUREAUCRACY ACCOUNTABLE.
Bill capping signatures in each county during initiative petition process moves to House floor

1 week ago | koco.com | Dacoda Wahpekeche

A bill moving through the state Capitol would make it more difficult to get state questions onto ballots. Senate Bill 1027 would put a cap on the number of petition signatures can come from each county. Supporters said this would give rural Oklahomans more of a voice and make the process more transparent. ButInitiative petitions were the driving conversation inside the state Capitol on Tuesday. "This bill, there obviously have been a lot of conversations about it.
Lawmakers remember 1995 Oklahoma City bombing during joint session

1 week ago | koco.com | Dacoda Wahpekeche

Monday was an emotional day inside the state Capitol as lawmakers remembered the tragic bombing that shook Oklahoma 30 years ago. The state House and Senate paused to honor victims ahead of Saturday's anniversary of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing. Legislators discussed the need to continue striving for better. "Keep this going. Don't let these people that perished, don't let their memory vanish," state Rep. Rick West, a Republican from Heavener, said.
Emotional experience for some as Oklahoma favorites take the stage

1 week ago | koco.com | Dacoda Wahpekeche

The Boys from Oklahoma is more than just a weekend of concerts in Stillwater. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelIt’s an emotional experience for many, seeing an Oklahoma favorite take the stage for the first time in 15 years. And if you’re feeling that emotion, imagine the Cross Canadian Ragweed band members. It’s been 15 years since the band has played together and Grady Cross and the band played inside of Boone Pickens Stadium in front of a lively crowd.
Bill to gradually eliminate Oklahoma's state income tax passes Senate

2 weeks ago | koco.com | Dacoda Wahpekeche

Oklahomans are one step closer to seeing bigger paychecks thanks to the elimination of the state income tax, something Gov. Kevin Stitt has called for during his tenure. House Bill 1539 passed off of the Senate floor on Thursday. It would give a 0.25% income tax cut to Oklahomans if there is a certain increase in revenue over time, eventually getting rid of the state income tax.
Bill for Oklahoma tribal members to pay tolls fails in legislature

2 weeks ago | koco.com | Dacoda Wahpekeche

Whether drivers with tribal tags should pay tolls in Oklahoma has been a controversial issue for the state for years. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelBut it will not have any new resolution soon as the bill failed to move through the legislature on Wednesday. For years, Gov. Kevin Stitt has pushed for changes, to start charging tolls for drivers with tribal tags. “I think Oklahomans find that disgusting. I think Oklahomans find that ridiculous,” Stitt said.
Oklahoma lawmakers debate bills to ban cellphones in schools

2 weeks ago | koco.com | Dacoda Wahpekeche

LOOKED INTO BOTH OF THEM FOR YOU TODAY. CONVERSATIONS IN THE CAPITOL SEEM CLEAR. OKLAHOMA STUDENTS WILL LIKELY BE BANNED FROM HAVING CELL PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM. INSIDE THE SENATE’S EDUCATION COMMITTEE TUESDAY, THE TALKS ON OKLAHOMA STUDENTS AND THEIR PHONES PICKED BACK UP. HOW MANY MORE KIDS HAVE BEEN BULLIED? HOW MANY MORE INAPPROPRIATE PICTURES HAVE GONE ABOUT AND STUDENTS HAVE BEEN HURT AND ACADEMIC SCORES HAVEN’T BEEN WHAT THEY SHOULD BE BECAUSE OF THAT?
Bill that would gradually eliminate state income tax moves to Senate floor

2 weeks ago | koco.com | Dacoda Wahpekeche

DISCUSSED THE BILL THAT WOULD LOWER YOUR TAXES. THIS WEEK, BILLS ARE BACK IN COMMITTEES WITH LAWMAKERS HOPING TO GET THEM TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK. AND ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE BILLS TODAY INCLUDES ONE OF THE GOVERNOR’S PRIORITIES A PATH TO ZERO INCOME TAX. 80% OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED OF HOUSE BILL 1539 EARLIER THIS SESSION. MONDAY, SENATORS TOOK IT UP FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Mental health funding takes center stage at Oklahoma Capitol

2 weeks ago | koco.com | Dacoda Wahpekeche

CAUSED PLENTY OF CONTROVERSY. ARE THOSE DOLLARS GOING ON TARGET? ACTUALLY HELPING FOLKS, OR ARE THEY’VE BEEN SPENDING AT THE TOP LEVEL OF THE BUREAUCRACY, SO TO SPEAK? GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT TALKED THIS WEEK ABOUT SOLUTIONS TO A BUDGET SHORTFALL IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS IN OKLAHOMA’S DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, INCLUDING DIPPING INTO THE STATE’S SAVINGS.