Michael Bates

Smoky Dacus: Texas Playboys drummer remembers his work with Bob Wills

10/31/2020

A little diversion from all the political stuff: I just came across a fascinating unpublished 1981 interview with Smoky Dacus (1911-2001), the original drummer for Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. The interview was conducted by Scott K. Fish for Modern Drummer magazine. Dacus tells of his early days growing...

- October 31, 2020 at 12:17PM
Smoky Dacus: Texas Playboys drummer remembers his work with Bob Wills
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State leaders oppose SQ 805

10/31/2020

On Thursday, October 29, 2020, a large group of state officials, law enforcement leaders, domestic violence survivors, and community leaders gathered for a press conference to urge Oklahomans to vote NO on SQ805. Speakers included Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, Attorney General Mike Hunter, former First Lady Cathy Keating, Oklahoma FOP...

- October 31, 2020 at 12:19AM
State leaders oppose SQ 805
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Josh Turley for Tulsa County Commissioner District 2

10/30/2020

The only contested Tulsa County office on the ballot is a rematch for Tulsa County Commissioner, District 2. Republican Josh Turley seeks to defeat 12-year incumbent Democrat Commissioner Karen Keith. Dr. Turley, whose doctorate is in organizational leadership, had a distinguished 24-year career at the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office,...

- October 30, 2020 at 01:05AM
Josh Turley for Tulsa County Commissioner, District 2
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Tulsa Election 2020: City Council contributions

10/29/2020

Oklahoma state statute and Oklahoma Ethics Commission rules require campaign committees for city elections to file a campaign contributions and expenditures report with the City Clerk's office 10 days prior to an election (effectively 8 days, since the clerk's office is closed on the weekend, so the report is...

- October 29, 2020 at 01:01PM
Tulsa Election 2020: City Council contributions
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Oklahoma Election 2020: Judges

10/28/2020

The 2020 Oklahoma general election ballot has retention votes for three State Supreme Court justices, two judges on the Court of Criminal Appeals, and three judges on the Court of Civil Appeals. These are yes-no votes, unlike the district judge elections that occur in gubernatorial election years. If "no" prevails...

- October 28, 2020 at 09:40AM
Oklahoma Election 2020: Judges
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Oklahoma SQ 805: Lighter sentences for career criminals

10/20/2020

Oklahoma State Question 805 would insert a new article into the Oklahoma Constitution to ban longer sentences for repeat felony offenders. The question arises from an initiative petition. SQ 805 is opposed by the Oklahoma Sheriffs' Association (and by both candidates for Oklahoma County Sheriff), the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, the...

- October 20, 2020 at 10:18PM
Oklahoma SQ 805: Lighter sentences for career criminals
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Election 2020: BatesLine ballot card

10/17/2020

In-person absentee voting is available at your County Election Board office or other designated sites on Thursday, October 29, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Friday, October 30, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, October 31, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To better...

- November 03, 2020 at 09:49PM
Election 2020: BatesLine ballot card
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Oklahoma SQ 814: Using tobacco money to pay for Medicaid expansion

10/10/2020

Only two state questions are on the ballot in November, which seems like a record low. Of the 12 attempts this year at putting a question on a ballot via initiative petitions, two made it two the ballot (802 and 805), two (involving marijuana) are in process, and the remainder...

- October 10, 2020 at 10:21PM
Oklahoma SQ 814: Using tobacco money to pay for Medicaid expansion
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Election 2020: BatesLine ballot card

10/9/2020

In-person absentee voting is available at your County Election Board office or other designated sites on Thursday, October 29, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Friday, October 30, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, October 31, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To better...

- October 08, 2020 at 10:49PM
Election 2020: BatesLine ballot card
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