(The Center Square) - American Bank of Oklahoma will offer $1.15 million in credit opportunities to a Tulsa neighborhood as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice.

The bank discriminated against the neighborhood, which was the site of the Tulsa Race Massacre, the DOJ said in a news release. The incidents occurred between 2017 and 2021.

The complaint also alleged that bank employees, including executives and loan officers, sent and received emails with racial slurs.

“American Bank of Oklahoma engaged in the illegal practice of redlining and failed to serve the diverse members of our Tulsa community as they attempted to purchase homes,” said U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma. “These practices are often hard to identify and prosecute and I want to thank the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division for taking measures to correct these abhorrent business practices.”

The bank denied the allegations, but officials said they agreed to the settlement to avoid costs and protracted litigation.

"As Oklahomans, we carry a profound sense of sorrow for the tragic events of the Tulsa Race Massacre over a century ago," bank officials said in a news release. "It is with deep concern that we note the Justice Department’s decision to reference this distressing historical event in its complaint against our bank, established a mere 25 years ago. ABOK stands as a small community bank, with $383 million in assets and constrained resources, endeavoring to maintain competitiveness within the City of Tulsa."

In addition to the credit opportunities, the settlement requires the bank to invest a minimum of $950,000 into a loan subsidy fund for majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, spend $100,000 for outreach and consumer education and an additional $100,000 to develop community partnerships to increase access to residential mortgage credit, the DOJ said. Two of the bank's mortgage officers should serve majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, according to the settlement.

“This agreement will help expand investment in Black communities and communities of color in Tulsa and increase opportunities for homeownership and financial stability. Remedial provisions in the agreement will open up opportunities for building generational wealth while focusing on neighborhoods that bear the scars of the Tulsa Race Massacre," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

The United States is the single largest civilian firearm market in the world. A recent Gallup poll found that 45% of Americans have a gun in their home. And many of those households have more than one, as the U.S. is the only country with more privately-owned guns than people.

Whether for hunting, target shooting, personal protection, or home defense, consumer demand for firearms in the U.S. fuels a $32.1 billion a year industry. And across the country, companies are cashing in. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives reported that over 13.3 million firearms were manufactured in the U.S. for the domestic market in 2021. (Here is a look at which Americans own the most guns: a survey of all 50 states.)

According to the ATF, there are more than 3,200 federally licensed firearm production plants in the U.S., and 69 of them are operating in Oklahoma. Between them, a total of 14,654 firearms were manufactured in the state in 2021.

No company made more firearms in Oklahoma that year than International Firearm Corporation LLC. Through a production facility in Midwest City, the company produced a reported 11,423 guns - or 78.0% of all firearms made in the state in 2021.

StateGun production facilities in state, 2021Guns manufactured in state, 2021Largest gunmaker in state, 2021Largest gunmaker output, 2021Alabama52294,166Kimber Mfg Inc.275,325Alaska21258Annex Industries, LLC50Arizona192699,100Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.603,500Arkansas4773,351Wilson's Gun Shop Inc.41,746California7682,532Senga Engineering Inc.23,324Colorado753,109M+M Inc.1,712Connecticut33184,633Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC151,771Delaware211Gusovsky Gunsmithing LLC8Florida198671,359SCCY Industries LLC216,932Georgia1051,496,877Glock Inc.581,944Hawaii28Koffin Wurks LLC7Idaho7543,241FM Products Inc.18,593Illinois43647,423Springfield Inc.590,750Indiana6041,498Tippmann Arms Company LLC15,113Iowa4725,326Brownells Inc.11,024Kansas4619,287CZ-USA14,383Kentucky39510,679WM C Anderson Inc.505,635Louisiana432,658Brothers LA Arms, LLC640Maine2123,226Windham Weaponry Inc.22,930Maryland2430,358LWRC International27,331Massachusetts27435,514Savage Arms, Inc.406,867Michigan7326,424Great Lakes Firearms and Ammunition LLC22,388Minnesota3746,584Magnum Research Inc.14,586Mississippi393,003JMS Manufacturing Inc.1,289Missouri932,467,145Smith & Wesson2,316,857Montana5526,446Noreen Firearms LLC16,296Nebraska266,882Zermatt Arms Inc.4,076Nevada56262,086Legacy Sports International Inc.214,258New Hampshire271,992,731Sig Sauer Inc.1,293,532New Jersey11209,770Henry RAC Holding Corp.208,423New Mexico24281Farnsworth, Dustin Robert and Angie J81New York61128,276RemArms LLC86,594North Carolina152894,882Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.604,941North Dakota101,301Roughrider Arms LLC1,167Ohio117130,848Strassells Machine Inc.106,807Oklahoma6914,654International Firearm Corporation LLC11,423Oregon5016,619TNW Firearms Inc.4,004Pennsylvania110228,400IWI US Inc.96,662Rhode Island5144Ocean State Armory LLC50South Carolina55240,114Fn America, LLC169,407South Dakota20906West River Rifle Company LLC277Tennessee82185,720Beretta USA Corp.155,352Texas401814,838Maverick Arms, Inc.492,167Utah103271,862TDJ Buyer, LLC72,983Vermont20135,030Century Arms Inc.132,705Virginia8417,890Kriss USA, Inc.12,809Washington62242,736Aero Precision LLC174,662West Virginia286,941Childers Guns LLC5,108Wisconsin80137,397Henry RAC Holding Corp.112,180Wyoming5210,341Weatherby Inc.7,630

(The Center Square) - The Oklahoma State Board of Education agreed to accredit Tulsa Public Schools with deficiencies Wednesday and asked schools to examine policies dealing with pronoun use and Chinese-tied curriculum.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters cited low test scores and a problem with internal controls that he said led to the alleged embezzlement of school funds by a former employee.

In a video posted on social media earlier this month, Walters said that 65% of TPS schools are failing, and 15 elementary schools have a reading proficiency rate of less than 5%. He also said 52% of every dollar goes to administrative costs, not the classroom.

TPS Superintendent Deborah Gist, a frequent target of Walter's criticism, resigned Wednesday. Dr. Ebony Johnson, chief learning officer, was appointed interim superintendent.

TPS school board members said they were committed to addressing problems within the system. Walters said he wanted results within a year.

"They now have a leader who ran the district into the ground out of the way," Walters said. "But I want to be crystal clear. If that does not happen, I leave every option on the table to force this district to serve these kids. I am willing to do anything to turn this school around. Do not test me."

TPS officials must appear in person at state board meetings to report on their progress.

Walters opened the meeting by discussing the curriculum in TPS with ties to China. His question stems from a report linking Tulsa Public Schools with a Confucius Classrooms program that teaches Chinese to students.

"We will be requiring school districts to report any funding...to us, where foreign dollars are being used directly or indirectly through nonprofits," Walters said. "I am also going to be asking the state legislature to dive into this as well."

Walters also asked the board to inquire about pronoun use at Oklahoma schools.

"The radical left has been on an attack here on our children to undermine families, institutions, traditions of this country," Walters said. "Pronouns and requirements on teachers have been a direct way to put teachers right in the middle of the line of fire of this war that is going on in our classrooms.

The board agreed unanimously to inquire into both issues.

With the 2024 presidential election less than a year and a half away, campaign season is heating up. In recent months, the field of Republican contenders vying for the top spot on the party's ticket next November has grown considerably. Meanwhile, since announcing plans to seek a second term in April 2023, President Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee - and as the incumbent candidate, voters' perception of his job performance could be a decisive factor in his bid for reelection.

When it comes to voter sentiment, Biden is facing an uphill battle. According to a nationwide Gallup poll, his job approval rating stands at 40%, only slightly higher than his lowest rating of 37% recorded in April 2023, but well below his all-time high of 57% from early 2021. Public opinion regarding the Biden administration is not uniform across the country, however, and in some states, the president is viewed far more favorably than in others.

Another poll conducted in the first quarter of 2023 by public opinion research company Morning Consult found that 30% of adults in Oklahoma approve of how Biden is handling his job as president and 67% disapprove.

In the 2020 presidential election, Biden received 32.3% of the popular vote in Oklahoma, his fourth worst performance among states, and Donald Trump received 65.4%, the third largest share for the former president.

All data on Biden's job approval rating is from Morning Consult. Data on the 2020 presidential election results by state is from The Cook Political Report, an independent, nonpartisan, political analysis newsletter.

RankStateAdults who approve of Biden's job as president (%)Adults who disapprove of Biden's job as president (%)2020 election winnerBiden share of vote in 2020 (%)Trump share of vote in 2020 (%)1California5442Biden63.534.32Hawaii5344Biden63.734.33Maryland5244Biden65.432.24Vermont5144Biden66.130.75Massachusetts5046Biden65.632.16New York5047Biden60.937.77Illinois4948Biden57.540.68Washington4948Biden58.038.89Connecticut4948Biden59.339.210Rhode Island4848Biden59.438.611Delaware4650Biden58.739.812Oregon4651Biden56.540.413New Jersey4551Biden57.341.414New Mexico4452Biden54.343.515Virginia4453Biden54.144.016Alaska4352Trump42.852.817Georgia4354Biden49.549.318Minnesota4354Biden52.445.319Colorado4354Biden55.441.920Wisconsin4255Biden49.448.821New Hampshire4257Biden52.745.422Nevada4155Biden50.147.723Pennsylvania4156Biden50.048.824Michigan4156Biden50.647.825Arizona4057Biden49.449.126Maine4057Biden53.144.027Florida3957Trump47.951.228North Carolina3958Trump48.649.929Texas3858Trump46.552.130Montana3859Trump40.556.931Louisiana3759Trump39.958.532Ohio3760Trump45.253.333South Carolina3760Trump43.455.134Mississippi3561Trump41.157.635Kansas3562Trump41.656.236Missouri3462Trump41.456.837Tennessee3463Trump37.560.738Indiana3463Trump41.057.039Iowa3364Trump44.953.140Idaho3365Trump33.163.941South Dakota3365Trump35.661.842Utah3265Trump37.658.143Kentucky3166Trump36.262.144Alabama3166Trump36.662.045Nebraska3167Trump39.458.546Oklahoma3067Trump32.365.447Arkansas2967Trump34.862.448Wyoming2771Trump26.669.949North Dakota2571Trump31.865.150West Virginia2573Trump29.768.6

Hunting, while no longer a practical necessity, remains a popular pastime in the United States - and one that has drawn rising public interest in recent years. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, there were over 15.9 million licensed hunters in the U.S. in 2021, nearly 800,000 more than there were in 2018.

While hunting is a way of life for many Americans in all 50 states, in some parts of the country, it is far more popular than others.

In Oklahoma, 499,182 paid hunting licenses were issued in 2021. Adjusting for population, this comes out to 12.5 for every 100 people, the ninth most among states.

Explanations for hunting's popularity in certain parts of the country vary. Hunting culture, simplicity of hunting laws, the size of available game, or the variety and abundance of animal species can all play a role. Many of the states with the most hunters per capita have access to public land open to sports men and women. According to the Protected Areas Database program of the U.S. Geological Survey, 11.7% of land area in Oklahoma is publicly protected, the 18th lowest share among states.

All data on the number of licensed hunters is from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Population data used to adjust hunting license apportionments per capita came from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2021 American Community Survey.

RankStatePaid hunting licenses issued in 2021 per 100 residentsPaid hunting licenses issued in 2021Publicly protected state land (%)1Wyoming23.5136,20554.232South Dakota23.0206,31616.933Montana20.9231,33937.604North Dakota19.4150,72421.655Idaho15.9301,99467.976Maine15.1207,84918.127West Virginia14.2253,95512.058Alaska13.498,20256.239Oklahoma12.5499,18211.7010Wisconsin11.4669,81314.6711Arkansas10.7323,47413.6112Tennessee10.4728,75910.1813Alabama10.0504,6005.8614Vermont10.064,34316.4615Minnesota9.6550,66318.8716Mississippi9.6283,0219.8217Louisiana9.6442,67810.1018Nebraska9.4185,0342.3619Kansas8.7255,1431.8920Missouri8.3509,9637.5521Utah8.0268,07571.9522Oregon7.8331,47556.8023Pennsylvania7.4953,90318.7024Kentucky7.1321,3477.7425Georgia7.1769,1059.8726Iowa6.9220,5763.0227New Mexico6.6140,68547.6028Michigan6.6660,93315.2929Colorado6.4370,73644.7430North Carolina6.2654,25110.7031Arizona4.8349,55455.0932New Hampshire4.460,62924.9133South Carolina4.2219,2229.3834Indiana4.0273,4234.6835Texas4.01,170,3164.1036Nevada3.4106,86183.2237Ohio3.1360,4216.0138Virginia2.9d>253,65015.9739New York2.8560,34615.3040Washington2.4185,14738.2841Illinois2.3289,9224.3142Maryland1.9116,42214.1143Delaware1.716,72814.5544Florida1.0217,11327.0445Connecticut0.930,80715.7946Massachusetts0.959,65219.4447Hawaii0.811,27040.5248New Jersey0.871,70723.6149Rhode Island0.77,98510.8950California0.7278,21055.86

(The Center Square) - Oklahoma is spending $215 million to increase the supply of affordable housing after the state experienced the tenth-highest net domestic migration in the U.S. between 2021 and 2022, according to a draft report on the Oklahoma Housing Finance Authority.

The Oversight Committee for the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency reviewed the report Wednesday, which found that the housing market conditions are limiting the impact of OHFA’s housing assistance programs.

The legislature appropriated $215 million for new housing programs in 2023.

“The top line is that rising housing costs mean we can’t help as many people,” said Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, who sits on the LOFT Oversight Committee. “We know the waitlist for housing vouchers is too long and people are needing to use these vouchers for longer and longer periods of time because there are no other options in their price range. We have a clear need for more housing for individuals and families with very low incomes and those who work anywhere near the minimum wage.”

More than 25,000 Oklahoma residents received housing choice vouchers in 2022, the report said. OHFA distributed just under $60 million in federal funds for the approximately 9,847 vouchers.

The average waiting list time for rental assistance last year was 18 months. The national average was 26 months, according to the report. The report said an estimated 26,291 Oklahomans are on the waiting list for rental assistance.

OHFA proposed three new programs under the Oklahoma Housing Stability Program: The Homebuilder Subsidy for Homeownership, which would provide a zero-interest loan to encourage development of single-family owner-occupied homes, a Consumer Downpayment and Closing Cost Assistance Program to offer forgivable loans directly to homebuyers and a Developer Subsidy for Rental Housing, a zero-interest loan to develop rental units, according to the report.

“Historically, OHFA has focused primarily on improving the supply of - and access to - low-income housing,” the report said. “This includes a focus on financing the development of low-income housing. However, Oklahoma is also in need of housing that is affordable for its workforce population, whose income exceeds Section 8 income limits but is not sufficient to afford market rate housing.”

Oklahoma has approximately 4,700 move-in ready houses available to purchase listed between $50,000 and $300,000, according to LOFT’s review of public housing stock.

“Oklahoma is feeling the effects of a nationwide decline in housing construction, resulting in the demand for affordable housing outpacing the available stock. Oklahoma needs additional housing stock for both rental and owner-occupied residences,” the report said.

(The Center Square) – Four governors expressed their continued commitment to secure the southwest border and support of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at a meeting Monday in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Joining Abbott were governors Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Jim Pillen of Nebraska, Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, and Kristi Noem of South Dakota. They’ve all sent their National Guard troops to Texas to participate in Abbott’s border security mission, Operation Lone Star. In total, troops from 15 states are currently serving in Texas participating in OLS, bbott said.

When all states expressing support for Texas are included, they total 25.

“Half the states in America are banding together to secure a border that President [Joe] Biden has abandoned. … From the northern border to the southern border, governors are coming together to push back against the Biden administration.”

When asked by The Center Square if Abbott knew if this was the first time in Texas history that 25 governors had come together to help secure the border, he replied, “This is the first time I’m aware of. It shows the unity we have in this country among governors. …

“Every state in the United States is a border state. Look at what’s going on in New York. Look at what’s going on in Illinois. They may be Democrat governors and Democrat mayors but they’re fed up as much as Republicans are with the Biden administration and the way that Biden is destroying our states, our cities and our country. Americans will not tolerate it anymore.”

Reynolds said that Iowa “is located at the intersection of two major interstates, and it is a pathway for Mexican cartels and human traffickers to go from Mexico to the Midwest.” Iowa also has seen a 500% increase in the amount of fentanyl being seized, a 100% increase in meth, and drug related deaths have increased by 35%, she said, “and we’re 1,000 miles away from Eagle Pass.”

Pillen said he was “in disbelief” about the misrepresentation by the media and others of the buoys placed in the Rio Grande River to deter illegal border crossings.

“The buoys act as a deterrent,” Pillen said. He also said he couldn’t believe the misrepresentation about those illegally entering the U.S.

“We are fighting the cartels,” he said. “They are trying to kill our kids. That’s one thing we can surely agree on in the United States is our kids? Right?”

"What we're literally witnessing is a war zone, and it is astonishing to watch it perpetuated by our president,” Noem said. She first sent National Guard troops, she said, because she recognized what was happening “was a war. They are threatening our sovereignty right now. The cartels are out for blood, and they are facilitating the trafficking of our children every day. That’s what I find so shocking is the lack of humanity in these policies. These policies are inhumane of what they're doing to people and to families.”

The Biden administration has said it's border policies are more humane than former President Donald Trump's. The administration also has said the border is secure.

The governors in Eagle Pass Monday disagreed.

Stitt said, "The chaotic scenes at the southern border are a stark reminder of the consequences of disastrous open border policies.” What’s going on “has nothing to do with immigration,” he added. “You don’t have a brain if you don’t think we don’t need to secure our border. The terrorists coming through, the criminals; it’s got to stop.”

All of the governors, except for newly elected Pillen, had sent troops and assistance to support Abbott’s efforts. They did so after he sent an SOS in May requesting help from fellow governors.

The states who’ve so far sent National Guard troops and law enforcement support include Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

In today's polarized political climate, few issues in Washington receive bipartisan support. Investment in the nation's infrastructure, however, is a notable exception - and with good reason. A 2021 report from the American Society of Civil Engineers assigned U.S. public infrastructure an average letter grade of "C-" based on performance in 17 major categories, including roads, drinking water, transit, dams, and bridges. According to the report, the U.S. needs to invest an additional $2.6 trillion in infrastructure over the next 10 years.

To help address this shortfall, President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law in November 2021. The bill authorizes $1.2 trillion in federal spending over a five-year period, including $550 billion in new spending to rebuild public works and transportation infrastructure. (Here is a look at Biden's approval rating in every state.)

Much of this money will be distributed to state governments and has already been earmarked for certain projects, including bridge and highway repair, electric vehicle charging station construction, broadband internet expansion, airport improvements, cybersecurity, and wildfire protection. While the largest states by population are the ones receiving the most federal dollars, they are not necessarily the states where federal infrastructure spending will have the largest impact.

Oklahoma is expected to receive $5.8 billion federal infrastructure investment. Adjusting for population, this comes out to about $1,458 per capita, the 22nd highest among the 50 states.

Federal highway aid will account for 74.5% of infrastructure investment in the state, more than any other category, followed by water infrastructure, which will account for 9.0% of federal spending, and public transportation, at 6.0%.

All data in this story was compiled by U.S. News & World Report in its article, The States Benefiting the Most From the Infrastructure Deal.

RankStatePer capita federal infrastructure aid ($)Total federal infrastructure aid ($B)Largest investment category2nd largest investment category3rd largest investment category1Alaska6,7214.9Federal Highway AidAirportsWater Infrastructure2Wyoming4,4792.6Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs3Montana3,5583.9Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs4Vermont3,4582.2Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs5North Dakota3,3902.6Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs6South Dakota3,2102.8Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs7West Virginia2,4524.4Federal Highway AidBridge Replacements and RepairsWater Infrastructure8Delaware2,4012.4Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureAirports9Rhode Island2,3452.6Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation10Hawaii1,8002.6Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs11New Mexico1,7593.7Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure12Maine1,7362.4Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation13Connecticut1,6756.0Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationBridge Replacements and Repairs14Arkansas1,6485.0Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs15Idaho1,6453.0Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs16Iowa1,5935.1Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs17Louisiana1,5577.3Federal Highway AidBridge Replacements and RepairsWater Infrastructure18Nebraska1,5503.0Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs19Mississippi1,5074.5Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs20New Hampshire1,4872.0Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs21Missouri1,4649.0Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation22Oklahoma1,4585.8Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation23New Jersey1,45413.5Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationBridge Replacements and Repairs24Kentucky1,4396.5Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructureBridge Replacements and Repairs25Illinois1,39017.8Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure26Alabama1,3877.0Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation27Pennsylvania1,36917.8Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationBridge Replacements and Repairs28New York1,33326.9Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure29Massachusetts1,3279.3Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationBridge Replacements and Repairs30Kansas1,3073.8Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation31Indiana1,3038.8Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation32Nevada1,3014.0Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure33Oregon1,2655.4Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure34Wisconsin1,2347.3Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation35Texas1,21635.4Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure36Utah1,2094.0Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure37Maryland1,1987.4Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure38South Carolina1,1956.1Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation39Minnesota1,1926.8Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure40Virginia1,17010.1Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure41Georgia1,15212.3Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure42Tennessee1,1518.0Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation43California1,12744.6Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationBridge Replacements and Repairs44Washington1,1158.6Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure45Ohio1,08712.8Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation46Michigan1,07010.8Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation47Colorado1,0686.2Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure48Arizona1,0227.3Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure49North Carolina99610.4Federal Highway AidWater InfrastructurePublic Transportation50Florida88719.1Federal Highway AidPublic TransportationWater Infrastructure

(The Center Square) – How concerned are American voters about the situation at the border? Who do they blame the most for the fentanyl crisis gripping the country?

With former President Donald Trump, the GOP frontrunner in the race for the presidency in 2024, facing four separate indictments heading into primary season, what does that mean for his and other Republicans' prospects when the first ballots are cast early next year?

These questions and more will be answered in the coming days and weeks in The Center Square Voters' Voice Poll, announced Wednesday by the Franklin News Foundation and its flagship media property, The Center Square. The first results drop Thursday morning at TheCenterSquare.com.

The Center Square Voters' Voice Poll, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights of Phoenix, improves upon the outdated practices in polling today by introducing an innovative approach to understanding the American electorate, according to Mike Noble, founder and CEO of Noble Predictive.

Traditional national polls, with their limited respondent count of around 1,000, fail to capture the intricate dynamics within political parties, Noble said. In its partnership with The Center Square, Noble's team surveyed 2,500 registered voters – 1,000 Democrats, 1,000 Republicans, and 500 independents. This pioneering solution addresses the constraint of a modest sample size and provides precision in sub-group analysis, Noble said.

“The Center Square readers represent a politically diverse group of taxpayers interested in a wide breadth of issues impacting their local, state, and national governments. Understanding the true sentiments of registered voters is critically important to our readers because they want to hear all voices represented and begin an honest discussion about our country,” Franklin News Foundation President and The Center Square Publisher Chris Krug said. “The Center Square has established itself as one of the most trusted national media brands in the United States through its dedication to unbiased, straightforward coverage of local, state, and national news, and our new recurring polling initiative will provide the best, most relevant insights.

“To achieve this, we are thrilled to partner with Noble Predictive Insights, which has established a reputation for accuracy in the polling space.”

This national poll was conducted utilizing a hybrid methodology, combining online opt-in panel (70%) and text-to-online (30%) surveys. Executed by Noble Predictive Insights from July 31 to Aug. 3, the survey drew from a national registered voter sample. Demographics such as gender, region, age, ethnicity, and education were weighted to mirror recent national affiliation surveys.

The margin of error for the aggregate sample was ±2.4%, with each political group independently weighted.

“In a landscape where conventional national surveys trade depth for breadth, Noble Predictive Insights’ revolutionary polling method not only ensures accuracy and precision but also opens new avenues for insightful analysis of the diverse political fabric that shapes our nation,” Noble said.

Noble Predictive Insights is a nonpartisan public opinion polling, market research, and data analytics firm. Formerly O.H. Predictive Insights, Noble Predictive Insights is a 2023 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company in the Southwest region, and is ranked in the top 15 most accurate pollsters as well as in the top five for lowest average bias in the 2021-22 election cycle by FiveThirtyEight.

For more detailed insights and information about methodology, please visit www.noblepredictiveinsights.com.

(The Center Square) – How concerned are American voters about the situation at the border? Who do they blame the most for the fentanyl crisis gripping the country?

With former President Donald Trump, the GOP frontrunner in the race for the presidency in 2024, facing four separate indictments heading into primary season, what does that mean for his and other Republicans' prospects when the first ballots are cast early next year?

These questions and more will be answered in the coming days and weeks in The Center Square Voters' Voice Poll, announced Wednesday by the Franklin News Foundation and its flagship media property, The Center Square. The first results drop Thursday morning at TheCenterSquare.com.

The Center Square Voters' Voice Poll, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights of Phoenix, improves upon the outdated practices in polling today by introducing an innovative approach to understanding the American electorate, according to Mike Noble, founder and CEO of Noble Predictive.

Traditional national polls, with their limited respondent count of around 1,000, fail to capture the intricate dynamics within political parties, Noble said. In its partnership with The Center Square, Noble's team surveyed 2,500 registered voters – 1,000 Democrats, 1,000 Republicans, and 500 independents. This pioneering solution addresses the constraint of a modest sample size and provides precision in sub-group analysis, Noble said.

“The Center Square readers represent a politically diverse group of taxpayers interested in a wide breadth of issues impacting their local, state, and national governments. Understanding the true sentiments of registered voters is critically important to our readers because they want to hear all voices represented and begin an honest discussion about our country,” Franklin News Foundation President and The Center Square Publisher Chris Krug said. “The Center Square has established itself as one of the most trusted national media brands in the United States through its dedication to unbiased, straightforward coverage of local, state, and national news, and our new recurring polling initiative will provide the best, most relevant insights.

“To achieve this, we are thrilled to partner with Noble Predictive Insights, which has established a reputation for accuracy in the polling space.”

This national poll was conducted utilizing a hybrid methodology, combining online opt-in panel (70%) and text-to-online (30%) surveys. Executed by Noble Predictive Insights from July 31 to Aug. 3, the survey drew from a national registered voter sample. Demographics such as gender, region, age, ethnicity, and education were weighted to mirror recent national affiliation surveys.

The margin of error for the aggregate sample was ±2.4%, with each political group independently weighted.

“In a landscape where conventional national surveys trade depth for breadth, Noble Predictive Insights’ revolutionary polling method not only ensures accuracy and precision but also opens new avenues for insightful analysis of the diverse political fabric that shapes our nation,” Noble said.

Noble Predictive Insights is a nonpartisan public opinion polling, market research, and data analytics firm. Formerly O.H. Predictive Insights, Noble Predictive Insights is a 2023 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company in the Southwest region, and is ranked in the top 15 most accurate pollsters as well as in the top five for lowest average bias in the 2021-22 election cycle by FiveThirtyEight.

For more detailed insights and information about methodology, please visit www.noblepredictiveinsights.com.