Watching Oklahoma, one county at a time
We run city chapters that publish government documents in full. This is the statewide view: where we already are, where we are going, and — most importantly — how to use Oklahoma's records law yourself, whether or not your town has a chapter yet.
Live chapters
Miami, OK
Ottawa County. Live chapter with meeting archive, transcripts, document library and a records request builder.
Open the Miami chapter →Oklahoma's Open Records Act has no fixed deadline, only a “prompt, reasonable” standard, which makes delay the default tactic and a written record of the delay the best answer.
Boundaries from public US Census cartographic data, projected Albers equal-area.
The expansion queue
Places we intend to cover next. These are not accusations. Each is on the list because of its structure — a large capital project, a dominant employer, fast growth, or a big incentive package — which is where public money concentrates and where the documents are worth reading. If something is wrong there, the records will show it. If nothing is wrong, the records will show that too, and we will publish it either way.
Tulsa & Tulsa County
Largest metro after OKC. Data-centre and industrial siting, TIF districts, and county jail contracting.
Know something here? →Oklahoma City & Cleveland County
State capital. MAPS programme spending and economic-development incentives run to hundreds of millions.
Know something here? →Norman
University town with rapid annexation and a contested utility-rate history.
Know something here? →Ottawa County (beyond Miami)
Tar Creek Superfund remains the largest environmental liability in the state.
Know something here? →The queue is not a ranking and it is not fixed. A resident who knows what to ask for beats our guess about which county matters every time. Tell us what is happening where you live →
You do not have to wait for us
Oklahoma's public records law covers every city, county, school district and state agency — not just the ones we have built a site for. The request we would file on your behalf is one you can file yourself today, and we will help you write it.
- Name a document, not a topic. “All agendas and minutes referencing X between these two dates” is hard to refuse. “Everything about X” invites a denial for being overly broad.
- Put the deadline in the letter. Citing the statute tells the custodian you know the clock is running.
- Ask for the exemption in writing. If they withhold, they must say which provision lets them.
- Escalate on paper. A refusal that exists in writing is the beginning of an appeal, not the end of a request.