Nick Bowlin

Every oil state disposes of toxic wastewater underground. But in Oklahoma, it hasn't been staying there, creating large, ongoing pollution events known as "purges." An investigation a year in the making for @readfrontier.bsky.social and @propublica.org www.readfrontier.org/stories/toxi...

NEW: For over a year, staff at Oklahoma’s regulatory agency built a case against the oil company with the state’s highest number of oil field pollution incidents and violations. Instead of punishing the company, officials let it restart operations. with @readfrontier.bsky.social

Citation Oil & Gas is named more often than any other company in Oklahoma’s database of oil field pollution incidents and violations — listed more than 1,000 times over the past decade. The state’s oil regulator has never punished the company.

Citation Oil & Gas is named more than any other company in an Oklahoma database of violations — over 1,000 times in the past decade. State regulators have never punished it, despite repeated staff recommendations to do so. By @nickbowlin.bsky.social for @propublica.org + @readfrontier.bsky.social

One heck of a story about how oil companies face no consequences for their serious violations in Oklahoma. This Oil Company Is Linked to 1,000 Pollution Incidents and Other Violations. Oklahoma Never Punished It. @nickbowlin.bsky.social @readfrontier.bsky.social

A 2023 state law was intended to help low-income people escape fines and fees they can’t afford. But an Oklahoma County judge argues the law is unconstitutional. A state Supreme Court ruling could affect defendants across Oklahoma. www.readfrontier.org/stories/okla...

They went to California for free rehab. After detoxing in a mansion, they had no ride home. Story linked in the comments.

Republican Brad Boles and Democrat Rhonda Eastman are competing for a seat on the Corporation Commission, where commissioners oversee oil companies and utilities amid pollution problems and rising electricity demand. www.readfrontier.org/stories/two-...

Recruiters promised Oklahomans struggling with addiction free treatment and housing in Southern California. Patients described sparse therapy, relapses and being left without a way home as insurers accused treatment providers of fraud. www.readfrontier.org/stories/they...

After sitting idle for over a decade, a for-profit prison in rural Western Oklahoma is now a key hub in the Trump Administration’s plan to carry out the largest mass-deportation effort in U.S. history.

NEW: Ken Paxton’s Security for Travel Cost Taxpayers Millions. Just 1 in 6 of His Trips Had a Stated Business Purpose. @zachdespart.bsky.social w/ @texastribune.org

An Oklahoma oil and gas company plugged a well that disposes of oil production’s toxic byproduct after @readfrontier.bsky.social and @propublica.org revealed that regulators had approved the well in violation of state rules meant to protect public groundwater supplies.

NEW: Following our investigation with @readfrontier.bsky.social, an Oklahoma oil company has plugged a well that was potentially leaking toxic waste. We revealed that state regulators had approved the well in violation of rules meant to protect public drinking water.

The Frontier and ProPublica revealed that state regulators had approved the well in Enid, Oklahoma, in violation of rules meant to protect municipal groundwater. Now the well is permanently shut down.

IMPACT: Oklahoma Oil Company Plugs Disposal Well That Posed Threat to City’s Drinking Water @nickbowlin.bsky.social @readfrontier.bsky.social

www.readfrontier.org/stories/as-t...

NEW: In ‘24, the FBI sought to launch a sweeping bribery probe that could ensnare top lawmakers, including Sen. Susan Collins. Then Trump eviscerated the FBI & DOJ public corruption teams. ProPublica unearthed the investigation and you can read it 👇 www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...

My latest @highcountrynews.org examines a novel approach to end #citizensunited that's LIKELY to win voter approval and—wait for it—UNLIKELY to win SCOTUS approval. A familiar inversion when it comes to runaway campaign spending. #mtnews #mtpol @endcitizensunited.bsky.social @jmangan.bsky.social

A new must-read investigation from The Frontier

24 former students who attended New Lifehouse Academy over the past decade told The Frontier that the program relied on control and isolation. Former students said punishments included physical exercise, food restriction, outdoor labor, and writing Bible verses. www.readfrontier.org/an-oklahoma-...

We set out to discover the real reasons for the decline of California’s oil and gas industry. Our report reveals a massive liability for the Golden State. Namely, that industry decline is leaving behind a decommissioning black hole worth USD $18.4 billion. www.redwaterinsights.org/research/run...

Twenty seconds. That’s how long some defendants have during one of their first court appearances in Oklahoma County when the judge reads their charges and sets bail. www.readfrontier.org/stories/lawm...

Who bought that ad? We’re following the money in Oklahoma elections. Outside groups that sometimes try to hide their financial backers are spending millions on political ads.

Oklahoma approved oil field wastewater injection within a half-mile of a public water well, without making the company prove this would not pollute the city’s water. The site has repeatedly failed tests since, indicating a potential wastewater leak. Published w/ @propublica.org

After telling neighbors that Benner would get treatment and be “fine,” a Tulsa police officer enters his vehicle and drives away to the sounds of heavy metal. Benner was dead in an isolation cell an hour later.

Oklahoma County bail hearings don't meet constitutional standards. My latest for @readfrontier.bsky.social in collab w/ @kosuradio.bsky.social with contributions from @theappeal.org www.readfrontier.org/stories/just...

Oklahoma approved oil field wastewater injection within a half-mile of a public water well, without making the company prove this would not pollute the city’s water. The site has repeatedly failed tests since, indicating a potential wastewater leak. with @readfrontier.bsky.social

An Oklahoma County program gets people charged with nonviolent crimes released from jail before trial if they can’t afford bail, but prosecutors try to block most defendants from participating. Latest @readfrontier.bsky.social collab w/ @kosuradio.bsky.social www.readfrontier.org/stories/okla...

Oklahoma restricts oil field wastewater injection within a half-mile of public water wells. Regulators have let companies do it anyway. But in the city of Enid, officials are pushing back against one of the state’s biggest industries.

ICYMI @readfrontier.bsky.social @nickbowlin.bsky.social + @propublica.org @shaw.al identified at least 114 oil field wastewater injection wells across Oklahoma that are located within a half-mile of a public water supply well. Oklahomans should check the map here www.propublica.org/article/enid...

To protect its drinking water, this city has to appeal to the oil regulators that put it at risk

That kind of flippant disregard for the truth and journalistic ethics is infuriating and alarming, especially at a time when trust in the media is at an all time low and misinformation is rampant.

Extremely disheartened to learn that Dillon Osleger, the author of a story I once admired in High Country News, literally made up parts of the piece — deceiving my colleagues + our readers. And to think I thought it would be cool to get a pinecone cowboy tattoo! 🫣 www.hcn.org/investigatio...

Wildfires: a new thing to...bet on? My latest for @highcountrynews.org www.hcn.org/articles/peo...

NEW: @readfrontier.bsky.social & @propublica.org identified at least 114 oil field waste injection wells across Oklahoma that are located within a half-mile of a public water well. More than 300,000 residents live in communities that rely on these water wells. www.readfrontier.org/stories/to-p...

"But in 2018, without a hearing, state regulators approved this injection well, an apparatus that applies pressure to dispose of wastewater down a steel tube. And in the years since, the well, named the Flying Monkey, has repeatedly failed structural integrity tests..."

Enid, Oklahoma's public water wells are right next oilfield waste injection sites, due to lax oversight by regulators. And it's not just Enid, @propublica.org + @readfrontier.bsky.social found 114 injection wells less than 1/4mile from a public water supply well www.readfrontier.org/stories/to-p...

NEW: Oil companies are blasting millions of gallons of toxic waste underground each year — less than a half-mile from Enid, Oklahoma’s water wells. But to protect their city, officials must appeal to the state agency that created the problem. With @readfrontier.bsky.social

Our reporters won first-place honors in three categories for reporting on oil and gas pollution in the state and hazardous working conditions at a poultry plant.

How data center developers won secrecy pledges from Oklahoma officials www.readfrontier.org/stories/how-...

One contract required public officials to keep secret that a confidentiality agreement even existed. At least one agreement allows the companies to sue cities to enforce the terms of the deals, sometimes in other states.

NEW: Oklahoma officials across the state signed confidentiality deals with data center developers. Records obtained by @readfrontier.bsky.social show some agreements even barred officials from disclosing the existence of the NDAs themselves. READ MORE: www.readfrontier.org/stories/how-...

Our Oklahoma reporting for @readfrontier.bsky.social and @propublica.org wouldn't be possible without help from RCFP attorney Leslie Briggs. Was happy to chat with RCFP about how Leslie helped me get crucial records about oil and gas pollution

About half of all Oklahomans live within a mile of an oil and gas site. A new documentary from @readfrontier.bsky.social + @propublica.org exposes the failure of state regulators to protect residents from a massive underground pollution crisis. Based on reporting by @nickbowlin.bsky.social

Incredible work on @propublica.org's latest doc by Katie Campbell & @nickbowlin.bsky.social, in collaboration with @readfrontier.bsky.social Watch it here: youtu.be/4xqvOGVVBYU?...

In Oklahoma, oil field wastewater has caused an underground pollution crisis for residents and access to clean, safe drinking water. Important investigative reporting from @nickbowlin.bsky.social with @propublica.org & @readfrontier.bsky.social www.propublica.org/article/toxi...

Gov. Kevin Stitt’s operation to clear homeless encampments from state land has moved to Norman, but without an offer of funding to house displaced people.

www.readfrontier.org/stories/stat...

Oily, black, polluted water is flowing up through the foundation of this Ft. Gibson family's home. An old unplugged well seems to be the culprit. www.readfrontier.org/stories/oily... New for @readfrontier.bsky.social @propublica.org

The Merediths were forced to abandon their house after it filled with black goo, reaching gas concentrations at explosive levels. Despite evidence of oil and gas pollution, the state “wanted to act like it would go away,” the family says.

Officially, the state lists 19,000 orphan wells that state regulators are responsible for cleaning up, but the true figure is likely over 300,000, according to federal researchers.