The Frontier
@readfrontier.bsky.social
Oklahoma's best independent nonprofit journalism.
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Sen. Grant Green recently told The Frontier and ProPublica that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission failed the Boarmans despite the couple doing “everything right”; he said it did not appear to take their situation seriously until after he got involved.
Their Water Was Undrinkable. Oklahoma’s Oil Regulators Failed to Help.
State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to fin...
www.readfrontier.org
February 14, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Sen. Grant Green recently told The Frontier and ProPublica that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission failed the Boarmans despite the couple doing “everything right”; he said it did not appear to take their situation seriously until after he got involved.
Reposted by The Frontier
Across Oklahoma, oilfield wastewater has continued to surface from the ground — even as regulators failed to contain it. This investigation examines how oversight fell short, how contamination spread and how families were left to navigate the consequences.
Purged: Oklahoma’s Toxic Wastewater
Across Oklahoma, oilfield wastewater has continued to surface from the ground — even as regulators failed to contain it. This investigation examines how oversight fell short, how contamination spread ...
www.readfrontier.org
February 13, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Across Oklahoma, oilfield wastewater has continued to surface from the ground — even as regulators failed to contain it. This investigation examines how oversight fell short, how contamination spread and how families were left to navigate the consequences.
Across Oklahoma, oilfield wastewater has continued to surface from the ground — even as regulators failed to contain it. This investigation examines how oversight fell short, how contamination spread and how families were left to navigate the consequences.
Purged: Oklahoma’s Toxic Wastewater
Across Oklahoma, oilfield wastewater has continued to surface from the ground — even as regulators failed to contain it. This investigation examines how oversight fell short, how contamination spread ...
www.readfrontier.org
February 13, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Across Oklahoma, oilfield wastewater has continued to surface from the ground — even as regulators failed to contain it. This investigation examines how oversight fell short, how contamination spread and how families were left to navigate the consequences.
Reposted by The Frontier
Tammy's story isn't an isolated incident. Check out the first story in this series, which investigates oilfield wastewater blowouts across the state of Oklahoma @readfrontier.bsky.social + @propublica.org
www.propublica.org/article/okla...
www.propublica.org/article/okla...
February 13, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Tammy's story isn't an isolated incident. Check out the first story in this series, which investigates oilfield wastewater blowouts across the state of Oklahoma @readfrontier.bsky.social + @propublica.org
www.propublica.org/article/okla...
www.propublica.org/article/okla...
Nick Bowlin walks through the records, testing delays and injection well history that shaped his reporting on salty, oily drinking water in Oklahoma.
player.captivate.fm/episode/e9d7...
player.captivate.fm/episode/e9d7...
February 13, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Nick Bowlin walks through the records, testing delays and injection well history that shaped his reporting on salty, oily drinking water in Oklahoma.
player.captivate.fm/episode/e9d7...
player.captivate.fm/episode/e9d7...
Reposted by The Frontier
The Boarman family’s water was undrinkable: It corroded taps. It withered plants. Their ice maker expelled clumps of salt.
But why was this happening? For two years, Oklahoma delayed basic tests that could help them find out.
www.readfrontier.org/stories/salt...
But why was this happening? For two years, Oklahoma delayed basic tests that could help them find out.
www.readfrontier.org/stories/salt...
Their Water Was Undrinkable. Oklahoma’s Oil Regulators Failed to Help.
State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to fin...
www.readfrontier.org
February 12, 2026 at 10:45 PM
The Boarman family’s water was undrinkable: It corroded taps. It withered plants. Their ice maker expelled clumps of salt.
But why was this happening? For two years, Oklahoma delayed basic tests that could help them find out.
www.readfrontier.org/stories/salt...
But why was this happening? For two years, Oklahoma delayed basic tests that could help them find out.
www.readfrontier.org/stories/salt...
Regular water sampling showed the Boarmans’ water still getting saltier, according to the test results. By this point, agency staff had also found pollution in the water of their neighbors, who live less than a quarter-mile away.
February 12, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Regular water sampling showed the Boarmans’ water still getting saltier, according to the test results. By this point, agency staff had also found pollution in the water of their neighbors, who live less than a quarter-mile away.
Convicted of killing two men outside an Oklahoma City nightclub, Simpson thanked supporters before dying by lethal injection. A victim’s sister called the moment “the same smile that has been tormenting me for 20 years.”
Kendrick Simpson executed, offers thanks to supporters but no words about the victims
Convicted of killing two men outside an Oklahoma City nightclub, Simpson thanked supporters before dying by lethal injection. A victim’s sister called the moment “the same smile that has been tormenti...
www.readfrontier.org
February 12, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Convicted of killing two men outside an Oklahoma City nightclub, Simpson thanked supporters before dying by lethal injection. A victim’s sister called the moment “the same smile that has been tormenting me for 20 years.”
Reposted by The Frontier
Oklahoma regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to find the culprit — then closed the case. @nickbowlin.bsky.social @readfrontier.bsky.social
Salty, Oily Drinking Water Left Sores in Their Mouths. Oklahoma Refused to Find Out Why.
State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to fin...
www.propublica.org
February 12, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Oklahoma regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to find the culprit — then closed the case. @nickbowlin.bsky.social @readfrontier.bsky.social
Reposted by The Frontier
NEW: Oklahoma regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water.
But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to find the culprit — then closed the case.
With @readfrontier.bsky.social
But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to find the culprit — then closed the case.
With @readfrontier.bsky.social
Salty, Oily Drinking Water Left Sores in Their Mouths. Oklahoma Refused to Find Out Why.
State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to fin...
www.propublica.org
February 12, 2026 at 1:15 PM
NEW: Oklahoma regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water.
But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to find the culprit — then closed the case.
With @readfrontier.bsky.social
But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to find the culprit — then closed the case.
With @readfrontier.bsky.social
Reposted by The Frontier
The family’s water was undrinkable: It corroded taps. It withered plants. Their ice maker expelled clumps of salt.
Why?
For 2 yrs, Oklahoma oil regulators delayed basic tests that could help them find out.
Read @nickbowlin.bsky.social latest for @propublica.org + @readfrontier.bsky.social!
Why?
For 2 yrs, Oklahoma oil regulators delayed basic tests that could help them find out.
Read @nickbowlin.bsky.social latest for @propublica.org + @readfrontier.bsky.social!
Salty, Oily Drinking Water Left Sores in Their Mouths. Oklahoma Refused to Find Out Why.
State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to fin...
www.propublica.org
February 12, 2026 at 4:27 PM
The family’s water was undrinkable: It corroded taps. It withered plants. Their ice maker expelled clumps of salt.
Why?
For 2 yrs, Oklahoma oil regulators delayed basic tests that could help them find out.
Read @nickbowlin.bsky.social latest for @propublica.org + @readfrontier.bsky.social!
Why?
For 2 yrs, Oklahoma oil regulators delayed basic tests that could help them find out.
Read @nickbowlin.bsky.social latest for @propublica.org + @readfrontier.bsky.social!
Reposted by The Frontier
Oklahoma officials found signs of oil&gas pollution in Tammy Boarman's drinking water, which left sores in her mouth and corroded appliances. In the end, the state closed her case, with basic questions left unanswered @readfrontier.bsky.social+@propublica.org
www.readfrontier.org/stories/salt...
www.readfrontier.org/stories/salt...
Their Water Was Undrinkable. Oklahoma’s Oil Regulators Failed to Help.
State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to fin...
www.readfrontier.org
February 12, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Oklahoma officials found signs of oil&gas pollution in Tammy Boarman's drinking water, which left sores in her mouth and corroded appliances. In the end, the state closed her case, with basic questions left unanswered @readfrontier.bsky.social+@propublica.org
www.readfrontier.org/stories/salt...
www.readfrontier.org/stories/salt...
Reposted by The Frontier
Listen Frontier: Inside our investigation into Oklahoma’s lack of response to oilfield pollution.
Listen Frontier: Inside our investigation into Oklahoma's lack of response to oilfield pollution
Nick Bowlin walks through the records, testing delays and injection well history that shaped his reporting on salty, oily drinking water in Edmond.
www.readfrontier.org
February 12, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Listen Frontier: Inside our investigation into Oklahoma’s lack of response to oilfield pollution.
State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to find the culprit — then closed the case.
Their Water Was Undrinkable. Oklahoma’s Oil Regulators Failed to Help.
State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to fin...
www.readfrontier.org
February 12, 2026 at 1:26 PM
State regulators discovered strong signs of oil pollution, including high levels of salt and toxic metals, in one family’s drinking water. But for two years, they repeatedly delayed basic tests to find the culprit — then closed the case.
Hey, anyone want to read a really good story about unregulated oil and gas pollution in the morning?
February 12, 2026 at 12:12 AM
Hey, anyone want to read a really good story about unregulated oil and gas pollution in the morning?
The Frontier used historical archives, interviews, government data and other records to fact-check some of his remarks.
Fact check: What Stitt got right — and wrong — in his final State of the State address
We rate Gov. Kevin Stitt’s statements on personal income, Medicaid, marijuana and Ronald Reagan from his State of the State address.
www.readfrontier.org
February 10, 2026 at 5:55 PM
The Frontier used historical archives, interviews, government data and other records to fact-check some of his remarks.
Jett, in response, called Paxton’s statements about his conservative bona fides “laughable,” noting The Freedom Index, a conservative legislative scorecard, rated Jett as 96% Republican, while Paxton scored a 46%.
Power struggle roils Oklahoma Senate as Paxton sidelines Freedom Caucus leader
The Oklahoma Senate leader says the far-right Freedom Caucus is hurting the chamber. Jett responds by calling Paxton “a bully.”
www.readfrontier.org
February 9, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Jett, in response, called Paxton’s statements about his conservative bona fides “laughable,” noting The Freedom Index, a conservative legislative scorecard, rated Jett as 96% Republican, while Paxton scored a 46%.
Fact check: What Stitt got right — and wrong — in his final State of the State address
Fact check: What Stitt got right — and wrong — in his final State of the State address
We rate Gov. Kevin Stitt’s statements on personal income, Medicaid, marijuana and Ronald Reagan from his State of the State address.
www.readfrontier.org
February 7, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Fact check: What Stitt got right — and wrong — in his final State of the State address
Fact check: What Stitt got right — and wrong — in his final State of the State address
February 6, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Fact check: What Stitt got right — and wrong — in his final State of the State address
We rate Gov. Kevin Stitt’s statements on personal income, Medicaid, marijuana and Ronald Reagan from his State of the State address.
Fact check: What Stitt got right — and wrong — in his final State of the State address
We rate Gov. Kevin Stitt’s statements on personal income, Medicaid, marijuana and Ronald Reagan from his State of the State address.
www.readfrontier.org
February 6, 2026 at 1:56 PM
We rate Gov. Kevin Stitt’s statements on personal income, Medicaid, marijuana and Ronald Reagan from his State of the State address.
Reposted by The Frontier
The Oklahoma Senate leader says the far-right Freedom Caucus is hurting the chamber. Jett responds by calling Paxton “a bully.”
Power struggle roils Oklahoma Senate as Paxton sidelines Freedom Caucus leader
The Oklahoma Senate leader says the far-right Freedom Caucus is hurting the chamber. Jett responds by calling Paxton “a bully.”
www.readfrontier.org
February 5, 2026 at 8:20 PM
The Oklahoma Senate leader says the far-right Freedom Caucus is hurting the chamber. Jett responds by calling Paxton “a bully.”
As many as 150,000 people get drinking water from the 500-square-mile Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
But the aquifer is particularly vulnerable to depletion and only recharges a few inches every year, one study estimated.
But the aquifer is particularly vulnerable to depletion and only recharges a few inches every year, one study estimated.
A fragile aquifer, a proposed mine and a fight over Oklahoma’s water
State regulators are reviewing a proposal to expand sand mining over the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer, despite Oklahoma’s moratorium on new mines in the area.
www.readfrontier.org
February 5, 2026 at 4:45 PM
As many as 150,000 people get drinking water from the 500-square-mile Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
But the aquifer is particularly vulnerable to depletion and only recharges a few inches every year, one study estimated.
But the aquifer is particularly vulnerable to depletion and only recharges a few inches every year, one study estimated.
A slew of bills at the Legislature this year would pause new developments, limit nondisclosure agreements and require companies to shoulder infrastructure costs as opposition grows.
From limiting tax breaks to moratoriums, Oklahoma legislators eye new rules for data centers
A slew of bills at the Legislature this year would pause new developments, limit nondisclosure agreements and require companies to shoulder infrastructure costs as opposition grows.
www.readfrontier.org
February 3, 2026 at 2:21 PM
A slew of bills at the Legislature this year would pause new developments, limit nondisclosure agreements and require companies to shoulder infrastructure costs as opposition grows.
"Shane Jett is not a conservative, Shane Jett is a self-promoting populist, and he is doing everything he can do to promote himself at the cost of the Senate and at the cost of the state … and whatever that takes to do, whatever he destroys on the way, is just fine with him.”
Power struggle roils Oklahoma Senate as Paxton sidelines Freedom Caucus leader
The Oklahoma Senate leader says the far-right Freedom Caucus is hurting the chamber. Jett responds by calling Paxton “a bully.”
www.readfrontier.org
February 3, 2026 at 2:26 AM
"Shane Jett is not a conservative, Shane Jett is a self-promoting populist, and he is doing everything he can do to promote himself at the cost of the Senate and at the cost of the state … and whatever that takes to do, whatever he destroys on the way, is just fine with him.”
Reposted by The Frontier
Following our investigation into Oklahoma's uncontrolled wastewater purges, lawmakers have filed a slate of bills aimed at fixing the problem.
www.readfrontier.org/stories/new-...
www.readfrontier.org/stories/new-...
New bills seek to rein in oil companies’ pollution of Oklahoma groundwater
The legislation comes after The Frontier and ProPublica found over 150 incidents where oilfield wastewater had gushed from the earth, releasing toxic chemicals — including some that cause cancer — nea...
www.readfrontier.org
February 2, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Following our investigation into Oklahoma's uncontrolled wastewater purges, lawmakers have filed a slate of bills aimed at fixing the problem.
www.readfrontier.org/stories/new-...
www.readfrontier.org/stories/new-...