Jessica joined OK Policy as a Communications Associate in January 2018. A Mexican immigrant, she was a Clara Luper Scholar at Oklahoma City University where she obtained a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy. Prior to joining OK Policy, Jessica worked at a digital marketing agency in Oklahoma City. She is an alumna of both the National Education for Women (N.E.W.) Leadership Institute (2013) and OK Policy's Summer Policy Institute (2015). In addition to her role at OK Policy, Jessica serves as a board member for Dream Action Oklahoma in OKC and communications director for Dream Alliance Oklahoma in Tulsa.
By: Jessica Vazquez
April 15, 2020 // Updated: April 15, 2020
Lawmakers sue to get revenue failure declared in budget fight with Gov. Stitt; March general revenue collections down nearly $14.3 million since 2019 as state economy begins 'to feel the pain' of COVID-19 impact; State reports 9 more deaths, including one in Tulsa County; 2,184 cases reported across Oklahoma; [More...]
By: Jessica Vazquez
April 14, 2020 // Updated: April 14, 2020
With budget shortfall looming for Oklahoma, expert recommends 'stress tests'; Three more deaths reported as Oklahoma surpasses 2,000 cases; Rural hospitals face more hurdles in COVID-19 fight; [More...]
Legislative leaders say no to governor’s budget cuts; Death toll goes up by 12 across Oklahoma; cases rise to 1,524; State-level first responders to get paid time off if they contract COVID-19, Stitt says; [More...]
Stitt says state agencies may face budget cuts. State lawmakers don't plan to let that happen; State reminds hospitals, public of strategic PPE reserves; Oklahoma hospitals in ‘critical condition’; [More...]
State budget fix stalled as Stitt nixes meeting after project denied funding by Legislature; Deaths triple in one week, but mortality rate shows little change; Private lab reports give clearer picture of scope of COVID-19 testing in Oklahoma; [More...]
Sausage in a pandemic: What the Oklahoma Legislature plans Monday; State analyzing plans submitted by hospitals to increase their capacity by 40% as COVID-19 spreads; Virus now claims 46 Oklahoma lives, more than 1,200 cases. [More...]
Stitt declares ‘health emergency,’ triggers special session of Legislature; Stitt urges more Oklahomans to get tested as more mobile sites spring up; As Oklahoma tries to forecast the impact of coronavirus, a lack of data surrounding testing; [More...]
Private labs limit COVID-19 testing data, Stitt extends shutdown order statewide; Stitt: More hospital beds needed to treat virus patients; ‘Demanding transparency’: Local health officials frustrated with state’s messaging; [More...]
Savings and stimulus could mitigate Oklahoma revenue failure, shortfall; Six more deaths bring Oklahoma to 23 with 565 cases reported; State still hasn’t finished COVID-19 prediction models; [More...]