Nick Bowlin
@nickbowlin.bsky.social
oil and gas reporter for ProPublica and The Frontier Freelance work in: Harper's, The Guardian, The Nation, The Drift, Outside, etc. Signal: NickBowlin.24
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.
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.
readfrontier.org
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
To protect its drinking water, this city has to appeal to the oil regulators that put it at risk
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 ...
readfrontier.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.
Body camera footage shows final arrest of Justin Benner before his death at Tulsa Municipal Jail
YouTube video by Watch Frontier
youtu.be
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...
Justice in less than a minute? Oklahoma County bail hearings don’t meet constitutional standards, attorneys say.
Public defenders say judges routinely fail to consider whether defendants can afford bail, leaving poor and homeless people jailed on low-level charges. Other counties have already faced civil rights ...
readfrontier.org
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
To Protect Its Drinking Water, This City Has to Appeal to the Oil Regulators That Put It at Risk
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 ...
propublica.org
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 County has a program to help poor people get out of jail. Prosecutors rarely support it.
Supporters of a county pretrial release program say thousands of people who pose little public safety risk remain jailed because they can't afford bail. Prosecutors frequently oppose release, even tho...
readfrontier.org
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.
To protect its drinking water, this city has to appeal to the oil regulators that put it at risk
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 ...
readfrontier.org
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
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 ...
propublica.org
To protect its drinking water, this city has to appeal to the oil regulators that put it at risk
To protect its drinking water, this city has to appeal to the oil regulators that put it at risk
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 ...
readfrontier.org
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...
Investigation into ‘Pinecone Cowboys’ errors - High Country News
NOTE TO READERS Following publication of our May 2026 cover story “Pinecone Cowboys,” we discovered that the author misrepresented details of his reporting, leading to significant errors in both the s...
hcn.org
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...
To protect its drinking water, this city has to appeal to the oil regulators that put it at risk
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 ...
readfrontier.org
"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..."
Nick Bowlin@nickbowlin.bsky.social · last mo.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...
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...
To Protect Its Drinking Water, This City Has to Appeal to the Oil Regulators That Put It at Risk
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 ...
propublica.org
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
To Protect Its Drinking Water, This City Has to Appeal to the Oil Regulators That Put It at Risk
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 ...
propublica.org
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.
The Frontier wins Oklahoma Press Association Awards
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.
readfrontier.org
How data center developers won secrecy pledges from Oklahoma officials www.readfrontier.org/stories/how-...
How data center developers won secrecy pledges from Oklahoma officials
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, someti...
readfrontier.org
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.
How data center developers won secrecy pledges from Oklahoma officials
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, someti...
readfrontier.org
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-...
How data center developers won secrecy pledges from Oklahoma officials
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, someti...
readfrontier.org
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
Charles Ornstein@charlesornstein.bsky.social · 2mo agoGood to read this story about how @nickbowlin.bsky.social partnered with @rcfp.org to unlock records he needed to investigate oil and gas in Oklahoma:
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
Toxic Ground: Inside Oklahoma’s Massive Oil Field Wastewater Crisis
Watch how a legacy of oil drilling and regulatory failure destroyed one Oklahoma family’s dream home and contaminated another family’s drinking water.
propublica.org
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?...
Why Oil Field Wastewater Is Bubbling Up All Over This State | ProPublica Docs
YouTube video by ProPublica
youtu.be
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...
Toxic Ground: Inside Oklahoma’s Massive Oil Field Wastewater Crisis
Watch how a legacy of oil drilling and regulatory failure destroyed one Oklahoma family’s dream home and contaminated another family’s drinking water.
propublica.org
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.
State clears homeless camp in Norman but has offered no housing funds for displaced residents
The sweep displaced dozens and gave local shelters and other service providers little time to prepare.
readfrontier.org
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
Oily sludge is flooding their dream home. Oklahoma regulators say they can’t help.
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 li...
readfrontier.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.
Oily sludge is flooding their dream home. Oklahoma regulators say they can’t help.
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 li...
readfrontier.org
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.
Oily sludge is flooding their dream home. Oklahoma regulators say they can’t help.
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 li...
readfrontier.org
Such a STRONG story and visuals by @nickbowlin.bsky.social and Katie Campbell: Oily Sludge Is Flooding Their Dream Home. Oklahoma Regulators Say They Can’t Help. w/ @readfrontier.bsky.social
Oily Sludge Is Flooding Their Dream Home. Oklahoma Regulators Say They Can’t Help.
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 li...
propublica.org
