The House passed a bill that extends eligibility to the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OLAP), granting access to college tuition for students who otherwise might not be able to attend college. House Bill 2227, authored by State Rep. Todd Russ, R-Cordell, extends OLAP for qualifying students in 11th or 12th grades or who are…
The House of Representatives passed a bill that would grant an increase in retirement benefits to retirees of Oklahoma’s six retirement systems. House Bill 2304, authored by State Rep. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, would give a permanent 4 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) to all retirees of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Firefighters…
A measure to prohibit the use of state funds for recruitment bonuses for teachers failed narrowly in the Senate, 22-20. Retired educator Sen. Ron Sharp said he authored Senate Bill 57 to stop the practice of virtual charter schools rewarding teachers financially with state appropriated dollars for successfully recruiting other teachers and students to their…
A bill to require the same level of transparency from virtual charter schools as other public schools passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives. House Bill 1395 amends language in the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act of 2012 to hold virtual charter schools subject to the same financial reporting requirements and audits as traditional school districts. The…
The price of oil and gas dipped but total revenue for the state government in February showed growth – a trend that has stretched back for the past 23 months. State Treasurer Randy McDaniel said February receipts of $971.5 million are 10.7 percent higher than collections from the same month of last year. “Oklahoma’s economic…
The Brookshire Hotel, a bunker built by billionaire J. Paul Getty and the Griffin-Goodner Grocery Warehouse are three landmarks on the 2019 list of Oklahoma’s Most Endangered Places, according to Preservation Oklahoma, Inc. (POK). According to a press release, “POK aims to promote the places where Oklahoma history lives by bringing awareness to historic landmarks…
Tulsa author, entrepreneur and columnist Jim Stovall presented a $1 million donation to Oral Roberts University, his alma mater, to help create the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship. The million dollar donation, plus a $500,000 matching grant, is not the first donation Stovall has made to ORU. “The Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship will enable ORU to…
My Deliverer, a contemporary theatrical production, will be performed at 7 p.m. April 19 (Good Friday) at the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center. Writers and producers Jay and Lisa Huffer said it is important to pass along stories from the Bible to the next generation. The Huffers have co-led the creative arts ministry team at…
Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan, Mayor G.T. Bynum and Downtown Coordinating Council Executive Director Brian Kurtz announced the Tulsa Police Department (TPD) would expand the number of police in Downtown Tulsa due to the increased growth and fear of crime.. The Downtown Impact Team was created in 2014 and serves as a dedicated police unit…
Tulsa was rated No. 5 in the nation on how much a $50,000 salary would purchase, according to GOBankingRates.com. GOBankingRates looked at the 100 most populous metropolitan areas and analyzed a number of factors including median rent, the cost of groceries, utilities and transportation, as well as taxes to determine where a $50,000 salary would…