News

Elective surgeries resume

April 30, 2020

Beginning last Friday, elective surgeries were approved for Oklahoma as state hospitals showed the capacity to handle coronavirus patients and the normal patient workload. The Oklahoma State Department of Health said surgery centers and hospitals who resume elective surgery must: Give coronavirus tests to patients before procedures Patients must show a negative coronavirus test within…

Broken Arrow is back in business

April 30, 2020

Broken Arrow Mayor Craig Thurmond terminated the city’s emergency declarations for sheltering in place on April 23 but the city will follow Stitt’s Safer at Home order for vulnerable people through May 6. “My fellow City Councilors and myself, as well as our City Manager and his staff feel the governor’s plan is sensible and…

Glenpool follows state guidelines

April 30, 2020

Glenpool Mayor Tim Fox and City Manager David Tillotson said Glenpool will follow Stitt’s Open Up and Recover Safety Plan, also on April 24. Personal care businesses – nail and hair salons, barber shops and pet groomers – were allowed to re-open with strict social distancing and sanitation protocols. The use of any playground equipment…

More federal stimulus money

April 30, 2020

Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed a new $484 billion relief package for small businesses and hospitals in light of the coronavirus. It adds $310 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program – a forgivable loan program that quickly ran out of money due to a groundswell of applications from small businesses.

Re-opening Phase 1

April 30, 2020

Elderly and vulnerable Oklahomans should continue to follow the safer-at-home guidelines. Oklahomans should maximize their physical distance from others when in public, avoid socializing in groups or facilities that do not allow for physical distancing and minimize non-essential travel. Employers should create plans to allow employees to return to work in phases, close common areas…

Re-opening Phase 2

April 30, 2020

Elderly and vulnerable Oklahomans should continue to follow the safer-at-home guidelines. Oklahomans should continue to maintain physical distancing measures when in public. Non-essential travel can begin to resume. Employers should still close common areas or enforce social distancing and sanitation protocols. Organized sports activities can reopen. Bars can operate with diminished standing-room occupancy. Funerals and…

Shutdown didn’t deter crime; lawsuits on the horizon?

April 30, 2020 Ray Carter

The statewide COVID-19 shutdown may have dramatically impacted most Oklahomans, but it may not have deterred serious crimes, law enforcement officials told lawmakers. At the same time, the state could soon face a rash of lawsuits challenging the legality of government actions that forced business closures and the loss of citizens’ jobs. Officials made those…

Oklahoma officials declare a $416,883,273 revenue failure

April 30, 2020

The State Board of Equalization declared a $416,883,273 revenue failure for Fiscal 2020, paving the way for legislators to take money from the Rainy Day Fund and other savings accounts. Oklahoma Tax Commission Executive Director Jay Doyle gave updated look at how COVID-19 and the downturn in oil and gas are affecting revenue forecasts for…

Historic lows for gasoline prices

April 30, 2020

Tulsa gas prices have fallen 3.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $1.29/gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 321 stations. Gas prices in Tulsa are 29.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 129.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. According to GasBuddy price reports,…

Free legal advice through May 4th

April 30, 2020

In celebration of Law Day, Oklahoma lawyers will provide free legal advice from April 30 until May 4 via email. Oklahomans can send their legal questions to [email protected]. “This will be our 44th year to offer this service; and normally, we supplement giving legal advice by email with a statewide toll-free phone number staffed by…