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The Tulsa Beacon

 

Legislative Update

New gun law is not the Wild West

Tulsa Beacon

Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Kim David, R-Porter,  said implementation of House Bill 2597, known as Constitutional Carry, won’t turn Oklahoma into the “Wild West.” “Most Oklahomans won’t notice a difference after the enactment of constitutional carry,” said David, Senate Majority Floor Leader. “Some are using scare tactics and warning Oklahoma will turn…

Safer driving bill

Tulsa Beacon

Sen. Ron Sharp has filed legislation to try to outlaw the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving unless it is with hands-free technology.  Senate Bill 1088 would expand the Trooper Nicholas Dees and Trooper Keith Burch Act of 2015 to try to decrease the number of distracted drivers on Oklahoma roads.  “Currently, texting while…

Port assistance

Tulsa Beacon

State Reps. Chris Sneed, R-Fort Gibson, Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, and Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, held an interim study to review critical maintenance issues of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), the impact of the system on surrounding communities, and current and future economic growth plans.  “The reliability of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas Navigation System Channel is…

17.5-year-olds can preregister to vote

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma citizens will be able to pre-register to vote when they turn 17.5 years old thanks to a new law that went into effect on November 1.  Sen. Jason Smalley, R-Stroud, and Rep. Zack Taylor, R-Seminole, authored Senate Bill 496 this past session to make it easier for young voters to remember to get registered…

Smoking in the workplace study

Tulsa Beacon

House Speaker Pro Tempore Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, has scheduled an interim study to examine modernization to the Smoking in Public Places and Indoor Workplaces Act as a way to address second-hand smoke exposure in Oklahoma. The House Health Services and Long-Term Care Committee’s study is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, in Room 432-A…

Lawmakers tour Pryor Schools

Tulsa Beacon

State Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, helped welcome other lawmakers to Pryor Public Schools in his House District 8 this morning to get a closer look at the district’s successful workforce development programs offered to students from elementary to high school. “Pryor Schools is doing a fantastic job of preparing students not just for higher levels…

More oversight for state agencies

Tulsa Beacon

House Speaker Charles McCall has launched a new initiative to increase legislative oversight and assess the performance of agency governing boards. “The Legislature has been too deferential and hands-off with these governing boards for most of state history, and the House is going to change that,” said McCall, R-Atoka. McCall is assigning House committees to…

Survey: Pastors weren’t overly prepared for retirement

Tulsa Beacon

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Most retirement age pastors and missionaries say their current life is close to ideal, but some who have entered retirement say they could’ve been better prepared. In a survey sponsored by Shepherd’s Fold Ministries, Nashville-based LifeWay Research asked 2,451 pastors, ministers and missionaries who were retired or at least 67 years old…

Folds of Honor helps the families of fallen heroes

Tulsa Beacon

OWASSO (PRNewswire) — Folds of Honor was founded by Captain Dan Rooney above his garage in 2007 with a dream to provide the gift of education to military families impacted by war. A veteran of three combat tours in Iraq, Rooney was recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and today, he has a…

Gov. Stitt names Justin Brown as new director of DHS

Tulsa Beacon

Governor Kevin Stitt  has appointed Justin Brown Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). “Justin is a fellow Oklahoman who has a strong record of helping healthcare and human-service oriented businesses become great success stories in their delivery of compassionate care,” said Stitt. “His time working at the Villagio Senior Living is just…