Skip to content

The Tulsa Beacon

 

News

Tulsa gas prices rise before July 4th

Tulsa Beacon

Tulsa gas prices have risen 15.3 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.78/gallon as of Monday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 321 stations in Tulsa. Gas prices in Tulsa are 6.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 94.9 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. According to…

State Medicaid roll are increasing

Tulsa Beacon

On June 30, 2020, the Oklahoma Medicaid Expansion Initiative, State Question 802, passed by a majority vote to expand Medicaid eligibility to adults ages 19-64 whose income is 138% (133% with a 5% disregard) of the federal poverty level or lower. As of June 11, there were 101,001 people approved for benefits because of the…

Democrats elect statewide officers

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma State Democrat delegates elected new leadership and re-elected Alicia Andrews of Tulsa as the 2021-2023 Oklahoma Democrat Party Chairman with 65% of the vote. In 2019 Andrews, a local Realtor and former Tulsa County Democrat Party Secretary, was elected as the first African American and first African American Women in Oklahoma history to chair…

Hern’s bill would reform budgeting

Tulsa Beacon

U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Oklahoma, introduced the Pro-Growth Budgeting Act to the House of Representatives in June. Rep. Hern first introduced this legislation in the 116th Congress. The Pro-Growth Budgeting Act requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to produce a macroeconomic impact analysis, or dynamic score, on major legislation in Congress.  Dynamic scoring gives a…

Strawberries can affect your health

Tulsa Beacon

As little as 130 calories per day could make a significant impact on cardiovascular health. That’s approximately how many calories are in about 2.5 cups of strawberries. And it’s the amount a new study led by Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation physician-scientist Hal Scofield, M.D., found is needed to lessen our risk of heart disease, stroke…

Councilors approve new city budget

Tulsa Beacon

The Tulsa City Council unanimously approved Mayor G.T. Bynum’s 2022 fiscal year budget that totals almost $800 million. The budget is $799,400,000.00, which is about 5% lower than the previous budget. It is almost identical to the budget Bynum proposed in April. Sewer and water utility rates will increase by 3%. Some employees will get…

OKcollegestart.com helps families/students plan for college

Tulsa Beacon

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education recently launched the updated OKcollegestart.org, Oklahoma’s student information portal that provides students, parents, high school counselors and adult learners with comprehensive college planning and preparation information. OKcollegestart.org, the state’s official college planning website, has been redesigned with a wider content display, simpler navigation, updated tools, and new resources…

Nationwide blood shortage

Tulsa Beacon

A nationwide blood shortage has reached Oklahoma, as blood donations have reached emergency low levels. The shortage has been worsened by consistently high hospital usage, leaving blood centers around the nation short of all blood types heading into the upcoming July 4th holiday period.  The local blood supply last week was at a 1-2 day supply,…

Additional research funds

Tulsa Beacon

The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) has brought more than $450 million in additional research funding to the state over the last decade. “Funding research to prevent and combat cancer and other tobacco-related diseases is a key part of TSET’s constitutional mandate,” said TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee.  TSET funds research through grants that support…

Committee will suggest how to spend the ARPA windfall

Tulsa Beacon

A legislative committee with representatives and senators will make suggestions on how the state should spend $1.9 billion of federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Oklahoma’s share of ARPA funds includes $1.9 billion for state government and $1.3 billion for local, city and county governments. Under federal law, ARPA funds for state…