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Oklahoma Guard helps contact tracing

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY — Members of the Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard are supporting the Oklahoma State Department of Health in fulfilling Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s continued efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout the State. In this latest push, Oklahoma guardsmen, like so many other guardsmen throughout the U.S., help with contact tracing,…

Some Tulsa rioters demanding reparations for 1921

Tulsa Beacon

Ongoing protests include property destruction, theft Some people in Tulsa and some outside Tulsa are calling for reparations as a result of the 1921 Race Riot in Tulsa – 99 years ago. On May 31-June 1, 1921, 35 blocks of the Greenwood District in Tulsa were destroyed and an undetermined number of black people were…

New law adds liability to doctors who perform abortions

Tulsa Beacon

Legislation was signed into law last week to hold physicians who perform fraudulent abortions solely liable for the wrongful death.  Senate Bill 1728, by Sen. David Bullard, creates the Unborn Person Wrongful Death Act and modifies provisions related to awarding damages resulting from such wrongful deaths.  The Durant Republican said that the new law will…

Gov. Stitt vetoed 18 of 176 bills

Tulsa Beacon

Gov. Stitt vetoed 18  of the 176 bills submitted to his office in the shortened legislative session in 2020. The latest vetoes were on House Bill 3228, Senate Bill 1046 and Senate Bill 1595. HB 3228 would have changed parts of the state’s medical marijuana law. Stitt said, “The language in the bill makes substantial…

Retirees will get COLAs

Tulsa Beacon

Legislation granting cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirees in six Oklahoma pension plans, including teachers, firefighters, police, public employees and justices and judges was signed into law by the governor. House Bill 3350 bases COLAs on the number of years individuals have received retirement benefits from the state. Those retired for five years or more as…

Curbside booze bill signed

Tulsa Beacon

Thanks to Senate Bill 1928, customers will continue to be able to buy their beer, wine and hard liquor through curbside sales. The bill was authored by Sen Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, and Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston.  Gov. Stitt signed Senate Bill 1928 into law.  It’s another step in liberalizing Oklahoma liquor laws. “During the COVID-19…

Law to protect juveniles

Tulsa Beacon

Gov. Stitt signed a bill to protect children 12 years of age or younger from being placed in a state juvenile detention facility unless all alternatives have been exhausted and the child is charged with an offense that would be classified as a felony if committed by an adult. House Bill 1282, authored by State…

Life-saving consent bill

Tulsa Beacon

Legislation allowing Oklahoma courts to grant guardians the power to consent to withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining procedures through a separate order was signed into law by the governor. House Bill 2588 was authored by State Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, and was carried in the Senate by Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville. The legislation requires issuance of…

Court videoconferencing

Tulsa Beacon

Courtrooms across the state will now be allowed to use videoconferencing in district court proceedings after being signed by the Governor. House Bill 3756, authored by Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, authorizes the use of videoconferencing technology in all stages of civil or criminal proceedings except in jury trials or trials before judges. “The COVID-19 pandemic…

Emergency certificates

Tulsa Beacon

The State Board of Education approved emergency rules in March to allow emergency teaching certificates to be renewed for up to three years, and the governor approved the rules in April. The legislature felt more must be done for Oklahoma schools, so Senate Bill 1115 removes the emergency certification renewal cap all together beginning November…