OKLAHOMA CITY – In an effort to promote the creation of small businesses across the state, Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, filed the Oklahoma Home-Based Business Fairness Act. Senate Bill 316 would ensure that no municipality could prohibit a home-based business to apply, register or obtain a permit, license, variance or other type of prior approval…
OKLAHOMA CITY – State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has filed legislation aimed at providing greater educational choice for families dealing with bullying and health issues, particularly during the pandemic. “The physical and mental health of Oklahoma students is the focus of each of these bills. We should always put children, their futures, and what their…
Newly released enrollment figures for Oklahoma schools show districts may receive at least $195 million combined for 55,236 “ghost” students who do not attend classes in the district but are nonetheless included in enrollment counts used to determine state funding for each district. Under Oklahoma law, state funding for schools is distributed based on several…
A major construction project on the Turner Turnpike near the Creek Turnpike began January 11 to expand the Interstate from four lanes to six lanes. The expansion is part of the Driving Forward initiative announced in October of 2015. The project will expand the turnpike to six lanes from mile marker 218 to mile marker…
After nearly 20 years of newspaper sales in the Tulsa County Courthouse, the operator of the snack bar is refusing to sell the Tulsa Beacon any longer after a customer “threatened” her if she didn’t remove the paper. When asked if what kind of “threat” the customer posed, she refused to say. The snack bar…
WASHINGTON, D.C., – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, said the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions were able to make First Draw PPP Loans on…
WASHINGTON, D.C., – Tens of thousands of immigrants enter the U.S. legally from Mexico and other Central American countries. The vast majority of them, 77% of them, according to Pew Research, enter the country as law abiding permanent or temporary residents; 23% are illegal immigrants. “We can fully expect that the numbers of illegal immigrants…
OKLAHOMA CITY – Blood transfusions are the most frequent procedure performed in hospitals with more than 33,000 daily donations required to meet patient needs in the U.S. To ensure blood is available when needed, communities worldwide rely on the commitment of altruistic blood donors who empower blood centers to continue serving their communities through the…
The Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office announced that their joint prosecution of Willie C. Moore in Tulsa County will be dismissed due to his death. Moore was charged with the cold case homicide of Anthony Baltes, which occurred on September 18, 1983. “This was a long journey for the…
James R. “Jim” Hicks was sworn in as the Oklahoma Bar Association’s 2021 president-elect, and Richard D. White Jr., was sworn in last week for a three-year term on the OBA’s Board of Governors in a ceremony that was historic because it was the first time for OBA oaths of office to be administered virtually. …