News

New fire station in East Tulsa

August 20, 2020

City officials, including Fire Chief Michael Baker held a groundbreaking this month for Fire Station 33, to be constructed at 4109 S. 134th East Avenue. Construction of this station supports the Tulsa Fire Department’s Insurance Services Offices Rating of Number 1 and reflects ongoing efforts to ensure public safety and decrease insurance rates. Station 33…

No timetable set for removing illegal Black Lives Matter sign

August 20, 2020

In order to satisfy protesters, the City of Tulsa is delaying removal of the “Black Lives Matter” sign on Greenwood Avenue in Downtown Tulsa. Mayo G.T. Bynum claims the property owners indicated they do not want the mural to remain. The merchant and tenant association said they do not want the mural to remain. But…

COLA hike for Oklahoma pensions

August 20, 2020

State officials held a ceremony about the signing of House Bill 3350, which gave cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirees in Oklahoma pension plans, including teachers, firefighters, police, public employees and justices and judges. The bill was formally signed into law in May and took effect July 1. HB 3350 bases COLAs on the number of…

Increase in lice treatments in OK

August 20, 2020

Lice Clinics of America–MidSouth, part of the Lice Clinics of America 200 network, reported an increase in lice treatments of 42 percent in their two Oklahoma clinics and a 69 percent increase in their Arkansas clinic from April to May of this year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Head lice infestations affecting the entire family have…

Tulsa University lays off 47 employees

August 20, 2020

The University of Tulsa laid off 47 employees across various departments and cut retirement benefits for those who kept their jobs. Officials are blaming the Chinese coronarvirus pandemic. TU officials said the layoffs would save about $2.4 million a year. Earlier, some athletic coaches had their pay cut by 10-15%. TU will suspend employer retirement…

Contract to expand animal shelter

August 20, 2020

Officials have signed a contract with Tulsa-based GH2 Architects to design a new, expanded animal shelter for the City of Tulsa. The $4.7M shelter expansion project was approved by voters in both Improve Our Tulsa programs. The city plans to expand the facility at 3031 North Erie Ave. to include city-owned land to the south,…

Mullin speaks with tribal leaders

August 20, 2020

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, and leaders of the Muscogee (Creek), Choctaw, Cherokee and Seminole Nations have reacted to the Supreme Court’s decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma affirming tribal sovereignty. Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma regarding the Major Crimes Act (MCA), there have been many questions and concerns regarding…

No early voting set at Hardesty Library

August 20, 2020

Tulsa County Election Board Secretary Gwen Freeman said early voting will be available for the August 25 election at the Election Board Office at 555 N. Denver Ave. but unlike earlier elections, the Hardesty Library will not be available due to the coronavirus concerns. Early voting will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. August…

SQ805 on Nov. 3 ballot

August 20, 2020

Gov. Kevin Stitt has officially placed State Question 805 – which would liberalize prison sentences in the state – on the November 3 ballot. The question was submitted by an initiative petition. In recent months, Oklahoma has released hundreds of so-called “non-violent” criminals. Supporters of State Question 805 want to further empty Oklahoma prisons. District…

Helping state students

August 20, 2020

Gov. Kevin Stitt announced the Bridge the Gap Digital Wallet initiative is now available to Oklahoma families. Bridge the Gap is a new initiative that will connect up to 5,000 low-income Oklahoma families with $1,500 grants to purchase materials for students ahead of the 2020-21 school year. Bridge the Gap is an initiative that will…