As of Monday, March 23, there were 81 positive cases of coronavirus in Oklahoma and another person – a man in his 50s in Pawnee County, has died. The previous death was a Tulsa man. Fifteen people have been hospitalized. Results are beginning to come in from the public-private partnership with Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma…
State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister is asking school leaders statewide to help hospitals and nursing homes by donating desperately needed items such as hand sanitizer, masks and disinfecting wipes. Hofmeister wrote district leaders asking schools to donate surplus medical supplies due to the COVID-19 pandemic having significantly drained inventories of personal protective equipment. Leaders in Oklahoma’s…
All Tulsa Public Schools will be closed through April 3. At this time, students will return to classes no earlier than April 6. Families should anticipate that there may be an even longer closure. Beginning March 23, TPS will offer a grab-and-go breakfast and lunch to all of its students each weekday, which includes all…
The U.S. Small Business Administration approved the State of Oklahoma’s request for disaster loans for small businesses across all 77 counties who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses and non-profit groups can apply for up to $2 million in loans. Information can be found at www.sba.gov/disaster. “Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size,…
The U.S. Department of Education tonight approved waivers requested by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) to suspend assessments and Oklahoma School Report Cards for the 2019-20 school year. The State Board of Education on March 16 closed all state public schools until April 6 to help reduce community spread of COVID-19. The waivers…
To minimize impact on our nation’s students, the Department of Education is temporarily waiving all interest on federally held student loans. Secretary Betsy DeVos has also directed federal lenders to allow borrowers to suspend their student loan payments without penalty for at least the next 60 days. Stitt announced on March 19 the Oklahoma Tax…
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the United States and Mexico have agreed to restrict non-essential travel across their border.
Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) has revised guidance for childcare facilities. OKDHS strongly encourages child care facilities to remain open as they provide a critical service for first responders and health care professionals. Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) issued stronger guidance for investigating and cleaning a child care facility where an employee or…
Presiding Judge William LaFortune ordered the closure of all Tulsa County judicial offices and courts for the next 30 days amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an order published March 19. The decision to close the courthouse came after an emergency meeting of Tulsa County District Court judges. It notes President Donald Trump issued an…
Mayor G.T. Bynum on March 17 issued an executive order to close all bars in Tulsa at midnight. Bynum also ordered commercial establishments, hotels/motels, restaurants, food courts and large entertainment venues to close. The executive order applies to places like taverns, breweries, hookah bars, fitness centers, spas, amusement parks, etc. The order does not apply…