News

Candidate filing April 8-10

April 9, 2020

Oklahoma’s 2020 candidate filing period for federal, state, and legislative offices will occur as scheduled, Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax announced. The three-day filing period runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 8-10. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the secretary is encouraging candidates for federal, state, and legislative offices to file their…

Blood donations needed

April 9, 2020

While the pandemic has left the country with a shortage of personal protective equipment and ventilators, it has also resulted in a depleted supply of blood. With the need for blood at an all-time high, State Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa, has partnered with the Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) to host mobile blood drives to combat…

OSU diagnostic lab

April 9, 2020

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) Diagnostic Laboratory is now operational as an approved COVID-19 diagnostic lab, dramatically increasing Oklahoma’s testing capabilities. The lab does not test individuals for the virus, but rather analyzes samples sent by health care providers. Using Thermo Fisher diagnostic machines, the lab is capable of analyzing more than 2,000 samples…

Macy’s furloughs workers

April 9, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic is forcing Macy’s to furlough the majority of its r130,000 employees. All of Macy’s stores, including the retail store in Woodland Hills Mall, have been closed since March. Because of online sales, Macy’s distribution center in Tulsa is expected to have fewer furloughs. More than a thousand workers are in the Tulsa…

Mask donations

April 9, 2020

Sapulpa resident Joni Rogers-Kante, Founder and CEO of SeneGence International, is using her supply chain to manufacture and bottle a 62 percent alcohol hand sanitizer made in accordance with FDA guidelines. SeneGence has donated thousands of bottles of their newly developed Hand Sanitizer to the Ronald McDonald House and CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange County,…

Blue Cross waives fees

April 9, 2020

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma said it is waiving member cost-sharing, including deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, related to treatment for COVID-19. The waiver applies to costs associated with COVID-19 treatment at in-network facilities and treatment for out-of-network emergencies.

State revenues poised to plummet Due to virus and lower oil prices

April 9, 2020

Oklahoma Gross Receipts to the Treasury in March show the calm before the storm. As has been the case for several months, they indicate slight overall growth, but with slowing sales tax collections and reduced oil and gas production, State Treasurer Randy McDaniel has described the state tax revenue report from March as “the calm…

Lankford says ‘stimulus package’ is really ‘stabilization’

April 9, 2020 Ray Carter

In 2009, as the Great Recession roiled the economy, Congress responded with an enormous “stimulus” package that supporters claimed would reignite economic growth. However, the $2 trillion legislation recently passed by Congress has more modest goals, according to U.S. Sen. James Lankford. “That’s not what this is,” said Lankford, R-Oklahoma City. “This is trying to…

Social Security retirees are eligible for the stimulus checks

April 9, 2020

WASHINGTON, D. C. — “It’s the one question nearly all Social Security recipients are asking: Will I get a Coronavirus stimulus check? If yes, do I get one even if I haven’t filed a tax return in recent years? The answers are yes and yes,” said Jeff Szymanski, political analyst at the Association of Mature…

Closed libraries provide services

April 9, 2020

In spite of Tulsa City-County Library (TCCL) branches remaining closed, TCCL staff are busy working remotely to develop content and resources for customers, caregivers and teachers in Tulsa County and beyond. Starting on March 30, our AskUs service offered assistance with library information including available resources and services, reference questions and online services via email,…