On June 15, the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department will launch a new parking pass program at 22 Oklahoma State Parks. Funds raised from the passes will allow the Oklahoma State Parks system for park facilities and infrastructure maintenance and improvements. “It is deeply important to all of us to keep Oklahoma State Parks affordable…
OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, today said he was in total dismay after learning of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department’s plan to start charging fees to enter state-owned parks, which traditionally have been free except for extra amenities. Rep. Grego worked alongside Rep. Johnny Tadlock, R-Idabel, during the past legislative session…
Unemployment has a big drop America is opening up again, as reflected by the May jobs’ report and Oklahoma is seeing a decline in the impact of the coronavirus. And the U.S. jobless rate fell to 13.3% from April’s 14.7%, a post-World War II high. Employment remained down by nearly 20 million jobs, or 13%,…
Republican Legislative leaders filed an action with the Oklahoma Supreme Court in response to a recent federal court motion by Gov. Kevin Stitt concerning his renegotiation of tribal gambling compacts. In a May 28 filing in a federal court case concerning tribal gaming compacts, Stitt asked a federal judge to rule on the Oklahoma attorney…
State Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, commented on legislation that improves and revises the state textbook adoption process. West authored House Bill 3466, which was signed into law by the governor. Implementation of the changes begins in March 2021. “This law builds upon the team of experts providing detailed, expert analysis to state and local…
The coronavirus and energy prices continue to take a heavy toll on state revenues. State Treasurer Randy McDaniel showed a 14 percent drop in May revenue collections. Gross receipts for May total $923.1 million, down by $150.5 million from May of last year. “The Oklahoma economy, as reflected in state revenue collections, was significantly impacted…
Due to the coronavirus and budget problems, some public schools may be meeting on Saturdays during the next school year. The Oklahoma State Board of Education voted 5-2 to approve a flexibility waiver allowing schools to count any instruction offered on Saturdays toward the state’s minimum requirement of 180 days of instruction or the equivalent…
Almost $23 million in opioid settlement funds will go to municipalities and counties throughout Oklahoma that have been impacted by the crisis of opioid addiction. The funds are from settlements reached by Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter with opioid manufacturers. They will be administered through grants established by legislation passed and signed into law this…
Despite a publicized battle over a lease, the City of Tulsa, Mayor G.T. Bynum and IC Bus have reached a new 20-year agreement to keep the IC Bus school bus manufacturing facility at Tulsa International Airport. “This agreement establishes a win-win partnership between the City of Tulsa and IC Bus for decades to come,” Bynum…
The University of Tulsa will empty the campus after Thanksgiving, when classes will go online. Most TU classes already have some aspect of online instruction. Some classes may have on campus finals but those will be before Thanksgiving. Classes will start earlier this year. TU will require masks for everyone on campus. The plan to…