News

7-11 buys stores in Oklahoma City

March 12, 2020

(PRNewswire) — 7-Eleven, Inc., the largest chain in the convenience-retailing industry, announced that it has officially closed on the acquisition of more than 100 independently operated 7-Eleven stores in central Oklahoma. “These stores have carried the 7-Eleven name for 67 years, and today they officially join the global 7-Eleven family,” said Joe DePinto, 7-Eleven President…

Assistance to fight against robocalls

March 12, 2020

People in Oklahoma are being warned that robocalls are likely to increase as the country gears up for the 2020 elections. The 2020 elections, which will be in November, will see all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate, and the office of…

Federal grants to OK to fight AIDS

March 12, 2020

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded $1,808,416 to expand access to HIV care, treatment, medication, and prevention services in Oklahoma. HRSA awarded $1,058,416 to four health centers in Oklahoma with service delivery sites in geographic locations. These awards are part of a program…

Can people’s life spans be extended?

March 12, 2020

A scientist, Aubrey de Grey, a gerontologist, is convinced that people can live longer than anyone has ever imagined — “as long as 1,000 years,” according to the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. De Grey may well be off-base with his prediction; he certainly has his detractors. The Week, a news magazine with U.K….

Robotic spine surgery at OUMC

March 12, 2020

OKLAHOMA CITY — OU Medical Center at OU Medicine has become the first hospital in Oklahoma to offer robotic spine surgery. The advanced technology allows for the precise placement of spinal hardware during complex spinal operations. “The capacity to perform robotic spine surgery is another advance in the level of care available to Oklahomans and…

Medical marijuana and the 2nd Amendment

March 5, 2020

The Oklahoma Senate voted unanimously last week to protect the Second Amendment rights of medical marijuana cardholders. Senate Bill 959, authored by Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, clarifies that anyone authorized to use medical marijuana would also be allowed to have a concealed carry permit. Even though Oklahoma is a constitutional carry state, some citizens…

IDs for released prisoners

March 5, 2020

The House Public Safety Committee advanced legislation to require the Dept. of Corrections and Dept. of Public Safety to coordinate to issue valid state identification to inmates upon their release. House Bill 1310 by Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, would create the “Inmate ID Act of 2020.” The act would require the Oklahoma Dept. of Corrections…

‘Caller ID spoofing’ bill

March 5, 2020

The House Utilities Committee passed legislation to prevent telemarketers from replicating phone numbers and misrepresenting the origin of a phone call. House Bill 3081, authored by Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, would prohibit callers from tampering with information displayed on caller IDs to disguise their identities. This practice is known as “caller ID spoofing” and is…

Revising the Constitution

March 5, 2020

Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa, thinks the Oklahoma Constitution is well overdue for an upgrade. Newhouse, who authored Senate Joint Resolution 31, which would give power to the people to decide if the state should call a Constitutional Convention to propose alterations, revisions and amendments to the document. Although it has been amended over the years…

Filling teacher vacancies

March 5, 2020

The Senate Education Committee approved legislation to help fill the large number of teaching vacancies in the state. Retired teacher Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, said his Senate Bill 1115 is desperately needed to help decrease classroom sizes by extending emergency teaching certificates. “We currently have hundreds of teaching vacancies that districts are desperate to fill….