On Monday, Oklahoma started Phase 3 of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s recovery plan to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, Oklahoma had only about 700 active COVID-19 cases out of nearly 4 million residents and more than 5,000 people have already recovered. Eighty percent of the deaths in Oklahoma were people who were age 65…
OKLAHOMA CITY — Members of the Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard are supporting the Oklahoma State Department of Health in fulfilling Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s continued efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout the State. In this latest push, Oklahoma guardsmen, like so many other guardsmen throughout the U.S., help with contact tracing,…
Ongoing protests include property destruction, theft Some people in Tulsa and some outside Tulsa are calling for reparations as a result of the 1921 Race Riot in Tulsa – 99 years ago. On May 31-June 1, 1921, 35 blocks of the Greenwood District in Tulsa were destroyed and an undetermined number of black people were…
Legislation was signed into law last week to hold physicians who perform fraudulent abortions solely liable for the wrongful death. Senate Bill 1728, by Sen. David Bullard, creates the Unborn Person Wrongful Death Act and modifies provisions related to awarding damages resulting from such wrongful deaths. The Durant Republican said that the new law will…
Gov. Stitt vetoed 18 of the 176 bills submitted to his office in the shortened legislative session in 2020. The latest vetoes were on House Bill 3228, Senate Bill 1046 and Senate Bill 1595. HB 3228 would have changed parts of the state’s medical marijuana law. Stitt said, “The language in the bill makes substantial…
Legislation granting cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirees in six Oklahoma pension plans, including teachers, firefighters, police, public employees and justices and judges was signed into law by the governor. House Bill 3350 bases COLAs on the number of years individuals have received retirement benefits from the state. Those retired for five years or more as…
Thanks to Senate Bill 1928, customers will continue to be able to buy their beer, wine and hard liquor through curbside sales. The bill was authored by Sen Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, and Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston. Gov. Stitt signed Senate Bill 1928 into law. It’s another step in liberalizing Oklahoma liquor laws. “During the COVID-19…
Gov. Stitt signed a bill to protect children 12 years of age or younger from being placed in a state juvenile detention facility unless all alternatives have been exhausted and the child is charged with an offense that would be classified as a felony if committed by an adult. House Bill 1282, authored by State…
Legislation allowing Oklahoma courts to grant guardians the power to consent to withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining procedures through a separate order was signed into law by the governor. House Bill 2588 was authored by State Rep. Sean Roberts, R-Hominy, and was carried in the Senate by Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville. The legislation requires issuance of…
Courtrooms across the state will now be allowed to use videoconferencing in district court proceedings after being signed by the Governor. House Bill 3756, authored by Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, authorizes the use of videoconferencing technology in all stages of civil or criminal proceedings except in jury trials or trials before judges. “The COVID-19 pandemic…