News

Oklahoma School Choice Week is January 26-February 1

January 16, 2020

(PRNewswire) – Gov. Stitt issued a proclamation declaring January 26-February 1 Oklahoma School Choice Week. In doing so, he joined dozens of other governors and hundreds of city and county leaders nationwide in recognizing the historic celebration of education. Oklahomans have planned 665 events and activities to celebrate opportunity in education during the Week, including…

Construction work on Cherry Street

January 16, 2020

Expect traffic snarls on Cherry Street until late this summer. Starting January 6 , contractor crews with Crossland Heavy Contractors began the replacing a 6-inch water main as a part of the street rehabilitation project on 15th Street between South Peoria Avenue and South Utica Avenue in the Cherry Street District. Both eastbound lanes are…

Feds raise the tobacco age to 21

January 16, 2020

The executive director of the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) praised a new federal law that will raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21 while also calling for more to be done to protect youth from a lifetime of nicotine addiction. “This action by Congress is a good first step toward…

Young: Raise the minimum wage

January 16, 2020

Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, has filed legislation to increase Oklahoman’s minimum wage requirement to $10.50 an hour from $7.25 an hour, the Oklahoma minimum wage. Senate Bill 1165 would increase that $10.50 standard should the federal minimum wage rise. The last minimum wage increase in Oklahoma was in 2008 when the rate increased from…

Tax break proposal for the disabled

January 16, 2020

State Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, has filed legislation to give a tax deduction to individuals and families contributing to an Oklahoma STABLE account, which is made possible by the federal Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program. Oklahoma STABLE accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts for eligible individuals with disabilities. They have similar features to normal…

Criminal Justice courses at SNU

January 16, 2020

Students across the state will now be able to study Criminal Justice in a program designed for busy adults, beginning March 2020 with Southern Nazarene University’s unique format. “We are pleased to offer the criminal justice degree online so adults can access the program from a location that is convenient for them,” said SNU President…

Dr. Matt Brooks hired by First Baptist BA

January 9, 2020

On December 8, the congregation of First Baptist Church Broken Arrow voted to extend a call to Dr. Matt Brooks as the church’s new Senior Pastor. Dr. Brooks comes to FBCBA from Prestonwood Baptist Church, a 53,000-member SBC church in North Dallas. Dr. Matt Brooks served on the Pastoral and Preaching Team at Prestonwood Baptist…

New USS Oklahoma announced

January 9, 2020

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, (R-Okla., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) announced that the Navy’s newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine will be named the USS Oklahoma: “Acting Secretary Modly called today to tell me that the Navy has chosen to name the next Virginia-class fast attack submarine after the great state…

2020-21 state budget will be increased to $8,300,000,000

January 9, 2020

The Oklahoma Board of Equalization has certified the Legislature and Gov. Kevin Stitt will have a discretionary budge of $8.3 billion for the fiscal year that starts July 1. That was a $9.3 million (0.1 percent) increase from Fiscal Year 2020. “Oklahoma’s state revenues are beginning to plateau after losing more than 60% of oil…

Bills written to aid teacher shortage

January 9, 2020

In an effort to help encourage and retain Oklahoma’s top educators, Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has filed legislation creating a process for teachers who complete their National Board Certification and meet other additional requirements to receive annual bonuses of $1,500 beginning in the 2020-21 school year. Under the legislation, depending on available revenue, that amount…