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Senate approves bill to expand broadband access

Tulsa Beacon

The full Senate has given approval to a measure that will ultimately help improve broadband access throughout rural Oklahoma.  House Bill 4018 creates the Rural Broadband Expansion Act. Authored by Sen. James Leewright, R-Bristow, and House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, and coauthored by Rep. Logan Phillips, R-Mounds, the bill was approved unanimously on Tuesday. Leewright,…

House votes to raise pay by $2/hour for corrections

Tulsa Beacon

A bill that will increase pay by $2 an hour for Department of Corrections’ (DOC) employees passed the House with a vote of 99-0. Senate Bill 1424, by State Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, previously passed the Senate 46-0 and now awaits the governor’s signature to become law. “We gave many of our state correctional…

Senate bill would further liberalize liquor laws

Tulsa Beacon

The full Senate has given approval to a bill that will enable Oklahomans to continue to take advantage of curbside sales or home deliveries of beer, wine and hard liquor.  Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, is principal author of Senate Bill 1928.  The measure was approved Wednesday with bipartisan support. “As businesses were closed or operating…

Repeat offenders targeted in new DUI legislation

Tulsa Beacon

A bill strengthening the role of victims’ impact panels in helping to stop driving under the influence (DUI) offenses in Oklahoma and to reduce the number of repeat offenders passed the state Senate and now awaits the governor’s signature to become law. House Bill 2877, by House Majority Leader Mike Sanders, R-Kingfisher, was a request…

Extension of rail service from OKC to Newton, KS

Tulsa Beacon

A resolution supporting the extension of passenger rail service from Oklahoma City to Newton, Kansas, was adopted unanimously by the House of Representatives. House Resolution 1036, by State Reps. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, and Garry Mize, R-Guthrie, supports the extension of Amtrak passenger rail service between the two cities and expresses support…

Oklahoma Droneport is passed by House, Senate

Tulsa Beacon

A measure creating the Oklahoma Droneport Project Pilot Program to further state investment in innovative technologies gained approval from the House of Representatives and now moves to Governor Stitt’s desk. Contingent upon availability of funds, Senate Bill 1688 would house the droneport program under the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission and would allow for coordination between the…

Oklahoma on target to re-open completely on June 1st

Tulsa Beacon

Things are loosening up in Oklahoma as the state enters Phase 2 of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s plan to battle the Chinese coronavirus pandemic. “Data shows we are in great shape to move to Phase 2 of reopening,” Stitt said. Phase 2 was triggered by two weeks of manageable hospital occupancy and number of confirmed cases. …

The chapel at New Life Ranch

New Life Ranch will hold summer camp, beginning June 7

Tulsa Beacon

New Life Ranch, a Christian camp with two locations in Oklahoma, will have summer camp this year. Tom Graney, executive director of NLR, announced in an email to supporters that the first summer sessions will begin June 7. “Possibly more than ever, we are excited about getting kids to camp,” Graney wrote. “There are more details…

Falls Creek cancels summer camp due to the coronavirus

Tulsa Beacon

DAVIS, Oklahoma — Leaders with Oklahoma Baptists announced that Falls Creek Youth Camp and Cross Timbers Children’s Mission Adventure Camp will not hold any camp sessions during the summer of 2020, due to factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, Oklahoma Baptists had announced tentative plans for a delayed start and revised schedule,with the…

OSU entomology professor explains the Asian giant hornet

Tulsa Beacon

Two Asian giant hornets – or “murder bee” – were discovered in the State of Washington, causing concerns about them stinging people and killing honey bees – which are vital to agriculture. The Asian giant hornet, which can be two inches long, is the largest species of hornet in the world. They are three to…