News

More than 2 million Oklahoma are registered to vote in 2020

January 23, 2020

Official Oklahoma voter registration statistics released recently show 2,090,107 Oklahomans are registered to vote heading into the 2020 election cycle. Oklahoma’s official voter registration statistics are counted every year on January 15. “These statistics continue a decades-long trend of growth for Independents and Republicans as a share of the Oklahoma electorate,” said State Election Board…

Gambling deadline passes without any renegotiation

January 16, 2020

Two tribes agree to an eight-month extension Despite the expiration of the state gambling compact, Oklahoma’s tribal casino’s continued to operate in January as some tribes refused to extend the time to negotiate with Gov. Kevin Stitt. Under the 15-year-old compact, the tribes had exclusive rights to gambling operations in the state. Stitt wants a…

GasBuddy predicts stable 2020 gas price

January 16, 2020

Despite trouble in the Middle East, GasBuddy is predicting 2020 will show a national average of $2.60 per gallon – a 2 cent drop versus 2019. But warns that the national average will rise as much as 75 cents per gallon from a low in February until an eventual peak in May, leading to localized…

Joy Hofmeister is silent on Obama’s LGBT bathroom policy

January 16, 2020 Ray Carter

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister is refusing to meet in public with a state lawmaker and citizens concerned about an August Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) newsletter that focused on “best practices” to create a “safe and valued climate for LGBT students.” Among other things, the newsletter recommended that Oklahoma schools allow…

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…