News

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…

Lawmaker joins Prison Fellowship

January 9, 2020

State Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, has been invited to be a member of Faith & Justice Fellowship, a part of Prison Fellowship, which serves prisoners, former prisoners, their families and others affected by crime and incarceration throughout the nation. Prison Fellowship was founded by the late Chuck Colson, a former top aide to President…

Flu and cold seasons are underway

January 9, 2020

State health officials say winter brings a higher chance of catching a cold, the flu or even viruses. According to Gitanjali Pai, M.D., AAHIVS, is a physician based in Stilwell, one of the most important ways to stop the spread of disease is also the simplest: Handwashing. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC),…

No Tulsa Beacon January 2

December 26, 2019

The Tulsa Beacon publishes 51 weeks a year and skips a week between Christmas and New Year’s. There is no paper on January 2. The December 26th issue has a double portion of standard features (comics, puzzles, columns, etc.). The next edition will be on January 9. The Tulsa Beacon office will be closed from…

Partisan impeachment

December 26, 2019

Rep. Horn, D-Okla. votes to impeach the President After a partisan impeachment of President Trump by the Democrat majority in the U.S. House, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blasted a scheme by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to delay sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate. In fact, Pelosi, who couldn’t even get every Democrat in…

Tribes reject Stitt’s compact extension

December 26, 2019

Gov. Kevin Stitt told all of the tribes who are part of the gambling compact with the state that he has agreed to extend the pact for eight months while negotiations continues. On Dec. 19, the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Commission rejected his offer. The 15-year agreement is set to expire January 1. Under the compact,…

Voting rights bill

December 26, 2019

Legislation filed this month would allow voters to decide who is qualified to participate in Oklahoma’s election process. Senate Joint Resolution 23 b State Senator Michael Bergstrom, R-Adair, would allow a vote of the people to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to clarify only citizens of the United States are qualified to vote in Oklahoma. “Currently,…

Petition to legalize recreational marijuana filed with state

December 26, 2019

Proponents of the full legalization of recreational marijuana have filed an initiative petition to put it to a vote of the people. They need about 178,000 valid signatures to get it on a ballot. A previous attempt, State Question 797, failed due to a lack of valid signature. The new proposal would amend the state…