News

$63 million to help Indian housing

June 27, 2019

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $63 million to 85 Native American communities throughout the country to improve housing conditions and stimulate community development for residents, including funding construction projects that generate local job opportunities. In Oklahoma, 17 tribes shared $13,116,063 of the funding. “HUD is committed to supporting affordable housing…

Recovery assistance keeps coming

June 20, 2019

Gov. Kevin Stitt met with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in Washington, D.C. to discuss Oklahoma agriculture and how the state and federal government can work together to support Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in the wake of flooding. “I was honored to meet with Secretary Perdue as we talked about ways to move Oklahoma…

Oklahoma gets low marks in ‘safest states’ comparison

June 20, 2019

In relation to natural disasters and crime, Oklahoma is not a very safe place to live, according to a new national study. Among the 50 states, Oklahoma is ranked No. 44 in terms of overall safety, according to WalletHub.com’s “2019’s Safest States in America.” “With every new headline about a mass shooting, terrorist attack, hate…

Stormy May weather doesn’t slow state revenue growth

June 20, 2019

2018’s historic tax hike is helping set revenue records Despite the recent bad weather, state revenues rose again in May by more than 10 percent – a record high – from May of 2018, according to State Treasurer Randy McDaniel. May revenues totaled $1.1 billion, up $102.7 million, or 10.6 percent, from May 2018. Individual…

The feds are sending unaccompanied minors to Ft. Sill

June 20, 2019

Unlike 2014, the federal government’s plan to house illegal aliens at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, will be better organized, according to U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma. The Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services have a temporary plan to house unaccompanied minors at military installations, including Fort Sill. “Decades of immigration failures,…

Monarch butterfly habitat is needed

June 20, 2019

STILLWATER – With a June 24 deadline approaching, Pheasants and Quail Forever is encouraging farmers and ranchers to consider using a federal program that provides financial and technical assistance to establish habitat that benefits monarch butterflies, pollinators and other wildlife. Dustin Lamoreaux, State Coordinator with Pheasants and Quail Forever, said the Regional Conservation Partnership Program…

Help for small business insurance

June 20, 2019

Attorneys for the Oklahoma Insurance Department filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals in support of giving Oklahomans more health insurance options. The amicus brief is in response to a U.S. Department of Labor rule that was overturned by a Circuit Court judge. “This rule, coupled with Oklahoma’s new AHP bill, gives small…

OCPA offers a fellowship program

June 20, 2019

To develop the next generation of state leaders, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs has launched the J. Rufus Fears Fellowship program, which will equip participants to advocate for free enterprise, limited government, personal responsibility and individual initiative. OCPA President Jonathan Small said the program is designed to preserve the best aspects of the United…

Smitty’s Garage is now open in BA

June 20, 2019

Smitty’s Garage has opened their twentieth location at 801 E. Hillside Drive in Broken Arrow. Smitty’s Garage menu includes bison, turkey, Angus beef burgers, fork and knife hotdogs, taco, and fresh cut fries. Each location offers plenty of arcade games and TV’s. “We think this location will be the prefect addition to this area,” said…

Heartland Flyer celebrates 20 years

June 20, 2019

In 1999, passenger rail made a return to the Sooner State as the Amtrak Heartland Flyer hit the rails between Oklahoma and Texas. The train celebrated its 20th anniversary on June 14. The daily service by Amtrak has carried more than 1.4 million passengers between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth during the past two decades….