News

Oklahoma parents, students rally for school choice

April 6, 2023 Ray Carter

Hundreds of parents and students urged lawmakers to enact robust school-choice policies this year that will allow Oklahoma families to more easily access private schools and homeschooling, speaking out at a Capitol rally on Thursday. “Every parent has dreams for their child’s future,” said Blessing Omeke, a mother of three. “And God puts a natural…

Abortion ruling puts focus on state judicial appointments

April 6, 2023

A recent ruling by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which controversially declared that the Oklahoma Constitution provides a right to abortion under certain circumstances despite the constitution containing no language regarding abortion, is prompting renewed focus on how Oklahoma justices and judges are selected and appointed. “I want judicial reform for a myriad of reasons,” said…

OK Rainfall Divide

April 6, 2023 Gary McManus

Oklahoma’s oddly persistent caste-like rainfall pattern—with those to the north and west of Interstate 44 seeing near-record dryness and those to the south and east experiencing abundance—continued during March. Rainfall totals to the northwest of I-44 were generally a half-inch or less, while amounts of 5-8 inches were quite common to the southeast. Ten Oklahoma…

Senate Approves Historic Education Funding Package

April 6, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma State Senate today gave passage to its historic $700 million education package. Senators voted overwhelmingly on both measures 40 – to – 7 on House Bill 1935 and 46 – to – 2 on House Bill 2775, approving the single largest appropriations increase to education in state history, sending it…

Measure Could Allow Installment Payments on Property Tax

April 6, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation allowing county treasurers to provide the opportunity for residents to prepay ad valorem taxes is heading to the Senate. Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, said senior citizens and other Oklahomans living on a fixed income deserve flexibility and options to pay their property tax. “Property taxes are the only tax Oklahomans can’t…

House Passes Legislation that Would Compensate Teachers for Additional Students

April 6, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House on Tuesday passed a bill that would grant additional compensation to elementary school teachers whose classrooms exceed size limits. House Bill 2009 is authored by Rep. Dean Davis, R-Broken Arrow. “When a teacher is asked to teach additional students, they are taking on more responsibilities,” Davis said. “They should be…

Fair Miles OK needs volunteers to help with pilot project

April 6, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 30, 2023) – Fair Miles Oklahoma, a research program aimed at identifying alternative approaches to funding the state’s transportation needs, is now seeking participants for a new pilot project. The pay-per-mile pilot program seeks to explore potential revenue streams for the state’s roads and bridges while promoting fairness and sustainability. On-going increases…

FAPC to host an artisan and grain workshop on May 17

April 6, 2023 Kirsten Hollansworth

STILLWATER, Okla. – Renee Albers-Nelson, baking and milling specialist with the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center at Oklahoma State University, is set to host All You Knead to Know, an artisan and grain workshop, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 17 at FAPC. Anyone from a chef to a farmer,…

Groundbreaking OMRF discovery paves way for muscle loss treatment

April 6, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY, March 28, 2023 — A paradigm-shifting discovery at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has opened a new pathway to finding treatments for maintaining and growing muscle mass. OMRF scientist Aga Borowik, Ph.D., discovered that the nuclei in skeletal muscle cells, called muscle fibers, continue replicating DNA after reaching maturity. The finding counters a…

Tulsa Is the 6th Best Large U.S. Metro for Commuters

April 6, 2023

One of the few, albeit temporary, benefits of the COVID-19 pandemic was the dramatic reduction in vehicle traffic. Stay-at-home orders, school closures, and working from home kept people at home and cars off the road. As workers returned to the office and businesses resumed their normal operations, traffic congestion started to rebound but is still…