News

Analysis: Abortion ruling shows need for reform

March 30, 2023 Ryan Haynie

Earlier this week, the Oklahoma Supreme Court dropped a bombshell opinion wherein it found the Oklahoma Constitution protects the right to terminate a pregnancy to preserve the life of the mother. In the ultimate exercise of futility, it did so despite both statutes in question providing for that very exception. Rather than providing clarity on…

New Memorial Statue

March 30, 2023

“The Forgotten War” will be remembered forever in Broken Arrow as they dedicated a new Korean War Memorial at Veterans Park, 1111 S. Main St., on March 21 at 1 p.m. The ceremony included acknowledgment of the Korean War veterans in attendance, recognition of sculptor J. David Nunneley, and the unveiling of the monument. The…

Bill to ban elementary school sex-ed and transgender lessons passes House

March 30, 2023

By an overwhelming margin, members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives have voted to prohibit classroom lessons on sexual orientation or gender identity in Oklahoma elementary schools. “The spirit of the bill is to prevent discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity outside of parents’ knowledge,” said state Rep. Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa. House Bill 2546,…

Senate passes bills to reform medical marijuana

March 30, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate continued their efforts Thursday to improve public safety within the medical marijuana industry. Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, said the bills focus on youth access, medical education, product potency, recalls, and other important issues requested by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA). “Medical marijuana was overwhelmingly supported by Oklahoma voters in…

Senate bill to allow OMMA director to shut down marijuana operations

March 30, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate approved legislation Monday to address environmental concerns related to marijuana grows. Sen. Joe Newhouse, R- Tulsa, is the author of Senate Bill 808, which authorizes the executive director of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to order licensees to cease and desist operations if the director finds that an environmental…

Teachers and other certified personnel to get up to $6,000 pay raise under Senate plan

March 30, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to provide an across-the-board pay increase for Oklahoma’s teachers and certified school personnel received overwhelming support in the Senate Tuesday. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, the chairman of the Education Committee and Education Appropriation Subcommittee, authored Senate Bill 482 to provide a scaled pay increase ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 based…

Women’s Bill of Rights passes the OK House

March 30, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved the Women’s Bill of Rights, preserving biological sex as a distinct legal category. Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, authored House Bill 1449, which clarifies how people of both biological sexes are treated under state law by defining ‘sex’ as a person’s biological sex, whether male or…

House Approves two Bills to help Seniors

March 30, 2023

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Max Wolfley, R-Oklahoma City, has advanced two bills benefiting seniors in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. On Tuesday, Rep. Wolfley passed House Bill 2020, which increases the Oklahoma income tax exemption for retirement benefits from $10,000 to $20,000 beginning in the tax year 2024. “The exemption for retirement income hasn’t been…

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans available to non-farm businesses

March 30, 2023

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Small nonfarm businesses in 77 Oklahoma counties and neighboring counties in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas are now eligible to apply for low interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced Director Tanya N. Garfield of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West. These loans offset economic losses…

Citizen Involvement in Legislative Process

March 30, 2023

Join Patriot Pastors for a civics class with guest speaker, Amanda Teegarden. This is part of our ongoing adult education. In this training class, attendees will learn how: the OK state legislature works how to contact your elected officials the course of a bill through the legislative process lobbying and how to read legislation for…