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House Oversight Committee Passes Bill Removing Chronic Absenteeism from State School Report Cards

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Education Oversight Committee today passed legislation that would remove chronic absenteeism from the state school accountability system and add an incentive for schools that are going above the state minimum in instructional time with students. House Bill 1412, by Rep. Ronny Johns, removes chronic absenteeism from being a measure on…

Monarch population doubles in 2024

Tulsa Beacon

Just days from an Endangered Species Act public comment deadline, monarch butterfly conservation groups are celebrating a report that the population doubled last season. News of the doubling comes from 2024-2025 overwintering population counts released this week by the World Wildlife Fund-Telmex Telcel Foundation Alliance and the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas in Mexico….

TPS audit finds fraud and systemic failure

Tulsa Beacon

The TPS audit by State Auditor Cindy Byrd was released last week.  The report had been requested by Gov. Kevin Stitt. He was concerned about COVID funds spending, vendor contracts and complaints about the district violating the banned teaching of critical race theory in schools. The audit covered the span of time under Superintendent Deborah…

Deadline to request Absentee Ballot for April 1 Election

Tulsa Beacon

Voters in Tulsa County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the April 1, Board of Education General Elections for ISD-1 Tulsa Public Schools District 3, Tulsa Technology Center Office 2, ISD-3 Broken Arrow Public Schools Office 5 and Municipal General Elections for the City of Glenpool Council Member Ward 2, City of Jenks…

House bill on parental rights advances in House

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, this week secured unanimous passage of two bills in final House committees making them eligible for consideration on the House floor. House Bill 2696 would require schools to release student records to the student’s parents or guardians, or if requested, to the students themselves if they are…

February’s Rollercoaster: Record Heat to Deep Freeze

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma Climatological Survey February started off with a warm and pleasant stretch, reaching a summery 89 degrees in several locations on Feb. 3, breaking the all-time high temperature record for that date—87 degrees, set in Erick back in 1934. However, it was all downhill from there, as winter quickly reclaimed its grip on the calendar…

Apollo 13 Astronaut at TASM for 55th flight anniversary

Tulsa Beacon

Astronaut Fred Haise at Tulsa Air & Space Museum for 55th Flight Anniversary of Apollo 13 TULSA, Okla. – The Tulsa Air and Space Museum will host a luncheon event that includes book signing, panel discussion and group photo Saturday, April 12, 2025. Special guests are Astronaut Fred Haise, Flight Director Gerry Griffin, as well…

Applications now be accepted for Free STEM Summer Academies on college campuses

Tulsa Beacon

This summer, middle and high school students can experience life on a college campus while exploring exciting fields of study at the free 2025 Summer Academies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM Summer Academies, sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, are open to upcoming eighth- through 12th-graders. Each academy explores the…

The Utility Rate Payer Protection Bill Passes House

Tulsa Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill seeking to protect utility customers from paying higher rates because of 2021’s Winter Storm Uri unanimously passed in the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Tuesday. Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, authored House Bill 1220, which would prohibit municipalities that have franchise agreements with utility companies from assessing those fees and taxes…

OK income-tax repeal moves ahead in House

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahomans could see the personal income tax fully eliminated through a gradual phaseout process under legislation that has cleared its first legislative hurdle. House Bill 1539, by state Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore, would cut the state’s personal income-tax rate by a quarter point each time that net state revenue increases by at least $300 million….