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Tag: Kevin Stitt

Editorial: Liberals want to empty prisons

Tulsa Beacon

Liberals think that well-intentioned programs are good even if they don’t work and unintended consequences. One of the latest causes is “criminal justice reform.” Progressives argue that Oklahoma locks up too many people (especially women), that the prison system costs too much and that it is cheaper to rehabilitate than to incarcerate. They are close…

OU president resigns

Tulsa Beacon

With less than a year in office amid periods of controversy and upheaval, University of Oklahoma President James L. Gallogly announced his resignation Sunday. Gallogly, 66, resigned as president just a day after the university finished with its 2019 commencement ceremonies. In his 10 months as university president, OU has been rocked by an investigation…

Oklahoma picks ribeye as the best

Tulsa Beacon

A bill naming the ribeye as Oklahoma’s official state steak has been signed into law. Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt is the author of Senate Bill 21 along with House principal author Rep. Trey Caldwell, R-Lawton.  Murdock said with 5.1 million head of beef cattle in Oklahoma, the state is ranked third in the nation in…

Tax exemption for American Legion

Tulsa Beacon

Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill that will exempt the American Legion Department of Oklahoma from sales tax. House Majority Leader Mike Sanders, R-Kingfisher, and Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, are authors of House Bill 1003. The measure previously passed unanimously in the House and Senate. “The American Legion is our state’s largest veterans’ organization, serving…

Stitt names LaFortune

Tulsa Beacon

Governor Kevin Stitt announced today five appointments to the State Board of Corrections – including former Tulsa First Lady Kathy LaFortune. “I am pleased to welcome five new members to the State Board of Corrections,” said Stitt. “They will each bring a diverse perspective to the Department of Corrections in order to implement needed change…

Stitt declares state of emergency following April 30 storms

Tulsa Beacon

Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for 52 counties – including Tulsa, Wagoner, Rogers, Washington, Creek, Osage and Okmulgee – due to severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that began April 30. Those counties are: Adair, Atoka, Bryan, Canadian, Carter, Cherokee, Choctaw, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Garvin, Grady, Haskell,…

Stitt recounts first 100 days

Tulsa Beacon

Gov. Kevin Stitt has issued a report on the progress has made during his first 100 days in office. Stitt signed into law legislation that forces five of the 12 largest state agencies to answer to the executive branch. Past governors have produced blue-ribbon studies showing that responsibility and power are spread so far and…

Supreme Court boundaries’ bill

Tulsa Beacon

The Senate advanced a measure to modernize the Oklahoma Supreme Court district boundaries in order to increase the pool of qualified applicants eligible to fill judicial vacancies in the future. Gov. Stitt signed the bill. House Bill 2366, by Senate principal author Julie Daniels, modifies the boundaries of the Supreme Court district map to align…

Modernizing county records

Tulsa Beacon

Governor Kevin Stitt recently signed legislation to ensure county records are preserved.  Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, and Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, are the authors of Senate Bill 442 to increase the record preservation fee collected by county clerks from $5 to $10 for each instrument recorded with the Registrar of Deeds.   “There are innumerable…

Sexual assault crimes’ tracker

Tulsa Beacon

Gov. Kevin Stitt signed legislation to help Oklahoma law enforcement investigate sexual assault crimes by creating a statewide tracking system for sexual assault evidence collection kits.  Sen. Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, is the author of Senate Bill 967, and was a member of the 2017 Oklahoma Task Force on Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE).  “The…