CHICKASHA, Oklahoma, April 26 -- The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma issued the following news: In a significant move toward advancing higher education in Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Community College, the fourth largest institution in the state, and the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma, a premier four-year liberal arts college, are excited to announce a partnership set to redefine the academic landscape in the state. This partnership is a testament to the institutions' commitme  more

ADA, Oklahoma, April 25 -- East Central University issued the following news: The Oka' Institute participated in the recent tour with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Kerr Lab of the hydrogeology within the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer region. The tour featured experts from across the EPA, focused on geology, geochemistry and hydrology of the area. It showcased collaborative efforts within the EPA and Chickasaw Nation to advance understanding of this vital water resource. The EPA R  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on April 23, 2024: Attorney General Gentner Drummond today praised state senators for passing House Bill 4156 allowing state law enforcement officers to arrest and incarcerate illegal immigrants as a means of helping combat Oklahoma's numerous illegal marijuana grow operations. Drummond had requested legislative leaders to craft the bill, which now makes its way to the governor's d  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following statement on April 24, 2024: * * * Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following statement today in response to the latest audit findings of State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd: "The audit findings released today show troubling and all too familiar patterns of mismanagement, costing taxpayers millions as a result. Today's report confirms my previous order of an investigative audit   more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on April 23, 2024: Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a brief today with the U.S. Supreme Court detailing why the execution of Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip should be halted and his conviction remanded back to district court. The brief points to the "remarkable and remarkably flawed decision" by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals (OCCA) in April 2023 to uphold   more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- Gov. Kevin Stitt, R-Oklahoma, issued the following joint statement on April 24, 2024: * * * Governor Kevin Stitt issued a joint statement alongside half of the nation's governors calling on President Joe Biden to lift the pause on new approvals of liquified natural gas (LNG) export projects: "As governors, we are very concerned by the Biden Administration's move to pause approvals of new liquified natural gas (LNG) export projects, especially after Iran's   more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 26 -- The Oklahoma House issued the following news release on April 25, 2024: The Oklahoma House of Representatives today approved legislation to reduce criminal activity in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1450, authored by Rep. John George, R-Newalla, lowers the felony threshold for theft from $1,000 to $500, defines organized retail crime, and sets penalties based on stolen property value. "Oklahoma urgently needs to implement practical legislation based on the recommen  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- The Oklahoma House issued the following news release: Legislation penalizing notaries public who fail to identify the person signing the document has been sent to the governor's desk. Rep. Lonnie Sims, R-Jenks, passed Senate Bill 556 through the Oklahoma House of Representatives Wednesday morning. If signed into law, any notarial officer who fails to make a good faith effort to identify the person signing the document could be found guilty of a misdemeanor  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 26 -- The Oklahoma House issued the following news release: A measure making Oklahoma's state employee management agency and the Chief Information Officer subject to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act has been sent to the governor's desk. House Bill 3057, authored by Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, would require all purchases of equipment, products and services within the Information Services Division of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) and th  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 26 -- The Oklahoma House issued the following news release on April 25, 2024: Gov. Kevin Stitt this week signed into law a bill that clarifies the rights and responsibilities of Oklahomans seeking to move into an assisted living center. House Bill 3919 is authored by House Majority Leader Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City. "There are many respected referral agencies that work closely with prospective assisted living residents, but there is some ambiguity regarding res  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 26 -- The Oklahoma House issued the following news release on April 25, 2024: Legislation addressing the social worker shortage in Oklahoma will take effect Nov. 1. Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa, authored House Bill 3015 to make Oklahoma more competitive with other states in the region for social workers. The bill, which was signed into law Tuesday, revises the practicum requirement for licensed social workers, licensed clinical social workers and licensed social w  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- The Oklahoma House issued the following news release on April 24, 2024: The Oklahoma Senate passed House Bill 1805 on Tuesday, a measure that will affect the retirement benefits of licensed emergency medical personnel employed by the state. The measure, authored by Rep. Neil Hays, designates licensed emergency medical personnel hired on or after November 1, 2023, as hazardous duty members of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). "Emergen  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- The Oklahoma House issued the following news release on April 24, 2024: During the 2024 Oklahoma Outstanding Child Abuse Prevention Awards at the State Capitol on Tuesday, Rep. John Talley, R-Stillwater, was named the 2024 Outstanding Elected Official by the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). "I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Oklahoma Department of Health," Talley said. "Protecting our children and supporting vulnerable fami  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- The Oklahoma House issued the following news release: Legislation providing an optional indicator designating an autism diagnosis on driver's licenses and state IDs has been signed into law. House Bill 3671 was authored by Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond. The measure would create an optional identifying mark for driver's licenses and state IDs to indicate that the person has autism. "I've been working on this legislation for almost two years, and I'm so pleas  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following statement on April 24, 2024, by State Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman: * * * Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, issued the following statement after Wednesday's vote on House Bill 3959, providing tens of millions of dollars in rebates for men's professional sports. "Sadly, the majority party failed to include women's sports in the bill. Although I asked the author and colleagues across the aisle to support an amendment to i  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following statement on April 24, 2024, by State Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt: * * * Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, released the following statement after the Senate approved House Bill 4156 Tuesday. The measure aims to crack down on illegal immigration in Oklahoma by creating the crime of impermissible occupation and requiring individuals to leave the state within 72 hours of their conviction or release from custody. "The fe  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following news release on April 24, 2024: The Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday passed a bill to prohibit public school employees from using corporal punishment on disabled students. In a 31-11 vote, the Senate passed House Bill 1028 (http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB1028) from Rep. John Talley, R-Stillwater, and Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, that prevents school personnel from hitting, slapping, paddling or inflic  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 26 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following news release: Members of the Oklahoma Legislative Latino Caucus recognize the crisis at the U.S. southern border, and the challenges with the nation's immigration system, but they have serious concerns about the constitutionality and unintended consequences of House Bill 4156. They have called on the governor to veto the measure. Sen. Michael Brooks is chair of the caucus and said while their members have offer  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following news release on April 24, 2024: Senate Bill 1200 received approval from the House of Representatives Tuesday. The bill's author, Sen. Blake Cowboy Stephens, R-Tahlequah, extended his appreciation to the Legislature for their support, and to Speaker Charles McCall for carrying the measure in his chamber. SB 1200 provides that Oklahoma shall adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time (DST) upon passage of a federal law   more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 26 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following news release on April 25, 2024: House Bill 3288, by Sen. Cody Rogers, R-Tulsa, received approval from the full Senate Wednesday. The measure provides $50 million in funding for repairs and improvements to the Arkansas River Levee Systems, which are currently at high risk of failure. "The Army Corps of Engineers has determined that the levees along the Arkansas River are among the worst in the country and are in  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 26 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following news release: * * * Removes Requirement for Businesses to Check IDs before Serving Alcohol * * * Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, received Senate approval for a measure that allows Oklahoma businesses to sell or serve alcohol without being required to first check identification cards. House Bill 3571 allows businesses to use their discretion on whether or not to check IDs, ensuring older Oklahomans are not incon  more

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 25 -- The Oklahoma State Senate issued the following news release on April 24, 2024: Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, today took swift action to override Governor Kevin Stitt's veto of Senate Bill 1470 yesterday. Senate Bill 1470, also called the Oklahoma Survivors' Act, aims to help survivors of domestic violence. The governor's veto was overridden by a vote of 46-1. The measure directs a court to consider as a mitigating factor that the person has b  more

NORMAN, Oklahoma, April 25 -- The University of Oklahoma issued the following news release: OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center today announced its expansion to the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, marking a significant milestone in providing access to research-driven cancer care to northeastern Oklahoma residents. As the state's sole National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center, Stephenson Cancer Center's expansion will offer local patients unparalleled access to advanced cancer treatm  more

STILLWATER, Oklahoma, April 25 -- Oklahoma State University's Center for Health Sciences issued the following news: U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice, an Oklahoma State University alumna, will be the speaker at her alma mater's spring 2024 commencement May 11. A fourth-generation Oklahoman, Congresswoman Bice graduated from OSU with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing in 1995. "It is a privilege to have Rep. Bice speak at our spring commencement ceremonies," OSU President Kayse Shrum said. "Bice has   more

WEATHERFORD, Oklahoma, April 26 -- Southwestern Oklahoma State University issued the following news release: The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) Rover Dawgs recently participated in NASA's 2024 Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. on April 19-20, placing 4th among all U.S. teams and 11th internationally. The HERC competition challenges students to design and construct human-powered rovers to navigate a demanding ha  more