Bill to Close Loophole for Out of State Sex Offenders Approved by Senate
The state Senate on Wednesday approved legislation that would close a loophole in the state's Sex Offender Registration Act. House Bill 2783 would require the Department of Corrections to conduct risk assessments of sex offenders who move into the state of Oklahoma.
Sen....
04/23/2008
Senate Approves School Content Bill
The Oklahoma State Senate approved legislation Wednesday requiring the State Board of Education to adopt a policy that establishes different levels of content and rigor of subject matter being taught in schools during Veteran's Day and Celebrate Freedom Week, and that content...
04/23/2008
Senate Approves Harsher Penalties for Attacks on Pregnant Women
The full Senate has given approval to a measure known as the ''Scum of the Earth Bill.'' Sen. Debbe Leftwich is Senate author of House Bill 1897 which strengthens penalties for assaulting a pregnant woman.
''The number one cause of death for pregnant women is domestic...
04/22/2008
New Information on Logan County Murder
Saturday, OSBI released a picture taken from surveillance video of a murder victim's stolen pickup truck and horse trailer. These vehicles were stolen from Warren Little's Logan County home Wednesday. OSBI has now located the F150 pickup truck. It was burned in a grass fire...
04/22/2008
Logan County Murder Suspect Arrested
Late Monday night law enforcement arrested Alric Olaf Smith (dob 5-24-68) for the murder of his neighbor, 55-year-old Warren Little Sr. Little was found inside his Logan County home Saturday morning by sheriff's deputies after Little's family asked that deputies check inside...
04/22/2008
Material Witness now Murder Suspect in Seminole County
A material witness warrant issued Monday on Jose Francisco ''JoJo'' Torres has been changed to a first degree murder warrant. Investigators believe Torres shot and killed Jose Saba over the weekend inside a home just outside Wewoka.
Information provided agents indicate...
04/22/2008
Planning for Pregnancy Improves Chances of Having Healthy Babies
Personal health behaviors and family history have a significant impact on the potential for a healthy pregnancy, yet very few Oklahoma women receive preconception counseling before becoming pregnant, according to a recent study conducted by the Oklahoma State Department of...
04/22/2008
Prevention, Testing and Treatment Are Key to Controlling STDs
April is Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Month
The Oklahoma State Department of Health joins the nation in raising awareness about an ongoing epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that pose a serious public health threat to Americans - particularly young...
04/22/2008
State Senate Supports Public Vote on Official State Rock Song
Oklahoma has an official state folk song, a country and western song, and of course an official state song. What it doesn't have is an official rock and roll song. But a vote in the Senate has brought the state one step closer to choosing one. Sen. John Ford is Senate...
04/22/2008
House Passes Coffee's Hunting and Fishing Constitutional Amendment
Tuesday the State House of Representatives passed Senate Joint Resolution 38 by Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee that creates a constitutional amendment protecting the inherent right of Oklahoma citizens to hunt and fish. Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, is the bill's House...
04/22/2008
Paddack, Hilliard Team up on Water Issue
Appropriately timed to coincide with the celebration of Earth Day, a bill by State Senator Susan Paddack and State Rep. Wes Hilliard that enhances the future of the state's water supply has been signed into law by Governor Brad Henry. Senate Bill 1410 passed both the Senate...
04/21/2008
OSBI Searches for Material Witness in Weekend Murder
Thirty-five year old Jose Sabas was shot and killed inside a trailer home near Wewoka early Sunday morning. OSBI believes a person inside the home at the time of the shooting can help solve this case. Agents now have a material witness warrant issued for Jose ''JoJo''...
04/20/2008
Electronic Filing Has Perks
If you still haven't filed your Oklahoma income tax form, don't despair.
Taxpayers can file state returns electronically until Monday without being considered late.
If there is a balance due with the tax return, the payment also must be remitted electronically to avoid...
04/18/2008
Small Steps to a Better World
From the food we eat and the water we drink to the timber we use to build homes, we depend on the Earth in every facet of our lives. April 22 is the 38th annual observance of Earthday, a day that calls attention to our responsibilities as stewards of the Earth and highlights...
04/18/2008
Gov. Henry comments on NBA vote
Oklahoma City Gov. Brad Henry today applauded the NBA Board of Governors for overwhelmingly approving the location of a franchise in Oklahoma City.
?I think this is exciting news for Oklahoma City and the entire state. The vote further confirms that Oklahoma is in the big...
04/18/2008
Senate Unanimously Approves Measure for Regional Service Center for Deaf
The State Senate gave unanimous approval Wednesday to a measure to establish the Oklahoma School for the Deaf regional service center on the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) campus in Chickasha. House Bill 1546 is authored by Chickasha Republicans Sen. Ron...
Senate Co-President Lauds NBA's Approval of Sonics Relocation to Oklahoma City
Oklahoma State Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee responded to the 28-2 vote by NBA owners Friday approving the relocation of the Seattle SuperSonics professional basketball franchise to Oklahoma City.
''Oklahomans already knew we were ready to become the...
04/18/2008
Senate Review by Senator Kenneth Corn
After this legislative week, the Senate is left with only 55 more bills to consider this session. Business at the Capitol has been relatively efficient, though not always as effective and meaningful as some of us would like.
The Governor and legislative leaders this week...
04/17/2008
Senate Co-President Praises House Passage of Quality Jobs Bill to Attract NBA
The co-president pro tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate praised Thursday's passage by the House of Representatives of legislation to tweak the Quality Jobs Act to encourage the National Basketball Association to move a professional basketball team to Oklahoma.
The State...