New law sets aside funds for extension, ag services

OKLAHOMA CITY – A measure that allocates $5.5 million to Oklahoma State University for its veterinary medicine school and its animal disease laboratory, plus $2 million for the OSU Extension Service and $1 million for agriculture experiment stations, has been enacted.

Forensic audit bill DOA in Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation that would have required an “independent third party” to conduct a “forensic audit” of the general election that took place a year and a half ago, on November 3, 2020, was dead on arrival in the state Senate. Senate Bill 1690 did not define the term “forensic audit.

Session wraps - for now

OKLAHOMA CITY – The second session of the 58th Oklahoma Legislature ended last Friday with veto overrides, a raft of social legislation and a vivid, public fight between the legislature’s Republican leadership and Governor Kevin Stitt.

Stitt vetoes 3 budget bills

OKLAHOMA CITY – Republican Governor Kevin Stitt threw the Oklahoma Legislature a curve ball last Thursday afternoon, vetoing three budget bills and saying he would call the Legislature into a second special session on June 13.

Golf bills signed; First Tee celebrated

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Sheila Dills and Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell recently celebrated enactment of legislation that will elevate the status of golf in Oklahoma.

MJ regs high priority for Legislature

OKLAHOMA CITY – Apparently the days of unfettered growth of the medical marijuana industry in Oklahoma are drawing to an abrupt close, because marijuana regulation has been a high priority for the Legislature this year.

Hearing continued to Aug. 17 for former Wolf Town Hall officials

HOBART – A preliminary hearing conference for two former officials in Lone Wolf’s Town Hall has been continued to Aug. 17 in Kiowa County District Court before Judge Rick Marsh.

SW Okla. teachers receive AEP grants

TULSA – Two southwest Oklahoma teachers were among 64 educators who received grants from American Electric Power, parent of Public Service Co. of Oklahoma, for “innovative classroom approaches.

OKC hospital pays $1.1M for false Medicare claims

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Heart Hospital South has paid more than $1 million to settle civil claims stemming from allegations it submitted false claims to Medicare.

4 indicted for ATM ‘jackpotting’

OKLAHOMA CITY – Four men stand accused of stealing several thousand dollars from an Oklahoma-based bank via an illegal practice known as “ATM jackpotting.