Category Archives: State

Oklahoma’s Roads and Bridges in Peril

By Marvin Goodman

In the vast expanse of Oklahoma’s rural heartland, where amber waves of grain meet endless horizons, the county road network serves as the unsung lifeline connecting farms to markets, families to schools, and communities to the world beyond. Spanning 82,960 miles – enough to circle the Earth more than three times – these roads and bridges bear the weight of daily life for millions of Oklahomans. Yet, beneath the surface of this critical infrastructure lies a story of systemic neglect: a funding system that funnels the lion’s share of transportation taxes to the state’s general fund and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), leaving counties scraping by with fractions of what they need.

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SQ 832 means higher prices

By Jonathan Small

Supporters of State Question 832, which would impose a California-style wage law in Oklahoma that continually increases the state minimum wage based on the cost of living in places like New York City, portray it as a magic elixir that will boost economic growth and wages for all.

In reality, SQ 832 will boost prices for all while reducing job opportunities for many.

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Local Control in High School Activities

By David Arnett

Friday Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 2153 into law, opening the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s (OSSAA) decisions to public inspection and ending the penalizing of student athletes for transferring schools.

“I’ve heard too many stories of students who did everything right to transfer, only to be sidelined by an unelected, unaccountable activities association,” said Governor Stitt. “No student’s chance to be a part of an activity should depend on whether their parents can afford an attorney. This law puts families, not bureaucracies, at the center.”

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Oklahoma BPA Wins Multiple Awards

By Staff Report

Oklahoma Business Professionals of America returned from the National Leadership Conference with two Hall of Fame awards, an adviser award, three state association awards and a number of chapter and individual awards.

Brian Campbell, former BPA state adviser who was known as “the voice of Oklahoma BPA,” was inducted posthumously into the National BPA Hall of Fame. Picture are, from left, Mark Burch, BPA state adviser and business, marketing and information technology education division manager at Oklahoma CareerTech; Gina Hubbard, Oklahoma CareerTech director of statewide outreach; and Campbell’s sons, Nathan and Michael Campbell.
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Expedited School Abuse Reporting

By Staff Report

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill requiring allegations of abuse or neglect by a school employee to be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours has been signed into law by the governor.

Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami, is the author of House Bill 2959. The measure would require independent law enforcement to be notified prior of any formal investigation by the school or school board or the questioning of the subject of the accusation.

“Our most important priority is to protect our youth,” Bashore said. “This legislation will ensure that law enforcement is made immediately aware of any allegation of misconduct so they can properly investigate the situation. This will keep students and the larger community safe from any potential abusers.”

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