October 2020

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Parks plan

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The City of El Reno wants to know what you want when it comes to parks and recreation.

The city is circulating a survey in this issue of the Tribune as well as on the City of El Reno Facebook site. The questions are being asked to help determine a strategic plan to make improvements to the parks system.

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Pratt to speak at Veterans Day Parade

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U.S. Marine Corps veteran and renowned artist Harvey Pratt will be the keynote speaker at the Ninth Annual Canadian County Veterans Day Parade and Program.

The event is scheduled for 3 p.m. Nov. 8 in downtown El Reno. The annual tribute to county veterans was created by the El Reno Chamber of Commerce. It attracts participation from veterans and organizations from throughout the county.

Morgan applauds government’s action on missing indigenous people with new laws

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A member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes who has been helping in Oklahoma to bring more law enforcement resources to cases of missing indigenous people is applauding federal action on the issue.

“To me, it’s a win for Indian country,” said Larenda Morgan, the government affairs officer for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. Morgan made the statement to an Oklahoma City television station.

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West holds Citizen Posse orientation in El Reno

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Canadian County Sheriff Chris West had more than two dozen people attend the Citizen Posse orientation held last week in El Reno.

The two-hour training session was held at the Canadian County Fairgrounds and included a power point presentation and a session of questions and answers.  

There will be one more orientation meeting for those interested in the Citizen Posse, set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Mustang Community Center.

West said after the “training in Mustang we’ll have just under 200 people” take part in the Citizen Posse orientation training. 

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C&A Governor Wassana contracts COVID-19

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Cheyenne and Arapaho Gov. Reggie Wassana said he tested positive for COVID-19.

Wassana, in a story in the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Tribune, said he had lunch on Oct. 1 with someone who tested positive the following day. Wassana said he chose not to attend the annual Tribal Council meeting in order to quarantine as recommended by health professionals.

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A guide to State Question 805 and its potential impact on Oklahoma criminal justice

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As the Nov. 3 general election date draws near, public confusion regarding State Question 805 — a ballot initiative which would amend the Oklahoma Constitution and end the use of sentence enhancements against some repeat offenders — remains high. 

In social media posts and television advertisements, supporters and opponents of the measure continue to offer conflicting views. This in-depth Q&A seeks to clarify how State Question 805 would impact criminal justice in Oklahoma. 

State warns of false election text scam

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Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax issued a voter alert warning voters about a text message that was received by a voter last Friday, that falsely claimed the voter’s polling place had changed.

The complaint has been referred by election officials to law enforcement.

The text message falsely advised the voter that her polling place had changed, then asked the voter to reply to the text to confirm her name.

It then provided a phone number to call to be removed from the notification list.

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Kirt and Thompson study Pay for Success programs

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OKLAHOMA CITY – In a bipartisan interim study hosted by Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, legislators heard about the benefits of Pay for Success programs and how expanding their footprint across the state could save the state millions of taxpayer dollars. 

In a framework established by House Bill 2670, Pay for Success programs allow state agencies to establish public-private partnerships that include specific performance targets and outcome measures the private entity must meet in order to receive payment from the state.

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Stitt rated a four-star governor on economy

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Gov. Kevin Stitt has been rated a four-star governor in a new report that evaluates all 50 governors on their economic stewardship, but the report warns that Medicaid expansion will make continued financial prudence much more challenging for Stitt.

“Oklahoma Gov. Stitt’s spending restraint in a state with traditionally fiscally conservative policies will serve future budgets well,” states the newly released 2020 Laffer-ALEC Report on Economic Freedom.