News

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt caught some lawmakers off guard when he called for consolidating public colleges and universities in his State of the State speech.

Stitt offered few specific details in his speech except to say he wants to see legislation that incentivizes higher education models that fulfill state workforce needs. Colleges that aren’t meeting those demands should be consolidated, he said.

Legislation to give local school boards more leniency in deciding how best to protect their districts will be up for consideration before the Senate Education Committee this month.

Senate Bill 1767 by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, would authorize district boards of education to establish qualifications for additional individuals to carry firearms on public and private school property, along with the currently allowed school personnel and others outlined in law.

WASHINGTON – Oklahoma’s entire congressional delegation, in a move led by Sen. James Lankford, joined together on a letter sent to the Federal Aviation Administration in support of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City. The letter came a day after the FAA installed a new air traffic control tower training system at an airport in Austin, Texas.

MUNICIPAL COURT

Janice Frantz, Yukon, expired tag, $165.

Austin Randall Woods, El Reno, failure to stop at stop sign, $165.

Ignacio Trujillo, Calumet, expired tag, $165.

Daniel Maurice Thompson, El Reno, failure to stop at red signal and expired tag, $295.

Tarren Amber Sherman, El Reno, speeding, $165.

Adam Kirkland, El Reno, speeding, $165.

Henry Gonzalez, Oklahoma City, disobeying traffic light and driving without license issued, $417.

Lafonda Lynn Cataline, Yukon, speeding, $165.

The deadline to request absentee ballots by mail is approaching.

Applications must be received by the Canadian County Election Board no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19.

Canadian County Election Board Secretary Allen Arnold said absentee voting is available to all voters and applications can be submitted several ways.

“In Oklahoma, no excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot, and it’s easy to apply. Voters can submit their application online, in-person, by fax, mail or even email,” said Arnold.