As has often been the case in recent sessions of the Oklahoma Legislature, a primary area of difference in House and Senate budget negotiations involves common education funding.
To that end, the two chambers are around $115 million apart on crafting the State Department of Education budget for Fiscal Year 2025, but both proposals are relatively flat compared to last year’s historic increase.
OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma House committee last week advanced legislation that would create a rebate program for companies that refine, manufacture or process hydrogen in small municipalities.
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce praised the progress on the Convergence development project in Oklahoma City.
The project is described as “an innovative office and research complex located in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Innovation District.”
LAWSUITS
Professional Finance Company Inc. vs. Deann Hartman for $1,113 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.
Professional Finance Company Inc. vs. Jennifer Milton for $1,321.94 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.
Professional Finance Company Inc. vs. Theresa Randle for $681.72 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.
Tinker Federal Credit Union vs. Bobby Conn for $2,500 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.
El Reno is going to grow. And that means it’s going to need more water.
The results of a study of El Reno’s water well field infrastructure were presented at the April city council meeting. Bill Myers with Myers Engineering said the study shows El Reno is in good shape today where water is concerned, but as Mayor Steve Jensen put it, “We can’t take our foot off the gas.”
Myers said El Reno’s growth projections show the population will increase. The question is how much.
City of El Reno Streets Department worker Colten Atkinson uses a power washer to clean off the walls on the walking pathways over the Rock Island overpass.
The walls were covered with dirt and grime from traffic and the road coverings spread over the overpass during the winter months.
Mayor Steve Jensen said it may be time for El Reno to become more aggressive in chasing federal grant opportunities.
Jensen made the comments at the conclusion of the April meeting of the city council.
Jensen was absent from the March meeting because he was attending a National League of Cities Conference in Washington, D.C.
He said the trip was beneficial.
“It was really good because you made a lot of contacts,” Jensen said.
A nonprofit that fights for some of Canadian County’s most vulnerable kids has earned a huge gift.
Canadian County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) recently accepted the latest HOPE Award from the Power of 100 Canadian County. Power of 100 members donated $16,465 to CASA, represented by Executive Director Dana Lutz, staff and volunteers.
Lutz said Canadian County CASA is grateful to the Power of 100 for selecting them as the HOPE Award recipient.
Oklahoma students get more than instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic at school – it’s also where they get a nutritious lunch. With the school year ending in a few weeks, families struggling with food insecurity will need to fill that gap.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma State Board of Health has formed a maternal health and obstetrician desert subcommittee to combat maternity care deserts, or areas physically inaccessible to maternity care, that plague the rural parts of the state.
Two meetings after its formation about six months ago, committee members are gathering data from neonatal intensive care units across Oklahoma counties, looking for NICU admissions that are longer than seven days.
