Oklahoma
Bill Allowing Veteran Discounts At Liquor Stores Heads To Oklahoma House Floor
A bill that would allow liquor stores in Oklahoma to give veteran discounts has made it out of committee and is headed to the house floor.
The ABLE Commission says state law makes it illegal for liquor stores to give discounts to select groups of people, including veterans.
The Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma says this law has only been enforced over the last few weeks.
A veteran contacted News On 6 after he says Aspen Liquor in Broken Arrow told him, it couldn’t give him a veteran discount anymore because it was against the law.
The Able Commission says it recently got a complaint about veterans getting discounts from a retail liquor store, and said because of a law that went into effect in 2018, giving discounts to certain groups of people is illegal.
“We love that Lowes and Home Depot can give discounts on drills and whatever else they sell there, unfortunately, alcohol is just different. It’s an addictive drug and it’s treated differently, it’s highly regulated because of that,” said Lori Carter with the ABLe Commission.
Dirk Van Veen with the Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma says it believes the ABLE commission changed the meaning of the modernization law.
“A change in interpretation at the ABLE commission as to what is a drink versus a retail container, and it had liquor stores falling under previous discount policies for bars and restaurants we saw that differently,” said Dirk Van Veen with the Retail Liquor Association Of Oklahoma.
Van Veen said the Director of the ABLE Commission encouraged him to propose a bill to change the wording of the modernization law so liquor stores can legally give veteran discounts.
“Basically, it makes all these what we thought were legal discounts legal again and we are hoping to have a limited-service interruption to our veterans in terms of their discounts,” Van Veen said.
Neil Hays is a state representative on the Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Committee who voted in favor of this bill and he says he’s gotten a lot of feedback from Veterans in his district.
“Mainly, thank you’s, it’s not about the money for the ones I’ve spoken to it’s more about the respect,” said Neil Hays, State Rep. District 13.
The ABLE commission says it has not given any citations to liquor stores that have been giving veteran discounts.
This bill has an emergency clause, so if it passes through the legislature, once the governor signs it, it will go into effect immediately.
ICE plans to sell or transfer $700m in empty warehouses
US Immigration & Customs Enforcement is reportedly planning to sell or transfer seven unused warehouse facilities that were purchased as part of a major immigrant detention expansion effort.
unbranded – Newsworthy
President Donald Trump announced June 27 he would nominate Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, to serve as director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“The Senate must CONFIRM Lance, IMMEDIATELY — Do not delay,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, calling Schroyer a “patriot” and asserting he would help carry out Trump’s broader immigration push to detain and deport individuals the administration describes as serious criminal offenders.
The move to fill the position comes months after Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE who oversaw immigration enforcement crackdowns linked to killings in Minnesota and Illinois, resigned as acting director at the end of May.
Schroyer has over 29 years in law enforcement in Oklahoma and is a U.S. Marine, Trump said. Most recently, Schroyer’s spearheaded federal-local immigration enforcement partnerships with ICE, including a program that allows state and local agencies to assist federal immigration authorities.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also praised the selection, saying Schroyer’s background positions him to advance the administration’s immigration enforcement goals and called on the Senate to act quickly to confirm him.
Who is Lance Schroyer?
Schroyer currently serves as senior adviser to the Department of Homeland Security, where he helps coordinate immigration enforcement strategy and interagency cooperation among federal, state and local partners, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
He previously served as a major with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, overseeing emergency and special operations units that handled disaster response, civil disturbance planning, abducted child recovery efforts and tactical operations.
ICE leadership vacancy and broader enforcement debate
ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since early 2017 and has largely been led by acting officials.
The nomination comes as the agency continues to play a central role in Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda. The Trump administration has expanded detention and deporation efforts as part of the president’s goals to crack down on people entering the country illegally. Immigration rights groups have raised concerns about civil liberties and detention conditions. ICE has faced scrutiny over enforcement actions and deaths in custody, including incidents that have prompted protests and public debate.
ICE’s detention strategies continue to evolve, including adjustments to how custody facilities are planned and utilized. At the same time, immigration enforcement officers are being deployed in more states, pointing to a wider national presence as part of the administration’s enforcement efforts.
Contributing: Reuters
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
Nowata County Emergency Management is urging motorists to avoid several roads across the county as flooding continues following recent heavy rainfall.
Officials reported water over a bridge on County Road 408 south of Road 2, between Roads 2 and 3.
Roads to Avoid
Emergency management officials issued the following road advisories:
- Road 21 between Roads 420 and 419
- Road 419 north of U.S. Highway 60
- Road 420 between Roads 27 and 28
- Road 27 west of Road 421 near Panther Creek
Officials say these roads should be avoided because of flooding.
Road 2 Closed
Emergency management also announced that Road 2 (EW 2) is closed.
Officials said some areas of the roadway have approximately 12 inches of standing water.
Drivers are encouraged to avoid flooded roadways and seek alternate routes until water recedes.
Resources at Oklahoma City’s Animal Welfare are stretched thin after taking in more than 500 animals in an emergency rescue. Police arrested four people and saved the animals on Thursday in a methamphetamine bust at a home near southeast 15th and High Avenue.
FIRST REPORTED: Four arrested after 30 pounds of meth, hundreds of animals seized from Oklahoma City home
Oklahoma City’s Development Services Director Brock Rowe answered questions about the largest animal seizure in the city’s history.
How many animals were rescued and what species were found?
Animal control officers rescued 523 animals. There were about 470 ducks, chickens, pigeons, and peacocks gathered from the property. Officers took 49 dogs, an unspecified number of cats, one horse, and reptiles.
What is the latest on the animals’ health and condition?
The animals were “taken care of pretty good” and did not appear to be severely abused of malnourished. The situation is believed to be animal hoarding, meaning there were simply too many animals on the property. Staff worked overnight to ensure the animals have food, clean water, bedding and proper car.
What resources is the shelter using to care for so many animals?
The shelter is using temporary crates, kennels, and indoor spaces to accommodate the overflow, especially for birds, while larger animals like the horse are kept outside. Animal welfare officials are reaching out to local partners and organizations that specialize in livestock and birds to help house and care for some of the animals. The shelter is running a “name your price” adoption event to quickly move existing animals out and free up space.
Are the animals considered evidence, and when could they become available for adoption or transfer?
The animals are currently on hold as evidence, and adoption or transfer will only happen after the legal process determines when they can be released.
What is the status of the criminal investigation, and are additional charges expected?
Police arrested four men on drug trafficking complaints during the warrant search. No word if the men will face charges for the animals.
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