Oklahoma
Bill to expand Fentanyl awareness in schools nears finish line
House Bill 1484, aimed at expanding fentanyl awareness and prevention education in Oklahoma schools, is one vote away from becoming law.
Rain’s Law, authored by Oklahoma State Senator Darrell Weaver, was introduced after 19-year-old Rain Reece overdosed on an Xanax laced with fentanyl.
“I got a call the next day that they found her dead in bed, with her schoolwork still open on her computer and her dog beside her. And I’m like, what happened? Like, there’s just no way. I just talked to her,” said Karla Carlock, Reece’s mother.
Reece attended Cameron University, and Carlock said she suffered from depression.
Reece called her mother on a Friday night, saying she was struggling and wanted to get back into counseling and on medication.
“I said, okay, Rain, I’ll call on Monday when they open and see if we can get you in. And I told her, I said, you know, and God loves you and has big plans for your life,” said Carlock.
May 27, 2023, would be the last time Carlock would speak with her daughter.
Sen. Darrell Weaver said this is something that happens all too often.
“They may be thinking they’re just taking an Xanax or some type of, or the most mild opioid, but now they just don’t wake up because it’s been laced with this high-powered fentanyl,” added Weaver.
If passed, Rain’s Law would require school districts to educate students in grades 6-12 on fentanyl abuse.
It would cover topics such as:
- Prevention of abuse
- Addiction to fentanyl
- Awareness of local school and community resources
- Suicide prevention
- Information related to health and substance abuse.
“This bill, quite frankly, is just not overwhelming. It’s just saying, let’s get this education component in the schools so we can start our young people thinking about this and have an understanding the risks that they’re taking,” said Weaver.
In 2023, he said there were about 700 deaths due to fentanyl overdoses.
Weaver served in the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics for almost three decades and adds that most often people are not aware that they are taking something laced that could cost them their life.
In a press release Sen. Weaver put out last year, he said fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50 times stronger than heroin and up to 100 times stronger than morphine.
Rain’s Law has gone through the Education committee, which was the first step. It now sits on the floor of the Senate and is in need of one vote.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State outlasts UCF in overtime, Houston next
The Oklahoma State Cowboys men’s basketball bounced back in a big way Tuesday night.
Anthony Roy scored 27 points and Kanye Clary added 23, including seven in overtime, as Oklahoma State defeated the UCF Knights men’s basketball 111-104 in Orlando.
The Cowboys controlled the extra period, finishing overtime on an 11-4 run and outscoring UCF 17-10.
Clary played a major role in closing it out. He hit a key 3-pointer and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in overtime to help seal the win.
The victory moves Oklahoma State to 18-12 overall and 6-11 in the Big 12, and gives the Cowboys two wins in their last three games after snapping a five-game losing streak. UCF, now 20-9 (9-8 Big 12), has dropped two straight.
Roy and Clary led a balanced offensive effort. Jaylen Curry and Christian Coleman each added 16 points, while the Cowboys shot 49% from the field (35-of-72) and 80% from the free throw line (32-of-40).
Themus Fulks led UCF with 22 points, while Riley Kugel added 18.
Late-game drama forces overtime
The final seconds of regulation were chaotic.
With 24 seconds remaining, Isaiah Coleman threw down a dunk to give Oklahoma State a 94-91 lead.
But UCF answered quickly when Chris Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left, tying the game at 94-94.
Oklahoma State had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Jaylen Curry missed a shot, and John Bol blocked Roy’s attempt, sending the game to overtime.
Cowboys respond after tough loss
The Cowboys showed resilience after Saturday’s lopsided loss to Cincinnati.
The team traveled directly to Orlando following that defeat and was pushed through two intense practices by head coach Steve Lutz and the coaching staff.
The response was clear.
Led by Roy’s scoring and Clary’s clutch overtime performance, Oklahoma State delivered a gritty win and swept the season series against UCF
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon
YUKON, Okla. (KOKH) — Oklahoma City Police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon Monday night.
The shooting happened near Northwest 10th Street and South Yukon Parkway near the border of Yukon and Oklahoma City.
Police are on the scene, and officials said the victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the hip.
OKCPD said they have at least one person in custody.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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Oklahoma
Oklahoma lawmakers consider bill to require annual fee for transmission lines on private property
As consumer electricity needs grow, lawmakers are discussing strategies to ease the burden on landowners who don’t want the towers and wires carrying that energy on their property.
As it’s written now, the bill would require transmission owners to pay landowners $2 per foot of line annually. During the committee meeting, Murdock said he introduced the legislation to “start a conversation.”
“ This is an idea of, maybe moving forward, if the landowners are getting a royalty off of the power being pushed across their property, it may make it a little more palatable for someone to have a transmission line go across their property,” he said.
Landowners can enter into easement agreements with companies to set aside portions of their land for the builds. But in some cases, eminent domain is used to obtain a right-of-way.
“ I’m not saying that this is going to do away with eminent domain,” Murdock said. “What I’m hoping is this just makes it a little more palatable.”
Murdock said he spoke with utility companies about the legislation, though he didn’t name them. The bill’s language could change after creating an alternative rate based on conversations with the companies, he said.
Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, said the bill could raise utility rates for consumers living in Oklahoma’s most populous counties if companies charge more to make up for the annual fee.
Murdock pushed back, noting the lines are necessary to deliver electricity to other counties.
“You understand that you flip that light on because — and have that ability to have electricity because — the people in my district have a transmission line that goes across them, getting you that power,” he said.
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