Oklahoma

Bills that didn’t pass through OK legislature

Published

1 year ago

May 30, 2023

Bills that didn’t pass through OK legislature

TULSA, Okla. — Legislators, just like our students, are done for the summer.

Friday, lawmakers adjourned the session. They sent dozens of bills to the governor’s desk, and many of those were signed into law.

Although, many items that people had their watch on, like sports betting, drag shows, and grocery tax cuts, didn’t make it across the finish line.

Starting with a bill that would have banned drag shows in public spaces.

It didn’t make it through the process.

This is a bill Governor Kevin Stitt has been in support of, and many other states have been considering similar bills, 32 states that is. Some states even passing it and getting the governor’s signature.

For Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, he’s said it would protect children.

LGBTQ+ advocates said it would have been a first amendment violation.

This bill ended up dying before it could reach the governor’s desk.

Which was a relief for the organizers of the Broken Arrow Pride Fest. The festival happened on the weekend of May 27.

Organizers told us they added a scaled-back drag show to the schedule at the last minute after seeing the bill fall short at the capitol.
“It’s a little bit harder. You know, as a queer person in the community, to just be questioned every day and have constant legislation coming at us that just says, ‘we don’t want you to be here.’,” said Jenn Teehee with Advocate Alliance of Broken Arrow.

On the other hand, another bill that LGBTQ+ advocates have been watching closely did pass and received Stitt’s signature.

It will ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

Stitt has also said this bill is to protect Oklahoma’s youth.

Next up, tax cuts.

For more than a year, Governor Stitt has been pushing for major cuts to state grocery taxes.

Last year, he called on lawmakers in his state of the state to get it done to ease inflation woes.

He even went as far as calling lawmakers back for a special session last summer.

Now, a year later, Oklahoma’s grocery tax is still in effect.

In September, Stitt said given the state’s $3 billion savings and potential $1 billion surplus, now is the time to do it.

However, looking at the 2024 budget, there’s no mention of a grocery tax cut.

In Stitt’s weekly press meeting Friday, May 26, he said this still needs to get done.

“All the house passed those tax cuts. The Senate has not taken it up. I am asking the Senate to hear those tax cuts and put them up on the floor for a vote. I am considering calling people back for another special session to get a tax cut done,” Stitt said.

The $13 billion state budget announced last week is a nearly 20% increase over last year’s final spending plan.

The budget deal included a more modest elimination of the state franchise tax on businesses and a tax break for joint filers that are expected to cost a total of $70 million annually when fully implemented.

It’s not just grocery taxes on the table, either.

Stitt also wanted to see personal income tax and corporate tax cuts.

House Speaker Charles McCall said cutting personal income taxes will be the main focus heading into next year.

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Oklahoma

'Please Help Our Son': Oklahoma Family's 4-Month-Old Diagnosed With Rare Disease

Published

2 hours ago

June 22, 2024

Press Room

'Please Help Our Son': Oklahoma Family's 4-Month-Old Diagnosed With Rare Disease

An Oklahoma family is ready for the fight of their lives after a rare diagnosis.

Madison and Trent Cantrell’s 4-month-old has been in the hospital for a month. He was finally diagnosed with SMARD 1 this week.

The condition is so rare there is only one place they can go for treatment in the country.

“Please help our son. Like, we don’t have a lot of choices.” Trent Cantrell said. “Yeah, it’s literally the only option. So that’s why we’re pushing so hard,” Madison Cantrell said.

SMARD 1 stands for Spinal Muscular Atrophy with respiratory distress.

“It’s ALS for children. It’s what they call it,” Madison said.

The genetic condition slowly degenerates the spinal cord and muscles.

“Every second matters, literally with this type of disease,” Madison said.

According to the National Organization for Rare Diseases, only 60 cases have been written about in scientific literature since 2015.

There’s a clinical trial at Nationwide Children’s in Columbus that the Cantrell’s want to get into.

“There’s several doctors that are on with the clinical trial that we’re reaching out to and trying. He’s healthy like he’s not far off from being a normal child like he’s just got some breathing issues and like he can still be saved,” Trent said.

The couple says the trial doesn’t want a child that’s already 4 months old but they aren’t giving up.

“This gene therapy could just halt the progression and he can live a normal happy life,” Madison said.

So the Cantrell’s are posting to social media and speaking up about their son’s condition.

“What we really need is support and push,” Madison said.

They hope making some noise and rallying support could help them.

“I’m going to fight for my little baby. Because I’m his voice or his voice.” Madison said.

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Oklahoma

Former Oklahoma State Star Morgan Hoffmann Makes Return to Professional Golf

Published

9 hours ago

June 21, 2024

Press Room

Former Oklahoma State Star Morgan Hoffmann Makes Return to Professional Golf

Earlier this week, former Oklahoma State standout Morgan Hoffmann made his return to the Sooner State.

After dealing with muscular dystrophy for the past several years, Hoffmann is on the course once again, competing in the Compliance Solutions Championship at the Jimmy Austin Golf Club in Norman, OK.

The event is part of the Korn Ferry Tour, a professional tour sanctioned by the Professional Golf Association comprised of golfers who have not reached the PGA Tour or who have not performed well enough to remain on the PGA Tour.

After being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in 2017, Hoffmann said he felt frustrated, especially when doctors told him there was nothing they could do to fix his ailment. Instead of accepting the bad news, however, the Ringwood, NJ, product sought alternative opinions.

According to an interview with Holden Krusemark of KFOR, Hoffmann traveled to Costa Rica to try plant medicine.

Full Story: Morgan Hoffmann is back playing professional golf after years away battling muscular dystrophy. The former @OSUCowboyGolf star is back in OK this weekend @cschampgolf and looking to win his first tourn. as a pro
“The reason why I’m here is that I believe I can do it” pic.twitter.com/ofS8x6a9gP
— Holden Krusemark (@HoldenKrusemark) June 20, 2024

“I think anyone in this position would’ve done the same, especially as an athlete,” Hoffmann told Krusemark. “I mean, I’m not back where I want to be yet. I want to be on the PGA Tour and to be on the caliber of a player that I once was, and I’m still in the middle of it. It’s the beginning of a long journey.”

With Saturday and Sunday still left to play in the Compliance Solutions Championship, Hoffmann sits tied for 38th place at six under par.

Hoffman played golf at Oklahoma State from 2008-2011, earning GCAA Second Team All-American honors as a sophomore and GCAA First Team All-American honors as a true freshman.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma City tabbed to host multiple Olympic events in 2028

Published

17 hours ago

June 21, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma City tabbed to host multiple Olympic events in 2028

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KSWO) – LA28, the plan behind the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles announced an update to the master plan for venues including two events moving to OKC.

According to the Olympics website, Oklahoma City will play host to softball and canoe slalom attributed to what the committee describes as “world-class venues.”

The Olympics website states:

Both the existing canoe slalom and softball stadiums in Oklahoma City are built to international competition standards, and the local community has consistently supported top tournaments for both sports, ensuring a high-quality experience for both athletes and fans, while allowing LA28 to achieve cost savings and revenue gains to support its balanced budget.

Currently, Oklahoma is the only state outside of California to host events in the 2028 games.

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