Oklahoma
Flush with cash, Oklahoma governor expected to push tax cuts
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — With state financial savings accounts and income collections at all-time highs, tax cuts are anticipated to be a high precedence for Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Republican-controlled Legislature when it begins the 2023 session on Monday.
Stitt, who simply received reelection in November, will current his govt price range proposal to lawmakers and ship his fifth State of the State handle at midday to a joint legislative session.
The governor final 12 months urged the Home and Senate to ship him payments to remove the state gross sales tax on groceries and scale back the person and company earnings tax charges, however none of these proposals made it into regulation. All of these are anticipated to be a part of the price range negotiations once more this 12 months.
After the Federal Reserve enacted one other rate of interest hike, final week Stitt tweeted that “we have to reduce taxes and that begins with eliminating our state’s grocery tax.”
Oklahoma at present has about $1.4 billion in its constitutional Wet Day Fund and a separate income stabilization fund, and the amount of cash out there for lawmakers to spend on this 12 months’s price range is predicted to extend by one other $950 million, primarily based on December figures accredited by the state Board of Equalization.
Lawmakers are also more likely to go a pay elevate for lecturers, though the main points will probably be hammered out through the session. State Sen. Adam Pugh, the chairman of the Senate Schooling Committee, unveiled a plan final month to offer an across-the-board trainer pay elevate of between $3,000 and $6,000, primarily based on years of service. However the governor’s Secretary of Schooling and new State Superintendent Ryan Walters has put forth a plan to offer merit-based pay raises to lecturers.
The Legislature is also more likely to take into account once more a plan endorsed by Stitt and Walters for a voucher-style plan to divert public schooling funds from public faculties to personal faculties, though the proposal stays unpopular with many Home Republicans, notably these in rural areas.
Numerous payments even have been launched by Republicans this 12 months to revive a number of the abortion restrictions that had been imposed final 12 months, together with a invoice that may permit abortions in instances of rape or incest which have been reported to regulation enforcement and clarifying the definition of when an abortion is allowed in instances of medical emergencies that threaten the lifetime of the mom.
“That invoice is supported and endorsed by Oklahomans for Life, so I might anticipate (it) has an opportunity of passing,” mentioned Rep. Jon Echols, majority ground chief within the Home. “I positively suppose it’s going to get thought of.”
A number of payments even have been launched to ban gender-affirming medical care for younger individuals. These proposals come after the governor signed payments final 12 months to stop transgender women from taking part in on women sports activities groups and requiring college students in public faculties to solely use bogs that correspond with their gender at start.
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Observe Sean Murphy at www.twitter.com/apseanmurphy
Oklahoma
Staff predictions: Our picks for No. 7 Alabama at Oklahoma
After falling twice away from home already this season, No. 7 Alabama will look to avoid a potential trap game in its final road trip of the regular season. The Crimson Tide (8-2, 5-2 in the SEC) will visit Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5) for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff Saturday inside Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
This will be the seventh matchup between Alabama and Oklahoma. The Sooners hold a 3-2-1 advantage in the series, but the Tide won the most recent meeting, recording a 45-34 victory in the 2018 Orange Bowl. Alabama is currently a 14-point favorite for Saturday’s game, according to the Caesars Sportsbook.
Here’s how Tide Illustrated’s staff thinks the game will play out.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Offers 2026 Bixby DB Braeden Presley
The stark reality of the Cowboys future on the gridiron is up in the air. Can Oklahoma State bounce back in 2025 following one of the worst football seasons in years? Will the Pokes return next season and play with a chip on their shoulder? Only time will tell and the best way to improve the football team is for the coaching staff to hit the recruiting trail hard.
Oklahoma State will say goodbye to one of the greatest statistical wide receivers to ever wear the Cowboy orange. Senior Brennan Presley has been the cornerstone of the receiving core for the past four seasons. He is the all-time receptions leader in Oklahoma State history and has caught more than two passes in nearly every game since his sophomore season.
The offense won’t be the same in 2025 with Presley snagging catches across the middle, but the fans of Cowboy football won’t have to wait long as a familiar name will be entering the mix straight out of the class of 2026.
On Thursday, Oklahoma State looked to make it the Presley trifecta when they offered the youngest of the bunch, 2026 Bixby star Braeden Presley. Older brothers Brennan and Braylin both committed to Oklahoma State out of high school. Brennan hung around to become the all-time receptions leader in school history while Braylin transferred to Tulsa.
Braeden is the biggest brother of the bunch and measures in at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, according to 247Sports. He is unranked at the moment but still has a full season of football yet to play. The interest continues to grow for Braeden who has drawn offers from Tulsa, Boston College and Kansas.
Oklahoma State joined the mix on Thursday and is hoping to use its family ties to lock up their third straight Presley. Little is known about Presley on the field, and he has proven this season that he is a jack of all trades. He has logged a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and passing touchdown this season for the Spartans of Bixby.
A majority of his highlights have come on the defensive side of the football. He has 27 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble in 2024 for a Bixby team who is searching for yet another Class 5A State Championship.
The fans of Oklahoma State football may not have to wait very long to have a Presley once again under the lights of Boone Pickens Stadium.
Want to join the discussion? Like Oklahoma State Cowboys on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
Oklahoma
Miami Basketball: Canes drop second straight game to Oklahoma State 80-74
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team fell to the Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1), 80-74, Friday afternoon at TD Arena in the Hurricanes’ (3-2) second game of the 2024 Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic.
Down 17 with five minutes to play in the game, the Hurricanes connected on seven of their final ten shots to pull to within six of the Cowboys, but time ultimately ran out on Miami’s comeback.
Guard Nijel Pack recorded his second 20-point game of the season, totaling 20 points to lead the Hurricanes in scoring.
Forward Brandon Johnson tallied his first double-double of the season with 12 points and ten rebounds, pacing the Hurricanes’ on the glass.
Oklahoma State took control early, opening the game on a 9-0 run. Miami cut the lead to three thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from Blackmon and Pack, but the Cowboys responded with a 7-0 run to extend their lead to double-digits, 20-10, with 10 minutes to play in the first half.
The Cowboys shot 53.3 percent from 3-point range in the first half, increasing their lead to 16, 43-37, at the halftime break.
Oklahoma State took its largest lead of the game, 51-31, at the 14:35 mark in the second half, but Miami responded with an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to 13 at the midway point of the frame.
The Hurricanes shot 58.1 percent from the field in the second half, and four Miami players scored eight-plus points in the final 20 minutes of play, but they could not complete the comeback.
On Sunday, Miami will play VCU or Nevada at 12:30 p.m. ET at TD Arena in Charleston, S.C.
Courtesy of Miami Athletics
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