Oklahoma

How Oklahoma's New Law Offers Helps First Responders Dealing With Trauma

Published

12 months ago

January 6, 2025

How Oklahoma's New Law Offers Helps First Responders Dealing With Trauma

What is Senate Bill 1457?

SB 1457 expands the physical injury limitation exemption as it applies to worker compensation to include law enforcement officers, paid and volunteer firefighters, and emergency medical technicians suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) received while responding to an emergency.

“This is a huge win for first responders and a huge win for Oklahoma,” said James Biscone, a personal injury attorney in Oklahoma City.

The measure also provides that employers shall be required to pay up to $10,000.00 for the treatment of a responder certified to have PTSD according to the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission.

>>> 4 Laws That Went Into Effect On Jan. 1, 2025

What was the protocol before the law went into effect?

Senate Bill 1457 went into effect in Oklahoma on January 1, 2025. Before that date, first responders could only get workers’ compensation if their mental injury was coupled with a physical injury on the job.

“If you think of a fatality car accident, if you think of a murder scene, these first responders rush to help but if they’re not physically injured, there’s no recovery for the mental anguish that they’ve suffered,” said Biscone. “Imagine what a first responder sees over the course of a week or a month or a year or a career, well the stigma is gone, you can talk about those things and it’s okay to claim a mental injury now and it’s okay to talk to somebody and get the help that you need.”

“It allows our first responders to be recognized for the mental anguish that they suffer sometimes on the job,” said Biscone.

How does this work?

It will operate just like any other workers’ compensation claim and must have a doctor’s approval.

“If you have a first responder who is claiming to have PTSD, it has to be diagnosed by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist but if they have that, they can go through the process of getting the help that they need,” said Biscone.

What does this mean for first responders in Oklahoma?

“There’s been a huge stigma around PTSD over the years but that is slowly being removed, we’re seeing that across the country,” said Biscone.

Biscone says this new law will help with the recruitment and retention of first responders.

“Because they know Oklahoma now has their back,” said Biscone.

He says getting first responders the help they need mentally and physically can help ensure they are going back to work when they are truly prepared.

“To allow them an avenue to get some help to get some treatment, it gets them back to work faster and it also creates a better person, a better law enforcement officer out there,” said Biscone.

To read more about this bill, click here: http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb1457&Session=2400

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Oklahoma

How to Watch Tonight’s Alabama vs. Oklahoma Playoff Game Online

Published

3 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

How to Watch Tonight’s Alabama vs. Oklahoma Playoff Game Online

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The 2025 College Football Playoff is officially underway on Friday when the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide faces the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The SEC programs put on a great show back in November when the Sooners beat the Crimson Tide 23-21 in Alabama. The winner will face the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl.

At a Glance: How to Watch Alabama vs. Oklahoma Playoff Game

Don’t have a way to watch the Alabama vs. Oklahoma playoff game tonight? Read on. Ahead is a quick guide on where to livestream the Alabama vs. Oklahoma game without cable, including ways to watch the Alabama vs. Oklahoma game for free.

How to Watch Alabama vs. Oklahoma Playoff Game Online

The Alabama vs. Oklahoma playoff game is airing on ESPN and ABC. If you don’t have cable, the best way to livestream the game is to get a live TV streaming service that carries either channel. Here are four of the best options:

editor’s Pick

DirecTV

➤ $39.99/month
➤ Five-day free trial
➤ Up to 185+ channels

DirecTV carries both ESPN and ABC in a few of its plans. All DirecTV packages start with a five-day free trial, and plans with ABC start at $39.99 a month after that. The service is our favorite overall, offering a range of packages for different budgets and viewing needs.

Fubo

➤ $55.99/month
➤ Free trial
➤ Up to 300+ channels

Fubo is another top cable streaming solution, and it carries ESPN and ABC in all of its packages. Plans start at $55.99 a month, but you get a free trial and a discount on your first month.

Sling
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➤ $45.99/month
➤ Short-term passes available
➤ Up to 46 channels

Sling carries ESPN in its Orange plan, which starts at just $45.99 a month. Even better: Sling offers short-term passes, getting you access for one, three, or seven days, starting at just $4.99. Sling does not offer a free trial, however.

Hulu + Live TV

➤ $89.99/month
➤ Three-day free trial
➤ 95+ channels

Another way to watch the Alabama vs. Oklahoma game is with Hulu + Live TV. The service delivers access to both ESPN and ABC, as well as more than 90 other channels. Pricing starts at $89.99 a month, but you get a three-day free trial to start.

Stream Alabama vs. Oklahoma Game for Free

Looking for a way to watch the Alabama vs. Oklahoma game for free? Get a free trial to DirecTV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV.

Alabama vs. Oklahoma Playoff Game Date, Start Time 2025

The Alabama vs. Oklahoma CFP game will take place tonight, Friday, Dec. 19. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. ET.

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Oklahoma

Christian Coleman’s double-double leads Oklahoma State to win over Kansas City

Published

16 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Christian Coleman’s double-double leads Oklahoma State to win over Kansas City

STILLWATER, Okla. — Christian Coleman tallied a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double as Oklahoma State held off Kansas City 91-79 on Thursday night.

Coleman shot 8 of 12 from the field and controlled the paint as the Cowboys improved to 10-1 and stayed unbeaten at home. Oklahoma State shot 58% overall, setting the tone early by opening the game on a 14-4 run before Kansas City settled in offensively.

Oklahoma State led 48-44 at halftime, but the margin remained slim well into the second half as the Roos continued to answer runs.

Kansas City briefly moved in front midway through the half, but Oklahoma State responded with a steady stretch fueled by Coleman and Anthony Roy. The Cowboys regained control with a three-point play by Coleman and pushed the lead to eight with just over seven minutes remaining, then closed the game at the line.

Roy finished with 18 points, including several baskets late, while Vyctorius Miller added 13 points and three assists. Andrija Vukovic scored 11, and Oklahoma State finished with a 41-29 rebounding edge.

Karmello Branch led the Roos with 18 points, Jayson Petty added 16 and Kasheem Grady II scored 14. Kansas City shot 37% from the field, went 11 of 30 from 3-point range and made 18 of 22 free throws, but could not match Oklahoma State’s efficiency inside late.

Kansas City closed its nonconference road schedule at 2-11.

Up Next

Oklahoma State hosts Cal State Fullerton on Sunday.

Kansas City returns home to face Austin Peay on Sunday.

Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Find more Oklahoma State coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma AG & 21 other state attorneys general sue Uber over unfair subscription services

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Oklahoma AG & 21 other state attorneys general sue Uber over unfair subscription services

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is taking action against Uber Technologies LLC and Uber USA LLC after alleging the use of deceptive and unfair practices in selling subscription services.

According to the Drummond office, the lawsuit against Uber Technologies LLC and Uber USA LLC seeks to uncover an alleged variety of unfair operations in selling Uber One subscription services.

On Monday, Drummond, alongside a coalition of 21 other state attorneys general, joined the lawsuit filed initially by the Federal Trade Commission.

Drummond says the lawsuit alleges the following:

Uber is accused of improperly using negative option marketing tactics when it offered free trial subscriptions – a practice that automatically charges consumers if they do not cancel a free trial.
Uber allegedly misled consumers about the amounts they could save when subscribing to Uber One and made it extraordinarily difficult for consumers to cancel once enrolled.
Uber is also accused of charging consumers before their billing date, including users whose free trial had not yet ended.

“Oklahoma law prohibits deceptive trade practices and I will always fight to hold accountable any company who breaks the law,” Drummond said. “Unless Uber is stopped in court, they are likely to continue cheating and harming hardworking Oklahomans.”

The AG’s office says the lawsuit seeks restitution, penalties, costs, and an injunction against Uber for alleged violations of Oklahoma’s Consumer Protection Act and the U.S. Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act.

The lawsuit is currently scheduled for trial on February 2027, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Here is the state coalition list; in addition to Oklahoma, it includes Maryland, Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as the District Attorney for Alameda County in California.

Click complaint to read the lawsuit.

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