Oklahoma
Oklahoma won’t participate in new summer food program for children
Okla. (KXII) – Later this year, the USDA will implement Summer EBT, a new spin on an existing nutrition program.
The CEO and President of Hunger Free Oklahoma Chris Bernard says that the program has actually been around for a while.
“It’s actually been operating since the pandemic started,” Bernard said. “It was called Pandemic EBT, and it was designed to cover the cost of meals that people missed because of quarantine and all of those things.”
Now, the program will provide grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children while schools are closed for the summer.
“It doesn’t just fight food insecurity,” Bernard said. “It stimulates local economies, creates jobs and frankly supports a lot of struggling rural grocery stores that rely on SNAP and these sorts of benefits to continue running.”
Bernard says the state’s decision not to participate is disappointing.
“Especially because honestly, Oklahoma’s kind of been a leader at leveraging these programs over the last few years,” Bernard said.
One of every five children in Oklahoma is living through food insecurity, and the state spends $2 billion per year on food security programs.
In a statement from Governor Kevin Stitt, he said that they will keep working to make sure that no child in Oklahoma goes hungry, but they believe that large, duplicative federal programs won’t accomplish that goal.
“We know they see the importance of nutrition, food security and their overall mission to serve these families,” Bernard said. “So we’re disappointed that these administrative hurdles caused them to decide not to do it.”
Although Oklahoma won’t participate state-wide, both the Cherokee and Chickasaw Nation have signed up for the program, and there are still plenty of programs out there for those in need.
“If you are on free lunch or your kids on free lunch, that income threshold is the same as SNAP,” Bernard said. “SNAP is the most impactful food insecurity benefit we have in the country.”
Bernard encourages everyone to reach out to their local legislators and give their opinion on the issue.
“There’s great opportunity to make sure more kids have access to the nutrition they need so they can thrive at school,” Bernard said. “Just because the bill hasn’t been filed yet doesn’t mean it won’t be, but (legislators) need to know it’s important to their constituents.”
For more information on Hunger Free Oklahoma and their resources, click here.
For more information on finding no-cost meals for kids in the summer, click here.
For more information on SNAP and how to apply in Oklahoma, click here.
For more information on SNAP and how to apply in Texas, click here.
Copyright 2024 KXII. All rights reserved.
Oklahoma
Neighbors sift debris, help each other after suspected Purcell tornado
Purcell OK resident recounts how tornado damaged home
Jennifer Fox says she didn’t hear any warning sirens but knew there was a tornado in the area after severe weather tore her garage awning from the ground.
PURCELL — Jennifer Fox had just fed the pigs behind her house early in the morning Thursday, Jan. 8, and began getting ready for work before she and her two sons heard something hit her bedroom window.
“I said, ‘Is it hailing?” she said. “My oldest looked out the window and he saw our awning across the back. He said, ‘Mom, the awning’s gone.”
Fox looked out the window and saw debris everywhere. She said she didn’t hear tornado sirens, but she and her sons immediately took shelter in a closet. By that time, the suspected tornado had already passed through her neighborhood off of Johnson Avenue in Purcell.
At first, Fox didn’t think there was a tornado and attributed the damage and debris to strong winds.
But just one street over, the roof of one house had been destroyed. When she looked at the house behind hers, Fox said she knew a tornado had hit her neighborhood.
“I was thankful at the time,” she said. “I told my kids, I said, ‘It could’ve been a lot worse.’ We weren’t prepared, obviously. I really felt like it just barely missed us.”
Severe weather passed through central Oklahoma early Thursday morning, bringing reports of damage from a possible tornado in Purcell. The National Weather Service in Norman reported on social media that survey teams have found at least EF1 tornado damage in the Purcell area.
The Purcell Fire Department reported a tornado touched down in the city, causing roof damage to nine homes, a semi truck rollover accident on Interstate 35 with one injury and widespread power outages, downed trees and powerlines.
On Norte Street in Purcell, the suspected tornado wiped out the roof of a newly-built home, throwing debris onto the road, including a Christmas tree and blue ornaments. The houses across the street and next door were untouched.
Community members and local high school students gathered pieces of trash, plywood, insulation and other debris and hauled them off.
Next door to Fox, a man and a woman removed debris from their yard that appeared to have blown over from Fox’s house. Like a puppy, a tall brown horse followed the man as he picked up each piece of trash. Across the street, cattle laid in the middle of a field and watched as one person after another drove into the neighborhood to lend a hand.
About five miles northeast of Fox’s house, the suspected tornado knocked over a few powerlines near Purcell’s football stadium. A tree fell onto a small white house and took the tin roof off a large warehouse.
Ron Musgrave, the warehouse’s owner, lives six miles north of Purcell. He said he learned his property was damaged through a local news broadcast.
“They had the people out front and they had the helicopters, so I could see it,” Musgrave said. “They were flying over here. There’s a football field, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. If that’s the football field, that’s my warehouse.”
The retired home builder and property owner said he keeps building supplies in his warehouse and a black and white cat who’s in charge of exterminating any trespassing mice.
The cat was happy to see Musgrave as he surveyed the water damage inside of the warehouse. Though there was some wet spots, the roof took most of the impact.
“It’s a project,” Musgrave said with a smile. “I am down for it.”
Severe weather damage reported in Shawnee, Norman
Tree damage was reported in Cleveland County at 156th Street and East Tecumseh Avenue, according to Alyse Moore, Cleveland County communications director, along with damage to a car port and barn at 800 Moffatt Road north of Lexington.
Storm damage was also reported in Shawnee. Social media posts show damage to the Holiday Inn Express and Walmart Supercenter off of Interstate 40.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners add transfer portal offensive lineman to the roster
The Oklahoma Sooners made an under-the-radar transfer portal addition on Wednesday, bringing back a player who spent two seasons in Norman before transferring out last year.
Former Central Oklahoma offensive lineman Kenneth Wermy will be returning to play for OU out of the portal. Wermy played for the Sooners in 2023 and 2024 before spending 2025 at the NCAA Division II level with the Bronchos. He’ll add depth to an offensive line group that is in need of it after recent portal departures.
Wemry is a local product from Cache, Oklahoma, and he stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 315 pounds. The Sooners have been busy adding big names in the transfer market, but with a week and a half left until the portal closes, the focus may soon turn to retention and building back depth on the roster.
Oklahoma had a busy portal day on Wednesday, adding Wermy and former Michigan linebacker Cole Sullivan. However, Oklahoma also lost three players to the portal, in linebacker Sammy Omosigho, defensive back Jaydan Hardy, and wide receiver Zion Ragins.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma bill aims to ban obscene materials in public school libraries
A local lawmaker is introducing a bill to prohibit obscene materials in Oklahoma public school libraries.
Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, filed legislation this week, House Bill 2978, that would update state law and prohibit the acquisition of materials that meet Oklahoma’s legal definition of obscenity.
The bill removes references to subjective community standards and relies on established statute, according to Banning.
“This legislation provides a straightforward statewide rule that helps ensure school libraries stay within the definition of education,” Banning said. “According to Black’s Law Dictionary, education is defined as providing proper moral, intellectual and physical instruction.”
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