“This was a great course, very challenging, very hard,” Ama Nsek said of the River Parks Criterium.
The legislative session starts Monday, and the House Speaker offered his thoughts on funding priorities and another important topic.
Read more of Managing Editor Mike Strain's columns
See highlights from some of the bills for the upcoming session
More than 1 in 3 Oklahomans cast a straight-party ballot Tuesday.
Almost 800 candidates signed up to run for state and federal offices, but state Reps. John Bennett and Corey Williams were not among them. Four senators and 15 representatives drew no challengers.
Related story: Fourth candidate files for Tulsa County district attorney
Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond, decided to challenge Rep. Cory Williams, D-Stillwater, to a verbal duel over a measure that would repeal a capital gains tax exemption on state-based assets.
Walkout day 8: Some teachers vowing to continue as OEA signals possible end to work stoppage
Read complete coverage of the Oklahoma Teacher Walkout here.
Teacher walkout Q&A: School funding bills, the lottery, school consolidation and more
House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols said no revenue plan could secure the required super majority.
VIDEO: Mike Strain and Wayne Greene analyze the stalled vote on revenue bill for teacher pay
He said the measure is in part in response to some game wardens who made broad statements about their authority and jurisdiction.
Richard Rose, top legislative aide for House Speaker Charles McCall, also works as an oil and gas attorney, prompting some lawmakers to claim a conflict of interest.
A bill that would have increased taxes and provided teacher raises failed 54-44 in a House vote Wednesday. It needed 76 votes to secure passage. None of the Democrats voted for the measure, and 18 Republicans opposed it.
Writing in a news release with two other prominent House budget writers, House Appropriation and Budget Chair Leslie Osborn said the Department of Human Services’ costs have grown $175 million in recent years.
“That is obviously far more than the $28 million (overall) increase in appropriations,” she said.
Over the past year, almost $10,000 was spent sending legislators and their staff members to Oklahoma City Thunder games.
Senate Pro Tem Mike Schulz ranked second in the Senate on missed votes, while House Appropriations and Budget Chairwoman Leslie Osborn ranked first in missed votes in the lower chamber.
“I have said the same thing every year,” said Gary Huddleston, a former state Senate staffer who has been a lobbyist for 21 years. “It can’t get any worse.”
Lawmakers are expected to adjourn by 5 p.m. Friday, avoiding a special session but passing some questionable revenue-raising measures that could be challenged in court.
With less money from the state and bounced-check funds drying up, Oklahoma district attorneys are turning to issuing tickets and putting peopl…
House sponsor of the measure, David Brumbaugh, R-Broken Arrow, died April 14.
Asked whether rape is an act of God, bill author Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee, said: "If you read the Bible, there were a couple of circumstances where that happened. God uses all circumstances."
The amended version approved Thursday restores the option of a felony charge for drug possession within 1,000 feet of a school.
The House Rules Committee voted 7-0 to recommend that the House expel Rep. Dan Kirby, R-Tulsa, following accusations of sexual harassment.
Civil liberty groups and law enforcement representatives debated during an interim-study hearing Wednesday whether Oklahoma should continue to allow police to seize people’s cash or property without securing a criminal conviction.
Under Oklahoma’s law, a person’s property can be seized and forfeited if it is believed to be used on a crime. No conviction is required.
State election board officials said the emails ask recipients to click on a link to change or verify information, but instead takes them to a malicious website.
The agency has interpreted Senate Bill 424 to mean brewers can sell strong beer for consumption off premises, but not for consumption at the brewery. The agency has asked for guidance from Attorney General Scott Pruitt's office.
The House approved its interim studies, while the Senate deadline is July 22.
The Department of Public Safety said the devices are not used to access personal banking or credit card information but are used to read financial information on things such as gift cards and hotel key cards.
