2011 Sunshine Week

Oklahoma panel talks revolve around birth dates 2010-03-14 | Leave a comment Whether the dates of birth of public employees should be an open record dominated discussion Saturday at the annual Okla-homa Sunshine Conference. The issue has become a hot topic in state and local governments lately because of legislation and legal rulings related to news reporters’ requests for public... Read More

Oklahoma juvenile agency seeks site for school 2010-03-15 | Leave a comment Office of Juvenile Affairs Executive Director Gene Christian informed about 50 employees at the L.E. Rader Center in Sand Springs last week they could lose their jobs by summer. But despite approaching layoffs, furloughs and cuts to nearly every service provided by the department, Christian is still planning for a... Read More

After Oologah outbreak, Oklahoma to give vaccinations 2010-03-16 OOLOGAH — Children and adults with Oologah-Talala Elementary School that experienced an outbreak of bacterial meningitis that killed two students will get vaccinations this week under a state Health Department plan. Doses of the vaccine have been ordered and are expected to arrive in Oklahoma about midweek,... Read More

Oklahoma lawmaker exemption keeps public in the dark on records 2010-03-17 | Leave a comment Oklahoma’s open government laws shine light on local governments statewide but are noticeably dark when it comes to the state’s top public body — the Legislature. The Legislature years ago exempted itself from the state Open Records and Open Meeting acts. As a result, state senators,... Read More

Oologah-Talala public schools' students to receive meningitis vaccine 2010-03-17 | Leave a comment In the wake of the deadly meningitis outbreak in northeastern Oklahoma, students attending Oologah-Talala public schools are scheduled to get vaccinated against meningococcal bacteria this week, the state Health Department announced. Students, along with faculty and staff, may get the free shots from noon to 7 p.m.... Read More

Stone monument to move next door to Haskell County Courthouse 2010-03-17 | Leave a comment STIGLER — A monument of the Ten Commandments in front of the Haskell County Courthouse in Stigler is scheduled to be transferred this morning to a new location in front of the adjacent American Legion building, officials said Tuesday. The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month refused to review an appellate... Read More

Oklahoma lawmaker hangs picture switch on joke, beliefs 2010-03-17 | Leave a comment A freshman Republican lawmaker stepped forward Tuesday and said he moved the portrait of President Barack Obama that hangs in the House chamber "to bring levity to what was otherwise a very contentious day.” "Why are you guys making such a big deal about something that was just a joke?” asked... Read More

Oklahoma City man arrested in slaying 2010-03-17 The estranged husband of a woman found dead Saturday in the bedroom of her southwest Oklahoma City home was arrested Monday, police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Wardlow said. William M. Watson, 24, was being held without bail Tuesday in the Oklahoma County jail on a murder complaint, jail records show. Cindy Lorine... Read More

Noble town hall meeting is about children’s health 2010-03-18 | Leave a comment NOBLE — There will be a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday about promoting healthy behaviors for youths at Noble School District’s administrative building, 111 S Fourth St. Community members will come together to discuss issues affecting Noble’s children and brainstorm ideas on ways to address... Read More

Oklahoma ethics panel’s actions are challenged 2010-03-18 | Leave a comment Reprimands issued by the state Ethics Commission’s against candidates or state employees found violating campaign or ethics rules are unconstitutional, an attorney who handles ethics cases told a House committee Wednesday. The constitutional amendment passed in 1990 that created the five-member Ethics... Read More

Obama set to OK roads, job bill 2010-03-18 | Leave a comment WASHINGTON — Sen. Jim Inhofe on Wednesday hailed Senate passage of a bill to help small businesses and pump more money into road building, saying Oklahoma’s highway department has been on "life-support” waiting for a long-term transfusion of federal money. The legislation, approved by a vote... Read More

Oklahoma delegation rejects health care study 2010-03-18 | Leave a comment WASHINGTON — As House Democratic leaders continued to hunt for votes on sweeping health care legislation, a congressional committee reported Wednesday that the bill would improve coverage for nearly 2 million Oklahomans. It also would provide tax credits to almost 1 million families and 80,000 small businesses... Read More

Veteran medical requests stalled 2010-03-18 | Leave a comment WASHINGTON — The internal watchdog for the Veterans Affairs Department says VA medical centers need to give compensation and pension medical exams to veterans sooner in order to expedite disability claims. It says some veterans wait months longer than necessary for disability claims because getting the exams... Read More

Stricter guidelines studied for pet products 2010-03-18 | Leave a comment WASHINGTON — Products intended to treat cats and dogs for fleas and ticks kill hundreds of pets each year and injure tens of thousands, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday as it outlined plans to make the products safer. The EPA said it will develop stricter testing and evaluation requirements... Read More

Judge revokes bail for Oklahoma City suspect in crash 2010-03-18 A drunken-driving suspect blamed for a 5-year-old boy’s death was back in jail Wednesday after a judge agreed he was a risk to the public. James David Opp, 60, of Oklahoma City, is charged with first-degree manslaughter. Police say he was under the influence of alcohol Feb. 26 when he crashed his pickup into... Read More