If signed into law, new employees hired from Nov. 1, 2015 within the Oklahoma Public Employee Retirement System (OPERS) will use the contribution plan, basically a 401(k). Employees working before this date will continue on the existing definedbenefit pension. Teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers and judges aren’t included in House Bill 2630, authored by Rep. […]
law
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It’s about gun rights for everyone
No word yet on whether laser-gun noises are similarly protected. Apparently, Kern wants to bring some “common sense” to the school administrations in Oklahoma. You see, little Timmy (not his real name) got in lots of trouble for eating a Pop-Tart so what was left of it resembled a gun and then waving it at […]
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Take Shelter Oklahoma wants Governor to release files
Take Shelter Oklahoma, led by Oklahoma City attorney David Slane, wants all communications between the governor’s office, the State Chamber of Commerce, lawmakers and Attorney General Scott Pruitt in connection with a public school storm shelter drive and the state’s franchise tax. The deadline for receiving the communications is Friday. “The governor has a practice […]
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Landmark decision
In an interview with Oklahoma Gazette, the two Tulsa women said they were confident justice would prevail in their case against the state and its voter-approved ban. “We always thought we would win and should win, but this is Oklahoma, and you don’t always win when you should,” Baldwin said. “In our case, the state […]
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Realizing the dream
King’s speech proposed a vision of equality for all states throughout our country, a vision that we must continue to work toward in Oklahoma. A little more than 50 years have passed since the day King shared his dream with the nation. Each year, we are reminded of that dream with a federally recognized holiday. […]
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COVER
Newspaper editors were not exempt from early 20th-century lawmaking efforts. Another 1910 criminal statute tried to prevent the newspapers from publishing rumors and gossip. The misdemeanor kept an editor or owner from publishing “any statement which he has not good reason to believe is true” in order to increase newspaper sales. Strange but true In […]
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Letters
These were $200 per ticket “Stage VIP, all access” passes that included entry into the Thunder player section, a meet-and-greet and champagne toast opportunities with Kevin Durant himself. But what was promised wasn’t delivered. Half of what was advertised on our ticket wasn’t offered at the event. There was no meet-and-greet, no access to the […]
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He’s baaaaaaack — in jail
Shocking, right? Javontai Ingram was charged with illegal possession of a firearm after a gang-related shootout — with a Hoovers gang member called Nutso, no less — at an apartment building in Moore, at which he suffered head injuries from a gunshot wound and threw his gun into a field after the confrontation, reported NewsOK.com. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Most Fabulous donation
That letter was sent to the governor’s office and all members of the state Legislature, among others. They said the play, which is a satirical look at “Adam and Steve” in the Garden of Eden, violates Oklahoma’s obscenity laws. The pastors wanted the play closed and the producers and actors held accountable by law enforcement. […]
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That’s a lot of money
A new rule increases by 500 percent the amount in meals and other gifts a lobbyist can give to a legislator each year. That comes to $500 per lawmaker. Here’s a little math, so check it twice because we are journalists. There are 149 solons at the state Legislature. If all of them receive the […]