The gov announced that she will not follow the federal government’s order to process spousal benefits for same-sex members of the National Guard. “Governor Fallin is setting a great precedent here,” the comedian and faux-news host prodded. “Because once a gay person gets something, [they get] their gay all over it. That’s why I think […]
state
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What are Oklahoma progressives to do?
Prominent Democrats with clear name recognition have yet to announce candidacies for major statewide offices, such as governor. People involved in our political scene point to the negative impact President Barack Obama’s sheer existence will have on his same-party candidates in Oklahoma. The GOP here has demonized the president to the point of absurdity, but […]
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Taxing debate
House Bill 1875 likely will be heard in the early part of the 2014 legislative session, which begins Feb. 2. The bill is one of four legislative priorities the Oklahoma City Council will push forward next year. The council’s state and federal legislative agendas were approved at the Nov. 5 council meeting. The priorities were […]
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Hmm … more corporate tax breaks?
The Sooner state is at No. 36, which means only 14 other states impose overall tax structures that are more burdensome. The ranking was unchanged from the 2013 report. However, there was good news. Property tax collections averaged $642 per person, the fourth lowest nationally. Meanwhile, the state’s income tax system consists of seven brackets […]
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Budding prospects
Recent survey data from SoonerPoll.com shows 71 percent of likely Oklahoma voters support amending the law to allow for physician-authorized patients to consume cannabis for therapeutic reasons. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have enacted similar measures since 1996. Other survey results show 57 percent prefer treating minor marijuana violations as noncriminal, fine-only offenses. […]
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NEWS OF THE WEIRD
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-outline-level:1″><span style=" Times New Roman”,”serif”;mso-fareast-Times New Roman”; mso-font-kerning:18.0pt;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO”> Imminent swirling vortex of damnation Land developers for the iconic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colo. (famous as the inspiration for the hotel in Stephen King’s The Shining) announced recently that they need more space and thus will dig up and move the hotel’s […]
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Oklahoma’s public defenders
I remember when public airwaves were made available for public good, to inform us about what was going on in the world, not to tell us what we were supposed to think about it. The celebrity culture of broadcasting has changed this, combing news and editorial comment (My Two Cents, et al.), along with the […]
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Pills and ammo at the fairgrounds
That’s right. You can bring your least favorite prescription drugs and any ammo you don’t want. It might be a good idea to get rid of the contraband now before the feds decide to raid your home without probable cause. The press release from the city says, “Keeping hazardous material such as lead, zinc, carbon […]
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BREAKING: Petition drive seeks storm shelter funding
Take Shelter Oklahoma is a movement that comes four months after a series of tornadoes ripped through southwest Oklahoma City and Moore, killing 47 people, including seven children at Plaza Towers Elementary. Twisters also struck Canadian Valley Vocational Technology Center on May 31 and leveled parts of Pottawatomie County on May 19, killing two people […]
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Abortion doctors not trimmed from tort reform
During the Legislature’s recent special session, almost two dozen measures dealing with tort reform were approved by the House and Senate and signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin. However, one didn’t make it. Reynolds wanted legislative leaders to support a pro-life amendment exempting abortion providers from the lawsuit reform protections when something goes wrong […]