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Archive of Oklahoma on Friday May 09, 2008
Neutral govs to remain on sidelines
 In the homestretch of an unprecedented presidential primary season, spinning with competing sound-bites and endless rhetoric, voters still heading to the polls in four states can’t look to their governors for any pre-election advice. These governors plan to wait until after their states vote to make their own endorsements.
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Senator pushes for a vote on state 'social host' legislation
An Oklahoma City senator asked the House speaker Thursday to allow a vote on her bill that would strengthen the law on adults supplying beer and alcohol on their property to minors. Read More
House passes electric utility measure
Legislation that would authorize investor-owned electric utilities and rural electric cooperatives to serve new customers in annexed areas of cities was approved by the Oklahoma House Thursday despite opponents who said it could harm municipal power companies. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Illinois treasurer shows his knowledge of charges
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) endures a bruising charge from Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D). A new Utah law stirs Salt Lake City bartenders to create a new drink. And Louisiana prison guards get outside help to prevent escapes. In case you missed those stories this week, Worth Noting fills you in. Read More
Lawmaker encourages disaster funding
A state lawmaker is encouraging the Legislature to approve a plan to secure state dollars for emergency disasters in Oklahoma. Read More
City advocates promoting 'wraparound' care
When her daughter was tiny, Jackie McKenzie knew something was amiss to make her growl and cry instead of coo and smile. Read More
Facebook reaches agreement on sex predators
Facebook, the world's second-largest social-networking Web site, has reached an agreement with state law enforcement authorities across the country aimed at protecting children from sexual predators. Read More
Competing House bills use databases to check workers' legal status
WASHINGTON -- With little prospect of overhauling the nation's immigration laws before the presidential election, members of Congress are attempting to address the issue in a more piecemeal fashion. Read More
District judge sides with police union, chief seeks appeal
SHAWNEE, Okla. - A judge sided with the Shawnee police union in an issue involving minimum staffing policies that the city had appealed to district court, but the police chief is expected to seek another appeal. Read More
Henry signs fitness bill
SHAWNEE, Okla. - Gov. Brad Henry signed a bill this week that will double the amount of class time devoted to physical activity and nutrition programs in public schools. Read More
Attorneys general reach Facebook agreement
In an attempt to make the Internet safer for children, all but one of the nation's state attorneys general have turned their attention to another popular social networking site. Read More
State House backs electricity service territory changes
The state House voted 62 to 36 Thursday to approve the latest version of House Bill 1739, which would require electricity providers to divide newly developed service territory among themselves or have the Oklahoma Corporation Commission do it for them. Read More
23 states face budget gaps in '09
Like a college student fishing for stray quarters in the sofa cushions, states are tightening their belts, dipping into their rainy day funds and hoping revenues will pick up. But the faltering economy already has punched a $26 billion hole in 23 state budgets for 2009 – and it could get worse, according to a new report issued today (April 25). Read More
Ministers appealing assessor's decision to end pastoral tax exemption
ARDMORE, Okla. -Carter County Assessor Kim Cain recently ended a controversial property tax break on ministers? private residences that had been in effect for approximately 14 years ?? but that hasn?t ended the controversy. Read More
At-risk gubernatorial seats increase
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Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors
(Updated 9:30 a.m EST, May 8, 2008) When an elderly person with dementia is lost, eight states can trigger an alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states. Read More
Will states fix 2012 primary process?
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Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state. Read More
Legislators prod Congress on Medicaid, Real ID
As some states tumble into what they fear is a recession, state lawmakers from across the country are pushing Congress for relief from impending federal rules that would force states to pick up more Medicaid costs and spend billions to make drivers’ licenses more secure. Read More
Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in. Read More
Parents turn to states for autism help
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs. Read More
With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say. Read More
Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
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'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
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Governors pitch ambitious programs
Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.
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Facebook safeguards will protect young users
HARTFORD, Conn. - Facebook, the world's second-largest social networking Web site, will add more than 40 safeguards to protect young users from sexual predators and cyberbullies, attorneys general from several states said Thursday. Read More
Facebook agrees to shield kids from adult content
Social networking giant Facebook has agreed to better protect children on its Web site, including providing automatic warning messages when a child is in danger of giving personal information to an unknown adult. Read More
Seeds of social issues dot 2008 elections
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Summary of the State of the State Address
As Oklahoma celebrates its Centennial year, Gov. Brad Henry (D) laid out his proposals to boost public education by adding five days to the school year, raising teacher pay and adding graduation coaches to lower high school dropout rates. Read More
Commentary: Govs beat White House hopefuls as agents of change
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Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races
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WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. Read More |
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