Articles
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Economy, Culture & the Family
Stitt plans to reopen Oklahoma soon
Amidst growing evidence that Oklahoma has dramatically flattened the growth curve of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced today that many currently shuttered businesses may soon be allowed to reopen while elective surgeries will resume before the end of April.Ray Carter | April 15, 2020
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Health Care, Economy
Public Health chairman: Let Oklahomans go back to work
The chairman of the state House Public Health Committee, who previously warned the threat of coronavirus was “quite real” and urged Oklahomans to “look at options where they can stay home and limit their exposure,” says it is now time to reopen society.Ray Carter | April 14, 2020
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Economy, Culture & the Family
Oklahoma no outlier on ‘shelter in place’
What if Oklahoma instituted a “shelter in place” order to combat the COVID-19 virus and no one noticed?Ray Carter | April 6, 2020
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Economy, Culture & the Family
Supply chains threatened by forced business closures
To reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, state and local governments in Oklahoma and across the country have ordered the closure of most businesses, aside from those deemed “essential” by government officials.Ray Carter | April 3, 2020
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Economy, Culture & the Family
Businesses ordered to shut down statewide
For the first time, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has ordered the statewide closure of “nonessential” businesses, including in 37 counties that have not yet recorded a case of COVID-19/coronavirus as of the time of his announcement.Ray Carter | April 1, 2020
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Economy, Culture & the Family
City of Norman seeks cessation of waste management
Citing efforts to fight COVID-19/coronavirus, the City of Norman has ordered the closure of a waste-disposal company, despite such businesses being declared “essential” by federal authorities.Ray Carter | April 1, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Economy
Lankford: Federal bill for stabilization, not stimulus
In 2009, as the Great Recession roiled the economy, Congress responded with an enormous “stimulus” package that supporters claimed would reignite economic growth. However, the $2 trillion legislation recently passed by Congress has more modest goals, according to U.S. Sen. James Lankford.Ray Carter | April 1, 2020
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Economy, Culture & the Family
COVID-19 not the only threat to Oklahomans’ health, lives
In ordering business closures and restricting citizen movement, government officials have primarily focused on the potential loss of life that could be caused by the COVID-19/coronavirus. Yet experts agree those anti-COVID efforts could also contribute to an increased death count in Oklahoma, highlighting the thin line policymakers are treading.Ray Carter | March 30, 2020
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Economy, Culture & the Family
How far should the government go to enforce an order?
Throwing people out of work, taking away people’s livelihoods, and making people poorer are not the purposes of these orders. And so if an innovative business is able to come up with ways that fully incorporate social distancing into their workplace and customer interactions—why would we shut those businesses down?Jonathan Small | March 30, 2020
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Economy
Some Oklahoma businesses adapt to fight coronavirus, others forced to shut down
Some Oklahoma businesses are innovating to aid with the coronavirus response. But many more are struggling to keep their doors open due to government closure mandates.Kaitlyn Finley | March 29, 2020