Articles
-
Criminal Justice, Law & Principles
Crime may be unaffected by COVID-19, while lawsuits proliferate
The statewide COVID-19 shutdown may have dramatically impacted most Oklahomans, but it may not have deterred serious crimes, law enforcement officials told lawmakers Thursday. At the same time, the state could soon face a rash of lawsuits challenging the legality of government actions that forced business closures and the loss of citizens’ jobs.Ray Carter | April 17, 2020
-
Budget & Tax, Economy, Culture & the Family
OCPA calls for CARES Act flexibility
OCPA president Jonathan Small, along with the leaders of several other think tanks from around the country, has signed a letter to federal legislative leaders calling for flexibility in the use of the CARES Act relief dollars.Curtis Shelton | April 16, 2020
-
Economy, Culture & the Family
Citizen petition supports reopening state
Now that Oklahoma’s health care system is prepared to handle the estimated “peak” in COVID-19 hospitalizations, a new petition allows citizens to call on state and local government officials to reopen the state while maintaining sensible health precautions.Staff | April 16, 2020
-
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
-
Culture & the Family
Oklahoma rally calls for ‘back to work’ order
As data continues to show Oklahoma has achieved the stated purpose of the government-ordered shutdown of businesses by allowing the health care system to prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic’s peak, citizens at a rally on Wednesday called on Gov. Kevin Stitt to reopen the state.Ray Carter | April 15, 2020
-
Culture & the Family
Oklahomans can face reality. Can our government leaders?
Government officials act as though we have only two, mutually exclusive choices to address COVID-19. We can either close businesses and throw millions out of work, or we can let people die. That’s a false choice.Mo Anderson | April 15, 2020
-
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
-
Health Care, Culture & the Family
Unleash telehealth to fight COVID-19
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, Gov. Kevin Stitt has fast-tracked licensing requirements to help out-of-state medical workers utilize telemedicine. Action from the state legislature is needed to permanently adopt this reform.Kaitlyn Finley | April 14, 2020
-
Health Care, Culture & the Family
COVID may reduce health care providers, but encourage innovation
The government response to COVID-19 has threatened the survival of businesses across the country—including doctors’ offices and major hospitals. It’s a trend that could significantly impact health care access for months or years to come—but those changes could also encourage innovation.Ray Carter | April 13, 2020
-
Culture & the Family
Shelter-in-place: A very preliminary look at the data
Various strategies are available to slow the spread of the dangerous coronavirus. These include enhanced hygiene, “social distancing,” wearing masks, and restricting travel outside the home. This last strategy, often called “shelter-in-place,” is now being enforced by many governments in the United States and around the world.Trent England | April 13, 2020