Articles
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Health Care, Culture & the Family
Catastrophic rupture
A cardiologist looks at the policy response to COVID-19 and its impact on health and human flourishingDwayne A. Schmidt, M.D. | April 8, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Stitt calls for spending cuts, restraint
Gov. Kevin Stitt is calling for modest cuts to state government spending in response to the current budget shortfall. That apparently puts him at odds with the Republican-controlled Legislature, which voted this week to preserve current spending levels by tapping state savings.Ray Carter | April 7, 2020
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Culture & the Family
Oklahoma’s COVID curve may be flattening
While urging Oklahomans to continue social distancing and warning that weeks of continued effort are still ahead, Gov. Kevin Stitt said today that current restrictions appear to be reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Oklahoma.Ray Carter | April 7, 2020
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Education
How much instruction are Oklahoma school districts providing?
A survey of the online learning dashboards implemented on Monday, April 6, by a number of Oklahoma school districts for the remainder of the virus-canceled 2019-20 school year showed that many are providing little to no student instruction.Mike Brake | April 7, 2020
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Budget & Tax
Lawmakers advance budget bills despite governor’s objection
Members of the Oklahoma Legislature have sent three bills to the governor to address a shortfall in the current state budget, even though an apparent dispute with the governor led to the cancellation of a meeting of the committee that officially certifies shortfalls.Ray Carter | April 7, 2020
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Culture & the Family
Lawmakers concur with health emergency declaration
Both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature have voted to grant Gov. Kevin Stitt greater power to respond to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.Ray Carter | April 6, 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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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma’s 2020 shortfall hits $416 million
Governor Kevin Stitt announced today that state government faces a $416 million shortfall for the current budget year, which ends June 30. That’s substantially more than publicly reported figures had indicated only days earlier.Ray Carter | April 3, 2020
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Law & Principles, Culture & the Family
In Norman, buying groceries may result in fine, jail
A recent “stay at home” order issued by Norman Mayor Breea Clark requires citizens of Norman to restrict shopping to odd or even days, based on a citizen’s home address, as part of the city’s response to COVID-19.Ray Carter | April 3, 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