Oklahoma

November 09, 2007 -- Oklahoma City - Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today announced a statewide initiative, "Operation Holiday Homecoming," aimed at bringing National Guard troops home for the Christmas holidays. Joined by state military and veterans affairs leaders at a state Capitol news conference, the Governor urged Oklahomans to donate to an American Legion of Oklahoma fund that will enable members of the 45th Infantry Brigade to be home from Dec. 23 to Jan 2.    » read more »

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) is urging support by the retail industry and parents regarding the recall of Aqua Dots, a toy found to contain a chemical that converts to a popular date-rape drug. Mark Woodward, Spokesman for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotic says his agency has seen the potentially life-threatening health affects this chemical poses.

"Gamma-Butyrolactone, which the human body naturally converts into the date-rape drug GHB, has the ability to completely incapacitate a healthy adult. The affects on a small child could be devastating."
- Mark Woodward, OBN Spokesman    » read more »

11/09/2007 -- The former claims manager for an Oklahoma insurance company pleaded guilty today to five felony counts of grand larceny by fraud, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson said.

Rhonda K. Bonnewell, 37, was charged July 19 in Oklahoma County District Court after she allegedly wrote more than $12,000 in checks for insurance claims and then used those checks to pay personal debts. Bonnewell is the former claims manager for the Oklahoma Restaurant Group Self Insurance Association.    » read more »

11-08-2007 -- The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) announced today the first laboratory confirmation of influenza activity in the state for the 2007-2008 flu season. This first seasonal indication of influenza is from Oklahoma County where laboratory results identified type B influenza virus.    » read more »

11-06-2007 -- Oklahoma City, OK -- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry will honor 16 individuals and four organizations for their contributions to the arts in their communities or throughout the state at the 32nd Annual Governor's Arts Awards. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council, the ceremony is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., November 28th on the 4th Floor Rotunda of the State Capitol. A reception on the first floor of the Capitol will follow the 4 p.m. ceremony.    » read more »

05 November 2007 -- The state of Oklahoma has begun implementing a new law that is described as the toughest in the nation against illegal immigrants. Supporters of the law say it will reduce crime and curb use of taxpayer funded services by people who have no right to be in the United States. But Latino groups, joined by civil rights groups and churches say the new law is fostering discrimination.    » read more »

November 02, 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died Oct. 30 of wounds suffered in Salman Pak, Iraq, when enemy forces engaged their unit with small arms fire and an improvised explosive device.

They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Killed were:

Sgt. Daniel L. McCall, 24, of Pace, Florida. He died in Baghdad, Iraq.    » read more »

10/31/2007 -- A settlement pending approval before a federal bankruptcy court will direct almost $65 million to agencies involved in restoration efforts at the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson and Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment Miles Tolbert announced today.    » read more »

10/30/2007 -- The attorney general’s office late yesterday asked a federal court to dismiss the second lawsuit filed in as many weeks challenging a new immigration law scheduled to go into effect Nov. 1, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson said.

“The first lawsuit was dismissed because the judge ruled the plaintiffs could not show how they have been harmed by a law that has yet to go into effect,” Senior Assistant Attorney General Sandy Rinehart said. “We believe that to also be true of this second challenge.”    » read more »

10/29/2007 -- A Tulsa landfill with a history of environmental violations has ceased operations as part of an agreement to curb the environmental and public health dangers caused by its negligent operating practices, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Executive Director Steve Thompson and Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson said today.

Under the agreement, the North Tulsa Sanitary Landfill has and will remain closed until it becomes fully compliant with state law.    » read more »

October 16, 2007, OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Oklahomans have received more than $31.7 million in disaster aid due to the severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes that caused extensive damage to homes as well as personal losses this past summer. Costly in terms of monetary value and personal loss, disasters personally impacted more than 7,776 Oklahomans during the summer.    » read more »

Angela Buckelew, designated as Insure Oklahoma Spokesperson, kicks off statewide media campaign Oct. 15, 2007

(Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) - Great news announced today for Oklahoma small business owners (with 50 or fewer employees) trying to provide health insurance for their employees. If you don't already know about this health coverage premium subsidy - you will want to take the time to learn more...

In summary, these changes are:    » read more »

October 12, 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died Oct. 10 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with rockets.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Lillian Clamens, 35, of Lawton, Oklahoma. She was assigned to the 1st Postal Platoon, 834th Adjutant General Company, Miami.

Spc. Samuel F. Pearson, 28, of Westerville, Ohio. He was assigned to the 376th Finance Company, 88th Regional Readiness Command, Wausau, Wis.

Source: DoD

Oct. 3, 2007, Oklahoma City, OK – The Oklahoma Arts Council is currently recruiting applicants for the Oklahoma Touring and Teaching Artist rosters.

The Oklahoma Arts Council provides matching grants to help public schools, libraries, entities of local government, tribal governments and non-profit cultural organizations hire teaching and performing artists from throughout the state for performances and in-school residencies.    » read more »

10/03/2007 -- Citing judicial prudence, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson today asked the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals (OCCA) to delay scheduling executions in Oklahoma until the U.S. Supreme Court defines what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in execution procedures.

The Supreme Court (USSC) has agreed to hear the appeal of a Kentucky death row inmate who claims that state’s execution process violates the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The case, Baze v. Rees, is expected to establish a national standard for executions.    » read more »