State Health Dep't extends COVID testing hours; lab shows omicron topping delta for circulating variants

OSDH extends COVID-19 testing hours at local health departments Extended hours, including weekends, available OKLAHOMA CITY – With COVID-19 testing in higher demand and increased cases over the last week, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is extending COVID-19 testing hours at local county health departments, and will offer weekend availability at select locations. Additionally, mobile units will be deployed to various locations throughout the state.   Testing locations and hours can be found by visiting oklahoma.gov/covid19/testing-sites or county health department Facebook pages. Oklahomans can also call their local county health department or 2-1-1 for hours and locations.   “While at-home testing is convenient, and rapid testing provides an immediate result, it is important to remember PCR tests provide the most accurate results, allow for variant sequencing and the ability to contact trace,” stated Jolianne Stone, Oklahoma state epidemiologist. “PCR test results are typically available within 24-48 hours and are highly encouraged for accurate testing.”  PCR test results are reported to OSDH, automatically entering the result into the OSDHCI self-service case investigation system. This system allows Oklahomans to do their own contact tracing through an automated process. Public health workers are still available to assist as needed.  “Like other states, Oklahoma is seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases, however many other respiratory illnesses are occurring as well,” stated Keith Reed, interim commissioner of health. “We highly encourage anyone who is feeling ill to stay home from work, school and other activities and schedule a COVID-19 test or appointment with their physician. Staying home while awaiting your appointment, results and for your symptoms to clear is important for your health and will help prevent the spread of illness.”  COVID-19 variants in Oklahoma mix of omicron and delta Surveillance shows 57% omicron and 43% delta  OKLAHOMA CITY –Variant sequencing at the OSDH Public Health (PHL) lab of most recent specimens from over the holidays shows a mix of omicron (57%) and delta (43%). This surveillance data is important to providers and the public to understand what is going on in the state.   “Our team continues to monitor cases and hospitalizations to provide critical data that allows Oklahomans to make the best decisions for themselves,” stated Keith Reed, interim commissioner of health. “Coinciding with our increased case count and what other states are seeing, current data shows omicron is increasing in Oklahoma, and we anticipate that will continue.”  Variant sequencing continues to be conducted on all positive COVID-19 tests provided to the PHL. This full sequencing process can take up to four days for completion.  The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) protects and improves public health through its system of local health services and strategies focused on preventing disease. OSDH provides technical support and guidance to 68 county health departments in Oklahoma, as well as guidance and consultation to the two independent city-county health departments in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Learn more at Oklahoma.gov/health.  by Jamison Faught - January 05, 2022 at 02:24PM

State Health Dep't extends COVID testing hours; lab shows omicron topping delta for circulating variants Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Canadian County Sheriff endorses Carol Hefner for OKC Mayor

CANADIAN COUNTY SHERIFF CHRIS WEST ENDORSES CAROL HEFNER FOR OKC MAYOR Oklahoma City, OK-- Today, community leader and candidate for Mayor of Oklahoma City Carol Hefner announced she has been endorsed by Canadian County Sheriff Chris West. West is a fifth-generation Oklahoman and lifelong resident of Canadian County. He served in the United States Marine Corps and later served twenty-eight years with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. See Sheriff West's full endorsement video here: Honored to be endorsed by one of the most respected men in law enforcement, Sheriff Chris West. Posted by Carol Hefner for Oklahoma City Mayor on Monday, January 3, 2022 Carol Hefner had this to say: Read more » by Jamison Faught - January 05, 2022 at 08:20AM

Canadian County Sheriff endorses Carol Hefner for OKC Mayor Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Baptist pastors release film on how Pro-Life movement is keeping abortion legal in OK

A Storm Comes Rolling Down the Plain: The Movement to Abolish Abortion  Without Compromise in Oklahoma Powerful New Documentary Reveals How the Pro-Life Movement  Keeps Abortion Legal in Oklahoma Oklahoma City, OK -- A Storm Comes Rolling Down the Plain tells the providential story of the church rising to bring the gospel into conflict with the horrors of abortion in Oklahoma. It presents the church of King Jesus as she proclaims the gospel as the ultimate antidote to modern day child sacrifice. In contrast, it shows how the super-majority of Republican pro-life politicians have fought to kill bills that would abolish abortion immediately, without exception or compromise.  The storm in Oklahoma is building as the Church repents and rises up to work to end what the pro-life movement has only sought to regulate for the last 48 years.   Read more » by Jamison Faught - January 04, 2022 at 12:30PM

Baptist pastors release film on how Pro-Life movement is keeping abortion legal in OK Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford responds to Schumer's Senate Rules threat

Lankford Responds to Schumer's Senate Rules Threat OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement on Senator Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) threat to override Senate rules to bend to his progressive legislative agenda: “Schumer’s threat to change the rules of the Senate unless he gets his way is not just a temper tantrum; it is a threat to our Republic. For over two centuries, the Senate is the one place in our government where minority opinions have a voice, unless Senator Schumer gets his way. In 2017, 32 Senate Democrats signed a letter saying that the filibuster should not change—27 of those Democrats are still in the Senate. Now that they are in power, they want to do whatever it takes to pass their progressive legislative agenda by changing the historic rules of our Republic. Read more » by Jamison Faught - January 04, 2022 at 08:18AM

Lankford responds to Schumer's Senate Rules threat Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

National School Boards Association compared parents to terrorists; 17 states have left, but not Oklahoma

AS OTHERS EXIT, OSSBA MAINTAINS NSBA TIES by Ray Carter, Director, Center for Independent Journalism A majority of state school boards associations have publicly distanced themselves from the National School Boards Association (NSBA) after the national group compared parents to terrorists, and 17 state associations have withdrawn from the NSBA. But the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA) is not among them, and the organization continues its policy of public silence regarding the controversy even as state lawmakers may be poised to require parental approval for schools funds to go, directly or indirectly, to the NSBA. In a public letter issued to the Biden administration on Sept. 29, NSBA officials declared that opponents of Critical Race Theory and mask mandates represented “an immediate threat” that included “threats of violence and acts of intimidation,” and said “the classification of these heinous actions could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes.” “NSBA believes immediate assistance is required to protect our students, school board members, and educators who are susceptible to acts of violence affecting interstate commerce because of threats to their districts, families, and personal safety,” the letter stated. “As our school boards continue coronavirus recovery operations within their respective districts, they are also persevering against other challenges that could impede this progress in a number of communities. Coupled with attacks against school board members and educators for approving policies for masks to protect the health and safety of students and school employees, many public school officials are also facing physical threats because of propaganda purporting the false inclusion of critical race theory within classroom instruction and curricula.” The NSBA letter specifically cited only a handful of examples of alleged extremism nationwide. Most fell far short of terrorism and often amounted to little more than verbal disruption. The NSBA letter said such incidents justified investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Secret Service and its National Threat Assessment Center. Shortly thereafter, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a memorandum announcing that he was ordering the FBI to meet with state and local officials to develop “strategies for addressing threats against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff.” The fallout from the incident has been nationwide as numerous state school boards associations have fled from any association with the NSBA. Parents Defending Education has maintained a list of state school boards associations that have denounced the NSBA’s actions. That list has grown to include 27 states that have distanced themselves from the NSBA’s letter: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Seventeen state associations have further demonstrated their displeasure by withdrawing from the NSBA. That group includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Read more » by Jamison Faught - January 03, 2022 at 08:30AM

National School Boards Association compared parents to terrorists; 17 states have left, but not Oklahoma Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

State Rep. Steagall files bill to recognize Sheriffs as Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Counties

Steagall Files Legislation Recognizing County Sheriffs as Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Counties OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, Chair of the Oklahoma House States Rights Committee, has filed legislation for the upcoming session that would identify county sheriffs as the constitutionally-recognized chief law enforcement officer of their respective counties. Currently, there is no statute in place that designates a chief law enforcement officer of a county, and Steagall says this legislation is important to make sure that lack of recognition does not cause issues in the future. "The office of your county sheriff is charged with numerous duties including supporting the justice of the county, keeping the peace and protecting our lives and property," Steagall said. "However, there is no greater duty that a Sheriff has taken an oath to discharge than that of supporting and defending both our state and national constitutions. Sheriffs are responsible directly to the people in their elective capacity, which is unlike any other law enforcement position in our Union." Canadian County Sheriff Chris West, President of the Oklahoma Sheriffs' Association and Secretary of the National Sheriffs' Association, worked with Steagall to introduce the legislation. "It is a tremendous honor to work with Rep. Steagall on this very important piece of legislation," West said. "I have been fortunate to have worked with many outstanding federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement agents throughout my career in different capacities and on multiple types of cases. However, unlike all other police executives, sheriffs are elected by and answer directly to their constituents. The securing of the constitutionally-recognized and protected freedom, liberty and rights of those they represent is of an utmost priority to our sheriffs, which makes recognizing their position as the county's chief law enforcement officer vitally important for our citizens." Steagall said that this legislation is also important due to a continued effort by the federal government to reach into the day-to-day issues of states and municipalities. Read more » by Jamison Faught - January 01, 2022 at 08:16PM

State Rep. Steagall files bill to recognize Sheriffs as Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Counties Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Gov. Stitt comments on $9.1B estimate for next state budget

GOVERNOR STITT ISSUES STATEMENT ON OKLAHOMA STATE BOARD OF EQUILIZATION CERTIFICATION OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 27, 2021) — Governor Kevin Stitt issued the following statement today after the Oklahoma State Board of Equalization certified an estimate indicating lawmakers will have $9.1 billion in certified and authorized funds for the 2023 fiscal budget year, which begins July 1, 2022. “This past fiscal year, Oklahoma’s economy has bounced back in a big way and continues to improve,” said Gov. Stitt “State revenues are climbing while we are cutting taxes for every Oklahoman. I am committed to investing in our future by adding to what is already the largest state savings account in history, and ensure we remain fiscally responsible with Oklahomans' tax dollars." During the meeting, Gov. Stitt brought attention to $1.1 billion in one time carryover and special cash held over from the FY-2021 budget. Read more » by Jamison Faught - January 01, 2022 at 04:12PM

Gov. Stitt comments on $9.1B estimate for next state budget Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico