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Some Oklahoma lawmakers are seeking to make a permanent exception to the state's requirement for third-grade students to be reading proficient before moving on to the next grade. The Oklahoman reports that currently, Oklahoma's Reading Sufficiency Act requires students in the third grade to score proficient on the state reading test in order to go into fourth grade.
Attorney Blake Lawrence, left, answers a question about a lawsuit against Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt over public access to official emails, in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017. Looking on are Brady Henderson, center, and Ryan Kiesel, both of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma.
The problems will be familiar in the 2017 Oklahoma legislative session: crowded public schools with teachers desperate for a pay raise, overcrowded prisons, a Highway Patrol facing furloughs and dozens of other cash-strapped agencies that have cut services to the bone. But lawmakers who return to the Capitol in February will also be faced with a budget hole of nearly $870 million - about 12 percent of state spending - resulting from slumping energy prices, years of tax cuts and costly tax subsidies for businesses and industries.
After two consecutive years of deep cuts to state agencies, including public education, the Oklahoma Legislature will again be grappling with another budget hole estimated to be about $868 million, or more than 12 percent of state spending, finance officials announced on Tuesday. Secretary of Finance Preston Doerflinger, the governor's chief budget negotiator, released budget projections that show state revenue collections won't be enough to trigger a further cut in the state's individual income tax rate from 5 percent to 4.85 percent.
Republican Gov. John Kasich signed a bill Tuesday imposing a 20-week abortion ban while vetoing stricter provisions in a separate measure that would have barred the procedure at the first detectable fetal heartbeat. The so-called heartbeat bill would have prohibited most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as six weeks into pregnancy - or before many women know they are pregnant.
The federal government will continue for another year to fund an Oklahoma program that uses a combination of state tobacco tax revenue and federal Medicaid money to help provide health insurance coverage for nearly 20,000 low-income Oklahoma workers. Governor Mary Fallin announced that a one-year extension has been approved by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Insure Oklahoma program.
Trump says in a video released late Monday that his agenda "will be based on a simple core principle: putting America first." He is reiterating a number of his promises for the first 100 days of his administration, including vows to negotiate new trade deals, remove regulations on businesses and establish a five-year ban on executive officials becoming lobbyists.
As the county puts the finishing touches on two new general population jail pods we get some surprising news: They aren't needed, at least not right now. Tulsa County voters approved a 15-year extension of a 0.26 percent sales tax April 1, 2014, to fund the new pods and two others dedicated to prisoners with mental health issues.
Despite facing some of the nation's strictest anti-abortion laws, a Kansas-based foundation opened a new facility in Oklahoma City - the first new abortion provider in the state in 40 years. The Trust Women South Wind Women's Center welcomed the first patients last week to its clinic on the city's south side.
Steve Gibson, of Pawnee, takes photos of damage to a building in downtown Pawnee, Okla., following a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that hit just after 7 a.m., in north-central Oklahoma, Saturday, Sept.
Katie Dodson is pictured with her dog Griffin in her home n Norman, Okla., Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. Kelli Dodson says her 12-year-old daughter, Katie, would benefit from the higher potency of medical marijuana.
Gov. Mary Fallin unveiled the new license plate during a press conference with state officials on Monday. The new plates cost the state about $2.05 to produce.
Close to 4 percent of public school teacher positions in Oklahoma were eliminated last year as districts across the state dealt with budget cuts and a shortage of trained teachers. A survey of school districts by the Oklahoma State School Boards Association found 1,530 teaching positions were removed over the past school year, according to results made public Monday.
An attorney sued Oklahoma's governor on Tuesday over $140 million in unspent state dollars that he contends should go to state agencies. Attorney David Slane filed the lawsuit with the Oklahoma Supreme Court on behalf of six clients who receive state services through the Department of Human Services.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up Monday as he walks off the stage with his wife, Melania, during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. [AP Photo] CLEVELAND - Donald Trump made his first appearance at the Republican National Convention on Monday, introducing his wife and saying, "We're going to win.
Visitors show their support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump prior to his speech at Westin Town Center in Virginia Beach, Va., Monday, July 11, 2016. Visitors show their support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump prior to his speech at Westin Town Center in Virginia Beach, Va., Monday, July 11, 2016.
State finance officials are confirming cuts that were ordered to agency budgets in March likely were deeper than necessary and that Oklahoma will finish the fiscal year on June 30 with surplus revenue that could be reallocated back to agencies. Secretary of Finance Preston Doerflinger declined Monday to speculate how much money will be left over until all revenue has been collected for the month of June.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C. "Who do you like?" Donald Trump recently quizzed supporters at a Tampa rally, cupping a hand to his ear as they suggested vice presidential running mates. "Newt!"... "Sessions!" "Condi Rice!" came the cries, referring - respectively - to former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Condoleezza Rice, President George W. Bush's national security advisor and secretary of State.