Oklahoma

June 05, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died June 3 in Zormat, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

Killed were:

Maj. Scott A. Hagerty, 41, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, who was assigned to the 451st Civil Affairs Battalion, Pasadena, Texas.

Pfc. Derek D. Holland, 20, of Wind Gap, Pennsylvania, who was assigned to the 228th Brigade Support Battalion, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Bethlehem, Pa.    » read more »

May 29, 2008 -- Oklahoma City -- Federal authorities have approved public assistance for Craig, Latimer and Ottawa counties to help those communities recover from the deadly May 10 tornadoes.

Public assistance will deliver federal funding to assist cities, towns and counties with infrastructure repairs and costs associated with responding to the May 10 storms. Assistance for individuals has already been approved.

“I am thankful that FEMA and President Bush have responded quickly to help these communities,” Gov. Henry said. “The damage resulting from these storms was some of the worst I have ever seen, and these communities need help repairing buildings and power lines and covering the cost of debris removal.”    » read more »

05/29/2008 -- The proposed acquisition of National Beef Packing Company and Smithfield Beef Group by Brazilian meat company JBS could have implications for Oklahoma cattle producers, OKlahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson said today.

Oklahoma cattle: Photo by Wade (CC)

In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Edmondson said by taking over National Beef and Smithfield, JBS will become the largest beef processor in the nation and the new company could have a significant impact on the feedlot segment of the beef industry.    » read more »

May 23, 2008 -- Oklahoma City — Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry announced this evening that federal authorities have approved his request for federal disaster assistance to individuals and businesses in Craig, Latimer and Pittsburg counties impacted by the May 10 tornadoes.

The approval for individual assistance in the three counties comes only hours after the Governor made the request. The designation ensures federal assistance for housing repairs or temporary housing, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for individuals and businesses to repair or replace damaged property, disaster unemployment assistance, and grants for serious needs and necessary disaster expenses not met by other programs.    » read more »

May 14, 2008 -- Oklahoma City — The White House today approved Oklahoma’s request for federal disaster assistance in the Ottawa County tornado, according to Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry.

“We got the word from the White House late this afternoon,” said the governor. “We appreciate the quick response from Pres. Bush and his team. The people of Picher and the other affected communities need all the help they can get, and this is a critical first step.

“We will continue to work with our federal partners to obtain all possible assistance, including expedited aid in the Picher buyout process.”

An EF-4 tornado struck several Ottawa County communities Saturday evening, destroying more than 100 homes and causing several fatalities in the town of Picher alone.    » read more »

May 13, 2008 -- Oklahoma City -- In the wake of the deadly tornado that swept through the town of Picher on May 10, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today asked Pres. Bush to provide a federal disaster declaration for Ottawa County. The designation would provide federal assistance to individuals and businesses in the tornado-ravaged area.

Picher, Oklahoma: Photo by peggydavis66 (CC)

“Picher is devastated, and its citizens are hurting,” Gov. Henry said.    » read more »

ARLINGTON, Va. (05/12/2008) - National Guard members in four states were called out by their governors to assist civil authorities May 12 after tornados crossed the Southwest May 10 and flooding on the Delaware coast left communities in need of emergency assistance.

Arkansas Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Lucas Jennings discusses tornado response missions in Arkansas: Arkansas National Guard photo

Since May 7, the National Weather Service has confirmed at least 42 tornados in the southern Plains and the southeastern and middle Atlantic regions of the nation with the strongest tornado recorded May 10 as an F-4. It developed from a super cell storm that tracked through three states.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 11, 2008 -- The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working closely with states impacted from the recent severe storms and tornadoes as they assess damages. DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff has spoken with the governors of Oklahoma and Missouri, and both he and FEMA Administrator David Paulison are expected to travel to impacted areas on Tuesday, May 13. State and local resources currently are addressing the most immediate needs as federal resources support their efforts.    » read more »

May 11, 2008 -- Oklahoma City - Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry made the following remarks today after surveying tornado-ravaged sections of Picher, Oklahoma. At least six deaths and more than 150 injuries occurred as the result of a tornado that swept through the Ottawa County town Saturday, May 10.

Oklahoma tornado damage: Photo by Matthew Minnix (CC)

The Governor toured Picher with state Department of Emergency Management director Albert Ashwood, Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment Miles Tolbert, state Department of Public Safety Commissioner Kevin Ward and state Adjutant General Harry M. Wyatt III.    » read more »

04-23-2008 -- A bill that will assist hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans facing hunger passed the Senate on Tuesday in a unanimous, bipartisan vote, according to the bill's co-author, State Senator Andrew Rice.

"When our neighbors are going hungry, all of us are affected - it's a moral issue. I'm encouraged that all of my Senate colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, share my views and showed they are willing to take immediate action to combat food insecurity," Rice said.

Tulsa, Oklahoma: Photo by a.saliga (CC)    » read more »

Superdelegate Reggie Whitten Cites Obama's Commitment to Strengthening the Middle Class, Unite Us for Change

April 17, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Today, Oklahoma Superdelegate Reggie Whitten endorsed Barack Obama, citing his ability to unite Americans for change and his proven track record of standing up for middle class families and workers.

Barack Obama: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)

His statement regarding the endorsement is below:    » read more »

04/16/2008 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson and State Treasurer Scott Meacham said Oklahoma has received more than $85.1 million from the tobacco industry, 75 percent of which went directly into the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund.

Cigarette: Photo by ritcharnd moskow (CC)    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- A conversation about insurance reform and affordable healthcare in Oklahoma will continue with the approval of a patient's bill of rights amendment authored by State Senator Jim Wilson. The amendment, which will require insurance companies to pay for health care procedures deemed medically necessary by a physician was attached to HB 2531 and now moves to the House of Representatives for an up-or-down vote.

A hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma: Photo by laNDN (CC)    » read more »

April 14, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. William E. Allmon, 25, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, died April 12 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Source: DoD

April 11, 2008 -- (Oklahoma City) -- In the wake of severe storms across the state, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today declared a state of emergency to exist in 38 Oklahoma counties due to tornadoes, severe storms and flooding which began on April 9.

Gov. Henry also amended a March 27, 2008 executive order by adding two counties, Hughes and Pawnee, to the list of those counties experiencing severe storms and flooding since March 17.

Flooding in Oklahoma: Photo by April Harris (CC)    » read more »