The Senate Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs held its second interim study meeting Thursday in an effort to improve services at the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. Administrators from all seven of the state’s veteran’s centers presented information before the committee. Topics discussed included staffing and pay levels, turnover rates and training as well as how inspections and investigations are conducted within the centers.
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Senator David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, announced that he would file legislation for the 2013 session that will empower parents to force positive changes in chronically low-performing schools. This so-called “parent trigger” law is depicted in “Won’t Back Down” - a major motion picture opening this Friday, September 28th.
read more.Sen. Patrick Anderson has filed a formal objection in the Supreme Court of Oklahoma in an effort stop the issuance of $25 million in state debt. The funds are being sought for the purpose of raising the level of the Zink Dam, which is owned by the City of Tulsa, to develop a park area along the Arkansas River in Tulsa.
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On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Veteran’s Council, made up of 24 veteran’s organizations from around the state, presented its “Senator of the Year” Award to state Sen. Frank Simpson for his outstanding dedication and hard work in authoring and promoting legislation supporting the state’s veterans and their families.
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Oklahomans interested in following legislative action in the State Senate will soon be able to access streaming video from all committee rooms. The Senate has offered streaming video from the chamber, rooms 419-C and 511-A for several years—now that service is being expanded to 534, 419-A and 419-B, making it possible to view all committee meetings. In addition, video monitors are being installed in those meeting rooms to show votes as they occur and enable those to be available online in real time.
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