By: Barry Mangold
A group of 10 Oklahomans is asking the state Supreme Court to order Gov. Kevin Stitt to resume unemployment benefits aimed at those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a brief filed Monday, attorney Mark Hammons argues Stitt did not have the authority to stop offering four federal unemployment programs after June 26 through an executive order, and is asking the state’s high court to order the state to resume offering the benefits.
“The governor of Oklahoma is not king. He’s the governor, he doesn’t have all power,” Hammons told News 9 shortly after filing. “It’s important that the governor understand that he is supposed to be a servant of the people, not just go out on some direction because he thinks it’s a good idea.”
A panel of prominent state Democratic legislators say they can point to their achievements in their recent legislative session and that, going forward, their voices will be heard, despite being outnumbered. Sens. Kay Floyd and Carri Hicks and Rep. Forrest Bennett discussed the most recent legislative session’s successes and challenges with Joe Dowd, The Journal Record’s interim editor, and reporter Janice Francis-Smith during the June 25 JR/Now webinar, and gave their thoughts on the Democratic Party’s future in what is predominantly a GOP-led Oklahoma government.
Chickasaw Community Bank is expanding with a new location in northwest Oklahoma City. Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby and Chickasaw Community Bank CEO T.W. Shannon participated in a groundbreaking on June 25 at the site of the new bank to be built at 7420 W. Memorial Rd., near the corner of Memorial Road and Rockwell Avenue. The new 33,000-square-foot building will be the bank’s second location in the metro ar
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Brenda Wilson is a verified Medicaid application counselor at Variety Care clinic. She helps clients in Anadarko, El Reno and Oklahoma City fill out the online application. Wilson said clients are often confused by the wording when trying to fill it out themselves and give up, which is why the clinic has counselors to help.
Whitney Bryen / Oklahoma Watch
Sarah Marshall, a volunteer at the Weatherford Food and Resource Center, loads groceries into a car during one of the centerâs weekly food pick ups. The center serves low-income residents and said it has been busier than usual since the pandemic due to many locals being furloughed or losing their jobs.