News

(StatePoint) With only 8% of children and 21% of adults reporting receipt of the 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine, less than half the population reporting receipt of a flu vaccine and just 20% of adults 60 and over reporting receipt of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, it’s no surprise that rates of respiratory illnesses are at elevated levels this season. “Respiratory illness is all too common, particularly during colder months when people spend more time indoors and germs can spread more easily,” says Dr. Albert Rizzo, chief medical officer, American Lung Association. “Fortunately, there are many strategies for staying healthy.”

Snow and ice gripped much of Oklahoma for several days in January, but never fear, gardening season is near. The crew at “Oklahoma Gardening” is busy preparing for the new season that will begin Feb. 10.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health’s (OSDH) Long-Term Care (LTC) Administrator Licensing Program has updated the LTC administrator state standards exam to reflect the current requirements in Oklahoma statute.

Valentine’s Day means something different for everyone. Many couples celebrate, and single people either avoid or treat the day like any other. It can be a particularly tough time for someone in early recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.

Oklahoma State University’s Brian Arnall has been named the 2023 recipient of the James A. Whatley Award for Meritorious Research in Agricultural Sciences by the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

The Senate Education Committee gave unanimous approval Tuesday to legislation providing local school districts more options in filling their school resource officer positions. Senate Bill 1521, by Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, would allow districts without available active law enforcement officers in their county or community to hire retired peace officers or CLEET certified security guards.

Recently, the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that Holly Energy Partners-Operating L.P. and Osage Pipe Line Company LLC have agreed to pay $7.4 million in Clean Water Act civil penalties and implement corrective measures to settle claims stemming from a pipeline rupture and crude oil spill from the Osage pipeline onto land owned by members of the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma. In addition to payment of the civil penalties, the settlement requires that the two companies complete the cleanup and remediation of the impacted area and take additional steps to prepare for and prevent future spills.

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is accepting nominations for Gov. Stitt’s Outstanding Achievement in Agriculture Award.