A Legislative leader is urging Oklahoma business recruiters to take the advice of Knight Kiplinger to heart and use it to help attract new jobs to the state.

During a speech in Oklahoma City this week, the nationally-recognized business analyst downplayed Oklahoma's per capita income ranking, saying the state's low cost of living and high quality of life more than compensated for any perceived shortcomings in personal income. Kiplinger also lauded the state's steady "workhorse" economy and its low business costs.

Senator Charles Ford, Senator Penny Williams and Representative Betty Boyd are calling for the creation of a Tulsa Task Force on Higher Education that will examine the future of higher education in northeastern Oklahoma. The panel will present its findings to the State Regents for Higher Education and the Oklahoma Legislature.

The Tulsa Task Force will be designed to examine the unique needs and challenges that its area higher education system will face in the 21st Century.

Oklahoma's new fiscal year is off to a good start, according to the latest revenue report from the Office of State Finance. That's a good sign for the Oklahoma economy, according to a Senate budget leader.

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor announced three appointments to the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women today.

"This is a very important panel and it needs our best and brightest citizens to serve on it. I think our appointees will do an excellent job," said Senator Taylor.

The commission, created in 1994, addresses gender issues.

The Senate appointees include:

OKLAHOMA CITY The possibility that passenger rail service could become a reality in Oklahoma again is greater than it has ever been. So says State Senator Dave Herbert (D-Midwest City).

Herbert co-chairs the newly created Passenger High-Speed Rail Task Force charged with investigating the feasibility of restoring passenger rail service to the Sooner State. The task force holds its first meeting on Wednesday, July 17 at 10 a.m. in room 419-C at the State Capitol.

The latest revenue report from the Office of State Finance indicates continued growth in the Oklahoma economy, a sign that the state's economic policies are on the right track, according to a Senate budget leader.

"It continues to be the same old song, but I'm certainly not tired of hearing it. Whenever revenue collections increase, it means our economy is growing and that's good news for everyone in Oklahoma," said Senator Kelly Haney, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

A Weekly Update on all of the Good News about Oklahoma

Because much of the good news about our state is sometimes overlooked by state leaders and others, many positive developments and success stories in Oklahoma go unreported. It is our hope that "Oklahoma Pride," a weekly publication of the Oklahoma Senate, will ensure that the best stories about Oklahoma are told.

For example, this week in Oklahoma, did you know that......

With the Joint Committee on State Aircraft apparently entering the final leg of its inquiry, legislative leaders are congratulating panel members for the fact-finding work they've done to date.

"Before this committee began its work, the people of Oklahoma had legitimate questions about whether their $3 million was spent properly or improperly. Had it not been for the hard work and diligence of committee members, there are some things we probably never would have found out," said House Speaker Loyd Benson.

A Weekly Update on all of the Good News about Oklahoma

Because much of the good news about our state is sometimes overlooked by state leaders and others, many positive developments and success stories in Oklahoma go unreported. It is our hope that "Oklahoma Pride," a weekly publication of the Oklahoma Senate, will ensure that the best stories about Oklahoma are told.

For example, this week in Oklahoma, did you know that......

A Weekly Update on all of the Good News about Oklahoma

Because much of the good news about our state is sometimes overlooked by state leaders and others, many positive developments and success stories in Oklahoma go unreported. It is our hope that "Oklahoma Pride," a weekly publication of the Oklahoma Senate, will ensure that the best stories about Oklahoma are told.

For example, this week in Oklahoma, did you know that......