An Ardmore lawmaker’s battle with cancer more than three years ago inspired those that heard his story. So much so that a research lab at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center will now be called the Senator Johnnie Crutchfield Central Research Lab. The Senator was honored at a ceremony at the OU Heath Sciences Center on Thursday, May 18.

Oklahoma trial lawyers have likely won their battle against Republican efforts this year to curb lawsuit abuse, a Republican state senator said Friday.

“As long as Democrats run the State Senate, the trial lawyers will run the State Senate. We need a Republican Senate majority if we are ever going to pass meaningful lawsuit reform in Oklahoma,” stated Sen. Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City.

Survivors of the USS Oklahoma are closer than ever to achieving their dream of erecting a permanent memorial to the 429 crewmen who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor. The initial memorial design was formally unveiled at the State Capitol on Friday, which also marked the official kickoff of the fundraising effort.

A Republican state senator said GOP Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin and new Sen. Mike Schulz of Altus both deserve credit for the decision by the Senate’s liberal Democrat leadership to reverse their decision and allow a vote on a GOP-authored pro-life bill Thursday.

“Gov. Fallin had indicated privately through Republican leaders that she was willing to take the chair as Senate President to force a vote on pro-life SB 1742. Plus, the math changed this week when Mike Schulz was sworn in, giving Republicans a 23rd vote in the Senate,” stated Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward.

Oklahoma's elderly and disabled are one step closer to receiving protection from financial scams and solicitations after the Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1793 Friday. The measure, by Senator Ron Justice, makes it a felony to knowingly, through deception or intimidation, obtain or use the funds, assets or property of those 62 years of age or older as well as disabled individuals.

- GOP Leader Concerned That Senate Dem Leaders Want to Shut Down State Government

With little progress being made in budget negotiations, Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said the State Legislature should pass a standstill general appropriations bill this week to ensure a government shutdown does not occur if a final budget agreement is not reached before July 1, the beginning of the state’s fiscal year.

A new state law that gives Oklahomans the right to use a gun to defend themselves if they are threatened is just the latest is a series of measures designed to assure citizens of the state can exercise their rights under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The “Stand Your Ground Law” was possible, State Senator Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta, said Tuesday, because of a measure he authored a decade ago that made carrying a concealed weapon legal in Oklahoma.
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Senator Jim Wilson says Oklahoma's children will be better protected from Internet predators now that the "SafeNet Act" is in effect in the state. The new law created through Senate Bill 1479, by Senator Wilson and Rep. Purcy Walker, became immediately effective after receiving approval from the Governor Monday morning.
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An original painting was dedicated at the State Capitol Tuesday entitled “Showers of Sunshine: A Landscape of Grady County, Oklahoma.” The work, by artist Linda Tuma Robertson of Edmond, was unveiled during a special ceremony in the House Chamber. The painting was a gift of the Rob McCune family. Rob is the son of the late State Senator John R. McCune who served in the State Legislature from 1969 until 1988. The artwork was commissioned by the Oklahoma Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc., which is headed by former State Senator Charles Ford.

- Gov. Henry Can’t Stop Shutdown – Unless He Convinces Senate Dems to Compromise

Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee said Tuesday that the Democrat leader of the State Senate is trying to force a government shutdown, and said the state would pay a high price if Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan succeeds.