Despite having ending his professional sports career over 20 years ago, state Sen. Randy Bass remains a celebrity in Japan. When a Colonel Sanders statue meant to represent his likeness emerged from the Dotonburi River in Osaka this week, positive memories were sparked for fans of the Hanshin Tigers, and Bass was once again in the news in Japan and around the world.

Oklahoma is the only state in the nation to improve two grade levels in two years in mental health services. State Sen. Brian Crain chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services and said a newly issued report card shows how far Oklahoma has come.

The state Senate on Thursday unanimously approved legislation that would exempt an adoptive grandparent from any court costs associated with adoption.

Sen. Kenneth Corn, author of Senate Bill 254, said the measure would help provide healthy environments for children by removing another impediment for grandparents seeking to care for their grandchildren.

Legislation that would lower the legal blood alcohol concentration limit for the offense of boating under the influence from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent was approved by the state Senate on Thursday. The measure would also prohibit children under the age of 12 from operating personal watercraft.

Sen. Bill Brown, author of Senate Bill 902, said the Legislature needed to add teeth to the state’s boating laws in order to reduce watercraft-related accidents and deaths.

The Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation Thursday to provide better protection to Oklahoma's children. Sen. Mary Easley authored Senate Bill 1138 amending the definition of children endangerment to include parents or guardians who knowingly let their children ride in vehicles operated by people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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A bill providing tax credits for victims of the February 10 storms that destroyed dozens of homes and businesses and caused multiple fatalities is now headed to the House of Representatives. Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, and Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore, worked together for passage of the legislation. Eight people in Crutchfield’s district died in that storm, and many others were left homeless.

As the State Senate met its first deadline for passing bills off the floor this week, President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee said Friday he is proud of the work Senators did for the state of Oklahoma in an unprecedented legislative week for Republicans.

The Oklahoma State Senate paused to honor former State Capitol reporter John Greiner on Monday. The 66-year-old Greiner retired from “The Oklahoman” newspaper last fall. State Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee praised Greiner’s ethics and experience in covering the statehouse.

The Senate unveiled another original work of art commissioned by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund Tuesday. The painting, by Oklahoma City artist Christopher Nick, is of Oklahoman Andy Payne who was the winner of the 1928 Trans-Continental Foot Race as well as the Clerk of the Oklahoma Supreme Court for 38 years retiring in 1973.
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