A comprehensive examination of Oklahoma's clandestine dog breeding industry will formally kick off Wednesday when a special interim committee holds its first meeting on the subject.

State Senator Lewis Long requested the probe of so-called "puppy mills," the term coined for assembly-line dog breeding operations notorious for their inhumane treatment of animals.

The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Education Subcommittee says there's a lot more positive information in the latest
round of ACT scores than some state officials have acknowledged.

Oklahoma high school graduates scored an average 20.6 out of a possible 36. That's after scores had fallen slightly last year to 20.5. The national composite on the exams testing skills in the areas of English, math and science is 21.

As schools across the state resume classes this month, many parents are feeling their budgets buckle under the need for new clothes and shoes for their children, but they may get a break on such expenses next fall if a bill authored by Senator Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo is passed in the next legislative session.

Governor Frank Keating should apply the same compassionate conservatism he reserves for presidential hopeful George Bush Jr. in the state of Oklahoma, according to a veteran state legislator.

Senator Frank Shurden noted that the Governor's recent comments regarding Bush and whether he had used cocaine are "quite liberal" when compared to the policies he has pursued in Oklahoma.

One of Governor Keating's cabinet secretaries is violating both the spirit and the letter of a new state law in his zeal to hasten the downsizing of Eastern State Hospital in Vinita, according to a state legislator who is currently exploring options to stop the action.

Governor Keating's latest push to privatize another function of state government should be approached with caution, according to two state legislators who say there is no evidence that such an "experiment" will save any money.

Issues ranging from education reform to so-called puppy mills will be the topics of a series of interim studies conducted by the Oklahoma Senate in the coming months.

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor announced the approval of the interim studies today, saying the special committee work will help lawmakers prepare for the 2000 legislative session.

Senator Jerry Smith has joined other State and Federal Lawmakers in condemning the American Psychological Association for publishing a study which claimed that sexual relations between an adult and child might not be as harmful as traditionally believed, and could produce positive benefits for "willing" children.

"Given everything we know about the long term emotional devastation that these children suffer, I am shocked that the APA would publish such a study," said Senator Smith, R-Tulsa.

The technology needs of common education and vocational-technical education should be included in the ongoing discussions about a multi-million dollar capital improvements bond issue for higher education, according to three State Senators.

The talks to date have focused solely on the capital needs of higher education, but Senator Cal Hobson, Senator Penny Williams and Senator Ben Robinson want the negotiations expanded to include the other two branches of education.

Senator Mike Morgan is attempting to deliver a pay raise to education employees who were inadvertently omitted from a salary increase bill passed in the final day of the legislative session. The Stillwater legislator plans to introduce corrective legislation when the Legislature returns in special session on June 14th.