Members of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee will meet at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, for an interim study on the awarding of state contracts to businesses owned by disabled veterans. The study, which will be held in room 535 at the state Capitol, was requested by Sen. Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa.

“We have highly capable disabled veterans, not only in my district, but I believe throughout Oklahoma. Some may not be able to do strenuous physical labor, but they have the capability of owning a company that could serve our state in a number of areas,” Matthews said.

Building upon the success of previous legislation, the Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday approved a series of criminal justice reform bills.

The measures continue an effort by the Oklahoma Senate to examine and modify, as necessary, the state’s criminal justice system in order to address the state’s prison population and provide treatment for those in the justice system who need mental health or substance abuse services.

Nearly half of Oklahoma counties, 32 of the 77, are considered food urban/rural deserts where citizens have limited or no access to fresh food and produce. One of those areas is north Tulsa, and Sen. Kevin Matthews requested an interim study to find ways to help his district and others around the state through the use of urban gardens.

Members of the Senate Health and Human Services met Tuesday to hear from local healthcare organizations about the importance of the health center uncompensated care fund (UCF) to the health and well-being of Oklahomans. The Oklahoma Department of Health stopped distributing payments to federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) for health care to the uninsured following the second mid-year revenue failure but resumed payments for services rendered in July.

An education fair and 5K to raise funds and awareness to aid Oklahomans with sickle cell disease (SCD) will be held at the Oklahoma State Capitol this coming Saturday, September 17 at 9 a.m. The event is sponsored by the organization Supporters of Families with Sickle Cell Disease as part of National Sickle Cell Awareness month.

Sen. Kevin Matthews, chair of the Oklahoma Black Caucus, said the 5K will help call attention to SCD which affects up to 100,000 Americans, including 1,500 here in Oklahoma. Another 40,000 in the state may unknowingly carry the genetic trait.

Members of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus issued the following statement Wednesday in reaction to reports of an incident at last week’s CareerTech Summer Conference in Oklahoma City alleging a retiring black educator who was to be recognized for his service was presented with a white robe, hood, and Confederate flag. After the incident, attendees reportedly were told not to speak about it and to erase any cell phone video.

After recently announcing plans to create a $10,000 endowed scholarship at Langston University honoring E. Melvin Porter, Oklahoma’s first black member of the state Senate, the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus announced Tuesday that Langston University is now accepting donations.

OKLAHOMA CITY Sen. Kevin Matthews believes citizens absolutely have the right to protect themselves when their lives or their loved ones are in immediate danger. However, he does not feel that people should be able to use the law as a defense when they provoke a violent situation or had other options available to them, such as calling the police, to avoid using force.

Oklahoma’s reserve law enforcement officers would be required to complete additional CLEET certified training each year under a new bill passed in the Senate on Thursday morning, according to the bill’s author, Sen. Ralph Shortey.

Oklahoma’s first African American State Senator and civil rights leader, E. Melvin Porter, was recognized on Wednesday afternoon in the Senate chamber with a resolution authored by Sens. Anastasia Pittman, David Holt and Kevin Matthews. Senate Resolution 36 was presented on the Senate floor to Porter, who was accompanied by his family.