Gore was well represented at the State Capitol this week with several people visiting for the governor’s state of the state address on Monday and for Rose Day on Wednesday, according to State Senator Mark Allen, R-Spiro.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Three students from Senate District 18 were recently appointed to serve as delegates on the newly-formed Oklahoma State Department of Education Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council.  Olivia Kuester from Coweta Junior High, Kristen Webb from Haskell High School and Amber Hatton-Hunt representing Wagoner High School/Indian Capital Tech attended their first meeting on Thursday morning in the Blue Room of the State Capitol.  read more.

OKLAHOMA CITY –   Sen. Marty Quinn was recently appointed to serve on the Joint Legislative Task Force on The Grand River Dam Authority by Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz.  The Republican legislator from Claremore replaces Sen. Earl Garrison.

The task force was established to study the functions, activities, policies, procedures and expenditures performed by the district and any related issue the task force deems appropriate. 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Second grade students from Stephanie Payne’s class at Carnegie Elementary school were recently selected to decorate one of 26 Christmas trees inside the state Capitol, according to State Senator Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher.   Each year, schools across the state are invited to apply to be selected to participate in the decorating event in conjunction with the Governor’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. 

TULSA – State Sen. Kevin Matthews and Rep. Regina Goodwin are disappointed in Tulsa County officials whose questionable transparency and lack of communication with local residents about recent public spending is once again raising concern within the community. 

OKLAHOMA CITY – Three local organizations working to combat illiteracy in the state were recently awarded over $24,000 in Literacy Grants from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL).  Sen. Ron Sharp said the grants will help in significantly improving the lives of local citizens.

State Sen. Larry Boggs issued the following statement in reaction to the recent death of State Labor Commissioner Mark Costello.  Costello died following an altercation with his son, Christian Costello.

“The tragic loss of State Labor Commissioner Mark Costello is felt by many this week as he was an outstanding man who embraced his duties as a state leader with a strong sense of compassion and responsibility.  He was a respected member of the Oklahoma community and a friend who will be dearly missed.  My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Research Institute for Economic Development (RIED), a non-partisan organization and producer of the annual RIED Report, a grading system of Oklahoma legislators’ votes on key economic development issues, recently announced that Senator Ron Sharp (R-Shawnee) recorded a score of 94 on the 2015 RIED Report.  During the first three legislative sessions served of his first term, Senator Sharp’s average score is 96. 
read more.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Ron Sharp had a 100 percent voting record for the 2015 session.  During his three years in the state Senate, he has only missed two days of session.  He was absent on May 20, 2013 to survey tornado damage throughout Pottawatomie County with Gov. Mary Fallin. He was then absent on February 6, 2014, because of bad weather.  During his three years in office, out of 2,584 possible votes, Sharp has only missed 24 (20 in 2013 and 4 in 2014).  read more.

OKLAHOMA CITY –   State Senator Kevin Matthews is inviting local business owners and community partners to attend an event in support for the Entrepreneur Shadow Program in Tulsa.  The event will be held tomorrow, Thursday, July 2 at 10AM at the Rudisill Regional Library, located at 1520 N. Hartford in Tulsa.