May 5, 2021 Issue, Page 3 of 15

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3 NEWS May 5, 2021 Misdemeanors Felonies MISDEMEANORS State of Okla vs Tommy B Trimble Acts resulting in gross (OKLAHOMA CITY) – The Okla- spouses of 100 percent disabled information that may affect them or injury homa Department of Veterans Affairs veterans from utilizing the sales tax State of Okla vs Edward Anderson Possession of urine to their families. defeat drug test (ODVA) is applauding passage of exemption. SB 415 went into effect upon Gov. State of Okla vs Robert D Woods Domestic assault & battery Senate Bill 415, authored by Sen. To continue using the sales tax Kevin Stitt’s signature on April 28, State of Okla vs William C Shewmaker DUS. Possession of CS Frank Simpson (R-Springer) and exemption, 100 percent disabled vet- 2021. & paraphernalia Rep. Tommy Hardin (R-Madill), the erans will be required to register with State of Okla vs Colby R Speed DUI. DUS. Possession of CS & About ODVA paraphernalia. No insurance House sponsor of the measure. The the Oklahoma Veterans Registry. Vet- The Oklahoma Department of Veter- State of Okla vs Tanya L Ramsey-Bendall DUI bill offers protection for the sales tax erans currently using the sales tax ex- State of Okla vs Chance A Gabbey Domestic assault & battery exemption provided to Oklahoma’s emption will have until July 1, 2023, ans Affairs provides resources and services State of Okla vs Johnny P Cox II Protective order violation 100 percent disabled veterans. to complete a one-time registration to military veterans residing in the state State of Okla vs Tana K Oney Possession of CS & parapherna- “Senate Bill 415 will benefit our verifying eligibility. All veterans who of Oklahoma including assistance with lia military veterans in a multitude of receive a rating of 100 percent in the state and federal veterans’ benefits, State of Okla vs Trey W Kimzey Petit larceny State of Okla vs Marissa L Lindsey DUI ways,” said Joel Kintsel, ODVA execu- future will also be required to com- disability claims, burial and survivor FELONIES tive director. “Most importantly, it plete a one-time registration. benefits, healthcare, employment, educa- State of Okla vs Jimmy L Adams Public intoxication. Reck- will eliminate fraud in the sales tax This is a one-time registration only tion, suicide prevention, entrepreneurship less conduct system ensuring our 100 percent and will not require annual registra- with firearm. Possession of firearm by felon and veteran-owned businesses, women State of Okla vs Will A Garcia Burglary disabled veterans receive the benefits tion. The Oklahoma Veterans Reg- they are entitled to without adversely istry can be accessed at www.odva. veteran services and veterans in agricul- State of Okla vs Malcolm D Wilson Burglary. Intimidation ture. ODVA also operates seven long-term of witness impacting local government revenue.” ok.gov under the About ODVA tab. State of Okla vs James E Vasbrugh Fugitive Kintsel said the bill also closes The Veterans Registry will also care facilities throughout Oklahoma for State of Okla vs Schyler J Nidey Rape. Kidnapping. Bring- a loophole in current law that pre- help Oklahoma veterans stay better veterans. To learn more, visit www.odva. ing contraband into jail vented otherwise eligible surviving informed of benefits, services and ok.gov. State of Okla vs Daniel F Delacruz Assault & battery with weapon. Domestic assault & battery State of Okla vs Gabriel A Abud Conspiracy. Possession of forged instrument SWOSU Business Students State of Okla vs Hailie M Kershner Burglary. Conspiracy. Possession of forged instrument State of Okla vs Jerry W Kennedy Possession of child Win at PBL State pornography Marriages & Divorces Leadership Conference MARRIAGE LICENSES Robin Cutter Sr, Burns Flat – Heather Johnson, Burns Flat Phi Beta Lambda (PBL), a Sophomore marketing stu- Entrepreneurship Concepts; 4th roeconomics; 1st Accounting Billy Sands, Sayre – Stacy Spoon, Sayre Southwestern Oklahoma State dent Randi Lee Troglin of Management Concepts; 4th Or- for Professionals; 2nd Personal Drayton Dunlap, Elk City – Tia Clemons, Carter University student organiza- Mountain View was elected as a ganizational Behavior and Lead- Nathan Bush, Sayre – Mariah Gaines, Sayre Finance Eric Freeman, Sayre – Rachel Burch, Sayre tion in Weatherford dedicated representative to the Oklahoma ership. DIVORCES to business leadership, recently Executive Leadership Team in a Chaysee Caudill, Piedmont– Brock Smith, Cordell – 1st Vickie Thompson vs Chad Thompson competed in the college division position to be named later. 1st Statistical Analysis; 1st Fi- Human Resource Management; Matthew Trotter vs Charlie Sharp of the Oklahoma Future Busi- “I am very proud of everyone nancial Concepts; 2nd Micro- 2nd Marketing Concepts; 2nd ness Leaders of America virtual who competed,” said current economics Macroeconomics State Leadership Conference. SWOSU was represented by nine students from the Everett PBL President Grace Seelke of Okeene. “They all did an amaz- ing job.” Autumn Rodriguez, Mus- tang– 1st Job Interview; 4th Marketing Concepts Kara Terzo, Shattuck – 5th Personal Finance; 5th Computer Berlin Dinner Dobson School of Business & SWOSU students who placed Joshelene Salais, Weather- Concepts Technology and competed in 18 at state were: ford – 2nd Financial Concepts; Saturday, May 8, Berlin Community will have a month- Randi Lee Troglin, Mountain ly social/dinner. events. SWOSU students were Jorge Bustos, Sayre – 1st Pub- 2nd Cost Accounting; 4th Ac- View – 1st, Marketing Concepts; This month will be a taco bar. Dinner starts at 6:00 pm. crowned state champions in 12 lic Speaking; 2nd Entrepreneur- counting Principles events and had placers in mul- ship Concepts Grace Seelke, Okeene – 1st 1st Sales Presentation; 1st Im- Bring a tiple events. Victoria Creed, Laverne – 1st Accounting Principles; 1st Mac- promptu Speaking dessert and come out and enjoy the evening. PSO Files For Approval of Grid Security, Transformation and Efficiency Plan (STEP) TULSA, Okla. – Public Service Company of electric grid, resulting in fewer and shorter power mately 24 percent below the national average. taining and improving system performance in Oklahoma (PSO) today filed an application with outages; 2) result in cleaner air and greater use “At PSO, we’re committed to investing in a extreme weather. the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) of efficient and environmentally friendly power stronger, smarter and cleaner energy grid, and About PSO to update its prices. The adjustment is needed sources like low-cost natural gas and Oklahoma providing customers the highest quality, safe and PSO, a unit of American Electric Power (Nasdaq: to reflect the costs of investments to secure and wind energy and, 3) provide new programs and reliable service they rely on to power their homes AEP), is an electric utility company serving more than transform the electric grid, meet federal environ- offer customers new service options and integrate and businesses,” said Peggy Simmons, PSO presi- 562,000 customer accounts in eastern and southwest- mental requirements, and efficiently and reliably technology. dent and chief operating officer. “At the same ern Oklahoma. Based in Tulsa, PSO owns approxi- serve customers. PSO’s application includes a request to increase time, we’re working to be efficient and to provide mately 3,800 megawatts of generating capacity fueled PSO’s filing requests recovery of approximately the company’s annual revenue requirement by excellent power reliability at prices that remain primarily by natural gas. It also maintains and operates $700 million in new investments made to serve $172.4 million, or about 10.67 percent overall, to significantly below national averages.” 22,000 miles of distribution lines and 3,700 miles of customers. These investments, part of the compa- reflect new investments and increased costs. This Costs to comply with federal environmental transmission lines. PSO is one of the largest distribu- ny’s grid Security, Transformation and Efficiency will increase electricity prices for the typical resi- requirements make up approximately one third tors of wind energy in the state. News releases and oth- Plan (STEP) are already in service and providing dential customer by just over 1 cent per kWh. If of the requested increase. The remainder of the er information is at www.PSOklahoma.com. Connect benefits to customers but are not included in cur- approved, the new rates will remain competitive costs are associated with transforming and secur- with us on Facebook, Twitter NextDoor and Instagram rent prices. STEP is designed to 1) strengthen the with state and regional averages and approxi- ing the grid, integrating technology, and main- @PSOklahoma. Biden quietly preparing for food stamp increase without Congress Mike Dorning, Bloomberg Kennedy School of Government years, as conservatives fought the elderly and people with dis- to the president. But at a June Stacy Dean, a senior USDA offi- News professor who was chairman to shrink the program. House abilities. 2015 Oval Office meeting with cial leading the review on behalf of President Barack Obama’s Republicans tried to impose Advocates argue that the his top economic and domestic of Agriculture Secretary Tom The Biden administration is Council of Economic Advisers. cuts in 2013 and 2018, the last $22-a-day food budget USDA policy advisers, Obama ulti- Vilsack. quietly laying the groundwork “It’s one of the bigger things two times the program was re- currently sets for a family of mately decided not to tamper “A core goal of the secretary is for a long-term increase in food government can do for poverty authorized as part of the five- four is woefully inadequate and with the market basket, mind- to assure nutrition security, not aid for tens of millions of Ameri- without Congress.” year Farm Bill. relies on outdated, unrealistic ful that Republicans then con- just food security,” Dean said. cans, without going through the The reappraisal culminates Biden often speaks of one assumptions. The market basket trolled both houses of Congress, “We want to make sure the ben- ordeal of a fight with congres- a years-long campaign by anti- of the most jarring images of assumes a family eats more than according to Furman. efits we are providing really and sional Republicans. hunger advocates to reassess pandemic-year economic col- 5 pounds of beans a week, for “We made a pragmatic deci- truly can support a nutritious The instrument is an obscure the market basket. The value lapse — cars lined up for miles example. And outside studies sion that it not only could be and healthy diet.” U.S. Department of Agriculture hasn’t been increased other outside food banks to wait for a have found that the food plan overridden by a Republican Dean won’t commit to a time- shopping list used to determine than adjustments for inflation box of groceries — and invoked requires spending about two Congress, but they could put line for finishing the review, but food stamp benefits, known as for six decades. it again in his first address to hours a day preparing meals, something worse in its place. said it would “ideally” be done the market basket. The move is emblematic of a Congress as he explained the largely from scratch, at a time So we decided not to poke the by summer. If so, she said, the A review of the so-called broad commitment to anti-pov- importance of anti-hunger ini- the average American family bear,” Furman said. updated market basket could be Thrifty Food Plan, ordered by erty programs across the Biden tiatives in his vision for the spends just a half-hour on daily With Democrats now holding used to set benefits beginning Biden two days after he took of- administration. Such initiatives country. “I didn’t ever think I’d food preparation. narrow majorities in the House Oct. 1, when they’re annually fice, could trigger an automatic were part of the Covid-relief see that in America,” he told mil- SNAP benefits are calculated and Senate, “the Republicans adjusted for inflation. increase in benefits as soon as package and included in Biden’s lions watching at home. on a sliding scale based on in- could put up a good fight, but at The Biden administration Oct. 1, a day after expiration of more recent proposals for infra- The pandemic stirred public come and the number and age the end of the day I don’t think isn’t officially prejudging the a temporary 15% boost in food structure and social program concern over hunger as seem- of people in a household. Recipi- they could do anything to stop stamp payments that Biden in- spending. In April, the Agri- ingly secure middle- and work- ents are expected to spend 30% it,” said Mike Conaway, a former outcome of the review, but of- cluded in his $1.9 trillion CO- culture Department extended ing-class families suddenly be- of their net income on food, Republican House Agriculture ficials have made clear they VID-19 relief package. a universal free school lunch came vulnerable. By December, with food stamps making up the Committee chairman who re- believe current benefit levels James Ziliak, director of the program tied to pandemic re- one in seven U.S. households deficit from the USDA food bud- tired from Congress last year. aren’t sufficient. Center for Poverty Research lief through the entire 2021-22 reported not having had enough get. Benefits can only be used to The U.S. has periodically re- “It’s fair to say that the SNAP at the University of Kentucky, school year. to eat sometimes or often in the purchase groceries. viewed the market basket, first benefit is in many cases not ad- said the re-evaluation “could It’s a sharp reversal from the prior week, and in January 41.8 More than a quarter of the established as the Economy equate enough to provide the result in an upward adjustment Trump administration, which million Americans were on food households enrolled in SNAP Food Plan in 1961 and updated help and assistance that is need- of 20% or more in the benefits.” tried to limit eligibility for food stamps — 4.7 million, or 12.8%, exhaust their monthly benefits in 1975 as the Thrifty Food Plan, ed,” Vilsack told an anti-hunger That would amount to roughly aid, though the proposed re- more than a year earlier. in the first week after issuance, to adjust for changes in nutri- conference in March, describing a $136-a-month increase in the strictions were overturned by The racial reckoning follow- and more than half do so by tional guidelines and food con- the review. “I suspect that we’re maximum benefit for a family of courts. Food stamps, formally ing the police killing of George the second week, according to a sumption patterns. The most going to find that the founda- four, which was $680 before the known as the Supplemental Nu- Floyd further energized concern 2011 USDA study. recent review came in 2006. Yet tion of that program doesn’t temporary pandemic-related in- tritional Assistance Program, among Democrats, since food The Obama administration the reviews were always con- meet the activities of normal crease. once enjoyed broad bipartisan insecurity disproportionately considered changing the USDA strained to keep costs constant. American families today, and “This is really meaningful,” support. They’ve evolved into hits Black, Hispanic and Native food budget so seriously that This time, the review won’t be that may result in some adjust- said Jason Furman, a Harvard a partisan flashpoint in recent American children, along with the decision went all the way up required to be cost-neutral, said ment in terms of the benefit."