Voters in Pottawatomie County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the August 23 Runoff Primary, Shawnee General Runoff and Konawa Special School Election Proposition should apply now, County Election Board Secretary Patricia Carter said.
Oklahomans who want to change party affiliation can do so, but need to be aware that the change will not take place until Sept. 1, Pottawatomie County Election Board Secretary Patricia Carter said. Voters may change their party affiliation online using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp or by completing a new Voter Registration Application.
The moratorium on processing applications for new grower, processor and dispensary licenses in Oklahoma begins Aug. 26, not Aug. 1 as previously stated in communications from Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA).
In the fall of 2021, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Department of Education announced the launch of a new leadership program open to any Tribal member over the age of 18 residing anywhere in the United States. Through virtual sessions held once a week, the 29 members of the inaugural class learned about the government, culture and economic development of the Tribe and participated in talking circles with other CPN members to foster community and belonging.
Tulsa Public Schools removes graphic books from library OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Officials at Tulsa Public Schools said Thursday they removed two sexually graphic books from school libraries following criticism from several elected leaders amid a renewed conservative interest in public education as a political issue. “When we were made aware of two books with inappropriate images, we immediately asked the secondary schools that had them to remove them from their libraries,” the district said in a statement.
1st ship carrying Ukrainian grain leaves the port of Odesa ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The first ship carrying Ukrainian grain set off from the port of Odesa on Monday under a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that is expected to release large stores of Ukrainian crops to foreign markets and ease a growing hunger crisis. The Sierra Leoneflagged cargo ship Razoni left Odesa for Lebanon, Turkey’s defense ministry said.
DEAR ABBY: I’m a woman who, a little while ago, got a girlfriend, “Darlene.” After meeting her, I thought that was what love felt like. But my old (bisexual) friend “Michelle” has me feeling differently. I have known her since kindergarten, but recently I feel my heart racing and butterflies in my stomach just thinking about her. When Michelle does my nails and holds my hand to steady them, my knees feel weak. I do not feel this way with Darlene, although I still care deeply about her. I don’t want to hurt her feelings by breaking up with her, but I think that if I were single, Michelle might consider going out with me. Darlene’s feelings are extremely sensitive, and I want to keep her as a friend. But just being around Michelle has me feeling happier than ever. Abby, this is driving me insane. Do I risk hurting someone’s feelings, or should I stay with Darlene and miss out on being with someone I am in love with? Am I a bad girlfriend just by thinking of this? -- LOVESTRUCK IN ALASKA
STILLWATER, Okla. – One year into a fiveyear project to improve dam infrastructure, scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Oklahoma Water Resources Center (OWRC) are adding some high-quality technology to their tool bag.
The seemingly impenetrable heat wave and dry spell that had punished Oklahoma since early June continued through nearly all of July, giving Oklahoma the type of scorching hot weather unseen in the state since the brutal summers of 2011 and 2012. A strong cold front snuck through the heat dome’s defenses near the end of the month to bring some relief, but the damage was done. The combination of hot weather, a lack of significant moisture, and relentless sunshine combined to plunge Oklahoma into flash drought that had covered the entire state by the end of July. Farm ponds evaporated, soils dried out and baked, and vegetation of all types either went dormant or died, turning the state’s landscapes a sickly shade of yellow. Drought covered 31 percent of the state at the end of June according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, but coverage skyrocketed to 100 percent by the end of July. Wildfires increasingly became a problem as the arid weather persisted. One large fire northeast of Mooreland consumed more than 21,000 acres. Significant severe weather was largely absent during the month, although an EF-1 tornado managed to touch down near Broken Arrow that damaged homes and trees. That report brought the number of tornadoes during 2022 up to 41 according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service. The 1950-2021 average through July is 49.5, and the annual average is 57.2.
After the last few weeks of hot days, lack of rain and calm winds, I have had several calls from people who are concerned about scums or slicks on ponds that are a result of algae die off. There are a number of species of algae that naturally occur in ponds, some are harmless, but others, can be toxic to mammals if consumed in high enough concentrations. Problems with blue-green algae occur only under specific environmental conditions and are dose related, that is they are only seen when the animals consume water containing large quantities of organisms. Hot, dry, calm days stimulate reproduction of the algae which, under normal conditions, are not in high enough concentrations to cause a problem. If, however, large numbers of algae start to die, gas is produced inside the cells of the algae, and the colonies tend to float to the pond surface. After this, even a gentle wind will concentrate the organisms downwind to form a “scum” on or just below the pond surface. Animals drinking from this concentrated scum can be sickened and, in some cases, die from ingesting to much of the toxin. Rain or any disturbance of the water tends to break up the scum and make poisoning less likely, but caution should be your watch word if you see “slicks” on the downwind side of your ponds.