News

Polish, Baltic presidents head to Ukraine in show of support KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The presidents of four countries on Russia’s doorstep headed to Kyiv on Wednesday in a show of support for Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to continue his bloody seven-week offensive until its “full completion.” The presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — all NATO countries that worry they may face Russian attack in the future if Ukraine falls — were due to meet the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In one of the most crucial battles of the war, Russia said more than 1,000 Ukrainian troops surrendered in the besieged port of Mariupol.

The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) announces a $2 million allocation to the state Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) to fund statewide evidence-based substance abuse interventions. State law requires part of Oklahoma’s medical marijuana excise tax revenue to fund anti-drug and rehabilitation programs.

State’s 988 Call Center implementation on schedule, vendor selected Oklahoma is gearing up for the arrival of the 988 Mental Health Lifeline this summer and has selected a vendor to operate the statewide call center. 988 is the number approved by the Federal Communications Commission to replace the 11-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number.

During the spring, warmer temperatures and rain mean an increase in calls to the Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information (OCPDI) regarding snakebites. Specialists at the center work closely with physicians around the state to provide the best treatment advice for nearly 300 snakebite patients each year.

The City of Shawnee will host a Spring Clean-Up Day on April 16 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Through a 0.495-cent Pottawatomie County sales tax increase for schools, backed by voters in November of 2015 and set to continue until June 30, 2026, schools have been collecting funds for nearly six years and tallying up more than $23 million for schools so far.