Child Abuse VPO Bill
The state Senate has passed a bill that aims to protect child abuse victims from their abusers.
Republican Sen. Casey Murdock’s Senate Bill 291 was passed unanimously on Monday. The bill would add victims of child abuse to the list of people who are eligible for victim protective orders, which currently includes victims of domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, and rape.
Under the provisions of the bill, an adult could file on the behalf of a minor who is the victim of child abuse, which is in line with current rules for obtaining VPOs for minors.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration. If approved, the bill would take effect on Nov. 1.
Clinton Hospital Closure Update
Since the start of the year, Clinton residents have been without a hospital following Alliance Health's decision not to renew its lease for the city-owned facility. Now, the hospital is now taking first steps toward reopening.
The hospital recently went through a preliminary state inspection with additional ones to follow to determine what modifications will be needed to bring the facility up to code. And there is some encouraging news. A spokesperson for Carrus Health says the state’s inspection went well, and that the hospital's condition was better than anticipated. This could potentially reduce the time required to get the hospital up to code and open again.
According to the Clinton Daily News, Carrus plans to reopen the hospital in phases. The first phase will include the emergency room, surgical unit and all outpatient services. Although a specific opening date for the first phase is still to be determined, an urgent care facility providing minor medical care is expected to open soon.
Chickasaw Nation Medical Center Expansion
The Chickasaw Nation is set to expand its medical center. Construction began last week to add new services to the tribal nation's campus in Ada.
The construction project includes an expansion of Chickasaw Nation's surgery department, a new administration building, an employee gym and a parking garage.
The 12,000 square-foot surgery addition will include new operating rooms to reduce wait times for patients seeking care.
Chickasaw Nation Medical Center opened in 2010 and served more than 1.2 million patients last year.
State Tourism Department searching for new food vendors
Oklahoma State Parks are looking for new restaurants. Oklahoma severed ties with Swadley’s Bar-B-Q last year, following investigations by OSBI and state lawmakers, and lawsuits filed by each party.
State investigators scrutinized massive management payments, bigtime construction costs and oversized reimbursement fees paid to Swadley’s for operating state park restaurants.
Now, other restaurants are seeking to take over dining rooms from Beaver’s Bend to Roman Nose in a half dozen state parks across the state.
This is part of a Request for Proposal process that will be led by the state. Interested vendors have until March 3rd to submit their proposals.
Stanley Rother Shrine
A massive new shrine honoring Stanley Rother – the first American Catholic martyr is now open.
The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City opened last week with a Mass.
The shrine has a 2,000-seat sanctuary, a visitor center, gift shop and a small chapel serving as Rother's final resting place.
The archdiocese’s goal is to serve a growing hispanic community on OKC’s Southside with the centrally located church.
“We gather here to honor the God who created all of this and the God who is glorified in his saints. We honor blessed Stanley because we are giving glory to God," said Archbishop Paul Coakley memorializing Rother during his homily.
Rother was born in Okarche. The 46-year-old priest was killed in Guatemala in 1981, becoming the first person born in the United States to be declared a martyr by the Catholic Church.
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