Around the State

Tulsa World, March 28, 2007
"Millions in miracles"
A world-class research and treatment center for diabetes is one step closer thanks to the generosity of an Enid couple who donated $7 million to help the University of Oklahoma build the facility.
Construction on the center could begin as early as 2008.
More than 200,000 Oklahomans have the disease, including OU President David Boren, who has Type II diabetes. Another 600,000 have pre-diabetic conditions, putting the disease at almost epidemic proportions. Oklahoma's high obesity rate has made children particularly vulnerable for a type of the disease.
[...]

Daily Oklahoman, March 28, 2007
"Lawmakers seek lottery reform"
Recent lottery shortfalls have led a number of lawmakers and party officials to try to reform the system.
Rep. Joe Dorman said Tuesday he will seek to amend a bill to require the state to set aside money collected from the lottery for one year, with the money to be disbursed the following year. This would allow lawmakers to know exactly how much money is there, instead of appropriations based on projected revenues.
[...]

Daily Oklahoman, March 28, 2007
"Mini-oil boom lifts state economy"
It's a good time to be in the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma.
Income growth from the Oil Patch propelled the state to the third-best growth rate in personal income in 2006, according to preliminary figures from the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis released Tuesday.
[...]

Tulsa World, March 27, 2007
"Ethics panel concerned over bills"
The State Ethics Commission is afraid it will go broke if the Legislature passes bills imposing more duties without giving the agency additional money.
Commissioners met in special ses sion Monday at the state Capitol to discuss their plight.
"Is the Legislature trying to starve us out?" Commissioner John Raley of Ponca City asked.
[...]

Oklahoma House of Representatives, March 23, 2007
"House Judiciary and Public Safety chair concerned by Meacham's opposition to outside prison audit"
State Treasurer Scott Meacham has failed to budget appropriately for costs at the Department of Corrections over the past several years, a state lawmaker said Friday. Now, bizarrely, Meacham is opposing an outside audit to clean up the mess he helped create in Oklahoma's prisons.
Meacham has consistently low-balled budget estimates for the Department of Corrections by millions of dollars each year. In each case, the Legislature appropriated millions more for state prisons than recommended by the executive branch, and then had to make supplemental appropriations on top of that year after year.
[...]