The 2019 legislative session is officially adjourned. When the session began there was a strong feeling of optimism about what could be accomplished—by the time we concluded our work, it was obvious that those hopes were right on target. This was an excellent session for the citizens of our great state. We were able to […]
Storm season is here! In Oklahoma, we know about the threats of lightning, hail, flooding, and tornadoes. Our pets need shelter from the storms, too. Here are some tips for pet safety during this dangerous season. 5 pet safety tips Make sure your pets have appropriate shelter. If your pets can’t come inside with you […]
The Legislature finished business last Thursday, but we officially adjourned “sine die” on Friday, May 31 at 5 p.m. We’ve had a very successful session and passed bills covering everything from education to government transparency to nursing home funding. Last week, the Governor officially signed the historic $8.1 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2020. After […]
At Guthrie Pet Hospital, we receive calls daily about pets ingesting something in their environment. There are many household toxins that are toxic to pets. It’s important to be aware of the most common toxins so that you can keep your pet from harm’s way. Read more: Four common pet household toxins
With the end of session drawing closer, I joined my colleagues in the Legislature and the Governor to announce our budget agreement on Wednesday. This year’s historic budget is fiscally responsible and well-thought out. We’re accomplishing a lot this year without introducing any new taxes! Education remains a top priority for us. The budget includes […]
Without a doubt, no one agency, no one elected official ever gets everything they want in the budget. But I believe when you take into account the priorities we outlined at the beginning of the session and our desire to strengthen our state’s core services, the 2020 fiscal year budget is the top achievement of […]
No, not me personally but I hear this a LOT more than you would think! To the people who say that at best their cat is indifferent to them or at worst plain hates them I say this; don’t take it personally but you are probably doing something wrong. Read more: Anna: I’m pretty sure […]
This week, I saw a video on Facebook of a rooster being “hypnotized” by a line drawn in the dirt close to his beak. It caused him to become completely immobile–but when the line was erased, the rooster immediately attacked the closest person, then ran away to the other side of the yard. Read more: […]
With our passage of legislation giving the governor the power to directly hire and fire directors at five of the state’s top agencies, the confirmation process is even more important. It means we must thoroughly vet nominees as they appear before our committees to determine if that nomination should proceed to the floor. It’s a […]
Another deadline has come and gone. Last Thursday was the final day to vote on remaining bills in the opposite chamber. In total, the House heard nearly 300 Senate bills total, many of which were this week. Any Senate bills the House didn’t vote on, or that failed to pass the House, are now dead […]
It has been almost a month since we had our bond election and I’m still excited for the message our community sent about the direction of Guthrie Public Schools. My office has a storage closet near my desk. Shortly after I became Superintendent, I went through the contents of the closet and found a collection […]
Anyone who spends any time outside is eventually bound to come across what looks like orphaned wildlife. Bunnies, birds, and kittens are the most frequently found and are responsible for the majority of calls for help from veterinarians. People are unsure if they should touch the animal, fearing the scent of a human will cause […]
Once again, we’re heading into another major deadline—April 25 is the last day for the full Senate to vote on bills that were sent over by the House. That deadline comes just two weeks after the final day for Senate committees to consider legislation from across the rotunda. We had a short session week last […]
Last Thursday was the deadline to pass Senate bills through their House committees, and the House passed 348 Senate bills by the deadline. We’ve spent hours on the floor this week to begin considering these remaining Senate bills, and a number of them have already been signed into law. Among those was Senate Bill 509, […]
By: Blake WimseySpecial to Guthrie News Page Blake Wimsey operates Foundation Insurance in downtown Guthrie With storm season officially upon us here in Oklahoma, here are some helpful tips to help get you (and your home) through the Spring. Have your roof checked Our roofs are the first line of defense against Oklahoma weather. Find a reputable roofer […]
Spring is the beginning of warmer weather and longer days. Spring leads to blooming flowers, budding trees, and baby animals. In fact, 70,000 puppies and kittens are born every day. At this alarming rate, things can get out of hand rather quickly. For instance, one intact female cat and all her offspring will produce 11,606,077 […]
With the second week of April underway, we are ten weeks into the 2019 legislative session, and quickly approaching the Thursday, April 11 deadline for Senate committees to consider legislation that was originally introduced in the House of Representatives. I serve as vice-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and from time to time I am […]
The House took a short spring break in mid-March to allow members to spend time with their families and return to their districts after a major deadline. We’re back up to speed now and have been spending the last two weeks in committee meetings to hear bills passed by the Senate. We received over 400 […]
Due to a 2011 EPA regulation, household rat poisons such as d-CON are changing their active ingredient from a second- generation (long-acting) anticoagulant to a first-generation (short-acting) anticoagulant. These changes are rolling out this year. Because rat poison is one of the most common toxicities that we see in veterinary medicine, it’s important to understand […]
On Tuesday, April 2nd, voters who reside inside the boundary of the Guthrie school district will vote on a bond issue that could provide the next segment of needs identified to continue providing a quality education for our community. The priorities laid out were proposed by the most recent long range planning committee as well […]
