Latest news with #Kirt
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee soccer preview versus top-ranked North Carolina to kick off 2025 season
Tennessee will kick off its 2025 soccer season Thursday. The Lady Vols will host No. 1 North Carolina at Regal Soccer Stadium. Rankings reflect the preseason United Soccer Coaches Poll. Kickoff between the Lady Vols and Tar Heels is slated for 7 p.m. EDT and the season opener will be televised by SEC Network. North Carolina leads the soccer series versus Tennessee, 12-0-1, all time dating to Sept. 5, 1997. Tennessee tied the Tar Heels, 0-0 in double overtime, on Sept. 10, 2004. Joe Kirt enters his fourth season as Tennessee's head coach in 2025. He previewed facing the top-ranked Tar Heels. 'I think it's where we want to finish the season, right,' Kirt said. 'We want to play those games in December, so let's figure out where we are early on. It's going to be no different than playing Clemson over the weekend. It is going to help us prepare for not only what we're going to see in the league, but what we're going to see in the NCAA Tournament. 'I think it's right away we're going to know here's where we are, here's where we need to improve, here's what we need to keep doing. It's why we're here to compete for national championships, so let's see where we are straight away.' The Lady Vols held exhibition matches versus Chattanooga and Clemson ahead of Thursday's contest against North Carolina. More: Mia Binkowski commits to Tennessee soccer Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
21 bills still waiting on decision by Gov. Stitt
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Governor Kevin Stitt still has to make a decision on 21 bills that made it to his desk by the end of session. During the session, the Governor has five days to sign or veto a bill. Now that the session is over, he will have until June 14 to take action on the remaining bills. 'He can sign them. He can do a direct veto or he can do a pocket veto, which is basically where he just holds on to it and it doesn't become law,' said Sen. Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City). Kirt said it was not unusual for a few remaining bills to be waiting on the Governor's signature after the session concludes. But the way legislators wrapped up the final days, with chaotic overrides on 47 vetoes, has some lawmakers worried. Lawmakers override majority of Gov. Stitt's vetoes Lawmakers also voted to oust Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Allie Friesen, who was handpicked by Stitt. 'I wouldn't be surprised if he'd veto some things just because he's upset with the Senate or upset with the House or specific members,' said Kirt. Stitt announced an interim preplacement to lead the department on Tuesday. He tasked retired Rear Admiral Gregory Slavonic with the job. Among the 21 bills, five deal with public education. Senate Bill 235 is one of them. It included a match of $5 million to the state's 'Grow Your Own' program. The program would help school districts grow their teacher pipeline by paying for their certification. 'You are taking dedicated paraprofessionals, teacher's aids, and other support staff personnel who have been in that district – some of them maybe for two decades – and they're on a path to teacher certification,' said Sen. Adam Pugh (R-Edmond). House Bill 1727 is another one. It would modify and fund 'Oklahoma's Promise' to allow college scholarships for children of state teachers.'If their kid goes to Oklahoma, a higher ed institution for them to get Oklahoma Promise even if they don't qualify financially,' said Kirt. 'It's, I think, meaningful to educators to know they'd have that option.'Here is a list of the remaining 21 bills waiting on Governor Stitt's desk: SB 130 – Directing Corporation Commission to conduct certain feasibility study subject to certain process. SB 140 – Creating the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act. SB 207 – Establishing the Oklahoma Rare Disease Advisory Council. SB 235 – Providing grant application process, funding for the Grow Your Own Educator Program. SB 1039 – Modifying grounds for certain denials for medical marijuana license. HB 1087 – Extending the amount of classroom instruction time; minimum salary schedule for teachers. HB 1166 – Annexation of territory without consent of majority of owners. HB1282 – Oklahoma Rising Scholars Award; remaining; eligibility; awards; waivers. HB1287 – Authorizing the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma to create a math tutoring pilot program for certain students. HB 1378 – Sales tax exemptions for agriculture, including timber. HB 1486 – Designating various memorial roads and bridges. HB 1727 – Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; eligibility for children of certain teachers. HB 2104 – Classification of felony offenses HB 2262 – Alzheimer's Dementia and Other Forms of Dementia Special Care Disclosure Act. HB 2513 – Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; addressing the consent degree. HB 2610 – Nonrecurring adoption expenses credit. HB 2645 – Practice of medicine, tax credit. HB 2646 – Revenue and taxation; adjustments; wagering, tax year. HB 2752 – Eminent domain of electricity, facilities on private property. HB 2753 – Rural Jobs Act. HB 2758 – Preserving and Advancing County Transportation Fund. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Plans to overhaul Oklahoma mental health hospital move forward
Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, attends a special session of the state Senate on June 12, 2024, at the Oklahoma State Capitol. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – A joint legislative panel on Monday moved one step closer to changing course on a new inpatient mental health hospital. The state had planned to build a state-of-the art inpatient mental health facility, the Donahue Behavioral Health Campus near the Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma City, but the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding voted to reallocate some of those funds to other projects. The new $130 million facility was to be funded in part with federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars and from $50 million the sale of the Norman facility. Lawmakers said Monday that they still plan to move the state's inpatient mental health hospital from Norman to Oklahoma City, but want to renovate an existing location. Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, told the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding that the new $130 million construction project, set to open in December 2025, has become unworkable. 'The gap in funding is still not clear, but the last estimate was more than $100 million,' Haste said. 'The cost continues to escalate. The land has not been sold and the opening date is now sometime in 2028.' One site in Oklahoma City has been identified for renovation and can meet the needs to replace the beds at Norman's Griffin Memorial Hospital, Haste said. That facility has been in use for over a century. 'This pivot from new construction to renovation will save the state both time and money as the replacement of these beds remain critical,' Haste said. The excess dollars would be invested in the Tulsa Behavioral Health Project, which has a gap in funding, Haste said. Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, moved to reduce the amount awarded to replace Griffin from $87 million to $66.5 million. The motion passed. 'These funds will be used to pay existing expenses and to purchase and renovate a facility to provide additional behavioral health capacity,' Kirt said. The new campus will have 197 beds, which is more than Griffin Memorial Hospital, Kirt said. 'There's still a discussion about an annex building and whether that will end up being part of the final project,' Kirt said. The panel also voted to move $7.9 million from the Griffin replacement project to the Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health, a 56-bed state owned and operated psychiatric hospital. 'This project will provide much needed mental health services and additional beds for capacity,' Haste said. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Chuck Hall, R-Perry, said the changes will be put into bills and sent through the legislative process, which will give lawmakers and the public time to weigh in. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Plans to overhaul Oklahoma mental health hospital move forward
Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, attends a special session of the state Senate on June 12, 2024, at the Oklahoma State Capitol. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – A joint legislative panel on Monday moved one step closer to changing course on a new inpatient mental health hospital. The state had planned to build a state-of-the art inpatient mental health facility, the Donahue Behavioral Health Campus near the Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma City, but the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding voted to reallocate some of those funds to other projects. The new $130 million facility was to be funded in part with federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars and from $50 million the sale of the Norman facility. Lawmakers said Monday that they still plan to move the state's inpatient mental health hospital from Norman to Oklahoma City, but want to renovate an existing location. Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, told the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding that the new $130 million construction project, set to open in December 2025, has become unworkable. 'The gap in funding is still not clear, but the last estimate was more than $100 million,' Haste said. 'The cost continues to escalate. The land has not been sold and the opening date is now sometime in 2028.' One site in Oklahoma City has been identified for renovation and can meet the needs to replace the beds at Norman's Griffin Memorial Hospital, Haste said. That facility has been in use for over a century. 'This pivot from new construction to renovation will save the state both time and money as the replacement of these beds remain critical,' Haste said. The excess dollars would be invested in the Tulsa Behavioral Health Project, which has a gap in funding, Haste said. Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, moved to reduce the amount awarded to replace Griffin from $87 million to $66.5 million. The motion passed. 'These funds will be used to pay existing expenses and to purchase and renovate a facility to provide additional behavioral health capacity,' Kirt said. The new campus will have 197 beds, which is more than Griffin Memorial Hospital, Kirt said. 'There's still a discussion about an annex building and whether that will end up being part of the final project,' Kirt said. The panel also voted to move $7.9 million from the Griffin replacement project to the Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health, a 56-bed state owned and operated psychiatric hospital. 'This project will provide much needed mental health services and additional beds for capacity,' Haste said. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Chuck Hall, R-Perry, said the changes will be put into bills and sent through the legislative process, which will give lawmakers and the public time to weigh in. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Stitt vetoes bill that would extend Oklahoma eviction timeline
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — On Monday, Governor Kevin Stitt vetoed an Oklahoma Senate bill that would've extended the timeline for Oklahomans facing eviction. Senate Bill 128, a bipartisan bill authored by Senator Democratic Leader Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City) and Representative Daniel Pae (R-Lawton), would have extended the period between the eviction trial notice and court date from 5-10 days to 10-15 days. Kirt said the purpose of the bill was to give Oklahomans facing eviction more time to seek legal representation or catch up on their unpaid rent and keep their housing. SB 128 passed both the House and the Senate in April, but Stitt decided to veto the bill. 'This bill seeks to expand minimum wait times in eviction proceedings, making the already burdensome and difficult process of obtaining an eviction that much more burdensome,' reads Stitt's veto message. 'The existing procedures already provide adequate due process and notice. This bill would also do the opposite as intended. Instead of assisting renters in arrears, it would incentivize landlords to specifically not rent housing units to low-income households, for risk of greater eviction costs. We cannot overcome economic realities with good intentions.' Oklahoma lawmakers work across the aisle to address high eviction rates, Gov. vetoes bill News 4 reached out to Oklahoma Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City) for her reaction following the veto. 'I am disappointed by the Governor's veto,' Kirt said. 'This bipartisan bill would have improved our eviction process and increased housing stability across the state. This was the only bill still active addressing housing, which is one of the biggest challenges Oklahoma families face.' Kirt also said she has started conversations with leadership about a potential veto override, but a veto override would be very challenging, considering how close the original vote was to send the bill to the governor's desk. SB 128 passed the Senate with a vote of 26 to 19 and the House with a vote of 51-35. Two-thirds of the House and the Senate would need to approve a veto override to pass the bill into law. The Oklahoma Policy Institute released a statement on Tuesday, also expressing disappointment in the veto. Gov. Stitt's veto of Senate Bill 128 is more than a missed opportunity — it's a step backward for housing stability in Oklahoma. This bipartisan bill would have added just five days to the eviction trial timeline and increased the notice period from three to seven days. Five days could mean the difference between a family staying housed or landing in a shelter. The governor's veto demonstrates that he cares more for corporate landlords' interests than the needs of everyday Oklahomans who struggle to keep their families safely housed. Right now, large corporate landlords and bad actors can exploit Oklahoma's eviction laws to extract extra revenue from their tenants. Under the current system, landlords are able to bounce tenants on the street in under two weeks. This is almost no time to pay back rent, no time to ask off work and find child care, and no time to find a lawyer or prepare for court. And, as housing costs rise faster than wages, more families are falling behind. SB 128 wouldn't have stopped evictions—it just would have slowed the clock. That's not radical. That's meeting the needs of everyday Oklahomans. Sabine Brown, Housing Senior Policy Analyst for the Oklahoma Policy Institute Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Oklahoma City.
