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Expect Change, Not Unity: A Commentary
Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
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What can America expect under a President Joe Biden administration? Will he roll back many of the Trump administration’s policies? Will Biden forge policy in line with the U.S. Constitution?
Here are six policy changes Biden will make in his first 100 days:
First, a Biden administration will push state and local governments to ‘lock down’ to slow the spread of COVID-19. The Trump administration recognized the U.S. Constitution didn’t grant authority for government to close businesses and churches, mandate the wearing of masks, and regulate the number of people who can gather.
Trump’s laissez-faire approach to government is a far different one than Biden’s state socialism. That will be very apparent in their differing approaches to the pandemic.
Second, a Biden administration will raise taxes. He has stated emphatically the Trump tax cuts would go away. Those increases will be on everyone, not just the wealthy.
It may be difficult for him to accomplish it if the U.S. Senate remains in GOP hands (which it appears will be the case), but rest assured he is committed to doing it.
Biden plans to eliminate deductible traditional contributions to 401Ks and IRA and instead provide a tax credit for each dollar contributed. That will negatively impact virtually every American.
Third, a Biden administration will fundamentally change Trump’s environmental policy. Expect the US to rejoin the 2015 Paris climate agreement. The regulations on fossil fuels will be ramped up and tax dollars will be spent on renewable energy initiatives. The price of gasoline and heating fuel will go up because of the regulations.
Jobs in the energy sector will be reduced.
Fourth, a Biden administration will push increased regulation of firearms. He has stated he wants to expand the National Firearms Act which imposes a $200 tax on the registration of each weapon. His website says he believes that gun violence is a ‘public health epidemic.’
Biden wants to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. He considers the National Rifle Association (NRA) an enemy and states on his website he will ‘take them on.’
Fifth, a Biden administration will change Trump’s immigration policy. A likely first step will be termination of the ‘Remain in Mexico,’ program. That forces immigrants to present their asylum case in Mexico, not the U.S. He has said he will stop work on Trump’s wall.
Biden has said he would present within the first 100 days a plan to make 11 million illegal immigrants a ‘pathway to citizenship.’
Sixth, a Biden administration will change Trump’s foreign policy. Biden plans to roll back to the Obama administration foreign policy strategy. That policy included a secret airlift of $400 million in various currencies being flown to Iran for the release of four American. U.S. taxpayers paid $1.7 billion total to Iran in an agreement negotiated by former Secretary of State John Kerry to resolve a decades old depute over an arms deal.
Trump’s ‘America First,’ policy will be jettisoned for a globalist blueprint.
A Biden administration will move America to the left -- toward socialism. It will work to redistribute wealth, regulate carbon emissions, register weapons, and open the borders. It will be a far different approach to governing than the past four years. Biden’s policies will be divisive, polarizing, and will further divide America.
Biden’s call for unity is disingenuous, duplicitous, and insincere. Expect the next four years to be America’s most challenging and inharmonious, because of policy, not personality.
A regular columnist for CapitolBeatOK.com, an independent news service based in Oklahoma City, Steve Fair is Chairman of the Republican Party in Oklahoma’s Fourth Congressional District. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. His blog is stevefair.blogspot.com.
Expect Change, Not Unity: A Commentary Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK
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Omni Oklahoma City Hotel is touting a new full-service spa described as a “first of its kind” for the state’s largest (and capital) city. The unveiling is accompanied by a gift card promotion characterized as the “perfect holiday gift.”
A couple of essentials:
Who and Where: The new Mokara Spa (https://ift.tt/2K2MkoE) inside the Omni Oklahoma City Hotel (https://ift.tt/2K2MkoE) aiming at a January 26, 2021 opening.
Say WHAT? Mokara Spa pulls inspiration from the state’s precious commodity – cotton. Omni insists in a press release sent to The City Sentinel, that “Upon entering, guests will feel at peace with a calm and tranquil surrounding. Finishes have been carefully selected to maintain a simplistic and fresh aesthetic. Accents throughout the space are subtle yet detailed, including custom cotton weaved wall art and white marble chevron patterning.”
And: “From the tranquil relaxation lounge and head-to-toe treatments to the revitalizing sauna and pampering nail services, guests will soon have the opportunity to experience a full-service spa in downtown Oklahoma City. Mokara Spa will be the perfect place for small groups, like wedding or bachelorette parties, to unwind together in its private room, which will be available for dining within the spa.”
A thumbnail sketch: “Mokara Spa features seven treatment rooms, with names derived from grown fibrous plants and other natural fibers, such as Angora, Linen and Wool. Spa guests will be surrounded by an aesthetic that is continuous with the hotel's design inspired by the many layers of Oklahoma’s regions. The overall design reflects the attention to detail guests will experience while enjoying their treatments.”
Overnight not required: “Appointments will be available for both hotel guests and the general public interested in booking a service.” (https://ift.tt/2IukPE1)
Traditional gift cards or e-cards are now available for purchase (https://ift.tt/2dIHCLZ) with a $25 bonus per $100 spent (Limited Time Only). E-cards are digital cards that are emailed directly to the gift recipient, while traditional gift cards are mailed to the recipient.
Some details about TREATMENTS: “In an oasis of rejuvenation, Mokara Spa will offer a vast array of unique treatments inspired by natural surroundings to create the perfect experience for an overall sense of vitality and well-being that is so essential to maintaining self-care.
The full menu of services will be available soon, but a few highlights include:
• OKC Gemstone Facial - Revitalize, brighten and heal the skin with the transformative powers of natural facial gemstones. Malachite, pink tourmaline, citrine and natural botanicals infuse the skin to create a one-of-a-kind spa treatment. Emerge not only with beautiful skin, but a feeling of balance, total calm and in a peaceful state of mind.
• Mokara Inner Glow Ritual - Your ritual journey will begin with a refreshing head-to-toe exfoliation. An aromatic melted shea butter is then liberally applied as your expert spa therapist envelops you in a hydrating cocoon. While relaxing, you will experience a nourishing hot oil scalp treatment with a personalized aromatherapy selection. To complete the journey, additional shea butter is expertly massaged into the skin, leaving the entire body hydrated and positively glowing.
• Omni Blueberry Bliss Slimming Treatment – The super hydrating power of soy is combined with the antioxidant-fighting properties of blueberries to create a body slimming treatment. An organic soy sugar scrub with alpha-hydroxy-acids smooths and refines the skin, while also providing ultimate hydration and increased circulation. A blueberry-rich soy slimming body masque infuses the skin with a blend of free radical fighting ingredients and non-GMO soy, rich in isoflavones and healing vitamin B. This instantly firming and hydrating body wrap stimulates circulation to continue to refine and strengthen the appearance of your skin’s structure and overall elasticity. A must have for special occasions!
Some more on WHEN and WHERE: Omni Oklahoma City Hotel and Mokara Spa will open Tuesday, January 26, 2021, at 100 West Oklahoma City Blvd. Hotel reservations can be booked here (https://ift.tt/3n3iMGe). Spa reservations will be available to book in mid-January.
WHY: “A spa day or staycation at Oklahoma City’s newest premier hotel is a great way to start the new year,” Omni Oklahoma City Hotel General Manager Steve Keenan said. “We are starting to see more bookings ahead of our opening next month, so we are thrilled to offer gift cards as an option for those looking for a local present for anyone on their holiday gift list.”
Omni recently launched its new Stay A Part Of campaign (https://ift.tt/3gtXhLX) to encourage guests and associates to Stay A Part Of what matters most during this unprecedented time. The spirit of this campaign laid the foundation for Omni as its associates continue to work diligently to adapt traditional hotel operations for a post COVID-19 world.
Omni Oklahoma City Hotel will open next month, following Omni Hotels & Resorts
‘Safe and Clean Program’ (https://ift.tt/3gu3gk7), which launched in May 2020. In collaboration with Ecolab, the initiative includes extensive cleaning guidelines, processes, procedures and products to ensure guests' and associates' health, safety and comfort.
The program follows the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and also meets or exceeds the "Safe Stay” initiative set forth by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).
Omni Oklahoma City Hotel introducing full-service Mokara Spa Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Oklahoma City – Oklahoma state Senator Rob Standridge, R-Norman, issued the following statement Tuesday (December 8) after Texas announced it was challenging the 2020 presidential election results for Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin in the U.S. Supreme Court.
“I am calling on Oklahoma and every other state to join in support of the lawsuit filed by the state of Texas against those battleground states that did not properly conduct their elections. The U.S. Constitution is crystal clear on who decides how a state conducts their elections and selects their presidential electors.
Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution states, ‘The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof.’
The supreme law of the land, our U.S. Constitution, says nothing about election officials, elected officials outside the legislatures, secretaries of state, governors or even state supreme courts given power over the process of federal elections in the states.
“In addition, formerly passed state constitutional provisions in the states in question were also blatantly ignored in this election year. In multiple instances in these states, election rules were created by those without the power to do so, not only in violation of the U.S. Constitution, but also in violation of their own state constitution.
“Because Oklahoma followed our rules as set forth by our Legislature in conduction of our federal elections, including the election for the presidency, our state, its citizens and, ultimately, its electors have been injured and disenfranchised by those states that decided to conduct their elections outside the authority delegated by the U.S. Constitution and often in disregard of their own constitution.
“We, as a state, should speak up in support of the lawsuit filed by the state of Texas, because, just as their voters have been injured, so have ours and most other states.
“The day we disregard our U.S. Constitution is the day we are no longer a nation. Although this has been a challenging year, ample time was given to states and Congress, who also holds power to set election rules, to set up any provisions they felt necessary under the delegation authority set forth by the Constitution. Throughout our history, we have followed our Constitution in electing our President despite two world wars, a civil war, famine, depression, pandemics and many other major obstacles. We cannot say that circumstances in 2020 are such that our laws be ignored.
“I ask all to join me in standing up in support of the lawsuit filed by Texas, and in support of our Republic and its Constitution. Let’s stand up today for our Constitution, so tomorrow our children and grandchildren are not left with a nation less than the one we have been blessed with.”
Oklahoma State Senator Rob Standridge issues statement after Texas files election lawsuit challenging battleground states’ presidential election results Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]() Note: This is revised and expanded from a story first posted in 2017, and printed in The City Sentinel newspaper. Hall Duncan had many successes over a long career in art, journalism, education and other fields. After retirement from the University of Central Oklahoma, he still drew daily and worked on a children’s book. When we last spoke, he had no intention of slowing down. In 1944-45, as an enlisted man, he served in George Patton’s Third Army in two battles (leading up to the Battle of the Bulge). An Oklahoman educated at Classen and Taft in the Oklahoma City public school system, he was a teenager when he entered the Army. After basic training at Fort Dix, he got to France after the Normandy invasion. As part of Company I, Third Battalion, 101st Infantry, 26th Infantry (Yankee) Division, Private Duncan was soon at the front-lines – replacing soldiers killed or wounded before him. He ultimately fought in two battles. His efforts contributed to the liberation of Luxemburg and Belgium. (After suffering a serious wound, he was transferred into the Quartermaster Corps.) On November 18-19, in 1944, there raged fights near the villages of Guebling and Bourgaltroff (close to the German border) during which Duncan’s unit lost 80 percent of its men (killed our wounded). They served under General George Patton, commander of the Third Army of which the Yankee Division was part. After fierce fighting, Duncan was helping another soldier, seriously wounded, as they searched for medical help. They were crossing a field covered with dead soldiers. The man he was assisting “probably saved my life.” Weakened, that fellow started to fall. As their knees buckled, a German sniper’s shot rang out. Because he was pulled toward the ground, Hall believed, the bullet that struck his right hand but missed his lower region, where it might have been fatal. The pair made it to safety. Duncan saw his comrade days later, recovering. During his hospital stay, one visitor was Gen. Patton, with whom he had a short conversation. After his ultimate recovery, Duncan joined a supply (quartermaster’s) unit. The Third Army fought into Germany. The unit’s fighting ended at Pilsen (May 7, 1945) in what is now the Czech Republic. In our longest interview, Hall said that after seeing soldiers die who stood two feet away from him in days of carnage, “I decided to spend my life helping others who are deprived of things we take for granted.” After the death of his first wife, Margaret, Duncan was married for 13 years to Lois, before her death in 2011. Years ago Duncan began to inquire about his military records, wanting to chronicle his time in Europe. He got the help of now U.S. Sen. James Lankford (then serving in the House of Representatives) whose work yielded a remarkable discovery. In a ceremony, he presented a total of eight medals earned but not previously disclosed: The Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantry Badge 1st Award, and Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II. Over the past decade, Hall took several trips to Europe, to meet with European military veterans and get acquainted with a new generation in the cities, towns and rural areas he traversed as a soldier. In 2017, the trip of a lifetime unfolded from April 28 to May 9. The Yankee Division Veterans Association sponsored an excursion whose “stars” were Hall and Franklin Simon, another Third Army vet. The trip retraced the route Patton’s Army traversed in the pivotal months that led to defeat of Nazi Germany. Without his knowing ahead of time, a new wave of recognition for his combat service was planned. New honors included two medals and four other honors: a medal for his part in the liberation of Luxemburg (presented on behalf of a group of European historians), a Czech Republic Medal from war veterans of that nation, a pocket medal with a picture of George Patton (presented by his grandson George Patton Waters), a 26th Infantry (Yankee) Division commemorative medal (from the current commander of the Yankee Division Veterans Association and, from the Czech Republic (Pilsen Military Command), a commemorative casting recognizing the liberation of Pilsen on May 7, 1945. In a 2017 interview, he recounted feeling “in some ways ambivalent. I felt tremendous sadness as I remembered the other guys. I wondered how many future Mozarts or even presidential candidates we lost in battle.” And this: “I know that I’ve never felt so honored, so appreciated, as I did on this trip.” He cherished one presentation made to him by a captain in the French Special Forces (Yann Rouvrais, who in the private sector heads up security operations for a major business). Duncan had met Rouvrais on previous trips and was humbled to get the new recognition from a friend. “I have a tender spot in my heart for the French.” Hall considered mayors in two different towns “family.” And, “they our call me ‘our dear American Dad.’” Lankford told CapitolBeatOK at the time I reported on Hall’s memorable trip, “America has many heroes that faithfully serve our nation, but we have a special place for our WWII vets who saved freedom for the entire world. When I first met Hall Duncan I was deeply moved by his story, his humility and his lifetime passion to serve people. He represents all that is great about the Greatest Generation.” This reporter related to Duncan a story, from a documentary years ago, featuring an elderly French woman who had kissed an American soldier as his unit marched through her town in that war. Cherishing the kiss, she remembered his name. She wanted to write to him, but learned he had been killed in combat a few miles down the road. With detective-like work, she discovered he was buried at one of the many U.S. military cemeteries dotting the French countryside. Even after marriage, she spent her life tending to his grave. Her daughter, grand-daughter and great-granddaughter then followed her example, and did the same. Hall Duncan was misty-eyed as that summary ended. “My first time through those villages, on our way to the east, I did not get to kiss a pretty girl. But years later, … I was being honored by one of the towns. A woman contacted officials when word got out of an event. … She told them she wanted to kiss an American soldier!” In 1944, as the Americans approached her town and she saw them in the distance, the girl had raced home, to put on her finest dress and prepare. She returned to see them disappearing over the distant horizon, to the east. So, she told the town leaders, “I want to kiss that American boy.” “I got to fill in”, Hall Duncan recalled in our conversation. “She came to where we were. Her husband was with her. The husband gestured with his hand, it was with his support. And so, she kissed me, and I kissed her. It was quite a time. And, it was a nice kiss.” Hall Duncan wasn’t born on the Fourth of July, but he served in the Yankee Division. He was a man who fought in the most important war of the Twentieth Century. He did not eschew belated military honors, but in memory always put his comrades in combat first. He became a firm man of peace, drawing abiding affection and deep appreciation. Hall and I had intended to work on another couple of projects, focused on his efforts to assist people in the developing world, or those left behind in America. But a more-than-full-time teaching job kept me from making that happen. We talked on the phone a few times, traded some emails and dreamed of a better world. Then, I lost touch. His obituary in The Sunday Oklahoman reported that he spent the last year and a half of his life at the Lawton V.A. Center. Born at Oklahoma City’s St. Anthony Hospital in 1924. He was one of us. Hall F. Duncan is survived by four sons, a fifth “son” (his business partner), “and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.” In a long and blessed career, some stories are just stories – and that is usually enough. Tell it, and move on. Other writers (and reporters) will understand what I mean. Other stories linger, becoming metaphors in the mind. They tell of lives well-lived, living poems memorized, vibrant and permanent in the heart. For me, Hall Duncan’s life was one of those. In stories about those who died, and of a particular man who lived helping others, memory becomes evergreen. In Memory, Evergreen: A soldier’s story, life in service, a kiss – Hall F. Duncan (January 27, 1924-November 30, 2020) Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate’s series of statewide redistricting town hall meetings gets underway this week with meetings in Ada and Chickasha. The Senate and Oklahoma House of Representatives are partnering together with each chamber hosting a series of meetings the next several weeks at sites across the state in an effort to solicit input and inform citizens about the redistricting process.
The first Senate-hosted meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Ada in the Seminar Center of the Pontotoc Technology Center.
The second Senate meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday in Chickasha in the Community Building at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Each meeting will follow the pandemic protection protocols of the facility hosting the meeting.
“The Oklahoma Senate is committed to an open and transparent redistricting process and our series of town hall meetings across the state will help us inform citizens about redistricting,” said Senator Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle and chair of the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting. “I encourage Oklahomans to participate in this series of meetings to learn more about redistricting.”
At each redistricting meeting, presenters will provide an overview of the legislative redistricting process and cover redistricting principles. The public also will have the chance to comment on the redistricting of legislative districts and congressional districts. The collaboration between the Senate and the House means the public at each meeting can share input on either House or Senate redistricting. Additionally, the public can submit redistricting comments via email to the Senate at [email protected].
Meetings will be livestreamed when possible. The ability to livestream is dependent upon the reliability of the internet connection and technical capabilities of the host facility. If the internet connection or technical capabilities of the host facility are not sufficient to livestream, meetings will be recorded and posted as archived video on the website of the chamber hosting the meeting. Archived videos of the meetings will be accessible by the public in the same manner other archived videos from each chamber are accessible.
The public can watch Senate and House meeting livestreams on the website of the chamber hosting the meeting, in the same manner other committee meetings and floor sessions are viewed. No password or log-in is necessary to watch meeting livestreams.
Dates, times and locations for other meetings can be found on the Oklahoma Senate-hosted website
(https://ift.tt/2JS7JB0) and for the House (https://okhouse.gov/Publications/Redistricting.aspx).
The Legislature is constitutionally required every 10 years to redraw legislative and congressional district boundaries using the latest U.S. Census data.
Oklahoma State Senate redistricting meetings begin this week Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
[IN a September 2020 decision,] Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff directed Grace Community Church to require congregation members wear masks and practice physical distancing if the house of worship decides to hold ‘outdoor’ services.
His 22-page decision directed the church to refrain from holding ‘indoor’ services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Sunday, Grace Community Church in Sun Valley was packed and Pastor John MacArthur opened the service by listing the many health measures the restriction involved.
He stated if the church complied with all the requirements, it would ‘shut the church down.’ MacArthur and the church have been under attack by Los Angeles County because they are holding indoor services defying the county’s ban on large gatherings.
Three observations:
First, Los Angeles County’s ban on large gatherings is unconstitutional. America is a free open society and the Constitution grants individual citizens rights.
It is not government’s job to protect citizens from themselves. While not attending large gatherings might not be a prudent decision if you are in an at-risk category, the decision is entirely up to the individual. Until the constitution is amended to grant government that authority, any mandate against large gatherings is a power grab.
Interestingly, Los Angeles County allows large gatherings of protesters to assemble. Grace Community vowed to appeal the judge’s ruling and will likely win if the judiciary follows the Constitution.
Second, God’s mandate overrides any government mandates. God commanded the church to assemble for worship in His word.
Will assembling facilitate the spread of COVID-19 in L.A.? Only God knows that but obeying God’s mandate to assemble is fundamental to believers. Believers do many things that seem foolhardy and reckless to dissenters (tithing, praying, assembling), but they do it because they are focused on the eternal, not the temporal. They don’t fear death.
God’s word says the Gospel is foolishness to those who don’t believe, so it’s no surprise authorities think churches are being obstinate by not complying with their edict.
Third, the message of redemption preached from pulpits is desperately needed in these challenging times. Silencing the preaching of the gospel -- even temporaily -- will have more long-term negative impact on America than COVID-19. The Gospel is more important than any protest. It is more important than any directive from government.
It is inconsistent for Los Angeles County to continue to allow large gathering of protesters to assembly, but not allow a church to assemble. It reveals a bias toward the motive and message of those assembling. Both have the fundamental Constitutional right to peaceably assemble.
If this order is allowed to stand, it threatens not just the freedom to worship in America. This situation is much bigger than COVID-19. It is an attack on America’s rule of law. It is an attack on our founding document.
Whether you agree with Grace Community’s decision to hold in door worship services or not, every American, no matter their political position, should fight for their right to do it.
The right to be wrong is a fundamental tenet of America.
This isn’t about just the freedom to worship -- it is an attack on our way of life.
Note: Steve Fair’s commentaries appear regularly on CapitolBeatOK.com, a news website based in Oklahoma City. Fair is also Chairman of the Republican Party in Oklahoma’s Fourth Congressional District. He can be reached by email at [email protected] . His blog is stevefair.blogspot.com .
The Right to Be Wrong: A Commentary on religious freedom (from September) Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Oklahoma City — In a press release sent to The City Sentinel, CapitolBeatOK.com and other news organizations, Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, issued the following statement last week regarding Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter’s opinion declaring that the State Department of Education exceeded its authority by adding new, burdensome regulations to the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship program – regulations that effectively barred multiple faith-based schools from serving those students:
“Attorney General Mike Hunter restored educational opportunity for some of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable children and put an end to the State Department of Education’s anti-Christian discrimination, which barred certain schools from participating in the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship program.
“Under State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister’s leadership, the OSDE [Oklahoma State Department of Education] unilaterally rewrote state law to prevent vulnerable children, including students with special needs and foster children, from attending schools that best suited their individual needs.
“Attorney General Hunter deserves highest praise for protecting these children and standing up to this attempt by Superintendent Hofmeister and her general counsel to discriminate against Oklahomans of faith. In doing so, the Attorney General has ensured that Oklahoma students and schools are treated with the respect they deserve.”
Note from OCPA: “The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs is a free-market think tank that works to advance principles and policies that support free enterprise, limited government, individual initiative, and personal responsibility.”
OCPA Statement: Attorney General Mike Hunter protects vulnerable children, ends anti-Christian discrimination Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK Cristo Rey Oklahoma City launches holiday match seeks partners for Corporate Work Study program12/6/2020 ![]()
Oklahoma City – Through the holiday season, all donations made to Cristo Rey Oklahoma City Catholic High School (Cristo Rey OKC) will be matched up to $500,000, thanks to a generous donor.
“We are so grateful for the corporate partners, supporters and donors we have throughout the metro that support our students and school,” Cristo Rey OKC President Chip Carter said. “Thanks to this match, our students will have access to the tools and resources they need to continue learning and growing both inside the classroom and in their professional journeys.”
The goal of Cristo Rey OKC is to put students on a path to successfully graduate from college so they can have a fulfilling career. To do so, every student participates in the school’s Corporate Work Study Program where students work five days a month at partnered businesses which covers a majority of their educational expense. Scholarships from individual community donors help bridge the gap to make the school accessible.
Cristo Rey OKC is one of 37 schools within the Cristo Rey Network that delivers a powerful and innovative approach to equip students of limited economic resources with the knowledge, character, and skills to transform their lives. [Link for Cristo Rey Oklahoma City Catholic High School (Cristo Rey OKC): https://ift.tt/2Ypxlc3]
“This match is a great opportunity for the community to invest in the future leaders of Oklahoma City,” Carter continued. “We look forward to continuing not only making a difference in these students’ lives, but also making a difference within our business community in the coming years.”
To participate in the match, donate to Cristo Rey OKC by visiting here: https://ift.tt/33OlTKB .
In related news, Cristo Rey is calling on Oklahoma City businesses to become a partner and help train students, who represent the city’s future workforce.
The school’s Corporate Work Study Program is one of the things that makes the high school unique. The program offers an opportunity for students to understand the value of hard work while helping stabilize high-turnover positions for businesses, reduce burnout in full-time staff, and bring community engagement into workplaces.
However, due to COVID-19, the school is experiencing an extreme shortage of business partners.
“The impact COVID-19 has had on the education industry is striking, but Oklahoma students are some of the ones suffering the most,” Chip Carter said in a recent release. “Our business partners are the reason our students can gain access to the professional and educational opportunities that they otherwise may never receive.”
Assuming the role of an employee-leasing agency, the Corporate Work Study Program has streamlined the process for employing students. Through a fee-for-service contract, paid quarterly, annually, or monthly by the sponsoring organization, our students are employed through the Corporate Work Study Program and assigned jobs at our individual partners.
Students work in a four-person, job-sharing team to fill one full-time equivalent position during standard daily business hours, Monday through Friday, for the entire academic year. Academic schedules are structured so that students work without ever missing class.
“One of our initiatives at The Boldt Company is to inspire and educate future leaders about the many careers open in the construction field. We’re excited so many young people can be exposed to futures that use STEM skills,” said Tony Yanda, Senior Director of The Boldt Company, “It’s exciting to see the skills and abilities our Cristo Rey OKC student workers develop as they are exposed to more opportunities.”
Cristo Rey OKC began in 2018 and oversees the educational and career development of students with limited resources. (https://ift.tt/3ovGkUy)
Out of those 232 students, however, 77 of them are without a business partner — keeping them from receiving on-the-job training that not only propels their personal and professional skills, but diminishes the reason they chose to attend Cristo Rey OKC in the first place.
“We are calling on our Oklahoma City community to support our students — our future workforce — in this time of need,” Carter said. “When businesses choose to partner with our school, they receive top-notch talent at a highly-competitive rate, in addition to the satisfaction of contributing to a student’s brighter future.”
For more information or for businesses interested in becoming a Corporate Work Study Partner, visit CristoReyOKC.org/work-study.
About Cristo Rey Oklahoma City: Cristo Rey OKC Catholic High School is a Catholic learning community that educates young people of limited economic means to become men and women of faith, knowledge, purpose and service. A member of the national Cristo Rey Network of 37 schools, Cristo Rey OKC combines rigorous academics with real-world work experience, seeking to prepare their students for success in college and life. As part of Cristo Rey’s unique Corporate Work Study Program, students work one day a week in professional settings, earning a majority of their own tuition.
Cristo Rey Oklahoma City launches holiday match, seeks partners for Corporate Work Study program Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
SEATTLE – (BUSINESS WIRE) – Dec. 3, 2020 – Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) this week touted plans to open a new fulfillment center in Oklahoma City.
According to a release sent to The City Sentinel, CapitolBeatOK.com and other news organizations, “The new fulfillment center, which is anticipated to launch in 2021, will create over 500 new full-time jobs with industry-leading pay and comprehensive benefits starting on day one.”
“We’re thrilled to announce a new fulfillment center in Oklahoma City as we strive to better serve our customers throughout the state,” said Alicia Boler Davis, Amazon’s vice president of global customer fulfillment.
“Our growth in Oklahoma wouldn’t be possible without the amazing local workforce and strong support we’ve received from local and state leaders,” she said in the Business Wire release.
The press release narrative continued, “Every day at Amazon, incredible employees come together to deliver magical experiences for customers. In the new one million square-foot fulfillment center Amazon associates will work to pick, pack, and ship bulky or larger-sized customer items such as patio furniture, outdoor equipment, or rugs.”
Steve Lackmeyer, a reporter who covers Oklahoma’s capital city for the state’s largest newspaper, first reported on Amazon’s plans back in July (https://oklahoman.com/article/5667245/amazon-set-to-expand-with-1-million-square-foot-facility-estimated-to-employ-1000).
In this week’s release, Governor Kevin Stitt hailed the content of the formal announcement, asserting, “Amazon’s new facility is another testament to the nation and the world that Oklahoma is open for business. As governor, it is my priority to foster a climate where businesses can grow, thrive and expand in order to provide jobs for hardworking Oklahomans to support their families. I salute Amazon on its expansion and look forward to its continued growth in our state.”
This week’s Business Wire release continued, “On top of Amazon’s industry-leading minimum $15 per hour wage, the company offers full-time employees comprehensive benefits including full medical, vision, and dental insurance as well as a 401(k) with 50 percent match starting on day one. Amazon prioritizes the safety and health of its employees and has invested millions of dollars to provide a safe workplace. The company also offers up to 20 weeks of maternal and parental paid leave and innovative benefits such as Leave Share and Ramp Back, which give new parents flexibility to support their growing families.”
Mayor David Holt also welcomed the additional facility, saying: “We appreciate Amazon’s continued investment in Oklahoma City and look forward to the positive impact their presence will have on future job creation and the overall economy of our great city.”
The recent release described ways that “Amazon leverages its scale for good to support local communities. Amazon has also pledged to invest over $700 million to provide upskilling training for 100,000 U.S. employees for in-demand jobs. The programs will help Amazon team members from all backgrounds access training to move into highly skilled roles across the company’s corporate offices, tech hubs, fulfillment centers, retail stores, and transportation network, or pursue career paths outside of Amazon.”
"Amazon's continued growth in Oklahoma City is a recognition of the strength of our market," said Roy Williams, President and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. "These 500 jobs are particularly important as people who have lost jobs due to the pandemic are looking for long-term stable employment."
Amazon in Oklahoma:
• Since 2010, Amazon has created more than 4,000 jobs in Oklahoma and invested more than $650 million across the state, including infrastructure and compensation to its employees.
• Amazon’s investments have contributed more than $530 million in GDP to the Oklahoma economy and have helped create over 4,100 indirect jobs on top of Amazon’s direct hires – from jobs in construction and logistics to professional services.
• More than 14,000 independent authors and small and medium businesses in Oklahoma are selling to customers in Amazon’s store, creating thousands of additional jobs across the state.
The company with worldwide reach is not new to investment and involvement the Sooner State and it’s largest city. Last spring, as virtual education dramatically expanded its reach after the scourge of the Coronovarus (COVID-19) accelerated around the world, The City Sentinel newspaper surveyed news of Amazon’s steps to support STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education, including in Oklahoma. (https://ift.tt/3qwtoQ4).
About Amazon: According to Amazon literature, “Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.
For more information, visit https://ift.tt/2BKAzyv and follow @AmazonNews.”
Editor’s note: To read the original of this week’s release from Business Wire (a Berkshire Hathaway Company), go to: https://ift.tt/33JxSck
www.CapitolBeatOK.com
Amazon touts second fulfillment center in Oklahoma City through Business Wire release Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK ![]()
Darla Shelden, The City Sentinel
OKLAHOMA CITY – To honor the significant impact women have made to aviation and the aerospace industry, the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) in partnership with Tulsa International Airport, will commemorate the state’s fifth annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation & Aerospace Day.
The event will unfold through a virtual Zoom forum on Thursday, December 9 at 12 noon.
The free 2020 event, themed, “Mission: Opportunity”, will take place online via Zoom in lieu of their annual in-person luncheon due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the forum, the commission will feature honored NASA representatives, Kathy Leuders, Associate Administrator, Human Exploration and Operations and Janet Karika,
Principal Advisor on Space Transportation to the Administrator. (Mission: Opportunity link: https://oac.ok.gov/newsroom/2020-oklahoma-women-aviation-and-aerospace-day)
“I’m excited that we are able to continue the tradition of this event with speakers who demonstrate transformative leadership of the world’s most prestigious space exploration program,” said Alexis Higgins, CEO of Tulsa International Airport.
The virtual forum, reserved for Aviation and Aerospace enthusiasts and personnel, will provide an opportunity to learn more about what led Leuders and Karika to pursue a career path with NASA, and “how to advocate on behalf of Aviation and Aerospace in order to encourage children of all ages to dream big and find their passion in our exciting industry,” Higgins said. (For more on Kathy Leuders: https://ift.tt/2zrNTYh; for more on Janet Karika: https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/karika-bio.html)
“I look forward to joining our audience as we celebrate the success of women who came before us, recognize the influence of women in our industry today, and commit to investing in activities that inspire future leaders in aviation and space,” Higgins said.
State Director of Aeronautics, Grayson Ardies stated, “The history of Oklahoma Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day began in 2017 when the Aeronautics Commission presented a bill to the Oklahoma legislature, and it was enacted into law, to officially recognize the contribution of Oklahoma women in the State’s aviation and aerospace industry December 9th annually.”
Also this month, December 8 marks the birth of the Chickasaw aviator, Pearl Carter Scott (https://ift.tt/37upSNo), of Marlow, Oklahoma. At the age of 13, Scott learned to fly under the instruction of legendary Oklahoma aviator Wiley Post (https://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/post-wiley-hardeman/). She became the youngest pilot in the United States with her first solo flight on September 12, 1929, the same year that Amelia Earhart established the female pilot group, the Ninety-Nines (https://ift.tt/2pXSUBB).
“For the safety of Oklahoma’s aviation and aerospace community, this year the event is virtual,” said Ardies. “The challenge to adjust our program has allowed us the latitude to reach more people, and we are encouraging public school educators, colleges, and companies to utilize the forum to share the event with their students and employees.”
According to the OAC press release, the State’s first true municipal airport was established in 1920 on land leased to Oklahoma City. One year earlier, Tulsa's first private airport was founded by former military barnstormer and New Zealand native Duncan McIntyre (http://www.tulsagal.net/2010/03/duncan-mcintyre-father-of-tulsa.html).
“The vehicle to launch our growth was the airplane, and building airports was essential to support growing cities,” Ardies said.
Today, Oklahoma has become an aerospace and aviation leader, with 108 public-use airports creating a $44B annual economic impact generated by 1,100 aviation and aerospace companies, the press release notes.
“Though our industry and the world have been challenged with a novel virus this year, our missions continue to move forward,” Ardies said. “While aircraft design remains center stage for the majority of our transportation needs, today’s leaders are focusing on spacecraft and unmanned aerial systems to meet future transportation needs of both people and cargo.
“Women are leading this charge developing strategies and formulating plans that will propel us through our current challenges and position our nation - and the world - for a future of opportunities beyond earth’s boundaries,” Ardies continued.
“Today women are represented in all sectors of our industry -- from commercial airports to military installations to the growing space sector. Women are turning wrenches, engineering avionics, piloting rockets, and some are leading us into this century’s most consequential transportation development – commercial space flight.”
To register for the free “Mission: Opportunity” online event, click here: https://ift.tt/2JEHQVc). For more information, call Sandra Shelton, OAC Public and Government Affairs Coordinator, at 405-464-8830.
To learn more, visit oac.ok.gov .
Oklahoma Women in Aviation & Aerospace Day annual event to feature NASA speakers Kathy Leuders and Janet Karika on Dec. 9 Click on the headline to read the full article at CapitolBeatOK |
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