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Investment to Be Used to Boost University’s Capacity to Support Regional Economic Development Strategies During the Pandemic
Read moreROMEATRIUS MOSS, 40, a nurse and former Air Force Major stationed at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to serve 24 months in prison for health care fraud in which she accepted kickbacks for referring TRICARE beneficiaries to pharmacies furnishing compounded drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing. Moss was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $622,459.00. According to a felony information filed on September 30, 2019, Moss solicited and received $73,823.06 in return for referring prescriptions for members of the U.S. military to compounding pharmacies that were reimbursed by TRICARE, a health insurance program for military members. Because of resulting cost increases and infringement on patient choice, it is a crime to solicit or receive payments for referrals to health care providers for an item or service that could be paid, in whole or in part, by a federal health care program.
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Application Deadline Extended to Sept. 11, and Producers Who Have Approved Applications to Receive Final Payments U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline to apply for the program to September 11th, and producers with approved applications will receive their final payment. After reviewing over 1,700 responses, even more farmers and ranchers will have the opportunity for assistance to help keep operations afloat during these tough times.
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STORY BY: Megan Silveira
Read moreMore than 76 million students are enrolled in United States schools, per the latest Census Bureau information. In 2018, 2.12 million students were in Canadian postsecondary institutions alone. In a matter of days, millions of students who once attended classes in-person were forced to transition to virtual learning instruction. The process showed just how flexible learning systems can be, and how virtual instruction may become more than an emergency protocol in the future. Schools utilized systems like Google Classroom, Canvas and virtual meeting apps to connect and learn. While in-class lessons provide the socialization and one-onone interaction that can be vital for students’ academic success, there are many different reasons why virtual instruction can be a key component of learning models as well. When virtual learning is used in conjunction with traditional teaching, students may have a more well-rounded experience. Here are some potential benefits that may unfold as more data is collected.
Read moreWhen the Phase 2 Oklahoma Business Relief Program (OBRP) funds were depleted in less than an hour on July 14, Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development Sean Kouplen was already developing a plan to help the thousands of businesses whose applications were not funded. Due to the popularity of and need for the program, approximately 3,000 OBRP business applications remained unfunded after the submission form was closed. With no additional funding left for the program but understanding that there was still great need, Kouplen and the Oklahoma Department of Commerce (Commerce) worked diligently to find a way to help.
Read moreHouse Majority Leader Mike Sanders, R-Kingfisher, today attended the ceremonial bill signing for House Bills 2804 and 2877. HB 2877 strengthens the role of victims’ impact panels in helping to stop driving under the influence (DUI) offenses in Oklahoma and will help reduce the number of repeat offenders. The measure was a request by victims’ impact panel programs currently operating in Oklahoma. It follows up on successful DUI legislation Sanders passed in 2016 that strengthened prosecution of repeat drunk drivers by creating the Impaired Driving Elimination Act, moving all DUI cases to a court of record, ensuring district attorneys statewide would have access to records of DUI offenses to reduce repeat offenses. HB 2804 requires dyslexia screening for kinder garten through third-grade students not reading on grade level beginning in the 2022-23 school year. The bill builds upon House Bill 1228, passed last year, which provides professional development for teachers across Oklahoma to help them better recognize signs of dyslexia in their students. Sanders said both pieces of legislation are items of significant importance to him during his legislative career.
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