Oklahoma coverage

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Statewide

The state school superintendent is among Oklahoma educators who oppose Gov. Kevin Stitt’s waiver of a mandatory quarantine for public school students, teachers and staff who have been exposed to COVID-19, according to AP.

Under the waiver Gov. Stitt announced Tuesday, if the exposed person shows no symptoms and attends a school where masks are required, no quarantined is necessary. Wednesday Carrie Burkhart, spokesperson for state Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, had been unaware of Stitt’s plan for a waiver, AP reported.

Hofmeister said in a statement she believes everyone wants students and teachers back in classrooms. But, she said, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends those who come into close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 be quarantined, according to AP.

Charlie Hannema, spokesman for Stitt, said Wednesday the governor stands by the plan. Stitt cited an American Academy of Pediatrics study in North Carolina which found 32 inschool transmission of the virus among 773 COVID-19 cases at schools which followed safety procedures including mask wearing, social distancing and frequent hand-washing, according to AP.

Statewide

Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) announced Tuesday the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) dollars authorized by federal COVID-19 relief legislation last month will be used to fund a number of continued, as well as new, interventions to support Oklahoma children and families and the child care industry, according to a release from OKDHS.

The Child Care Services Sustainability Plan will allow families and their child care providers to plan how to allocate resources through August 2021. Interventions are subject to receipt of the federal fiscal allocation to OKDHS, and more information will be released upon guidance from the Administration for Children & Families. This plan also may not be exhaustive. As the pandemic evolves in the next few months, additional supports may be provided, according to the release.

“We realize the COVID-19 crisis has presented many unexpected challenges in the last year and are proud of Oklahoma’s commitment to support families and children by investing in our child care programs,” OKDHS Director of Child Care Services Brittany Lee said. “We are committed to meeting an immediate need, but also evaluating the available funding to ensure we are prepared to respond to how this year will evolve.”

These interventions are informed by the OKDHS Child Care Services True North goal. More information about the agency’s True North strategies is available at www. ourokdhs.org, according to the release.

Oklahoma City

Charles Ortega, of Altus, has been appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt to serve on the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission through 2025 representing the third Congressional district, according to a release from the OAC.

“Rep. Charles Ortega is a dedicated champion of our Oklahoma military aviation who worked to support this critical industry while a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives,” Gov. Stitt said. “I look forward to seeing him continue to serve our state as the newest member of the Aeronautics Commission and help ensure Oklahoma remains a leader, both nationally and globally, in the aviation and aerospace industry.”

Ortega, a private pilot, served as an Oklahoma State Representative for District 52 the past 12 years. For 6 years, he served as chairman of the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on General Government and was responsible for reviewing budgets for several executive and legislative branch agencies including the governor’s office, lieutenant governor’s office, House of Representatives and senate, according to the release. “We are extremely

“We are extremely pleased to see the appointment of Commissioner Ortega,” State Director of Aeronautics Grayson Ardies said. “Charles has a passion for our military installation due to his close relationship with Altus Air Force Base His expertise in the legislative process will ensure Oklahoma military bases are well represented in the matters brought before our commission.”

Oklahoma City

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is investigating after several subjects in a vehicle failed to stop for a trooper, leading him on a pursuit which ultimately resulted in the death of one of ht subjects, according to a release from OHP.

The pursuit began about 3:50 a.m. Wednesday when the trooper ran the license plate of the vehicle in the area of Interstate 240 and South Pennsylvania Avenue. The check showed the license plate to be reported stolen. The trooper activated his emergency light but the subject did not pull over, instead leading the trooper on a pursuit. The pursuit proceeded onto city street and at one point the vehicle crashed through the chain link fence of the football field at Jefferson Middle School and drive around the track before exiting back out, according to OHP.

The pursuit then went south along South Western Avenue before the vehicle turned west onto Southwest 199th Street. The trooper initiated a tactical vehicle intervention approximately 1. 5 miles east of Internet 44 along Southwest 119th. The vehicle rolled and two of the three occupants were ejected. One of the occupants was pronounced deceased while the other two were transported to a local hospital, according to OHP.

The entire pursuit lasted less than 10 minutes. Two of the occupants, including the deceased, were juveniles. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol Troop Z (Investigations) as well as the Traffic Homicide Unit will be conducting an investigation into the incident. The trooper involved has been placed on routine administrative leave, according to OHP.