Oklahoma is going backwards

[JTOSU]

View attachment 10622

Mike is a very smart person so I assume he knows what the bill says. He does have a valid point. All media should be able to get this new storm chaser license. Not just radio and TV stations authorized by FCC.

Although I don’t support adding a new regulation for storm chasers, the bill seems to be good for storm chasers. It gives them the right to add colored flashing lights to their vehicles, the right to speed over the speed limit, the right to travel on roads closed by the DOT and law enforcement, and drive through a red light.

BTW, interesting that he still lists himself as “Chief Meteorologist” since he sells insurance now.

 

[Polds4OSU]

Mike is a very smart person so I assume he knows what the bill says. Interesting that he still lists himself as “Chief Meterologist” since he is not in the business and sells insurance now.

Although I don’t support adding a new regulation for storm chasers, the bill seems to be good for storm chasers. It gives them the right to add colored flashing lights to their vehicles, the right to speed over the speed limit, the right to travel on roads closed by the DOT and law enforcement, and drive through a red light.

It also restricts research scientist, professional Online and and radio weather reporters, national weather service personnel and Academic Reseachers as well .

 

[Fl_Poke]

It also restricts research scientist, professional Online and and radio weather reporters, national weather service personnel and Academic Reseachers as well .

Why?
That makes zero sense.

 

[JTOSU]

Why?
That makes zero sense.

Just requires them to get licensed if they want the ability to have flashing lights, drive faster than the speed limit, and utilize roads shut down by DOT.
But it adds costs to people and businesses. And for some reason qualifies media as ones with FCC license. The FCC item is why Mike Collier is upset.

 

[steross]

Seems yet another example of government fixing a problem that isn't a problem by harming some people and rewarding others, who I am sure will end up being contributors to the politicians creating more government.

So glad we are in a red state where the politicians are working hard to get government out of the way. (pure sarcasm)

 

[Polds4OSU]

Just requires them to get licensed if they want the ability to have flashing lights, drive faster than the speed limit, and utilize roads shut down by DOT.
But it adds costs to people and businesses. And for some reason qualifies media as ones with FCC license. The FCC item is why Mike Collier is upset.

Its just a little more than getting a license...like requiring each weather tracking vehicle to have a MIN $1 MILLION insurance policy held on it.

The floor substitute to HB 2426 creates the professional severe weather tracker license and provides guidelines for professional severe weather trackers. A professional severe weather tracker is defined in the measure as a licensed individual or company hired by an established media outlet or affiliated with a research program at certain universities.

Additionally, individuals who are a member of certain field research teams are authorized to be issued a severe weather tracker license. Licenses are issued by Service Oklahoma with a fee not to exceed $500 for an initial three-year license and a renewal license fee of $250.

Violators are subject to a fine up to $500 and revocation of their license. Professional severe weather trackers are required to:
• Keep their license on file with either their employing media outlet, affiliated university, or affiliated field research team;

• Display their license number and either the Federal Communications Commission license number of the employing media outlet or the identifying number of the affiliated university on both sides of their primary storm tracking vehicle;

• Submit to a national criminal history record check;

• Provide Service Oklahoma with a recommendation letter from either the employing media outlet or the designee at the affiliated university. If the professional severe weather tracker is a member of a field research team, they must provide to Service Oklahoma proof of a team member's doctoral degree, funding statement for the field research team, and proof of membership;

• Provide Service Oklahoma with valid insurance coverage for the storm tracking vehicle. A minimum insurance coverage of $1 million of combined single liability is required;

• Take an emergency driving course before receiving the license and upon every renewal; and

• If employed by a media outlet, have been employed or contracted with a media outlet for at least one year and have not been terminated for cause by a qualified media outlet in the last four years.

During a significant weather event, professional severe weather trackers are authorized to exceed maximum speed limits, proceed past red lights or stop signs after slowing down to check for cross traffic, disregard regulations governing direction of movement and turning in specified directions, travel on closed roads and highways, and are authorized to activate flashing green and yellow emergency lights on their vehicles.Additionally, the measure establishes that a professional severe weather tracker license is not to be used for the purpose of finding filming locations. It also establishes that nothing in the act is to prohibit the rights of any individual from engaging in recreational or commercial storm chasing. Lastly, the measure creates the Severe Weather Tracker Licensure Fund in which all monies collected from license fees are to be deposited for the administrative costs associated with licensing professional severe weather trackers.

 

[Bowers3]

Yeah, I don't get it. Was this a problem? I guess now if you have a license you can forget about traffic laws?

And what about enforcement? Are more officers going to be out during severe storms chasing chasers?

If I live in rural Oklahoma and drive down my dirt road to get closer to and take pictures of a tornado will I be fined?

 

[Polds4OSU]

Oklahoma Forestry Service Director Mark Goeller has been fired due to the agency’s handling of this month’s wildfires.

Governor Kevin Stitt made the announcement during a press conference on Wednesday, expressing concerns about the department’s response to the fires.

Read more about Goeller's resignation and the state’s response: https://www.newson6.com/story/67e4c...m=social&utm_source=facebook_KOTV_-_News_On_6

 

[Polds4OSU]

“Honestly, the Governor’s action is baffling."

Attorney General Gentner Drummond weighed in on the ousting of Oklahoma Forestry Services Director Mark Goeller on Friday.

Goeller was removed from his position by Gov. Kevin Stitt. after Stitt criticized Goeller and the Oklahoma Department of Forestry for their handling of the deadly wildfires that swept through the state in March.

 

[Polds4OSU]

Kotv 6 Cal Day reporting

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We're hearing from the Governor, Attorney General and local firefighters following the dismissal of state forestry director Mike Goeller.

Gov. Stitt confirmed Goeller was relieved of his duties. When asked about it in his weekly press conference, the governor said, "he's the head of the forestry department and we had a horrible, horrible wildfire in the state of Oklahoma. Didn't think they did a really good job."

I asked the Governor's office for a further explanation on Goeller's dismissal. I received the following statement:

"Oklahoma just faced the worst wildfire in our state’s history. Over 515 families lost their homes. When lives are on the line, every resource must be deployed without hesitation.
It became clear that didn’t happen. At the forestry director’s direction, firefighting resources were delayed, unused, or even called back during critical moments. That’s unacceptable.
For this reason, he has been relieved of duty.
We are committed to rebuilding stronger and that starts with rebuilding trust in the agencies that are meant to protect us."

I've asked the Governor for specific examples on what resources were delayed, unused or called back. I have not received an answer.

- RESPONSE FROM OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL:

Goeller's dismissal is facing pushback, including from attorney general Gentner Drummond.

“It should be inconceivable to think that the courage, skill and herculean work of firefighters across the state would be rewarded with the sudden and inexplicable ouster of Director Goeller,” Drummond said. “Honestly, the Governor’s action is baffling. While the wildfires that swept through our state this month exacted a heavy toll, the death and devastation would have been far, far worse without the strong coordinated effort of firefighters and Oklahoma Forestry Services.

“Director Goeller is a seasoned professional who is highly regarded in his field. He – and all those who battled the fires – have earned the gratitude and respect of Oklahomans. It is outrageous that the Governor’s response to their bravery would be to push out the director mere weeks after that deadly firestorm.”

- RESPONSE FROM FIREFIGHTERS:

I spoke with Olive volunteer fire chief Jason Dobson, who is frustrated over the decision and governor's comments.

"It was a slap in the face to all of us," he said. "It made us feel like if the Forestry didn't do a good enough job, the fire departments didn't do a good enough job either."

- GOELLER DURING THE WILDFIRES:

I interviewed Goeller during the Mannford wildfires. He explained how his department was responding.

"We also have an aerial supervision module that's coming here to this fire to start looking at and assessing what the potential threat is for today and beyond," said Goeller on March 15th.

 

[steross]

In Oklahoma, Counting Migrant Students May Have Gone Too Far

A divide between Oklahoma’s governor and schools chief over undocumented students may mark the outer limits of acceptable immigration enforcement, or the next frontier.

www.nytimes.com

In Oklahoma, Counting Migrant Students May Have Gone Too Far​

A divide between Oklahoma’s governor and schools chief over undocumented students may mark the outer limits of acceptable immigration enforcement, or the next frontier.

 

[Stillwater Townie]

Kotv 6 Cal Day reporting

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We're hearing from the Governor, Attorney General and local firefighters following the dismissal of state forestry director Mike Goeller.

Gov. Stitt confirmed Goeller was relieved of his duties. When asked about it in his weekly press conference, the governor said, "he's the head of the forestry department and we had a horrible, horrible wildfire in the state of Oklahoma. Didn't think they did a really good job."

I asked the Governor's office for a further explanation on Goeller's dismissal. I received the following statement:

"Oklahoma just faced the worst wildfire in our state’s history. Over 515 families lost their homes. When lives are on the line, every resource must be deployed without hesitation.
It became clear that didn’t happen. At the forestry director’s direction, firefighting resources were delayed, unused, or even called back during critical moments. That’s unacceptable.
For this reason, he has been relieved of duty.
We are committed to rebuilding stronger and that starts with rebuilding trust in the agencies that are meant to protect us."

I've asked the Governor for specific examples on what resources were delayed, unused or called back. I have not received an answer.

- RESPONSE FROM OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL:

Goeller's dismissal is facing pushback, including from attorney general Gentner Drummond.

“It should be inconceivable to think that the courage, skill and herculean work of firefighters across the state would be rewarded with the sudden and inexplicable ouster of Director Goeller,” Drummond said. “Honestly, the Governor’s action is baffling. While the wildfires that swept through our state this month exacted a heavy toll, the death and devastation would have been far, far worse without the strong coordinated effort of firefighters and Oklahoma Forestry Services.

“Director Goeller is a seasoned professional who is highly regarded in his field. He – and all those who battled the fires – have earned the gratitude and respect of Oklahomans. It is outrageous that the Governor’s response to their bravery would be to push out the director mere weeks after that deadly firestorm.”

- RESPONSE FROM FIREFIGHTERS:

I spoke with Olive volunteer fire chief Jason Dobson, who is frustrated over the decision and governor's comments.

"It was a slap in the face to all of us," he said. "It made us feel like if the Forestry didn't do a good enough job, the fire departments didn't do a good enough job either."

- GOELLER DURING THE WILDFIRES:

I interviewed Goeller during the Mannford wildfires. He explained how his department was responding.

"We also have an aerial supervision module that's coming here to this fire to start looking at and assessing what the potential threat is for today and beyond," said Goeller on March 15th.

Obviously, Oklahoma wasn't prepared for how bad the March 14 wildfires would be despite weather warnings that very dry winds would blow at unusually high speeds. An investigation needs to be conducted as to what went wrong. I wonder if the state forestry director ever complained that the state legislature wasn't putting enough money into fire protection. If so, what happened wasn't his fault.

 

[Polds4OSU]

There is an ongoing debate across the U.S. on the role of religion in public life, and an Oklahoma official in charge of public education is at the center of it right now.

NBC News (@nbcnews) on Threads

There is an ongoing debate across the U.S. on the role of religion in public life, and an Oklahoma official in charge of public education is at the center of it right now.

www.threads.net

 

[Stillwater Townie]

The role of religion in public schools is largely driven by the desire to proselytize it before a young and captive audience. But will Baptists get along with Catholics in doing that, let alone Jews and followers of Islam? Christian Right legislators think the public schools should be held accountable for the religious training or indoctrination of students having most in mind parents who don't. But what about parents who do? Serious conflicts have come out of that in the past as in this story:

https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1983/11/court-axes-prayer-at-little-axe

From the above 1983 article: "Trying to take prayer and the Bible out of the public school is not a popular endeavor, especially in the heart of the Bible Belt. The decision to go to court to stop the religious school programs made Lucille McCord and Joann Bell about as welcome in Little Axe as a return of the dust bowl. Both attended local churches and believed in giving their children religious training. The school, however, was not the place for that to happen, they felt. "I believe that we have a freedom of religion and a freedom from religion," Mrs. McCord testifies at the trial. "My main complaint is that the church has no place in school, and that the school has no place in the church."

Some teachers played a role in the above story by promoting the religious gathering done before school while helping to lead it. Interesting it seems teachers never complain they don't have the right while at school to proselytize students.

 

[mugatu]

The role of religion in public schools is largely driven by the desire to proselytize it before a young and captive audience. But will Baptists get along with Catholics in doing that, let alone Jews and followers of Islam? Christian Right legislators think the public schools should be held accountable for the religious training or indoctrination of students having most in mind parents who don't. But what about parents who do? Serious conflicts have come out of that in the past as in this story:

https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1983/11/court-axes-prayer-at-little-axe

From the above 1983 article: "Trying to take prayer and the Bible out of the public school is not a popular endeavor, especially in the heart of the Bible Belt. The decision to go to court to stop the religious school programs made Lucille McCord and Joann Bell about as welcome in Little Axe as a return of the dust bowl. Both attended local churches and believed in giving their children religious training. The school, however, was not the place for that to happen, they felt. "I believe that we have a freedom of religion and a freedom from religion," Mrs. McCord testifies at the trial. "My main complaint is that the church has no place in school, and that the school has no place in the church."

Some teachers played a role in the above story by promoting the religious gathering done before school while helping to lead it. Interesting it seems teachers never complain they don't have the right while at school to proselytize students.

So people constantly complain that schools are behind the rest of the world in teaching math a d science. How does making them add religion to the course load not take away time from teaching STEM and therefore put students even further behind?

 

[Stillwater Townie]

So people constantly complain that schools are behind the rest of the world in teaching math a d science. How does making them add religion to the course load not take away time from teaching STEM and therefore put students even further behind?

Take it from one of the two candidates running for Stillwater School Board who is apparently a Christian Nationalist:

"Morals cannot be defined objectively without the Bible. In addition, the whole of our system of justice depends on biblical concepts such as equality and impartiality. Including the Bible in teaching the history of a country that was founded on it only makes sense. Is it wrong to fund the teaching of truth? In my opinion, if a system is failing, parents should be given choices."

I don't agree with him. This from a man who given his choices homeschooled 11 children. His agenda is oddly inconsistent with public schools. Will political wonders ever cease in Oklahoma? The last Christian Nationalist who ran for Stillwater School Board lost with 40% of the vote. Hopefully, the latest one loses, too. He possibly wouldn't mind agreeing with the refounding of the country based on the laws and traditions of the Old Testament.

 

[cowboyinexile]

Take it from one of the two candidates running for Stillwater School Board who is apparently a Christian Nationalist:

"Morals cannot be defined objectively without the Bible. In addition, the whole of our system of justice depends on biblical concepts such as equality and impartiality. Including the Bible in teaching the history of a country that was founded on it only makes sense. Is it wrong to fund the teaching of truth? In my opinion, if a system is failing, parents should be given choices."

I don't agree with him. This from a man who given his choices homeschooled 11 children. His agenda is oddly inconsistent with public schools. Will political wonders ever cease in Oklahoma? The last Christian Nationalist who ran for Stillwater School Board lost with 40% of the vote. Hopefully, the latest one loses, too. He possibly wouldn't mind moving on to refounding the country based on the laws and traditions of the Old Testament.

Why would someone who homeschools want to be on the school board?

 

[HacklemanPoke]

Take it from one of the two candidates running for Stillwater School Board who is apparently a Christian Nationalist:

"Morals cannot be defined objectively without the Bible. In addition, the whole of our system of justice depends on biblical concepts such as equality and impartiality. Including the Bible in teaching the history of a country that was founded on it only makes sense. Is it wrong to fund the teaching of truth? In my opinion, if a system is failing, parents should be given choices."

I don't agree with him. This from a man who given his choices homeschooled 11 children. His agenda is oddly inconsistent with public schools. Will political wonders ever cease in Oklahoma? The last Christian Nationalist who ran for Stillwater School Board lost with 40% of the vote. Hopefully, the latest one loses, too. He possibly wouldn't mind agreeing with the refounding of the country based on the laws and traditions of the Old Testament.

Fun fact. Certain sects of Christian Nationalism won’t renounce slavery bc without the institution of slavery (hunting, kidnapping, ethnic clensing, rape and torture) certain races would have never learned to read (take that as read the Bible) and would have never experienced salvation.

 

[PJ-OSU]

Fun fact. Certain sects of Christian Nationalism won’t renounce slavery bc without the institution of slavery (hunting, kidnapping, ethnic clensing, rape and torture) certain races would have never learned to read (take that as read the Bible) and would have never experienced salvation.

 

[Polds4OSU]