News Updates

More bad news for Oklahoma's kids

New statistics show Oklahoma has shown increases in child poverty and in the number of children living with one parent.

The number of Oklahoma's children living in poverty has incr eased 16 percent since 2000.

The number of children living in single-parent households has increased 17 percent since 2000. Oklahoma is in line with the national trend of more children living in one-parent homes.

The 22nd annual Kids Count Data Book released information last week, which indicates economic and social gains for children that occurred in the 1990s stalled even before the economic downturn began.

Oklahoma ranks 43rd in key indicators of child health and well-being.

"The increased rate of child poverty is disturbing. When parents can't meet the basic needs of their families, it becomes even more difficult for them to focus on their children in a positive way -- especially in single parent homes if one parent is trying to do it all," said Linda Terrell, Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy.

Since 2007, 35,000 or 3 percent of the state's children have been impacted by foreclosure.

For interactive Oklahoma Kids Count data, check out oica.org/kids-count.

Tulsa Metro Chamber opposed to city

charter ballot proposals

On Aug. 29, the Tulsa Metro Chamber announced its opposition to the Save Our Tulsa and city council proposed ballot changes to the city charter.

Specifically, the chamber opposes the council's proposal for a city manager structure and the Save Our Tulsa initiative to add three at-large councilors, according to a press release.

Chamber volunteers said they were disappointed in the lack of community-wide debate in developing either proposal.

The Save Our Tulsa initiatives were added to the November ballot after they collected 27,000 signatures on three different petitions, the group's co-founder, John Brock, said.

"Constituents were not afforded an opportunity to engage in the dialogue and formation of the proposals," Dr. Gerald Clancy, Tulsa Metro Chamber board of directors chairman, said.

Tulsans will have the last word on these proposed changes on Election Day, Nov. 8.

TCC adds another step to withdrawal

Gone are the days when you could anonymously slip out of a too-tough class, or quietly withdraw from those hours that just aren't going to fit with your schedule.

Now, according to new procedures put into place this semester on all TCC campuses, a student must notify and discuss withdrawal with the instructor first.

And if you're a student who receives scholarships, veteran's benefits, loans, grants or Tulsa Achieves money, add another step to the process, too: Now, you must also meet with a financial aid representative for advisement before withdrawing.

After completing these steps, students have to fill out a Request for Withdrawal form.

The new form includes a lengthy checklist of reasons for withdrawal (including "Personal problems," "College experience not what I expected" and "Not enough money to continue"); plus several statements students must initial about personal responsibility; and finally, an "affidavit of enrollment" to be signed by financial aid recipients. Then, the form must be taken in person to an on-campus advisement office.

Cross your fingers and hope you can get out of those hours alive.