News

With the new year, came some new laws that may be of interest to many of you. The first is yet another step in the state’s fight to stop illegal activity within the medical marijuana industry. House Bill 3971, passed during the 2022 regular session, directs the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) to implement a secret shopper program to purchase set amounts of product from dispensaries for random testing. These individuals are required to inspect at least 50 licensed dispensaries annually. By 2025, at least 10% of all Oklahoma dispensaries must be inspected annually. The new law further outlines a new relabeling process for any product that doesn’t match what’s listed on its packaging and allows OMMA to use testing results to take action against license holders.

Officials have identified 17-year-old Perry High School student Dylan Butler as the gunman responsible for a violent attack on the Iowa high school Thursday morning, which ended with five wounded and two dead, including the shooter.

The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) may soon be changing the name of the Pioneer Woman Museum within the near future. The Ponca City News became aware of rumors that the museum would undergo a name change to either the “Oklahoma Women’s Museum” or “Women of the West.” To address these rumors, and to shed light on the validity of them, the Ponca City News reached out to the Oklahoma Historical Society, and they offered the following statement: “As a part of a broader strategic initiative, the Oklahoma Historical Society has had internal conversations regarding the mission and branding of the Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City for the past year or so. While no final decisions have been made, any future changes will recognize the unique role the museum plays in the community and will seek to engage visitors in an enhanced manner. If any changes are made, the OHS will keep the public informed.”

Ponca City Rotary is topping off a busy holiday season as they finish up one of their annual projects. In 2008, the club began their participation in The Dictionary Project by presenting personalized dictionaries to every 3rd grader in Ponca City. Over the years the project has expanded to include all of the 3rd grade students in Kay County schools. Once this year’s presentations are complete, the club will have presented over 9,000 dictionaries.