STATE BUSINESS BRIEFS

Norman Regional reaches milestone in $300M expansion

Norman Regional Health System will soon celebrate the opening of its new state-of-theart, free-standing emergency department on State Highway 9 in east Norman. The $22.8 million facility is an exciting development, improving services for Norman’s fast-growing east side as well as communities to the south and east. But the building at SH 9 and 24th Avenue SE is only the beginning of a $300 million expansion project changing the face of the community’s health care system. The health system’s Inspire Health initiative comprises five major projects and encompasses a million square feet of construction.

OKC expected to spend $3.6B on capital projects

Oklahoma City officials plan to spend $3.6 billion over the next five years on capital improvements throughout the city. A public hearing and adoption vote by the City Council are scheduled for Nov. 8. Ian Hutcheson, management and budget specialist, said more than half of the money for the five-year plan comes from trust funds. Trusts include water utilities, airport, zoo and Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority. Sales tax funds, including the MAPS 4 sales tax collections, make up about one-quarter of the total, and general obligation bond funds account for 14.6%.

Stitt picks March date for marijuana vote

Gov. Kevin Stitt set March 7, 2023, as the date for a special election on recreational marijuana in. Proponents of State Question 820 had turned in more than enough signatures well in advance of their deadline in order to get the measure on the Nov. 8, 2022 general election ballot. But unprecedented delays caused by a new voter verification system prevented state officials from getting the question on the ballot in time.