heartlandhighlights

[heartlandhighlights]

Why Oklahoma is a Hotspot for Startups in 2025 🚀

According to experts and recent studies, Oklahoma ranks as one of the best places to launch a startup next year, landing at #6 overall in WalletHub’s ranking of all 50 states.

What makes Oklahoma so appealing?

Low corporate taxes: Just 4%, ranking fourth nationally.

Affordable labor costs: Median annual income is $61,364.

Rapid growth: Oklahoma ranks fifth in GDP growth and sixth in job growth.

Cost efficiency: Affordable office space and low living costs.

With a focus on sectors like tech, healthcare, and renewable energy, plus emerging trends in AI and green technologies, Oklahoma offers golden opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Gov. Kevin Stitt’s push for a zero-income-tax state and support for business-friendly policies only sweetens the deal. Could Oklahoma be the perfect place for your next venture?

[heartlandhighlights]

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is praising the passage of the Laken Riley Act, calling it a “game changer for public safety.”

The act grants state attorneys general the authority to enforce deportations and sue federal officials to ensure immigration laws are upheld. Drummond highlighted the Biden administration’s refusal to secure the border, saying the act could have prevented significant harm, including the tragedy that inspired the legislation—the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley.

Drummond says, “Had this measure been in place, I would have had the power to force the deportation of thousands of criminal illegal immigrants here in Oklahoma who have caused immeasurable harm.”

What are your thoughts on this legislation and its implications for public safety and immigration reform?

[heartlandhighlights]

The race for the next Tulsa County GOP Chair is heating up, and one of the candidates, Charity Marcus, is making waves.

Marcus, once a registered Democrat, shared her journey of becoming a Republican after deeply reviewing party platforms. Now, she’s running to replace Ronda Vuillemont-Smith as the leader of the Tulsa County Republican Party.

Marcus believes the GOP in Tulsa County has an image problem—one she’s determined to fix. “There’s a small group that attacks, and it turns people off. That’s not what the party is,” she says.

Delegates will cast their votes at the March 1st convention at Stoney Creek Hotel, but anyone hoping to participate must first attend precinct meetings on January 28th.

Will Charity Marcus bring a fresh perspective to local GOP leadership? Share your thoughts below.

[heartlandhighlights]

38-Year-Old Suspect Identified in Tulsa Standoff Tragedy

In a tense, hours-long standoff last Friday in north Tulsa, tragedy unfolded as police shot and killed 38-year-old Gerardo Almazan.

The incident began with reports of an armed robbery near Pine and Sheridan, where Almazan allegedly threatened a 14-year-old with a semi-automatic pistol to steal the teen's cellphone. When officers arrived, Almazan retreated into the house, refusing to comply with their commands and initiating a lockdown of the entire street.

The standoff ended in violence as Almazan emerged with a pistol, prompting officers to fire. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Authorities confirmed that the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

This event has left the community shaken, with questions and conversations arising about public safety, mental health, and police procedures in high-stakes situations.

What are your thoughts on incidents like these and their broader implications for our communities? Let’s have a thoughtful conversation.