Latest news with #MarkMann
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Texas leaders consider local funding to keep Heartland Flyer running to Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — With just months left before Texas pulls its share of funding for Amtrak's Heartland Flyer rail line, leaders on both ends of the route are scrambling to come up with a solution to keep the service say the loss of the train, which runs between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, would be a step backward at a time when the region's growth demands more transportation State Sen. Mark Mann (D-Oklahoma City) said population growth is shrinking the undeveloped space between the Oklahoma City and Dallas-Fort Worth metro areas.'Look at the Oklahoma City statistical metropolitan area and the Dallas, they get closer and closer each day,' Mann said. Heartland Flyer facing permanent suspension after Texas legislature declines funding And with that growth comes challenges, chief among them: the worsening traffic along I-35.'There's going to come a point very quickly, I think, where we need a viable rail option to move people between those two cities in a timely manner,' he said. 'At some point, we're going to have commuter rail, and instead of driving to Norman because it's going to be so congested.'But Mann also sees opportunity.'I mean, we're bringing the Olympics in,' he said. 'The World Cup is going to be in the Dallas-Fort Worth area next year.'He said losing the Heartland Flyer would undercut that momentum.'When you bring people in from other countries, they expect rail service,' Mann said. 'I think if this goes away, it sends a signal that we're not interested in rail service.'In a statement, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker echoed that concern, calling the Heartland Flyer 'key to ensuring Fort Worth's continued success as a global destination.'She pointed out Fort Worth is Amtrak's busiest station in Texas, 'generating millions in economic impact annually.'On Tuesday, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)—an alliance of more than 200 cities, counties and school districts in the Dallas-Fort Worth area—confirmed they are working to 'figure out a long term funding solution' using local funds, once Texas' funding is set to expire in September.'It may come down to municipalities or counties that have to step up if we want to keep the service going,' Mann said he's also working with the Oklahoma City Chamber to explore what other states have done in similar situations.'We're currently trying to find out and ascertain has this happened in any other states? And if so, how did they handle it?' he said. 'Really, anything we want to do in the future related to rail hinges on keeping this line open.'An Amtrak spokesperson told News 4 they also want to keep the Heartland Flyer running, noting they had plans to extend the line north to Kansas, where it could connect travelers to major lines headed toward Chicago and Los Angeles.'Ending this service would sever a well-established transportation network,' Amtrak said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Heartland Flyer facing permanent suspension after Texas legislature declines funding
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Heartland Flyer, Oklahoma's only Amtrak train route, is facing permanent suspension after Texas lawmakers declined to fund its share of the route's budget. Since June 14, 1999, the Heartland Flyer has provided daily routes between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas. The Heartland Flyer is a jointly funded partnership between ODOT and TXDOT, using each state's tax dollars. Passenger train between OKC, Fort Worth could soon see its last ride The Heartland Flyer was recently being considered for expansion to Kansas. Amtrak, which operates the route, says funding decisions for state-sponsored services are determined locally. Peter LeCody, president of Texas Rail Advocates, says losing the train would hurt both Texas and Oklahoma. 'If it should go away because of budget constraints in Texas, we're going to be putting probably more than 50,000 vehicles back on Interstate 35, and that's not a good deal,' said LeCody. According to Derek Sparks, Director of Government Relations for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, the train is needed now more than ever. 'We are literally in an incredible moment for marketing our community, and it is correct to say that the timing is very unfortunate that we would be losing something that many people who come here may enjoy in their own community, and it sends the wrong signal,' said Sparks. The Texas Department of Transportation requested $7M to uphold their end of the deal, but the funds were not approved in Texas's budget cycle. It could also have an economic impact on both states. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has implied he's not picking up the slack. 'We'll see what we have to do on this side,' Stitt said. 'We're not going to pick up their end of that. And so we're not sure exactly what's going to happen with that.' The Texas Department of Transportation says it has no contractual obligations to Oklahoma. However, Amtrak did say they're seeking possible solutions, but so far, no specifics. Democratic Senator Mark Mann has supported the Heartland Flyer for years, issuing a statement about Texas's decision to no longer fund the rail service. While it was disheartening to learn that the Texas legislature failed to fund their portion of the Heartland Flyer, I am not feeling defeated. There are still other options that can and need to be explored in order to secure the funding necessary to continue service. I am currently working with the Oklahoma City Chamber to identify a coalition of interested stakeholders to explore how we can secure funding and continue the Heartland Flyer train service. Sen. Mark Mann The budget for the train service runs out sometime before October 1, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Oklahoma teachers could get more time off after childbirth
Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, speaks while Sen. Nikki Nice, D-Oklahoma City, listens at a Senate Democrats news conference Jan. 13, 2025, at the Oklahoma State Capitol to outline the caucus' policy priorities for the year. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday sent Gov. Kevin Stitt a measure that would allow teachers to use unused sick days to extend their existing six-week maternity leave. House Bill 1601 would allow educators to use up to six weeks of banked sick leave hours to extend their leave. 'Sick leave must be used for recovery from childbirth, bonding with a newborn, or caring for a newborn,' according to the measure. It would not require approval from the school board or employer, according to the measure. Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, is the senate author. He said it wouldn't cost the state anything. Mann, a former member of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education, said he would like teachers to have up to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. 'But with the budget outlook we have right now, that is not possible,' Mann said. Some private companies have significantly more paid maternity leave days, he said. 'So, we've got to do something because these young mothers, when they have a baby, they want to spend more than six weeks,' Mann said. 'And quite frankly, brain research shows us that they need to spend more than six weeks with that newborn.' Mann said the measure will help recruit and retain teachers. Six weeks isn't a lot of time, but it is better than what the state had been doing, which was requiring new mothers to take unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, Mann said. 'I would like to see male staff have at least a month off when they have a newborn,' Mann said. 'There are some other things we can do that are pro-family, pro-baby, but I think this is a good, good step in the right direction.' Senate Education Committee Chairman Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, said he supported the measure, but said lawmakers were making some decisions for schools in terms of staffing. 'I've heard many times that we'll just trust school boards and superintendents to do the right thing,' Pugh said. 'But I think if you've heard from your teachers on this issue, that is not happening uniformly across every district in the state of Oklahoma.' The measure passed the Senate by a vote of 39-5. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration considers selling OKC Federal Building
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Oklahoma City Federal Building, built to replace the Alfred P. Murrah federal building after the 1995 bombing, may soon be shut down by the Trump administration. The topic has a lot of people talking, and has even sparked a heated response from at least one state lawmaker. On their website, the U.S. General Services Administration calls the Oklahoma City Federal Building a 'national symbol of strength and resilience.' But now, the same agency says the facility may be on the government's chopping block. April 19 Remembrance Ceremony to honor those lost in 1995 'This building symbolizes the strength demonstrated on April 19, 1995,' said Stephen Perry, former GSA Administrator. When it opened in 2004, the Oklahoma City Federal Building was labeled as a symbol of freedom by the then-administrator of the GSA. However, according to a list released on Tuesday by the agency, the building is now considered a 'non-core asset' and is being considered to be sold. Agency leaders say selling the federal building and other federal properties on the list would save the government more than $400 million a year. A building that was once said to represent the 168 lives lost, and the thousands of others impacted. 'This building that we dedicate today is a part of the overall effort to honor their memory, and to honor America's resolve over the evil of terrorism,' said Perry. According to a report by the GSA, more than 300 federal employees work at the federal building in agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Agriculture. The news is frustrating for Democratic Senator Mark Mann (D-Oklahoma City). Just a month away from the 30th anniversary of the Murrah bombing, this action by the Trump administration is tone-deaf, at best. The agencies and employees housed in the Oklahoma City Federal Building provide valuable services to Oklahoma, the region and the time for Oklahoma's congressional delegation to stand up to Trump. Decisions like this should only be made after conducting in-depth analysis and evaluation and should be data driven, not a political stunt. Sen. Mark Mann (D-Oklahoma City) The GSA says it will look at research and feedback before making a final decision on a sale. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
