January 2017 archive

More Earthquakes Rattle Pawnee

Not one but three strong earthquakes hit the Pawnee area Monday morning and afternoon. Each measured 3 point 2 magnitude or more.  The strongest was 3 point 7 magnitude. The US Geological Survey also says they occurred in the same area where a 5 point 8 magnitude quake rocked Pawnee last fall.

Monthly Index Suggests Slow Improvement of Economy in Oklahoma and 8 Midwestern States

  Maybe rising oil prices have contributed to a slowly-improving economy in Oklahoma.  It’s a possible indication from the monthly Mid-America Business Conditions Index report released Tuesday by Creighton University economist Ernie Goss. He says the monthly survey of business supply managers suggest economic conditions are improving in nine Midwest and Plains states, including Oklahoma. …

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OK DEQ’s Scott Thompson: EPA “In Good Hands” with Scott Pruitt

President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently received accolades from an Oklahoma state agency director with a unique perspective. Scott Thompson, the executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, weighed in on Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s nomination as the EPA’s chief administrator. “DEQ has independently managed our …

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Harold Hamm Ranks Third on Fortune’s List of People Who Made the Most Money in 2016

By all accounts, 2016 was a great year for Harold Hamm. Closing out the year, Hamm made the list of Fortune’s 12 People Who Made the Most Money in 2016. The Continental Resources CEO saw a gain of $8.4 billion. In terms of percentage gains, Hamm’s net worth rose by 121.5% over the course of …

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Democrats Make it Official—-Pruitt and 7 Other Trump Nominees are in Their Political Sights

If Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt didn’t know it last month, he knows now. He will officially be targeted by Democrats in the U.S. when confirmation hearings begin for him to become Donald Trump’s chief administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Democrats came out this week led by New York Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) …

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Impact of Energy-Friendly Washington on Energy Industry

  A more energy friendly government and Washington. It’s what Tommy Foltz at the Consumer Energy Alliance is expecting from the Donald Trump administration. He cites Trump’s nominations of Scott Pruitt at EPA, Rick Perry as Energy Secretary and Rex Tillerson, the former Exxon chief to be Secretary of State as cause for optimism in …

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“Frack Master” hit with SEC Charges in Dallas

An oil and gas leader known as the “frack master” has been hit with federal civil charges in Texas and accused of defrauding investors out of nearly $80 million. The Securities and Exchange Commission filed the charges in Dallas Federal Court against Chris Faulkner, CEO of Breitling Energy Corporation. The SEC accused him of spending …

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75-year old Oil Pipeline Shut down in Maine

  After 75 years, an oil pipeline from the U.S. to Canada has been shut down. The 236-mile-long pipeline carried oil from the Port of Portland to refineries in Montreal. It was originally built to provide for the safe transport of crude oil to Quebec when German U-boats were sinking oil tankers in the western …

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Drought Continues to Grow in Oklahoma

  Whether it’s wind power, electrical, oil and gas or mining, all of the industries know that Oklahoma continues suffering from a lack of rain. The latest Drought Monitor indicates the severe-to-extreme drought in the state increased from 18 percent at the end of November to 46 percent at the end of December. Remember, on …

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Environmental Meeting in Guymon on $25 million Casino

A Thursday night public meeting will be held in Guymon on the environmental assessment of a proposed $25 million Native American casino near the city. The Bureau of Indian Affairs in Anadarko is holding the public meeting for the proposed Shawnee Tribe ‘Golden Mesa’ casino to be located about 3.5 miles southwest of Guymon. The …

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