Oklahoma U.S. Sens. James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin tried but couldn’t come up with enough votes to override President Biden’s vetoes that killed bills meant to roll back Endangered Species Act protections for the lesser prairie chicken and the northern long-eared bat. It led Lankford to accuse the Biden administration of weaponizing the Endangered …
September 2023 archive
Interim House study to focus on Oklahoma’s geography
Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, will examine Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Geography Education, and its transformative effects on Oklahoma’s workforce in an upcoming interim study. IS23-008 is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 4th, at 8:00 a.m. in Room 206 at the State Capitol, 2300 N Lincoln Blvd. “As a former middle school Geography teacher, I have …
Wyoming residents fight BLM over 2 million acre plan
Hundreds came out in opposition this week to the government’s plan to make nearly 2 million acres off-limits in southern Wyoming. The Bureau of Land Management wants to make 1.8 million acres near Rock Springs, Wyoming “areas of critical environmental concern” (ACES). It means the acreage would be an area where public hunting, cattle …
Evergy reaches rate hike settlements in Kansas
Evergy, Inc. announced that a unanimous agreement has been reached with parties to its Kansas rate case. The agreement was filed Friday with the Kansas Corporation Commission and must be approved by the state’s Commissioners, who are scheduled to issue an order in December. If it wins approval, there will be rate hikes of …
Southeast Oklahoma Rail company receives $12 million federal grant
A small rail company that serves Southeast Oklahoma and Southwest Arkansas, DeQueen and Eastern Railroad, will receive a nearly $12 million grant to make small freight rail improvements. Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin announced the awarding of the $11,830,000 grant,saying it came about in part due to his “advocacy efforts.” The funding was through …
Oklahoma gasoline prices lower in past week but higher than a year ago
AAA reported over the weekend that while gasoline prices fell in the past week in Oklahoma, they remained more than a year ago. Increasing crude oil prices are credited for a slow fall in prices at the pump as the national average, down two cents over the past week, was $3.83. But it was …
Crude oil prices dropped Friday but remained nearly 30% higher for the quarter
Crude oil prices dropped by 1% on Friday but remained at least 28% higher for the quarter, thanks to OPEC+ product cuts that put the squeeze on the global crude supply. Oklahoma energy stocks felt the pressure with at least one company, Empire Petroleum Corp., falling more than 7% in the day’s trading. West Texas …
Rig activity continues its fall across Oklahoma and the nation
Oil and gas rig activity took another drop in the past week, including in Oklahoma, according to the latest Baker Hughes Co. report released on Friday. While more rigs are in storage, sitting upright in some company yards, Baker Hughes reported that Oklahoma’s count fell, slipping by two to only 35 rigs, far from …
US crude oil production hits record high despite drop in rig activity
Crude oil production in the U.S. hit the second-highest level on record in July, according to a report from the federal government. It came despite the efforts of the Biden administration to end dependence on fossil fuels and to convert the nation to electric vehicles. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said it was largely …
Legislators follow Corporation Commission in study of ROFRs
Oklahoma legislators are preparing to start exploring the controversial issue of ROFRs, the power of Right of First Refusal by electric companies. At the same time, one state agency is already studying the issues. In an interim Oklahoma House hearing that will be streamed live over the Internet, the subject will be discussed and …