March 13, 2024 archive

Crude oil prices reach 4-month high in Wednesday’s trading

A four month high was hit by crude oil prices as they rose nearly 3% on Wednesday, thanks to a surprise withdrawal in U.S. crude inventories, including stocks at the Cushing Hub in Oklahoma. Crude prices also responded to a bigger-than-expected drop in US gasoline stocks and possible supply disruptions after Ukrainian drones attacked Russian …

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Attorney General supports some selected Sunshine bills in the legislature—but not all

  Midway through Sunshine Week, which is observed nationwide each year to celebrate openness and transparency in government, Attorney General Gentner Drummond is highlighting several bills this state legislative session that he said would greatly improve governmental transparency. He issued his support for three bills to improve transparency, but continued his support of another measure …

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Crude stocks declined across the U.S. and at the Cushing Hub

  Crude oil stocks in the Cushing Hub of Oklahoma and across the U.S. declined in the past week, according to new figures released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Cushing’s total stocks declined from 31.7 million barrels on March 1 to 31.5 million barrels as of March 8, the most recent reporting date. Cushing …

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Where Oklahoma fits into Biden’s EV trucking corridor plan

  The Biden administration unveiled a new plan this week to place charging infrastruture for EV freight trucks in high-traffic corridors including Interstates 35, 40 and 44 in Oklahoma. The plan calls for electric freight truck chargers to be deployed initially along key stretches of highway according to the White House announcement. “President Biden’s historic investments …

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OU team wins Energy Department’s collegiate geothermal competition

  Back-to-back national champions at the University of Oklahoma. Not a sports team but rather five graduate students at the University’s Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy who recently named winners in the U.S. Energy Department’s 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition for their design of a system to heat a greenhouse for the Osage Nation. Another …

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Texas legislature to investigate Panhandle’s deadly wildfires

    Even as the large wildfires that burned more than a million acres of land in the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma are still burning but nearly under control, the Texas legislature plans an investigation of its own. House Speaker Dadee Phelan plans to create a committee in a move to make sure Texas …

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Edmond legislator named to national transportation committee

  Edmond Rep. Nicole Miller has been named vice chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Transportation Committee. Miller, a Republican, was elected in 2018 and represents House District 81 in northwest Oklahoma City, West Edmond & Deer Creek. She currently serves as the chair of the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee on …

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Choctaw tribe gets $22 million government grant for high-speed internet service

  Oklahoma’s Choctaw Nation headquartered in LeFlore County is getting a $22 million USDA grant to help provide high-speed internet. The grant was announced this week at the National center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s Reservation Economic Summit held in Las Vegas. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the grant among $57,817,354 in grant awards. Rural …

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Rep. Lucas says wildfires show need for improved weather forecasting

  The wildfires that burned more than 1 million acres of land in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle in recent weeks made Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas realize quickly how important weather forecasting is. During a recent House Science, Space and Technology Committee hearing he chaired, the Representative whose farm and ranch are located in …

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A Rural Energy program reaches out to Kansas small towns and businesses

    A federal government program aimed at helping small rural businesses with acquiring more efficient energy received high marks from some Kansas small-town businesses. The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is part of the Inflation Reduction Act and had funding of $145 million. It is a grant and financing program. Applicants can get …

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