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 …
March 2024 archive
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 …
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 …
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 …
Texas wildfires nearly 90% under control after deadly rampage
As of this week, nearly 90% of the wildfires that started in the Texas Panhandle and slowly moved into western Oklahoma were finally under control after getting their deadly start last month. But strong south winds on Wednesday brought potentially more danger to the region as firefighters feared they might reignite or rebuild the …
Carl Icahn gives up proxy fight for San Diego DNA company
Activist investor Carl Icahn, who used a proxy fight to take control of Oklahoma City’s SandRidge Energy in 2018, wasn’t so successful in an attempt to take over DNA sequencing company Illumina Inc. Bloomberg reports Icahn did not nominate directors for seats on the San Diego-based company’s board of directors before a deadline passed. …
Energy quick reads
** U.S. power consumption will rise to record highs in 2024 and 2025, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO) on Tuesday. EIA projected power demand will rise to 4,099 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2024 and 4,128 billion kWh in 2025. ** U.S. energy firm CNX Resources said on Tuesday …
Crude oil and natural gas prices tumbled again on Tuesday
Tuesday brought another dip in crude oil prices and a drop for natural gas prices while Oklahoma energy stocks saw yet another mixed day of trading with no outstanding gains or losses. The crude oil drop came after a higher-than-expected forecast for U.S. crude oil production. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 37 cents to finish …
Fourth individual pleads guilty to bid rigging and price fixing in investigation of Oklahoma Transportation construction contractors
The Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Transportation Department announced another person has pleaded guilty in Oklahoma in a $100 million bid rigging scandal. The announcement is as follows: On February 27, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Stanley Mark Smith, an erosion control company owner, pleaded …
EIA predicts less oil production and higher gasoline prices
Lower global oil production, higher gasoline costs, lower natural gas prices and increased solar power. It’s what the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects for the remainder of the year. The EIA released its short-term energy outlook this week. Global oil markets. As a result of OPEC+ extending crude oil production cuts, we have reduced …
