Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, has filed a bill for the upcoming special session that would remove the 1.25% sales tax on motor vehicle purchases. The move would leave in place the 3.25% excise tax paid on such purchases. “We’ve effectively been double taxing Oklahomans who buy a motor vehicle,” Humphrey said. “With the governor’s special …
Category: General
National alert test to be aired Wednesday
A nationwide alert test will be conducted Wednesday afternoon for every TV, radio and celllphone in the country. The jarring electronic warning tone of an emergency alert will sound on the electronic devices at 1:20 p.m. central time as the Nationwide Emergency Alert Test is conducted. The national test consists of two parts, which …
Other energy updates
** The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating more than 708,000 trucks and SUVs built by Ford and Lincoln due to reports of “catastrophic engine failures.” The agency expands investigation of vehicles all powered by a turbocharged 2.7- or 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6. ** The United Auto Workers union has reached a tentative contract agreement with Mack Trucks that covers about 4,000 workers …
Talking energy with Scott Mitchell and Jerry Bohnen
We’ve had the price of oil in the U.S. shoot up to nearly $94 a barrel while Brent crude, the global benchmark teased the $100 level. So what’s the discussion by Scott Mitchell and Jerry Bohnen regarding the price of oil? What is at least one oil industry leader predicting? As usual, the two …
ROFR report correction
Correction to our story this week about the Oklahoma legislature beginning an interim hearing study of the Right of First Refusal by utilities. The study will be carried out by both the State House and State Senate with the Senate hearing starting at 9:30 a.m. and the House at 1:30 p.m. The legislature will …
US crude dropped below $90 while OK energy stocks hit hard in Monday’s trading
The first day of trading on Monday brought a nearly 2% fall in crude oil prices but an even greater impact on Oklahoma energy stocks as some dropped 7% and 8%. A stronger U.S. dollar brought about the slip in crude oil prices as traders scooped up profits, showing obvious concern about rising crude supplies …
Broadband Summit drew more than 200 from 21 states
Members of the Cooperative Broadband Coalition recently received an update on the progress of expansion of rural broadband service in Oklahoma. The Coalition held its inaugural Connection Oklahoma–Rural Broadband Summit and featured more than 200 guests from 21 states. The Cooperative Broadband Coalition brought together various stakeholders to discuss opportunities to better serve broadband …
National Wildlife Refuge recovers from oil spill in Kansas
Oklahoma City residents in the city’s northwest side aren’t the only ones dealing with an oil spill. About 23-hundred barrels of oil spilled when a pipeline was hit in a construction site accident. While it’s being monitored and cleaned, a similar oil pipeline spill happened weeks ago in Kansas at the Quivira National Wildlife …
Making EV batteries at Kansas plant means extending coal-fired power plant
The new Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant being constructed in Kansas, the one that Oklahoma attempted to land but failed last year, reportedly will require so much energy that a nearby coal-fired electric generating power plant will not only remain open but be expanded. The $4 billion EV battery plant is being built in …
Western Oklahoma has a chance of severe weather on Tuesday
The western part of Oklahoma stands a chance on Tuesday of seeing severe weather, including yes, a very small chance of tornadoes. “Yeah, that’s a low-but-not-zero tornado threat for tomorrow, but it appears the large wind threat is the biggie,” wrote Gary McManus, State Climatologist with the Oklahoma Mesonet and the Oklahoma Climatological Survey. “And …