The Oklahoma State Senate passed a unanimous resolution on Wednesday afternoon stripping Ralph Shortey’s legislative privileges based on disorderly conduct, after allegations surfaced about his personal relationship involving an underage boy, according to a report by The Oklahoman. Shortey, a Republican from District 44 in south Oklahoma City, has served in the Oklahoma Legislature since …
Pawnee County Rocked by 3.2 Magnitude Earthquake on Wednesday Morning
A 3.2 magnitude earthquake jolted Pawnee County on Wednesday morning, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report. The temblor struck northeastern Oklahoma at approximately 10:16 a.m. The quake’s epicenter was seven miles northwest of Pawnee. No injuries or damage was reported from the latest earthquake. A record 5.8 magnitude earthquake was recorded in September near Pawnee, …
Florida Utility Seeks Legislative Approval to Make Profits from Shale Gas Investments in Oklahoma
In Florida, a State Senate committee has given approval for Florida Power and Light Company to make profits off shale gas exploration in Oklahoma. The approval came two years after Florida’s largest utility was allowed by the Florida Public Service Commission to invest $191 million in the Woodford Shale gas project in southern Oklahoma. The …
Tribe Loses Again in Court Over Attempts to Stop North Dakota Pipeline
The Native Americans fighting the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota have lost again. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled this week against the request of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to stop completion of the $3.8 billion pipeline on the basis of religious freedom arguments. Judge James Boasberg, who ruled …
Inhofe Boldly Declares Again—Man-Made Climate Change is a Hoax
Already with a reputation of being a climate change ‘denier’, Sen. Jim Inhofe took to the senate floor again this week to again refute claims of ‘man-made’ climate change. And he also leveled accusations against President Obama of spending billions without authorization on climate-change programs. “The hoax is that some in the far left believe …
Lawsuit Accuses Chesapeake of Mismanaging Retirement Investments
Three former employees of Chesapeake Energy have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Oklahoma City energy company of violating a federal retirement act and causing the loss of tens of millions of dollars in its retirement program. The suit (CIV-17-279-R) was filed by David A. Scholl, Brian K. Glover and Dennis W. Vaughn who at …
Rep. Bridenstine Waiting for Trump Decision on NASA
While Congress is abundantly aware that Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine would like to become the next NASA administrator, no such decision has been made at the Trump White House. If it has, it has not been announced. It was last fall when the Republican congressman from the 1st District announced his intentions to seek …
Tulsa Company Forced to Use Eminent Domain in Pipeline Construction
One of the latest fights against a pipeline is taking place in northwest Georgia where work is underway on what’s called the Dalton expansion project. It’s being built by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, a subsidiary of Williams Partners LP of Tulsa in conjunction with Atlanta-based Dogwood Enterprise Holdings Inc. In this case, TRANSCO …
Hobby Lobby Ruling Basis for Tribe’s Appeal of Dakota Access Pipeline Decision
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is being asked again by the Native American protesters in North Dakota to block final construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline. Their latest appeal comes after a federal court ruled against their attempt based on religious freedom rights. And Oklahoma’s Hobby Lobby case …
3-Judge Panel to Hear Government’s Appeal of Court Ruling Against Fracking Rules
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver has identified the three judges who will consider the legal challenges to the Obama administration’s controversial hydraulic fracturing rules for public and tribal lands. Judges Jerome Holmes, Harris Hartz and Mary Beck Briscoe will preside over the hearings and the challenge of the oil and gas …