An Oklahoma contractor was charged today with nine counts of felony embezzlement and a pattern of criminal offenses after an investigation by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit. The Office of the Attorney General charged Benjamin Moore, 36, in Pottawatomie County District Court after the investigation revealed he allegedly took nearly $85,000 from nine customers …
Crude oil managed 3% gain on Friday while OK energy stocks slumped
Crude oil prices wrapped up the week with gains of nearly 3% on Friday as worries grew that the fighting in Israel and Gaza might lead to a wider conflict in the Middle East. At the same time, Oklahoma energy stocks experiences losses of 2% to 3%. West Texas Intermediate crude went up $2.33 or …
Oklahoma House members supported Act to rein in Green New Deal
All five Oklahoma Representatives in the House recently voted in support of a measure that not only reins in the Biden administration’s Green New Deal policies but funds improvements in the nation’s waterways. Rep. Tom Cole, Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee eagerly gave his support to H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water …
Brief energy stories
** The Biden administration issued a federal plan Thursday to remove all remaining oil and gas infrastructure located off the California coast once they stop producing. ** Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., blasted the Biden administration Thursday for its actions delaying a major offshore oil and gas lease sale, and called for it to move forward with the sale within two …
Michelin to close its Ardmore tire plant affecting 1,400 workers and southern Oklahoma economy
After half a century of making tires in Oklahoma, the Ardmore tire plant is closing. Michelin announced it plans to close its tire plant in Ardmore, putting nearly 1,400 employees on the unemployment line. It is the city’s largest employer and the shutdown could mean a rocky and rough economic road for southern Oklahoma. …
Crude oil dropped 2% in Thursday’s trading while OK energy stocks recorded minor gains
Thursday brought another day of losses for crude oil prices while Oklahoma energy stocks eaked out some minor gains. Crude was down to its lowest prices in two weeks as Israel agreed to delay a possible ground invasion of Gaza until later in the week. Both WTI and Brent crude fell more than 2% …
Iron Dome missiles to be built in Southwest Arkansas
A missile plant is about to go up just across the Oklahoma state line with Arkansas. Raytheon, an RTX business, in partnership with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced plans to build a manufacturing plant in East Camden, Arkansas. It plans to produce the Tamir missile for the Iron Dome Weapon System and its U.S. …
Edmond considers joining $11 billion in class action settlements over PFAS chemicals
The city council in Edmond voted this week to prepare in the event it might join a class action lawsuit alleging water contamination. Whether Edmond will join in the nearly $11 billion in settlements of lawsuits depends on the level of PFAS or “forever” chemicals in the city’s drinking water. Fox 25 News reported …
Congressional coalition blasts administration for suspending LNG shipments by rail
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Missouri Rep. Sam Graves led a coalition of 25 other federal lawmakers in calling on the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to reverse its suspension of rules allowing shipments of LNG by rail. No Oklahoma Senators or Representatives were part of the effort that sent a letter to …
Illinois legislators won’t fight Governor’s veto of a ROFR bill
ROFR or Right of First Refusal is dead for now in Illinois where legislative leaders have decided they won’t attempt to override the governor’s veto of a bill aimed at giving existing utilities the ROFR power for transmission lines. Democratic Rep. Larry Walsh announced this week he won’t make the attempt to over Gov. …