Tag: Oklahoma

Feds To Fund Start Of Arkansas River Deepening Work, ‘Three Rivers’ Project

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KATV:

Funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has put the first significant funding in a decades-long effort to deepen the Arkansas River navigation channel to 12-feet. Much of the river system depth is now at nine feet.

On March 29, the U.S. Corps of Engineers published an addendum of projects funded through IIJA, which included $92.6 million to “initiate construction of the project.” All six members of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation voted against the infrastructure bill.

The Arkansas River system (McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation system, or MKARNS) is 445 miles long and stretches from the confluence of the Mississippi River to the Port of Catoosa near Tulsa, Okla. The controlled waterway has 18 locks and dams, with 13 in Arkansas and five in Oklahoma. The river also has five ports: Pine Bluff, Little Rock, Fort Smith, Muskogee, Okla., and the Tulsa Port of Catoosa in Oklahoma.

A March 30 presentation by Greg Mattson, deputy chief of operations for the USACE Little Rock District, to the Arkansas Waterways Commission shows that that federal authorization of the channel was made in 2004, and the cost of that work is now estimated at $274.7 million.

Oklahoma Becomes Fourth State To Enact Anti-Trans Sports Ban This Year

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CNN:

Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday signed legislation banning transgender women and girls from competing on sports teams consistent with their gender at public schools, public charter schools and public colleges in the state.

Oklahoma and Arizona, which enacted its own law later Wednesday, join three other GOP-led states that have established similar bans this year.

Massive New Wind Farm Goes Online In Oklahoma

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The Hill:

One of the largest wind farms built in North America is now up and running in Oklahoma, providing wind power to customers in the state as well as to neighboring Arkansas and Louisiana. 

American Electric Power (AEP), a Columbus-based power company, announced its Traverse Wind Energy Center began operating on March 21. 

The Traverse center is expected to generate 3.8 million megawatt hours annually for AEP’s Public Service Company of Oklahoma and Southwestern Electric Power Company customers in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana — saving customers an estimated $3 billion in electricity costs over the next 30 years. 

Severe Weather Timeline: When Will The Storms Reach Oklahoma?

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KFOR:

The threat of severe weather returns to Oklahoma Tuesday afternoon.

There will be a LOW tornado threat with these storms.

The primary risk will be for large hail, damaging winds and flooding rainfall.

Storms will develop across Western Oklahoma Tuesday afternoon. The severe threat will begin around sunset (7-8pm).

The storms will move into the OKC Metro/I-35 Corridor around 9-10pm.

The storms will then race into Eastern Oklahoma and clear out by sunrise Wednesday morning (and yes, there will even be a chance of snow in the Panhandle).

Biden Administration Seeks To Dismiss Oklahoma Lawsuit Over National Guard Vaccine Mandate

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The Hill:

The Biden administration is asking an Oklahoma federal court to dismiss the state’s lawsuit over the National Guard’s vaccine mandate.

In a motion filed late Friday, the government argued that the case should be dismissed “in its entirety” after U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot of the Western District of Oklahoma turned down the state’s motion for preliminary injunction against the mandate in late December, arguing then that the plaintiff’s claims were largely without merit.

The “fundamental conclusion” of Friot’s original ruling, the government argues, now requires dismissal of the case.

The Hill has reached out to the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office for comment.

The motion follows a heated battle between the Pentagon and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) over the military’s vaccine mandate, which largely escalated late last year.

See also: Supreme Court Sides With Pentagon On Vaccine Mandate

Transgender Athlete Bill Heads To Oklahoma Governor For Signature

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KCBY:

One day after the Oklahoma House passed its version of the Save Women’s Sports Act, a bill that would require student-athletes play on teams that match their biological sex at birth, the state Senate resurrected a similar bill from 2021.

SB 2, also known as the Save Women’s Sports Act, passed with its 2021 house amendments first thing Thursday morning by a vote of 37-7. It now goes to the governor’s desk for signature.

Tornadoes Tear Through Texas And Oklahoma Leaving Trail Of Destruction

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The Guardian:

More than a dozen people were injured on Monday when tornadoes tore through parts of Texas and Oklahoma, damaging a school, homes and businesses.

The same storm system was poised to move into Louisiana and Mississippi on Tuesday, carrying the risk of dangerous tornadoes and powerful winds.

In Texas on Monday, several tornadoes were reported along the Interstate-35 corridor, particularly in the Austin suburbs of Round Rock and Elgin and close to Dallas-Fort Worth. Unconfirmed tornadoes caused damage in the Lake Texoma area of northern Texas and southern Oklahoma.

“It Is In Oklahoma,” Doctors Paying Close Attention To Stealth Omicron Variant

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KFOR:

In the U.N. health agency’s weekly report on the pandemic issued late Tuesday, WHO said there were more than 11 million new COVID-19 infections last week – about an 8% rise – and 43,000 new deaths. The number of COVID-19 deaths globally has been dropping for the past three weeks.

“COVID’s not gone,” said Dr. Dale Bratzler, OU’s Chief COVID Officer.

The biggest increase in cases were seen in the Western Pacific and Africa, where infections rose by 29% and 12% respectively. In Europe, cases inched up by about 2%.

The jump in cases is being blamed on the stealth omicron variant, which is even more contagious than the original omicron variant.

“It’s a subvariant of the original omicron. It’s even more contagious than omicron, but doesn’t appear to cause any more severe disease,” he said.

International Canoe Competition Moving From Moscow To OKC

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KFOR:

On Thursday, the International Canoe Federation announced that the 2022 Canoe Sprint Super Cup and the 2022 ICF Stand Up Paddling World Cup will be relocated.

Previously, the events were set to be held in Moscow, Russia. Now, organizers say they will be relocated to Oklahoma City in August.

“When we were approached about stepping up to host the displaced events, it was a resounding yes from everyone involved,” said RIVERSPORT Foundation Board Chairman Michael Ming. “Everyone from the governor of the State of Oklahoma to David Holt, the mayor of Oklahoma City to our board members and staff wants to exemplify the Olympic ideal of using sport to build a better world.” 

Organizers say the move comes after the International Olympic Committee directed that international competitions be moved out of Russia in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

Mix Of Stormy, Snowy Weather Expected Across Parts Of Oklahoma

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The Oklahoman:

Erratic weather patterns ushered in a frenetic springtime transition, as everything from heavy wind and hail to light rain and snow appeared in the forecast for different parts of Oklahoma overnight and into Friday morning.

An upper-level trough moved north from the Texas Panhandle and into southwestern Oklahoma Thursday afternoon, bringing colder and wetter weather after several days of warm temperatures. As the system moved into central Oklahoma, storms developed ahead of it, with meteorologists expecting high winds with possible hail in the Oklahoma City metro area.

The stormy prediction complicated an already-hectic forecast, with fire and wind advisories in southwestern Oklahoma on Thursday and snow projections for northwestern Oklahoma early Friday.

Daylight Saving Time Bill Pushed By Oklahoma Senators Passes In US Senate

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KRMG:

The bill was reintroduced in 2021 by Oklahoma’s U.S. Senators James Lankford and Jim Inhofe along with other Republican and Democrat senators.

“This is one issue that I have been chipping away at for a few years, and an issue I have consistently heard from Oklahomans—they are ready to lock the clock,” said Lankford. “Today Oklahomans, parents, dog owners, and lovers of daylight are one step closer to not having to deal with springing forward or falling back,” said Lankford.

Extreme Fire Fanger Returns To Oklahoma

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KFOR:

Look for clear skies and breezy winds Saturday night with lows in the middle 30s.

The weekend will continue to be warmer with a return to extreme fire danger Sunday. Expect winds to whip from the west and southwest from 25 to 40mph. In addition, very low humidity levels will combine to give us very high fire spread conditions, much like what we experienced last weekend.

A wind shift moves through Monday, bringing rain mostly to southeastern parts of the state. With warm temps continuing the rest of the week, our next chance for precip arrives Thursday night into Friday.

Texas-Style Abortion Ban Passes Oklahoma Senate

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KSWO:

An abortion bill in Oklahoma that mimics one in Texas has passed through the Oklahoma Senate.

The bill would ban abortions after a heartbeat is detected. The enforcement of the bill would exclusively fall on the shoulders of private citizens.

Civil lawsuits could then be filed against abortion doctors and anyone who “knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion, including paying for or reimbursing the costs of an abortion through insurance or otherwise.”

If a person who files a lawsuit wins in court, they would be entitled to a minimum of $10,000 in civil damages for each abortion performed, induced or abetted.

The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration.

Louisiana, Oklahoma, And Arkansas Announce Hydrogen Partnership

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Office Of The Governor:

Today, Governors John Bel Edwards of Louisiana, Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, and Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas announced their states have entered into a bipartisan three-state partnership to establish a regional hub for development, production, and use of clean hydrogen as fuel and manufacturing feedstock. 

In entering the agreement, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas intend to compete as a unit for funding established in the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, in which the United States Department of Energy (DOE) is directed to seek out and select regional clean hydrogen hubs to fund. The act specifies that such hubs should be selected by DOE based on mix of feedstock available to produce hydrogen, available users of hydrogen, geographic locations, and potential effects on employment, among other considerations.

“The state of Louisiana, as well as our partner states in this effort, have a long history of producing and transporting fuels and feedstocks in liquid and gas forms, as well as significant population of industrial end users with potential to make use of hydrogen as fuel or as part of manufacturing processes,” Governor Edwards said. “This is an extension of Louisiana’s ongoing efforts in diversifying the makeup of our energy sources and ensuring an economically and environmentally balanced approach to cleaner use of traditional fuels and transition to new potential energy sources.” 

“Oklahoma is honored to join in forming this partnership, not because of convenience, or necessity, but rather because we share a similar vision and goals for the production, use, and economic impact that can result from creating this hydrogen economy. Like our partners, we believe that creating as many end-use cases for commercialization with as many private partners is the quickest and best mechanism to spur real demand for this clean energy. The resources and opportunities in Oklahoma are complementary to our partners and tailor made for a diverse hub application to compete with others around the country,” said Governor Stitt.

Oklahoma Senate Supports Income Tax Exemption For Military Retirement

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Fox 25:

The Oklahoma Senate approved a bill that would honor America’s military by not taxing their retirement pay.

Senate Bill (SB) 401 would have Oklahoma joining 33 other states who don’t tax veterans retirement pay. SB 401 is authored by Air Force Veteran, Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Sen. Brenda Stanley, R- Midwest City, vice chair of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

“This is just one more way to support our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our nation. I’ve been working on this legislation for five years, and I’m very excited that the governor, along with my Senate and House colleagues, have pledged their support to get it across the finish line this session,” Pugh said. “I want Oklahoma to be the top destination for America’s heroes. These are highly trained professionals, typically in their forties looking to start a second career, with numerous skills that are desperately needed in our workforce. They can help fill the gap in critical industries like aviation and engineering, which will be an incredible boon for our economy.”

After Banning ‘Critical Race Theory,’ Oklahoma Lawmakers Seek Further School Curriculum Restrictions

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Public Radio Tulsa:

A 2021 poll found that of the 82 percent of Oklahoma voters who had some awareness of critical race theory, 58 percent were opposed to teaching the concepts in public schools.

Dozens of new bills at the Oklahoma Legislature aim to place more restrictions on school curriculum and library standards in the state. Some of the bills contain language lifted from model legislation crafted by national conservative and libertarian think-tanks.

Bill To Keep Planned Parenthood Programs Out Of Oklahoma Schools Moves Forward

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KOCO:

A bill that would keep Planned Parenthood programs out of Oklahoma schools is moving forward at the state Capitol.

Senate Bill 1544 would prevent any public, charter or virtual school in Oklahoma from partnering with entities that perform or provide abortions. The measure would allow schools to partner with a hospital, though, only if the procedure is done under a medical emergency to save the mother’s life.

State Sen. Roland Pederson, R-Burlington, said in a news release that the bill would prevent organizations like Planned Parenthood from instituting curriculum and normalizing sexual activities, behavior and abortion in Oklahoma’s public-school systems.

The bill now moves over to the full House for a vote.

Oklahoma Moves Toward ‘Endemic’ Approach To COVID-19

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KVII:

Oklahoma officials say they are shifting their response efforts to an “endemic” approach to the coronavirus.

The Oklahoman reported that interim health commissioner Keith Reed said last week the department is preparing to begin a transition “into the endemic phase of this pandemic.”

A disease reaches the endemic stage when the virus still exists in a community but becomes manageable as immunity builds.

Last month, California became the first state to formally shift to an “endemic” approach to the coronavirus. But Reed said the shift to an endemic response doesn’t change the way the health department would respond if a new variant caused another surge.

If another variant begins to surge, then I will resume following the daily stats.

Iraq Veteran Receives Purple Heart In Oklahoma For Injuries Sustained In 2011

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KFOR:

The Purple Heart is an honor soldiers receive for injuries they sustain or die from on the battlefield.

On Monday, a war veteran who now calls ​Oklahoma home waited a decade for his purple heart.

“It’s surreal right now. I gave up at one point to try to search for it, to try to get it and to have it actually come, it means a lot,” said SGT Carl Fastiggi. 

In 2011, then-Specialist Fastiggi was fighting with the California Army National Guard in Iraq. He was a member of the 640th Aviation Support Battalion, Company B at Camp Taji, Iraq.

The incident happened around 1:55 p.m. when Camp Taji came under rocket fire.

SPC Fastiggi ran for cover in a nearby hanger and was hit in the head by debris. Shortly after, he reported to the medical center with a severe headache; he was evaluated and determined fit for duty.

“At the time, he did get medical care and such, but all the records weren’t done and weren’t made complete on it,” said Senator James Lankford.

Fastiggi was diagnosed with a delayed concussion and still suffers from severe headaches and pain.

His ​lost paperwork caused a more than 10-year delay. It was Senator James Lankford and his office’s behind-the-scenes work that made this moment come true.