The dust is settling on the 2024 legislative session. Most of the hundreds of bills passed from February to late May are minor tweaks to existing law with little bearing on day-to-day life.

By Debbi Leo On May 7, 2024, Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation (SEOPC) presented its new and updated PAD, or Preliminary Application Document and NOI (Notice of Intent) to FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The new time line for filing comments and requests for further studies to be done by SEOPC is now Sept.

Oklahoma has a rich aviation history. We have a unique relationship with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through the important work done at Oklahoma City’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC), which is an essential part of a safe and efficient national air space, coordinated by the FAA. The Aeronautical Center is home to the only FAA Academy which provides the initial training for air traffic controllers with centralized, standardized, and efficient training to about 20,000 students each year. The Academy is also home to the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute that provides medical certification, research, education, and occupational health for the FAA.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Tuesday denied a gag order request submitted by special counsel Jack Smith in former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case.

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Josh Brecheen issued the following statement after the sentencing of Pennsylvania’s Bryan Hagerich— one of five Americans being detained by the Turks and Caicos government for inadvertently having ammunition in their luggage. “I am glad to see that a step towards common sense prevailed and Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania will be able to return to the U.S. after paying a fine,” said Congressman Josh Brecheen. “His months spent detained in Turks and Caicos already is not right and should not be seen as just moving forward for the others awaiting trial. We are hopeful this outcome sets a precedent for the four other detained Americans, including Oklahoma’s own Ryan Watson.

the point Yes, I was there 42 years ago at the Hugo Chamber of Commerce office joining LaCinda Stanfield and Leeta Henson (KIHN 1340) for a committee discussion about whether or not a Hugo High Homecoming would be a good event to start or if it could be as successful as our Highway 70 sister-city Boswell’s record-setting Homecoming event. (Oldest in Oklahoma!) It’s obvious the event has been a smashing success by the thousands of visitors and many HHS grads it has brought back to the community in which they once lived and forged the basics of their education.

Lawmakers quietly gave Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry a $50 million gift in last week’s budget agreement. Unlike most line items that were discussed and debated, one line attributed to the Tax Commission allocated $50 million that would pay one-fourth of the cost to retrofit old, methane-leaking wells to bring them up to current Environmental Protection Agency standards.

the point Publisher National Police Week this year is stirring up more than normal attention to the men and women who have chosen this important vocation “To Protect and Serve” in virtually every community in the nation. We are very fortunate here in Choctaw County to have both paid and volunteer officers who work under pretty difficult conditions...

Washington, D.C. – On Monday evening, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) returned from leading a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation (CODEL) to Turks and Caicos (TCI) where the members met with TCI government officials to discuss the five Americans being detained on the islands for inadvertently having ammunition in their luggage. If convicted, the Americans could each face a 12-year minimum prison sentence.

This spring, the comined Regional University Systems of Oklahoma (RUSO) universities celebrated a total of 4,973 graduates, underscoring the significant impact RUSO graduates have on the state. Here’s a breakdown of the total graduates from each RUSO institution: East Central University (ECU): 427 graduates Northeastern State University (NSU): 1,072 graduates Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU): 225 graduates Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SE): 823 graduates, the largest graduating class in the university’s history.