Winter Storm Causes Thousands to be Without Power, Lawmaker Proposes Making Oklahoma a Sovereign State, Woman Executes Sting Operation to Get Stolen Items Back: This Week’s Top News Stories

Weekly news report graphic

The following summaries are of events that took place over the past week throughout Oklahoma. Visit the link provided with each story to learn more.

Winter storms leave thousands without power in NE Oklahoma

On Thursday, winter weather returned to Oklahoma, bringing with it blustery gusts and a dusting of snow to certain areas of the state. Additionally, thousands of people in northeast Oklahoma are without electricity due to the hazardous weather.

As of Thursday at 3 p.m., 1,235 customers in Northeast Oklahoma were without power, according to Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E).

Around 4,557 of the Public Service Company of Oklahoma’s customers are reported to be without power in northeast Oklahoma.

According to Oklahoma’s Electric Cooperatives, 149 consumers are currently without power in the northeastern regions of the state.

When power will be restored to the affected customers is still unknown. Additionally, hazardous weather is anticipated to last into Thursday morning.

Source: Thousands Without Power Around NE Oklahoma As Winter Storms Bring Snow, Frigid Temperatures – News On 6

Lawmaker wants Oklahoma to be sovereign

A joint resolution to formally recognize Oklahoma as a sovereign state has been submitted by an Oklahoma politician.

Sen. Nathan Dahm, a Republican from Broken Arrow, has submitted Senate Joint Resolution 2, which calls for changing the state constitution.

The proposed amendment would formally recognize Oklahoma’s independence.

Oklahomans lost a total of $500,000 due to SNAP benefit fraud.

The proposed amendment reads as follows: Any laws that conflict with the Constitution of the United States are void and of no force or effect in the State of Oklahoma, which is an indivisible sovereign state and a constituent of the Federal Union known as the United States of America.

Sen. Nathan Dahm said that the federal government has been infringing on state sovereignty for far too long. The goal of this idea is to get the federal government and the state back in balance.

The proposed amendment would go before the electorate in the following election if it were approved by the Legislature.

Source: Lawmaker wants to declare Oklahoma a sovereign state – KFOR

Oklahoma mom stages sting to recover wallets and catch thief

A woman from Oklahoma organized a sting operation to recover her stolen designer wallets and catch the perpetrator.

The Harrah mother advertised some expensive items on Facebook Marketplace to support her family over the holiday season, but she claimed to have been duped.

Kathryn Ferrell, whose wallets were taken, said, ‘I’m a single mom of three kids, and I was just selling some of the stuff to try and make some money for Christmas for my kids,’

She listed a few expensive handbags and wallets on Facebook Marketplace last week with her kids in mind. A woman phoned her right away and invited the prospective buyer to her house.

The woman allegedly returned the next day with her companion after she was given a fantastic bargain. Ferrell believed the woman had abandoned her bag.

Two expensive wallets worth $4,000 that the lady stole were put online.

At that point, Ferrell organized the sting operation and used her acquaintance as a dummy.

Deputies from Oklahoma County were privy to the plot and detained the suspect after she acknowledged to stealing. She took more than just the stolen wallets to the station, though.

Source: Oklahoma mom sets up sting operation to get stolen wallets back, put thief behind bars – KSL.com

Oklahoma was ranked 42nd by Forbes for companies to start a business in

The idea of launching a firm in Oklahoma doesn’t appeal to Forbes.

Oklahoma is ranked 42nd on the list of ‘Best States to Start a Business in 2023.’—a list that will most doubt cause moans in certain parts of the nation, ego boosts in others, and a lot of data misunderstanding.

But how reliable is such a list in any case? What elements are omitted? Is Oklahoma really such a poor area to launch a business, considering that it is the origin of companies like Continental Resources, Love’s Travel Stops, Sonic, Paycom, and more?

Not precisely, said local company owners and VCs experienced in the establishment of new companies in Oklahoma.

The greatest and worst states were determined by Forbes based on ’18 key metrics across five categories’ Business expenses, business climate, financial accessibility, economy, and workforce are the five basic areas.

Oklahoma achieved the state’s median score in three of the five categories (business costs, business climate and economy). However, the state’s performance in terms of financial accessibility and workforce rankings also fell short of the median.

There is undoubtedly work to be done, but Erika Lucas believes lists like the one Forbes produces have little value.

Source: Forbes said Oklahoma was a bottom 10 state to start a business. Is it really? – The Oklahoman

3 deaths on the road due to icy conditions

Eric Foster, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper, reported three fatal collisions on ice highways Thursday.

Five to six automobiles caused one Turner Turnpike death northeast of Oklahoma City. A semi-trailer hit someone who got out to check the damage.

Trooper Foster said a three-vehicle collision on an icy two-lane roadway killed another individual. The cold front and precipitation brought a third death to northern Oklahoma around 8:30 a.m.

The National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, predicted wind chill levels of – 25 degrees Fahrenheit and wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph when the cold front pushed through Oklahoma on Thursday morning. The state had freezing drizzle and light-blowing snow.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported 54 injury and 247 non-injury crashes.

Source: Oklahoma Reports Three Road Deaths Amid Icy Weather – WSJ

Stillwater says Air Force charter jet damaged runway

The U.S. Air Force Academy women’s basketball team’s military cargo plane allegedly landed without permission in Stillwater, Oklahoma, damaging a minor airport runway, municipal officials said Thursday.

In a press statement, municipal officials noted the C-17 Globemaster is 45 tons heavier than the runway’s maximum weight. The city says the jet landed Sunday before a Tuesday game versus Oklahoma State University.

The statement stated airport officials have temporarily mended runway and taxiway surface damage but must analyze the sub-surface for long-term damage. The city didn’t estimate repairs.

City authorities said all charter planes must get permission before utilizing the airport, but this one did not.

On Thursday, U.S. Air Force authorities denied the city’s claim, stating the trip was planned with airport officials five days prior.

Source: City in Oklahoma Says Air Force Charter Jet Damaged Runway – Military.com

Ryan Martinez charged with felony DUI arrest in October

State Rep. Ryan Martinez was charged with a felony Thursday following his October DUI arrest.

The Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office charged Martinez, R-Edmond, with ‘Actual Physical Control Of Vehicle While Intoxicated’ and recommended an arrest warrant.

Martinez declined to respond when contacted by phone.

Legislators cannot be felons per state law.

On Oct. 27, Edmond Police were called to The Patriarch after the bar refused to serve Martinez and he was observed ‘stumbling’ to his vehicle. He was in his running automobile when police came.

According to NonDoc’s body cam footage, Martinez sought to avoid arrest by claiming a state legislation that prevents officers from detaining legislators during session. The Legislature was in extraordinary session.

Source: State Rep. Ryan Martinez charged with felony in connection with October DUI arrest – The Frontier

Heating bill help receives $5 billion in government spending

A winter blizzard forced President Joe Biden to have an oval office briefing.

It’s not like a childhood snow day. The President called this serious.

As temperatures drop, Americans worry about rising heating expenditures. The U.S. Energy Department reports double-digit increases in natural gas, heating oil, and electricity prices over last winter.

‘Going without utilities, especially heat during a blizzard, is simply not an option,’ stated Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

Gillibrand said $5 billion in the government spending package will assist low-income Americans heat their homes.

Gillibrand said families and communities can keep their homes warm and their neighbors safe.

Some politicians argue this doesn’t address energy price increases.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said lowering energy prices is the most essential issue.

Hawley criticizes Biden administration energy policy for higher prices.

It’s illogical. Reopen America’s pipelines, rigs. ‘Let American workers work again and lower energy prices,’ Hawley added.

Source: Government spending package secures five billion dollars in funding for heating bill assistance – KFOR

State of Oklahoma, local government & Tribal Nation coordination workshop scheduled for major internet upgrade

The Oklahoma Broadband Office (a state government agency), the Oklahoma Municipal League, the Oklahoma Association of County Commissioners, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will host the ‘Internet for All: Oklahoma Local and Tribal Coordination Workshop in Oklahoma City on Thursday, January 19, 2023.’ in Oklahoma City on Thursday, January 19, 2023.

A ‘five-year’ mission has been established, and innovative individuals in government and business have agreed to adopt it.

‘The day long workshop at the Oklahoma City Convention Center, 100 Mick Cornett Drive, will bring together key participants in Oklahoma from the federal, state, tribal, and local governments, industry, and other important stakeholders to discuss coordination on broadband efforts as the state prepares to receive significant broadband funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.’ according to a press release from the Broadband office sent to The Oklahoma City Sentinel.

Source: Internet for All: State of Oklahoma, Local Government and Tribal Nation Coordination Workshop Scheduled – The Oklahoma City Sentinel

Oklahoma public school enrollment climbs for second year

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, public school enrollment grew for the second year in a row but remains below pre-pandemic levels.

701,258 Pre-K–12 public school pupils were enrolled in 2022–23, according to OSDE data. According to OSDE data, 2,562 students have enrolled since last year and 7,145 since the 2020-21 COVID-19 pandemic.

Oklahoma public school enrollment rose rapidly after 2010, peaking at 703,650 the year of COVID-19. Over 9,500 pupils left public schools in 2020-2021, according to OSDE data.

The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools reported that public school enrollment declined in virtually every state. Public schools lost thousands of pupils in Oklahoma, while charter schools gained 29%.

The National Alliance study showed a reduction in public school enrollment in the first year of the pandemic, followed by a steady increase but not to pre-pandemic levels.

Source: Oklahoma public school enrollment up for the second year – Washington Examiner

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