Latest Oklahoma Headlines
All the headlines from our Oklahoma Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Declarations
Feb 7 2011 // Oil Spill Prevention “We must ensure that we have systems in place in our government and in the industry so that this cannot happen again.” —U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Commission Co-Chair Sen....
Oklahoma Cat Response Team Includes State Officials, Industry Members
Feb 4 2011 // Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak has formed a catastrophe response task force to coordinate efforts of the department and the industry in the aftermath of the recent winter storm. “This is the first time the...
Oklahoma Digging Out Slowly After Blizzard; Disaster Declared
Feb 4 2011 // As Oklahomans continue to slowly dig out of 20 inches of snow, sleet and ice that shut down major interstates and forced the closure of airports, businesses and schools, law enforcement agencies are warning of the slog...
Midwest Buckles Under Storm
Feb 3 2011 // A massive storm billed as the worst in decades barreled toward the northeast Wednesday, leaving vast swaths from Chicago to New York paralyzed by snow and ice, stranding hundreds of motorists all night and shuttering...
Oklahoma Seeks Out-of-State Adjusters to Help with Storm Claims
Feb 2 2011 // Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner has issued an emergency order granting licenses to insurance adjusters form other states to help cope with claims expected as a result of a major winter storm. The state is among those being...
Oklahoma Senator Seeking Transparency in Health Insurance Rate Increases
Jan 28 2011 // Oklahoma State Sen. Earl Garrison wants insurance companies to be accountable to citizens and justify any rate increases. He has introduced Senate Bill 354, which would ensure that premium rate information relating to the...
Oklahoma Lawmaker, Manufactured Housing Assoc. Tackling Tornado Safety
Jan 27 2011 // Oklahoma State Rep. Pat Ownbey and the Manufactured Housing Association of Oklahoma Board of Directors’ are seeking to develop sample emergency plans for mobile home communities to prevent deaths in the event of a...
Oklahoma Insurance Department to Cut 6 Fraud Investigators
Jan 25 2011 // Oklahoma’s new insurance commissioner plans to lay off six of the office’s nine fraud investigators. Commissioner John Doak says the cuts will save $323,000 per year and will enable the office to focus on fraud...
People
Jan 24 2011 // Incoming Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak has appointed 10 members of his staff to lead the Oklahoma Insurance Department: Mike Rhoads is deputy commissioner of Health Insurance; Denise Engle is deputy...
TWFG Opens Locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon
Jan 24 2011 // Texas-based retail and managing general agency, The Woodlands Financial Group Inc. (TWFG), has opened three new branch locations — one each in Texas, Oklahoma and Oregon. Berry Olinghouse has opened a new branch location...
Oklahoma Lawmaker Proposes Texting While Driving Ban
Jan 21 2011 // Texting while driving would be illegal in Oklahoma under a bill being proposed in the House. State Rep. Danny Morgan, D-Prague, unveiled the bill Jan. 19, flanked by members of law enforcement, health officials and...
Work Comp, Tort Reform on Oklahoma Senate Republicans’ Agenda
Jan 21 2011 // The Republicans in the Oklahoma Senate say they are focusing on job creation and budget challenges in their legislative agenda this year. Workers’ compensation and tort reform are among the initiatives they say are...
Clingman, Harkey Appointed to Okla. Workers’ Comp Court Leadership Posts
Jan 19 2011 // Before he left office, former Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry made two appointments to leadership positions with the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Court. Judge Michael J. Harkey was named presiding judge of the court,...
Oklahoma Lawmaker Tackling Use of Cell Phone While Driving
Jan 14 2011 // Oklahoma state Rep. Danny Morgan, D-Prague, plans to file legislation to restrict the use of cell phones while driving. The lawmaker reported that Sapulpa drivers on public roads fell again victim to the legal practice of...
SBA Announces Disaster Loans for 72 Oklahoma Counties
Jan 12 2011 // The U.S. Small Business Administration says small, non-farm businesses in 72 Oklahoma counties are eligible for low-interest disaster loans. Officials announced Jan. 6 the loans will offset economic losses caused by the...
Oklahoma Revenue Exceeds Prior Year, New Treasurer Says
Jan 12 2011 // State officials say the money coming into state coffers last month exceeded both prior year collections and the official estimate. New State Treasurer Ken Miller says the December revenue report shows the economy is...
Okla. Official: Ex-lawmakers May Hold Insurance Department Jobs
Jan 10 2011 // A state law that bars legislators from working for a state agency within two years of leaving office doesn’t apply to two former state legislators hired by the incoming state insurance commissioner, an Oklahoma...
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner-Elect Names Staff Members
Jan 7 2011 // Incoming Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak has appointed 10 members of his staff to lead the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Joining the team are: Mike Rhoads as deputy commissioner of Health Insurance; Denise Engle...
Oklahoma Law Protecting Health Care Volunteers Now in Effect
Jan 5 2011 // A new state law protecting health care professionals who volunteer at school sporting events from being sued has gone into effect in Oklahoma and its author wants schools to take advantage of it. State Rep. Joe Dorman says...
Oklahoma State Bar Association to Reimburse Client Losses
Dec 29 2010 // The Oklahoma Bar Association’s board of directors has voted to reimburse several Oklahomans who were the victims of deceased or dishonest attorneys. The association announced its Clients’ Security Fund will pay...
