Latest Oklahoma Headlines

All the headlines from our Oklahoma Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Former Okla. Firefighter Accused of Embezzling from Insurance Fund

Sep 26 2005 // A former Bartlesville, Okla., firefighter who is a member of the Bartlesville Professional Firefighters Association is accused of embezzling $166,653 from the firefighters insurance fund, the Associated Press...

Okla. Labor Department Begins Campaign to Promote Safety Program

Sep 20 2005 // The Oklahoma Labor Department announced its nationally recognized Safety Pays OSHA Consultation Program is the focus of a statewide radio outreach promotion that began Sept. 19. The 30-second spots are intended to boost...

Okla. Communities Plan for Disaster Reduction with Mitigation Grants

Sep 1 2005 // Michael Brown, under secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response and head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced recently that FEMA has awarded 11 mitigation grants in...

Farmers Notes 10.5% Workers’ Comp Reduction for Okla. Customers

Aug 30 2005 // The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies announced a 10.5 percent reduction in workers’ compensation rates for its Oklahoma business customers reportedly due to an improving insurance marketplace. This 10.5 percent...

Former Okla. Poultry Worker Ordered to Pay Restitution in Fraud Case

Aug 29 2005 // A Jay, Okla., woman received a three-year deferred sentence and was ordered to pay $3,692.50 in restitution after pleading guilty in Delaware County District Court, state Attorney General Drew Edmondson said. Gregoria...

Former Okla. Commissioner Repays Part of Alleged Bribe

Aug 22 2005 // Former Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher has repaid at least $14,000 of an alleged $25,000 bribe, records show. The Associated Press and the Oklahoman reported that Fisher made the first payment, $1,000, Nov....

BONDING COMPANY ORDERED TO STOP

Aug 22 2005 // Oklahoma Ins-urance Commiss-ioner Kim Holland ordered Global Bonding to stop conducting unauthorized business involving insurance in Oklahoma. The order states the company violated state law by misleading consumers,...

News Briefs

Aug 22 2005 // Arkansas Conference to Aid Business Leaders The Arkansas Workers Compensa-tion Commission will hold the 18th Annual Workers’ Compen- sation Educational Conference Oct. 12-14 in Little Rock. The AWCC said businesses...

Business Moves

Aug 22 2005 // HCSC, BCBS of Okla. An independent hearing examiner, on behalf of the Oklahoma Insurance Department, approved a request by Health Care Services Corporation (HCSC) to merge with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma. HCSC,...

Marcus Humphrey

Aug 22 2005 // McQueary Henry Bowles Troy LLP (MHBT), based in Dallas, recently named Marcus Humphrey vice president and leader of the firm’s Employee Benefits group. As vice president, Humphrey’s primary responsibilities...

Accident Rates in Okla. Public Sector Workplace Hit Historic Low

Aug 16 2005 // Oklahoma public sector workplace accident rates are the lowest in state history, according to Commissioner of Labor Brenda Reneau. Gov. Brad Henry, reacting to the news, said the data demonstrates “the...

Safety Procedures Ignored in Okla. Water Park Death

Aug 11 2005 // Okla. Commissioner of Labor Brenda Reneau released the “Final Investigatory Report” of the recent fatality incident at Sun & Fun Water Park, Ponca City. A park employee, 17-year-old Alan J. Bray, died from...

BILL TO PROTECT AGAINST DISCOUNT CARD FRAUD:

Aug 8 2005 // New legislation in Oklahoma that defines discount medical plans and protects consumers against high-pressure sales tactics and misleading information is welcome, according to Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland. Companies...

News Briefs

Aug 8 2005 // National Poll Reveals Americans’ Views on Aging: A poll by the MetLife Mature Market Institute conducted by Zogby International shows that 60 percent of Americans believe “old” is age 71 and over, but...

Okla. Man Pleads Guilty to Workers’ Comp Fraud

Aug 4 2005 // A Duncan, Okla., man will pay more than $15,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to workers’ compensation fraud in Oklahoma County District Court, according to State Attorney General Drew Edmondson. Curtis Ray...

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma Merger Approved

Aug 1 2005 // An independent hearing examiner, on behalf of the Oklahoma Insurance Department, approved a request by Health Care Services Corporation (HCSC) to merge with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma. HCSC, with nearly 10...

Okla. Employers May See Lower Workers’ Comp Costs

Aug 1 2005 // Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland expects workers’ compensation insurance costs for policyholders with licensed insurance companies to decrease because of benefit changes produced by a special session bill...

Okla. Man to Serve 9 Years for Workers’ Comp Fraud

Jul 29 2005 // A Tulsa County, Okla., man was given a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty to one count of workers’ compensation fraud in Tulsa County District Court, according to State Attorney General Drew Edmondson. Edmondson...

Okla. Covenant Home Warranty Customers Urged to Come Forward

Jul 27 2005 // Okla. Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland is encouraging Covenant Home Warranty Corporation customers to contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department if they had a claim before the company’s June 24 suspension. The...

Okla. Orders Bonding Company to Cease and Desist

Jul 27 2005 // Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland announced she is ordering Global Bonding to stop conducting unauthorized business involving insurance in Oklahoma. The order states the company has violated state law by...