Articles by Ken Miller

Number of Arkansas Storm-Related Fatalities Rises to 5

A north-central Arkansas volunteer fire chief died after being struck by a vehicle early on April 30 while working as heavy thunderstorms moved through, one of five confirmed storm-related fatalities in the state, an official said. At least four other …

Oil Spill Shuts Down Pipeline in Cushing, Oklahoma

A Seaway Crude Pipeline Co. pipeline that spilled oil at a storage hub in Oklahoma remained closed on Oct. 25, according to a spokesman for Houston-based Enterprise Products Partners, a 50 percent owner of Seaway. “As of right now we …

37 Disposal Wells to Close after Oklahoma Quake, a Fraction of State’s Total

The 37 wastewater disposal wells to be shut down in north-central Oklahoma, where a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck this weekend, are just a fraction of the state’s total number. There are about 4,200 total wells across the state and about …

5.1M Quake Among Latest Swarm of Temblors in Oklahoma

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook northwest Oklahoma and was felt in seven other states on Feb. 13, the U.S. Geological Survey said, the third-strongest temblor ever recorded in the state where the power and frequency of earthquakes has dramatically increased …

2015 Was Oklahoma’s Wettest Year Ever

Bouncing from drought to flooding, back to drought and then to flooding again, 2015 finished as the wettest year on record in Oklahoma. State Climatologist Gary McManus said that 2015 ended with a statewide average of 53.88 inches of rain …

Magnitude-4.5 Earthquake Rattles Central Oklahoma

A magnitude-4.5 earthquake in central Oklahoma shook residents on Dec. 7, just weeks after the two-year anniversary of the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the Sooner state, and was followed by two smaller temblors later in the day. The shaking …

Oklahoma Refinery Explosion Leaves 1 Dead, 1 Injured

A boiler that was being brought back online after maintenance exploded at an oil refinery in Wynnewood, Okla., killing one worker and injuring another, Garvin County’s sheriff said Sept. 29. Billy Smith, 34, of Pauls Valley, died in the blast …

Rains Fail to Offset Oklahoma Drought Conditions

Rains that have fallen across Oklahoma during the past week have not provided significant relief from drought conditions that have plagued the state in recent months, according to a state climatologist, and left the state’s cotton crop in what one …

NTSB: Why Didn’t Train Wait Before Oklahoma Crash?

Federal investigators want to know why a freight train streaking across the Oklahoma Panhandle failed to pull into a side track and instead charged down the main line and collided head-on with another train approaching from the opposite direction. Three …

Oklahoma Insurance Department Spokesman Resigns Over Offensive Email

The Oklahoma Insurance Department’s spokesman said he resigned on Feb. 10 after sending an official email to hundreds of people containing an off-color term for breasts. Glenn Craven told The Associated Press that he had sent the email and was …