Latest Oklahoma Headlines

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

Tax Cuts, Workers’ Comp Top Oklahoma GOP Agenda

Feb 4 2013 // Republicans enjoying a tighter grip on the Oklahoma Legislature say they hope to cut taxes, overhaul the workers’ compensation system and increase school funding when the 2013 session opens today. Doing so, they say,...

Settlement OK’d Over Louisiana Citizens Katrina, Rita Claims

Feb 1 2013 // Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has finalized a $20 million settlement related to claims handled after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, wrapping up one of two remaining storm-related settlements that have weighed...

Legislation Would Eliminate a Gun-Related Felony in Oklahoma

Jan 31 2013 // Legislation filed by an Oklahoma state lawmaker would eliminate a felony for law-abiding gun owners. Rep. Paul Wesselhöft has introduced House Bill 1558, which would allow licensed gun owners to board a bus with their...

After Disasters, Oklahoma County Struggles Against Drought

Jan 30 2013 // In the gently rolling hills of Oklahoma ranch country is a place that has seen more than its share of destructive weather – tornadoes, ice storms and floods, year after year, for half of the last decade. In fact,...

Oklahoma Insurance Department Creates Anti-Fraud Advisory Board

Jan 29 2013 // Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak announced the creation of an advisory board to increase the effectiveness of the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s Anti-Fraud Unit. The board includes four legislators, a...

Drought Seen Worsening in Plains, Midwest States

Jan 28 2013 // Dry weather continues to plague the drought-stricken U.S. Plains and western Midwest with only light showers and snowfall expected this week, an agricultural meteorologist said on Monday. “The Plains and the...

Oklahoma AG Challenges Federal Health Care IRS Claims

Jan 28 2013 // The nation’s health care law does not authorize the Internal Revenue Service to adopt a rule that the federal government claims is needed to implement the statute, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt...

Business Moves – South Central

Jan 28 2013 // Caldwell and Partners, Midlands Holding Corp. Oklahoma-based Caldwell and Partners Inc. (CAP) acquired Midlands Holding Corp. (MHC) from PMA Capital Corp. (PMA). Midlands Management Corp. (Midlands) is a managing general...

Legislation Would Ban Texting While Driving in Oklahoma

Jan 24 2013 // Legislation filed by state Rep. Curtis McDaniel would increase safety on Oklahoma roads by banning texting while driving, the lawmaker says. House Bill 1503, by McDaniel, would outlaw texting while their vehicle is in...

More than 2,400 Bills Filed for 2013 Oklahoma Legislative Session

Jan 21 2013 // Members of the Oklahoma House and Senate have filed more than 2,400 bills and resolutions to consider in the 2013 Legislature. The measures were filed prior to the Jan. 17, 4 p.m. deadline for state lawmakers to file...

Oklahoma State Senator Criticizes Spending at Insurance Department

Jan 14 2013 // An Oklahoma state senator has announced his intention to file legislation to curb what he calls unnecessary expenditures at the state insurance department, as well as other state agencies. In announcement released by the...

Officials in Iowa Town OK Golf Carts on Streets

Jan 14 2013 // Officials in southern Iowa are giving residents the green light to drive golf carts on city streets. The Ottumwa Courier reports the Eddyville City Council approved an ordinance this week that will allow residents to drive...

People – South Central

Jan 14 2013 // The Texas Surplus Lines Association Inc. announced that Kathy van Eeten, senior vice president – regional marketing for insurance broker CRC|Crump, has been elected president of the association for the coming year....

Oklahoma State Senators Look to Arkansas for Workers’ Comp Answers

Jan 10 2013 // Oklahoma Senators Anthony Sykes and Josh Brecheen are looking to Arkansas for ideas for reforming their states’ workers’ compensation system. Workers’ compensation reform is among the top priorities in...

Study: Uninsured Driver Problem Costs Oklahoma $8.8M a Year

Jan 9 2013 // A new evaluation by the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) found that the state of Oklahoma is losing $8.8 million a year in premium taxes from drivers who fail to obtain the state-required minimum coverage for auto...

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner No. 2 User of State-Owned Plane

Jan 8 2013 // Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak has crisscrossed the state in state-owned aircraft on his mission to educate the public and reach out to constituents. As a result, Doak is the top statewide elected official using...

Four ‘Red’ States Get Health Exchange OK

Jan 7 2013 // Injecting a rare shot of bipartisanship in the nation’s contentious health care overhaul, the Obama administration Thursday cleared four Republican-led states to build their own consumer-friendly insurance...

Oklahoma Mom Sues Over Twitter Picture of Unclothed Daughter

Jan 7 2013 // The mother of a Booker T. Washington High School girls basketball player is seeking more than $75,000 in damages from Tulsa Public Schools, Twitter and others after a picture of her daughter in her underwear was circulated...

Oklahoma Business Group Urges ‘Administrative Approach’ to Workers’ Comp

Jan 4 2013 // The Oklahoma State Chamber says shifting the state’s court-based workers’ compensation system to an administrative model will be one of its top priorities for the upcoming legislative session. The powerful...

House, Senate OK $9.7B More for Flood Insurance Claims

Jan 4 2013 // The House of Representatives voted today 354-67 to increase the borrowing authority of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by $9.7 billion. The Senate, which already approved a similar increase but as part of a...