Latest Oklahoma Headlines
All the headlines from our Oklahoma Topic Page, ordered by recency.
New Law in Oklahoma Toughens Penalties for Insurance Fraud
May 14 2012 // A bill recently passed and signed by the governor toughens the penalties for insurance fraud, state officials say. Senate Bill 1439, requested by Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak, is expected to save taxpayers...
Oklahoma Insurance Agent Headed to Prison for not Filing Tax Returns
May 8 2012 // An Oklahoma insurance agent has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for not filing his federal income tax returns. Barry G. Brockman of Oklahoma City was sentenced for not filing tax returns for the calendar...
Business Moves – South Central
May 7 2012 // Arthur J. Gallagher, Bessleman & Little Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Besselman & Little Agency of Baton Rouge, La. Founded in 1986, Besselman & Little Agency offers a wide range of employee...
People – South Central
May 7 2012 // Kyle Stevens, president and CEO of Western Security Surplus Insurance, announced organizational changes in the company’s Dallas office and a new hire for WSS’ Roseville, Calif., office. Jennie Reed has been...
Oklahoma Seeks Assistance Following Deadly April Storms
May 7 2012 // Oklahoma’s request for federal assistance to individuals and businesses affected by an April 15 tornado that killed six in Woodward was denied but the governor is continuing with her quest for help from the U.S....
Sierra Club Sues EPA Over Oklahoma Power Plants
May 4 2012 // The Sierra Club filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., District Court against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday, seeking to ensure that the federal agency enforces a state plan that monitors and reduces...
Lawmakers OK Limits on Mississippi AG’s Deals with Private Law Firms
May 4 2012 // A measure to limit Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood’s ability to control state legal business is on the way to Republican Gov. Phil Bryant. The Mississippi Senate voted 34-18 Wednesday to pass House Bill 211,...
BP’s $7.8 Billion Gulf Oil Spill Settlement Wins Initial Court OK
May 3 2012 // BP Plc won preliminary court approval of an estimated $7.8 billion settlement to resolve more than 100,000 claims by individuals and businesses stemming from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The accord comprises two...
New Law Increases Drunk Driving Penalty in Oklahoma
May 3 2012 // Under legislation recently signed into law in Oklahoma, a drunk driver who caused an accident resulting in great bodily harm could face a maximum of 10 years in prison. House Bill 2568, by state Rep. Harold Wright,...
Oklahoma Shopping Center Sues Insurer, Metal Plant, Others
May 2 2012 // The owner of a Muskogee, Okla. shopping center damaged during a deadly explosion seven years ago has sued a scrap metal plant. An insurance company, an engineering company and a claims and appraisal firm also are named as...
Oklahoma Governor Signs Firefighter Training Incentive Legislation
May 2 2012 // Legislation signed into law by Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin will improve on a current training incentive for firefighters, according to the bill’s author. House Bill 1835 “changes the firefighter training...
Oklahoma House Again Passes Severe Weather Liability Bill
May 1 2012 // Legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives would eliminate liability for any entity or person providing access to a safe place during instances of severe weather, as long as they were acting in good...
Disaster Assistance Approved for Oklahoma Woodward County
Apr 30 2012 // Gov. Mary Fallin says the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved disaster assistance for Woodward County following a deadly tornado outbreak. Fallin said that the SBA will provide low-interest disaster loans for...
Oklahoma House Defeats Alternative Workers’ Comp Measure
Apr 27 2012 // The Oklahoma House has defeated workers’ compensation legislation that would have allowed large employers to opt-out of the state’s workers’ compensation system. In a bipartisan vote on April 25, House...
Apache Corp. Donates $350K for New Woodward, Oklahoma Sirens
Apr 25 2012 // Woodward, Okla., will soon have a new tornado warning system. Apache Corp, an oil and gas exploration and production company, and the City of Woodward announced a $350,000 donation from the company to replace the...
Federal Disaster Assistance Denied for Oklahoma
Apr 23 2012 // Gov. Mary Fallin’s office says her request for federal assistance to individuals and businesses affected by a tornado that killed six in Woodward has been denied. A news release said that Fallin will now ask the U.S....
Oklahoma Senate Approves Workers’ Comp Alternative
Apr 20 2012 // Oklahoma companies would be allowed to opt out of the state’s traditional workers’ compensation system and instead self-insure or have alternative coverage under new guidelines outlined in a bill approved on...
Oklahoma GOP Lawmakers Revisit Severe Weather Liability Policy
Apr 18 2012 // Oklahoma House Republicans are developing a comprehensive liability protection policy for Oklahomans who offer shelter to others during severe weather. House Bill 2296, which would offer liability protection to mobile home...
Deadly Oklahoma Tornado Traveled about 31 Miles
Apr 18 2012 // A tornado that killed six people in northwestern Oklahoma traveled about 31 miles and had winds of 136 to 165 mph at its peak. The National Weather Service on April 16 assigned a preliminary EF-3 Enhanced Fujita scale...
Oklahoma Gov. Vetoes Mobile Home Park Liability Bill; Lawmakers Critical
Apr 17 2012 // Two Tulsa, Okla., lawmakers said they were disappointed by Gov. Mary Fallin’s veto of a bill that would have given civil liability protection to mobile home park operators who allowed residents to take shelter in...
