Articles by Tim Talley

Bill Banning Local Drilling Rules Passes Oklahoma House

Legislation that prohibits cities and towns from regulating oil and natural gas drilling operations was approved by the Oklahoma House on April 22, one day after the Oklahoma Geological Survey said it is “very likely” that a swarm of recent …

Oklahoma Geologists Also See Earthquake-Injection Well Link

The Oklahoma Geological Survey said it is “very likely” that most of the state’s recent earthquakes were triggered by the subsurface injection of wastewater from oil and natural gas drilling operations. Scientists at Southern Methodist University and the U.S. Geological …

Oklahoma Lawmakers Want to Regulate Drones in State

Concerned about the growing presence of drones in the skies above Oklahoma, a couple of state lawmakers have filed legislation to rein in their use. But state officials trying to attract unmanned aerial vehicle designers and manufacturers say it is …

Police: Fired Oklahoma Man Beheads Co-Worker, Attacks Another

A man who was shot after authorities say he beheaded one woman and attacked another at an Oklahoma food processing plant from which he had just been fired has regained consciousness and was interviewed by detectives on Sept. 27. Alton …

Oklahoma AG: Workers’ Comp Commission Broke Open Meeting Act

The commission that oversees Oklahoma’s system for compensating injured workers repeatedly violated the state’s Open Meeting Act, including when its members met privately with a potential vendor, an assistant attorney general said on Aug. 6. A review of the newly …

Oklahoma Governor Challenged on Workers’ Comp System Changes

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Joe Dorman criticized Republican Gov. Mary Fallin for changes to Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system that Dorman said are blocking injured workers’ access to medical care. Dorman, a term-limited state representative from Rush Springs, said the changes supported …

Backers of Oklahoma School Storm Shelters not Giving Up

It’s been a little more than a year since seven children were killed when a massive tornado destroyed Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, but their families are still no closer to the goal of placing storm shelters in every …

Judge Blocks Oklahoma Firm from Selling Execution Drug to Missouri

A federal judge on Feb. 12 agreed to temporarily block an Oklahoma pharmacy from providing an execution drug to the Missouri Department of Corrections for use in an upcoming lethal injection. The temporary restraining order was issued after a federal …

Oklahoma Superior Court Referee Hears Workers’ Comp Case

Oklahoma’s new workers’ compensation law violates the state Constitution in several ways and should be struck down, an attorney for two state lawmakers and a firefighter’s organization told a state Supreme Court referee Thursday. “There are some very, very disturbing …

Report: Oklahomans Can Access 53 Health Care Plans

Oklahomans will pay less than the national average for health insurance under an exchange scheduled to open next week as part of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, according to a report by the U.S. government. The report by the …