Surging job market could prove costly for households, businesses as odds of quick rate cuts fade

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. job growth surged and unemployment fell last month, an unexpected show of strength that may prove costly to homebuyers and businesses who were counting on sharply lower interest rates to lower the cost of buying everything from refrigerators to homes.

Former Pittsburg County sheriff takes plea deal in embezzlement case

McALESTER – On June 18, 2024, Chris Morris was reelected to a third four-year term as Sheriff of Pittsburg County.He’ll never serve a day of it. In fact, he never completed the last seven months of his second term.

Vehicle theft: sedans bump full-size pickups from top spot

OAK BROOK, Ill. – Kia and Hyundai vehicles experienced the highest theft rates in 2023, breaking the years-long trend of full-size pickups topping the list, according to a report issued by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

Man sentenced to prison for threats to ‘shoot up’ library, 2 schools

OKLAHOMA CITY – A Guthrie man was sentenced Jan. 10 to serve 16 months in federal prison for threatening to “shoot up” a library and two schools, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester announced.A federal grand jury returned an indictment Feb.

Southwest Oklahoma Legislative Update: Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY – The chamber’s biannual Organizational Day was held last week and Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) was formally seated as the new Senate leader after a full vote. He was confirmed by a vote of 39-8, along party lines.

Southwest Oklahoma Legislative Update: House

OKLAHOMA CITY – The youngest state Speaker of the House in Oklahoma history was formally seated last week during the Legislature’s Organizational Day on Jan. 7. Rep.

Rig Report: Rig numbers declined but were unchanged in Oklahoma

From staff reports The latest Baker Hughes rig report showed Oklahoma’s count as of last week was still 43, same as the previous week. It is also the same number reported in the state a year ago.

U.S. retail gasoline prices averaged about 20¢ less in ’24 than in ’23

U.S. gasoline prices were more than 20 cents lower in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). As Oklahoma prices averaged $2.56 per gallon last week, the EIA found the U.S.

Evidence of huge lithium deposit found on Nevada-Oregon border

A trio of volcanologists and geologists from Lithium Americas Corp., GNS Science, and Oregon State University reports evidence that the McDermitt Caldera, on the Nevada/ Oregon border, may contain some of the largest known deposits of lithium on Earth.

Protesters, opposition stop McIntosh County wind farm

Canadian-based TransAlta reportedly has decided not to move ahead with development of its Canadian River wind farm project in McIntosh County after the project received growing opposition from legislators and landowners.