Bill would close loophole on municipal elections

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill that supporters say will make dark money committees more transparent has cleared a legislative conference committee and is expected to be heard by both houses of the Legislature this week.

Unemployment still declining

OKLAHOMA CITY – By the end of April, continuing claims for state unemployment compensation dropped to a level last seen two decades ago, while nationally the total number of Americans collecting jobless benefits remained at its lowest level in more than five decades.

Bogus credit repair scheme shut down

At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, a federal court has temporarily halted a bogus credit repair scheme known as The Credit Game for promoting a series of lies and deceptions.

Okla. electric co-ops select team to electrify Guatemalan village

Adults and children in the isolated mountainous village of La Montañita de la Virgen in Guatemala live in the dark. The village has never had access to electricity before – but because of a group of Americans their story will soon change.

OKC man sentenced to federal prison over ‘synthetic identify theft’ scheme

OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma City man was sentenced to a year and a half in federal prison for conspiracy to make false statements to a financial institution by means of a “synthetic identify theft” scheme.

Intuit to pay $141M for TurboTax deceit

New York Attorney General Letitia James recently announced a record multistate agreement with the owner of TurboTax, Intuit Inc., for deceiving millions of low-income Americans into paying for tax services that should have been free.

State audit leads to embezzlement charge

OKLAHOMA CITY – An investigative audit of Stillwater Public Schools has led to a felony embezzlement charge filed against a former district employee. Stacy Kay Hampton is accused of stealing more than $200,000 from the school nutrition program over the course of seven years.

Altus OKs funding for Jackson County Expo Center renovations

ALTUS – An increase in sales and hotel-motel taxes prompted the city council to allocate $225,000 toward ongoing renovations at the Jackson County Expo Center. The request for the funds was approved at the May 3 city council meeting.

April tax collections shatter records

OKLAHOMA CITY – Gross receipts to the state Treasury in April driven by income tax payments shattered two records, but other indicators point to a cautionary outlook, State Treasurer Randy McDaniel reported. April gross receipts of $2.

Raytheon team tapped to create medical tool

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A Raytheon BBN-led team will develop an artificial intelligence tool for combat field medics, the company announced.   The Medical Assistance, Guidance, Instruction and Correction tool will assist combat field medics in 50 medical skills used in common procedures.