Labor Dept. licensing window hours changing

OKLAHOMA CITY – Hours of operation for the state Labor Department’s licensing windows will change on March 7. Starting on that date, the windows will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. except for Thursdays, when the licensing windows will close at noon.

National Archives to release 1950 census data

The National Archives and Records Administration will release population records from the 1950 census digitally on April 1, the U.S. Census Bureau said recently.

AEP reports $539M in fourth-quarter earnings

COLUMBUS, Ohio – American Electric Power Company’s earnings for the fourth quarter of 2021, prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles, totaled $539 million or $1.07 per share, the company said in a Feb. 24 press release.

Survey: Blue-collar workers feel more respected

Two years after many U.S. businesses temporarily shut down to try to contain the first cases of the COVID-19 pandemic, America's blue-collar workers feel they are more respected, appreciated and in demand than before the pandemic.

Jobless claims at pre-COVID levels

OKLAHOMA CITY – First-time unemployment claims have fallen to pre-pandemic levels for most of the past three months. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reported that initial claims and continued claims increased slightly during the week ending Feb. 12.

Bill would give pay hike to court reporters, bailiffs

OKLAHOMA CITY – Court reporters and bailiffs working in state courts could see a substantial pay increase under a proposal working its way through the Oklahoma Legislature.

Scams cost Oklahomans almost $27M in ’21

OKLAHOMA CITY – More than 20,000 Oklahomans complained to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last year that they were victims of scams which defrauded them of millions of dollars. Fraud reports to the FTC in 2021 from Oklahomans numbered 22,036 and the total loss was calculated at $26.9 million.

AARP supports 2 antifraud measures

OKLAHOMA CITY – AARP Oklahoma announced it supports two pieces of legislation that target criminals who use telephones and text messages to defraud Oklahomans, especially senior citizens.

Kay County city officials charged with felonies

OKLAHOMA CITY – Three current or former city executives in Kay County are named in a collective total of nine felony charges arising from a state investigative audit. Thomas J.

Assistant fire marshal honored

LAWTON – Assistant Lawton Fire Marshal Anthony Garibay received a certificate of appreciation during the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Oklahoma Honors Banquet Feb. 19 in Norman, the City of Lawton announced.