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Hat tip: MuskogeePolitico
Related:
OKPNS: (1/26/09) “We’re honestly confused as to the reason Ms. Williams feels a challenge to Jones’ leadership is necessary at this time. Didn’t John McCain when every county in Oklahoma last November? Aren’t Senate Republicans controlling that body for the first time – ever???? Mr. Jones deserves credit for contributing to that success. We’re left scratching our heads on this one!”
Here is an excerpt from OSU’s press release:
SEAL BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oklahoma State University (OSU) has awarded Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE) a new 15-year contract to construct, operate and supply a new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station on the OSU campus at Stillwater, OK. The facility will support the University’s accelerating program to replace most of its diesel bus and gasoline-powered fleet vehicles with energy-efficient, environmentally friendly CNG models.
The new Clean Energy OSU CNG station, which will also be open to the public, will be located on the Southeast corner of Lakeview and Western on the Stillwater campus. Slated for opening by Fall 2009, the new facility will be equipped with two fast-fill CNG dispensers plus 24 time-fill CNG dispensers to supply fuel for the OSU’s growing CNG campus bus fleet. OSU has announced plans to acquire and deploy 24 new CNG transit buses and 150 CNG fleet vehicles in the next three years, with up to 500 fleet vehicles anticipated within 10 years.
“Our goal is to have most of the vehicles designated for campus use equipped to run on CNG,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “This is a big step in moving OSU forward with its green initiatives. As a premier land-grant university, it is important that we are good stewards of the earth.”
OSU has been evaluating alternative fuel options for several years, and has now opted to focus on CNG for its campus fleets. “Clean Energy is the leader in the growing CNG arena, and we look forward to working with them on this important initiative,” President Hargis said.
Related:
Hargis Appointed to Chesapeake’s Board of Directors
Quote of the Day: “Well Now, This Makes For an Interesting Game of Connect the Dots”
Burns Hargis Discusses Boone Pickens Energy Plan
Hat tip: OkStateNews
“The county has enough money; we can afford the decrease” - Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan
Related:
Examiner.com: Reporters Should Just Stick to Reporting the News!
The Oklahoma Political News Service is indeed a conservative blog, and that means we more often than not lean toward Republicans. But nothing gets our goat more than careless Republicans, and the scandal atmosphere that is beginning to take root around Senate President Pro tempore Glenn Coffee – partly the result of his own contrivance.
Yesterday, an aide that works for Coffee issued a statement in response to Democratic Caucus Chairman Kenneth Corn request that Coffee “release all pertinent documents related to his tax troubles and the loan he secured to pay his tax debts.” The juvenile-sounding mini-rant doesn’t address the core problems with certain Oklahoma Republican leaders: the inability to handle money responsibly, especially when it comes to their OWN taxes.
There’s political blood in the water, and if Coffee’s handlers, who have problems of their own, really believe that Coffee’s problems are a “non-story” then there is much trouble ahead for the senate leader. News9’s Colleen Chen’s story, and Coffee’s flack’s pathetic response, raises suspicions, not lowers them. Only a week ago, it was reported that Coffee assured his caucus that there would be no more embarrassing revelations. Now we know that was wrong, too. Can this gang not shoot straight?
Only time will tell if Glenn Coffee is another Lance Cargill. The early returns aren’t encouraging, and as Coffee grows politically weaker, Gov. Brad Henry grows politically stronger. We believe that if Coffee can’t get it together soon, he needs to “get gone.”
Related:
Okie Funk: “Coffee’s position as a top leader in state government demands he exhibit integrity, especially when it comes to handling his own taxes. His refusal to be more open about the loan he received to pay off the taxes creates an unneeded aura of secrecy around the issue.”
Tulsa World: Democrats attack Coffee’s campaign travel claims
Hat tip: Red Dirt Report
Adair Co. Commissioner Russell Turner stands near the charred remains of his barn near Stilwell (Photo by Andrew W. Griffin)
By Andrew W. Griffin
STILWELL, Okla. – It was sometime after midnight on the morning of Jan. 11, 2009, when Russell Turner was awakened by a call from the Adair County Sheriff’s Office.
“They told me my barn was on fire,” Turner told Red Dirt Report at the site of the charred remains of his barn, seven miles west of Stilwell on State Highway 51. By the time Turner arrived the barn was completely engulfed. There was little for the fire department to save.
“This thing was packed completely with hay,” Turner said.
The following day Turner said someone said in passing that a “firebug” was on the loose setting fire to buildings, but his structure was the only one that had burned as far as he knew.
The arson investigator out of Poteau ruled out the idea that the hay had spontaneously combusted because it had been lit on opposite ends of the barn.
“The gate was locked,” Turner said. “Whoever did this crawled over the gate and caught it on fire on both ends.”
Turner said he and his father had built the 40-by-80 feet metal and wood barn 15 years earlier.
Now it was a pile of uninsured scrap metal. The loss? Seventy-five thousand dollars for the barn and the hay.
“I’ll have to clear all this mess up and haul it off,” said Turner, looking glumly at the debris.
So, if it was arson, who was behind it, asked Red Dirt Report.
Although he can’t prove it, Turner thinks the man behind it and other threats to him and his family in recent months is his fellow Adair County Commissioner Sam Chandler, who represents District 2.
“He hates me with a blinding-hot passion,” Turner said, adding that people who know Chandler and see him regularly said he “runs around in a seething rage.”
Now, Turner admits that he doesn’t have any evidence to back up his notion that Chandler is directly involved in anything.
“But I think it’s some of his friends. He has generated hatred in them. I don’t have an informant who says he had it done. It’s feelings. I think he knows a whole lot more about it than he’s said,” says Turner.
Chandler, when interviewed for this story, insists that he is not the problem, that it’s all Turner’s fault and that Turner is a “bald-faced liar” for suggesting that he was involved in the barn burning.
“There’s no telling who would’ve wanted to burn down his barn,” Chandler said. “He’s made so many enemies.”
Asked how he would describe his relationship with Turner, Chandler laughs.
“We don’t have any relationship,” Chandler says firmly. Read more…
Oklahoma Labor Commissioner candidate Jason Reese expressed his concern for the families of those facing layoffs after Tyson’s decision to close its plant in Ponca City. Word came last week that Tyson is closing its doors in northern Oklahoma and moving jobs to New York, Iowa and Texas.
“This shows, emphatically, the need for a job-friendly environment in our state,” Reese said. “In these hard times, we are reminded of the need for wise public policy. If we do not keep our house in order by reforming our broken workers’ comp system and modernizing our regulations, then we will face future job losses.”
Commenting on the need for a new attitude in state government, Reese continued, “Don’t settle for anything less than the best, I say.”
Reese cited a recent report in which a group of business leaders unveiled its fourth annual ‘Best & Worst States’ ranking evaluating states based on Taxation/Regulation, Workforce Quality and Living Environment. This year, Oklahoma ranks 22nd. “With two of our neighboring states in the top ten,” Reese said, “the middle of the pack is not good enough. We cannot rest until Oklahoma is number one.”
Mr. Reese forgot to mention another reason Tyson is probably leaving Oklahoma. We’re sure W.A.D. Edmondson’s harassment of the poultry industry over their alleged pollution of the Illinois River had much to do with this move.
Related:
OKPNS: (1/19/09) Quote of the Day: “Private Law Firms Representing Oklahoma….Have Spent About $25 Million”
Hello again, everyone! The session is half over and it appears some in the Legislature want to discuss anything except what should be our number one priority.
The budget is the top job every year for my colleagues and me; this year it is even more critical than at anytime this decade. With $900 million less to spend this year than in last year’s budget, the challenges are great.
This week, a critical budget deadline will pass having been unmet. The Legislature is required, by law, to complete the budget for Oklahoma’s public schools by April 1. The House of Representatives budget chair said this about the statutory deadline: “It’s a good goal.”
It is considerably more than a “goal,” and – in fairness – that deadline rarely has been met. If it is unrealistic – and I do not believe it is – then we should change it. If the Legislature will not change the deadline, then the Legislature should meet the goal – period. Read more…
By Rep. Jason Murphey
Did you know that unelected political appointees in Oklahoma have the ability to make new laws which may affect the lives of many people? You can only imagine how frustrating it is for those affected by these rules and who have little recourse since they cannot vote the unelected lawmakers out of office.
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about rogue agencies. I defined rogue agencies as those agencies that have been co-opted by a group of industry insiders who can use the power of the government to protect their special interests. One way they can protect their special interests is to make rules and regulations that discourage their competitors. Read more…
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Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul debates former U.S. representative Ernest Istook on the highly debated issue of legalizing Marijuana.
Hat tip: ITSkylineBlogNews
Iraq War veteran and conscientious objector Daniel Sandate talks on March 22, 2009, about his experience and the need for servicemembers, vets and others to speak out.
Hat tip: peacearena
UPDATE: AP: Coffee pays old traffic tickets
Excerpts from this morning’s radio edition of “Your Vote Counts” on AM 1520:
“He just took a crisis and turned it worse.” - Scott Mitchell
“It boggles my mind. No wonder so many Republicans are pushing tax cuts!” - Randy Renner
“His credibility is a little bit damaged. If he seeks the AG, I think that could be problematic.” - Rep. Randy Terrill
“Barack Obama’s recovery program is going to save the State of Oklahoma and the state Republicans from their fiscal mismanagement.” - Rep. Richard Morrissette
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