Pay raises OK’d; MAPS planning progresses
The Oklahoma City Council approved pay raises for city employees and appointments to subcommittees that will help guide the 16 projects included in the MAPS 4 program. The council approved a 4% pay raise for employees represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Local 2406, as well as for city staff in management positions. The raises are for the fiscal year that began July 1. Mayor David Holt’s appointments of 54 residents to the six MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board subcommittees also were approved.
Chambers oppose ‘Build Back Better’ bill
The day before the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve H.R. 5376, referred to as President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” reconciliation bill, the State Chamber and other chambers of commerce in Oklahoma signed on to a letter urging members of Congress to reject the measure. While supporters of the measure claim the bill will create jobs and lower taxes, the chambers of commerce and industry associations nationwide that signed the letter claim the measure would harm economic recovery.
Oklahoma, OKC, earn poor marks for care of pregnant women, babies
The United States earned no praise in a recent report from the March of Dimes on the way it cares for the health of pregnant women and their babies, and Oklahoma was found to be even more deficient than other states. Despite a slight decline noted in the rate of babies born prematurely across the country, the March of Dimes still offered the United States a grade of only C- on its handling of health care for pregnant women. It reported that Oklahoma deserved a grade of D-, and that Oklahoma City, with a preterm birth rate of 13.3%, deserved an F.
Chamber chief warns bill puts target on businesses
Oklahoma lawmakers are gearing up to battle the federal government on vaccine mandates during the legislative session that begins in February. But the head of the State Chamber cautions lawmakers to take careful aim in their efforts so as to avoid wounding Oklahoma businesses. State Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, filed Senate Bill 1106, which would create the “Citizen Health Mandate Protection Act.” The measure would allow employees to sue their employer “for actual and punitive damages for injuries or illness caused by a vaccination” if the employer required vaccination as a condition of employment. The minimum award for punitive damages, as proscribed by SB 1106, would be $1 million. Chad Warmington, president and CEO of The State Chamber, said SB 1106 improperly puts the target on the backs of local business leaders instead of federal regulators.
Fertilizer costs triple from year ago
Wheat farmers are paying up to three times as much as they did in 2020 for the fertilizer they rely on to improve their plants’ growth and yield. Last December producers were prepaying $220 to $275 per ton for nitrogen applications that today cost $635 to $700 per ton, said Mike Schulte, executive director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission. Cash wheat prices at the close of business Nov. 18 were ranging from $7.81 to $8.32 per bushel at grain elevators across Oklahoma. This time last year prices ranged from $5.03 to $5.27, he said.
Oklahoma death penalty supporters fear executions ending
After a six-year moratorium on the death penalty following a series of botched lethal injections, Oklahoma officials announced in August they would seek execution dates for seven condemned men. By the next month, their executions were scheduled, leading some death penalty supporters to believe the state’s executions would resume posthaste. But what was once one of the nation’s busiest death chambers has not resumed administering capital punishment as easily as some had hoped after Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt recently stopped Julius Jones from being executed hours before he was scheduled to die.
Investment firm acquires American Health Staffing Group
Edmond-based American Health Staffing Group has been acquired by Littlejohn & Co. LLC, a private investment firm headquartered in Connecticut. AHSG identifies as a major health care staffing platform serving hospitals and outpatient clinics across all 50 states. In addition to its main offices in Edmond, it has additional locations in Michigan, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas. The company provides travel nursing, allied health, pharmacy, dialysis, interim leadership, managed services, non-clinical and software-as-a-service, or SaaS, technology in thousands of facilities.
Company to build special ops aircraft in Tulsa
A company’s plans to produce a unique new aircraft in Tulsa will bring additional jobs and prospects for the region’s aerospace industry. L3Harris Technologies partnered with Texas-based Air Tractor to produce its AT-802U Sky Warden, designed to carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, missions even in austere environments. Company President Luke Savoie said the two-seat plane, at its core a single-engine turboprop modified with a range of sensors and weapons systems, was developed to meet specific military special operations needs. The company made the move to expand in anticipation of a contract award related to the Armed Overwatch Program of the U.S. Special Operations Command.
Stitt signs new legislative, congressional district maps
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Nov. 22 signed into law newly drawn maps for the state’s five congressional and 149 state House and Senate districts. The bills, approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature during a special session this month, contain the new district boundaries that will be in place for the next 10 years.
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