Oklahoma
Republican lawmakers aim to modify Oklahoma's bank blacklist law
Two Republican senators want to amend a new law that bars state agencies and pension systems from working with banks that an Oklahoma official deemed hostile to fossil fuel energy companies.
Amid uncertainty about the law’s implementation and a lawsuit challenging the measure’s constitutionality, senators Dave Rader, R-Tulsa and Chuck Hall, R-Perry, filed bills to tweak Oklahoma’s Energy Discrimination Elimination Act.
Hall filed Senate Bill 1510 to clarify that the law, which targets financial institutions that are limiting their oil and natural gas investments and adopting environmentally friendly policies, doesn’t apply to municipalities.
This comes after Stillwater officials had to rethink a series of energy efficiency projects across their city because State Treasurer Todd Russ blacklisted the bank from which they intended to borrow millions in funding.
Under the act, Russ’ office was tasked with compiling and maintaining a list of financial institutions that boycott fossil fuel companies. The list includes Bank of America, which offered Stillwater the lowest interest rate to fund more than $13 million in lighting and infrastructure projects.
Hall, a former two-term city mayor whose district includes Stillwater, said he believes the law was never intended to apply to municipalities, but they were inadvertently included.
“We’re excluding these municipalities because, in my opinion, we should do everything we can not to preempt the decisions that are made on a local level,” he said.
Stillwater officials explored all their options, including considering borrowing funds from other banks and seeking legal guidance from Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s Office. Although Drummond’s office advised Stillwater officials that pursuing funding through Bank of America was still an option, city officials felt the move could leave them open to possible legal challenges, said Deputy City Manager Brady Moore.
He’s hopeful the proposed legislation gives municipalities clarity by exempting them.
“Municipalities are already up against a funding challenge just on all the services and amenities that we oversee, so it’d be nice to have the most competitive options for financing and not be at a disadvantage,” Moore said.
In the meantime, Stillwater plans to tackle its energy efficiency projects over the upcoming years without taking out a bank loan.
“We still have a really positive path forward,” Moore said.
During an interim study in October to discuss the law’s implementation, Rader said some legislative tweaks were necessary.
Rader recently filed Senate Bill 1536, which would give the state treasurer the ability to seek an attorney general’s opinion if he disagrees with how an agency or pension system is responding to the law. The attorney general’s opinion would determine if the governmental entity is in compliance with the Energy Discrimination Elimination Act.
Russ has criticized the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System for taking an exemption under the law that prevents it from having to divest from the blacklisted companies on the grounds that doing so would be a breach of the pension system’s fiduciary responsibility.
Rader said his bill is likely to change over the course of the legislative session that begins Feb. 5.
“I think this is a door opener for some other issues that were in the bill,” he said. “I do not expect the bill that I submitted will be the bill in its finality.”
A state retiree filed a lawsuit in November to challenge the law he alleges is unconstitutional because pensioners could be forced to cover the costs if pension systems drop certain fund managers.
Oklahoma’s Energy Discrimination Elimination Act is similar to laws implemented in other conservative-led states.
Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and Twitter.
Oklahoma
The Spring adds immersive walkthrough to annual Encounter Hope gala in Sand Springs, Oklahoma
TULSA, OKLA. (KTUL) — A Tulsa-based nonprofit is adding an immersive, walkthrough experience to its annual fundraising gala, aiming to give attendees a closer look at what survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking face — and how support services can help.
The Spring, which provides services to people impacted by domestic violence and human trafficking, will feature the walkthrough as part of Encounter Hope, its annual gala set for April 9 at the Arvest Convention Center.
The experience is designed to guide guests through the story of an abuse survivor across four stages of interaction with The Spring: the inciting incident, the crisis call, time at the emergency crisis shelter, and moving into safety.
“The idea is really to put you in the shoes of the people that we serve every day,” Allison Wells,
The Spring’s events and environments coordinator, said. “It’s easy to throw out stats about violence and trafficking in Oklahoma, throw out our service numbers each year, but these are really peoples’ lives. We want to put our attendees in the mindset of one person, one story. What would you do if you were facing this?”
After the walkthrough, attendees will have the opportunity to assemble move-in kits for The Spring’s shelter guests and write personal notes of encouragement.
The program portion of the evening will include a panel discussion hosted by Karen Larsen, an Emmy Award-winning journalist who anchored Tulsa’s Channel 2 for almost 30 years.
“Tulsa is an incredibly charitable city, and we know that these kinds of gala events aren’t rare here,” Leslie Clingenpeel, The Spring’s CEO, said. “Our goal is to go beyond the model of these fundraising-only type events. More than anything, we want people to understand what we do, to know that we’re here, to know what our frontline advocates are doing every single day. Domestic violence and trafficking are hard to look away from once you’re aware of them. We want to build that awareness to the people of this city.”
Individual tickets and table packages are available for purchase.
Attendees are encouraged to register before April 1 because space is limited.
More details and purchasing information are available at www.thespringok.org/encounterhope.
The Spring is a Tulsa-based nonprofit offering services to those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.
The organization provides emergency crisis shelter, transitional living, and non-residential services.
More information is available at www.thespringok.org.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State outlasts UCF in overtime, Houston next
The Oklahoma State Cowboys men’s basketball bounced back in a big way Tuesday night.
Anthony Roy scored 27 points and Kanye Clary added 23, including seven in overtime, as Oklahoma State defeated the UCF Knights men’s basketball 111-104 in Orlando.
The Cowboys controlled the extra period, finishing overtime on an 11-4 run and outscoring UCF 17-10.
Clary played a major role in closing it out. He hit a key 3-pointer and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in overtime to help seal the win.
The victory moves Oklahoma State to 18-12 overall and 6-11 in the Big 12, and gives the Cowboys two wins in their last three games after snapping a five-game losing streak. UCF, now 20-9 (9-8 Big 12), has dropped two straight.
Roy and Clary led a balanced offensive effort. Jaylen Curry and Christian Coleman each added 16 points, while the Cowboys shot 49% from the field (35-of-72) and 80% from the free throw line (32-of-40).
Themus Fulks led UCF with 22 points, while Riley Kugel added 18.
Late-game drama forces overtime
The final seconds of regulation were chaotic.
With 24 seconds remaining, Isaiah Coleman threw down a dunk to give Oklahoma State a 94-91 lead.
But UCF answered quickly when Chris Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left, tying the game at 94-94.
Oklahoma State had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Jaylen Curry missed a shot, and John Bol blocked Roy’s attempt, sending the game to overtime.
Cowboys respond after tough loss
The Cowboys showed resilience after Saturday’s lopsided loss to Cincinnati.
The team traveled directly to Orlando following that defeat and was pushed through two intense practices by head coach Steve Lutz and the coaching staff.
The response was clear.
Led by Roy’s scoring and Clary’s clutch overtime performance, Oklahoma State delivered a gritty win and swept the season series against UCF
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon
YUKON, Okla. (KOKH) — Oklahoma City Police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon Monday night.
The shooting happened near Northwest 10th Street and South Yukon Parkway near the border of Yukon and Oklahoma City.
Police are on the scene, and officials said the victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the hip.
OKCPD said they have at least one person in custody.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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