Oklahoma
Your Questions Answered: The Delta-Plains Transmission Corridor
Oklahoma House Speaker Designate Kyle Hilbert, (R-Bristow,) announced Thursday night at a packed meeting in Sapulpa the controversial federal plan to designate more than 600 miles of Oklahoma land as possible home for electrical transmission lines will not be built.
The proposal has prompted questions from people statewide.
Even though it’s not going to happen, Hilbert said an official word from the U.S. Department of Energy will come on Monday: here’s what we know about the proposal.
Q: What parts of the state would have been impacted?
A: The proposed 645-mile corridor spanned northern Oklahoma. It started near the Arkansas border by Fort Smith, paralleled I-40 near Sallisaw, then meandered north through south Tulsa County, Okmulgee County, Creek County, south of Stillwater, and across I-35, ultimately reaching Woodward and the Panhandle.
Q: What would this line have done?
A: If would have ferried electricity across the state and allowed the Southern Power Pool to move electricity across its service area to meet demand.
Q: Why build new transmission lines?
A: The SPP said in its most recent assessment report it expects an increased load on its system because there are new sources that pull power from the grid, like data centers, and utilities are retiring older power supplies like coal-fired plants. More transmission lines allow it to move electricity across the system easier and more efficiently.
Q: What does the SPP say they need to meet demand across Oklahoma and the rest of its service area?
A: It recommends new projects including:
- 1,788 miles of extra-high voltage transmission (EHV)
- 148 miles of rebuilt EHV transmission infrastructure
- 545 miles of new high-voltage transmission
- 347 miles of rebuilt high-voltage transmission.
Q: Why were people upset in Oklahoma?
A: Many were worried about eminent domain and the possibility this project would result in unwanted transmission lines being strewn across their land.
Q: What happens next?
A: The DOE is still narrowing down potential transmission corridors across the country. Hilbert did tell the crowd Thursday nobody will have lines built on their property without their approval.
Women’s Basketball
March 24, 2026
UCLA vs. Oklahoma State – Second round NCAA tournament extended highlights
March 24, 2026
Watch the highlights from No. 1 UCLA and No. 8 Oklahoma State’s matchup in the second round of the 2026 women’s NCAA tournament.
Oklahoma firefighters battle wildfire in Arapaho in March outbreak
Firefighters with the Hydro Fire Department responded to a grass fire in Arapaho, Oklahoma, on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Provided, Hydro Fire Department
A fire at a scrapyard near the OKC Fairgrounds has produced a massive plume of smoke visible in downtown Oklahoma City, officials report.
Oklahoma City Fire Department Assistant PIO John Chenoweth told The Oklahoman that the fire started at the scrapyard building near Northwest 10th Street and May Avenue, northeast of the OKC Fairgrounds.
The fire has been marked as “basically contained” as the Oklahoma City Fire Department is currently shifting to defensive methods. There are some active rubbish fires surrounding the metal building.
Chenoweth states there are no injuries, and all inside the building have been evacuated.
The cause of the fire and the extent of damage are unknown.
➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location
Oklahoma fire map: See smoke, wildfires across state, red flag warnings
Track the latest wildfire and smoke information in Oklahoma with data that is updated frequently based on input from several incident and intelligence sources.
If you can’t see the map below, please click here.
How to prevent wildfires
While severely warm weather can worsen a wildfire spread, most are the result of human behavior. In fact, nearly 85% of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by humans, according to the National Park Service.
With its wide acres, rural areas and inconsistent weather patterns, Oklahoma is prone to grass fires. Forestry and safety experts offer several guidelines for residents on how to avoid starting a fire, which can often breakout from just one wrong spark.
- Avoid using welding equipment.
- Never drive on a flat tire.
- Extinguish cigarettes completely before properly disposing of them, and never throw them outside of a window while driving.
- Avoid parking on dry grass or dragging chains behind your car.
Oklahoma real estate trends: What to know before buying a home in 2025
How affordable is Oklahoma real estate in 2025? What to know before you buy.
Oklahoma is in the top 10 states receiving new residents in the nation in recent years, a new survey suggests.
StorageCafe conducted a recent study utilizing U.S. Census data showing Oklahoma welcomed over 25,000 new residents in 2023, with millennials being the largest-represented generation among those entering the Sooner State.
Here’s what the study had to say about migration into Oklahoma.
Oklahoma among top 10 states to move to
According to StorageCafe, Oklahoma welcomed 25,000 new residents in 2023 in net migration.
New residents in Oklahoma were largely made up of millennials, those born between 1981 and 1996, at 27%.
Though Oklahomans and Texans don’t seem to be eye to eye in the football arena, Texas is “by far the largest source” of new Oklahoma residents.
Among the major reasons for the increase in migrants is likely Oklahoma’s affordability, with 36% of millennials buying a home within their first year in Oklahoma.
In addition, Oklahomans found major success in recruiting former California and Colorado residents to move to the state, rounding out the top 3 states bringing new residents.
What are the states attracting the most residents?
These states are the states with the highest migration numbers:
- Texas (138,000)
- Florida (137,000)
- North Carolina (111,000)
- South Carolina (72,000)
- Georgia (62,000)
- Arizona (57,000)
- Indiana (32,000)
- Colorado (31,000)
- Tennessee (28,000)
- Oklahoma (25,000)
South Carolina Lawmakers Must Protect Parent Rights. Here’s What Families Need to Know.
The Fray to perform Friday night at 2026 South Dakota State Fair
Elon Musk’s Boring Co. will ‘try’ to build tunnel in this Tennessee town
TribCast: Inside Texas’ massive ICE detention facilities
How Big Was Jordan Clarkson’s Impact on Utah?
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Video: Passengers Wait in Long Security Lines at LaGuardia After Deadly Crash
King Charles to address Congress in historic first state visit to Washington
Iran names successor to security chief killed in US-Israeli attack
See How the LaGuardia Plane Crash Unfolded
Mullin confirmed as DHS chief as lawmakers near solution on shutdown standoff
-
Detroit, MI6 days agoDrummer Brian Pastoria, longtime Detroit music advocate, dies at 68
-
Georgia1 week agoHow ICE plans for a detention warehouse pushed a Georgia town to fight back | CNN Politics
-
Movie Reviews6 days ago‘Youth’ Twitter review: Ken Karunaas impresses audiences; Suraj Venjaramoodu adds charm; music wins praise | – The Times of India
-
Alaska1 week agoPolice looking for man considered ‘armed and dangerous’
-
Education1 week agoVideo: Turning Point USA Clubs Expand to High Schools Across America
-
Science1 week agoLong COVID leaves thousands of L.A. county residents sick, broke and ignored
-
Sports3 days agoIOC addresses execution of 19-year-old Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi
-
Science1 week agoIndustrial chemicals have reached the middle of the oceans, new study shows