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July 21, 2020
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Transportation
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7/21/2020 TVEyes Media Monitoring Suite - [Reports]
Reports
7-21-2020
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KOKH-OKC (FOX) 7/20/2020 10:13:36 PM [Media Center]
SH-4 Local
Publicity
Project Local Viewership: 13,573
Value:
Update // $1,632.31
Note:
Div. 4 [View] [Download] construction project on highway 4 this yukon is ahead of schedule.
odot expects work to be done early next year. lane closures and
shifts will remain throughout the summer. the project runs between
wagner...
KXII (CBS) 7/20/2020 10:26:54 PM [Media Center]
US- 70 Local
Publicity
Bypass Local Viewership: 23,992
Value:
$3,298.32
name Note:
change // [View] [Download] to cause less confusion. public works director marty cook says the
u.s. highway 70 bypass between both old and east highway 70
Div. 2 caused confusion for business owners along those stretches of road.
the city met with county leaders and odot to continue east...
Items in this report: 2
Total Local Viewership: 37,565
Total Local Market Publicity Value: $4,930.63
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OPINION
Opinion: Trump administration is cutting red tape,
unleashing growth
Elaine L. Chao Published 11:00 p.m. ET July 20, 2020 | Updated 9:39 a.m. ET July 21, 2020
During these challenging times, it is more important than ever to unleash the full power of the U.S. economy to create jobs and get our country moving
again. One of the most underappreciated factors in economic stagnation is the heavy burden imposed on job creators by unnecessary, outdated, and
duplicative regulations.
Buy Photo
One of the Transportation Department’s most significant achievements includes correcting the unachievable fuel economy standards set by the previous administration,
Chao writes. (Photo: David Guralnick, The Detroit News)
The red tape imposed by Washington not only stifles growth, but also imposes huge costs and delays on delivering the modern infrastructure and
innovations our country needs so badly. The Hoover Dam, one of the most significant infrastructure projects in U.S. history, was proposed in the early
1920s and was completely finished by 1936, after only five years of construction. By comparison, a simple, additional runway at the Taos, New Mexico,
airport took more than 20 years (https://www.boarddocs.com/nm/taosgov/Board.nsf/files/BJKN8L5DE51D/%24file/Taos%20-
AMP%20SOW%2012.3.19.pdf) to complete because of the permitting and approval process.
Similarly, in Alaska it took 35 years (https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2017/08/24/transportation-secretary-chao-announces-efforts-to-speed-up-project-
development-in-alaska/) to clear the way for a road that provides, among other things, year-round access to medical care for a small community. That’s
why the president, as a former builder, has made reining in regulatory overreach a priority. This includes permitting reform, which speeds up the process
of getting approval for infrastructure projects, and regulatory reform, which tackles rules that raise costs and increase delays without benefiting the public.
On Jan. 30, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-executive-order-
reducing-regulation-controlling-regulatory-costs/) instituting a two-for-one regulatory mandate. For every new significant regulation, Cabinet agencies
were required to issue at least two deregulatory actions. The U.S. Department of Transportation exceeded the president’s call.
At its peak, the department was issuing 23 deregulatory actions (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-department-transportation-announces-
90-billion-savings-through-regulatory-reforms) for every new significant regulatory action, without compromising safety or harming the environment.
Today, the department continues to maintain the largest number of deregulatory actions by any federal department or agency.
This is a fundamental change in direction. Under the previous administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation — one department alone —
increased regulatory costs on job creators by an average of nearly $3 billion each year, according to a DOT analysis of data from the Office of
Management and Budget (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2019-CATS-5885-REV_DOC-
2017Cost_BenefitReport11_18_2019.docx.pdf).
1/2
Environmental / Public Involvement
Combine this with every other federal agency churning out an avalanche of regulations and you can understand why the economy was slow to come
back from the last recession. Under the Trump administration, the department increased cost savings every year. To date, the department has reduced
regulatory costs to the economy and families by $90 billion (https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-dot-claims-90-billion-saved-under-trump) — all
without compromising safety in the transportation sector.
The Department of Transportation was the first to adopt the president’s executive orders into regulation through its historic “rule on rules,” which
enshrines these common-sense principles. This new rule institutionalizes important reforms to the department’s rulemaking, guidance, and enforcement
practices.
The “rule on rules” raises the bar for new regulations by strengthening due process and transparency, ensuring that future administrations carefully weigh
the costs and benefits of their actions, and only act when authorized by Congress.
One of the department’s most significant regulatory achievements includes correcting the unachievable fuel economy standards set by the previous
administration. In partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this year published the Safer
Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule (https://www.nhtsa.gov/corporate-average-fuel-economy/safe).
The new rule will reduce regulatory costs by as much as $163 billion (https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-department-transportation-
announces-90-billion-savings-through-regulatory-reforms) for model years 2021 to 2029 and boost new vehicle sales by up to 2.7 million vehicles by
2029. The rule achieves this while also increasing safety and affordability for American families.
Another key reform is our comprehensive update to the Department’s “hours of service” rules by the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This revision of overly prescriptive and onerous restrictions will reduce
regulatory costs by nearly $274 million (https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsa-relaxes-hours-of-service-
requirements-estimates-274-million-savings-for-economy) annually and provide much-needed relief and flexibility
for our nation’s truckers.
The future of our country’s economy depends, in no small part, upon federal departments and agencies taking a
hard look at their regulatory agendas and modernizing their rulemaking practices.
The reforms achieved under this administration are an important step forward, demonstrating a new level of
commitment to modernization, growth, and global competitiveness. They are key to ensuring that our country is
Elaine Chao (Photo: Courtesy)
not left behind in the global race for transportation and infrastructure innovation.
Elaine L. Chao is secretary of the United States Department of Transportation.
Read or Share this story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2020/07/21/opinion-trump-administration-cutting-transportation-red-tape-
growth/5471307002/
2/2
7/21/2020 Page A9 | Tulsa World E-edition | tulsaworld.com
News
TOP STORY
Next steps in search for unmarked
Tulsa Race Massacre burials to be
discussed Tuesday
By Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World
07.20.20
Researchers expect Tuesday to reveal the next steps in their search for unmarked burials in Oaklawn Cemetery from
Tulsa’s 1921 Race Massacre.
The archaeological team assembled by the city spent Monday deepening and extending a lengthy trench — known as
“Trench B” — on the cemetery’s western edge and drilling and examining core samples from the same area.
This comes after a week of excavation that revealed some clues about changes to the cemetery’s landscape since it opened
in the early 1900s, but no evidence of burials in the area identi ed as a likely location by subsurface scanning, oral history
and the fact the area contained no headstones.
It now appears no burials were placed in the area because it’s on top of a now-covered spring.
But archaeologists say they are getting a better feel — literally — for the cemetery’s soil. Assistant State Archaeologist
Debra Green has been particularly involved in this analysis.
“She reads soil like other people read books,” said State Archaeologist Kary Stackelbeck.
By midday Tuesday, the group hopes to know whether to extend the current test site excavation, shift operations to
another location in Oaklawn and move further a eld — most likely to Rolling Oaks Cemetery in south Tulsa or an area
along the Arkansas River immediately west of downtown.
Work in Oaklawn has been somewhat hampered by a lack of records, maps and photographs prior to about 1935, of cials
said. It is unclear, for instance, whether the current western boundary of the cemetery was substantially the same in 1921.
The oldest sections of the cemetery have many missing and broken headstones, and some headstones may have been
moved, of cials say. Roads inside the cemetery have also changed over the years.
The Tulsa Race Massacre of May 31-June 1, 1921, resulted in the destruction of 35 square blocks of Tulsa’s Black
Greenwood District. Authorities have veri ed at least 37 deaths from the violence, but most authorities believe the
number was substantially higher.
From the very rst, stories have persisted that bodies were disposed of in irregular fashion, including mass burials or
possibly unmarked burials in individual graves.
Last year, with the massacre’s centennial approaching, Mayor G.T. Bynum announced plans to resume a search for such
sites after a 20-year hiatus.
Tulsa Graves Search / IDL // Div. 8
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Of cials said $200,000 over two budget years has been allocated for the project.
Featured video
Search continues for mass graves from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
Gallery: Digging continues Monday for Tulsa Race Massacre mass graves at Oaklawn Cemetery
Gallery: Digging continues Monday for Tulsa Race Massacre mass graves at Oaklawn Cemetery
https://tulsaworld.com/eedition/page-a9/page_2b5fa05d-369e-508b-b3c3-1cdcc8e18e34.html 2/2
7/21/2020 Stitt adds Dashboard of Metrics – The Journal Record
Stitt adds Dashboard of Metrics
By: Journal Record Staff July 20, 2020 0
Gov. Kevin Stitt announced the start of the Governor’s Dashboard of Metrics, designed to provide Oklahomans with
an overview of the progress being made in the state’s efforts to become Top Ten in critical categories.
“Oklahoma can and should be a Top Ten State,” said Stitt. “In order to ensure we are effectively pursuing this
vision, we have created an easy to understand scorecard that helps our state leaders and agencies monitor how we
compare on the national level and make informed decisions in order to move the needle in key areas.”
The Stitt Administration has been reviewing and developing this dashboard since late last year.
“We have deliberately chosen metrics where, for the most part, we can get a clear comparison to other states,“ said
John Budd, secretary of agency accountability and chief operating officer for the state. “There is still progress that
needs to be made, but despite the challenges we have faced in 2020, these metrics show our state is moving in the
right direction in many areas.”
All of the metrics listed in the dashboard are sourced and include a breakdown of the methodology behind each
data point. The scorecard also shows quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year changes, with improvements
highlighted in green.
While the Governor’s Cabinet has been using the scorecard in its meetings throughout 2020, the dashboard was first
introduced to all state agencies during the virtual Governor’s Leadership Summit on July 16.
The Governor’s Dashboard of Metrics is available at govdashboard.ok.gov.
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Local
Gov. Stitt forms commission to study
impact of Muscogee (Creek) Nation
reservation decision on state
By Curtis Killman Tulsa World
07.21.20
Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday announced the formation of a state commission to delve into the rami cations of a U.S.
Supreme Court decision that declared much of eastern Oklahoma to still be a Muscogee (Creek) Nation reservation for
major crime jurisdictional purposes.
Stitt’s announcement comes after the state attorney general’s attempt last week at presenting a united front to Congress
fell apart.
Stitt named Devon Energy co-founder Larry Nichols to be chairman of the Oklahoma Commission on Cooperative
Sovereignty.
Other commission members include both former and current lawmakers, as well as those representing energy, farm and
real estate interests. No tribal representatives were included on the board named by Stitt, although a press release from
his of ce notes that one tribal representative may be included along with a representative from the Attorney General’s
Of ce and the District Attorneys Council.
Attorney General Mike Hunter announced Thursday that his of ce had reached an agreement-in-principle with ve area
tribes regarding guidelines for proposed federal legislation in light of the landmark ruling.
However, Hunter’s attempt to present a united front on any proposed federal legislation fell by the wayside when
Seminole Nation and Muscogee (Creek) Nation leaders indicated Friday that they were opposing the agreement-in-
principle, which would have rolled back criminal jurisdictional regulations on most crimes to their status prior to the ruling,
where the state prosecuted most crimes with the exception of those on restricted or tribal trust land.
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Jimcy McGirt’s contention that the federal government, not the
state, should have prosecuted him in a child sex abuse case because he is a Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen and Wagoner
County, where he was prosecuted, is in Indian Country because Congress never disestablished the 11-county Creek
Nation reservation.
“While I appreciate the enthusiasm to rush into agreements, it’s vital that our next steps be thoughtful and informed,” Stitt
said in a written statement. “The Commission provides all Oklahomans with a central platform to help determine what
those next steps might be.”
A spokesman for Hunter’s of ce said forming the commission is a “logical next step” in the process since the governor
noted last week that Congress needs to address issues created by the decision.
Tribal / McGirt Decision
https://tulsaworld.com/eedition/page-a4/page_64fbd8df-ce90-5052-a418-0bf37b5c1e04.html 1/3
7/21/2020 Page A4 | Tulsa World E-edition | tulsaworld.com “We look forward to hearing input from all stakeholders, including those on the governor’s commission, and we are sure the tribes and the congressional delegation also welcome those perspectives,” said Alex Gerszewski, spokesman for Hunter. The forming of the commission follows a July 9 landmark decision by the Supreme Court that ruled the Muscogee (Creek) Nation boundaries from 1866 had never been disestablished. The ruling meant what would have been a state crime has now become a federal offense if the victim or perpetrator was American Indian and the incident occurred within the historical 11-county reservation boundaries that includes much of Tulsa. The decision has also cast uncertainty as to the validity of dozens of state convictions where the crime occurred in the 11- county region and involved an American Indian. Still others have said the decision could be extended to include four other tribes with similar treaties as the Muscogee (Creek) Nation: the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and the Seminole Nations. The three tribes that didn’t bolt from the AG’s agreement-in-principle issued a joint press release Monday indicating that, “upon further re ection and after obtaining feedback from the people we represent,” they agreed that more discussion was needed on jurisdictional issues. The three tribal leaders for the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes said in their joint statement that “any path forward requires strong collaboration between the Five Tribes.” “None of the leaders of the Five Tribes support eroding our sovereignty or turning back the recognition of our reservation achieved through McGirt,” the three tribes’ statement reads. “We feel that the leaders of each tribe understand that we must be engaged with the state Attorney General and members of Oklahoma’s Congressional delegation if we are to have a meaningful voice in any legislative process that moves forward as a result of McGirt.” The commission announced by the governor will: • Review and evaluate the implications of the McGirt decision on the state economy and welfare. • Assess and propose recommendations in speci c areas, including agricultural, criminal and civil jurisdiction, economic policies, taxation, and land and trust policies. • Work with tribal leaders to develop responses that re ect the sovereign-to-sovereign relationship among tribal nations and the state. • Provide a forum to hear from and engage with leaders from various sectors of the state economy, Oklahoma Indian tribes, local communities and other state residents. • Work with Stitt’s of ce to provide guidance to the Oklahoma congressional delegation on the appropriate federal response. • Issue a report with recommendations to the governor. Stitt gave state agencies, boards and commissions until Aug. 28 to notify Nichols if they believe they are affected by the McGirt decision. https://tulsaworld.com/eedition/page-a4/page_64fbd8df-ce90-5052-a418-0bf37b5c1e04.html 2/3
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The same boards are given until Sept. 30 to submit reports on the potential impact of the McGirt decision to the
commission.
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Other members of the commission include: former U.S. Sen. Don Nickles; former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts; state Sen. Julie
Daniels, R-Bartlesville; state Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore; Williams Cos. President and Chief Executive Of cer Alan
Armstrong; State Board of Agriculture member Brent Bolen; Continental Resources founder Harold Hamm; Tulsa real
estate developer Joe Robson; and Suzie Brewster.
Video: Supreme Court ruling leads to dismissal of state murder charges against father in children’s deaths.
Supreme Court ruling leads to dismissal of state murder charges against …
https://tulsaworld.com/eedition/page-a4/page_64fbd8df-ce90-5052-a418-0bf37b5c1e04.html 3/37/21/2020 TRAVEL Bike rides gaining new momentum - The Oklahoman, 7/21/2020 Bike rides gaining new momentum People seek safe space to be active, hit the trails Curtis Tate USA TODAY A bike trip gets a family some fresh air while being able to maintain social distancing. IMGORTHAND/GETTY IMAGES Your best socially distanced recreational opportunity might be in your own neighborhood. The coronavirus pandemic has given bike rides new momentum. Sales of bicycles and accessories have accelerated as Americans seek ways to get exercise, get outdoors and keep an appropriate distance from others. According to NPD Group, a data firm that analyzes consumer trends, sales of bikes, helmets and other accessories reached $1 billion in April, nearly double the typical $550 million to $575 million. The increase in sales of bike-related gear have accompanied a surge in trail use, said Brandi Horton, vice president of communications for Rails to Trails, a Washington-based advocacy group that aims to convert former railroad tracks to walking and biking trails. Active transportation / Biking digital.newsok.com/Olive/ODN/Oklahoman/PrintArticle.aspx?doc=DOK%2F2020%2F07%2F21&entity=ar01000&ts=20200721083728&uq=201910110… 1/4
7/21/2020 TRAVEL Bike rides gaining new momentum - The Oklahoman, 7/21/2020 “Trails became one of the few places in the country that were open,” Horton said. Horton said trail use is nearly double what it was a year ago, and heat, rain and cold haven’t deterred trail users. “People are discovering trails in their backyard,” Horton said. “They’re looking at a close-to-home outdoor space where they can be active. Trails have become essential for recreation and transportation.” There are 40,000 miles of multi-use trails across the country, Horton said. (By comparison, there are nearly 47,000 miles of interstate highways.) Nearly 24,000 of those trail miles are converted railroad beds, and Horton’s group has long advocated for investment in those projects. Federal, state and local governments have invested more in bike infrastructure in the past three decades, especially since the Great Recession. The largest source of funding for trail infrastructure comes from the federal government, Horton said. Legislation moving through Congress includes a substantial increase in funding for bike and pedestrian infrastructure, she said. If passed, such projects can count on more than $1 billion a year. The federal investment in bike infrastructure has made a difference, said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists, an advocacy group that was founded in 1880. “Cities are more bikeable now than they were 10 years ago,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot more communities invest in planning for bicycling.” Nesper said a bicycle boom took place in the 1970s during that decade’s energy crisis. It didn’t stick. This time could be different, Nesper said. “We keep hearing from people that they’re rediscovering their communities in a new way,” he said. “People are saying, ‘We like this.’ ” One way they’ve been doing that: bikeshare services. In 2018, Americans took 36.5 million trips on shared bikes, up from 321,000 in 2010, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials. Though most bikeshare use is concentrated in just five metropolitan areas — New York, Washington, Boston, Chicago and the Bay Area — smaller communities across the country are considered bike- friendly. This spring, the League of American Bicyclists recognized four cities for their bicycle infrastructure for the first time: Detroit; Lawrence, Kansas; Asheville, North Carolina; and Boise, Idaho. The group designates 482 communities nationwide as bike-friendly, with at least one in every state. The group deemed Washington State, Oregon and Minnesota the three most bike-friendly. Nesper said the easiest thing for people to do is take a ride through the neighborhood. “Do a loop around your neighborhood,” he said. “Find a quiet street where you can go ride.” For a longer ride, Horton recommends checking the Rails to Trails TrailLink guide to see what’s open and what amenities are available. digital.newsok.com/Olive/ODN/Oklahoman/PrintArticle.aspx?doc=DOK%2F2020%2F07%2F21&entity=ar01000&ts=20200721083728&uq=201910110… 2/4
7/21/2020 TRAVEL Bike rides gaining new momentum - The Oklahoman, 7/21/2020 Trailside services may be limited because of the pandemic, she said. Also, with cities and towns facing pandemicrelated budget difficulties, trails may not receive the same level of upkeep as they usually would, including services such as trash collection. Horton noted that experienced trail users may encounter newcomers who may not be as familiar with trail etiquette. If you are one of them, here’s a piece of advice: She suggests avoiding crowds at first and always being mindful of what’s ahead of you. An influx of new cyclists is to be expected, Horton said. “The trail user community looks a lot different now. The demand is surging and not waning.” Top trails Rails to Trails has a list of the top 100 trails in the country. Here are a few: iAtlanta Beltline, Georgia, 10.9 miles i Capital Crescent Trail, Maryland and D.C., 11 miles iCowboy Trail, Nebraska, 203 miles i Elroy-Sparta State Trail, Wisconsin, 34 miles i Great Allegheny Passage, Maryland and Pennsylvania, 150 miles i High Trestle Trail, Iowa, 27 miles iHudson River Greenway, New York, 13 miles i Katy Trail State Park, Missouri, 240 miles i Monon Trail, Indiana, 27 miles i Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, Washington, 224 miles i Paul Bunyan Trail, Minnesota, 119 miles i Schuylkill River Trail, Pennsylvania, 72 miles iSilver Comet Trail, Georgia, 61 miles i Virginia Creeper Trail, Virginia, 33 miles iWashington and Old Dominion Regional Park, Virginia, 45 miles Basic bike etiquette i Wear a helmet. i Stay to the right and use your bell or say “on your left” when passing pedestrians or other cyclists. i Slow when approaching groups of people or children. digital.newsok.com/Olive/ODN/Oklahoman/PrintArticle.aspx?doc=DOK%2F2020%2F07%2F21&entity=ar01000&ts=20200721083728&uq=201910110… 3/4
7/21/2020 TRAVEL Bike rides gaining new momentum - The Oklahoman, 7/21/2020 i Carry a small bike pump or CO2 cartridge in case your tires need air and a spare inner tube in case you get a flat. i Pull off the trail if you need to stop. i Don’t try to multitask: Stay off your phone while riding and resist the urge to walk your dog at the same time. “Cities are more bikeable now than they were 10 years ago.” Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists digital.newsok.com/Olive/ODN/Oklahoman/PrintArticle.aspx?doc=DOK%2F2020%2F07%2F21&entity=ar01000&ts=20200721083728&uq=201910110… 4/4
7/21/2020 Despite virus setbacks, aerospace industry expects growth – The Journal Record
Despite virus setbacks, aerospace industry expects growth
By: Steve Metzer The Journal Record July 20, 2020 0
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma
has not escaped this year’s
severe turbulence in the
aerospace industry, aggravated
by the COVID-19 pandemic, but
the state seems to be managing
better than most, several industry
executives said Monday.
The sector’s focus on defense,
and especially its support of
Tinker, Vance and Altus Air Force
bases, has insulated it somewhat
from the recession and its effects Mechanics work to reattach an engine to an MD-80 airline at the American
Airlines maintenance facility in Tulsa. (Journal Record file photo)
on the commercial airline
industry. However, Oklahoma has
also reaped rewards of sustained efforts to invest in aerospace, which has risen to become the state’s second-
largest and fastest-growing industry. While some Sooner State companies associated with aerospace have had to let
workers go or furlough employees recently, including at American Airlines, Boeing and Spirit Aerosystems, it’s
estimated that some 120,000 Oklahomans remain employed and continued growth is anticipated in the industry,
which already has an impact of about $44 billion annually on the state’s economy.
Nancy Anderson, a vice president at Boeing responsible for modernization and modification, said the company has
grown faster in Oklahoma than in any other state over the past five years, employing about 3,400 people and
adding 50 on average per month over the past two years. The company initially located in Oklahoma City to be
close to Tinker, she said, but has since evolved to the point that 40% of its activities in Oklahoma are related to
international customers.
Anderson, like others who spoke during an online forum on aerospace sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of
Commerce, said the state benefits from a strong base of engineers, including military veterans that account for 19%
of Boeing’s Oklahoma workforce.
The company recently broke ground on a planned 60,000-square-foot engineering facility to be dedicated to
modernization of Air Force B-52 bombers. The center will supplement nearly 1 million square feet already occupied
by Boeing at Tinker and in the Oklahoma City metro. Anderson noted that at least 113 Oklahoma businesses that
provide supplies or services for Boeing employ about 25,000 people in the state.
Anderson and others who spoke, including Rick Nagel, managing partner at Acorn Growth Companies, a private
equity firm focused on aerospace, defense and intelligence, said Oklahoma also has benefited from a highly
supportive business climate, technical schools and universities geared to assist in training and research, and also
from the sheer momentum of entrepreneurial interest and investment by leaders of some 1,100 businesses involved
in aerospace in Oklahoma.
“We really are one of the top seven maintenance, repair and overhaul hubs in the entire world,” Nagel said. “When
you factor the I-35/I-44 corridors that kind of link Wichita, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Dallas/Fort Worth, it’s one of
the strongest aerospace and defense corridors in the entire world both for new production and for sustainment of
both commercial and military systems.”
FYI: Aerospace Industry Growth
https://journalrecord.com/2020/07/20/despite-virus-setbacks-aerospace-industry-expects-growth/ 1/27/21/2020 Despite virus setbacks, aerospace industry expects growth – The Journal Record
Nagel said most new business development has stalled on the commercial side of aerospace, though interest
remains in investment in Oklahoma.
Geoff Camp, who directs aerospace and defense initiatives at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, said
commercial aviation suffered an unprecedented setback when COVID-19 spread rapidly around the world earlier this
year. Numbers of arrivals and departures at the nation’s airports remain fractions of what would be considered
normal. Despite the setback, growth remains the goal in Oklahoma, he said. The state will soon launch an initiative
driven by artificial intelligence to help identify opportunities for businesses in the aerospace supply chain, he said.
The state also has been able to sustain communications between leaders in industry, education and government,
which he identified as key to continued growth.
‘This kind of collaboration is the standard in the state of Oklahoma,” Camp said. “These are just a few of the
reasons that Oklahoma aerospace is weathering the storm and why companies are choosing Oklahoma.”
One such company, Skydweller Aero Inc., a U.S.-Spanish firm, announced recently that it would establish
headquarters and engineering operations in Oklahoma City and testing in Ardmore. The company develops
renewable powered aircraft for defense and commercial applications. It plans to have 120 employees in the state by
2024.
Bailey Siegfried, a vice president at Tulsa-based Nordam, an aerospace components manufacturer, said investors
also are attracted to Oklahoma because of its location as a crossroads for commerce. Nordam has more than 1,800
Oklahoma employees who engineer, develop and manufacture products ranging from business jet interior
furnishings to thrust reversers for huge military cargo transports.
“Whenever you fly in an airplane, there’s a likely chance you’re flying on some of our products that we’ve made or
repaired,” Siegfried said.
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Tagged with: AEROSPACE BOEING NORDAM SKYDWELLER AERO INC.
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Local
COVID-19: Daily updates lower due to
technical issues, state says as 168
new cases reported
From Sta Reports
07.21.20
The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 168 additional COVID-19 cases and one more death in the state
Monday but said both those and Sunday’s numbers are “low and do not re ect real-time data.”
The lone additional death, that of a Tulsa County woman who was older than 65, did not occur within the previous 24
hours, the Health Department said Monday morning.
Tulsa County reported 1,210 active cases as of Monday, with 5,021 patients considered recovered; 85 cases in the county
have been fatal.
Across Oklahoma, 485 patients had died and 25,433 infections had been con rmed as of Monday morning.
Both Monday’s and Sunday’s announced case numbers — 168 and 209, respectively, were low because of “technical data
entry issues,” according to a news release. The problem is reportedly the same “glitch” that delayed case numbers June 5
and June 18, the release says. “Case counts for Sunday, July 19 and Monday, July 20 are low and do not re ect real-time
data.”
A download of cases is expected once the technical issue is resolved.
Oklahomans who test positive through a state lab will be “promptly noti ed and connected to contract tracing efforts,” the
release states.
The Health Department also announced that it will begin sending text messages in addition to making phone calls when
tracing contacts of those exposed to the virus.
“OSDH is highly focused on COVID-19 testing, effectively tracing cases and ensuring those individuals who test positive
are quarantined as quickly as possible before they spread the virus to others,” interim OSDH Commissioner Lance Frye
said in a prepared statement.
“We recognize the signi cant issues we’ve experienced in the past and are working to eliminate them by incorporating
new technology to enhance the current system as we work towards a long-term solution.”
A spokesman said in a news release that public health of cials throughout the country must rely on antiquated technology
for their data systems. OSDH is “in the midst” of upgrading the Public Health Investigation and Disease Detection of
Oklahoma’s system, which should streamline data reporting, the release says.
Coronavirus Cases Update
https://tulsaworld.com/eedition/page-a9/page_2b5fa05d-369e-508b-b3c3-1cdcc8e18e34.html 1/17/21/2020 Law mostly silent on employer COVID reporting - The Oklahoman, 7/21/2020 Law mostly silent on employer COVID reporting By Dale Denwalt Staff writer ddenwalt@oklahoman.com Signs mark closed seating areas that follow the CDC’s social distancing guidelines at a Rib Crib restaurant in April. Businesses all across the state are taking safety precautions like this one, but there are few regulations for how a business should notify other employees or patrons should an employee test postive for COVID-19. [CHRIS LANDSBERGER/THE OKLAHOMAN] Coronavirus / Case reporting digital.newsok.com/Olive/ODN/Oklahoman/PrintArticle.aspx?doc=DOK%2F2020%2F07%2F21&entity=ar02203&ts=20200721083728&uq=201910110… 1/3
7/21/2020 Law mostly silent on employer COVID reporting - The Oklahoman, 7/21/2020 Signs remind customers to stay six feet apart for social distancing at a metro Walmart in April. Businesses all across the state are taking safety precautions like this one, but there are few regulations for how a business should notify other employees or patrons should an employee test postive for COVID-19. [CHRIS LANDSBERGER/THE OKLAHOMAN] When an employee tests positive for COVID-19, what are businesses required to report, if anything? As it turns out, the law doesn’t require much from employers. There are no local, state or federal regulations explicitly requiring employers notify health officials when an employee is sick. They also don’t have to warn other employees or customers who might have come into contact with the affected individual, although it is recommended. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has rules in place triggering reporting under some circumstances, but only requires a report when it’s clear exposure to COVID-19 happened at work. The agency lets employers determine whether a case is “work-related.” Businesses following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are more likely to shield themselves from liability if something goes wrong, said attorney Charlie Plumb. “Compliance with those guidelines is the best way for an employer to defend itself if someone later claims they acted inappropriately or unlawfully,” said Plumb, who represents employers for Oklahoma City law firm McAfee & Taft. Plumb expects to see the issue reach the civil court system. Once it does, a new state law would shield employers who follow guidelines and are in compliance with COVID-19 standards whenever the exposure happened. digital.newsok.com/Olive/ODN/Oklahoman/PrintArticle.aspx?doc=DOK%2F2020%2F07%2F21&entity=ar02203&ts=20200721083728&uq=201910110… 2/3
7/21/2020 Law mostly silent on employer COVID reporting - The Oklahoman, 7/21/2020 Each level of government has issued guidelines for what employers should do despite a lack of rules. For example, a proclamation signed by Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt this month encourages businesses follow recommendations developed by health officials. The State Department of Health encourages employers to notify workers who may have been exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID-19. That notification must be balanced with health privacy laws that prevent publicly naming the sick individual. Plumb said balancing privacy and safety is like walking a tightrope. Employers can alert people who were exposed without naming the individual who tested positive. “You can do that sometimes without ever identifying the individual who’s actually tested positive,” he said. “Employees may put two and two together and figure out who that is, but I don’t consider that a breach of confidentiality.” He also urges companies call their local health authority, who may want to initiate contact tracing. “It’s very unlikely that an employer is going to be liable or criticized for violating confidentiality if they’re doing exactly what the Department of Health instructed them to do,” Plumb said. “I would rather, as an employer, deal with someone accusing me of somehow violating confidentiality than deal with a huge outbreak of COVID-19 among my employees and their families.” Some industries are collectively urging companies go beyond what’s mandatory in the name of safety. The Oklahoma Restaurant Association, which represents hospitality businesses in Oklahoma’s secondlargest employment sector, issued a pledge for members to follow. When followed, that pledge keeps sick employees at home and asks employers to notify people who were exposed, which is defined in the pledge as being within six feet of an infected individual for more than 15 minutes without a mask. “We’re doing everything we can to educate them to be better away from work. We’re doing everything that pledge says, to wear a mask, (check temperatures), all the things the things you’re supposed to do that the CDC recommends,” said Kurt Fleischfresser, director of operations at Vast and chair of the ORA. digital.newsok.com/Olive/ODN/Oklahoman/PrintArticle.aspx?doc=DOK%2F2020%2F07%2F21&entity=ar02203&ts=20200721083728&uq=201910110… 3/3
7/21/2020 Mayor Jones outlines city plans, progress during Chamber meeting | Latest News | tulsaworld.com https://tulsaworld.com/communities/wagoner/news/mayor-jones-outlines-city-plans-progress-during-chamber- meeting/article_cbfeb63e-bb90-5d60-967c-994714e364dd.html Mayor Jones outlines city plans, progress during Chamber meeting By JOHN FERGUSON Staff Writer Jul 20, 2020 Wagoner Mayor Albert Jones Wagoner Mayor Albert Jones was the guest speaker at the July 17 virtual monthly meeting of the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Jones led off with news about the long-awaited Streetscape project. He said the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is ready to let the bids out so work can begin. SH-51/Cherokee St. Streetscape Project // Div. 1 https://tulsaworld.com/communities/wagoner/news/mayor-jones-outlines-city-plans-progress-during-chamber-meeting/article_cbfeb63e-bb90-5d60-96… 1/3
7/21/2020 Mayor Jones outlines city plans, progress during Chamber meeting | Latest News | tulsaworld.com The initial work will take place at the railroad tracks heading east on Cherokee St. to Casaver St. No work start time was given, but past meetings have speculated sometime in early 2021. “We began this in April 2015,” Mayor Jones said. “It’s been a long five years.” The city had to jump through many hoops since the fix-up is taking place on an ODOT highway. Mayor Jones also touched on the fact that the city’s Comprehensive Plan is ready for the public to see. Paperwork for the third Build Grant has been filed and Wagoner hopes it gets a cut of the money available for projects. The winning grants will be announced in September. Other presentation highlights: • A minor emergency clinic (MedWise) is coming to the old site of the Asian Star restaurant. • Gibson Grove in the southwest quadrant of Wagoner is in the process of building houses now. • A hotel, not motel, is coming soon to Wagoner, the mayor added. “I have a good feeling about it,” he said. • The Wagoner Historical Museum is open again. It is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday from noon-4 p.m. Since a large part of the renovation to the museum was volunteer work, the money saved will allow the City of Wagoner to buy a new marquee at the entrance, the mayor said. • Mayor Jones was proud to report that the old train depot was moved to its new location with few problems. The two halves will be re-joined and re-roofed in the near future. https://tulsaworld.com/communities/wagoner/news/mayor-jones-outlines-city-plans-progress-during-chamber-meeting/article_cbfeb63e-bb90-5d60-96… 2/3
7/21/2020 Mayor Jones outlines city plans, progress during Chamber meeting | Latest News | tulsaworld.com “Wagoner was not Wagoner until the depot was built,” he added. Mayor Jones concluded his talk with a plea to fill out the 2020 Census. If Wagoner exceeds 10,000 in population through this census, then it will be available for government funds for various projects. In other Chamber business: • Over 70 boats have signed up for the Lucky 13 Fishing Tournament scheduled for July 25 on Lake Fort Gibson. Competitors from New Mexico, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri are expected to converge on the lake just east of Wagoner. “We’re really starting to grow this thing,” said Chamber Executive Director Kristen Mallett. • The postponed Chamber Awards Banquet has been re-scheduled for Sept. 17 at an outside location to be determined soon. Staff Writer John Ferguson John covers news and sports for the Wagoner County American-Tribune. Phone: 918-485-5505 https://tulsaworld.com/communities/wagoner/news/mayor-jones-outlines-city-plans-progress-during-chamber-meeting/article_cbfeb63e-bb90-5d60-96… 3/3
7/21/2020 HWY 4 construction ahead of schedule, work to be completed by early 2021 | KOKH
77 ° 90 ° 90 °
HWY 4 construction ahead of schedule, work to be completed by early
2021
by Melissa Scavelli
Monday, July 20th 2020 AA
Construction is running ahead of schedule on SH-4 between Wagner Rd. in Yukon and Wilshire Blvd (Courtesy: Oklahoma Department of
Transportation via Rick and Kathy Cacini of Yukon)
YUKON, Okla (KOKH) — If you live in or around Yukon you've most likely run into the
construction on SH-4 between Wagner and Wilshire.
The $13 million bridge reconstruction project is slightly ahead of schedule according to the
Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Drivers can expect future lane closures and lane shifts late summer 2020.
ODOT said the work is expected to be complete by early 2021.
SH-4 Project Update // Div. 4
https://okcfox.com/news/local/hwy-4-construction-ahead-of-schedule-work-to-be-completed-by-early-2021 1/27/21/2020 HWY 4 construction ahead of schedule, work to be completed by early 2021 | KOKH
The City of Yukon Oklahoma - Government 77 ° 90 ° 90 °
23 hours ago
Hwy 4 is coming along!
Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Government Organization · 19,316 Likes · 2d ·
YUKON: Construction is a little ahead of schedule at this point in the $13 million SH-4
bridge reconstruction project between Wagner Rd. in Yukon and Wilshire B...
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