chloe bennett-steele

Threatt Filling Station takes its place among iconic Oklahoma Route 66 landmarks The Threatt Filling Station along Route 66 near Luther was an oasis for people of color traveling through Oklahoma during the Jim Crow era. A monument dedicated to preserving that history was unveiled...

The Threatt Filling Station along Route 66 near Luther was an oasis for people of color traveling through Oklahoma during the Jim Crow era. A monument dedicated to preserving that history was unveiled last week.

Oklahoma oil and gas regulator dismisses environmental authority of Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes After the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes established their Environmental Protection Commission, they asserted environmental oversight over their lands. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is intervening.

After the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes established their Environmental Protection Commission, they asserted environmental oversight over their lands. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is intervening.

www.kosu.org/energy-envir...

Hurdles on the horizon as wind industry eyes eastern Oklahoma expansion Planned wind farms on the east side of Interstate 35 are seen as a potential asset to some landowners, while receiving opposition from others.

“I only wish this opportunity had come along 35 years ago.”

www.kgou.org/energy/2025-...

Oklahoma is drought-free for the first time in more than 5 years Oklahoma is drought-free for the first time in more than five years. Although drought has left the state, some impacts might remain.

Oklahoma is drought-free for the first time in more than 5 years.

www.kgou.org/weather-and-...

President Trump wants to slash funds for NPR and PBS: What that means to Oklahoma TV and radio NPR is suing the Trump administration after the president issued an executive order to cancel funding for NPR and PBS.

via The Oklahoman:
www.oklahoman.com/story/entert...

Where does your weather forecast come from? Whether you get your forecast from an app on your phone, a website or a meteorologist on TV, most of the underlying information comes from the federal government.

Whether you get your forecast from an app on your phone, a website or a meteorologist on TV, most of the underlying information comes from the federal government.
By @rhersher.bsky.social

Soil conservation in the U.S. started with this agency 90 years ago. Now its future is uncertain The Dust Bowl led to the creation of what is now called the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Just as it celebrates a major milestone, the agency is dealing with job losses, massive proposed bud...

Soil conservation in the U.S. started with this agency 90 years ago. Now its future is uncertain @annapope.bsky.social

www.kosu.org/2025-05-12/n...

🧵The White House has issued an executive order commanding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to "cease federal funding for NPR and PBS.”

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about how losing federal funding would affect KOSU.

Amid Oklahoma tornado season, scientists warn NOAA cuts could impact forecasting, public safety Norman is a nexus of national weather and climate science. But swift layoffs and deep budget cuts could disband it and other organizations nationwide.

It's one of my favorite months of the year in this part of the country. We have wildflowers, still some migrating birds and stunning thunderstorms.
Here's how the Trump admin's federal cuts could impact forecasting those storms:
www.kgou.org/weather-and-...

EPA gives some Oklahoma coal-fired power plants extensions to meet pollution requirements Following an order from President Donald Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency gave dozens of coal plants an extra two years to comply with its latest Clean Air Act policies. Some of them are in ...

EPA gives some Oklahoma coal-fired power plants extensions to meet pollution requirements
www.kgou.org/energy/2025-...

Regional Climate Centers shut down abruptly this week. Here's why it matters The closure of four of the six Regional Climate Centers across the U.S. occurred after funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ran out. A recent report stated that the Trump a...

Regional Climate Centers shut down abruptly this week. Here's why it matters
www.kosu.org/2025-04-18/r...

Howdy folks,
As the most of the data and tools used by the office are currently no longer available, services provided by the Office of the Texas State Climatologist will be drastically impacted to discontinued due to the laps of federal funding for the NOAA Regional Climate Centers.

Oklahoma youth commemorate Oklahoma City Bombing 30th anniversary through music As the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing approaches, a group of young musicians is connecting with the tragedy through performing themes of resilience.

great story and photos from beth wallis: www.kgou.org/education/20...

How one group is educating Oklahomans on reproductive health care amid state abortion ban A new group hopes to educate Oklahomans on the continued impacts of the state's near-total abortion ban.

A new group hopes to educate Oklahomans on the continued impacts of the state's near-total abortion ban.

wHo HAd A SnOwsToRM fOR thIS wEEkeND!?! And a freeze? Oklahoma weather doing Oklahoma things, even as severe weather continues through Friday. Deets in today's Ticker: ticker.mesonet.org #okwx #okmesonet

KOSU scored an exclusive interview about an important Oklahoma story. Watch for more, and read the full story at www.kosu.org/local-news/2...

Supreme Court hears arguments on proper venue for Oklahoma's EPA challenge Oklahoma’s plan to meet federal smog regulations has been in limbo since the EPA rejected it in 2023 and the state sued in response. That case made it to the U.S. Supreme Court, which heard arguments ...

Oklahoma submitted a proposal to stop its smog from floating down to Texas, but the EPA rejected it in 2023 for being too lax.
@graycen.bsky.social

www.kosu.org/energy-envir...

Oklahoma’s state fossil is known as an enormous carnivorous dinosaur. Did it ever exist? New research from Oklahoma State University suggests the fossil is not the documented Saurophaganax.

Oklahoma’s state fossil is known as an enormous carnivorous dinosaur. Did it ever exist?
www.kgou.org/science-tech...

Fire danger continues across Oklahoma due to high winds, dry conditions Much of Oklahoma is under a fire weather watch through Tuesday, as a red flag warning is in place for much of the state due to gusty winds, low humidity and dry vegetation on Monday.

Much of Oklahoma is under a Fire Weather Watch through Tuesday, as a Red Flag Warning is in place for much of the state due to gusty winds, low humidity and dry vegetation on Monday.

Drug overdose deaths declining in Oklahoma, nationwide It’s the first time all 50 states, including Oklahoma, have seen at least some recovery from the opioid crisis that has defined much of the last decade.

Drug overdose deaths in Oklahoma are starting to decline. A new analysis of U.S. overdose data suggests a 28% drop in deaths since the state saw its highest peak between June 2022 and May 2023.

www.kosu.org/health/2025-...

Oklahoma lawmakers pass each measure on first day of extensive floor debates; 1 House bill stood out On the first day of extensive floor work, lawmakers in both chambers passed measures across the Oklahoma Capitol rotunda at a breakneck speed. Dozens of bills were considered Monday. All of them passe...

On the first day of extensive floor work, lawmakers in both chambers of Oklahoma's legislature passed dozens of measures — including one that would require mammograms and other early diagnostic breast cancer screenings to be covered by health insurance.

www.kosu.org/politics/202...

Oklahoma scientists, advocates rally for science funding and federal workers Lawmakers and students also protested the Trump administration’s crackdown on federal funding and layoffs of federal employees, including those at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (...

Oklahoma scientists, advocates rally for science funding and federal workers
www.kgou.org/science-tech...

El Paso Is Going to Turn Wastewater Into Drinking Water. Other Cities Will Soon Follow - Inside Climate News El Paso Water broke ground on the first U.S. facility that will treat wastewater for direct re-use in a city water supply, using a four-step process to transform wastewater into clean, potable drinkin...

El Paso Is Going to Turn Wastewater Into Drinking Water. Other Cities Will Soon Follow
insideclimatenews.org/news/0303202...

What we know so far about the potential closure of the National Weather Service’s radar center in Norman Among the closures of several federal facilities in Oklahoma by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a listing speculated to be the Radar Operations Center.

What we know so far about the potential closure of the National Weather Service’s radar center in Norman

Bills on plugging abandoned wells, increasing oil and gas bonds pass Oklahoma legislative committee The bills head for a vote on the House floor next.

Bills on plugging abandoned wells, increasing oil and gas bonds pass Oklahoma legislative committee

The National Hurricane Center set an all-time record for forecast accuracy in 2024 » Yale Climate Connections But the investments in hurricane research that led to the new record are threatened by proposed budget cuts.

The National Hurricane Center's track forecasts are better than ever, saving us billions. But now hurricane research is under threat. New from @drjeffmasters.bsky.social: yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/02/the-...

National Weather Center employees in Norman among those fired Thursday in purge of federal workers Employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Norman were informed of the layoffs Thursday afternoon.

National Weather Center employees in Norman among those fired Thursday in purge of federal workers

chloe@stateimpactoklahoma.org
Signal: chloebennettsteele.10

An Oklahoma wildlife refuge has widespread abandoned oil, gas wells. This group is cleaning them up Over the next four years, the Well Done Foundation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife will plug more than 100 orphan wells on public land.

An Oklahoma wildlife refuge has widespread abandoned oil, gas wells. This group is cleaning them up. Over the next four years, The Well Done Foundation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will plug more than 100 orphan wells on public land.

www.kgou.org/energy/2025-...

Trump’s agenda complicates Oklahoma’s plan to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells The state expected millions of dollars to plug wells abandoned by their owners. But the funds are in limbo under a new federal administration.

www.kgou.org/energy/2025-...
“Donald Trump has expressed ‘Drill, baby, drill,’ we've heard that phrase through the campaign and through all of that. But if we're going to drill, we've got to clean up what we've already got.”

THAT'S our starting point this morning? It's all downhill until Friday. P.S. I thought he'd be bigger. ticker.mesonet.org #okwx #okmesonet