AGP Executive Report

Labor Day Travel & Airports: TSA expects nearly 2.7 million passengers to be screened Monday nationwide, with Oklahoma airports urging travelers to arrive early and plan for delays. Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports Oklahoma County’s lowest E85 at $2.49/gal (week ending Aug. 29), while diesel remains higher statewide at about $5.10/gal; multiple counties also posted single-station “cheapest” points for E15, midgrade, and premium. Jobs & Manufacturing Hiring: A new August jobs report says the U.S. added 162,000 jobs, with manufacturing up and private hiring driving growth. Oklahoma Construction Oversight: A state audit alleges Tulsa Public Schools paid $2.6M for architectural work never performed, tied to executive-linked firms and rebate handling. Manufacturing & Industry Tech: Oklahoma-based Premier Parks’ Wild Waves closure plan points to a shift toward industrial warehouse development, while a manufacturing podcast highlights cybersecurity and supply-chain disruptions. Public Health: A study finds alcohol-attributable cancer deaths in the U.S. doubled since 1990. Energy Infrastructure: DOE’s nuclear lifecycle campus finalists include Oklahoma among other states, signaling potential advanced manufacturing and power opportunities.

Energy Costs: Americans are heading into Labor Day facing the most expensive gas prices on record, with the national regular average around $4.14–$4.15 a gallon and Oklahoma hovering just above $3.70, as Middle East tensions and shipping disruptions keep crude and fuel supplies tight. Manufacturing Jobs: Greenheck Group plans a major expansion in Owasso, buying and renovating a former Macy’s distribution site for a roughly $300 million project expected to create 700+ jobs in the Tulsa area. Water & Agriculture: Oklahoma State University agriculture programs are helping residents with conservation, while a new USGS look at the Ogallala Aquifer shows long-term withdrawals far outpacing recharge—an issue that matters for Plains farming and ranching. Rural Broadband: Federal delays are holding up about $21B for rural internet projects as states wait for guidance on how to spend BEAD funds. Industry & Environment: Inola’s proposed aluminum smelter continues to face scrutiny as landowners argue updated fluoride emissions plans still deserve tougher review.

Public Safety: Multiple agencies are searching Keystone Lake after a reported possible drowning near Houseboat Island, with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rangers, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, Mercy Regional EMS, and Green Country Fire Department responding. Energy & Transportation: GasBuddy price checks show Oklahoma regular gas averaging $3.75 in the week ending Aug. 29, with local lows like $3.52 in Ottawa County and $3.49 in Murray County; diesel also varied, including a $5.00 low in Love County. Local Economy & Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data put Harrah among Oklahoma cities tied for 45th in July with one reported scam loss, highlighting ongoing consumer fraud risk. Industry & Infrastructure: A geothermal modernization effort at Fort Sill has brought geothermal heat pumps to more than 1,700 military family homes under a $63M plan aimed at cutting energy use. Tech & Water Use: A Bitcoin mining data center in El Reno was condemned after a reported leak of 3 million gallons of water, with officials citing stop-work and safety-permit issues.

Energy & Industry Policy: The U.S. Justice Department backed Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s push to stop a primary aluminum smelter in Inola, filing a statement of interest that argues environmental permit review shouldn’t be bypassed through a premature lawsuit. Local Energy Efficiency: Catoosa is drafting a Community Energy Strategic Plan with DOE funding, aiming to help local businesses and residents boost energy capacity and efficiency. Power & Housing Upgrades: Fort Sill is rolling out geothermal heat pumps in more than 1,700 homes, targeting big energy cuts and millions in annual savings. Water & Data Centers: El Reno condemned an Athlon Blockchain Technology Bitcoin mining site after a leak of about 3–3.8 million gallons during drought conditions, with officials saying the operation lacked required approvals and inspections. Agriculture & Ranching: Trump signed orders aimed at rancher support after beef import backlash, including steps toward mandatory country-of-origin labeling and changes intended to ease direct sales for smaller ranchers.

AI & Power Grid Pressure: A new NREL-led study says EV charging distribution upgrades could cost up to $2.3B across five states (including Oklahoma) if utilities plan without managed charging—while proactive managed charging could cut that by more than half. Local Energy/Permitting: Researchers also flag 2027 as a likely “biggest year yet” for state energy siting bills as data center growth and affordability concerns drive more restrictive proposals. Water & Data Centers: El Reno is condemning an unauthorized Bitcoin mining site after it leaked about 3–3.8 million gallons of water during drought conditions, with the city planning to bill the operator for response and metered water. Manufacturing Jobs: Greenheck plans to buy and retrofit a large, empty Macy’s distribution facility in Owasso for a $300M manufacturing expansion, targeting 700+ jobs over five years. Fraud Watch: Enid tied for seventh in Oklahoma scam reports in July, with 7 reports—BBB notes online purchase scams were the most common. Fuel Watch: AAA says Labor Day gas prices are heading for record highs, with Oklahoma just above $3.70 for regular. Agriculture Land Management: Oklahoma Conservation Commission opens a cost-share program (Sept. 1–Nov. 1) to help landowners manage invasive woody species like redcedar, saltcedar, and mesquite.

Marijuana Enforcement: Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics served two search warrants tied to an ongoing investigation, seizing 12,307 marijuana plants and 111+ pounds of processed marijuana at a Rogers County farm and more than 1,000 pounds of processed marijuana at a Tulsa County site; illegal pesticides were also seized and arrests are pending. Industrial Policy & Permitting: Inola’s proposed $4B aluminum smelter developers say they cut the fluoride emissions limit by 37% after ODEQ and neighbors raised air-and-soil safety concerns, aiming for a “world-class” facility while responding to legal and community pushback. Food Safety: Walmart shoppers in 16 states are being told to check freezers after FDA expanded an E. coli-linked frozen berry recall tied to a Chilean supplier; the affected Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend is one lot, with no illnesses reported for this specific product. Water Infrastructure: Oklahoma City plans to release about 16,000 acre-feet from Canton Lake starting Sept. 17 to replenish Lake Hefner, with first water expected in 3–5 days and the full release taking about two weeks. Local Construction Disruption: A Main Street sidewalk project in Marietta may halt early due to budget limits, leaving businesses facing more uncertainty about when work will reach their blocks. Workforce/Training: Oklahoma State Regents approved shorter bachelor pathways at OU, OSU, and Rogers State, pending accreditation, including applied science and AI-focused options. Community & Industry Events: Rocklahoma’s 20th anniversary weekend spotlights Pryor’s growth from a big idea into a major music draw, with the festival’s roots tied to 2008 reunion-era performances.

Inola Aluminum Smelter: Developers behind a proposed $4 billion aluminum plant in Inola say they’ve cut the fluoride emissions cap by 37% after ODEQ and neighbors raised air and soil safety concerns, aiming for “world-class” limits while arguing 99% of fluoride would be captured. Food Safety: Walmart shoppers in 16 states are being told to check freezers as an E. coli-linked recall expands for Great Value frozen Organic Triple Berry Blend (10 oz) tied to the same Chilean supplier as earlier berry recalls; no illnesses tied to this specific product yet. Higher Ed Workforce Training: Oklahoma State Regents approved shorter bachelor pathways at OU, OSU and Rogers State (90–104 credits), pending accreditation, with tracks aimed at business, AI, cyber defense, digital forensics and workforce development. Energy & Defense Industry: The U.S. Air Force is seeking anti-aircraft gun systems for overseas base defense, focusing on affordable munitions against drones and cruise missiles. Infrastructure & Water: Oklahoma City plans to release about 16,000 acre-feet from Canton Lake starting Sept. 17 to replenish Lake Hefner. Housing Revitalization: A $25 million federal grant will modernize Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers Courts, a nearly 100-year-old housing complex.

Industrial Safety: Oklahoma State University’s biosystems engineering expert is warning grain producers that grain bins are confined spaces where oxygen issues and moving grain can quickly lead to entrapment or engulfment—urging safer entry/exit and hazard controls ahead of harvest. Energy & Infrastructure: USA Rare Earth says it completed its combination with Serra Verde Group, creating a more integrated rare-earth supply chain tied to magnets and national security, with ramp-up targets in Brazil. Industrial Services Expansion: MISTRAS Group, based in Princeton Junction, opened five new field service offices including Tulsa to cut mobilization time for inspection and integrity work across energy, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and data centers. Capital Projects & Workforce: Rogers State University won approval to launch its first three-year Bachelor of Applied Science in Workforce Development, with tracks in automation manufacturing, digital systems, cyber defense, and forensics. Governance & Finance: A shareholder advisory firm is suing to block Oklahoma’s anti-ESG proxy advisory transparency law, arguing it infringes free speech and adds compliance burdens. Local Business/Legal: The owner of a Sand Springs marijuana facility explosion, Ryan Bassham, is jailed without bond as prosecutors seek to keep him from reappearing in court. Public Health: Yukon’s water main repairs restored pressure, but the state environmental agency recommends residents boil water for 72 hours as a precaution.

Oklahoma City Housing & Revitalization: A $25 million Choice Neighborhoods grant will help transform the Will Rogers Courts and Westwood Exchange area, with phased replacement of aging buildings over the next eight years. Food Safety: Walmart’s Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend (10 oz) is recalled in 16 states, including Oklahoma, due to possible E. coli O145 contamination; no illnesses tied to this specific product yet, but consumers are told not to eat it. Construction & Local Traffic: ODOT is resurfacing Highway 169 from Talala to just south of Nowata, cutting it to one lane with a 55 mph limit and expected delays into late fall. Manufacturing & Defense Work: Wall Colmonoy in Oklahoma City won a $5–$6 million, five-year U.S. Air Force contract to remanufacture F-16 heat exchangers, aiming to expand local operations and jobs. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports show diesel and E85 pricing snapshots across Oklahoma counties, with Nowata’s lowest E85 at $2.79 and Caddo County’s lowest diesel at $4.88. Business & Policy: Oklahoma is weighing regulation of prediction markets as sports betting stays illegal, raising consumer-protection and gambling-disorder concerns. Education & Community: Greenheck Group plans a major Oklahoma expansion by taking over a former Macy’s distribution center in Owasso, targeting early 2027 operations and hundreds of jobs.

Defense Manufacturing: Wall Colmonoy won a five-year, $5M–$6M contract with Tinker Air Force Base to build critical F-16 heat exchangers, aiming to expand Oklahoma City jobs and support fighter readiness. Education & Workforce: Oklahoma City Public Schools is rolling out new college-and-career healthcare training at John Marshall Enterprise High School, letting students earn a certified nursing assistant credential as early as junior year. Public Safety Funding: Frontier Shores Fire Department in Osage County is seeking a final ~$5,000 for plumbing and electrical work to start a new fire station after securing building/concrete funds. Energy & Markets: Oil prices steadied after a rally tied to renewed U.S. strikes on Iran, with analysts watching Strait of Hormuz flows and possible off-ramps. Agriculture Training: OSU Extension is hosting an Oct. 19–21 Oklahoma Sheep and Meat Goat Boot Camp in Ada for up to 50 producers. Marijuana Oversight: OMMA defended its licensing oversight after a Sand Springs extraction explosion that killed two workers, while prosecutors pursue charges against the facility owner.

Data Centers & Local Rules: Midwest City is weighing new zoning rules for data centers, including special use permits, tighter buffers from homes, detailed disclosures on water and power use, and noise limits. Telecom & Infrastructure Crime: AT&T is offering up to a $10,000 reward for tips leading to copper theft arrests after 300+ incidents this year, warning that stolen wire can knock out service and disrupt 911. AI Fiber Buildout: Light Source Communications is expanding with a second major hyperscale dark-fiber route—500 miles between Tulsa and St. Louis—aimed at AI data center demand, with completion forecast for Q3 2027. Water Stress: A flash drought is driving sharp drops at Lake Hefner and Edmond ponds, with Lake Hefner now about 10 feet below average. Workforce Pressure: A Kansas City Fed report says labor shortages are the top short-term drag on growth across Colorado and nearby states, with rising steel and fuel costs tied to data center buildouts and delivery expenses. Energy Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports show scattered Oklahoma price lows across counties, including diesel at $4.69 in Grady County and E15 as low as $3.45 in Creek County. Food Safety: A multi-state tofu recall linked to possible ink contamination includes more than 10,000 cases, with Hodo saying no illnesses reported.

Industrial Services Expansion: MISTRAS Group is opening new field services locations in Tulsa, Oklahoma (plus Savannah, Iron Mountain, Waterford, and St. Paul) to cut mobilization time and better support energy, power, aerospace/defense, advanced manufacturing, and data center customers. Retail Tech in Oklahoma: Oklahoma-based O&M Restaurant Group (a 23-unit Taco Bell franchisee) is rolling out Oscar AI to help store leaders improve sales, margins, labor efficiency, and performance using real-time, role-specific insights. Higher Ed & Workforce Pipeline: OCCC President Dr. Mautra Staley Jones was elected to the Higher Learning Commission Board of Trustees, a national accreditation leadership role. Agriculture & Water: Oklahoma Water Resources Center research and Extension programs are spotlighting aquifer protection as drought pressures producers; a separate AG opinion says farmers hauling equipment don’t need highway escorts under the “implement of husbandry” rule. Public Safety/Compliance: A federal case in Oklahoma involves a guilty plea tied to illegal firearm conversion devices, with charges connected to ATF and Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.

Marijuana enforcement: Tulsa County DA Steve Kunzweiler says a Sand Springs explosion that killed two workers is tied to an Oklahoma marijuana extraction operation that allegedly lacked proper licensing, and he’s pushing for stronger state safeguards after owner Ryan Bassham was charged with murder. Ag & energy: Gov. Kevin Stitt publicly breaks with the Trump administration over a plan to sell imported beef at a 25% discount, warning it could undercut Oklahoma cattle producers. Local construction: OKC United’s MAPS 4 multipurpose stadium faces higher costs as Echo Sports steps in with $9 million to help keep the 2028 opening on track. Food safety: Hodo, Inc. recalls more than 10,000 cases of chili crisp lightly fried tofu across 29 states after ink from packaging may have migrated into the product. Tech & policy: Oklahoma lawmakers and regulators are among states weighing tougher oversight as data centers face growing community and regulatory scrutiny, including concerns about water and power. Education & workforce: University of Central Oklahoma launches an AI-focused MBA this fall, aiming to prepare business leaders for AI-driven roles beyond traditional IT. Business & finance: Oklahoma is moving to outsource management of its $200 million sovereign wealth fund, seeking an outsourced chief investment officer to grow it to $1 billion by 2036. Transportation & growth: Greater OKC regional leaders highlight defense industry expansion and transit upgrades, including a proposed commuter rail link connecting OKC, Edmond and Norman.

Truck & Road Safety: A multi-vehicle crash is backing up westbound I-240 in Oklahoma City, with the pileup reported between I-35 and Eastern Avenue in a construction zone. Public Safety & Courts: In the Sand Springs explosion case, Tulsa-area suspect Ryan Bassham faces additional Creek County charges after posting a $2 million bond, with investigators tying him to another alleged illegal marijuana operation. Energy & Industry Watch: Inola residents are pushing back on a proposed Century Aluminum smelter, filing a federal lawsuit arguing federal review steps under NEPA weren’t properly followed. Retail & Consumer Policy: Oklahoma is among states with SNAP “junk food” restrictions, but federal court action has paused similar bans in other states. Big Tech & Advertising Costs: The FTC and 22 states, including Oklahoma, sued Amazon over alleged secret ad surcharges that they say cost advertisers about $20 billion. Education & Workforce: Sand Springs Public Schools won a $1.38M federal grant to expand after-school and summer learning programs. Local Business & Growth: Renewal by Andersen and Esler Companies announced long-term athletics partnerships that include the University of Oklahoma. Community & Culture: Tulsa’s Route 66 Commission is backing a 66-foot dinosaur statue project, with steel work set to begin soon.

FTC/AG Lawsuit: The FTC and 22 states, including Oklahoma, sued Amazon over claims it secretly inflated sponsored-ad prices for more than 1.2 million advertisers, alleging “second-price” auctions were manipulated with undisclosed surcharges that may have generated tens of billions in extra costs. Oklahoma Energy/Water Infrastructure: El Reno condemned an Athlon Blockchain bitcoin mining site after a massive water line leak reportedly wasted about 3 million gallons and triggered a stop-work order tied to fire and life safety violations plus expired permits. Cannabis Safety & Compliance: A Sand Springs marijuana extraction explosion killed two workers and led to murder charges against owner Ryan Bassham; court records say licenses/registrations were invalid and fire marshal concerns were raised before the blast. Food Processing/Ag Tech: OSU and partners will host a Sept. 17 high pressure processing workshop in Stillwater, featuring Oklahoma’s first Hiperbaric 55 system and sessions on listeria control and dark-cutting beef recovery. Insurance/Construction Risk: Unsealed State Farm documents in Oklahoma allege the insurer changed hail and wind roof-claim rules in 2020, cutting indemnity and lowering roof replacement rates—fueling a broader legal fight with homeowners. Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy reported Oklahoma’s weekly price snapshots, including McClain County premium at $4.09 and several E15 and regular lows across counties.

Energy & Industry Legal Fight: The U.S. Justice Department filed a statement of interest backing the planned Inola, Okla. primary aluminum smelter, arguing Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond’s lawsuit tries to halt construction before environmental permits are fully reviewed. Oil & Gas Finance: ONEOK kicked off cash tender offers tied to a $5 billion senior debt repayment plan, aiming to repurchase up to $2 billion of specific notes. AI for Restaurants: Oklahoma’s O&M Restaurant Group (23 Taco Bell units) selected Oscar AI to turn scattered restaurant data into real-time actions for sales, margins, and labor efficiency. Data Centers in Oklahoma: Healthy Choice Wellness’ Host Digital secured a 15-year, take-or-pay lease for 43 MW of AI/HPC data center capacity at its northeast Oklahoma facility, with delivery expected in early 2027. Local Business & Safety: An OKC apartment fire displaced about 50 residents, while a Sand Springs business owner was arrested after an explosion killed two people. Construction/Entertainment Economy: VENU reported strong Luxe FireSuite sales for its Regent Bank Amphitheater in Broken Arrow, with more than 70% sold ahead of opening. Fuel Watch: GasBuddy price reports showed Cleveland County regular gas as low as $3.27 during the week ending Aug. 22.