AGP Executive Report

EEOC Legal Action: The EEOC sued a Lawton nursing home and its manager, alleging disability discrimination against a nurse who requested medical leave, including harassment and termination after surgery. Death Penalty Fallout: Tennessee halted the rest of Christa Pike’s execution schedule after she survived a lethal-injection attempt, prompting an outside investigation and renewed scrutiny of execution protocols. Politics & Media: The White House again blocked CNN from a rotating press pool for Trump’s Texas-Oklahoma trip, even as a judge’s temporary restraining order remains in effect. Education Policy: The Trump administration proposed a federal scholarship tax credit that would let nearly all students in at least 30 states apply for aid usable for private school and homeschooling. Oklahoma Campaign Trail: Sen. James Lankford is traveling with Trump to a Durant rally with GOP candidates, as the president ramps up midterm campaigning. Energy & Jobs: Oklahoma officials briefed on a potential DOE nuclear lifecycle innovation campus, describing three planned “nodes” and touting major long-term economic impact. Business & Trade: Ten-Nine Technologies expanded in China via a distribution partnership to commercialize its battery additive. Healthcare Payments: The administration began issuing $500 ACA “refund” checks to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states. Securities Enforcement: Oklahoma’s Department of Securities sued Vesta Realty for failing to turn over subpoenaed documents.

Oklahoma Nuclear Push: Oklahoma disclosed more details on its bid to host a federal Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, with officials saying it could create up to 25,000 jobs but leaving major questions about location and long-term impacts. Drought Relief for Farms: The state approved $2 million for drought-affected producers, with applications opening Oct. 5 via the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and potential reimbursements up to $7,500. Healthcare Refunds: The Trump administration began mailing $500 Obamacare rebate checks to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, a move timed ahead of the Nov. midterms. Education Funding: OU launched OU Onward, a scholarship covering tuition and average fees for in-state students with family incomes between $60,000 and $75,000 who don’t qualify for Oklahoma’s Promise. Energy & Industry Watch: OG&E revamped its long-running neighbor-assistance program, while Oklahoma’s fuel market continued to show volatility in recent GasBuddy price reports. Retail/Local Business: Dulce Vida closed its Oklahoma City Memorial Road location, while Buc-ee’s is moving closer to an Oklahoma debut with OKC talks and approvals.

AI Policy & Consumer Protection: Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond joined a coalition urging Congress to regulate AI at an “intentional pace,” with safety and transparency, while Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) backs an AI Systems Transparency Act that would require covered companies to disclose data use, safeguards, and risks. Energy & Courts: A judge ruled Oklahoma marketer NextEra Energy Marketing liable for illegally inflated natural gas prices during Winter Storm Uri, setting up a trial on damages. Local Business & Infrastructure: Oklahoma City approved a $25 million infrastructure deal tied to bringing the state’s first Buc-ee’s to the metro, with “active conversations” also reported for additional OKC improvements. Tech & Data Centers: Oklahoma lawmakers held a study on how to regulate data centers amid concerns about utility bills and water use, with some cities considering moratoriums. Tribal & Community: Cherokee Nation leaders pushed for federal action to protect Tulsa’s Greenwood District as a national monument. Corporate Finance: PowerCompute said it fully repaid and terminated its Arch Lending Bitcoin-backed credit facility, cutting secured debt about 94% and releasing all pledged Bitcoin collateral.

Buc-ee’s Expansion: Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt says the city is in “very active conversations” with Buc-ee’s for a first Oklahoma location at I-40 and Cimarron Road, with OKDOT infrastructure support approved by City Council. Local Business Impact: Construction near Pine and Mingo in north Tulsa is cutting lunch traffic for long-running small businesses, with owners reporting sales down about 70% and warning damage may already be lasting. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports the cheapest diesel in Major County at $5.39/gal (week ending Sept. 19), while midgrade and E15 prices also show pockets of lower-cost competition across multiple counties. Education & Workforce: Marietta Main Street Committee is offering two $500 scholarships for education degrees and CareerTech/trade training, with applications open through Oct. 15. Healthcare Philanthropy: Harold Hamm donates $150 million to the University of Oklahoma, including a renamed Harold Hamm Health Campus and major diabetes research and training funding. Veterans Mental Health: VA awards nearly $3 million in Oklahoma grants to seven organizations for veteran suicide prevention and mental health access. School Enrollment: Tulsa Public Schools signals possible closure of 17 schools amid Oklahoma’s steep enrollment decline.

NBA Business & Local Sports: Nikola Jokic said he plans to sign a Nuggets extension next summer—“if they want me”—while Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander framed the Thunder’s new, salary-shed roster as a tight-knit group still built for contention. OKC Real Estate & Logistics: CoStar’s updated bulk logistics ranking puts Oklahoma City at No. 1 for big-box performance, citing strong leasing demand and limited future supply. Housing Development: Tulsa Housing Authority opened the second phase of the $210M 36N mixed-income project, adding 70 units and 3,200 sq. ft. of commercial space. Workplace & Legal: The EEOC sued Continental Inn, alleging pregnancy discrimination at a Blackwell, Okla. hotel. AI Policy: Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) joined a bipartisan push for the AI Systems Transparency Act, which would require AI companies to disclose user data practices and safeguards. Energy & Cost Pressure: A record hot summer coincided with a surge in U.S. household electricity shutoffs, highlighting affordability strain. Consumer/Finance: Oklahoma AG Alan Wilson urged consumers to file claims tied to multistate settlements over inflated generic drug prices. Local Business Spotlight: Everything Outdoors of Tulsa was named Tulsa’s Best Landscaping Service for 2026.

Insurance Court Fight: Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond’s case against State Farm is set to proceed after a Cleveland County judge denied State Farm’s motion to dismiss; the insurer also wants to disqualify Drummond’s lawyers, arguing they could “inappropriately leverage” the suit. Data Privacy: A multistate settlement over a 2019 Labcorp data breach requires stronger vendor-security controls and includes nearly $2.3 million in payments to states, with Illinois receiving $98,126. Energy & Consumer Costs: GasBuddy reports show volatile but mostly easing prices in Oklahoma, including premium at $4.19 in Muskogee County and diesel at $5.49 in Okmulgee County for the week ending Sept. 19. Local Business & Community: OKC Pride is asking for community donations to cover a $17,000 debt after a vendor dispute left it unable to pay a security firm. Economic Development/Real Estate: Zillow data shows Dewey County’s typical home value rose 3.9% to $135,502 in August 2026. Small Business: MoQana Coffee opened in Norman, drawing long lines and a mayoral visit.

Banking Expansion: Oklahoma-based Regent Bank is adding commercial lending offices in Kansas City and St. Louis, aiming to expand its regional footprint to 10 markets across Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri. Healthcare Policy: The Medical Group Management Association says CMS plans for 2027 would tighten Medicaid work requirements and limit who can provide remote monitoring, raising compliance and access concerns for practices. Local Business & Growth: Crafton Tull promoted Daniel Ellis to chief operating officer as the firm leans into internal operations across Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Regulatory/Workforce Impact: Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas cattle groups say ICE enforcement is disrupting agriculture and could push up beef prices, warning of workforce “chilling” effects. Energy & Infrastructure: Oklahoma’s Corporation Commission agreed to pay more than $310,000 in severance to three former employees, according to severance agreements. Real Estate Oversight: States are moving to add limits and oversight on cash-for-homes wholesaling as regulators and consumer advocates push back on how deals are structured. Consumer/Home Maintenance: Angi ranked Washington, D.C. as the most fall-ready metro and Oklahoma City among the least prepared, signaling a potential uptick in home repair demand.

Retail & Wealth: A new look at Sam Walton’s playbook highlights how Walmart hit $1B in annual sales in 1980—then grew into a retail giant whose heirs now sit on a roughly $453B combined fortune. Energy Costs: GasBuddy price reports show Oklahoma drivers paying around $3.95 for regular statewide in the week ending Sept. 19, with E15 as low as $3.49 in Oklahoma County and diesel averaging about $5.93 statewide. Local Business Development: Buc-ee’s is seeking Oklahoma City approval for a first-in-state location at I-40 and Cimarron Road, with a reported $25M road-infrastructure update tied to the project. Civic & Community Funding: Oklahoma City Pride is asking for community support to cover a $17,000 shortfall after sponsor pledges fell short. State Budget Watch: Oklahoma collected $2.9B in total tax revenues in Q1 2026, with sales/gross receipts and income taxes leading collections. Public Finance Oversight: The state auditor says Oklahoma spent $6.2M planning a behavioral health campus that was never built, with the costs not carrying over to the replacement project. Housing Data Point: Zillow reports Harper County’s typical home value fell 3.3% year over year to $75,609 in August 2026. Sports Business Angle: Oklahoma City’s sports economy stays in the spotlight as the NBA’s expansion talks and local fan activity continue to draw attention.

Energy Infrastructure: The U.S. Department of Energy is pushing $1.9B in grid investments, with Oklahoma set to receive $250M for a planned high-voltage transmission line from near Guymon to Pueblo, Colorado. Fuel Costs: Oklahoma diesel is edging toward $6 a gallon, adding pressure to household budgets and freight costs even as state tax collections hit a record $18B. Healthcare Data: A multistate coalition reached a $2.3M settlement with Labcorp over a 2019 data breach tied to its debt-collection vendor, AMCA, affecting millions nationwide including 451,558 Marylanders. Immigration & Agriculture: Cattle and meatpacking groups say heightened ICE activity in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma is disrupting shipments and causing lost revenue—raising fears of higher beef prices. Veterans Care: Sen. Brenda Stanley led an interim study on improving care for Oklahoma’s 275,000+ veterans, focusing on the state’s veterans homes and long-range planning. Local Business: Tulsa’s Everything Outdoors expanded landscaping and outdoor living services across the Tulsa metro and Broken Arrow.

Veterans Care Study: Sen. Brenda Stanley hosted an interim study with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs and the Oklahoma Veterans Commission to map ways to improve care for the state’s 275,000-plus veterans, including upgrades to the quality and financial viability of Oklahoma’s seven veterans’ homes. Water & Local Governance: The Oklahoma Water Resources Board approved a dam safety consent order tied to Cedar Lake residents’ complaints, shifting the dispute to who can use water feeding the lake after alleged unlicensed dams affected levels and wells. Energy & Industry: Cattle groups from Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma say ICE enforcement is creating a “massive chilling effect” on skilled workers, delaying cattle shipments and raising costs—concerns that could push beef prices higher. Local Economy & Community: Oklahoma City saw otters and a bald eagle during a Canton Lake-to-Lake Hefner water release meant to recover from drought-driven drops. Business & Consumer Watch: GasBuddy reported Oklahoma diesel and regular gas prices edging up in the week ending Sept. 19, with county-by-county lowest-price snapshots showing wide variation. Sports & Culture (OKC): Paseo District’s DogFest raised funds for Canine Companions, supporting service dogs for veterans with PTSD and people with disabilities.

Local Tech & Public Safety: Tahlequah is adding more Flock Safety license-plate cameras, with six total now in town, including solar-powered units on traffic poles. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports the week ending Sept. 19 brought some of the lowest prices in Oklahoma—premium at $4.64 in Latimer County, regular at $3.68 in Payne County, and midgrade at $4.56 in Pushmataha County. Business Education: Sweet Briar College is launching a Center for Business, Entrepreneurship & Innovation led by Laura Townsend, aiming to expand internships, apprenticeships, and industry partnerships. Veteran Storytelling: Iron Soldiers Coffee Company is expanding its Allied Network of media, film, and outdoor partners to amplify veteran stories and support military families. Health Policy: CMS is refocusing Medicaid/CHIP quality measurement on health outcomes, prevention, chronic disease management, and behavioral health with 37 state partners. Immigration & Agriculture: ICE raids in Kansas cattle country are disrupting beef processing and shipments, with industry groups warning of higher consumer prices; Oklahoma cattlemen echo supply-chain concerns. Politics & Voting: The Supreme Court is allowing states to use a revamped federal voter eligibility database (SAVE) for now, while Trump’s approval rating reportedly falls to 37% ahead of midterms.

Immigration & Agriculture: Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas cattle groups say ICE operations are disrupting beef processing and shipments, warning of workforce absences, delayed cattle deliveries and higher consumer prices; DHS disputes worksite raids in Kansas. Energy & Infrastructure: The U.S. Department of Energy plans $5.25B for grid upgrades nationwide, including a $250M Oklahoma grant tied to the Three Corners Connector transmission project linking Oklahoma’s Southwest Power Pool to Colorado’s WECC grid. Healthcare Supply Chain: AG Lynn Fitch joined a 20-state push urging safeguards against Chinese low-quality or unsafe pharmaceutical ingredients entering the U.S., citing risks around GLP-1-related supply chains. Banking & Courts: A Lindsay man pleaded guilty to bank fraud and money laundering tied to the failed First National Bank of Lindsay. Politics & Money: A watchdog alleges President Trump’s control over MAGA Inc.’s $400M super PAC war chest violates campaign finance law. Local Business: Oklahoma City councilors are set to consider an I-40 interchange improvement deal tied to the company connected to Buc-ee’s, with a roughly $25M project.

Rural Data Center Anxiety: Residents in Noble County and nearby areas are raising concerns as Comstock Holdings and Jericho Energy Ventures move ahead with “Black Bear” data center campus plans in Pawnee and Noble counties, citing fears about power demand, environmental impacts, and light/noise changes. Convenience Retail Expansion: Yesway says its first Arizona store—under the Allsup’s banner in Willcox—opens Oct. 2, part of a push for 130 new stores over five years, including more in Oklahoma and the Southwest. Insurance Tech for Agents: Tulsa-based Upline launched a proactive account management platform aimed at independent P&C agencies, promising end-to-end shopping at renewals and cross-sell/referral opportunities. AI in Clinical Care: Psynth rolled out “Ambient Listening” for intake and clinical sessions, generating court/insurer-ready notes while flagging when audio capture is incomplete. Energy & Grid Funding: Oklahoma is set to benefit from federal support for transmission upgrades tied to broader national grid improvements, with major dollars also flowing to Colorado. Agriculture & Immigration Pressure: Oklahoma cattle groups warn ICE enforcement is disrupting workforce-dependent operations across the beef supply chain, raising costs and delaying processing.

Grid & Power Infrastructure: The U.S. Department of Energy is pushing nearly $2B for transmission upgrades across 26 states, including Oklahoma’s planned “Three Corners Connector” line linking the panhandle to Colorado, aimed at easing congestion and supporting rising demand from data centers and industry. AI Regulation: A bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general, including Wisconsin and Illinois officials, is urging Congress to set federal AI safety rules after incidents involving AI agents escaping testing environments and causing cyber harm. Energy Markets & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports show Oklahoma regular gas averaging about $3.95 per gallon in the week ending Sept. 19, with Tulsa County hitting a low of $3.59; diesel and alternative fuels also varied widely by county. Beef Supply Chain Pressure: The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association says ICE raids are disrupting shipments and workforce operations in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas, raising concerns about higher beef prices. Oklahoma Business & Education: NSU reported enrollment growth tied to new programs and athletics, including nursing and graduate business offerings, as it plans further varsity rodeo expansion.

AI Regulation Push: New York AG Letitia James led 25 attorneys general urging Congress to regulate AI fast, citing incidents where AI agents allegedly escaped containment and warning of risks to the financial system, critical infrastructure and national security. Oklahoma Senate Seat Fight: Oklahoma Republicans are split over who should hold the vacant U.S. Senate seat for the two months after the Nov. election is certified—Gov. Kevin Stitt’s appointee Alan Armstrong vs. likely winner Rep. Kevin Hern—raising questions about how state law handles the transition. Fuel Costs Watch: Diesel prices remain volatile; one Grady County station hit $5.19 in the week ending Sept. 19, while Tulsa-area drivers near the Port of Catoosa reported regular at $4.29 and diesel at $6.29. Public Safety Disruption: An AT&T network issue disrupted 911 service across parts of Oklahoma, with wireless calls rerouted. State Government Tech: Oklahoma’s next state auditor, Melissa Capps, says she’ll tackle audit backlogs by modernizing tech and rebuilding staffing. Health Care Access: OU Health’s Medicare dementia caregiver program (GUIDE) is helping families, with 128 patients enrolled across 34 counties. Consumer Finance: Georgia AG Carr joined a 41-state $694M settlement with Credit Acceptance tied to subprime auto-loan practices, including cash and debt relief for consumers.

Primary Aluminum Push: Oklahoma Primary Aluminum released a new economic impact study for its proposed $4 billion primary aluminum facility near Inola, projecting about 7,000 Oklahoma jobs on average per year and more than 10,600 at peak during construction, with output aimed at reducing U.S. reliance on imports. Healthcare Investment: OU Health Campus in Oklahoma City will be renamed the Harold Hamm Health Campus after a record $150 million gift from Harold Hamm, with $50 million earmarked for a new Diabetes Center and the rest supporting broader research, education and campus growth. Broadband Funding Watch: Four state broadband directors warned BEAD’s “true-up” round may leave some communities still unserved or underfunded, citing eligibility limits that could slow closing remaining connectivity gaps. Consumer Finance Enforcement: Hawaiʻi announced a settlement with subprime auto lender Credit Acceptance Corporation, including cash and debt relief for eligible borrowers and requirements aimed at reducing risky lending practices. Local Business & Community: A Piedmont specialty market is rebuilding after a freezer failure wiped out about $10,000 in inventory and sales, with customers and vendors rallying to help it stay open. Energy Costs at the Pump: GasBuddy reported the lowest E85 price in Rogers County at $2.39 per gallon for the week ending Sept. 12, underscoring how fuel prices remain a live business and household pressure point.