AGP Executive Report

Banking & Deals: Bank7 Corp agreed to buy Century Financial Services in a roughly $137.3 million cash-and-shares deal, creating a Southwest banking group with about $3.3 billion in assets and expanding Century Bank’s New Mexico footprint. Consumer Finance: Michigan AG Dana Nessel joined a $694 million multistate settlement with subprime auto lender Credit Acceptance, requiring loan-risk disclosures and protections tied to alleged unaffordable lending. Construction & Recovery: Gage Commercial Construction is pushing five fire reconstruction projects across Texas and Oklahoma, including major rebuilds and unit repairs totaling more than $12.5 million in 2026 work. Energy & Risk: Investigation continues after a solar farm fire near Medicine Lodge; officials said there was no immediate danger to health or the environment. Agriculture: Oklahoma State University research highlights how heavier carcass weights are lifting beef cutout values—while warning producers about discounts from excess external fat. Policy & Governance: Oklahoma voters will see State Question 845 on the Nov. 3 ballot, proposing changes to the Judicial Nominating Commission’s structure and rules. Workforce/Operations: A new review of Oklahoma’s driver licensing system finds experiences still vary between state and private tag agencies despite Service Oklahoma reforms. Public Health: CDC reports a turtle-linked Salmonella outbreak has more than doubled to 20 cases across 12 states, with young children most affected.

Nuclear Energy Watch: West Virginia and the U.S. Department of Energy signed a 7-page framework agreement outlining expectations for a potential Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, with Oklahoma named among other finalist states. Local Energy Costs: GasBuddy data show Oklahoma drivers still see wide swings—Canadian County’s lowest premium hit $4.08 (week ending Sept. 12), while Jefferson County’s regular bottomed at $3.62 and Okfuskee County’s E15 lowest was $3.34. Housing Market: Zillow reports Woods County’s typical home value rose 6.6% to $119,944 in August 2026, while Kay County climbed 3.5% to $116,871. AI & Policy: Oklahoma Chronicle highlights growing concerns about AI misuse and real-world harms, including child-safety risks. Business/Tech: A column warns Oklahoma is losing farmland to large AI data-center land grabs, arguing the jobs created may not match the land and water tradeoffs.

Data Centers & Land Use: A new report alleges multi-billion-dollar tech firms are quietly taking thousands of acres of Oklahoma farmland for AI data centers, raising concerns about lost agricultural production, water strain, and rising electricity costs for ratepayers. Rural Food Aid Impact: In Pond Creek, Oklahoma, a SNAP-reliant grocery says federal benefit restrictions have cut SNAP sales by about 90%, squeezing families already facing high rural food insecurity. Oklahoma Government & Finance: Oklahoma County officials are pushing for a state audit after bookkeeping and reserve-fund shortfalls, spotlighting budget and financial-control questions. Energy & Infrastructure: A separate national story highlights a diesel spill tied to a data center in New Jersey, underscoring the environmental risks that can come with rapid infrastructure buildouts. Aviation Innovation: Joby Aviation says it completed the first autonomous cross-country flight across the U.S., a sign of how quickly aviation tech is moving from pilots to autonomy.

NBA/Local Economy: The Houston Rockets’ Amen Thompson just landed a $208 million extension, and an NBA insider says it could be the move that clears the way for another major trade—keeping Oklahoma’s basketball fans watching the broader pro talent pipeline. Energy/Policy: A prayer walk in New York targeted the Constitution Pipeline, with opponents saying the 30-inch, 125-mile fracked gas project would cut through hundreds of water bodies and raise energy bills, while supporters push faster re-permitting. Housing/Markets: Zillow data shows Payne County’s typical home value rose 4% to $244,851 in August 2026, while Oklahoma County’s finances remain under scrutiny after reported bookkeeping errors. State Finances: Oklahoma’s combined tax revenues fell 10% quarter-over-quarter to $2.9 billion in Q1 2026, led by sales/gross receipts and income taxes. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports Oklahoma regular prices averaged $3.77 for the week ending Sept. 12, with notable county lows including $3.29 in Cleveland County and $3.73 in Craig County. Aerospace/Innovation: Joby Aviation-backed autonomous flight milestones continued as an autonomous Cessna Caravan completed the first-ever fully autonomous cross-country flight across the U.S.

Defense & Aerospace Expansion: KIHOMAC plans a $25 million Oklahoma City-area facility to expand aerospace and defense support for Tinker Air Force Base and its supplier network. Manufacturing Jobs: Greenheck Group is investing about $300 million in Oklahoma, including buying and upgrading a former Macy’s distribution site in Owasso, with plans to add 700+ jobs over five years. Energy Industry Hiring: The Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas Expo returns Oct. 15 to the Bennett Event Center in OKC, adding a new career fair alongside exhibitors, panels and oilfield tech. Food Costs for Restaurants: Rising ground beef prices are forcing some Oklahoma restaurants to raise menu prices—one Owasso operator says beef costs have nearly doubled over five years. Health Care Policy: A coalition led by AG Steve Marshall warned Rubio about China’s role in pharmaceutical supply chains, citing risks tied to active ingredients. Consumer Health: Abbott Laboratories will pay more than $384 million in a baby formula safety settlement with states and the federal government. Local Government: Nowata County commissioners will meet Monday to consider rural water financial assistance and review county infrastructure claims and bids.

Aerospace Expansion: KIHOMAC says it will invest $25 million in a new Oklahoma City-area facility (about 130,000 square feet) to expand aerospace and defense sustainment support tied to Tinker Air Force Base. Energy & Jobs: The Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas Expo returns Oct. 15 to OKC with a new career fair alongside exhibitors, panels and oilfield tech—aimed at connecting employers with job seekers. State Government Oversight: Oklahoma County commissioners approved a state investigative audit after budget discrepancies, hiring State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd to review finances from Jan. 2025 to present. Public Safety & Utilities: A boil order remains in effect for Copan water customers after a power failure at the lake intake and treatment facility, with daily testing and filter washing underway. Election Integrity & Policy: Oklahoma’s AI-in-political-advertising rules remain largely unregulated as the Ethics Commission weighs whether to pursue content limits or disclosure requirements. Agriculture Costs: AAA reports Oklahoma gas at about $4.04 and diesel at a record $5.93 amid fuel-supply jitters, squeezing farmers and other diesel-dependent operators. Local Business Security: Businesses in OKC’s Paseo District were burglarized, including Soul Café, with footage capturing a suspect breaking in and stealing cash.

Oklahoma County Governance: Commissioners are set to meet again after a reported $14 million bookkeeping error raised questions about whether the county’s finances were overstated or money is actually missing, with officials weighing a state auditor special investigative audit and how far back to review records. Energy & Utilities: A national push is growing to make data centers pay for grid upgrades, after the House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act, while Oklahoma’s own stalled infrastructure-cost approach is cited as a tighter model that could limit cost-shifting to other ratepayers. Local Economy & Growth: Piedmont City Council postponed a rezoning decision for a proposed 633-acre data center campus near Piedmont, with the developer seeking annexation and zoning changes and adjusting plans after resident concerns. Water & Property Rights: The Cedar Lake dispute in Canadian County deepened after the Oklahoma Water Resources Board approved a dam safety consent order tied to the Coffee family, shifting the fight to stream water use permits feeding the lake. Public Health & Climate: Meteorologists warn a heat dome is driving extreme heat across the south-central U.S., including Oklahoma, raising risks of heat-related illness. Education & Tech Policy: Oklahoma parents and lawmakers are again pushing to limit in-school screen time and AI use, after earlier efforts stalled in the Senate. Community & Health Access: Tulsa-area groups, including Ascension St. John, are tackling food insecurity as a health issue, linking access to fresh food with outcomes like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Predatory Auto Lending Settlement: Oklahoma Attorney General Tim Griffin joined a multistate $694 million deal with Credit Acceptance, aimed at consumers harmed by loans the company allegedly knew they couldn’t afford; the agreement includes cash and debt relief plus required consumer-protection changes. Legal/Professional Fees: A federal appeals court is set to hear a challenge to required Oklahoma Bar Association membership dues, with Tulsa attorney Mark Schell arguing the practice should not be mandatory to work in the state. Economy/Interest Rates: The Federal Reserve raised rates for the first time in three years, pushing the benchmark to 3.75%-4% as inflation persists, including pressure from fuel costs. Local Government Finance: Oklahoma County commissioners are requesting a state audit after discovering about $14 million in accounting errors tied to the county clerk’s office. Energy Costs: GasBuddy data shows midgrade prices in parts of Oklahoma hovering around the low-to-mid $4 range for the week ending Sept. 12, with statewide averages edging up. Business Deals/Banking: Gateway First Bank announced plans to acquire Texas-based Colonial Savings, expected to close in early 2027 pending approvals. Workplace/Compliance: A federal lawsuit targets Oklahoma nonprofit coffee shop chain Not Your Average Joe over alleged Fair Labor Standards Act violations, including tip handling and unpaid “volunteer time.” Native Housing Policy: Tribal leaders urged Congress to modernize NAHASDA, arguing funding gaps have left housing needs unmet in Native communities.

Chamber & Local Business: Peak Performance Roofing & Construction joined the Tulsa Regional Chamber, signaling more local networking and participation in the chamber’s Tulsa’s Future economic development push. Small-Town Retail & Taxes: Oklahoma Tax Commission data show Newcastle’s sales and use tax returns rose to $1.05 million for July activity, up about $111,000 year over year, while McClain County fell by more than $285,000. Construction Milestone: Claremore’s Capital Roofing marked 15 years in business, highlighting its residential and commercial roofing growth since 2011. Energy & Markets: U.S. crude inventories fell while gasoline and distillate stocks rose, with Cushing, Oklahoma deliveries down as refinery utilization slipped. Critical Minerals Tech: USA Rare Earth shares climbed after a Pasqal and Riven Systems quantum machine-learning collaboration aimed at improving rare-earth separation efficiency. Insurance Watch: Oklahoma’s captive insurance premiums jumped 66.7% in 2025, pushing total premium volume to about $696.6 million, according to the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Policy & Utilities: The U.S. House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act 417-3, a major data-center electricity cost vote that still leaves key legal and state-level decisions ahead. Education & Workforce: A USAO board-approved program and faculty policy shift is drawing concern from students and faculty over tenure references, class access, and curriculum control.

Diesel shock in Oklahoma: AAA says statewide diesel averages about $5.87 a gallon, near record highs, squeezing farmers and truckers and raising fears that higher fuel costs will ripple into consumer prices. Wildfire readiness and relief: Oklahoma residents are urged to use Mesonet OK-FIRE and burn-ban maps as conditions stay dangerous, while Caddo County communities are collecting supplies and money for evacuees and volunteer fire departments. Local labor win: A Ponca City Starbucks voted 10-4 to unionize, making it the eighth Oklahoma location to do so, with workers citing scheduling, pay, and communication concerns. Energy and consumer impacts: Former Cox customers in the OKC and Tulsa metros can now switch to Spectrum plans after Charter’s acquisition, with new mobile and TV options but no requirement to change existing service. Public finance scrutiny: Oklahoma County commissioners are moving toward a potential state audit after accounting confusion tied to the County Clerk’s Office. Health policy signal: A study finds Oklahoma’s e-cigarette directory laws didn’t produce sustained reductions in flavored sales. Federal policy watch: The U.S. Fed raised rates to 3.75%-4%, a move that could lift costs for Oklahoma borrowers with variable-rate debt.

AI Infrastructure & Land Deals: Crusoe opened a second Tulsa manufacturing facility, adding 400,000 square feet to build electrical components for AI data centers, hiring 300+ local craft workers. Data Center Siting Sentiment: A new analysis across 3,142 U.S. counties found opposition to data centers often doesn’t spill over to solar or battery storage, suggesting residents differentiate by technology. Oklahoma Energy/Manufacturing Growth: Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ reported August revenue reaching $18B, with gains in production, sales/use, and income taxes alongside stronger energy and manufacturing activity. Local Business Openings: Arnold’s Cafe (French-inspired) is set to open near OKC’s Plaza District, and Mo’ Bettahs will open its seventh Oklahoma location in northern OKC. Workforce & Education: Oklahoma College Application Week runs Sept. 21-25, with volunteers helping seniors complete applications statewide. Housing Pressure: A Tulsa-focused report highlights how fast Oklahoma eviction timelines can disrupt families and students, with Tulsa Public Schools seeing evictions affecting 600+ children last school year. Health Policy: Records show Medicare’s AI-assisted prior authorization pilot in six states, including Oklahoma, often missed a 72-hour response goal. Agriculture & Markets: OSU Extension launched an Ag Econ After Hours series for producers, and Oklahoma ranchers/producers are navigating volatile grain and livestock economics.

Charter-school records dispute: Oklahoma Voice reports privacy concerns after a shuttered southwest Oklahoma City charter school, Proud To Partner Leadership Academy, left paper student files (transcripts, vaccination and enrollment records) in a vacated building for weeks, while the state says it has electronic copies and the school disputes responsibility for retrieving the paper records. Labor enforcement: The U.S. Department of Labor sued Oklahoma nonprofit coffee chain Not Your Average Joe and founder Tim Herbel, alleging wage, child labor, tip and overtime violations tied to its disability-focused staffing model. Local finance scrutiny: Oklahoma County officials are still untangling bookkeeping errors, including a reported $14 million discrepancy that may affect whether reserve funds are as large as previously stated, with calls for an independent audit growing. Housing affordability push: State lawmakers and Housing Forward discussed Road to Housing Act-related strategies as Oklahoma grapples with workforce housing shortages and low homeownership. Energy infrastructure: Liberty Utilities selected a southern route for a 345-kilovolt transmission line across Newton County and beyond, citing environmental and community impacts. Banking/markets: BOK Financial set its Q3 2026 earnings call for Oct. 20, and Cyphaira Corp. completed a name change and began trading on OTC under “CYPA.” Home loan snapshot: VA home-loan data shows Oklahoma ranked 21st by total value in Q2 2026, with $841.9 million across 592 loans.

Transit & Infrastructure: Oklahoma City is weighing a next-step mass transit plan that would ask voters next year for a dedicated sales tax to fund commuter rail and expanded bus rapid transit, with an estimated $1.8 billion rail price tag plus $730 million for bus service. Energy & Industry: Stardust Power says OG&E has secured long-lead electrical infrastructure for its Muskogee lithium refinery, a key step toward EPC work for a project targeting 50,000 metric tons per year of battery-grade lithium carbonate. Defense Manufacturing: Ducommun won a follow-on $35M+ agreement to produce electronic assemblies for Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 missile platform at its Tulsa engineering and manufacturing center. Banking & Finance: First Financial Network launched FirstValue™ 3.0, a market-based loan valuation model built from actual loan sale transactions, aimed at helping institutions price and evaluate loan portfolios. Corporate Moves: ONEOK reported early results of cash tender offers tied to OpCo debt, as part of its reorganization. Local Development: Tulsa Hills-area apartment plans for up to 275 units drew resident concerns over traffic and whether road upgrades can keep pace. Local Governance: Inola extended its aluminum smelter moratorium through April 7, 2027, setting up a referendum on banning primary aluminum smelting within town limits. Business & Tech Events: Gradient’s CHROMA 2026 returns Sept. 24 in Tulsa, bringing 300+ founders, investors and enterprise leaders for matchmaking and startup showcases.

AI Child Safety Push: Oklahoma lawmakers are revisiting a first-in-the-nation bill aimed at adding guardrails for kids’ use of AI chatbots, after SB 1521 stalled earlier this year; Sen. Warren Hamilton says an interim study Monday sets up a renewed push in 2027. Federal AI Pressure: Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is calling for federal action to slow “frontier” AI development until safety guardrails catch up, joining broader national momentum from AI leaders and lawmakers. Local Tech Manufacturing: Crusoe Energy Systems opened a second Tulsa plant to build data-center hardware, with output headed to OpenAI and Oracle’s Stargate campus in Texas. Health Care Admin Tech: New federal records say Medicare’s AI prior-authorization pilot is contributing to “lengthy treatment delays,” raising concerns about testing and the process. Oklahoma Governance Watch: Oklahoma County faces calls for a forensic audit after accounting errors reportedly left its reserve fund about $10 million short. Education & Immigration: DHS finalized a rule ending “duration of status” for F-1/J-1/I students, tightening extensions and transfer options; OU international students face added visa pressure. Energy Costs: GasBuddy data shows Oklahoma regular prices averaging $3.66 for the week ending Sept. 5, with local lows reported in multiple counties.

Medicare AI Procurement Troubles: Newly released records show CMS’s WISeR Medicare prior authorization pilot in six states, including Oklahoma, faced lengthy treatment delays, technical problems, and vendor warnings before launch, with some requests exceeding the promised 72-hour turnaround. Oklahoma Housing Push: After Congress passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, Oklahoma advocates say the state still needs work on supply, eviction rates, and zoning—citing provisions like limits on big investors and easier manufactured-home rules. Broadband for Tribal Areas: NTIA opened a supplemental BEAD funding round that may include previously omitted locations, giving tribes a chance to work through state offices to confirm eligible sites on tribal lands. Defense & Manufacturing: Northrop Grumman won an $18.73 million DLA modification for B-2 Spirit hot trailing-edge production, with work in Utah and completion targeted for July 2029. Data Center Expansion: Crusoe cut the ribbon on a second Tulsa facility—400,000 square feet—adding to its Oklahoma footprint and supporting heavy AI data center demand. Healthcare Access & Fraud: Oklahoma Watch reports telemarketing call centers operated from within Oklahoma prisons to run insurance-related political outreach, raising concerns about consumer harm. Gas Prices: AAA data shows South Carolina gas prices jumped 16 cents in a week amid Iran-related oil disruptions, keeping fuel costs elevated nationwide. In-State Tuition Lawsuit: DOJ sued additional states over in-state tuition for undocumented students, with Oklahoma already among those where discounted rates were ended.

Federal Policy & Health Care: The White House says it will issue about $500 refunds to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Oklahoma, tied to alleged Obamacare “user fee” overcharges. Broadband & Tribal Planning: NTIA announced a supplemental BEAD funding round Sept. 3, giving states another chance to fund broadband for unserved locations; tribes will need to move fast through state offices to see whether eligible tribal sites appear on updated federal lists. Veterans Housing Snapshot: Oklahoma ranked 46th for average VA home loan amounts in Q2 2026, with $302,099 in loans issued, according to the VA Home Loans Index. Gas Prices Watch (Oklahoma): Regular gas averaged $3.66 statewide in the week ending Sept. 5, with Harper County’s lowest reported at $3.85; midgrade and E15 prices also eased in multiple counties. Community & Business Events: Family Shelter of Southern Oklahoma is running a Sept. 14-18 “Healthy Choices United Way Fundraiser” with participating local businesses donating a slice of sales. Sports & Travel Demand: Airlines are adding special flights for major college football matchups, reflecting how sports travel is becoming a bigger business.