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4 days ago | 
kosu.org | Chloe Bennett-Steele |Chloe Bennett
Meteorologists with the NWS have issued a heat wave warning to millions of people living in central and eastern states. The agency called the weather event "extremely dangerous," and the Oklahoma-based offices cautioned to watch for heat-related illness. Temperatures are projected to reach triple digits starting Monday.
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1 week ago | 
kosu.org | Chloe Bennett-Steele |Chloe Bennett
The Persica project is set to be on parcels of land near the town of Porter and the Arkansas River. The company, which owns several solar and wind projects in Oklahoma, first announced its plans in 2021. Persica would add about 241 megawatts to Oklahoma's solar output, a significant jump from its existing 500-megawatt capacity. The company said the new output would be equivalent to powering up to 50,000 homes annually.
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2 weeks ago | 
kosu.org | Chloe Bennett-Steele |Chloe Bennett
Sandy Layton owns a flower and gift shop in the town of Welch, an agricultural community about nine miles south of the Kansas state line. She lives on about 1,500 acres with her husband, Gary, a full-time cattle rancher. The town has a population of some 633, slightly fewer than when Layton moved to the area in 1978 as a seventh-grader. Then, Welch was anchored by an active coal industry with several operating mines and a population of industry workers.
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2 weeks ago | 
kosu.org | Chloe Bennett-Steele |Chloe Bennett
Mountain lions have been visiting the state for more than 20 years, according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. But two separate sightings and photos of kittens point to a potential established population. Late last year, two half-grown kittens were spotted in Osage County, and three were found in Cimarron County, the department said in a news release. Private landowners sent the photographic evidence to the agency.
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3 weeks ago | 
kosu.org | Chloe Bennett-Steele |Chloe Bennett
The acquisition plans were first announced in September when PSO filed for the OCC's approval. The existing facility is meant to address growing energy demands, according to the utility. "Adding this natural gas facility to our fleet allows us to serve our customers efficiently and reliably without the need to construct a new plant," Leigh Anne Strahler, president and chief operating officer of PSO, said in the announcement.
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1 month ago | 
kosu.org | Chloe Bennett-Steele |Chloe Bennett
Researchers and private companies in the U.S. are seeking ways to limit emissions from burning fossil fuels through carbon storage. The emerging industry traps carbon dioxide, sometimes before it enters the atmosphere, and injects it into deep geological formations underground. To date, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved just 11 applications for the sites, known as Class VI wells.
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1 month ago | 
kosu.org | Chloe Bennett-Steele |Chloe Bennett
In a news release, Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) said Senate Bill 2, authored by Sen. Grant Green (R-Wellston), would not move to a vote. In its latest form, the legislation mirrors House Bill 2751, written by Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Faxon), which Paxton described as creating "unreasonable setback requirements" for wind turbines. The Senate's final action rule prevents the lawmakers from voting on legislation with the same effect as another that has already been considered.
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1 month ago | 
kosu.org | Chloe Bennett-Steele |Chloe Bennett
Between 900 and 1,000 animals were settled into WildCare's 10-acre facility in Noble during the event, a fraction of the thousands of wildlife it welcomes each year. Many were juvenile and in need of help to survive in the wild. "Every year since I have been here, the demands on WildCare, in terms of intake, have gone up," said Executive Director Inger Giuffrida, who started the job in 2019.
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1 month ago | 
kosu.org | Chloe Bennett-Steele |Chloe Bennett
The CopterSonde-3D, designed by a small team of researchers led by scientists Tony Segales and Tyler Bell, captures information similar to a weather tower while moving through the atmosphere. Several versions of the design have been produced since 2016 using feedback from other researchers and meteorologists. "The drone evolved, and we believe that it's kind of shaped by weather because every time we go out there, there's a different challenge that weather presents us," Segales said.
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1 month ago | 
kosu.org | Chloe Bennett-Steele |Chloe Bennett
Three mallard ducks are back home after weeks of recovery following chemical burns from spilled diesel fuel. The wildlife organization returned the animals to their habitat on May 9. Paul Rusinko, wildlife rehabilitation manager for WildCare, worked with volunteer and OU student Brook Rogachuk to rescue 12 ducks after the spill. Two died shortly after contamination and the rest have found new homes or are continuing recovery.
