Kim McConnell, The Lawton Constitution Journalist Profile

Articles

Firehawk facility to be under construction later this year

6 days ago | swoknews.com | Kim McConnell

Construction of a new manufacturing facility by Firehawk Aerospace should begin in the third quarter of this year, Lawton economic development officials said. Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Wednesday at his weekly press conference that Firehawk Aerospace, which specializes in hybrid rocket propulsion technology, would be opening a facility in Lawton, making it the third major economic development announcement for the state in the last two weeks. kAm~77:4:2=D H:E9 E96 {2HE@?
Lawton looks at new rules to control panhandling

6 days ago | swoknews.com | Kim McConnell

City of Lawton attorneys and administrators are working on additional guidelines to control panhandling in the city. The directive came from the City Council's Homeless Action Committee, a committee created to oversee actions the city may take in relationship to homeless residents in the community, actions ranging from recommendations on homeless encampments to looking at further action to curb panhandling.
City looking at new trust authority to focus on homeless activities

1 week ago | swoknews.com | Kim McConnell

A new trust authority being considered by the City of Lawton will give Lawton an entity to manage actions related to the city’s homeless — to include owning property to house encampments. The Lawton Unhoused Trust Authority indenture was approved Thursday by the City Council’s Homeless Action Committee, a recommendation that means the indenture now will be forwarded to the full council for action.
Council says cost to comply with Open Records request should prompt changes

1 week ago | swoknews.com | Kim McConnell

A $67,000 price tag for complying with an Open Records Act request may prompt City Council members to talk to state legislators about changes in the law.
Firehawk Aerospace to build $22 million facility in Lawton

1 week ago | swoknews.com | Kim McConnell

A Texas-based aerospace industry will be building a facility in Lawton, Gov. Kevin Stitt said Wednesday. During a press conference in Oklahoma City attended by Lawton officials, Stitt announced that Firehawk Aerospace would be coming to Lawton. Local economic development officials have been working with Firehawk — which already has a presence in the FISTA Innovation Park — for a year, discussing a location in the city's west industrial park. kAm{2HE@? |2J@C $E2? q@@<6C[ ux$%p x??@G2E:@?
LATS ready to launch new routes on Monday

1 week ago | swoknews.com | Kim McConnell

Lawton's mass transit system will be launching its new routes Monday. LATS' new fixed routes, discussed and actively planned for more than two years, will cut what is now nine routes to eight, creating a system that concentrates more on arterials and less on narrower residential streets, while serving areas of Lawton that haven't had fixed route service before, said Tony Hansley, LATS director of operations. kAm%96 :562[ D2:5 {p%$ @77:4:2=D[ :D >2<:?8 >2DD EC2?D:E 6G6?
Terminal upgrades set for completion in late June

1 week ago | swoknews.com | Kim McConnell

Upgrades to the terminal at Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport are slated for completion by late June. And, June is the same month that airport officials will begin looking for federal funding to help them cover the cost of their taxiway realignment project. kAmp:CA@CE s:C64E@C q2C32C2 |4}2==J D2:5 H9:=6 E96 =2DE C@F?5 @7 >@56C?:K2E:@? H@C< 2E E96 E6C>:?2= 925 366? D6E 7@C 4@>A=6E:@? :?
City Council to hold public hearing on budget, set expenditures for hotel-motel tax

1 week ago | swoknews.com | Kim McConnell

City Council members will be considering various aspects of the new fiscal year when they meet today, to include a public hearing for the new year’s budget. The council received its briefing on the 2025-2026 budget last week, looking at the document that will set expenditures and project revenues for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
City Council to consider action on two new construction projects

1 week ago | swoknews.com | Kim McConnell

The City Council will look at action today that will help launch two new construction projects: a contract to rebuild two bridges on South 11th Street and action that will allow it to take property for the U.S. 62/Goodyear Boulevard bypass. City engineers are recommending the council award the South 11th Street bridge project to Sewell Brothers of Oklahoma City, for $2,603,588.47.
New capital outlay budget shows cuts

1 week ago | swoknews.com | Kim McConnell

City officials say major changes in the 2025-2026 budget also are evident in the capital outlay budget, revenues that fund equipment and materials for city departments. That category has an $18.998 million decrease, due in large part to $16,589,785 less being spent on construction, improvements and additions, and another $2.1 million less in machinery and equipment.