(The Center Square) - Oklahoma lawmakers and economic leaders gave the OK-to-launch to a new international aerospace company headquartered at the Oklahoma Air & Spaceport in Burns Flat.

The Premier Aerospace Center promises to bring upward of an estimated 600 jobs and $120 million in investments to the area, further propelling the Sooner State’s growing reputation as “Aerospace MRO Capital of the World,” according to Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Stitt, alongside several other local officials, made the official announcement of PAC’s arrival to the state Monday. According to the announcement, PAC has signed a business development agreement, including a long-term lease to operate at the spaceport.

The Oklahoma Air & Spaceport, a 1,100-acre aerospace industrial park licensed since 2006, is located at the Clinton-Sherman Airport and houses facilities for several other global aerospace giants like Boeing, Honda, and Kratos Defense Solutions.

Aerospace and defense is Oklahoma’s second-largest and quickest-growing economic industry sector, according to the state’s department of commerce. Currently, the industry has an economic impact of approximately $44 billion, and aerospace products are one of the state’s leading exports.

“Seeing this project come to fruition has been a goal of mine since we met with Premium Aerospace in Mexico last fall,” Stitt added. “The investments we are making in this site, and several others, will make Oklahoma a prime target for foreign investment and high-quality jobs. This announcement from PAC further solidifies Oklahoma as the aerospace MRO Capital of the World.”

PAC, whose business is remodeling and painting planes for airliners, has current plans to immediately hire approximately 30 employees as it refurbishes and expands two existing hangars and adds a third for its international operation. Once the renovation and expansion is complete, the company plans to expand its workforce to include 450 to 600 jobs.

“We were impressed by Governor Stitt’s enthusiasm and warm invitation to establish our operations in Oklahoma,” said Lucas Conde, PAC General Manager. “The infrastructure investment by the state and the Department of Commerce and the Governor’s ‘can-do’ attitude solidified our decision to make our investment in Oklahoma.”

(The Center Square) -Eighteen attorneys general are asking the Securities and Exchange Commission for more time to ponder climate change rules affecting financial firms.

The comment period for the two rules expired in the spring. The SEC announced last month that comments on the rules and 10 others might not have been received or documented due to technical errors. The problems seemed to be limited to ones received in August, but the problem could go back to June 2021, the agency said.

The SEC proposed an additional 14-day comment period to give people time to re-submit comments.

The first rule, "Enhanced Disclosures by Certain Investment Advisers and Investment Companies about Environmental, Social, and Governance Investment Practices," would require certain investment fund advisors to disclose greenhouse gas emissions in their portfolio. The rule was released by the SEC in May, and the public had 60 days to comment.

The "Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors" would require financial firms to add climate-related information in their annual reports. The comment deadline expired on May 20.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and 17 other attorneys general sent a letter to the SEC asking them to extend the comment period.

"The liberal agenda pushing ESG regulations on banks is creating huge problems for businesses attempting to invest in American economic growth," Rutledge said in a news release. "Public input shouldn't be wrongly discarded due to a computer error. Giving the public more time to comment is just common sense."

Attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia also signed the letter.

Severe inflation continues to plague the U.S. economy, and higher prices have been particularly hard to bear on those with lower pay. While incomes have been generally rising, they have not matched inflation, eroding real wages.

According to census data released in September, the typical U.S. household income was $69,717 in 2021, about $4,000 higher compared to 2019, the last time the Census released an annual American Community Survey, having skipped a year due to data collection problems tied to the pandemic.

While the median income increased nationwide, in many states, wages did not rise to the same degree and remain far lower than average.

The latest census data shows that the typical household in Oklahoma earns $55,826 per year, the eighth lowest median household income among states, and $13,891 less than the national median.

Home values are often a reflection of what local populations can afford, and just as incomes are lower than average in Oklahoma, so, too, are home values. The typical home in the state is worth $168,500, below the national median home value of $281,400, according to the 2021 ACS.

RankStateMedian household income ($)Median home value ($)1Mississippi48,716145,6002West Virginia51,248143,2003Louisiana52,087192,8004Arkansas52,528162,3005Alabama53,913172,8006New Mexico53,992214,0007Kentucky55,573173,3008Oklahoma55,826168,5009South Carolina59,318213,50010Tennessee59,695235,20011Missouri61,847198,30012North Carolina61,972236,90013Ohio62,262180,20014Indiana62,743182,40015Florida63,062290,70016Montana63,249322,80017Michigan63,498199,10018Kansas64,124183,80019Maine64,767252,10020Wyoming65,204266,40021Iowa65,600174,40022South Dakota66,143219,90023Nevada66,274373,00024Idaho66,474369,30025North Dakota66,519224,40026Georgia66,559249,70027Nebraska66,817204,90028Texas66,963237,40029Wisconsin67,125230,70030Pennsylvania68,957222,30031Arizona69,056336,30032Delaware71,091300,50033Oregon71,562422,70034Illinois72,205231,50035Vermont72,431271,50036Rhode Island74,008348,10037New York74,314368,80038Minnesota77,720285,40039Alaska77,845304,90040Utah79,449421,70041Virginia80,963330,60042Colorado82,254466,20043Connecticut83,771311,50044Washington84,247485,70045Hawaii84,857722,50046California84,907648,10047New Hampshire88,465345,20048New Jersey89,296389,80049Massachusetts89,645480,60050Maryland90,203370,800

(The Center Square) - Oklahoma went from a budget deficit of $2.4 billion to a surplus of over $5 billion in one year, a new report shows.

The improvement in the state's financial health was primarily a result of federal COVID stimulus money and pension plan investment returns, which means the state's future financial stability will depend on sound financial decisions from the legislature, the report said.

The Financial State of the States report, which is compiled by financial watchdog Truth in Accounting, analyzes the assets and liabilities of all 50 states using data from annual comprehensive financial reports and ranks states based on their fiscal health.

It also looks at unreported liabilities to get a full picture of how well state governments are balancing their budgets and making sound financial decisions.

Oklahoma had a $5.7 billion surplus following fiscal year 2021, which broke down to a surplus of $5,200 for each taxpayer, according to the report. It was a stark contrast to its financial position after 2020, when the state had a taxpayer burden of $2,300 per taxpayer.

Overall, Oklahoma had $17.6 billion available to pay $11.9 billion worth of bills, including public employees' retirement plans, leaving it with billions more in surplus.

COVID relief funds boosted many states' scores and the authors warned against state governments getting comfortable with those numbers as pandemic relief money goes away.

"It is expected this report will look different next year when the investment markets decrease and discontinued federal funds are reflected in Oklahoma's annual statements," the authors wrote. "The situation could worsen further if the Oklahoma legislature assumes there are extra funds available and spends money based on transitory increases."

Oklahoma ranked 10th out of the 50 states with a "B" grade for its financial health, a jump up from the 19th position in last year's report when it received a "C." States receive a "B" if they have a taxpayer surplus between $100 and $10,000. A "C" grade means the state has a taxpayer burden of up to $4,900 per taxpayer.

The state's surplus included increases in the market value of public employees' retirement plan assets, which experienced an unrealized return of more than 28%, the report said.

Last year's report labeled Oklahoma a "Sinkhole State," meaning it didn't have enough funds to pay its bills. This year it was one of 19 states that were able to cover all their bills, winning them the title of "Sunshine State."

Faith in America's public education system is fading in many parts of the country. According to a recent Gallup poll, only 28% of Americans have a high level of confidence in public schools, down from over 60% in the mid-1970s. While much of this distrust has been fueled in recent years by culture war issues, many public schools also face deeper, structural problems related to funding, staffing, and academic outcomes.

Partially as a result, millions of American parents opt to send their children to a private school. Though private schools charge tuition, they also tend to offer distinct advantages over a public education. (Here is a look at states where public schools are losing the most students.)

Private schools often have smaller class sizes, allowing for more individualized instruction and closer student-teacher and parent-teacher relationships. Many private schools also have more rigorous curriculums than public schools and emphasize a well-rounded education that extends beyond the classroom. Private school students tend to perform better on standardized tests and are more likely to later attend top-tier colleges and universities than public school students. Additionally, unlike public schools, private institutions can have a religious affiliation or a single-sex student body, which may be important to some parents.

According to Niche, an education research platform, Casady School, located in The Village, ranks as the best private high school in Oklahoma. Casady School enrolls a total of 993 students, and its student-teacher ratio is 8:1.

The school's annual tuition is $22,120. According to self-reported standardized test results, the average SAT score among students at Casady School is 1410 out of a possible 1600 and the average ACT score is 29 out of 36. The school also has a graduation rate of 100%.

All data in this story was provided by Niche. Niche's ranking is based on a weighted index of six measures, including class size, self-reported standardized test scores, post-graduate college enrollment, and parent and student surveys. A full description of each measure and its weighting is available here.

StateBest private high schoolTotal enrollmentStudents per teacherAvg. graduation rate (%)Annual tuition ($)AlabamaIndian Springs School327810027,300AlaskaHoly Rosary Academy162101008,750ArizonaPhoenix Country Day School750710028,200ArkansasThaden School31769027,600CaliforniaHarvard-Westlake School1,620810042,600ColoradoKent Denver School749910034,648ConnecticutChoate Rosemary Hall868710050,910DelawareSt. Andrew's School310710055,500FloridaRansom Everglades School1,141710045,810GeorgiaThe Westminster Schools1,900610034,106Hawaii'Iolani School2,1811010027,175IdahoRiverstone International School416910021,970IllinoisUniversity of Chicago Laboratory Schools2,05189833,558IndianaCulver Academies832610057,000IowaMaharishi School165310019,500KansasWichita Collegiate School875810020,360KentuckyKentucky Country Day School81799925,900LouisianaIsidore Newman School917810024,029MaineWaynflete596410035,465MarylandHolton-Arms School665810048,250MassachusettsPhillips Academy Andover1,18759951,380MichiganCranbrook Schools1,659710038,600MinnesotaThe International School of Minnesota310810023,250MississippiSt. Andrew's Episcopal School1,097810021,240MissouriJohn Burroughs School660610032,800MontanaBillings Central Catholic High School33010988,640NebraskaBrownell Talbot School441910019,950NevadaThe Meadows School940810030,380New HampshirePhillips Exeter Academy1,085510038,740New JerseyPrinceton International School of Math and Science120510043,000New MexicoAlbuquerque Academy1,183710026,176New YorkTrinity School1,001610047,965North CarolinaCary Academy787810028,495North DakotaOak Grove Lutheran School45510908,480OhioWestern Reserve Academy441610040,975OklahomaCasady School993810022,120OregonCatlin Gabel School783910038,800PennsylvaniaGermantown Friends School1,129510041,500Rhode IslandThe Wheeler School811610041,830South CarolinaChrist Church Episcopal School1,2011010023,125South DakotaFreeman Academy756908,905TennesseeUniversity School of Nashville1,071910027,550TexasSt. Mark's School of Texas863910029,496UtahThe Waterford School1,025710027,530VermontThe Putney School23539642,400VirginiaBASIS Independent McLean522710033,000WashingtonLakeside School838910032,000West VirginiaThe Linsly School465910019,850WisconsinBrookfield Academy842810022,950WyomingJackson Hole Community School8349725,100

Nineteen Republican governors wrote a letter to President Joe Biden (D) on October 17, 2022, opposing a proposed federal rule to mandate the use of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for federal construction projects. The letter was signed by governors from Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.

The proposed rule follows an executive order that was signed by Biden in February 2022 that aimed to require PLAs for large-scale construction projects. A group of Republican governors wrote a letter in April 2022 opposing the executive order, arguing that it granted a monopoly to unions and discouraged competition. The proposed rule would amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the executive order and mandate the use of PLAs for federal construction contracts exceeding $35 million.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) stated in a press release, “Labor unions have played an important role in our nation’s history, but the government’s role in business is to provide an avenue for success and not a roadblock.” Hutchinson continued, “I’m honored to have the support of 18 fellow governors from all corners of our nation as we seek to oppose this rule and support fairness for our states.”

The proposed rule states, “The E.O. explains that the lack of coordination among various employers, or uncertainty about the employment terms and conditions of various groups of workers, can create friction and disputes in the absence of an agreed-upon resolution mechanism. PLAs may provide structure and stability needed to reduce uncertainties for all parties connected to a large-scale construction project.”

The period for public comments on the proposed rule closed on October 18, 2022.

(The Center Square) - The Nation's Report Card shows a significant drop in reading and math scores for Oklahoma's fourth- and eighth-grade students, putting the state below the reported national average.

Education officials blamed the dismal results on the pandemic but remain hopeful that the state's active COVID-19 education recovery plan will continue to make up for students' learning time lost.

According to a National Assessment of Education Progress report released Monday, Oklahoma schools saw an eight-point drop in math and reading scores for fourth-graders tested earlier in 2022 when compared to the previous pre-COVID results from 2019. Similarly, Oklahoma eighth grade results declined in both subjects during the same assessment period, with a seven-point drop in reading and a 13-point drop in math.

The national average also fell in both subjects for both grade levels, but at a lesser rate than Oklahoma, according to the NAEP findings. National averages show that scores for fourth-graders fell three points nationally in reading and five points in math. For eighth grade, the national average dropped in reading by three points and eight points in math.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said the results of this year's NAEP were "deeply troubling" but were similar to state assessments that have been conducted.

"The scores are evidence that students suffered significant disruptions to educational achievement as a result of the pandemic," Hofmeister added. "A full recovery will take considerable time and resources, but Oklahoma students are already turning a corner."

The Oklahoma State Department of Education is working to combat the learning loss, according to a news release. In May 2021, the OSDE released Ready Together Oklahoma: An Action Plan for Supporting Students Through the Pandemic and Beyond, investing a total of $232 million in federal pandemic relief into state education programs. The OSDE also earmarked $18 million specifically to help students in the core subjects of math and reading by beefing up tutoring programs and continued education for teachers.

Additionally, the OSDE has also launched two statewide programs that accelerate language and math proficiency for students Pre-K through sixth grade that Oklahoma schools can utilize.

"We have invested in a number of programs to help students recover from learning loss and we are counting on the state Legislature to support additional investments promoting high-quality instruction, academic recovery and student mental health in the next session and in the years to come," Hofmeister said.

(The Center Square) – Vetting human rights security cooperation programs is the focus of a letter sent to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees by a pair of Democrats.

California Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen and 13 other federal legislators are urging the committees to include their amendment that would require vetting of human rights in cooperation programs within the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act conference pact.

According to the letter sent to Chairman Jack Reed, D-RI; Chairman Adam Smith, D-WA; Ranking Member Jim Inhofe, R-OK; and Ranking Member Mike Rogers, R-AL, members are pushing for House-ratified provisions of the Upholding Human Rights Abroad Act that would, if enacted, close loopholes in the Leahy Laws that would “guarantee human rights vetting” of U.S. security assistance that would prevent taxpayer funds from aiding human rights abusers.

“This provision would strengthen the U.S. commitment to human rights by increasing vetting measures to ensure that recipients of U.S. support have not committed human rights violations or violations of international humanitarian law,” the members wrote in the letter. “Consistent with the Department of Defense Leahy Law, this provision allows for the use of a national security waiver.”

The members wrote that the provisions would give flexibility that would “continue to address U.S. national security priorities” that would allow the State Department to “undertake this additional vetting.”

“This provision would help prevent civilian harm, ensure partner compliance with human rights, and improve intended long-term outcomes toward good governance, rule of law, peace, and human rights promotion,” the members wrote.

The letter was also signed by Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill; Patrick Leahy, D-VT; and Richard Blumenthal, D-CT; and Representatives Jason Crow, D-CO; Chrissy Houlahan, D-PA; Tom Malinowski, D-NJ; Joaquin Castro, D-TX; Albio Sires, D-NJ; Dina Titus, D-NV; Ted Lieu, D-CA; Colin Allred, D-TX-32; Gerry Connolly, D-VA; and Dean Phillips, D-MN.

(The Center Square) — Attorneys general in a dozen states are urging the Centers for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to reverse course on recommendations to include the COVID-19 vaccine on federal child immunization lists.

"This action could deny many parents the freedom to determine whether to subject their kids to an experimental vaccine," Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said.

The attorneys general penned a letter to the CDC's ACIP committee Thursday in regards to two votes taken during meetings this week, which occurred before the close of the public comment period on including the COVID-19 vaccine on child immunization lists.

The advisory committee voted 15-0 on Thursday to add COVID-19 vaccines to the 2023 schedule of childhood and adult immunizations and the CDC is expected to accept the recommendation. The committee voted unanimously the day prior to add the vaccine to the Vaccines for Children Program, which was created by Congress to ensure low-income children have access to free vaccines.

"States have traditionally relied heavily on these lists to inform their vaccination policies," the letter reads. "As a result, in many states, your decision is unnecessary and subjects children to retaliation for their parent or guardian's decisions to decline this vaccination."

The letter argues vaccines currently included on the childhood immunization lists protect against viruses that "have killed millions of children over the years," unlike COVID-19, which "does not pose the same danger to kids as polio or measles, nor does the vaccine provide the same protection."

"While most vaccines prevent the vaccinated individual from getting the disease in the first place and stop the spread of the disease, the COVID-19 vaccine does neither," the attorneys general wrote.

Including the COVID-19 vaccine could do more harm than good by undermining the public's faith in the CDC, they wrote, citing ongoing research into both the virus and vaccines, as well as "widespread disagreement on whether kids need to be vaccinated" as important reasons to wait.

"It's far too early in the process to potentially require otherwise healthy kids to get a vaccine that will not prevent them or others from getting sick. In fact, the vaccine could do the opposite and create complications for kids who are forced to get the vaccine to attend school or play sports," the letter reads. "Given the lack of need for kids to obtain the vaccines and their lack of effectiveness, adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of childhood immunizations amounts to little more than a payout to big pharmaceutical companies at the expense of kids and parents."

The attorneys general pointed to the continued "fallout of school closures and the forced masking of kids" that resulted from the "failures of misguided politicians, government bureaucrats, and their select experts," and urged the committee to "reject considerations of adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of childhood immunities and the VFC."

"A modicum of humility is in order from the elites who demanded Americans' trust then betrayed it with failed policies, and simultaneously ensured that those with the audacity to question the individuals wielding such power over individual lives and livelihoods would be targeted for censorship and blame," the letter reads.

"Our Nation's children are not the federal government's guinea pigs," the attorneys general wrote. "As a country that failed so many children over the last couple of years, we owe it to them and their parents to take a responsible path forward."

The letter was signed by attorneys general from Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, Montana, Arizona, Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Florida, South Carolina, Indiana and Texas.

Gun ownership has been a staple of traditional American life since the inception of the country, and even long before then. Some Americans use guns only to go hunting, for sport, or home protection, but there are many gun enthusiasts who embrace the Second Amendment and load up on as many firearms as they can. Whether it is one gun or 20, selling guns in the United States is a lucrative business.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates that Americans bought roughly 18.5 million firearms in 2021, the second most ever in a year and down only slightly from the record-high 21 million in 2020.

With these back-to-back years of historic gun sales, someone is profiting big, including some states.

Both directly and indirectly, the firearms sector accounts for a total of 2,702 jobs in Oklahoma - 1,281 in firearm and ammunition manufacturing, sales, and distribution, and another 1,421 in supplier and ancillary industries - the 12th fewest among the 50 states.

The gun industry in Oklahoma paid an average wage of $44,441 in 2021 and generated an estimated $20.5 million in federal business tax revenue that year.

When accounting for wages and taxes as well as indirect contributions, the firearms industry contributed to $414.6 million in output in Oklahoma in 2021, the 11th lowest amount among states.

All data in this story is from the Shooting Sports Foundation's Firearm and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact report.

RankStateTotal gun industry output, direct & indirect; 2021 ($B)Total industry employment, direct & indirect; 2021Average industry wage ($)Industry fed. business tax generation; 2021 ($M)1Texas5.5931,63251,652330.72California5.2229,08266,095380.73Florida3.4622,33249,847259.74Illinois2.8613,05163,913183.95Massachusetts2.8510,15174,899192.66Minnesota2.7811,68069,400211.07New Hampshire2.729,95070,698203.38Pennsylvania2.6718,89152,165193.69New York2.5410,15085,432155.810Arkansas2.5310,42649,263127.111North Carolina2.5113,01754,571160.312Ohio2.3715,25650,652147.113Arizona2.3311,93361,243180.214Michigan1.8811,75952,206123.615Oregon1.788,95259,541134.516Georgia1.789,04552,86599.417Idaho1.696,99957,426100.418Connecticut1.445,26481,440108.019Washington1.398,16657,773111.720Utah1.338,89346,61692.421Virginia1.297,42449,88981.922Missouri1.257,89950,35180.023Wisconsin1.246,66152,25167.924South Carolina1.246,78947,95770.725Tennessee1.137,09755,93573.726New Jersey1.055,17474,01677.127Colorado1.026,71253,43677.528Indiana0.945,02152,37337.829Mississippi0.934,73750,03550.830Maryland0.894,28666,64962.431Kentucky0.855,10149,28747.332Alabama0.745,24743,61641.633Wyoming0.693,67245,74939.034Nebraska0.663,32554,01638.235Louisiana0.623,61544,82628.736Kansas0.582,13371,94512.837Nevada0.523,20149,58237.338Iowa0.482,77949,90322.339Maine0.423,52342,66029.540Oklahoma0.412,70244,44120.541South Dakota0.371,84252,22420.842Montana0.372,45443,92420.943West Virginia0.221,70238,36511.044Rhode Island0.1882662,3979.045New Mexico0.161,44237,8478.746Vermont0.1482854,2159.747Alaska0.121,02947,1516.148North Dakota0.0865245,6534.549Hawaii0.0757849,4615.050Delaware0.0750353,5932.9