USDA to Bolster Meat & Poultry Safety

By David Arnett

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins Tuesday at the opening of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new, modernized Midwestern Food Safety Laboratory, launched a comprehensive plan to bolster USDA’s efforts to combat food-borne illness.

“President Trump is committed to ensuring American consumers have the safest, most abundant, and affordable food supply in the world. When it comes to food safety, USDA is charting a bold new course in giving consumers confidence their meat, poultry, and egg products meet our best-in-class food safety standards,” said Secretary Rollins. “I look forward to continued collaboration across the Trump administration, with states, and with food producers from farm to table, to reduce food-borne illness and protect public health.”

Continue reading →

The Bullet Train That Isn’t

By Jeffrey Tucker

Commentary: I’m reading a history of the interstate highway system, partially because I sense that the whole thing is widely overrated. Its construction massively disrupted the economics of small towns. It ruined the look and feel of large cities. The cost overruns were enormous and it took far longer to complete than anyone estimated.

One has to wonder what inspired this thing to which hardly anyone objected at the time. The United States had the world’s most marvelous system for passenger travel. It was built with treasure, blood, sweat, and tears. It was the achievement of the ages. After the Second World War, it could have been expanded. Instead it was abandoned for the car.

Continue reading →

Data Center Water Usage Detailed

By David Arnett

The proposed and opposed Tulsa County Data Center (click here for previous story) will require massive amounts of water, a precious resource Oklahoma has suffered without historically. Tulsans in particular, have invested huge amounts of public funds over decades to secure long-term access to water.

Online research returns a wide range of perspectives of Data Center water usage and the 500 acre Tulsa County project suffers from nondisclosure agreements which limit details the community should know. County Commissioner Stan Sallee (Dist. 1) asserts that additional information will be delivered in a public meeting this coming Wednesday July 16th, but in advance, Tulsa Today suggests a comprehensive guide for public consideration.

Continue reading →

New Church Studio Bank Card

By David Arnett

You know a city is moving to become an established “Music City” when other commercial enterprises begin to market the music industry to their customers.

Arvest Bank announced Wednesday that they are excited to introduce a new Church Studio debit card – a tribute to Tulsa’s rich musical heritage.

Continue reading →

Sen. Mullin Delivers SALT Deduction Fix

By Colt Morrison, SW Oklahoma Rancher

He Saved My Small Business

As a small business owner in rural Oklahoma, I’ve weathered my fair share of challenges – tight labor markets, rising costs, inflation, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But nothing worried me more this year than what I saw buried in the early versions of Congress’ big reconciliation bill: a provision that would have effectively stripped away my ability to deduct state and local taxes, a benefit I’ve relied on since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

I’m structured as a pass-through business, like many other local shops, service providers, and family-run operations across Oklahoma. We don’t have large legal teams or accounting departments. We operate on thin margins, reinvesting every dollar we can into our employees, our buildings, and our communities. Losing the SALT deduction would have meant thousands of dollars in unexpected taxes – and serious consequences for my business’s future. And I’m not alone. Small businesses make up 99.4% of all Oklahoma businesses and employ over half of the state’s workforce.

Continue reading →