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YOUR BUSINESS IS OUR BUSINESS VOL. 125 NO. 62 ■ JOURNALRECORD.COM Part of the network 2 SECTIONS ■ FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020 ■ $1.00 Okla. jobless claims skyrocket to record high BY STEVE METZER The Journal Record OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahomans who filed 17,720 initial claims for unemployment benefits last week shattered a nearly 30-year-old record. The previous record for filings in a week in the state occurred in January 1991 when 9,778 initial claims for benefits were recorded. The latest number for the Sooner State, reported Thursday by the U.S. Depart- ment of Labor, was 81% higher than the historic spike of 29 years ago. DIGITALDIGITAL The DOL blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for a new record 3.283 million initial jobless claims filed across the United States in the week that ended March 21. “Nearly every state providing comments cited the COVID-19 virus impacts,” the DOL said in a statement released with its report. “States continued to cite ser- HEALTHHEALTH vices industries broadly, particularly accommodation and food services.” The pandemic, which sparked passage of a more than $2 trillion relief package late Wednesday by the U.S. Senate, also has heavily affected broad-ranging industries from transportation to warehousing to manufacturing, the DOL said. “I think the virus will acceler- In Oklahoma, the state’s energy industry has taken ate innovation and adoption of an additional hit resulting from serious declines in oil telemedicine and digital health,” and natural gas prices. said Nicholas Lalla, co-founder and In a statement about the federal relief measure, managing director of Tulsa Innova- which still must be voted on in the U.S. House of tion Labs. COURTESY AP IMAGES Representatives, Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, said he was pleased that it targeted “the heart of our Oklahoma economy – small businesses, the workers flare-up of arthritis and gout. they employ, and the families they serve.” In age of coronavirus, Hall, 49, had limited choices, especially since However, in comments made on the Senate floor, health care facilities were already overrun by con- Lankford lamented that Democratic lawmakers had cerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus. He could acted to block specific relief for energy companies. the demand for go to a walk-in clinic and risk exposure, wait “They really want to make sure that energy compa- three months to see his regular physician or suffer nies couldn’t get any support. They fought hard to be through the pain that left him barely able to walk. able to make sure there is no additional money for the telemedicine surges Doctors and clinics were encouraging patients president buying additional oil to put in the Strategic with non-emergency issues to avoid physically Petroleum Reserve at this lowest price now,” Lankford visiting the doctor’s office, and instead, use online said. “So it will actually cost us more money in the fu- BY HEIDE BRANDES or telemedicine options. That’s exactly what he ture, but it was their intention to say we don’t want oil The Journal Record did. companies to get any kind of support in this downturn.” “I did a Google search for online medical ser- The federal recovery initiative, the largest economic OKLAHOMA CITY – Earlier this week, Ash Hall stimulus plan in the nation’s history, does include sup- of Oklahoma City was bedridden with a severe Turn to HEALTH » p12 port for businesses. A $367 billion loan-to-grant pro- gram, for example, would help employers cover payroll costs of employees who might be forced to stay home Tribe delays during the pandemic. Money used to cover immediate « 2 » « 2 » census marketing Airport adjusts operations to minimize Blueknight reports profit costs of remaining in business would not have to be campaign amid COVID-19 spread With airlines canceling for 4Q, 2019 Blueknight paid back. pandemic » p3 flights on a daily basis, Will Rogers World Energy Partners reported net At the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma, Chairman Airport has adjusted staffing to keep the airport income for the fourth quarter of David Le Norman welcomed the effort in Congress to functioning while reducing the risk of spreading $4.3 million, compared with a OU names Price help millions of workers and businesses. COVID-19 to employees and the public. net loss of $50.7 million for 2018. College of Business INSIDE dean » p3 Turn to CLAIMS » p12 News in Brief . 4A CRUDE OIL NATURAL GAS GASOLINE Around Town . 6A Real Estate . 8A 1.89 .022 .0030 Classifieds . 1B. Crossword . 1B. Public Notices . 2B. May $22.60 Apr $1.637 Apr $0.5438 2A « March 27, 2020 « THE JOURNAL RECORD « journalrecord.com Airport adjusts operations to minimize COVID-19 spread BY JANICE FRANCIS-SMITH The Journal Record OKLAHOMA CITY – With airlines can- celing flights on a daily basis, Will Rogers World Airport has adjusted staffing to keep the airport functioning while re- ducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 to employees and the public. “They have gone to rotating shifts,” Director of Airports Mark Kranenburg told members of the Oklahoma City Airport Trust on Thursday regarding airport employees who handle critical operations like TSA screening and bag- gage handling. “Basically, that means they have one work group that works for seven to 14 days and the other is home, and then they trade off. That’s all to have a minimum impact on staffing in the operation if someone were to become ill.” So far, the airlines have not revised their monthly schedules, but are cancel- ing flights on a day-to-day basis, said Kranenburg. Flight schedules change so rapidly that people who do have travel plans at this time should stay in constant contact with the airline to ensure that their flight will occur. “Many flights, because of the reduc- tion in passengers, are going out actu- ally with less than 20 passengers right now,” said Kranenburg. “At this time, Passengers walk through a nearly empty concourse at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, as airlines limit flights because of the the good news is there are no air service virus outbreak. AP PHOTO/SUE OGROCKI markets that have been eliminated from Oklahoma City, so we still have all of the cities that we provide service to.” passengers and employees how they can music performances. Oklahoma (HALO) Foundation, have American Airlines and Southwest help prevent the spread of COVID-19.” Airport officials stay in constant also suspended their services. In a mes- have suspended their curbside service. Because of limited staffing and nearly communication with stakeholders and sage posted to HALO’s website, CEO Three of the airport’s food and bever- empty parking lots, the airport closed public health organizations like the Terri Smith said there are “too many un- age operations are still open providing Lot #3, the Canopy Lot, in order to con- Oklahoma City-County Health Depart- knowns” to continue providing animal carryout service, but their hours have solidate resources for the Economy Lot ment to provide tips and updates, said therapy services at the airport at this been significantly reduced. Four of the and the Main Shuttle Lot. Kranenburg. time. airport’s retail outlets are still open. The buses that take passengers to the With the exception of the YMCA “We, with our dogs, introduce a “We’re still working daily with janito- rental car facilities, which used to be in Military Welcome Center that assists greater risk because a ‘team’ consists rial to ensure that we have diligent clean- nearly constant motion picking up and troops arriving at the airport on their of two – human and canine – visiting ing and we’re disinfecting touch points dropping off customers, now sit and way to Fort Sill, the other volunteer great masses of people in many differ- in all of the heavily trafficked areas,” said wait 10 minutes before leaving one facil- groups that typically meet arriving pas- ent environments,” reads Smith’s state- Kranenburg. “And we’ve installed CDC ity to travel to the other. All tours are sengers at the airport, such as Travelers ment. “Safety measures are not easily signage in all of the restrooms to remind suspended, as is the airport’s Jet Sets live Aid and the Human Animal Link of monitored.” Blueknight reports profit for 4Q, 2019 BY JOURNAL RECORD STAFF totaled $91.5 million, down from fact that over 90% of our revenues in availability under the credit facility was TULSA – Blueknight Energy Partners $123.6 million a year earlier. terminalling services, which represent $143.4 million, and availability subject reported net income for the fourth Blueknight reported net income for 95% of our total operating margin, are to covenant restrictions was $60 million quarter of $4.3 million, compared with the year of $18.5 million, compared supported by take-or-pay contractual at the end of 2019. a net loss of $50.7 million for 2018. with a net loss of $42 million for 2018. agreements,” Hurley said. “In “Looking forward, we are focusing The increase was driven by 2018 Revenue for the year totaled $371 addition, the other key differentiating efforts and our new long-term strategy impairment charges related to the million, down from $384.8 million for factor for us relative to traditional on our core strengths and leading Oklahoma pipeline system and the 2018. oil and gas midstream entities is terminalling platform while reviewing Cimarron Express pipeline project and “I am proud to say the business that approximately 80% of our total strategic options for our crude oil stronger 2019 performance across the performed well throughout the year operating margin is derived from our pipeline and trucking businesses, three crude oil business segments.