Chinese President Xi Jinping made a visit to the white house for the first time in more than a decade and Oklahoma’s energy grid is set to be transformed. Here are some of the biggest stories from the nation’s capital.
Xi Jinping visits U.S. amid media blackout
President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, visited the White House for the first time in more than a decade.
Jinping’s visit didn’t get as much press coverage as it typically would due to the president’s ban of certain media outlets at the White house.
“You had a bunch of basically print reporters and photographers, still photographers, for the most part, covering those ceremonies,” said Cameron.
Cameron said it doesn’t seem any breakthroughs came from the pairs meeting.
“ I think the biggest thing that came out of it was actually announced a day before the meetings, which was an extension by two months of this trade truce that the countries have already had in place,” he said.
He said the two leaders reached agreements on AI and Iran.
Investments set to expand Oklahoma’s energy grid
On Thursday, The U.S. The Department of Energy announced $1.9 billion was being invested in the grid, with a total investment of $5.25 billion including private sector investors.
Of that, Oklahoma received $250 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. That money will be used for a planned high-voltage transmission line that would run from near Guymon in the Oklahoma Panhandle to Pueblo, Colorado.
The roughly 300-mile power line, known as the Three Corners Connector, is designed to connect the eastern and western U.S. electric grids.
“It’ll create new jobs. It will just, you know, give more certainty to Oklahoma customers, you know, when we’re in situations where there’s high demand for electricity,” said Cameron.
MORE: Oklahoma power grid project gets $250 million federal investment
Sen. Armstrong Kevin Hern debate Oklahoma U.S. Senate transition
Alan Armstrong is using his last months in Congress to try and pass permitting reform legislation. According to reporting from The Washington Sun, there is a dispute between Armstrong and Rep. Kevin Hern over when Armstrong’s term ends.
Armstrong hopes to use the time before for whoever is sworn into the Senate seat to push legislation across the finish line. Hern, who is running for the seat, argued that under the law, whoever wins in November is eligible to assume office once the State Election Board officially certifies the results.
Now Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton asks the state attorney general for a formal opinion on when the winner of the November U.S. Senate election can take office.
RELATED: Armstrong, Hern clash over Oklahoma U.S. Senate transition