Thursday, July 9, 2026 • Very hot, windy. Near 100. ☀️

We received 133 votes on the Wednesday poll, “Let's dream a little. You can pick only one. Which of these would you most like to see come to Oklahoma?”

• 26 said In-N-Out Burger
• 39 said Buc-ees
• 68 said HEB

New poll question at the bottom of today’s newsletter. (You can also suggest a poll question by emailing me at [email protected].)

By Kayla Branch, The Frontier
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After years of complaints about black dust near Continental Carbon’s Ponca City plant, Oklahoma environmental regulators have for the first time accused the company of violating a 2015 agreement to reduce pollution from the facility. 

Continental Carbon, a Houston-based company, manufactures carbon black, a fine, black powder used in tires, ink and plastic. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality found 81 violations of Continental Carbon’s state permits and the agreement during a routine facility inspection in June. The violations included failing to report leaks and spills of carbon black, exceeding pollution limits, missing three years of equipment testing and failing to keep records and submit reports to the state. 

Continental Carbon declined to comment through its attorney, citing pending litigation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sued Continental Carbon in 2015, accusing the company of violating the Clean Air Act, a federal law that set limits on pollutants and established air quality standards. In an agreement that was approved by a federal judge, the company agreed to permanently reduce pollution from Continental Carbon’s three carbon black facilities in Oklahoma, Texas and Alabama. As part of a court-approved agreement with regulators, the company was required to upgrade pollution equipment, adopt best management practices and pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in civil penalties. The company was also required to monitor emissions, conduct regular equipment testing, and provide records demonstrating compliance. 

“Today’s agreement is good news for residents living near Continental facilities, many of whom were overburdened by air pollution for far too long,” said a U.S. Justice Department prosecutor in 2015 after the court-approved settlement was announced. 

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