TULSA AREA SEES CONVENTION SPACE CONSTRUCTION BOOM
If all the steel and welding foretells the future at all, the next three years promise a renaissance in convention business for metropolitan Tulsa. - Kirby Lee Davis

EXPERTS: OUTLOOK GOOD FOR OKLA. HOUSING IN '08
Anyone who doubts that Oklahoma is faring well in light of the nationwide housing crisis need simply look at the numbers, several experts said. - Kelley Chambers

OMRF SETTLES PATENT SUIT WITH ALEXION
The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Alexion Pharmaceuticals announced Thursday the $10 million settlement of a patent lawsuit filed by OMRF against Alexion last year. - Marie Price

HOUSE PASSES BILL TO CURB USE OF INSURANCE MANDATES
House Bill 3111 would make it a lot harder for the state Legislature to create coverage mandates for health insurance companies operating in Oklahoma. Opponents of the bill said the measure would reward insurance companies that sacrifice their customers' medical needs for the sake of boosting profits. - Janice Francis-Smith

BULL-RIDING EVENT RETURNS TO OKC
Downtown will have some very hostile visitors this weekend. Beginning today and running through Sunday, the Ford Center will host the PBR's Copenhagen Bull Riding Challenger Tour Championship. - Jerry Shottenkirk

WIND POWER BILL MOVES TO FULL HOUSE
Members of the House Energy and Technology Committee did not stop to ask questions before approving House Bill 2813 on Thursday. The measure would allow electricity utilities to shift the risk of their investment in transmission improvements onto ratepayers in an effort to speed development of Oklahoma's wind power potential. - Janice Francis-Smith

OU HIRES ARAGON AS ADVANCED PROGRAMS DIRECTOR
The University of Oklahoma program that allows U.S. military and civil service personnel to pursue degrees regardless of where they're stationed in the world has hired the former commander of the Oklahoma Air National Guard as director. - Brian Brus

CHESAPEAKE HITS HIGH WITH UPGRADE
Shares of Chesapeake Energy Corp. rallied to an all-time high Thursday after Wachovia Capital Markets upgraded the stock in anticipation of strong earnings due out next week. - Associated Press

TULSA PACKAGING COMPANY GROWING
In the quiet world of foam-in-place packaging, New Jersey-based Sealed Air bought out all of its competitors in an effort to dominate the industry. But in true David versus Goliath fashion, Tulsa-based IntelliPack is giving them some healthy competition. - Heather Caliendo