TODAYS TOP STORIES
Couple says smart meter forced them out of their home
A family in the Metro says smart meters forced them to move from their home.. into a trailer. OG&E says its smart meter system has helped each customer save hundreds of dollars. But, Fox 25's Kisha Henry shows us a family who says it makes them feel like they live in a microwave. OG&E says the smart meters are now mandatory. If one person in the neighborhood doesn't want one, they would have to have dual systems and pay to have a meter reader visit one house monthly-- costing the company and eventually the customers more money. "It's really a win-win for customers," says Kathleen O'Shea, spokesperson for OG&E. "It's not benefiting us in any way. First of all, we can't live in our home," counters Billy Smith, of El Reno. He and his wife, Monique, say OG&E's smart meters have forced them to move into a trailer, a quarter of a mile from their home. "The first day that we got the smart meter, I became really dizzy," says Monique. She says her doctor diagnosed her with electromagnetic hypersensitivity, and in a written request insisted OG&E remove the Smith's smart meter. "My wife-- her organs are attacked. She has nose bleeds, chronic weakness," says Billy. "The smart meter itself is just a digital meter. It's not that much different from what customers had on their house before," says O'Shea. She says smart meters contain a little card that transmits data, allowing customers to track their electricity consumption down to 15-minute intervals, helping them save money. "It puts out frequencies," says Billy. "The radio frequencies from the meter are well, well below what the FCC has as a limit," says O'Shea. She says cell phones actually emit more of a signal than the smart meters. But, the Smiths say the smart meters have pushed Monique's hypersensitivity over the edge. They're now building what's called a Faraday Cage for her to sleep in-- to block the signals. "I can tell if a person's on a cell phone because I get a shooting pain through my insides," says Monique. "We're having to live in a trailer," emphasizes Billy. The Smiths say they know their story may sound crazy, but they say this is their life, and it's very real. "You may not feel what I feel, but eventually you will feel what I feel because of all of the cell towers and all the electromagnetics just flying around. It's eventually going to hurt everybody," says Monique. But, health issues aren't the only concerns some customers have with the smart meters. Others are concerned about privacy. They're worried their private information is being transmitted, and could be hacked. The Smiths say their email accounts have been hacked twice since their smart meter was installed. They say the meters have the ability to pick up and transmit data from the home. But, OG&E says the company takes privacy very seriously, and the only information that's transmitted is killowat hours. "We can't tell if someone's watching five TVs at one time. We have no idea... and we don't really care. That's the person's business," says O'Shea. Some customers say the meters transmit information about peak usage hours, which could translate to when homeowners are home, and if they have a lot of people in the house. Again, OG&E says that's not the case. There have also been concerns the data being transmitted could be sold to third parties, allowing them-- for example-- to advertise to customers who do a lot of cooking. OG&E says that is untrue.
Posted: Friday, February 22 2013, 10:57 AM CST
IN OKLAHOMA NEWS
Okla. Legislature honors Moore schools educators
May 23, 2013 22:06 GMT
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Legislature is honoring two educators from a school district where a massive tornado destroyed one elementary school and heavily damaged another.
Robert Romines, incoming superintendent of Moore Public Schools, and Shelly McMillin, principal of Briarwood Elementary School, appeared before the Oklahoma House and Senate Thursday.
Their visit comes after a monstrous tornado ripped through Moore on Monday and destroyed the Plaza Towers Elementary School, killing seven third-graders. The same tornado heavily damaged Briarwood.
Romines says the area has witnessed a lot of devastation, but that it will rebuild. He asked lawmakers to pray for strength and wisdom and courage for the community.
Superintendent of Schools Janet Barresi says the Board of Education has agreed to suspend the remainder of Moore's school year and has waived some reporting requirements.
OKLAHOMA HEADLINES
Okla. Legislature honors Moore schools educators
Oklahoma lawmakers applaud Altus AFB training unit
Thunderstorms slow Oklahoma tornado cleanup
Tornado watch in effect for parts of west Oklahoma
Okla. reopens emergency operations command center
Line of storms brings flash floods to OKC area
Okla. House gives final approval to tornado relief
Mourners remember girl, 9, killed in Okla. tornado
VIDEO LIST
Newsmax Headlines
Sometimes the stories with the most impact come directly from the viewers. If you have a story that needs to be told, we want to hear it. Fill out the form below and let us know what stories need to be told.
OKLAHOMA WEATHER
From the FOX 25 First Forecast Center..
Good morning everyone...Not expecting organized severe weather but showers and t'storms from time to time could hamper tornado relief efforts. ...
Business News
Bernanke signals Fed to maintain stimulus efforts
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Chairman Ben Bernanke is telling Congress that the U.S. job market remains weak and that it is too soon for the Federal Reserve to end its extraordinary stimulus programs.
Consumer Info
BC-US--Dow Record-Three Personal Stories, 1st Ld-Writethru,1173
Dow Record: Three tales of ups, downs and changes
AP Photo FX102, FX103
Eds: With BC-US--Dow Record. Adds photos.
By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- When the Dow first crossed 14,000, investors were overjoyed. ...
Science/Tech News
IN THE NEWS: TEEN ONLINE FAREWELL SONG ATTRACTS MILLIONS OF VIEWS
LAKELAND, Minn. (AP) -- High school student Zach Sobiech (SOH'-bee-eck) says he wanted to be remembered as "a kid who went down fighting and didn't really lose."
Get This
SWINGERS CLUB LAWSUIT-VEGAS
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- David Cooper wants to bring a little more sin -- to Sin City.







