News

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Judicial salaries increase won't be sought

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court says he won't request an increase in judicial salaries.

Chief Justice James E. Edmondson said Thursday he wants the Board of Judicial Compensation to know the judiciary is aware of the state budget crisis. Edmondson says the judicial branch has absorbed its fiscal year 2010 budget reductions and has cut the budget for fiscal year 2011.

Tulsa, OK – Since this is the last season that the Tulsa Drillers will be playing at Drillers Stadium located at the fairgrounds, the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority, also known as the "Fair Board", has started the process of considering what would be the best and greatest use of the property where the stadium now sits.

Oklahoma City, OK – Census: 14 pct uninsured in Okla. last year

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The U.S. Census Bureau says 14 percent of Oklahomans lacked health insurance in 2008, down nearly a percentage point from 2007.

The figures released Thursday also showed that those living in poverty in Oklahoma was 13.5 percent in 2007-2008, down nearly 2 percentage points from the previous two-year period and similar to the national rate.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – SEMGROUP-PERSONNEL

SemGroup names post-bankruptcy leadership team

TULSA, Okla. (AP) SemGroup LP today announced a new team of executives and board of directors to lead the energy company once it emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

SemGroup has been operating under bankruptcy protection since July last year. The company provides oil and asphalt transportation services and says it plans to exit bankruptcy in November and become a publicly traded company.

Oklahoma City, OK – Census: 14 pct uninsured in Okla. last year

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The U.S. Census Bureau says 14 percent of Oklahomans lacked health insurance in 2008, down nearly a percentage point from 2007.

The figures released Thursday also showed that those living in poverty in Oklahoma was 13.5 percent in 2007-2008, down nearly 2 percentage points from the previous two-year period and similar to the national rate.

Tulsa, OK – TULSA, Okla. (AP) The president of a Tulsa construction company has pleaded guilty in federal court to bribing a city public works official.

Max Elliot Wolf of Owasso entered the plea Thursday in U.S. District Court in Tulsa to one count of procurement fraud bribery.

By Rich Fisher

By Associated Press

London, UK – Beatlemania back as Britain celebrates B-Day

LONDON (AP) Beatlemania is back as Britons snap up copies of the Fab Four's remastered albums and the new Rock Band video game.

Critics are raving about the sound quality of the albums and the video game that were released Wednesday.

A full collection of the new CDs costs about 170 pounds ($280) but has already shot to the top of the charts kept by online retailer Amazon.co.uk.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Mercury Marine to repay tax credits

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Boat engine manufacturer Mercury Marine plans to repay tax credits it received from Oklahoma now that it plans to relocate jobs from the state.

Wisconsin-based Mercury Marine revealed the plans in a letter from company President Mark Schwabero to Oklahoma House Speaker Chris Benge and other state lawmakers on Tuesday.

By John Durkee

Tulsa, OK – A state health official says she expects Oklahoma to be one of the first states to get the brunt of the swine flu this year.

State epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley says the number of people with flu-like illnesses increased at least 25 percent in five of the state's eight regions in the week ending Aug. 29.

She says the number of cases will likely peak before vaccines are available in mid-October.