News

By John Durkee

Broken Arrow, OK – Residents in Broken Arrow go to the polls tomorrow to vote on four proposals that top out at $16-million. Civic leaders stress the plan will not increase taxes:

Proposition #-1 $8-million
This would provide funding for a new Public Safety Complex

Proposition #-2 $8-million
This would provide funding for a Hotel and Convention Center near the Broken Arrow Expressway

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK –

TULSA, Okla. (AP) An Oklahoma County judge is set to hear oral arguments in a legal challenge to a 2008 state law requiring women to undergo an ultrasound before an abortion.

In October, Nova Health Systems, the parent group of Reproductive Services in Tulsa, filed suit against the law. It is represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights in New York City.

Enforcement of the law was blocked in October. It was set to take effect Nov. 1.

By Associated Press

Cashion, OK – Fallen Marine buried in Cashion

CASHION, Okla. (AP) An Oklahoma Marine who was killed in Afghanistan has been laid to rest.

Lance Cpl. Jonathan Stroud was buried in his hometown of Cashion Saturday.

Stroud, 20, joined the Marine Corps in 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year. He was killed during a gun battle in Afghanistan on July 30.

Friends say Stroud and his wife, Lacie, married last year, and the couple were expecting their first child.

By Associated Press

Houston, TX – Number of active rigs up by 18

HOUSTON (AP) The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States went up by 18 this week to 966, including four rigs gained in Oklahoma.

Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that of the rigs running nationwide, 681 were exploring for natural gas and 277 for oil. Eight were listed as miscellaneous.

A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,967.

By Associated Press

Norman, OK – Carter praises Clinton for trip to North Korea

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Former President Jimmy Carter has praised the work of another ex-president, Bill Clinton, in securing the freedom of two U.S. journalists held by North Korea.

Carter said Friday that during the early stages of planning for the trip, he was approached as a possible emissary to the North Koreans, but it eventually was decided that Clinton would fill that role.

By Rich Fisher

By Associated Press

Stigler, OK – Appeal sought in Ten Commandments monument case

STIGLER, Okla. (AP) Haskell County commissioners who erected a Ten Commandments monument on the courthouse lawn plan to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case.

Last week the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals narrowly let stand an earlier decision that the monument is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

Kevin Theriot of the Alliance Defense Fund says he will ask the high court to hear the case within 90 days.

By Associated Press

Weleetka, OK – Latest tips in girls' deaths "not so valuable"

WELEETKA, Okla. (AP) Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents say many recent tips in the case of two girls shot to death near Weleetka last year are "not-so-valuable."

Agents say they've received a large number of new tips since the reward in the case was raised to $160,000.

A group of Tulsa-area oilmen last week helped increase the reward in the killings of 11-year-old Skyla Whitaker and 13-year-old Taylor Paschal-Placker.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Hearing for accused killer postponed

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A preliminary hearing for a man charged in the contract killing of a Tulsa businessman has been postponed.

Terrico Dion Bethel, 23, is charged with the first-degree murder of Neal Sweeney last September.

A district court official did not immediately know Friday morning when the rescheduled hearing would be.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – G opinion sought on caucus issues

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A state lawmaker has asked Attorney General Drew Edmondson for a legal opinion on the use of state-owned facilities by political caucuses at the state Capitol.

State Rep. Mike Reynolds of Oklahoma City said Friday he wants to know if it's constitutional to use state-owned computers and envelopes to support caucus issues.