News

By Hear comments from the OHP

Oklahoma City, OK – Meth lab found in state building in Tulsa

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Tulsa police and Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers say a meth lab has been found in a stairwell of the State Services Building in downtown Tulsa.

OHP Lt. George Brown calls it the most brazen location he's ever seen a meth lab.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Revenue down in July, shortfall declared

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) State Treasurer Scott Meacham says officials have ordered a 5 percent across-the-board cut in budget allocations to state agencies this month due to a sharp decline in revenue in July.

Meacham on Tuesday released his revenue report for July, the first month of the new fiscal year. He says collections for the month were well below the prior year and the official estimate.

By Associated Press

Nashville, Tenn – NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Brooks & Dunn are done.

The best-selling country duo posted a message on its Web site Monday saying they've agreed to "call it a day" after 20 years of making music together.

"This ride has been everything and more than we could ever have dreamed ... We owe it all to you, the fans," Kix Brooks and former Tulsa resident Ronnie Dunn said in the message. "If you hear rumors, don't believe them, it's just time."

By John Durkee

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa School board has fired teacher John Gisler. He has been charged .but not convicted with sexually assaulting a teenage boy while serving as Big Brother mentor.

The victim was not Gisler's student at the Whitney Middle School. Gisler remains in the Tulsa County Jail.

By Associated Press

Weatherford, OK – WEATHERFORD, Okla. (AP) The first of about 740 Oklahoma Army National Guard soldiers have arrived home after a 10-month deployment to Kuwait and Iraq and participated in welcoming ceremonies.

About 140 of those soldiers from the Enid-based 45th Fires Brigade participated in a ceremony on Monday afternoon at Southwestern Oklahoma State University's Wellness Center.

The crowd of about 600 gave the soldiers a standing ovation as they entered the building. Many waved U.S. flags or held "welcome home" signs.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Underwood selected to state music Hall of Fame

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Checotah native Carrie Underwood heads a list of three new selections for induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

Underwood is the Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year and four-time Grammy winner.

She'll be inducted Sept. 17 with Oklahoma artists and performers Rocky Frisco and Ramona Reed at the Muskogee Civic Center.

By Associated Press

San Antonio, TX – Southwest bids on Frontier Airlines
The Associated Press

Southwest Airlines is making a firm bid to buy Frontier Airlines out of bankruptcy protection. That sets up a Tuesday auction with regional airline operator Republic Airways Holdings Inc.

Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz confirmed to The Associated Press that the airline put in a firm bid for Frontier on Monday. He says more details will come later.

By Rich Fisher

Tulsa, OK – Steve Liggett, artistic director of Living Arts of Tulsa, discusses the arts group's new move to the Brady Arts District, the first of many arts projects to come to fruition for the area just north of downtown Tulsa. Liggett also shares the vision for Living Arts which is celebrating its 40th Anniversary, and how their new home will help the interdisciplinary bleeding-edge arts group achieve their mission.

By Associated Press

Sand Springs, OK – More Rader staffers assaulted

SAND SPRINGS, Okla. (AP) Records show a 43 percent increase in assaults on staff members since Oklahoma's maximum-security lockup for juvenile offenders was placed under federal oversight.

The state Office of Juvenile Affairs reports that in fiscal year 2009, there were 53 assaults on staffers by youths at the L.E. Rader Center in Sand Springs. According to a story in the Tulsa World, that's a 43 percent jump from the 37 assaults reported the previous year.

By John Durkee

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa City Council, today, is expected to take-up the issue of using federal stimulus money to hire 18 additional police officers. Some council members are worried what will happen when the federal funds run-out.

Fraternal Order of Police President Phil Evans say attrition will take care of it.The FOP is urging the Council to accept the funds.

A study last summer shows the police department lacking in staff. The report recommended nearly 100 new employees to the force.