News

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.

By Associated Press

Sapulpa, OK – Creek County deputy shot in shoulder

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A Creek County sheriff's deputy is recovering in a Tulsa hospital after being shot in the shoulder with a shotgun in Oilton.

Sheriff Steve Toliver says Sgt. Dusty Thomas suffered a non-life threatening wound when he was shot about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday by a man who had reportedly threatened suicide.

Toliver says after Thomas was shot he was able to tackle the gunman and hold him for other deputies to arrest.

By Rich Fisher

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – TULSA, Okla. (AP) The Oklahoma State University at Tulsa Board of Trustees has approved businessman Howard Barnett to be the school's new president.

Barnett was one of two final candidates for the position that was created when Gary Trennepohl announced in March he would return to the OSU faculty full time. University of Kansas administrator Bob Clark was the other finalist.