By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Academies moving to Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Department of Corrections plans to move its correctional officer training program from Wilburton to the Highway Patrol Training Center in Oklahoma City.

The agency announced Wednesday it will also move a separate employee training facility from the College of Continuing Education at the University of Oklahoma to the Oklahoma City facility.

The move is expected to save the state more than $500,000 without reducing services.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The head of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers' Association is working closely with school leaders in dealing with the budget crunch. The dollar shortage has been brought on by state revenue shortfalls.

Denzel Kestersen is worried about fewer teachers next year brought on by attrition and not replaced. He met this morning with School Superintendent Doctor Keith Ballard. He says they have a solid working relationship. He says the school district is facing a delicate budget balancing act.

By KWGS News

Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma school children with special needs -- such as those with Down's syndrome or autism - would have new education choices under legislation filed by state Rep. Jason Nelson and state Sen. Patrick Anderson.

The bill will also expand the Self-Directed Care Program to provide greater benefits to all developmentally disabled Oklahomans receiving state support.

By Hear the stories here:

Tulsa, OK – Listen to a capsule of Wednesday's top local news stories

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The news is not good for the Tulsa Public Schools. State budget cuts are taking another slap at the Tulsa district. School Superintendent Doctor Keith Ballard says the December revenue check was far short of what had been anticipated. Doctor Ballard initially thought the shortfall would be $1.3 million, but now says the shortfall is $2.6 million.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – State Supreme Court strikes down court fees

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Supreme Court says fees collected by state courts for non-court related activities are unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court's ruling on Tuesday strikes down three civil court filing fees that were challenged in a lawsuit filed by Oklahoma City attorney Jerry Fent.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Zoo: Giraffe's death caused by hypothermia

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Tulsa Zoo officials say a nine-year-old giraffe that died last week succumbed to hypothermia.

Officials on Tuesday released the results of a necropsy performed on Amira, who died Jan. 10 during a record-breaking cold weather.

Officials say since giraffes are susceptible to extreme cold, Amira and Samburu, the zoo's male giraffe, were housed in a heated barn.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce has a new chairman.

Arvest Bank CEO Don Walker took over the chairmanship during a luncheon gala at a south Tulsa hotel. He delivered a 15-minutes speech calling on the chamber to get back to the basics. He says that means economic development with new jobs and tax payers for Tulsa.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The Transportation Advisory Board invites the citizens of Tulsa to attend public meetings in each of the nine City Council districts. This new board, which began meeting in April 2009, will introduce itself to the community through these meetings. The board would like to receive citizens' comments about transportation in the city of Tulsa. Citizens also can receive information about transportation capital improvement projects.

By Rich Fisher