Local & Regional

Tulsa, OK – The Chapman Charitable Trusts announced a major gift benefiting The University of Tulsa College of Law during an event held Tuesday at the law school.

The gift has established the Dean John Rogers Endowed Chair for the College of Law and will fund a major renovation of John Rogers Hall that will allow future facility upgrades.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK –

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Changing Oklahoma's workers' compensation system will be among Senate Republicans' top goals when they announce their legislative agenda for 2010.

The agenda was released Tuesday by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, Majority Floor Leader Todd Lamb and GOP senators.

Coffee has said he wants to focus on altering the state's workers' compensation system this year as a way to encourage new business in the state.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Missing Arrow Trucking driver phones home, is safe

TULSA, Okla. (AP) An Arrow Trucking Co. driver who had been missing since Christmas Day has phoned his family and is safe in Iowa.

Tulsa-based Arrow closed suddenly on Dec. 22 and hundreds of drivers were stranded across the nation including John Eischens.

Eischens was last seen at a truck stop in Butte, Mont., and was reported missing last week by his family in Anna, Texas.

By Associated Press

Vian, OK – VIAN, Okla. (AP) A paramedic who scuffled with an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper during a traffic stop last year has been arrested in Vian. Assistant Police Chief Bryan Chandler says Maurice White Jr. was arrested Monday for speeding, not having a driver's license and resisting arrest, among other things. White didn't return a call seeking comment.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Treasurer to release December revenue figures

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma lawmakers are bracing for more bad financial news.

State Treasurer Scott Meacham is scheduled to release state revenue figures from December on Tuesday, and lawmakers expect collections to show steep declines from a year earlier.

Tax collections have been down every month since the start of the fiscal year on July 1, the result of a sluggish economy and low oil and natural gas prices.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Acting United States Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward announced that a former City
of Tulsa Public Works official was sentenced in federal court today. Albert S. Martinez, age 48, formerly the Field Engineering Manager at the Tulsa Public Works Department, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terrence Kern to 42 months confinement in federal prison and was ordered to make restitution to the City of Tulsa in the amount of $341,000. To date, Martinez has forfeited assets in the amount of $217,000.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – State medical examiner hires chief administrator

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A chief administrative officer has been hired by the state Medical Examiner's Office in an effort to regain accreditation and adress problems found in a state audit.

Former Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation deputy director Thomas Jordan was hired in December at a salary of $90,000 per year. Spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard says Jordan will help address the loss of accreditation and deficiencies pointed out by a state audit.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Services to women who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault are being cut because of statewide budget problems.

State agencies have been ordered to make 10 percent cuts each of the past two months on top of a 5 percent cut each month since July.

By Associated Press

Jones, OK – Another small earthquake recorded near Jones

JONES, Okla. (AP) The U.S. Geological Survey has recorded another small earthquake near Jones in central Oklahoma.

No injuries or damage have been reported.

The magnitude 2.8 quake was recorded at 11:16 p.m. Sunday about 15 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. It's at least the 26th earthquake in the area since last March.

Geologists say the area typically gets one or two earthquakes per year that are felt and they're not sure what has caused the increase.

By Associated Press

Jones, OK – Another small earthquake recorded near Jones

JONES, Okla. (AP) The U.S. Geological Survey has recorded another small earthquake near Jones in central Oklahoma.

No injuries or damage have been reported.

The magnitude 2.8 quake was recorded at 11:16 p.m. Sunday about 15 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. It's at least the 26th earthquake in the area since last March.

Geologists say the area typically gets one or two earthquakes per year that are felt and they're not sure what has caused the increase.