Local & Regional

By Associated Press

Columbia, S.C. – AP: State AGs make appeal over health care deal

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Two top state prosecutors are asking attorneys general across the country to let Washington know if they oppose the health care reform bill they say includes a political deal for Nebraska.

South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster and Oklahoma top prosecutor Drew Edmondson asked their colleagues Wednesday to call on U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to remove the provision.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Sooners CB Franks enters NFL draft

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Oklahoma cornerback Dominique Franks has changed his mind and decided to enter the NFL draft, forgoing his senior year.

Franks announced his decision Tuesday. He had said in December that he intended to play his senior season with the Sooners no matter what the NFL said about where he might land in the April draft.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Slain security guard began career in Oklahoma

TULSA, Okla. (AP) The brother of a security guard who was fatally shot when a disgruntled man opened fire at a Las Vegas federal building say he served as a Tulsa police officer in the 1960s.

Tulsa native Stanley Cooper died Monday after suspect Johnny Lee Wicks began shooting. Federal marshals fatally shot Wicks, who was said to be upset over Social Security benefits.

Tulsa, OK –
1.5 % Late Fee on City Utility Bills
Takes Effect This Month

Beginning this month, January 2010, the City of Tulsa will assess a 1-1/2 % late fee on past-due balances on City utility bills for water, sewer, stormwater, refuse services and the Medical Service Program.

Customers can avoid late fees with timely payment of bills by the due date.

Although the new policy begins January 1, customers will not see it reflected until they receive bills for January service in February.

Neighboring cities charge late fees of up to 10 percent.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma gets grant for homeless programs

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma will get more than $4.6 million in a federal grant to keep 42 programs for the homeless in operation.

The money from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department is in addition to $12.2 billion the state received earlier for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program.

By Hear Mayor's interview with KWGS' John Durkee and Beth Burnett of Channel 2

Tulsa, OK – There may be a way to avoid city lay-offs!

Mayor Bartlett is working on a proposal to save jobs, not just in the police and fire department, but throughout the city.

He tells KWGS News, the plan does not include demotions, but does include pay and benefit cuts, but not health benefits. He says it could include additional furlough days.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – In a news conference held today, Mayor Bartlett announced he has named Mike Bunney to be the city's new Economic Development Director. Bunney is a native of Nowata and a graduate of OU.

He began his business career in Tulsa at the McDonnell Douglas facility as director of finance. He was a site director for Boeing and for the past two years served as the Chief Economic Development Officer for the city of Tulsa.

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa County Sheriff's deputies attempted to serve arrests warrants on the chair of Arrow Trucking and her son. The warrants are not connected to the firm's sudden pre-Christmas demise, but related to a fatality accident in Cleveland County in 2006.

Their attorney says the warrants have been recalled.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Public Works Department is shifting dollars around to be sure it has plenty of salt to treat Tulsa's streets. The department has announced this morning it is taking $125,000 from a pot-hole patching fund to purchase an additional 3,000 tons of salt.

Public Works Director Charles Hardt says he is robbing Peter to pay Paul but he has no other options, short of asking citizens to come outside with a salt-shaker.