Local & Regional

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Statement from Superintendent Keith Ballard:

"In light of the city prosecutor's decision to drop the municipal charges against Lynnette Dixon, I am reinstating her as principal of Hawthorne Elementary effective Thursday, April 28, 2011.

"I have completed my review of TPS Police Chief Gary Rudick, assisted by Chief of Staff Robert F. Burton, Sr. and Chief Operations and Information Officer Todd Lee. I want to make it clear that I found Chief Rudick's action inappropriate.

By KWGS News

Oklahoma City, OK – Despite the soggy conditions in our part of the state, western Oklahoma is bone dry. Mike Schulte is the head of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission. He fears at least half of the state's crop is lost.

He says some farmer are filing for disaster coverage now and starting to plane for another crop.

By AP

Tahlequah, OK – Oklahoma river has crested but flooding ongoing

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) Cherokee County officials say the Illinois River has crested at Tahlequah and has begun to recede, but major flooding is still occurring after the region received more than a foot of rain.

The Tahlequah-Cherokee County Emergency Management office said Wednesday that floodwaters are approaching 4 to 6 feet in the Lakewood and Carlisle Cove areas, and county commissioners are building temporary roadways for residents to get in and out.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Fallin declares emergency after severe Okla storms

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Gov. Mary Fallin has declared a state of emergency in 11 Oklahoma counties following tornadoes, severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding.

Fallin issued the declaration Wednesday for Adair, Cherokee, Delaware, Haskell, LeFlore, McCurtain, Muskogee, Okfuskee, Ottawa, Pittsburg and Sequoyah counties.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. House passes presidential 'birther' bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma House has approved legislation requiring presidential candidates to prove their citizenship before appearing on a state primary election ballot. The measure passed the same day that President Barack Obama made public his detailed birth certificate.

Without debate, the House Wednesday evening voted 77-13 for the measure by Rep. Sue Tibbs of Tulsa and sent it to the Senate for further consideration.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Mayor Dewey Bartlett announced today that he is streamlining his administration by appointing Jim Twombly to the role of City Manager. The Mayor will create the position through an executive order.

By John Durkee

Tulsa, OK – Hear a recap of this morning's Top Local Stories from KWGS:

By KWGS News

Bartlesville, OK – Twenty-six-year-old Lyndsey Dawn Fiddler enters a not guilty plea in Washington County District Court.

Prosecutors have charged Fiddler with first-degree murder and child neglect last year's death of Maggie Trammel, whom the Medical Examiner's Office says drowned. The baby's aunt found her in the running washing machine mixed with a load of laundry.

Investigators say a drug screen administered by police to Fiddler turned up positive for methamphetamine and other drugs.

By KWGS News

Henryetta, OK – Flooding problems in Henryetta prompt a boil order for residents of the Okmulgee County town. Officials say the order applies to about 10-thousand residents in Henryetta and Dewar.

They say the order is a precaution to make sure the water has not been contaminated.

By AP

Tulsa, OK – Mountain lion captured in Tulsa, origin sought

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A mountain lion has been captured in the back yard of a north Tulsa home and animal experts are now trying to determine where it came from.

The 70-pound female lion is estimated to be 1 to 2 years old and was caught after being spotted in a tree on Saturday. The animal was taken to the Tulsa Zoo where tests will be conducted in an effort to determine if she was previously in captivity or perhaps someone's pet.