Local & Regional

By AP

Tulsa, Ok – Okla. clinic director gets probation for bomb scare

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A federal judge has sentenced a former Reproductive Services of Tulsa executive director to five years of probation for falsely reporting a bomb threat at the clinic last year.

U.S. Chief District Judge Claire Eagan also on Friday ordered Linda Meek to pay $1,441 in restitution to the Tulsa Police Department for costs it incurred while responding to the bogus threat.

By AP

Sapulpa, OK – Police: Okla. inmate captured at Sapulpa motel

SAPULPA, Okla. (AP) Police say they've captured an escaped inmate from Tulsa after a four-hour standoff at a Sapulpa motel.

Tulsa television station KOTV reports that the inmate escaped from the Avalon Treatment Center. Police say they found the inmate's car in the parking lot of the Interstate Inn and knocked on his motel room door. Police say a woman left the room and was arrested, but the suspect refused to leave.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK –
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (AP) Road crews in Oklahoma City are preparing for possible snow and ice predicted for the state this weekend.

The city says that crews are pre-treating bridges and overpasses Friday with salt brine solution in preparation for the bad weather.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, Ok – The Tulsa City Council votes eight-to-one no confidence in acting city attorney David Pauling. Councilor Rick Westcott says Pauling violated client-attorney privilege.

The lone no voted came from Councilor GT Bynum. The vote also called for Pauling's resignation.

In other council action: furlough days are being ended at city hall and pay cuts will be restored.

By AP

McAlester, OK – Oklahoma inmate executed for 1995 slaying

MCALESTER, Okla. (AP) An Oklahoma death row inmate was executed yesterday for the 1995 slaying of a convenience store worker who prosecutors said was brutally beaten with a baseball bat.

A spokesman for the state Department of Corrections said that 39-year-old Billy Don Alverson was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK –

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) An Oklahoma state senator has been thwarted in his attempt to stop outgoing Gov. Brad Henry from making a sixth appointment to the state Supreme Court.

The high court yesterday denied a motion by state Sen. Clark Jolley for a stay that would have prevented Henry from appointing a justice to replace the late Marian Opala, who died in October. The court's ruling on the motion allows Henry, a Democrat, to proceed with appointing a new justice. But the merits of the case have not yet been decided.

By John Durkee

Tulsa, OK – Hear a recap of this morning's top local stories from KWGS:

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The First Lady of Tulsa T-V has passed. Betty Boyd has died.

She was one of the first women on Tulsa TV, working at both KOTV and KTUL. After retiring from the daily TV grind, she became the head of Public Information for Tulsa Tech. She later ran for the state legislature where she represented east Tulsa in district 23.

Betty Boyd was 86.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Gov. Brad Henry to join Edmond law firm

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Gov. Brad Henry says he will join the law firm of Lester, Loving and Davies in Edmond after he leaves office next week.

Henry told The Oklahoman will be of-counsel to the firm meaning he will not be an associate or partner in the firm. Henry says he wants to sharpen his legal skills while still having time to work with charitable and nonprofit organizations.

The governor said he is also considering other opportunities - but declined to elaborate.

By KWGS News/Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – TULSA, Okla. (AP) Tulsa officials say the city plans to hire private auditors in an effort to increase collections of delinquent sales taxes.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett signed a contract in principle last May with Revenue Discovery Systems of Birmingham, Ala., before the Oklahoma Legislature passed a law that allows only the state Tax Commission to handle sales-tax collections.

The city has sued over the new law.