Local & Regional

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla lawmaker wants penalty for missing deadline

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) An Oklahoma lawmaker wants to impose monetary penalties when the Legislature fails to meet its self-imposed deadline for funding public education.

An amendment to legislation pending on the House floor was filed Tuesday by Rep. Danny Morgan of Prague. It says each member of the Legislature will have one day's pay deducted from their salary for each day they miss the April 1 deadline for submitting an education budget to the governor.

By AP

Undated – Late-winter storm brings precipitation, tornado warnings

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A powerful, late-winter storm system has brought a mixed bag of precipitation to Oklahoma, dumping light snow on the Panhandle, rain and a tornado warning for southeast Oklahoma.

The warning was issued for McCurtain County Tuesday afternoon, but emergency management officials and the sheriff's office said there was no confirmation that anything touched down. No injuries or damage were immediately reported.

By KWGS

Tulsa, OK – Friday there should be an answer on whether the governor will ask the attorney general to investigate Mayor Bartlett. In Tulsa today, Governor Fallin said she's been reviewing the packet outlining what Councilor John Eagleton alleges are misdeeds by the mayor.

Eagleton wants an ouster investigation by the A.G., but the governor would have to request it.

By AP/KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – U.S. District Judge Bruce Black has canceled jury selection for the trial of two current and one former Tulsa police officer.

Jury selection was to begin this week for officers Bruce Bonham and Nick DeBruin and retired officer Harold Wells who have been federally charged with civil rights violations.

The three officers were indicted by a federal grand jury for misconduct during an FBI sting in 2009.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad is investigating at suspicious package found at Tinker Air Force Base.

Sheriff's spokesman Mark Myers said in a news release Tuesday that the team is investigating the item. Myers was not immediately available for additional comment.

Tinker spokeswoman Kathy Paine said the package was reported about 7:35 a.m. Tuesday and three buildings were evacuated. She referred other questions to the sheriff's office.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Construction could begin later this spring on a new westbound I-244 bridge over the Arkansas River in Tulsa. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation awarded the $64-million contract yesterday to Manhattan Road and Bridge Construction.

The bridge will be the first of its kind in Oklahoma. It will be a double-decker bridge with traffic on the top deck and rail, walkers and bikers will use the lower deck.

It will take two years to complete the project.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla store owner pleads guilty to food stamp fraud

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A convenience store owner has pleaded guilty to defrauding the food stamp program.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says Muhammad Zahid entered the plea Monday to unlawfully redeeming a beneficiary's food stamp benefits for cash.

A federal grand jury indicted Zahid, owner of Ghani Mart in northeast Oklahoma City, in October.

By John Durkee

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

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Only a few problems with ten-digit phone calling in the 918 area code. The dialing started on Saturday, but today is the first business day. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission's Matt Skinner says there have been a few hiccups.

Skinner says the biggest problems seem to involve office systems that have not been set for ten digits. However, in a few cases, some people have been able to complete local calls by dialing only seven digits.

The commission is dealing with more than a dozen different phone companies.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Wild fires are keeping area firefighters very busy. Blazes were reported today near Bristow and Drumright in Creek County. No reports, at this point, of structures involved.

Gusty winds will rapidly whip any fires that do develop.

Two juveniles were arrested yesterday in Wagoner County. They are accused of starting a fire near Highway 69. That blaze burned 20-acres before fire fighters got it put out.