Local & Regional

By Associated Press

Tulsa, Okla. – TULSA, Okla. (AP) A key Oklahoma Department of Transportation official says the state still is pursuing funds for proposed high-speed rail routes, even though it got nothing from the federal government during a recent competition for billions in rail construction money.

The Tulsa World reports from its Washington bureau that David Streb, ODOT's director of engineering, says Oklahoma has made several applications in hopes of landing smaller grants for high-speed rail planning.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Survey: Teachers retirement system underfunded

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A survey that examined the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System says its pension fund is among the most underfunded of its type in the nation.

The Public Fund Survey, using information from the 2008 fiscal year, ranked the state's teachers retirement system as having the fourth-lowest funding ratio among the 126 state pension plans it reviewed.

At the time of the review, the system had a funding ratio of 50.5 percent.

By Associated Press

Owasso, OK – 2nd plane crash in NE Okla. in 24 hours kills 3

OWASSO, Okla. (AP) For the second time in 24 hours, a plane crash in northeastern Oklahoma has killed three people.

The second fatal crash happened Sunday about 8:15 p.m. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 64-year-old Richard Shimer of Owasso was flying the 1973 Cessna 177 eastbound approaching Gundy's Airport in Owasso when for an unknown reason, the plane began to lose altitude.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Askins hopes race for Okla governor stays cordial

STROUD, Okla. (AP) The race for the Democratic nomination for Oklahoma governor between Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and Attorney General Drew Edmondson has remained cordial so far, but there's no guarantee it will stay that way.

During a campaign event Saturday in Stroud, Askins said she hopes the contest stays friendly, but made no promises.

She says every campaign reaches a stage where it's important to draw comparisons between the candidates.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. colleges seeing higher enrollment

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Officials at several public colleges and universities in Oklahoma say the economic downturn has helped boost enrollment.

Seminole State College vice president Lana Reynolds says the number of students attending the two-year college jumped by more than 6 percent to 705 students this summer. Reynolds says a 10 percent enrollment increase is expected for the fall.

By Associated Press

Blackwell, OK – Federal regulators close Okla. bank

BLACKWELL, Okla. (AP) A Claremore-based bank has agreed to purchase the assets and assume the deposits of a Blackwell bank that was closed by federal regulators.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. says it was appointed as receiver of Home National Bank after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency closed the bank on Friday.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Judge: Prosecutors can use most Kastner statements

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A Tulsa County judge says that during the trial for a former teacher accused of fatally shooting his wife, prosecutors can use most of the statements the man allegedly made to police.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, Ok – Seized smokes: Fed court sides with state

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A federal appeals court in Denver has agreed to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation against the Oklahoma Tax Commission over cigarettes seized by the state.

A three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued its ruling on Friday that upheld a lower court decision.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Okla. utility seeking rate review

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A utility company is seeking a rate review, saying its revenues are an estimated $52.4 million below its annual costs for delivering power.

American Electric Power-Public Service Co. of Oklahoma filed the request Friday with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

It doesn't seek an immediate rate case and hearing, instead seeking to delay proceedings until spring 2011 at the earliest.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – A special education teacher in the Union School District is taken into custody by Tulsa Police Sex Crimes officers. 48-year-old Curt Carson stands accused of molesting a 13-year-old. The crime allegedly took place back in 2002 and 2003, when Carson was a mentor for Big Brothers in Tulsa.

The Union School District's Gretchen Haas-Bethel says Carson has been a special education teacher with the district since 2005. Prior to that, he was with the Tulsa Public Schools from 2001-to-2005.