Local & Regional

By Denise Brewer

Tulsa, OK – Hear a recap of Monday morning's Top Local Stories:

By John Durkee

Tulsa, OK –
Tulsa City Councilor Jack Henderson will again tomorrow attempt to get other councilors to buy onto his idea. He wants a one-cent city sales tax hike earmarked for public safety. In the past, the council has rejected the idea.

Parking meters will get the attention of the city council as well. The council will consider setting a uniform parking rate and hours for the city's meters. Right now, parking meters are not enforced after five-p-m .. that would be extended to eight under tomorrow's proposal.

By Catherine Roberts

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. prison chief, patrol official see shortfalls

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma prison and highway patrol officials say the $6.7 billion budget crafted by the governor and legislative leaders falls short of what's needed to ensure the public's safety.

The budget for prisons was trimmed by 3 percent, and the budget for the Department of Public Safety was cut by 1 percent.

Justin Jones, director of the Oklahoma Corrections Department, said the shortfall at his agency could be as much as $46 million.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Trial begins for former ME investigator

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Jury selection is set to begin in the sexual battery trial of the former chief investigator for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Prosecution and defense attorneys will begin selecting a 12-member jury Monday for the trial of Kevin Rowland. The 44-year-old Rowland was indicted by a multi-county grand jury last year for allegedly inappropriately touching a male co-worker he supervised.

By Associated Press

Muskogee, OK – Counterfeit $20 in Muskogee, student had 4 bills

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) The U.S. Secret Service is joining an investigation into counterfeit $20 bills in Muskogee including one used by an elementary student.

Police said Friday that the student tried to buy a yearbook Thursday at Ben Franklin Science Academy with the fake bill. Police investigator Lonnie Bemo says the student had four counterfeit bills and police are trying to determine where the child got them.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Traffic fatalities in Oklahoma down from 2009

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety is reporting that traffic fatalities in the state are down by more than 100 from 2009.

DPS said in a news release Saturday that 154 people have been killed in vehicle accidents so far this year. That's 103 fewer than the 257 that had occurred by this time of year in 2009.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. Senate fails to override health care veto

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Senate has failed to override Democratic Gov. Brad Henry's veto of a bill intended to let Oklahomans opt out of a new federal health care law.

The Senate voted 28-16 Friday to override the veto, falling short of the 32 votes needed.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. House, Senate approve $6.68B budget

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma House and Senate have approved a nearly $6.68 billion spending bill for the upcoming fiscal year that cuts most state agency budgets by about 7 percent.

But opposition to the plan began to grow Friday as individual lawmakers began analyzing details of the budget that emerged late this week.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – SPERRY, Okla. (AP) A judge says Sperry Public Schools must issue a diploma to a Vietnamese exchange student. Sperry's school board had voted against making an exception in the 18-year-old students' case. But the Oklahoma Education Code says students who transfer from out of state after junior year can't be denied the opportunity to receive a diploma because of differing graduation requirements.