Oklahoma News Report - Archives

Archive for the Week of January 25, 2009 - January 31, 2009

Henry appoints White to top state health post

1/30/09, 4:08 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Brad Henry has appointed the commissioner of the state Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse as Oklahoma's new Secretary of Health. Terri White of Oklahoma City will be the first woman to serve as the state's health secretary since the governor's executive cabinet system was created in the 1980s.

White will replace Mike Crutcher, who recently retired. White has been the state's mental health commissioner for the last two years and earlier worked as deputy mental health commissioner and as a fiscal and policy analyst for the state Senate. Henry says White has been a dedicated and effective advocate for public health.

Henry wants to improve Insure Oklahoma

1/30/09, 3:12 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Brad Henry is proposing improvements to a nationally recognized state program that helps provide health coverage to thousands of uninsured Oklahomans. The Insure Oklahoma plan was part of Henry's 2004 health care initiative.

The public-private partnership helps small businesses purchase insurance for their employees. Henry said Friday he wants lawmakers to amend Insure Oklahoma to give participants more lower-cost insurance options, such as high-deductible and tailored-benefit plans.

Henry is also proposing a targeted registration program to provide onsite, point-of-service insurance enrollment at medical facilities such as clinics and emergency rooms. Improving Insure Oklahoma is part of a multipoint health care initiative proposed by House Republicans earlier this week.

Inhofe to visit Guantanamo Bay prison

1/30/09, 9:44 a.m.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe says he and three other Republican senators are planning to visit the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay on a fact-finding trip. President Barack Obama has signed an executive order to close the prison in Cuba within a year.

The prison holds 245 "enemy combatants" captured since 2001. Inhofe says he opposes the plan to close it and will use the visit to gather facts so he can "speak with authority" about the need for the prison. Inhofe will travel Monday with Sens. Pat Roberts of Kansas, David Vitter of Louisiana and Mel Martinez of Florida.

Road conditions improving

1/30/09, 9:39 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Road conditions improved across Oklahoma but the number of power outages actually increased. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation says slick spots and isolated patches of ice remained on roadways, bridges, ramps and overpasses, but driving was less hazardous as frozen precipitation continued to melt.

Meanwhile, just as utility crews were making progress on restoring power to customers in hard-hit eastern Oklahoma, the overall outage number went up. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission reported 25,986 homes and businesses without electric service, up from just over 20,000 earlier in the day.

That number had dwindled to 20,509 late Thursday. Sid Sperry with the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives had warned that ice melting off power lines might cause them to bounce and result in more disruptions. The OAEC reported 24,172 outages, Oklahoma Gas & Electric reported 889 and Municipal Electric Systems of Oklahoma reported 925 outages. Nearly 40,000 Oklahoma customers were without power at the height of the storm late Tuesday. The storm was responsible for three deaths.

State workers uneasy over nonessential tag

1/30/09, 8:26 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Being "nonessential" has its perks if you're a state employee -- you might get to stay home with pay when winter storms strike. Thousands of state workers returned to their jobs today after two days snuggled up at home away from their chores at the Capitol and other state buildings. Several said they were grateful about not having to venture out on hazardous roads after a storm brought in a mix of ice, sleet and snow. But others are uneasy about being tagged as nonessential.

One of them was Kathie Gasaway, executive assistant to Enid state Senator Patrick Anderson. Gasaway says the term makes her feel sort of worthless on the one hand, but she also said she didn't know if she'd want to be one of the essential employees who had to trudge through the snow.

Office of Personnel Management director Oscar Jackson says a good percentage of the 37,000 state workers did not have to come to work Tuesday and Wednesday, but he did not know how many. Jackson says state troopers, hospital workers, prison guards and others in agencies that provide around-the-clock services were the exceptions.

State cases tied to national salmonella outbreak

1/29/09, 5:32 p.m.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - The state Health Department says two salmonella cases in Oklahoma have now been tied to a nationwide outbreak linked to peanut butter products. The names and ages of the victims haven't been released but health officials say both are adolescents in northeastern Oklahoma.

Communicable diseases director Laurence Burnsed says both victims are doing well after becoming ill in mid-December. The outbreak is blamed for eight deaths nationwide and has been linked to peanut butter and peanut products from the Peanut Corporation of America in Blakely, Ga.

More than 500 cases have been reported in more than 40 states and more than 430 kinds of cakes, cookies and other peanut goods have been recalled from stores.

Hobby Lobby pledges 10M to school

1/29/09, 1:52 p.m.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - The Hobby Lobby craft store chain has pledged $10 million to Southeastern University in Florida, a day after that school's president was named the new leader at Oral Roberts University.

Billionaire Oklahoma City businessman Mart Green, heir to the Hobby Lobby fortune, is the regents chairman at ORU. Mart Green took the reins at the struggling, Tulsa-based evangelical school last year after donating $70 million of his family's wealth. On Wednesday, Southeastern University President Mark Rutland was named to ORU's top post.

In a letter to the Southeastern trustees board, Mart Green says he was impressed with the programs at the Lakeland, Fla.-based school, and hoped the donation would increase its financial strength.

Warmer weather to help crews, melt ice

1/29/09, 1:50 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Warmer weather will help melt ice on Oklahoma roadways today and could help utility crews working to restore electricity to thousands of customers still in the dark. Just over 20,000 homes and businesses remain without power this morning - most of them customers of rural electric cooperatives in eastern Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives spokesman Sid Sperry says Ozarks Electric and Lake Region co-ops have a total of more than 17,000 outages and some may not be repaired until next week.

Oklahoma Gas and Electric reported 133 outages in Muskogee and Porum this morning while Public Service Company of Oklahoma says its storm-related outages are back on line. Nearly 40,000 Oklahoma customers were without power at the height of the storm late Tuesday. Road conditions have improved with sunshine and above-freezing temperatures but many school districts remain closed today because of hazardous local streets.

OEA wants school changes; more funding

1/29/09, 1:42 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Education Association says a school culture has developed that relies too much on tests that do not accurately measure student achievement. OEA President Roy Bishop held a Capitol news conference Wednesday to outline a program to create a better learning environment in schools.

Bishop stressed quality instruction and an accountability plan that will improve the working conditions of teachers and allow students to acquire skills such as creativity and leadership. The OEA plan also calls for improving the pay and health care benefits of teachers. Bishop says a federal stimulus package will free up current school funds to pay for some of the changes. He is urging Oklahoma members of Congress to vote for the plan.

Oklahoma schools see increase in Hispanic students

1/27/09, 9:47 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The state Education Department says the number of Hispanic students in Oklahoma schools rose by 3,461 during the 2007-08 academic year. Total student enrollment in the state increased by 3,056 from October 2007. State Superintendent Sandy Garrett says because of the increase in Hispanic students there will be an effort to hire more bilingual teachers. Garrett says the Education Department will also ask the legislature for more money to train teachers in other languages and the help students make the transition into classes after a move.

Fallin wants to keep prisoners out of Oklahoma

1/27/09, 9:35 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma's five U.S. House members are supporting a bill designed to stop any attempt to transfer prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to any facility in Oklahoma. Rep. Mary Fallin introduced a bill that would prohibit spending federal funds to move the prisoners to Oklahoma. The bill is co-sponsored by the other four House members from the state.

The bill likely has little chance of being passed or even getting a hearing. Decisions about where to place the 245 prisoners at Guantanamo haven't been made, and one state is unlikely to be exempted. Oklahoma's delegation has been warning about the possibility of prisoners being sent to the state since President Obama signed an order last week to close the prison. One report lists Fort Sill as a potential relocation facility.

American Indians could reap almost $3B in stimulus

1/27/09, 9:29 a.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) - American Indians stand to gain almost $3 billion as part of the economic stimulus moving through Congress. The Senate Appropriations Committee has included $2.8 billion for Indian tribes in its portion of the nearly $900 billion bill. A House version to be voted on today includes a similar amount. The money includes hundreds of millions of dollars for schools, health clinics, roads, law enforcement and water projects. Economic development policy specialist Dante Desiderio at the National Congress of American Indians calls the bill a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for tribes.

Earthquake reported in central Oklahoma

1/27/09, 9:19 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting an earthquake southwest of Oklahoma City. The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 3.4 and no injuries or damage is reported. The U.S.G.S. say the earthquake was felt about 5:19 a.m. Wednesday and its epicenter was about 5 miles northeast of
Chickasha. A magnitude 2.5 to 3 quake is generally they smallest that is felt by people. A magnitude 4 quake can cause moderate damage.

Regents to discuss fees, other items

1/27/09, 8:49 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - University of Oklahoma regents will consider proposed fee increases today. The meeting was originally scheduled to begin today at Cameron University in Lawton, but was rescheduled and moved to OU's Health Sciences Center campus in Oklahoma City. According to the meeting agenda, various fees could be increased for students attending the Price College of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Public Health, the College of Dentistry, the College of Allied Health, the College of Law and the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will have to give final approval to the fee changes. OU Regents could also approve the hiring of G. Randy Keller as the director of the Oklahoma Geological Survey.

Unemployment rate inches up in Oklahoma

1/27/09, 8:47 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma's unemployment rate inched up by 0.3 percent from November to 4.8 percent in December, but remained more than 2 percent lower than the national jobless rate. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reported Tuesday that the statewide rate was 0.5 percent higher than the rate reported for December of last year. Meanwhile, the U.S. jobless rate has risen to a 16-year high of 7.2 percent in December. The states with the biggest increases were Indiana at 8.2 percent, up from 7.1 percent in November, and South Carolina with 9.4 percent, an increase from 8.4 percent.

Television sportscaster injured in icy fall

1/27/09, 8:36 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Television sportscaster Dean Blevins is in the intensive care unit at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center after slipping Monday on the ice outside his home. The sports director at Oklahoma City television station KWTV, Blevins said Tuesday he hit the back of his head on the edge of his
porch and driveway after going outside to check on the condition of the streets.

He says doctors put several staples in his head to close the gash and were considering surgery. KWTV news director Blaise Labbe declined to comment to The Oklahoman, citing medical privacy restrictions.

Low-key commemoration held on anniversary of crash

1/26/09, 3:38 p.m.

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - On the eighth anniversary of a plane crash that killed 10 men associated with Oklahoma State University's basketball program, the school today opted for a low-key approach to commemorating the tragedy. Despite frigid and icy weather that resulted in the cancellation of classes, the university kept open the lobby of Gallagher-Iba Arena, where a memorial to the 10 men is located.

As in previous years, people left flowers and other mementos at the memorial. No formal service was scheduled today, but fans attending the Cowboys' game last night against Oklahoma observed a moment of silence before the contest. As has been done each year since the crash, plans called for the university's Library Carillon to toll 10 times in honor of each of those who died. The tolling was to take place at 6:37 p.m. CST, the time the crash occurred.

Winter Weather Continues

1/27/09 5:00 p.m.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Oklahomans endured a second straight day of wintry weather today as freezing rain and sleet continued falling. Icy roads are blamed for at least two fatal traffic accidents and caused officials to close most of the state's schools and all but essential state government workers were told to stay home. Oklahoma Gas and Electric Brian Alford says company sent crews to eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas where more than 25,000 customers were without power early Tuesday afternoon. Both Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City and Tulsa International Airport remained open but airlines had canceled dozens of flights.

Lawsuit over Governor's Veto Authority

1/27/09 5:04 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Republican leaders in the House and Senate plan to file a petition with the state Supreme Court asking it to limit the governor's veto power.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee said today he and House Speaker Chris Benge anticipate filing the petition within the next two weeks. The two believe Gov. Brad Henry overstepped his authority when
he issued line-item vetoes of two bills last session that set out budget limitations for state agencies.
Henry says he disagrees with that opinion and believes limiting the governor's line item veto power on budget bills would lead to vetoes of entire bills instead of just portions of bills. The Oklahoma Constitution gives the governor the authority to line-item veto appropriations bills. Coffee says the two bills Henry partially vetoed were not appropriations bills and that his actions were unconstitutional. Coffee says he told Henry of his plans described the petition effort as a "friendly lawsuit."

Governor Opposes Tuition Increase

1/27/09 5:10 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Brad Henry says now is not the time to raise tuition rates at Oklahoma colleges and universities Henry says it wouldn't be prudent for state regents of higher education to raise tuition during the current economic climate even if they don't get their requested $80 million budget increase.

At The Associated Press's annual legislative forum Tuesday he said everyone needs to tighten their belts in a tough budget year. The governor says he's open to increasing college funding. But he says that will be difficult because of a $600 million budget shortfall. He says state workers and teachers are deserving of pay raises but there's little likelihood that can occur this year.

Winter Weather Hazards

1/26/09 2:54 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Brad Henry has declared a state of emergency for all 77 counties in Oklahoma. The move paves the way for seeking federal assistance from ice storm damage.

A winter storm has covered most of the state with a layer of ice today and made roads treacherous and resulting in at least one traffic death.

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority says a truck driver was killed this afternoon when his semi cab skidded off an icy stretch of the Turner Turnpike near Chandler. The victim's name wasn't immediately released.
Governor Henry has declared a state of emergency for all 77 counties and the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning until 6 tomorrow evening for most of central, south-central and northeast Oklahoma.

Both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University closed early - but the OU-OSU basketball game in Stillwater is still on. Oklahoma Gas and Electric reported fewer than 500 power outages
Monday afternoon with most in the Del City and Ardmore areas. National Weather Service meteorologist Ty Judd in Norman says the storm system is expected to move out of the state by tomorrow afternoon and temperatures are to reach the 30s to 40s on Wednesday.

Loan Refinancing Boom

1/26/09 2:56 p.m.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Though interest rates on mortgages were driven down to spark more home buying the lower rates are also causing an explosion in loan refinancing.

State Mortgage Banking Association vice president Steven Plaisance says the floodgates opened December 1. That's when the Federal Reserve announced it would buy mortgage-backed securities in an effort to drive down interest rates. Government-controlled mortgage giant Freddie Mac reported last week the average 30-year, fixed-rate home loan was going for 5.12 percent nationally. The number is from a record low 4.96 percent the previous week. And Plaisance says while refinancing is up the hoped-for increase in new mortgages has not happened but is holding steady.

Former Auditor and Inspector Sentenced

1/26/09 3:00 p.m.

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) - Former state Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan has been sentenced to eight years and one month in prison.

His wife - Lori - was sentenced to six years and six months. Federal Judge James Payne sentenced the two Monday morning in federal court in Muskogee where they were convicted last year of conspiracy and bribery.
Prosecutors say McMahan showed favoritism to southeast Oklahoma businessman Steve Phipps in exchange for cash, campaign contributions, fishing trips, trips to New Orleans and Boston and jewelry.