Archive for the Week of September 1, 2008 -September 6, 2008
News Archives (Week of September 1, 2008)
OU scientists identify cancer marker
9/5/08, 5:10 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Scientists at the University of Oklahoma's Cancer Institute say they have found a way to isolate cancer stem cells in tumors so they can be targeted and killed. Scientists say the discovery, announced Friday, could pave the way for development of a new cancer-killing drug that would kill
the stem cells and the disease.
Dr. Courtney Houchen says he and other OU researchers discovered that a particular protein only appears in stem cells. By targeting those cells, physicians would be able to stop cancer from returning. The discovery was praised by cancer survivor Jim Edwards of Duncan. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Edwards has undergone chemotherapy and radiation treatments and has been cancer free for more than three years. Edwards says the new stem cell drug would be like an insurance policy for cancer survivors.
OSU snuffs tobacco ban for home game
9/5/08, 12:00 p.m.
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Officials at Oklahoma State say they won't be issuing citations to football fans who violate the campus ban on tobacco. OSU adopted a campus-wide ban on all tobacco July 1st.
Spokesman Gary Shutt says officials hope fans attending tomorrow's OSU football game will respect the policy. He says staff and game-day employees will hand out cards to fans they see smoking or using tobacco to remind them of the policy. The use of tobacco inside the football stadium has been prohibited for several years.
CDC: 10 outbreaks similar to 1 in Oklahoma
9/5/08, 11:52 a.m.
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there have been 10 previous E. coli outbreaks similar to one in Oklahoma. The outbreak in Oklahoma has left one man dead and at least 206 people sick.
It's blamed on the rare E. coli O111 bacteria and is believed to have started at the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove.
A specific source hasn't been found. The CDC says of the 10 previous similar outbreaks the source has been found in only two. One was a salad bar at a cheerleading camp in Texas in 1999 and the other was unpasteurized apple cider in New York in 2004.
Remains of 3 sailors from USS Oklahoma identified
9/5/08, 8:48 a.m.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The remains of three sailors on the USS Oklahoma during the attack on Pearl Harbor have been identified. The three are Ensign Eldon Wyman of Oregon, Ensign Irvin Thompson of New Jersey, and Fireman 2nd Class Lawrence Boxrucker of Wisconsin.
The three were among nearly 400 buried in mass graves and officially listed as unknowns and the remains will be returned to their families. The focus on Pearl Harbor remains has intensified in recent years through the research of Ray Emory who was one of the few survivors from the Oklahoma. The attack killed 429 sailors and Marines on the Oklahoma - second only to the casualties on the USS Arizona.
Re-count upholds winner in House primary
9/4/08, 5:07 p.m.
WEATHERFORD, Okla. (AP) - A re-count has upheld the initial winner in the state House District 57 Republican primary. The re-count completed Thursday found radio station owner Harold Wright of Weatherford defeated Lyle Miller of Clinton by seven votes - 901-894.
Miller requested the re-count after the original total showed Wright winning by eight votes - 902-894. Wright will face Democrat Perry Adams of Custer City in the Nov. 4 general election. The seat currently is held by Democrat James Covey who can't run
for re-election because of term limits.
Gustav evacuees prepared to return home
9/4/08, 9:25 a.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Officials at a temporary shelter in Oklahoma City say about 1,000 Hurricane Gustav evacuees will soon begin boarding buses to return to their homes in Louisiana. Police Sgt. Paco Balderrama says some buses will be leaving Thursday from the shelter at the old Lucent Technologies plant in western Oklahoma City. He says emergency officials are preparing lists of people from Louisiana parishes that have been opened for people to return to their homes. He says some people from parishes that remain closed will have to stay at the shelter a while longer. About 1,700 evacuees have stayed at the shelter since arriving
late Sunday and early Monday by bus.
The Oklahoman plans to cut 150 positions
9/4/08, 9:30 a.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The state's largest newspaper says it is offering early retirement packages to longtime employees as it plans to cut 150 positions. The Oklahoman publisher David Thompson says the downsizing will be completed by the end of October through retirements and a reduction in force. Thompson says he and other executives met Wednesday to discuss early retirement with 102 veteran employees who are at least 55 years old and have worked for the newspaper for 15 years or longer. Those 102 employees have until Sept. 24 to decide whether to take the early retirement offers. The Oklahoman will then begin layoffs starting in early October across the newspapers media division, OPUBCO Communications Group.
Report cites income tax-cut slash
9/3/08, 1:45 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A think-tank that advocates for the poor says Oklahoma lawmakers would have had $400 million to $600 million more to spend on education and other programs the last two years if not for income tax cuts. The Oklahoma Policy Institute says its figures are based on historical growth in personal income taxes over the last 15 years.
The Oklahoma City-based institute says that between fiscal year 1992 and fiscal year 2006, income taxes grew 7.5 percent. But it said those taxes grew by only 0.4 percent the last two years after tax cuts took effect. Advocates of tax cuts had predicted they would spur economic development, bringing in more revenue to state coffers.
Buses arrive to transport Louisiana evacuees
9/3/08, 9:10 a.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Five buses have arrived in Oklahoma City to transport Hurricane Gustav evacuees back to their Louisiana homes, but Oklahoma officials say they haven't finalized a re-entry plan. Oklahoma City police Sgt. Paco Balderrama says state officials still are coordinating with Louisiana to formulate a plan for returning the evacuees. Balderrama says the buses were temporarily removed on Wednesday from the evacuee shelter at the old Lucent Technologies plant. He says there is little room at the center and it doesn't make sense to have buses standing by without a transportation plan in place. Balderrama says he expects more buses to continue arriving Wednesday. About 1,600 evacuees are being housed at the plant in western
Oklahoma City.
Project close to receiving all the funding its need for relocation
9/3/08, 9:30 a.m.
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Officials overseeing the relocation of residents living in the Tar Creek Superfund site may be close to getting all the funding that's needed to complete the project. Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren and Senator Jim Inhofe announced today that an additional 9.5 million dollars is available for the ongoing relocation effort.
Three-point-five million dollars of the funding is part of money Inhofe earmarked recently, and the rest is being provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through a change in the law. An Inhofe aide told the Tulsa World's Washington bureau more money will be needed but the end is in sight.
Tar Creek -- in Oklahoma's northeastern tip -- is a former lead and zinc mining hub that's been on the Superfund list for two decades. Its 40 square miles have been plagued by mine collapses, open mine shafts, acid mine water that stains Tar Creek orange and mountains of lead-contaminated mine waste.
Benge proposes doubling CNG stations
9/2/08, 5:30 P.M.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - House Speaker Chris Benge is proposing tax credits to encourage the use of compressed natural gas to power cars and other vehicles. Benge proposed state tax credits aimed at doubling within five years the number of stations that serve vehicles that run on CNG.
He made the proposal Tuesday outside a CNG-fueling station in northeast Oklahoma City, where the price for fuel equivalent to a gallon of gasoline was $1.14. The Tulsa Republican says it's vital to national security to free the country of dependence on foreign oil.
He says Oklahoma, with its abundant national gas reserves, is positioned to lead the way.
E. coli outbreak grows to more than 200 people
9/2/08, 5:20 P.M.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - State health officials say the number of people sickened by an E. coli outbreak in northeastern Oklahoma has grown to more than 200, making it the largest outbreak of this particular strain of bacteria ever reported in the U.S.
The state Health Department reported Tuesday that 206 people have become sick as a result of the E. coli 0111 outbreak, including 53 children. Those sickened range in age from 2 months to 88 years.
The cases have been connected to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove, but state epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley says investigators still haven't pinpointed a potential source. Bradley says investigators are continuing to conduct interviews and test food preparation and serving surfaces in the restaurant.
OHP troopers going to Louisiana
9/2/08, 9:58 a.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is sending more than 30 troopers to Louisiana to assist following Hurricane Gustav. The OHP is sending 20 troopers from the emergency response team
to Gonzales, Louisiana, to help with general law enforcement. They leave from Durant at 10 a.m.
Another 11 troopers from the lake patrol will leave at 2 p.m. from McAlester. They'll go to Baton Rouge to help with rescue and recovery efforts. About 1,800 evacuees are staying in Oklahoma City following the
hurricane and 20 more are in Bartlesville.
Louisiana evacuees arrive in Oklahoma
9/2/08, 9:55 a.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Hundreds of people from Louisiana have taken up temporary residence at a hastily prepared shelter after evacuating from homes in the path of Hurricane Gustav. Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Paco Balderrama says about 1,800 evacuees are staying at the old Lucent Technologies plant. They
began arriving shortly before midnight Saturday.
Telephones and computers were provided to them. Cots are set up on the sprawling floor of the center and there was a separate area for the thousands of meals being served by the Salvation Army and the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Balderrama says local emergency officials were at first told to expect eight buses with 400 evacuees. By Sunday afternoon, 35 buses had arrived. The shelter initally did not have enough cots. Balderrama says more were ordered and arrived Sunday afternoon, along with portable showers. The Emergency Medical Services Authority transported 32 of the evacuees to area hospitals for various complaints and there have been six arrests, including three for outstanding warrants.
