Archive for the Week of June 29, 2008-July 5, 2008
News Archives (Week of June 29, 2008)
July 4 celebrations focus on patriotism
7/3/08, 4:12 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Independence Day celebrations in Oklahoma will mix watermelon seed spitting contests and arm wrestling competitions with patriotic ceremonies and colorful fireworks displays. Parades, hot dog eating contests, performances by skydivers and entertainment by top-name musical acts will also be part of the state's celebration on the Fourth of July.
Lawton is expecting more than 20,000 people for it's I Love America Celebration that will include skydivers and an apperance by Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson, a Lawton native. In Paul's Valley, one of the largest fireworks shows in southern Oklahoma will follow the annual World Championship Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest.
In Oklahoma City, the second annual Red, White and Boom Celebration will take place at the Downtown Airpark featuring performances by The Fabulous Thunderbirds and other rock groups. In Norman, the third annual Norman Day celebration will include an arm wrestling competition for men and women, a sand volleyball tournament and an ugliest dog contest. In Tulsa, two airplane parades and F-16 flyovers are planned along the Arkansas River.
Oklahoma City gets ready to rejoin major leagues
7/3/08, 4:03 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett learned his city had joined the big leagues from a simple slip of paper handed to him by the city manager. It read: "Done." But now that a deal has been reached to relocate an NBA team to Oklahoma City, the real work is just beginning. There are players, staff and equipment to move, and there isn't a home for any of it yet.
Team owner Clay Bennett says the team would have its offices downtown, although no official agreement is in place. General manager Sam Presti will visit Oklahoma City soon to evaluate temporary practice facilities. Eventually, the offices will be included in the renovated Ford Center and the team will have a brand new practice facility.
The arena renovation and practice facility will cost $121 million and be paid for through a sales tax approved by city residents, and the team will have some say in the design. Beyond that, there are new broadcast partners to be found and thousands of tickets to be sold. A naming rights agreement with Ford car dealerships will also need to be renegotiated.
Voter registration deadline approaching
7/3/08, 8:35 a.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The registration deadline is near for voters wishing to cast a ballot in the July 29 primary election. Unregistered voters who want to vote in the primary must register by Thursday or mail a registration form postmarked by midnight. Prospective voters can register at their county election board
office or any tag agency.
Statewide, primary elections are set for Republicans and Democrats for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Jim Inhofe. Republicans also will vote for primary candidates in a Corporation Commission race. Democrats also have a choice for the U.S. House seat held by Dan Boren, who is being challenged by Kevin Coleman.
Primary candidates also will be vying in state House and Senate races, as well as a variety of county elections across the state.
Updated: SuperSonics, Seattle reach last-minute settlement
7/3/08, 8:14 a.m.
SEATTLE (AP) - The lawyer for former Seattle SuperSonics owner Howard Schultz says his client's lawsuit will continue despite a settlement reached between the new owners and the city of Seattle. Clay Bennett announced an agreement last night that calls for him to pay 45 million dollars to Seattle immediately, and another 30 million if the Washington Legislature authorizes 75 million dollars to renovate KeyArena and if Seattle doesn't field an NBA franchise by 2013.
Attorney Richard Yarmuth says Schultz wasn't a party to the settlement and chose not to participate it. In the agreement, Seattle would have to repay Bennett 22.5 million dollars per season for the next two years if the team is prevented from playing in Oklahoma City. Bennett and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels signed a binding agreement that keeps the SuperSonics' name, logo and colors available if Seattle gets a replacement franchise.
The agreement came just hours before U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman was to rule in the city's lawsuit that sought to make the Sonics honor the final two years on their lease at the arena.
Seattle settles with Sonics
7/2/08, 9:40 p.m.
SEATTLE (AP) - The city of Seattle and the Supersonics have reached an agreement to settle their lease dispute just before a judge was set to rule, resulting in the move of the franchise to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 N-B-A season. The Sonics and the city of Seattle announced agreement today to a lawsuit over whether the team would have to play two more seasons in Seattle as specified under a contract with Key Arena.
SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett could end up paying 75 million dollars to move his N-B-A franchise to Oklahoma City this year, and he won't be taking the team's name or colors with him. Bennett agreed to settle a lawsuit with the city of Seattle, bringing an end to a contentious relationship that resulted in a trial in which the judge had been due to issue her ruling tonight.
Bennett announced that the settlement calls for a payment of 45 million dollars immediately. It would include another 30 million paid to Seattle in 2013 unless the state Legislature in Washington authorizes at least 75 million in public funding to renovate KeyArena by the end of 2009 or Seattle obtains an NBA franchise of its own within the next five years.Bennett said the move will start tomorrow.
Industries board hires Regier
7/2/08, 5:20 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Jerry Regier, who resigned a state post in Florida after he was accused of ethical impropriety, has been hired as interim director of a state agency in Oklahoma. Regier has been named to head up the Board of Construction Industries of Oklahoma until a permanent director is named. Larry Shea, chairman of the board that oversees the agency, confirmed the hiring of Regier. Regier served in the administration of former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating as director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs and acting director of the Oklahoma Department of Health. He became secretary of the Department of Children & Families in Florida under former Gov. Jeb Bush. He resigned in 2004 after an auditor's report detailed favors
Regier received from a contractor he described as a personal friend.
OU, OSU announce totals for endowed chairs
7/2/08, 3:35 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The state's two largest universities have announced their fundraising totals from a recent push for donations for endowed chairs.
Oklahoma State University says that in the last six weeks, it has received about $66.8 million to create endowed faculty positions. That money is in addition to a $100 million gift that billionaire energy magnate T. Boone Pickens gave OSU in May.
The University of Oklahoma says that in a two-month period beginning May 1, it has received $61 million for endowed chairs. All those donations are eligible to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the state under a 20-year old program established by the state Legislature.
Colleges and universities across the state pushed for such donations in recent weeks as a deadline approached before changes in the program took effect. As of Tuesday, there is now an annual cap on matching funds.
Agency issues swim advisory for state lakes, rivers
7/2/08, 8:28 a.m.
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Those planning to hit Oklahoma lakes and rivers for the July 4th holiday should take precautions. The state Department of Environmental Quality issued an advisory this week urging people to practice common sense precautions to avoid becoming ill from untreated waters. Many bodies of water contain harmful bacteria, viruses and protozoa. The advisory does not single out any particular body of water,
but records show more than 300 swimming areas are considered a risk for swimming due to bacteria content.
Swimmers are urged to plug their nose and ears, avoid swallowing water and to shower with soap and water after swimming. The DEQ also recommends wearing swim goggles to protect against eye infection and not to swim with cuts or scrapes that could become infected.
Tulsa Democrat pulls out of House race
7/2/08, 8:17 a.m.
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - A Tulsa Democrat is pulling out of a race for a state House seat. Pamela Ashby says she's calling it quits because of health issues that are preventing her from being as active as she'd like in the District 23 race. Ashby's name still will appear on the primary ballot later this month because the deadline to withdraw was June 6. Ashby and Connie Dodson of Tulsa both are seeking the Democratic nomination. The winner will face incumbent Republican Sue Tibbs in November.
Education report mixed on Oklahoma's progress
7/1/08, 4:50 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A study released today indicates that Oklahoma is making progress in reading and math achievement in grade schools but needs to increase its number of college graduates. State Education Department spokeswoman Shelly Hickman says the report by the Florida-based Southern Regional Education Board is a compilation of previously reported education statistics about Oklahoma.
The report notes that Oklahoma's six-year graduation rate for first-time freshmen who entered a public four-year school in the fall of 2000 was 48 percent, compared to the national average of 55 percent. Houston Davis, the associate vice chancellor for academic affairs for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, says more recent numbers show an improvement in the number of college graduates in the state.
The report also notes that Oklahoma's college enrollment rate of recent high school graduates did show improvement, from 50 percent in 1994 to 52 percent in 2004. Nationally, the rate dropped from 63 percent to 56 percent.
9 inmates hospitalized after 3 prison fights
7/1/08, 4:15 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Authorities are investigating fights at three Oklahoma prisons since Saturday that left nine inmates hospitalized with stab wounds and each prison on lockdown. Department of Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie says no staff members were injured and all the inmates are expected to survive.
Fights at two prisons broke out on Monday. Four inmates were stabbed in two separate fights at the Dick
Conner Correctional Center. The first was about 1 p.m. inside a housing unit and one inmate was sent to the hospital. Then three other inmates were stabbed shortly before 6 p.m. during a fight in a different housing unit.
Also Monday four inmates were stabbed at the Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite after a fight broke out about 3 p.m. in a prison yard. Nine other injured inmates were treated at the facility. And one inmate was stabbed Saturday at the Mack Alford Correctional Center in Stringtown.
Democrats pick Ardmore attorney
7/1/08, 2:02 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - State Democratic Party officials have chosen an Ardmore attorney to run for the southern Oklahoma House seat of the late Rep. Terry Hyman. Democratic Party chairman Ivan Holmes said the party's central committee Tuesday unanimously chose 42-year-old Samson Ray Buck as a candidate for the seat.
The party had until Wednesday to pick a candidate replacement for Hyman, who died on Friday following a tractor accident on his southern Oklahoma farm. Election Board officials say the deadline is required by procedures they will use to replace Hyman's name on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. Hyman, a Democrat from Leon, was to face Republican Sean Oliver of Madill for re-election to his District 49 seat. Hyman, 56, was seeking a third two-year term in the House.
Flags ordered at half-staff in honor of lawmaker
7/1/08, 1:46 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Brad Henry is ordering all flags on state property to be flown at half-staff on Wednesday to honor a state lawmaker killed in a tractor accident.
Rep. Terry Hyman died Friday while working on his farm near Leon when his tractor apparently lunged forward, knocked him to the ground and ran over him. The funeral for the 56-year-old Democrat will be held Wednesday afternoon in Ardmore.
Hyman was a former club rodeo coach at Oklahoma State University and Love County commissioner. He was elected to the state House in
2004 with 60 percent of the vote and won re-election two years later with an even higher margin of 63 percent.
He was unopposed in the Democratic primary this year and was to face Republican Sean Oliver of Madill in the November election. His district includes parts of Carter, Love and Marshall counties.
OSU tobacco ban goes into effect
7/1/08, 8:35 a.m.
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Tobacco is now officially taboo on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. The policy went into effect Tuesday and makes the Stillwater campus at least the fifth in the state to prohibit tobacco. OSU President Burns Hargis says the policy is intended to make the university cleaner and healthier. Hargis says no one is being forced to give up tobacco and calls it a minor inconvenience.
Seretean Wellness Center director Robin Purdie says officials won't actively enforce the policy unless a student or employee continually violates it. She says people will be made aware of the policy in hopes they will want to comply.
Donations increase, yet students pay more for college
6/30/08, 5:03 p.m.
TULSA - At the same time many Oklahoma colleges and universities are announcing up to double-digit tuition and fee hikes for students, philanthropists are rushing to donate millions of dollars to the schools. For more on this story, go to the ONR Hot Potatoes blog.
Airlines cancel flights in Oklahoma
6/30/08, 3:45 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Rising fuel prices are leading airlines to cut back on flights from Oklahoma to major cities across the country. Tulsa International Airport spokeswoman Alexis Higgins says flights from Tulsa have been canceled to such destinations as Chicago, Denver, Cleveland and California.
Fewer cancellations were reported at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. But a spokesman said air travelers can expect fewer flights in the future as airlines deal with rising costs. The state's other primary airport in Lawton says it has not been yet suffered any flight cancellations because of financial pressures on the airline industry.
Funeral planned Wednesday for state Rep. Hyman
6/30/08, 8:47 a.m.
WILSON, Okla. (AP) - Services are scheduled Wednesday for a state lawmaker from southern Oklahoma who was killed in a farming accident. A funeral will be held at the Ardmore Convention Center at 2 p.m. Wednesday for former state Rep. Terry Hyman. Hyman was a Democrat seeking a third consecutive term in the state Legislature. He died Friday night after being run over by his tractor while brush-hogging on his farm near Leon. A family visitation is planned Tuesday night at the Alexander Funeral Home in Wilson.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports today that the 56-year-old
Hyman was apparently standing beside his tractor when it lunged
forward and knocked him to the ground. Troopers say a brush hog then rolled over Hyman, who was discovered dead late last night at his farm near Leon.
State Democratic Party chairman Ivan Holmes says Hyman was one of the party's more popular state representatives. Hyman was a former club rodeo coach at Oklahoma State University and Love County commissioner. He was elected to the state House in
2004 with 60 percent of the vote and won re-election two years later with an even higher margin of 63 percent.
He was unopposed in the Democratic primary this year and was to face Republican Sean Oliver of Madill in the November election. His district includes parts of Carter, Love and Marshall counties.
New laws take effect Tuesday
6/30/08, 9:08 a.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahomans could soon notice new signs at the pump telling them whether their gasoline contains ethanol or methanol. The requirement for the signs is included in one of several new laws that take effect with the start of the new fiscal year on Tuesday.
Other new laws call for a $5,000 death benefit to be paid to the family of an emergency medical technician who dies on duty, and require expectant mothers to take prenatal classes with warnings against using alcohol and drugs during pregnancy. New legislation also sets in motion the design of new Oklahoma license plates and authorizes a $300 million bond issue to finance transportation projects.
10,000-gallon hog waste spill gets quick cleanup
6/30/08, 10:33 a.m.
HOLDENVILLE, Okla. (AP) - State agriculture officials believe they limited pollution after a worker inadvertently sprayed about 10,000 gallons of pig manure in a concentrated area at a Holdenville hog farm. Agriculture Department spokesman Jack Carson says berms were created to keep the waste from washing into nearby creeks and eventually the Canadian River. The waste was vacuumed into the tank of a truck and then sprayed over adjacent land owned by the farm.
Bacteria from animal feces can pollute rivers and other components can cause oxygen-dead zones in the water. Carson says none of the waste washed into state waters because it wasn't raining between the time of the spill Wednesday night and the cleanup the following day. A spokeswoman for Tyson Foods says the spill was an accident, and noted that the company's farm worked in cooperation with the state Department of Agriculture.
Gang violence increasing in Oklahoma City
6/30/08, 8:12 a.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma City police say they have taken notice that gang-related violence in the city has increased in recent years. But authorities also note that they are facing what seems to be an impossible challenge as they work to fight the problem. Police Master Sgt. Tim Hock, the lead inspector with city police's gang enforcement unit, says gangs are the biggest cancer across the United States and are eating it up from the inside out.
Oklahoma City police estimate there are 5,000 or more gang members in Oklahoma City, about 1 percent of the city's total population. There are white, black, Asian and Hispanic gangs in the city. The number of local gang members hasn't risen precipitously since the 1980s, when gangs first arrived in the city, but the number of drive-by shootings has. Most of those shootings are gang-related. Police Chief Bill Citty says there were 50 or 60 such shootings in 1999, but that number rose to 260 in 2005.
Officials say jail delays are frustrating
6/30/08, 7:57 a.m.
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) - Some Washington County officials have expressed frustration with what they say are delays and cost overruns in the proposed construction of a new county jail. The project has been in the works for three years. During a joint meeting this week of county commissioners, the Bartlesville city council, the Jail Steering Committee and the Public Safety Facilities Advisory Committee, one member said the project needed to be speeded up.
Committee chairman Bill Beierschmitt says that county officials need to do whatever it takes to move the project forward. Bartlesville Mayor Tom Gorman says county commissioners are the ones ultimately charged with making a final decision. The proposed 200-bed facility will cost $21.529 million, with annual maintenance costs estimated at $3.148 million. Beierschmitt says his committee has asked BKL Inc., the consulting firm that designed the jail, to come back to the county with a 15 to 20 percent reduction in that cost.
Going Green
Ethanol stickers taking shape at gas stations (7/2/08)
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Service station customers are seeing a lot more stickers concerning ethanol at the gas pumps. Some of the stickers notify the public that the fuel contains up to 10 percent ethanol, while others proclaim that customers are getting 100 percent gasoline with no ethanol mixed in. A new state law that went into effect yesterday requires gas stations selling ethanol-blended fuel to place stickers on the pump notifying the customers of this fact. State regulators will be inspecting pumps to make sure all retailers are following the law. Stations that use ethanol in their gasoline without notifying consumers can be fined $500 for each day of the violation and can be shut down by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Oklahoma's ethanol sticker law was passed this past legislative session after many stations began selling blended gasoline in the
past year without telling customers.
Windpower is looking up in Oklahoma (6/23/08)
NORMAN - Big wind farms are expanding across the Oklahoma prairie, and so is interest in smaller wind generators to power just one home. Business is booming for an Oklahoma company that is shipping systems around the world, but Oklahoma sales are flat since there is little incentive to make that investment here. Bergey Windpower in Norman makes small wind turbines to help power homes and businesses. According to the company's president...orders for those turbines are up.
“Demand has been strong. This is the best business environment in our 30 year history, and we're seeing strong growth, particularly on the east coast and west coast,” says Bergey Windpower President Michael Bergey. Because the initial investment for a small wind system is expensive, right now, it only makes sense if your electric bill hits a certain average each month.
(Jason Doyle provided this story. For more go to the ONR Hot Potatoes blog.)
Norman dumps the pump (6/20/08)
NORMAN - The buses were full on Thursday in Norman. It's because the area's public transit system was offering free rides to all takers for a promotion called "Dump the Pump." Boosters say it's a way to help introduce first time riders to public transportation. “That's what this day is all about, just to get riders who haven't ridden before. People that might not have tried it out before,” said Kris Glenn, marketing director for C.A.R.T.
Felicia Gipson is one such first time rider, taking advantage of the free bus fare. “Well, I'm trying to help the environment, and I also live so far away that a free ride sounded good to me,” Gipson said just before she caught a bus with co-workers to go to lunch.
(Jason Doyle provided this story. For more go to the ONR Hot Potatoes blog.)
OSU considering temporary move to four-day work week (6/4/08)
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma State University could switch temporarily to a four-day work week as university officials look for ways to reduce energy costs. Under the proposal, OSU employees would work four 10-hour days instead of the standard five 8-hour days from July 7 through Aug. 10. After that, the campus would revert to a five-day work week. The fall semester at OSU will start on Aug. 18.
The proposal will be discussed as an informational item when the university's regents meet on June 20. Last week, OSU President Burns Hargis said an energy conservation plan at the school already has resulted in a savings of about $1.4 million for OSU. Hargis says more than $1 million of those savings came on OSU's main campus in Stillwater from last October through February.
Hargis says OSU has saved about $1.4 million in energy costs (5/29/08)
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis says an energy conservation plan at the school has resulted in a savings of about $1.4 million for OSU. Hargis says more than $1 million of those savings came on OSU's main campus in Stillwater from last October through February. In a message sent to the university community on Wednesday, Hargis urged recipients to continue energy-saving efforts through the summer. Hargis says it should be routine for those at OSU to turn off lights, computers, monitors, speakers, fans and other electrical devices when leaving for the day.
City residents produce less carbon (5/29/08)
WASHINGTON (AP) - A report released today shows that while cities are hot spots for global warming, people living in them turn out to be greener than their country cousins. According to the study done by researchers at the Brookings Institution, each resident of the largest 100 largest metropolitan areas is responsible on average for 2.47 tons of carbon dioxide in energy consumption each year, 14 percent below the 2.87-ton U.S. average. Those 100 cities still account for 56 percent of the nation's carbon dioxide pollution, but their greater use of mass transit and population density reduce the per person average.
Lexington, Ky., had the biggest per capita carbon footprint: Each resident on average accounted for 3.81 tons of carbon dioxide in their energy usage. At the other end of the scale was Honolulu, at 1.5 tons per person.
Oklahoma City had the eighth biggest per capita carbon footprint.
State agency starting campaign about air pollution (5/27/08)
OKARCHE, Okla. (AP) - The state Department of Environmental Quality plans to launch a campaign in an attempt to persuade Oklahomans that air quality, which long has been an issue in urban areas, now has become a rural problem. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in March tightened its standard for ozone, a pollutant that is formed from industry and vehicle emissions when they combine during hot and still weather, forming smog.
The federal agency now says that smog is dangerous at lower levels than previously thought. EPA spokesman Dave Bary says that under the new standard, nine Oklahoma counties -- Comanche, Canadian, Oklahoma, Creek, Kay, Mayes, Cherokee, Tulsa and Ottawa -- will not be in compliance with the law. High ozone levels considered unhealthy for children, older adults and anyone prone to respiratory problems. Officials at the state environmental department say more Oklahoma counties might also have health risks due to ozone.
Stretching Your $$$
A Quick and Easy Way to Improve Fuel Economy (7/2/08)
OKLAHOMA CITY - AAA Oklahoma says to save gas and money, it's simple: check your tires. Properly inflated tires greatly improve your vehicle’s fuel economy. AAA Oklahoma estimates that an Oklahoma motorist who drives an average of 12,000 miles annually on tires that are under-inflated by 5-8 PSI (pounds per square inch of air pressure) is wasting up to 50 gallons of gasoline, or $192.50 (at $3.85 a gallon). That's close to the cost of a week's worth of groceries ($226) for a family of four, according to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. If there are two cars in the family, that total can reach $380. "By taking five minutes each month to check your tires, you can save a lot of money and gasoline over time," said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. "Plus, you’ll reduce vehicle emissions and increase our state’s drive toward greener living." For a free, downloadable copy of AAA’s “Gas Watcher’s Guide,” containing more tips to help you conserve fuel, visit www.AAA.com and click on AAA News & Safety, Fuel News & Tools. Or write to AAA Tips, 722 N. Broadway, Suite 401, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.
Corporation Commission approves energy use plan (7/2/08)
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Corporation Commission today approved a “Quick Start” plan designed by OG&E to provide education, assistance and incentives for customers seeking to do a better job of managing the amount of electricity they use. “OG&E has established these ‘Quick Start’ Demand Side Management (DSM) programs as an initial set of user-friendly tools to serve customer needs while more permanent programs are in development,” said Gary Marchbanks, manager of DSM programs for OG&E. The Quick Start programs approved today by the Commission have produced positive results when introduced in other states. The programs will create broader awareness of the need for energy efficiency while setting the stage for future programs and initiatives.When permanent DSM rules are approved by the Commission in 2009, OG&E will file a comprehensive plan that will expand upon the Quick Start program.
Tulsa police to stop use of patrol cars for off-duty jobs (6/25/08)
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Tulsa police will no longer be allowed to drive their patrol cars to off-duty jobs beginning July 15th. Police Chief Ron Palmer says the decision was made to save money on gasoline. Since 2004 officers have been allowed to fill their patrol cars at the city's in-house pumps and use them for off-duty jobs such as security work at banks and businesses. But city officials say the police department is already about $300,000 over its fuel budget for the fiscal year that ends at the end of this month. Palmer says city officials may consider a plan to allow patrol cars to be used for off-duty jobs if there is some type of reimbursement.
Rising fuel costs leads to increasing electric bills (6/23/08)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma Gas & Electric customers should expect to see an average increase of about $15 per month beginning on their July bills to pay for higher fuel prices. The state's largest utility announced Monday the increase will begin on July 1. The utility said it needs an additional $30 per month from customers to keep pace with rising costs, but has opted to defer half of this increase until fall when most people use less electricity and overall power bills are lower. Utility spokesman Gil Broyles says the increase is the result of rising costs of natural gas and other fuels used to generate electricity. By law, the utility recovers only the actual costs of the fuels it uses, and the increase does not require approval by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Public Service Company of Oklahoma, a Tulsa-based utility, already has implemented its fuel-cost adjustment.
Gasoline price spike causes road revenue dip (6/23/08)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma motorists, like those in other states, are cutting back on travel to deal with high gasoline prices, while looking for other ways to reduce fuel costs. Officials say that while the drive to be green may be good public policy, it is hurting highway funding at both the state and federal level. Mike Patterson, the director of finance at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, says his agency estimated a 4.5 percent decline in gasoline and diesel consumption this year by Oklahoma motorists. That equates to a loss in revenue from the 17-cent-per-mile state fuel tax of about $20 million. About $10 million of that is allocated to ODOT for the state highway system. Much of the expected revenue loss is because of Oklahomans choosing to travel less due to high fuel prices at the pump. Travel was down about 1 percent during the Memorial Day weekend, and some residents also are curtailing their summer vacations.
Gas prices rise 10 cents a gallon over 2 weeks (6/23/08)
CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) - A national survey shows consumers across the nation are paying an average of 10 cents a gallon more for gasoline than they were two weeks ago. The average price of regular gasoline at self-serve stations was $4.10 a gallon on Friday. Mid-grade was $4.22 a gallon and premium went for $4.33. That's according to the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations nationwide, released Sunday. The survey showed the average U.S. price for gas is $1.10 higher than it was a year ago. The cheapest gas was in Tulsa, Okla., where the price for regular was $3.76 a gallon. The California cities of Los Angeles and Fresno tied for the nation's highest gas: $4.59 a gallon for regular.
Lawton sees increase in free lunch program (6/23/08)
LAWTON, Okla. (AP) - Officials with the Lawton Public Schools' Summer Nutrition program say participation is rising dramatically because of rising food and fuel prices. Program monitor Patsy Sampley says an average of 1,000 lunches a day are being served at elementary schools, the Lawton Boys and Girls Club and other locations in the city. She says an average of 800 meals were served each day last year. Children eat free while adults can buy the meal for $3 and adults say it saves them both time and money and is healthier than fast foods. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and also receives food from the Department of Defense's fresh fruit and vegetable program.
Spam sales on the rise (5/29/08)
MILWAUKEE (AP) - As food prices rise, consumers are turning more to lunch meats like Spam and other lower-cost foods to extend their already stretched food budgets. One 33-year-old Oklahoma mother is among those who now are using more inexpensive foods. April Smith of Broken Arrow says that this summer she will feed her two boys, ages 11 and 8, more ramen for lunch. She says that they usually eat the noodle soup on Saturdays, but since ramen costs about a dime per pack, they'll now get it twice a week. Smith says she'll throw in some leftover frozen vegetables to make it more nutritious. The U.S. Agriculture Department says that food prices are increasing faster than they've risen since 1990, at 4 percent last year. The cost of many staples are rising even faster, with white bread up 13 percent last year, bacon up 7 percent and peanut butter up 9 percent.
More Oklahoma News:
Nutrient in watermelon yields Viagra-like results (7/2/08)
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say could keep fireworks going long into the night. Scientists at Texas A&M University say watermelons contain an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra. Found in the flesh and rind of watermelons, citrulline reacts with the body's enzymes when consumed and is changed into arginine, an amino acid that benefits the heart, and the circulatory and immune systems. Penelope Perkins-Veazie, a U.S. Department of Agriculture researcher in Lane, Okla., says that citrulline is found in all colors of watermelon and is highest in the yellow fleshed types. She says the research is valid but notes one problem. She says that one would need to eat about six cups of watermelon to get enough citrulline to boost the body's arginine level, and that eating that amount likely would result in more trips to the bathroom.
Caffeine's impact on MS studied (7/1/08)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - An Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist has found caffeine slows the progression of a multiple sclerosis-like disease in mice. Scientist Linda Thompson says the discovery could be important for the study of MS in humans. The disease is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system marked by weakness, numbness and a loss of muscle coordination. Thompson's study found caffeine helped block abnormal "T cells" from getting into the brain and attacking nerves and causing progression of the disease in mice. She says the results are encouraging but that this is only an early step. She says the next step could be a study of people with MS to track their caffeine intake and its effects on the disease.
OC, Tulsa rate highly in wealth survey (7/1/08)
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - A survey of 69 U.S. cities ranks Oklahoma City the 9th and Tulsa 12th best places to build personal wealth. The 2008 Salary Value Index was released Monday by Salary.com Inc. The survey primarily compares the relationship between the cost of living and the pay in cities of at least 250,000 population. The index also considers diversity of industry, education level in each city, proximity to post-secondary institutions, percentage of population below the poverty level and median travel time to work. Plano, Texas, ranks No. 1 on the list while New York City is last at No. 69.
Fourth of July travel expected to be down (6/26/08)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The number of people traveling for next week's Fourth of July holiday is expected to be down slightly from last year. AAA spokesman Chuck Mai says gas prices are cutting into travel with a nationwide average of $4.07 per gallon as of Thursday. The average price in Oklahoma is the lowest in the nation at just more than $3.84 per gallon. AAA predicts a one percent decline in Oklahoma with an estimated 493,500 people expected to travel 50 or more miles from home for the holiday weekend. Nationwide AAA estimates a 1.3 percent decline to 40.45 million Americans traveling either by car, plane, bus or train. AAA's projections are derived from the Travel Industry Association's Holiday Travel Forecast Model. The model is based on data collected through online surveys of 2,000 adults nationwide.
New Tulsa arena will offer numerous food options (6/30/08)
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Seven local restaurants will have a presence inside Tulsa's new arena when it opens in September. The vendors chosen to provide concessions at the BOK Center include In the Raw, Billy's On the Square, Oklahoma Style BBQ, Te Kei's, Rubicon Restaurant, Mazzio's Italian Eatery and Borden Dairy of Oklahoma. All the vendors are operating on yearlong commitments, except for Mazzio's and Borden, which have multiyear contracts. The vendors won't have to pay rent, but must give a percentage of their sales to the arena. Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor says she wanted to make sure local businesses were located in the BOK Center, instead of fast-food restaurants. The concession areas of the arena will be open only during events. The arena's general manager, John Bolton, says there will be tables for patrons to sit at and eat on the arena's concourses, or they can take the food to their seats.
