Oklahoma News Report - Archives

Archive for the Week of June 1, 2008 - June 7, 2008

 

News Archives (Week of June 1, 2008)

 

Henry vetoes 10 bills

6/6/08, 4:03 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Brad Henry has announced 10 vetoes, including one striking down the proposed state Office of Accountability. He also has vetoed a section of a bill requiring the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to spend $50,000 on computer software deemed to be incompatible with existing software. Another veto came on a bill that would gut the state's zero-based budgeting law. The Governor also vetoed a bill that related to providing equal time for religious expression in schools.

Gov. Brad Henry has signed legislation authorizing a $100 million bond issue to provide funds to match
private donations to endowed chairs at Oklahomas colleges and universities. Henry says beefing up the endowed chairs program will allow colleges and universities to recruit world-class professors. The bond issue for endowed chairs is part of a $475 million bond package that also secures funding for roads and bridges, flood control and dam construction and repairs.

Henry signed 31 bills on Friday, closing out his work on measures passed by the Legislature before it adjourned on May 23.

For a complete list of the Governor's action on all bills passed by the Oklahoma legislature during the 2008 legislative session, which ended on May 23, go to:

http://www.governor.state.ok.us/billtrack/index.php?limit=10

Candidate list dwindles

6/6/08, 3:48 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The number of candidates filing for political offices this week is 100 fewer than expected. Only 296 candidates made their candidacies official during the three-day filing period that ended yesterday. All but 28 of the filings were for the 125 House and Senate posts up for grabs.

State Election Board Secretary Mike Clingman had predicted about 400 would file, based on filings for a similar election four years ago, when term limits first became a factor in legislative races. Records show the total was 412 candidates in 2004; 329 in 1988; 332 in 1992; 347 in 1996 and 313 in 2000. Clingman says he's not sure why the decline occurred, but noted that more than 30 percent of legislative incumbents don't have opponents.

Democrats are predicting they will pick up some seats this year in the 101-member House, where Republicans hold a 57-44 majority. Republicans are hoping to get a majority of seats in the Senate.

U.S. oil and gas rig count up, state down

6/6/08, 3:38 p.m.

HOUSTON (AP) - The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas rose in the United States this week but declined in Oklahoma. Houston-based Baker Hughes says the number of active rigs nationwide is up by nine this week and the number in the state fell by one.

Of the other major oil- and gas-producing states Texas gained 10 rigs, Louisiana added eight, and Alaska added two. Colorado lost four, Wyoming lost two while the numbers in New Mexico and California are unchanged from last week. Baker Hughes has tracked rig counts since 1944.

Updated: Storms leave damage, power outages

6/6/08, 11:43 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A powerful late-spring storm brought fierce winds to Oklahoma leaving property damage, power outages and a fire that forced a brief evacuation of the town of Gotebo. The only injuries reported are a trucker whose rig was blown over on Interstate 40 in western Oklahoma and a firefighter hurt
helping fight the fire near Gotebo. The fire began when winds knocked power lines into a wheat field.
About 20,00 homes and business remain without power late this morning in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and western Oklahoma. Several thousand more are without power in Altus where city officials are urging citizens to be patient and to conserve food and water.

Storms leave damage, power outages

6/6/08, 8:45 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Emergency management officials are urging calm in the city of Altus after severe thunderstorms knocked out electricity and water service there. Emergency Management Director Lloyd Colston says the storm barreled through the city just before sunset and did its greatest damage on the southern and eastern sides. Meanwhile about 47,400 homes and businesses remain without power
this morning.

The state Department of Emergency Management says PSO has nearly 32,000 outages with 17,000 in the Tulsa area, 8,700 in Elk City and 2,000 in Chouteau. Oklahoma Gas & Electric has more than 11,300 outages with nearly 9,500 in Oklahoma City. And the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives has about 4,150 outages in Cherokee, Butler, Foss Lake and Canton.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Betsy Randolph says three tractor-trailer rigs were blown over in separate incidents on Interstate 40 near Foss, Clinton and east of Weatherford. One driver was hospitalized but his condition hasn't been released. The National Weather Service says the strongest wind gust reported was 82 miles per hour south of Cordell in Washita County. Other gusts included 80 near Blair and Okarche; 75 near Anadarko and Butler and 74 near Medford.

Government retreats on tribal bingo regulation

6/6/08, 8:23 a.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal regulators today agreed to retreat on attempts to make sure electronic bingo machines at tribal casinos can't masquerade as Las Vegas-style slots. National Indian Gaming Commission chairman Phil Hogen said in a statement that he'll "put aside the controversial proposals," acceding to tribes' complaints that their potential economic impact required more study.

Hogen issued the statement after making the announcement at the Oklahoma Sovereignty Symposium in Oklahoma City. Slot machines are more lucrative for tribes and more attractive to players, but unlike video bingo, they're subject to state approval and limits. The difference between the two is that slot machines involve a gambler interacting with a single machine, whereas video bingo requires gamblers to play each other over a linked network. The proposal ran into angry opposition from tribes, some of which aren't allowed to have slot machines at their casinos and rely entirely on electronic bingo for revenue.

Fire forces evacuations in Gotebo

6/5/08, 5:30 p.m.

GOTEBO, Okla. (AP) - A fire threatened the Kiowa County town of Gotebo for a time today, destroyed two residences and forced officials to evacuate residents from about 60 homes. Authorities say the fire is now 70 percent contained. Fire departments from Gotebo, Sudan, Mountain View and Rocky were fighting the blaze.
Gotebo is a town of about 270 residents in northeastern Kiowa County, about 120 miles west of Oklahoma City.

Bill funds Bioenergy Center

6/5/08, 5:25 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A bill ensuring continued funding for the Oklahoma Bioenergy Center has been signed into law by Gov. Brad Henry. Henry says the skyrocketing cost of gasoline makes it more evident than ever that the country needs to get serious about sustainable energy and conservation. The governor says Oklahoma is ideally suited to take a lead role in biofuels research and development.

The center was established in 2007 to coordinate biofuels research and development being conducted at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and the Ardmore-based Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. It already has attracted $10 million in federal funding to match the $10 million that the state appropriated to it last year. The appropriation was $4 million this year. Henry says federal legislation requires the production of 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022. He says more than half of that is likely to come from what's called cellulosic feed stocks such as switchgrass and other prairie grasses native to Oklahoma.

Witness says he saw stacks of money intended for McMahan

6/5/08, 4:42 p.m.

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) - A witness in the corruption trial of state Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan is testifying about campaign contributions that are at issue in the case. McMahan and his wife Lori are on trial in federal court in Muskogee on nine counts of mail fraud, conspiracy, and taking bribes.

Tim Arbaugh testified Thursday he got into the car of businessman Steve Phipps shortly before the 2002 election and saw two stacks of cash. Arbaugh worked in the auditor's office at the time and testified that Phipps told him there was $10,000 intended for last-minute advertising for McMahan's campaign for auditor.
Phipps testified Wednesday that he helped illegally finance McMahan's campaign, took the couple on trips to New Orleans and bought Lori McMahan jewelry in an effort to receive political favors. Phipps owned abstract businesses which were regulated by the auditor's office.

Updated: Aid sought for drought-stricken Oklahoma Panhandle

6/5/08, 10:05 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Brad Henry has been asked by the state agriculture secretary to classify the drought-stricken Oklahoma Panhandle as a disaster area. Agriculture Department spokesman Jack Carson says Secretary Terry Peach sent a letter to the governor on Wednesday asking that the process begin of declaring the region a disaster area. Carson says the process could take months.

Carson says that Henry would have to recommend to the U.S. Department of Agriculture that a disaster be declared before the federal agency can take that action. Residents have said that crops are failing in the western Panhandle and that farmers are running out of grass to feed cattle. If a disaster is declared, residents could receive low-interest loans and tax relief. Assistant State Climatologist Derek Arndt says that to date, this is the third-driest year on record in the Panhandle.

Updated: 296 candidates file for fall elections

6/5/08, 9:10 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The last day candidates could file for political office in Oklahoma showed campaigns for the fall election cycle will be crowded. Two-hundred-96 candidates registered over a three-day period that ended at 5 p.m. Wednesday. That's well below the record 594 who filed two years ago, but still significant because of who chose not to run.

Former House Speaker Lance Cargill, who resigned in January after it was revealed he paid his property taxes late and didn't file personal income tax returns, didn't seek re-election. In a statement, Cargill said he was proud of the conservative reform record he ran on and consistently voted for.

The Harrah Republican was among six GOP members who are leaving the Legislature. He served in the House for eight years, was speaker for one and was majority floor leader for 18 months. Four people have filed for his seat. All 101 seats in the House and half of the 48 Senate seats are up for grabs this fall.

90 Oklahoma Army National Guard soldiers leave for Iraq

6/5/08, 8:18 a.m.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Some 90 Oklahoma Army National Guard soldiers have left Tulsa for training at Fort Sill and eventual duty in Iraq. The soldiers with the 834th Aviation Support Battalion provide helicopter maintenance and are based in Tulsa. They said goodbye to family and friends during a departure ceremony at the Tulsa Aviation Armory. They'll spend 60 to 90 days training at Fort Sill before going to Iraq where they'll spend an estimated nine to 10 months.

Updated: Federal court blocks law enforcement

6/5/08, 8:45 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A federal judge orders a delay in the enforcement of Oklahoma's anti-illegal immigration law because it's"substantially likely" the statute is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Robin J. Cauthron issued a preliminary injunction today barring enforcement of provisions of the law that subject employers to penalties for failing to comply with a federal verification system designed to prevent the hiring of illegal immigrants.

The decision came on a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma Chamber and other business groups. State Chamber official Mike Seney said the ruling was timely since the employer portions of the law were to take effect July 1st. Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who must defend challenges to
the law, says he'll try to overcome the hurdle when a hearing is scheduled on a request for a permanent injunction.

Moore state Representative Randy Terrill says he's disappointed by the ruling but not surprised. Terrill called Cauthron's decision a blatant act of judicial activism.

Oklahoma soldier killed in Afghanistan

6/5/08, 8:41 a.m.

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - A military official says an Oklahoma soldier from Stillwater has been killed while serving in Afghanistan. Army Maj. Steve Wuensch said Wednesday that Maj. Scott Hagerty died during an incident on Tuesday. Wuensch could not confirm how Hagerty was killed.

Hagerty had lived in Stillwater since 1976 when his family moved to Oklahoma. He graduated from Stillwater High School in 1984 and joined the Army in 1986. His first deployment was to Iraq from October 2004 to August 2005. Hagerty earned a bachelor's degree in 1993 in political science, pre-law and international relations from Oklahoma State University. The 41-year-old is survived by his wife, Daphne, and two young sons, Jonathan and Samuel.

Former Speaker of House Cargill does not file for re-election

6/4/08, 5:33 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY - The filing period to run for state or federal political office is over, and former house speaker Lance Cargill did not file for re-election. The development came as the latest chapter in a career that saw Cargill's meteoric rise to leadership take him to the top leadership post in the House of Representatives, before it came to a sudden end. Cargill resigned the speaker's post, after revelations that he was late paying his property and state income taxes.

The Republican from Harrah spent the rest of the just-completed legislative session trying to stay out of the limelight. He is still under investigation by the state ethics commission for the handling of campaign funds during the 2004 election cycle.

Fewer than 300 candidates filed for election during the 3-day registration period which ended Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Oklahoma Election Board secretary Michael Clingman had originally predicted that about 400 candidates would file for office, but only 296 actually filed.

"Term limits are not drawing candidates this year, " said Clingman. "Term limits may have worked (to increase the number of candidates filing) in 2004, but there is no evidence of it working in 2008." Clingman added that the number of candidates filing for office in 2008 is more like the numbers seen in elections prior to term limits going into effect.

Businessman claims illegal contributions to governor

6/4/08, 5:25 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Governor Brad Henry is defending the ethical practices of his election campaigns.
He is responding to testimony from a southeastern Oklahoma businessman Steve Phipps who said he arranged 70-thousand dollars in illegal contributions to Henry's 2002 election campaign. Phipps testimony came in the federal corruption trial of State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan and his wife, Lori.

Henry says he became aware of potential problems with some donors in March 2007 when federal authorities indicated improper contributions to Oklahoma election campaigns. The governor gave 35-thousand dollars in campaign funds to charities after these allegations surfaced.

Federal judge issues injunction against enforcement of provisions of Oklahoma immigration law

6/4/08, 3:05 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY - A U.S. District Court judge has postponed enforcement of employer-related portions of an Oklahoma immigration law because it is “substantially likely” that the provisions of the law unconstitutionally interfere with federal regulation of the employment of unauthorized workers. The provisions of House Bill 1804 were challenged as unconstitutionally imposing civil sanctions on employers who fail to comply with employment verification required by the law.

In ordering the injunction, Federal District Court Judge Robin Cauthron held that "while the public clearly has an interest in issues of illegal immigration, and no court should treat the prospect of overturning state law without grave consideration, the Constitution requires that the will of the States must occasionally give way to the need for uniformity among the States, and that uniformity can only be accomplished through congressional action."

For the entire text of the opinion: http://www.uschamber.com/assets/nclc/henrypreliminjunction.pdf

Governor signs license plate bill

6/2/08, 2:45 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma car and truck owners will be getting new license plates next year. Gov. Brad Henry signed legislation Wednesday that authorizes the state to reissue license plates to more than 3 million cars and trucks that are registered in the state. The new license plates will boost law enforcement efforts to rid roadways of unreadable plates, identify motorists with delinquent license tag fees and present a new image for the state. The new plates will cost motorists nothing. The reissuance plan is scheduled to begin Jan. 1 and will mark the first time in almost 16 years that the state has issued redesigned license plates.

Walgreen to pay $35 million to settle whistleblower suit

6/4/08, 1:45 p.m.

CHICAGO (AP) - Walgreen's has agreed to pay 35 million dollars to settle a federal whistleblower lawsuit.
The lawsuit accused the drug store chain of boosting the price for prescriptions paid by Medicaid by switching from capsules to tablets or vice versa depending on which was most expensive. Federal officials say the practice of switching dramatically increased the amount of taxpayer money that Walgreen charged to the Medicaid program.

Officials say 42 states -- including Oklahoma -- and Puerto Rico will share the 35 million dollars. Walgreen denies any wrongdoing in connection with the settlement and says it reached the agreement to avoid the expense and uncertainty of a trial.

OSU considering temporary move to four-day work week

6/4/08, 10:56 a.m.

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.

Drought hits Okla Panhandle

6/4/08, 10:40 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Officials in the Oklahoma Panhandle are asking the state to declare Cimmarron County a disaster area because of drought. While eastern Oklahoma has gotten record rainfall the Panhandle has been in a year-long drought that's now called extreme. Ranchers are selling cattle because they have nothing to eat and farmers are watching their crops fail while hoping for rain.

Assistant climatologist Derek Arndt at the Oklahoma Climatological Survey says this is the third-driest year on record for the Panhandle and the driest start to a year since 1966. A disaster declaration could mean tax breaks or loans and
governor's spokesman Paul Sund says the governor's office will do whatever it can to help the region.

Hail damage claims could top $20M

6/4/08, 10:23 a.m.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - An insurance industry official says hail damage claims from last weekend's storm could easily surpass 20 million dollars. Jerry Johns with Southwestern Insurance Information Service says it's still too early for a damage estimate. But he says a 60-second hailstorm in a heavily populated area such as Tulsa can easily cause 20 million dollars in damage. Meanwhile more than 1,250 electric company customers in Tulsa and Wakita are reporting outages today.

Businessman testifies at McMahans' trial

6/4/08, 9:12 a.m.

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) - A southeastern Oklahoma businessman that state Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan is accused of taking bribes from has testified in McMahan's trial. McMahan and his wife Lori face nine counts of mail fraud, conspiracy and violating the Travel Act to commit bribery. Steve Phipps testified he helped raise money for McMahan's 2002 campaign including illegal contributions. He also said he gave
money to Lori McMahan in order so Jeff McMahan could deny any knowledge about illegal contributions.
The McMahans have pleaded not guilty. The trial continues today in federal court in Muskogee.

Storms do damage in northern Oklahoma

6/4/08, 8:48 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Authorities say severe thunderstorms packing large hail and damaging winds battered northwestern Oklahoma Tuesday night. At least one person may have been hurt, and damage was reported to houses, barns and cars. The National Weather Service said one person inside a barn at the intersection of U.S. Highway 64 and Oklahoma 34 in Woods County was hurt when the structure was destroyed.

Emergency dispatchers say the report couldn't be immediately confirmed. In the Oklahoma Panhandle, hail 4.5 inches in diameter pummeled an area eight miles northwest of Slapout in Beaver County. The weather service also received reports of hail 3.5 inches in diameter near Laverne in Harper County.

Beaver County Emergency Management Director Keith Shadden says tennis-ball and baseball-size hail was seen near Logan. Shadden says at least three homes are damaged. A 75-mile per hour wind gust near Mooreland in Woodward County was the strongest preliminary report received by the weather service. Kay County reported 73 mile per hour gusts near Kaw City and 70 mile per hour gusts in Blackwell.

Political candidates file for fall elections

6/3/08, 11:30 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The filings to run for political offices in Oklahoma slowed today on the second day of the three-day filing period. Fewer than 10 candidates have filed today after 185 filed yesterday including Senator Jim Inhofe and all five Oklahoma U.S. Representatives.

All 101 seats in the state House are also up for election this fall as are 24 of the 48 seats in the state Senate and two spots on the state Corporation Commission. The filing period continues until tomorrow afternoon at 5.

(right: Jeff Cloud files for re-election as Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner as the filing period begins on Monday)

Worker shortage looms in health field

6/3/08, 10:20 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - State health officials say Oklahoma faces a critical shortage of health care workers during the next decade. The Oklahoma Healthcare Workforce Center says the state will be short 3,000 nurses by 2012 along with shortages of lab technicians, physical therapists and surgical technologists.

And the shortage would come as baby boomers begin to retire and require long-term health care. Oklahoma colleges currently accept less than 60 percent of qualified applicants to their nursing and health care programs. The problems include a shortage of faculty and a lack of space to train the nursing students.

State's chief medical examiner is resigning

6/3/08, 9:40 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jeffery Gofton is resigning. State Health Department commissioner Dr. Mike Crutcher confirms Gofton has sent his resignation by e-mail to members of the board that oversees the medical examiner's office. And spokeswoman in the Virginia Medial Examiners Office says Gofton has been hired there as an assistant medical examiner and will start work July 1. Gofton couldn't be reached for comment.

Former House aide pleads guilty in lobby scandal

6/2/08, 9:15 a.m.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A one-time top aide to former Oklahoma Representative Ernest Istook pleaded guilty today to a conspiracy to defraud the House as part of the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. John Albaugh told a federal judge he's guilty of accepting gifts in return for official favors. Istook told The Associated Press he had met with the FBI and agents said he wasn't a target of the investigation. He says he'll continue to cooperate with them.

As for his former aide, Albaugh could face up to 24 months in prison. The sentence could be reduced if he cooperates with the government's investigation of the scandal involving members of Congress, their aides and members of the Bush administration. Albaugh worked eight years as chief of staff to the former Republican congressman, who accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the convicted lobbyist and his associates.

Istook used Abramoff's skybox at concerts and a suite at FedEx Field in Maryland for a fundraising event. Documents show Istook called Abramoff after the latter event and asked which projects his clients wanted in an upcoming transportation bill.

Study shows state impact of Medicaid cuts

6/2/08, 8:06 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A new study shows a federal plan to reduce Medicaid reimbursement rates for local pharmacies could result in the closure of more than 20 percent of the state's pharmacies. The study by PricewaterhouseCoopers shows an estimated 166 pharmacies in Oklahoma could close as a result of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

The study was sponsored by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Food Marketing Institute. Both of those groups have mounted a legal challenge against the federal proposal, and an injunction has been issued to prevent the new rules from taking effect.

But Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services spokesman Jeff Nelligan is questioning the validity of the report and says it relies on unreliable data. He says Medicaid makes up only about 9 percent of national drug
spending, and a small reduction in this percent of revenue would have an overall reduction of less than 1 percent in pharmacy revenues.

McMahans' trial begins

6/2/08, 5:15 p.m.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - A jury began hearing evidence today in the public corruption case against State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan and his wife in federal court in Muskogee. The couple have both pleaded not guilty. They are accused in a nine-count indictment of mail fraud, conspiracy and violating the Travel Act to commit bribery.

The charges stem from dealings with southeast Oklahoma businessman Steve Phipps. The trial before U.S. District Judge James H. Payne could last more than a week. After the jury was seated, attorneys on each side delivered opening statements that lasted for about an hour and the first witness for the prosecution was called.

West Nile virus confirmed in Pittsburg County woman

6/2/08, 2:35 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - State health officials confirmed today that a 55-year-old Pittsburg County woman has been infected with West Nile virus. The woman tested positive for virus last month after suffering from a sudden onset of fever, headaches, dizziness and muscle weakness.

The virus is transmitted through mosquito bites and infection can cause severe and sometimes fatal illness. Oklahoma was one of the top 10 states in the nation with 107 West Nile cases and eight deaths last year. There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for West Nile infection.

Political candidates file for fall elections

6/2/08, 2:10 p.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Senator Jim Inhofe will have a Republican opponent in his re-election bid. Machinist and part-time Baptist preacher Dennis Lopez of near Thackerville filed today to run against Inhofe in the Republican primary because he says that's what God wants. And state Senator Andrew Rice filed for the Democratic nomination for the Senate. Rice criticized Inhofe for being "tone deaf" to the concerns of Oklahomans.

Also filing for re-election are U.S. Representatives Mary Fallin, Tom Cole, Frank Lucas and Dan Boren.
Congressman John Sullivan is also expected to file for re-election. Election Board Secretary Michael Clingman expects more than 400 candidates are expected to file before the filing period ends at 5
Wednesday afternoon.

(left: 2nd District U.S. Representative Dan Boren talks to reporters Tim Talley of the Associated Press and Michael McNutt of The Oklahoman after filing for re-election at the State Capitol on Monday.)

28,000 remain without power in NE Oklahoma

6/2/08, 11:40 a.m.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - About 28,000 Public Service Company of Oklahoma customers are still without power this morning after a powerful storm hammered Tulsa early yesterday. And 25 to 30 traffic signals in the city are without power and the city has placed four-way stop signs in those intersections. PSO spokesman Stan Whiteford said most of the outages would be repaired by today but some scattered outages may not be back online until tomorrow.

About 68,000 customers were without power at the height of the storm. Five people were treated by Emergency Medical Services Authority paramedics for storm-related injuries. EMSA spokeswoman Tina Wells says a woman and young girl were hospitalized in fair condition after their car hydroplaned and
crashed in Sand Springs. A man in Tulsa is also in fair condition after being shocked while using a chain saw to clear downed limbs and a woman has minor injuries after falling while clearing limbs. and a chronically ill woman was hospitalized after power outages left her medical equipment useless.

Tornado activity high this year

6/2/08, 10:50 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The National Weather Service says preliminary data show there are already more tornado reports in Oklahoma than in typical for an entire year. Oklahoma has had 54 tornado reports so far this year. A total of 53 per year hit the state on average. There have been six tornado deaths this year which is the highest number since 1999. Meteorologists say the increase could be tied to long-term trends in weather and climate such as climate change or La Nina. But they also say overall tornado activity is just hit or miss partly because their formation depends on both regional weather systems and local conditions that actually spark the twisters.

Federal trial begins for state auditor and wife

6/2/08, 10:08 a.m.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - The corruption trial for State Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan and his wife Lori is under way today in federal court in Muskogee. The two have pleaded not guilty to nine counts of mail fraud, conspiracy and violating the Travel Act to commit bribery. The charges stem from dealings with southeast Oklahoma businessman Steve Phipps.

Jury selection began this morning and the trial before U.S. District Judge James Payne is expected to last at least a week. Federal prosecutors say the charges are tied to favoritism shown to Phipps by McMahan in his role as auditor and also cover excessive political donations given to McMahan during his 2002 campaign.

3-day filing period begins Monday

6/2/08, 8:07 a.m.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The state's three-day filing period for public office begins Monday across the state.
Those seeking offices ranging from the U.S. Senate to the state Legislature will converge on the state Election Board at the state Capitol.

Other Oklahomans will be going to their local county election boards to file for county offices. The state and county election boards will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday for candidates to file.

Federal and state offices on this year's ballot include one U.S. Senate seat, all five U.S. House seats, two Corporation Commissioner seats, all 101 state House of Representative seats and 24 of the state's 48 state Senate seats. The primary election date is July 29, with a primary runoff date on Aug. 26. The general election is Nov. 4. (above: State Representative Tad Jones of Claremore was one of the early filers on Monday morning at the State Capitol).