Oklahoma

8:30 a.m. - Situation Update 2

04-10-2008 -- A powerful storm system is beginning to exit the state. In the wake of yesterday's storms there will be strong winds across the state today with an isolated chance of showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures will be much cooler into the weekend with a chance of freezing temperatures across the northern half of the state Saturday morning.

Oklahoma tornado drill postponed due to severe weather: Photo by woodley wonderworks (CC)

Injuries and Fatalities

Injuries were reported in Muldrow following the storm that moved through the area Wednesday night.    » read more »

April 04, 2008 -- Oklahoma City - Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today approved $11.5 million in emergency funding for Oklahoma public schools, but added that K-12 education will need additional supplemental funding to help address a funding shortfall this fiscal year.

Roosevelt Junior High school in southwest Oklahoma City: Photo by Travis Church (CC)

“As I said last week, this is only a first step to addressing the immediate funding needs of our public schools,” said Gov. Henry. “There is no question that K-12 education needs additional money, and I will be working with legislative leaders to provide that as quickly as possible.”    » read more »

04-02-2008 -- Legislation to require day care providers to carry liability insurance has cleared its first major hurdle in the Oklahoma State Senate. House Bill 2863, called Demarion's Law, was approved unanimously by the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday.

Last year, 3-year-old Demarion Pittman was accidently left in a day care van. By the time he was discovered, his body temperature had risen to 117 degrees, causing a heat stroke resulting in severe brain damage and neurological disorders. Now in a wheelchair, Demarion and his mother, Edna, attended the committee hearing. Fighting back tears, Edna explained why the legislation was needed.    » read more »

March 26, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died March 24 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive on March 23.

They were assigned to the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Killed were:

Pvt. George Delgado, 21, of Palmdale, California.

Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Hake, 26, of Enid, Oklahoma.

Pfc. Andrew J. Habsieger, 22, of Festus, Missouri.

Spc. Jose A. Rubio Hernandez, 24, of Mission, Texas.

Source: DoD

CAMP BUCCA, Iraq (03/18/2008) - Sewers, water, electricity, trash and fuel are services vital to any city in the United States, and urban populations simply cannot function effectively without proper city management.

Members of the Oklahoma National Guard face the challenge of bringing these same services to the middle of a desert in southern Iraq.

Army Servicemembers with Iraqi construction supervisor, Camp Bucca, Iraq, March 2008: Army Staff Sgt. Russell Hale, left, Ali Jihad, an Iraqi construction supervisor, and Army Sgt. 1st Class Rafe Cummings stand in front of a construction site at Camp Bucca, Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Rhonda McGuire    » read more »

March 13, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died Mar. 10 in Balad Ruz, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

They were assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

Killed were:

Sgt. Phillip R. Anderson, 28, of Everett, Washington.

Spc. Donald A. Burkett, 24, of Comanche, Texas.

Capt. Torre R. Mallard, 27, of Oklahoma.

Source: DoD

February 26, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Micheal E. Phillips, 19, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, died Feb. 24 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Source: DoD

Wednesday, February 20, 2008, INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions has penalized the University of Central Oklahoma for a number of major and secondary violations in the football program. This case involved failure to monitor and unethical conduct violations against the former head coach, as well as a lack of institutional control for the university.    » read more »

02/12/2008 - A Tulsa man is accused today of price gouging during the December ice storms after an investigation by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit.

Mohammed Mannan, 38, was charged today in Tulsa County District Court with three misdemeanor counts of violating the Oklahoma Emergency Price Stabilization Act.

The charges were filed after three consumers contacted the attorney general’s office to report that the price of gas at a station owned by Mannan jumped from $2.69 to $3.29 after a state of emergency was declared in December.    » read more »

Feb. 7, 2008, WASHINGTON — As some taxpayers begin to prepare their paper tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service notes that some may be sending their returns to a different service center than last year. Those who received a tax instruction booklet from the IRS in the mail and use the labels included with the booklet can be assured that their tax returns will go to the correct address. Taxpayers who e-file are not affected by these changes.    » read more »

February 07, 2008 -- Oklahoma City -- Federal officials have formally denied Oklahoma’s appeal for individual assistance in the December ice storm, according to the Oklahoma governor’s office.

Governor Brad Henry called the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency disappointing and frustrating.    » read more »

06 February 2008 -- U.S. law enforcement officials say at least 11 people have been killed and dozens injured as tornadoes and thunderstorms tore through parts of the U.S. south.

The U.S. National Weather Service reports severe weather swept across the lower Mississippi Valley, Southern Plains and Midwest Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Reports of tornadoes, wind damage and hail came from Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri.    » read more »

February 04, 2008 -- Oklahoma City -- In his sixth annual State of the State address to the Oklahoma State Legislature, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry outlined a broad agenda to strengthen education, create jobs, improve healthcare, toughen public safety and diversify the state’s economy.

The Governor urged lawmakers to set their sights on Oklahoma’s long-term future, now that the state has moved past its 2007 centennial celebration.    » read more »

2/2/2008 -- OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Former Governor David Walters announced his endorsement of Hillary Clinton today.

"Hillary Clinton understands the deep problems of our nation and Oklahoma - and she will work to fix them," said Governor David Walters. "Hillary Clinton will address the housing crisis and ignite our faltering economy. Hillary has been an agent of change for over 35 years and she will take that experience to the White House to deliver a new beginning for America."    » read more »

February 1, 2008 -- ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced the support of prominent Oklahoma leaders. These individuals will be added to Senator McCain's Oklahoma Steering Committee and join a growing grassroots organization leading up to Oklahoma's February 5th Primary.    » read more »