News

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK –

ORU ready to move ahead after founder's death

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Oral Roberts still had the title of chancellor of the university that bears his name when he died last week at age 91.

University officials say the school will be able continue to make improvements that followed a crisis that culminated in 2007 with the ouster of Roberts' son, Richard Roberts, who had run the school since 1993.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla educators struggling to make budget

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) More than two dozen Oklahoma school districts have told the state they can't balance their budgets after state funding for public schools was cut by 10 percent this month.

At least four districts have shifted to four-day weeks to shave costs.

The budget cut isn't the only pressure on the districts. The state normally offsets increases in health insurance costs. But the state has included no such provision this year.

By Associated Press

Mounds, OK – Liberty is 5th state district to go to 4-day week

MOUNDS, Okla. (AP) The Liberty school district is joining four others in Oklahoma in changing to a four-day week.

The Liberty school board cited declining state revenues as the primary reason for the switch. The new schedule for Liberty students will start on Jan. 5.

The change is expected to save the district money on transportation, utilities and food. Also, bus drivers and cafeteria workers are paid for one less day per week.

By Associated Press

Jones, OK – Equipment could help determine cause of quakes

JONES, Okla. (AP) Geologists hope new equipment coming to Oklahoma next year will help them determine the cause of a spate of earthquakes in eastern Oklahoma County near Jones.

The Oklahoma Geological Survey says in an average year, Jones residents will feel one or two earthquakes. Just since March, there have been 25 earthquakes in the area.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Inhofe calls trip to Copenhagen successful

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Global warming skeptic U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma says his whirlwind trip to Copenhagen to visit a climate change meeting gave him ample opportunity to spread his message.

Inhofe told the Tulsa World's Washington bureau Friday that he spent about four hours on the ground in Denmark earlier this week, during which he was able to deliver his thoughts about climate change to reporters.

Liberty, OK – Liberty is 5th state district to go to 4-day week

MOUNDS, Okla. (AP) The Liberty school district is joining four others in Oklahoma in changing to a four-day week.

The Liberty school board cited declining state revenues as the primary reason for the switch. The new schedule for Liberty students will start on Jan. 5.

The change is expected to save the district money on transportation, utilities and food. Also, bus drivers and cafeteria workers are paid for one less day per week.

Public Radio Tulsa – On the December 17th edition of StudioTulsa, we presented a conversation between host Rich Fisher and our longtime book reviewer, Nancy Pearl. Now a librarian based in Seattle, and formerly a bookseller and librarian right here in T-Town, Nancy is also the author of a bestselling series of books about books (which includes the titles "Book Lust" and "More Book Lust").

Public Radio Tulsa – If you plan on giving a year-end gift to Public Radio Tulsa, here are some important deadlines to know in order to use your gift on your 2009 tax return. Checks must be postmarked no later than December 31.

If you're planning on making a credit card gift, this must be mailed by Christmas Eve or can be done online up until 2 p.m. on December 31st . Thank you for your continued support of Public Radio Tulsa now and throughout the year.

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By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Mayor Bartlett is spending the weekend reviewing budget cutting proposals submitted by his department heads. The city cannot spend money it does not have and with sales tax revenue sinking each month, the city must cut spending. Little is left but personnel.

By Associated Press

Wagoner, OK – Okla. man gets prison term for kickback scheme

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A Wagoner man has been sentenced to one year and a day in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to solicit kickbacks in the awarding of a private security subcontract to protect U.S. government officials and contractors in Afghanistan.

Federal prosecutors say 42-year-old Bryan Lee Burrows also was sentenced Friday to two years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.