News

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Sinclair to cut work force at Tulsa refinery

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A spokesman for Sinclair Tulsa Refining Co. says jobs will be cut before Dallas-based Holly Corp. takes possession of the refinery.

John Goodwin said Wednesday the total number of jobs being cut will be announced later. He said he is one of those being let go and his last day will be Nov. 30. Goodwin says every employee being laid off has been notified.

The refinery has about 300 employees.

Tulsa, OK – Report: Treatment of kids in DHS care 'immoral'

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A child welfare expert says five foster children in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services were scalded in bath water, sexually molested, beaten with tree switches and belts and hit in the mouth a pattern of abuse the expert called "outrageous and immoral."

The 121-page report by independent consultant Peg McCartt Hess was filed Wednesday afternoon in Tulsa federal court as part of a 2008 class-action lawsuit that accuses DHS of mistreating its foster children.

Nowata, OK – LENAPAH, Okla. (AP) Authorities say no one was hurt when a school bus carrying 27 elementary school students collided with a pickup truck in Nowata County in northern Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says an Oklahoma Union school bus was turning from a private drive onto Oklahoma Highway 10 near Lenapah when the driver pulled in front of the oncoming truck about 3:40 p.m. Wednesday.

The truck crashed into the driver's side of the bus.

The patrol says all the bus occupants, including students ranging in age from 7 to 10, were wearing seat belts.

By Rich Fisher

Tulsa, OK – Mayor Kathy Taylor is anxious to get to work with Mayor-Elect Dewey Bartlett and his transition staff.

"It takes a lot of love for your city and strong will to file for election, and I want to thank each candidate for participating in the democratic process," Mayor Taylor said.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – TULSA, Okla. (AP) Democratic state Sen. Tom Adelson has conceded the Tulsa mayor's race to Republican oilman Dewey Bartlett Jr.

With all 215 precincts reporting, unofficial election results showed Bartlett receiving 29,948 votes (44.95 percent) to 24,211 (36.34 percent) for Adelson.

Independents Mark Perkins and Lawrence Kirkpatrick lagged far behind, picking up 11,913 (17.88 percent) and 560 (0.84 percent) votes, respectively.

Tulsa, OK – Expert: Recreation on Illinois River has declined

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A professor estimates that about 30,000 fewer people floated in the Illinois River watershed in 2007 compared to two years earlier.

With Tuesday's testimony from Oklahoma State University professor Lowell Caneday, the state of Oklahoma hoped to suggest that decades of chicken manure pollution has made one of the state's top recreational areas less attractive to the public.

Tulsa, OK – TULSA, Okla. (AP) State health officials say more people will be eligible for a swine flu vaccination as more of the vaccine arrives in Oklahoma. The priority groups for the vaccination has been expanded because about 80,000 doses of the vaccine is expected this week.

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Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com

Tulsa, OK – Newly elected City Councilor Maria Barnes becomes a crime victim while celebrating her election victory. Barnes was holding a watch party at the Casa Laredo Restaurant in downtown Tulsa last night. Police say an intoxicated 26-year-old Jordan Christ rifled through Barnes purse and stole her wallet, running from the business. The Councilor-elect and some supporters gave chase. Christ was caught several blocks away and held for Tulsa Police.

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa's annual Veterans Day Parade steps off in downtown Tulsa. The annual celebration honoring service men and women is one of the largest in the Southwest. Hundreds lined the streets of downtown Tulsa to watch the parade. It paid special tribute to World War II soldiers, sailors and Marines. The parade featured marching bands from area high schools as well as VFW groups, the Blue Star Mothers and a motorcycle tribute.