News

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Report: Oklahoma low in student spending

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A report by the U.S. Census Bureau says Oklahoma spends more money per public school student than only four other states.

The figures released Monday show Oklahoma spent $7,420 per pupil during the 2006-2007 academic year to rank fifth-lowest in the nation.

The Oklahoman reported from its Washington bureau that only Arizona, Tennessee, Idaho and Utah spent less per student.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – QuikTrip to pay nearly $750,000 in back pay

WASHINGTON (AP) Convenience store operator QuikTrip Corp. is paying current and former employees in nine states nearly $750,000 in overtime back wages following an investigation by the Labor Department.

The agency found the Tulsa, Okla.-based store failed to pay 3,819 workers the overtime compensation they were supposed to receive.

The employees worked in Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.

By Associated Press

Seminole, OK – SEMINOLE, Okla. (AP) An Oklahoma man arrested in the shooting deaths of two Seminole County deputies was wanted for allegedly trying to strangle his mother.

And his sister said in filing for a protective order two years ago that he had threatened to kill her children and her husband.

Ezekiel Holbert was arrested yesterday after deputies Robbie Chase Whitebird and Marvin Williams were killed while trying to serve an arrest warrant for Holbert at his mother's home.

By Associated Press/KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Some question minimum wage increase

ATLANTA (AP) The federal minimum wage goes up 70 cents today, from $6.55 to $7.25 an hour.

Backers of the increase say it's long overdue for millions of the nation's working poor.

But some economists say the increase could prolong the recession, by forcing small businesses to lay off the same workers that the pay hike was meant to help.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – TULSA, Okla. (AP) Many Tulsa-area suburbs are starting off their fiscal years with declining sales-tax revenues.

But Owasso has bucked the trend and is up 4.1 percent.

Oklahoma Tax Commission reports indicate that Jenks is down 4.3 percent compared with the same period in 2008.

Glenpool's sales-tax growth spurt after the opening of a Wal-Mart Supercenter finally ended. The city posted an 11.8 percent decrease.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – TULSA, Okla. (AP) The state medical examiner says lawmakers criticizing his office haven't done their homework, and he'll use documentation to show they're wrong. The office has recently come under fire amid federal and state investigations and criminal charges against a former investigator.

By Associated Press/KWGS News

Seminole, OK – SEMINOLE, Okla. (AP) A 22-year-old woman remains in serious condition after being hit by a stray bullet during a confrontation that left two Seminole County deputies dead.

Jennifer Bowen was standing in a yard across the street from where the deputies tried to serve an arrest warrant Sunday afternoon when gunfire broke out.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A local businessman has died and four others remain hospitalized after their single-engine plane crashed in Oklahoma City.

The Medical Examiner's Office confirmed late Saturday that 59-year-old Ron Meyer died. A University of Oklahoma Medical Center official said two victims were in fair condition, but she didn't have information about the other two.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – OG&E rates going up in August

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has approved a settlement for a $48 million rate increase for Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. The action will affect customer bills in August.

The rate increase averages $6.50 a month for OG&E customers, but officials say most residential customers will receive a slight decrease in their monthly bills because of changes in the fuel adjustment formula.

By Associated Press

Washington, D.C. – Government to conduct terror prevention exercise

WASHINGTON (AP) The government is conducting its first-ever nationwide exercise Monday aimed at preventing a terrorist attack.