By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – State workers forced to take unpaid days off

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) At least six state agencies are preparing to furlough employees after officials ordered 10 percent budget cuts across all the agencies.

Office of Personnel Management Administrator Oscar Jackson said Friday several other agencies are considering similar moves.

Before furloughing employees, agencies must file a plan with OPM.

By KWGS News

Oklahoma City, OK – The unemployment rate in Oklahoma takes a tumble. The figures, released today, show the rate dropped in Oklahoma to 7-percent. That is down from 7.3-percent in October. This is the first drop in a year of steady increases. This time last year, 4.4-percent of Oklahomans were out of work.

Today's figure translates to 125,000 Oklahomans out of work.

By KWGS News

Oklahoma City, OK – No decision today on the 918-area code's future. We are running out of numbers and the commission this morning was to have decided on one of two options for the area. One option would split the area code into two different sections. The other would allow everyone to keep the 918 area code, but all new numbers would be assigned a different code.

By Rich Fisher

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – 3 more swine flu deaths confirmed

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma State Department of Health says three more people have died as a result of complications from the swine flu.

According to a report released Thursday, the latest deaths bring to 39 the number of Oklahomans who have died of swine flu since Sept. 1. Another person died in June.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Capitol spot approved for 10 Commandments monument

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) It's an epic more than 50 years in the making: "The Ten Commandments" are coming to the Oklahoma state Capitol.

Five decades after director Cecil B. DeMille distributed granite copies of the Ten Commandments to venues nationwide, Oklahoma's Capitol is finally to receive a set. The State Capitol Preservation Commission voted 7-4 on Thursday to place the monument along a walkway on the north side of the Capitol.

By Associated Press

Jones, OK – JONES, Okla. (AP) The U.S. Geological Survey has recorded yet another small earthquake near Jones.

No injuries or damage have been reported.

The magnitude 2.8 quake was recorded at 8:25 p.m. Thursday and is at least the fifth in the area in the past week. The previous four ranged from magnitude 2.4 to 3.4.

Quakes of magnitude 2.5 to 3 are generally the smallest felt by people.

The Thursday night quake was centered about 2 miles southeast of Jones about 15 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.

By Associated Press

Ponca City, OK – 2 Kay County postmasters face felony indictments

PONCA CITY, Okla. (AP) Two postmasters in Kay County have been indicted by a federal grand jury on felony charges.

Acting U.S. Attorney Robert Troester says 41-year-old Divina Love is accused of misappropriation of federal funds for allegedly taking more than $1,000 in stamp sales. He says 55-year-old Steven McCormack was indicted for misprision of a felony because he allegedly knew about Love's actions and did not report them to authorities.

By Rich Fisher

Tulsa, OK – The Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa announced today that metro Tulsa housing starts totaled 166 in November, 12.2 percent above starts reported in November 2008. The November total is a 33.3 percent decrease from the 249 starts in October, as the industry moves into the slower winter season. However, the year-over-year increase continues to edge annual starts closer to prior year totals, as year-to-date starts now trail 2008 figures by only 13.5 percent.