By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Official wrote memo to warn of litter's overuse

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A former Arkansas poultry company executive is testifying about a memo he wrote in 2005 that warned of the environmental dangers of applying too much bird waste on farmland.

Monty Henderson, the former president of George's Inc., testified Thursday that he became aware of the potential problems caused by the over-application of the phosphorous-heavy waste in the late 1990s.

By Hear the announcement and news conference here

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Metro Chamber announced today its position on three proposed amendments to the Tulsa City Charter, which will appear on the ballot on Tuesday, November 10th.

The Chamber is in support of the proposed change to require the city auditor be certified either as an internal auditor of a public accountant.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – 13 deaths now attributed to swine flu in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) State health officials say 13 Oklahomans have now died of swine flu and the number of serious cases of the illness is rising.

The most recent deaths include an infant in Tulsa who was less than 6-months-old, a child in Carter Count, a Le Flore County man, a Noble County man and a Tulsa woman. State epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley says three of the deaths were a result of secondary infections that occurred after flu symptoms subsided.

By Associated Press

Sallisaw, OK – Tribe to shutter Oklahoma pari-mutuel track

SALLISAW, Okla. (AP) Blue Ribbon Downs, the first pari-mutuel horse racing track in Oklahoma, will shut down for good next month because of a lack of patron support.

The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, which owns the eastern Oklahoma track, announced the decision Thursday. The track will close after the current racing season ends Nov. 28.

Tulsa, OK –
Acting United States Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward announced that Federal
search and arrest warrants were served yesterday in the Tulsa area resulting in the arrests of eight Mexican nationals for participating in a wide ranging drug trafficking conspiracy.

By Rich Fisher

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – TULSA, Okla. (AP) Authorities say a Eufaula family that wanted to buy land in Latimer County has been missing for nearly two weeks.

A sheriff's deputy found the pickup truck of Bobby and Sherrilynn Jamison and their 6-year-old daughter, Madyson, about 30 miles from their home on Saturday. Officials say a small, hungry dog was inside the vehicle.

Volunteers, police officers, firefighters and Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers searched for the family over the weekend.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa area hospitals recommend flu vaccinations

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Hospitals in the Tulsa are highly recommending but not requiring staff members get vaccinations for both the seasonal and the swine flu.

Dr. Steve Swyden at St. Francis Hospital says there's not enough swine flu vaccine for everyone yet. He says people who work with high-risk groups and in the Children's Hospital are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Execution date set for Tulsa Co. killer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) An execution date has been set for a Tulsa County inmate convicted in the 1993 killings of a woman and her 6-year-old son.

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday scheduled a Jan. 14 execution for 60-year-old Julius Recardo Young.

Young was sentenced to death for the October 1993 murders of 20-year-old Joyland Evette Morgan and her son, 6-year-old Kewan Dontae Morgan. Joyland Morgan was the daughter of Young's girlfriend.

Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma's unemployment rate dropped slightly to 6.7 percent in September. That is an improvement of one-tenth of one percentage point from the previous month.

Compared to September 2008, the state's unemployment rate increase by 2.7 percentage points.

We are still better than the national average of 9.8 percent.