Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Forestry Services is warning of an increasing potential for extreme wildfires across the state.

State Forester George Geissler says conditions for wildfires to get out of control are increasing because of dry grasslands and hayfields coupled with the ongoing drought, heat and strong winds.

The agency says today will be especially dangerous with the fire danger very high the western half of the state and high in the eastern half.

The agency advises that fires can be started by common activities such as mowing the lawn or baling hay.

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) — Six men have been named in a 15-count indictment that alleges racketeering, conspiracy and theft-related charges.

Oklahoma's multicounty grand jury indictment unsealed in Washington County District Court  names 72-year-old Philip Hawk; 65-year-old Coy Short; 55-year-old Joseph Fairchild; 48-year-old Stevie Starks; 64-year-old George Baker; and 39-year-old Kory Pierson.

The men are accused of conspiring to steal tractors, all-terrain vehicles, horse trailers and stock trailers in at least eight eastern Oklahoma counties.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded more than $1.6 million to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality to help with environmental permitting, enforcement and facility inspections.

EPA officials announced Friday that the Performance Partnership Grant also will be used to perform outreach and education and accreditation of training providers. It also will help with the certification of firms and individuals performing lead-based paint abatement activities.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A longtime proponent of medicinal marijuana, state Sen. Constance Johnson acknowledges she has few advocates in the conservative Oklahoma Legislature.

But the Oklahoma City-area Democrat says she remains optimistic that attitudes toward easing Oklahoma's tough marijuana laws are shifting. She says her hopes are buoyed by the possibility of the Republican-controlled Senate approving a study on medicinal marijuana.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Attorney General Scott Pruitt has asked a federal judge to lift a stay on Oklahoma's lawsuit challenging federal health care overhaul legislation.

Pruitt made the request Friday in U.S. District Court in Muskogee, where the lawsuit was filed on January 21st, 2011. U.S. District Judge Ronald White stayed the case while the U.S. Supreme Court decided a lawsuit filed by Florida and 25 other states involving the law.

HOUSTON (AP) — A Canadian company that wants to build an oil pipeline from Alberta's tar sands region to Texas refineries now has a final permit for the Gulf Coast portion of the project.

TransCanada announced Friday that construction on the 485-mile section of pipeline would begin in the coming weeks.

HOUSTON (AP) — The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. fell by 11 this week to 1,924 from the previous week.

Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Incorporated reported Friday that 1,416 rigs were exploring for oil and 505 were searching for gas. Three were listed as miscellaneous.

Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas and Wyoming each gained four rigs, California two and Louisiana one.

ARDMORE, Okla. (AP) — The Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of Regents has selected an architect to design a new residence hall on the Stillwater campus.

The regents meeting Friday in Ardmore chose KSQ Architects of Tulsa to design the up to 900 bed residence hall on the northwest side of campus. The building will replace Kerr-Drummond Hall — which is to be demolished.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The names of Democratic candidates in Oklahoma will appear above Republicans on the November ballot.

A public drawing on Thursday at the State Election Board determined that Democrats will get the top spot, followed by the Republican Party and the Americans Elect Party.

State law requires a public drawing be held every general election year to determine the ballot order. The law also requires the names of independent candidates to appear after the nominees of recognized political parties.

COOPERTON, Okla. (AP) — Firefighters have a wildfire that's charred about 15 square miles in southwestern Oklahoma 90 percent contained and most people who left their homes have been allowed to return.

Officials say three homes remained evacuated late Thursday as crews tried to control the blaze in the western part of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge north of Indiahoma. No homes have burned.