Local & Regional

By Associated Press

Muskogee, OK – Ex-Choctaw Nation employee given probation

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) A federal judge has sentenced a former Choctaw Nation employee to four years of probation for embezzling money from the Native American tribe.

Prosecutors said Monday Ahdohlowah Esther Tonihka also was ordered to pay $26,700 in restitution and enter into treatment for gambling addiction.

A grand jury indicted the 63-year-old Tonihka in June, and she pleaded guilty to embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization in August.

By KWGS News/National Weather Service

Tulsa, OK – The National Weather Service has CANCELED the Winter Storm Warning for the Tulsa area. Temperatures are well above freezing. Little or NO additional snow accumulation is expected in the Tulsa area.

By KWGS News/National Weather Service

Sand Springs, OK – The state Office of Juvenile Affairs would be required to pay for remediation of the L.E. Rader Center property in Sand Springs once the facility is closed under legislation advanced today.

House Bill 2691, by state Rep. Lucky Lamons, would require the Office of Juvenile Affairs to pay for complete site remediation after closure.

Tulsa, OK – Like so many Tulsans, paramedics are not happy to see more snow falling. However, EMSA is prepared to respond. EMSA's operations team has been carefully watching meteorologists' reports since late last week. Resources like ice melt and additional windshield wiper blades remain in good supply at EMSA, since the late January blast wasn't as bad as expected. EMSA plans to use blue tape again, to mark stranded and vehicles that have been checked, in an effort to reduce unnecessary, duplicate ambulance responses. (This will occur only if conditions warrant - i.e.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Okla., poultry companies file last motions

TULSA, Okla. (AP) The state of Oklahoma argues that poultry companies sued by Oklahoma in 2005 should be prohibited from allowing poultry waste to be applied on fields in the Illinois River watershed beyond a certain amount.

Eight minutes after that motion was filed Friday night in federal court at Tulsa, the poultry companies submitted their own lengthy document arguing for denial of an injunction requested by the state.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Committee work resumes at state Capitol

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Lawmakers may get their first look at funding bills designed to close a budget gap as they continue shuffling legislation through committees when they return to the Capitol on Monday.

By National Weather Service/KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM MONDAY TO 6 AM CST
TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM MONDAY TO 6
AM CST TUESDAY...

FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
* IN OKLAHOMA...CHEROKEE...ADAIR...CREEK...WAGONER...TULSA...
ROGERS...MAYES...DELAWARE...CRAIG AND OTTAWA. IN ARKANSAS...
WASHINGTON...MADISON...BENTON AND CARROLL.

By National Weather Service/KWGS News

Tulsa, OK –
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE
MONDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WATCH FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY MORNING
THROUGH LATE MONDAY NIGHT...

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Henry defends budget ideas, calls for ideas

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. (AP) Gov. Brad Henry is defending his ideas for generating more than $660 million in new revenue to help balance next year's budget, calling on his critics to come up with their own plan if they don't like his.

During a speech Friday to newspaper publishers from across the state, Henry said new revenue must be found or the state's economy and agencies will face "irreparable damage."

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Board votes to fire chief medical examiner

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Board of Medicolegal Investigations has voted to fire the state's chief medical examiner.

The board made the decision to terminate Dr. Collie Trant during a meeting Friday afternoon.

Office of the Chief Medical Examiner spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard says the decision was reached during an executive session, and the board didn't give a reason for firing Trant, who had only been on the job since March.