Local & Regional

Tulsa, OK – Evangelist Oral Roberts' life and legacy were celebrated today against the backdrop of Oral Roberts University (ORU), by a gathering of more than 4,000 with a host of who's who from the Evangelical and Charismatic communities at the Mabee Center in Tulsa. Granville Oral Roberts was a man who obeyed God and popularized the Pentecostal movement in the 20th century.
Roberts, 91, passed away in a Newport Beach, Calif., hospital on Dec. 15, due to complications from pneumonia, following a fall that broke several bones the previous weekend.

By Associated Press/KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Thousands gather to remember Oral Roberts

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Thousands of mourners packed an auditorium today to remember the life of evangelist Oral Roberts.

Fellow evangelist Pat Robertson opened Monday's memorial service at Oral Roberts University with a prayer, describing Roberts as a man who walked with God but never gave up the common touch.

The 91-year-old Roberts died of complications from pneumonia last week in California.

By Hear John Durkee's Interview with State Treasurer:

Oklahoma City, OK – OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma Treasurer Scott Meacham says state government will experience a revenue failure of more than $729 million for the fiscal year that ends June 30.

Meacham says that means state agencies will have to endure additional budget cuts or receive an infusion of revenue from the constitutional Rainy Day reserve fund or other sources.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa council to discuss Olympic possibilities

TULSA, Okla. (AP) The Tulsa City Council is to hold a special meeting to discuss the feasibility of the city hosting the 2020 Summer Olympic games.

The council will meet Tuesday morning with the Tulsa 2020 Committee.

A committee of Tulsa businessmen in August compared Tulsa to Atlanta before that city hosted the 1996 Olympics.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK –

ORU ready to move ahead after founder's death

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Oral Roberts still had the title of chancellor of the university that bears his name when he died last week at age 91.

University officials say the school will be able continue to make improvements that followed a crisis that culminated in 2007 with the ouster of Roberts' son, Richard Roberts, who had run the school since 1993.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla educators struggling to make budget

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) More than two dozen Oklahoma school districts have told the state they can't balance their budgets after state funding for public schools was cut by 10 percent this month.

At least four districts have shifted to four-day weeks to shave costs.

The budget cut isn't the only pressure on the districts. The state normally offsets increases in health insurance costs. But the state has included no such provision this year.

By Associated Press

Mounds, OK – Liberty is 5th state district to go to 4-day week

MOUNDS, Okla. (AP) The Liberty school district is joining four others in Oklahoma in changing to a four-day week.

The Liberty school board cited declining state revenues as the primary reason for the switch. The new schedule for Liberty students will start on Jan. 5.

The change is expected to save the district money on transportation, utilities and food. Also, bus drivers and cafeteria workers are paid for one less day per week.

By Associated Press

Jones, OK – Equipment could help determine cause of quakes

JONES, Okla. (AP) Geologists hope new equipment coming to Oklahoma next year will help them determine the cause of a spate of earthquakes in eastern Oklahoma County near Jones.

The Oklahoma Geological Survey says in an average year, Jones residents will feel one or two earthquakes. Just since March, there have been 25 earthquakes in the area.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Inhofe calls trip to Copenhagen successful

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Global warming skeptic U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma says his whirlwind trip to Copenhagen to visit a climate change meeting gave him ample opportunity to spread his message.

Inhofe told the Tulsa World's Washington bureau Friday that he spent about four hours on the ground in Denmark earlier this week, during which he was able to deliver his thoughts about climate change to reporters.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Mayor Bartlett is spending the weekend reviewing budget cutting proposals submitted by his department heads. The city cannot spend money it does not have and with sales tax revenue sinking each month, the city must cut spending. Little is left but personnel.