Local & Regional

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Health officials in Oklahoma are urging residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their pets from rabies by having their pets vaccinated.

Oklahoma rules and regulations require that a veterinarian vaccinate dogs, cats and ferrets against rabies by the time the animal is 4 months old. Rabies vaccines are also available and are recommended for horses, sheep and cattle.

The state Health Department reports 41 cases of rabies in Oklahoma thus far in 2013. The cases include 25 skunks, nine cows, five dogs, one horse and one fox.

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (AP) — The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a Porter man was killed when the sport utility vehicle he was driving crashed on the Creek Turnpike in Wagoner County.

Troopers say 53-year-old Randy Ernsten was southbound on the turnpike near Broken Arrow Thursday when he drove off the roadway and traveled 475 feet before hitting an embankment and going airborne. The SUV then landed in a ravine.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) — They call him "The Hag," but now Merle Haggard can answer to "doctor" as well.

Haggard was presented an honorary doctorate Friday by California State University, Bakersfield.

The doctor of fine arts honor was conferred during School of Arts and Humanities commencement ceremonies that also celebrated the late Buck Owens.

The university does not bestow honorary doctorates posthumously, so Owens was instead awarded the President's Medal.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Tulsa International Airport officials may take over management of Claremore Regional Airport.

Officials at the Tulsa airport tell the World newspaper that they need more hangar space. The Claremore airport is located on 520 acres of mostly undeveloped land.

Tulsa airport deputy director Jeff Hough says airport officials have been looking for more than five years for ways to expand. He says studies indicate much of the demand for more hangars is coming from downtown Tulsa, Broken Arrow and Owasso.