Local & Regional

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. trooper quits as OHP looks into allegation

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The head of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol says results of an investigation into an allegation of misconduct by a trooper will be forwarded to the Logan County District Attorney's office.

Col. Kerry Pettingill said Friday night that Patrick Venable resigned June 29 as officials began looking into an accusation made by an anonymous tipster. Pettingill didn't reveal what the phone call was about.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma's June unemployment rate stays the same

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma's unemployment rate remained unchanged in June.

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reported Friday that the state jobless rate was 5.3 percent, the same rate reported in May.

Last month's unemployment rate is below the June 2010 rate of 7 percent.

The biggest job losses came in financial activities, professional and business services, and information technology.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Alarm at Riverside today. Tulsa Fire & Police rescue a family of 3 who were stranded on a sandbar.

Two adults and a 2 year old child were stuck in the middle of the river when the water began rising. The Fire Department's Tim Smallwood says two crews were involved in the rescue.

The operation went smoothly and no one was hurt.

By KWGS News- Charlie Spears

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa United Film Festival features several independent films this weekend including "I do, I don't", a film by Maggie Sargent about marriage, divorce, and faith.

The festival kicked off Thursday evening with "The Pink Panther", a classic comedy by the late Tulsan, Blake Edwards.

Tulsa United will run through the weekend until Monday night.

For more information go to http://www.theunitedfest.com/tulsa/

By AP

Muskogee, OK – Hundreds of fish killed in pond at Okla. park

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) Hundreds of fish have been found dead at a large pond in a Muskogee park.

Crews were out trying to clean up fish carcasses that littered the water on the west end of Honor Heights Park on Wednesday.

Parks Superintendent Rick Ewing told the Muskogee Phoenix that the kill appears to have affected bait fish, and that bass, catfish and perch were spared. Most of the fish killed were shad.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The Indian Nation's Council of Governments is out with its "Fast Forward Mass Transit Plan". Incog Planner James Wagoner says one proposal is to increase the number of routes with a "hub and spoke" type system, much like the airlines.

The plan also includes routes to Broken Arrow, Owasso, Jenks and Bixby. There is also a light rail and electric street car component to the plan.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa City Council spends over two hours talking about your trash service. In the end, the council voted to strip the Trash Board of the authority to make contracts with trash haulers.

City Councilor Bill Christiansen says that is too much power for unelected people.
Only Councilor G.T. Bynum voted against the measure. Mayor Bartlett will likely veto it when it reaches his desk.

At issue is whether to make changes to the trash pick-up service in Tulsa. The contract expires in less than a year.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa School Board is requiring uniforms for all students this fall, with the exception of high school students.

The board also voted to extend the school day by 15-minutes. That means a start time change for most schools.

Most Tulsa elementary schools will start the day at 7:45, while secondary schools will start from 8:15 to 8:45 depending on the school.

By John Durkee

Tulsa, OK – Hear a recap of this morning's Top Local Stories from KWGS:

By AP

Tahlequah, OK – Cherokee Nation court tosses election for chief

TULSA, Okla. (AP) The Cherokee Nation's Supreme Court has thrown out the results of a disputed election to determine the chief of Oklahoma's largest Native American tribe.

The ruling Thursday means a new election will be held. A date has not been set.

The court ruled that it was impossible to determine the winner of the June 25 election with mathematical certainty.