Local & Regional

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – It does not appear there will be a vote in February on a city charter change. Tulsa County Associate District Judge Dana Kuehn today granted an injunction for five months.

Judge Kuehn says in that time a determination came be made as to whether the ballot question combined more than one issue.

If it did, it will be a violation of state law. The proposal calls for making the city attorney's position elected instead of appointed.

By AP

Tulsa, Okla. – Tulsa police have added a dozen recruits to its latest training class, bringing the total to 42.

The agency was awarded a $4.5 million federal grant that will pay salaries for 23 of the officers for three years. The Tulsa World reports that cuts in overtime and other expenses enabled the city to fund the other 19 recruits from within the department's existing budget.

Tulsa police last conducted a training academy in January 2009.

By AP

Tulsa, Okla. – The number of Oklahomans filing bankruptcy last year is up; more than 14,000 cases were filed in 2010.

Bankruptcy trustee Patrick Malloy III credits the upward trend not only to continued economic strife, but also to a return to normalcy following bankruptcy reform in 2005, a year in which more than 39,000 bankruptcy cases were filed.

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protects Act tightened income limits and set new standards for evaluating debtors' financial situations.

By KWGS News

Oklahoma City, OK – Governor-elect Mary Fallin today announced she has selected Glenn Coffee to serve as secretary of state.

Coffee, who was the first Republican to serve as president pro tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate, currently serves as co-chairman of the governor-elect's transition committee.

By KWGS News/OETA

Oklahoma City, OK – Hear an exit interview with Oklahoma's 26th Governor, Brad Henry

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Terrill, Leftwich turn selves in on charges

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A member of the Oklahoma House and a former member of the state Senate who face felony bribery charges have made their initial court appearance.

Oklahoma County Special Judge Russell Hall entered not guilty pleas on Monday afternoon for Rep. Randy Terrill of Moore and former Sen. Debbe Leftwich of Oklahoma City. Hall set their next court appearance for March 17. Leftwich and Terrill are free on a $2,000 bond.

By AP

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa hiring auditors to boost tax collections

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Tulsa officials say the city plans to hire private auditors in an effort to increase collections of delinquent sales taxes.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett signed a contract in principle last May with Revenue Discovery Systems of Birmingham, Ala., before the Oklahoma Legislature passed a law that allows only the state Tax Commission to handle sales-tax collections.

The city has sued over the new law.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa City Council will go behind closed doors today to discuss a lawsuit filed to block a charter change election. If approved, the question would make the city attorney's position elective rather than appointed.

The council will also discuss allowing the fire department to charge a user fee for responding to car wrecks.

By John Durkee

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

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa Police are searching for 19-year-old Gabriel Claxton. He was last seen at the Greyhound bus station downtown on November 10th.

He told a friend he was going to visit family but never arrived and no ticket was issued. Police fear for his safety because of a history of depression.