Local & Regional

By John Durkee

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

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Fire destroys much of Oklahoma City strip mall

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A fire department spokesman says a early morning fire has destroyed much of a two-story strip mall in north Oklahoma City.

Battalion Chief Brian Stanaland says more than 50 firefighters battled the fire that began about 1:20 a.m. He says part of the structure's roof collapsed while firefighters were inside so they were pulled from the building.

By AP

Catoosa, OK – Grant sought to restore Route 66 icon in Catoosa

CATOOSA, Okla. (AP) The city of Catoosa is hoping to learn soon whether it will receive a $600,000 grant that would help in the restoration of the Blue Whale.

The whale is an icon along the former U.S. Highway 66 and the city wants to buy it, expand the parking lot around it, install decorative signage and build a trail from a nearby grocery store.

By AP

Sapulpa,OK – 50-year-old Creek County man dies in shooting

SAPULPA, Okla. (AP) Creek County authorities say a 50-year-old man has been fatally shot after spending the night drinking with his girlfriend.

Sheriff's deputies were called to a home south of Sapulpa about 3 a.m. Saturday after receiving a report about a female being choked.

Upon arriving, sheriff's office Lt. Charles Redfern says the deputies found the man with a gunshot wound to the head and a female lying atop him with a knife wound to her throat.

By AP

Undated – OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) History was made before any votes were cast in 2010, as Oklahoma prepared to elect its first female governor.

On Nov. 2, voters chose Republican U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin as the GOP regained the governorship, strengthened its hold on the state Legislature and captured all statewide elected offices. Fallin's victory and the GOP sweep was voted the No. 1 news story of 2010 by members of The Associated Press and the AP's Oklahoma staff.

By AP

Tulsa, OK – TULSA, Okla. (AP) Tulsa police say residents of a northeast Tulsa home waited hours to report a fatal shooting at the home. Police say it appears someone shot several rounds from the front yard into the house. They say about five men live at the home and had left the door open because of mild weather.

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Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com

By Associated Press

Broken Arrow, OK – Police: 1 dead after shooting in Broken Arrow

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (AP) Police say a 20-year-old man has died after a shooting in the Tulsa suburb of Broken Arrow.

Police say the shooting that killed Nicholas Todd Martin of Tulsa happened about 3 a.m. Friday. They say preliminary information indicates that 23-year-old Mario Ledell Phenix of Tulsa waited for his ex-girlfriend to arrive at her Broken Arrow home, then confronted her and the people who had provided her a ride home.

By Associated Press

Westville, OK – Tornado causes damage in NE Oklahoma; no injuries

WESTVILLE, Okla. (AP) A tornado that killed three people in northwest Arkansas started in Oklahoma, where authorities say it caused damage but no injuries.

The National Weather Service says the tornado formed around 6 a.m. Friday near Westville, three miles west of the Arkansas state line, before hitting the tiny town of Cincinnati, Ark.

By Associated Press

Undated – Dispatcher: 3 dead after tornado in NW Ark town

CINCINNATI, Ark. (AP) A Washington County Sheriff's Office dispatcher says three people have died after a tornado hit the tiny northwest Arkansas town of Cincinnati.

Dispatcher Josh Howerton says the storm caused damage along State Highway 59 in downtown Cincinnati and through most of the western portion of Washington County. He says there are "lots of injuries."

Cincinnati is located near the Oklahoma state line, about 20 miles west of Fayetteville.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – The Oklahoma attorney general's office says a multimillion dollar contract was properly awarded by the state to a group tied to a state senator and lobbyist who had an extramarital affair. The contract came under review following reports that Sen. Harry Coates of Seminole and lobbyist Haley Atwood were having an affair while pushing for a group Atwood worked with to get the $10-million-a-year contract for new juvenile centers.