Local & Regional

By AP

Tulsa, Ok – Tulsa World lays off 18, cites soft economy

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Officials at the Tulsa World have reduced the newspaper's staff by 18 positions, or 3 percent.

Publisher Robert E. Lorton III said Tuesday softness in the local and national economies led to the decision to lay off employees. Lorton says readers and subscribers won't notice any change in the amount of content the newspaper provides.

Executive Editor Joe Worley the newsroom is restructuring to make use of staff in a more efficient manner.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The Mayor nominates Clift Richards to be the city auditor. The 71-year-old has been a CPA for nearly 50-years.

He would fill the unexpired term of Preston Doerfligner. Doerflinger resigned to join Governor Fallin's Cabinet.

The city council would need to approve the appointment.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. plans $5.2M prison fund shift

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Republican leaders in the Oklahoma Legislature have reached a deal to divert $5.2 million within the Department of Corrections to spare the agency from forcing prison guards and other workers to take additional furlough days.

By John Durkee

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

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Third construction phase of I-44 Riverside Dr. to Yale Ave. project in Tulsa begins Tuesday

By John Durkee

Tulsa, OK – Hear a recap of the Top Local News Stories from KWGS:

By AP

Bartlesville, OK – BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) Bartlesville firefighters took a 7-year-old boy to the hospital after he fell 30 feet down a well and suffered a head injury. Rescuers also had to pull out the boy's mother, who climbed down into the hand-dug well in order to comfort her son while he waited to be rescued on Sunday. She wasn't hurt.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. treasurer names panel to oversee investments

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A new five-member advisory panel led by former state Treasurer Scott Meacham has been appointed to oversee Oklahoma's $5 billion investment portfolio.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. House panel passes illegal immigrant bill

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Stepping up efforts to curb illegal immigration, an Oklahoma House committee has approved a measure that would give state law enforcement officers authority to assess the immigration status of motorists.

The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill Monday and sent it to the full House for action.

By KWGS News

Sand Springs, OK – After nearly two decades sitting idle, there are new plans to use the old Hissom Center site in Sand Springs. Webco Industries wants to expand to meet a growing demand for its' products. Chief Financial Officer Mike Howard says the Hissom site would suit their needs

When expansion is complete, Howard says about 80 jobs would be created in the first year. Tulsa County leaders have created a tax increment district to help ease some of the company's costs.