Local & Regional

By Associated Press

Tulsa, Ok – Despite losing money on its live horse racing meet, Fair Meadows is proving to be profitable for Expo Square and Tulsa County.

Figures provided to the Tulsa World by Expo Square show that for the fourth straight year, the live handle and revenues at Fair Meadows declined. The Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority lost $701,520 on the 34-day race meet, held in June and July.

Still, the track has made at least $1.5 million annually for the fairgrounds the past four years and is expected to do so again in 2010.

By Associated Press

By Associated Press/KWGS News

By Denise Brewer

Tulsa, OK – A bus carrying the Tulsa Oilers to a game in Missouri caught fire near Claremore just before noon today. Reportedly, players began smelling smoke from the engine and the driver pulled over. Everyone left the bus safely before the engine caught fire, fully engulfing the bus. That fire subsequently sparked a grass fire which spread quickly. The team managed to save all equipment and booked another bus to continue the trip.

By Denise Brewer

Tulsa, Oklahoma – Temperatures in the lower 30s and upper 20s are expected tonight. With the coldest readings happening within valley locations of far Northeast Oklahoma and far Northwest Arkansas. Even colder overnight temperatures are expected early Saturday morning.

By Denise Brewer

Tulsa, Oklahoma – A red flag fire warning is in effect from 10am - 7pm this evening. Strong northerly winds with gusts of 30 to 40 mph will be common today... especially in the afternoon. The winds along with warm temperatures and low humidity will allow very aggressive fire behavior with any type of fire start. Conditions will improve after sunset as temperatures cool and winds calm.

By Denise Brewer

Tulsa, Oklahoma – Your Thursday Morning Local News

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Voters OK 'opt-out' of new health care law

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahomans have approved a measure that would allow citizens to "opt-out" of the new federal health care reform bill.

The question's House author, Rep. Mike Thompson, R-Oklahoma City, said a constitutional amendment would help protect Oklahomans from the government's attempt to insert itself into their lives and that the federal health care overhaul would make health insurance more expensive.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Sullivan wins reelection in 1st District

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Republican Rep. John Sullivan has been elected to a fifth term in Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District race.

Sullivan defeated independent Angelia O'Dell of Tulsa in Tuesday's general election.

He knocked off five GOP challengers in the July 27 primary election to win his party's nomination for another two-year term. No Democrats were in the race.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma voters reject school spending measure

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma voters have soundly rejected a controversial plan that would have required the state to spend annually on education no less than the regional average of six neighboring states.

Critics, including Gov. Brad Henry, said State Question 744 would have forced devastating cuts to other state agencies.

The plan was estimated to cost between $900 million and $1.7 billion over the next several years.