Local & Regional

By AP

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa hires Bill Blankenship as football coach
MURRAY EVANS,Associated Press

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Tulsa has promoted assistant Bill Blankenship to become its head football coach.

Athletic director Bubba Cunningham made the announcement Friday, saying the 54-year-old Blankenship is "a leader and a proven winner." Blankenship is replacing his former boss, Todd Graham, who now is Pittsburgh's coach.

By Hear comments from PRO's Evan Stair:

Tulsa, OK – All aboard! Efforts are under way to get passenger rail service in northeast Oklahoma. Passenger Rail Oklahoma Director Evan Stair spoke at a Tulsa meeting today. He says the biggest challenge is our mindset.

He says Texas communities are cashing in big time from passenger rail travelers---and there is no reason why northeastern Oklahoma should not be on the money train

By AP

Perry, OK – PERRY, Okla. (AP) - Police in Perry say several homes were evacuated after a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train derailed in the northern Oklahoma town - but no injuries are reported.

BNSF spokesman Joe Faust says 13 cars of the westbound train derailed about 10:15 p.m. Thursday and fertilizer - which is considered a hazardous material - leaked from one.

By KWGS News

Claremore, OK – Rogers County deputies are rounding up suspected drug dealers. Armed with 78-arrest warrants officers fanned out at daybreak yesterday to round-up suspects. Over 60-people have been arrested so far

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The flu season is hitting Oklahoma hard! Over 50-people have been hospitalized in the last two weeks. State Epidemiologist Doctor Kristi Bradley says you know what to do: Cover your mouth when your cough or sneeze and stay home from work if ill.

Half of those hospitalized are 18 or younger. Since September of last year, two people of died of the flu.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, Ok – The Tulsa City Council hoses down a proposal to charge a fee for fire department response to traffic wrecks. City Councilor Bill Christian called the plan double taxation.

The plan would have charged those responsible for crashes a 200-dollar fee for each fire truck that responded.

By John Durkee

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

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla chancellor vows to oppose guns on campus

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma's chancellor of higher education vows to continue opposing any proposal to allow students to carry concealed weapons on campus.

Chancellor Glen Johnson made the comments Thursday during a budget presentation to state lawmakers. He says the state regents and officials with all 25 state colleges and universities oppose such a move, saying it creates a "more dangerous environment" on campuses.

By AP

Okmulgee, OK – Fire claims the life of an elderly Oklahoma man

OKMULGEE, Okla. (AP) Investigators say an elderly man has died in a fire in north Okmulgee.

Crews were called to the residence just before 8 p.m. Wednesday. Firefighters say the blaze was contained to one room of the home, and the victim's neighbors and family members had pulled him from the residence before they arrived.

The man was transported to the hospital, where he later died. Officials didn't immediately release his name.

By AP

Tahlequah, OK – Okla tribe to spend up to $60M on county's roads

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) The Cherokee Nation says it will spend between $55 million and $60 million on road construction projects in Adair County.

County commissioners approved a cooperative agreement earlier this month with the American Indian tribe concerning the projects.

The tribe says it now has cooperative road project agreements with all 14 counties that fall within its boundaries.