Local & Regional

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) State education officials say the average scores of Oklahoma high school seniors on the ACT exam remained steady at 20.7. The average score in math didn't change while the average science score increased as English and reading scores decreased slightly.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

By Denise Brewer

August 18, 2010 – Tulsa's Top Local News Stories Wednesday Morning

By Associated Press

Fort Worth, Texas – Airline says heat may be factor in 7 puppy deaths

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Heat might have killed seven puppies that died in the cargo hold of an American Airlines jet this month.

A spokeswoman for the airline said Tuesday that necropsies on the puppies were inconclusive but found that heat "may have been a factor."

The airline is defending its handling of the situation, saying the flight complied with company policy that prohibits shipping animals in hot weather.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Federal judge stays Okla. execution

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A federal judge has issued a stay of execution for an Oklahoma death row inmate scheduled to die by lethal injection for the death of his 77-year-old great-uncle 16 years ago.

The stay was issued Tuesday just hours before Jeffrey David Matthews was set to be executed. A federal judge in Oklahoma City granted a stay until Oct. 16.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, Ok – Upon the request of the Tulsa County fair board, the City of Tulsa has agreed to a stormwater fee credit that will end a dispute over outstanding fees charged to the County for stormwater collection and refuse services at the Tulsa County Fairgrounds.

The City agreed to credit the County's stormwater fees to account for the construction of a stormwater detention facility built prior to the City's annexation of the fairgrounds in 2009. The Tulsa County fair board voted to accept the credit today.

By Catherine Roberts

Tulsa, Okla. – Mayor Bartlett held what he called a "good-news news conference" in City Hall today. He announced four honors that the city has recently received.

The Performing Arts Center has received a Great Plains Journalism Award for best public relations magazine, its monthly "Intermission."

By Catherine Roberts

Tulsa, Okla. – A proposal for the development of the former Tulsa Fire Department headquarters at Fourth Street and Frankford Avenue met with a mixed response from City Council today.

At this morning's Urban and Economic Development Committee meeting, City Economic Development Director Mike Bunney said the plan would involve trading the property to the Tulsa Opera for development as its new headquarters, in exchange for a piece of land the Opera owns near the airport.

By KWGS News/Hear Comments

Tulsa, OK –
More funding for education may be coming to Oklahoma. Tulsa Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Trish Williams says the state can get up to 119-million dollars in stimulus funding to save education jobs.

It will also be up to the governor how to distribute the funds. His options will be the "State Aid Formula" or the "Title One Formula".

By Associated Press

Weleetka, OK – Investigators to question boy who survived fire

TULSA, Okla. (AP) The state Fire Marshal's office plans to interview the 8-year-old boy who survived a Monday morning house fire in the town of Weleetka that left six people dead.

Assistant State Fire Marshal JoAnne Sellars said Tuesday that the boy, Tavis Southern, is "very important to talk to" because he could help pinpoint where the blaze erupted and how it spread.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The public received its first look at the new logo for Tulsa Public Schools. The logo, donated by Walsh Branding of Tulsa, will eventually be emblazoned on all TPS buses and other district-related gear. The Public Information Office planned changes to the district's identity system to occur as part of regular maintenance, so there will be no additional cost.