Local & Regional

By KWGS News

Tulsa, Ok – Mayor Bartlett Announces June 23 as Olympic Day

Mayor Dewey Bartlett announced today that June 23 is the worldwide commemoration Olympic Day of Baron Pierre de Coubertin's June 23, 1894, convening of the first International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting at the Sorbonne in Paris, and the founding of the Modern Olympic Games. National Olympic Committees (NOCs) throughout the world will also participate in the international celebration, with each Olympic Committee sending Olympic Day greetings to participating nations.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – The Visit Tulsa Bureau has a new leader. Dave Nolan was named to head up the convention and visitors program at the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce.

Noland has more than 30-years experience in the travel and hospitality industry.

He replaces Suzanne Stewart, who retired last fall.

By Associated Press

Ardmore, OK – OU regents vote to raise tuition by 4.5 percent

ARDMORE, Okla. (AP) Tuition and mandatory fees at the University of Oklahoma are going up by 4.5 percent for the upcoming school year.

OU regents voted to approve the increase Wednesday during a meeting at their annual retreat. The regents also approved OU President David Boren's $1.52 billion budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Tulsa County Treasurer Dennis Semler announced today the first reimbursement payment to school districts from property tax exemptions of certain manufacturing facilities. The State of Oklahoma allows property tax exemptions as an incentive to many manufacturing companies.

The first payment of the year returned to Tulsa County was $2,697,688.00. All of this will be apportioned to school districts as a reimbursement and the districts will receive an electronic deposit on Thursday, June 24.

By KWGS

Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa City Council has said no to a proposed settlement with Tulsa County. The latest feud is over a past-due utility bill. The County offered $108,000 settlement on a $265,000 bill.

It now heads back to a mediator for more discussion.

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – Attorneys representing ousted Skiatook School Superintendent Gary Johnson have filed a motion to get the judge supervising a grand jury disqualified. The jury was seated earlier this month to look into possible overspending in the Skiatook school district. This follows a state auditor's report that claimed the school district wasted near $750,000 on over prices supplies. The grand jury is to finish its work this week.

By Associated Press

Bartlesville, OK – Device found in Okla. parking lot not dangerous

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (AP) Authorities say a potential explosive device found in the Bartlesville High School parking lot didn't pose a danger.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. George Brown said Tuesday the device was determined to be a digital clock attached to a propane bottle.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, Ok – 2 bodies found in restroom at Tulsa, Okla., store

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Police say the deaths of a man and a woman whose bodies were found inside a restroom at a Tulsa convenience store may have resulted from a murder followed by a suicide.

Police did not provide names of the two people found in the Kwik Stop restroom Tuesday evening. Investigators said a gun was also found in the restroom.

By John Durkee

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

By Associated Press

Wagoner, OK – Headstones smashed, damaged at Wagoner cemetery

WAGONER, Okla. (AP) Authorities say vandals turned over and smashed 40 to 50 headstones in the Elmwood Cemetery in Wagoner.

Ron Ross, the Wagoner city cemetery sexton, says the damage happened sometime over the weekend. He says it'll take three to four days to repair the headstones.

Ross says it will be difficult to fix everything, because some of the damaged headstones are very old.