Local & Regional

By Associated Press

Omaha, NE – OMAHA, Neb. (AP) A business conditions index for nine Midwest and Plains states, including Oklahoma, continues to signal go for the regional economy. In a report released late yesterday, the May Business Conditions Index for the Mid-America region rose for the sixth month in a row, to 64.2 in May from 61.7 in April. The index, which ranges from zero to 100, is overseen by Creighton University economics professor Ernie Goss.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Private funding allows 5 Tulsa pools to open

TULSA, Okla. (AP) The five Tulsa city pools that are opening this summer all are being funded by private money.

As the city deals with a budget crunch, it has eliminated all public money for the pools, so parks officials had to seek funding elsewhere.

Local Parks and Recreation Director Lucy Dolman says that while the city has operated some pools with private money in the past, never before have all the Tulsa pools that were open been funded that way.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Man freed by corruption probe eyes resuming life

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Bobby Wayne Haley Sr. says getting his life back on track is a top priority after he was freed from federal prison by the findings of a grand jury investigation into police corruption.

The 55-year-old Haley, who lives at Tulsa, was released May 21 from a prison in Texas. Prosecutors now say he was set up by a drug informant allegedly coached by two undercover cops.

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – PSO aveage customer bills to rise by $4

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Public Service Company of Oklahoma customers will see their average bills rise by about $4 this summer, but the utility says the reduced cost of natural gas kept the level of increase down.

PSO said Friday says the increase of $4.01 during the peak months of June to October is due to the "fuel cost" portion of customer bills.

By Associated Press

Collinsville, OK – 2 dead as small plane crashes northern Tulsa Cty.

COLLINSVILLE, Okla. (AP) Authorities say two people have died in the crash of a small plane near a tiny airstrip in northern Tulsa County.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. George Brown says the crash occurred just before 10 a.m. Saturday near Airman Acres, a dirt airstrip. Brown says the plane took off heading south and witnesses soon heard an engine stall.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – 2 more Okla. counties to get disaster assistance

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) State officials say two more counties have been added to a disaster declaration issued for parts of Oklahoma that were affected by the May 10-13 outbreak of severe storms.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said Friday federal disaster assistance has been extended to Creek and Garvin counties as a result of severe storms, tornadoes and straight-line winds.

By Associated Press

Washington, D.C. – Parties agree to extension in Indian lawsuit

WASHINGTON (AP) A lead plaintiff for Indian landowners involved in a class-action lawsuit against the government says participants have agreed to extend the deadline for resolving the case until June 15.

Lack of movement on Capitol Hill appeared to place the $3.4 billion settlement in jeopardy. But the House approved it on Friday as part of a package of tax cuts and benefit extensions.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. Legislature adjourns regular session

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Legislature adjourned its 2010 regular session Friday with a focus on the same thorny issue that lawmakers faced when they convened four months ago -- a massive state budget shortfall.

The state House and Senate took up dozens of bills on the Legislature's final day, including several that put the finishing touches on a $6.7 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st.

By Associated Press

Oklahoma City, OK – 3 schools granted waivers after tornadoes

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The state Board of Education has granted waivers to three school districts that ended classes early this school year after tornadoes hit their schools and communities this month.

The board on Thursday granted the exceptions to the Little Axe district in Cleveland County and the Varnum and Butner districts in Seminole County. All were forced to cancel classes after the May 10 tornado outbreak.

By Associated Press

Watonga, OK – Private prison in Watonga closes

WATONGA, Okla. (AP) A private prison that was Watonga's biggest employer has closed, leaving about 300 workers either without jobs or facing transfers to other facilities.

The Diamondback Correctional Facility shipped its last prisoners away on Thursday. The prison opened in 1998 and once housed about 2,000 inmates from Arizona, but Diamondback spokeswoman Sandy Clark says officials in that state decided not to renew contracts with out-of-state prisons.