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More Accusations Against State Auditor

Michael Cross — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:35 +0000

A State lawmaker is calling the Auditor and Inspector a liar and embarrassment to Oklahoma for delaying the release of an audit for the Broken Arrow School System.

Representative Mike Reynolds called a press conference on Thursday accusing the State Auditor and Inspector of deliberately delaying a two year audit of the Broken Arrow School District.

The Oklahoma City Republican says he doesn’t believe the delay is legally or ethically motivated, but rather political.

“It’s taken over two years to release this type of audit, to release these types of serious allegations, and he couldn’t get the job done. And, yet he wants to remain as a State Auditor.”

Auditor Steve Burrage, a Democrat, wouldn’t go into detail, but says there are concerns the chief auditor’s independence was compromised.
But, he says his decision was not politically motivated.

“My foes are turning it into a political witch hunt. I don’t appreciate that. I think Representative Reynolds is extremely unprofessional.”

Burrage blames Reynolds for releasing an unauthorized draft of the audit to a conservative news agency which Reynolds denies.

The Auditor says he will release the audit as soon as possible.

The stories and music of Les Gilliam

Gail Banzet — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:15 +0000

KOSU and the Oklahoma Arts Council have launched a new monthly feature called State of the Arts, profiling Oklahoma musicians and artists. This month, KOSU profiles the state Balladeer, Les Gilliam.

Gilliam is a member of the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Touring Artists Program. He’s also set for induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in November. KOSU’s Kelly Burley sat down recently with Gilliam for an entertaining morning of stories and music.

SE OK counties have highest unemployment rates

Gail Banzet — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:39:47 +0000

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission
says three southeast Oklahoma counties had the highest unemployment
rates in the state in July.

According to statistics released Wednesday, McCurtain County’s jobless rate of 11.2 percent was the highest, followed by 11 percent in Latimer County and 10.6 percent in Hughes County. The unemployment rates for the state’s two largest counties – Oklahoma and Tulsa – were 6.7 percent and 7.3 percent,
respectively.

The commission said two counties in northwestern Oklahoma and one in south-central Oklahoma had the lowest unemployment rates. Beaver County had a 3.6 percent jobless rate, 3.8 percent was reported in Harper County and the jobless rate in Murray County was 4 percent. Oklahoma’s overall unemployment rate for July was 6.9 percent.

Man killed in crane accident identified

Gail Banzet — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:38:13 +0000

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a man who was killed in a crane accident at the campus of Chesapeake Energy in Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office on Wednesday identified the man as 42-year-old Michael Parsons of El Reno. Medical Examiner’s Office spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard says a cause of death hasn’t been determined.

Parsons was killed and another worker sustained non life-threatening injuries about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when something fell off the crane as it was being shut down.

In a statement, Chesapeake officials said the victims worked for Oklahoma City-based Rent-A-Crane. They say the crane was being used to replace roofing shingles on buildings that had been damaged during a June hailstorm. Rent-A-Crane president Gary Rohlmeier said in a statement more information would be released as the investigation progresses.

ODOT Gears Up for Next 8 Year Plan

Michael Cross — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:00:45 +0000

With more than 12,000 miles and 6,800 bridges, Oklahoma ranks 15th in the size of its highway and interstate system.

To that end, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce invited Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley to speak at its Breaking Through quarterly event on Wednesday at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is coming to the end of its first eight year program which began in 2002.

But, ODOT Director and Transportation Secretary Gary Ridley says the real boost came in 2005 when state leaders committed to the state’s highway system.

“Consequently starting in 2005, the legislature has added additional fund to our program to the point that by 2016 state funds will have tripled from what it was in 2005.”

Ridley says from 2005 to 2010 the biggest projects came from bridge work.

“530 bridges in a five year period that we have replaced or rehabilitated. I would venture to say that is more than maybe any other state, certainly more than this state has ever done in a five year period, maybe even more than we’ve done in a ten year period.”

For the next eight year plan running through 2018, ODOT plans to replace or rehabilitate 650 bridges across the state.

By 2018, nearly 1,300 bridges will have been built before World War Two, so Ridley admits there’s still a lot of work to be done.

He says there are still 345 narrow or low sufficiency bridges which are not on the eight year plan.

But, he told the members of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce luncheon it can be done because Oklahoma leaders have taken politics out of the decision on where construction projects are done and given it directly to the Department of Transportation.

He says this method of handling roads and bridges gets skeptical reactions from his counterparts in other states across the US.

“You can’t raise additional revenues for transportation without having politically motivated projects. You can’t do that. Well, Oklahoma has done that, and in my understanding will continue to do that.”

After analyzing the past eight-year plan, ODOT officials managed to complete 85% of the projects within the original time period scheduled.

Local Satanic Group gets World Wide Attention

Michael Cross — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:00:29 +0000

An event by a Satanist group in Oklahoma City is getting International attention.

A Satanic organization known as the Church of the IV Masters is holding a satanic exorcism at the Civic Center in Oklahoma City on October 21st.

Lord High Master of the church James Hale says the reaction has been much more positive than originally expected when the story broke earlier this week.

“A few years back if you dared say you were a Satanist you might want to look for the closest cover, but the people have really come around and they’re understanding that freedom of religion goes for all religions.”

Hale says he has sent invitations to some religious leaders to attend the event which has already seen an increase in ticket sales.

He says the only similar event was one held on June 6th of 2006 by the Church of Satan, but there was no news until after the event took place.

OKC Racing Could Still Come

Michael Cross — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:00:12 +0000

The organizers of an Oklahoma City Grand Prix Racing event say they’re disappointed but not deterred by the city council’s failure to fund $7 million.

Oklahoma City Grand Prix officials are working with lawyers to still bring a three day event over the Fourth of July weekend to the downtown area.

General Manager DeBray Ayala says the goal is to make this an annual event.

“We’ve done a lot of due diligence and talked to a lot of different races. Our goal is to pattern ours after the long beach race that’s been in existence, I believe, 30 some odd years.”

Ayala says the event which will feature not only the race but concerts, expo centers and theme areas for kids will bring $30 to $40 million to the city.

The Oklahoma City Council on Tuesday voted down a proposal from the group to provide $7 million to get the event going.

OKC Panhandling Ordinance Struck Down

Michael Cross — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:00:42 +0000

The Oklahoma City Council votes down an ordinance to ban panhandling in medians.

The four to four tie in the City Council on Tuesday meant the ordinance to stop panhandlers asking for money in medians failed.

Councilwoman Meg Salyer pushed for the ordinance saying she believes it to be a serious safety issue.

“Both for the folks that are in the roadway and for our drivers who become distracted and take their eye off the ball. So, my issue here was one of public safety.”

Opponents had concerns that banning the practice of asking for money would impact legitimate groups like the firefighters’ Fill the Boot for Muscular Dystrophy campaign.

But, Salyer says if it’s dangerous for panhandlers to be on medians than the same rule should apply to everyone.

No Grand Prix Racing for OKC

Michael Cross — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:00:05 +0000

The Oklahoma City Council says no to Grand Prix racing.

On Tuesday, the city council voted down a proposal which would have had the city paying $7 million to bring an American Le Mans Series Race to Oklahoma City.

Mayor Mick Cornett voted for it along with Councilwoman Meg Salyer and says he received a lot of support from racing fans.

“We’ve done a lot and I think we’re wasting an opportunity here in not pursuing this, but hopefully there will be other opportunities down the line that we can see.”

Opponents argued against spending the $7 million when potholes needed repairs and city departments were facing 12% budget cuts.

The Oklahoma City Grand Prix was pushing for the race next July, and officials had promised to pay back the $7 million over ten years.

Lawmakers Consider Generators for Nursing Homes

Michael Cross — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:00:38 +0000

Lawmakers hold an interim study to look at the possibility of requiring all nursing homes to have generators.

The State Department of Health shows 89 of Oklahoma’s 139 assisted living centers have back-up generators in case of a power outage.

Representative Joe Dorman says he wanted to have the interim study because many of the residents of these places are very frail.

“There is a danger in moving them especially during a disaster so we need to do everything we can to provide their setting as safe as possible and provide them with needs to stay in that facility.”

The Oklahoma Assisted Living Association raised concerns about the cost of the generators.

Executive Director Penny Ridenour says any purchases would not be bought by taxpayers.

“We’re 100% private paid. This would all be coming out of the centers pockets and obviously they would pass it on to the consumers who say that this is way too expensive to begin with.”

Representative Dorman says he is working with agencies to provide low-interest loans to the facilities.

He says Maryland has a similar law requiring generators at nursing homes.