From the Associated Press

Tulsa sets record for bank robberies in 2009



TULSA (AP) — Tulsa police say there have been 29 bank robberies in the city this year, the most since they started keeping records of such crimes.

Sgt. Dave Walker, who leads the police department’s robbery unit, says he doesn’t know why the number of bank robberies rose this year. He says he does not think the economy played a role.

There were nine bank robberies in January alone, after which the Oklahoma Bankers Association organized a seminar. Walker says he thinks that helped curb the initial onslaught of robberies by making bank employees more aware of security measures.



Boren says he plans to remain in Congress



OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Despite the announced departures of other Democrats in Congress, Oklahoma’s only Democratic congressman says he plans to campaign to keep his seat.

U.S. Rep. Dan Boren tells The Oklahoman’s Washington bureau that he’s not surprised some moderate Democrats are retiring. He says the political environment is a contributing factor to those decisions to step down and that some of the older Democratic House members would “rather leave on a high note.”

Boren says he’s never thought about leaving the House and plans to visit all 25 counties in his district next year multiple times. At the end of September, he had about $1.3 million in his campaign account.



Okla. man’s body found under 6 feet of snow



MINCO (AP) — The body of a 39-year-old Minco man has been found, still in his vehicle and buried under six feet of snow on a nearby highway.

A snow plow driver discovered the body of Andrew Grover on Saturday inside the vehicle on State Highway 152.

Grover’s family members think he might have become stuck in the snow that fell on the area on Thursday or was so fatigued after working a 13-hour shift that he pulled his vehicle to the side of the road to rest.

Grover’s wife, Lori, says they had been married since they were 18 years old.



2 teens dead after Washita Cty. crash on icy road



CANUTE (AP) — Two teenage girls from Cordell have died after the vehicle in which they were riding slid off an icy Washita County road.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 15-year-old Shelby Pite and 14-year-old Jean Ann West died in the accident, which occurred about 4:40 p.m. Sunday about 1.2 miles west of Canute.

Troopers say 17-year-old Tara Byrd of Weatherford was driving a GMC Envoy when she lost control on an icy hill crest. The vehicle left the roadway, hit an embankment and rolled one time, ejecting Byrd, Pite and West. None of the three were wearing a seat belt.

Byrd and another passenger, 15-year-old Zachry Morphis of Elk City, were treated and released at an Elk City hospital. Another passenger, 15-year-old Justin Merkey of Weatherford, refused medical treatment.



6 state agencies develop plans for furloughs



OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — As state revenues continue falling, six state agencies have developed plans for employee furloughs.

The state Office of Personnel Management has approved the furlough plans for the Office of Juvenile Affairs; the Department of Tourism and Recreation; the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry; the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System, the Office of Disability Concerns and the Pardon and Parole Board.

Since August, state agencies have been told to make 5 percent budget cuts, and those cuts were increased to 10 percent for December and January.

Oscar Jackson, the Office of Personnel Management’s administrator, says furloughs are limited to up to 23 days annually.

Jackson says some agencies are considering voluntary buyout offers for employees near retirement age. He says others could implement a reduction in their work force.

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