Marshall Stewart

Armed with a new study about the economic impact, Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture backers make a last minute push for legislative funding. The Tulsa Regional Chamber study estimates the museum would have an 18-million dollar impact in its’ first year. Bob Ball, Chief Economist with the Chamber, says the museum would also have a long-term tourism impact that could benefit the entire state.

Getting the ball rolling would take a state funding infusion of 42.5 million dollars. With little time left in this session, it’s unlikely lawmakers will take action this year.

The Tulsa City-County Health Department is purchasing pesticide in advance of the mosquito season. John Baker with the Department says it’s also time to begin getting ready to test for West Nile virus. He says they’re setting out 75 mosquito trapping sites throughout the county, and should begin collecting them in about two weeks for testing, which will continue throughout the summer.                                   

A house fire just north of I-244 in Tulsa injures an elderly woman. Flames were shooting from the home near Admiral Place and Yorktown when fire crews arrived early this morning. Troy Taylor lives just a couple of doors down. He says he alerted firefighters about a woman inside, and she was rescued.

Firefighters pulled the unconscious woman from the burning structure. She was taken to a hospital and at last report was in stable condition. A dog inside the house was killed in the blaze. The cause is under investigation. 

This week, the nation honors those who work in what is frequently called ‘the toughest job in law enforcement.’ It’s National Correctional Officer’s Week. 10-year veteran at Tulsa’s Moss Criminal Justice Center is Detention Officer Matthew Lyons, who finds the job rewarding on most days.

The first full week in May is recognized annually as National Correctional Officer’s Week to honor those who work in detention facilities across the country.

Bids are opened for a remodel of the jury assembly room at the Tulsa County Courthouse. It’s the next step now that security entrances have been upgraded. The room where potential jurors assemble in the basement of the courthouse is too small and crowded for today’s needs. Mark Liotta is County Commission Chief Deputy, and he says sometimes potential jurors spend 3,4, or 5 days waiting in the cramped area to be called for a trial.

A small business roundtable, hosted by former Tulsa Mayor and Oklahoma Commerce Secretary Kathy Taylor, focuses on manufacturers in Tulsa. About a dozen company owners discussed their concerns and how the city might help address them. Larry Mocha is owner of Air Power Systems. He says giving small business a seat at the table when issues affecting them are decided can help regulations stay reasonable without becoming impediments to the industry.

Mocha says if the community can help small businesses be more successful, it will translate to an improved economy in Tulsa.

The financially strapped OSU Medical Center in Tulsa is exploring a possible partnership with Mercy Health Systems. It could provide some financial stability to the Tulsa hospital, which is seeking an 18.25-million dollar appropriation from the state. State Representative Doug Cox, who is a physician, thinks such a partnership could attract and train more doctors who would work in rural areas. He says that would benefit the entire state.

The Sheriff will buy 200 bunk beds to help deal with jail overcrowding. Officially they’re called stackable portable beds. Tulsa Sheriff Stanley Glanz says they’ll replace single portable beds to save space. He says stacking beds with storage space underneath will give needed additional room. Jailers are also considering placing some portable beds in the dayroom as another way to make more room in the cell pods.

Saturation patrols this weekend will target DUI drivers going to and from school proms and other school related activities. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Captain George Brown says every prom season young people are killed or injured. He says troopers are making special efforts to try and prevent that this year. Special attention will be paid to I-244, I-44, Highways 169 and 75 and the downtown IDL.

The crackdown on DUI driving begins Saturday evening and runs through the early morning hours Sunday.