Local & Regional

By AP

Oklaohma City, OK – Okla. lawmaker criticizes evaluation system

(Information in the following story is from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A lawmaker says a new teacher evaluation system shirks state law and ignores recommendations from an 18-person commission.

By AP

Gage, OK – Colorado man dies in western Okla. train collision
Colorado man dies in western Okla. train collision

GAGE, Okla. (AP) Authorities say a Colorado man was killed when his car collided with a freight train on Oklahoma Highway 15 in the western part of the state.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 27-year-old Casey King of Aurora, Colo., was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident near Gage in Ellis County on Saturday morning.

By AP

Cromwell, OK – 3.3-magnitude earthquake reported in central Okla.

CROMWELL, Okla. (AP) Some Oklahoma residents may have felt their homes shake on Christmas Day, but it wasn't because reindeer had landed on the roof.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports a 3.3-magnitude quake struck around 8:10 a.m. Sunday 5 miles northwest of Cromwell. A Seminole County Sheriff's dispatcher said the office didn't receive any reports of injuries or damage from the temblor, which happened about 55 miles east of Oklahoma City.

By AP

Undated – Snow possible in parts of Oklahoma on Christmas

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Parts of Oklahoma could see a White Christmas, or at least some snow flurries, on Sunday.

The National Weather Service says an approaching storm system will bring light precipitation to mainly western and southern Oklahoma on Christmas Day.

Some of the precipitation will fall as a wintry mix, but bursts of moderate snow may occur.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. City offering rebate program for safe rooms

(Information in the following story is from: KFOR-TV, http://www.kfor.com)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma City has launched a program that will allow residents to get a tax rebate for the purchase of a safe room.

The city's plan mirrors a program offered by the state following deadly tornadoes this past spring.

Oklahoma City Emergency Management Director Frank Barnes told KFOR-TV that individual residential safe rooms can save lives.

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Governor appoints 5 to Okla. education boards

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A former governor's brother and the wife of a former Oklahoma Congress member have been named to two state college boards.

Governor Mary Fallin announced Friday that Lou Watkins of Stillwater is being re-appointed to the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges.

Watkins is an ex-college professor and department chair who is married to former U.S. Rep. Wes Watkins. She represents Congressional District 3 on the board.

By Ap

Altus, OK – Pilot lands safely at southwest Oklahoma airport

(Information in the following story is from: Altus Times , http://www.altustimes.com)

ALTUS, Okla. (AP) Authorities say a pilot landed safely at a southwestern Oklahoma airport after reporting engine trouble.

Officials say the aircraft was on its way from Texas to Colorado on Wednesday when it began to have problems. The pilot, whose name wasn't released, made it to Altus Quartz Mountain Regional Airport and landed without incident.

By AP

Castle, OK – Okla. charity to help horse owners obtain hay

CASTLE, Okla. (AP) An Oklahoma woman has started a non-profit organization to provide hay to horse owners who are struggling to keep their animals fed amid a hay shortage.

Registered nurse Pat Penn owns 19 horses in the small Okfuskee County town of Castle. She started Hope for Horses Oklahoma after an extreme summer drought hindered hay production.

By AP

Undated – Airport officials hope bowl-bound Okla. football teams give boost to air travel over holidays

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Travel officials expect an increase in motorists and a decrease in air travel this holiday season, but airport officials in Oklahoma hope the state's three bowl-bound football teams give the state a boost in airport traffic over the coming days.

By AP

Tahlequah, OK – Missing woman found in northeast Oklahoma

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) The state Medical Examiner's office will determine how a Tahlequah woman who was reported missing last week died.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office says 53-year-old Karen Marsh was discovered Thursday about a mile from where her car had been abandoned in the Sparrow Hawk Mountain area.

Authorities believe she died of natural causes and no foul is suspected.