Calling his role “a joy” and “the best job I’ll ever have,” Miles Tolbert resigned his position as Oklahoma’s secretary for the environment. The announcement was made yesterday.

Tolbert is returning to the Oklahoma City law firm where he practiced before being appointed to the state’s top environmental post by Gov. Brad Henry in January, 2003. Tolbert said the law firm’s increased emphasis on environmental law presented an…[more]

Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry recently met with farmers and ranchers in Cimarron County to discuss the formidable challenges facing them as the result of the ongoing drought. The Governor has already requested federal aid for nine drought-stricken counties in northwestern Oklahoma and today assured residents that state officials will do everything in their power to help.[more]

STILLWATER, Okla. – They can be seen across Oklahoma: Conspicuous signs at gasoline stations citing that fuel may contain up to 10 percent ethanol.

“It didn’t take very long for the questions to start after July 1, when gasoline stations in Oklahoma were required to post labels about ethanol content in their fuels,” said Scott Frazier, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service energy and manufacturing systems engineer.[more]

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.announced it would expand its discounted prescription drug program to offer 90-day supplies for $10 and add several women’s medications at a discount. It also said it would lower the price of more than 1,000 over-the-counter drugs.

The medications for women will be added to the company’s list of prescriptions available for $9 and include medicines used in the treatment of breast cancer and hormone deficiency.…[more]

Seven barges broke loose from their moorings at the Port of Muskogee and struck the Highway 62 bridge.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation closed the bridge for inspections from early Monday until about a short time ago.

No injuries were reported and officials at the scene report that no damage appeared to have occurred to the bridge itself. At this time, it is uncertain how the…[more]

Oklahoma City - Last Friday, Governor Brad Henry approved $11.5 million in emergency funding for Oklahoma public schools, but added that K-12 education will need additional supplemental funding to help address a funding shortfall this fiscal year.

“As I said last week, this is only a first step to addressing the immediate funding needs of our public schools,” said Gov. Henry. “There is no question that K-12 education…[more]

Environmentalists are asking Oklahoma and three other states to stop the commercial harvesting of freshwater turtles.

A recent study conducted by researchers at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater showed that thousands of turtles are being harvested in the state, especially from rivers and streams in eastern and southeastern Oklahoma.

Turtles are taken commercially for their meat, which is often sold in Asia and in Asian markets…[more]

Zach Dunlap looks pretty good for a dead guy. He said he feels “pretty good,” too.

Four months ago, the 21 year old from Frederick, Oklahoma, was pronounced brain dead by doctors in Wichita Falls, Texas after Dunlap had suffered injuries from an all-terrain vehicle accident.

Doctors were preparing to remove Dunlap’s organs for transplant as his family gathered around him to pay their last respects.…[more]

Oklahoma development of biofuels is getting a high-octane boost, thanks to a new $1.2 million bioenergy laboratory being constructed at Oklahoma State University, west of the Stillwater campus.

Gov. Brad Henry, former Gov. Henry Bellmon, members of the Oklahoma legislature, industry leaders, OSU Regents and university officials including new OSU President Burns Hargis were on campus March 7 to celebrate what the new laboratory heralds in terms of…[more]

Tulsa police made good use of fortune cookies to make an arrest late last week after a pair of Chinese restaurant break-ins.

Terrence Middleton, age 30, was booked on charges of second-degree burglary and attempted second-degree burglary after police found him with $20 in coins in his pocket … along with the fortune cookies. The cookies provided a link to one of the robberies because they matched the…[more]