The state/region in brief

Oklahoma names victim in fatal fire

FORT SMITH -- The Oklahoma medical examiner's office has identified a Fort Smith woman who died when fire broke out at a house in Pushmataha County in southeastern Oklahoma.

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The Southwest Times Record reported that Lalania Allen, 41, died Nov. 12. Eddie Johnson of the medical examiner's office said the official cause of death is still pending.

The early-morning fire started at a wood-frame house about 22 miles east of Antlers, Okla. Pushmataha County Undersheriff Darrell Nichols said a state fire marshal ruled the fire was likely accidental and caused by a wood-burning stove.

Nichols said Orval Dendy, 23, of Rattan, Okla., was also found deceased in the house.

Nichols said the house had no electricity and the stove appeared to be the only source of heat.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LR argument turns to gunfire; man dies

A Little Rock man died Sunday after exchanging gunfire with an acquaintance, Jacksonville police said Monday.

Officers responded to reports of shots fired on Nobel Road in Jacksonville about 3:30 a.m., according to a news release. On the way to Nobel Road, police met a vehicle transporting the victim, Brandon Ethridge, 26, and several others.

Ethridge had been shot multiple times, police said.

He was taken by helicopter to Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock, where he died during surgery.

Ethridge and an acquaintance had gotten into an argument and shot at each other, police said.

The investigation is ongoing. No charges had been filed as of late Monday.

-- ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Bail denied again for ex-school chief

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Missouri judge has for the second time refused to set bail for a former school superintendent accused of killing a Springfield couple who refused to lend him a quarter-million dollars.

The Springfield News-Leader reported Mark Porter, 54, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the May 1 deaths of Gary Tyrrell, 60, and his wife, Jan Tyrrell, 61, in their home.

Police said Porter had asked for a $250,000 loan before the killings to cover gambling debts.

Judge Dan Conklin denied Porter's request for bail on Friday, saying the Missouri Constitution requires bail to be set "except for capital offenses," and said Porter's case qualifies.

Police said Porter was superintendent at the Mountain Grove School District in the mid-2000s when Gary Tyrrell was assistant superintendent there.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tulsa mayor backs tax for public safety

TULSA -- The mayor of Tulsa is proposing a public safety tax to address needs in police and fire protection and street maintenance.

The Tulsa World reported that Mayor Dewey Bartlett's proposal would extend 0.2 percent of the 0.6 percent Vision 2025 tax that expires in 2016 to generate about $15 million per year.

The proposal from Bartlett so far has called for about 70 new Tulsa police officers, 16 dispatchers, 15 staff for pothole repairs and 18 technicians to work with Tulsa's stop lights. The street maintenance portion of Bartlett's tax calls for more crews to repair streets.

The final piece of Bartlett's proposal will focus on funding for the Tulsa Fire Department and is planned to be announced in January.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Innocent of fraud, says ex-trucker CEO

TULSA -- The owner of a failed trucking company has pleaded innocent to federal banking and tax fraud charges.

The Tulsa World reported that James Douglas "Doug" Pielsticker, 46, entered the plea to a 23-count indictment that claims he defrauded the Internal Revenue Service and a Utah bank of $24 million while he was chief executive officer of the now-closed Arrow Trucking Co.

Pielsticker remained free on a $50,000 unsecured appearance bond after the brief hearing held in U.S. District Court in Tulsa. Pielsticker declined to comment on the case after the hearing.

Federal prosecutors unsealed the indictment on Dec. 5. Records show that Arrow Trucking's former chief financial officer, Jonathan Leland Moore, 37, pleaded guilty on Dec. 4 to federal tax fraud and bank fraud charges.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Muskogee schools plans tech campus

MUSKOGEE, Okla. -- Muskogee Public Schools plans to create a new junior high school experience at one of its schools.

Officials said they are accepting applications for the New Tech Academy at Alice Robertson Junior High School.

The New Tech Academy will be housed in a building under construction that will feature high-tech classrooms and science labs, solar and wind power and an integrated-classroom design. The new building is scheduled to open for the 2015-2016 school year, and will house core classes for 100 seventh-graders and 100 eighth-graders.

Students will experience the New Tech design in learning, which provides an instructional approach centered on project-based learning, a culture that empowers students and teachers and integrated technology in the classroom. The hands-on, multiyear approach gives schools structure and support to ensure long-term success.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Oklahoma lawmen deliver computers

SAND SPRINGS, Okla. -- Oklahoma law enforcement agencies are giving some families with young children an early Christmas gift.

The Tulsa World reported they are distributing donated computers to the families as part of the 12th annual North Pole Computer Project.

PC Power, a nonprofit organization that provides refurbished computers to at-risk children, partnered with area police departments to distribute the computers Monday.

Sand Springs police dropped off 11 computers Monday; law enforcers from Tulsa, Jenks, Sand Springs, Broken Arrow and Sapulpa as well as Cherokee and Osage Nation tribal police dropped off more than 60 computers total.

Sand Springs Police Sgt. Kristie Behar said the effort helps build relationships between officers and their communities. Behar said officers identified families who would receive a computer by talking to teachers in the community.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NW News on 12/24/2014

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