Oklahoma News Report

UPDATE - April 30, 2010.
In a straw vote, Avant school patrons overwhelmingly opposed annexation into eithre Barnsdall or Skiatook Schools. Avant administrators say the district has enough money for one more school year, but it is unlikely it can afford to stay open after that time.

During this school year, so far, the following school districts have held or scheduled annexation/consolidation elections OR elections to dispense with their high schools:

Citizens of the Boley district are to vote on May 11 whether to annex to the Okemah school district effective May 25.

Goodland school district in Choctaw County voted to annex to the Grant
School District; it was effective April 1, 2010.

White Oak in Craig County recently voted to close its high school. That is effective July 1st.

Braman in Kay County recently voted to close its high school. That is
also effective July 1st.

Washita Heights in Washita County had an election April 6 to annex to
Cordell effective May 1st.

Watson in McCurtain County had an election April 6 to annex to to Smithville but it failed to pass because it was a tied vote, 59-59.

A program to help parents go from welfare to work has built in barriers to the best employment options.

We look at what those barriers are, and hear from a woman who testified before a Congressional subcommittee to ask for reforms to better serve program participants.

A few years ago Oklahoma home builders and remodelers didn’t get many reuqests to use green products or techniques. Now, it’s fast becoming the norm.

April 29th from 6 to 9pm consumers can check out the latest in green remodeling and building at the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa showcase. 11545 E 43rd Street, Tulsa.

We headed to Broken Arrow to see how builder Larry Cagel is incorporating lots of green innovations in a home he is building.

Stimulus funds are helping expand a program that places job seekers over the age of 55 in temporary, part-time positions working for non-profit agencies while it help them land permanent jobs.

Find out how in this story that originally aired on ONR April 26, 2010.

Whether a Vietnamese exchange student will be allowed to graduate from Sperry High School is in doubt. She was told by her principal and counselor she could get her diploma when her host parents enrolled her last August.

The straight A student and her host family checked mid year to see if she could graduate with honors as well as a diploma. They say they were dumbfounded when school administrators said not only could she not graduate with honors, she couldn’t graduate at all.

At the heart of the dilemma, interpretation of an Oklahoma law. Watch the video for details.