Oklahoma News Report

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Two young men who were enemies in life are spending eternity together in this unusual gravesite in Edmond. Alongside the BNSF railroad tracks between 33rd and 15th streets, the bodies of Willie Davis and Frank Mosier have rested side-by-side for more than a century. Author David Farris took me on a tour of this and other mysterious sites around the city of Edmond.

This story originally aired on the ONR Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009.

Gov. Henry and legislative leaders announced today state government will face 5-percent across the board budget cuts for the remainder of the fiscal year. That’s in addition to the 7-percent cut many state agencies recieved at the start of the fiscal year three months ago.

The governor, House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee say discussions with business leaders and economists make it apparent to them that the state’s economy will not recover enough to avoid the cutbacks.

They also urged agencies to look for more ways to save money, warning that larger cuts could yet come.

The governor also says that the ongoing revenue failures do warrant tapping the state’s Rainy Day Fund to preserve critical services but that apparently won’t happen until next year during the next legislative session.

A recent survey released by the U.S. Travel Association notes that tourism has a $6.1 Billion impact on Oklahoma’s economy. That figure makes tourism one of the largest industries in the state, employing more than 76-thousand Oklahomans.

It also makes the job of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department all that much more important to jobs and the economy in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma City and Tulsa are able to capture a lion share of that revenue through conventions and events. For example, just this week alone, the U.S. Team Roping Championships are at State Fair Park in Oklahoma City, while Tulsa is hosting the U.S. Arabian and Half Arabian Horse Show at Expo Square. Also, the Oklahoma City Thunder begins it’s second NBA season in the state on Wednesday. The “So You Think You Can Dance 2009 Tour” comes to the BOK Center in Tulsa on Friday. All events which bring in tourism and recreation money.

The relationship between tourism revenue and the state doesn’t end there. Rural communities like Watonga rely on Roman Nose State Park to bring in visitors. Those towns support the Tourism Department’s efforts to renovate and promote our State Parks.

We’ll take a look at the relationship between Oklahoma and it’s State Tourism Department in our Two Part, “It’s Your Government” series starting tonight(Tuesday October 27) and continuing tomorrow(Wednesday October 28) at 6:30 on the Oklahoma News Report.

The state’s largest 2-year college is expanding its campus.
Tulsa Community College recently invited the media to tour its newest facility, Center for Creativity.
The hi-tech building incorporates several different fields of study including journalism, digital media, and visual arts education.
This year the school quadrupled the number of students majoring in those areas.

Looking for a great Oklahoma get-away or a place to hold a conference, wedding or reunion?

If you are the folks at the Kerr Conference Center and Museum near Poteau want to hear from you. The center is housed in the palacial former summer home and intended retirement home of Sen. Robert S. Kerr.

The 11,000 square foot mansion has hosted three presidents, including JFK, and is a bargain when you consider a room a President slept in goes for about $75 a night. There’s also a pair of rooms created out of what had been the Kerr grandchildren’s playroom. It was designed to look like a submarine. It’s totally fun! But whether you stay in a sub or where a prez once slept, there is one thing all the rooms have in common, the spectacular view that enticed the Kerr’s to build their dream home on a hill near Poteau.

See it for yourself tonight at 6:30 on the Oklahoma News Report, and see even more this weekend when you joing me for Tulsa Times at 5pm Saturday