July 2007 - The Associated Press in Oklahoma

July 2007
Oklahoma AP Newsletter
Happy 4th of July
Oklahoma Flood Rescue
Above: Oklahoma City fire fighter Cpl. Brent
Koeninger is shown rescuing twin sisters
Lindsey and Lauren Penn, 16, from bumperdeep flood water surrounding their car on an
Oklahoma City road. About 20 firefighters
helped Koeninger use a raft to rescue the girls
to safety on dry land.
Right: David Penn, center, holds his two
daughters after they were rescued.
(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Chris Russell of Tulsa’s KOTV had early word that California Rep. Diane Watson had filed legislation to end U.S. relations
with the Cherokee Nation and the tribe’s right to operate casinos because of the vote that would remove freedmen descendants from the tribe.
He also had first word of a Tulsa man arrested for pointing a laser at a police helicopter that was searching for a stolen car.
He also shared the story of that results of DNA tests on evidence from the nearly 30-year-old killings of three Girl Scouts
near Locust Grove were turned over to the Mayes County District Attorney.
The Oklahoman provided a story about hundreds of people, including members of 17 rival gangs, getting to talk about calling a truce to gun violence. The newspaper also provided a story about military officials at Tinker Air Force Base looking for
a way to minimize the number of birds flying near the base because of the risk to aircraft operations.
Beth Myers of Oklahoma City’s KTOK provided an update on the conditions of two drug agents who were shot and
wounded during a raid in Lawton in which a drug suspect was shot and killed.
From the Tulsa World came first word that rodeo legend Jim Shoulders had died. The World also provided a
story about a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official saying plans to boost the flow of water in the Arkansas
River as part of a major economic development project
appear doable.
Kevin King of Tulsa’s KTUL provided first word of a
riot among inmates breaking out at the Pittsburg County
jail. He also had the first report of 17 illegal immigrants
arrested in a van following a traffic stop by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Edmond Sun provided a story about an accident at
a construction site that killed an Edmond high school
graduate who was a freshmen defensive lineman at
Pittsburg State.
The Enid News & Eagle provided a story about searchers finding the body of a teenager who disappeared into
a rain-swollen creek.
Kingfisher Fire Chief Randy Poindexter, center, informs family and friends that the
search for a 15-6ear-old boy lost in Uncle John Creek was being called off because
of extremely swift currents. (AP Photo/Enid News & Eagle, Billy Hefton)
From Michael Cross at Oklahoma City’s KTOK came additional information for the story about Piper Aircraft considering
moving to Oklahoma City. He also provided the names of the other two cities that are finalists for the plant and headquarters.
The Journal Record in Oklahoma City provided a story about a veteran accountant
who decided to open a quilting shop.
The Lawton Constitution provided a story about funeral services for Sgt. 1st Class
Greg Lamonte Sutton who died in Iraq.
Doug Warner of Oklahoma City’s KWTV was first to report a hit-and-run driver critically injuring a 4-year-old girl in Mustang. He also had information about a 5-year-old
boy who disappeared on Father's Day being found safe 10 hours later in a locked car
near his home.
The Muskogee Phoenix provided a story about a church youth pastor accused of
shooting a man in the chest following an altercation at a fireworks stand.
Marie Childres, owner of Home is Where the
Heart is Quilt & Gift Shop. (AP Photo/The
Journal Record, Jennifer Pitts)
Ken Henson, KWTV, had the story of a murder-suicide in Guthrie in which a man
killed his wife then himself.
The Woodward News provided a feature
about historic Fort Supply.
The Ada Evening News had the story
about the discovery of a loaded handgun in
a jail cell full of inmates.
Ed Murray of Oklahoma City’s KWTV
reported on the car stranded on low water
bridge at Ski Island with 16-year-old twin
sisters inside. The rescue by local firefighters resulted in dramatic video and still photos.
The Norman Transcript provided a story
about a University of Oklahoma professor
who is analyzing the contents of two large
bottles of gasoline that were buried for 50
years in Tulsa with the 1957 Plymouth Belvedere.
Onlookers watch as crews remove the 1957 Plymouth Belvedere after it had been buried for
50 years. (AP Photo/Tom Gilbert, Pool)
The Daily Ardmoreite provided a story about a drug store changing its plans to cut down a 100-year-old pecan tree after a
public outcry.
The Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise provided a story about a couple who died in a house fire.
From Oklahoma City’s KFOR, Steve Johnson reported on a six-vehicle crash on Interstate 35 south of Norman that shut
down the interstate and left several injured.
The Claremore Daily Progress provided a feature about a man who portrays Will Rogers.
The Duncan Banner provided a feature about a man who won a contest to design a trading card.
Debra Woodall of Tulsa’s KRMG had first word of expansion into eastern Oklahoma of a telephone service, 2-1-1, which
provides help in finding governmental assistance programs.
The Durant Daily Democrat provided a story about a development planned for the shores of Lake Texoma that is still on
track even though tax incentives for the project were not approved.
The Guymon Daily Herald provided a story about women's tackle football.
Jerry Bohnen of Oklahoma City’s KTOK came the story of the wheat harvest getting started in Oklahoma and expectations for a much larger crop over 2006.
The McAlester News-Capital provided a feature about a man with an extensive beer collection.
The Stillwater NewsPress provided a story a homeless shelter resident who is making a new life for himself and is planning for college.
Also from KTOK, Robbie Hoy had the story that a July 23rd trial date has been set in Tulsa for former state Insurance
Commissioner Carroll Fisher after his trial for filing a false tax return was moved from Oklahoma City.
The Tahlequah Daily Press provided a feature about traditional Cherokee bowmakers.
Photo Contributions
View photo contributions on the Oklahoma AP Web site:
http://www.ap.org/oklahoma.
Photo contributions are updated daily, Monday through Friday.
Evans
Jenkins
Juozapavicius
Latzke
Murphy
Justin Juozapavicius had a national farm scene that included a multimedia
slide show on the problems of the domestic honeybee industry. The slide
show can be seen on the state Web site: www.ap.org/oklahoma
Justin led AP coverage of the buried Belvedere and covered the death of a
Russian boy who had traveled to the United States to have brain surgery.
Murray Evans had a national Father’s Day story about three generations of
jockeys riding in the same race at Remington Park. Evans also had advance
stories about proposed tuition increases, ultimately approved, for the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. He also had the story on
the state Medical Examiner's ruling that drug use contributed to the death of
a woman who was shocked by a Taser while she was in handcuffs.
Tim Talley had a national story about plans to execute a terminally ill man
and a Sunday story about problems of overcrowding and budget shortfalls in
Oklahoma's correction system. He covered the parole revocation hearing of
Gene Stipe in Muskogee.
Sean Murphy had a story on Miss America teaming with a security software
company to help educate parents and children about the dangers of the
Internet. He did a story on the death of Randolph Dial, the convicted killer
who spent more than a decade on the run with a former deputy prison warden's wife had died in a prison infirmary
Ron Jenkins had Sunday stories on well-documented problems in the appropriations process, the lack of a significant challenger to incumbent U.S.
Sen. Jim Inhofe and the fight over whether out-of-state residents can collect
signatures for Oklahoma ballot measures. He covered a court appearance in
Muskogee at which Steven Phipps pleaded guilty to mail fraud and admitted
paying kickbacks to three state legislators.
Jeff Latzke had a scoop on the University of Oklahoma violating NCAA rules
by giving players banned nutritional supplements. He got the story through
an open-records request.
Talley
Special Editions package
available July 10:
AP Money & Markets to offer new online modules this summer
The next release of Money & Markets online modules will
be July 1. A half-dozen additional modules, offering markets information not available elsewhere, will be part of
the release. These key modules include analytic information developed by AP’s reporting and graphics staff.
Later this summer, we’ll launch Money & Markets Extra, a
package of 30 modules designed for weekend use. These
markets building blocks will assess performance and help
readers identify investment trends.
For more information about AP Money & Markets print
and online, check out www.ap.org/markets, or contact
your chief of bureau.
AP Online Video Options expand
We’ve added new features to AP’s Online Video Network that put even more capabilities into your hands. The focus is local — local content and local advertising.
Later this year, we’ll add syndication and user-generated content.
We’re also making continual improvements to the ways OVN can
be presented on your site, so you can attract more traffic and generate more revenue than ever.
We provide you with a turn-key service that keeps your Web site’s
branding. The ad-supported network means members get AP’s
award-winning coverage at no out-of-pocket cost, in exchange for
promoting it.
In addition to the Online Video Network, video packages are available for a cash subscription to give you more options.
For more information, contact your chief of bureau and visit www.ap.org/ovn.
Check out Online Newspaper services at new Web site page
For information about AP’s online newspaper services, check out www.ap.org/newspapers. Find out about online services,
see links to sites using the services, and find links and contact information to the Online Newspaper team.
Weekly Features becomes AP Lifestyles and emphasizes timely content
Over the past year, the Weekly Features staff has worked hard to transform their service into a full-service lifestyles report.
In addition to the food, fashion and homes and garden coverage you've long expected, coverage now includes families and
relationships, pets and holidays.
And something else: Weekly Features isn't just weekly. While the bulk of the exclusive content moves on Fridays and Mondays, members who subscribe also get digests throughout the week.
It seemed the name didn't fit anymore. So Weekly Features has become AP Lifestyles. The name suits the service much
better, as it aims to cover the way people live.
In addition to the same regular fixtures you can count on every week, Lifestyles now strives for timeliness and responsiveness to the news. For example, instead of waiting a week to tell readers about the recent Food
Marketing Institute show in Chicago, Lifestyles covered it live. As Queen Elizabeth II visited
the U.S., Lifestyles produced a photo essay and analysis of her many outfits.
Digests throughout the week also point out stories on other AP wires that might be suitable for
feature sections -- health, diet, fitness and business stories, for example. Regardless of the
name, Lifestyles remains a bargain at about $20 a week.
If you're interested in hearing more about AP Lifestyles and getting its first quarterly newsletter, email [email protected].
AP Elections gears up for 2008 while covering elections of 2007
AP Elections will be the same reliable service our members trust but starting this summer, they'll find much
more.
To be sure, newspapers will still find accurate results delivered on election nights, but now we are adding elements of our first-rate political reporting and information on candidates. The goal is to provide our members
with a complete product portfolio for the 2007-2008 campaign season.
It’s not too soon to think about elections, whether it’s those happening this year or the already active presidential content. Talk to your bureau chief for details.
asap voted one of two Best News
Websites by Editor and Publisher
asap, AP's innovative multimedia news service, was honored recently by Editor and Publisher magazine with an Eppy award.
Since 1996, the Eppy awards have honored the best new media services from the newspaper industry.
asap won the award this year for Best Newspaper Website with a Unique Visitor count of less than 1 million.
The asap team is tasked with filing innovative news daily using the latest tools and techniques in multimedia reporting. In
addition to the angles, the style and presentation of asap reporting are unique and this was recognized by the E&P judges.
Talk to your chief of bureau about adding asap to your Web site or newspaper.
AP Stylebook Online gives your staff great functionality at a reasonable price
You already know what a valuable resource the Associated
Press Stylebook is for your newsroom. AP Stylebook Online
gives you the standard-setting content you rely on with great
additional functionality:
It’s fully searchable, so you can find a listing even if you aren’t
sure what heading to look up.
Site managers can make local style notes and share them
across all users in the newsroom. No more notes scratched in
the margin of one copy editor’s book.
It’s updated live as the AP makes changes, so you have immediate access to an updated listing for daylight saving time or a
new listing for BlackBerry.
With your user name and password, you can log in from work,
from home or anywhere with an Internet connection. If you travel
to cover a story, the AP Stylebook Online goes with you.
AP members pay about 40 percent off the prices the general
public pays for AP Stylebook Online, which means about the same price per user as a hard copy book – but with no shipping, and no waiting for a new book to come out each year.
If you remain a fan of the hard copy book, the 2007 spiral bound book is now available, as well.
For more information, contact your local AP chief of bureau, and check out http://www.apbookstore.com/onsub.html
Get your staff trained on AP Exchange before YourAP is phased out
AP plans to phase out YourAP this year and replace the service with AP Exchange, the new web-based view of all your AP
content.
Now is the time to contact AP to book training on AP Exchange for your newsroom. Simply email [email protected] to book a
60-minute online training session.
This session will provide editors and reporters with all they need to know to become AP Exchange experts. They'll be able to
search for locally relevant news in the new AP database and build custom feeds that will deliver relevant news in less time.
As well, don't forget our regularly scheduled School of Search online training which takes place every Thursday at 11 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m. ET. RSVP for these sessions at [email protected]
Sign up for Topics via AP Exchange
About 80 percent of AP member newspapers have started
using the new web-based AP Exchange service.
Many papers are entitled to free content in Exchange called
AP Topics. These are 22 channels of news based on topics
such as education, environment, and kids and family.
These topics offer news from all states and the Englishlanguage international wires so if education is important to
your readers, the AP Education Topic will be a valuable resource.
The top 10 as selected so far by editors are:
• Education
• Environment
• Kids & Family
• Defense
• Energy
• Agriculture
• Health
• Legislative
• Finance