State of Education
Tulsa, Ok)--Oklahoma's top educator tells principals and superintendents high schools must change to help students cope with today's world. In her annual State of Education Address, Sandy Garrett said high schools must do a better job preparing students for college and careers.Garrett spoke to thousands of education leaders attending a Tulsa conference

Elderly Man Dies In Apartment Fire
(Tulsa, OK) -- An elderly Tulsa man is dead after an early morning fire in his apartment. It happened around 2:00 Monday morning at the River Park Apartments in the 78-hundred block of South Wheeling Avenue. 64 year old Robert Rowland was transported to a local hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Fire officials say the cause is accidental.

Safe Roads Coalition Starts New Website
(Oklahoma City, OK) -- The group "Oklahomans for Safe Bridges and Roads" has launched a new website to help rally support for State Question 723. The measure would raise the gasoline tax a total of 5-cents over three years, with the money going into a constitutionally protected lock box. It could only be spent on roads and bridges. The group's chairman Neal McCaleb says it's one of the most organized and advanced methods he's ever seen employed to get critical messages to voters. McCaleb says it's exciting to work with younger generations and watch them use technology to take grassroots campaigning to the next level.

Officials Worried About Federal Meth Law
(Oklahoma City, OK) -- State drug enforcement officials and Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn are concerned that a proposed federal law aimed at fighting methamphetamine production could have a negative effect on the state laws that have been working well. The Oklahoma law restricts the over the counter sales of pseudoephederine, one of the key ingredients of meth. Coburn says a proposed federal law could water down the laws on the books in Oklahoma, however. He points out that pharmaceutical companies and drug manufacturers are a powerful lobby group in Washington and those groups have already said they won't support the federal measure unless it supercedes state laws. The Oklahoma anti-meth laws have been used as a model for several other states because of the success that they have had.

Mother Of Slain Child Faces Additional Charges
(Muskogee, OK) -- The mother of the little girl once known only as "Precious Doe" is facing additional charges of welfare fraud. Prosecutors say Michelle Johnson collected food stamps and other welfare benefits for four years after she allegedly killed her daughter Erica Green. Johnson and her husband Harrell are accused of beating Erica and dumping her decapitated body in a Kansas City park in 2001. But Johnson reportedly continued to claim Erica in her welfare applications in Oklahoma and Illinois. Michelle and Harrell Johnson are jailed in Kansas City, where they are both charged with the little girl's murder.

More Services For Domestic Services Hotline
(Oklahoma City, OK) -- The state's domestic-violence hotline now has more services for victims thanks to a new law passed this legislative session. It now will serve as a referral service for victims of violence, sexual assault and stalking. Calls will be answered by a crisis intervention specialist who will provide callers with law enforcement and safety options and refer the caller to local resources for more help. The hotline was previously operated by the the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, but was transferred to the Attorney General's Office under the new law. The 24-hour hotline is 800-522-SAFE.

Body Found
A woman walking along an east Tulsa retention pond Sunday afternoon makes a startling discovery. She sees a body floating in the water. Tulsa Police Captain Steve Bayles says the medical examiner will determine the cause of death. The man's identity wasn't immediately released. Bayles says it is not Jerry Doyle, the missing Missouri man who was last heard from June 30th.

Grocery Store Fight
A late-night brawl at the Albertsons at 51st and memorial sends four people to the hospital. Two were stabbed, two were struck with baseball bats. Tulsa Police Sargeant Wendall Franklin says the victims were engaged in a dispute that started in Catoosa. They decided to settle things in Tulsa.

Baby Dies
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Police say a baby left in a hot car in Tulsa for more than two hours Friday afternoon has died. Police say the 9-week-old girl died about midnight Saturday night. The baby, identified as Noelle Ross, was left in the car after the family say they returned from running errands. Each parent thought the other had taken the baby out of the car.

Soldier Killed
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Department of Defense is reporting today that a 22-year-old soldier from Newkirk was killed Friday in Iraq. According to the D-O-D, Specialist Jared -D- Hartley died after an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Taji, Iraq. Hartley was assigned to the 125th Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, in Fort Riley, Kansas.

Application Review
A review of a charter school's enrollment practices will be conducted by Tulsa Public Schools. Dove Science Academy has reportedly used applications that ask if students have ever been suspended or repeated a grade. Some feel the questions are improper because charter schools are open enrollment and must admit students despite previous discipline or academic problems.