The state/region in brief

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/ STATON BREIDENTHAL --8/23/12--Lee Carlson of Mt. Home knits a hat band Thursday as she listens to bills being presented on the House floor during the biennial Silver-Haired Legislature. The session is a mock legislature of delegates 60 years of age and older that convenes every two years.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/ STATON BREIDENTHAL --8/23/12--Lee Carlson of Mt. Home knits a hat band Thursday as she listens to bills being presented on the House floor during the biennial Silver-Haired Legislature. The session is a mock legislature of delegates 60 years of age and older that convenes every two years.

Counties seek aid after wildfires

NORMAN, Okla. - Gov. Mary Fallin said she’s pleased the government has approved disaster assistance for one Oklahoma county and that she’ll continue seeking aid for three others affected by wildfires.

Fallin told dozens of emergency management officials at a conference in Norman on Thursday that she’s grateful for the assistance approved for Creek County following wildfires that damaged and destroyed homes and businesses. But she said it’s frustrating that assistance hasn’t been approved for residents in Cleveland, Oklahoma and Payne counties who also lost homes and businesses to the fires.

She said that nearly 680 homes and businesses were damaged by the wildfires that began July 28. She said about 85 percent of those were not insured.

The disaster declaration authorized the government to deliver individual assistance to residents who suffered uninsured losses.

Fallin said she planned to telephone the White House and urge officials to expand the disaster declaration.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Benefits planned for 1-room schools

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Several fundraisers are planned this fall to renovate former one-room schools in the Ozarks.

The University of Missouri Extension said more people are joining the Ozarks County School Association. The group works with local residents and building owners to preserve the schools and transform them into community hubs.

The extension’s David Burton said there is growing interest in developing oral histories from former students and teachers.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Oklahoma drought severity climbs

OKLAHOMA CITY - The severity of an ongoing drought has intensified across Oklahoma with 48 percent of the state now rated as in an exceptional drought - the worst classification.

That’s up from 39 percent of the state in exceptional drought last week.

The report released Thursday by the U.S.

Drought Monitor shows much of the western half of the state, the northeast and parts of north-central Oklahoma in exceptional drought. The report showed 52 percent of the state in extreme drought.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ryan to attend Missouri function

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan is scheduled to attend a private fundraiser in Springfield.

The Wisconsin congressman is expected to attend the fundraiser Thursday evening. He is not scheduled to make any public appearances during his visit.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that tickets for the event range from $1,000 per person, $2,000 for a couple and $10,000-$25,000 for admittance into a private reception.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Charges filed in brothel killings

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma prosecutors on Thursday charged a second man with killing a prostitute featured on HBO’S Cathouse and three other people.

Denny Edward Phillips faces six counts of first-degree murder for the 2009 shooting deaths of Brooke Phillips, 22, who had worked as a prostitute at the Moonlite Bunny Ranch, a legal brothel near Carson City, Nev., Milagrous Barrera, 22, Jennifer Ermey, 25, and Casey Mark Barrientos, 32.

The two additional murder charges are because Brooke Phillips and Barrera were pregnant.

The victims were found inside a burning home in southwest Oklahoma City.

Phillips, who was not related to Brooke Phillips, faces an additional charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

Phillips, 34, is currently in federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind., after pleading guilty to charges related to an April 2010 shootout in Tulsa in which he was shot three times after allegedly pointing a weapon at officers.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 10 on 08/24/2012

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