Bill Self staying in Kansas
A quick afternoon update…
The Oklahoman’s John Rohde has confirmed that Kansas basketball coach Bill Self will remain as the Jayhawks coach. Self met with Kansas athletic director Lew Perkins on Wednesday and again on Thursday to discuss Self’s contract and the coaching vacancy at Oklahoma State.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday he sees no chance that the number of U.S. troops in Iraq will drop to 100,000 by the end of the year.
American Airlines cancelled 900 flights today, bringing its total to more than 2,400 flights since Tuesday. Tens of thousands of customers were stranded and the airline said it will take several more days before operations are returned to normal.
Safety inspections have also grounded hundreds of United, Southwest and Delta flights in recent weeks. Alaska Airlines and Midwest Airlines canceled two dozen flights Thursday after grounding MD-80 planes for inspection.
Expect highs tomorrow in the 60s. Expect highs over the weekend to be in the 60s as well.
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Blake to stay at OU; Malcolm Kelly upset with OU
A busy and gloomy day in Oklahoma City. Here’s a quick update:
A severe storm system is shoving its way through Oklahoma this afternoon, bringing high chances for flooding in a state that’s already drenched.
Damaging wind, hail and tornadoes are also a possibility today. The storm system isn’t expected to leave the state until Thursday evening.
American Airlines canceled more than 1,000 flights Wednesday, more than one-third of its schedule, as it spent a second straight day inspecting the wiring on some of its jets – the same issue that caused it to scrub hundreds of flights two weeks ago. The nation’s biggest airline had already canceled 460 flights on Tuesday, stranding thousands of travelers. Federal inspectors found problems with wiring work done two weeks ago, although the airline says passenger safety was never jeopardized.
Oklahoma freshman Blake Griffin announced Wednesday that he will return to OU for his sophomore season rather than make himself eligible for the NBA Draft.
Meanwhile, tormer Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly didn’t have the pro day performance Wednesday that he wanted. And he’s putting some of the blame on OU. Kelly, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds, said he wasn’t told by the OU strength staff until this morning that the location of the pro day had been moved from Astroturf in the Mosier Center to field turf inside the Everest Indoor Training Center.
Ray Harper has resigned as Oklahoma City University’s basketball coach, after guiding the Stars to consecutive NAIA titles and three straight national championship games.
If big bucks are needed to fend off Oklahoma State and keep Bill Self as the Jayhawks’ basketball coach, wealthy Kansas donors seem ready to reach for their wallet.
That’s it for now. Stay with NewsOK for the latest news and information.
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A little girl burned in her race car
Teacher abuse at an OKC school? A little girl burned in her race car. One Shining Moment in basketball. 3 Things You Should Know today.
First, North Highland teachers’ words are worrying some metro parents. The Oklahoman’s Wendy Kleinman reports parents Louis and Kesha Bell say they’ve been talking to officials at North Highland Math and Science Academy and Oklahoma City district administrators to no avail since December about verbal abuse of children. The couple appealed again to school board members at last night’s meeting. The district is investigating. The parents sent audio recorders with their children to the school. Wendy Kleinman spent hours this weekend going over those tapes. You can learn more in Wendy’s story and in Tanner Herriott’s video on NewsOK.
This story is simply terrible. I covered State Fair Speedway for The Oklahoman for two years. The racing community I’m sure sends its best this week to Harli White. The 12 year old’s sprint car burst into flames on the fourth turn of the I-44 Speedway at SW 149 Street on Saturday. She was trapped inside in her first race. She remains hospitalized at Shriners’ Burn Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas, recovering from one of many surgeries she will have to undergo in the next few weeks. Again, our best wishes go out to the White family.
For those basketball fans who enjoy CBS’s tournament ending package called One Shining Moment, well you probably missed it last night in the OKC viewing area due to storm coverage. However, we have provided a link to Luther Vandross. Kansas beat Memphis in overtime to win the NCAA basketball tournament.
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Morning update: police searching for rape suspect
Ok, a quick update from The Oklahoman. Here are a few headlines to get you informed for this Monday.
Police are searching for a man suspected of abducting and raping an Oklahoma City woman. Bryan Dwayne Anderson, 30, is accused of breaking into a 29-year-old woman’s house Sunday morning, forcing her out of the home and taking her to a Midwest City residence where he raped her.
A 17-year-old boy died early today after he was shot while sitting in front of a house in the 5500 block of S Pennsylvania Avenue. Shortly before midnight, witnesses say someone was driving a 2000 gray Ford Mustang by the house and fired several shots at the teenager, striking him. The teenager was taken to a hospital where he died.
In sports, the Sooners held a scrimmage Saturday. You can watch highlights on NewsOKtv and see Bob Stoops uncut as he talks about his team’s play. And how unimpressed he was.
Tonight Memphis plays Kansas for the men’s basketball national championship. CBS TV coverage begins at 8 p.m.
And in weather, mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s. Easterly winds 10 to 15 mph, gusting to about 35 mph. Twenty percent chance of thunderstorms today, about a 60 percent chance tonight.
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Sean Sutton not fired over losses
Lack of victories didn’t cost Sean Sutton his job. Lack of leadership did.
Good morning, I’m Dave Morris with a NewsOK.com update from The Oklahoman.
That was the headline on the front page of today’s Oklahoman. Berry Tramel
wrote OSU athletic director Mike Holder removed Sean not so much because of
two straight mediocre seasons, but because Holder didn’t believe things
would improve.
Read more online at NewsOK and in today’s Oklahoman.
Last night at the Ford Center, Tennessee beat Texas A&M 53-45 to advance to
the Women’s Final Four basketball tournament. Candace Parker led the Lady
Vols despite separating her shoulder. Twice.
Other news being reported by The Oklahoman this morning, Oklahoma County
locks people up at a higher rate than all but eight counties in the United
States despite chronic overcrowding at its jail, a study released Tuesday
shows.
Chances for thunderstorms return to Oklahoma today, but it should be another
day before severe weather is in the state.
In OKC today, Highs in the mid-50s. 40 percent chance of storms. Tomorrow,
highs in the 70s, 60 percent chance of storms.
Stay with NewsOK
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March Madness begins
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