Sonics ruling expected today

Where the Seattle Supersonics will play basketball next year could be decided by 6 p.m. U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman is scheduled to release a ruling then on whether the Sonics must stay in Seattle two more seasons or be allowed to move to Oklahoma City. Stay with NewsOK for the very latest updates.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. announced Tuesday a joint venture in the Haynesville Shale natural gas field that will make the Oklahoma City-company more than $3 billion.

The tornado-ravaged town of Picher appointed a new mayor Tuesday. Tim Reeves inherits a town that at the beginning of his term is looking for ways to close down for good.

The Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, a once-proud landmark turned eyesore, is getting a long-awaited makeover that will result in 72 apartments and 100 hotel rooms being added to downtown.

In OKC today: Mostly sunny. High near 94. South-southwest winds 11 to 18 mph, gusting to 25 mph.

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Sonics trial update, debate over Lakers-Celtics Game 6

Darnell Mayberry, Mike Sherman, Mike Koehler and I debated the NBA Finals series, Game 6 is tonight. Also, an update on the trial underway in Seattle.

Listen here to the NBA in OKC podcast.


Rain smacks OKC this morning

Seattle’s mayor said Monday he’s hoping the Oklahoma City-based owners of the NBA team will sell the team if they’re forced to honor the last two years of a lease at a city arena. Mayor Greg Nickels was the key witness in the first day of a trial that could determine whether the SuperSonics must play here for two more seasons or can move to Oklahoma City this year.

In Picher last night, Angry words over whether insurance proceeds should be deducted from federally funded buyout offers were exchanged Monday evening during a Tar Creek buyout trust meeting. Most residents voiced disapproval of the trust’s position over the buyout protocol of residences destroyed in the May 10 tornado that destroyed 114 homes and caused severe damage to 30 others.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. announced a $178 million deal on Monday that will give it more access to the Haynesville Shale natural gas field in northwest Louisiana.

Thunderstorms will continue to develop and move across parts of Oklahoma this morning.

Some of the stronger storms will contain hail, strong winds and heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service. Rain may cause flooding of low-lying or poorly-drained areas, especially where repeated thunderstorms occur.
Today: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid-80s. Easterly winds about 10 mph. Fifty percent chance of thunderstorms.

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Sonics trial begins in Seattle

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Faces of Seattle resistance

If you missed it, Jenni Carlson has a good story about the five men who are leading the charge to keep the Sonics in Seattle.

The story breaks down each of the five men:

Gary Nickels, Seattle mayor
Richard Yarmuth, attorney for Howard Schultz
Brian Robinson, Save Our Sonics director
Slade Gorton, City of Seattle attorney
Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman and CEO


Gas reaches new record

Here are a few headlines for this morning.

From The Oklahoman’s Jack Money: AAA puts the average price for gas in the Sooner State at about $3.31 a gallon. The old record was about $3.29 set nearly a year ago.

The Seattle SuperSonics’ Oklahoma-based owners will have a financial package deal from their home state when their request to move the team to Oklahoma City is taken up today during a meeting of NBA owners. NBA owners meeting in New York are scheduled to vote on whether to approve relocating the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City.

Residents across the Midwest were awakened by a 5.2 magnitude earthquake that rattled skyscrapers in Chicago’s Loop and homes in Cincinnati.

The U.S. Spring Canoe/Kayak Olympic Trials are today through Sunday at the Oklahoma River. Tickets are $10 for adults. Weather could be a factor on the trials. Temps today should be in the 60s with winds 20-30 mph. The remainder of the weekend looks better.