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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.


In BEIJING - A high-speed passenger train jumped its tracks and slammed into another train in eastern China on Monday, killing at least 70 people and injuring more than 400. Authorities were quoted as saying human error was to blame.

A California wildfire near Los Angeles has forced about 1,000 from their homes.

Turning to today's front page, abused and neglected children are taken from parents in Oklahoma County at a rate more than double that of Tulsa County. This is a story by Randy Ellis that you'll only find in today's Oklahoman and on NewsOK. Ellis reports the monthly average number of foster care children in Oklahoma County was 2,261 last fiscal year, compared with 843 for Tulsa County. You can search through the DHS Waivers Database on NewsOK.

The 2008 Festival of the Arts has completed its six-day run in downtown Oklahoma City. It met organizers' expectations by attracting about 750,000 visitors. The festival featured live performances by local bands, art galleries featuring artists from across the nation, food booths and a children's area.

About 6,000 music fans crowded Norman's Main Street for the Norman Music Festival. Headliners included the Polyphonic Spree, British Sea Power and the Chainsaw Kittens.

In Sports, Oklahoma had four players picked in this weekend's NFL Draft. Reggie Smith, Curtis Lofton, Malcolm Kelly and Allen Patrick were the only Sooners drafted. For the first time since 2001, Oklahoma State did not have a player drafted.

Your OKC forecast today, expect clear conditions with highs in the 70s. Looking ahead this week, expect 70s for much of the week.


More than 750,000 visited the 42nd Annual Festival of the Arts in downtown Oklahoma City.

About 6,000 music fans hit Main Street for the Norman Music Festival.

Not to be outdone, there was the Spring Art Walk at Tulsa's RiverWalk Crossing. I spoke with event planner Danielle Raimo on Saturday....

The Art Walk featured artists, jewelry, paintings and music. Tulsa's Alaina Whitaker, of American Idol fame, headlined the Saturday night concert.