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'you'll never catch me'

Those words were scrawled in marker on a roadside memorial cross in rural Okfuskee County, one month after 11-year-old Skyla Whitaker and 13-year-old Taylor Paschal-Placker, were gunned down at the same county roadside, just a few hundred yards from Taylor's house. The Oklahoman's Johnny Johnson reports nearly six weeks later, there are still no arrests, no suspects and no motive. And a sketch of a suspicious mystery man with a long ponytail who is listed as a "person of interest" has produced hundreds of leads but no notable results.

The ex-husband of Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller has ended up in bankruptcy court in Seattle, months after abruptly shutting down his laser eye surgery business. Nolan Clay reports Dr. Christopher Phillips was the subject of critical news accounts in Seattle earlier this year because some patients complained they had no notice of the closure and did not know what to do next.

Gov Brad Henry visited the Panhandle yesterday. That part of the state is suffering from an ongoing drought that has been compared to the devastating Dust Bowl drought of the 1930s. The Oklahoman's John Sutter reports Gov. Henry also collected a $50 bounty for his appearance, to be donated to a local charity. Read more at NewsOK or the front page ot today's Oklahoman.

Today in OKC expect highs in the lower 90s, with winds around 10 mph.

Anheuser-Busch, the maker of Budweiser and Bud Light, has agreed to a takeover by a giant Belgian brewer, a union that creates a global beer leader and brings to an end one of the most iconic names in American business. The deal, still is subject to shareholders' and regulators' approval, would create the world's largest brewer and create the fourth-largest consumer product company worldwide.

Scrambling to bolster eroding investor confidence, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department announced steps to brace slumping mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The plan, unveiled Sunday, is intended to signal the government is prepared to take all necessary steps to prevent the credit market troubles that erupted last year with losses from subprime mortgages from engulfing financial markets.

Oklahoma City native Bobby Murcer, a longtime New York Yankees player and broadcaster, passed away at Mercy Hospital Saturday at the age of 62. A five-time All Star outfielder and three-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, Murcer was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in December of 2006.

You can find a Bobby Murcer photo gallery and virtual guest book online at NewsOK. And columns from Jenni Carlson, Berry Tramel and John Rohde.

The Oklahoman and NewsOK also rank the 50 greatest baseball players from Oklahoma, tomorrow is baseball's all-star game, at Yankee Stadium, no less.

Today in OKC: Mostly sunny. Highs about 90. Southeasterly winds about 10 mph.

- The Oklahoman's Wendy Kleinman reports new Oklahoma City Superintendent Karl Springer signed on Monday to join the district under a one-year contract at his request, saying he wants to be subject to the same treatment and evaluation as teachers. Springer, a former teacher, has been the superintendent of Mustang Public Schools since 1999, and has been working in Oklahoma schools since 1977.

- The Oklahoma City NBA franchise opened its summer league season yesterday in Orlando, losing to Indiana but sporting black jerseys with Oklahoma City on the front. The Oklahoman left voice mail with Seattle judge Marsha Pechman about how she would have ruled before the settlement was reached last week. Monday she delivered a response through a law clerk. "She is not going to reveal how she would have ruled,” the law clerk said.

- A cold front moved slowly overnight, bringing a chance of rain today and Wednesday in most of Oklahoma. Today in OKC: Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 90s. Southerly winds 10 to 15 mph. Twenty percent chance of thunderstorms. That increases to a 50 percent chance of storms tonight.

The Oklahoman's Nolan Clay reports Oklahomans have been a lot less charitable with their income tax refunds lately. Donations made through Oklahoma tax forms were down over the last 12 months, a reflection of a nationwide trend. Only $147,404 was raised off Oklahoma tax forms in the latest fiscal year, which ended last week. That's the lowest total in years, records show.

A hole the westbound lanes of the Crosstown Expressway was repaired Sunday. Transportation Department officials said the repairs were completed and the roads reopened about 10 p.m. after having been closed for more than six hours.

A public hearing is planned at the state Capitol this week to discuss whether a four-day work week for state employees would save money as energy prices continue to rise. Scott Barger, the deputy director of the Oklahoma Public Employees Association, said cutting one commute a week would be one way to help defray costs for state employees. The hearing is planned for 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Today in OKC: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid-90s. Southerly winds 10 to 20 mph.

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.

Edwin Grant Dowty, a Woodward educator, former foster parent and minister of the New Covenant Church of Woodward was arrested Monday and charged with three counts of lewd molestation of a female under the age of 13.

Ellen Censky, director of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, announced today she will resign next month from the University of Oklahoma museum.

Oklahoma State University today became the largest campus in the state to ban tobacco. OSU President Burns Hargis said the policy aims to make OSU a clean and healthy environment.

Starbucks Corp. has announced it's closing 600 underperforming stores in the United States. it expects to open fewer than 200 new company-operated stores in the United States in fiscal 2009.

Looking ahead to your Wednesday forecast, expect highs in the mid 90s in OKC.

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.

So far this summer has been ridiculous with non-stop wind. Angi hit Bricktown to ask people if they preferred this summer's wind or last summer's rain.

A federal judge Wednesday blocked enforcement of employer-related provisions of House Bill 1804, the state’s controversial immigration law.

The Oklahoman’s Jay Marks and Devona Walker report U.S. District Judge Robin Cauthron in Oklahoma City ruled those sections likely interfere with federal rules regarding the hiring of unauthorized workers. In granting the injunction, she said a pending lawsuit against HB 1804 has “a substantial likelihood of success.”

Continental Airlines Inc. said today it is cutting 3,000 jobs and reducing capacity in the fourth quarter by 11 percent, citing record fuel costs that have pushed the airline industry into a “crisis.”

John Sutter reports the state secretary of agriculture asked the governor Wednesday afternoon to start the process of classifying the Oklahoma Panhandle as a disaster area because of an extreme drought. Here’s how it’s affecting farmers: Crops are failing in the western Panhandle, and farmers are running out of grass to feed their cattle.

Your OKC forecast: Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 90s. Southerly winds 25 to 35 mph. Twenty percent chance of thunderstorms, with some turning severe late in the afternoon.