TODAYS TOP STORIES
Powerball jackpot builds to $325M for Saturday
By DAVID PITT
Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Chicago resident Clyde Gadlin says Saturday's $325 million Powerball drawing gives him a chance to dream.
The 65-year-old stopped Friday at a 7-Eleven on shopper-swarmed Michigan Avenue to buy his daily batch of lottery tickets, including Powerball.
The jackpot is the fourth-largest in the game's history. A single winner's cash payout would be nearly $213 million before taxes.
Powerball jackpots have increased more rapidly since the price doubled to $2 in January.
Gadlin says if he wins, he'd move back to his grandfather's farm in Mississippi where he spent part of his childhood. He hasn't been there for more than 20 years.
Powerball organizers say this is the first run-up to a large jackpot that's fallen over a major holiday. They're unsure whether it will help or hinder sales.
Posted: Friday, November 23 2012, 01:51 PM CST
IN OKLAHOMA NEWS
Major accomplishments of 2013 Oklahoma Legislature
May 24, 2013 23:22 GMT
Eds: With BC-OK-XGR--Oklahoma Legislature
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Major items passed by the Oklahoma Legislature, which was working Friday to wrap up its 2013 session:
-- Tax Cut: Lawmakers adopted legislation that reduces the state's top income rate from 5.25 percent to 5 percent beginning Jan. 1, 2015, with a second cut to 4.85 percent set for 2016 if state revenues continue to rise. The measure has been signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin.
-- State Capitol Improvements: The tax cut bill also diverts $120 million in income tax revenue over the next two years to a fund that will finance improvements and repairs to the State Capitol building. Built between 1914 and 1917, yellow barricades now ring the building's south plaza to keep pedestrians from walking beneath pieces of a limestone facade that has crumbled from the building.
-- Budget Bill: The Legislature adopted a $7.1 billion general appropriations bill to fund state government for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The bill increases spending by nearly $270 million over the current year's budget, with funding growth focused mostly on education, health care and human services.
-- Worker's Compensation: Fallin signed legislation to overhaul the state's workers' compensation system. The measure changes Oklahoma's current court-based system to an administrative structure. Supporters say the change will dramatically reduce workers' compensation costs to businesses.
-- CompSource: Lawmakers also passed a measure that converts the nonprofit CompSource Oklahoma into an independent mutual company that will be known as CompSource Mutual Insurance Company. The agency writes about one-third of Oklahoma's workers' compensation policies.
-- Rainy Day Appropriation: Within days of devastating tornadoes that struck Moore, Shawnee and other areas, lawmakers approved using $45 million from the state's constitutional reserve fund to help communities recover from the damage. Among other things, the money will help pay for repairs to local infrastructure damaged by the tornadoes and the overtime costs of first responders. A total of 24 people, including 10 children, died in the Moore tornado and two other people were killed in the Shawnee tornado.
-- Pension Changes: Lawmakers passed legislation to reduce the unfunded liability of Oklahoma's pension system for firefighters. The bill requires new firefighters to be at least 50 years old and have worked for 22 years, instead of the current 20 years, to be eligible for benefits. New firefighters also would not become vested until they had worked for 11 years, instead of the current 10 years. The bill also increases the amount that firefighters, municipalities and the state pay into the system each year.
OKLAHOMA HEADLINES
Major accomplishments of 2013 Oklahoma Legislature
Okla. Legislature tries to leave one week early
Judge OKs stay in hearing over 4 Tulsa deaths
Okla. governor signs abortion bill, 20 other bills
Principal recounts storm hitting Okla. school
Principal recounts storm hitting Moore school
Fallin signs bill to spend $45M on tornado relief
Moore post office service increases; streets open
NATIONAL HEADLINES
Communications satellite launched into space
Officials scale back search for abducted Iowa teen
Students safe after armed man reported at school
Related Stories
VIDEO LIST
Sometimes the stories with the most impact come directly from the viewers. If you have a story that needs to be told, we want to hear it. Fill out the form below and let us know what stories need to be told.
OKLAHOMA WEATHER
From the FOX 25 First Forecast Center..
It's Friday and the weather is looking good for the holiday weekend. We can't rule out isolated to random showers and storms from time to time but nothing organized. ...Business News
US durable goods orders rise 3.3 percent in April
WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rebounded in April, buoyed by more demand for military and civilian aircraft and an increase in business investment.
Consumer Info
BC-US--Dow Record-Three Personal Stories, 1st Ld-Writethru,1173
Dow Record: Three tales of ups, downs and changes
AP Photo FX102, FX103
Eds: With BC-US--Dow Record. Adds photos.
By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- When the Dow first crossed 14,000, investors were overjoyed. ...
Science/Tech News
IN THE NEWS: RESTAURANT FLAP LEADS TO INTERNET MELTDOWN
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- It isn't exactly to curry favor with your restaurant customers -- even if your specialty isn't curry.







