Stories Archive

Records show links between Okmulgee County, Glanz

Ziva Branstetter May 29, 2015

In neighboring Okmulgee County, where the district attorney has been assigned to investigate alleged wrongdoing by the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, records and interviews show a variety of connections between law enforcement and prosecutors over the years as well as potential conflicts.

An investigator for the Okmulgee County district attorney’s office is being sued in a case alleging excessive force against a man who was Tased during a 2013 arrest. The same investigator, Gary McCollum, was involved in a botched arrest in 2005 in which Tulsa County Assessor and Reserve Deputy Ken Yazel shot an Okmulgee County man in the buttocks.

County official: Tulsa should pay $3.8 million for jail use

Ziva Branstetter May 28, 2015

Tulsa County Commissioner John Smaligo has renewed his push to charge the city of Tulsa a flat rate to hold its inmates in the Tulsa Jail, saying he believes the city never intended to sign a jail agreement with the county.
Smaligo’s proposal calls for the city to pay approximately $3.8 million annually, or about five times what the city has budgeted for that purpose.

Tulsa World plans apartments in former Arby’s building

For the Frontier May 26, 2015

Plans are in the works to turn the old Arby’s building on the corner of Fourth and Main streets into a mixed-use development that would include 58 apartments, records show.

The 70,000-square-foot structure is owned by World Media Enterprises, owner of the Tulsa World newspaper. The project would include 43 one-bedroom apartments and 15 two-bedroom apartments.
At least 20 percent of the apartments would be reserved for low-income residents.

County: Albin, Huckeby’s exits from TCSO a ‘termination’

Dylan Goforth May 26, 2015

On Tuesday, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Terry Simonson said in an email to The Frontier that Albin and Huckeby’s exit from TCSO was a termination, rendered following a personal investigation by Glanz.

In wake of scandal, another high-ranking TCSO officer retires

Dylan Goforth May 26, 2015

Huckeby is the second member of sheriff’s office to retire in the fallout of the Eric Harris shooting. Tim Albin resigned from his position as undersheriff last month, and was quickly replaced by Rick Weigel.

From our publisher: Navigating a challenging landscape

Bobby Lorton May 26, 2015

We aim to inform our readers about issues that are sometimes critical and other times inspirational. Through in-depth and investigative journalism, we will hold the powerful accountable, shine a light on things kept in the dark while also highlighting the best of Tulsa and the state.

Pickens: ‘They’re not even earthquakes’

Ziva Branstetter May 23, 2015

OKLAHOMA CITY — In the face of volumes of contrary evidence, billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens said Friday that Oklahoma’s increase in earthquakes isn’t due to the energy industry, just to better monitoring.

“Wastewater wells and fracking have nothing to do with — they’re not even earthquakes,” he told KFOR news anchor Kevin Ogle, who interviewed the oilman from Holdenville before a crowd of 300 guests at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Oklahoma City.

Pickens’ statements came during a special limited seating luncheon, billed as the “T. Boone Pickens Birthday Bash” to celebrate Pickens’ 87th birthday.

Group seeking Glanz grand jury says it has half required signatures

Ziva Branstetter May 22, 2015

The group has about 30 days remaining to collect at least 5,000 signatures of registered voters to impanel the grand jury. All signatures on the petition must be verified before being counted as official.

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