See you at 8 on Fox, Oklahoma City.
Next on the primetime news at 9, explosions rock downtown Tulsa as a gas
plant goes up in flames. Plus the heroes behind a tanker on fire. And I'm
Morris Jones. A series of shootings in West Virginia. Is there another sniper
on the loose? And the new scandal in the death of a college basketball player.
Good evening, I'm Andrew Spino. Thank you for joining us. It was a busy day for
firefighters across the Sooner State. An explosive business fire in Tulsa is
first on Fox tonight. Firefighters had their hands full at a gas distribution
business when it caught fire. Several explosions went off shortly before 5
this afternoon at the air gas products plant that is near I-244 in Peoria. The
company supplies industrial, medical, and specialty gases. The fire was so huge
several homes nearby caught fire. Because of the thick smoke and fumes,
firefighters evacuated about a one-mile radius. Here's how our CNN affiliate in
Tulsa first reported the news when the fire started. Just watch that fire and
that explosion and that series of explosions there on the right of your
screen as whatever's back in there, whatever's being stored, whatever gas,
whatever mixture that is back in there, continues to just erupt like a volcano.
The plant officials say that fire apparently started in a storage
facility for industrial gases. Firefighters say they are starting to
get it under control but it's still burning right now. Amazingly no one was
injured. In downtown Oklahoma City a large grass fire burns for hours today.
You may have seen the smoke from all directions. 525 Bookhouse burn is live
from the area with details on what happened.
Andrew, this charred field is where the fire actually started about two o'clock
this afternoon. I'm on Reno Avenue just west of Martin Luther King. Now this is
an industrial area so no homes were ever threatened but it was a scary sight to
see.
Black plumes of smoke reaching high into the sky. Fiery flames racing across the
ground. A real challenge for firefighters. Started about a 30 acre grass fire. We
burned about 30 acres out here. Firefighters think someone driving
along Reno threw a cigarette out of their car window and it landed somewhere
along this burn line and it basically just took off from there. The situation
escalated when the fire reached an old dump site. And the fire did get into
about a 30 foot tall pile of truck tires. That's the thick black smoke that people
were seeing all over town. Also in those tires with some old scrap metal
potentially some barrels that were possibly exploding. That's what you're
seeing here. Each new billow of smoke is an explosion. Hazmat teams determined
the fumes weren't hazardous so none of the surrounding businesses were evacuated.
But the railroad track posed another threat. At first it wasn't clear what the
rail cars were carrying. In the end though they were harmless and the tracks
were actually part of the solution. The railroad tracks is where it burned right
up to and they were a little bit higher so that kind of helped us with a little
bit of a fire break. Firefighters are still out here tonight kind of
babysitting any hot spots and you can see that Reno is once again open. They
had to shut it down for several hours. Now Major Stanland hopes that today's
fire will serve as a reminder of just how dangerous it is to throw cigarettes
out of your car window especially when it's this hot and dry. Andrew back to you.
Brooke Osborne live in Northeast Oklahoma City tonight. Thank you. Well today's hot
temperatures made battling those fires even tougher and no relief is in sight.
Chief meteorologist Chuck Bell has details in tonight's first weather. Chuck?
Andrew the weather has not been helping the firefighting efforts for the grass
fires in central Oklahoma and unfortunately I really do think that the
weather is going to get a little bit worse for firefighting over the next
couple of days before we see any real chance for improvement. Why is that? Well
you can see most of the thunderstorms have been well off to our north across
parts of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. We could really use the rain down here
but that is not in the forecast. Closer inspection again shows just mid and high
level clouds across our state. A few lonely showers in extreme eastern
Oklahoma but that's about the extent of it and the reason it's going to get a
little bit worse for the firefighters tomorrow is because it's going to be a
little bit windier tomorrow. Every bit is hot. Temperatures still in the upper
80s and low 90s right now. There's your Fox 25 hour forecast 99 for high
tomorrow but more wind will make it harder on the firefighters. Rest of the
five-day forecast coming up. A possible drowning today at Lake Arcadia.
Authorities say a three-year-old was swimming with his friends and family
when he went under. About four or five minutes later he was found by his father
when he pulled out of the water he was not breathing and the father tried CPR.
The child by the way was not wearing a life jacket. The tragedy of this is that we
went to the extent of putting signs out here both in English and in Spanish to
try to avoid these types of things. It's required by city ordinance that anyone
under the age of 13 wear a life jacket when swimming with or without an adult.
The child was taken by a metaflight to Children's Hospital. He is now in critical
condition. Well today traffic was once again moving on I-35 and more this after
yesterday's fiery fuel tanker explosion. Authorities still amazed no one was
killed and that may be thanks to the fast action of some people passing by.
One of those dramatic rescues was caught on home video. Fox 25 Jason Goodwin has
more. Andrew Gregg Parsons and his neighbor Stephen Blair rescued a woman
trapped in the inferno and Gregg Parsons had his camera rolling the entire time.
Oh yeah it's got to be something because that is huge it goes all the way across.
Like everyone else curiosity was Gregg Parsons first reaction when he took off
towards the fire camera in hand. Others felt helpless as they watched the blades.
We were just looking because we couldn't really do anything yet we were just
looking and then my dad later told me to jump the fence and go on the other side
of the fence. Suddenly Gregg, Stephen and others realized their situation had
become much more dangerous. Oh okay can't see anything. Smoke shifted and they came
over us and it got dark.
Keep coming!
We just started screaming so we ran over there. I didn't even see the girl I was
just reaching out my arms and I felt her tug on my arms so I pulled back. After
the rescue the woman and the men went their separate ways without even
exchanging names. She just gave me a hug and said thank you and God bless you and
if it happened again I'd do the exact same thing. Now the men who performed the
rescue have become celebrities of sorts. Today Gregg Parson was bombarded by TV
crews both local and national. Not surprisingly when we met him he wasn't
in the mood for any more interviews and we respected his wishes. Jason Goodwin
Fox 25 news. The fact is thousands of cars and trucks share the interstates
crossing through the metro every day so how susceptible are you to becoming a
victim? Fox 25's Chris Roberts tells us what we can do to stay safe on the road.
Scorched roadway is all that remains of Sunday's inferno on I-35 and more.
Crowded highways and bad driving habits by some were major factors in forcing
the big rig to crash. They don't have to stop in this, it's a normal car does. So
when you pass a truck you need to stay clear of it, get away from it before you
move back in front of it. Every day more than 77,000 vehicles pass through the
stretch of I-35 where the tanker wrecked. Around 10,800 are big rigs, many carrying
hazardous materials and flammable fuels. With so many cars and trucks competing
for their share of the lanes, veteran truckers are asking for a little extra
room on the road to avoid more accidents like yesterday. People are driving too
fast, trucks and cars both.
We hated 55
and maybe it's my age starting to show that it wasn't that bad.
When a tanker explodes the damage can be tremendous but they are designed with a
number of safety features to reduce the risk of fire when there is a crash. One
trooper who helps oversee inspections of big rigs in the state says the blast and
fire were unavoidable after the tank was ripped open on its sides and sparks flew.
Tankers are built with several safety features but they can't prevent every
potential disaster. They've got remotes valves, they got fusible links, if something
happened you got fusible links to burn and close the valves off. And all the safety
features available can't replace common sense behind the wheel. You just gotta look out for the
other guy and hope they're doing the same for you. Chris Roberts, Fox 25 News.
Still no word tonight if anyone was ticketed or if anyone faces charges in
connection with that crash. Coming up on the primetime news at 9, what's on the
OU football players are doing to help other players battle the heat during
practice. Plus a sign the Oklahoma State Fair is right around the corner. And I'm
Morris Jones. Next from News Central is the California governor recalled turning
into a political sideshow. One network hope to at least make it a game show and
they've snagged some B actors to star. Plus a sniper scare in West Virginia
will have a live report on the shooting investigation. Tomatoes, lettuce, what are you guys doing?
Making Arby's Market Fresh Ultimate BLT. Hey can I help? Oven mitt this has nothing to do with ovens.
Come on there must be something I can do. See now the tomatoes won't roll away.
See now the tomatoes won't roll away. Arby's Market Fresh Ultimate BLT.
Ripe tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and pepper bacon all on honey-leaf bread. Oven mitt down.
Try Arby's Market Fresh Ultimate BLT. What are you eating today? We're eating at Sonic.
The case of the copycat sniper in West Virginia. Three shootings and over a
hundred suspects. I'm Morris Jones here's the latest from News Central. Those
suspects all being interviewed by police but the biggest question tonight are the
deadly shootings related. So far there's no definitive evidence. There are however
similarities between the bullets that have been recovered.
Christine Haberly of News Central Charleston has the very latest on the
investigation.
Police are going door-to-door hunting a killer talking to everyone they come
across. Questioning people about the shootings that occurred up here on
Thursday night. They know someone in this small tight-knit community knows
something that will help. People hear things, people know things, and we are trying to gather all
information. This woman told them Jeannie Patton left her house minutes before
being gunned down. I can't handle it. It's horrible. Sheriff can you give a more
detailed description? During the afternoon news conference investigators shared that
they have 100 solid leads. Though they still aren't ready to say there's a
single trigger man, they are confident they'll have a suspect soon. Oh I say
we're close. Meantime friends and loved ones did something they never thought
they'd have to do at least not this soon. They said goodbye to Occhi Meadows and
Jeannie Patton. Jeannie Patton's family cried openly over her body. Even the
reverend has questions about her death. It's senseless. I mean what's the
reason? There simply are no words of comfort for anyone close to the victims
right now. We don't understand this kind of a menace, but we pray that God will
soon guide the officials so they can find this person. Police are advising
residents not to be out at night by themselves in the traveling groups. Tapes
lies and possibly a second criminal investigation. Stunning new audio tape
was released today of former Baylor University basketball coach Dave Bliss.
He apparently asks players and an assistant coach to give investigators
false information. The motive to protect the basketball program while suggesting
that slain player Patrick Dennehy be portrayed as someone involved with drugs.
Tell your own story.
And at the end of it, yeah, just add the fact that, you know, in your day to day life you call, you know, and I'm out of the water and going back and doing that stuff.
An investigator with Baylor says Bliss was confronted about the conversations
and he admitted to them. Bliss was said to be shocked that he had been recorded.
A university spokesman says they feel betrayed by Bliss who resigned as head
coach on August 8th. And in California news cameras have been barred from a
September court hearing in the murder trial of Scott Peterson. The judge said
the determining factor was that Lacey Peterson's family didn't want the
hearing televised. California's high stakes recall election is being
threatened by a lawsuit. It could possibly derail the whole event scheduled for
October 7th. The American Civil Liberties Union is going to court claiming the
voting system is unfair to minorities. For the latest on that we go to News
Central's Charlotte Fadife who's standing by live in Sacramento. Charlotte.
Well you know there is an awful lot riding on this legal case. When some
Californians go to the polls in October, some of them will be using modern state
of the art equipment, but others will be lying on equipment that is decades old
and has been discredited in the past. And so the ACLU says the recall should be
postponed until the playing field is level.
California's first ever recall is resembling a game show. Not just the
drawing of candidate positions but also the cast, a high-profile actor, a porn
peddler and an endless self-promoter. It seems like a Hollywood movie and not a
very good one at this point. The stage managers of this made in California
event are the county registrars who are busy dusting off voting equipment. And
trying to get different systems and polling places ready. For example if you
wanted to vote for Jim King whose punch position is number 10, you would find
number 10 here on on this and punch through and you voted for for Mr. King.
Los Angeles County is going to be a disaster. It's only going to be less
than 50% of the polling places here and as we know that's the biggest voting
block in the state. If the recall does resemble a game show at least it's an
interactive one with the audience the voters choosing the winner in October.
Governor Gray Davis is the reluctant star of this 66 million dollar
production with about 200 understudies or candidates trying to unseat him. Well
I think with all the people that are throwing their hats into the ring and
just making a little bit of a circus out of it but the people of California need
to stay focused on why we're doing this and hopefully it'll turn out good. Now
the judge at the center of all of this is of course mindful of the circus
like atmosphere surrounding this recall. He has said however he won't make any
decision until about Wednesday that's another 48 hours from now. Bear in mind
though that although Florida has had plenty of problems with the punch ballot
voting system here in California we've been using it for decades with very few
problems to report. I'm Charlotte Fadipi reporting live back to you. Well Charlotte
how unreliable are the punch ballots and what are the alternatives? Well even the
ACLU says we're talking about an error rate of about 3% which means 97% of all
the votes counted on that system are actually accurate. As for the alternatives
there really are none at the moment if we go to the polls in October. The
Secretary of State himself has said that the system is antiquated and outdated. He
would like them all to be replaced with high-tech modern machinery but that
isn't scheduled to happen until March of 2004 in time for the presidential
election. What else can we expect this week? Well this is going to be an
interesting week you know just today the legislators returned to the state
Capitol. They say they're going to continue the business of governing
California and ignore the whole recall process. Of course you know that's going
to be incredibly difficult to do. For one thing Arnold Schwarzenegger is starting
to have television campaigns so he'll be taking to the airwaves unrolling all
kinds of TV ads promoting him of course. Meanwhile Bill Simon is taking to the
radio saying he should be the person who should be in the governor's seat come
October 7th. Alright Charlotte Fadipi live in the California State Capitol
thanks for that report tonight. Well it's the first day of school in Texas and
it's also the first day all students are required to say the Texas Pledge of
Allegiance and observe a moment of silence.
Earlier this year the state legislature passed a measure requiring students to
recite the Texas Pledge. There's obviously been some controversy over the
new law. Some argue it will cost extra money to put Texas flags in all
classrooms. Others say it violates First Amendment rights but students we spoke
to didn't mind. I think that it's really important because it like shows that you
care about the state and everyone in the world. Students can avoid saying the
Texas Pledge of Allegiance by bringing a note from home. If it's too soon to
tell though how many students if any will be doing that. This brings us to our
question of the day should students be required to recite a state Pledge of
Allegiance? Log on to our website at newcentral.tv and let us know what you
think. We'll have the results tomorrow night. An alleged new Al Qaeda tape calls
for continued resistance in Iraq. The audio tape from Al Qaeda also says Osama
bin Laden is alive and well along with Taliban leader Mullah Omar. The tape
played on Arab TV calls on Muslims around the world to fight the US-led
occupation in Iraq and it urges Muslims to help overthrow the Saudi royal family.
50 million people once in the dark now have power but for some their problems
are just beginning. New Yorkers headed back to work today but consolidated
Edison asked customers to conserve power during the unusual spike in demand.
Authorities in Ontario, Canada pleaded with the public to reduce their
electricity use by 50% and Detroit got the okay to drink straight up from the
tap. No more boiling water for them. Pretty much everything is back to normal
after the power outage with one exception and that is that the Mets have
now won three in a row. Making light of the big blackout. Now that the worst is
over the finger pointing has begun. This is much more complicated than just a few
lines in Ohio or the control system at that utility. We're into our
investigation now. Bearing the brunt of the blame today, Ohio-based First Energy.
Coincidentally the company is already under scrutiny for the safety of its
nuclear plant. That's been the subject of congressional hearings on a separate
investigation. Plus maybe it was inevitable but Thursday's not so little
mishap has thrust our nation's energy problems into the spotlight. There is
peril ahead if we don't modernize the system, invest in energy the way we need
to because there'll be other evidences of problems coming up. And consumer costs
could skyrocket. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham warned Americans could
eventually pay up to 50 billion dollars in higher electric bills. But when all
is said and done Michigan's governor put it best. Truly average citizens just want
to flip the switch and see the light come on. Investigators are also looking
into why low-tech telephones were used during last week's massive blackout.
Officials say warnings of trouble that preceded the blackout came too late or
not at all. Taking a look at other headlines across America tonight it's a
scene reminiscent of the 1970s. A gas shortage in Phoenix, Arizona. A pipeline
that brings petroleum into the city was shut down after concerns over possible
ruptures. Since then tanker trucks have been delivering the gasoline. The delay
has driven up prices to as much as two dollars a gallon. Firefighters in Montana
say flames have consumed at least two homes as wildfires continue ravaging the
state. 55 mile an hour winds whip the fire across more than 3,600 acres in
just two hours forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes. Flames are
also threatening power lines that provide electricity to Missoula and
Washington State. She carried the most destructive weapon of World War II and
tonight she's been restored. The Enola Gay, the aircraft that dropped the atomic
bomb on Hiroshima, Japan is going on display at the Smithsonian's Air and
Space Museum. The reassembled B-29 Super Fortress was unveiled today in a hangar
near Dallas Airport outside of Washington. It took 23 years to restore
the plane to its original condition. She goes on display to the public in
December. More local news straight ahead and then later. One mom has been watching
too much reality television. She's hosting a contest to get her daughter
married off. Plus Viagra has some new competition but first the results from
last night's question. We asked do you think employees should blow the whistle
on co-workers who download inappropriate material. 53% said yes, 47% said no.
Herman and Sherman Smith lost a hundred pounds each with the help of Subway
low-fat sandwiches and exercise. Hey I'm Sherman and this is my brother Herman. I
was 300 pounds and I was 290. Them boys are huge. I used to have to guard my cake around.
For seven months we ate nothing but Subway. Seven tasty sandwiches under six
grams of fat like the turkey breast with honey mustard sauce on fresh baked bread.
Before they lost all that weight I couldn't tell them apart. Now that they
lost the weight I still can't tell them apart. Everybody thinks we look better.
They look good now. Not good but they look good now.
The 72-hour event is back. The heat is turning up on the Jeep summer sales
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What's up with them? Must be super stackers down at IHOP. Now at IHOP it's new
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A person shot to death in Oklahoma City over the weekend has been identified.
18-year-old Wally Kenyatta died Sunday morning. Police arrested Ari Kerford on
a first-degree murder complaint. Police say they were in a large crowd of people
when someone in a car began shooting. They shot back and authorities believe
Kerford killed Kenyatta. Three other people were wounded. An elementary
school teacher charged with lewd molestation goes on trial today. Scott
Hahn resigned from Bryant Elementary School in December last year. Jury
selection began today and that's expected to continue through tomorrow.
Hahn was facing multiple molestation counts but many of them were dropped. The
judge in the case says once the jury is seated, the trial will begin. But you may
remember the case of the former principal at Putnam City High School. He
got in trouble for handing out diplomas at graduation and the school board
decided right then and there to suspend them. Well tomorrow a decision is
expected from DA West Lane as to whether the board members violated the Open
Meetings Act. Witnesses say four of the five members privately huddled at the
graduation and decided on the suspension. Some good news though for Putnam City
Schools. Almost one million dollars worth of improvements is approved tonight by
the school board. Two MAPS projects. Six hundred thousand for elevators at four
different schools and three hundred twenty thousand for roof repairs at
Lake Park Elementary. Now since those are MAPS projects they must now be
approved by the MAPS Trust. But more than one hundred thousand from a federal
grant gets the final go-ahead. That will be used to expand the district's Palm
Pilot program to 8 through 12th graders. Governor Brad Henry is in Indianapolis
this week. He's taking part in the National Governors Association annual
meeting. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge addressed the governor's today. He
briefed him on a number of Homeland Security issues. Governor Henry says the
conference has been a great place to trade ideas. The great thing about about
this conference is that I can share with the other governors and and and we all
have a vision and we all know what's worked in our states and what hasn't
worked. There's a lot to learn. Well Governor Henry says job growth and
improving the state's economy are the two things on which he is most focused
during the governor's conference. Former governor Henry Bellman is named to a
state Senate committee. He will help study damage to Oklahoma land caused by
oil and gas exploration. The committee will look into how disputes between
landowners and exploration companies can be solved. He'll issue a report to the
Senate. Bellman was appointed by State House speaker Larry Adair. The winners of
last year's Houston Bowl picked their captains for the upcoming season. See
who'll be leading the OSU Cowboys later in sports. Plus they give lessons on
fire safety all the time but today these Oklahoma City firefighters get a lesson
in eating healthy. And I'm meteorologist Chuck Bell. Maybe a little bit cooler
weather in store for us by Friday. All your forecast details are next.
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Welcome back to the Fox 25 primetime news at 9. Just check of the satellite
picture in the Plains states today all is hot and dry across Oklahoma but look
at all the thunderstorms today across Nebraska Iowa and Kansas. We really
would like to see some of those thunderstorms extend down into central
Oklahoma but unfortunately high pressure is in charge of our weather and it's not
going to allow that to happen at all. Closer inspection across Oklahoma today
mid and high level clouds passed over the metro one or two isolated showers in
extreme northeast Oklahoma and that was the extent of the rain in our state
today and it may be about the extent of it again tomorrow. Only one or two
isolated showers in far northeast Oklahoma and maybe into far northwestern
Oklahoma. Current temperatures out there still very mild in the upper 80s and low
90s 86 engaged 90 in Clinton 90 degrees in Enid and right here in the metro area
downtown Oklahoma City 90 degrees with 44% humidity and a southeast wind
blowing at 12 miles per hour. It was hot outside today no doubt about it 98 and
70 were the high and low 93 and 70 of the normals 108 your record high and 59
your record low. You don't need the weatherman to tell you that it was a
dry day outside today no rain officially today we're still eight and a half inches
behind in rainfall for the year. Now look at it on the national satellite picture
look at all the great weather across the northeast in the Ohio Valley they've had
far too much rain already so a dry day for them is good news for us a dry day
is bad news the grass fire danger is going to be even higher tomorrow because
the wind speeds are going to start to pick up just a little bit south winds at
10 to 20 tomorrow will elevate the grass fire risk during the day so please be
extremely careful and don't throw any cigarettes out your out of your car
windows that's just going to cause more problems. Next couple of days
unfortunately more of the same for us this big ridge of high pressure that's
been dominating our weather the last couple of days it's going to continue to
do so so for tomorrow highs at or above 100 degrees across the majority of our
state and then the forecast map shows again for tomorrow severe weather in the
same places that it was today so if you're driving tomorrow to Kansas City
Omaha or further northbound towards the Twin Cities you will run into severe
weather there. Now there is some good news this big cell of high pressure
that's been causing all the heat is going to start to inch its way further
to the east that's good news because that will allow a little trend downward
in temperatures and give us a slight opportunity for rain on Thursday. So
your forecasted lows tonight clear and dry and mild overnight lows in the mid
70s tonight and then highs tomorrow plenty of sunshine don't count on seeing
any rain tomorrow if you see rain tomorrow you are one of the lucky few
high temperatures upper 90s and lower 100s. Here in the metro tonight partly
cloudy and mild overnight low 73 with a south wind at around 10 miles per hour
and then tomorrow afternoon partly cloudy more wind than today south winds
at 10 to 20 and a high of 98 degrees first peak at the five-day forecast
shows a slight chance for rain on Thursday talk more about that in just a
little bit. Andrew how are those Sooners beating the heat? Well it's funny you
should ask that Chuck because football practices are in full swing and in this
heat they can sometimes be dangerous but now some OU players are doing their
part to help prevent heat related problems.
Nine Oklahoma linemen have been swallowing tiny temperature pills and in
the pills are tiny radio transmitters designed by NASA. Researchers then
use computer receivers to try to learn how and why players heat up during
practice then that information can be used to keep players safe. Heat related
illnesses or heat stroke is something as a coach I fear more than anything so you
know anything that will help benefit the players keep them healthy keep them on
the field we want to be a part of. This is the second year the Gatorade
researchers have worked with the OU football program. It is almost time for
the state fair and one of the most prominent signs that it is close goes up
today the monorail was raised to its lofty perch high above the fairgrounds
this morning the event signals the official start of the countdown to the
state fair took fair crews most of the morning to get the monorail up and
running. It takes about an hour and a half to get all three cars assembled as
you see it behind me we still have to put the fender skirts on which takes
about another hour hour and a half after that but I'm getting excited already
it's estimated the monorail has carried more than 18 million riders since it
started running in 1964 this year state fair begins September 12th. Former OU
running back Quentin Griffin graduated so who will fill his shoes we have an
update from Sooner Camp later in sports plus who is helping dozens of Oklahoma
City schools with supplies this year.
A program aimed at getting kids to read is getting a whole town reading it
started with one Georgia teacher trying to motivate students she used a computer
program that tested kids after they read a book giving them points for correct
answers the students were supposed to earn a thousand points the first year
they met the goal the first month after that a community-wide goal of a million
points was established and learning centers were set up all around town. If
they go in just about any doctor's office or a bank they see people reading
and we hope that they'll join in. Residents in Tipton Georgia reach that
million-point goal in November 2000 they're now on their way to 2 million
points five years and 3 million happy users later the little blue pill
Viagra is now facing competition. Levitra and Cialis are two new drugs that could
soon be sold in the US. Cialis is known as the weekender because it lasts up to
36 hours. Experts say it has great market potential. I think that that men who have
had erection problems don't need to stay with a certain therapy if it's not
giving them the response that they would like. While Major League Baseball has
been used as a platform for selling Viagra Mike Ditka will appear in Levitra
ads airing just in time for football season. Looking for love in all the wrong
places how about getting your mom to help search for your soulmate? Taken from
the latest reality TV craze one Massachusetts mother is asking who
wants to marry our daughter? Ten guys are competing for 22 year old Kim Devlin.
They had to turn in pictures references and letters. The guys are grilled by a
committee and cameras follow their every move. The winner will be chosen in five
weeks.
Cell phones everybody's got them but get this the explosive growth in the
mobile phone industry is crowding out emergency radio frequencies. Police and
fire departments are complaining they can't relay suspect descriptions or
request ambulances because of radio dead spots caused by cell phone
interference. It's becoming such a problem that the FCC is thinking about
reorganizing a large swath of the radio spectrum. It would be a massive and
controversial task costing hundreds of millions of dollars and taking years to
complete. This plus fixing the nation's power grid problem we've got enough to
worry about. Then there's Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Sherry Pierre. She's facing
jail time for using a military credit card to pay for breast implants. Sherry's
been sentenced to 14 months in the break in San Diego. Too bad now she'll miss the
California recall. Speaking of which the game show network has snagged actor Gary
Coleman. Wasn't hard he's been pretty much available for any kind of work. He
wants to be governor and so does adult film star Mary Carey. The two of them
will square off in a debate on the network's who wants to be governor of
California show. The debate is set for October 1st. Now that's must-see TV.
Welcome to national sports after the break.
Today we welcome the viewers of Milwaukee's WB 18. Everyone in teaching
must pass a basic communications and literacy skills test or do they? Lawrence
Massachusetts school superintendent Wilfredo Laboy argues no. Laboy whose
annual salary was recently raised to more than $156,000 argues he should get
a waiver from a state required exam. You see Laboy failed the writing portion
three times, the punctuation section once, and he passed the reading element with
the minimum score. According to state regs he must pass to remain certified.
This comes as Massachusetts seniors are required to pass a proficiency exam in
order to graduate. Lawrence led the state last year with the highest number of
graduation test failures. Meanwhile Laboy placed two dozen teachers on unpaid
leave for failure to pass a basic English proficiency exam, another state
requirement. It's time the state removed Laboy from teaching and with the support
of the teachers union. That's the point. Go to new central dot TV and tell us
what you think. I'm Mark Hyman.
Ford's 100th anniversary and the National Cowboy Museum. Two legacies worth
celebrating so on Saturday August 16th your Oklahoma Ford dealers want you to
be their guests at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma
City. There'll even be a sneak preview of the newest member of the Ford family,
the 2004 Ford F-150. Join the celebration August 16th of a hundred years of Ford
and the best of the old west at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage
Museum. Compliments are the best in Oklahoma. Bundle then, bundle now. Today's
high-tech bundle from Cox Communications. Cable has the local channels at no
extra charge without the hidden costs and hassles of satellite. Order now. Get
complete basic install for only $4.95 per room and high-speed internet at the same
time. Pay only $29.95 a month for internet service till the end of the year.
Plus get a free moto and ask about digital telephone. Get all three on one
simple bill. Call Cox at 600-8282 today. The Hyundai Sonata, ranked most
appealing entry midsize car. More standard features than a Toyota Camry LE
including a V6 engine. All for over $2,100 less. Add in America's best
warranty 10 years 100,000 miles and you win. Test drive the Hyundai Sonata
starting at just $14,839 at your Hyundai dealer.
Hurry into the Hyundai winning season clearance at your local Hyundai dealer.
The Dodge 72R event is back. Right now your Oklahoma Dodge dealers have added
some huge extras to the great deals at the Dodge summer sales drive. Get lube, oil,
and filter changes at no extra charge for three to seven years. Plus your choice
of cash allowance is up to $4,500 and no monthly payments until 2004 or
0% APR financing on select models. Plus get Dodge's 7-year or 70,000
mile power chain limited warranty. It's your last chance to get it all because
the 72 hour event ends Monday August 18th.
In sports tonight the Redhawks and Fresno Grizzlies wrap up their four game
series at the brick. The Redhawks flat a win 6 to 2. Left-hander Ryan Snare got
the victory for Oklahoma. Last night Oklahoma won 2 to 1. Mike Lamb walked
with the bases loaded bringing in the eventual winning run. The Redhawks beat
Fresno in all four games. OU has still not found a replacement for Quentin
Griffith. The battle continues between Kawan Jones and Ranallo Works. Jones says
he thinks Works separated himself from the others during Saturday's scrimmage.
Head coach Bob Stoops says they are both playing well. Works was actually
selected by his teammates as one of six team captains. The Cowboys have also
picked their team captains. Receiver Rashawn Woods and defensive end Greg
Richmond will lead the team this year. Some teams choose more than two captains
but OSU decided to select an offensive captain and a defensive captain. For more
sports now we're gonna throw it over to Mark Armstrong at Sports Central.
Hey everybody Mark Armstrong here at Sports Central. More bizarre behavior
from Dave Bliss, the Fort Worth Star Telegram reporting that the day after
the audio tapes of his cover-up attempt came to light Bliss called RT Gwynne, one
of the players identified on the tapes and asked to have a conversation with
him. Gwynne and his father met with the disgraced coach. Both parties tape
recorded the conversation. The elder Gwynne says Bliss was mostly apologizing for
recent events but Gwynne says he was as confused as to why Bliss felt it
necessary to record the discussion. He's turned his copy of the conversation into
investigators in order to protect his son. Bliss had been told by
investigating officials that it would not be a good idea to continue discussing
the case with his former players. Meanwhile the already fragile mental
state of Carlton Dotson appears to be getting worse. Washington Post reports
that the man charged with Patrick Dennehy's murder spent the weekend in
his Maryland jail cell under a suicide watch. That's after guards found him nude
and hurling objects out of his cell. Pro hoops after a summer spent watching all
their Western Conference competition get considerably stronger. The Dallas Mavericks
finally made a move of their own today finalizing a long-rumored blockbuster
with Golden State. It's a nine-player deal. The marquee names Gleeful Gunner Nick
Van Exel is off to California in return for equally shameless shooter Antoine
Jamison. The velvety soft Mavericks also got a much-needed dose of thug in the
swap picking up tough guy Danny Fortson. Rest of the guys just made these numbers
work. To the majors if you've watched any of the Little League World Series over
the years you'll know that they play a little baseball over there in Taiwan.
They're pride and joy right now. Rockies rookie Sau Chin-Wei who hits
the mound today looking for his third straight win. He would not get it. Courtesy
of Mike Piazza and the Mets. That a two-run shot bottom of the first inning
two-nothing Mets up early Steve Traxel zoning today. Having his way with the
Rockies Larry Walker takes a seat after that strikeout. In fact only one hit
given up by Traxel it's by the opposing pitcher. Sau gets the double over Timo
Perez's head. Not nearly enough Mets win this one in a walk eight to nothing. More
baseball stuff Florida prosecutors have decided not to press charges against
John Henry and Claudia Williams. These splendid splinters offspring were
charged with forging their dad's name on a note outlining their collective desire
to be frozen when they died. Laboratory analysis though found his signature
actually to be genuine. The piping hottest feud on the left turn circuit
took another turn itself today as part-time driver part-time pugilist Jimmy
Spencer was suspended till August the 26th. Apparently NASCAR frowns on drivers
throwing beatens on other drivers and that's what Spencer supposedly did to Kurt
Bush. Spencer was also fined 25 grand and placed on probation till the end of
the year. He'll have to sit out this week's race at Bristol and could still face criminal
charges which got probation as well. Both men say they will appeal that decision.
Now we can't show you the Rams and Bucks game tonight but we can tell you this
the lady strolling the sidelines from one a night football Lisa Guerrero will
show her stuff literally in an upcoming photo layout for FHM magazine. Ms.
Guerrero who's impeccable journalistic track record on Natalie Landry did the
job with ABC will sport see-through lingerie in the September spread for all
those of you who are interested. The natural was nonsense field of dreams was
a failure and Bull Durham was well you get the idea. Point is when it comes to
hardball movies the cream of the crop will always be Tom Selleck's 1992 Tour
de Force Mr. Baseball. Unfortunately that was already rented so we had to look
elsewhere for this week's Hollywood hits.
This is baseball not backgammon. Go ahead and yell get it off your chest.
And we did hit 17 foul balls.
Go back in the bottom of the Pacific Ocean I've got business to take care of.
Congratulations looks like the championship is in the bag.
Nice work as always by Rich Goldberg that the sports more news is coming up next.
Performing concert with some of music biggest stars you're in for an
incredible show. Plus don't miss an extraordinary duet with Ruben Stutters
American Juniors concert special. Then can a kid from the wrong side of the
tracks. You're in trouble. Make it in a world of privilege and temptation.
You can't stay here we've got to find his mother. You don't want to find her.
And only OC Tuesday at 7 on Fox Oklahoma City.
The Brahm classic bananas where we start with the whole right banana at three
dips of Brahms premium vanilla chocolate and strawberry ice cream topped with
creamy marshmallows delicious strawberry and rich chocolate and toasted almonds
whipped cream and crown with a cherry anything this good has to be a classic
just doesn't get any better than this. Brahms classic banana split.
You saved all the money you could with us and we helped you buy your birth
house where you raised your family you in turn taught your children the value
of savings and now we're helping them buy their first car. We helped you get the
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Well, do ya?
Lucky Star Casino we've got your game. I'm not sure where these seats are.
Who cares? These are free. No wonder they were free.
I don't believe it. It's gold. A new home run record.
You never know when an opportunity will turn out golden like at the Lexus Golden Opportunity
Sales Event. You'll find incredible values on all your favorite Lexus vehicles.
Going once, going twice, sold for two million dollars. Congratulations sir.
See Esquire's Lexus of Oklahoma City.
An owner of a truck registration business is sentenced today. He was part of a scheme to take money from the
Oklahoma Tax Commission for personal use. Daniel Kiplinger gets a five year sentence and is ordered to pay
more than eighty thousand dollars in restitution. Four of those years of the sentence by the way are suspended.
He's been barred from doing business with the state as well as ever working for the state in the future.
Tulsa's Mayor and Congressman John Sullivan have to wait until Thursday to make their pitches to keep
Sitgo in Tulsa. They were supposed to meet with company officials today but that was delayed because of
scheduling conflicts. Governor Henry also hopes to meet with Sitgo officials. The nation's fourth largest
gasoline retailer revealed last week it is considering moving its headquarters to Houston. The company
plans to make a decision by the end of the year. Well you can plan on more heat for the next couple of days.
Chuck has a last look at our weather. Andrew the five day forecast unfortunately looks extremely hot for
the next couple of days. Ninety eight tomorrow and ninety nine degrees on Wednesday. Ninety eight on
Thursday but there will at least be a slight opportunity for some rain across Oklahoma as we get into
the day on Thursday as we head towards Friday and Saturday. The good news is temperatures are going to
start to trend downward just a little bit. Not a lot cooler Andrew but at least temperatures back down
into the mid nineties for Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile though watch out heat index values over
a hundred again tomorrow. Well despite the hot weather Oklahoma City stops the odd even watering
restrictions. The voluntary restrictions were put in place on January 18th because of record breaking
demand. Homeowners were asked to water their lawns on certain days depending on their address but water
usage has leveled off. Sixty eight Oklahoma City schools get help with buying supplies this school year.
Feed the Children plans to donate two million dollars in supplies to local schools. The money will go to
places where seventy percent or more of students are in families qualifying for the federal free lunch
program. More than twenty two thousand students will benefit. Oklahoma City firefighters get a lesson in
healthy eating today. Firefighters were told to bring food they would normally cook and Chef Walter Roberts
would make it healthy. Firefighting of course is a stressful job and heart attacks are a leading cause of
death for firefighters. So Chef Husbands says eating heart healthy should be a top priority. You don't
have to be a genius or a nutritional expert to know this. If you eat a Big Mac for lunch every single day
and then go home and have Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner every single night. It's not good for you.
All right. You're not getting what your body needs. Tastes good though. Chef Husbands owns a restaurant by the
way in Oklahoma City. That will do it for us tonight. We'll see you back here tomorrow night at nine. Have a
great night. When you see news happen call the Fox twenty five news hotline at four seven five ninety one
it's summer drive at your GMC dealer and we're exceeding your expectations.