Oklahoma News Digest

Hello! Here's a look at how AP's general news coverage is shaping up in Oklahoma. Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to the AP-Oklahoma City bureau at [email protected] or 405-525-2121.

A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories and digests will keep you up to date. All times Central.

Some TV and radio stations will receive broadcast versions of the stories below, along with all updates.

For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at newsroom.ap.org

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TOP STORIES:

SOUTHERN STORMS

Forecasters are warning of hurricane-force wind gusts and hail the size of baseballs as a potent storm threatens to spin up tornadoes and drench the South with heavy rains. The national Storm Prediction Center said more than 18 million people in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma will be at an enhanced threat of storms that could include strong tornadoes and flooding rains. The area includes several major Texas cities including Dallas, Houston and Austin. The National Weather Service said wind gusts could top 80 mph — the speed of a Category 1 hurricane. By Jeff Martin.

US--OPIOID LAWSUIT-OKLAHOMA

The state of Oklahoma will receive $8.75 million from two pharmaceutical companies as part of a deal that will end legal action the state was considering against the opioid manufacturers. Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter announced the agreement Friday with Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., both subsidiaries of Dublin-based Endo International. AP Photos pursuing.

SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS-LAYOFFS

WICHITA, Kansas — Problems for Boeing and its troubled 737 Max aircraft, which appear to be growing deeper, have begun to ripple outward with a major supplier announcing Friday that it will lay off more than 20% of its workforce in Kansas, where it is based. The announcement of 2,800 layoffs at Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita come one day after documents became public showing that Boeing employees raised doubts about the safety of the 737 Max. Spirit plans to implement smaller workforce reductions this month for its plants in Tulsa and McAlester, Oklahoma. By Roxana Hegeman. AP Photos.

FROM AP MEMBERS:

DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS VANDALIZED-OKLAHOMA

NORMAN, Okla. — An Oklahoma woman has pleaded guilty to spray-painting racist, anti-gay and anti-Semitic graffiti on Democratic Party offices and other properties in central Oklahoma in 2019. The Oklahoman reports that 46-year-old Allison Christine Johnson of Norman pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony charge of malicious injury to property, three misdemeanor counts of malicious injury to property and one misdemeanor count of malicious intimidation or harassment. AP Photos.

REDUCING REGULATIONS-OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA CITY— Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is taking steps to reduce the requirements for businesses to open in the state. The Republican governor said Wednesday that he plans to sign an executive order aimed at slashing the number of regulations in Oklahoma by 25% by the end of his term in 2023. UPCOMING: 255 words.

IN SPORTS:

BASKETBALL:

BKC—BIG 12 THIS WEEK

The Big 12 is heading into its second week of conference play. A high-profile matchup between third-ranked Kansas and No. 4 Baylor on Saturday could set the stage for the rest of the season. The other big game Saturday features No. 17 West Virginia against Texas Tech. On the women's side, sixth-ranked Baylor is flying high into the weekend after routing No. 1 Connecticut, ending the Huskies' 98-game home winning streak. By Dave Skretta. AP Photos.

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