Okla. DOC workers fight for pay raises

Submitted by KFOR-TV, KFOR-TV

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013, 6:26pm

OKLAHOMA CITY – Department of Corrections officers are saying they are under-payed and overworked.

DOC officers rallied at the State House to protest their working conditions.

Those workers said they’re especially upset because the agency saw no extra funding in the state’s budget agreement announced last week.

Several DOC workers said low pay and high stress is what has led to huge turnover and hundreds of unfilled jobs.

“We do a job that a lot of people would never do; we work with the worst of the worst,” Capt. Doug Mccallister said.

The starting salary for DOC employees is just $11.83 an hour or just over $24,000 a year.

“We are completely worn out and tired,” Sgt. David Edelman said.

David and Doug said companies like Hobby Lobby start employees off with a higher salary than the DOC.

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Rattlesnake Republic star gets help in Oklahoma

Submitted by KFOR-TV, KFOR-TV

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013, 10:11pm

RISING STAR, Texas – Rattlesnake Republic on Animal Planet features daredevil snake-charmer, Jackie Bibby, a Texas native who recently found life-saving help from a Oklahoma prosthetics company, Scott Sabolich.

News Channel 4′s Ali Meyer traveled to the heart of Texas to meet Bibby and learn more about the trade that took his right leg.

Rising Star only has about 835 residents.

It is a sleepy one-horse town, hardly the spot you’d expect to give rise to a thrill-seeking reality TV star.

Bibby is a regular at the Rising Star Senior Center, where he comes for the food and the attention; a real local celebrity.

Bibby and his father, 83-year-old Arley Bibby, live just outside of town.

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Saving a Buck: What’s in your attic?

Submitted by KFOR-TV, KFOR-TV

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013, 6:09pm

Just thinking about cleaning out the attic or garage can be a nightmare.

Whether it’s your home or a family member’s, those boxes could be full of treasure.

Matt McNeil, with OKCEstateSales.com, said before you throw everything away, consider having it appraised.

Items that may seem like junk could be worth quite a bit.

McNeil said, “A lot of time laymen get overzealous and they tend to want to pitch everything in the dumpster.”

McNeil said things don’t need to be more than 100 years old in order to have value.

One of the hot items to look for is old furniture.

McNeil said, “Forty years ago no one wanted mid-century modern furniture; today it’s one of the hottest commodities out there.”

Another hot item, old toys.

McNeil said, “Baby boomers are buying back their toys.”

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Gov. Fallin signs law to help protect seniors

Submitted by KFOR-TV, KFOR-TV

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013, 5:26pm

OKLAHOMA CITY – Elderly advocates in Oklahoma celebrate a victory.

This week Governor Fallin signed Senate Bill 587 into law.

The law officially allows cameras in nursing home rooms.

The goal is to combat the horrible crime of elderly abuse.

Hidden cameras have always been legal to use in nursing homes but many businesses would try to deny their use or threaten to evict residents if they installed them.

The new law leaves no doubt families have the right to use hidden cameras if they suspect their loved ones are being abused.

“Nursing home residents are safer now than they’ve ever been before,” elderly advocate Wes Bledsoe said.

The new law signed by the governor unanimously passed the Senate last week.

It allows nursing home residents or their legal representatives to install electronic monitoring at their own expense.

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The 4Warn Storm Team presents – TORNADO WEEK

Submitted by Donita Hunter on Tuesday, May 7th, 2:04 pm

If you've been in Oklahoma for just a short time or all your life, chances are you've experienced a tornado in some form. Whether it was watching live 4Warn coverage on television or getting a little to close for comfort with a funnel cloud, the 4Warn team wants to keep you informed and safe during this rather turbulent time of year, weather-wise.

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Lawmaker gets national attention for food stamp reform

Submitted by KFOR-TV, KFOR-TV

Monday, May 6th, 2013, 4:42pm

An Oklahoma lawmaker is making headlines for proposing cutting billions from the nation’s food stamp program.

Oklahoma’s Third District Representative Frank Lucas wants to slice $20 billion over the next 10 years.

Lucas told the Tulsa World that the proposed reductions “won’t take a calorie off the plate of anyone who needs help.”

Instead, to achieve the savings, he would eliminate categorical eligibility which would impact food stamp recipients in 43 states, including Oklahoma.

Lucas said he’ll start formally writing the bill later this month.

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