Mayoral election
Tulsans will either select a new leader or move forward with Dewey Bartlett as the mayor's race of 2013 unfolds.
So far, only one candidate has formally announced, former City Councilor Bill Christiansen. But Bartlett has indicated his intention to seek a second term, and other candidates will emerge as the April 8 to 10 filing period approaches.
This is the first mayor's race that will be nonpartisan to adhere to a City Charter amendment that was approved by voters in 2011. This means all candidates will compete in the June 11 primary election.
If one candidate receives a majority of the votes, that candidate will be mayor. If two candidates split the majority, they advance to the Nov. 12 general election. And if it takes three or more candidates to reach a majority of the votes, those candidates will compete in an Aug. 13 runoff election.
The city's next mayor also will have a three-year term, rather than the usual four years of service.
This is to align all of the municipal posts so they will be up for election again in 2016 and put Tulsa on an even-year election schedule.
- BRIAN BARBER, World Staff Writer
American Airlines bankruptcy
AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, has entered its 14th month of bankruptcy, and it's unclear if the company will be a stand-alone entity after it completes the proceedings.
US Airways seeks a merger with AMR, and if the companies combined forces, they would become the industry's largest carrier. American's unions have endorsed the merger with US Airways, but AMR executives have stated they would like the airline to remain a stand-alone company.
The next key date in AMR's bankruptcy is March 11, when the company must file a reorganization plan with the federal bankruptcy court. The company has until May 10 to gain creditor approval of that plan.
- FROM STAFF REPORTS
Superintendent changes
Three Tulsa area superintendents announced they would retire - Tulsa's Keith Ballard, Union's Cathy Burden and Jenks' Kirby Lehman.
Burden and Lehman will retire after this school year. Ballard originally intended to retire after this school year but announced in November he will remain with the district through the 2013-14 year.
The Union Board of Education selected Assistant Superintendent Kirt Hartzler as Burden's successor.
The Jenks school board conducted a search for Lehman's replacement and, this month, announced the four finalists for the job. They are Stacey Butterfield, Jenks deputy superintendent; Kathy Dodd, associate superintendent for teaching and learning at Union Public Schools; Dan Stiffler, superintendent at Buhler Public Schools in Buhler, Kan.; and Gary Quinn, superintendent at Bartlesville Public Schools. The board is expected to announce the new superintendent at its regular meeting Jan. 14.
- KIM ARCHER, World Staff Writer
Good Friday shootings
The men accused in a shooting spree in north Tulsa that killed three and injured two more await trial for the crime that put a community on edge.
Jacob Carl England, 20, and Alvin Lee Watts, 33, are each charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the fatal shootings of Dannaer Fields, 49, Bobby Clark, 54, and William Allen, 31 on April 6. They are also charged with shooting with intent to kill for injuring David Hall and Deon Tucker.
Prosecutors allege the crimes were racially motivated, charging each with five additional hate crime charges.
They are next due in court Jan. 9. Prosecutors have not said whether or not they will seek the death penalty.
- JERRY WOFFORD, World Staff Writer
Local
The driver had a suspended license, police said.
Adm. William F. Halsey, commander of the 3rd Fleet rode a white horse in Tokyo but he didn't enjoy it. In fact, he said "I was never so scared in my life."
