"It's as if she vanished off the face of the earth," she said.

Richardson said Jenkins, a student at Tulsa's Community Care College, has not had any contact with friends or family members. She was last seen wearing a gray pullover sweatshirt and jeans.

Jenkins is described as black, 5 feet 6 inches tall and 150 pounds.

Police ask anyone with information regarding her whereabouts to call Detective Bob Hickey at 596-1221 or the Richardson family at 425-5034 or 857-8219.

$10 million more expected for Tar Creek buyout

PICHER -- The stalled buyout of Tar Creek homes is expected to get a significant infusion of cash this year, officials said.

The Lead Impacted Communities Relocation Assistance Trust is overseeing a $50 million federal buyout of homes and businesses within the Tar Creek Superfund site in Ottawa County. The committee met Tuesday in Picher to update residents on the possibility of funding to help make up a $30 million shortfall.

Blu Hulsey, a spokesman for Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., said about $10 million could be available for buyout offers this year.

Hulsey said recent legislation signed by President Bush could bring the needed money.

The voluntary buyout stalled in December when it ran out of federal funding. It's about $30 million short of what is needed to buy out 700 qualifying residents, businesses and public-use facilities.

The additional funding this year is expected to come from about $3.5 million that had been restricted to demolition and cleanup work. An additional $6.4 million in new money is expected to come from an omnibus appropriations bill signed by Bush.

FOI Oklahoma seeks nominees for openness awards

OKLAHOMA CITY -- FOI Oklahoma is accepting nominations for three awards to be presented in the spirit of freedom of information and openness in government.

The Ben Blackstock Award goes to a nongovernmental person or organization that has shown a commitment to freedom of information. The Sunshine Award goes to a public official or governmental organization that has shown a commitment to freedom of information. The Black Hole Award goes to a person, agency or organization that has most thwarted the free flow of information.

Nominations must include a letter of no more than 250 words justifying why the award is deserved. Entries must be submitted by Feb. 8 and can be mailed or e-mailed. Mail submissions to: FOI Awards, Attn: Lindel Hutson, 525 Central Park Drive #202, Oklahoma City, OK 73105. E-mail them to lhutson@ap.org.

FOI Oklahoma, founded in 1990, is a statewide organization aimed at educating the public on the First Amendment and openness in government.