Tulsa World: State, Local Briefs

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State, Local Briefs

By Staff reports
Published: 4/3/2009 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 4/3/2009 3:57 AM

Food-stamp program hits another record high

Record highs continue to be set in Oklahoma's food-stamp program as 1.3 percent more residents qualified for the assistance program last month, according to the state Department of Human Services.

In March, 450,057 Oklahomans received food stamps, up from the previous record of 444,184 set in February.

The number of people using food stamps has steadily increased each month for a year.

Previously, the state high for food-stamp recipients had been in December 2005, when 443,045 people received aid.

On Wednesday, food-stamp recipients saw a 13.6 percent increase in their subsidy, which is put directly on the cards they use to pay for goods.

The increase comes from the federal stimulus package and is expected to remain until September. It bumps the average benefit from $3 a day to $3.40 a day.

Oklahoma received about $6.5 million more in the food-stamp allocation through the stimulus, with about $1 million of that going to Tulsa County, which averages about 57,140 recipients each month.

— GINNIE GRAHAM, World staff writer

AA flight bound for Texas delayed because of odor

An American Airlines plane bound for Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport from Tulsa on Thursday morning returned to its gate at Tulsa International Airport after developing mechanical problems, airline officials said.

As reported on tulsaworld.com , American spokeswoman Andrea Huguely said an electrical odor was detected in the cockpit of the Boeing 737 by pilots on Flight 367.

The flight crew taxied the plane back to the gate and about two dozen passengers were transferred to another aircraft, Huguely said.

Because of high winds at DFW, the flight's departure was delayed. Flight 367 arrived at DFW at 3:12 p.m., four hours late, Huguely said.

The cause of the odor was being investigated.

— D.R. STEWART, World staff writer

B.A. program will offer prescription discount

BROKEN ARROW — City officials say a program they are launching could provide residents with some relief from the high cost of prescription drugs.

Beginning Thursday, the city made prescription drug discount cards available for free to city residents through a program sponsored by the National League of Cities, a news release stated.

The cards offer holders an average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs.

All Broken Arrow residents can use the cards with no restrictions for age, income level or existing health coverage.

The NLC card can be used when purchasing prescription drugs at many pharmacies around the city, as well as at more than 59,000 retail pharmacies across the country.

"No enrollment form is required to get a card, there's no membership fee of any kind and city residents and their family members can use the card any time their prescriptions are not covered by insurance," City Manager Jim Twombly said.

The discount card program is administered by CVS Caremark.

The cards are available at Broken Arrow City Hall, 220 S. First St. City residents can call toll-free (888) 620-1749 or visit tulsaworld.com/ba for more information.

—TIM STANLEY, World staff writer

By Staff reports

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