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OKLAHOMA TORNADO-EMERGENCY FUND

Fallin signs bill to spend $45M on tornado relief

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Gov. Mary Fallin has signed a bill that will allow the state to access $45 million from the state's Rainy Day Fund to help communities recover from tornado damage.

Fallin on Friday signed a bill that the House and Senate passed unanimously in the wake of the deadly tornado that raked across the state on Monday, killing 24 people and injuring hundreds more.

It allows the state to use the money to match federal disaster funds and for other "disaster-related assistance."

The state's Rainy Day Fund, a constitutional reserve fund, currently has a balance of about $577 million. Up to 25% of the money can be accessed to pay for emergency-related expenses. The rest is reserved for when the state experiences budget shortfalls.

OKLAHOMA TORNADO-TAX EXEMPTIONS

Okla. Legislature OKs tax breaks for storm victims

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Senate has approved a bill to provide various tax breaks to property and vehicle owners who suffered losses in Monday's tornado that tore through Moore and left 24 people dead.

The bill approved unanimously in the Senate on Friday also provides sales tax breaks for businesses that donate inventory to help storm victims and property tax credits for property that increases in value after it's rebuilt.

The bill applies to victims of tornados that occur in 2013 and for which a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration was issued. The measure still must be approved by the House before the Legislature adjourns.

The measure was sponsored by Moore Republican Sen. Anthony Sykes, who represents most of the communities hit hardest by Monday's storms.

OKLAHOMA TORNADO-MOORE STREETS

Moore post office service increases; streets open

MOORE, Okla. (AP) - Public agencies in Moore have opened streets to residents and resumed mail delivery to as many addresses as possible.

At a news conference Friday, police said residents in the hardest-hit areas can go back into their neighborhoods without having to deal with police checkpoints. Some road closures may still occur as utility crews work to restore service.

Moore's postmaster said 85% of mail delivered from the Moore station is being delivered, and that mail deliveries from the Santa Fe station are up to 95%.

For those whose mail is not being delivered, those with ZIP codes 73153 and 73160 can pick up mail at the Airport Finance unit on Air Cargo Road.

Those in ZIP code 73170 can go to the Santa Fe station for their mail.

OKLAHOMA TORNADO-NIKE DONATION

Nike donating $1M in goods to tornado relief

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Nike has announced plans to donate $1 million worth of shoes and clothing to aid people affected by the tornado in Oklahoma this week.

Nike says it will make its donations through the nonprofit organization Good360 to prequalified charities. The Oregon-based company will also donate proceeds from sales of Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant's KD V (five) Elite sneaker sold on nike.com through June 15 to the Moore Public School Foundation and to a nonprofit group that rebuilds playgrounds.

Durant, who pledge $1 million toward the tornado relief effort, posted on Twitter that he had asked Nike to chip in, too.

OKLAHOMA TORNADO-DAVIS FUNERAL

Friends remember 'The Wall' after Okla. tornado

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Friends and teammates of Kyle Davis attended the boy's funeral wearing soccer jerseys bearing the number "16."

A funeral was held Friday for the 8-year-old, known by his soccer teammates "The Wall." His teammates wore their own jerseys, and adults and others in the crowd wore shirts reading "K. Davis 16."

Soccer coach Landon House said Kyle inspired him to remain in coaching, telling him during an especially cold practice last fall that he really loved the game. House said the child had a positive attitude toward life, soccer and his teammates.

Kyle was among seven children killed when the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore collapsed when hit by an EF5 tornado Monday.

Monday's storm killed 24 people, including 10 children. Another twister Sunday killed two men at Shawnee.

NE OKLAHOMA RIVER WARNING

Rains in NE Okla. prompt Illinois River warning

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma's Scenic Rivers Commission is warning holiday travelers not to swim or canoe the Illinois River after a week of heavy rainfall in northeast Oklahoma.

Commission member Ed Fite warns campers that river levels are high and the water is moving twice as fast as usual.

Fite told television station KTUL it's too dangerous to swim, tube or canoe over the Memorial Day weekend.

The commission also says fallen trees and debris - along with the fast-moving currents - are the main concerns.

Fite says there have been four near-drownings on the Illinois River this year.

The National Weather Service in Tulsa reported Friday morning that the Illinois River near Tahlequah is at 7.7 feet. Flood stage is 11 feet.

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