MOORE, Okla. (AP) — A monstrous tornado at least a half-mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph. At least 51 people were killed...

The El Dorado Water and Sewer Commission approved a number of bids on Monday, several of which are part of continuing efforts to improve operations at the city’s water utility company.Board members gave their OK on bids for a new  telephone system for the El Dorado Water Utilities’...

Semifinalists, finalists and nominees have been chosen in the 16th Annual Teacher Excellence Awards program from the El Dorado Education Foundation.  Sponsored by Murphy Oil Corp., the ceremony to announce the winners will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the El Dorado High School Arena. Awards will...

 El Dorado High School Senior Kizza Finley, left, helps classmate Alexis Avery with her cap and tassel before entering Memorial Stadium for graduation ceremonies. Two-hundred and ninety EHS seniors received their diplomas Monday evening before family and friends.

“ ... it causes me to wonder whether they believe willful ignorance is a defense when it’s your job to know.”— Sen. John CornynR-Texas WASHINGTON (AP) — White House chief of staff Denis McDonough and other senior advisers knew in late April that an impending report was...

 Janis Camp, left, and Dianne Hammond introduce the youngsters from Garner Strong Headstart who were present at the Kids Read Coalition Book and Bookcase Giveaway. The books and bookcases were given to selected children at the old El Dorado High School cafeteria on Saturday.

LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas’ state treasurer was accused Monday of taking at least $36,000 in cash — sometimes stashed in a pie box — from a broker who later came to manage a large share of the state’s $3.3 billion stock and bond portfolio.Democrat Martha Shoffner, who...

BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah was pulled more deeply into Syria’s civil war as 28 guerrillas from the Lebanese Shiite militant group were killed and dozens more wounded while fighting rebels, Syria activists said Monday.The intense battle drove rebels from large parts of the town of Qusair, pa...

BAGHDAD (AP) — A wave of attacks killed at least 95 people in Shiite and Sunni areas of Iraq on Monday, officials said, pushing the death toll over the past week to more than 240 and extending one of the most sustained bouts of sectarian violence the country has seen in years.The bloodshed is...

PHOENIX (AP) — Defense attorneys for Jodi Arias asked the judge to remove them from the case and declare a mistrial Monday, arguing the frenzy surrounding the case has created a modern-day witch hunt. The judge denied both motions, and Arias planned to take the stand Tuesday. Jurors will find...