State Digest

Disaster designation for 4 Oklahoma counties due to drought

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gov. Mary Fallin's office says four counties in northeastern Oklahoma have been designated disaster areas because of drought, making farmers and ranchers eligible for federal assistance.

Fallin's office said Friday that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue notified Fallin of the designation, which makes farmers and ranchers in adjoining counties in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas also eligible for aid.

The primary counties are Nowata, Rogers, Mayes and Delaware.

Adjacent counties are Washington, Tulsa, Wagoner, Cherokee, Adair, Craig and Ottawa in Oklahoma; Montgomery and Labette counties in Kansas; McDonald County, Missouri and Benton County, Arkansas.

The declaration means farmers and ranchers in the counties can apply for certain types of aid, including emergency loans.

Local Farm Service Agency offices will have information on the declaration and how to apply for assistance.

Arkansas Democratic official sues over AG's personnel file

LITTLE ROCK (AP) — An Arkansas Democratic Party official is asking a judge to require the state Department of Human Services to release Attorney General Leslie Rutledge's entire personnel file from her time as a lawyer for the agency.

Party Communications Director Reed Brewer filed a Freedom of Information Act complaint Friday seeking records that weren't previously released in Rutledge's file. Rutledge, a Republican, worked at the department for a little over a year before leaving in 2007.

The lawsuit argues there's a compelling public interest in releasing the records about Rutledge's employment at DHS.

Rutledge was first elected attorney general in 2014 and is running against Democrat Mike Lee in November. Rutledge dismissed the lawsuit as an effort by Democrats to mislead voters.

Lee said voters deserve to know Rutledge's full employment history.