WOODWARD, Okla. (AP) - A fast-moving wildfire has forced an evacuation order for about 1,400 people in three northwest Oklahoma small towns. Dewey County Sheriff Clay Sander said his deputies are going door-to-door in Seiling, Taloga and Putnam telling residents to leave. Sander said some who had earlier been evacuated from the nearby town of Vici were being allowed to return home. Blazes have scorched more than 200,000 acres (809 sq. kilometers) in Dewey and neighboring Woodward counties.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Forecasters say high winds, large hail and perhaps strong tornadoes are possible across Arkansas, Oklahoma and parts of their surrounding states. The Storm Prediction Center said all of Arkansas faced a "moderate risk" of severe weather Friday, with an enhanced risk in adjoining states. There could be two waves of bad weather _ one Friday afternoon and again overnight.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A GOP Oklahoma lawmaker who faced criticism from interfaith leaders for his handling of the state House's visiting chaplain program says he is stepping down as the program's coordinator. Rep. Chuck Strohm of Jenks said in a statement Friday that, effective immediately, he is no longer serving in the role. Interfaith leaders chided Strohm for denying a House member's request for a local Muslim imam to serve as the visiting. Some House members said it blocked non-Christians from participating.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A potent, slow-moving spring storm system that's expected to persist through the weekend has begun raking the Plains and Midwest, bringing blizzard conditions to South Dakota and the threat of tornadoes from Texas and Louisiana north all the way to Iowa. The National Weather Service says the storm system is huge and is packing a lot of energy so a lot of people will be impacted, but it's not unprecedented for April.
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