ECONOMISTS AT ODDS OVER PROPOSED ARENA TAX
Mayor Mick Cornett has repeatedly touted the multimillion-dollar refurbishment of the Ford Center arena in downtown Oklahoma City as an economic development engine that would create new jobs as well as draw visitors and money to the area. But weighing the projected economic impact of luring a professional basketball team against the tax cost to the public brings up questions that even economics professors at the same university can't agree on. - Brian Brus

OKC HOTELIER PREPARES FOR $180 MILLION EXPANSION
Bell Hospitality Group LLC of Oklahoma City has lined up 20 contracts valued at $180 million to build Choice Hotels International brands across five states. - Kirby Lee Davis

DATA REVEAL UNIQUE OPPOSITES IN STRONG TULSA OFFICE MARKET
Digesting the 1 million-square-foot Eastgate Marketplace office mall increased Tulsa's overall office vacancy rate to a 14-year-high last year, according to the 2007 Tooman Partners survey. Despite that, net absorption hit a seven-year high, and rental rates rose. - Kirby Lee Davis

STATE'S AIRPORTS POST DOUBLE-DIGIT PASSENGER INCREASES
Air passenger traffic posted double-digit increases at Tulsa and Oklahoma City airports in January from the previous year. - Heather Caliendo

SENATE PANEL OKS PUBLIC SMOKING BAN EXPANSION
A bill to ban smoking in almost all public places barely cleared the first hurdle of the legislative track on Monday. Senate Bill 1875 received just enough "yes" votes to advance from the Senate Business and Labor Committee. - Janice Francis-Smith

CHESAPEAKE LAND CO. BUYS BEKINS FACILITY FOR $2.45 MILLION
Chesapeake is growing north, south, east and west and recently purchased an industrial building south of its main campus. - Kelley Chambers

STATE LEGISLATORS CONSIDER 'SUNSET' TAX BREAK LAW
Hundreds of tax exemptions, credits and deductions have been granted by the state Legislature over the years to stimulate economic activity or to benefit charitable organizations and nonprofit groups. - Associated Press

BILL TARGETS CIGARETTE MARKETING METHODS
Targeted marketing is not a crime, but the method some cigarette companies have been using to collect potential customers' information would become a misdemeanor if Senate Bill 1745 becomes law. - Janice Francis-Smith

YARD DAWGZ TO HIT THE SMALL SCREEN THIS SEASON
Anyone who hasn't seen an Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz arena football game will get plenty of chances this year and won't have to leave their easy chair. For the first time in their five-year history, all Yard Dawgz home games will be televised. - Jerry Shottenkirk

HOUSE VOTES TO INVESTIGATE INDICTED AUDITOR AND INSPECTOR
The Oklahoma House ordered an investigation Monday of indicted Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan, the first step in a possible impeachment vote of the second-term Democrat who faces federal charges of accepting improper trips and illegal campaign contributions. - Tim Talley, Associated Press