Thousands still in the dark in southwest Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Nearly 71,000 homes and businesses remained without electricity following a winter storm that brought ice, sleet and snow to Oklahoma last week. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management reported Tuesday that the majority of the power outages were in the southern part of the state.

Utility officials have said it could be next week before service is restored. Emergency management officials say the majority of outages, 34,428, continue to be in the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives service areas. Other extensive outage areas are more than 20,000 Public Service Company of Oklahoma customers, more than 8,400 of which are in Lawton. Altus' 9,300 customers make up the majority of the nearly 15,000 homes and businesses without power in the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority service area.