Alva Review-Courier -

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma's Department of Human Services would be forced to close 11 county offices and slash funding to a dozen programs that support poor, disabled and elderly Oklahomans under a 14 percent budget reduction being discussed by the Legislature.

DHS Director Ed Lake sent a letter to agency employees on Wednesday warning of cuts he described as ranging from "the terrible to the unthinkable."

Amid a state budget shortfall of about $878 million, legislative leaders have agencies outlining how they would handle cuts of up to 14 percent.

Lake says such a cut would amount to a $14...