Alva Review-Courier -

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A legislative budget leader says Oklahoma lawmakers could be willing to approve a bond package to build new prisons if needed.

Department of Corrections Director Joe Allbaugh told lawmakers at a Senate Appropriations and Budget Committee hearing Tuesday that he hasn't seen much of an interest in the House or Senate to adopt a bond measure, which could total more than $800 million.

But Committee Chair Kim David notes that the Legislature adopted a $58.5 million bond package last year to build a new state health lab. She says that there's an interest "if the need is the...