WebProNews

Tag: Oklahoma

  • Google Now Facing Third Suit, As 30 State Sue Over ‘Illegal Monopoly’

    Google Now Facing Third Suit, As 30 State Sue Over ‘Illegal Monopoly’

    Google is being sued by 30 states, as the company faces its third lawsuit over abusing its monopoly in search and online advertising.

    Google is already facing lawsuits by the Department of Justice (DOJ), as well as a coalition of 10 states. The new lawsuit is led by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, and includes Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico.

    “Our economy is more concentrated than ever, and consumers are squeezed when they are deprived of choices in valued products and services. Google’s anticompetitive actions have protected its general search monopolies and excluded rivals, depriving consumers of the benefits of competitive choices, forestalling innovation, and undermining new entry or expansion,” Weiser explained. “This lawsuit seeks to restore competition.”

    The scope of this lawsuit goes beyond the previous two, accusing Google of “engaging in a multi-pronged effort to maintain its monopolies.” In particular, “Google’s acquisition and command of vast amounts of data obtained because of consumers’ lack of choice has fortified Google’s monopolies and created new barriers to competition and consumer value.”

    The states have filed a motion to join their case with the DOJ’s case, which could significantly expand the scope of the DOJ’s case.

  • Gwen Stefani & Blake Shelton To Buy Love Nest In Oklahoma?

    The Voice judges and lovebirds Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are reportedly looking to buy a new home in Oklahoma, where they would start their new life together.

    Sources told Hollywood Life that the two singers are looking to buy a new house in the U.S. state where Shelton, 39, and his ex-wife Miranda Lambert, 32, lived when they were still together.

    Both lovebirds reportedly made the decision, considering the fact that Gwen Stefani, 46, loves Oklahoma.

    The No Doubt frontwoman believes that it would be the best place for her boys – Kingston, 9, Zuma, 7, and Apollo, 1, to grow up.

    However, the insider claims that the two musicians are also thinking that they may be rushing things by buying a house and moving in together.

    The idea to settle in Oklahoma came up because both of them started getting tired of packing suitcases, traveling, and staying in hotels.

    Aside from having a place to stay, it seems the couple has also found a way to make Gwen Stefani’s kids love Blake.

    “He loves to play video games with them, put them on his shoulders, and he even built a fort with them!” said another source.

    The Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani  love team began when the “Don’t Speak” singer became a coach for The Voice in 2014.

    It was evident that the two became really close, and before the start of the 9th season of the show, the couple went public with their romance.

    Gwen Stefani split with her ex-husband Gavin Rossdale in August of last year after 13 years of marriage.

    Rossdale allegedly cheated on Stefani with their kids’ nanny, Mindy Mann.

    Meanwhile, Shelton finalized his divorce from country star Miranda Lambert  in July. Lambert claims they are still friends, and it seems she has already found a new love in Anderson East.

  • Sue Ann Hamm Plans to Appeal $1 Billion Settlement

    Sue Ann Hamm, who was awarded roughly $1 billion in cash and assets in a divorce settlement this week, feels that she was entitled to more, and plans to appeal the ruling.

    Sue Ann is the ex-wife of Harold Hamm, an Oklahoma oil baron worth an estimated $13.5 billion. Sue Ann’s settlement comprises around six percent of Harold’s holdings, Attorney Ron Barber commented, “Sue Ann is disappointed in the outcome of this case. She dedicated 25 years as Harold’s faithful partner in family and business. She plans to appeal the court’s decision.”

    The Hamm v. Hamm judgement was one of the largest divorce settlements in U.S. history, and if Sue Ann is successful in an appeal, she could be entitled to significantly higher compensation. Oklahoma County Court Judge Howard Haralson awarded Sue Ann $995.5 million, along with a ranch in California and a home in Oklahoma.

    Harold and Sue Ann were married in April, 1988, and Sue Ann filed for divorce in May, 2012, though Harold has said they had been separated since 2005. Sue Ann is an attorney and an economist, and played an executive role at Continental Resources during her 26-year marriage to Harold, the oil and natural gas company her ex-husband formed.

    Some find it difficult to imagine how one can not be content with $995.5 billion:

    Harold Hamm established Continental Resources in 1967, though Judge Haralson deemed that rising oil prices and new drilling technology were the key factors in the 400% growth of the company, and not Sue Ann’s executive roles during the marriage. Sue Ann’s lawyers disagree – “We believe that Harold should be given more credit for Continental’s success.”

  • Oklahoma Teen Missionary Accused of Rape in Kenya

    Oklahoma Teen Missionary Accused of Rape in Kenya

    A 19-year-old missionary from Oklahoma accused of raping and molesting children in Kenya was ordered by a judge to remain in custody on Tuesday. There had been a ruling on Monday allowing the teen to be bailed out for $10,000 and stay under house arrest, which was revoked.

    U.S. Magistrate Shon Erwin granted Matthew Durham a release on bond under house arrest with his father to act as custodian. Though, U.S. District Judge David Russell stepped in and ordered Durham to stay in jail while the federal court considers the appeal.

    Durham, of Edmond, OK, has been accused of sexually assaulting up to 10 boys and girls aged six to nine at the Upendo Children’s Home in Nairobi. Durham’s attorneys believe the teen was coerced into making a confession, and asserted that the teen was told he would “face certain death” in Kenya.

    Durham’s mother, father and pastor testified on his behalf during his detention hearing on Monday, corroborating the story of coercion in Kenya, though prosecutors revealed that the teen claimed a demon name “Luke” told him to commit the attacks.

    Federal prosecutors filed a Motion for Detention Tuesday, citing that Durham could be a flight risk and a danger to the public. U.S. attorney Sanford Coats commented, “The defendant poses a significant danger to the community if released.”

    Durham was indicted for one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, engaging in sexual conduct and aggravated sexual abuse.

    Prosecutors said Kenya is pursuing extradition for Durham to face charges there.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Married Police Officers Murder Daughter’s Boyfriend

    Two Tulsa, Oklahoma police officers who are married to one another have been charged in the shooting death of the 19-year-old boyfriend of their daughter.

    Jeremy Lake was found shot to death in the street near downtown Tulsa Tuesday evening, according to Tulsa Police Department spokeswoman Jillian Roberson. Lake had been walking with the officers’ daughter Lisa, 18, when Shannon Kepler confronted him. After an argument, Kepler shot Lake, and began shooting at his daughter as she fled.

    Lisa Kepler said at a news conference Wednesday that she had been living with Lake, after her parents kicked her out of their house a week before. “I don’t know what could have led them to do this,” she said, adding, “They didn’t even know Jeremy.”

    Officer Shannon Kepler, 54, was arrested on a first-degree murder charge, and Gina Kepler, 48, was arrested on a complaint of accessory to murder after the fact. Both are presently in the Tulsa County jail, and there is no word if they secured attorneys. Both are on paid administrative leave.

    Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan said in a statement that “the circumstances around this incident drives home the fact that domestic violence is a societal problem and transcends all economic groups.”

    “I as well as the whole department am saddened for both families involved in this tragic event,” Jordan added.

    Lisa Kepler said during an interview after the shooting, “I turned my dad in. I’m not going to deny it. … I don’t care. He’s going to rot, and I hope it happens.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Miranda Lambert Earns First Billboard 200 No. 1 with ‘Platinum’

    Miranda Lambert earned her first Billboard 200 No. 1 with the debut of her most recent album Platinum.

    The album is Lambert’s fifth, and sold 180,000 copies in the week ending June 8. It released on June 3.

    That sales figure marks a 35 percent increase over Lambert’s previous album, Four the Record.

    “In addition,” Lambert’s website boasts, “she becomes the only country artist in the 50-year history of Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart to have each of her first five albums debut at [No.] 1.”

    “THANK YOU to the music lovers who believe in albums and spent your hard-earned money on 16 songs! 16 songs that all say something important to me,” Lambert enthused. “I hope that they also speak to you, and I hope you enjoy listening to Platinum. Thank you to the incredible musicians, songwriters, producers, and artists that put this record together. I’m the luckiest girl in the world, blessed with the best fans!”

    The last female country music artist to earn her first Billboard 200 No. 1 was Taylor Swift with Fearless in November 2008.

    Platinum’s lead single “Automatic” hit No. 1 on Mediabase, marking Lambert’s sixth No. 1 solo single in addition to the No. 1 she earned for “We Were Us,” her duet with Keith Urban.

    Lambert said she wrote “Automatic” as “a reminder to herself to slow things down, enjoy the moment and remember what it’s like to live more simply.”

    “… [W]hen it came time to decide on what would be the first single, “Automatic” felt like the right choice because it’s so true to me and where I am in my life,” Lambert said.

    Apparently Lambert’s husband, country music and The Voice star Blake Shelton plans to help his wife take her own advice. He’s gotten their boat in working order so the two can spend time relaxing on Lake Texoma near their Oklahoma home when Lambert gets some time off next week.

    “I know when she gets back she’s going to want to do something like that,” Shelton said. “She’s going to want to just go float around and drink or be pulled on a tube …”

    Image via Instagram, Miranda Lambert

  • Oklahoma Wildfire Kills One And Still Burning

    A wildfire in Guthrie, OK that broke out on Sunday has displaced thousands and killed at least one. According to Guthrie Fire Department Chief Eric Harlow, the fire started on Sunday afternoon and within hours had destroyed between four and six square miles. Due to Monday’s high temperatures and strong winds, the fire continued to burn and is expected to continue at least today and Wednesday.

    While the Woodcrest Fire Department has stated the fire began as a controlled burn, there will be an investigation to determine whether there was any criminal activity involved. As of Monday, Harlow attested the fire had burned about 3,000 acres, 30 buildings and killed one man. The fatality could have been prevented, as the victim refused to leave his trailer when the fire approached his home.

    37 firefighters have needed treatment for injuries, and one has been shot. Volunteer firefighter Frank Megow was attempting to save a building when he was struck by exploding ammunition from handguns within the home. “As we went to make entry in the structure that’s when the ammunition started cooking off. I took two to the chest and one to the head,” said Megow.

    Specialist wildfire teams and Black Hawk helicopters have been enlisted to battle the wildfire, as hot and dry weather conditions are expected to continue for several days. “Fire weather conditions will continue today through Thursday across a large part of western Oklahoma,” said the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. Governor Mary Fallin may enact a statewide burn ban, which means setting any fires, including crop fires or campfires, will be prohibited.

    Image via YouTube

  • Oklahoma Execution Was Inhumane, Says White House

    In a press conference held earlier today, White House spokesman Jay Carney said that the botched execution of Oklahoma inmate Clayton Lockett “fell short of the humane standards required when the death penalty is carried out,” according to the AP.

    He went on to say that everyone could see that this was the case.

    On Tuesday evening, Lockett died of a heart attack after waking up mid-execution.

    According to the timeline, Lockett’s execution began at 6:23 pm. Ten minutes later, he was determined to be unconscious. A few minutes after the paralytic was administered, Lockett began moving and attempting to speak.

    “Lockett grimaced and tensed his body several times over a three minute period before the execution was shielded from the press. After being declared unconscious ten minutes into the process, Lockett spoke at three separate moments. The first two were inaudible, however the third time he spoke, Lockett said the word ‘man,’” says one eyewitness account.

    By 7:06, Lockett was declared dead due to an apparent heart attack.

    The news flooded Twitter, and shortly after Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin issued a stay of execution for another death row inmate, who was set to be executed later that evening.

    “I have asked the Department of Corrections to conduct a full review of Oklahoma’s execution procedures to determine what happened and why during this evening’s execution of Clayton Derrell Lockett,” said Fallin. “I have issued an executive order delaying the execution of Charles Frederick Warner for 14 days to allow for that review to be completed.”

    For anti-Death Penalty advocates, the botched execution is another cruel example of a broken system. As supplies of lethal injection drugs become more and more scarce (mostly due to hesitant pharm companies), states like Oklahoma have been forced to adopt alternative drugs–drugs that are oftentimes held from pubic knowledge. There are worries that these drugs are unable to provide a humane death, although some would argue that there is no such thing even with the standard cocktail.

    On Twitter, death penalty advocates pointed to the fact that Lockett’s crime, for which he was sentenced to death, involved the brutal death of a young woman whom he shot and then watched as she was buried alive.

    There’s no doubt that this latest incident will spur fierce debate–even more so now that the White House has weighed in on it. It’s worth noting that the White House and President Obama’s official position on the Death Penalty is that it should be allowed, but only reserved for the most heinous of crimes. He does, however, feel that the Death Penalty has been proven to do little to deter crime.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Tornado Damage Leaves 18 Dead In Southern Towns

    Tornado damage in parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma has left survivors with the task of trying to rebuild after storms barreled through the states over the weekend and left behind devastation.

    The storm system cut a wide swath through Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and North Carolina on Sunday, leaving at least 18 people dead and hundreds more injured. Officials say they fear the death toll will climb as they search through the rubble in areas of Arkansas, where 16 were killed. A death in Quapaw, Oklahoma and the tragic death of an 11-month old baby in North Carolina have also left many communities in mourning.

    Sunday was the anniversary of a deadly outbreak of storms across the Midwest and south, a system which spun out 122 tornadoes and killed 316 people across Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia. Sunday’s tornado in Arkansas grew to about half a mile wide and spat hail onto residents; officials say they believe it was at least an EF3 on the damage scale, which includes winds of up to 136 mph.

    “We don’t have a count on injuries or missing. We’re trying to get a handle on the missing part,” Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe said on Monday. “Just looking at the damage, this may be one of the strongest we have seen.”

    Among the destroyed buildings in the area was a $14 million school that was due to open this fall; now, funds will have to come from somewhere to rebuild.

    “There’s just really nothing there anymore. We’re probably going to have to start all over again,” Vilonia Schools Superintendent Frank Mitchell said.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Tornado Damage Extensive, 17 Dead In Aftermath

    The damage from last night’s tornados in Arkansas and Oklahoma will not even be fully known for a few days, but as residents continue to comb through what is left of their possessions, they are also mindful of the 17 who have been reported so far as victims of this nasty storm.

    A possible EF3 tornado touched down about 10 miles west of Little Rock at around 7pm and ran an 80-mile path of utter destruction through the land, killing 16 and injuring many others.

    This tornado was the largest of a huge storm system that battered the central and southern parts of the country, also spawning a tornado that killed one in Quapaw, Okla. before crossing the state line into Kansas where it destroyed up to 70 homes and injured a reported 25 people.

    The tornado that did so much damage and killed so many in Arkansas narrowly missed several other victims in cars and trucks who were traveling along I-40 north of Little Rock.

    Bill Sadler, a spokesman for the Arkansas State Police, said, “About 30 vehicles — large trucks, sedans, pickup trucks — were going through there when the funnel cloud passed over.”

    The tornado will most likely be rated as the strongest that the country has seen so far this year, according to AP.

    “It has the potential to be EF3 or greater. Based on some of the footage we’ve seen from Mayflower and where it crossed Interstate 40, things were wrecked in a very significant way.”, said meteorologist Jeff Hood. EF3 storms are storms that have winds greater than 136 mph.

    A very significant way, indeed, for the residents who will face the damage on Monday as the sun rises to reveal what is left of their lives. Karla Ault, a Vilonia High School volleyball coach, took shelter in the school’s gym when the sirens went off. Her husband then got in contact with her as the storm passed and told her that the twister had reduced their home and everything in it to a bare slab.

    “I’m just kind of numb. It’s just shock that you lost everything. You don’t understand everything you have until you realize that all I’ve got now is just what I have on,” Ault said.

    President Obama made a promise from a press conference in the Philippines that the government will do all that it can in helping the people get back on their feet after last night’s terrifying storms.

    Image Via YouTube

  • Moore, Oklahoma Passes New Tornado-Resistant Building Codes

    Some residents of Moore, Oklahoma are still in the process of rebuilding their homes from damages that were left by last year’s tornado. Buildings were reduced to rubble, cars were left crushed, and walls were what remained of the structures.

    The tornado injured 400 citizens and killed 24 people. It was not the first time the city has experienced that big a catastrophe. Serious tornadoes also ravaged the city in 1999 and 2003.

    On Thursday, the city has approved new residential building codes. It made Moore, Oklahoma the first municipality in the United States to create building rules that state that new homes must be able to endure strong winds that are up to 135 mph instead of the previous 90 mph. The new code is a preventative measure for extensive damages when another tornado strikes.

    Moore’s City Council approved 11 building codes after structural engineers examined the damages that were left by the 2013 tornado.

    The last tornado that hit Moore left damages that took $2 billion to rebuild. According to Oklahoma University civil engineering professor Dr. Chris Ramseyer, building stronger structures and homes will result in minimized destruction and minimized cost of rebuilding.

    Part of the new code also says that hurricane clips, wind-resistant garage doors, and roof sheathing are required. Ramseyer also mentioned the added building requirements will not be a large expense for homeowners. “We’re talking one or two cents per dollar on a home,” he said. This is a small price to pay for the safety of the citizens.

    Residents of Moore are excited about the new code, especially since they have already had a hard time trying to rebuild their homes from the previous tornado.

    With these new building codes already in place, Moore, Oklahoma will hopefully be prepared for the next tornado that may come their way.

    Aftermath from the Tornado that hit Moore last year

    Image via YouTube

  • Moore, Oklahoma Toughens Building Codes for Future Tornado Incursions

    New residential building codes went into effect Thursday for one tornado-prone town.

    The city of Moore, Oklahoma is taking preventive measures to protect the area from any further destructive damages incurred from tornadoes.

    The city recently set in stone tough construction codes that will ensure every future home is built firmly to withstand winds up to 135 mph. This includes sturdy roof shields and wind-resistant garage doors.

    The previous standard for the building code was 90 mph, which is mainly the same for all states nationwide.

    But, as the first city in the country to ever take such action, residents have expressed how excited they are about the new code-especially following the tornado in May 2013 that still has families rebuilding their homes.

    Last spring’s tornado-an EF-5 level-injured nearly 400 people and took the lives of 24 Moore residents.

    One tornado victim told KFOR-TV how the storm has been very difficult to recover from the last 11 months.

    “It was pretty tedious and I definitely don’t want to do it again,” Sarah Patteson said.

    The University of Oklahoma is one of five universities in the National Science Foundation that helped develop 11 new building codes for the city. After extensive assessment of the ruined homes, researchers used engineering technology to come up with the best possible solution.

    “This last tornado is over $2 billion in costs,” said Dr. Chris Ramseyer, associate professor of civil engineering at OU.  “And with better homes, stronger buildings, that destructive force will be minimized and the cost will be minimized.”

    Ramseyer says the costs are a “small expense for the homeowner…one or two cents per dollar on a home.” However, this new code will only apply to those that have yet to start building a new home.

    Moore, which has experienced similar, damaging twisters in 1999 and 2003, tends to be a center point where most catastrophic tornadoes occur in Oklahoma.

    City officials hope that this new adoption will at least be the answer to “homes [being] safer and more durable for smaller, more frequent storms.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Giraffe Heart Defect Surgery Fails At Oklahoma Zoo

    The Oklahoma City Zoo this week sadly announced that one of its young giraffes has died. The animal was undergoing heart surgery to repair a defect that veterinarians at the zoo believed to be a persistent right aortic arch (PRAA).

    Named Kyah, the giraffe was a six-month-old female giraffe that had been born at the Oklahoma City Zoo on September 26, 2013.

    Though the zoo admits that the surgery was “risky,” officials believed that it was also necessary. Kyah’s heart condition involved a blood vessel from the heart that was constricting her esophagus. This left her unable to eat solid foods. As the giraffe’s mother began weaning her the surgery became vital.

    “The surgery was risky but critical because her mother, Ellie, was trying to wean her and she wouldn’t have thrived without the ability to eat solid foods,” said Jennifer D’Agostino, director of veterinary services for the Oklahoma City Zoo. “Although there were many risks, the surgery was her only chance to survive.”

    According to the zoo, this is the first known case of a giraffe with PRAA. The condition is most commonly seen in other mammals such as cats and dogs.

    The surgery was performed on April 8 at Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. An OSU veterinary surgeon who had corrected PRAA is smaller animals (including a cougar) performed the surgery.

    The procedure involved opening up Kyah’s chest and correcting the issue. The surgery lasted for nearly four hours but the surgeon, assisted by a five-person veterinary team from the Oklahoma City Zoo, was unable to repair Kyah’s heart defect. According to the zoo the giraffe was “humanely euthanized” and a routine necropsy will be performed.

    “The Zoo family is grateful to our colleagues at OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital for their expertise and hard work,” said D’Agostino. “We knew going into this procedure that Kyah’s chances were extremely low and we felt we gave her every chance possible to thrive. Collaborations such as these also allow us to learn more about the species in our care.”

    Image via Thinkstock

  • Westboro Baptist Church Protesters Run Out of Town

    Less than three weeks after Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps died, his former congregation is at it again. This time, the Westboro Baptist Church members decided to picket a school in Moore, Oklahoma, a town that was devastated by a tornado last year. While the “God Hates Fags” signs were out again, the protesters were reportedly run out of town less than ten minutes into the protest.

    Two dozen lives were claimed last May when an EF5 tornado struck the town of Moore, Oklahoma. Since then, the residents have been hard at work trying to put their lives and their town back together. While most people would feel compassion for people who have been through such a tragedy, this isn’t true for the members of Westboro Baptist Church. This comes as no surprise, of course, since members of the church are notorious for pickets at funerals and other sites, but some people thought (or hoped) that the church would lay off for a while after their founder died.

    Nope. Members of the church set up across from Central Junior High on Sunday. As you can see from the following video that was posted to Westboro Baptist Church’s Vine page, the protesters had out all of their usual signs and did a little flag stomping.

    While the image pieced together in the Vine video may depict a successful protest (successful if you’re a WBC supporter), a video taken by a Moore resident across the street paints a completely different picture of the event and shows the protesters being run out by the townspeople:

    According to KOCO, only ten WBC members showed up for the picket and they left less than ten minutes into their protest after a few of the 2,000 Moore residents present crossed the picket line and confronted them.

    “I was afraid of a riot really. I didn’t know how long Westboro would stay, which they were smart to leave,” said Dan Eccles, a resident who attended the protest. “They shagged tail, got in them cars and was leaving in a hurry. Oh yeah, they was gone!”

    “If you come out here you’re going to get all of us telling you to go home,” said Moore resident Brenda Fox. Go home the WBC members did–it doesn’t look like any of the Moore residents that crossed the picket line got physical, but the protesters certainly didn’t stick around long after the residents began closing in.

    Judging from some posts on WBC’s Twitter page, these folks are a little unhappy that the world is finding out how unsuccessful their latest protest went. For example, this gem was posted to show how peaceful people promoting hate are:

    Even though Westboro Baptist Church’s protest in Moore, Oklahoma wasn’t exactly successful, the church has a few other protests planned for April. This includes picketing Kansas University and a Bill Maher comedy act.

    Image via Twitter

  • Shirley Jones Skydives for Her 80th Birthday

    Actress Shirley Jones said she will take her first skydive on Monday, her 80th birthday.

    “That’s something I wanted to do all my life,” Jones said Friday.

    The idea to skydive was inspired by former President George H.W. Bush’s jumps on a number of his birthdays, including when he turned 85 in 2009, Jones said.

    “When I saw him do it I thought, ‘Wow, if he can do this, I can,’” Jones said.

    The Oscar-winning actress won the award for her role in the 1960 drama, Elmer Gantry. She is also known for her role in TV’s The Partridge Family in the 1970s, which lasted four years. She rose to fame when she starred in the 1950s film versions of the Broadway musicals Carousel and Oklahoma. She also starred in the 1962 film version of The Music Man.

    Jones’ family was planning a big celebration for Sunday, the day before her birthday. She said she was looking forward to the party and spending time with her family, which includes 12 grandchildren, and a childhood friend she has known since they were in the third grade together in a small town in Pennsylvania.

    Jones was not, however, looking forward to the reason for the celebration.

    “I’m not very happy about” turning 80, she said.

    “The number scares me to death. I don’t even like to say it. Eighty years old, it can’t be,” Jones said.

    Jones chose skydiving from the top of her to-do list, which also includes going on an African safari.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton Buy House in Nashville

    Country-music superstar Miranda Lambert recently told Taste of Country that she and husband Blake Shelton have purchased a home in Nashville, TN.

    Lambert says the two still consider their sprawling ranch near Tishomingo, OK their full-time home, but it made sense to own a residence in Nashville, too.

    “We just bought a house here in Nashville, outside of town,” she said. “We had a condo for awhile, but we wanted to like, kinda put roots down, because we’re always going to be in Nashville.”

    The timing coincides with a huge nod from Nashville to Lambert. From May 16th through November 9th, the star will be honored with a front and center exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

    “… I’m so honored to have an exhibit in this treasured hall,” Lambert said.

    Post by Miranda Lambert.

    “Miranda Lambert is one of contemporary music’s most popular and acclaimed artists, and for good reason,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “She’s a dynamic performer; an emotive and powerful vocalist whose voice is equally at home with lyrics tough or tender; and a songwriter with a deft touch for feeling and place.”

    Lambert and Shelton have been spending a lot of time on the West Coast lately thanks to Shelton’s gig as a coach and judge on The Voice. Shelton has been with the show since its inception in 2011. The sixth season premiered February 24.

    Shelton says he goes home to Oklahoma, the state where he was born and raised, as often as possible:

    “As soon as we’re done on Wednesdays, my a–– is on the plane … I get in my truck, I see the fields, see the cows.”

    He describes the couple’s time in Oklahoma as low-key: “Throwing a cooler in the back of the pickup and driving around the property clearing brush and singing to the radio,” says Shelton. “Or else having dinner at the all-you-can-eat rib buffet and dessert at Dairy Queen. When we get home, we like to be home.”

    Lambert admits to enjoying the warm weather in L.A.

    “When we leave Oklahoma, we’re leaving 20 degree weather and it’s snowing and sleeting, and we get to L.A. and it’s sunny and 75, and I’m just like … ‘Oh, thank goodness.’”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Oklahoma State Rep. Wants To Ban All Marriages

    Oklahoma state representative Mike Turner (R-Edmond) may look like Sam The Wise, but don’t be fooled into thinking their feats are similar; while they both want to destroy rings that represent powerful bonds, the former wishes to end all bands of matrimony for the sake of keeping same sex marriage illegal.

    Armed with a shell bill – a proposal that can alter at almost any time to react to upcoming rulings – Turner wishes to counter U.S. District Judge Terence Kern’s decision made on January 7th, which invalidates Oklahoma’s Question 711, an amendment that bans same-sex marriage.

    Kern reasoned that the ban violated the Fourteen Amendment’s equal protection clause, noting the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last term in United States v. Windsor which defeated the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

    “[Courts] must be wary of whether ‘defending’ traditional marriage is a guise for impermissible discrimination against same-sex couples.” Kern wrote.

    Patience is key for Turner, as he waits for Kerns’ case to be appealed at the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver; once the federal appeals process is over, Turner will add the final touches to his bill.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjcPH3hnj-o

    “[My constituents are] willing to have that discussion about whether marriage needs to be regulated by the state at all,” Turner told News 9.

    Nicole Flatow of Think Progressive mentioned how Turner’s move draws parallels to the tactics used during Jim Crow south where the U.S. Supreme Court ordered states to desegregate schools in Brown v. Board of Education. Virginia Senator Harry F. Byrd contributed to a “massive resistance” campaign in which “Virginia legislature ordered the closure of schools subject to a desegregation order.”

    “When that tactic was invalidated by courts, one county went so far as to shut down its public school system entirely from 1959 until 1964.” Flatow wrote.

    Turner knows that his idea has made a few people uncomfortable, but says “I accept that.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Atomic Wedgie Murder: Man Accused of Using Underwear to Kill Stepfather

    Here’s something you don’t hear every day–a man in McLoud, Oklahoma was killed by an atomic wedgie. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this more extreme form of a wedgie, the atomic wedgie involves pulling the waistband of a person’s underwear over his head. Brad Davis, 33, was arrested in connection with the death and admitted to giving his stepfather an atomic wedgie during a fight.

    There’s no doubt that police officers have heard of some of the more bizarre ways to kill someone, but the atomic wedgie murder has certainly thrown the police in Pottawatomie County for a loop. Sheriff Mike Booth said that he had never even heard of the term “atomic wedgie” before talking to his suspect. “I’d never seen this before, but when we first looked at our victim seeing the waistband of his underwear was around his neck,” Booth said.

    Denver St. Clair was killed on December 21. The fight reportedly occurred after a night of drinking and got started when St. Clair made some bad comments about Davis’s mother. Davis called 911 after his stepfather stopped breathing, and police found him at his home with his underwear pulled around his neck. Davis later told police that he gave his stepfather an atomic wedgie during a fight.

    St. Clair’s death was eventually ruled a homicide, and the Oklahoma state medical examiner’s office says that St. Clair’s death was caused by “asphyxiation caused by the elastic underwear band being stretched over his head and left around his neck.” In addition to the underwear around the neck, St. Clair also had several injuries, including an injury to the head. The ME also noted that it was possible that blunt force trauma to the head could have contributed to St. Clair’s death.

    Davis maintains that his stepfather attacked him and that he only fought back–and gave the atomic wedgie–as a form of self-defense, but police aren’t buying that story and plan to charge him with murder. “We continued our investigation and uncovered evidence that led us to believe that this was more than just a fight,” said Booth.

    Image via Facebook

  • Satan Statue Design Controversy In Oklahoma

    A 7-foot Satanists’ statue design was presented by members of the Satanic Temple on Monday. The group wants to place its monument at Oklahoma’s Capitol building, next to the monument of the Ten Commandments.

    The design depicts Satan as a bearded, goat-headed character seated on a pentagram-decorated throne. The goat-head figure is flanked by two smiling children.

    The Satanic group, which is based in New York, formally submitted its request to Capitol Preservation Commission, which is responsible for overseeing Capital grounds.

    According to the temple’s spokesman Lucien Greaves, the monument will have a “functional purpose” of bringing people of all ages to sit on the lap of Satan for contemplation and inspiration. He said statue has been designed to “reflect the views of Satanists in Oklahoma City.”

    The Satanic Temple has argued that it has the right to place its statue at the Capitol building since the Oklahoma legislature authorized a privately funded monument of the Ten Commandments to be placed there. The American Civil Liberties Union has since sued to have the Ten Commandments monument removed.

    Other groups including Animal rights group and the SatiricalChurch of the Flying Spaghetti Monster have placed similar request with the panel. The panel recently placed a hold on any new requests pending a hearing and determination of the lawsuit.

    The request by the satanic group has sparked opposition from elected leaders with the majority of them saying that the request will never be considered. The group has already demonstrated its seriousness by raising nearly $10,000 (out of the $20,000 needed) to erect the monument.

    Image via YouTube

  • Satan Statue Design Depicts Satan With Children

    In response to a monument of the Ten Commandments being placed on Oklahoma state capitol grounds, the Satanic Temple has released plans for a statue of Satan they want to put there. The group says that since Oklahoma is allowing other religious monuments on capitol grounds, then a statue of Satan should be allowed as well.

    The Ten Commandments monument was placed on Oklahoma state capitol grounds in 2012. The matter was brought to the ACLU’s attention by a Baptist minister who doesn’t believe that state property is the proper place for the monument, and the ACLU has since sued to have it removed.

    “Our constitution makes it clear you cannot use state property and state resources to support a particular religion and this monument does just that,” says Brady Henderson, Legal Director with the Oklahoma ACLU.

    In the meantime, the Satanic Temple wants their own monument erected on state grounds and has submitted an application to the Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission. The Oklahoma Capitol Preservation Commission has put a moratorium on new requests until the Ten Commandments lawsuit is settled, but this hasn’t stopped the Satanic Temple from going forward with their planning. The group just released the designs for their Satan statue, which features a 7-foot-tall Satan with children.

    Check out the Satan statue design below.

    (image)

    Lucien Greaves, temple spokesperson, first discussed the matter last month and said that the Ten Commandments statue is opening the door to promoting his religion. “You don’t walk around and see too many satanic temples around, but when you open the door to public spaces for us, that’s when you’re going to see us,” Greaves said.

    In a statement Greaves released on the Satan statue plans, he says the monument was “designed to reflect the views of Satanists in Oklahoma City and beyond.” Greaves also notes that the statue will “have a functional purpose as a chair where people of all ages may sit on the lap of Satan for inspiration and contemplation.”

    Even though some legislators say the Satan monument has no place on capitol grounds because they don’t believe Satanism is a religion, Henderson believes that the monument cannot be rejected.

    “We would prefer to see Oklahoma’s government officials work to faithfully serve our communities and improve the lives of Oklahomans instead of erecting granite monuments to show us all how righteous they are,” Henderson said. “But if the Ten Commandments, with its overtly Christian message, is allowed to stay at the Capitol, the Satanic Temple’s proposed monument cannot be rejected because of its different religious viewpoint.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Satan Statue Design: Proposal Sent to Oklahoma Officials

    A group of Satanists from a New York-based Satanic temple is pursuing the establishment of a monument in Oklahoma’s capitol.

    In an attempt to display their beliefs to the public, the group seeks to build a design outside of the Statehouse that would be positioned right next to a privately funded Ten Commandments statue.

    The Republican-controlled Legislature financed the construction of the Ten Commandments monument in 2009, but Oklahoma’s American Civil Liberties Union wants its removal. Lawsuits have been filed in regards to the monument’s constitutionality.

    Thus, the satanic group views the capitol’s present-day monument as a chance to share their own principals as well and apparently, it seems that they aren’t against the existence of a statute engraved with beliefs dissimilar to their own.

    In a letter to the Capitol Preservation Commission, spokesman Lucien Greaves affirms that the satanic temple would respect the guidelines enforced by the state.

    “We believe that all monuments should be in good taste and consistent with community standards. Our proposed monument, as an homage to the historic-literary Satan, will certainly abide by these guidelines,” he shared with officials.

    One lawmaker, who also advocated for the building of the Ten Commandments, has been reported as a supporter of the satanic monument.

    However, Republican Rep. Bobby Cleveland, who is also pushing forward a bill that would have a Judeo-Christian Temple built in the Capitol, obviously doesn’t view this proposal as a smart move.

    “I think these Satanists are a different group,” he told CBS News. “You put them under the nut category.”

    According to Greaves, the budget for the monument will approximately be around $20,000.  Ideas for the design vary from a pentagram to an interactive exhibit for children.

    If the proposal is approved, the group plans to send in design concepts to the Capitol Preservation Commission sometime this month.

    With that said, do you think Oklahoma should prohibit the creation of this monument?

    After all, the First Amendment does state:

    “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

    Here is a debate about the monument previously aired by Fox News:

    Image via Youtube, Oklahomanews