Tag Archives: State: Oklahoma

“. . . during a two-year study 75 percent of his patients who were unsure about terminating a pregnancy decided not to have an abortion after they opted to view the ultrasound images.”

Americans United for Separation of Church and State press release: “Americans United for Separation of Church and State today advised Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry to veto a legislative measure that would authorize a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the state Capitol.”

The Religion Clause Blog: “Yesterday the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed 61-28 and sent on to the state Senate House Concurrent Resolution 1033 (full text Word doc).”

KFOR Oklahoma City reports: “Folks who live near N.W. 10th and Council are fighting to keep a new business from ever opening its doors. The building, which used to be the Lamplighter Club, has been closed for years. The new owners have applied to reopen the club without adult entertainment, but some folks who live nearby fear it could reopen as a strip club.”

Religion Clause Blog: “AP reported yesterday that the Oklahoma House of Representatives, by a vote of 83-2, has passed HB 1330, the Ten Commandments Monument Display Act [full text, Word doc].” The law provides: “In the event that the legality or constitutionality of the Ten Commandments monument is challenged in a court of law, the Oklahoma Attorney General or Liberty Legal Institute is hereby authorized to prepare and present a legal defense of the monument.”

NewsOK.com: “Although Gov. Brad Henry vetoed similar legislation 10 days earlier, House members Monday again approved a resolution claiming Oklahoma’s sovereignty . . . The resolution states the federal government should “cease and desist” mandates that are beyond the scope of its powers.”

Americans United for Life: “Last night, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry vetoed Oklahoma House Bill 1326, a bill making it illegal for any Oklahoma business to conduct research that would kill a human embryo or subject an unborn child to a substantial risk of death or injury.”

Religion Clause Blog: “The Oklahoma state Senate on Wednesday passed by a vote of 40-7 a bill that had already been approved by the House (in an 88-5 vote) which will permit public schools to use religious references from a wide array of historical documents in classrooms and school events.”

USA Today: Gay rights groups are complaining about the firing of a rural Oklahoma high school teacher who lost her job last week after assigning a play about the 1998 death of a gay college student. But the tiny school district says the move came after the teacher held a mock “funeral” for a canceled film production of the play.

Kathleen Gilbert, LifeSite: The House also voted to invest in adult stem cell research . . . “For me personally, this is the single-most important issue we deal with as legislators: protecting the right to life,” said Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, the bill’s sponsor.

Americans U. for Life Blog:
House Joint Resolution 1009 declares that the Legislature opposes the federal Freedom of Choice Act because it “seeks to circumvent the states’ general legislative authority as guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” would “undermine the right and responsibility of the states and the people to debate, vote on, and determine abortion policy,” and because “the protection of women’s health through state regulations on abortion is a compelling state interest that should not be nullified by Congress.”

KJRH 2: “House Bill 1326, by state Rep. Mike Reynolds, makes it illegal for any Oklahoma business to conduct research that would kill a human embryo or subject an unborn child to a substantial risk of death or injury.”

Daniel McConchie writes at the Americans United for Life Blog: “This year, one of AUL’s new pieces of model legislation is the ‘Use of Force to Protect the Unborn’ bill – a bill that allows pregnant women to use force, …

Becket Fund: Arguments to be heard for American Atheists v. Duncan, No. 08-4061. Memorials for fallen troopers erected on government property by Utah Highway Patrol Association challenged by American Atheists. At risk: all roadside memorials in CO, NM, UT, KS, …

Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund: Earlier today, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, called upon members of the Oklahoma State Senate to …

Medical News Today: “Oklahoma County District Court Judge Vicki Robertson on Thursday dismissed the state’s motion to throw out a lawsuit filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights that challenges a state law requiring abortion providers to perform ultrasounds on …

NewsOK.com: The state House of Representatives approved a measure Tuesday to create a new type of marriage license, which the bill’s author said has been successful in reducing divorce in other states. House Bill 1026, by Rep. John Wright, would …

. . . New Hampshire’s state motto is ‘Live Free or Die.’ But is New Hampshire the most free place to live in the United States? Apparently it is, according to a new study, Freedom in the 50 States: An Index of Personal and Economic Freedom . . .

The Oklahoma House has voted to prohibit physicians from performing abortions solely on account of the gender of a woman’s fetus.

Oklahoma’s House of Representatives is the first legislative body to pass a state sovereignty resolution this year under the terms of the Tenth Amendment.

Baptist Press: “Pennsylvania is the most pro-life state in the country, while California is the least, according to the 2009 rankings by Americans United for Life (AUL). . . . ” AUL press release: Pennsylvania Most Pro-Life State in America, …

Christian Post: “The Oklahoma Senate’s Education Committee has narrowly defeated legislation that would have allowed classroom discussion of alternative theories to evolution, along with other topics where science conflicts with religious or moral viewpoints . . . “

One News Now: “A plan to erect a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of Oklahoma’s State Capitol has cleared a state House committee.”

The Bixby Bulletin: Legislation that would allow Oklahomans to choose a new type of marriage license that has been successful in reducing divorce in other states was approved by a legislative committee today. House Bill 1026, by state Rep. John …

NewsOK.com:  It wasn’t the prayer as much as an Oklahoma City pastor’s opening words that apparently troubled a fifth of the state House members. The Rev. Scott Jones thanked his legislator, Rep. Al McAffrey, who asked him to pray to open Wednesday’s House session and …

The AP: Abortion foes have a new tactic: The hope that women can’t look away . . . Lawmakers in 11 states are considering bills that would offer or require ultrasounds before a woman gets an abortion. The most stringent …

Citizen Link: “Oklahoma lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow students and instructors to examine views critical of Darwinism . . . Last year, Louisiana passed an academic-freedom bill. New Mexico has similar legislation pending . . . “

A Moore man will serve a term of 17 years in prison, following his sentencing Thursday on charges of rape by instrumentation, lewd acts with a child and 12 counts of downloading child pornography from the Internet.

The AP: “. . . Senate Bill 472 would require parents or guardians who homeschool their child to notify the local school district and provide a report of academic progress to school officials. Senate Bill 308 would let local police …

The Tulsa Beacon reports:  An effort by two lesbian women to overturn Oklahoma’s legal ban on homosexual marriage has been denied for a second time in a Tulsa courtroom . . .  “The government cannot issue a divorce for a …

AP: The first House bill filed for the 2009 legislative session seeks to clarify where the line is drawn on allowing religion in public schools, but opponents say the bill is an ideologically driven measure that will create more problems …

“You can’t have a divorce without a valid marriage and that’s the first question the court has to answer,” said Austin R. Nimocks with the Alliance Defense Fund . . .

The Edmond Sun reports: A bipartisan pro-life bill supported by both Houses of the state Legislature continues to face obstacles after lawmakers were able to override Gov. Brad Henry’s veto in April. The Freedom of Conscience Act, Senate Bill 1878, …

Alliance Defense Fund Senior Legal Counsel Austin R. Nimocks will be available for media interviews immediately after Tuesday’s hearing in O’Darling v. O’Darling. ADF attorneys are representing Oklahoma Speaker of the House Chris Benge in the case involving details surrounding a so-called same-sex “divorce.”

Citizen Link reports: “An Oklahoma law that requires a woman to undergo an ultrasound and receive a description of her baby before aborting it has been blocked by court order just days before its scheduled implementation.”

Numerous organizations and public officials filed friend-of-the-court briefs Monday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit to defend the constitutionality of roadside memorials for fallen Utah troopers

Elizabeth Bazelon has this report on Slate. She writes:  Dread is the emotion pro-life groups look to instill when they push states to pass laws that make an ultrasound part of the abortion procedure . . .  But what if …

The AP reports: “The mayor of this conservative Oklahoma City suburb on Wednesday retreated from a board’s decision to help buy a bronze sculpture depicting Jesus Christ and said a private group will buy out the city’s commitment. ‘We’re not …

KJRH.com reports: “A man is in critical condition after being shot in the groin during a fight at an East Tulsa strip club.”

n the lawsuit filed Thursday in Oklahoma County District Court, the Center for Reproductive Rights says that the requirement intrudes on privacy, endangers health and assaults dignity.

Gaypolitics.com reports: The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund today announced it has endorsed 100 openly LGBT political candidates in 2008, making this endorsement slate the group’s largest ever. “I think reaching this milestone is a testament to a new attitude in …

NewsOK.com reports:  ore than 2,400 criminal cases in Oklahoma County are about to be reassigned, thanks to a controversial order by the county’s presiding judge . . .  Robertson said she chose to reassign Graves, who made news recently for decrying the homosexual agenda …

The agreement will allow Internet service providers to access NCMEC’s database of web sites identified as containing child pornography. The providers can use this information to ensure that no such site is hosted on servers owned or controlled by any NCTA member company.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a state judge acted within his authority when he vacated a divorce unknowingly granted to two women.

ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND NEWS RELEASE June 30, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom ADF secures settlement for Christian fired for requesting Sundays off TULSA, Okla. — Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund finalized …

Tulsa World reports: Henry vetoed House Bill 2633, called the “Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act,” by Sen. James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa, and Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City. The bill stated that “students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork …

The Leonard Link Blog has this post, Oklahoma Judge Blasts “Gay Agenda” In Letter to State Bar. It discusses this report, Judge Blasts Proposed Code Change as Promoting ‘Homosexual Agenda,’ which appeared in yesterday’s ADF Alliance Alert. Leonard Link comments: …

Graves said the Oklahoma judicial code already bars judges from showing bias on the basis of sexual orientation and that such a provision “is promoting the homosexual agenda, which is to have homosexuality treated as normal and natural . . .

The Oklahoma Senate voted 37-11 to override Governor Brad Henry’s veto of the pro- life bill and the House followed suit minutes later on an 85-15 vote. The measure would allow women considering an abortion a chance to see an ultrasound . . .

Maressa Treat, AUL’s liaison in Oklahoma, has worked with a coalition of pro-life groups and individuals to pass Senate Bill 1878, a sweeping piece of pro-life legislation.

ADF attorney Mike Johnson appeared on Wallbuilders Live to discuss a recent settlement with Okolahoma City officials that allows city employees to display religious symbols. The mp3 file is here.  The interview runs just under 8 minutes. Related post: Oklahoma …

The bill includes protection for the conscience rights of health care professionals to refuse to participate in abortions, puts more limits in place on the dangerous abortion drug RU 486, and makes sure women are not pressured or forced into having an abortion . . .

Religion Clause blog reports on the ruling in Shrum v. City of Coweta, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27930 (ED OK, March 28, 2008).

More than 1,000 people rallied at the state Capitol on Wednesday in support of a state legislator who has been widely criticized for anti-gay remarks caught in a YouTube audio clip.

At noon tomorrow various pro-family and groups and individual Christians will join over 50 pastors at the State Capitol in Okalahoma City to rally in her support.

The Christian Post reports: Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern (R-Oklahoma City), who said that the homosexual lifestyle is a bigger threat to American than terrorism, faced off against an openly gay pastor Easter Sunday in a debate on homosexuality that delved …

Representative Sally Kern has received over 27,000 vulgar, hate filled e-mails, her life has been threatened, her son falsely accused of being a homosexual, her financial supporters contacted and asked to no longer support her, and a leading homosexual activist entered her husband’s church last Sunday and took notes on her husband’s sermon . . .

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is sorting through nearly 7,000 e-mails that were sent to a state lawmaker after she said homosexuality is a bigger threat to the United States than terrorism.

“Studies show no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than a few decades,” Kern says in the recorded comments. “It is not a lifestyle that is good for this nation.”

ADF allied attorney Brent Olsson, . . . “said his clients wanted a fair policy that allowed them to express their religious freedom.”

Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund have secured a settlement with Oklahoma City officials that will allow city employees to exercise their constitutional right to religious expression at their workplace.

Religion Clause blog reports on action in 4 states: Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, and Oklahoma.

A few years back, the debate over same-sex “marriage” was on every television set, at every dinner table, on every political show, and on the tongues of most Americans. Starting a wave of legal and political activity, on November 18, …