How Thunder Players are Reacting to Bricktown Shooting...

Kevin Durant on Wednesday shared his feelings on the violence that overshadowed Monday night's Game 5 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Fans gather in Thunder Alley before Game 5 in the second round of the NBA playoffs between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the L.A. Lakers at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Monday, May 21, 2012.

“Anytime violence is involved it's unfortunate,” Durant said of the shooting that left eight people wounded. “But the only thing I can do is pray for the victims and hopefully everything gets resolved.”

Russell Westbrook was finishing postgame interviews when word spread of the shooting but said just before the announcement was made that the Thunder Alley watch party would end that he'd be disappointed to see it go.
“It's crazy how many people were outside and how many people come and support,” Westbrook said. “So I think they'll be a little disappointed. So hopefully they don't cut it off.”

Forward Serge Ibaka said he was amazed at the size of the crowd outside when he saw live footage of the gathering flash on the Jumbotron during the game.
“I appreciate the fans and their support because it's something amazing. I've never seen it in my life,” Ibaka said. “When we were playing in the arena, I saw the big crowd on the (Jumbotron). I said, ‘Wow.' That was crazy amazing. I appreciate them and we need them for the next couple of games. I know they will be there. So I want to say thank you so much.”

Thunder Alley Woes...

Thunder Alley will continue, but the parties that brought thousands of people to watch playoff games on the Chesapeake Arena's outdoor video board are over, team officials announced Wednesday.

The decision came after a shooting in Bricktown that followed Monday's game in which the Thunder clinched a spot in the NBA's Western Conference Finals. An estimated 6,000 or more people who didn't have tickets to watch from inside the arena gathered on the north side of the building to watch the game on Reno Avenue.

As many in the crowd migrated east toward Bricktown following the end of the game, shots rang out. Eight people were hit, and a pregnant woman was trampled and kicked in the melee that followed.

Police have arrested two people in connection with the shooting. According to police, two groups of people who had been watching the game started arguing when someone pulled out a gun and started firing into the crowd.

Eight people were shot. One of the victims, a man, was critically injured. The other seven shooting victims had injuries that weren't considered life-threatening. A pregnant woman was treated and released after being trampled and kicked.

City officials said Tuesday they were worried the crowds watching the games outside had gotten two large to control. Team officials said Wednesday the Love's Thunder Alley block party will begin three hours before tipoff and will end when the game starts.
Thunder Alley includes music, games, food and drinks, face painting for kids, merchandise sales and the chance for people to win tickets to the game.

Violence in Bricktown/Thunder Alley

I haven't blogged in a few days but I have been following the shooting that happened Monday while most Oklahomans were celebrating The Oklahoma City Thunder's 3-1 series win over the L.A. Lakers... I decided to go to the Oklahoman archives and find out how many shootings have occurred in Bricktown and this is what I found:

• May 16, 2010: Edward Yearby III, 25, of DeSoto, Texas, is shot and killed after a college graduation party at the Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center. Two others are wounded. Randy Lamar Hall II, 21, the son of an Oklahoma City police officer, is ultimately sentenced to life in prison for the shootings.

• Nov. 27, 2011: Daniel Maxedon, 25, is severely beaten outside of the Rok Bar, 119 E California Ave. He died of his injuries March 6. Police records show this was one of 18 reported assaults in Bricktown from May 1, 2011, through early March.

• Dec. 31, 2011: Two people were shot during an altercation between occupants of a vehicle and a limousine in Bricktown. The injuries were not life-threatening.

• May 21: Eight people were shot and a ninth person suffered blunt force trauma along Reno Avenue near the baseball stadium as the crowd left the Chesapeake Energy Arena following the Oklahoma City Thunder game. One of those shot was in critical condition. The other injuries were not life-threatening.

Facebook Stock Drops... AGAIN!

After its much-ballyhooed initial public offering on Friday ended with the stock's price just about where it started, Facebook is trading lower today.

Just after the start of trading, the social media giant's shares were trading around $33, down 13 percent about $5 from Friday's close. After about 30 minutes of trading, the price was edging toward $34. It was still below $34 at noon ET.

We're embedding a constantly updated ticker that should let everyone watch how Facebook does as the day continues. We won't be following Facebook every day, but thought an update was appropriate after all of last week's chattering about its first public offering of stock.

In related news, Nasdaq's chairman apologized over the weekend for trading problems that delayed the start of trading in Facebook's shares. And Facebook founder/CEO Mark Zuckerberg got married.

NAACP Consider same-sex marriage as a Civil Right.

The NAACP passed a resolution Saturday endorsing same-sex marriage as a civil right and opposing any efforts "to codify discrimination or hatred into the law." The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's board voted at a leadership retreat in Miami to back a resolution supporting marriage equality, calling the position consistent with the equal protection provision of the U.S. Constitution. "The mission of the NAACP has always been to ensure political, social and economic equality of all people," Board Chairwoman Roslyn M. Brock said in a statement. "We have and will oppose efforts to codify discrimination into law." Same-sex marriage is legal in six states and the District of Columbia, but 31 states have passed amendments to ban it. The NAACP vote came about two weeks after President Barack Obama announced his support for gay marriage, setting off a flurry of political activity in a number of states. Obama's announcement followed Vice President Joe Biden's declaration in a television interview that he was "absolutely comfortable" with gay couples marrying. "Civil marriage is a civil right and a matter of civil law. The NAACP's support for marriage equality is deeply rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and equal protection of all people" said NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous, a strong backer of gay rights. Gay marriage has divided the black community, with many religious leaders opposing it. In California, exit polls showed about 70 percent of blacks opposed same-sex marriage in 2008. In Maryland, black religious leaders helped derail a gay marriage bill last year. But state lawmakers passed a gay marriage bill this year. Pew Research Center polls have found that African Americans have become more supportive of same-sex marriage in recent years, but remain less supportive than other groups. A poll conducted in April showed 39 percent of African-Americans favor gay marriage, compared with 47 percent of whites. The poll showed 49 percent of blacks and 43 percent of whites are opposed. The Human Rights Campaign, a leading gay rights advocacy group, applauded the step by the Baltimore-based civil rights organization. "We could not be more pleased with the NAACP's history-making vote today — which is yet another example of the traction marriage equality continues to gain in every community," HRC President Joe Solmonese said in a statement.

Gov. Fallin Signs Open Carry into Law..

Gov. Mary Fallin signed Senate Bill 1733 into law Tuesday, allowing Oklahomans to openly carry firearms. The bill permits licensed individuals to openly carry a weapon or conceal it. It also allows property owners to openly carry a firearm on their property without a concealed carry permit for the purpose of self-defense. “As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and a gun owner myself, I’m happy to sign this bill into law and grant law-abiding citizens the ability to openly carry firearms,” Fallin said. “Senate Bill 1733 sends a strong message that Oklahoma values the rights of its citizens to defend themselves, their family and their property. It does so in a responsible way by requiring those citizens who choose to open-carry to undergo both firearms training and a background check.” Oklahoma is now the 25th state with a law either allowing residents to openly carry only with a license, or not requiring a license. Oklahoma now joins Utah, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Hawaii and Massachusetts as a licensed open carry state. To receive a license applicants must take a firearms safety and training course and submit to a background check by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Those convicted of felonies and certain misdemeanors may not receive a handgun license. Businesses may continue to prohibit firearms to be carried on their premises. The bill prohibits carrying firearms on properties owned or leased by the city, state or federal government, at corrections facilities, in schools or college campuses, in liquor stores and at sports arenas during sporting events. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Anthony Sykes and Rep. Jeff Hickman. “I want to thank Sen. Sykes and Rep. Hickman, as well as the entire Legislature, for their commitment to protecting the Second Amendment rights of Oklahomans," Fallin said.

Elderly Woman Found Dead Identified

An 89-year-old woman found dead in Edmond Saturday has been identified as Bernice Daugherty, spokeswoman Amy Elliot for the state medical examiner's office said Tuesday. This makes Edmond's first homicide of 2012. Bernice Daugherty was the victim, and the cause of death is still pending... Police said Daugherty was found dead Saturday in a bathroom at 1000 E Edwards St. Her nephew, Ronald Sparks, 47, was arrested in connection with her death... According to a probable cause affidavit, Sparks told officers he put his aunt's face into the bath water and used his foot to hold her head under the water until she stopped moving. Afterward, Sparks said he left her body submerged in the bath water and left the house for a couple of hours. When he returned, he called 911. He said he was living in the home with his aunt and his mother. Sparks told police they were evil and planning to kill him. Police said Sparks told detectives he hoped they would think Daugherty's death was an accident. He said he put one slipper on her foot to make it look like she had slipped in the bathroom. He said he also threw her broken eyeglasses into the bathtub, according to the affidavit. Sparks is being held in the Oklahoma County jail without bail...

Nolan Richardson III Dead at 47

Police in Tulsa, Okla., say Nolan Richardson III — the son of former Arkansas and Tulsa basketball coach Nolan Richardson has been found dead in his home. Officer Jason Willingham said Monday that Richardson III's wife found her husband dead in a chair in their Tulsa home about 3 p.m. Sunday. A cause of death was not immediately released but Willingham said the 47-year-old's death appears to be due to natural causes. Richardson III was known as “Notes” and served as an assistant to his father at Arkansas and later as head coach at Tennessee State.

Abortion Laws in Oklahoma

An Oklahoma law that prohibits the use of certain abortion-inducing drugs has been ruled unconstitutional by a district court judge. Judge Donald Worthington says the law violates a woman's fundamental rights to privacy and bodily integrity. The law was approved in 2011 and required doctors to follow the strict guidelines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It prohibited off-label uses of the drugs — such as changing a recommended dosage or prescribing it for different symptoms than the drug was initially approved for. It was challenged by the Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice and Nova Health Systems...

Chesapeake Woes...

Chesapeake Energy Corporation will have the cash they need to fund the current drilling budget and will complete its transition to oil production by 2014. CEO Aubrey McClendon clarified some misinterpreted information that had investors and shareholders in shock last Friday. The information that the company's stock price could lose more than $1 billion dollars was false.. Chesapeake filed its first quarter report on Friday, which was a day later than it was due causing a snow ball effect on the rumors floating in the air... Visit: http://newsok.com/mcclendon-chesapeake-will-raise-needed-money/article/3675393 for the rest of the story...

Guilty of Child Neglect

Just now, a jury just sealed the fate of Christopher Dunham, a Del City, Oklahoma father accused of child neglect in the burning deaths of his three children... After the jury deliberated for 6.5 hours, Dunham was convicted of three counts of child neglect, as well as possession marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of methamphetamine in front of a child under the age of 13... All three of the charges can carry a sentence of up to 18 years in prison, but the charge of possession of methamphetamine in front of a child under the age of 12 can carry up to 10 years... Dunham will be sentenced June 26th at 9 a.m... Stephanie Dunham, Christopher's wife is also charged in their children’s deaths. She entered a blind plea on Friday--- pleading guilty without an agreement with prosecutors on a lighter sentence... she will be charged in July... Visit: http://www.koco.com/Jury-finds-Dunham-guilty-of-three-counts-of-child-neglect/-/9844716/13075146/-/h0b611/-/index.html

Anthony Shadid honored with Reflections of Hope Award

The Oklahoma City National Memorial honored Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anthony Shadid on Thursday. Shadid died in February after suffering an asthma attack while covering a story in Syria. His wife, Nada Bakri, accepted the Reflections of Hope Award from the National Memorial on behalf of her late husband. “I can imagine how proud Anthony would have been if he was with us today to receive the Reflections of Hope Award,” Bakri said. Previous winners of the award have included Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton. Watch the video here: http://www.koco.com/news/oklahomanews/okc/Shadid-honored-with-Reflections-of-Hope-Award/-/11777584/13068628/-/2nlnpsz/-/index.html

OU Sooner Blues...

Trey Franks and Jaz Reynolds are among 4 Sooners suspended indefinitely for violating team rules. This announcement went public on Wednesday night by head coach Bob Stoops... OU will most like have one reciever, Kenny Stills who is a junior and will have the primetime television exposure this season.. with any big-time college football game experience. Franks' and Reynolds' suspensions were first reported by OUInsider.com, which said Franks is out for the entire 2012 season and Reynolds for seven games. Wednesday's announcement makes the development of true freshman Trey Metoyer even more vital. Metoyer received overwhelming reviews from teammates and coaches, and backed them up with a six-catch, 72-yard performance in the spring game. Still, the lack of experience from Sooner pass-catchers is suddenly a great concern for a team that entered spring expecting the position to be a strength. Stills has started 25 games in his two years on campus, and had 786 yards and five touchdowns last season. But both he and Jones struggled after star Ryan Broyles, the NCAA's all-time receptions leader who was drafted last month by the Detroit Lions, tore his ACL in the middle of the 2011-12 season. “We didn't know what to do once Ryan went down to tell you the truth,” Stills said a week before the spring game. “We never saw that coming, and it hit us really hard. “The spring has helped us figure out what we're going to do.” Now, the Sooners could be forced to rely on Stills and lots of newcomers. In the fall, true freshmen Durron Neal, Sterling Shepard and Derrick Woods will join the team, as will junior college transfer Courtney Gardner. Reynolds, a junior, was OU's third-leading receiver last season, with 41 receptions, 715 yards and five touchdowns. Franks was the Sooners' leading kick returner, averaging 23.9 yards a return as a sophomore last season, and caught 22 passes for 196 yards. Co-offensive coordinator Josh Heupel raved about Franks' all-around play during spring football. Both Franks and Reynolds have been suspended before. Reynolds was suspended after tweeting insensitive comments about a gunman at the University of Texas during OU/Texas week, and redshirted that season. He was also suspended for one game last season for a violation of team rules. Franks was suspended for two games last season for violating unspecified team rules. Jackson started two games and played in 11 as a true freshman, finishing with 12 receptions for 165 yards. But he didn't participate in April's spring game. News of Jackson's suspension comes just days after he tweeted he was transferring to Texas A&M. Reports in the aftermath of that announcement indicated the Aggies knew nothing of Jackson's plans to transfer. Oklahoma opens its 2012 season at UTEP on Sept. 1, 2012, so that gives the Sooners' enough time to get it together and gear up the most exciting sport in the country! Read more: http://newsok.com/ou-football-trey-franks-jaz-reynolds-among-4-sooners-suspended/article/3674029#ixzz1uUsGS4Jb

President Obama Takes a Stand on Gay Marriage

President Obama is the first U.S. president to endorse gay marriage and tells ABC News today that it "should be legal." "I think same sex couples should be able to get married," Obama told ABC's Good Morning America. Ironically Obama's support came within a few days of pro-gay marriage statements by Vice President Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, increasing pressure on Obama from gay rights supporters. coming to the surface a few days before pro-gay marriage statements by Vice President Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, increasing ABC News broke into regular programming to deliver the news. The Good Morning America interview also comes a day after voters North Carolina approved a ban on gay marriage. ABC News, meanwhile, has prepared a handy "timeline" of what is considered to be "waffling" back and forth on the issue.. Visit http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/05/obama-likely-to-discuss-gay-marriage-today/1

A Toddler Gets His Hand Stuck in the Gum ball Machine...

A little boy from Arkansas had his heart set on a getting a gum ball out of the machine and found firefighters reaching out to rescue him from the grasp of a gumball machine. 2 year old Terrell Parks Jr., was out with his dad on Monday afternoon when, he was lured in by the line of candy machines near the front of the Texarkana store where they were shopping. Without knowing how a candy machine works, Terrell reached his arm into the gumball machine for a brightly colored ball to chew on. What he got instead was his arm stuck inside the machine. “I turned my back for one minute,” the boy’s dad, Terrell Parks Sr., told local station KSLA. “They were trying to get some gum from the gum machine and his hand was stuck up there completely.” Terrell’s arm was so far lodged inside of the machine that firefighters had to be called to the scene. “As far as getting an arm out of a gumball machine, that is not a normal rescue,” firefighter Vincent Johnson told KSLA. Johnson and other firefighters had to break the glass and disassemble the gumball machine after other attempts to ease Terrell’s arm out of the machine failed. The broken glass sent gumballs flying all across the store’s floor, but also resulted in Terrell finally getting what he wanted, a gumball to chew on. Johnson told KSLA that Terrell was not injured in the incident and the toddler got to keep his gum, along with some extra gumballs. Johnson was not available for comment today when contacted by ABCNews.com.

Student Loan Bill Update

Today, Republicans blocked the Senate from debating a Democratic bill keeping interest rates on college loans from doubling this summer for 7.4 million students. Republicans say they support heading off higher rates on subsidized Stafford loans. They oppose how Democrats would pay for the measure — raising payroll taxes on high-earning stockholders of some privately owned corporations. The vote was largely symbolic because the measure had no chance of approval in the Republican-run House. It was also designed with November's elections in mind because it could produce fodder for Democratic commercials against GOP senators. Republicans want a vote on their own bill freezing interest rates and paid for by abolishing a health care fund. Tuesday's vote was 52-45 to debate the measure — eight votes short of the 60 needed. Earlier, the top Democrat in the Senate accused Republicans of caring more about the rich than about students. Firing back, the Senate Republican leader said Democrats were using the chamber to create campaign issues instead of addressing the nation's problems. The sharp exchange came shortly before the vote on whether to begin debating the Democratic plan to extend today's 3.4 percent interest rates on subsidized Stafford loans for another year. Without congressional action, those rates will grow to 6.8 percent, thanks to a 2007 law that gradually lowered those rates but expires on July 1. Republicans say they favor freezing student loan interest rates but oppose how Democrats would finance the $6 billion bill: by raising Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes on high-earning stock holders of some privately owned corporations.

Bank of America Offers a Bailout for Struggling Homeowners

As a part of its recent settlement with the federal government and state attorneys general, Bank of America has initiated broad-based outreach to borrowers who might be eligible for principal reductions on their mortgages. More than 200,000 Bank of America borrowers will be recieving letters offering them a mortgage pricipal reduction and more letters will continue through the summer. The company estimates that borrowers who qualify for the program will see an average monthly savings of 30% on their mortgage payments. "To the extent principal reduction and other modification tools help us turn mortgages headed for possible foreclosure into long-term performing loans, it will be positive for homeowners, mortgage investors and communities," says Bank of America's Ron Sturzenegger. Bank of America began making principal-reduction offers at a small scale in March, initially concentrating on homeowners who were already in the modification review process. To be eligible, borrowers must be 60 days late on their mortgage, owne more than the home is worth, and the loan must be serviced or owend by Bank of America... Homeowners whose loans are serviced by Bank of America but the mortgages are held by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Housing Administration or the Veterans Administration are not eligible for principal reductions under the settlement.