Occupy Oklahoma City protesters gather at state Capitol
The first Occupy protest may have started in New York, but now the movement has spread throughout the country. NewsOK Reporter Matt Patterson went down to the state Capitol Saturday to speak with protesters about Occupy Oklahoma City and what it means to them.
Grant Swofford, 27, drove to the Capitol from Shawnee along with his friend Melissa Hibben, 29.
Swofford is a cook at Chili’s. Like most of the protesters, he is motivated by what he views as a transfer of wealth away from the poor and middle class.
“The richest one percent controls 45 to 50 percent of this country’s wealth,” he said. “We’re not asking for other people’s money. What we want is fairness.”
In some states people have been arrested for staying out past city-imposed curfews for participating in the protests. A reporter in Nashville, Tenn. was even arrested for interviewing people on the grounds of the Legislative Plaza. See the video here.
Betsy Randolph, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper, said the agency knew protesters were going to show up at the Oklahoma Capitol. OHP Capt. Pete Norwood had this to say about the protests:
We always have Troopers on Duty at the Capitol, prepared to respond to any situation in the State Park. Weekend Demonstrations are no different and usually require less intrusive security measures,” Norwood said.
Randolph said she hasn’t been made aware of any problems with protesters. She said any acts of violence or vandalism will be handled according to state law, whether that means issuing citations or placing people under arrest.
We were no more concerned than we usually are when we have any other peaceful assembly on the Capitol grounds,” she said.
So what do you think about the Occupy Movement? Have these protests lost all meaning or are they making a mark in history?
Photo by Doug Hoke: Groups of people march with Occupy Oklahoma at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City Saturday, October 29, 2011.
Looking back at the Edmond wildfires
Edmond Wildfire from Insight Visual Media Productions on Vimeo.
It’s been nearly three months since wildfires ripped through Edmond and destroyed several homes. I remember it and the Oklahoma City wildfires pretty well, considering our team of breaking news reporters spent days reporting on the fires and structural damage.
I was trying to find something to blog about and came across this Vimeo video of the Edmond wildfires by Insight Visual Media Productions. After posting my second time lapse video, it’s probably obvious that I love this effect. But this video shows much more than colorful footage. I think it really captures the cloud of smoke and devastation that could be seen for miles.
The production company explains more about the video in a blog post on its website.
When I saw a huge tower of smoke billowing over Edmond this weekend I couldn’t miss the opportunity to get out and shoot some time-lapses. I actually went outside to look at the cumulus clouds from a storm that was rolling over the north edge of town and when I saw the smoke I immediately knew this would be a good opportunity to shoot bracketed.
I’ll let you watch and decide what you think of the video.
Storify on capture, death of Gaddafi (Qaddafi)
Lately there’s been a lot of web searches from people in Oklahoma City who want to know about Gaddafi (Qaddafi). We’ve created a storify with news articles and tweets about the Libya dictator and his death. Feel free to share it on Twitter or embed it into your blog.
We’re all about providing the content you want here at NewsOK.
News stories and tweets about the Libya dictator following his death.
| “ | #Gaddafi’s family plans to file a war crimes complaint against NATO with the ICC, lawyer says – Al Jazeera http://t.co/9wWZ7g2O | |||
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Muammar Gaddafi Killed, Captured In Sirte: (GRAPHIC VIDEO)
Longtime dictator of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, has been killed following the capture of his hometown of Sirte. There were confusing reports of Gaddafi’s capture and death, and questions remained over exactly how he was killed. Arab broadcasters showed graphic images of the balding, goateed Gaddafi – wounded, with a bloodied face and shirt – but alive.
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| “ | “@ConanOBrien: Gaddafi may have been worth $200 billion when he was killed. Even more tragic, he was just 2 days away from retirement.” | |||
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Moammar Gaddafi buried in secret desert location
Why Rick Perry is flirting with birtherism U.S. pulls ambassador out of Syria Why the foreclosure crisis matters for Obama Libyan government orders probe into Gaddafi’s…
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| “ | Gaddafi killed: What”s next in Libya? http://t.co/5vdX6GaN | |||
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Human foot found in Tulsa pond
A dive team is searching a Tulsa pond after a human foot was found in the water Tuesday morning, the Tulsa World reports.
A woman was walking her dog around a retention pond about 11:30 a.m. near 5th Street and Mingo Road when the dog found something in the water and began playing with it, said Sgt. Justin Farley.
She went to get it away from the dog when she realized it was a human foot inside a sock, Farley said. She then called police.
World reporter Jerry Wofford said the Tulsa Police Department dive team is searching the area for more human remains.
Tulsa man accused of raping, beating woman
A Tulsa man arrested Friday is accused of raping and beating a woman behind an abandoned building, according to reports from the Tulsa World.
The woman told police that she went to the house in the 2800 block of North Garrison Place to buy Xanax from Michael Lynn Bennett, 30, who instead raped her and stole her car about 2 p.m., according to an arrest report.
Bennett told the woman to drive behind the house, and then he threatened to kill her, forced her out of the vehicle and hit her twice in the head with a block of concrete during the rape, Tulsa police allege.
Reporter Zack Stoycoff wrote that Bennett has previous felony convictions for distribution and possession of controlled dangerous substances.
OKC burst money bag causes traffic jam
A bank bag that burst open on Interstate 40 near Meridian Avenue in Oklahoma City caused quite a traffic jam Monday when drivers abandoned their vehicles and began grabbing wads of cash.
About 2:45 p.m., vehicles were stopped in both directions of Interstate 40 at Meridian Avenue, and people were running up the embankment trying to grab the bills, Shawn Altebaumer said.
“Man, it was nuts. It was a free for all,” he said. “There was literally money flying. People would pick it up, tuck it and just run.”
Authorities said no one has claimed the money yet as of Tuesday. Altebaumer said a single $20 bill and four $2,000 bundle wrappers were all they were able to recover.
If you were on the highway when it happened, let us know what you saw or captured on video by sending an email to tgibson@opuboc.com.
Oklahoma City haunted attractions
In a previous post, I asked readers to send me suggestions on haunted houses to visit in Oklahoma City. Here’s a clip of one attraction I visited with NewsOK videographer Grayson Cook Tuesday.
For more, check out our print and online editions of The Oklahoman this weekend.
News conference scheduled to discuss leads in death of Carina Saunders
Bethany police have named a person of interest in the death of 19-year-old Carina Saunders Wednesday morning.
Police chief Phil Cole says authorities are looking for Cody Perez, 21. He is outstanding and was reported missing on Oct. 10.
He said it appears more than one person was involved in the death of 19-year-old Carina Saunders.
“The evidence at this point indicates whoever did this had to have some kind of assistance,” Cole said. Perez was a culinary student and had worked at an Olive Garden restaurant in the Oklahoma City area.
Devon Energy Tower Time Lapse Video
Devon Energy Tower Time Lapse - Oklahoma City (September 2011) from William Hider on Vimeo.
The Devon Tower topped out at 50 stories on Sept. 21 and is expected to be completed in 2012. Construction began on the $750 million in October 2009.
Two years later, we’re near the end and awaiting an inside view of the tower. Until then, enjoy this Vimeo video of the construction process and Oklahoma City.
If you have a video of Oklahoma and want to share, send me a link at tgibson@opubco.com. It might end up on our blog.
Woman found dead behind Bethany grocery store remembered
A body found in a duffel bag in Bethany has been identified as 19-year-old Carina B. Saunders. Police believe Cody Perez, 21, of Oklahoma City, might be connected to her disappearance.
Saunders’ body was found Thursday by animal welfare workers checking for feral cats behind the Homeland at NW 23 and Rockwell Avenue.
Bethany Police Chief Phil Cole released Saunders’ identity Monday night after dental records were matched. Medical examiner’s spokeswoman Amy Elliott said Tuesday an autopsy is not complete, but Saunders’ death has been ruled a homicide. The cause of the death is pending, Elliott said.
An Oklahoma City missing person report was filed Oct. 10 by Saunders’ cousin. The report states that she had been dropped off in west Oklahoma City and left with a man on Sept. 28.
Some of the people who knew Saunders took to social media to remember the former Mustang High School student.
A profile of Saunders’ killer could be developed soon at the FBI headquarters in Quantico, Va.
Clues about Saunders’ death will be sent to FBI profilers in a behavioral analysis unit, said FBI Special Agent Clay Simmonds in Oklahoma City.
The FBI offered similar assistance to state investigators in the 2009 killing of the two girls in Weleetka, Simmonds said.
