Rep. James Lankford Comments in U.S. House on OKC Bombing Anniversary
U.S. Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, spoke on the U.S. House floor on Thursday, the 17th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.
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Alec Baldwin Says Arts Funding Helping Oklahoma Despite Sen. Coburn’s Opposition
Actor Alec Baldwin spoke at the National Press Club in Washington on Monday about arts funding in the United States, arguing that the country does not spend enough. He listed some of the Capitol Hill friends and foes of government funding for the arts and mentioned Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, as one who is “not as wonderful as we would like him to be on the issue of the arts.”
Baldwin then read some of the funding received last year by Oklahoma City-area arts organizations from the National Endowment for the Arts:
_ Two grants totaling $40,000 for the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition;
_ $45,000 for the Lyric Theater;
_ $773,000 for the Oklahoma Council of the Arts;
_ $20,000 for the Oklahoma Historical Society
Baldwin said, “I just want to mention, we find it not enjoyable but ultimately necessary to point out to some of these folks that there are constituents of theirs in their own congressional districts _ or statewide in the Senate _ who the NEA is bringing some wonderful, wonderful arts-related programming, and events, shows, what have you, and educational opportunities for young people there under the umbrella of the National Endowment for the Arts.”…
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President Obama Nominates Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange to Scholarship Board
President Barack Obama on Monday nominated U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange to the board of trustees for the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation.
Miles-LaGrange has been the chief judge in the western district of Oklahoma, based in Oklahoma City, since 2008. She has been a federal judge since 1994. She has also served as U.S. attorney and as an Oklahoma state senator.
The foundation, established by Congress, awards scholarships for graduate studies to students committed to a career in public service.…
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C-SPAN in Oklahoma City This Week for Some Local History
The public affairs channel C-SPAN, which provides gavel-to-gavel coverage of Congress along with a broad array of government- and history-related programming, is in Oklahoma City this week preparing some features on the city’s history and literary life.
The producers and organizers have an interesting agenda for the productions, which will air during a special Oklahoma City feature weekend of May 5th and 6th on C-SPAN2’s BookTV and C-SPAN3’s American History TV.
Here are some of the highlights, provided by C-SPAN:
· Interview with Bruce Fisher, son of Ada Lois Sipuel.…
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Rep. Sally Kern, Other Oklahoma Legislators Endorse Rick Santorum
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum announced the backing of several Oklahoma state legislators, including Rep. Sally Kern, of Oklahoma City. Here are the endorsements announced by Santorum:
State Senators:
Josh Brecheen (Duran/Tishomingo)
Mike Schultz (Clinton/Weatherford)
Patrick Anderson (Enid/Hennessey)
Gary Stanislawski (Tulsa)
Anthony Sykes (Duncan/Blanchard)
State Representatives:
Pam Peterson (Tulsa)
Sally Kern (Oklahoma City)
Steve Martin (Nowata/Dewey)
Shawn Roberts (Pawhuska/Skiatook)
Mike Reynolds (Moore)
David Derby (Owasso/Catoosa)
David Brumbaugh (Tulsa)
Dennis Johnson (Duncan)
Mark McCullough (Creek County)…
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10th Circuit Nominee Robert E. Bacharach Gets Highest Rating from Bar Association
Magistrate Judge Robert E. Bacharach, who has been nominated for a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, has been given the highest rating from the American Bar Association: unanimously well-qualified.
Bacharach, who has been a federal magistrate judge in the Western District of Oklahoma, based in Oklahoma City, since 1999, was nominated by President Barack Obama on Jan. 23 for the appeals court. He would replace Robert Henry, who is now president of Oklahoma City University.…
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Rep. James Lankford Speaks Out on Birth Control Action by Obama Administration
Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, says he is “outraged” by the Obama administration’s decision requiring birth control to be part of health insurance plans offered by some organizations with a religious affiliation, such as Catholic hospitals or Christian universities.
“I met with presidents of several of Oklahoma’s Christian-affiliated universities this week, and they expressed grave concern about their freedom to practice their faith and values without interference from the federal government,” Lankford said in a statement.
“I share this concern for them and religious organizations across our nation – church, para-church and educational institutions alike.…
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Library of Congress to Celebrate Oklahoma Author Ralph Ellison’s Birthday
The Library of Congress plans to celebrate the 98th birthday of Ralph Ellison on March 1 with reading and discussion of his work by award-winning authors Jabari Asim and Danielle Evans, the library announced on Monday.
Ellison, who was born in Oklahoma City on March 1, 1914, is best known for his novel, “Invisible Man,” published in 1952. The book, according to the Library of Congress, “transformed thinking about race, identity and what it means to be American.” The book won the National Book Award and has been recognized as one of the great American novels of the 20th century.…
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Cornett Can’t Think of Any Good Tulsa Mayors
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper gave Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett a chance to take a dig at former Tulsa Mayor Jim Inhofe on Wednesday, and Cornett didn’t hesitate to grab it.
Carper, D-Delaware, well aware that Inhofe, now a U.S. senator, had served as mayor of Tulsa, asked Cornett at a committee hearing in Washington:
“Thinking of the past mayors of, like, larger cities in Oklahoma, have any of them ever turned out well? Can you think of anyone who ever amounted to much?”
Apparently thinking Carper was just referring to Oklahoma City, Cornett said, “I’m fortunate to have a long string of promising mayors that preceded me, absolutely.”
Carper said, “Alright, alright.…
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Effort to put Oklahoma City’s Founders Tower on national registry
Oklahoma City is considering an effort to get the Founders Tower listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Built from 1962 to 1964, the 275-foot tower displays unique architectural elements, such as the revolving-platform restaurant at the top, and helped catalyze the development of northwest Oklahoma City, according to a staff report. Recently it has undergone significant renovations with the addition of luxury condominiums.
The revolving restaurant, which I remember as the Eagle’s Nest, is empty but from county property records it appears the condos are starting to fill.…
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