Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association backs strengthening cockfighting laws
COMANCHE COUNTY — The Oklahoma Sheriffs’ Association is calling cockfighting a public safety crisis. The OSS wrote a letter to the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation, strongly supporting the FIGHT (Fighting Illegal Gaming and High-Risk Animal Trafficking) Act, or HR 3946.
It is viewed as a positive step by animal rights groups, like Animal Wellness Action, that have often accused Oklahoma law enforcement of turning a “blind eye” to enforcing illegal animal fighting operations.
Local News
Influential campaign donors on video at McIntosh Co. cockfighting event
According to the letter signed by OSA Deputy Director Kyle Keller, the FIGHT act would provide tools that would be indispensable to Oklahoma sheriff’s departments, many of which are limited on budget and manpower.
It states sheriffs often encounter other illegal activity associated with animal fighting events, like gambling, drug dealing, violence and human trafficking.
The letter states the FIGHT act would:
• Ban simulcasting and gambling on animal fights
• Prohibit the shipment of mature roosters through the U.S. mail
• Create a citizen suit provision, allowing private individuals to take legal action against illegal animal fighters
• Enhance forfeiture provisions to include real property used in the commission of animal fighting crimes
2 News often hears from the gamefowl community after airing stories, and are told their voice isn’t heard. We spoke with B.L. Cozad of Comanche County on his views of the laws.
He believes that banning cockfighting goes against seven amendments of the U.S. Constitution, and that the government shouldn’t place higher value on gamefowl lives than his rights.
2 News interview with gamefowl farmer
2 News’ Erin Christy: Are you a cockfighter?
Cozad: I own gamecocks. Yes, I do I’m a gamecock farmer.
Christy: Do you fight them?
Cozad: You harvest your gamecock, you harvest your livestock.
Christy: When you use the term harvest, what do you mean?
Cozad: You’re making an economic harvest are you not?
Christy: Oh you’re making money. So your ‘economic harvest’ is fighting gamefowl.
Cozad: The same way gamecocks have been harvested for more than 3,000 years. You compete them against another gamecock.
Christy: You believe cockfighting should be legal because it’s within your right?
Cozad: It is legal. The law is unconstitutional. Any law that is unconstitutional is an illegal law.
Christy: But you would have to take the issue of cockfighting to the Supreme Court for them to declare it’s unconstitutional. We can’t just make that assumption on our own.
Cozad: Oh, yes, we can, because every person every person has their own, ideas and their own understanding of the Constitution of the United States. We don’t have rulers in America.
Christy: You believe regardless of whether the state law, the federal law… you just believe that no matter what, the current status is– It is a legal thing to do.
Cozad: Here’s the thing…
Christy: No, I’m asking you a question.
Cozad: I understand you’re asking me a question. The thing is, is what I’m telling you, the law is unconstitutional. Any law that is unconstitutional is illegal.
Christy: As one, I’m assuming, goes or has been to cockfighting events, based on what you’re telling me, do you believe the notion that cockfighting events bring along with it other illegal activity?
Cozad: No, there’s no notion. Understand, If you criminalize a football… there are drugs at every football game ever played. Okay? And if you criminalize football, Or, can you criminalize football because someone at the football game had drugs?
Christy: Football is not illegal.
Cozad: If somebody was to show up at a football game with drugs, we could call the police and have them arrested. But if somebody, because I wouldn’t want drugs at the football game, if someone shows up with drugs, we are at a disability (sic).
Christy: Because you’re at an illegal event.
Cozad: When are you gonna wrap your head around the fact that the law is unconstitutional, and any law that is unconstitutional is an illegal law?
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere —
NORMAN — Oklahoma softball’s transfer portal activity may have been fairly slow developing.
But now, as the portal window nears its end, the Sooners have started having success.
Oklahoma added outfielder Adi Hansen, a standout at the College of Southern Idaho for the last two seasons on Thursday.
Hansen’s announcement, made on Instagram, followed shortly after Middle Tennessee outfielder Macie Harter announced her commitment to the Sooners.
Hansen led the Golden Eagles with a .457 batting average in 186 at bats in 2026, with an eye-popping 82 runs scored and a school-record 62 stolen bases on 67 attempts.
Hansen had 17 games with two or more stolen bases this season and twice had four stolen bases in a game.
Hansen had four triples and 21 RBIs, drawing 23 walks.
She earned NJCAA first-team All-America honors, helping her team finish 43-13 with a NJCAA Division I Juco World Series appearance.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook and X for the latest news.
In 2025, as a freshman, Hansen hit .401 with 36 stolen bases and 62 ruyns scored.
Hansen is a Logan, Utah, product.
Hansen and Harter join a group of outfielders that includes Kai Minor in centerfield and Ella Parker in right field.
The Sooners lost Abby Dayton to graduation and Kasidi Pickering to transfer after the season. Pickering will reportedly transfer to Texas Tech.
Oklahoma finished 52-10 last season, missing the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2015 after falling to Mississippi State in three games in the Norman Super Regional.
The Sooners have a strong incoming recruiting class and return a trio of pitchers — Audrey Lowry, Miali Guachino and Allyssa Parker — as well as experienced hitters Kendall Wells, Gabbie Garcia, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas plus Minor and Ella Parker.
In addition to the departures of Dayton and Pickering, the Sooners also lost pitchers Sydney Berzon and Kierston Deal, first baseman Isabela Emerling, and second baseman Ailana Agbayani to graduation. Outfielder Tia Milloy, pitcher Berkley Zache and utility player Riley Zache also entered the transfer portal.
Oklahoma’s incoming class includes Edmond Santa Fe pitcher Keegan Baker, Lakewood, Calif., infielder Ki’ele Ho-Ching, Mililani, Hawaii, infielder Ori Mailo, Fullerton, Calif., pitcher Malaya Majam-Finch, Katy, Texas, pitcher EK Smith, and Mesa, Ariz., outfilder Payton Westra.
Mailo was with the Sooners this season, redshirting after joining the program a year early.
Follow
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma City police are investigating an early morning shooting that left one man injured in northeast Oklahoma City.
Around 3 a.m. on Thursday, emergency crews were called to a reported shooting near Kelley and Wilshire Blvd.
Investigators say the shooting occurred between a couple inside the home, adding that the woman shot the man.
However, police say they are trying to determine if the shooting was accidental.
The victim was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
The woman has been taken into custody for questioning, but it is unknown if she will face charges just yet.
Oklahoma is just three outs away from steamrolling through the right side of the bracket and knocking out Georgia to reach the championship finals.
To prepare, let’s take a look at what arms we should expect for the Sooners just like we did for the North Carolina earlier.
The Sooners have leaned heavily on their freshmen pitching trio in Cord Rager, Xander Mercurius and Nick Wesloski throughout Omaha. The first two went at least seven innings, while Wesloski tossed 5.2 innings on Wednesday. Even though they used relievers LJ Mercurius and Jackson Cleveland in the first two games, neither pitched more than two innings nor allowed a run.
If LJ, who entered for Wesloski on Wednesday, finishes the game, he will have gone 3.1 innings.
That sets up Oklahoma very well to matchup with UNC, which went 3-0 and also hasn’t used many arms up to this point.
If OU does win, expect Rager, Xander Mercurius and Cleveland to be ready to go. Rager, who hasn’t pitched since their first round game against Alabama on Saturday, June 13, would have a full week of rest.
-
Delaware2 minutes agoFrom blueprint to breakthrough: Tackling affordable housing in Wilmington
-
Florida9 minutes agoWeather Aware Day declared for Friday as heat and strong storms threaten Central Florida
-
Georgia12 minutes agoDHS appears to axe plan to construct immigration detention megacenter in small Georgia town
-
Hawaii17 minutes agoAmbassadors of aloha: Food events aim to boost tourism with unique Hawaii-made products
-
Idaho24 minutes agoIdaho State Police arrest Dillon Thorpe on rape, child enticement charges in Elmore County
-
Illinois27 minutes agoBeecher City farm suffers heavy damage following ‘wicked storm’
-
Indiana32 minutes agoBraun asks regulators to reconsider $71 million AES rate increase
-
Kansas37 minutes agoMixed results for Kansas City World Cup start as some businesses struggle
