Oklahoma

On Judicial Nominating Commission, Oklahoma turnpikes

Published

3 years ago

May 29, 2022

Catholic Bishops ought to honor separation of faith, politics

The Mayflower sailed for spiritual freedom. Our Founding Fathers separated church and state. Traditionally, two good decisions for our republic. But, Bishops Coakley and Konderla would unite church and state (Could 18 Views) by preaching for a partisan judiciary.

There are good causes for the separation of church and state. One is we’d like neutral checks and balances. One other is that the bishops evidently forgot about Oklahoma’s Nineteen Sixties judicial scandal. That scandal birthed the Judicial Nominating Fee, which has prevented such scandals for 55 years. Additionally, the bishops obtained it fallacious — the Fee doesn’t appoint appellate judges, and the governor does so from a listing of candidates vetted and accredited by the Fee as being succesful, neutral, and worthy. And a majority of the commissioners are appointed by the governor and the Legislature!

I do not preach the regulation within the church. I consider bishops ought to honor the separation of their faith from our politics.

— Bob Kellogg, Edmond

Pennsylvania-Oklahoma turnpike comparability described as ‘pure trickery’

The Viewpoint printed by The Oklahoman’s visitor columnist Katherine Hirschfeld was an egregious, intelligent effort to misguide readers. The “300-mile roundtrip between Pennsylvania’s two largest cities brings $158 in toll costs” to scare Oklahomans about turnpikes was pure trickery. A easy seek for miles from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia is 304, so “spherical journey” is 608 miles. Her value ought to have been $79 for a 300-mile journey in Pennsylvania, or 26 cents per mile.

Evaluating to Oklahoma’s distance between our two largest cities, Oklahoma Metropolis and Tulsa, an 86-mile journey is $4.50, or solely a nickel a mile. Lower than one-fifth the price of Pennsylvania turnpikes. Subsequent, she turns to future hypothetical scare techniques: “how a lot is it going to value the common citizen to drive from Oklahoma Metropolis to Tulsa in 10 or 15 years?”

As a former commissioner of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority representing Norman and Oklahoma Metropolis who served on the finance committee, historical past solutions her query. When the Turner Turnpike opened in 1954, the 86-mile journey value $1.40. In at present’s {dollars}, that may be $14. Nevertheless, by accountable monetary stewardship, OTA has stored that value to solely $4.50 — practically seven many years later!

— G. Carl Gibson, Norman

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Oklahoma

Gophers help fill need on defense with Oklahoma State linebacker

Published

5 hours ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

Gophers help fill need on defense with Oklahoma State linebacker

The Gophers football program addressed a need in the middle of its defense for the 2025 season with Oklahoma State linebacker Jeff Roberson on Thursday night.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound graduate transfer from Choctaw, Okla., totaled 58 tackles, including 8.5 for lost yards, three sacks and one interception in 12 games in 2024. He had a middling 57.7 grade from Pro Football Focus, along with 19 pressures, but also 11 missed tackles last season.

Roberson played 670 snaps last season, but only 107 across 2021 and 2023. He played special teams as a freshman in 2020 and missed the 2022 season with injury.

Roberson will help fill the void left by leading tackler Cody Lindenberg; the Anoka native declared for the NFL draft after the regular season and skipped the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Maverick Baranowski and Devon Williams top the U’s depth chart at linebacker going into next season.

The Gophers have added 15 total players via the NCAA transfer portal since early December and are still looking for help at cornerback and possibly defensive line.

Originally Published: January 10, 2025 at 12:00 AM CST

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Oklahoma

Ole Miss Linebacker Transfer Trip White Commits to Oklahoma State

Published

13 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Ole Miss Linebacker Transfer Trip White Commits to Oklahoma State

TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER

The Cowboys went to the SEC to pick another linebacker out of the portal.

Ole Miss transfer Trip White, who was listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds last season, pledged to Oklahoma State, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. White played in all 13 of the Rebels’ games this past season, his redshirt sophomore year. He made one tackle, primarily playing special teams.

White played in three games while maintaining a redshirt as a true freshman in 2022. He appeared in five games in 2023, and to this point has totaled nine career tackles.

Out of Parkview Magnet in Little Rock, Arkansas, White was a three-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class and chose Ole Miss over offers from Arkansas, Kansas State, Baylor, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Indiana and others. The 247Sports Composite system tabbed White as the No. 1,103 player in the class, the No. 109 linebacker in the class and the No. 12 player from Arkansas in 2022. He also started as his team’s quarterback as a high school senior, throwing for 2,035 yards and 19 touchdowns to go with 445 rushing yards and seven more scores.

White becomes the third linebacker the Pokes have grabbed out of the portal, joining Bryan McCoy (Akron) and Brandon Rawls (Saginaw Valley State). White’s addition comes a few days after Jeff Roberson hopped in the portal. With Roberson, Nick Martin, Collin Oliver and Kendal Daniels all gone from last season’s squad, OSU’s linebacker room — like most position rooms — will look quite a bit different heading into 2025. Kap Dede is set to coach that group, with new OSU defensive coordinator Todd Grantham bringing him in from Western Kentucky.

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Oklahoma

Trio of Oklahoma Sooners selected to preseason All-American teams

Published

21 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Press Room

Trio of Oklahoma Sooners selected to preseason All-American teams

The Oklahoma Sooners will open the 2025 softball season on Feb. 6 against the CSUN Matadors in San Diego. After a historic season, Oklahoma faces a lot of turnover after losing a number of fixtures in the lineup to graduation.

The Sooners certainly aren’t lacking for talent, however, as a trio of players were named to Softball America’s preseason All-American teams on Tuesday.

Sophomore outfielder Kasidi Pickering and Utility/DP Ella Parker were named to Softball America’s first team. Newcomer Abby Dayton was named to the second team.

Parker led the Oklahoma Sooners with a .415 batting average from the utility role. She also had 13 home runs and 62 RBIs as a true freshman. Parker hit .500 over Oklahoma’s final four games to clinch their fourth-straight national title.

Pickering hit .389 with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs as a true freshman for the Sooners. In the Women’s College World Series final against Texas, she had home runs in both games against the Texas Longhorns to win the championship.

Abby Dayton is one of a number of impact transfers for the Oklahoma Sooners this season. She led the Pac-12 in batting average, hitting .431 and also had an on-base percentage of .510 for the Utah Utes.

The Oklahoma Sooners will have a new look, but led by this trio of stars, the defending national champions will be ready to compete in the SEC.

More: 5 Oklahoma Sooners included in Softball America’s top 100

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