Tulsa World: State Briefs

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State Briefs

By Staff reports, AP & NewsOK.com
Published: 9/29/2009 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 9/29/2009 4:30 AM

Inmate on hunger strike eating again after 33 days

McALESTER — An Oklahoma State Penitentiary inmate who had been on a hunger strike for more than 30 days is eating again.

Rickke L. Green, 55, refused to eat for 33 days in protest of what he says is interference with his access to the courts, death threats, seizure of his legal papers, retaliation and alleged illegal action by prison officials, the Tulsa World reported last week.

The allegations were spelled out in a Sept. 3 letter to the newspaper purportedly written by Green but mailed by another inmate.

He began eating Thursday and is in the prison infirmary, Department of Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie said.

Green, who was convicted in Oklahoma County, is serving time for crimes including grand larceny, possession of contraband in a prison and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

- FROM THE OKLAHOMAN

Man shot to death during argument with his wife

STILWELL — An Adair County man was shot to death over the weekend during an argument with his wife at their home, authorities said.

Waylan Hopkins, 37, was slain about 9:20 p.m. Saturday at his home near Stilwell, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials said.

"The victim and his wife got into a verbal argument in their home," OSBI spokeswoman Jessica Brown said. "A shotgun was introduced into it. Someone pulled the trigger and shot the man."

No arrests have been made, she said, adding

that investigators are trying to determine whether the shooting was intentional or accidental.

The Adair County Sheriff's Office also is a part of the investigation.

- TIM STANLEY, World Staff Writer

Lynx at Norman zoo scratches 3-year-old boy

NORMAN — Authorities said a 3-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after being scratched by a European lynx at the Little River Zoo.

The child was taken to Norman Regional Hospital after the incident about 3 p.m. Monday, but police said his injuries didn't appear to be life-threatening.

Zoo Director Janet Schmid said the boy, his sister and his father were on a tour and had passed an area housing the swans when the children wandered away toward a nearby cat enclosure.

Schmid said the 45-pound cat, named Freya, reached through the fence and swiped the child's head and face with her paw.

Schmid said zoo employees tended to the boy's wounds and an ambulance was called.

- FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Missouri killings suspect is arrested in Muskogee

Oklahoma authorities have arrested a suspect in the killing of a man and woman in their Jefferson City, Mo., home.

David Russell Hosier, 54, was arrested Monday near Muskogee about seven hours after police in Jefferson City found two bodies in an apartment less than a mile from the state Capitol.

The victims' names have not been released, pending notification of their families.

Jefferson City Police Capt. Michael Smith said officers found ammunition in the home of Hosier, who is a convicted felon.

Hosier lived directly behind the victims' apartment.

- FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Transgender attorney to campaign against Kern

OKLAHOMA CITY — A state lawmaker who described homosexuality as a greater threat to the United States than terrorism will face a transgender attorney in her next race for the state House.

Democrat Brittany Novotny announced Sunday that she will try to unseat Republican Rep. Sally Kern from the House District 84 seat in northwest Oklahoma City.

Kern made national headlines in 2008 when she said the "homosexual agenda" is destroying the U.S.

Earlier this year, she launched a campaign for a morality proclamation that criticizes the government for drifting from traditional Christian values.

Novotny said she wants the campaign to be about issues and not her decision to become a woman.

She said Kern should spend more time helping bring jobs to constituents and improving education.

- FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

By Staff reports, AP & NewsOK.com

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Transgendered attorney to oppose Kern," which was published on 9/28/2009.

	Report Comment Four Sixteen Rigby, Tulsa (9/28/2009 4:47:41 PM) Sounds like a doomed endeavor to me.
	Report Comment Ric, Broken Arrow (9/28/2009 4:49:18 PM) transgender...Eww please it's almost dinner time.
	Report Comment HONES, T-Town (9/28/2009 4:57:09 PM) OH BOY, THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN FUN FUN!
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (9/28/2009 5:00:13 PM) There is no writer in the world who could make this stuff up.
	Report Comment Navin Johnson, Tulsa (9/28/2009 5:06:49 PM) Looks like Sally Kern will win again...
	Report Comment davfromm, Tulsa (9/28/2009 5:15:55 PM) This is going to be fun watching the right-wingers heads explode. Come on right-wingers... start frothing!
	Report Comment tbgalileo, Tulsa (9/28/2009 5:17:12 PM) Yea, would love to see Kern find new employment, but I don't think this is gonna work out. Plus, someone will need to come to the plate with lots of cash since Kern is very well-funded by out-of-state right-wing religious groups.
	Report Comment seymore1965, Tulsa (9/28/2009 5:34:20 PM) I wish I was there to vote for Brittany and get Sally Kerns out of there.
	Report Comment Worried about the system, Tulsa (9/28/2009 5:45:12 PM) I think I'll contribute to Brittany's campaign!
	Report Comment Dwight Schrute, (9/28/2009 5:59:44 PM) Oh for crying out loud.... only in Oklahoma !
	Report Comment parksport, (9/28/2009 6:03:07 PM) The rhetoric in this race should prove to be very interesting, to say the least.
	Report Comment insider9909, Cushing (9/28/2009 6:10:25 PM) Can we PLEASE get a creditable candidate to oppose this lunatic neo-nazi nutjob?
	Report Comment orly, Tulsa (9/28/2009 6:11:45 PM) cant wait to see the mud slinging in this one...wow
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (9/28/2009 6:12:51 PM) Maybe Sally will become so full of herself, her constituents will feel she's and embarrassment and vote her out. But it's doubtful. Her backers would do anything to keep from losing her seat.
	Report Comment Bville, (9/28/2009 6:27:02 PM) Brittany has no chance. She's a lawyer! LOL!!!!
	Report Comment Citizen M, Bartlesville (9/28/2009 6:36:55 PM) This race is really a microcosm of politics today. You get one far end of the spectrum, or the other. If someone with some sense and decency would run, it would be a miracle.
	Report Comment jonas x3, Tulsa (9/28/2009 6:40:44 PM) Sorry Sally- In the photo above, Brittany is much better looking than you!
	Report Comment true2form, Grand Lake (9/28/2009 6:41:08 PM) You can't tell me the gods don't have a sense of humor!
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (9/28/2009 6:42:27 PM) Right on Citizen M
	Report Comment Centrist, the burbs (9/28/2009 6:45:47 PM) No one told me Barnum and Bailey was in town, perhaps it was part of Tulsa Fair exhibits, good grief we are looking more like Oregon all the time.
	Report Comment Newsmax, Tulsa - MidTown (9/28/2009 6:59:39 PM) Jonas x3, I think your right! Sally's looking a little tired and bedraggled, must be from all the cat fights with the "Homosexual Agenda"! She could also use some blush!
	Report Comment edelweiss, Tulsa (9/28/2009 7:03:19 PM) If I lived in that district (thankfully I don't) my vote would definitely be for Ms Novotny. Sally Kern is is disgrace to the human race. Besides being narrow-minded, short-sighted, homophobic, bigoted...she even shunned her son for being gay. Now that's real Oklahoma "family values for ya'"!!! Kern, Inhofe, Fred Phelps, Coburn and the like should crawl back under their rocks.
	Report Comment Vern, Spiro (9/28/2009 7:10:37 PM) How sleazy can you get? A lawyer, yuk!
	Report Comment Bodean, Tulsa (9/28/2009 7:12:27 PM) Ms. Novotny has my vote!
	Report Comment just passing through, (9/28/2009 7:13:40 PM) As weird as this might sound, if weird is the right word to use here, this could be an interesting race. Novotny is smart and will rip Kern to shreads in a debate on the issues. Novotny is also a lot more conserative than you might think in areas like how the state spends our money. The question is: Will the voters in this district pay any attention to who is the smartest on the issues, or do they want someone who will just keep flogging the Three-G's? At least it will not be dull.

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