Oklahoma

Oklahoma GOPer Proposes Bill To Outlaw 'Aborted Human Fetuses' In Food

Jillian Rayfield | January 25, 2012, 5:18PM

An Oklahoma Republican is pushing a bill to outlaw the use of human fetuses in food, because, as he says, "there is a potential that there are companies that are using aborted human babies in their research and development of basically enhancing flavor for artificial flavors."

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Charles Dyer

Judge Declares Second Mistrial For Ex-Marine Oathkeeper Caught After Manhunt

Jillian Rayfield | January 25, 2012, 2:03PM

A judge in Oklahoma declared a second mistrial in the case of Charles Dyer, a former Marine Oathkeeper who is accused of sexually abusing a 7-year old girl, and who went on the run before his trial because he believed his arrest to be a part of a government conspiracy.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Lawmaker Wants To Raise Taxes On Newspapers

David Taintor | January 12, 2012, 2:33PM

An Oklahoma lawmaker wants to repeal a sales tax exemption on his state's newspapers and magazines. Because apparently people are still reading too many newspapers these days.

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Don't Ask Don't Tell

GOPer Wants To Reinstate 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' In The Oklahoma National Guard

Jillian Rayfield | January 12, 2012, 11:13AM

A Republican lawmaker in Oklahoma wants to reinstate "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the state's National Guard, because "nobody except a couple of radical activists found any harm in the policy."

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Gears Up For Fight Over Affirmative Action

Jillian Rayfield | November 9, 2011, 8:55AM

Oklahoma is gearing up for a fight over a 2012 ballot amendment that, if passed, would ban affirmative action in the state.

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Oklahoma

Former OK Judge Loses Pension Over Penis Pump

Jillian Rayfield | October 27, 2011, 10:41AM

Oklahoma Judge Donald Thompson

A former judge in Oklahoma has lost his pension after he was convicted of indecent exposure for using a penis pump under his robes during trials.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma: We Need To Specify Sharia Ban 'To Avoid Confusion'

Jillian Rayfield | September 14, 2011, 6:45AM

Lawyers for the state of Oklahoma this week appeared before the Tenth Circuit to argue for the state's Sharia law ban, which was approved by voters in a 2010 ballot initiative, but was blocked by a judge shortly thereafter.

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Sally Kern

OK GOPer: Gay People Are More Dangerous Than Terrorists

Jillian Rayfield | September 12, 2011, 1:58PM

State Rep. Sally Kern (R-OK)

Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern (R) argues that homosexuality is "more dangerous" than terrorism because "It's something they have to deal with every day. Fortunately we don't have to deal with a terrorist attack every day, and that's what I mean."

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Anti-Sharia Efforts Thwarted Again As Bill Dies In State Senate

Jillian Rayfield | April 12, 2011, 4:35PM

Oklahoma's dreams of being sharia-free have once again been shut down.

A bill to ban foreign law from being considered in state courts has been denied a hearing by the Senate Rules Committee Monday, effectively killing the bill for the rest of the year. This decision by the committee comes just a few months after a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction to block provisions of a November ballot measure that would have done the same.

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Sharia

Wyoming Will Try To Outlaw Sharia Too

Rachel Slajda | January 26, 2011, 8:53AM

Last year, Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that would prohibit judges from consulting sharia law in their decisions. A federal judge promptly blocked the ban, saying the case goes "to the very foundation of our country."

But that's not going to stop one Wyoming lawmaker from trying for a repeat.

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Oklahoma

Judge Blocks Okla. Sharia Ban: Case Goes To 'Very Foundation Of Our Country'

Rachel Slajda | November 29, 2010, 5:26PM

CAIR Oklahoma Director Muneer Awad

A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction against Oklahoma's so-called "Sharia ban," saying the case goes "to the very foundation of our country, our Constitution, and particularly, the Bill of Rights."

Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange, who presides over a federal court in the western district of Oklahoma, ruled that a CAIR official suing to block the law will likely succeed in his efforts.

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Oklahoma

Why American Indians Are Watching The Fate Of The Oklahoma Sharia Ban

Rachel Slajda | November 26, 2010, 9:18AM

So far, the outrage over the so-called Sharia ban Oklahoma voters approved this month has focused on the freedom of religion of the state's Muslim residents, culminating in a lawsuit by a CAIR official that has successfully stalled the law from going into effect.

But there's another minority the ban could affect: American Indians.

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Oklahoma

Restraining Order Against Okla. Sharia Ban Extended While Judge Deliberates

Rachel Slajda | November 22, 2010, 2:28PM

CAIR Oklahoma Director Muneer Awad

A federal judge in Oklahoma today extended a restraining order that will prevent a so-called "Sharia ban" from going into effect for another week.

On Election Day, Oklahoma voters overwhelming approved a ballot question that would amend the state constitution, banning state courts from considering Sharia or international law. Muneer Awad, director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, then filed a lawsuit claiming the law violates his First Amendment rights and could prevent his will, which relies heavily on Islamic teachings, from being carried out. Awad is asking that the court permanently blocks the amendment from going into effect.

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Oklahoma

Dana Perino: 'Sharia Law Allows For Stoning And Spousal Abuse' (VIDEO)

Rachel Slajda | November 9, 2010, 9:32AM

While guest hosting Fox and Friends this morning, former White House press secretary Dana Perino did a short news break on the Oklahoma Sharia ban, helpfully describing Islamic law for viewers:

"Sharia law allows for stoning and spousal abuse," she said.

Watch:

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CAIR

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Oklahoma's Sharia Ban

Rachel Slajda | November 8, 2010, 3:19PM

A federal judge has granted a temporary restraining order against an amendment to the Oklahoma constitution that would prohibit courts from considering Sharia or international law.

The Sharia ban passed as a ballot measure in last week's election, in a vote of 70 percent to 30 percent. Without the injunction, which bars the state board of elections from certifying the results, the amendment was expected to go into effect tomorrow.

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Oklahoma

CAIR Member Sues Oklahoma Over Sharia Ban

Rachel Slajda | November 5, 2010, 5:06PM

Oklahoma Rep. Rex Duncan (R)

Days after Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to prohibit its courts from considering Sharia or international law, CAIR's Oklahoma director filed a lawsuit asking for an injunction against the law.

Muneer Awad, director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Oklahoma chapter, filed suit against the Oklahoma Board of Elections in federal court on Thursday. In the suit, he alleges the law both violates the First Amendment and harms his family's ability to carry out his will after he dies.

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