Local News
Immigration bill on hold
Author plans to pursue legal action if warranted
EDMOND — A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction preventing certain portions of HB 1804, Oklahoma’s tough, controversial new immigration law, from taking effect July 1.
Since the bill was passed during the 2007 legislative session, opponents have called the law, the object of multiple lawsuits, mean spirited. Meanwhile, public support for the law has remained high.
State Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, author of the bill, said he was out of the office putting up campaign signs and didn’t hear until after noon that a judge with the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Oklahoma issued the 17-page opinion.
In a statement, Attorney General Drew Edmondson said the preliminary injunction is not a final ruling, and the state would respond when a hearing on the permanent injunction is scheduled.
Terrill said he is weighing his options, including contacting the same groups that helped draft the language in the law to plan future action. Terrill said he would be willing to take the matter to a higher appellate court and all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
In the lawsuit filed in February, plaintiffs asked the District Court to block specific employer-related provisions rather than the entire law, a different strategy than earlier attempted lawsuits.
According to the opinion, the plaintiffs, which include the State Chamber and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, held that the sections of the law in question could not be enforced as they “improperly conflict with federal law and are thus preempted...”
Defendants Gov. Brad Henry and Edmondson contended that the plaintiffs could not show that they would suffer any injury from the law.
Terrill said more than three-fourths of the law, including sections regarding employment with public agencies, are unaffected by the court order.
- Local News
-
-
Deer Creek students break WWF goal
Deer Creek High School students outdid themselves again recently as they shattered their fundraising goal for the 10th annual Wonderful Week of Fundraising. The school raised over $54,367 to provide assistance to refugees in the Oklahoma City area and clean water for the people of Haiti.
-
Lawmaker: No fraud, but ME’s office mismanaged
An auditor’s review of the State Medical Examiner’s Office produced no findings of fraud or wrongdoing, but there was mismanagement, one lawmaker said.
Last week, lawmakers received the results of a state auditor’s review of the agency, and it did not find examples of corruption, fraud or wrongdoing, said state Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore. It did reveal incompetence and mismanagement, but it appears the responsible parties are no longer with the agency, Terrill said. -
Police nab suspected golf cart thief
An Edmond man faces a grand larceny complaint after he allegedly stole a golf cart and interrupted a lesson at Oak Tree National, police said.
Saturday afternoon police were dispatched to the 5800 block of N. Kelly Avenue in reference to a larceny in progress, according to a report filed by Edmond Police Officer Jason Roach. -
Ex-CASA worker to serve 20-year sentence
A former worker for an Oklahoma association formed to help abused and neglected children was ordered to prison Monday after pleading guilty to his part in embezzling about $500,000.
Tom Bates, assistant attorney general, said today’s development puts an end to the sentencing phase, and Attorney General Drew Edmondson wanted to make it clear that this type of criminal activity will not be tolerated in Oklahoma. -
3-16 Communtity: your news
Calvey to speak at Kiwanis meeting
Kevin Calvey, local businessman, Army National Guard captain and candidate for Oklahoma’s U. S. Congressional 5th District, will be the guest speaker at the Edmond Kiwanis Club meeting on Wednesday. -
3-16 Scorecard: Legislative Update
Senate Bill 1996
Summary: This bill requires privatization of the state-backed CompSource workers’ compensation insurance provider.
Vote: Passed Senate 25-21
Sen. Todd Lamb: Aye
Sen. Clark Jolley: Aye -
Ex-CASA worker to serve 20-year sentence
A former worker for an Oklahoma association formed to help abused and neglected children was ordered to prison Monday after pleading guilty to his part in embezzling about $500,000.
-
Swine Week breaks record
Wild hugging and cheering rippled through the Memorial High School student body Friday afternoon when the Swine Week announcement was made that they are true record-breakers.
-
State reviews ME’s office finances
The State Auditor and Inspector’s Office this week told House leadership that lack of planning and expecting annual increases in state funding helped land the State Medical Examiner’s Office in a precarious financial position, according to information obtained by The Edmond Sun.
-
Lawmakers write governor, protest parole
Two state lawmakers are urging Gov. Brad Henry to deny parole for an inmate convicted in the murder of an Edmond man, calling him a continuing threat to Oklahomans.
- More Local News Headlines
-
