Four stories that were trending or generated discussion online or on KGOU’s social media platforms during the past week.
President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to fill the vacant seat on the U.S. Supreme Court left by Justice Antonin Scalia’s unexpected death last month. The veteran of the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has a significant connection to the Sooner State, having supervised the investigation into the attack, and the prosecution of convicted bomber Timothy McVeigh.
The open seat on the high court during an election year created a political firestorm, and Oklahoma U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe and James Lankford said they don’t want to see a nominee confirmed until after November’s election. Garland earned support from his 1995 courtroom opponent – McVeigh’s lead defense attorney Stephen Jones. The Enid lawyer has been active in Republican politics for five decades, but said Garland is tremendously qualified, with a “flawless” judicial and law enforcement record. He urged Lankford and Infofe to vote for Garland if a confirmation hearing takes place.
Reader Walter Jenny Jr. writes: “He deserves the support of Oklahoma's two senators.”
Oklahoma’s $1.3 billion budget shortfall will lead to a $2.2 million cut to the state’s child abuse prevention program. Samantha Hanaway is part of just one of about 700 families who will be affected by the reduced funding to the State Department of Health. Hanaway’s story led to a heated exchange in our comments section, and she even weighed in to counter assumptions about her personal life.
Hanaway writes: I stay home with my son because in May, two months before my son was born, my mother(who would've been his primary caretaker) passed away. I was married to a hard working man before I got pregnant and my son was VERY MUCH PLANNED. Also, this specific program isn't about abuse control. Kourtney comes out and meets with us to make sure my son is meeting his milestones. Something that I wouldn't know otherwise because the person I would ask is dead.
Goodness @GovMaryFallin you're doing such a good job leading! https://t.co/fxAHZc2NQA
— Joey (@josephreuben815) March 14, 2016
Since even before the group formed in 1976, Bono and his bandmates in U2 have had a strong social conscience and a desire to use their celebrity to make the world a better place. University of Oklahoma international studies professor Alan McPherson tells the story of how the band went from touring with Amnesty International to lobbying the Bush administration to grant billions of dollars worth of debt relief to developing countries.
Reader Kelly Sikes-Sturges writes: “I really enjoyed this one in particular. I would like to add that music itself is a great motivator. Especially U2. Bono has consistently written powerful lyrics and, together with the Edge, developed a unique sound that is not soon forgotten.”
The same collective of Oklahomans who successfully led a petition drive for a grand jury investigation into the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office now wants Oklahoma’s top budget official in the executive branch to step down. We The People Oklahoma criticized Secretary of Finance Preston Doerflinger for comments he made on an Oklahoma City talk radio station criticizing Republican lawmakers and State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. Doerflinger later walked back those comments.
That’s a look at four stories that audiences appreciated on KGOU’s social media and online platforms this week. We’re always interested in your comments, feel free to write to us at news@kgou.org.
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