Sources: Seals
to BTW
Shea Seals is expected to be named boys
basketball coach at Booker T. Washington.
Sports B-1
WWW . TULSAWORLD . COM
FRIDAY
A PRIL 20, 2007
Coburn urges Gonzales to resign
He tells the AG ‘mistakes have consequences’
B Y J IM M YERS
World Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Tom
Coburn on Thursday called for the
resignation of embattled Attorney
General Alberto Gonzales.
“I believe the best way to put this
behind us is your resignation,’’ the
Oklahoma Republican told Gonzales
during a much-anticipated hearing be-
fore the Senate Judiciary Committee
concerning the firing of eight U.S. at-
A day of remembrance
Survivors mark
anniversary of
OKC bombing
B Y A NGEL R IGGS
World Capitol Bureau
OKLAHOMA CITY — Twelve years
after the Oklahoma City bombing,
survivors, family and friends of the
168 people killed continue to gather
each April 19 as a kind of extended
family, comforting and supporting
each other through the lingering hurt
and loss.
“A lot of us are still helping each
other,” said Martin Cash, a bombing
survivor, who stood among the rows
of empty chairs Thursday at the Okla-
homa City National Memorial and
Museum.
“These families are my family,” he
said.
Hundreds of survivors, relatives and
friends of victims gathered at the me-
morial, built on the grounds of the
destroyed Alfred P. Murrah Federal
Building, to remember those who
died 12 years ago Thursday.
As people arrived at the memorial’s
annual Remembrance Ceremony, a pi-
anist played the piano on which John
Lennon composed the song “Imagine”
in 1971. The piano sat outdoors on a
sidewalk beside the memorial’s re-
flecting pool.
The ceremony began with 168 sec-
onds of silence. The names of those
killed also were read.
Presidential candidate and former
New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani
and Lt. Gov. Jari Askins each spoke
during the ceremony.
“This week it is hard not to note
the fact that America has again been
shaken by violence on an early morn-
ing in April,” Giuliani said.
However, he added, Oklahoma’s
demonstration of compassion and
strength became a model for New
York City through the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks, and will help those
affected by the violence this week at
Virginia Tech, Giuliani said.
“With the dust and smoke still
hanging in the air, the people of Okla-
homa City came together as one,” he
said.
SEE OKC A-8
‘We’ve had some unusual gifts
over the years, including about
10 cemetery lots in Oklahoma
City which we turned down
because we didn’t know how
to get rid of them.’
Gary Casteel
Tulsa Habitat for Humanity executive director
WEATHER
High 76 / Low 55
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B-8
Annual spring musicals bring students together
Real-life grit Satellite D-1
Keith Anderson became a star the
old fashioned way — he earned it.
Tulsa airports director talks about his job and more
Spot 14 Business E-1
.. F I NA L H O ME E D I TI ON
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Attorney General
torneys. ‘‘Mr. Attorney General, you set the Alberto Gonzales
Gonzales quickly rejected Coburn’s standard,’’ he said, reminding Gon- testifies Thursday
suggestion that he step down. zales of his comments on leadership before the Senate
‘‘Senator, I don’t know whether or and management skills. ‘‘They were Judiciary
not that puts this behind us, quite sorely lacking in this instance.’’ Committee.
frankly,’’ he said, again apologizing for Coburn went on to suggest the best
any mistakes made in the way the path for the Bush administration
prosecutors had been handled. ‘‘I am would be to start with a new slate of SUSAN WALSH /
Associated Press
committed to working with you and leadership skills.
trying to restore the faith and confi- ‘‘I like you as a man. I like you as
dence.’’ an individual. I believe you are totally
In response, Coburn gave no
ground. SEE COBURN A-4
Lawsuit bill
on its way
to governor
E Critics say a judge and WHAT
jury should decide damages. HAPPENED
Supporters say unrealistic Senate Bill
507 originally
awards need to be curbed. passed in the
Senate and was
B Y B ARBARA H OBEROCK amended in the
World Capitol Bureau
House.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklaho-
When SB 507
ma Senate on Thursday passed a con- returned to
troversial lawsuit reform bill that crit-
the Senate for
ics say will close the courtroom doors consideration of
to many.
House amend-
Supporters of Senate Bill 507 say it ments, the
is needed to curb the rising costs of
Senate author
health and malpractice insurance and could have
to level the playing field for defen- rejected the
dants in civil cases. Supporters also amendments,
say the measure will make Oklahoma effectively send-
more business friendly. ing the measure
The measure, supported by The to a conference
State Chamber and opposed by the committee for
Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association, final drafting.
is on its way to Gov. Brad Henry’s
Republicans
desk. were afraid the
Henry said he has not had a
measure would
chance to read the details of the die in com-
lengthy, complex bill.
mittee, so the
“Equal access to the justice system author accepted
is one of the most important and ba-
the amend-
sic rights granted to our citizens un- ments, meaning
der the U.S. Constitution and the
the Senate had
Oklahoma Constitution,” the governor to vote on the
said. “It is critical that any reform bill without mak-
measure preserve or strengthen that ing changes.
basic right as it attempts to reduce
costs associated with the system.” SB 507 now
The measure passed by a 25-23 goes to the
vote with Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, governor.
the lone Democratic supporter. Seven-
teen votes are needed in the Senate
to sustain a veto. For more
Critics say the bill allows courts to Effect on royalty
deduct from damages any insurance owners. E-2
proceeds the plaintiff may have re-
ceived. Such a move benefits the per-
son who committed the wrong, they
say.
However, Sen. James A. Williamson,
R-Tulsa, said a follow-up bill will pro-
vide new wording to allow a judge to
SUE OGROCKI / Associated Press
inform a jury about the proceeds but
not necessarily require the amount be
Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Jari Askins listens as former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks Thursday in
deducted from the award.
front of the reflecting pool of the Oklahoma City National Memorial during ceremonies on the 12th
anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.
The Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Asso-
SEE REFORM A-4
Habitat for Humanity gets lottery windfall
B Y B ILL S HERMAN “We’ve had some unusual gifts over found time to fix it and put it into ser-
World Religion Writer the years, including about 10 ceme- vice.
Tulsa Habitat for Humanity hit the
tery lots in Oklahoma City which we Someone once donated a 1972 Mer-
turned down because we didn’t know cedes for a Habitat auction. After the
jackpot this week. how to get rid of them.” agency spent $400 in repairs, the car
An anonymous donor gave a win- Some the unusual donations have brought $3,000 in the auction.
ning $10,000 lottery ticket to the local proved valuable, Casteel said. Houston Hunt, spokesman for the
charity, which builds houses for low- “One of our prize donations was a Oklahoma Lottery, said this was the
income families. farm tractor, which we needed at the first time a nonprofit organization has
“This has never happened before,” time.” claimed a lottery ticket in Oklahoma.
said Gary Casteel, executive director A donated forklift sat in a basement
of the Tulsa chapter. for five years before the organization SEE JACKPOT A-8
Centennial.......... A-4 Local................. A-11
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