UPDATE: Flash flood warning, severe thunderstorm warning Thursday morning in central Oklahoma

Source: The Oklahoman

FROM STAFF REPORTS

8:55 a.m. Lightning may have caused a house fire in far northwest Oklahoma City, fire Battalion Chief Brian Stanaland reports.

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US new home sales rise 2.3 percent in April while median home prices hit record high

Source: The Oklahoman

WASHINGTON (AP) — US new home sales rise 2.3 percent in April while median home prices hit record high.

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Big 12 Baseball Tournament: Baylor vs Oklahoma Game Thread

Source: Crimson And Cream Machine by Rich DeCray

2013 Big 12 Baseball Championship Game 1 vs. Baylor | Thursday, May 23, 9 a.m. CT Television FS Oklahoma and FCS Central Location Oklahoma City | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Radio Sooner Sports Network

The Sooners will be looking for a good start to the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Their first opponent just so happens to be the Baylor Bears. In a series of unfortunate events that ravaged the state of Oklahoma, the Sooners ballclub has decided that they will be playing for Moore by wearing these..

This is the shirt that we

Rams, former OU quarterback Sam Bradford leading Oklahoma aid effort

Source: Tulsa World

Bradford's family is from the north side of Oklahoma City. His relatives were not hurt in the tornado.

General News. 2013 Oklahoma Disaster Relief Shirts

Source: Sooners Official Site

The University of Oklahoma has partnered with Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa to develop the 2013 Oklahoma Disaster Relief Shirt. Net proceeds from the sale of the shirts will be donated directly to the United Way to aid disaster relief and recovery efforts across the state of Oklahoma.

Baseball. Playing for Home

Source: Sooners Official Site

Thursday's wake-up call may be the most welcome this year. The Sooners have an early rise for a 9 a.m. baseball game that opens a reformatted Big 12 Championship.Oklahoma (36-19) faces first Baylor (27-25), then Texas Tech (25-28) and Kansas State (39-16) in pool play to determine one half of the championship game finalists and return a sense of normalcy in the week following Monday's devastating tornado.

Oklahoma tornadoes: BP donates $500K to Moore tornado relief effort

Source: The Oklahoman

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MOORE — Oil company BP is donating $500,000 to the tornado relief effort in Moore.

The company said Thursday that $300,000 will come from BP America Inc.

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Oklahoma tornadoes: Motorists urged to avoid I-35 in Moore

Source: The Oklahoman

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MOORE — Oklahoma transportation officials say heavy traffic on Interstate 35 through Moore is hindering the tornado recovery effort.

The Transportation Department on Thursday asked motorists to avoid the area.

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Oklahoma tornadoes: Rams quarterback Sam Bradford leading aid effort

Source: The Oklahoman

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, an Oklahoma native, is raising money for disaster relief in his home state.

Bradford on Wednesday announced a fundraising effort that seeks money but also goods such as cleaning supplies, baby items, pet items and blankets for victims of this week's tornadoes in Oklahoma.

A donation site was set up outside Busch Stadium for Thursday's exhibition soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea.

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Most indispensable player: Oklahoma State

Source: Big 12 Football Blog

We're walking through each Big 12 team and identifying its most irreplaceable talent. He's the guy they can least afford to lose, and the guy to whom an injury or departure would have the most effect. Let's move on with Oklahoma State. More most indispensable players. Most indispensable player: WR Josh Stewart 2012 stats: 101 catches for 1,210 yards and seven touchdowns. Rushed eight times for 120 yards and a touchdown. Returned two punts for 73 yards.

Big 12 Official Visit: Sooners getting hot

Source: ESPN YouTube

Midlands Regional Coordinator Damon Sayles stops by to talk about the recent success of the Oklahoma Sooners, and the strategy Jamal Adams is using in his recruitment.

US unemployment aid applications fall to 340K

Source: The Oklahoman

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell by 23,000 last week, further evidence that the job market is slowly returning to health.

Applications for unemployment aid declined to a seasonally adjusted 340,000 in the week ending May 18, the Labor Department said Thursday.

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Kansas picks up a major transfer at WR

Source: Big 12 Football Blog

Kansas' coaches know they need as much help as possible to fix an ailing passing game, and the Jayhawks are hoping they got a big, immediate boost Wednesday. From the Associated Press: Wide receiver Nick Harwell is transferring to Kansas after spending three seasons at Miami of Ohio, where he set the school record with 219 yards receiving in a game as a freshman. Kansas coach Charlie Weis announced Harwell's decision in a statement Wednesday. Harwell missed three games last season with a knee injury but still led the Mid-American Conference [in receiving yards per game] with 68 catches for 870 yards and eight touchdowns.

Man shot by FBI had ties to Boston bombing suspect

Source: The Oklahoman

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A Chechen immigrant shot to death in Florida after an altercation with an FBI agent implicated himself in a triple slaying that officials believe may have been connected to Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev, authorities said.

Ibragim Todashev's Chechen roots and mixed martial arts background mirror that of Tsarnaev, the 26-year-old Boston bombing suspect killed in a shootout with police days after the April 15 terrorist attack.

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Britain: Soldier slaying suspects had been probed

Source: The Oklahoman

LONDON (AP) — Two men accused of butchering a British soldier had featured in previous investigations by security services, a British official said Thursday, as investigators searched several locations and tried to determine whether the men were part of a wider plot to instill terror on the streets of London.

The men, suspected of hacking the off-duty soldier to death while horrified bystanders watched, boasted of their exploits and warned of more violence in images recorded on witnesses' mobile phones.

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UPDATE: Woman rescued from vehicle in high water in Mustang, Oklahoma Thursday morning

Source: The Oklahoman

FROM STAFF REPORTS

7:30 a.m. MUSTANG -- Firefighters have rescued a woman who was trapped in a vehicle in high water Thursday morning at SW 59 and Mustang Road.

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OU Football 2013 | The Countdown To Kickoff Is Officially On - 100 Days & Counting

Source: Crimson And Cream Machine by Jordan Esco

The 100 day mark seems about as good a time as any to start the official countdown to kickoff until our Oklahoma Sooners return to the football field.

Mailbag: Tackling top-10 player complaints

Source: Big 12 Football Blog

We just finished our list of the 10 best Big 12 players of all time, and I heard from plenty of you who disagreed. I'll tackle them all right here this morning. Thanks for your emails. Here's where you can reach me if you've got more to say. We'll have a normal Friday mailbag, so you can see your questions there. Dave in Hays, Kan., writes: David, This guy is always over looked, but how far was Todd Reesing from even being considered for being one of the top players in the Big 12?

Father of man shot in Boston probe shares regrets

Source: The Oklahoman

GROZNY, Russia (AP) — The father of a Chechen immigrant shot dead by U.S. law enforcement agents while being questioned about his ties to a Boston Marathon bombings suspect said Thursday that he regrets allowing his son to go to the United States.

Ibragim Todashev, 27, was a mixed martial arts fighter who had trained with Tamerlan Tsarnaev in Boston, and his father said they had bonded because of their shared interests and heritage as Chechens from southern Russia.

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UPDATE: Woman rescued from vehicle high water in Mustang, Oklahoma Thursday morning

Source: The Oklahoman

FROM STAFF REPORTS

7:30 a.m. MUSTANG -- Firefighters have rescued a woman who was trapped in a vehicle in high water Thursday morning at SW 59 and Mustang Road.

Read more on NewsOK.com

UK official: Suspects part of previous probes

Source: The Oklahoman

LONDON (AP) — A British government official says both suspects in the brutal killing of a solider were part of previous security services investigations for possible terror links.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the investigation, said he could not provide other details because the suspects may face trial.

Investigations by Britain's domestic security service, MI5, can include undercover surveillance, phone tapping and communications intercepts.

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Roof collapse reported in Mustang, Oklahoma storm Thursday morning

Source: The Oklahoman

FROM STAFF REPORTS

MUSTANG – The roof of a structure has collapsed under heavy rain Thursday morning, a police dispatcher reports.

Firefighters have responded to 1811 E State Highway 152, the dispatcher reports.

Check NewsOK.com for more information.

Read more on NewsOK.com

Tennis: TU and OU players advance at NCAA

Source: Tulsa World

Tulsa men's players Japie DeKlerk and Clifford Marlsand, TU women's player Samantha Vickers and Oklahoma men's player Guillermo Alcorta won first-round matches at the NCAA Championship in Urbana, Ill ...

UPDATE: Flash flood warning, severe thunderstorm warning in central Oklahoma Thursday morning

Source: The Oklahoman

FROM STAFF REPORTS

7 a.m. Counties included in a flash flood warning for Thursday morning are the following: Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Kingfisher, Logan, McClain and Oklahoma counties, the National Weather Service reports.

Read more on NewsOK.com

UPDATE: Multiple vehicles in injury wrecks reported in northwest, west Oklahoma City Thursday morning

Source: The Oklahoman

FROM STAFF REPORTS

6:45 a.m. Multiple vehicles are involved in a crash on Interstate 40 between Cimarron Road and Garth Brooks Boulevard Thursday morning as a severe thunderstorm moves through the area.

Read more on NewsOK.com

Solar plane completes 2nd leg of trip in Texas

Source: The Oklahoman

DALLAS (AP) — A solar-powered plane has landed in Texas, completing the second leg of a trip across the United States.

The Solar Impulse is making the first attempt by a solar airplane capable of flying day and night without fuel to fly across the U.S.

The plane landed early Thursday at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport after taking off Wednesday from Phoenix.

The plane flew its first leg from California in early May.

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OU golfers 8th; OSU 22nd

Source: Tulsa World

For the second consecutive day, the University of Oklahoma women's golf team shot a 3-over-par 291 at the NCAA Championships

Wrecks reported in northwest Oklahoma City Thursday morning

Source: The Oklahoman

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Wrecks are being reported with injury in northwest Oklahoma City as heavy storms move into the area.

A wreck with injury has been reported in the westbound lanes of Interstate 44 at Classen Boulevard, according to Oklahoma City fire radio reports.

Read more on NewsOK.com

Oklahoma to compete in NCAA West Regional Preliminaries

Source: OU Daily by Demetrius Kearney

Thirty athletes will represent the Oklahoma track and field in the NCAA West Regional Preliminaries.

UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm warning in central Oklahoma Thursday morning

Source: The Oklahoman

FROM STAFF REPORTS

6:10 a.m. A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued in central Oklahoma, the National Weather Service reports.

The warning has been issued for Canadian, Cleveland, Grady and Oklahoma counties until 6:45 a.m.

No tornadoes are expected in the storm.

Read more on NewsOK.com

OU not in do-or-die situation heading into Big 12 Tournament

Source: Tulsa World

Oklahoma coach Sunny Golloway gave a direct answer to a direct question on Wednesday afternoon.

Union tight end Carson Meier commits to Oklahoma

Source: Tulsa World

Union tight end Carson Meier committed Wednesday to play football at the University of Oklahoma.

OU, Texas A&M softball teams join storm recovery effort before Super Regional

Source: Tulsa World

As the Oklahoma softball team bus drove up to Journey Church in north Norman, the Sooners watched as a moving van pulled out.

Sooners have opportunity to take fate into own hands

Source: OU Daily by Jono Greco

The Sooners have their fate in their hands, but will they sieze the moment to make the NCAA tournament?

Sooners primed for super regional, amidst tragedy

Source: OU Daily by Joe Mussatto

The top-ranked Sooners face Texas A&M as they look to gain a spot in the Women's College World Series.

UK police: killed man was serving soldier

Source: The Oklahoman

LONDON (AP) — British police have confirmed that the man killed in an apparent terror attack was a serving soldier.

Police said Thursday morning that they believe they know the man's identity but will not be releasing it at his family's request.

Police say a post-mortem examination will be conducted later Thursday.

The man was butchered near an army barracks Wednesday afternoon.

Read more on NewsOK.com

More than 50 hurt when Indiana school buses crash

Source: The Oklahoman

NORTH WEBSTER, Ind. (AP) — A school bus slammed into the back of another one, setting off a chain-reaction crash involving four buses in northern Indiana, leaving about 50 middle and high students with non-serious injuries and one driver seriously injured.

The crash injured 55 people Wednesday, including three of the four bus drivers, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Sgt.

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Brave woman tried to reason with London attackers

Source: The Oklahoman

LONDON (AP) — A brave scout leader who may have prevented further violence has emerged as an unlikely hero in the apparent terror attack that left one man dead on the streets of London.

Ingrid Loyau-Kennett got off a bus and tried to reason with the two attackers after she tried to help the man lying on the street but found he had no pulse and was already dead.

The 48-year-old mother kept talking to the two bloody attackers before police came, trying to keep them calm.

Loyau-Kennett, who lives in Cornwall in southwest England, told several British media outlets Wednesday night and Thursday morning that she was returning from a trip to France and was visiting her children in London when the bus she was on stopped because of the melee.

She said she saw a crashed car and the victim lying on the street and tried to help him since she had been trained in first aid.

Read more on NewsOK.com

Man shot by FBI had had ties to bombing suspect

Source: The Oklahoman

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A Chechen immigrant shot to death in central Florida after an altercation with an FBI agent had several ties to that of one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects who authorities were questioning him about at the time.

Ibragim Todashev's Chechen roots and mixed martial arts background mirror that of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the Boston bombing suspect killed in a shootout with police last month.

Read more on NewsOK.com

UPDATE: Thunderstorms in central Oklahoma Thursday morning

Source: The Oklahoman

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Thunderstorms with hail, lightning and heavy rain are possible in central Oklahoma Thursday morning, the National Weather Service reports.

Storms could intensify and become severe with hail up the size of half dollars.

The Oklahoma City forecast is as follows:

Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly before 1 p.m.

Read more on NewsOK.com

Man shot by FBI had spoken with bombing suspect

Source: The Oklahoman

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A Chechen immigrant shot to death in central Florida after an altercation with an FBI agent had several ties to that of one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects who authorities were questioning him about at the time.

Ibragim Todashev's Chechen roots and mixed martial arts background mirror that of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the Boston bombing suspect killed in a shootout with police last month.

Read more on NewsOK.com

Oklahoma tornadoes: ‘All I could do was sit there and hold her'

Source: The Oklahoman

BY NOLAN CLAY AND ANDREW KNITTLE

Huddled together in a bathtub, Laurinda Vargyas held her baby girl and 4-year-old girl tight as the tornado began shaking apart their south Oklahoma City home Monday.

“We ducked for cover.

Read more on NewsOK.com

Oklahoma tornadoes: The 'Big Dog,' the little boy and the hug that triumphs over tragedy

Source: The Oklahoman

BY BERRY TRAMEL

Hezekiah Darbon often will bolt through the front door without knocking and make a beeline for the fridge.

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Oklahoma tornadoes: Love's to give $3 million to storm relief

Source: The Oklahoman

In brief

Love's to give $3 million

Love's Travel Stops will donate $3 million to support the immediate and long-term relief efforts in Oklahoma after tornadoes slammed Moore, Shawnee and surrounding areas.

Read more on NewsOK.com

Oklahoma Baseball | Big 12 Tournament | An Uphill Climb

Source: Crimson And Cream Machine by Rich DeCray

According to popular thought, the Oklahoma Sooners will likely need to wrap up the Big 12 Tournament as Champions in order to secure a NCAA Tournament bid. It's definitely not impossible but will take true grit in order to pull of off the feat.

The Oklahoma Sooners have yet to win the regular season since the birth of the Big 12 Conference. Nothing is new in that department and it has not stopped OU from reaching the NCAA Tournament. This year could be different as it is believed they will need to secure the Big 12 Tournament Championship to receive a berth, a feat they have not completed since 1997. Here is how the schedule plays out in the new condensed from on day one.

THURSDAY, MAY 23

Pool One

No.

Oklahoma tornadoes: Oklahoma tornado vignettes

Source: The Oklahoman

Sarah Patteson was minutes away from losing.

She was in a race with an EF5 tornado that was rapidly destroying her hometown.

She beat it to Plaza Towers Elementary School, picking up her two sons before it could make it there.

“Had I been a minute or two later, our outcome may have been completely different,” Patteson said.

She sped home and threw a mattress over her sons, Lucas, 9, and Noah, 7, and their dogs.

“This is it, guys,” she said.

Read more on NewsOK.com

Oklahoma tornadoes: Oklahoma singer packs tour bus with donations for storm victims

Source: The Oklahoman

BY GEORGE LANG glang@opubco.com

Musicians can put a lot of miles on their tour buses, but as two Oklahoma singer-songwriters discovered, they can also go a long way toward helping people in need.

After volunteering with cleanup efforts in Shawnee, singer-songwriter Carter Sampson decided to put her touring vehicle, a small motor home, to good use.

“I've been wanting to help from the minute I saw it happen on TV,” she said.

Beginning at 5 p.m.

Read more on NewsOK.com

Oklahoma tornadoes: Children endured tornado in hall of Plaza Towers Elementary

Source: The Oklahoman

BY WILLIAM CRUM WCrum@opubco.com

MOORE — The children were in the gymnasium, for gym and music, when the weather changed from ominous to dangerous.

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Oklahoma tornadoes: Moore students can say goodbye

Source: The Oklahoman

BY CARRIE COPPERNOLL ccoppernoll@opubco.com

Moore Public Schools Superintendent Susan Pierce read the names in the soft, sweet voice of a teacher.

Sydney Angle, Antonia Candelaria, Emily Conatzer, Kyle Davis, Ja'Nae Hornsby, Christopher Legg and Nicolas McCabe.

The men and women who packed the pews of Southern Hills Baptist Church on Wednesday cried quietly.

“You protected your students on May 20 just like you would on any other day,” Pierce said.

About 2,000 of the 3,000 Moore Public Schools employees gathered at the church for the first time since a tornado tore through their district and killed seven of their children.

They hugged with closed eyes.

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Oklahoma tornadoes: Hurricane Sandy victims send supplies to Oklahoma

Source: The Oklahoman

BY MICHAEL MCNUTT mmcnutt@opubco.com

Six months after Oklahomans sent supplies to help New York residents battered by Hurricane Sandy, New Yorkers are returning the favor.

New York Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder came Wednesday to the state Capitol to tell lawmakers that volunteers in his district are filling trucks with blankets, food and supplies that are scheduled by the weekend to start heading for Oklahoma.

“This is our way of paying it forward,” Goldfeder told The Oklahoman.

Read more on NewsOK.com