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UCO’s labyrinth provides a place for reflection.
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HOME INSURANCE RATES RISE Brianna Bailey bbailey@ opubco.com
BUSINESS WRITER INSIDE: List of insurers filing rate increases, Page 2A
Residents of tornado-prone Oklahoma already pay some of the highest rates for homeowners insurance in the nation — and rates are only going up. It’s not uncommon for insurance companies to raise rates in a region after a catastrophe like the tornadoes that hit Oklahoma in May, said Amy Bach, executive director for the consumer nonprofit United Policyholders. “As consumer advocates, we often feel that there is an overreaction there by the insurers,” Bach said. Since May 20, when an EF5 tornado tore through
Moore, 19 insurance companies have filed rate increase notices with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. The rate increases range from 5.4 percent to 40.6 percent for homeowners insurance. However, these increases are routine and probably have more to do with weather-related losses in previous years than the May tornadoes, said Kelly Collins, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Insurance Department.
Based on the average homeowners premium in 2010: 1. Texas: $1,560 2. Louisiana: $1,546 3. Florida: $1,544 4. Oklahoma: $1,246 5. Mississippi: $1,217
SEE INSURANCE, PAGE 2A
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Statue of awardwinning bareback horse Commotion at the National Route 66 Museum Complex in Elk City
Top bareback horse at the 1997 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas
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SOURCE: INSURANCE INFORMATION INSTITUTE
ELK CITY — The 1,300-pound bay horse has a freeflowing mane and a thick foretop that at times covers those coal black eyes. Even at 22 years COLUMNIST old, Commotion looks like a cocky thug. But anyone who saw Commotion buck in his career of nearly 12 years would agree that’s precisely the
Bennie Beutler and the award-winning rodeo bareback horse Commotion
look the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association three-time bareback horse of the bpainter@ year was shooting for. opubco.com Today, the stallion, retired from the arena during the 2006 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, prances around his pen at the Beutler & Son Rodeo Co.
Bryan Painter
SEE BRYAN, PAGE 3A
PHOTO BY DAVID MCDANIEL, THE OKLAHOMAN/ ILLUSTRATION BY TODD PENDLETON, THE OKLAHOMAN GRAPHICS
Accused shooter in Duncan killing says he ‘was not there’ BY NOLAN CLAY Staff Writer nclay@opubco.com
DUNCAN — The teen accused of firing the shot that killed an
Australian baseball player is claiming he wasn’t involved. Chancey Allen Luna, 16, was identified by the district attorney during a court hearing last week as the shooter. But he has told
both his court-appointed defense attorney and his family that he wasn’t. His attorney, Jim Berry of Oklahoma City, told The Oklahoman on Monday, “As of right
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With Your grace, Lord, we will give the benefit of a doubt to those whose actions can be irritating. Amen.
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Luna and James Francis Edwards Jr., 15, were charged with first-degree murder. Michael Dewayne Jones, 17, was charged SEE DUNCAN, PAGE 4A
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now, he is expressing that he had no involvement in the shooting.” Luna was one of three Duncan teens charged after Christopher Lane, 22, was shot in the back while jogging Aug. 16.
District names interim chief Oklahoma City School Board Chairwoman Lynne Hardin embraces Dave Lopez on Monday after the board voted unanimously to appoint him interim superintendent. PAGE 9A PHOTO BY STEVE GOOCH, THE OKLAHOMAN