OU FOOTBALL
OSU FOOTBALL
All that Jaz
Road warriors
Sooner receiver Jaz Reynolds’ extra-large hands help him make the one-handed catches he’s become known for.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys were looking to calm the Iowa State Cyclones on the road in Ames, Iowa.
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NEWSOK.COM
THE OKLAHOMAN SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011
Kurt Budke
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NEWSOK.COM
Miranda Serna
COVERING OKLAHOMA SINCE 1907
Olin Branstetter
Paula Branstetter
Tragedy hits OSU again 2 coaches, couple die in plane crash
Former senator, wife were avid pilots
BY MICHAEL KIMBALL
BY MICHAEL MCNUTT
Staff Writer mkimball@opubco.com
Capitol Bureau mmcnutt@opubco.com
A small plane carrying Oklahoma State University women’s basketball coach and his assistant plummeted into the mountains of central Arkansas on Thursday, killing them in the second deadly air accident involving the university’s athletic program in recent years. Also killed were the pilot, who is a former state senator, and the pilot’s wife. Coach Kurt Budke, 50, and his assistant, Miranda Serna, 36, were heading to Little Rock for a recruiting trip Thursday. The singleengine plane flown by former state Sen. Olin Branstetter, 82, crashed at 4:30 p.m. about 45 miles northwest of Little Rock in the Ouachita National Forest’s Winona Wildlife Management Area. Branstetter’s
Former state Sen. Olin Branstetter and his wife, Paula, who with a son set a record for flying over the magnetic North Pole nearly 30 years ago in a singleengine stock airplane, were among those killed when their airplane crashed in Arkansas. Friends on Friday remembered Branstetter, who served one term in the state Senate from 1986-90, and his wife as avid but safe pilots who enjoyed flying as much as they loved Oklahoma State University athletics and helping others. They died in a Thursday evening crash about 45 miles west of Little Rock, Ark. Also killed were OSU women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna.
SEE CRASH, PAGE 4A
Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis is overcome by emotion Friday as he speaks during a news conference about a plane crash that killed women’s basketball head coach Kurt Budke, assistant coach Miranda Serna and two others. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN
MORE COVERAGE OF OKLAHOMA STATE PLANE CRASH
ONLINE
INSIDE I Reaction from OSU officials, others, Page 4A
IN SPORTS I Budke recalled for the way he lived I Enduring another tragedy, Page 5B
I More details about the plane crash I Clergy members offer advice, Page 6A
I Serna ‘just an unbelievable person,’ Page 6B
Scan the QR code at right to view multimedia related to the Oklahoma State plane crash, including videos and photos, or go to NewsOK.com.
I Eddie Sutton calls Budke ‘a dear friend,’ Page 7B I Soccer team wins one for OSU family, Page 8B
Balanced-budget amendment fails in U.S. House BY CHRIS CASTEEL Washington Bureau ccasteel@opubco.com
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House fell short Friday of advancing a balancedbudget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as most Democrats rejected the argument that it was the on-
ly way to get the government’s finances in order. The proposed amendment got 261 votes, but needed 23 more to meet the threshold of a twothirds majority; there were 165 votes against, with 161 coming from Democrats. The support was well off the 300 votes that a similar
Let forgiveness be supreme in our hearts so kind words will rule our tongues. Amen. 5D 1C 1E 6D
“Giving up on enacting a balanced-budget amendment is not an option. “Putting a constitutional parent in the room is the right and responsible thing to do, and I am committed to carrying this cause forward. Europe and its fiscal problems continue to serve as a wake-up call for any
nation that ignores its sovereign debt.” The vote came just days after the nation’s accumulated debt reached $15 trillion and as a bipartisan “super committee” tried to reach agreement on how to cut spending by $1.2 trillion SEE BUDGET, PAGE 8A
INSIDE
TODAY’S PRAYER
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proposal got when it passed the House in 1995; that amendment fell just one vote short in the Senate of being sent to the states for ratification. All five Oklahoma House members voted on Friday for the amendment. Rep. James Lankford, ROklahoma City, said,
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Volume 120, 318 Six sections Copyright 2011 The Oklahoma Publishing Co., Oklahoma City All rights reserved
WEATHER
MOSTLY CLOUDY Windy, warmer High: 74 Tonight’s low: 44 PAGE 6C
Dominoes at Capitol Former Gov. George Nigh takes on veterans at the Governor’s Domino Tournament. PAGE 14A
PHOTO BY PAUL B. SOUTHERLAND, THE OKLAHOMAN
SEE COUPLE, PAGE 4A
WEEKEND DEAL Visit www.wimgo deals.com to purchaseand receive an instant voucher via email. Current wimgo deal: Threeday instructional baseball summer camp at Legacy Sports Academy for $75 ($195 value). Details on Page 2A.