http://www.normantranscript.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:14:59 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011522 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011522 WASHINGTON -- The implicit message, delivered by the Supreme Court majority in two of the most important decisions of the term that ended this week, is that racial discrimination is no longer as big a problem as we once thought. Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:04:00 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_084130028.html http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_084130028.html Submit a Letter to the Editor for review for publication. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:14:59 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011521 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011521 CBS News personality Bob Schieffer said the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson reminded him that not all who die are heroes as some in the pop culture have indicated.His remarks a week ago were taken as a slap by some. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:14:59 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011519 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011519 SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- California's campaigns introduce candidates not only to the state's voters but to its immensity. In Bakersfield, Meg Whitman, 52, the former CEO of eBay who is campaigning for the 2010 Republican gubernatorial nomination, learned about carrots. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:14:58 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011518 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011518 The Midwest economy has often been among the nation's last region to feel the impact of an overall slowdown. It's also one of the last to show signs of recovery. So the signal sent out by the Creighton Economic Forecasting Group, overseen by an economics professor, is a mixed one. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:14:58 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011516 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011516 The annual census count won't begin for five months but estimates coming out of the federal office put Norman's population at 106,957. We remain the state's third largest city, now being pushed for the No. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:14:58 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011515 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011515 Rub on the sunscreen, pack the ice chest, blankets and chairs and don't forget to bring the relatives and their kids, too, for today's Norman Day festivities at Reaves Park, on S. Jenkins Avenue.The annual event, sponsored by the city's parks and recreation department, is a prelude to the popular fireworks show that should get under way about 9:45 p. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:14:54 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011503 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011503 Smokers who think Norman's anti-smoking laws are tough have some camaraderie with Greeks.The Associated Press reports Europe's most nicotine-addicted nation has adopted a new public smoking ban. It'll be a first for the nation where unrestricted smoking in restaurants, bars, coffee shops and workplaces is now against the law. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:14:54 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011502 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011502 County commissioners want two-hour limits on the city parking meters around the courthouse. Good luck.We've been down this road before. Some merchants downtown prefer one hour limits, some prefer two and others want free parking around the clock. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:14:53 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011459 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_184011459 HOLLYWOOD -- Happy Independence Day weekend, and God bless America.Simon Cowell was offered a $140 million a year by Fox Network Tuesday to remain on American Idol. All major American holidays are based on little fibs. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:15:07 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_183011532 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_183011532 There are two certainties that came out of federal court in New York this week: Bernard Madoff will likely die in prison and he took one for the team.Mr. Madoff maintains he acted alone in the epic financial swindle. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:15:07 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_183011531 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_183011531 They can complain about the heat but Oklahoma travelers will have some relatively low gasoline prices this Fourth of July holiday.AAA Oklahoma said state gasoline prices have dropped an average of 11 cents per gallon over the past 10 days. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:15:10 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_182011544 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_182011544 Airline pilots must turn in their commercial wings at age 65 but truck drivers have no such rule. If they can obtain a commercial drivers license and pass a physical exam, they can drive the big rigs up and down our nation's highways. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:15:10 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_182011543 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_182011543 The rockets, pops and flares over Baghdad this week were in celebration of U.S. troops returning control of Iraqi cities to that nation's security forces."We are now celebrating the restoration of sovereignty," a spokesman told The Associated Press. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:15:03 +0000 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_182011519 http://www.normantranscript.com/opinion/local_story_182011519 I walked the length of the westbound Lake Shore Limited as it left Albany last Sunday, six crowded coaches, and counted three Twitterers and a couple of phone texters, six laptoppers (two of whom were watching movies), four video gamers and 27 people reading books.