Monday, April 3, 2023

Monday, April 3, 2023

4 Texas bills that could limit Chinese, Iranian, North Korean and Russian land ownership

By First Last Staff Reporter

Multiple bills have been filed in the current Texas legislative session seeking to regulate some people from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia and their purchasing property in the state. Similar bills have been filed in at least 15 other states and Washington, D.C.

Lawmakers who have authored some of the bills have said the legislation is intended to protect the state from governments that are considered a threat to the U.S. by the federal government. Those who oppose the bills say they are rooted in xenophobia.

Cyclones defeat Cowgirls in close top-20 matchup

Gina Foster Staff Reporter

Wild fans, intense matches and fierce competitors contribute to creating quite the atmosphere for a Friday night Big 12 top-20 matchup.

The Cyclones defeated the Cowgirls 4-2 at the Greenwood Tennis Center to end OSU’s 4-0 Big 12 record. However, it did not go down without a hard fight.

“Well, I think there’s always lessons to be learned,” said coach Chris Young. “There’s things that you can take that are positives and there’s things

to learn from it. What we want to do is learn from playing a good team like this and improve the rest of the season.” These close losses may be tough, but Young does not let them go to waste. Alana Wolfberg came back from a 5-1 deficit to win set one 7-5 and set two 6-3. The fight and passion was evident to the crowd, as eyes were glued to court two.

Concerns over Chinese ownership of land in Texas spiked after lawmakers discovered that a Chinese subsidiary purchased about 140,000 acres near Laughlin Air Force Base in Val Verde County.

A December 2020 U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed that China accounted for less than 1% — 352,140 acres — of all foreign-held land in the United States.

Here are some of the bills introduced in the Texas Legislature: Senate Bill 147

The bill: SB 147 would ban citizens and businesses from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, or those governments, from buying property in Texas. It could have limited excep -

tions, for instance for people with dual U.S. citizenship.

Author: Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham

Coauthors: Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen; Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston; Sen. Drew Springer, R-Muenster

Status: Pending in committee

March 2

Background: SB147 angered many in the Chinese American community when Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted his intent in January to sign the bill if passed. The bill, according to Kolkhorst, “builds on” Senate Bill 2116, a bill passed by Republicans and Democrats in the last regular legisla-

tive session to protect “critical infrastructure.”

Some Democrats who voted in favor of SB 2116, including Gene Wu and Rafael Anchia, have spoken out against SB 147, which currently states that “an individual who is a citizen of China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia” would not be allowed to purchase or acquire real property.

After multiple rallies against the bills sprung up in major Texas cities, including Houston and Dallas, Kolkhorst and other Republican lawmakers have said the bill would clarify that people who are lawful permanent residents and dual citizens would not be affected by the proposed legislation.

How Mercer became the student-assistant coach for OSU baseball

back pocket of his jeans. Bewilderment struck as he saw it to be OSU coach Josh Holliday. “I expected another casual phone call,” Mercer said. “Josh didn’t even hesitate when he offered me a job as the student assistant.”

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Jordy Mercer felt the hot, summer sun blaze down on him outside of his house in Edmond. It appeared to just be a normal day, but little did he know, it would soon alter its course. Mercer felt his phone buzz in the

The position had been previously held by former OSU and MLB player, and Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura for the past three seasons.

Mercer had already planned on returning to school to attain a degree. Still, he was uncertain about accepting. So, he mentioned it to who he refers to as “ole reliable.” His wife, Kasey Mer-

cer. “I explained to (Jordy), the only thing this was going to do was open more doors for him down the road,” Kasey said. “I told him that it would be the only time he would be able to do student coaching.”

Kasey hasn’t missed the long nights, waiting for Jordy to call nor the sparse amounts of time the two spent together. She did miss being a baseball mom and wife. She missed seeing her kids run around the bases of PNC Park and Comerica Park, and so did Jordy.

Carson Toulouse

Jordy Mercer played 10 seasons in MLB, his last being in 2021.

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

Mingling Huang (in white) raises a fist as she yells in agreement with a speaker during a rally in opposition to Texas Senate Bills 147 and 552 on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News/TNS)

Mercer...

Continued from 1

So, Jordy called Holliday back the next day and accepted the offer.

Now, he stands along the first base line. Off the diamond, he uses his knowledge of MLB analytics and hitting mechanics into practices to help his players perform on game days.

“Having someone like Jordy around is surreal,” said freshman Nolan Schubart. “The guy holds nine years of MLB experience, so players like myself often flock to that. It’s so fun to be around him and learn from him every day.”

The result? One could point to the fact that nine of OSU’s typical starters are batting over .300 through 26 games of the 2023 season – or that the Cowboys rank second in the Big 12 in team batting average (.314) just behind Texas Tech.

Said second baseman Roc Riggio, “Jordy is the man. But in the long term, it’s really just another friend, another coach, another mind that we can rely on and it’s been great for us so far.”

The daily 50-minute drives from Edmond to Stillwater and back are a footnote for during the week. Jordy said he wouldn’t trade it for anything. So far, that phone call in July 2022 has sufficed, both for the Mercer family and OSU baseball.

“Everything about this university created lifelong memories,” Jordy said. “It’s just nice to be able to come back here, give back and be back where it all started for me.”

Courtesy of Mike Mulholland/ MLive/via Tribune News Service

Former Cowboy Jordy Mercer recorded a productive career in MLB but recently returned to Stillwater as a student-assistant coach. sports.ed@ocolly.com

By Braden Bush and Adam Engel Assistant Sports Editor and Editor in

CATOOSA — We did not think this would happen.

An opportunity to sit ringside and write at a world title professional boxing fight, especially as student journalists.

But… it did. Braden Bush and Adam Engel, writers for The O’Colly watching a title fight with the hopeful intentions of writing about it.

We are sports fans (duh) and recently ventured into the world of combat sports, specifically college wrestling and trips to Buffalo Wild Wings for UFC fights. So, when we learned of a WBO title fight coming to Tulsa, we took our shot. We completed our homework, researching these fighters, whose names we didn’t recognize. Adam said he vaguely recognized Tiger Johnson as a 2020 Olympian out of Cleveland, Ohio, but that was it.

“Let’s apply. Worst thing is they say no.”

Top Rank didn’t. So we arrived at the Hard Rock Casino in Catoosa, gambled a little and entered the arena. We found our names adorned on stickers in the second row of the media section beside the ring. Let’s go.

We soon learned the truth. This was the real deal, folks. None of that street fighting or hallway fights you saw in high school. This was that one-two pop pop, uppercut, right jab stuff that sends dudes to the canvas. And multiple competitors hit the ground, some earlier than others.

We discovered a variety of fighter nicknames, too. From Jasper “Smooth Jazz” McCargo III to Dante “Free Smoke” Benjamin Jr.. We also learned of lengthy breaks in between bouts. Ten to 15 minute intermissions that featured medical personnel, dressed in hazmat suits, wiping the ropes with disinfectant. They aren’t taking

one chance against germs. A whole lot more hardcore than the Sterilasers used at NCAA wrestling matches. The intensity increased with each fight. More butts filled seats and less folks stood in the beer line. Three knockouts in the first four bouts led to competitive wars at junior lightweight and beyond. Tiger Johnson popped Alfonso Olvera in the sixth round, sending the Arizonan’s right knee to the floor.

Jeremiah Milton, a Tulsa native, outlasted Fabio Maldonado in a slow heavyweight eight-rounder. Maldonado constantly bull rushed Milton, tying up and was twice warned

for headbutting.

“For me, I guess I’m a little too patient maybe sometimes,” Milton said. “Because I’m pretty relaxed in there even with the headbutts going on. If he landed anything, I didn’t necessarily respond to it.”

Before the fight, Milton was met with a standing ovation from nearly the entire crowd. Even after the final bell, the hometown crowd inside Hard Rock Live was buzzing for Milton.

“The energy is always amazing,” Milton said. “Looking out to the crowd and seeing all my people in there and just hearing it from the back, Tulsa is a great place to fight. Listen

to them now, They are still going crazy out there.” Fans embraced the full sold-out effect between the junior middleweight and featherweight fights. Some attempted the wave (it wasn’t successful), and others chanted for title contenders Robeisy Ramirez and Isaac Dogboe.

After Joet Gonzalez beat Jose Enrique Vivas in the featherweight co-main bout, strobe lights bounced toward each corner of the arena. A cinematic highlight video with boxing giants of yesteryear — Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and others, filled the video screens. A ring girl held the WBO belt that either

Ramirez or Dogboe would clutch after battle.

Ramirez, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba, consistently struck Dogboe and dodged serious threats. Ramirez did enough in 12 rounds to claim the coveted world title.

Before we posted this story, Ghanaian journalists (turns out one of them graduated from OSU) interviewed us and asked for our thoughts on the bout. We prefaced the video with the fact that we are not boxing experts and this was our first fight. So, don’t take our analysis seriously.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Student journalists’ perspective of a Top Rank Boxing show, Robeisy Ramirez winning WBO World Featherweight title fight

Courtesy of Mikey Williams

Robeisy Ramirez celebrates after defeating Isaac Dogboe, during their WBO featherweight championship fight at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa in Catoosa.

Matchup...

Continued from 1

“It’s easy sometimes when you

get down five to one to say, ‘OK, I’m just gonna start second set,’ but she kept fighting and turned that mess around,” Young said. “I’m really proud of her for that. I thought that was a really big turning point in the match for us that got us back to where we needed to be.”

This loss may have been discouraging, but there is still plenty of season left to be played and a plethora of fight still left in this Cowgirl tennis team.

“I’m not disappointed in the girls for the loss because I think that we competed well,” Young said. “The

only time I would get disappointed or upset maybe as a coach is when the team doesn’t compete and we did that tonight.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Jaiden Daughty

Alana Wolfberg’s key comeback set up a close match vs Iowa State.

4 bills...

Continued from 1

Those who have led protests against the bill in North Texas have said they plan to oppose the bill even if Kolkhorst makes changes to it.

Senate Bill 552

The bill: Senate Bill 552 seeks to disallow non-U.S. citizens of China, Iran, North Korea, Russia or a “designated country” to purchase agricultural land in the state. Business entities and individuals would not be allowed to enter into an agreement relating to agricultural land with individuals from the four countries.

According to the bill, a “designated country” refers to countries designated as a threat to critical infrastructure by the governor after the governor consults with the Department of Public Safety and a state Homeland Security Council.

Authors: Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels; Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower

Mound

Status: Referred to committee Feb. 17

House Bill 4006

The bill: House Bill 4006 seeks to ban government entities with ties to China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from buying or acquiring land. The bill, if passed, would also not allow companies that are owned or controlled by citizens from the four countries to buy or acquire land in Texas.

Under the bill, the Texas attorney general would have the authority to enforce the guidelines proposed in the bill.

Author: Rep. David Spiller, R-Jacksboro

Status: Referred to committee March 20

Senate Bill 711

The bill: Senate Bill 711 states that “prohibited foreign actors” would not be allowed to buy real estate without a “written notice to the seller.”

Prohibited foreign actors, according to the bill,

are people or companies that have ties to countries that are listed as a risk to U.S. national security under the Director of National Intelligence’s annual threat assessment. The 2023 report includes China,

Iran, North Korea and Russia as among “the most direct, serious threats to the United States.”

After the seller is provided the notice, they would have the power to “immediate -

/Courtesy of The Dallas Morning News via Tribune News Service

ly revoke any promise to sell the property,” under the bill. The bill also directs courts to “dismiss any action brought against a seller for revoking a promise to sell real property” based on the notice.

Author: Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock

Coauthor: Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton Status: Pending in committee March 2

news.ed@ocolly.com

Aima Zheng, 9, (center) holds signs with her sisters Anna, 6, (bottom) and Aya 5 (right), during a rally in opposition to Texas Senate Bills 147 and 552 on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Dallas. SB147 would outlaw real estate/property ownership by people from four countries: China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.

Finnish Premier Marin projected to lose nail-biter election

the fate of its ambitious 2035 net zero goal and prospects to offset population aging with immigration into the cold, northernly nation.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin was projected to lose in the Nordic country’s close parliamentary elections.

Running neck-and-neck with opposition center-right National Coalition, the millennial leader’s Social Democrats were seen falling to third place, according to a projection of the results by state broadcaster YLE. The prediction attempts to even out the disparities in the speed of counting in smaller municipalities and the big cities.

The projection gave Marin’s SDP 43 seats, behind both the National Coalition with 48 seats and the far-right Finns Party with 46 seats.

The winner — and the coalition they put together — will shape the trajectory of Finland’s public finances,

Should the pro-business National Coalition of Petteri Orpo finish first, that would mirror the shift in neighboring Sweden where a more inwardlooking and fiscally conservative government, led by the Moderate Party, took power from the Social Democrats last year.

“We must fix our economy,” Orpo told reporters. “We are a clear alternative to the left-wing government. People are very worried about the economy.”

Marin’s support stems from her handling of both an unprecedented pandemic and the fallout of Russia’s war in Ukraine, which led to Finland’s bid to join NATO. She has garnered international fame as head of a fiveparty cabinet led solely by women, with the 37-year-old premier’s personal lifestyle drawing in young voters.

Her backing also shows many voters are prepared to shrug off the country’s continued borrowing, after 15 years of budgets in the deficit, as Marin’s party rejects spending reductions.

Marin has sought to stay in power with pledges to raise taxes and foster growth — means that the opposition National Coalition say are mutually exclusive. Orpo’s party campaigned instead on the platform of lower taxes and reduced spending with a goal of balancing the books sooner.

Opposition ultra-nationalist Finns Party of Riikka Purra agrees on fiscal prudence, attracting voters concerned over internal security and immigration, and who think too much fuss is being made of climate change. It also channels the anti-establishment vote.

What those clashing views mean for post-election coalition building is shrouded in mystery, complicating the choice for 4.3 million eligible voters in

Finland, where set political blocs don’t exist.

As a rule, the party with the most seats in parliament gets the first attempt to form a ruling coalition — and cabinets can even be formed by parties from opposite sides of the political spectrum if they manage to agree on a joint policy program. The talks can kick off after the election of a parliament speaker April 12 and are set to take weeks, if not months.

Among the few red lines disclosed ahead of the vote, many parties refuse to work with the nationalists, with Orpo’s National Coalition an exception. The Center Party of Finance Minister Annika Saarikko has ruled out extending the current coalition with Marin’s party for another term.

Finland’s upcoming membership in NATO is among the few issues that’s widely backed across the political spectrum.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Lethal fentanyl poisoning is real.

The drastic increase in opioid overdose deaths is largely due to fentanyl poisoning. Illegal fentanyl is cheaper than most other drugs on the streets and is being intentionally substituted into cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and drugs like counterfeit Adderall®, Percocet® and Xanax® as well.

Learn the facts and protect those you love.

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

Sauli Niinisto, president of Finland, and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin assist the awarding ceremony of the Kleist prize at the 2023 Munich Security Conference on Feb. 18, 2023, in Munich, Germany. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images/TNS)

Kati Pohjanpalo and Leo Laikola

Bloomberg News

Russia says war blogger killed in St. Petersburg

Bloomberg News

An explosion at a cafe in St. Petersburg, Russia, has killed Vladlen Tatarsky, a military blogger who supported the war in Ukraine.

The explosion also injured 25 people, Alexander Beglov, the governor of St. Petersburg, said in a Telegram post. Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case to investigate the explosion, according to its website statement.

The improvised explosive device was the size of a bar of soap and was hidden in a statuette presented to Tatarsky, Tass said, citing an unidentified person in law enforcement. The power of the device was the equivalent of more than 200 grams of TNT, Tass reported earlier.

Vladlen Tatarsky is a pseudonym for Maxim Fomin, 40, according to staterun news agency Tass.

He had become widely known since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago, and his strong pro-war stance included such goals as complete destruction of the Ukrainian state.

Tatarsky was invited to the Kremlin ceremony in September when Russia announced the annexation of four Ukrainian regions.

“We will defeat everyone, we will kill everyone, we will rob everyone who needs to be robbed,” Tatarsky said in a video from the ceremony. “Everything will be the way we like it.”

Last year, Darya Dugina, 29, whose father is a prominent Moscow nationalist who advocated a “Russian World” ideology to justify expansion by the Kremlin, was killed in a car bombing.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

Russian police investigators inspect a damaged “Street bar” cafe in a blast in Saint Petersburg on Sunday, April 2, 2023. A leading Russian military blogger was killed

Sunday in an explosion at a cafe in Russia’s second-largest city of Saint Petersburg, the interior ministry said. (Olga Maltseva/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

Come check out the wide variety of elegant clothing at Formal Fantasy!

Located on 121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown Stillwater

The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Brown’s Bottle Shop located on 128 N. Main

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Serving quality pizza and more since 1957.”

Murphy’s Department Store

815 S Main, Downtown Open 10-6

Monday thru Saturday

Yost Lake (private lake located northeast of Stillwater) is hiring certified lifeguards to work Saturday-Sunday from May 25th-September 3rd and July 3rd-4th.

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550 steps east of Boone Pickens Stadium

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Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (04/03/23). Enjoy the spotlight this year. Imagine perfection and gain with thoughtful attention, planning and action. Win personal prizes this springtime, before adjusting shared account strategies this summer. Fall in love anew this autumn, before income sources change next winter. Savor personal victories and accowwwmplishments.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8 — Generate positive cash flow, with Mercury in Taurus for three weeks. You’re a smart shopper. Profitable ideas abound. Get practical, naturally. Grow resources.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — Begin a charismatic and charming three-week cycle, with Mercury in your sign. Express yourself. Your creativity seems boundless. Capture ideas onto paper, files or film.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — Listen to your dreams. You’re especially practical, introspective and quiet, with Mercury in Taurus. Clean old messes. Think twice before speaking once. Make plans.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Your friends are there for you. Communication and collaboration comes easily, with Mercury in Taurus for the next three weeks. Hold meetings, parties and gatherings.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Communication skills advance your career. Discuss what you want to achieve. Speak powerfully, with Mercury in Taurus for three weeks. Develop possibilities. Accept greater responsibility.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 9 — Research a fascinating subject, with Mercury in Taurus. Strengthen long-distance connections over the next three weeks. Investigate and explore new cultures, frontiers and ideas.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Review budgets and strategize for growth. Practical financial management grows shared accounts, with Mercury in Taurus. It’s easier to plug financial leaks over three weeks.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Compromise comes easier. Communication and partnership flow naturally over the next few weeks, with Mercury in Taurus. Collaboration and teamwork could seem effortless.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Coordinate with health and fitness experts for maximum performance, with Mercury in Taurus. Nurture mind, body and spirit. Communication helps to build strength and endurance.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Creativity blossoms. Passion surges over three weeks, with Mercury in Taurus. Write about your latest obsession. Play your favorite games, music or sports. Express yourself.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Discuss possibilities. Work out a domestic vision that works for everyone, with Mercury in Taurus. Align on improvements, roles and chores. Contribute to family harmony.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Dig into fascinating research, with Mercury in Taurus. Concentration and focus come easier for three weeks. Write reports, posts and articles. Share the news.