Free Republic

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The state Democratic Party now has a paid staff thanks to the Democratic National Committee. The national party is paying the salary of three staff members as the state party continues to work to pay off a nearly $500,000 debt. Democrat officials are hoping to reduce the debt with a fund-raiser later this year featuring retired Army General Wes Clark. State Democratic Party Chairman Lisa Pryor says the three staff members being paid by the national party are Oklahoma residents and will recruit and train volunteers and work in state House and Senate campaigns next year.

A couple of displays at the Tulsa Zoo have angered some critics. And another that's been suggested is controversial too. Both have aspects of religion and another that's been suggested - are both creating controversy. Over by the elephants at the Tulsa Zoo, there is a statue of an elephant called "Ganesha". For Hindu's, Ganesha is a revered deity, one of the most important in the religion. But the curator of the exhibit at the Tulsa Zoo says it's not religious, in this setting. Brett Fidler: "We exhibit it out of the religious context, strictly as a museum piece." For...