In brief: Oklahoma’s Inhofe wants a fourth term

Tulsa, Okla. – Oklahoma Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe said Wednesday that he will seek a fourth term in the U.S. Senate, telling supporters be believes liberals are endangering the country and saying he had a successful track record of fighting the president’s administration.

“Washington liberals have our country on a crash course, and it’s doing damage right here at home,” Inhofe said in a statement announcing he was running. “The Obama administration’s destructive policies have resulted in the hollowing of our military, a staggering job market from excessive regulations and a struggling economy from big government spending.”

His re-election bid was anticipated for months.

Inhofe’s only declared opponent, Democrat Matt Silverstein, a 32-year-old financial planner from Bixby, said he’s in the race to rein in wasteful spending and permanently ban earmarks.

Inhofe, who would be 80 at the start of another term in 2015, said Wednesday that he’s running for re-election instead of retiring because he has work left to do to defend what he says are Oklahoma’s values for future generations, including members of his own family.

‘Maltese Falcon’ statuette up for sale

New York – A statuette featured in the 1941 movie “The Maltese Falcon” is being offered for sale at a New York City auction.

Bonhams says the black figurine is the highlight of a Nov. 25 auction.

It did not provide a pre-sale estimate.

The statuette was the most important prop in the classic John Huston film, which starred Humphrey Bogart as a private eye. Bonhams said it’s etched with a Warner Bros. inventory number and is the only version known to have appeared in the movie.

The auction house said it’s the first time it has come to auction. The current owner has had the statuette for decades.

The figurine has been featured at the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.