With Oklahoma’s third-grade reading outcomes among the worst in the nation, state lawmakers have advanced legislation that requires early intervention for struggling readers in elementary school and mandatory retention for students who end the third grade reading years below grade level. House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said Oklahoma cannot afford to continue its current trajectory….
Late last week Tulsa Public Schools released a statement that it was asking its Board to layoff 50 positions from the administrative staff. With fewer students enrolled and budgets to be balanced with the new fiscal year beginning in July, these staff would still have their contracts honored until the end of the fiscal year…
On April 7, Broken Arrow voters will consider eight propositions as part of the Build Our Future BA 2026 General Obligation (GO) Bond. Before the election, the city will hold several Public Meetings to provide clear information about each proposition, helping voters make informed decisions. Four forums are scheduled at different locations, and all residents…
Legislation preventing illegal aliens from accessing taxpayer-funded Medicaid coverage has easily cleared its first legislative hurdle. House Bill 4423, by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, requires the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to verify a Medicaid applicant’s citizenship status using the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system. Under the bill, no benefits may be provided to…
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Collin Duel, R-Guthrie, on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill in committee that would criminalize a straw purchase of property on behalf of a foreign national. House Bill 3495 would make it unlawful to knowingly and willfully purchase or attempt to obtain any property on behalf of a foreign national. Punishment would…
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Amanda Clinton, D-Tulsa, unanimously passed HB 3392 out of the House Utility Committee with a 9-0 vote. The measure directs the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) to examine how large, energy-intensive industrial projects like data centers impact our electric grid and ensure that everyday Oklahomans aren’t stuck paying for electricity they did…
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, passed HB 3917 unanimously out of the Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee. The measure requires data centers to pay a surcharge during peak demand periods, protecting residential customers from rate hikes and funding grid modernization. “I want to thank the Committee Chair and Committee for hearing…
Republican gubernatorial candidates have poured $7.6 million of their own money into their campaigns ahead of the June 16 primary election, eclipsing donations from individuals and political groups. Mike Mazzei leads the pack in self-funding, incrementally loaning his campaign $3 million from April through December. As of Dec. 31, the last reporting deadline, about 88%…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Sunday, May 17, 2026, Americans from across the nation will gather on the National Mall for Rededicate 250, a once in a lifetime faith event that celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with a national jubilee of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. The event was announced by President Donald J. Trump during remarks at…
In his eighth and final State of the State address, Gov. Kevin Stitt urged lawmakers to embrace financial restraint and maximize the freedom of citizens to pursue their dreams unburdened by excessive government. “True sustainable budgeting demands discipline,” Stitt said. “Let’s work together this year to ensure we don’t go back to the financial mess…
Oklahoma faces workforce challenges. Our college system should play a crucial role in addressing that challenge and fueling economic growth. Instead, the University of Oklahoma is receiving national attention for devolving into academic self-parody. Rather than gain renown for producing engineers and scientists, OU is under scrutiny for having a man who identifies as a…
[Analysis of history and science influence on political and religious attitudes.] It’s a small world. We were out on a fine, beautiful Saturday afternoon, headed over to our lab to work on the ham radio repeater. An event was underway at the Mountain Venue. We noticed one of the security guards managing traffic into…
Each year, as summer winds down and the first Monday in September approaches, we pause to honor the contributions of workers across the country. Labor Day is far more than a long weekend, it is a powerful reminder of the value of work, the dignity of those who labor, and the importance of fair and…
Oklahoma is taking in a lot of tax money. In fact, during the last year, the state has gotten so much extra money, it has as much as a billion dollars in the Rainy Day Fund (and other accounts). That’s a billion with a “B.” Gov. Kevin Stitt, to his credit, wants to sit tight…
[Looking at history and our area’s unique political and religious attitudes.] Calvin, the inquisitive 6-year-old asks his imaginary philosopher tiger, “It says here that ‘Religion is the opiate of the masses.’ What do you suppose that means?” The TV replies, ‘It means Karl Marx hadn’t seen anything yet.’ Although Marx was making a derogatory…
Monica Granstaff and her family waited 12 years to get high-speed internet access to their farm near Okemah. In early September, the Oklahoma Broadband Office joined her family to witness their first fiber connection. The Granstaff family represents the hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans that will be connected by our grant programs, improving their lives…
The gap between intentions and outcomes can be vast in politics, as the push to raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage demonstrates. Proponents say they want to help struggling citizens at the bottom of the state’s economic ladder. But in practice, their wage-policy preference yanks that ladder out of the hands of those low-income workers, leaving them…
“There is no reason a child cannot read before they are in third grade,” former State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said in 2019. “But our teachers have to teach based on the science of reading, and that is not happening across this state. It is happening in pockets.” While I disagreed with Hofmeister on many issues,…
In a press release issued earlier this year, House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson of Oklahoma City declared that Oklahoma ranks “last in the region for teacher pay.” That claim may align with a longstanding stereotype, but not with reality. By any measure, Oklahoma teacher pay is not the last in the region nor anywhere near…
Tulsa used a strong perimeter game to outshoot UTSA, 100-74, on Sunday in the Reynolds Center. The Golden Hurricane sank 12 three-pointers to set the single season program record and now has 292 three’s this season. Tulsa is now 22-6 overall and 10-5 in the American Athletic Conference. UTSA dropped to 5-22, 1-14 American. Tulsa…
Oral Roberts was led by Ty Harper’s career-high 29 points to defeat South Dakota, 67-62, on Saturday evening at the Mabee Center. With the win, ORU improved to 7-22 overall and 2-12 in the Summit League, while the Coyotes dropped to 14-15, 6-8 Summit League. The Golden Eagles opened the first half by taking a…
It was a tight game throughout, but Texas A&M held off a late surge from the Oklahoma Sooners to win 75-71, Saturday evening in Norman. The Aggies improved to 19-8 overall and 9-5 in the SEC, while the Sooners are now 13-14 on the year and 3-11 in SEC play. Texas A&M scored the first…
Colorado jumped out to an early lead and held off Oklahoma State in the second half to take an 83-69 win over the Cowboys on Saturday in Boulder. It was the Buffaloes third straight home win, and the Cowboys have now lost five in a row. Colorado improved to 15-12, 5-9 Big 12, and OSU…
BRANSON, Missouri – It would be difficult for a stage play to have more impact than the production of Jesus here at Sight & Sound Theatre. The public ministry of Jesus Christ, His miracles, His relationships, His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection are dramatically portrayed as only Sight & Sound can. Even though…
Vacation plans are on hold and Tulsans’ best options for entertainment due to the coronavirus outbreak are in their own living rooms. Movie theaters closed All the movie theaters in Tulsa – even the Admiral Twin Drive-in – are closed due to the pandemic. Entertainment venues, which tend to draw big crowds, are deemed “non-essential”…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nineties country-music hitmaker Joe Diffie died March 29th due to complications related to COVID-19. In all, Diffie charted 18 Top 10 singles, with the majority reaching the top five, including 1993 radio essentials Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die) and iconic song, John Deere Green. Diffie’s popular hits also…
