FFAers compete for scholarships

Ten members of Sequoyah County FFA chapters are competing for scholarships based on their public speaking. The candidates spoke during the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce’s monthly membership luncheon, held Wednesday in conjunction with the county’s junior livestock show at the county fairgrounds barn.

Candidates who spoke were Shadow Henson of Muldrow; Madison Spyres, Natalie Guthrie, Ally Trotter, Izzy Clouse and Gracie Risley, all of Vian; Hannah Brake of Sallisaw; Taydem Perryman of Gore; an...

Health, News

First measles cases reported in Oklahoma, but public health officials remain mum on details

By EMMA MURPHY OKLAHOMA VOICE

March 11, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY — State health officials on Tuesday said they’ve confirmed the first two cases of measles in Oklahoma amid an ongoing outbreak in Texas and New Mexico. But Oklahoma State Health Departme...

News, School News

Walters questions state test results, calls for new scoring

By NURIA MARTINEZ-KEEL OKLAHOMA VOICE

March 11, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s top education official has called into question the integrity of the state’s test scores for reading and math, seven months after his administration released students’ test ...

News

Stitt wants more say in what federal funding gets cut

By EM LUETKEMEYER OKLAHOMA WATCH

March 11, 2025

Oklahoma’s Kevin Stitt is arguing governors — like him — should play a role in helping the Trump administration decide when and how to shut off the flow of money into states’ budgets. “I think states ...

News

Oklahoma treasurer expands anti-DEI campaign to Amazon, Google, Netflix and more

By PAUL MONIES OKLAHOMA WATCH

March 11, 2025

Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ is taking his crusade against so-called woke investing from major banks and the state’s pension systems to the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, a $2 billion fund create...

News

Governor calls for audit of Oklahoma mental health agency, says it may need additional funding

By BARBARA HOBEROCK OKLAHOMA VOICE

March 11, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday called for an audit of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services after the agency’s head aired concerns about financial misman...

News

Despite physician opposition, lawmakers OK bill allowing denial of care for ‘moral’ reasons

By EMMA MURPHY OKLAHOMA VOICE

March 11, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY — Amid concerns that it could harm patients, lawmakers narrowly advanced a bill that would allow health care providers to refuse to offer specific procedures or care based on moral, reli...