Oklahoma panel advances sports betting bills amid concerns about tribal exclusivity rights

By BARBARA HOBEROCK OKLAHOMA VOICE

OKLAHOMA CITY – Bills that would legalize sports betting, including one that would allow the Oklahoma City Thunder to obtain a gaming license, advanced Thursday from a Senate committee despite concerns that at least one measure could violate existing compacts with the state’s tribes.

The three measures will likely look very different following negotiations between tribes and other interested players, but show the state is very serious about adding sports betting, said Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Pon...

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OTC ousts Walters’ vendor, shifts to in-house staff

By TED STREULI | OKLAHOMA WATCH

February 14, 2025

Oops, they did it again. First, Ryan Walters outsourced GEER grant management to a Florida-based Class Wallet, which followed Walters' open-checkbook instructions, resulting in money meant for educati...

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Inquiry launched for removal of county assessor

By Lynn Adams Staff Writer

February 13, 2025

The shortest of the Sequoyah County Commissioners’ five executive sessions in the past six months — a 20-minute closeddoor meeting Wednesday afternoon — resulted in what District 3 Commissioner Jim Ro...

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County lodging tax approved, ‘will really make a difference’

By Lynn Adams Staff Writer

February 13, 2025

A countywide lodging excise tax, the proceeds from which will go toward the Sequoyah County Fairgrounds, tourism marketing and roadside beautification, was approved Tuesday when almost 59% of voters t...

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Inmate assaults deputies after becoming irate with judge

Sallisaw man charged with 8 counts of battery, A&B on a police officer

By Amie Cato-Remer Editor

February 13, 2025

A Sallisaw man originally charged with domestic abuse assault and battery and resisting an officer is now facing an additional eight felony counts of battery, assault and battery on a police officer a...

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City condemns properties, declares others as surplus

By Lynn Adams Staff Writer

February 13, 2025

Sallisaw leaders are serious about cleaning up the city. At Monday’s monthly meeting of the city commissioners, the board declared three properties a public nuisance and directed city crews to abate t...