I recently wrote an article for this column about a lesser known influence on the Founding Fathers, a man named James Harrington. I think, with the recent acquittal of President Trump and, more specif...

Thursday was the deadline to pass bills through committees, so the committees I sit on each heard a dozen or so bills this week. One of these is the House Children, Youth and Family Services Committee...

Meltdown moments - we have all had them at some point in our lives. Those overwhelming moments when our children, spouse, coworker or boss doesn’t listen or hear what we are truly trying to say. Those...

In Oklahoma, just like in all other parts of our country, people want a job that gives them purpose, allows them to provide for their family, and creates a chance for a better life. We all have our ow...

The Oklahoma Board of Equalization met recently to certify revenue from Fiscal Year 2020 and to report the estimated amount the Legislative will have to appropriate for the Fiscal Year 2021 budget – o...

Officials last week confirmed that the identity of the remains of a body found two years ago south of Crowder are those of a 40-year-old McAlester woman. Holly Cantrell was last seen alive on Jan. 20,...

The Legislative Session began Feb. 3 with a joint session of the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the state Senate convening to hear Gov. Kevin Stitt’s Second State of the State Address. Stitt de...

Being a daddy’s girl and a former hospice volunteer coordinator, I couldn’t let the month of February go by without saying something about heart health. You see, February 11 was my daddy’s birthday an...

Four counts of neglecting to compel a child to attend school were dropped against a Eufaula woman last week. Danece Baker had been charged with the four misdemeanors last year. The McIntosh County Dis...

Flu season is in full swing and it will continue for several more weeks. Every year, millions of people in the United States get sick from the flu and other flu-related illnesses. The flu can turn int...

Northeastern State University has announced that 652 students met the criteria to be named to the President’s Honor Roll for the fall 2019 semester. To be eligible, students must have completed at lea...

Watching the Senate hearings over the past weeks I am happy to see historical arguments being made by both sides. As I have said, the Constitution is purposely vague, and it is no different when it co...

Time is running out for registered voters in McIntosh County to apply for absentee ballots to be mailed to them for the March 3 Presidential Preferential Primary Election, County Election Board Secret...

This week, President Trump released his budget proposal. It shows his commitment to fiscal responsibility by shrinking the federal government, stopping wasteful spending and providing a path to a bala...

Dr. J’Dene Rogers, a licensed clinical psychologist originally from Muskogee, served as Psychologist of the Day for the Oklahoma House of Representatives on Feb. 10 at the invitation of Rep. Avery Fri...

Sometimes life gives us a second chance to get things right and hopefully we take it. I’m a firm believer that God gives us endless second chances if we will just choose them. Giving people a second c...

On too many occasions, I have had to console a family after their privacy and security were stolen by a burglar. Second degree burglary is technically a non-violent crime under Oklahoma law, but anyon...

The second session of the 57th Legislature is officially underway. It’s great to be back at the Capitol with my colleagues as we work together to create meaningful change for Oklahomans across the sta...

President Donald Trump delivered his third State of the Union address to Congress this week and his message was clear: the state of our union is strong. Despite the sham impeachment and Pelosi Democra...

Gov. Kevin Stitt delivered his second “State of the State” to the Oklahoma Legislature Monday, Feb. 3 on the first day of the Second Session of the 57th Oklahoma Legislature. The bicameral legislative...