On April 22, millions of people will observe Earth Day by participating in events that support environmental protection. As a citizen, you may want to take part in a local celebration. And as an inve...

More than 355,000 adults in Oklahoma are currently living with diabetes. For each of those people, access to affordable insulin is not just an ongoing concern, but a matter of life and death. Diabetes...

This was a vital deadline week at the Capitol. Thursday was the final day to pass all remaining Senate bills through their House committees, a necessary step so they’re eligible to be heard and voted ...

Growing up in a very religious home, I have always been told the Easter story of how my Savior was betrayed by His own people, rejected by the religious sectors, suffered under the hands of Pontius Pi...

The staff of The McIntosh County Democrat welcomes Letters to the Editor on subjects of interest to our readers. Short letters are most likely selected for publication, but the use of any material is ...

For the Children: In just under one year from now, the U.S. Census Bureau will be contacting Oklahomans – via phone, internet, mail and in-person surveys – to seek their participation in the 2020 U.S....

Ake, Roger M. Albright, Austin Michael Allen, Edmond Monte Allen, Justin Lee Almeida, Louis Ernest III Anderson, Teddy Bruce Arnold, Charles Wayne Bahe, Mandy Gail Baker, Jerry Beal Baumann, Staci Ray...

The state last week reached a $270 million settlement in its lawsuit against opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma. Oklahoma’s attorney general determined nearly $200 million of the money will go to the O...

I often joke that I’ve had surgery from my nose to my toes. When I broke my leg over Christmas last year, I went to the surgeon and got it set back in place and wore a boot for a few months. I knew th...

We’re getting close to the tax-filing deadline. For many of us, this means it’s that time of year when we get our biggest financial windfall – a tax refund. If you have recently received a refund, or...

It’s true that life happens somewhere between an inhale and an exhale. It’s just up to us to capture those moments so we can hold them in our hearts forever. I think about my own life and how quickly ...

This week, the House has continued to focus on bills in committee meetings. When we weren’t in committees or on the House floor, I met with several groups this week to discuss various policy areas. I ...

OKLAHOMA CITY – There is a heartbreaking correlation among two areas where Oklahoma ranks worst in the country: Adverse childhood experiences and incarceration. Adverse childhood experiences – which i...

With the next presidential election only a short nineteen months away (ugh!), we are already seeing a crowded field of Democrats lining up to challenge, whom they see as a very beatable, Donald Trump....

After a brief spring break last week, the pace at the State Capitol has picked up once again. We’ve resumed our committee meetings, now to consider the 429 bills passed by the Senate. As a reminder, a...

The newspaper is the most powerful of all the means of expression of the views of men and women and what really matters. In fact, newspapers have even been regarded by economists as a necessity of mod...

It's been 107 years this month since the tragedy of the Titanic. Of course, this disaster has fascinated the world ever since, leading to books, movies, musicals and, ultimately, a successful search f...

For the Children: Last week was Spring Break for many Oklahomans, including our elected officials. As a result, the Legislature enjoyed an abbreviated schedule, although they did begin consideration o...

Nineteen lawyers. Forty FBI agents, intelligence analysts, forensic accountants, and professional staff. Over 2,800 subpoenas. Nearly 500 search warrants. More than 230 orders for communication record...

For the Children: Jaded observers of Oklahoma politics often express their cynicism with the phrase, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” In other words, while we may think we are ma...