The premise of equalization is that every child has equal value. Who could argue with that? And so, a child in a poor school district should have the same educational opportunities as a child in a ric...

It’s almost impossible to save too much for retirement. After all, you could spend two, or even three, decades as a retiree. And retirement is not cheap – even if you maintain a relatively modest lif...

For the Children: As I write this column on Tax Day, or April 15, we mostly likely will have about one month left before lawmakers adjourn the 2019 legislative session. I want to take the time to refl...

  I received great news for Muskogee-area residents this week. The plan to reroute Highway 69 away from existing local businesses is on hold, while the state Department of Transportation works with th...

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 ...

The price of a good education costs the next generation and millennials an arm and a leg.  The cost of college has jumped so much that it’s nearly impossible for young people to come out ahead when th...

After last week’s committee deadline, the House has moved the majority of our focus to hearing the remaining Senate bills on the House floor. These bills cover a variety of topics, including education...

  This Easter, I find myself thinking more about the importance of serving one another. My wife and I have always taught our kids to follow the Golden Rule of the Bible: “Do unto others as you would h...

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 ...