Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Oklahoma Gazette · Oklahoma, OK
Nearby: Oklahoma, OKThe work of Oklahoma’s top education official has already begun for state Superintendent-elect Robert Franklin. By late Wednesday afternoon, not even 24 hours since being elected Tuesday, the longtime educator from Sand Springs had spoken with a local district superintendent about preparations for the state’s new literacy law and exchanged messages with Gov.-elect Mike Mazzei, all amidst a marathon of media interviews. Once he’s sworn into office in January, Franklin, 67, will be responsible for what he described as a “behemoth” task of turning around Oklahoma’s bottom-ranking reading and math scores. He called the work ahead “encouraging” and “daunting.” “It’s an all-hands-on-deck kind of moment,” Franklin said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.” Despite facing skepticism within the state GOP, Franklin received broad bipartisan support, particularly from fellow educators.
The Frontier · Oklahoma, OK
Nearby: Oklahoma, OKNovember 6, 2026 The Frontier and KOSU previously reported that judges in Oklahoma County routinely fail to consider whether defendants can afford bail, leaving poor and homeless people jailed on low-level charges. Other counties have already faced civil rights lawsuits. Tweet Share Share Author Maddy Keyes and Sierra Pfeifer, KOSU [email protected] Reading Time 4 min Posted In Criminal Justice The Oklahoma County Courthouse in downtown Oklahoma City SIERRA PFEIFER / KOSU Oklahoma County Presiding Judge Sheila Stinson told state lawmakers she will issue orders to mandate reforms to bail hearings that keep many poor people in jail. Stinson spoke during an interim study at the Oklahoma Capitol on Oct. 29, where attorneys, court staff and advocates urged the state to step in and fix the county’s court system to avoid costly lawsuits. People booked into the Oklahoma County jail can wait days for their first appearance, depending on when they are booked.
Oklahoma Gazette · Oklahoma, OK
Nearby: Oklahoma, OKDowntown in December celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with more than 30 holiday events and attractions throughout Oklahoma City from November through January. Presented by Devon Energy and organized by Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership, the annual celebration features holiday lights, live performances, outdoor ice skating, shopping and family activities, many of them free. The festivities begin Thursday, Nov. 12, with the 25th annual Oklahoma City Tree Lighting Festival at Mickey Mantle Plaza outside Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The free event runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and includes live entertainment, photos with Santa, children’s activities and food tastings from downtown restaurants. Mayor David Holt will lead the Christmas tree lighting countdown at 6 p.m. Devon Ice Rink at Myriad Gardens Holiday Pop Ups in Midtown. Devon Ice Rink at Myriad Gardens Bricktown Canal Holiday PopUps in Midtown Bricktown Canal The Devon Ice Rink at Myriad Botanical Gardens opens Nov.
Oklahoma Gazette · Oklahoma, OK
Nearby: Oklahoma, OKOklahoma City’s celebration of Route 66’s 100th anniversary will leave a lasting message for future generations when a time capsule is buried beneath the towering Kicks 66 sculpture on Thursday, Nov. 12. The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony at 9:30 a.m. near the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, where the capsule will remain sealed until 2126, marking the Mother Road’s 200th anniversary. Inside are more than 1,300 postcards written to future Oklahoma City residents by people from 33 states and 12 countries. The collection also includes a Key to the City from Mayor David Holt and memorabilia representing life in Oklahoma City today. The ceremony will feature remarks from Ward 7 Councilman Camal Pennington, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum President Pat Fitzgerald and local artist Cameron Eagle, who created the Kicks 66 sculpture. Standing 35 feet tall, the giant red cowboy boot has become a distinctive roadside attraction along Route 66.
The Frontier · Oklahoma, OK
Nearby: Oklahoma, OKNovember 4, 2026 Democrats flipped six Republican-held state House seats and made substantial gains in Oklahoma’s largest counties, even as Republicans maintained their grip on statewide offices. Tweet Share Share Author Dylan Goforth [email protected] Reading Time 4 min Posted In elections Tulsa voters head to the polls in November 2022. DYLAN GOFORTH/The Frontier Oklahoma Republicans swept statewide offices in Tuesday’s midterm elections, but Democrats still made significant gains in some of the state’s most populous counties and defeated at least five incumbent Republican state representatives. The results mirrored a national political shift toward Democrats, although the movement in Oklahoma was concentrated largely in metropolitan areas and surrounding suburbs.
Oklahoma Gazette · Oklahoma, OK
Nearby: Oklahoma, OKJim Huffman grew up in Oklahoma before building a career in marketing and eventually taking a chance on a struggling apparel brand. Now, the CEO is preparing for an appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank in front of a national audience. Huffman founded GrowthHit, a growth marketing agency, where he worked with a variety of brands and developed an interest in owning a business of his own. When he was introduced to Neat Apparel, he saw an opportunity to combine his marketing experience with a product he believed in. Around 2024, Huffman and his team invested approximately $50,000 into the brand, along with the time and effort needed to grow the business. Having grown up in Oklahoma, Huffman was familiar with the hot summer temperatures that made the product appealing. He recalled mowing lawns as a kid and thought about how useful a shirt designed to hide sweat could have been. “If I have learned anything, the key to marketing is having a product that actually works,” said Huffman.
Woodward News · Oklahoma, OK
Nearby: Oklahoma, OKOklahoma State Treasurer winner Cindy Byrd, with husband Steve Byrd, speaks during the GOP Election Night Watch Party, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, at Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City. Kyle Phillips | For Oklahoma Voice Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... OKLAHOMA CITY — Voters selected Republican State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd on Tuesday to become Oklahoma’s next state treasurer.Byrd, of Coalgate, easily defeated Libertarian Kiefer Perry.kAmqJC5 D2:5 96C G:4E@CJ %F6D52J D9@HD E92E G@E6CD 2C6 H:==:?8 E@ ECFDE 96C]k^Am kAm“%96J E@ D9@H E96> H96C6 E96:C >@?6J :D C62==J 8@:?8 2D E96 DE2E6 2F5:E@C[” D96 D2:5] “%92E’D :>A@CE2?E 3642FD6 J@F 92G6 E@ 5@ E92E E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E E96C6’D EC2?DA2C6?4J 2?5 244@F?E23:=:EJ :? 8@G6C?>6?E] %9:D ?6IE C@=6 :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 >@C6 23@FE 4@==23@C2E:@?
The Collegian online · Oklahoma, OK
Nearby: Oklahoma, OKIt is no secret that voting, as well as elections in general in Oklahoma, are not well attended. A report from the University of Florida found that this state had the second lowest voter turnout during the 2024 general election, with Hawaii hosting the lowest. To help voters go into Tuesday’s election informed, The Collegian has decided to provide a cheatsheet describing the platforms of the top two candidates for some of the major elections in the state. Mike Mazzei, Governor (R): The Republican candidate for governor previously served in the Oklahoma senate from 2004 to 2016, and was secretary of budget from 2019 to 2020. According to his campaign website, Mazzei plans to eliminate property taxes for seniors and veterans, as well as make Oklahoma a no-income-tax state. The website further describes the candidate’s commitment to “end wokeism in higher education” and create a Department of Government Efficiency for the state.
Claremore Daily Progress · Oklahoma, OK
Nearby: Oklahoma, OKAs Russell Westbrook received a prestigious award in Oklahoma City, he learned that his number and last name will soon be in the rafters of the Paycom Center.Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced the retirement of former Thunder great Russell Westbrook’s No. 0 jersey as he awarded Westbrook the Oklahoma Standard Award at the OKC National Memorial & Museum’s annual luncheon Monday.kAm(6DE3C@@<’D ?F>36C H:== 36 C6E:C65 u63] f H96? E96 %9F?56C 9@DED E96 }6H *@C< z?:4]k^Am kAm(6DE3C@@< DA6?E E96 7:CDE `` @7 9:D `g }qp D62D@?D :? ~<=29@>2 r:EJ 2?5 D6CG65 2D E96 7:CDE ECF6 :4@? @7 E96 }qp 7C2?49:D6 E92E H2D 72:C=J ?6H E@ E96 DE2E6]k^AmkAm“|2?J A=2J6CD >2<6 2? :>A24E 3FE @?=J 8C62E A=2J6CD =62G6 2 =6824J] #FDD6== (6DE3C@@<’D =6824J H2D 3F:=E 3@E9 @? E96 4@FCE 2?5 :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ[” D2:5 %9F?56C tI64FE:G6 ':46 !C6D:56?E 2?5 v6?6C2= |2?286C $2> !C6DE:] “w:D >:?5D6E H2D C6=6?E=6DD[ 9:D 4@>>:E>6?E 566A] u@C 2== E9@D6 C62D@?D[ ~<=29@>2?D 4@?D:56C 9:> @?6 @7 E96:C @H?