Opinion

In an article from WalletHub, school systems from every state in the United States including the District of Columbia were ranked based on performance, funding, safety, class size, and instructor credentials.

The Anne Roberts People’s Choice Award celebrates an individual and an organization serving youth in our state. It is named for the longest serving executive director for the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA). Please go to our website https://www.oica.org and vote for your favorites until Saturday afternoon!

Under Article I of the Constitution, each fiscal year, the Appropriations Committees in both the House and the Senate are responsible for passing a series of 12 appropriations bills that regulate government expenditures and ensure the taxpayer dollar is being spent responsibly — a mission that is necessary in order for our federal government to properly function and something I care deeply about.

Forty-three years ago, in 1981, a gunman opened fire on President Ronald Reagan in Washington, DC. Luckily, the President survived; however, this was an occurrence that I hoped our nation would never be shook by again. Yet, on Saturday, America was similarly shaken.

New curb and apron on Eunice Avenue

Last Thursday, on July 4th, we celebrated our nation’s independence and freedom. It was the 248th anniversary of when the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the United States of America officially became an independent nation, and no longer a colony of England.

Last month, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 3089, the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act, into law and kick-started the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) into organizing the program that will help Oklahomans fortify their homes and reduce homeowners insurance rates. The Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program is set to begin early next year, so this month, I want to answer some key questions about the program’s timeline and criteria.

Oklahomans are celebrating a tremendous victory for religious liberty after a recent ruling by our state Supreme Court. At issue in the case was a fundamental question: Should taxpayers be forced to fund religious teachings that violate their own deeply held beliefs?

The Organization of Rural Oklahoma Schools (OROS) is working to preserve rural education by promoting and protecting Oklahoma Rural Schools. OROS stands as a beacon of support and advocacy for these schools, offering a myriad of services to foster growth and excellence within their communities.

It seems as if every community, big or small, has been impacted by the problems associated with substance use and drug overdose. Within these communities, these problems extend into the family unit, with people becoming addicted and dying because of drugs.

Growing up as a child in the 1970s, I enjoyed my fair share of television shows. One of my favorites was “Happy Days,” celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.