Russ Files Bills to Protect Schoolchildren from Inappropriate Material

Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) will soon be able to admit more nursing students each year after adding a spring admission option to its Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program for the

Weatherford, OK – Robyn Randol, instructor in the Department of Education and Director of the Registered Apprenticeship Program at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), has been selected as a 2026 DaVinci Fellow through the DaVinci Institute’s DaVinci

Canute, OK — A piece of Route 66 history came back to life Saturday night as a large crowd gathered in Canute to witness the relighting of the historic Cotton Boll Motel sign. The neon sign, dark

Camargo, OK — Dangerous fire conditions across western Oklahoma led to multiple wildfire responses Sunday, including a major blaze in Dewey County known as the Jumping Juniper Fire. According to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, roughly

Sayre, OK – Early voting begins Thursday, April 2nd for voters in Beckham County. Voters who will not be able to make it to the polls on Election Day, have the option of voting early at their

Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) will host SWOSU Palooza presented by Qdoba on Friday, March 27, 2026, in the Pioneer Events Center on the SWOSU campus in Weatherford. Doors will open at 7 p.m.,

Sayre, OK – OBN’s Marijuana Enforcement Teams (MET) served a Search Warrant at YE Oriental Green 8866 in Sayre, Oklahoma as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal marijuana cultivation. “The investigation showed this business has been

Beckham County, OK — A large illegal marijuana grow operation north of Interstate 40 between Elk City and Sayre was shut down last week following a joint effort between the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the Beckham

Elk City, OK – Great Plains Regional Medical Center (GPRMC) has received a Performance Leadership Award from The Chartis Center for Rural Health. The Elk City hospital received the award for excellence in patient outcomes for 2025.

Elk City, OK — Fiscal discipline has allowed the City of Elk City to pay off nearly $20 million in outstanding debt since the end of the 2020 fiscal year. Doing this has saved almost $3 million

Elk City, OK – An arrest has been made in connection to a recent storage facility break-in in Beckham County, according to Sheriff Derek Manning. The case, which was first reported last week, involved multiple break-ins at

Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University honored Dr. Trevor Ellis with the 2026 Bernhardt Academic Excellence Award during the Academic Excellence Banquet on Thursday, March 12. Ellis is professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry

Jackson County, OK — Fire crews continue to make progress on the Salt Fork Fire burning near the town of Martha, northwest of Altus. The Oklahoma Forestry Service reported Wednesday morning the fire is now about 80%

Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) is pleased to announce a generous charitable gift from former SWOSU President Dr. Joe Anna Hibler to fund the purchase of a new mailroom van to support campus operations.

Sayre, OK – Statewide election activity officially begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 1st, when the candidate filing period opens, the Secretary of the Beckham County Election Board said today. Candidates for state offices file with the

Sayre, OK – Early voting begins Thursday, April 2nd for voters in Beckham County. Voters who will not be able to make it to the polls on Election Day, have the option of voting early at their

Beckham County, OK – A single-vehicle crash in rural Beckham County early Tuesday morning claimed the life of a Lawton man. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the collision occurred at approximately 3:01 a.m. on March 18

Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) formally dedicated the Jerry and Margaret Hodge Center for Pharmacy and Rural Health on Thursday, March 12, marking a major milestone in the university’s effort to expand healthcare education

Mountain Park, OK – On March 14, 2025, the Mountain Park Police Department requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate a homicide. Around 2:30 a.m., officers responded to a shooting call at a residence off

Roger Mills County, OK – A three-unit collision earlier this month in Roger Mills County resulted in injuries to a pedestrian attempting to assist a stranded vehicle. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the incident occurred at

Jackson County, OK – Two drivers were injured in a two-vehicle collision late Friday night at an intersection west of Altus. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 11:06 p.m. Friday, March 13,

Dewey County, OK – On June 9, 2025, an Ovintiv Energy security consultant requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate a theft of oilfield equipment. After an internal investigation by the company, it was determined

Beckham County, OK – Multiple wildfires fueled by strong winds kept emergency crews busy across western Oklahoma on Sunday forcing evacuations in parts of Beckham County and drawing responses from numerous fire departments across the region. One

Oklahoma City, OK – The Oklahoma House has approved legislation aimed at positioning the state to host a national research laboratory focused on natural gas and other advanced technologies. House Bill 3176 passed the Oklahoma House on

Roger Mills County, OK — Local firefighters responded Monday to three separate grass fires in Roger Mills County, with authorities saying evidence suggests the fires may have been intentionally set. According to Roger Mills County Sheriff Darren

Weatherford, OK – The Reach Higher degree-finishing program at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) awarded over $15,000 in Finish Line scholarships to 10 students enrolled in Reach Higher degree programs, with awards averaging just over $1,500 per

Cheyenne, OK – The deadline to request absentee ballots by mail is approaching. Applications must be received by the County Election Board no later than 5 p.m. Monday, March 23rd. Roger Mills County Election Board Secretary Kelly

Arapaho, OK – Oklahomans who want to change their party affiliation must submit their change no later than March 31, (Custer County Election Board Secretary Ann Brown said today. Voters may change their party affiliation online using

Shamrock, TX – Michael Mendoza has announced his candidacy for Mayor of Shamrock in the upcoming municipal election scheduled for May 2, 2026. Mendoza, branch manager at BOC Bank and a 12 year resident of Shamrock, said

Beckham County, OK – Beckham County authorities are investigating a break-in that occurred last week at a storage facility in the county, according to Sheriff Derek Manning. Manning said the incident happened during the night and involved

Sayre, OK – Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning says investigators are looking into an incident in which an inmate allegedly smuggled contraband into the Beckham County Jail in an attempt to sell it to other inmates. According

Beckham County, OK – A Beckham County woman has been arrested after a juvenile was injured during a domestic incident, according to Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning. Sheriff Manning said deputies were called to a residence after

Kiowa County, OK – A Lawton man died Friday morning following a single-vehicle crash in Kiowa County, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The collision occurred at approximately 9:48 a.m. Friday, March 6, on State Highway 19

Elk City, OK – Four individuals have been arrested following a burglary and vandalism investigation at the Historic Casa Grand Hotel in Elk City, according to the Elk City Police Department. The incident occurred at the historic

Foss, OK – A fatal two-vehicle collision occurred early Thursday morning, March 5, on State Highway 44 in Washita County, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The crash happened at approximately 4:14 a.m. at the intersection of

Washita County, OK – A collision involving a loose bull led to injuries early Thursday morning on State Highway 44 in Washita County, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The crash occurred at approximately 5:42 a.m. on

Clinton, OK — A former police officer who previously worked for both the Clinton and Weatherford Police Departments has been arrested following an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. According to a press release from

Cheyenne, OK – Voters in Roger Mills County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for the April 7th Reydon School District Board of Education General Election should apply now, County Election Board Secretary Kelly Tice said

Elk City, OK – The Lincoln Teen Center building in Elk City has officially been donated to the Elk City School District. The center’s leadership announced the transfer this week, marking a new chapter for the historic

Elk City, OK – Elk City firefighters responded to a residential structure fire Thursday night around 8:00 p.m. in the 1400 block of Beth Court. According to the Elk City Fire Department, crews arrived to find heavy

Weatherford, OK — On March 6, 2026, the SWOSU community will come together to celebrate an incredible milestone, 125 years of Southwestern Oklahoma State University. For more than a century, SWOSU has been a place where tradition,

Kiowa County, OK – A 21 year old Wetumka man was injured Saturday morning in a rollover crash in Kiowa County. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the collision occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m. on February 28

Elk City, OK – Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles A. McCall says his top priorities as governor would be eliminating Oklahoma’s personal income tax, improving education outcomes and reshaping the executive branch to “work for the people.” McCall,

Weatherford, OK — Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) recognized students from across its academic colleges during the 2026 Distinguished Student Award Ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Fine Arts Center in Weatherford. The annual ceremony honors

Shamrock, Texas — Lifelong Shamrock resident and business owner Kenneth Campbell has announced his candidacy for mayor in the upcoming May 2, 2026 municipal election. Campbell said his decision to run is rooted in a desire to

Elk City, OK — An Elk City man has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after allegedly threatening his neighbor and throwing a knife during a disturbance earlier this month. Timothy Robert Tanner

Weatherford, OK — Students and faculty in the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) have begun preparations for the department’s annual plant sale, with early planting already underway as spring approaches.

Weatherford, OK — Registration is available for the 38th National Convention of Alpha Mu Gamma, the National Collegiate Languages Honor Society, with the event scheduled for March 5–7 at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU). The convention will

Weatherford, OK — The Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) College of Pharmacy hosted its first Winter Research Symposium on Jan. 21 in Weatherford. The event brought together student pharmacists and faculty to share current research and discuss