News

Federal jury convicts Garvin County ex-deputy in death of pre-trial jail detainee

Mike W. Ray

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY– A federal jury here convicted a former detention deputy at the Garvin County Jail in Pauls Valley for her role in the death of a pretrial detainee.

Thousands of bills are filed each session, but a much smaller number survive the process

M. Scott Carter

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY — At the beginning of every session, the numbers are big.And, since the Legislature first met in 1907, those numbers have continued to increase. For example, the first initiative petition was filed in 1908.

Stephens County commissioners unopposed in Tuesday’s primary

Eric Swanson

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

DUNCAN — Stephens County Commissioners Russell Morgan and Kreg Murphree will begin their next terms on the commission in 2027.Morgan and Murphree filed for reelection in April, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board.

FISTA, LEDC announce ‘strategic realignment’ of economic development efforts

Mike W. Ray

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

LAWTON – FISTA and the Lawton-Fort Sill Economic Development Corp. announced a “strategic realignment” over the weekend. Aligning governance to give Lawton-Fort Sill a “single, coordinated voice on economic development” was cited as the reason.

X Corp. wants FTC to set aside settlement order with Twitter

Staff Report

Friday, June 12, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s a $150 million decision and the Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment before deciding to drop or modify a 2022 settlement order with the former company Twitter Inc.With a bluebird logo, hashtags and tweets, Twitter Inc.

Global wind/solar power outpace gas for first time in April

Mike W. Ray

Friday, June 12, 2026

Independent energy think tank Ember, based in England and Wales, reported that wind and solar power generated 22% of global electricity in April, surpassing gasfired generation at 20% for the first time ever on a monthly basis.

Eric Swanson | Southwest Ledger The Medicine Creek Bridge in Medicine Park is shown Monday. The Medicine Park Board of Trustees approved on Wednesday the design for a new bridge, which could include some form of pedestrian access.

Medicine Park approves new bridge design

Eric Swanson

Friday, June 12, 2026

MEDICINE PARK — The Medicine Park Board of Trustees would like to see the existing Medicine Creek Bridge replaced with a new bridge that includes access for pedestrians.

From the left, Congressman Tom Cole speaks as Derek Williamson, CEO of Green Fuels Operating, and Lyle Roggow, president and CEO of the Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation, listen during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Stephens County Refinery Property site. The fuel producer Green Fuels Operating is planning to build a new refinery at the site. Eric Swanson | Southwest Ledger

Stephens County may establish

Eric Swanson

Friday, June 12, 2026

DUNCAN — The Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation is studying the possibility of creating a tax increment financing district at the Stephens County Refinery Property, where a new refinery will be built, a DAEDF representative said last Monday.

Regents prepare proposed policy for 90-hour bachelor’s degrees

Staff Report

Friday, June 12, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education recently approved updates to the Academic Program Approval Policy that create a framework for review and potential approval of accelerated bachelor’s degrees.“Oklahoma’s economy is growing and employers need job-ready graduates,” Gov.

Rural Schools Coalition releases primary election Voter Guide

Staff Report

Friday, June 12, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition has released its 2026 Oklahoma Primary Election Voter Guide.

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