Opinion

My mother was a cigarette smoker, and it killed her Ȯh, the official cause of death was any number of manners: multiple organ failure, obesity and congestive heart failure to name a few. But it was her life-long love affair with unfiltered Lucky Strikes that did her in.

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Reps. Carl Newton, R- Cherokee, and Brian Hill, R- Mustang, hosted a public meeting on the legislative redistricting process on Wednesday in Woodward to answer questions and gather input from the public.

The U.S. is entering the second month of the biggest vaccination effort in history with a major expansion of the campaign, opening football stadiums, major league ballparks, fairgrounds and convention centers to inoculate a larger and more diverse pool of people.

OKLAHOMA – Oklahoma continued on its criminal justice reform journey last year with State Question 805. While the result was not what we had hoped for, over half a million Oklahomans voiced their support to end extreme sentences for individuals convicted of nonviolent offenses, make better use of state resources and increase investments in treatment, mental health care and services for survivors. Since Election Day, this statewide movement has continued to grow. Advocates are renewing the push for common-sense reforms, and are rallying together to encourage state leaders to take bold action to end our state’s incarceration crisis.

WASHINGTON D.C. – I am aware this is a long letter, but it is a serious issue that requires a serious response.

OKLAHOMA - Dear Oklahoma friends and neighbors: Thanksgiving in 2020 might look a little different for your family, just like it does for mine. Many families are choosing smaller gatherings or connecting with family and friends virtually to protect vulnerable family members.

HINTON - Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! So many plans have undergone change for celebrating this day. Whether you are celebrating quietly at home or going to a relative's, please stay safe. I will be with my daughter and son-in-law so it will be a small environment.

It would be easy enough simply to wring our hands over the political divisiveness in America today and move on. Heaven knows, most members of Congress are perfectly willing to follow that path, saluting their political parties first and standing for America only when it’s convenient.

NATIONWIDE - Oklahoma gas prices have fallen 0.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $1.77/g today, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 2,294 stations. Gas prices in Oklahoma are 6.4 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 51.8 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

HINTON - Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear that the number of new Covid cases here in Oklahoma has dropped drastically?? I know I am looking forward to that day. Always looked forward to decorating the Center for Thanksgiving and Christmas but not this year since no one will be there to see it.