THUMBS UP to the Exchange Club of Muskogee for all of the great work they do to help the children of Muskogee.

Deciding to leave legislative pay where it is for another two years isn't the worst decision the citizen-led Legislative Compensation Board has ever made, but it may not be its best.

Muskogee will play host to the Oklahoma Arts Conference next week and it will give us the chance to show what a big impact the arts have here.

Oklahoma's tribal partners proved the implementation of public health and safety protocols at casinos to protect patrons and employees during a pandemic is not only the responsible thing to do, it's profitable.

THUMBS UP to Muskogee’s Bedouin Shrine for hosting events such as the Flying Fez Wine Festival to be able to do all of the work they do to help children.

Medical marijuana has proven to be a valuable cash crop in Oklahoma — the state and local governments have shared hundreds of millions of dollars generated during the past three years by taxes. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we would love to see breast cancer eradicated in our time. Until that happens, we have to do what we can to fight this deadly disease.

Indigenous Peoples' Day will be observed in cities and states more this year than ever before as the movement to paint a more complete and accurate picture of U.S. history continues to grow. 

THUMBS UP to Bacone College men’s basketball coach Ruben Little Head and the Bacone basketball team for honoring the 6,509 First Nation children buried in unmarked graves at residential school sites in Canada through the late 1800s and early 1900s.

A legislative review of a popular incentives program for qualifying manufacturers exposed flaws that have been overlooked too long — the most important appear to be uniformity and oversight.

Proficiency levels dropped dramatically across the board during the past 18 months as the novel coronavirus forced hundreds of thousands of students out of classrooms and into remote learning environments. 

THUMBS UP to the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for providing free flu shots to children who otherwise might not be able to get one.

Oklahoma turnpikes serve as conduits of commerce for rural areas of the state that cannot be neglected or overlooked as lawmakers and transportation officials assess needs. 

The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and we would be opposed to changing the act, which helps keep Native American children in Native American foster and adoptive homes.

THUMBS UP to the Springfield and Muskogee Youth Volunteer Corps for all the work they performed in Muskogee during their Regional Projects summit here.

Muskogee's Board of Education should be applauded for the latest attempt to keep students safe and ensure their success.

Saint Francis Hospital System officials said it is safe to get a flu vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time, and we're glad that question has been answered in time for everyone to get both before flu season.

Federal officials wasted no time determining a state law violates the constitution by prioritizing "organic Oklahoma families" over others when providing services for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

THUMBS UP to the Muskogee Golf Club for hosting dozens of veterans and first responders who enjoyed a free round of golf and free lunch on Tuesday.

We applaud the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for taking steps now to avoid the costly mistakes that cost Oklahomans millions of dollars to heat their homes during a severe winter storm this past February. 

“I don’t think we are out of the woods yet.” That's what Dr. Cliff Robertson, president and chief executive officer of Saint Francis Health System, said about the ongoing battle against COVID-19.

Events that unfolded on this day 20 years ago united Americans just as times of tragedy had done in the past.

It's disappointing to see our governor axe political appointees who fail to follow through on a plan likely to collapse under the scrutiny of the courts. 

When Flavors of Oklahoma takes place Saturday, we hope to see local residents turn out to support the event, which benefits Women in Safe Home. 

THUMBS UP to Leah Spradlin of Porum and the Make-A-Wish Foundation for helping make a 5-year-old's dream come true.

Oklahomans learned this week that expanding Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act was not the budget-busting exercise its critics made it out to be.

Staff at nursing homes — and all facilities that treat the elderly — should be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Oklahoma City will have to pay nearly $1 million to five lawyers whose clients challenged a panhandling ordinance that violated their First Amendment rights of free speech.

THUMBS UP to Neighbors Building Neighborhoods, Fort Gibson Police Department, the Gospel Rescue Mission and Green Country Behavioral Health for helping others combat opioid abuse and other forms of substance abuse using a grant totaling $1 million.

A new law that requires school districts to ask students about tribal affiliations puts in place procedures that have proven to be an effective way to improve services to students and accountability to the state's 39 sovereign nations. 

Muskogee Public Schools' students have headed back to class, and some will celebrate new surroundings with the construction of new buildings.

Oklahoma Festival of Ballooning will take place beginning Friday, and we hope the event is successful and leads to additional events coming to Muskogee.

Congratulations to Green Country Little League for seizing the title this past week at the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina. 

THUMBS UP to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for giving high school students in 10th through 12th grades the opportunity to take an additional college entrance exam for free if their school opts in. 

It is frustrating to find state regulators who oversee public utilities stumped when pressed for answers about staggering spikes in energy costs during a major winter storm this past February.

Experts are discussing the possibility of getting a booster following the two COVID-19 vaccines many have had, and if the medical profession says we need boosters, then we should get them.

An examination of a decision rendered this week by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals evokes an image of jurists attempting to split the baby to achieve an outcome that satisfies multiple interests. 

THUMBS UP to Muskogee's newest fire chief, Jody Moore.

There is hope among some that a plan to use federal funds as stipends for student teachers will attract new teachers "and strengthen the pipeline of highly trained educators."

A decision by a Muskogee County judge to shut out the public from his courtroom while presiding over the preliminary hearing of man accused of killing his brother and five children demands scrutiny of the highest order. 

Staking out a position on an issue and sticking to it is an admirable character trait. 

THUMBS UP to all those who participated in National Night Out, a national community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships.

As children prepare to head back to class in the fall, some parents are worried about younger children who are not eligible for the vaccine — all 631,748 children ages 0-11. As they enter school, we would encourage parents to make sure all students, vaccinated or not, wear masks.

Muskogee, Fort Gibson and Wagoner residents have the opportunity tonight to celebrate National Night Out and meet some of the police officers who keep their cities safe.

Rougher Innovations Academy represents what appears to be forward-thinking approach to public education during a time of uncertainty.

THUMBS UP to Green Country Behavioral Health for constructing a new Medical Services Building.

State lawmakers sat down this week and began the arduous task of deciding how to spend nearly $1.87 billion being made available from the American Rescue Plan. 

THUMBS UP to Muskogee Parks and Recreation for recognizing the need for a splash pad at Langston Park.

For those who harbored doubts about the politicization of the COVID-19 pandemic, recent demands made by a group of Republican lawmakers should have cleared those up. 

We have to find a way to get people vaccinated. The Delta variant appears to be a powerful foe for those who don’t think they need protection against COVID-19.