Local and area residents will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of history when Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive passes through Saturday.

Sen. Dewayne Pemberton has proven to be a true friend to public education, and his support is especially appreciated by Oklahoma's rural school districts. 

Downtown Muskogee and the campus of Oklahoma School for the Blind will become testing grounds for the Oklahoma Regional Cane Quest on Thursday.

A cautionary note included in a report issued by the Consumer Energy Alliance that warns about a perceived threat to Oklahoma's oil and gas industry by heavily funded, out-of-state activists appears to be a desperate plea by an industry trying to protect its turf. 

Thumbs up to Muskogee students who are helping others.

Sometimes, we feel like it’s beating a dead horse when we urge residents to go the extra mile to drive safely. Or maybe we should say, beating a dead deer.

One of the newest laws in Oklahoma is one that we should all support. The bill allows law enforcers to use cameras on school buses to track down drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses.

Data showing a steady statewide decline in the number of discrimination complaints involving pregnancies reported during the past five years appear promising.

Prison reform in Oklahoma has taken a step — a big one, and we think the largest single-day commutation of inmates in U.S. history is a great thing for Oklahoma.

Collecting fees from those who enter state parks is a proposition that must balance needs for revenue to improve and maintain facilities with the public's desire and ability to pay. 

Thumbs up to the American Red Cross, Muskogee firefighters and volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The groups took part in Sound the Alarm, a program in which they went door-to-door to install free smoke alarms. Volunteers canvassed hundreds of homes in Muskogee.…

The tragic death of Anthony Huff at the Garfield County jail offers a costly lesson for taxpayers and voters.

Children are twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day, according to SafeKids.org, a nonprofit organization working to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries.

An analysis of salaries being paid to Gov. Kevin Stitt's administrative staffers revealed a pay gap divided by gender, with men earning on average more than 20 percent more than women. 

An alliance of groups attempting to prevent partisan gerrymandering of Oklahoma's legislative and congressional districts want voters to decide whether to create a new commission to redraw district boundaries.

Systemwide treatment of Oklahoma Department of Corrections inmates who have hepatitis C must be made a policy priority for the state — it's an expense that will only become costlier as time passes. 

A story in today's Phoenix says Oklahoma is the fifth worst state to have a baby. Only Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina and Louisiana ranked worse.

Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall's initiative to bolster oversight of more than three dozen state agencies is welcome news and could lead to improvements in government.

Oklahoma correctional officers need help. 

A series of coordinated assaults behind the walls at six Oklahoma prisons that resulted with the death of one inmate and the injuries of dozens more captured headlines across the state, but statistics show these assaults occur too frequently on a regular basis.  

Thumbs up to U.S. Sens. James Lankford and Jim Inhofe for signing a letter to urge expanded access for families dealing with Alzheimer's.

Muskogee has one year to prepare for the Oklahoma Arts Conference, and we are fortunate to have been chosen to host the event by the Oklahoma Arts Council.

Celebrating Columbus' journey to the Americas on Columbus Day should come to an end. 

Organizers of the Yes on 802 initiative must be congratulated for getting the 178,000 signatures required to get a measure on the ballot that will let voters decide whether the state should accept federal funds that will allow it to expand its Medicaid program. 

It's that time of year. Leaves are beginning to fall, and so are temperatures. If you haven't turned on the heat in your home yet, it won't be long. And if you use space heaters, it's time to review safety measures.

Millions of American retirees will get a 1.6 % cost-of-living increase next year from Social Security, which translates to $24 per month for the average retired worker, according to estimates released Thursday by the Social Security Administration. We're happy to see the increase, but we wou…

The newspaper industry celebrates the 79th annual National Newspaper Week this week, and the theme this year is “Think F1rst — Know Your 5 Freedoms.”

Muskogee is fortunate to have a shelter for victims of domestic violence. It's just a shame that it's needed. 

Backers of a petition that would let voters decide whether to expand the state's Medicaid program and address Oklahoma's growing health crisis have gathered nearly 90 percent of the 178,000 signatures they need to get State Question 802 on the ballot. 

It’s more than disappointing that the Oklahoma Tax Commission decided to close a tag agency at Porter after the motor license agent appointed decades ago died, when other good options were available. 

Stephen Morton, who provides a vital service for residents of Muskogee on a daily basis throughout the year, was awarded on Thursday the 2019 Roy Tucker Award of Excellence. 

Recent claims made by some businesses and law enforcers about a purported increase in petty thefts undoubtedly were made to undermine criminal justice reforms. 

Muskogee Public Schools hasn't constructed any new schools in years — and it shows.

The city of Wagoner is making headway in returning an old railroad depot building to its city.

The public is invited to attend a POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday in the chapel of the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center, and we would encourage you to attend.

Oklahoma has the distinction of being the state with the highest incarceration rate in the United States. But, a law that takes effect Nov. 1 will reduce some of the number of inmates. But will it be enough? 

Frankly, in our opinion it’s much ado about nothing.

An Oklahoma family learned Thursday that their 19-year-old family member died after failing to stop for an oncoming train. We don't know the specifics about why this person would do that. Were they trying to beat the train? Did they not see the train coming? We don't know if there were cross…