Service Academy Nominations

(Tuesday, Sept. 22nd) – The office of Congressman Josh Brecheen is still accepting service academy nomination requests. 

The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.

One of the first questions political reporters and observers had after the announcement of President Trump's October 1st rally in Durant was whether the previously scheduled OETA gubernatorial debate between Republican nominee Mike Mazzei and Democratic nominee Cyndi Munson would still take place, after it was also announced that Mazzei would be joining the president at his Midterm Rally.

The debate is still on. OETA and the candidates will be pre-taping it earlier in the day, and airing it twice over the next few days:

Tulsa, OK — With President Donald Trump scheduled to visit Oklahoma on Thursday, October 1, OETA has graciously agreed to pre-tape the gubernatorial debate earlier that day, allowing the debate to move forward as planned. The debate will air Thursday, October 1, 2026, and re-air Saturday, October 3, 2026.

Inola, OK (Sept. 22nd) – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, today called for full transparency surrounding the  proposed aluminum smelter at the Tulsa Port of Inola and criticized efforts by the City of Tulsa– Rogers County Port Authority to challenge a citizen-led initiative petition allowing Inola voters  to decide whether primary-aluminum smelting should be permitted in their town. 

“Oklahoma taxpayers are being asked to support a multibillion-dollar industrial project they were  never allowed to fully examine,” Gann said. “Now a public authority is preparing to use  governmental power against citizens who are asking for a vote. That is not representative  government. That is government turning its machinery on the people it is supposed to serve.” 

President Donald Trump is coming to Oklahoma next week.

The president will be speaking at a Midterm Rally held in Durant at the Choctaw Event Center on Thursday, October 1st.

Tickets may be reserved at this link. The rally will start at 6pm, with doors opening at 2pm.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (September 24, 2026) – The National State Auditors Association (NSAA) gave top marks to the Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector’s Office (SAI) in its External Peer Review. The review evaluates whether SAI's system of quality control is designed to meet professional standards and is effectively complying with those standards.

SAI received the highest rating possible.

“Yes, even the Auditor’s Office gets audited,” State Auditor Cindy Byrd said. “This review reflects the professionalism, integrity, and attention to detail that I expect from our entire staff. I am incredibly proud of our team and of the accountability this review represents. We hold ourselves to the same standards of transparency, oversight, and accountability that we expect from the agencies we examine. We will always safeguard taxpayer money with the same excellence that earned us this recognition.”

Apparently, multiple mayors and city councils have punted on wrapping these particular cases up, to the point that what was probably "damages" well under a million dollars have now turned into over twenty nine million dollars that Muskogee taxpayers are now somehow going to have to pay. I wonder how much of that sum is interest – and legal fees. 

The impact to Muskogee taxpayers, and property owners in particular, could be extreme. Among the options some have floated include a temporary 25% property tax hike.

Here's a letter explaining the situation from the man with the most unenviable job in town right now, City Manager Kendal Francis:

MPS Seeks Input On Proposed 2027 Bond Projects

MUSKOGEE (August 24, 2026) – Muskogee Public Schools is seeking public input from patrons as it considers projects and priorities for a proposed 2027 bond issue. The district’s Long-Range Planning Committee, composed of community members, district leadership, staff, and other stakeholders, has been intentional in considering both the district's needs and the financial impact on local taxpayers.

A community survey will be available August 24 through September 4, 2026, allowing patrons to provide feedback on potential bond priorities and help the committee determine which needs should be prioritized.  Patrons may take the community survey at https://forms.gle/cbFc7iJPeRzAhso79

OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug. 21, 2026) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond today advised Muskogee Public Schools that it was under no constitutional obligation to cancel a community prayer walk earlier this month, and offered this Office’s assistance to any Oklahoma district that receives a similar demand.

Muskogee 6th and 7th Grade Academy had scheduled a Back to School Community Prayer Walk for the morning of August 12, the day before classes began. A Wisconsin-based advocacy organization, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, sent the district a letter the day before the event demanding its cancellation. The district canceled the walk, removed the announcements and notified parents.

In a letter to Superintendent Jarod Mendenhall, Drummond concluded that no student was required to be on campus that day, that no student faced any consequence for staying away, and that the walk was scheduled at an hour when no instructional period existed to interrupt.