News Stories

NewsOK - Chris Casteel

Oklahoma Reps. Tom Cole, R-Moore, and Jim Bridenstine, R-Tulsa, released statements on Monday critical of the Obama administration’s decision to exchange five former Taliban leaders who were being held by the United States at Guantanamo Bay for U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

NewsOK - Chris Casteel

President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that the United States would keep nearly 10,000 troops in Afghanistan through 2016.

Duncan Banner - Derrick Miller

The threat of rain didn’t dampen the spirits of those attending the Stephens County Honor Guard’s remembrance service Monday.

The Honor Guard, which honored veterans and fallen soldiers with a Memorial Day service, came together with members of several veteran organizations at the American Legion marker in the Duncan Cemetery. Earlier in the day, the Honor Guard paid a visit to Comanche’s Fairlawn Cemetery and were slated to go to Rush Springs’ cemetery after leaving Duncan.

Norman Transcript - Joy Hampton

One year after an EF-5 tornado devastated a core area of Moore that included the Moore Medical Center, the community gathered on the site of the former hospital to reflect and remember those who were lost.

However, the Moore Community Remembrance Ceremony was not all tears and sorrow. It also was a day of celebration, survival and new beginnings.

“Our weather is tough, but our people are tougher,” Moore Economic Development Director Diedre Ebrey said.

Federal News Radio - Jack Moore

A proposed amendment to the House version of the annual bill setting policy for the Defense Department would preemptively protect DoD employees paid through working-capital funds from potential furloughs.

The measure, which was introduced Monday by Reps. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), is being considered by the House Rules Committee Tuesday. The House is expected to take up the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act as early as this week.

Pauls Valley Daily Democrat - Barry Porterfield

A few dozen of Pauls Valley’s band members are about to get very patriotic with a special trip that hits the road in just a few days.

Their destination is the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C.

Planned for some time now the band will take part in a national parade on Memorial Day right down Constitution Avenue.

“This is something I thought would be important for the kids, not so much on the performance but the historical aspect,” said band director Drew Etheredge.

Miami Herald - Kristi Eaton

Political leaders, Native American tribal members, scholars and community members gathered Friday to dedicate a statue of a renowned Chickasaw storyteller who broke stereotypes over her six-decade career.

Te Ata Thompson Fisher surpassed the limitations placed on Native Americans and women, Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby said at the dedication of the sculpture at the University of Science and Arts.

Defense News - John T. Bennett

Widespread opposition has yet to form around any single Pentagon proposal to cut a specific weapon system, indicating most could be implemented despite lawmakers’ protestations on behalf of parochial interests.

Some lawmakers and analysts were quick to dismiss the Pentagon’s 2015 budget plan as dead on arrival. After all, it called for big troop cuts, politically radioactive troop benefit cuts, left some wondering if 11 aircraft carriers are affordable, and cut entire fleets of A-10 attack aircraft and U-2 spy planes.