Home Grown

Collecting Rainwater for Gardens As gardeners look for ways to conserve resources, rainwater harvesting is gaining in popularity. Capturing rainfall not only reduces dependence on municipal water supplies, but also provides plants with a natural, chemicalfree source of water.

Early Budget Agreement Mostly Good for State’s Children

For the Children Gov. Kevin Stitt and Republican leaders from the state Legislature announced a budget agreement last week. The Fiscal Year 27 (FY27) budget proposal totals $12.8 billion, an increase of 1.52% or nearly $200 million over the current fiscal year's budget.

First Bill Advances as House Meets Key Deadline

This past week marked a major turning point in session as we reached the deadline to pass House bills off the House floor. It took a lot of time, focus and more than a few late nights, but we got the job done.All House bills have now been sent to the Senate, with 456 measures continuing forward.

Adventures with Allie

There’s a moment now, quiet, almost invisible, when you walk into a place that used to hand you something, and instead, it asks you to scan.A small square sits where paper once lived. A QR code taped to a church door. Another propped up on a restaurant table.

The road to home

Recently, I found myself driving down an old dirt road that led me home in more ways than one.I began chasing a fire — as it is seemingly the nature of a journalist to run towards fire.

Emergency clauses should be rare, not routine

There is a reason the law allows for an emergency clause.It exists for moments when time truly matters. When public safety is at risk, when infrastructure fails, when a delay could cause real harm.

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor, Why I’m voting for opportunity Although opportunity doesn’t always mean success, in the case of Central Tech, it actually does. A vast majority of the students gain employment upon graduation.My daughter was one of them.

“…Half the Battle…”

The old adage about knowing being half the battle is very true when it comes to policy advocacy.I am thankful for the partner organizations with which the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) works year-round to promote awareness in not only policy issues.

Transparency is key to building, preserving trust in government

Oklahoma means business when it comes to transparency in government. We must uphold strong and transparent government practices to allow Oklahomans to clearly see the work of their public servants and to have the power to hold them accountable.

Second lives, first memories

There’s something special about a garage sale that you just don’t get in a store.Maybe it’s the way everything sits out in the open, stories included, whether you realize it or not.This weekend, I came home with a little pile of things for my son. A few toys. Some books.