Oklahoma

First Native American woman to serve as federal judge in Oklahoma honored by Tulsa alma mater

Published

2 years ago

January 21, 2024

First Native American woman to serve as federal judge in Oklahoma honored by Tulsa alma mater

Tulsa’s legal community is celebrating the appointment of a new judge to the Northern District of Oklahoma.

At the University of Tulsa on Friday, well-wishers gathered in a small reception to recognize graduate Sara Hill. Hill is the first Native woman to hold a federal judgeship in Oklahoma.

Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Chuck Hoskin Jr. said Hill is an inspiration.

“We can think about things today, and if you’re like me there are some things going on in the country that might trouble you. But I can tell you right now: a Cherokee girl can grow up to be a federal district judge in this country. As a Cherokee citizen, that is reason to celebrate,” said Hoskin.

Hill’s colleague, Gregory Frizzell, has been the only full-time judge in the Northern District for more than a year. He was visibly moved as he talked about his family’s role in tribal affairs.

“Being the son of a former law professor here at the University of Tulsa and a former solicitor at the Department of Interior who was tasked by President Nixon to begin his policy of tribal self-determination, this is an important milestone. I think my dad would be very happy that this happened today,” said Frizzell.

Hill said her time serving as Cherokee Nation attorney general from 2019 to 2023 prepped her for her new role in the Northern District.

“And learning to practice law on behalf of the Cherokee Nation, defending the Nation’s rights in court, was the highest honor. It still is, looking back. There will never be anything about it that i would change. I’m so proud of my service in the Nation,” said Hill.

Hill joins just a handful of federal judges with Native roots to ever be appointed.

We must note, TU holds the broadcast license for KWGS.

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Oklahoma

Another round of storms moves into Oklahoma

Published

6 hours ago

April 26, 2026

Press Room

Another round of storms moves into Oklahoma

On today’s Around the Block, we talked about the Pauls Valley principal who tackled, and disarmed a gunman in the lobby of the school is now being honored as prom king, the Oklahoma City’s traffic and transportation commission approved reducing the …

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Oklahoma

Ponca City homeowners warned to verify roofers offering Strengthen Oklahoma Homes grants

Published

18 hours ago

April 25, 2026

Press Room

Ponca City homeowners warned to verify roofers offering Strengthen Oklahoma Homes grants

PONCA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — The Oklahoma Department of Insurance (OID) is warning homeowners in the Ponca City area about using out-of-state roofing contractors.

OID is warning homeowners about out-of-state roofing contractors making unsolicited offers to help secure grants through the state’s Strengthen Oklahoma Homes (SOH) program, as many of those claims are false.

OID said the SOH program provides grants of up to $10,000 to eligible Oklahoma homeowners for roof upgrades approved through an application process, and only OID- approved contracotrs and evaluators are authorized to participate in the program.

Residents should be cautious of unsolicited out-of-state roofers promising SOH grant access who are not verified by OID.

Statement from Ashley Scott, Deputy Commissioner of External Affairs for the Oklahoma Insurance Department:

If a contractor is knocking on your door and promising you a state grant, your first step is to verify them through our approved list. Do not sign anything until you confirm they are an approved contractor in the SOH program. Also, be sure to verify they are a registered roofer in Oklahoma through the Construction Industries Board and have proper liability insurance.

For a full list of approved evaluators and contractors, visit: https://www.oid.ok.gov/okready/

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners beat Georgia Bulldogs 10-2 on historic night

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma Sooners beat Georgia Bulldogs 10-2 on historic night

It was a historic night for the Oklahoma Sooners in their 10-2 win over the Georgia Bulldogs. Kendall Wells ‘ second-inning home run set a new record for home runs by a team in a season with 162, and Wells set the Oklahoma single-season home run record with her 35th of the season.

Audrey Lowry got the start for the Sooners against the No. 11 Bulldogs and threw six innings, allowing two earned runs on 10 hits, no walks, and had four strikeouts. Lowry held Georgia to 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Wells got the scoring started for the Sooners, taking the first offering from Georgia starter Addisen Fisher just over the wall in center field for her record-setting home run and a 1-0 lead. In the third, Isabela Emerling drove in Kai Minor on a groundout before Gabbie Garcia launched her 20th home run of the season, a two-run shot, to give OU a 4-0 lead.

The Bulldogs answered in the top of the fourth with a run to cut into the Sooners’ lead. Lowry limited the damage and kept UGA off the board in the fifth.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Sooners pulled away from the Bulldogs with a four-run inning. Garcia hit her second two-run home run of the day, and Abby Dayton had a two-run home run of her own to make it 8-1 heading into the sixth. It was Dayton’s eighth home run of the season and gave the Sooners 165 home runs this year.

Georgia added another run in the top of the sixth to make it 8-2, but Garcia added to her incredible day with a two-run double to earn the walk-off, run-rule win. The Sooners moved to 44-6 and 16-3 in SEC play. They moved a half-game in front of Alabama, which beat UAB in nonconference play. Thanks to South Carolina’s win over Texas A&M, the Sooners moved two games up on the Aggies. OU and Texas A&M will play each other in College Station on the final weekend of the regular season in a series that could decide the SEC regular season title.

Oklahoma and Georgia will play game two on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and stream on ESPN+.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

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