Oklahoma
Southern Tech partners with Work Ready Oklahoma
ARDMORE, Oklahoma (KXII) – Ardmore’s Southern Tech is partnering with Work Ready Oklahoma to boost the workforce in Southern Oklahoma.
Work Ready opened a new location in Southern Tech’s business center on Tuesday evening.
The first workshop will take place on Monday, September 16, at 9 a.m.
Work Ready Oklahoma helps people get the skills and support they need to find and hold the job they want.
Southern Tech Superintendent Dr. Eric Ward said the partnership was only natural.
“With our full time programs, we’ll train you to weld, we’ll train you to be a nurse, we’ll train all of those things we do with our typical full time programs,” Dr. Ward said. “Programs like this will benefit people that those don’t work for, they don’t have time to be in a full time program, this is something that you can come in for a few weeks, get training, and get connected with an employers that’s ready to hire you.”
The new Work Ready center in Ardmore is one of nearly two dozen spread across Oklahoma.
More information about how to get involved is available on the Work Ready website.
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The Sooners’ seniors played their final games for OU on Dec. 19, but five of them have already accepted invitations to play one more contest before they leap to the professional ranks.
Defensive end R Mason Thomas, wide receiver Deion Burks, linebacker Kendal Daniels, defensive lineman Gracen Halton and linebacker Owen Heinecke all accepted invites to play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL, on Jan. 31.
Thomas and Halton both spent the entirety of their careers in Norman.
Despite missing OU’s final three regular-season games, Thomas earned First Team All-SEC honors in 2025. He logged 26 total tackles, 18 solo tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery as a senior.
Halton played in all 13 games in 2025 and registered 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a scoop-and-score touchdown. The defensive lineman played in 34 games in the three prior seasons.
Heinecke was a breakout star for OU in 2025 and finished the season with 74 total tackles, 34 solo tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble. The linebacker began his career as a lacrosse player at Ohio State, playing three games for the Buckeyes in 2021. He then transferred to OU, where he redshirted in 2022 before playing the next three seasons.
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Because of his brief lacrosse stint at Ohio State, he is out of eligibility. But Heinecke revealed ahead of OU’s College Football Playoff game that he is currently in an appeals process with the NCAA, hoping to get one more year.
“If I got the extra year, I would heavily consider it,” Heinecke said. “I love Oklahoma, and this has really been my first year playing, so I would love another year to go at it.:
Heinecke accepted his invitation, but of course, he would not play in the game reserved for outgoing college football players if the NCAA granted his appeal.
Daniels played only one season at OU after playing three seasons at Oklahoma State. Daniels — who primarily played at the cheetah position — played in all 13 games in 2025 and recorded 53 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.
Burks transferred to OU from Purdue ahead of the 2024 season. Injuries plagued Burks during his first season in Norman, as he played in only five games and logged 245 yards and three touchdowns on 31 catches.
Burks had a larger role in 2025, as he appeared in all 13 games and finished the season with 620 yards and four touchdowns on 57 catches. He led OU in receiving against Alabama in the CFP, catching seven passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
The Senior Bowl will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 31, and it will be televised on NFL Network. The game is an opportunity for outgoing college players to showcase their talents to professional scouts ahead of the NFL Draft.
Last year, safety Billy Bowman was the only Sooner to play in the Senior Bowl. The Atlanta Falcons selected Bowman in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
An Oklahoma man recalled his first time learning about Kwanzaa and told News 9 on Friday that he wanted to educate others on the holiday and its cultural traditions.
Michael Washington, Founder of Empower People Inc. & Oklahoma Coalition Against People Abuse, said he first learned about Kwanzaa 35 years ago.
“A guy asked me to come with him one day. He said, ‘Kwanzaa.’ I said ‘What is Kwanzaa? I don’t want to go to Kwanzaa. What is that?’” remembered Washington. “I took the invitation, went, then I started learning about it, and I said to myself, ‘Wow, this is great. Really!’”
Today, he said he uses what he has learned over the years to educate others.
“Kwanzaa, meaning the first fruits, is simply learning about your culture, your history, your knowledge, your God, your religion, great pioneers, great educators, great harvesters, great farmers,” he detailed.
Each day of Kwanzaa, families light a candle on the kinara, or seven-branched candelabra, representing one of the seven principles celebrated during the holiday, Washington explained.
Washington described the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba)—unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith—using traditional symbols such as fruits, libation cups, African clothing, chains (symbolizing past oppression and freedom), and artwork.
“If you follow the seven-day principle, it’s no question– you will become successful,” he stated.
He listed the seven principles in order:
- Umoja (Unity)
- Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
- Ujima (Collective work and responsibility)
- Ujamaa (Cooperative economics)
- Nia (Purpose)
- Kuumba (Creativity)
- Imani (Faith)
Washington said Kwanzaa is for anyone to observe.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. (KOKH) — Oklahoma City Police are looking to identify a person in reference to a fraud case at Best Buy in the 5800 block of N. May Avenue.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers 405-235-7300, or www.okccrimetips.com and reference case # 25-93839.
A cash reward may be possible.
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