Oklahoma
Several new House, Senate members win seats in Oklahoma Legislature • Oklahoma Voice
OKLAHOMA CITY — Tuesday’s election swept in several new House and Senate members vying for open seats, but also proved to be a good night for incumbents.
Not a single incumbent state House or Senate lawmaker lost Tuesday.
Incumbent Republican Warren Hamilton of McCurtain easily defeated Democrat challenger Jerry L. Donathan of McAlester in the race for Senate District 7 by a vote of 77% to 23%.
In the race for Senate District 15, Republican Lisa Standridge bested Democrat Elizabeth Foreman by a vote of 62% to 38%. Both are from Norman.
Standrige is the spouse of Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, who is leaving due to term limits.
The seat for Senate District 21 became open when Tom Dugger, D-Stillwater, decided not to seek another term.
Republican Dr. Randy Grellner of Cushing defeated Democrat Robin Fuxa of Stillwater by a vote of 65% to 35%.
Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, fended off Democrat Melissa Bryce of Tulsa in the race for Senate District 39. The vote was 56% to 44%.
The seat for Senate District 43 became open when Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, lost her reelection bid in the primary.
Republican Kendal Sacchieri of Blanchard defeated Democrat Sam Graefe of Purcell by a vote of 80.5% to 19.5%.
Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, could not run again for Senate District 46 due to term limits.
Democrat Mark Mann of Oklahoma City beat Republican Charles Barton of Del City and David Pilchman, an independent from Oklahoma City. Mann garnered 60.42% of the vote.
Republican Kelly E. Hines defeated Democrat Erin Brewer in the race for Senate District 47, which became open when Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, termed out. Both are from Edmond. The vote was 53% to 47%.
In the race for House District 4, Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, easily defeated Democratic challenger Christopher Wier, also of Tahlequah. The vote was 68% to 32%.
Rep. Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow, chose not to seek reelection to House District 12.
Republican Mark Chapman of Broken Arrow beat Democrat Crystal LaGrone of Coweta by a vote of 79% to 21%.
Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, easily defeated Democratic challenger Rosie Lynch, also of Okmulgee, in the race for House
District 16. The vote was 71% to 29%.
“I am just thankful the citizens of House District 16 reelected me for a ninth year,” Fetgatter said. “I am excited to get to work and work with new leadership.”
In the race for House District 26, Rep. Dell Kerbs defeated Democrat Kerri Keck, also of Shawnee, by a vote of 62% to 38%.
Kerbs said he commends anybody who puts their name on the ballot to run for office.
“It takes a lot of courage and hard work,” Kerbs said.
He said he appreciated the voters of House District 26 for sending him back to the Capitol.
Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, beat Republican challenger Andrew Muchmore, also of Stillwater, in the race for House District 34. The vote was 59% to 41%.
In the race for House District 37, Rep. Ken Luttrell, R-Ponca City, beat independent Carter Rogers of Fairfax by a vote of 79% to 21%.
“It has been an honor and privilege for me to serve this district and listen to the concerns, issues and problems here in rural Oklahoma,” Luttrell said.
He said he will work to see that students have a path to success and stay in Oklahoma. He also wants to work on finding common sense solutions to problems.
“I am honored and humbled by the support,” Luttrell said.
Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Yukon, defeated Democrat Mike Bockus of Edmond in the race for House District 41. The vote was 68% to 32%.
In the race for House District 43, Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon, beat independent Cassie Kinet, also of Yukon, by a vote of 70% to 30%.
Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, bested Republican Alexander W. Torvi of Norman in the race for House District 46. The vote was 54% to 46%.
Polling showed the race was going to be tight, Rosecrants said.
Rosecrants thanked his opponent, who he said ran a good race.
“What this shows, though, is that my constituents don’t like extremism,” Rosecrants said. “They don’t like (State Superintendent) Ryan Walters.”
Rosecrants said he ran on being accessible and working across the aisle.
Rep. Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, held on to House District 70. She beat GOP challenger Bradley Banks, also from Tulsa, by a vote of 56% to 44%.
Republican David B. Hooten of Nichols Hills was unsuccessful in his attempt to unseat House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, in the race for House District 85. The vote was 61% to 39%.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
Oklahoma
Putnam City West moves to virtual learning after student incident
Putnam City West High School will shift to virtual learning on Tuesday after an incident involving two students prompted an investigation by the district and Oklahoma City police, according to Putnam City Schools.
District officials said administrators were alerted near the end of the school day Monday to an altercation involving two students in the school’s arena area.
Officials said the students left campus, and the case was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for investigation.
District officials said no students or staff were harmed and there is no ongoing safety threat related to the incident.
What we know
Putnam City West sent the following email to all families and staff at the school:
All PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st.
Today, an isolated serious incident involving two students occurred on school grounds. Near the end of the school day, administrators were alerted to an altercation between two students in the arena area. The individuals involved quickly left campus, prompting an initial fact-finding response by school administrators before the matter was turned over to Putnam City Campus Police and the Oklahoma City Police Department for further investigation. Because this is an active investigation involving students, no further information will be released at this time.
We understand this information may be concerning to students, staff, and families. Please know we are committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for all students. At Putnam City Schools, student and staff safety remains our highest priority. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution and to allow for a thorough investigation, all PCW students and staff will transition to virtual learning for Tuesday, April 21st. Students will need to check Google Classroom for updates from teachers.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of PC West.
Putnam City Schools
All students and staff at Putnam City West will transition to virtual learning on Tuesday, April 21, while investigators continue their work, according to the district.
Students were told to check Google Classroom for instructions from teachers.
The district said it is withholding additional details because the case involves students and remains under investigation.
School officials have not said what triggered the incident or whether any arrests have been made.
This is a developing story. Updates will be added as more information becomes available.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma launches program letting adults use past credits, test scores to earn diplomas
TULSA, OKLA (KTUL) — A new program in Oklahoma is giving adults another way to finish high school by allowing them to use past credits and test scores to earn a diploma, an option officials say could help thousands of people and strengthen the state’s workforce.
For years, adults in Oklahoma who did not finish high school largely had one main option: earning a GED. Now, Oklahoma CareerTech is rolling out the Career Readiness Diploma, a pathway designed to build on what students have already completed rather than requiring them to start over.
“So in Oklahoma right now, if you look at the demographics, we have about 279,000 people in our state without a high school diploma. So it’s almost 10% of our population doesn’t have a high school diploma,” said Lance Allee, an adult education and family literacy specialist with Oklahoma CareerTech.
Allee said the program allows adults to apply previously earned high school credit and combine different assessment scores into a single record to qualify for a diploma.
“It allows the student to use previously earned high school credit. So, it’s kind of like a portfolio where you can take multiple assessment scores and put them into one portfolio to get your high school diploma,” Allee said.
The program is open to adults 21 and older. In some cases, officials said, participants can finish in just weeks, depending on how many credits they already have.
CareerTech officials say the program is also aimed at improving job prospects for individuals while helping Oklahoma remain competitive when attracting employers.
“When you’re a company and you’re looking at moving into Oklahoma, you look at the demographics and say, is there a workforce there that we can employ? And you say, well, about 10% of the population doesn’t have a diploma, they may start looking at states that surround us. So, we definitely want to get as many diplomas out there as we can,” Allee said.
The program started issuing diplomas in recent weeks, and officials said dozens more people are already in the process. For more information or to sign up click here.
SIGN UP FOR THE CHANNEL 8 NEWSLETTER
Oklahoma
Cord Rager’s Return, Consistent Hitting Earns Oklahoma First SEC Sweep of Missouri
NORMAN — Cord Rager’s return comes at a pivotal time for Skip Johnson’s Oklahoma Sooners. Not only do they get their day three starter back in time for big road matchups against Auburn and Arkansas on the horizon, but the Sooners pitching strength, their rotational depth, is primed and ready for the test.
The freshman lefty finished with eight strikeouts and only gave up one hit in only 65 pitches before his day ended in the sixth.
No. 14 Oklahoma earn its first conference sweep of the season, defeating Missouri 8-4. It was OU’s fourth conference series win.
Oklahoma (27-12, 10-8) put their best foot forward as they turn the page to the meat of their schedule where they will do battle against No. 13, No. 20 and No. 16 over the next three weeks — two of those series’ on the road.
Four runs in five hits in the second got things rolling for the Sooners.
Camden Johnson continued his brilliant play of late with a triple in the second. This came after a Brenden Brock solo home run to put OU up 1-0. Deiten LaChance grounded out to short but scored Johnson. Dasan Harris and and Nolan Stevens each found home before the inning ended.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook and X for the latest news.
OU found fortune from the plate again in the fourth. Four runs off of four hits highlighted by a three-run home run by Johnson put Oklahoma up 8-0. It was Johnson’s seventh home run of the season, second on the team behind Brock’s nine.
Trent Collier got the nod in the sixth to relieve Rager.
In the seventh, Missouri finally got on the board for the first time since the ninth inning of Friday night’s Sooner victory. Cam Durnin hit a solo shot — his fourht of the season — to make the score 8-1 in favor of the home team.
The Tigers got their third hit of the game shortly after. From there, Collier’s short day was done. Gavyn Jones came on to relieve
LaChance missed a home run by inches when Tiger center fielder Kaden Peer made a leaping catch, jumping into the fence.
In the eighth, the Tigers continued to chip away. With bases loaded, Blaze Ward hit a basehit to score two Missouri base runners. OU led 8-3 heading into the final inning.
Harris led the Sooners with three hits. His day was accented by an RBI, stolen base and a run.
Oklahoma will travel to Auburn to take on the No. 13 Tigers for a three game series starting on Friday. Before that, they will host Oral Roberts for a midweek game at Kimrey Family Stadium in Norman. The Sooners won 4-0 against ORU earlier this season.
Follow
-
Lifestyle6 minutes agoHow ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Red Carpet Looks Came Together
-
Technology18 minutes agoThe Vergecast Vergecast, 2026 edition
-
World24 minutes agoMexico pyramid shooter who took hostages and killed 1 is identified
-
Politics30 minutes agoByron Donalds cracks down on persistent border blind spot leaving US vulnerable to overstays
-
Health36 minutes agoHealthy diets spark lung cancer risk in non-smokers as pesticides loom
-
Sports42 minutes agoPGA Tour signals new era with axing of Hawaii events from schedule
-
Technology48 minutes agoAlexa+ lets you order food like a real conversation
-
Business54 minutes agoNew lawsuit alleges Uber is violating drivers’ rights. Here’s how