Oklahoma
100 Years of the Mother Road: Wellston’s Route 66 revival
As we highlight the centennial of Route 66, News On 6 is taking a look at how one Oklahoma town fought for the Mother Road, suing when developers wanted to bypass it. Today, that court decision is still having an impact, as the community is seeing a resurgence 100 years in the making.
The midpoint of Route 66 in Oklahoma
Of the 400 miles of Route 66 in Oklahoma, one town sits right in the middle.
“We’re the midpoint of Route 66 in Oklahoma, which is kind of a cool thing to hang our hat on,” Route 66 Commission Chairman Thomas Tillison Jr. said.
The town of Wellston is halfway to Texas, halfway to Missouri and at one point in time was a key point along the Mother Road.
“We have photos of businesses down here — Main Street is packed. Every spot is full. Over time, it became less and less,” Andrew Steffenson said.
Like so many other small towns along Route 66, time ticked on, interstates moved in and people moved away. Wellston, though, faced an additional challenge: in the 1930s, developers almost took this town essentially off the map.
“As far as locally here, that’s a point of frustration for our small town, because it kind of crushed our small town,” Tillison said.
Tillison has lived here since 1980 and, like others here, is well versed on the town’s complicated history and strong resilience.
“We were a thriving community”
The year was 1932. Route 66 was six years old. Wellston was hotter than ever.
“We were a thriving community,” Tillison said. “We had multiple cotton gins, mercantile stores, car dealerships, pharmacies; our downtown was thriving.”
But federal highway planners wanted to straighten Route 66 in spots by creating a shorter, more direct path west. In Wellston, that meant a new alignment south of town, which became known as the “gap.”
“When they bypassed us, we look at more of a bypass than a gap,” Tillison said.
Knowing what it would do to traffic and the local economy, locals quickly fought back. By 1933, residents filed several lawsuits, which eventually made it all the way to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
The Court sided with the town, meaning the highway department was ordered to pave and maintain the loop through Wellston. But despite the victory, the gap was paved as well.
“It just has slowly deteriorated since we were bypassed because we weren’t the main thoroughfare anymore,” Tillison said.
By 1939, the number of cars on the gap exceeded the number on the loop.
Restoring Wellston’s History
Today, the town of Wellston is still a very unique spot along Route 66. There is Route 66, but a loop called 66B takes you into the town of Wellston.
Along 66B, Steffenson runs one of the few businesses on the loop and has old pictures in his office.
“It’s nice to see how Wellston was and how it could be,” Steffenson said.
He and many others in town are working to restore its history. New murals and landmarks are popping up, with plans for more this year. But perhaps the biggest draw to Wellston in recent years has to do with the smell of barbecue.
The Butcher BBQ Stand is a Wellston restaurant only open for lunch on weekends, but one that is gaining some fame outside of Oklahoma.
“Cutting meat and barbecuing on the weekends literally has been my whole life forever,” owner Levi Bouska said.
Bouska opened it in 2015 after growing up barbecuing with his dad and grandparents.
“When I first opened, it was just a 40-foot Conex, and everyone stood outside and waited in line,” Bouska said.
Word soon spread, and then people followed. And not just Oklahomans. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a line forms out front, long before the doors even open, with many of them taking Route 66 to visit Wellston specifically.
It’s something that’s been years in the making, and something people here hope is a sign of things to come.
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — New federal marijuana changes are beginning to reshape parts of the cannabis industry — including how some Oklahoma dispensaries may choose to operate.
The federal government recently moved marijuana into a less restrictive category under federal law. The Drug Enforcement Administration is now opening the door for dispensaries to register under federal rules.
Experts say that could eventually bring benefits like expanded banking access and potential tax relief for some businesses.
“Currently there’s over 425,000 people working in the cannabis industry nationwide,” said Max Simon. “As we get federal reform, you will start to see more opportunity for these businesses to expand in a more meaningful national way.”
For now, dispensaries can still remain state-only, and legal experts say many businesses are still weighing what makes the most sense.
“There were far fewer fortunes made than there were fortunes lost in this industry in Oklahoma,” said Eric Fisher. “I think this will maintain jobs in the industry right now.”
The changes also come as schools like Tulsa Community College have started training students for cannabis-related careers — highlighting how quickly the industry continues to evolve.
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Oklahoma
How to watch LA Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder: TV, live stream info for tonight’s NBA playoff game
Coverage of the 2026 NBA playoffs continues tonight on NBC and Peacock with a star-studded doubleheader. The action tips off at 7:00 PM ET, when Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers take on Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. Then, at 8:30 PM ET, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers go head-to-head with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Peacock. Live coverage begins at 6:00 PM with NBA Showtime. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
Click here to sign up for Peacock!
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LA Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Game Preview:
The No. 4 Lakers defeated the No. 5 Rockets in six games to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. Los Angeles opened the series with a 3-0 lead, dropped Games 4 and 5, then bounced back with a 98-78 road win in Game 6. The win marked JJ Redick’s first playoff series victory since he took over as head coach ahead of last season.
Meanwhile, the top-seeded Thunder defeated the No. 8 Phoenix Suns 4-0, completing a First Round sweep for the third straight season. The Thunder look to become the first team to win consecutive NBA titles since the Golden State Warriors (2016-2017, 2017-18).
The Lakers and Thunder will both be without key players tonight. Luka Doncic has missed the last 11 games due to a grade 2 hamstring strain sustained on April 2 against Oklahoma City, while Jalen Williams missed the last two games for the Thunder with a grade 1 hamstring strain. Both players are considered week-to-week.
NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
2026 NBA Playoffs: Bracket, schedule, scores, matchups for conference semifinals, including 76ers vs. Knicks
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All the games — times, dates, where to watch — in one easy-to-check-out location.
How to watch LA Lakers vs Oklahoma City Thunder:
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When: Tonight, Tuesday, May 5
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Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series preview, predictions – Do LeBron, Lakers have a chance?
What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?
Pistons vs Cavaliers Game 1 NBA Playoffs – predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 5
How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:
NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock
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Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?
Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.
Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?
Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.
Brunson powers Knicks past 76ers in Game 1
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OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) – African American educator F.D. Moon was born 130 years ago on May 4, 1896, in what is now Lincoln County.
He began teaching in 1921 and in 1940 moved to Oklahoma City, where he became principal of Douglass High School.
Widely known as the “Dean” of African American education, Moon was elected to the Oklahoma City Board of Education in 1972, then became its first African American president in 1974.
He served during federally mandated desegregation in Oklahoma City Public Schools and died in 1975.
Copyright 2026 KSWO. All rights reserved.
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