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Oklahoma Board Advances More Than $53M in Middle-Mile Broadband Grants

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More than $53 million in middle-mile broadband expansion grants were recommended for approval this week by the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board.

The Oklahoma middle-mile projects, recommended for approval by the Grants Review Committee, are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

Several additional projects were recommended for approval “should funding become available.”

By provider, the Oklahoma middle-mile broadband grants recommended for approval are:

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  • Hilliary: $40,874,734.10 for Alex, Burns Flat, Cordell, Daisy, Duke North, Duke South, Gracemont, Granite, and Talihina
  • Indian Electric Cooperative Inc.: $4,375,043.34 for Cleveland to Osage, Naval Reserve to Pawya, Pawya to Pawhuska, and Red Rock to Pawnee
  • Pine Telephone: $2,716,000 for Latimer County
  • Resound Networks: $1,499,818.54 for Choctaw West, Jackson-Harmon, and Kay-Osage
  • Trace Fiber Networks, LLC: $3,918,452.23: Asher, Garvin, and Pontotoc

Resound Networks’ Kay-Osage project was recommended for a $376,867.13 award, though the amount requested was $497,288.37.

Also by provider, those recommended for approval if future funding is available include:

  • Centranet, LLC: $43,215,216 for Oklahoma Star Network and Shawnee-Stroud-Stillwater
  • Chisholm Broadband: $6,530,472 for Alva-Medford-Tonkawa, Besie-New Cordel-Rocky, Canute-Burns Flat, Choctaw County, Coal County, Data Center Capacity, Hammon-Leedy, Jet-Nash, Lamont-Hunter, Latimer County, Magnum-Eldorado, Medford-Deer Creek, Roger Mills-Taloga, Sayre-Elk City, and Thomas-Custer City-Arapaho
  • Cox Communications: $3,891,218.26 for Haskell to Okmulgee, Mounds to Okmulgee, and Washington County to Rogers County
  • CVEC Fiber, LLC: $1,719,564 for CVEC Fiber – Middle Mile
  • Dobson Technologies: $1,090,935.42 for Binger to Hinton, Bristow to Okmulgee, and Red Oak to Talihina
  • FiberLink, LLC: $1,883,609.24  for Creek County
  • Hilliary: $3,733,731.68 for Stonewall
  • MBO Video, LLC: $14,586,343.80 for MBO Project (“MMMBOP”)
  • Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education: $29,800,700 for Oklahoma Community Anchor Network (OCAN)
  • Pioneer Telephone Cooperative: $2,575,380 for Bradley/Lindsay, Cashion/Piedmont, and El Reno Middle Mile
  • Plains Internet, LLC: $10,195,328.00 for Middle Mile South and Plains Internet
  • Resound Networks: $13,103,583.50 for Beaver-Texas, Bryan-Marshall, Caddo-Grady-Canadian, Comanche-Grady-Stephens, Craig-Ottawa-Rogers, Custer-Washita-Caddo, Grant-Garfield-Kingfisher, Greer-Kiowa-Washita, Logan-Oklahoma-Cleveland, McClain-Garvin, and Woodward-Harper-Ellis
  • Terral Telephone Company: $3,369,294.25 for HWY 32
  • Totah Communications, Inc.: $1,877,727 for OK SLFRF MM Grant
  • Trace Fiber Networks, LLC.: $5,074,064.16 for Johnston-Bryan, Marshall County
  • Wyandotte Telephone Company: $12,532,608 for Wyandotte
  • Zayo Group, LLC: $13,991,876.18 for North Tulsa and South Tulsa

Additional information about Oklahoma broadband, including state funding resources, grants made, state-specific coverage, and more can be found on the Telecompetitor Broadband Nation webpage for the state.



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Oklahoma bill aims to ban obscene materials in public school libraries

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Oklahoma bill aims to ban obscene materials in public school libraries


A local lawmaker is introducing a bill to prohibit obscene materials in Oklahoma public school libraries.

Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, filed legislation this week, House Bill 2978, that would update state law and prohibit the acquisition of materials that meet Oklahoma’s legal definition of obscenity.

The bill removes references to subjective community standards and relies on established statute, according to Banning.

“This legislation provides a straightforward statewide rule that helps ensure school libraries stay within the definition of education,” Banning said. “According to Black’s Law Dictionary, education is defined as providing proper moral, intellectual and physical instruction.”

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How to watch Oklahoma Sooners: Live stream info, TV channel, game time | Jan. 7

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How to watch Oklahoma Sooners: Live stream info, TV channel, game time | Jan. 7


The Mississippi State Bulldogs (9-5, 1-0 SEC) will host Xzayvier Brown and the Oklahoma Sooners (11-3, 1-0 SEC) at Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The game tips at 7 p.m. ET.

In the article below, we’ll give you all the info you need to watch this matchup on TV.

As college hoops matchups continue, prepare for the contest with everything you need to know about Wednesday’s game.

Mississippi State vs. Oklahoma: How to watch on TV or live stream

  • Game day: Wednesday, January 7, 2026
  • Game time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Location: Starkville, Mississippi
  • Arena: Humphrey Coliseum
  • TV Channel: SEC Network
  • Live stream: Fubo – Watch NOW (Regional restrictions may apply)

Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Watch college basketball on Fubo!

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Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State stats and trends

  • On offense, Oklahoma is averaging 87.3 points per game (29th-ranked in college basketball). It is surrendering 72.2 points per contest at the other end (153rd-ranked).
  • The Sooners are averaging 34.8 boards per game (99th-ranked in college basketball) this year, while allowing 29.1 rebounds per contest (85th-ranked).
  • Oklahoma is delivering 16.7 assists per game, which ranks them 67th in college basketball in 2025-26.
  • The Sooners are forcing 11.1 turnovers per game this year (240th-ranked in college basketball), but they’ve averaged only 8.9 turnovers per game (eighth-best).
  • Oklahoma is draining 10.5 threes per game (28th-ranked in college basketball). It has a 35.6% shooting percentage (94th-ranked) from three-point land.
  • The Sooners rank 283rd in college basketball with 8.6 treys allowed per game this year. Meanwhile, they rank 317th with a 36.1% shooting percentage allowed from three-point land.
  • In terms of shot breakdown, Oklahoma has taken 53.1% two-pointers (accounting for 65.7% of the team’s baskets) and 46.9% three-pointers (34.3%).

Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State Odds and Spread

  • Spread Favorite: Sooners (-1.5)
  • Moneyline: Oklahoma (-116), Mississippi State (-104)
  • Total: 159.5 points

NCAA Basketball odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Wednesday at 3:47 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Watch college basketball on Fubo!

Follow the latest college sports coverage at College Sports Wire.



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Oklahoma opens applications for winter heating assistance

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Oklahoma opens applications for winter heating assistance


Oklahomans who need help paying their heating bills can now apply for winter energy assistance through Oklahoma Human Services.

State officials announced Tuesday that online applications are open for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

The federally funded program helps qualifying households cover the cost of their primary heating source during the winter months.

Applications can be submitted online at OKDHSlive.org.

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LIHEAP is offered twice each year — once during the winter for heating costs and again in the summer to help with cooling expenses.

Oklahoma Human Services also operates the Energy Crisis Assistance Program, which opens in the spring, along with year-round help for life-threatening energy emergencies.

Some households already receiving benefits through Oklahoma Human Services may be automatically approved for winter assistance and do not need to apply.

Those households have already been notified. Others who receive state assistance but are not pre-approved are encouraged to apply online.

Eligible households may receive one LIHEAP payment per year for winter heating, which is applied directly to their main energy source.

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A household is defined as anyone sharing the same utility meter or energy supply.

Native American households may apply through Oklahoma Human Services or their tribal nation, but not both for the same program during the same federal fiscal year.

Income limits vary by household size. For example, a single-person household may earn up to $1,696 per month, while a family of four may earn up to $3,483 per month.

Larger households have higher income thresholds.

Applicants will need their most recent heating bill, a photo ID, Social Security number and proof of income.

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Officials stress that utility information must be entered exactly as it appears on the bill.

Oklahoma Human Services expects high demand during the enrollment period and encourages applicants to apply online for faster processing.

Households with shutoff notices are not given priority and are urged to continue making payments or work with their utility providers to avoid service interruptions.

Funding for the winter heating program is limited, and applications will close once funds are exhausted.

The state has also announced tentative enrollment dates for other energy assistance programs in 2026:

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  • Energy Crisis Assistance Program: April 14
  • Summer Cooling Assistance: July 14



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