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.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KOKH) — Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin faced lawmakers Wednesday in a high-stakes confirmation hearing to become the next Secretary of Homeland Security, a move that could dramatically reshape Oklahoma’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 election.

Mullin, a Republican first elected to the Senate in 2022, appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as President Donald Trump’s nominee to replace outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

The hearing marks a pivotal moment not only for national security leadership but also for Oklahoma politics, where Mullin’s potential departure from the Senate would trigger a chain reaction in an already active election cycle.

If confirmed by the full Senate, Mullin would be required to resign his Senate seat under the Constitution’s prohibition on holding both legislative and executive offices simultaneously.

A Contentious Confirmation

Mullin entered Wednesday’s hearing with strong backing from Republicans and at least limited bipartisan openness. While most Democrats have expressed skepticism, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has publicly supported the nomination, highlighting Mullin’s alignment on border security issues.

Mullin was introduced in the confirmation hearing by fellow Oklahoma Senator James Lankford in a sentimental moment where Sen. Lankford reflected on their first meeting.

Mullin, however, was grilled by fellow Republican and Committee Chairman Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) during the hearing, especially on the topic of violence.

Mullin was also questioned by Sen. Andy Kim (D-New Jersey) about FEMA and disaster responses, pressing Mullin on whether he wanted to do away with FEMA entirely like Noem had previously hinted.

Mullin responded, saying he believes FEMA should be reformed, not dissolved entirely.

WATCH THE FULL CONFIRMATION HEARING HERE:

What Happens to Mullin’s Senate Seat?

Mullin’s confirmation would immediately create a vacancy in Oklahoma’s U.S. Senate delegation and place significant power in the hands of Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Under Oklahoma law, the governor would appoint a temporary replacement to serve until voters select a new senator in the November general election.

However, that appointee would face a major limitation: they would be barred from running in the upcoming election, a rule designed to prevent incumbency advantages.

The appointment would be short-lived regardless. Because the seat is already scheduled to be on the ballot in 2026, the November winner would quickly replace the interim senator and serve the remainder of the term.

A Senate Race Already Taking Shape

Even before Mullin’s confirmation is finalized, the race to succeed him is beginning to take shape.

Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern has already launched a campaign for the seat, signaling what is expected to be a competitive Republican primary.

On the Democratic side, several candidates have entered the race, though Republicans remain heavily favored in the deeply conservative state.

The filing period for candidates begins April 1, meaning the political field could solidify quickly following any Senate confirmation vote.

Who Might the Governor Appoint?

Governor Stitt has not indicated a specific choice for a temporary replacement, but he has signaled he will prioritize a “strong, small-government conservative.”

There are also notable constraints shaping his decision. Reports indicate Stitt may avoid appointing current members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation, and some high-profile state leaders have already said they would decline the role if offered.

Because the appointee cannot run in November, the position is likely to go to a trusted Republican figure willing to serve briefly rather than a rising political candidate.

The women’s NCAA Tournament bracket has been revealed, and Oklahoma fans can enjoy watching their team’s March Madness run begin at home.

Oklahoma will be hosting an NCAA Tournament regional, playing up to two games on its home court during the first weekend of March Madness.

Oklahoma is back in the big dance after last qualifying in 2025.

Shop Oklahoma Regional women’s basketball tickets

Oklahoma played well enough during the regular season to earn a No. 4 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and as a top four seed in the Sacramento 4 region, the team will host during the opening weekend of the tournament.

Here is everything you need to know in order to buy Oklahoma women’s March Madness tickets.

Oklahoma women’s March Madness opponent

Oklahoma earned a No. 4 in the Sacramento 4 region. It will take on No. 13 Idaho in its opening game.

Oklahoma women’s March Madness regional teams

Oklahoma, along with Idaho, No. 5 Michigan State and No. 12 Colorado State will play in Norman, Okla. for the first and second rounds of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Shop Oklahoma Regional women’s basketball tickets