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These Oklahoma towns are among the safest in the nation: See the list

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These Oklahoma towns are among the safest in the nation: See the list


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Edmond and four other Oklahoma communities were named among the safest small towns in the U.S., according to a new study.

The study, conducted by Vivint, a home security system brand, used FBI property crime data from 2023 to determine which small towns were the safest. The company analyzed trends for property crime, larceny, motor vehicle theft and robbery for U.S. towns with populations of 50,000-100,000 residents.

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Analysts ranked the towns by weighing each variable equally to determine which were the safest. Vivint’s list included 425 towns, shedding light on where safety is prioritized and the factors that make these towns stand out.

Here’s a breakdown of where Oklahoma towns ranked in the study and why, as well as a round-up of the top towns on the list and some tips from the company to protect your personal property.

What are the safest small towns in the U.S.? 

These 10 small towns were found the safest, according to Vivint. 

  1. Columbus, Indiana 
  2. Wheaton, Illinois 
  3. Saratoga Springs, Utah 
  4. Jacksonville, North Carolina 
  5. Little Elm, Texas 
  6. Sammamish, Washington 
  7. Newton, Massachusetts 
  8. Little Elm, Texas 
  9. Yucaipa, California 
  10. Chino Hills, California 

What Oklahoma towns are the safest? 

According to Vivint, Edmond was ranked as Oklahoma’s safest town and 132nd safest nationwide. The city has the fewest property crimes among Oklahoma cities on the list with a rate of 156.4 crimes per 10,000 residents. Edmond also has 129 larcenies, 9 vehicle thefts and 1.5 robberies per 10,000 residents, according to FBI data.

Second to Edmond, Moore also stood out among Oklahoma towns in the study with fewer larcenies (116.4) per 10,000 residents.

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On the other side of the scale, Enid has the state’s highest rate of property crimes per 10K residents at 282.7, Midwest City has the highest rate of larceny at 192.5, and Lawton has the highest robbery rate at 7.1, according to study data.

For scale, the town ranked lowest in the list of safest towns was San Leandro, California. That community has 593.6 property crimes, 301 larcenies, 230 vehicle thefts and 43.5 robberies per 10,000 residents, according to study data.

Here’s a breakdown of how Oklahoma towns ranked on the list:

  • 132. Edmond 
  • 152. Moore 
  • 251. Lawton 
  • 260. Enid 
  • 265. Midwest City

How to protect your personal property

Here are some practical tips from Vivint to help safeguard your belongings, whether you live in a safe small town or in more populated areas with a higher crime activity:

  1. Install security cameras and alarms: Security systems act as both a deterrent and a means to gather evidence if a crime occurs. Smart cameras with motion detection and remote monitoring features can provide added peace of mind.
  2. Lock your doors and windows: It may sound simple, but consistently locking all entry points, including car doors, can significantly reduce the risk of theft. Most property crimes are crimes of opportunity, and an unlocked door is an open invitation.
  3. Keep valuables out of sight: Avoid leaving expensive items like electronics, jewelry, or shopping bags visible through windows in your home or car. Use blinds or curtains to obscure valuables in your home and store items in the trunk of your car when parked.
  4. Light up your property: Motion-activated outdoor lighting can deter criminals by removing the cover of darkness. Well-lit properties are less attractive targets for burglars and thieves.
  5. Get to know your neighbors: A strong community network can help prevent crime. Neighbors who look out for one another are more likely to spot and report suspicious activity, adding an extra layer of protection.



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Iowa State wrestling adds Brayden Thompson from transfer portal

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Iowa State wrestling adds Brayden Thompson from transfer portal


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Iowa State wrestling’s first commitment of the Brent Metcalf era will be a transfer portal addition.

The Cyclones added Oklahoma State transfer Brayden Thompson, who announced his commitment on April 18 via Instagram. Thompson is a one-time NCAA qualifier at the 2024 NCAA Championships, doing so as a true freshman. He redshirted in 2024-25, but competed in open tournaments at 184 pounds and was 9-0. He did not wrestle a match in 2025-26 and will have at least two years of eligibility remaining.

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Out of high school, Thompson was ranked the No. 3 pound-for-pound wrestler and No. 1 at 182 pounds in the 2023 recruiting class by Flowrestling. He also won Powerade and Ironman titles, two of the more prestigious high school tournaments in the nation. Assuming Thompson returns to 184 pounds where he last wrestled, he should fill in nicely as a potential replacement for Isaac Dean after his graduation.

Thompson is Iowa State’s first transfer portal addition after several departures, including Anthony Echemendia and Christian Castillo, who also entered the portal.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.





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Oklahoma’s Jahsiear Rogers ‘Knew It Was Time to Showcase’ His Talents In Spring Game

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Oklahoma’s Jahsiear Rogers ‘Knew It Was Time to Showcase’ His Talents In Spring Game


NORMAN — The Oklahoma Sooners liked their wide receiver room a year ago. They want 2026 to be even better.

Isaiah Sategna’s return helps that desire. Earning experienced pass catchers Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone via the transfer portal gives you added play makers. But after the Sooners Spring Game on Saturday, an unlikely hero emerged.

When Jahsiear Rogers flipped from Penn State to Oklahoma last December, he drew the usual excitement that comes with a new commitment. But few expected him to climb the depth chart this quickly, even with the injuries that hit Emmett Jones’ room.

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Rogers did just that and more on Saturday. He led all pass catchers with five receptions for 70 yards in Oklahoma’s annual Red/White game.

“I knew it was time to showcase,” Rogers said after the game. “It was amazing to see the fans and get used to the OU way. I’m a playmaker. They really want to put the ball in playmakers hands. I pretty much knew I had to lead the white team.”

Rogers got the ball rolling early. On the second offensive play for the white team, backup quarterback Whitt Newbauer rolled to his right wide, then stopped and looked towards the middle of the field where he saw Rogers running open. Newbauer connected with Rogers for a 39-yard gain.

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With Rogers on the white team, he is running against (most of) Oklahoma’s starting defense. As fate would have it, on that 39-yard reception, Rogers beat his favorite teammate to compete against — Reggie Powers.

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“He is just a leader, good guy,” Rogers said of Powers. “Me and him go after it every day in practice. Reggie is strong. When I come at him, I have to really come at him.”

Rogers’ big play over Powers was the second-longest catch of the spring game — Sategna’s 50-yard reception that appeared to be a touchdown before coaches pulled it back to set up a red-zone rep. The other four catches weren’t flashy, but they were important in their own way, and Rogers looked like he belonged on the field.

“I love it. As long as I can get the ball, I can be me. I love it,” Rogers said. “When I am on the field, I am ready to go. I am ready to be a playmaker.”

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The season is still months away, and Rogers hasn’t earned a spot high on the depth chart yet. A strong spring and an encouraging Red/White Game can only lead to early playing time if he carries that momentum into summer and fall camp.

More experienced players will return from injury and receivers who’ve been in the program for a few years will have an extra leg-up.

But Rogers is taking everything in stride and leaving no stone unturned in his development.

“Just learning from the older guys,” Rogers said. “Manny Choice, Isaiah Sategna, Trell Harris, Mackenzie Alleyne. Really all of them. We lean on each other, learn from each other. That is kind of how our room is.”

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Oklahoma knocks off Missouri in series opener

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Oklahoma knocks off Missouri in series opener


The Oklahoma baseball team is back in the mix and trending upward.

After a rough few weeks in Southeastern Conference play, the 14th-ranked Sooners have won three of their last four games to get to .500 at just beyond the halfway point of the league slate. Friday’s 9-6 win over Missouri allowed Oklahoma to move to 8-8, tied with three other teams for eighth in the standings.

Friday’s win wasn’t truly that close, even. OU took a 9-3 lead into the ninth before Mizzou made it somewhat interesting with three runs in the frame. Two of them came with two outs, though, and Mason Bixby induced a groundout with the bases empty to hold on.

The large edge came via a home run-happy night. The Sooners popped four over the wall at Kimrey Family Stadium, including three in a four-run seventh inning that gave OU a four-run lead.

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Jason Walk, who hit one of the four homers, had the best day at the plate. He went 2 for 5 with the shot, three RBIs and a run. Camden Johnson, who also homered, went 2 for 3 with a walk, a double and two runs, and Dasan Harris went 2 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs. Trey Gambill hit the Sooners’ other jack.

Oklahoma jumped out to a four-run lead in the second behind four hits and a walk. Missouri helped the Sooners out with an error that resulted in a bases-loaded situation and three unearned runs registered to Tigers starter Josh McDevitt.

The runs were more than enough for Oklahoma’s LJ Mercurius, who pitched six strong innings, giving up three runs on six hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.

Game 2 in the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday and the finale will be played Sunday at 2 p.m., weather permitting.



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