Stories I Should Have Told Sooner

Sitting at rest, the steam engines spewed steam and a modest amount of nearly white smoke that was produced by coal that most likely had been mined in the hills and mountains in Kentucky or West Virginia.

Night Sky Report

With the weather still not cooperating, there have been even more viewing sessions that have required cancelling/rescheduling as a result. The heat and humidity have been unbearable!

CAPITOL REPORT

The Legislature approved several bills related to children and family issues this session. House Bill 2452 prohibits local governing authorities from promulgating regulations that permit or require licensees of family child care homes to exceed or limit the statutory capacity.

Attack Of the Grasshoppers And Wasps

Between the grasshoppers and wasps, I am sick of insects. Is it just me or are grasshoppers eating the entire planet one green leaf at a time? Mr. Right’s family in Northern Utah gather and spread out across the yard, kicking up clouds of whirring insects and herding them into the chicken coop.

Capitol Comments

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This legislation is crucial in ensuring our military is focused on being an effective fighting force.

Tecumseh Golden Age Center

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer vacations because the time for school to start is fast approaching. I’m taking a short trip to the Grand Canyon because I was just a child when I saw it the first time. Having the time to go places is one of the perks of being retired.

CAPITOL REPORT

The Oklahoma Legislature passed dozens of bills related to health this year, along with legislation on long-term care and insurance. Health House Bill 2175, creates the Behavioral Health Workforce Development Fund, which replaces the Mental Health Loan Repayment Revolving Fund.

My Early Recollections Of Railroads

My first awareness of long-distance traveling was riding on a train. I can still recall my infatuation with the water coolers and the white, cone-shaped paper cups. For years, even in high school, we had a water bucket at home with water from a hand-pumped well and a commonuse dipper.

Path To Election Integrity

After having oversight of Oklahoma’s election board as a State Senator, I can say with certainty that Oklahoma has some of the best election processes in the entire country. Voting is safe, it is secure, and we receive the results on election night.

Tecumseh Golden Age Center

The Golden Age Center was closed for the 4th. Hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July in celebration of America’s independence! My dad was never one to spend money on fireworks that would just be blown up, so we usually celebrated with our cousins because they had fireworks.