January 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY - A response has been filed at the Oklahoma Supreme Court to El Reno’s appeal in a land annexation case.

Attorney Austin L. Hamm of Box Law Group signed the Jan. 9 Response to Petition in Error asking justices to sustain a Canadian County District Court ruling invalidating most of the annexation.

Attorneys David M. Box, Cooper T. Hahn and Hamm represent the appellees, a group of 23 individual landowners and the Oklahoma Farm Bureau.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Education committee leaders in the Oklahoma Legislature have put literacy laws at the forefront of their yearly policy goals, further entrenching childhood reading as a top focus for the 2026 legislative session.

Only 26 percent of Oklahoma public school students made a proficient score on statewide reading tests last year.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust announced millions in grants Wednesday to expand patient access to trained doctors and cancer treatments.  

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences regents and the Oklahoma State University Medical Center were the largest recipients, being awarded $25 million and $30 million respectively, receiving over 36 percent of all funding awarded.  

Patrick Upton Dailey was born July 13, 1943, in Chickasha to Andrew Frank Dailey and Ida Mae Friedlander Dailey.

He passed away peacefully on Jan. 13, 2026, in Norman.

Patrick graduated from Duncan High School in 1961 and later earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Throughout his life, he lived in Midland, Texas, and for a short time in Colorado, before eventually settling in Norman, where he remained a devoted Sooner at heart.

LAWSUITS

Capital One N.A. vs. Stanley Staton for $3,621.44 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Capital One N.A. vs. Sandra Hood for $3,836.33 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Covington Credit Inc. vs. Cedric Gaines for $2,705.67 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

HS Financial Group LLC vs. Tina Metzger for $5,197.60 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Cavalry SPV I LLC vs. Tammy Witt for $7,095.44 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

El Reno High School Assistant Principal Jerelyn Atchison strikes a cowbell with a drumstick during a song with the EHS spirit band at halftime of the boys game with Carl Albert last week at Jenks Simmons Field House.

A feverish comeback attempt in the fourth period fell short as El Reno High School’s boys basketball team dropped a 77-67 game to archrival Carl Albert in the first of two District 5A-2 meetings.

The loss drops El Reno to 5-9 on the season.

Despite the 10-point setback, El Reno retains the fifth seed in the 5A-2 standings with a 3-5 mark. The Indians are ahead of Guthrie, Southeast and Guymon but trail Noble for fourth by a game and a half.

Six turnovers in the first period derailed early momentum and a surprise lead as El Reno High School’s girls basketball team was held to its second lowest point total of the season in a 52-28 loss to Carl Albert.

The loss drops El Reno to 7-7 on the season and 2-2 inside Jenks Simmons Field House.

Carl Albert earned its 10th win of the year and maintains a tie with Midwest City for the District 5A-2 lead.

A 21 percent overall shooting effort caused Redlands Community College women’s basketball team to drop a 67-37 home game to league-leading Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

The loss, which was Redlands lowest point total of the season, leaves the Cougars with a 15-3 overall mark and a 2-2 record in the NJCAA Region 2 standings. Redlands slipped into sole possession of fourth place.

The Cougars were 10-of-48 from the floor (20.8 percent), which included a 10 percent effort (1-of-10) from the 3-point arc. Redlands was 16-of-24 (67 percent) from the free-throw line.

Allowing an opponent to reach the century mark for a third time this season, Redlands Community College men’s basketball team suffered a 100-67 loss to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

The 33-point loss drops the Cougars to 7-11 on the season and 1-3 in the NJCAA Region 2 standings at eighth place.

Redlands shot 39 percent (24-of-61) from the field but made only 2-of-15 (13 percent) of its 3-point attempts.

The Cougars were 17-of-25 (68 percent) from the free-throw line.