May 2026

Belt Line data flow blocked

Body

Dozens of Yukon residents gathered at the Express Clydesdale Ranch to hear from data center executives last week, but not everyone was welcome. 

Belt Line Energy’s Managing Partner Ryan Sanders escorted The Yukon Progress out of the room and forbade press access to what he said was a private event.

However, Sanders provided comments and documents to the newspaper about the meeting and the data center’s future in Yukon.

Lay of the land

Body

The annual National Land and Range Judging Contest wrapped up last week after teens from 37 states converged on Fort Reno for the finals competition.

Organizers said the students were members of FFA and 4-H groups from throughout the country.

Lake El Reno provided the practice area for Tuesday and Wednesday. The contest then moved to Fort Reno on Thursday morning.

An awards banquet was held at the Canadian County Expo Center that evening.

 

Students arriving early worked through practice sites around Lake El Reno. (Courtesy photo/Ed Zweaicher)

Kylee Henjum uses a knife to dig out a soil sample

El Reno woman drawing up a new future from an old passion

Body

Stephanie Camp is in the midst of a career re-set, attempting to rekindle the artful passion she never left fully behind.

Camp, 35, of El Reno, first pursued college after graduating high school in 2009. A health setback and academic burnout interrupted her path before she could complete a degree.

Over the next few years, she stayed connected to art and design and worked intermittently in the field without formal training.

Stephanie Camp, CV Tech student

Redlands accepting PSLA cohort applications

Body

College is not only a time to advance your education but to develop valuable leadership skills and grow your network. Through the President’s Leadership Academy (PSLA), Redlands Community College provides students with an opportunity to foster leadership skills and prepare for future leadership or management roles in their chosen fields. Applications are now open to join the 2026-2027 PSLA cohort.

Redlands accepting PSLA cohort applications_story

Beecham Cemetery Association to hold meeting, potluck

Body

The Beecham Cemetery Association will hold its annual meeting and potluck on Saturday, May 16 at St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 900 N. Sooner Road, Edmond. The meeting and annual auction is open to the public. 

The association is celebrating 135 years of stewardship. Historical archives will be made available for viewing, and copies of the book “Blistered Heels” will be available for purchase.

Frustrations between lawmakers threaten possible special session

Body

OKLAHOMA CITY — Tensions between legislative leaders spilled out into the open last week, culminating in a House leader warning lawmakers could end up in a special session.

A Friday afternoon email from Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, to House members indicated anger with Senate leadership has been growing for weeks. Frustrations from the House became public once the Senate spent two days this week, including a crucial deadline day, adjourned rather than voting, which killed multiple House bills.

Ted Turner: 24 hours that changed the news world forever

Body


“We won't be signing off until the world ends,” Ted Turner said in 1980, just before the launch of his latest media venture.

“We’ll be on, and we will cover the end of the world, live, and that will be our last event.”

Turner died on May 6 at 87. The world hasn’t ended yet, nor has his project, Cable News Network, but the latter changed the former in a big way.

Public Records - 5/13/26

Body

LAWSUITS

Capital One N.A. vs. Enrique Hernandez for $1,523.43 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Mariner Finance LLC vs. Paige Keller for $3,306.59 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Hannah Reffner for $1,177.48 to pay a debt plus interest and costs.

Velocity Investments LLC vs. Dawn Norquist for $3,414.49 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Velocity Investments LLC vs. Scott Mullins for $1,715.12 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Calumet completes Triple Crown hunt

Body

SHAWNEE – After missing the last two baseball championship games due to rehab stints from labrum injuries, Calumet High School junior Brendon Voss had been waiting on the right pitch to feel like he was back in top-notch form.

That pitch finally came, in all places, the finals.

Voss hit a three-run homer to left field in the top of the third inning to break a scoreless deadlock and spark No.1 Calumet to a 7-3 win over No.2 Fort Cobb-Broxton in the title game of the Class B Oklahoma State High School Baseball Championships.

Brendon Voss gets a hug from dad Brandon