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A private school voucher program funded with federal pandemic relief dollars selected schools for preferential treatment, awarded funds to families not facing financial hardship and then ran out of funds that could have been used by families that were, according to an audit released last week.

Of the $10 million Gov. Kevin Stitt allocated to the Stay in School program, $6.5 million didn’t align with the program’s purpose, which was to help families impacted financially by the pandemic continue to send their children to private school. 

In a recently unveiled “toolkit,” the National Education Association (NEA) advises teachers on strategies to overturn policies that require educators to use a student’s given name rather than a “transgender” name, and the organization also directs teachers to various LGBTQ+ organizations, including one that has defended prostitution and another accused of helping pedophiles access vulnerable youth.

LAWSUITS

Capital One N.A. vs. Jessica Beets for $5,897.79 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Daniel Rodriguez for $1,778.32 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Michael Ludwig for $3,998.76 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Robert Sisk for $5,291.81 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Capital One N.A. vs. Lauren Cossidente for $3,863.56 to pay a debt plus interest, costs and attorney fees.

Brennen Matthews, author of Miles to Go, an African family in search of America along Route 66, will be signing copies of his book and discussing it with Ken Busby on Saturday, July 1 in Oklahoma City. Busby is the executive director and CEO of the Route 66 Alliance.

The event will be at 2 p.m. inside the 21c Hotel and Museum, 900 West Main.

When Josh Finnigan and his mother, Karon Grulkey moved the Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races to Lake El Reno, they wondered if the event would have the staying power they both sought.

A decade later, Finnigan answers that question with a resounding yes.

“In the beginning, I never thought we would make 10 years. But after three or four years we got things rolling and the support from local businesses has been outstanding.

If it truly takes a village to help raise a child, as the saying goes, then it stands to reason, it must take a family-owned business to help build a community.

Celebrating its 90th year in business, JKM, an El Reno family-owned business, might be “Exhibit A” supporting this argument.

In 1933, Moore Jewelry opened in downtown El Reno. That was the year the late Jimmy Moore was born. He and his brothers, Henry and Clyde, would grow up and join their mother and father, Clyde and Margie Moore, in operating the business that would later transform into JKM.

El Reno hosted two events over the weekend providing fun for all ages.

The first Mental Health Youth Summit Prevention Day was hosted by the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in early June.

The event was intended to help guide Native youth to be mentally, physically and spiritually whole through hands-on workshops, inspirational speakers, music and sharing the day with their peers.