Free Republic

Committee Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) opened the Sept. 3 hearing, titled "There's a Bad Moon on the Rise," by warning that the United States risks losing the moon to China if NASA's Artemis program falters. The hearing centered on how America can stay ahead in the new space race, with lawmakers pressing the importance of Artemis and reaffirming the need for the Gateway space station and to maintain continuous operations in low Earth orbit (LEO).Witnesses underscored that delays, budget uncertainty, or wavering commitments could undermine both U.S. industry and international alliances, warning that uncertainty could drive partners and suppliers...

If you want to apply to be a teacher in Oklahoma, prepare a resume, references — and to take a 34-question test about civics. Here, Marissa Streit, the CEO of PragerU, which developed the test, and Ryan Walters, the superintendent of education for Oklahoma, explain the reason behind the test and respond to the backlash. Oklahoma and PragerU have introduced a Teacher Qualification Test: a straightforward assessment to ensure educators know American civics, constitutional values, parental rights, and the basics of history and literacy. Before the questions were even published, national media outlets launched a coordinated smear campaign. That isn’t...

A couple in Oklahoma has been arrested after an 11-year-old girl in their care gave birth at home without any medical assistance - though they insist they did not know the girl was pregnant. The young girl's mother, Cherie Walker, 33, and her stepfather, Dustin Walker, 34, are facing felony child neglect charges after they allegedly failed to provide supervision or medical care to the child, who gave birth at their house in Muskogee on August 16, Fox 23 reports. She was 36 weeks pregnant and gave birth to a full-term baby, according to court documents obtained by the local...

Police say a victim was taken to a hospital after being stabbed multiple times during a targeted attack at an Edmond medical marijuana dispensary. The attack happened shortly before 10 a.m. at Kush House on South Broadway between 33rd and 15th streets. According to police, a man attacked a woman, stabbing her multiple times. "It was a very vicious attack," Emily Ward with the Edmond Police Department said. "She received multiple, numerous stab wounds." Ward said the woman, who works at the store, is in "very critical condition."

Oklahoma will require applicants for teacher jobs coming from California and New York to pass an exam that the Republican-dominated state’s top education official says is designed to safeguard against “radical leftist ideology,” but which opponents decry as a “MAGA loyalty test.” Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s public schools superintendent, said Monday that any teacher coming from the two blue states will be required to pass an assessment exam administered by PragerU, an Oklahoma-based conservative nonprofit, before getting a state certification. “As long as I am superintendent, Oklahoma classrooms will be safeguarded from the radical leftist ideology fostered in places like California...

Oklahoma Watch has reported that CoreCivic is in negotiations to reopen two closed prisons in Oklahoma as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities, with details revealed during a quarterly earnings call last week. Keaton Ross, an investigative reporter for Oklahoma Watch, said the CEO of CoreCivic leaked the news, indicating they are working alongside the federal government. Ross said he broke the story after noticing open positions for CoreCivic's closed facilities in Sayre and Watonga. A check of the company's website showed 20 job openings in Oklahoma, with 12 in Watonga and none in Sayre.

CACHE, Okla. (KSWO) - Cache Public Schools had an unveiling on Aug. 11 where they showed their brand new electric buses. School officials say this is a vital step in modernizing transportation for students in their district. A ribbon cutting was held this afternoon to showcase the 6 brand new electric vehicles. Officials say the move to electric is more affordable and reliable in the face of volatile diesel prices and shows a real step in improving the students’ experience.

Record-breaking heat continues for parts of the desert Southwest into the weekend, with sweltering temperatures beginning to expand east into the Heartland.Extreme heat warnings remain in effect for parts of the desert Southwest -- including Palm Springs, California; Phoenix; and Tucson, Arizona.High temperatures are expected to reach well into the 100s and up to 115 in spots.

Overview: The Oklahoma State Department of Education is introducing a new initiative to assess educators in U.S. Civics, Constitutional Principles, American History, and the biological differences between boys and girls. The Oklahoma State Department of Education is introducing a new initiative to assess educators who are relocating to the state from other states with ” progressive education policies”. According to State Superintendent Ryan Walters, the assessment will evaluate teachers’ knowledge in areas such as U.S. Civics, Constitutional Principles, American History, and the biological differences between boys and girls.” The initiative is the latest in Walters’ push to implement education policies...

MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Muskogee police shot and killed a man they said pointed a rifle at a code enforcement officer. Heather Blackwelder heard the gunfire outside her home in the Walnut Creek Neighborhood near Country Club Rd and Augusta Ave. “That’s when I saw the Muskogee PD out front and their Bearcat with rifles pointed at my neighbor’s house,” said Blackwelder. Officers responded to the home near 600 Christy Drive after a call about a man pointing a rifle at a code enforcement officer, then going back into his home. Police identified the man as Clayton Bailey, 34. They said...

A former NFL player from Oklahoma has been convicted for his role in a large-scale dogfighting operation, federal prosecutors announced. Leshon Eugene Johnson, 54, of Broken Arrow was convicted of six felony counts of possessing dogs for use in an animal-fighting venture. He was acquitted of 17 other similar counts. He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count when he’s formally sentenced at a later date. “The FBI will not stand for those who perpetuate the despicable crime of dogfighting,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. “Thanks to...

Trump basically told Schumer to go to hell last night, after Schumer tried to extort money from Trump before removing Democratic Party blocking/delaying tactics of Trump nominees. Among the demands Schumer made were money for Gaza and NIH money for blue states with sanctuary cities etc. Worth noting that Trump has had 131 nominees confirmed already compared to 55 confirmed at this stage in the first Trump presidency, despite all the drama from the Democrats.

Oklahoma is taking a bold step to preserve educational integrity and curb the growing threat of left-wing indoctrination in schools. The state’s Superintendent, Ryan Walters, announced this week that Oklahoma will become the first state to require teachers relocating from liberal-leaning states to pass a new certification test that ensures they align with Oklahoma’s curriculum standards. In a statement, Walters emphasized that the state’s new approach is designed to weed out any “woke” influences and prevent leftist ideologies from infiltrating Oklahoma’s classrooms. He explained that the new test, developed in collaboration with conservative think tank PragerU, will focus on fundamental...

A suspect has been arrested for the heartless double murder of two parents who were slain protecting their young daughters on a hiking trail in Arkansas’ Devil’s Den State Park on Saturday — ending a frantic, five-day manhunt. James Andrew McGann, 28, was arrested Wednesday in Springdale, Ark., and charged with two counts of capital murder, according to a release from the Arkansas State Police. Clinton David Brink, 43, and his wife, Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were hiking with their two daughters, 7 and 9, through Devil’s Den State Park on Saturday when a man alleged to be McGann attacked...

The state Department of Education is currently working with PragerU to develop the assessment for teachers "relocating from states with progressive education policies," which they must take in order to get a license to teach in Oklahoma. The new assessment will evaluate educators on three main aspects: knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, "understanding of American exceptionalism" and "grasp of fundamental biological differences between boys and girls," according to a news release about the new assessment. The goal of the new assessment is to ensure educators align with OSDE's commitment to an education "rooted in truth, patriotism and core values," and...

Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan’s co-headlining Outlaw Music Festival Tour has temporarily hit pause after a powerful storm damaged gear during a recent stop in Missouri, forcing the cancellation of their July 1 show in Oklahoma. The June 29 concert at Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri, was abruptly cut short when heavy rains and high winds swept through the venue. According to a statement from organizers, festivalgoers were evacuated for safety, but not before the storm reportedly waterlogged artist instruments and damaged key production equipment

The body of a man who went missing in Lake Arcadia was recovered on Sunday. The Edmond Police Department said a man and a woman were on a boat in the lake near Central State Park on Saturday. The man, unable to swim, jumped into the water to cool off, but the boat began to drift away. The woman did not know how to operate the boat, according to police. Edmond fire and police officials deployed search boats on Saturday to locate the man. After several hours, the search transitioned to a recovery operation, which was called off overnight.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have won the NBA Finals, capping a thrilling seven-game series against the Indiana Pacers with a dominant 103-91 victory. It is the Thunder's first NBA championship since the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. And the Thunder are the seventh different NBA team to win a title in the past seven years, a remarkable run of parity for the league. "It doesn't feel real. So many hours, so many moments, so many emotions, so many nights of disbelief, so many nights of belief," the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named Finals MVP, said in a...

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A 20-year-old Blanchard man is facing up to 45 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to plotting a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS and downloading child pornography, while living a double life, his family was seemingly unaware of. Federal court documents unsealed this week, obtained by News 4, reveal disturbing details about the allegations against 20-year-old Landon Swinford, who admitted to federal authorities that he wanted to carry out an attack at the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in 2023. According to the FBI’s newly-released affidavit, when Swinford wasn’t busy telling...

Mexico’s president is threatening to “mobilize” the country against a Republican proposal to tax remittances, which advocates say would choke off cash flow to Mexican drug cartels. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum raged against the proposal in a speech against the law, which imposes a tax on money sent out of the United States by foreign nationals. “If necessary, we’ll mobilize,” Sheinbaum said. “We don’t want taxes on remittances from our fellow countrymen. From the U.S. to Mexico.” President Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” includes a 3.5 percent tax on remittances, a policy that experts told The Daily Wire is...