Monday, February 16, 2026 at 12:10 PM

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Opinion

John Holman

As spring weather warms the soil, and recent rainfall a blessing, here is a reminder of how valuable mulching can be in the garden. The benefits of mulch depend on the material used and depth to which it is applied. In general, mulching minimizes evaporation of water from the soil surface, reducing irrigation need by around 50%. It helps stabilize soil moisture levels, thereby improving vegetable quality and encouraging the beneficial activity of soil organisms. Some of the more common mulch materials include small grain straw, wood or bark chips, grass clippings and black plastic(weed mat). Mulching helps reduce soil compaction forces from rain and traffic. And if organic material is used, the mulch can be later plowed into the garden as a soil amendment. Mulching can cool or warm soil temperatures, and can also aid in weed control. 03/27/2024 11:00 PM

Weekly Column

Honoring Our American Heroes 03/27/2024 11:00 PM

McCortney’s Senate Review

McCortney’s Senate Review

This week, we reached the deadline to hear bills in their house of origin. After many hours of debate, questioning, and consideration, we passed a few hundred Senate bills out of our chamber that will now move to the House for further review. We’ll be working through their proposed legislation in Senate committees in the coming weeks. 03/20/2024 11:00 PM

Weekly Column

The Necessity of Strong National Security 03/20/2024 11:00 PM

Speaker McCall’s Tax Measures Pass House

Speaker McCall’s Tax Measures Pass House

OKLAHOMA CITY – Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, last week gained House passage of multiple bills he authored regarding Oklahoma’s tax structure and policy. The bills were in addition to tax policy legislation passed by the House earlier this session. 03/20/2024 11:00 PM

Memories Of J.B. Brashears

Memories Of J.B. Brashears

Footnotes 03/13/2024 04:00 AM

Debunking President Biden’s False State of the Union Claims

Debunking President Biden’s False State of the Union Claims

Last week, President Biden gave his third annual State of the Union address. However, unfortunately, instead of using this opportunity to unite our nation, President Biden gave a caustic and divisive speech, in which he utilized false claims in an attempt to persuade the American people into believing America is stronger today than it was three years ago. 03/13/2024 04:00 AM

Bridging the Digital Divide: A Journey To Sulphur, Oklahoma

Bridging the Digital Divide: A Journey To Sulphur, Oklahoma

Growing up in the bustling suburbs outside of Washington, D.C., accessing the internet was something I took for granted. I lived through the evolution of scratchy dial-up internet to today’s lightning-fast fiber broadband. I never thought about internet access or access in other parts of the country. It wasn’t until I embarked on my journey at USTelecom a year and a half ago that I began to learn about the challenges of deploying broadband in rural communities. 03/06/2024 11:00 PM

Arbuckle

Footnotes 03/06/2024 11:00 PM

Weekly Column

President Biden’s “Free College” Scam 03/06/2024 11:00 PM

McCortney’s Senate Review

McCortney’s Senate Review

We’ve officially wrapped up the first month of the legislative session. The past week was focused heavily on committee work as we reached our first deadline of the year. With the next deadline in mid-March, we still have plenty of work ahead as we’ll spend the next two weeks considering bills on the Senate floor. Those that pass will be sent across the rotunda to start the process over as they’re considered by House Committees. 03/06/2024 11:00 PM

The Slave Narrative of Nancy Gardner

The Slave Narrative of Nancy Gardner

Footnotes 02/28/2024 11:00 PM

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