Scott Cooper

Former state Rep. Opio Toure has died after battling a deteriorating lung condition. He was pronounced dead Monday at St. Anthony Hospital at the age of 53.   “Rep. Opio Toure will be remembered as a fighter, a vigorous debater, who wasn’t scared of any issue,” said Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City. “He took on […]

The Oklahoma House of Representatives elected Tulsa Republican Chris Benge as the speaker of the house in a late-afternoon session at the State Capitol.   “It is quite an honor,” Benge said to his fellow representatives from the podium on the House floor after the announcement. “Today we stand united and ready to move forward.” […]

The race for the White House is ready to make a stop in the Sooner State as the presidential primary is Tuesday. New York senator Hillary Clinton has a lead in Oklahoma polls. The latest poll from TVpoll.com finds Clinton ahead of John Edwards 35 percent to 26 percent among likely voters. Barack Obama comes […]

After a year of listening and soliciting, a book of ideas was finally unfurled onto the Oklahoma public. Spearheaded by Rep. Lance Cargill, organizers released “100 Ideas: Innovation for the Second Century” during a reception Tuesday morning at the Oklahoma History Center.   “We saw true democracy at work,” Cargill said as he introduced the […]

In a surprise move, Lance Cargill stepped down as Oklahoma Speaker of the House this afternoon. House President Pro Tem Gus Blackwell will serve as interim speaker until a new speaker is chosen next week.   Cargill read a statement to the press in the House lounge confirming his departure, but refused to take any […]

In less than two weeks, Oklahomans head to the polls to help decide the presidential nominees. But campaigning in the Sooner State may have ended weeks ago, and Oklahoma may have already played its role in the election process. While nearly every candidate with even microscopic national recognition made stops in Oklahoma during 2007, as […]

Tom Cole is in his sixth year as a U.S. House member, representing Oklahoma’s 4th District. The Moore Republican serves on several influential committees, but his most important work for his party will be as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. It is Cole’s duty to recruit and help elect more Republicans to the […]

State prosecutors are willing to give a death-row inmate another chance before a jury. But the inmate would rather let five judges decide his fate. Keary Lamar Littlejohn was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2002 murder of 22-year-old Gregory L. Rogers II, shot at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Northwest Oklahoma City. Prosecutors […]

Looking to get a boost before the Feb. 5 primary, presidential candidate John Edwards made a quick stop in Oklahoma City this afternoon. The former Democratic senator from North Carolina touched down at Wiley Post Airport and briefly met campaign staffers and reporters.   “I feel I know a great deal about the problems facing […]

More tax cuts, lawsuit reform and school choice were among the items presented by state Senate Republicans as part of their agenda for the upcoming Legislative session. During a news conference at the state Capitol on Wednesday, GOP senators laid out a host of initiatives they want to push when lawmakers convene next month.   […]