NONDOC

From left: Republican state superintendent of public instruction candidates James Taylor and Robert Franklin participate in a debate Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (Michael Duncan) State superintendent of public instruction candidates Robert Franklin and James Taylor debated Aug. 13 at Cameron University in Lawton. The debate was presented by NonDoc, KSWO and the Lawton Constitution. Franklin and Taylor will face off in the Republican runoff election Aug. 25.

State Question 844, set to appear on Oklahomans' ballots Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, would change how counties are reimbursed for ad valorem revenue on properties with manufacturing exemptions. (NonDoc) A state question on Oklahoma’s Aug. 25 ballots would change how counties are reimbursed for ad valorem tax revenue when properties qualify for manufacturing exemptions, a complicated and long-simmering issue now causing angst for some in the education sphere.

From left: Incumbent Sen. Dana Prieto (R-Tulsa) and challenger Aaron Forst are seeking their party's nomination in the race for Senate District 34. The runoff election is set for Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (NonDoc) In one of two State Senate races where a Republican incumbent has been pushed to an Aug. 25 runoff Oklahoma Freedom Caucus co-founder Sen. Dana Prieto faces a challenge from childcare business owner Aaron Forst for his Tulsa-area seat.

From left: Ben Johnson, Pete Regan and Shawn Tiemann are set to compete for the Tulsa City Council District 9 seat on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (NonDoc) With Carol Bush the only Tulsa City Council member voluntarily retiring in 2026, the race to replace her in southwest Tulsa’s District 9 is between sports broadcaster Shawn Tiemann, political newcomer Ben Johnson and longtime politico Pete Regan. All three candidates had supporters in attendance at an Aug.

From left: Republicans Teresa Sterling and Roberto Seda are competing for the GOP nomination in the House District 91 race, with the runoff election set for Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (NonDoc) Republicans Roberto Seda and Teresa Sterling are hoping to draw on their professional backgrounds in law and law enforcement to solve problems on behalf of House District 91 constituents in southwest Oklahoma City and Moore. The winner of the Aug. 25 Republican runoff will face Democrat Chris Fowler in the Nov.

In the latest bit of news that will make you feel old, Russell Westbrook has retired from professional basketball. I can still vividly remember the night he was drafted by the then-Seattle Supersonics. Like so many others, I had no idea who he was. Fast forward 18 years, we are now thinking of ways to pay tribute to one of Oklahoma City’s most beloved athletes, and people, of all time. His career had its ups and downs — mostly ups in his time with the Thunder.

Legendary guitarist Terry "Buffalo" Ware was a staple of the Norman music scene, here performing with friend Gregg Standridge at the Midway Deli. Ware died at age 76 on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (Michael Duncan) After returning to my hotel room at the end of a day walking and photographing the streets of Paris, I opened my cell phone and read the Facebook post of Blue Door owner Greg Johnson.

From left: Incumbent Rep. David Smith is set for a runoff against fellow Republican Pamela Gordon on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, for the right to represent Oklahoma House District 18. (NonDoc) McALESTER — House District 18 voters will decide Aug. 25 between their incumbent who says his record shows he has delivered for constituents and a retired educator who argues southeast Oklahoma needs a more aggressive advocate at the State Capitol. Rep.

From left: Republican state superintendent candidates James Taylor and Robert Franklin address each other during a Republican runoff debate Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Lawton. (Michael Duncan) LAWTON — In a Republican runoff debate that grew contentious at times, state superintendent of public instruction candidates Robert Franklin and James Taylor shared concerns about each other that drifted from past incidents to political rhetoric. With new polling showing a neck-and-neck race ahead of the Aug.

Oklahomans will vote Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, on whether to amend the state constitution to enshrine voter ID requirements that currently exist in state statute via State Question 846. (NonDoc) Appearing statewide on Aug. 25 runoff ballots, State Question 846 will allow voters to enshrine an existing law requiring identification at the polls by elevating it into the Oklahoma Constitution.