- Ponca City Now

Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, overcame a taboo against a US pontiff

Thursday, May 8 by AP

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis brought Robert Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. On Thursday, he ascended to become Pope Leo XIV — the first pontiff from the... Read More.

Papal conclave sends up white smoke, signaling a new pope has been chosen at Vatican

Thursday, May 8 by CBS News

White smoke has emerged from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, signaling that a new pope has been chosen with a decisive vote by the cardinal electors gathered for the papal conclave. Soon, the crowd in St. Peter's Square and people around the globe will hear the traditional... Read More.

Senate Republican Co-Chair Applauds Innovation Expansion Program’s Role in Creating Nearly 1,000 Jobs Statewide

Thursday, May 8 by Ponca City Now

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Republican leaders are applauding the success of the Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program (OIEP), which recently supported nearly $88 million in private investment and helped create 971 new jobs across the state.The program, administered by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce in partnership with the Oklahoma Finance Authorities, provides targeted incentives to help existing Oklahoma... Read More.

Rep. John Pfeiffer, Recognizing My Dad

Thursday, May 8 by Ponca City Now

There's a Bible verse that commands children to honor their fathers and mothers. It's the only one of the 10 Commandments that comes with a promised blessing – that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.Well, it was with great pleasure that I got to honor my... Read More.

Temporary closures at recreation areas impacting Kansas and Oklahoma: What you need to know

Thursday, May 8 by News 6

TULSA, Okla. -The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Tulsa District, has announced a temporary closure and reduction of services at various recreation areas across Kansas and Oklahoma for the 2025 season. They say that this decision is a response to staffing shortages that hinder facility maintenance. Affected Areas and Refund Information Specific Parks Facing Closures While impacts... Read More.

Ponca City Public School Child Nutrition Program Providing Meals for children Ages 1-18

Thursday, May 8 by Ponca City Now

Ponca City Public Schools will be participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to the children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, and there will be no discrimination in the course of... Read More.

Senate Votes to Raise Age of Consent

Thursday, May 8 by Ponca City Now

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, secured unanimous approval from the Senate for House Bill 1003, which raises the age of consent from 16 to 18 years of age.Hamilton has been a leading proponent of legislation intended to enhance protections for children in Oklahoma, and stated he carried this measure to... Read More.

U.S. Supreme Court allows Trump ban on transgender military members

Thursday, May 8 by AP

WASHINGTON -The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to enforce a ban on transgender people in the military, while legal challenges proceed.The court acted in the dispute over a policy that presumptively disqualifies transgender people from military service and could lead to the expulsion of... Read More.

Bill expanding diagnostic mammography access vetoed by Governor

Wednesday, May 7 by Ponca City Now

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, released the following statement after HB 1389 was vetoed by the Governor. The bill adds contrast-enhanced mammograms and molecular breast imaging to the list of what a diagnostic examination for breast cancer may include.“Yesterday, the Governor vetoed HB 1389, which sought to expand access to diagnostic mammograms for... Read More.

Governor Signs ‘Food Truck Freedom Act’ into Law

Wednesday, May 7 by Ponca City Now

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed into law the Food Truck Freedom Act, a measure aimed at cutting red tape for Oklahoma’s growing mobile food vendor industry. House Bill 1076, authored by Rep. Derrick Hildebrant, R-Catoosa, and Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow, creates a streamlined, statewide licensing system for food truck... Read More.

REAL ID enforcement begins May 7: What travelers need to know

Wednesday, May 7 by News 9

The deadline for REAL ID enforcement is just one day away, and travelers without one could face major disruptions at airports starting tomorrow.Beginning May 7, a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card will be required to board domestic flights and enter certain federal buildings. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says travelers who do not... Read More.

Representative Molly Jenkins, Common-Sense Legislative Accountability

Wednesday, May 7 by Ponca City Now

One of our most important responsibilities at the Capitol is ensuring that state agencies follow the proper process when crafting their rules. This session, we’re taking a hard look at more than 5,600 pages of administrative rules. That’s a mountain of red tape that impacts everything from how agencies operate to how Oklahomans live... Read More.