SWOSU has announced the 21st class of its President’s Leadership Class, a selective four-semester program for students with strong leadership potential. Fifteen students, including 13 high school seniors and two transfer students, have been selected for the 2026-27 academic year.

SWOSU’s Master of Education in Education Administration program has been named to OnlineMasters.com’s 2026 list of the Best 50 Master’s in Education Administration Programs.

SWOSU Allied Health Sciences students started the fall semester with their programs and faculty together in one location for the first time in many years. The department has moved from six buildings across campus to the third floor of the CPP Building.

The Elk City Police Department has received a $5,000 grant from Marathon Petroleum to purchase new equipment aimed at improving public safety.

Voters will have several decisions to make at the polls Tuesday, with ballots featuring local municipal races, state and federal contests, a county commission race and two proposed amendments to the Oklahoma Constitution.

Oklahoma House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, has been selected to serve on the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures, giving western Oklahoma a voice within one of the nation’s leading organizations representing state lawmakers.

A long-awaited project aimed at protecting the east pond at Ackley Park from continued soil erosion has been completed, addressing concerns about the pond’s shoreline and nearby infrastructure.

Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning says the county's School Resource Officer program is providing benefits that extend well beyond having a law enforcement presence on school campuses.

Local businesses have generated more sales-tax money than ever.

Sayre and Cloud Chief fire departments are among six Oklahoma volunteer fire departments receiving $10,000 grants through the 2026 State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program.

Custer County is now under a countywide burn ban as extreme heat and a prolonged lack of rainfall continue to increase wildfire concerns across western Oklahoma and much of the state.

SWOSU's School Psychology Program has earned full national accreditation as Oklahoma schools continue to need professionals who support students’ learning, behavior and mental health.

Some Beckham County residents are being urged to conserve water and prepare for another round of dangerous heat as temperatures climb well into the triple digits across the region.

The 29th annual KECO Open continued its tradition of giving back to Western Oklahoma, raising $9,000 for the Red Knights Motorcycle Club and the Dream League of Elk City.

As Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary this fall, the city of Clinton is marking the milestone with a signature event pairing an old-fashioned chuckwagon dinner with an outdoor production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! at the historic McLain Rogers Park amphitheater.

Early voting for the Runoff Primary Election, and the City of Weatherford Municipal Primary Election, on August 25th, will begin Thursday, August 20, and Friday, August 21st from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and also on Saturday, August 22nd from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Custer County Election Board office located at 633 North 6th Street, Clinton.

SWOSU has announced its President’s and Dean’s Honor Rolls for the Summer 2026 semester.

A 69-year-old Arizona man was killed Tuesday afternoon in a multi-vehicle collision at the intersection of State Highway 33 and U.S. Highway 270 in Blaine County.

A Sayre family of eight is receiving help from the community after losing their home and belongings in an early morning fire Thursday.

The death of a Sayre man who was a candidate for the Oklahoma State Senate has been ruled a suicide, according to the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning is reminding residents that living outside city limits does not eliminate the responsibility to safely discharge firearms, following a recent complaint involving gunfire near a neighboring residence.

Northfork Electric Cooperative members will gather Saturday, August 15, for the cooperative’s 87th Annual Meeting at Sayre City Park, with organizers offering several options to help members beat the August heat.

A new SWOSU Rural Health project will help more patients in western Oklahoma access specialized surgical care closer to home while strengthening training for future healthcare professionals.

The 20th Annual SWOSU Athletic Auction & Benefit Dinner held Saturday, August 8, was also the stage for a special recognition.

U.S. Congressman and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Hern will visit Clinton on Friday, Aug. 14, for a public meet and greet at the Frisco Conference Center.

A Yukon man faces two felony charges and four misdemeanor counts following an Aug. 1 pursuit that authorities allege reached speeds of 130 mph before ending with a vehicle crashing into the Washita River near Clinton.

The City of Elk City is taking steps toward purchasing the former United Supermarket property at 2700 W. 3rd Street, with city leaders saying the goal is to prevent the longtime commercial property from sitting vacant and eventually return it to productive use.

Commissioners in Washita and Jackson counties have issued countywide burn bans as hot, dry and windy conditions continue to raise wildfire concerns across western and southwestern Oklahoma.

SWOSU welcomed 38 sixth and seventh grade students from across western Oklahoma to campus for the inaugural SWOSU STEAM Dawg HOUSE Summer Academy on July 16.

A commercial motor vehicle rollover carrying hazardous material shut down a portion of Oklahoma Highway 47 near Leedey for nearly eight hours Friday.