This is the time of the legislative session when my colleagues and I are hard at work trying to reconcile a state budget. The Legislature has one constitutional duty each session, and that is to pass a balanced budget for the fiscal year. The budgetwriting process takes all four months of session, but we’re now focused on trying to balance Senate budget requests with funding requests from the House and the governor. Although all three sides don’t always see eye to eye on every spending proposal, we try to work that out in negotiations so all sides accept the final budget. The Senate continues to push for a transparent budget process from beginning to end.

Frank Hurst Farm Equipment Retirement Auction Submitted Gaye Pfeiffer of Mulhall, Oklahoma has been appointed to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB). The CBB is responsible for guiding the national Beef Checkoff Program.

Interim President Ruth Ray Jackson announced Wednesday that Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., U.S. Representative of North Carolina’s 12th district, will serve as the distinguished speaker for the 124th Commencement of Langston University on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., in W.E. Anderson Stadium.

Guthrie High School will host the much anticipated “Touch the Trucks” community event from 12:00 noon to 3:00pm on Saturday, April 27th. This free event, open to the public, coincides with National Crime Victim’s Rights Week, which runs the previous week, as well as recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Sr Airman Leaun Manning II has officially been sworn into the Air-Force. He ships off for basic training May 21st. He follows the footsteps of his great grandfather Leaun Manning I, WWII Army, Infantry, his other great grandfather John Coyle II, US Air Core a bomber pilot of WWII, both grandparents Vietnam vets, Clifford Manning US Army Tank Commander/ Special Forces & Jerry Beranek US Navy, Gunners Mate, & his father Michael Manning US Army Infantry/Gunner an Afghanistan veteran.