News

Bryanna Caroline Nickel, former Graham resident and 2020 Valedictorian of Newcastle High School, was recently named a “Senior of Significance” at Oklahoma State University. This prestigious award is given to the top 1% of the graduating class, based on academic achievements, character and personal impact on others. Nickel credits Ross Mcknight, of Throckmorton, Texas, for a significant portion of her personal success at OSU. Nickel explains, “Mr. Mcknight’s generous gifts to OSU allowed for the establishment of the Mcknight Leadership Institute. When I arrived at OSU, I had been named as a ‘Mcknight Scholar,’ and this provided me with an out-of-state tuition waiver, scholarships, leadership seminars, the ability to mentor others, life-long friendships, and two study abroad tripsone to five countries in Europe and the other to Zimbabwe.” The McKnight Scholars Leadership Program “identifies, equips and empowers young out-of-state scholars to become life-giving leaders” (Mcknight Leadership Institute).

The Olney City Council will reconsider bids made last month by Brenda Pratt and her brother Michael Pace for two city-owned lots that are significant to their family and to the city’s Black community.

The third special session of the Texas Legislature appears to be ending without movement on Gov. Greg Abbott’s immigration and school choice agenda items. As the 30-day session drew to a close, the governor added school funding proposals, such as teacher pay raises and a much-needed increase to the basic student allotment to the pot. He also proposed paring back standardized testing to try to persuade reluctant rural House members to back the school voucher program.