GORE – Anyone looking for rest and relaxation can stay at The Nest, a vacation rental home with a view of Lake Tenkiller.

Owned by Cherokee Nation citizen Kurt Henry and his wife, Robin, The Nest is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, fully renovated 1960s lake cabin located near Fin & Feather Resort in the Paradise Hill community. It was purchased in 2018 by Henry and renovated for visitors to enjoy.

At 1,856 square feet, the house sleeps up to six people and includes a sunroom, outdoor deck, dining area and living room.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The latest national report on the well-being of children by the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows Oklahoma has improved its economic, health, education and social factors for children, although the state remains in the bottom 20 percent of the rankings.

The “Kids Count” report released June 17 ranks Oklahoma 42nd among the 50 states, an improvement from 44th a year ago. The current ranking is based on data from 2017.

The state showed improvement with lower percentages of children in poverty; low-birth weight babies; the childhood and teen death rate; the teen birth rate and alcohol and drug abuse, and an increase in the percentage of children who have health insurance.

The report also shows an increase in the percentage of children in single parent families.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma’s highest court on June 18 rejected a legal effort to block a plan for a public vote on whether to expand Medicaid to tens of thousands of poor residents.

Just hours after hearing oral arguments in the case, the Oklahoma Supreme Court rejected the challenge spearheaded by a conservative think-tank that has long opposed to making the federally funded health insurance program available to more people.

The court’s decision authorized supporters to proceed with gathering the nearly 178,000 signatures they will need to get the question on the ballot. The plan was challenged by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, which argued that the proposed ballot language doesn’t accurately describe what the measure does.

HULBERT – It’s been a rough start to the summer for Sequoyah State Park, west of Hulbert on Highway 51.

Like so many families and establishments, the 303-acre park has endured the adversity of the historically copious spring rains, and many features remain partially flooded. Water levels on Fort Gibson Lake remained high in early June.

CONCHO (AP) – Families and friends of missing or slain American Indian women and girls are again calling for justice for their loved ones.

About 200 people gathered June 14 near the headquarters of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Concho. Many wore red and marched, holding signs with pictures of women on them.

Similar demonstrations have taken place in other states amid growing concern that police nationwide are not adequately identifying or reporting cases of missing and murdered Native American and Alaska Native women and girls. Those demographic groups have some of the nation's highest rates of sexual and domestic violence .

Kateri Fletcher is a Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal government official who helped organize the event. She said it was designed to bring awareness and show support for families who still need answers.

NEW YORK (AP) – Joy Harjo, the first Native American to be named U.S. poet laureate, has been ready for a long time.

“I’ve been an unofficial poetry ambassador – on the road for poetry for years,” the 68-year-old Harjo wrote in a recent email to The Associated Press. “I’ve often been the only poet or Native poet-person that many have seen/met/heard. I’ve introduced many poetry audiences to Native poetry and audiences not expecting poetry to be poetry.”

TAHLEQUAH – Thirty-five years after the initial bike ride, and with more than 200 alumni, the 2019 “Remember the Removal” Bike Ride cyclists were welcomed home by a swarm of friends and family on June 20 at the Cherokee National Peace Pavilion.

The 21 cyclists, made up of Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians citizens, rode down Water Avenue in the final leg of their 950-mile journey that retraced the Northern Route of the Trail of Tears.

TAHLEQUAH – Singing and dancing to songs of the 1960s such as Jan & Dean’s hit “Little Old Lady from Pasadena” and Marty Robbins’ classic country ballad “El Paso,” the Northeastern State University River City Players opened their 2019 season June 13-14 and Cherokee Nation citizens played major roles in the productions.

Since 1986, the group has entertained audiences, and by the season premieres of the rock ‘n’ roll and country and western shows, this year will be no different.

The Garden Gate, a Cherokee-owned business, offers various locally made items and antiques in downtown Gore.

Three races will be decided July 27 in a runoff election for Dist. 3, 12 and an At-Large seat.

Because of its size, the project was planned in a northern and a southern phase, covering a portion of a highly traveled road in the county.