News

Senator Bullard files bill to promote local control, repeal minimum salary schedule for teachers

News Staff

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

OKLAHOMA CITY – In an effort to return local control to Oklahoma schools, Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, recently filed legislation to repeal the state’s minimum salary schedule for teachers.

COURT RECORDS

News Staff

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Felonies filed Phuong Nhat Huynh, 26, Houston, Texas, attempting to elude police officer while endangering others. Spencer Lee Cavender, 44, Durant, aggravated DUI.

Recorded in the Bryan County Clerk’s Office Donald William Osborn to Teresa Kay Wyatt, quit claim deed Teresa Kay Wyatt and Russell Jackson Wyatt to Donald William Osborn, quit claim deed Kathy Jane Duncan, Harry Eugene Duncan and Duncan Revocable Living Trust to Kathy Jane Duncan, Harry Eugene...

OU undergraduate publishes new research on ancient fossils

News Staff

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

NORMAN – In a rare achievement for an undergraduate student, Colby Higdon, a geology major on the paleontology track with the University of Oklahoma has published original paleontological research conducted at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History that reveals new insights into whether...

Members of Axis Dance Co. performed at halftime of a Southeastern men’s basketball game. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Axis Dance Co.

News Staff

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Axis Dance Co.

Southeastern had its Career Discovery Day for eighth graders last week. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Southeastern hosts annual Career Discovery Day

News Staff

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

The Southeastern Oklahoma State University Career Services office and the Southern Workforce Board hosted its annual Eighth Grade Discovery Day on Jan. 8.

Choctaw Nation opposes ICE detention facility in Durant

Matt Swearengin

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

The Choctaw Tribal Council approved a joint resolution opposing the placement and operation of a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Facility in Durant. The vote was unanimous during a meeting of the tribal council on Saturday.

Durant Lady Lions basketball head coach Tony Robinson talks to his team during a time out in last week’s home game. During a Monday meeting, the Durant Board of Education voted to rename the high school gym the Robinson Family Gymnasium in honor of the family that su_ered the tragedy of the deaths of head coach Will Robinson and his daughter Clara during a Christmas Eve 2024 car accident. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

School board votes to rename Durant High School gym the Robinson Family Gymnasium

Matt Swearengin

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

The Durant Board of Education during its Monday meeting voted to rename the Durant High School gym the Robinson Family Gymnasium. Durant Lady Lions basketball head coach Will Robinson and his daughter Clara died in a Christmas Eve 2024 car accident in Sherman, Texas.

County burn ban tabled again

Matt Swearengin

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

For the second week in a row, Bryan County Commissioners Scott Goad, Justin Boone and Brandon Carr tabled voting on a burn ban for Bryan County during a Monday meeting. Commissioners had previously tabled this during a Jan.

The I Heart Cookies Wild Adventures: A Smart Zoo Experience was at the Lowe’s parking lot in Durant on Saturday. The event featured realistic and fully animatronic animals, including lions, tigers, elephants, a smoke- breathing king cobra and dinosaurs. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Smart Zoo comes to Durant

News Staff

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

ABOVE: An animatronic dinosaur roars during the I Heart Cookies Wild Adventures Smart Zoo Saturday at Lowe’s. RIGHT: An animatronic elephant was at the I Heart Cookies Wild Adventures Smart Zoo Saturday at Lowe’s.

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