Latest news with #Drummond
The Herald Scotland
11 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Former Latin teacher jailed for abuse of teenage girl
The now 78-year-old a was a Latin teacher at the time at a secondary in Angus as well as the leader of the school's hillwalking club. Wilson had been locked up for three years in 2021 for the serial abuse of three schoolboys. It was media reports of that case which led this latest victim to also bravely go to police and report her ordeal from 40 years ago. Wilson was today sentenced to three years and nine months at the High Court in Glasgow. Read More Man arrested and charged following 'disturbance' on flight to Glasgow He had earlier pleaded guilty to the repeated indecent assault of the then girl between 1981 and 1984. Lady Drummond said the Wilson had "manipulated" the victim in a crime involving "a high level of grooming". The youngster was said to have had a troubled home-life at the time. Prosecutor Adrian Stalker said: "Wilson took advantage of the girl's vulnerability and his position as a teacher." Wilson first struck after returning from a trip to Aviemore with the hillwalking club. The girl had also been a member. He dropped off other pupils first and then asked her into his home claiming he was tired. Wilson made her dinner and gave her three glasses of wine. He went on to initially massage the girl, who described how she "froze". Wilson kissed the pupil and molested her. It was only later that she realised she was probably drunk at the time. The next day at school, Wilson spoke to the girl. He asked her to come back to his home that evening. Mr Stalker: "He said what happened was wrong due to her age and him being a teacher. "He was upset during this discussion and the girl felt sorry for him. "But, he said it was her fault for inviting herself into his house." He carried out another sex attack and then again implied she was to "blame" for what happened. The abuse continued until the girl was aged around 18. He had given her a key to his home, but she could only visit when it was dark and no one was outside. She could also not wear perfume. The court heard the girl "would often cry" when being preyed upon. Other attacks occurred during trips with the hillwalking club including to Ben Nevis. The victim did not tell anyone until many years later when she was married. It was a newspaper article in 2021 about Wilson's abuse of the three boys over a near 20-year period which saw her go to police. Wilson had been struck off as a teacher in 2011 following a probe into his behaviour, but it was a decade later before he was convicted in a criminal court. Lady Drummond cut the jail-term from five years due to the guilty plea. Wilson was also put on the sex offenders' list indefinitely. The judge stated: "I have read the victim impact statement and she describes how your behaviour has affected almost every aspect of her life. "She has been profoundly impacted emotionally and psychologically. "There was a high-level of grooming. "You controlled and manipulated her. At times, you blamed her for what had happened."
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brighten Your Brother's Day With These Warm Birthday Wishes
If you're lucky enough to have a brother as your built-in best friend, you know exactly what it's like to experience the rollercoaster of sibling relationships. They may know exactly how to push your buttons, but the bond you share is undeniable. The Drummond kids are the perfect example! While Paige tends to be more like her brothers Bryce and Jamar, Alex has said she and her brother Todd are practically twins in spirit. And when the time comes to celebrate one another, they make sure to show it—even if it's something as simple as a sweet Instagram shout-out. So, if you're gearing up to celebrate a sibling's birthday, you've come to the right place. Here, you'll find all the best birthday wishes for brothers to make him feel truly special on his big day! This list pairs sentimental birthday messages with heartwarming family quotes. There are also silly birthday wishes for all those brothers who are kings of dad jokes. Plus, these ideas are perfect for that bonus sibling, whether through marriage or simply time spent with your family. Just don't forget to grab them a present too—there are so many great ideas for everyone, like brother-in-law gifts, some nifty gifts for men, and even gifts for teenage boys. Which one of those groups is harder to shop for? The world may never know. 😂 Short and Sweet Birthday Wishes for Your Brother If being the best brother were a competition, you'd win every time. Happy birthday! Happy birthday to the one who never fails to crack me up! Wishing my first best friend the best day ever. Another year older, but still sharper than ever. Happy birthday! Hope your special day is as wonderful as you make life! Cheers to another trip around the sun! Let's get this party started! Happy birthday, bro! To the rarest gem I know—Happy Birthday! Happy birthday to the one who's been protecting my peace since day one. Happy born day, brother! This year is going to be one for the books. Happy birthday! Happy birthday! Can't wait to watch you crush it this year! Happy cake day to my built-in best friend! Here's to an amazing brother and an even more amazing birthday! I hope you get the best gifts this year. You deserve it! I laugh harder, smile bigger, and live better because of you. Happy birthday! Wishing the happiest birthday to the one I love to bicker with most! Happy birthday to the one who made growing up way more fun. To my favorite partner in crime (and chaos)—here's to another wild year! Today's about celebrating you, the best guy I know. Happy birthday and happy cake day, bro! Don't forget to share a slice with me! Here's to another year of being awesome. Love you, bro! Have a great birthday! Wishing you the happiest birthday filled with love, laughter, and a ton of cake! Happy birthday! You always find a way to make every moment fun and memorable. From pranks to inside jokes, you make life better. Happy birthday, brother! To my hero and ride or die—happy birthday! Let's celebrate you, big time! You're not just my brother, you're my lifelong teammate. Happy birthday! Happy birthday, brother. You're a gift to everyone around you. Feeling grateful I get to call you my brother! Happy birthday. To my one-of-a-kind, super cool mentor. Happy birthday, bro! Heartwarming Birthday Wishes for Your Brother Wishing you all the light and love you deserve on your big day. Thanks for being the best mentor a kid could ask for. You don't get to choose your siblings, but boy did I luck out. Happy birthday to my best friend, my partner in crime. It has been so special to watch you grow into the man, partner, and father you are today. You are an inspiration to us all! Have the best birthday. When I asked for a brother I didn't know how lucky I'd end up being. Thanks for all the good memories, and here's to many more! We may not have always gotten along, but I'm so glad we stuck it out. I couldn't ask for a better brother. I am so proud to call you my brother. You have shaped my life in more ways than one, and I can't wait to see how far you go. Happy birthday! To my little brother on his birthday, age doesn't mean a thing—you're one of my biggest inspirations. You're my rock, my cheerleader, the guy I can always call to complain to. Have the best day. Thank you to the man who's always in my corner and always knows just what to say. We're all so lucky to have you. Having you as a brother is better than a thousand friendships. Have the best birthday! Having you means I never have to face my problems alone. Nothing beats a sibling relationship like that. Happy birthday to my favorite! I know from your friends that you don't reserve your loyalty, kindness, and open heart for just family. You truly make an impact on every person you meet. Cheers to my incredible brother! I hope your birthday and entire year are amazing. To my dear brother, I'm so excited to see the adventures ahead for you this year. Happy birthday! To my number one partner-in-crime, happy birthday! You're simply the best. Sending you love, laughs, and happiness on your birthday and every day. Enjoy! Thanks for being my role model and a great brother. Love you—happy birthday! Growing up with you made life amazing. Happy birthday, big bro/little bro! I hope all your birthday wishes come true! You deserve it! Happy birthday! Sibling bonds make everything better—even the crazy moments. Here's to growing up and growing old together! You've always been my bestie! No matter what life throws at us, you've always believed in me. Love you, bro! To the best guy and best brother I know: Happy birthday, you deserve the best! My brave, strong, and talented brother—how lucky can one sibling get? Happy birthday! To the best brother a sibling could ask for, thanks for inspiring me every day. Happy birthday! . Through good times and bad times, you never cease to believe in me. I'm so grateful to call you my brother! Have the best day. There are few people in this world who know me as deeply as you do. Happy birthday to the best guy I know. Funny Birthday Wishes for Your Brother Someone's getting old! Happy birthday, bro. You'll always be my annoying little/big brother, but that's why I love you. Happy birthday! We should really be celebrating mom and dad for having to put up with you for another year! Just kidding. Happy birthday! Happiest of birthdays to you! Couldn't imagine teasing anyone else on their special day. Happy b-day to the only person I didn't mind getting in trouble with growing up. Happy birthday to my favorite sibling! (Shh, don't tell!) Happy birthday to my favorite brother! (Yes, I know you're my only brother.) How do I wish my brother a happy birthday? I promise to leave him alone for 24 hours! It's funny when people talk about sibling rivalry—I can't relate! Have the best day! Happy birthday! I hope we're still annoying each other in the old folks home. You may be older, but I'm still taller! Happy birthday shortie. Today we celebrate another birthday with more candles on your cake and fewer hairs on your head! From competing as kids to laughing as adults, you make life more fun! Happy birthday! Happy birthday, big bro! So, when will I get to be an aunt or uncle? To my favorite sibling—thanks for always being by my side. Enjoy your day! Happy birthday, bro! Glad you're here to eat cake and take on life with me. Of all the brothers in the world, I seriously lucked out. Happy birthday, champ! Turning 21 is a big deal, bro. Get ready to live it up! You're my favorite sibling because you'll always be older than me. Thanks for that... and happy birthday! Happy birthday, bro. Since I rescued you from being an only child, my presence is your gift. Happy birthday to the most special guy I know! Love, the favorite child. Happy birthday to my former wombmate! Have the best day, brother. Oh, and don't forget to thank our parents—they managed to get you to this age! I loved getting to look up to you through childhood. Now you get to look up at me! Happy birthday, old man. Wishing my partner in crime the best birthday—always older, never wiser! Birthday Wishes for Your Brother-in-Law Happy birthday to my bonus brother! Feeling so grateful to have you in my life. Thank you for making my sibling so happy. Here's to another trip around the sun! Happy birthday to my favorite sibling! (Let's keep that our secret.) I can't imagine my family without you. Thanks for being the best brother-in-law! Have the best birthday! Thanks for always being the family tiebreaker. Happy birthday! You mean the world to my whole family and we're lucky to have you. You can't choose your sibling's husband, but I gotta say you were a great pick. Have the best birthday! We may not have grown up together, but it has been a joy seeing you grow over the years. Happy birthday! You were the best gift my sibling ever gave me. Cheers to a year full of laugh and love! My dear brother-in-law, I appreciate you more than you could ever know. What a joy it's been getting to know you through the years. Happy birthday to the greatest addition to my family! I'm so lucky to know you. You're the best brother a person could ask for because you choose this family every day. Have the happiest birthday. A bonus brother is the coolest gift! Happy birthday! Happy birthday! You and [sibling] make the best role models. #relationshipgoals I don't have the words to express how much you mean to this family. So for now, I'll just have to wish you a very happy birthday. How did we ever manage without you in this family? Happy birthday! I didn't know something was missing from our family until you came into it. Here's to you! I hope you have the best birthday. Quotes About Brothers and Siblings "Brother and sister, together as friends, ready to face whatever life sends. Joy and laughter or tears and strife, holding hands tightly as we dance through life." —Suzie Huitt "Young brothers will often be each other's best friends. They will laugh together, get into trouble together, and create memories that will last a lifetime." —David Leads "There is no love like the love for a brother. There is no love like the love from a brother." —Astrid Alauda "Today is the oldest you have been, and the youngest you will ever be. Make the most of it!" —Nicky Gumbel "Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero." —Marc Brown "A sibling represents a person's past, present, and future." —John Corey Whaley "You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." —Desmond Tutu "Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring—quite often the hard way." —Pamela Dugdale "Our brothers and sisters are there with us from the dawn of our personal stories to the inevitable dusk." —Susan Scarf Merrell "Sibling relationships outlast marriages, survive the death of parents, resurface after quarrels that would sink any friendship. They flourish in a thousand incarnations of closeness and distance, warmth, loyalty and distrust." —Erica E. Goode "From the time we're born, our brothers and sisters are our collaborators and co-conspirators, our role models and our cautionary tales." —Jeffrey Kluger "Family is family, whether it's the one you start out with, the one you end up with, or the one you gain along the way." —Unknown "Because brothers don't let each other wander in the dark alone." —Jolene Perry "He is my most beloved friend and my bitterest rival, my confidant and my betrayer, my sustainer and my dependent, and scariest of all, my equal."—Gregg Levoy "Brothers aren't simply close; brothers are knit together." —Robert Rivers "Once a brother, always a brother, no matter the distance, no matter the difference and no matter the issue." —Byron Pulsifer "Dear big brother, you may be part of my family, but I will always consider you a friend." —Catherine Pulsifer "Brothers don't necessarily have to say anything to each other—they can sit in a room and be together and just be completely comfortable with each other." —Leonardo DiCaprio "Baby brothers are small. Baby brothers are cute. But they can be a pain, and that is the truth." —Shelia Sweeny Higgingson "What strange creatures brothers are!" —Jane Austen "A brother is a friend given by nature." —Ernest Legouve "Half the time when brothers wrestle, it's just an excuse to hug each other." —James Patterson "Brothers that say they never fight are most definitely hiding something." —Lemony Snicket "When you deal with your brother, be pleasant, but get a witness." —Hesiod "There is a little boy inside the man who is my brother… Oh, how I hated that little boy. And how I love him too." —Anna Quindlen Birthday Blessings for a Brother Every day I thank the Lord for making us siblings. I love you! God blessed me when he made you my brother. Wishing you the best birthday! May God continue to shower you with endless blessings. Happy birthday! God sent our family an angel when you were born. Happy birthday to the most amazing brother. Keep being the kind and caring person that you are and watch your blessings continue to flow. Happy birthday! Friends come and go, but siblings are forever. I'm so blessed to have you as my brother! My prayer is that you get everything you want and more, today and always. You deserve the world! Happy birthday. Today we celebrate one of God's greatest creations: you! Happy birthday to the best bro. May your celebrations be filled with endless blessings! Having you as a built-in best friend is the biggest blessing. Happy birthday! You Might Also Like 15 Best Denim Jacket Outfit Ideas to Pull from Your Closet 10 Best Shampoos for Red Hair Like Ree Drummond's Solve the daily Crossword
CNBC
14-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
These states are America's worst for quality of life in 2025
American business is in the grips of a serious labor shortage, even though hiring has slowed and artificial intelligence is picking up more of the slack. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says that for every 100 job openings, only 92 workers are available to fill them. That means the nation is short about 1 million workers. To try and meet the demand, companies are seeking locations that are attractive to prospective employees. That makes quality of life a business imperative. Each year, CNBC's annual rankings of state business climates — America's Top States for Business —considers Quality of Life among ten categories of competitiveness. Under this year's methodology, the category makes up 10.6% of a state's overall score. We consider factors like crime, health care, air quality, and the price and availability of child care. We also consider inclusiveness of state laws, such as legal protections against discrimination. And with data showing younger workers considering reproductive rights in their choice of where they are willing to live, we factor those state laws in our rankings as well. Some states are particularly welcoming to workers. These are not those states. They are the states with America's worst quality of life in 2025. Just like in the rest of the country, violent crime in Oklahoma has been trending gradually lower in recent years. But at roughly 418 offenses per 100,000 people in 2023, the Sooner State's violent crime rate is the 14th highest in the country, according to FBI statistics. Of particular concern is a sharp rise in domestic violence homicides, which State Attorney General Gentner Drummond recently called an "epidemic." "We must continue strengthening our statewide efforts to hold abusers accountable and to provide protection and support for victims," Drummond said in a statement in February. Oklahoma offers limited protections against discrimination, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, and it has one of the nation's strictest abortion bans. 2025 Quality of Life Score: 97 out of 265 points (Top States Grade: D-) Strengths: Child Care, Air Quality Weaknesses: Crime, Health, Reproductive Rights Life can be rough in the Natural State, which has the sixth-highest percentage of adults in frequent mental distress, according to the United Health Foundation. Nearly 19% of Arkansas households are food insecure. That's the highest rate in the country. One in five Arkansans, and one in six Arkansas children, face hunger. "It's clear that our state is in critical need of comprehensive solutions to address these sobering statistics and ensure that all Arkansans have access to sufficient and nutritious food," said Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who issued an executive order last fall directing state agencies to address the problem. She has also signed legislation providing free breakfast for public school students regardless of their family's income. The violent crime rate in Arkansas is the fourth highest in the country, and the state has among America's most restrictive voting laws. 2025 Quality of Life Score: 95 out of 265 Points (Top States Grade: D-) Strengths: Child Care, Air Quality Weaknesses: Health, Crime, Inclusiveness The Heart of Dixie might pride itself on Southern hospitality, but its state laws suggest that the hospitality does not extend to everyone. Alabama is one of just five states with no law protecting non-disabled people against discrimination in public accommodations, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. And in February, Gov. Kay Ivey signed the "What is a Woman Act," defining a person's gender based on the sex organs they were born with. "If the Good Lord made you a boy, you're a boy," said Ivey. "And if he made you a girl, you're a girl." Opponents said the law will be used to justify widespread discrimination against transgender people. The state eschews most worker protections, according to Oxfam America, which ranks Alabama 49th on its annual Best States to Work scorecard. 2025 Quality of Life Score: 92 out of 265 Points (Top States Grade: F) Strengths: Air Quality, Child Care Weaknesses: Inclusiveness, Worker Protections While the overall violent crime rate in Georgia is roughly in line with the national average, it has one of the highest homicide rates in the country. That is but one factor in an overall unhealthy environment in The Peach State. More than 11% of the population lacks health insurance, the third-highest rate in the country. The state ranks 40th for primary care doctors per capita, and 48th for mental health providers, according to the United Health Foundation. The Commonwealth Fund ranks Georgia 45th in its latest Scorecard on State Health System Performance, which grades the states on health care access, prevention and treatment, efficiency, healthy lives, and health disparities. Georgia is another one of the five states with no anti-discrimination protections for non-disabled people, and it offers few protections for workers beyond a guarantee of equal pay based on race and gender. 2025 Quality of Life Score: 89 out of 265 Points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Child Care Weaknesses: Worker Protections, Health, Inclusiveness At around 521 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2023, the Pelican State has America's fifth-highest crime rate. And those statistics predate this year's New Year's Day attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, where a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers, killing 14. Louisiana also has among the nation's strictest abortion bans, according to the Guttmacher Institute, banning the procedure in all except very limited circumstances. The state passed eight new voting laws last year that the Brennan Center for Justice deems "restrictive," including multiple crackdowns on absentee voting. 2025 Quality of Life Score: 87 out of 265 Points (Top States Grade: F) Strengths: Child Care, Air Quality Weaknesses: Crime, Inclusiveness, Reproductive Rights The Beehive State derives its nickname from the industriousness of its workforce. But those workers get few protections in exchange for their hard labor. Even as the cost of living rises in fast-growing parts of the state like Silicon Slopes outside Salt Lake City, the state has kept the minimum wage at the federal rate of $7.25 an hour. And unlike in many states, Utah prohibits local governments setting their minimum wages any higher. With an average household size roughly 17% higher than the national average, according to Census data, Utah families have a lot of children to care for. And the state is doing poorly in meeting their needs. Utah ranks 48th in licensed child care centers per capita, according to Child Care Aware of America, which also says that a married Utah couple with a median income can expect to spend about 12% of it on child care. 2025 Quality of Life Score: 87 out of 265 Points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Crime Rate Weaknesses: Child Care, Worker Protections, Air Quality The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines affordable child care as costing no more than 7% of a household's income. In Indiana, it costs twice that for a two-parent household. For a single parent, it can cost a stunning 46%. Business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have identified child care as one of the major factors in getting people back into the workforce. It is also a major quality of life consideration for young families, and it is one of the areas where Indiana falls short. But it is not the only one. Air quality is poor, according to data from the American Lung Association and First Street Foundation, with high levels of ozone and particulate matter. Indiana also has a strict abortion ban and limited anti-discrimination protections. 2025 Quality of Life Score: 73 out of 265 Points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Crime Rate Weaknesses: Child Care, Reproductive Rights, Inclusiveness, Air Quality The Lone Star State is consistently a top destination for skilled workers — they flock to Texas for its robust economy and one of the best job markets in the nation. But that does not mean that the quality of life there isn't lacking. Despite world-class institutions like the Texas Medical Center and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, access to care for the average Texan is poor. According to the United Health Foundation, Texas has the nation's lowest number of primary care doctors per capita, the second-lowest number of mental health providers, and it consistently has the highest rate of people without health insurance. The state has among America's strictest abortion bans, and crime is on the high side. 2025 Quality of Life Score: 72 out of 265 Points (Top States Grade: F) Strengths: Child Care, Air Quality Weaknesses: Health Care, Reproductive Rights, Worker Protections, Crime Governor Bill Lee's 2025-26 budget, signed into law this spring, includes $175 million in grants to local communities to help them fight crime. By the numbers, that money is badly needed in the Volunteer State. Tennessee has America's third-highest violent crime rate, according to FBI statistics, making it a particularly dangerous place to live, and CNBC's bottom state for Quality of Life in 2025. Tennessee has also been at the forefront of legislation limiting the rights of its LGBTQ+ population, beginning as far back as 2015. The state was among the earliest to codify a person's gender based on their anatomy, passing its law in 2023. State laws guarantee equal pay and bar sexual harassment. But beyond that, there are few protections for workers in Tennessee. 2025 Quality of Life Score: 61 out of 265 Points (Top States Grade: F) Strength: Air Quality Weaknesses: Crime Rate, Inclusiveness, Worker Protections
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Pioneer Woman' Ree Drummond Shares Heartbreaking Statement Amid Tragedy: 'No Greater Grief'
'The Pioneer Woman' Ree Drummond Shares Heartbreaking Statement Amid Tragedy: 'No Greater Grief' originally appeared on Parade. is sharing a gut-wrenching statement amid the disastrous Texas flooding. The Pioneer Woman star, 56, took to Instagram on Tuesday, July 8, posting a message where she expressed how she's mourning for others as they deal with unfathomable loss. "This has been on my mind. There can be no greater grief than that of a parent losing a child," she opened. "For obvious reasons, I have also been crying for all the grandparents who are surely navigating their own unique layers of pain. Loss of their precious, cherished grandchild. And seeing their own child experience the worst, most searing loss imaginable." The latter portion of Drummond's sentiment likely hits home for the Food Network personality, who recently welcomed her very first grandchild of her own when her daughter, Alex, gave birth to a baby girl named Sofia in Dec. 2024. She concluded the social media post by sending prayers to all those affected: "Lord please be near to the brokenhearted." At the time of writing, more than 160 people were known to still be missing in Kerr County as a result of the flooding in central Texas, according to Gov. Greg Abbott, who cited 'combined law enforcement efforts,' per CNN. "Separately, officials confirmed that more than 110 people have died," the news outlet reported. In the aftermath of the tragedy, celebrities like ,, , and more have spoken out, with some offering support and pledging monetary donations. Next: 'The Pioneer Woman' Ree Drummond Shares Heartbreaking Statement Amid Tragedy: 'No Greater Grief' first appeared on Parade on Jul 9, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
SCOOP: Oklahoma gubernatorial race heats up early with $1.6M ad buy for 'America First' candidate
FIRST ON FOX: The 2026 midterm elections are still 18 months away, but a super PAC supporting Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall's gubernatorial campaign is already making a big play with a $1.6 million ad buy. Starting on Wednesday, July 9, the Oklahoma Conservative Coalition is making an eight-week, $1.6 million advertising investment in broadcast, cable, satellite and streaming statewide, Fox News Digital has learned. "Charles McCall is the only America First and Oklahoma First candidate in this race with a proven conservative record," Erinn Mahathey, spokesperson for Oklahoma Conservative Coalition, told Fox News Digital. "This is just the beginning. With the right experience, real momentum, and a winning message, McCall is built to go the distance and deliver real results for Oklahoma." With less than one year until the Republican primary, two candidates have emerged as potential front-runners in the race for Oklahoma's highest office. As a reliably red state, the winner of the Republican primary will largely be expected to win the general election that November. McCall announced his gubernatorial bid earlier this year, running on his record of "working hand-in-hand with Governor Stitt and President Trump" to build a "stronger Oklahoma rooted in an America First agenda." Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has announced his own campaign for governor, running a conservative platform touting his leadership as attorney general against the "Biden Administration's radical overreach" and promising to stand "strong with President Trump." However, the McCall campaign has criticized Drummond for donating to the newly elected Oklahoma Democrat Party Chair John Waldron and for voting to delay enforcement of a new ban on transgender surgery for minors amid a pending preliminary hearing in a federal lawsuit. According to The Oklahoman, Drummond said the agreement "simply allows more time to mount the strongest possible defense" and "should in no way be interpreted as a concession of any kind." In a 4-4 vote earlier this summer, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Oklahoma State Supreme Court's decision that St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma City, a religious charter school, receiving public funds would be unconstitutional. Incumbent Gov. Kevin Stitt, R-Okla., and Drummond were locked in a feud over the landmark case, as the two continued a long-standing clash over policy and politics in Oklahoma, including debates over constitutional authority and local policy initiatives. Stitt, who serves as vice chair of the National Governors Association, is term-limited as Oklahoma governor in 2026. Earlier this year, the Conservative Political Action Conference endorsed McCall's campaign, and his super PAC highlighted his conservative policy as House speaker, on issues like protecting American farmland, school choice, tax cuts and pro-life bills. Oklahoma House Rep. Cyndi Munson, small business owner Leisa Mitchell Haynes and former Oklahoma State Senator Mike Mazzei have also declared their gubernatorial campaigns.
