The perennial fight to raise the debt limit and avoid an economic calamity is once again on lawmakers’ docket, and this time things could get messy. Debt ceiling negotiations between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his GOP counterpart, Mitch McConnell, have been slightly more friendly recently.

A federal judge on Nov. 29 halted the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers, although the ruling only applies to 10 states.

Even though my Oklahoma Sooners lost both their biggest game of the season and their head football coach last weekend, I’m already starting to get excited about next season. I like optimism and I like people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get positive things done.

Funeral services for Ruth Ella Scott, of Fort Towson, Okla., were held at 10 a.m. Nov.

Pamela Jean Corbitt Stapleton, of Hugo Okla., was welcomed into Heaven on Nov. 28, 2021. Pam was born on June 30, 1946 in Whitewright, Texas, to JD and Lois Corbitt. She married Mike Stapleton on March 19, 1965, in Hugo, and was blessed with 53 years of marriage.

Funeral services for Curtis Ray Kernell will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, 2021 at the Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey Funeral Home in Hugo, Okla., with Bro. Mike Folmar officiating. Burial will be at the Springs Chapel Cemetery in Hugo. Curtis Ray Kernell, longtime resident of Hugo, passed away after a surprisingly quick battle with cancer on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021 at Peachtree Hospice in Fort Smith, Ark., at the age of 82.

Graveside services for Glenda Sue Young, of Hugo, Okla., were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov.

Fifth grade Character Counts students are: Fallon Rawls, Kinley Compton and Shaylynn Pigg..

Za’kiah Bills and Tia Ellis. Fifth grade Student of the Month was Jayln Johnson..

Hugo Intermediate School announces Character Counts and Students of the Month. Fourth grade Student of the Month was Coby Watkins.