DURANT –– For the second year in a row, Southeastern Oklahoma State University will be the site of a PI-STEM Summer Academy for students who will be in 8th or 9th grade in the fall of 2022. The application period begins on March 1, and the selection of participants will begin on April 1.

Oklahomans who missed open enrollment but still need health insurance can check with a Healthcare Navigator to find out if they are eligible for a special enrollment period in the online Marketplace. Approximately 40 specially trained and certified Navigator assisters ––all attorneys, paralegals and legal support staff from Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma and professionals from collaborating nonprofits –– stand ready to help Oklahoma citizens understand their health insurance options including private coverage on the Marketplace.

Family Features –– As your social schedule picks up steam and you attend more social gatherings and celebrations, you may find yourself with an unexpected issue: digestive troubles. Problems like this can have a negative impact on your overall wellness, so it’s important to make healthy digestion a priority.

Family Features –– More than half of Americans take an over-the-counter vitamin or dietary supplement, but many may not realize that the quality of these products can vary greatly. Because supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration like other medicines, not all are quality products. When choosing a vitamin or other supplement, checking for independent verification can help ensure quality.

• How to prevent and manage kidney disease Family Features –– You may not think much about your kidneys unless there’s a problem, but they play a vital role in your health. Your kidneys continually filter your blood to remove extra fluid and waste, which is released from the body as urine.

Family Features –– The health community has long praised the benefits of vitamins and nutrients derived from natural sources. For those looking to improve their health or take preventative measures, these natural super foods can be incorporated into your daily diet to help support your health:

eLivingtoday.com –– Depending on where you live, restrictions on social gatherings may become less strict in the coming weeks and months. However, many experts caution that care should still be exercised when groups of people gather.

Family Features –– In adjusting to the constraints of the pandemic, many Americans had to improvise where and how they work out. After months of adapting to a “gym anywhere” mentality and learning to accommodate more flexible workout schedules, this new fitness mindset is inspiring some larger trends for healthier living.

On Thursday afternoon, a group of local business owners and public figures attended a presentation put on by the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center and hosted by Choctaw Electric in Hugo. The Oklahoma Small Business Development Center expressed its interest in assisting the tri-county area of Choctaw, McCurtain and Pushmataha counties with their small business needs and encouraging the counties to form a consortium that would fund a permanent position for an OKSBDC adviser in Idabel.

Sha’Tiya Akins was crowned Hugo’s 2022 Basketball Homecoming Queen last week. Also crowned was Homecoming King, G’Mariyon Wallace. Ring bearer and flower girl (also pictured) were Christian James and Kanzis Jhade Moore. More from the game and senior night can be found on today’s Sports, pages 1B-5B. Hugo News Photos / Bobby Hamill