Oklahoma State Athletics and the Osage Nation are partnering in a landmark collaboration that celebrates a shared commitment to education, land, and the future of Oklahoma. As part of the partnership, uniforms for all Oklahoma State University athletic teams will feature an Osage jersey patch beginning with the 2026-27 competition season.

The relationship builds on years of collaboration between the Osage Nation and Oklahoma State University. Located just minutes from the OSU-Tulsa campus, Osage Casino Hotel Tulsa has become a visible part of the university community through its support for the Osage Casino Hotel Student Union in North Hall, which opened in 2020 and has since become a popular gathering place for students to study, dine, and connect. Since then, partnerships between the two institutions have continued to expand across multiple areas of mutual interest.

“Oklahoma State Athletics is building momentum in this new era of sport. Osage is proud to be able to support the student athletes and programs across the athletic department. We’ve built a strong connection with the university through other projects, and this brings the relationship to a broader stage. It’s about visibility, opportunity and continuing to invest in the future of our people and our communities.” Kimberly Pearson, Chief Executive Officer of Osage Casinos and Hotels.

OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said Cowboy and Cowgirl student-athletes will proudly represent both Oklahoma State University and the Osage Nation in competitions all over the country.

“Oklahoma State Athletics is grateful for the people and the innovative leadership of the Osage Nation for making this historic partnership a reality,” Weiberg said. “There is a deep connection of shared values between Oklahoma State and the Osage Nation, and this partnership is the latest confirmation of that relationship.”

For Osage Nation Principal Chief-Elect Joe Tillman, the partnership represents both a personal and professional milestone. Tillman attended Oklahoma State University on a football scholarship and played for the Cowboys from 1978 to 1981. He said the collaboration reflects the strong ties between two institutions dedicated to responsible stewardship of land and investing in future generations.

“Through collaboration and innovation, both Oklahoma State University and the Osage Nation share a commitment to strengthening agricultural productivity, promoting responsible stewardship of land, and creating sustainable economic opportunities for future generations,” said Chief-Elect Tillman. “The Osage Nation and Oklahoma State have already built strong partnerships through our Department of Natural Resources, Education Department, and Osage LLC. We are excited to expand those relationships through this next chapter of collaboration while creating new opportunities for Native representation, visibility, and engagement.”

As Oklahoma’s land-grant university, Oklahoma State has long served farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and working families through education, research, and outreach. Likewise, the Osage Nation Reservation - the largest reservation in Oklahoma - encompasses a diverse agricultural landscape that includes cattle ranching, hay production, farming, and extensive land management operations. Together, the two institutions share a deep investment in the prosperity of rural Oklahoma and the responsible stewardship of the land.

The agreement, which was facilitated in partnership with Learfield’s Cowboy Sports Properties, also marks a historic first for Oklahoma State Athletics, as the Osage patch becomes the first sponsor mark ever displayed on varsity athletic uniforms in the university’s history.

“Bringing together Oklahoma State and the Osage Nation creates an opportunity to tell a uniquely Oklahoma story on one of the most visible stages in college athletics,” said Andrew Wheeler, Learfield’s Executive Vice President, Sports Properties. “It’s a win for the entire Oklahoma State community and we’re proud to have helped make that vision a reality.”

Weiberg said this partnership with the Osage Nation reflects how OSU Athletics is evolving in the new landscape of college athletics.

“It is an early confirmation of what is possible with our department’s new organizational restructure to generate new revenue growth and commercial activity,” he said. “I’m grateful to our team leads in Brakston Brock, Andrew Hamor, Jesse Martin and Steve Keasler for their work with the Osage leadership and Cowboy Sports Properties.”

For updates on Oklahoma State Athletics, visit okstate.com or follow @OSUAthletics on X. For more on the Osage Nation, visit osagenation-nsn.gov.

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AAA projects 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for Independence Day between Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, July 5. This year’s domestic travel forecast surpasses last year’s record of 71.8 million travelers, but the increase (0.5%) is smaller than recent year-over-year gains. The number of travelers driving and flying to their destinations is relatively flat compared to last year, while travel by other modes, including cruises, is the category seeing the biggest increase.

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Over 400 community members gathered Friday evening at Southern Woods Park to celebrate Juneteenth during the annual Stillwater Community United Juneteenth Picnic, a free, family-
friendly event filled with food, music, activities, and community connection.
The celebration featured entertainment from Connor Helm and Shake, Rattle & Roll, free hot dogs, food trucks, games, prizes, inflatables for children, and more. Attendees also enjoyed visits from the Stillwater Fire Department, with fire trucks and activities on-site for families to explore.
The Juneteenth Picnic was coordinated by the Stillwater Community United committee, with Visit
Stillwater coordinating and hosting monthly planning meetings leading up to the event.
The City of Stillwater provided the stage, prepared Southern Woods Park, and assisted with marketing
efforts. Visit Stillwater sponsored tents, inflatables, entertainment, committee Juneteenth T-shirts, cups, gift cards, and more. Stillwater Medical Center donated hot dogs, while Raising Cane’s provided drinks. Stillwater Frontier Rotary and Stillwater Lions Club helped offset food costs.
Oklahoma State University Police Department coordinated the cooking crew, the Stillwater Police Department provided bottled water, and the Stillwater Fire Department participated throughout the evening. Mt. Zion Baptist Church also provided entertainment, while church youth sold sno cones as a fundraiser for camp and members volunteered throughout the event.
Karen Washington, Stillwater Community United Committee chair and Mt Zion Church representative, said, “We had an all-time record number of attendees at our Juneteenth event this year, including numerous new faces. We’d love to see more involvement on our Stillwater Community United Committee to help us plan future community-wide events.”
“Our goal is to attract individuals from multiple cultures, representing all age groups, which definitely
occurred this year,” said Cristy Morrison, Visit Stillwater President and CEO. “Karen and I look forward to continuing growth in our events and would love to see additional involvement to further improve our team.”
Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth,” commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved Americans in
Galveston, Texas, learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth continues to celebrate freedom, history, culture, and community.
Visit Stillwater thanks all volunteers, sponsors, partners, and attendees who helped make this year’s
Juneteenth celebration a success, and looks forward to continuing the tradition in the years ahead.

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The City of Perkins has been made aware of possible misuse and/or misappropriation of Concession Stand revenues and other Parks & Recreation revenues.  We are conducting an internal investigation to determine the scope of the potential misuse of funds and will take appropriate and remedial action to protect the City.  Once the scope is determined, the City will seek to recover any misappropriated funds and reallocate the funds to an appropriate City use.

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The City of Stillwater’s June Tax Apportionment Report reflects April 2026 transactions that were reported to the Oklahoma Tax Commission in May 2026 and apportioned to the City in June.

In comparison to June 2025, the City saw increases in General Sales Tax, Stillwater Utilities Authority (SUA) Sales Tax, Use Tax, and Transportation Sales Tax collections.

Go to https://stillwaterok.gov/financialcenter for more information about the City of Stillwater budget, taxes, and monthly reports for sales, use, and visitor taxes.

Our purpose at Stillwater Radio is to not just bring you great music, but to bring your community. Here is where we highlight the best in local businesses, artists and sports that make your community our community.

Stillwater Radio is your source for Stillwater's First News, as well as the place to keep updated on community events from around the area.

Stillwater Radio is THE flagship stations for Oklahoma State Cowboy & Cowgirl athletics, as well as Stillwater & Perkins-Tryon High School sports.