Miami News-Digest

Pryor Couple Convicted in Embezzlement of Addiction Recovery Charity By Miami News-Digest — September 30, 2025 A Tulsa County jury found Jordan and Vanessa Parker guilty of embezzling charitable donations that had been given to Reckless Saints of Nowhere, a nonprofit the couple operated that provided addiction-recovery placement services. The jury imposed maximum punishments, including prison time and fines. On Sept. 30, 2025, a Tulsa County jury convicted both Jordan and Vanessa Parker of multiple felony counts stemming from their management of Reckless Saints of Nowhere. The jury found each defendant guilty on two counts of embezzlement and one count of engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses. The jury assessed maximum penalties across the counts, resulting in a combined sentence that includes imprisonment and monetary fines. According to court...

Miami News-Digest Native American Day: Honoring Oklahoma Tribes and the First Peoples By Miami News-Digest  |  Published September 26, 2025 Community gathering recognizing Native American Day. (Replace with your photo credit.) Native American Day is a moment for recognition, reflection, and respect. Observed across states and tribal nations throughout the Americas, the day highlights the history, culture, and continuing contributions of Indigenous peoples. Unlike holidays tied to a single historical event, Native American Day is intentionally evergreen: a reminder that the First Peoples remain central to the continent’s story. Roots and recognition Formally recognizing Native peoples through a dedicated day gained traction during the 20th century as tribal leaders and allies sou...

Honoring the Life of Robert Alexander Miami, OK — The community gathers in solemn respect and gratitude following the passing of Robert Alexander , a man whose life was rooted in faith, service to his country, community, and neighbors. He passed away peacefully at his home on September 23, 2025 , at the age of 90. Military Service & Community Commitment A devoted Marine Corps veteran , Robert Alexander carried the values of discipline, loyalty, and sacrifice into every aspect of his life. Local accounts affirm that his time in the Marines deeply informed how he approached all his subsequent roles. Following military service, he turned his attention to law enforcement in Ottawa County . He worked for many years as a Deputy Sheriff and Transport Officer for the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department , and also served with the Picher Police Department . In those capacities, he was more than an enforcer of law and b...

Mexico and Colombia: Independence Day By Miami News-Digest Two of Latin America’s most widely observed national anniversaries — Mexico’s Sept. 16 and Colombia’s July 20 — recollect different opening chapters of the long independence era that reshaped the Spanish-ruled Americas in the early 19th century. Both dates are marked by public ceremony, music and civic ritual, and both recall political ruptures set in motion as Europe convulsed under the Napoleonic wars. Mexico: the Grito that became a nation Mexico’s independence commemoration centers on the “Grito de Dolores” — the call to arms issued in September 1810 by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a parish priest in the town of Dolores (now Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato). The date widely observed today is Sept. 16, 1810, and the event is remembered each year with a public re-enactment known as “el grito,” performed...

Charlie Kirk Assassinated; Oklahoma Lowers Flags to Half-Staff By Miami News-Digest | Oklahoma City — Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot Wednesday during a public speaking event at Utah Valley University , sparking national mourning and an urgent debate over political and religious violence. In response, Oklahoma leaders ordered state flags to be flown at half-staff. Authorities reported that Kirk, 31, was struck in the neck by a single shot fired from a distance of nearly 200 yards while addressing a crowd of roughly 3,000 people. His wife and two young children were present. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. “This was a political assassination,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said, vowing accountability for those responsible. Born October 14, 1993, Charles James Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012. His organization quick...