The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Oklahoma's request to join a challenge to the federal health care law.

In a one-sentence order on Monday, the nation's high court denied Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt's writ of certiorari.

Pruitt wanted the court to review Oklahoma's lawsuit that challenges the tax subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act, arguing it was important to consider state sovereignty implications.

Authorities in Blackwell say a gas leak in a school gymnasium has sent 35 students and three faculty members to the hospital.

Officials say the leak occurred in the high school practice gymnasium in the Kay County community about 9 a.m. as the middle school boys basketball team and varsity cheer squad were practicing. Some students began to feel sick and a couple of students passed out in the shower area.

The students and faculty members were taken to Blackwell Regional Hospital and administered oxygen. All are expected to recover.

The cowboy is an American icon. The Hollywood image of the cowboys is lone, rugged and white, but in reality the old west was very diverse, and many of the cowboys were African-American or Hispanic.

Every year, culturally diverse cowboys from all over the country come to the Cowboys of Color Rodeo in Oklahoma City.

Monday morning Attorney General Scott Pruitt asked for stays of execution for three Oklahoma death row inmates until either the U.S. Supreme Court reaches a decision in the state’s use of the controversial drug midazolam, or the Oklahoma Department of Corrections finds another drug to use in the lethal injection procedures.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has decided to consider whether two oil companies can be held liable for injuries a Prague woman suffered during a 2011 earthquake.

The lawsuit by Sandra Ladra of Prague is among dozens of lawsuits filed in the past several years across the country alleging oil and gas companies are responsible for earthquakes.

Similar lawsuits seeking class-action status have been filed against energy companies in Arkansas and Texas.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services says hospitals in the state are reporting an increasing number of newborns who tested positive for drugs or alcohol at birth.

The Oklahoman reports the agency listed 375 addicted newborns in the 12-months ending June 30, the latest data available. Of those, 42 babies showed symptoms of withdrawal, which can include seizures, excessive crying, fever, sweating and vomiting.

A recent study shows Oklahoma women among the lowest full-time average earnings in the nation.

On the low end of the scale, Oklahoma and Louisiana women had average earnings of $591 per week, compared to Massachusetts at $900 per week, the state with the highest median earnings.

The information is found in The Southwest Information Office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, Women’s Earnings in Oklahoma – 2013.

New State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister faces big challenges in the effort to improve Oklahoma’s public education.

A recently released report ranks Oklahoma 48th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia for the quality of education provided to students.

Oklahoma education faces financial challenges and growing teacher shortages.

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