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7 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 18m ago

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Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78 in Oklahoma

Martha Lillard had just turned 5 when she was diagnosed with polio and depended on an iron lung to live. She died June 26 in Oklahoma, the last U.S. polio patient who used the machine, her sister said. She was 78.

5 Left2 Center0 Right
Still watching. Optics is waiting for a cleaner match before calling the split.

STILL WATCHING

As of July 11, 2026 at 4:14 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

What happened Martha Lillard had just turned 5 when she was diagnosed with polio and depended on an iron lung to live. She died June 26 in Oklahoma, the last U.S. polio patient who used the machine, her sister said. She was 78.
The headline split The headlines are mostly aligned. The differences are small wording choices, not a major framing split.
Match confidence Medium confidence. 7 sources across 2 bias buckets. Useful framing signal — check the source list before sharing.
Same-event confidenceMedium

7 sources across 2 bias buckets agree on the event.

Framing confidenceMostly same

0/99 — the outlets mostly agree on the headline takeaway.

WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED

Left / center-leftMartha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78 in Oklahoma

ABC News - US · Center-left · News report

CenterMartha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78 in Oklahoma

WPLG Local 10 (Berkshire/Graham, Miami) · Center · News report

Right / center-rightNo matching source in this bucket yet.

Optics keeps watching for pickup.

SEE THE HEADLINES

CenterHigh
WPLG Local 10 (Berkshire/Graham, Miami)News report · Jul 11, 4:14 AM

Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78 in Oklahoma

Martha Lillard had just turned 5 when she was diagnosed with polio and depended on an iron lung to live. She died June 26 in Oklahoma, the last U.S. polio patient who used the machine, her...

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
ABC News - USNews report · Jul 11, 2:44 AM

Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78 in Oklahoma

Martha Lillard, the last U.S. polio patient using an iron lung, has died at 78 in Oklahoma

Open source
Center-leftHigh
Philadelphia InquirerNews report · Jul 11, 2:28 AM

Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78 in Oklahoma

Martha Lillard, the last U.S. polio patient using an iron lung, has died at 78 in Oklahoma

Open source
CenterMostly Factual
Washington's Top News (WTOP)News report · Jul 11, 2:28 AM

Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78 in Oklahoma

Martha Lillard had just turned 5 when she was diagnosed with polio and depended on an iron lung to live.…

Open source
Center-leftHigh
The Seattle TimesNews report · Jul 11, 12:59 AM

Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78 in Oklahoma

Martha Lillard, the last U.S. polio patient using an iron lung, has died at 78 in Oklahoma.

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
Toronto StarNews report · Jul 11, 12:58 AM

Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78 in Oklahoma

In this photo provided by Cindy Mc Vey, her sister Martha Lillard rests in her iron lung on Friday, February 6, 2026 in Shawnee, Okla. (Cindy Mc Vey via AP)

Open source
Show all 7 sources
Center-leftMostly Factual
The IndependentNews report · Jul 11, 12:58 AM

Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies at 78 in Oklahoma

Martha Lillard, the last U.S. polio patient using an iron lung, has died at 78 in Oklahoma

Open source
Details0/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 7 sources
0/99 Wording GapMedium confidence7 sources · 2 bias bucketsLive match · 7 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report

SOURCE MAP CHANGES

Jul 11, 12:58 AM: The Independent joined the source map.

Jul 11, 12:58 AM: Toronto Star joined the source map.

Jul 11, 12:59 AM: The Seattle Times joined the source map.

Jul 11, 2:28 AM: Philadelphia Inquirer joined the source map.

Now: Wording Gap is 0/99 and story health is live match · 7 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news format.