← Today's headlines

7 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 28m ago

Still Watching

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. “They told her she wasn't supposed to live past 20 years old,” Lillard's younger sist...

4 Left3 Center0 Right
Still watching. Optics is waiting for a cleaner match before calling the split.

STILL WATCHING

As of July 11, 2026 at 4:52 AM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.

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

7/99 — 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

NDTV · Center-left · News report

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

Manila Bulletin · Center · News report

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

Optics keeps watching for pickup.

SEE THE HEADLINES

CenterMostly Factual
Manila BulletinNews report · Jul 11, 4:52 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
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
CenterMostly Factual
Washington's Top News (WTOP)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.…

Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
NDTVNews report · Jul 11, 3:25 AM

Martha Lillard, Last US Polio Patient Using Iron Lung, Dies At 78

Martha Lillard slept in the iron lung cylinder that encased her body as the air pressure in the chamber forced air in and out of her lungs.

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

oklahoma

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

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
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
Details7/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 7 sources
7/99 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, 12:59 AM: The Seattle Times joined the source map.

Jul 11, 2:44 AM: ABC News - US joined the source map.

Jul 11, 3:25 AM: NDTV joined the source map.

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