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In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
The U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating three complaints against Oklahoma City Public Schools for failing to provide equal opportunities to male and female high school students; discrimination against blacks and students with disabilities related to alternative education placements; and individual race-based harassment, retaliation and discrimination against Hispanic and black students related to discipline. Oklahoman columnist Berry Tramel argued that schools should embrace moving away from Redskins mascots to improve school pride. Capitol Hill High School recently chose to switch to a new mascot, but the Oklahoman examined other schools in the state that still have mascots that are offensive to many Native Americans. The Tulsa school board has approved a $415 million bond package to send to voters on March 3.
Tickets are now available for OK Policy’s 2015 State Budget Summit on January 29, featuring keynote speaker EJ Dionne. The Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of $120 million in bonds that are paying for repairs to the crumbling state Capitol building. Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s re-election campaign has raised more than $300,000 — and spent almost $160,000 — since he learned in mid-April that he would not have an opponent. Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, has filed legislation to restrict the hiring practices of politicians who are leaving office. The bill comes in response to State Superintendent Janet Barresi’s recent creation of a new position and hiring the husband of her general counsel, sparking accusations of cronyism. The Ethics Commission decided to look at rewording a proposal concerning reporting of scholarships and payments for trips and conferences, after one commissioner argued the new language would open a “Pandora’s box” of ethics abuses.
Buzzfeed reported that Oklahoma’s “enabling child abuse” law has sent women to prison for not intervening to stop their violent partners from harming their children, even though the partner was also abusing the woman. In several cases identified by Buzzfeed, the woman has been imprisoned for longer than the man who committed the abuse. Authorities are investigating the strangulation death of an inmate at a private prison in southeastern Oklahoma as a homicide. Tulsa County’s board of commissioners deferred voting today on a resolution to set jail fees for municipal inmates.
With foundations already finished for dozens of giant turbines, the federal government is no longer seeking a court order to stop construction of a wind-energy development near Pawhuska. The Oklahoma Blood Institute declared a statewide blood emergency Monday, saying there is less than a one-day supply available. Representatives of Oklahoma’s public retirees who have not had a cost-of-living adjustment since 2008 say the time has come to increase their pension incomes now that the state’s underfunded pension systems are regaining financial strength. A survey by an anti-smoking advocacy group found 80 percent of Oklahoma respondents saying they prefer smoke-free bars and nightclubs. The Hefner Canal has added a donkey to the team of goats who have been chewing back weeds and underbrush.
The Number of the Day is how many cases of malaria were reported in Oklahoma in 2013. In Today’s policy note, Vox discusses research showing that growing up in a poor neighborhood can hold you back in life — even if your parents aren’t poor.
In The News
Oklahoma City Public School superintendent reveals federal investigation alleging racial discrimination against black, Hispanic students
The U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating three complaints against Oklahoma City Public Schools, according to district officials. Superintendent Rob Neu disclosed the allegations during a Dec. 8 school board meeting in which he said black students are “dying on the vine” academically because the district has failed to support them. The school district is accused of failing to provide equal opportunities to male and female high school students; discrimination against blacks and students with disabilities related to alternative education placements; and individual race-based harassment, retaliation and discrimination against Hispanic and black students related to discipline.
Why Capitol Hill should embrace the change from Redskins nickname
Capitol Hill High School once bustled with pride. The regal name, the stately entrance. Capitol Hill was to the southside of Oklahoma City what Northwest Classen was to the northside. But Capitol Hill’s heyday was half a century ago. Changing economics, a loss of a sense of community, educational demands on students whose first language is not English. Lots of things have worked against the Hill.
See also: A look at Oklahoma colleges and high schools with American Indian nicknames from NewsOK.
Tulsa school board calls for $415 million bond election in March
The Tulsa school board has approved a $415 million bond package to send to voters on March 3. If voters approve, funds from the “2015 Smart Start Bond” would complete a 20-year plan for facilities updates established in the 1995-1996 academic year and would help the school district continue to catch up to its suburban peers in technology available to students and teachers.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Upcoming Event: State Budget Summit featuring E.J. Dionne
Although Oklahoma is now several years removed from the worst of the fiscal crisis that accompanied the Great Recession, the gap between the cost of providing basic public services and the revenues we collect to pay for them seems to be growing. State agencies continue to be squeezed by budget cuts and funding shortfalls, tax collections are flat or declining, and ever greater challenges are looming on the horizon.
Oklahoma Supreme Court approves Capitol bond issue
The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld the constitutionality of legislation calling for the issuance of $120 million in bonds to pay for repairs to the crumbling state Capitol building. “The state Capitol has suffered decades of neglect, which has resulted in unnecessary hazards for employees and visitors,” said House Speaker Jeff Hickman, principal author of the House joint resolution authorizing the Capitol bond issue.
Pruitt re-election campaign raised $300,000 after it learned he would have no opponent
Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s re-election campaign has raised more than $300,000 — and spent almost $160,000 — since he learned in mid-April that he would not have an opponent this election cycle. Oklahoma Ethics Commission records show Pruitt not only continued to receive campaign contributions but actively raised funds through the Nov. 4 general election, even though he had no opponent and cannot seek re-election in 2018.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Bill would put restrictions on hiring by officials leaving office
Proposed legislation would slap restrictions on the hiring practices of politicians who are leaving office. Following a failed bid for re-election this year, State Superintendent Janet Barresi created a new position, assistant superintendent of accreditation, in her agency and hired the husband of her general counsel, sparking accusations of cronyism.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Ethics Commission Delays Action On “Educational” Gifts Reporting Requirements
The Ethics Commission decided Friday to look at rewording a proposal concerning reporting of scholarships and payments for trips and conferences and to consider the revised language in January. Commission Thomas Walker led the charge against the proposed Ethics Rules amendment, saying the language presented Friday would open a “Pandora’s box.”
“Enabling Child Abuse” And Why Oklahoma Imprisons So Many Women
Oklahoma imprisons women at a higher rate than any other state — and one reason, according to the author of a recent criminal justice report commissioned by the state’s governor, is a law that turns some battered women into criminals. The law is known as “enabling child abuse.” It doesn’t punish women for actually committing child abuse but rather for not intervening to stop their violent partners from harming their children.
Authorities report Davis Correctional Facility inmate killed by cellmate
Authorities are investigating the strangulation death of an inmate at a private prison in southeastern Oklahoma as a homicide. Tory Czernecki, 22, died Oct. 26 following an assault in his cell at the Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville, according to a report released Friday by the state Corrections Department. In the report, an inmate in the same cell admitted he attacked Czernecki and told a corrections officer “I did a number on my cellie.”
Tulsa County Jail Fee Issue Still Not Settled
Tulsa County’s board of commissioners deferred voting today on a resolution to set jail fees for municipal inmates. Commissioners also skipped agreements with Jenks and Tulsa because they named only the criminal justice authority, not the board of county commissioners. Commissioner John Smaligo said his concern with the agreements was they did not include the Board of County Commissioners.
Read more from Public Radio Tulsa.
U.S. government drops request to stop construction of Osage wind farm
With foundations already finished for dozens of giant turbines, the federal government is no longer seeking a court order to stop construction of a wind-energy development near Pawhuska, officials confirmed Monday. But the fight isn’t over. U.S. Attorney Danny Williams is pressing ahead with the larger lawsuit, accusing the wind development of violating the mineral rights of the Osage Nation.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Oklahoma Blood Institute declares blood emergency across state
The Oklahoma Blood Institute declared a statewide blood emergency Monday, saying there is less than a one-day supply available. Leslie Gamble, an OBI spokeswoman, said low donor turnout in the past two weeks has led to a dire situation. Donation at OBI was down at least 20 percent last week, she said.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Oklahoma Public Retirees Want Cost-Of-Living Boost
Representatives of Oklahoma’s public retirees who have not had a cost-of-living adjustment since 2008 say the time has come to increase their pension incomes now that the state’s underfunded pension systems are regaining financial strength. Managers of some of Oklahoma’s biggest retirement systems say they are financially stronger than they were just four years ago.
Oklahoma City Hefner canal goats get donkey co-nibbler
The Hefner Canal’s newest groundskeeper is a stubborn sort. And the city is giving residents a chance to suggest a name that fits his personality. The newcomer, a brown and white donkey, arrived about two weeks ago on the canal in northwest Oklahoma City, where for the past four months goats have been chewing back weeds and underbrush.
Almost 80 percent of Oklahomans say they prefer smoke-free bars and nightclubs
Greg and Jennifer Seal remember being told they were going to fail. A smoke-free bar in Oklahoma City? “Yeah, right,” people said. But a little more than two years later, Grandad’s is thriving as one of the only smoke-free bars in Oklahoma City. A recent public health effort hopes to increase the number of smoke-free bars and clubs in Oklahoma, an effort that the Seals support.
Quote of the Day
“Laws like that are keeping people in prison when they may actually be simply in need of help.”
-Adam Luck, a Harvard graduate fellow employed by Governor Fallin’s office, on a law that has sent many Oklahoma women to prison for failing to stop child abuse by their spouse/partner, even though the women were often being abused by their partner at the same time (Source: http://bzfd.it/1zjwgAy)
Number of the Day
13
Number of cases of malaria reported in Oklahoma in 2013
Source: Oklahoma State Department of Health Acute Disease Service.
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Growing up in a poor neighborhood can hold you back in life — even if your parents aren’t poor
Rich parents often set their kids up for an easy life — they pass wealth onto their kids, help them get good jobs, and help them do better in school. But a big part of why their kids do so well might simply be that they live in rich neighborhoods. In a new study appearing in the journal Economic Geography, Jonathan Rothwell from the Brookings Institution and Douglas Massey from Princeton University find that growing up in a rich neighborhood can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars more in lifetime earnings.
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