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In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. Subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.
New from OK Policy
Policy Matters: Prioritize people, not politics: To all our newly elected officials throughout Oklahoma, congratulations on making it through this year’s election cycle. Whether your ticket was punched during the filing period or you had contested primaries and general elections, the campaigning is over. For now. Today, the real work of governing begins. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
Education, health care, immigration, industry set for shake-up with second Trump presidency: A mix of glee, anticipation and worry is hitting Oklahomans who are now wondering how the return of Donald Trump to the White House will shape policies directly impacting the state, including oil and gas production, climate, health care, tribal relations and the fate of undocumented migrants who make up a sizeable share of the state’s workforce. [The Oklahoman]
- State leaders looking forward to conservative agenda [The Journal Record]
Nichols becomes first Black mayor of Tulsa in ‘historic and significant’ election: The election marks a milestone for a city with a troubled racial history. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Monroe Nichols wins Tulsa mayoral race [The Frontier]
- Nichols to become Tulsa’s first Black mayor [Tulsa Public Radio]
State Government News
Oklahoma City, American Red Cross open resource centers for tornado victims: After Sunday’s early-morning tornadoes destroyed 50 buildings in Oklahoma City and damaged nearly 130 more, the city has opened two resource centers to help affected residents get back on their feet. [KOSU]
Federal Government News
What Oklahomans could be in line for Trump administration jobs?: Once and future President Donald Trump’s victory on Tuesday could mean new jobs for some Oklahomans, including some Tulsans. Two Tulsans on Wednesday confirmed preliminary contacts with Trump’s team but said nothing definite has been offered. [Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
Fluent Cherokee speakers celebrate tribe’s language revitalization efforts: Hundreds of fluent Cherokee speakers gathered Tuesday in Tahlequah for an event celebrating the tribe’s efforts to revitalize the language. About 1,500 are known to be fluent speakers, with dozens of Cherokee children growing up learning the language in their immersion schools. [Tulsa World]
Chief Hoskin declares November as ‘Native American Heritage Month’: On Nov. 1, in front of the Cherokee National History Museum, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed a proclamation declaring the entirety of November as “Native American Heritage Month” in the Cherokee Nation. [Cherokee Phoenix]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma had more voters and more votes, but less participation overall in 2024: More Oklahomans registered to vote and cast a ballot for president this year than did four years ago. But despite those gains, a smaller share of those voters actually showed up to the polls. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma sees lower voter turnout, but is redder than ever in 2024 [The Frontier]
- Trump Makes Gains in Most Oklahoma Counties [Oklahoma Watch]
Supreme Court retention vote could spark major changes in state’s judicial system, experts say: For the first time in state history, Oklahomans voted Tuesday against keeping a member of the state Supreme Court. And though the loss of a justice will most certainly alter the dynamic of the court, it also represents a stark change in how future justices and judges will be chosen and retained in Oklahoma. [The Oklahoman]
- Interest in filling Oklahoma Supreme Court vacancy expected to be high [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma Supreme Court justices regret ‘politicization’ of court [Tulsa World]
- Tribal nations concerned about Oklahoma Supreme Court’s future [KOSU]
Oklahoma Senate sees incumbent defeats, new winners elected: Twelve Oklahoma senate seats were decided Tuesday, many of which bring a newcomer to the chamber after several incumbents were defeated in primaries and others are resigning or term-limited. [The Journal Record]
- Oklahoma legislative races see little change for makeup of Senate, House [NonDoc]
Health News
Oklahoma’s new health information exchange: Oklahoma introduces a Health Information Exchange to enhance provider communication and patient care, with $21 million in funding available for electronic health record connections. [News on 6]
Opinion: Finally Oklahoma families getting help from opioid settlement funds: Oklahoma is facing an epidemic of opioid addiction. More than 700 Oklahomans lost their lives to this health crisis in 2022 alone, with fentanyl accounting for the vast majority of those deaths. When I took office in 2023, I was alarmed that $23 million in opioid abatement funds had languished for three years when communities clearly needed the resources to combat this tragedy. I made it a priority to distribute these dollars to the subdivisions where they could be most effective. [Attorney General Gentner Drummond with Terry Simonson / Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Federal grant expands Oklahoma City community violence intervention efforts: A $2 million dollar federal grant will help two nonprofits in Oklahoma City, supporting their efforts to decrease gun violence and disrupt cycles of incarceration. [KOSU]
Grand jury indicts Afghan national in OKC federal court over alleged Election Day plot: The Afghan national accused of an Election Day terrorism plot now faces three felonies that have a total maximum punishment of 55 years in federal prison. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Hiring event sheds light on economic benefits: Reforms to our justice system have come a long way to reduce over-incarceration. The progress is commendable but now we must take on the next step of justice reform- integrating justice-involved people back into society, starting with a fair chance at good jobs. [Timothy Tardibono / The Journal Record]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Tulsa City Council sets framework for $75 million in housing spending: City councilors on Wednesday approved a nonbinding resolution that provides a roadmap for how to spend $75 million in city funds to address Tulsa’s housing shortage. [Tulsa World]
Enid gives final OK to addition that will include 28 duplexes: Enid city commissioners on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, gave approval to the final plat for the South Creek Addition, which eventually is expected to include 28 duplexes. The commission approved rezoning the area from a residential and commercial district to a residential district (duplex and two-family housing) with a planned unit development overlay in October 2023. [Enid News & Eagle]
- From OK Policy: Allowing more multi-family housing helps lower-income households more quickly, easing pressure for everyone in the housing supply chain.
Local Headlines
- City of Tulsa finalizes building purchase for new Public Safety Center [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“We are remarkably influential in D.C. for such a small state, and I don’t think that will change with the Trump administration. We’re going to see some Oklahomans in significant roles.”
-State Chamber President Chad Warmington, speaking about Oklahoma’s influence in shaping national politics. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
2
Number of states that approved ballot measures during the November general election to raise their minimum wage and require employers to provide paid sick time to their workers. [NPR]
Policy Note
A review of key 2024 ballot measures around the nation: In this year’s election, voters given the opportunity to weigh in directly on questions of economic justice showed policy preferences far more progressive than those reflected in many national and state election outcomes. Across the country, voters seized opportunities to approve state or local ballot measures increasing the minimum wage, expanding paid leave, strengthening workers’ rights to unionize, preserving public education, and protecting access to abortion. These ballot measure outcomes reflect a clear ongoing trend of strong voter support for policies that prioritize worker, racial, and gender justice—and illustrate how state and local governments can continue to play important roles in enacting such policies. [Economic Policy Institute]
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