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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: Government works best when we work together: Too often, we hear the phrase: “Government is the problem.” This sentiment feeds cynicism and fuels division. But let’s take a moment to reflect on what government is—and isn’t. Government isn’t some faceless, malevolent entity plotting to ruin your life. It’s made up of our friends, neighbors, and sometimes even ourselves. It’s the teacher helping your child learn, the firefighter running toward danger, and the health inspector ensuring your favorite restaurant is safe. These people dedicate their days—and often their nights—to serving our community’s needs. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
Gov. Kevin Stitt visits Taiwan during trade mission to Asia: As China conducted high-profile military exercises off the coast of Taiwan on Monday, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt was in Taipei to discuss energy, aerospace and other topics of mutual interest with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. [Tulsa World]
Ryan Walters, KFOR settle lawsuit ahead of trial: Avoiding a scheduled bench trial, Oklahoma City television station KFOR and state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters and his spokesman, Dan Isett, reached a settlement Wednesday in a federal lawsuit filed against the two men by the station. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma City news outlet settles lawsuit with Ryan Walters [Tulsa World]
- KFOR lawsuit: Settlement avoids trial, prohibits Ryan Walters from blocking journalist access [NonDoc]
- KFOR wins court battle with Oklahoma State Department of Education [KFOR]
State Government News
Oklahoma House launches ‘DOGE’ inspired online portal, solicits public opinion: House Speaker-elect Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, wants input from Oklahomans on how their state government could be more efficient. The House launched an online portal this week in hopes of collecting that feedback. [KOSU]
Gov. Kevin Stitt joins Republican governor coalition backing Trump’s policies: Governor Stitt joined 25 Republican governors in advocating support for President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming immigration policies. [FOX25]
Federal Government News
Opinion: Tulsans must not allow mass deportation of our neighbors: There are moments in time when the moral fiber of a community is put to the test. In the next few months, Tulsans will be tested. We will be asked by the federal government to assist in the identification, rounding up and incarceration of our neighbors who are deemed to be undocumented immigrants. President-elect Donald Trump has made mass deportation his priority, and he expects local police and the communities they serve to carry out this action. [Drew Diamond / Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
School bond elections set for Jenks, Owasso, Allen-Bowden: Three suburban school districts have voted to send school bond proposals to voters in February. [Tulsa World]
Education News
Kingfisher schools cut 22 jobs in wake of $5 million hazing settlement: County officials rejected property tax hike, resulting in district budget shortfall. [Oklahoma Voice]
Could This Tiny School Break Down the Wall Between Church and State? Officials in Oklahoma are laying the groundwork to push Christianity into public schools. [The New York Times]
Health News
‘Sick season’ is near: Viruses like flu, COVID and RSV circulating in Oklahoma, US: The seasonal flu is trending upward over the past week, and health care providers in Oklahoma are seeing an uptick in visits because of a respiratory illness. [The Oklahoman]
Norton family donates $10 million toward Tulsa’s Stephenson Cancer Center: People battling cancer in the Tulsa area may be a little closer to getting world-class treatment close to home after the announcement this week of another multimillion-dollar gift to support expansion of the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. [Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma County jail inmate found dead Tuesday morning: An inmate at the Oklahoma County jail died this week in what authorities suspect is a suicide. [The Oklahoman]
Defendants on supervised release could still go unsupervised or back to jail in OK County: The legal status of about 700 criminal defendants now out of jail on supervised release — whether they will go back to jail or hit the streets unsupervised after the end of the year — remains in the air in Oklahoma County. [The Oklahoman]
‘Help me’: Feds charge 6, DA charges 2 in Garvin County Jail death: In November, Garvin County District Attorney Greg Mashburn charged Tiffani Stapp and Kathleen Tolison with aggravated assault and battery for what they did to 32-year-old Kayla Lee Turley: slapping, choking and beating her incapacitated body in Cell 8 of the Garvin County Jail. [NonDoc]
Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board schedules Underwood clemency hearing in hope of court ruling: The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board scheduled a new date for death row inmate Kevin Underwood’s clemency hearing, but whether it will take place is still up in the air. [KOSU]
Oklahoman who ran cryptocurrency investment firm charged with fraud conspiracy: Federal prosecutors have charged an Oklahoma man with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a failed cryptocurrency investment that promised backers annual returns of up to 547%. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: I served time in prison. People like me need more help to succeed in Oklahoma.: In this upcoming legislative session, Oklahoma lawmakers should prioritize reducing court debt and eliminating unnecessary roadblocks so returning residents can rejoin their communities effectively. [Joy Block-Wright / The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
ONEOK announces expansion tied to Medford ‘incident’ settlement: ONEOK said it has expanded liquid natural gas fractionation and pipeline capacity following a $930 million settlement in which hundreds of people evacuated after a gas plant explosion and fire in northern Oklahoma. [Tulsa World]
Proposed record-breaking skyscraper for Bricktown a ‘hazard’ to air travel, FAA says: Construction of the country’s tallest tower in Bricktown is being opposed by the Federal Aviation Administration following concerns voiced by local airports, pilots and at least one airline warning it will jeopardize flight operations throughout central Oklahoma. [The Oklahoman]
AT&T is discontinuing its landline services in Oklahoma. What to know: AT&T will eliminate its landline phone service in almost every state in its service area, including Oklahoma, the company announced this week. [The Oklahoman]
KDOT pegs cost of closing gap in Oklahoma, Kansas passenger rail service at $311 million: The Kansas Department of Transportation estimates it will cost $311 million to restore Amtrak passenger rail service from Oklahoma City to Newton that was abandoned nearly half a century ago, officials said Wednesday. [Oklahoma Voice]
Community News
Tulsa World partnering with Tulsa Local News Initiative to boost local journalism: The Tulsa World is joining a coalition of other Oklahoma media in the launch of the Tulsa Local News Initiative. The initiative, a new nonprofit organization announced Thursday, will become publisher of The Oklahoma Eagle, the 10th oldest Black-owned newspaper in the U.S., and invest in an expansion of its newsroom. [Tulsa World]
- The Oklahoma Eagle Is Spreading Its Wings [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- Tulsa coalition launches nonprofit news organization [The Journal Record]
How Tulsa Remote entrepreneur Amnoni Myers grapples with race, identity, and community tensions: The author, entrepreneur, Black queer woman and survivor of the foster care system gave an unapologetic review of the struggles between remote and local Tulsans, along with tools to bridge the divide. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Local Headlines
- City of Broken Arrow names new police chief after nationwide search [Tulsa World]
- Salvation Army in Tulsa needs 1,000 gifts to fulfill needy kids’ Christmas wishes [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“It’s better for everyone when people with a criminal record are allowed to leave their past behind, find gainful employment and support their families.”
-Joy Block-Wright, the founder of a Tulsa reentry organization, writing about the need for lawmakers to reduce court debt and eliminate unnecessary roadblocks so returning residents can rejoin their communities effectively. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
47.3%
- From OK Policy: What you need to know about the minimum wage in Oklahoma
Policy Note
Nearly half of U.S workers will live in states with at least a $15 minimum wage by 2027: Policymakers and voters throughout the country have all recognized the need to set minimum wages at $15 or more. Further, the strong consensus of high-quality minimum wage research is that increasing the minimum wage increases workers’ earnings without increasing unemployment or other significant negative economic effects. Unfortunately, there are still state lawmakers who are choosing to deny higher pay for workers in their states. [Economic Policy Institute]
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