Jessica joined OK Policy as a Communications Associate in January 2018. A Mexican immigrant, she was a Clara Luper Scholar at Oklahoma City University where she obtained a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy. Prior to joining OK Policy, Jessica worked at a digital marketing agency in Oklahoma City. She is an alumna of both the National Education for Women (N.E.W.) Leadership Institute (2013) and OK Policy's Summer Policy Institute (2015). In addition to her role at OK Policy, Jessica serves as a board member for Dream Action Oklahoma in OKC and communications director for Dream Alliance Oklahoma in Tulsa.
By: Jessica Vazquez
April 23, 2021 // Updated: April 23, 2021
Historically Black neighborhood in Oklahoma City finds no relief from decades of explosions; COVID-19: Tulsa County continues to see slight increase in weekly case count; State Senate leader calls out caustic rhetoric; plays profanity-ridden voicemail; [More...]
By: Jessica Vazquez
April 22, 2021 // Updated: April 22, 2021
House, Senate unveil proposed legislative redistricting maps; Oklahoma school funding boost earns unanimous House support; Oklahoma House challenges Gov. Kevin Stitt by approving rival Medicaid plan; Oklahoma governor signs bill to crack down on protesters [More...]
By: Jessica Vazquez
April 21, 2021 // Updated: April 21, 2021
House Sends Senate Bill To Stop Stitt's Plan For Medicaid Managed Care; Intraparty rift between Oklahoma legislative leaders intensifies; Federally supported mass vaccination center opens at TCC's NE campus to address access inequities; [More...]
By: Jessica Vazquez
April 20, 2021 // Updated: April 20, 2021
Lawmakers propose changing parts of SQ 780, cracking down on serial larcenists; Stitt Wants To Get Corporate Tax Elimination 'Across The Finish Line,' Senate Leader Still Opposed; Oklahoma House passes legislation to ban transgender women, girls from female sports; [More...]
By: Jessica Vazquez
April 19, 2021 // Updated: April 19, 2021
‘Take a sense of ownership’: Town hall talks COVID-19 vaccine, Black community; Applications Open June 1 For Coverage Under Oklahoma's Medicaid Expansion; Virus-related unemployment claims rise in Oklahoma; [More...]
By: Jessica Vazquez
April 16, 2021 // Updated: April 16, 2021
With its mask mandate expiring this month, Tulsa is inching toward normalcy. But we're not there yet, officials say; Epic Charter Schools slapped with new $10.5 million penalty by state Education Department: Oklahoma City civic group seeks answers about $4.5 billion in storm-related fuel costs. [More...]
By: Jessica Vazquez
April 15, 2021 // Updated: April 15, 2021
Enrollment for Oklahoma's Medicaid expansion begins June 1; Epic to make some finances public; Oklahoma prisons ahead in vaccinations but advocates say earlier access could have saved lives; "A Day without Taxes"; State EITC supports working families [More...]
By: Jessica Vazquez
April 14, 2021 // Updated: April 14, 2021
Oklahoma health officials pause distribution of J&J vaccine; Oklahoma Health Department sues over COVID pandemic purchase; Medicaid Expansion causing confusion in Oklahoma; [More...]
By: Jessica Vazquez
April 13, 2021 // Updated: April 13, 2021
How Oklahoma’s securitization plan intends to limit storm-related utility bills; Tribal mobile health units take COVID-19 vaccinations to underserved rural areas; U.S. COVID cases march higher, hospitalizations up for second week in a row; [More...]
By: Jessica Vazquez
April 12, 2021 // Updated: April 12, 2021
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support… Read more [More...]