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2024 Census data: Oklahoma ranks as 8th poorest state

By: Dave Hamby
September 11, 2025 // Updated: September 12, 2025
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, released Sept. 11, show that Oklahoma’s poverty rate was 14.9 percent, which means that more than 1 in 7 state residents live in poverty. While the state’s overall poverty rate… Read more More...

Recent Posts

Health care is increasingly central to Oklahoma’s economy

By: Gene Perry
July 5, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
If you ask a person on the street what Oklahoma’s economy is known for, two industries likely to come to mind are oil and gas drilling and agriculture. Yet when we look at the jobs Oklahomans are working in today,… Read more [More...]

Watch This: A True Medicaid Story

By: Carly Putnam
July 3, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Joshua Proffitt is a college student at East Georgia State College. He’s made the Dean’s List with a 3.5 GPA, wants to work in radio broadcasting, and has a remarkable ability to predict NASCAR results, earning him the nickname, “The… Read more [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: Senate Republican health plan would decrease coverage, increase cost of health insurance

By: Courtney Cullison
July 2, 2017 // Updated: July 1, 2017
What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

The Republican governor candidates competing for the ‘no-tax’ vote (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
June 30, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. Republican gubernatorial candidate Gary Richardson announced last week that he will file a lawsuit challenging… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Students will pay more to attend most Oklahoma colleges

By: Ryan Gentzler
// Updated: June 30, 2017
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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. Today In The… Read more [More...]

What works to stop crime (hint: it’s not incarceration)

By: Ryan Gentzler
June 29, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
The debate surrounding criminal justice reform in Oklahoma generally focuses on one question: How do we reduce our very high incarceration rates without jeopardizing public safety? As Gov. Fallin said about her Justice Reform Task Force’s proposals during the 2017 legislative… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Oklahoma’s Board of Equalization Certifies Budget As It Faces Mounting Legal Battle

By: Carly Putnam
// Updated: July 1, 2017
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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. Today In The… Read more [More...]

Second verse, only worse: What the Senate Republican health care plan would mean for Oklahoma

By: Carly Putnam
June 27, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Last week, Senate Republicans emerged from secret negotiations to unveil their version of a major health care bill. Those expecting that the Senate would produce a better health plan than the House are likely underwhelmed by the Senate’s efforts. The… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Tax increases have ground to a halt since SQ 640, Hofmeister says teachers don’t feel supported, and more

By: Courtney Cullison
June 26, 2017 // Updated: June 26, 2017
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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. Today In The… Read more [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: Lack of progress on criminal justice reform this legislative session may cost Oklahoma

By: Courtney Cullison
June 25, 2017 // Updated: June 26, 2017
What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

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