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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
Proposed bill could increase support for children-focused nonprofits (Capitol Update): Sen. Jerry Alvord, R-Wilson, has pre-filed Senate Bill 1398, an interesting and, I believe, good bill creating the “Children’s Promise Act.” The bill would create a 100 percent tax credit, up to 50 percent of a donor’s income tax liability, for donations to certain tax exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. The concept of the bill is to allow taxpayers to determine the use of up to half of their income tax by contributing to qualifying organizations. It’s sort of a “taxpayers appropriation committee.” [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
Oklahoma News
Broken Arrow City Council denies zoning request for Islamic center: Broken Arrow city councilors listened to almost four hours of comments and testimony on Monday night, then did what most observers expected and denied the Islamic Society of Tulsa’s rezoning application. The matter appears headed to court — which may well have been the case regardless of Monday night’s decision. [Tulsa World]
- Broken Arrow City Council votes 4-1 to deny rezoning request for proposed Islamic mosque [Tulsa Flyer]
- See Broken Arrow residents attend special meeting to hear rezoning proposal [The Oklahoman]
Investigation finds mismanagement caused Epic Charter School budget shortfall: An investigation of Epic Charter School’s finances determined inexplicably poor budget management, misguided enrollment projections, a lack of transparency and too few questions asked all contributed to a fiscal crisis last school year. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Epic Investigation Finds Poor Budgeting, But No Misappropriated Money [Oklahoma Watch]
- New state investigation of Epic IDs lingering governance, accounting, student Learning Fund concerns [Tulsa World]
State Government News
Oklahoma agencies present budget requests to Senate fiscal committees on natural resources, education: Before Oklahoma lawmakers convene in February, state agencies, boards, and commissions are laying out their budget proposals for the next fiscal year. State Agency budget proposals serve as wish lists for projects like building maintenance and software upgrades, new road infrastructure, conservation efforts, and staff trainings, to name a few. [KOSU]
Oklahoma bill seeks to protect utility bills near new data centers: An Oklahoma lawmaker introduced a bill to protect residents from potential increases in utility bills due to new data centers for artificial intelligence. [KOCO]
Education, reading scores to headline upcoming legislative session: In addition to a flat state budget, issues about infrastructure needs and the fallout from the federal government, Oklahoma’s common education system – both funding and policy – will be front and center. [Southwest Ledger]
Group seeks approval for virtual Jewish charter school, reviving debate over religious public schools in Oklahoma: A group hoping to open a virtual Jewish charter school in Oklahoma is again testing whether religious public schools violate the U.S. Constitution, despite past rulings by the state and U.S. Supreme Courts. [KFOR]
- State board gets first look at proposed Jewish charter school [Tulsa World]
Federal Government News
US Senate Republicans defend independence of the Fed after DOJ launches Powell probe: President Donald Trump’s feud with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has escalated into a Department of Justice investigation, raising alarm bells among some Republicans in the Senate, where Trump will need broad backing from GOP lawmakers to get his choice for the next Fed chairman approved after Powell’s term ends in May. [Oklahoma Voice]
Democrats clash with Noem over new limits on oversight visits to immigration facilities: A dozen Democratic members of Congress Monday asked a federal judge for an emergency hearing, arguing the Department of Homeland Security violated a court order when Minnesota lawmakers were denied access to conduct oversight into facilities that hold immigrants. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Christians shouldn’t be partisan parrots on US imperialism: We knew 2026 was not going to be an easy year. But then we woke up on the first Saturday of the year to the news that the United States had invaded another sovereign country. It was immediately safe to say that the year would be even more difficult than we thought. [The Rev. Lori Allen Walke / The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Native Americans Are U.S. Citizens. Here’s What to Do If ICE Stops You: On Friday, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) released a guide that explains your rights if approached by ICE at home, work, in public, or during detention. You have the right to remain silent, refuse consent to searches, and ask for a lawyer. Do not open the door or sign anything without legal advice. [Native News Online]
- Indian Country reactions to Minnesota ICE shooting [ICT]
- Five Native Americans detained by ICE during ongoing raids in Minneapolis [ICT]
- Opinion: Native People Recognize ICE Violence. You Should Too. [Levi Rickert / Native News Online]
Voting and Election News
Former House Speaker T.W. Shannon announces run for Oklahoma lieutenant governor: Former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon announced Monday he is running for lieutenant governor. The Republican, who recently served in the Trump administration, said he is returning home to Oklahoma to run on an “America First” and “Oklahoma First” platform, emphasizing conservative values, tax cuts, and economic growth. [News 9]
Education News
Lawmaker aims to expand voter accountability for public universities: A conservative state lawmaker has filed legislation that would give the Oklahoma Legislature the ability to freeze, suspend, or withhold state funds from public colleges and universities they have issues with. [Southwest Ledger]
In rare move, Oklahoma charter school ordered to close at end of school year: A state board governing charter schools has decided it’s seen enough from Proud To Partner Leadership Academy and voted Monday to “pull the plug” on the school. [Oklahoma Voice]
New Oklahoma CareerTech skills center opens at Vinita corrections facility: Oklahoma CareerTech originally opened the center at the Northeast Community Corrections Center in 2022. At the time, classes were held in the maintenance and warehouse areas of the facility. Now, these classes have a dedicated space. [Fox 23]
Vanguard community packs Broken Arrow school board meeting: Parents of current Vanguard students were notified via email Wednesday that the program will not be available to freshmen in 2026-2027, that there will not be an application process and that the program will shift to a bell schedule that more closely resembles the one used by Broken Arrow High School. [Tulsa World]
Health News
What are ‘super flu’ symptoms? Strain spreads across Oklahoma: The newest flu strain, a variant of influenza A (H3N2), commonly referred to as the “super flu,” is the most frequently reported flu virus this season. The agency reported “high” or “very high” levels of flu activity in 32 states, including Oklahoma, which fell in the “high” category. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahomans can get free home radon test kits this month: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. The gas comes from decaying uranium found in most soils and poses little threat outside. But it can accumulate inside and carry health risks for people who breathe it. This month, residents of Oklahoma can order a free kit through the U.S. Department of Environmental Quality to check for radon in their homes. [KGOU]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma Highway Patrol seeks $25M for trooper training: Commissioner Tim Tipton told House lawmakers during budget hearings Monday that the funding to hold more academy classes is necessary to in order to train and hire the number of troopers needed to adequately patrol the state amid retirements and other attrition. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma Highway Patrol seeks budget increase to fund 150 more troopers [Tulsa World]
OK county commissioner wants to disband jail trust; sales tax floated: The Oklahoma County jail could again be under control of the sheriff’s office if County Commissioner Jason Lowe has his way. He said Sheriff Tommie Johnson III is ready to take it over from the volunteer public trust that has governed it for the past five years. [The Oklahoman]
- Johnson, Davidson support OK County public safety sales tax proposal [NonDoc]
What motorists need to know about medical marijuana ‘open container’ law change: A new law in Oklahoma, similar to a statute that has long banned open containers of alcohol in vehicles, clarifies that people should not have easy access to marijuana while they’re driving, even if they are legally permitted to use medical marijuana. [Tulsa World]
Community News
Opinion: Race, Ethnicity, and the Lie People Tell Themselves About Vic Regalado: Few things derail conversations about race and power faster than people who do not understand the difference between race, ethnicity, and nationality. That misunderstanding is exactly what is happening right now with Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado. So let’s get something straight. [Nehemiah Frank / The Black Wall Street Times]
Jewish Canadians can find a new home in Tulsa with program offering legal, financial help: The Jewish Federation of Tulsa and Tulsa Tomorrow have launched a new relocation program called Lech L’Tulsa — “Go Tulsa” in Hebrew. Young Jewish professionals can receive $4,000 in reimbursement to help move from Canada to Tulsa, mainly for new business opportunities, but also for safety reasons. [Tulsa Flyer]
‘Bigger than Daytona’: Chili Bowl Nationals kicks off 40th anniversary in Tulsa: Tulsa’s Chili Bowl Nationals kicked off its 40th year of racing Monday. More than 400 drivers, both professional and amateur alike, will participate in a six-day dirt race, steering their small triangular-shaped vehicles called “midget cars” toward the finish line. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Local Headlines
- Tulsa Police nonemergency line still down due to AT&T issue, agency says Monday [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa Mayor’s message on ICE killing in Minnesota draws rebuke from sheriff [Tulsa World]
- Major streetscape project begins on Northwest 23rd Street in Oklahoma City [KOCO]
Quote of the Day
“What strategies is the economic development department of Broken Arrow working on to deal with the national news coverage that will cast Broken Arrow as a basket of hate if we fail to move forward?”
— Linda Corbin Young, a Broken Arrow resident, said during her testimony at a special meeting Monday night where city councilors voted 4-1 to deny a zoning request and special use permit that would allow an Islamic organization to expand in the city. [Tulsa Flyer]
Number of the Day
10.8%
The year-over-year decline in Oklahoma’s sales tax collections in the first quarter of 2025, the largest drop among the 46 states with broad-based sales taxes. [Tax Policy Center]
Policy Note
Real State Tax Revenues Decline Amid Growing Fiscal Uncertainty: State tax revenue growth remains uneven and fragile, with many states failing to meet historical trends despite occasional revenue spikes. Sluggish income and sales tax collections — combined with past rate cuts — are narrowing fiscal flexibility as federal support is winding down. States must shore up their revenue systems to maintain service levels, sustain fiscal stability, and prepare for future uncertainties. Building resilience now is essential to avoid abrupt trade-offs in essential investments. [Urban Institute]
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