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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: Lawmakers should solve problems, not hide them: Recent headlines have reminded me of an unsettling reality: too often, our lawmakers and decision makers aren’t solving our communities’ problems. They’re merely trying to make them less visible. All Oklahomans deserve to have their humanity heard and recognized. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
State Government News
Efforts to raise the age of consent in Oklahoma return to Legislature: An Oklahoma House member has reintroduced a bill that would modify the age of consent after it failed at the end of the 2024 session. The bill would raise the age of sexual consent from 16 to 18 years old in Oklahoma. [Oklahoma Voice]
Legislation to raise minimum wage pushed by Oklahoma Democrats: Oklahomans who have jobs that pay low wages would benefit from legislation proposed by Democratic lawmakers. [Tulsa World]
Corporation Commission finalizes PSO rate increase: Public Service Company of Oklahoma customers will see a temporary rate increase that was adopted last year made permanent following action Wednesday by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. [Tulsa World]
Agency asks for funds for an Oklahoma militia: The Oklahoma Military Department is seeking $2.4 million to start a state militia. [Oklahoma Voice]
CareerTech asks for 10% budget increase to fund workforce training: Oklahoma CareerTech has requested a $19 million funding increase from the Legislature for the upcoming fiscal year to continue to expand career training programs in Oklahoma. [Tulsa World]
Federal Government News
Mullin rises to defense of Hegseth during hearing: U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) accused senators of drinking while working during defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing Tuesday in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee. [NonDoc]
‘Too late to do anything about it’: Some Black Tulsans dissatisfied with lack of accountability: Federal officials said Saturday they cannot prosecute any person or government agency involved in the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre — but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other questions to be answered. [KOSU]
Tribal Nations News
Cherokee Nation announces $80 million federal settlement: Officials with the Cherokee Nation announced Wednesday that the tribe has settled a lawsuit with the federal government over the management of its resources and trust assets. [Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
Election results for Jan. 14 in Green Country: Green Country voters went to the polls Tuesday and here are unofficial results. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Mayoral candidates speak on TIF, homelessness, police and immigration Organizers passed around note cards on which attendees wrote questions; those ranged from questions about the proposed new OU arena and its tax increment finance district, to funding for police and firefighters, to water, to the environment, to the immigration round-ups planned by the incoming Trump administration. [The Norman Transcript]
Newest member of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission sworn in: Brian Bingman joins the body responsible for regulating Oklahoma’s oil and gas, utility and transportation industries. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Proposed top-two open primary system will not improve Oklahoma elections: A recent study indicates that open primaries can be a mechanism to increase voter participation and create a primary electorate that is more demographically representative of the general election voter. However, other research has indicated that the actual differences between primary voters and general election voters is less significant than one might think. [James Davenport and Brett Sharp / Oklahoma Voice]
Education News
About 4,000 people give Ryan Walters ‘F’ grade in newspaper poll: What grade would you give School Supt. Ryan Walters for his job performance this year? That was the question asked by The Oklahoman’s opinion section in a survey conducted Jan. 6-10. More than 4,000 people answered and 95% rated the former McAlester High School teacher as failing. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Oklahoma Lawmaker proposes bill to protect schools from penalties for chronic absenteeism: Oklahoma faces a chronic absenteeism crisis, and one lawmaker aims to shift from penalizing schools to fostering community-driven solutions that support students and improve attendance. [News9]
Oklahoma’s largest universities buck national trends for post-COVID enrollment with record highs: Nationally, college enrollment has declined over the last 15 years. But Oklahoma’s land-grant institutions managed to avoid the post-COVID fallout and are now at all-time highs. [KOSU]
Oklahoma Senate to consider bills establishing School of American Civic Thought and Leadership at OU: Two bills that would establish a new entity called the School of American Civic Thought and Leadership on OU’s campus have been pre-filed for the upcoming Oklahoma legislative session. [OU Daily]
Discovery of dangerous substance results in cancellation of Oklahoma university’s classes: Northwestern Oklahoma State University said in a social media post the school will be closed for a time on Thursday morning after the discovery of a potentially hazardous substance in the campus’ science building. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Oklahoma must lead way for phone-free schools from ‘bell to bell’: As vice chair of the Senate Education Committee, I meet constantly with educators from across the state. Our conversations often shift to student disruptions and behavioral issues, problems stemming from cellphones in the classroom. [Sen. Ally Seifried / Tulsa World]
Health News
FDA bans Red No. 3 food dye in food, drinks: Here’s what to know: The FDA announced on Wednesday that it has amended its color additive regulations, no longer allowing the use of artificial Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs. The removal is in response to a color additive petition filed in 2022 by advocates who claim the additive is linked to cancer and behavioral problems in children. [USA TODAY via The Oklahoman]
- Related: New Oklahoma bill could ban red dye 40, other additives from products sold in state [The Oklahoman]
Lawmaker Explains Intent Behind Women’s Medical Consent Bill: Oklahoma’s HB 1018 aims to prohibit unauthorized pelvic exams on anesthetized women without consent. The bill’s author hopes it will enhance patient protection during medical procedures. [News On 6]
‘We need to stop’: Lawmakers, advocates renew efforts to ban ‘humanure’ use: An Oklahoma lawmaker is raising a stink over using human, commercial, and industrial waste as fertilizer. [Fox25]
Tulsa Health Department distributes harm reduction supplies, handmade notes: “You are important.” That’s the message of 100 new harm reduction kits being distributed by the Tulsa Health Department and a local anti-substance abuse coalition. [KOSU]
Criminal Justice News
How does Oklahoma’s juvenile justice system work? Here’s what to know: How does Oklahoma’s juvenile justice system work? Attorney Lashandra Peoples-Johnson provides an overview of the classifications, court processes, and outcomes juveniles may face. [News on 6]
- From OK Policy: Reimagining Youth Justice in Oklahoma: A Landscape Report of the Youth Justice System and Recommendations for Reform
Oklahoma City settles lawsuit with family of 15-year-old shot by police 13 times: Oklahoma City settled a lawsuit Tuesday with the mother of Stavian Rodriguez, a 15-year-old shot and killed by police in 2020. [KOSU]
Activists unleash on county as commissioners OK contract with Flintco for jail care center: Oklahoma County commissioners, with no fanfare and no angry condemnation — not from anyone in person, at least — approved a $44.4 million contract with Flintco LLC on Wednesday to build the Behavioral Care Center portion of the new county jail complex. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Oklahoma bill aims to prevent Norman from using city funds for a homeless shelter, author says: A controversial bill that would prohibit cities other than Oklahoma City and Tulsa from providing shelter to unhoused people was introduced directly in response to Norman’s homelessness problem, according to the author, despite having potential repercussions across the state. [The Oklahoman]
Edmond strikes racially restrictive language from plat records: The city of Edmond is taking steps to remove decades-old illegal and discriminatory language from plat documents, starting with an addition north of Second Street and west of Bryant Avenue. [The Journal Record]
Community News
Historical society leader works to shine spotlight on history, cultures and communities: An Oklahoma History Center leader helps Oklahomans learn about history, cultures. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa actor Bill Hader in ‘shock’ after surveying wildfire damage near home: Tulsa-born actor Bill Hader said he was in shock after seeing the damage caused by the wildfire that swept through the Pacific Palisades area, where he lives. [Tulsa World]
- Former Tulsans escape California wildfire that destroyed home, now try to help others [Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Yukon audit finds ‘breakdown in governance’ for decades under prior city managers [NonDoc]
Quote of the Day
“I know that the folks that want to eliminate all social services in Norman haven’t been able to win local elections, (or) enough of them to make that happen. It seems like, to me, they’re now going to attempt to use the power of the state to overrule the city and our voters.”
-Norman City Councilman Stephen Tyler Holman said regarding SB 484, which would prevent Norman and every other city except Oklahoma City and Tulsa from using city funds to help the growing homeless population. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
77,344
Shortage of rental homes affordable and available for extremely low income renters in Oklahoma. [National Low Income Housing Coalition]
Policy Note
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