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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
Mostly flat budget requests from state’s health, human services agencies (Capitol Update): In the final week of budget hearings before the legislative session begins this week, appropriations subcommittees heard from some of the health and human services agencies. The agencies are asking for basically maintenance increases in their budgets for fiscal year 2026, which starts on July 1, 2025. [Steve Lewis / OK Policy]
Oklahoma News
The State of the State address
Oklahoma governor calls for education reforms, smaller government in annual address: Gov. Kevin Stitt’s annual State of the State remarks offered few surprises as he called on lawmakers to pass education and prison reforms, reduce government spending and make Oklahoma more friendly for energy and business. [Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy: Who really wins from tax cuts? (Hint: It’s probably not you)
- Oklahoma Gov. Stitt hopes to cut taxes, promises to slash state workforce [KOSU]
- Governor’s Oklahoma budget calls for $1.4 billion less spending, removal of education funding cap [Oklahoma Voice]
- Stitt Aligns with Trump Administration, Proposes Tax Cuts and Government Efficiency Plan [Oklahoma Watch]
- Hundreds protest policies on immigration, education on first day of legislative session [The Oklahoman]
- Activists gather outside capitol building in anti-fascist protest on first day of legislative session [The Oklahoman]
- Stitt tax cut proposal largely funded with reserves, spending constraints [Tulsa World]
- Reactions to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s proposals for legislative session mixed [Tulsa World]
- DOGE, tax cuts and education: Here’s what happened on the first day of the legislative session [The Oklahoman]
- Gov. Kevin Stitt launches DOGE-OK, calls for income tax cuts, attacks DEI during state address [The Oklahoman]
- Gov. Stitt: ‘Being the best state for business’ sets up Oklahoma for other successes [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma governor announces DOGE-OK during State of the State address [The Journal Record]
- Opinion: Remember when ‘Okies’ were the migrants ― a Day 1 request for the Legislature [William C. Wertz / The Oklahoman]
State Government News
A trip down the Illinois River as a court weighs the poultry industry’s responsibility for pollution: A ruling in a 20-year-old lawsuit could have far-reaching environmental consequences for the river and surrounding region. [The Frontier]
Day Without Immigrants impacts Tulsa-area businesses, schools: Multiple restaurants and businesses around the Tulsa area were closed Monday as part of a national movement meant to spotlight immigrants’ impact on the community. [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma City businesses join nationwide protest against Trump’s immigration policies [FOX25]
- A ‘Day Without Immigrants’? What to know about closures, demonstrations across the country [USA Today]
Opinion: Immigration directive to allow arrests in church violates my conscience: It is my conviction that when you set foot in a church building, you are entering an embassy of the Kingdom of God. And this is a kingdom bound by the laws of our king, who instructed us: “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt” (Exodus 22:21) and “Be merciful, as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). [Jon Odom / Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
Oklahoma tribal leaders respond to Gov. Stitt’s State of the State address: Gov. Kevin Stitt’s seventh State of the State address noticeably made little mention of Oklahoma’s tribal nations, unlike in years past. [KOSU]
Cherokee Nation Leads the Way in Disaster Response: The Cherokee Nation took a historic step recently by signing a first-of-its-kind agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to deploy our Cherokee-led Incident Management Team in disaster response efforts. [Native News Online]
Legal fighting continues over who prosecutes Native Americans in Oklahoma: Another legal battle is underway already over who can prosecute Native Americans in Oklahoma. This time, the U.S. Justice Department is suing Matt Ballard and Carol Iski, two district attorneys in eastern Oklahoma. [The Oklahoman]
Former Muscogee Nation gaming division manager charged with theft, tax fraud: Federal prosecutors have charged a former manager for the Muscogee Nation’s gaming division with theft and failing to report nearly $8 million in income on his federal taxes. [Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
Election Round-up
- Bana, Lowe, Pittman battle over jail, infrastructure for OK County commissioner seat [NonDoc]
- Meet the candidates for Oklahoma County Dist. 1 commissioner: Bana, Green, Lowe, Pittman [The Oklahoman]
- 4 candidates vie for north Tulsa school board seat [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Meet the candidates for Edmond mayor: David Hornbeek, Mark Nash, Tom Robins, Leonard Scott [The Oklahoman]
- Three candidates compete for Oklahoma City schools board chairperson seat [The Oklahoman]
- Cheat sheet: Deer Creek Public Schools Board incumbent faces 2 challengers [NonDoc]
Education News
Homicide investigation prompts lockdown at nearby school district in western Oklahoma: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials said they were investigating a homicide after a person was found dead in the area of County Road 200, which is just west of Vici. Vici Public Schools officials said they were notified of an incident and were encouraged to enter lockdown procedures. The lockdown was lifted around noon Monday. [KOCO5]
Schools poised to be major front line in Trump immigration crackdown: Oklahoma is moving to require proof of citizenship for the guardians of public school students, while California schools are distributing “know your rights” cards to immigrant families as K-12 campuses become a crucial front line in President Trump’s immigration crackdown. [The Hill]
OK state senator calls for IEP audit, cutting special education services for some students: After a proposed education bill addressing special education in schools caused an uproar from Oklahoma parents, an Oklahoma Senator clarified his intent is not to eliminate any “educationally necessary” services from students. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma bill takes aim at resources available to students on IEPs [KFOR]
Health News
Opinion: Change this devastating reality for Black women: Their contributions to society are undeniable, yet in 2025, Black women continue to face a reality — they are dying at rates three to five times higher than their white counterparts during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period. [Omare Jimmerson / Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
‘Set up to keep people stuck’: Stitt calls for court fee reform to help ex-prisoners: During his State of the State address on Monday, Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-Okla.) discussed the issue of burdensome court costs, fees, and fines, likening them to a “debtors prison.” The governor advocated for reforms to aid former prisoners in their reintegration into society. [FOX25]
Another missed Moody’s Ratings deadline puts OK County credit, jail funding at risk: Oklahoma County clerk missed a filing deadline with Moody’s, potentially increasing interest rates on a $260 million bond for a new jail. [The Oklahoman]
Criminal justice reform, new OK County jail hailed at mental health center groundbreaking: Oklahoma County criminal justice will be envied, and no longer condemned, with completion of the new Oklahoma County Detention Center with its Behavioral Care Center, at 1901 E Grand Blvd. [The Oklahoman]
OKC council approves settlement in deadly officer-involved shooting: The city has reached a $50,000 settlement, without admitting liability, with the family of a man who was shot and killed by a police officer nearly four years ago. [The Oklahoman]
Army vet, innocent bystander wanted to be a math teacher. Police chase ended all of that: The Oklahoma agency originally in pursuit called off the chase in minutes because of the grave danger to the public, while two different agencies later picked it back up. [Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Opinion: Build a city where every child’s dreams feel within reach: North Tulsa has always been more than just a place. It’s an heirloom crafted by trailblazers who believed future generations deserved to stand on the shoulders of giants .As we move forward, let us carry their legacy with us. Despite divisiveness, the future isn’t just bright; it is ours to shape. [Brandon Oldham / Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
The economics of an egg: An in-depth look at why prices are up and might go higher: Last year, 147 million birds were killed in the U.S. alone, leading to shortages of eggs and big price increases due to a bird flu epidemic that continues to plague the country and the planet. [Tulsa World]
Major TU-sponsored economic conference planned this week | Business in brief: An inaugural conference focused on a wide range of issues challenging the way economics is seen is set for this week in downtown Tulsa. Topics will include: the “Exploding Crises of Care and Climate”; “Inflation, Austerity and Class Conflict”; “Approaches to Economic History and the History of Capitalism” and other topics. [Tulsa World]
Glen Mulready: Get ready for scams in the digital age: The first step in safeguarding against scams is knowing how to identify them. [Tulsa World]
Community News
Black rodeo legends honored at tribute gala in Oklahoma City: A world champion bull rider from Spencer looked out into the crowd gathered to celebrate the legends of Black rodeo as well as those still bulldogging, steer wrestling and calf roping in arenas across the country, and he liked what he saw. [The Oklahoman]
‘Red State Revival’ minister urges Christians to nurture ‘real life’ connections, faith: The event held on Thursday was the first stop on the “Red State Revival” tour that organizer Nadia Bolz-Weber said she felt led to do after the 2024 presidential election, to remind people of the importance of humility, curiosity, forgiveness, mercy and hope when they are faced with divisiveness, suffering and rising Christian nationalism. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Tulsa area sees record-breaking high temperature Monday [Tulsa World]
- Taj Mahal’s ‘Swingin’ Live at the Church in Tulsa’ wins Grammy Award [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“They work essential jobs in our hospitals, our schools. They pay taxes, they contribute to the economy. And so it’s to kind of highlight their economic power and what it was actually like, what it could look like if there really, truly was a day without immigrants.”
-Molly Bryant, senior director of immigrant and refugee services for YWCA Tulsa said referring to the nationwide “Day Without Immigrants” campaign which encouraged immigrants to stay home from work and school on Monday, for businesses to close and for people to refrain from shopping that day. [Tulsa World]
Number of the Day
79%
Four-in-five (79 percent) SNAP households in 2022 included either a child, an elderly individual, or a nonelderly individual with a disability. [U.S. Department of Agriculture]
Policy Note
2025 Budget Stakes: Millions Could Lose Needed Food Assistance: Republican proposals Congress could consider this year would take away or reduce food assistance from tens of millions of people who need it to afford groceries. A range of proposals, including a menu of spending cuts that House Republicans are reportedly considering, would fundamentally reshape the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), our nation’s most effective and important tool to fight hunger, and weaken food assistance programs focused on helping children in families with low incomes. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
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