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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.
Oklahoma News
Tyson, Cargill agree to pay for cleanup of Oklahoma river after 20-year lawsuit: Oklahoma has reached settlements with two of the largest poultry companies in a 20-year-old lawsuit over pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced agreements with Tyson and Cargill Thursday. [KOSU]
- Drummond secures $25M settlement from Tyson, Cargill in poultry pollution suit [The Oklahoman]
- Drummond announces $25 million in settlements from poultry pollution lawsuit [Tulsa World]
- Two more poultry companies agree to settle Oklahoma pollution lawsuit [Oklahoma Voice]
States where groceries take the biggest bite out of your budget: All Americans are experiencing rising grocery prices at the checkout counter. Everyday staples like beef, coffee and fresh produce have cost families more due to issues beyond their control like inflation, tariffs and the weather. But some people’s budgets may be under more strain than others depending on where they live. Oklahoma is among the top 10 for states where groceries make up the highest percentage of median household income. [USA Today]
State Government News
Can Stitt end medical marijuana in Oklahoma? Here’s what it would take: If Gov. Stitt wants to make greater efforts to halt the industry, there is a process he would need to follow, and it doesn’t involve a statewide vote. Here’s what to know about whether Stitt can actually repeal medical marijuana. [The Oklahoman]
Listen Frontier: Inside our investigation into Oklahoma’s lack of response to oilfield pollution (podcast): In this conversation, the reporter on a recent story about oilfield contamination and the lack of state action takes us behind the scenes of the process, the documents that shaped the story, and what it reveals about oversight of oil and gas pollution in Oklahoma. [The Frontier]
Lawmakers mull alternate state fossil after science proves ‘Lord of Lizard Eaters’ never existed: Oklahoma, turns out, is in desperate need of a new state fossil. That’s because current titleholder Saurophaganax maximus is, in fact, “nonexistent,” Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman, explained to colleagues in the House Tourism Committee on Thursday. [Tulsa World]
Session Watch: Week Two: A couple of immigration-related items caught my eye this week at the Capitol. It turns out Oklahoma is making money, and losing some, off the federal government’s crackdown on immigration. [Oklahoma Watch]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Jewish charter school, Trump calls Stitt a ‘RINO,’ HD35 special election and more (podcast): The panel talks about a state board denying the application of a Jewish charter school, Gov. Kevin Stitt signing legislation to ban protests at places of worship and President Donald Trump calling Stitt a Republican in Name Only (RINO) over invitations to a White House summit. The trio also discusses Stitt signing two executive orders impacting higher education in Oklahoma and a Republican rancher and businessman wins a special election in the northern Oklahoma House District 35. [KOSU]
Opinion: Legislators should protect pharmacy access. Oppose HB 4457: Legislators just introduced House Bill 4457, a bill that would ban pharmacies affiliated with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), like Accredo, from operating here in Oklahoma. If enacted, the bill could force the closure of more than 60 brick-and-mortar retail pharmacies in our local communities, while also impacting specialty and mail-order pharmacies that serve patients across the state. [Nancy Gene Baxter / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Churches are called to love. SB 1554 would hinder that: Ordinary acts of compassion may soon carry extraordinary consequences. A bill now under consideration at the Oklahoma Capitol would make it a felony for nonprofit organizations to “knowingly or recklessly” provide certain forms of assistance to undocumented immigrants or asylum seekers. [The Rev. Derrek Belas / The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
US House in bipartisan vote defies Trump, agrees to end his tariffs on Canada: In a notable break from President Donald Trump’s signature trade policy, several House Republicans joined Democrats in passing a resolution to terminate the president’s national emergency at the northern border that triggered tariffs on Canada just over one year ago. [Oklahoma Voice]
Shutdown looms for FEMA, Coast Guard, TSA with stalemate over Homeland Security funds: Leaders from several agencies within the Department of Homeland Security testified before a U.S. House panel Wednesday about how a shutdown would affect the programs they oversee, though Democrats argued the hearing was a “show” that wasn’t going to get lawmakers any closer to agreement on constraints to federal immigration enforcement. [Oklahoma Voice]
US House approves bill mandating proof of citizenship for voting in federal elections: The U.S. House passed legislation Wednesday that would require the public to produce a passport or birth certificate in most cases to register to vote, less than a year out from November midterm elections. [Oklahoma Voice]
Trump Says He Will Now Invite Democrats to Governors’ Meeting: Even as he reversed course on excluding Democrats, the president repeatedly attacked a Republican governor who had planned to oversee the meeting. [The New York Times]
- Trump Reignites Longstanding Beef With Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt [NOTUS]
- Details and timeline on Trump, Stitt back and forth over NGA meetings [KFOR]
- What is a RINO in politics? Trump, Stitt governor’s dinner debate explained [The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Cherokee leader warns of misinformation amid review of federal contracting program: A federal agency is suspending government contracts awarded to more than 1,000 small businesses facing systemic barriers. Amid misinformation about tribal participation in the program, Cherokee Nation leadership is emphasizing the importance of the tribe’s dedicated contracting arm, Cherokee Federal. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
‘This is a problem’: Local election campaign finance reports in limbo: Tuesday’s elections for municipal offices came and went without Oklahoma voters having public access to candidates’ financial reports. More than three months after a new law began requiring local candidates to report their quarterly fundraising and expenditure totals to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission instead of city and county offices, candidates still have no way to do so. [NonDoc]
- Municipal Voters Encounter Scarce Access to Campaign Finance Records [Oklahoma Watch]
- Oklahoma ethics board struggling to comply with new law on local campaign finance [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma commission seeking fix as local candidates can’t file finance reports [The Oklahoman]
Election Board again refuses DOJ demand for private Oklahoma voter data: The Oklahoma State Election Board is again refusing a demand from the U.S. Department of Justice to turn over private voter information, saying state law prevents it from sharing data such as driver’s license and Social Security numbers. [KFOR]
‘Not surprising’: Trump-Stitt tiff teases #Governor2026 battle lines: After accusing Gov. Kevin Stitt of misrepresenting a White House dinner invitation and branding him a “RINO,” President Donald Trump unleashed a social media barrage that drew reactions from Oklahoma gubernatorial candidates this week. [NonDoc]
Education News
Oklahoma Republican lawmakers condemn student ICE walkouts, want discipline for teachers involved: A group of lawmakers urged State Superintendent Lindel Fields to take action on student-led protests against ICE. Fourteen lawmakers penned the open letter sent Tuesday, including Senate Education Chair Adam Pugh (R-Edmond), who is running for state superintendent. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KOSU]
- Republicans pushing to punish teachers over student walkouts against ICE [The Oklahoman]
- Republican lawmakers call for investigation of Oklahoma student walkouts [Oklahoma Voice]
- Student walkouts against ICE draw response from state legislators [Tulsa World]
- Student protests drawing attention of lawmakers [KFOR]
Summary judgment ends lawsuit challenging TPS superintendent hiring process: Tulsa County District Court judge has granted a motion for summary judgment from Tulsa Public Schools, thus ending a 2-year-old lawsuit challenging the process followed to hire Ebony Johnson as superintendent. [Tulsa World]
OSDE announces finalists for Oklahoma’s 2026 Teacher of the Year award: Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Lindel Fields announced the 10 finalists for the 2026 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year. The award recognizes outstanding educators from across the state who demonstrate excellence in teaching, leadership, and service to their school communities. [The Oklahoman]
Health News
Oklahoma can now access millions from its Rural Health Transformation Program award: The Oklahoma State Department of Health can now access approximately $202 million of the state’s $223.5 million Rural Health Transformation Program award for 2026. The agency provided updates on its plans during a webinar Thursday. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
Oklahoma sees nation’s highest drop in overdose deaths: A look at the data: After years of being among the worst states plagued by a sprawling opioid crisis, Oklahoma is now leading the nation for decreases in drug overdose deaths. [The Oklahoman]
There may be more pros than cons to paying with cash for medical procedures in Oklahoma: Using cash to pay for medical procedures could save Oklahomans hundreds to thousands of dollars. Thanks to a recent state law, it can count toward your deductible too. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Opinion: Big Pharma’s priorities are clear — profits over patients: For decades, the pharmaceutical industry has defended sky-high drug prices by pointing to the high costs of research and development. But the real story reveals something else entirely. [The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
See timeline of 21 inmate homicides at an obscure Oklahoma prison: A little-known medium security prison in Holdenville has had a string of homicides over the last four years, more than any other facility in the state’s penal system. Those homicides received little public attention except when the victim was a correctional officer. The total number of deaths over those four years now stands at 21. [The Oklahoman]
Kendrick Simpson executed, offers thanks to supporters but no words about the victims: Convicted of killing two men outside an Oklahoma City nightclub, Simpson thanked supporters before dying by lethal injection. A victim’s sister called the moment “the same smile that has been tormenting me for 20 years.” [The Frontier]
- Oklahoma executes first inmate of the year [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma executes Hurricane Katrina evacuee Kendrick Simpson for 2006 double murder [The Oklahoman]
- Kendrick Simpson executed for 2006 double murder in Oklahoma City [Tulsa World]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma Death Penalty Tracker
Oklahoma judge weighs Richard Glossip’s second request for bond: Attorneys for former death row inmate Richard Glossip are again asking an Oklahoma County judge to release him on bond while he awaits a third trial in a high-profile murder case that has stretched nearly three decades. [KOSU]
Community News
Vernon AME Church absorbed the terror of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Now it will ‘teach truth’: More than a century after the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, members of Greenwood’s Vernon AME Church are determined to tell their own stories. Archivists, archeologists and elected officials lined the pews of the church Thursday for the unveiling of The Vernon Witness, a multi-year project to preserve the church’s basement and turn it into a museum and cultural center. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
With Love OKC spotlights local Black artists at Fear of the Black Art Show: Fear of the Black Art Show. The third anniversary of the art exhibition is scheduled for Feb. 13 at the Plaza Wall Gallery (1745 NW 16th St. Suite F4). The show will feature more than 20 artists from around the state. [The Journal Record]
Talk of Greenwood: Circle Cinema, Green Book experience and more: Set in the 1950s, the immersive Green Book experience will show people what travel was like for Black people who relied on the historic book to identify safe lodging, dining and services while navigating segregation. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Tulsans prepare to ring in Lunar New Year with line dancing, sticky rice cakes and more: The Tam Bao Buddhist Temple in east Tulsa, which hosts weekly services in English and Vietnamese, holds a special evening celebration the night before Lunar New Year. It’s got food, line dancing, a Buddhist prayer service, fire crackers and other fun activities. This year, it’s set for 10:30 p.m. Feb. 16. [Tulsa Flyer]
East Tulsa speech therapist aims to break myths around raising bilingual children: A bilingual speech therapy program in east Tulsa hopes to clear up misinformation around being bilingual, especially with some people believing it may cause language development delays in children. [Tulsa Flyer]
Shocked by attention, Islamic Society of Tulsa prepares for hundreds at open house: About a month after Broken Arrow City Council rejected a proposed mosque, the Islamic Society of Tulsa wants people to come and get to know them. They’re hosting an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday to allow just that. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Look to Jesus as Savior, not politicians like Trump: We must break the habit of declaring any politician or person to be The One who will solve every problem, and on whom we pin all our hopes, along with all of our responsibilities of doing the hard and holy work of building a just and peaceful world. [The Rev. Lori Allen Walke / The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Lincoln County 911 board ‘allowed abuse to flourish,’ auditor says [The Oklahoman]
- Okla. State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd releases Lincoln Co. audit citing abuse and oversight [KFOR]
- Tulsa weighs changing zoning code for data centers. More action could be on the horizon. [Tulsa Flyer]
- With rebranding, transit authority looks to 2027 vote to connect OKC, Edmond and Norman [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“The whole reason for that law — I guess it’s a law — that compels financial disclosure by candidates is so people can know where the money’s coming from, who’s behind the campaign, and who’s supporting it. That’s important to know. It’s hard for people to make an informed decision about who to vote for if they’re being denied the information that they’re legally entitled to. Somebody above my pay grade needs to get in there and start figuring this out.”
– Dave Moore of Norman, speaking about a city council race that grew contentious after some candidates disclosed their own finances, while others did not. More than three months after a new state law began requiring local candidates to report their quarterly fundraising and expenditure totals to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission instead of city and county offices, candidates still have no way to do so. [NonDoc]
Number of the Day
$3,500
The maximum an individual can donate to an Oklahoma state candidate per election as of 2026. Candidates may give unlimited contributions to their own campaign. [Oklahoma Ethics Commission]
Policy Note
The State of Campaign Finance Policy: Recent Developments and Issues for Congress: Campaign finance policy in federal elections centers on rules about how money can be raised and spent, what must be disclosed to the public, and how candidates, parties, PACs, and outside groups can participate. Over time, court rulings, partisan disagreements, and new political strategies have produced a complicated system that some view as inconsistent or outdated. Long-running debates weigh concerns about transparency and fairness against protections for political speech. As a result, big reforms are often discussed but hard to pass, leaving many core questions about money in politics unsettled. [Congressional Research Service]
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