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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
Oklahoma Death Penalty Tracker: Oklahoma has executed more than 125 people since the modern era of capital punishment began in 1976, which is by far the nation’s highest per capita rate for executions. Given the prevalence of capital punishment in our state and the increasing scrutiny surrounding the process, the Oklahoma Policy Institute has published the Oklahoma Death Penalty Tracker. This online tool compiles information on all active death row cases since 2021, the end of a recent unofficial moratorium. [Andrew Bell / OK Policy]
With immigration bills, lawmakers are playing politics with people’s lives: Instead of meaningfully addressing problems that Oklahomans face, lawmakers are once again choosing to target and criminalize our immigrant friends and neighbors for political gain. So far this session, legislators filed a flurry of anti-immigrant bills, such as House Bill 1362 and Senate Bill 868. These are harmful proposals that create a climate of fear in our state and would have a negative impact on all of our communities. [Gabriella Ramirez-Perez / OK Policy]
- Advocacy Alert: Tell Oklahoma lawmakers to vote NO on SB 868 that creates state overreach by preventing cities from protecting their residents.
- Advocacy Alert: Ask your Senator to vote NO on HB 1362, which would separate Oklahoma children from their parents.
Oklahoma News
Oklahoma executes first prisoner of 2025: Over 20 people showed up to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on Thursday morning to watch Wendell Grissom’s execution. Grissom, who killed Amber Dawn Matthews, 23, in 2005, apologized and stated he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol but it doesn’t excuse his actions, according to media witnesses. [The Frontier]
- Oklahoma executes man for 2005 home-invasion killing [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma executes the man who killed a woman 20 years ago in a home invasion and robbery [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Oklahoma executes Wendell Arden Grissom for 2005 ‘senseless’ murder of Amber Dawn Matthews [The Oklahoman]
- Anti-death penalty protestors hold vigil ahead of Wendell Grissom’s execution [The Oklahoman]
- Drummond comments on Grissom execution [Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General]
Opinion: 46 former Oklahoma inmates have been exonerated since 1989. Why?: 465. That is the number of years collectively stolen from Oklahomans who have been wrongfully convicted of a crime. A total of 46 former inmates in Oklahoma have been officially exonerated since 1989. 10. That is the number of years it typically takes to investigate, litigate and exonerate an innocent prisoner. [Andrea Miller / The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Opinion: Oklahoma needs workers now more than ever: Trump’s racially charged rhetoric has unleashed the worst impulses of his fellow elected travelers across the land. The Oklahoma statehouse serves as Exhibit A. Last week, the GOP-supermajority in the Oklahoma House embraced Stilwell Rep. David Hardin’s House Bill 1362 that would create a new felony for being in the country illegally. The fate of HB 1362 now rests with the Senate, already wrestling with Muskogee Republican Sen. Avery Frix’s Senate Bill 868 that would ban sanctuary cities – even though there are none in Oklahoma. [Arnold Hamilton / The Journal Record]
Editorial: Mandated ethics training for Ryan Walters a good idea for all elected officials: State Superintendent Ryan Walters struck a deal with the Ethics Commission about his irresponsible behavior on social media that brings up a good idea for all elected officials: mandated ethics training. [Tulsa World Editorial Board]
Federal Government News
Oklahoma ACA health insurance costs could rise sharply if federal aid ends, insurance commissioner says: Oklahoma’s insurance commissioner is warning that people enrolled in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace could see sizeable increases in their health insurance premiums if federal enhanced Advanced Premium Tax Credits are not extended by Dec. 31. [The Oklahoman]
State leaders meet Trump’s order to dismantle education department with both enthusiasm, worry: While Stitt and Walters — who leads Oklahoma’s K-12 common education system — are enthused about Trump’s order, others involved in Oklahoma education — including the leaders of Oklahoma’s higher education and CareerTech systems — are taking a more measured, wait-and-see approach. [The Oklahoman]
- Lankford: Special education funding will continue as Department of Ed slashed [Public Radio Tulsa]
- US Department of Education to Be Dismantled per Trump’s EO [The Black Wall Street Times]
Federal assistance available for Oklahoma stemming from November storms: The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday announced that federal disaster assistance is available to Oklahoma to supplement recovery efforts in areas affected by November severe storms in eight counties. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Trump approves major disaster declaration for Oklahoma’s November 2024 tornado outbreak [The Oklahoman]
- Trump declares disaster almost 6 months after tornadoes tore through Oklahoma City [KOSU]
USDA opens emergency assistance to Oklahoma farmers: The department announced enrollment for the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program opened this week. The payments are to help eligible farmers cope with increased input costs and falling commodity prices for the 2024 crop year. [KOSU]
Trump’s downsizing continues with offers for early retirements, buyouts at weather agency: A major weather forecasting and scientific research agency is offering buyouts and early retirement to employees, according to a memo obtained by USA TODAY, the Trump administration’s latest step in reducing the size of the federal workforce. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa man offers to pay Tesla counterprotestors: In a reversal of a Republican talking point, a Tulsa man says he’s planning to pay $50 to people willing to oppose a group of protestors who’ve been regularly picketing a Tesla car dealership in Tulsa. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Editorial: President Trump crossed a critical line in violating a court order: In the words of U.S. Sen. James Lankford last week, President Donald Trump likes to move fast and break things to get what he wants. What he can’t do — or ought not be allowed to do — is ignore the rule of law. [Tulsa World Editorial Board]
Tribal Nations News
State’s tribal nations leaders concerned about Trump executive order on Indian ed funds: An executive order that would potentially redirect Bureau of Indian Education funding to vouchers and other school choice options received a cool reception Thursday from tribal leaders. [Tulsa World]
State, tribal leaders discuss sports betting, inter-governmental relations: The head of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association said Thursday that tribes shouldn’t rush into a “bad deal” with the state when it comes to sports betting. [Oklahoma Voice]
City of Tulsa moves O’Brien case to tribal court despite state ruling: The city of Tulsa has dismissed a traffic case against a Native motorist despite the state ruling he was not granted immunity from local prosecution. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Voting and Election News
Six candidates vie to fill empty Oklahoma House seat representing Tulsa, Rogers counties: Half a dozen candidates have thrown their names in to run for an open seat in the Oklahoma House representing parts of Tulsa and Rogers Counties. [Oklahoma Voice]
Education News
Oklahoma bill aims to close loopholes for teachers under investigation for misconduct: State Rep. Derrick Hildebrant said teachers accused of sexual misconduct in Oklahoma have a loophole that doesn’t protect Oklahoma kids. His bill, HB1075, is called the Protect Our Kids Act and prevents teachers from leaving one school and going to another without the Oklahoma State Board of Education knowing what’s going on. [KOCO]
Health News
Oklahoma Health Department launches measles update page after 4 reported probable cases: Case summary updates will occur on Tuesdays at noon. They will include total cases, both probable and confirmed, hospitalizations, deaths and the vaccination status of cases. [KOSU]
Wildfire smoke, dust storms complicate outlook for those with seasonal allergies, more serious conditions: From seasonal allergies to more serious lung conditions, the recent wildfires and wind storms across Oklahoma are expected to make things worse for a range of health concerns. [Tulsa World]
- Allergy season is among the worst in the nation in these Oklahoma cities: Here’s why [The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Two arrested in alleged fake green card, Social Security card operation: A federal grand jury has indicted a Tulsa woman and a Mexican national on allegations that they ran a fake green card and Social Security card operation here since at least 2020. [Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
What to expect in OKC real-estate market: The inventory of homes on the market this spring remains low, but it’s growing as more would-be sellers begin to accept that interest rates are not going down quickly. [The Journal Record]
Economy & Business News
Agentech creates digital workforce for AI insurance claims workflow: An Oklahoma-based startup providing AI-based claims solutions can increase efficiencies and enable companies using the technology to provide swift decisions for their policyholders. [The Journal Record]
Community News
Sheridan Church’s Tax Status Holds Up, Despite Unabashed Political Influence: In 2023, the Tulsa World published a letter to the editor from Tulsa resident Sherwin Kahn, responding to Sheridan Church’s Tulsarusalem event, which featured current FBI director Kash Patel, Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, and a phone call from an on-stage Lara Trump to her father-in-law and then-candidate for president, Donald Trump. Title 26 prohibits groups that operate for religious purposes from attempting to influence legislation with propaganda or otherwise. [Oklahoma Watch]
Local Headlines
- Oklahoma County Assessor surveys wildfire damage to ease tax burden on affected homeowners [Fox 25]
- Oklahoma County commissioners streamline operations by creating, hiring a county manager [The Oklahoman]
- As explosions shake OKC’s JFK neighborhood, residents rally to oppose scrapyard permit [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma City University to offer no-cost income tax filing assistance [KGOU]
- ElevateHER Conference to Empower and Celebrate Black Women in Tulsa [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Tulsa Film Collective launches workshop for aspiring film professionals [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“There is no safeguard in place to ensure that students across the U.S. will earn comparable educations. Each state will be left to their own whims when it comes to spending any federal funds that might still exist. There will be no standard set of guidelines or expectations. We are led by people who are focused on ‘rights,’ but have forgotten the ‘responsibility’ or who have misplaced that word in their vocabulary.”
– Christie Cannon, a Sand Springs middle-school art teacher, expressing concern about how federal money meant for individual schools, classrooms and/or students will reach its destination without the federal Education Department, and about who will monitor the overall quality of education from state to state. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
$2.3 billion
State revenues would be expected to decline $2.3 billion over the next 10 years if federal lawmakers pass the Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 (ECCA). State revenues would be decreased due to tax breaks given to the wealthy donors funding organizations that give out private school vouchers. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy]
Policy Note
Shelter Skelter: How the Educational Choice for Children Act Would Use Tax Avoidance to Fuel School Privatization: The Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 (ECCA) would ostensibly provide a tax break on charitable donations to organizations that give out private K-12 school vouchers. Most of the so-called “contributions,” however, would be made by wealthy people solely for the tax savings, as those savings would typically be larger than their contributions. ITEP estimates that ECCA would spur $126 billion in contributions to private school voucher funds over the next 10 years but would cost the U.S. Treasury more than that—$134 billion—because the tax subsidies being paid out would exceed the contributions made to these funds. Most states would automatically provide additional tax breaks on top of those offered by the federal government, bringing the total loss to public budgets to over $136 billion. In effect, ECCA seeks to harness wealthy families’ interest in tax avoidance and personal profit as a means of bolstering private schools at the expense of public budgets. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy]
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