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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 should do better for vulnerable youth. Here are some bills this session that can do just that: Oklahoma has an obligation to care for vulnerable youth in our legal and foster systems. This session, Oklahoma legislators have the chance to build upon recent progress to make benefits more accessible and enshrine protections for vulnerable youth in the legal and foster systems. As lawmakers are considering bills during the next few weeks, they should support bills that connect Oklahoma youth to services that help them enter adulthood successfully. [Jill Mencke / OK Policy]
Policy Matters: Two lies and a truth: If you’ve ever sat through a team-building workshop, you’ve probably played the game “Two Truths and a Lie.” You share two real facts and one lie about yourself, while your coworkers try to guess the fib. But when it comes to politics and public discourse these days, it feels like we’re playing a much more dangerous version of that game—one I’d call “Two Lies and a Truth.” Unfortunately, it’s not just a game anymore; it’s becoming the way things work. And the process creates a handful of winners with way too many losers. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
A Supreme Court case would take a wrecking ball to separation of church and state in schools: The U.S. Supreme Court has tolerated the separation of church and state in public education. That separation could be eroded in a case the Court will hear oral arguments for on the last day of April, however. That case, Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond concerns a proposed Catholic school — St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School — which seeks to become the first religious public charter school in the country, dealing a severe blow to separation of church and state in public schooling in the process. [Vox]
State Government News
‘Breach of trust’: Oklahoma ed board members ask lawmakers to return social studies standards: After news reports surfaced that state Superintendent Ryan Walters had quietly edited the social studies standards upon which the board was to vote, a board member compared what he’d found online to what had been provided as part of a large informational packet presented to board members. The documents were considerably different. [The Oklahoman]
Fourth investigation launched into Oklahoma mental health department by House speaker: The leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives announced the fourth investigation − so far − of the state Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. [The Oklahoman]
- Stitt says mental health services will be provided amid probes of department finances [Tulsa World]
- OK House announces new investigation into Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services [KFOR]
- Oklahoma mental health department faces four active investigations over finances [Fox 25]
- Oklahoma House launches special investigation into Mental Health Department finances [News 9]
Gov. Kevin Stitt wants sole power to appoint Oklahoma Supreme Court justices: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt wants to wield the power to appoint state Supreme Court justices without involvement of the Judicial Nominating Commission as legislators work to reform the way judges are vetted and selected. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma lawmakers consider requiring ‘scientific evidence’ to close businesses in a pandemic: A bill headed to the House floor that limits the governor’s ability to close businesses during a pandemic is “irresponsible” and puts Oklahomans’ safety at risk, one lawmaker said. [Oklahoma Voice]
Antisemitism bill, bill to eliminate DEI in higher education advance out of committee: Two bills impacting higher education in Oklahoma advanced out of the House Education Oversight Committee on Wednesday morning. Senate Bill 796 is an effort to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, efforts on public college and university campuses in Oklahoma. [Fox 25]
Records: State paid former OSDE spokesperson more than $75k in final paycheck: The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) paid its former Director of Communications, and spokesperson for State Superintendent Ryan Walters, a final paycheck of more than $75,000 after he parted ways with OSDE earlier this year, according to records uncovered by News 4. [KFOR]
Federal Government News
Demonstrators angry with Trump’s DOGE cuts demand answers from U.S. Rep. Tom Cole: Oklahoma is regressing under the current presidential administration, and the state’s federal delegation isn’t doing enough to stop it, said a 72-year-old woman protesting outside of Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Cole’s office in Norman. [The Oklahoman]
Hundreds of Oklahoma weather and climate workers at risk of termination under new Trump proposal: A memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget, reviewed by multiple news outlets, suggests decreased funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the elimination of its research arm. [KGOU]
Lankford: Oklahoma needs global markets to stay strong: The U.S. needs to make new trade deals quickly to end economic uncertainty and keep the supply chain moving, U.S. Sen. James Lankford said Wednesday. Lankford was the keynote speaker at an U.S. Global Leadership Coalition discussion about the role of U.S. international engagement and America’s security and economic prosperity. [The Journal Record]
States that enshrined Medicaid expansion in their constitutions could be in a bind: As Republicans in Congress consider cutting the federal share of Medicaid funding, states are weighing numerous options to scale back their programs. But voters in three states have significantly limited those options by enshrining Medicaid expansion in their constitutions — creating a potential budget disaster and a political challenge for the GOP. [Oklahoma Voice]
GOP’s legal threats sink Democrats’ billboard attacks over Medicaid: The House GOP’s campaign arm in recent weeks has successfully pressed three advertising companies to pull down Democratic billboard displays bashing vulnerable Republicans over Medicaid — a setback to Democratic campaigners hoping to make health care a liability for battleground Republicans around the country. [The Hill]
Trump registration requirement carries danger for immigrants who comply, groups warn: Immigrant rights groups are cautioning migrants without legal status about the dangers of obeying the Department of Homeland Security’s directive to register with authorities, group leaders told reporters during a virtual press conference Tuesday. [Oklahoma Voice]
Probable cause Trump administration in contempt over deportation flights, judge says: A federal judge in Washington found probable cause Wednesday the Trump administration is in contempt of court for defying his order to stop flights of Venezuelan immigrants headed to a prison in El Salvador. [Oklahoma Voice]
Republicans consider increasing taxes on the rich in break from party orthodoxy: Republicans in Congress are considering increasing taxes on the rich as a part of President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” of ambitious legislative priorities, a striking development that breaks with decades of party orthodoxy and is spurring alarm bells from traditional conservatives. [The Hill]
Tribal Nations News
Where Does RFK, Jr. Really Stand on Health in Indian Country?: After Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK, Jr) met with Tribal leaders last month, he committed to improving the Indian Health Service (IHS). Now, he announced the department is cutting 10,000 employees and HHS attempted to reassign some of the health official to IHS. [Native News Online]
- RFK, Jr.’s Fireside Chat with Tribal Leaders [Native News Online]
Education News
Advocates worry for Oklahoma special needs classrooms if US Dept. of Education is dismantled: Advocates went to the state Capitol on Monday to ask their legislators for answers during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day. If the federal Department of Education goes away, advocates worried it could impact special needs students in Oklahoma. [KOCO]
‘Deport every illegal’: OSU students react to conservative student group flyers: Some Oklahoma State University students are reacting to flyers posted by a student group on campus calling for the deportation of “illegals.” News 4 received a tip from an Oklahoma State University (OSU) student on Wednesday that the flyers had been posted in the student union and on multiple boards in buildings across campus. [KFOR]
Tracking 1,200 Student Visa Revocations: One Higher-Ed Reporter’s Mission to Understand the Trends
Inside Higher Ed reporter Ashley Mowreader decided to track the number of foreign-born students who have had their visas revoked or changed. As of April 15, her database now includes over 1,200 cases at over 180 schools. [Documented]
- University of Oklahoma confirms visa revocations of students, immigration attorney outlines what to do next [KFOR]
Opinion: Civics education has long been neglected in Oklahoma schools to the detriment of our society: As districts were forced to focus on math and reading test scores, social studies was largely ignored. Today, however, our democracy is clearly in danger. At a time, for instance, when a president claims that he can seek a third term and seems to think he can ignore federal courts, a solid understanding of the Constitution is necessary. [John Thompson / Oklahoma Voice]
Health News
Blue Cross Blue Shield now requires Oklahomans receive prior approval for severe asthma drugs: Patients in five states who have severe asthma and are covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield are facing a new obstacle to getting treatment. On Tuesday, BCBS began mandating that severe asthma patients self-administer their drugs at home, unless their provider gets prior approval from the insurance company. [Oklahoma Voice]
Criminal Justice News
Black clergy stand ‘as a brotherhood’ outside OK County jail; trustee calls for sales tax: Black Oklahoma City clergy, invited by new District 1 County Commissioner Jason Lowe, toured the long-troubled Oklahoma County Detention Center this week and said they saw “eye-opening” examples of “inhumane” conditions − and justification for building a new county jail. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma County Commissioner Lowe, local pastors survey ‘inhumane’ jail conditions [KOSU]
Opinion, Sen. Dave Rader: We’re not following the death penalty process we all voted for: We here in the state of Oklahoma have an excellent judicial system, but regrettably, when it comes to the death penalty — the most terminal of all punishments — we don’t always get it right. [Sen. Dave Rader / The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma Death Penalty Tracker
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Listen to KGOU’s Oklahoma Future Forum: Homelessness event (audio): KGOU managing editor Logan Layden leads a discussion about homelessness issues in Norman and Oklahoma from Yellow Dog Coffee in Norman with KGOU reporter Hannah France and KFOR’s Xavier Richardson. The discussion took place Thursday, April 10, 2025. [KGOU]
Community News
Former Oklahoma governor recalls community strength in wake of 1995 bombing: If former Gov. Frank Keating wasn’t previously aware of the Oklahoma standard before April 19, 1995, he would learn that day. For Keating, leading the state through its darkest day was far and away the biggest challenge he could have been tasked with, especially just three months into the job. [The Journal Record]
- Oklahoma City Bombing play brings testimonies of tragedy, hope to next generation [KOSU]
- Remembering the OKC bombing 30 years ago. It’s too important to forget [Kari Watkins and Dr. Susan Chambers / The Oklahoman]
- Opinion: We are still feeling the aftershocks of the Oklahoma City bombing [W. Joseph Campbell / The Hill]
- Opinion: Her father died in the OKC bombing. Here’s how she coped with tragedy [Warren Vieth / The Oklahoman]
30 years after the bombing, OKC is a comeback story like no other: Oklahoma City was already reeling from the devastation wrought by the 1980s oil bust when the challenge of bringing life back to downtown was tragically set back by a terrorist bombing that damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum moving forward with $12 million expansion [KOSU]
Oklahoma’s Afghan refugee community in fear as protected status set to expire: Thousands of Afghan refugees previously welcomed to Oklahoma will face deportation next month. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Friday Afghans no longer meet the criteria for temporary protected status. [Public Radio Tulsa]
During WWII, Oklahoma’s Thunderbirds fought across Europe. Fate led them to Dachau: Eighty years ago on April 29, 1945, men of the 45th Infantry Division, which was mostly made up of citizen-soldiers from Oklahoma, entered and liberated one of Nazi Germany’s most notorious concentration camps: Dachau. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Is the Oklahoma Standard alive and well? How readers voted: As the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing approached, The Oklahoman asked its readers about the Oklahoma Standard ― an attitude of caring, helping and kindness that emerged from the devastating tragedy of the terrorist act. Readers were asked whether now ― after three decades ― they believe the standard is alive and well … or believe the standard has been overcome by division and hostility. In all, 24% of those responding said yes, the standard is still alive ― but 76% said no. [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“To me, I felt like I had been deceived. He (Walters) had broken faith with the board. To know changes had been made without my knowledge is disturbing. We as board members want people to know we didn’t know those things were changed.”
-Mike Tinney, a newly appointed member of the Oklahoma State Board of Education, said the social studies standards provided to board members prior to its Feb. 27 meeting were different from the final materials they approved at the meeting. News reports have surfaced saying Superintendent Ryan Walters quietly edited the standards upon which the board was to vote. Tinney and two other board members are asking the legislature to return the social studies standards back to the board for review. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
52%
Share of births in Oklahoma during 2023 that were financed by Medicaid, compared to the national average of 41%. Oklahoma had the nation’s 4th highest share of births financed by Medicaid. [KFF]
Policy Note
At least 26 states have launched their own version of DOGE: These states are simply rebranding longstanding efforts to undermine government in service of the wealthy. The Trump administration’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has wrought havoc on the federal government, diminishing its ability to perform essential work—like administering Social Security benefits for retirees, weather forecasting to predict tornadoes, and environmental pollution cleanup—while creating new inefficiencies and increased public costs. Now, many Republican governors and state lawmakers are demonstrating their loyalty to the Trump administration by setting up state-level versions of DOGE. [Economic Policy Institute]
- From OK Policy: Statement: DOGE-OK recommends health care cuts that are harmful, counterintuitive
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