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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
Managed care and Medicaid expansion shape Oklahoma’s health policy debate (Capitol Update): Oklahoma’s approximately $3 billion Medicaid (SoonerCare) managed care program is likely to remain a prominent public policy and political issue for the foreseeable future. Known as SoonerSelect, it covers hospital and physician services as well as dental care, mental health care, and substance use treatment for nearly 600,000 low-income individuals and families. Recently, Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Governor Kevin Stitt have engaged in back-and-forth sparring about SoonerSelect. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
Oklahoma News
Homeless numbers remain steady, according to annual Point-in-Time Count: For the first time in a decade, the area’s homeless count has held steady year over year. The results of the PIT (Point in Time) count, released Wednesday, identified 1,443 homeless individuals in Tulsa County, compared to 1,449 in 2025. [Tulsa World]
- Read the full report from Housing Solutions
- From OK Policy: Homelessness in Oklahoma – Information and Resources
Oklahoma Gov. Stitt seeks audit of AG Gentner Drummond’s office: Not content to let his tiff with Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond lie, Gov. Kevin Stitt called for an investigative audit of Drummond’s office before heading into the Memorial Day weekend. [The Journal Record]
State Government News
Swadley trial: Former Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department director Jerry Winchester grilled in court: As Brent Swadley’s trial on six felony counts of fraud and conspiracy against the state begins its second week, the decision on whether he will testify in his own defense has yet to be made, defense attorney David Smith said late Tuesday afternoon. [NonDoc]
- Ex tourism chief says he did not authorize inflated invoices from Brent Swadley [The Oklahoman]
- Day 6: Jurors hear from the last state witness in the Swadley trial [KFOR]
Oklahoma ups raw milk sales, nixes federal milk compliance bill: A new Oklahoma law allows more on-farm sales of raw milk. Another bill ensuring the state’s commercial milk supply complies with federal regulations failed to advance to the governor’s desk. [KOSU]
Records show Oklahoma parole board pay raise bill stalled after lawmaker pressure in murder case: A bill that would have nearly doubled the pay of the state’s Pardon and Parole Board failed after a lawmaker didn’t get the response he sought for a man serving life for murder. [Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
Federal changes leave Oklahoma fentanyl test strip program in limbo: Every year, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services distributes tens of thousands of fentanyl test strips to partner agencies and through its own mail-order harm reduction program. But after receiving word in late April that the federal government will no longer pay for test strips, Oklahoma department officials are evaluating what’s next. [KOSU]
Congressional Black Caucus calls for corporate leaders to speak out for voting rights: The Congressional Black Caucus on Tuesday urged American corporations to condemn efforts to dilute Black voting strength, as Southern states eliminate congressional districts where most residents are Black. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
Oklahoma butterfly farm wants to save the monarchs — and give tribal citizens job training along the way: Breckinridge founded Euchee Butterfly Farm with the mission of empowering Native people economically while raising awareness about the importance of nature conservation. The site at 14024 East 171st St. S. is now a living classroom focused on training tribal citizens to become butterfly farmers. [Tulsa Flyer]
Voting and Election News
‘Who is funding you?’: News 4 investigation presses dark money groups behind political ads for transparency: As political ads flood Oklahoma televisions ahead of next month’s primary elections, News 4 sat down with two leaders behind major “dark money” groups funding some of those ads—and repeatedly pressed them to explain who is bankrolling their attempts to sway Oklahoma voters. [KFOR]
Election Roundup
- Cheat sheet: 5 Oklahoma Democrats compete in U.S. Senate primary [NonDoc]
- Senate education leader Adam Pugh shifts focus to Oklahoma superintendent’s office [Oklahoma Voice]
- OK County assessor, challenger spar over jail funding, property taxes [The Oklahoman]
- Republican candidates for attorney general outline what they would bring to the job [Tulsa World]
Health News
Oklahoma Health Care Authority launches 24/7 SoonerGuide chatbot for SoonerCare Helpline: The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) has launched an AI chatbot called the “SoonerGuide” to assist SoonerCare members. [Fox 25]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Operation SAFE clears out homeless encampment in Norman ahead of Memorial Day weekend: On Friday morning, Gov. Kevin Stitt directed the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to conduct an encampment sweep in Norman. The sweep was part of Operation SAFE, or Swift Action for Families Everywhere, an ongoing effort to remove homeless encampments on state property. [KGOU]
Oklahoma posts nation’s highest vacancy rate as zombie foreclosures rise: Oklahoma tied for the nation’s highest residential property vacancy rate in the second quarter of 2026, according to a new report from ATTOM, a property data and analytics company. The Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report found Oklahoma‘s vacancy rate at 2.4 percent, tied with Kansas for the highest in the country. [The Journal Record]
Opinion: If Oklahoma won’t challenge insurance companies, who will?: Oklahomans are getting squeezed by skyrocketing home and auto insurance premiums, and the official response has been predictable: blame the Oklahoma weather, blame inflation and move on. But here’s the truth we don’t say out loud: Insurance rates in Oklahoma don’t just happen — they are allowed to happen. [Josiah Daniel IV / The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma business leaders optimistic but cite workforce, infrastructure gaps: Oklahoma business leaders remain confident in the state’s economic direction and are planning for growth, but continue to raise concerns about workforce availability, infrastructure and long-term competitiveness, according to the 2026 Oklahoma Business Leaders Poll. [The Journal Record]
Community News
Oklahoma History Center marks 100 years of Route 66, offers journey through state: Route 66 turns 100 this year. To celebrate, the Oklahoma History Center is offering a condensed journey through Oklahoma’s portion of the Mother Road. [KOSU]
- Amid Route 66 anniversary, historians say Black travelers found safety in Greenwood [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Local Headlines
- Tulsa mayor holding latest Community Conversation on Tuesday night [Tulsa World]
- El Reno community holds vigil for four young people killed in wrong-way crash [KFOR]
Quote of the Day
“We have a moment here that we should really, really capitalize on to start to really turn the curve here, and we need to take advantage of that.”
– Mark Smith, CEO of Housing Solutions — the lead agency for A Way Home for Tulsa, the local continuum of care for homelessness services — discussing a recent report showing that Tulsa’s homeless population remained steady for the first time in a decade rather than increasing. He said the report offers both hope and a sense of urgency, emphasizing that this moment presents an important opportunity to build on that progress and improve outcomes moving forward. [Tulsa World]
Number of the Day
27%
The share of people experiencing homelessness in Tulsa who said a lack of affordable housing was the primary cause of their homelessness, making it the most commonly reported factor. [Housing Solutions]
Policy Note
Policymakers Can Solve Homelessness by Scaling Up Rental Assistance and Supportive Services: Housing is a basic human need, but stable housing is out of reach or hard to keep for far too many people. This is a policy choice, not an economic inevitability. Evidence shows that we can solve homelessness if we address its primary driver: the gap between incomes and rent. Rental assistance, which closes that gap, has been proven highly effective at both rehousing people experiencing homelessness and preventing future homelessness. Access to the supportive services people need to find and keep housing — such as help navigating the housing market, obtaining health care, and securing sufficient income to afford housing — is also critical. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
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