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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
2026 KIDS COUNT: Oklahoma ranks 44th for child well-being: Oklahoma continues to rank among the bottom 10 states for overall child well-being in the 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, 50-state report of recent data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how kids are faring nationwide. For the 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, Oklahoma tied with Texas for 44th overall for child well-being, with only Nevada, Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Mississippi ranking lower. [OK Policy]
Oklahoma News
Oklahoma improves, but still ranked in worst states for child well-being, report shows: Though Oklahoma moved two spots up on overall child well-being, a report released Monday, June 8, shows the state continues to rank among the bottom 10 states in the nation. The 2026 KIDS Count Data Book by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a Baltimore-based private philanthropic group, shows Oklahoma tied with Texas as 44th among 50 states, an improvement from last year’s ranking at 46th place. [The Oklahoman]
Three Cities, Three Approaches: How Oklahoma’s Homeless Encampment Sweeps Played Out Differently: Service providers said the approach in Oklahoma City — a collaborative process with service providers and outreach teams — was a less damaging way of sweeping encampments and would better serve those experiencing homelessness. [Oklahoma Watch]
Poll of older Oklahomans reveals inflation stress, worries about utility bills: A recent poll of Oklahomans was intended to gauge opinions about data centers and their effects on electricity bills, but it also provided insights into the tough economic realities faced by some and offered a cautionary note for politicians. [Tulsa World]
State Government News
Stitt appoints new leader of embattled Mental Health Department: A struggling state agency will have its third commissioner in two and a half years. Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Josh Anderson on Friday to be the interim leader of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Anderson will succeed Interim Commissioner Gregory Slavonic, who agreed to lead the agency for a year until the end of the 2026 Legislative Session, which finished last month. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services gets new interim director [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma to extend state services to eligible foster care youth until age 21: Young adults in the Oklahoma foster care system can soon apply to retain services past their 18th birthday, under a new state law. The voluntary program state legislators unanimously passed this session will allow eligible individuals in the foster care program to receive stipend payments, Medicaid coverage, continued support from a caseworker or other resources until they are 21. [Oklahoma Voice]
Capital Insider: State agencies and departments begin implementation of new laws: Gov. Stitt has completed his work on bills sent to him at the end of the legislative session. He had 43 bills and joint resolutions to consider in the final days. Let’s review what he did. [KGOU]
Did Oklahoma recently pass a law that requires any new data center using 75 or more megawatts to pay their own infrastructure costs and give 60 days notice before buying land?: Yes. House Bill 2992, signed on May 11, requires large-load customers to fund their own infrastructure costs and to notify government entities and adjacent landowners within 60 days of purchasing land. [Oklahoma Watch]
‘Oklahoma Today’ magazine to stop publishing after 70 years: The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department will stop printing Oklahoma Today at the end of this year. [KGOU]
Opinion: Oklahomans deserve candidates who can relate to them, not ones spouting tired tropes: One thing that’s really irritated me about the Republican frontrunners in the Oklahoma governor’s race is they seem hellbent on proving they are just like the rest of us. But other than having the privilege of living here, they’re really not like us at all. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
The Justice Department Hasn’t Taken Its Usual Steps to Protect the 2026 Election: The DOJ appears to be quietly scrapping its typical “command center” that would monitor Election Day emergencies. [NOTUS]
D.C. Digest: Lankford says latest vote-a-thon ‘long’ and ‘painful’: All night long: That’s how long it took Senate Republicans to get their $70 billion immigration enforcement bill through stubborn Democratic opposition. [Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
‘Buffalo are a reflection of who we are’: Calf birth reflects new beginnings for Kiowa Tribe: A new bison calf was the first born in the Kiowa Tribe’s herd. Leadership of the tribal nation in western Oklahoma said it highlights a broader current theme of new beginnings. [KGOU]
Native American Hall of Fame opens new home at Sundial Mansion in OKC: The National Native American Hall of Fame is officially open at the historic Sundial Mansion in Oklahoma City, establishing a permanent home dedicated to honoring Indigenous achievers. [The Oklahoman]
Voting and Election News
Proposed USPS mail-in ballot rules won’t affect Oklahoma primary: Proposed federal rules regarding mail-in voting will not affect the upcoming June 16 primary elections in Oklahoma. The U.S. Postal Service proposal would require states to provide the names of voters who received mail-in ballots as part of President Donald Trump’s controversial efforts to increase election security. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma ethics agency to consider regulating use of AI in political campaigns: A state ethics board will consider ways to require disclosure when artificial intelligence is used in Oklahoma’s political campaigns. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma regulators consider new rules for AI in political ads [The Oklahoman]
Oklahomans will decide whether to raise minimum wage to $15. Tulsans have thoughts: Business owners, single moms and full-time students can all agree on one thing: If passed, State Question 832 — which would raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage to $15 an hour — will change their working lives. [Tulsa Flyer]
- 5 things to know about State Question 832 to raise the minimum wage [Tulsa World]
- From OK Policy: SQ 832 Information and Resources | Fact Sheet
Election Roundup
- The primaries are almost here. See our comprehensive guide on candidates, races [The Oklahoman]
- Democratic Primaries Set for Governor, State Superintendent [Oklahoma Watch]
- Fact check: OKGOP superintendent candidates talk taxes, teacher pay in primary debate [The Frontier] | [NonDoc]
- State superintendent candidates debate how to improve Oklahoma education rankings, teacher wages [Tulsa Flyer]
- Two candidates for state superintendent discuss issues at forum in Tulsa [Tulsa World]
- Political notebook: Tedford tops CD 1 money race [Tulsa World]
- A Q&A with Jon Echols, a Republican candidate for Oklahoma AG [Oklahoma Voice]
- Cheat sheet: GOP labor commissioner candidates focus on safety, development [NonDoc]
- Cheat sheet: Republicans Brad Boles, Justin Hornback seek Corporation Commission seat [NonDoc]
- Cheat sheet: 3 Democrats hope to balance Corporation Commission [NonDoc]
- Cheat sheet: 3 Republicans compete for open seat in northeast Oklahoma’s HD 9 [NonDoc]
- Spencer Grace, Jeremy Sacket square off in open HD 37 race [NonDoc]
- John Fothergill, Brandon Shreffler compete to be the tax collector in Tulsa County treasurer race [NonDoc]
- Cheat sheet: Retirement leaves Tulsa County district judge seat open [NonDoc]
- State senator, others say north Tulsa should have an early voting site, too [Tulsa World]
- Filing period for Tulsa City Council, city auditor begins Monday [Tulsa World]
Education News
Oklahoma universities failing to support international students after recruiting them here: International students attending some of Oklahoma’s largest universities are struggling to thrive as employment laws coupled with a scarcity of on-campus job opportunities have hamstrung their earning potential. [Oklahoma Voice]
Health News
Oklahoma law creates new penalties for abortion pill distribution: Oklahoma lawmakers wrapped a three-year effort to tighten restrictions on abortion pills during the 2026 legislative session. Supporters say it’s a step in the right direction and will reduce the number of abortion pills entering Oklahoma. But critics say the language is vague and could create uncertainty. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KOSU]
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma farmers eyeing deadly livestock pest following Texas infection: A recent confirmed case of a deadly livestock pest in Texas has Oklahoma farmers and ranchers monitoring their animals. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is working to protect livestock from a pest that had been eradicated decades ago from the U.S. [Oklahoma Voice]
Survey finds 70% of Oklahomans report going to restaurants less often in last year: Oklahomans are eating out less this year, a new State Chamber survey found. Among respondents surveyed in May, 70 percent said higher prices had led them to “cut back some” or “cut back a lot” on eating at restaurants and ordering takeout over the past year. [KOSU]
Why do some wind turbines not spin, even when it’s windy in Oklahoma?: Anyone driving past one of Oklahoma’s massive wind farms has seen row after row of turbines, nearly all turned the same direction and spinning in the air flow to produce electricity. But what about the turbines that aren’t moving? [The Oklahoman]
Community News
Priest boosts security after he says preacher used his church for anti-Catholic videos: A Catholic priest said his church is taking extra security measures after a fringe evangelical preacher visited under false pretenses and filmed “anti-Catholic” videos that have been posted on social media. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Flooding results in disaster declaration for Tulsa, other counties [Tulsa World]
- Osage Nation, Pawhuska enter agreement to address boil order, outages in rural water district [KOSU]
- Italian manufacturer breaks ground on $775m factory expansion in Inola [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Edmond considers a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. What it’s about [The Oklahoman]
- Edmond blocks Liberty Creek addition over developer’s impassioned plea [The Oklahoman]
- Yukon Vice Mayor resigns from city council amid data center controversy [KFOR]
- Two southside Oklahoma City ZIP codes are among the top 50 newest neighborhoods nationwide for growth in recent years [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“Year after year, Oklahoma leaders talk about making our state stronger and more prosperous, but these rankings show our priorities still don’t match our rhetoric. Our lawmakers and elected officials somehow always seem to find urgency when it comes to tax breaks and incentives for wealthy individuals and corporations, yet Oklahoma continues to rank near the bottom when it comes to investing in the health, education, and stability that children need to thrive.”
-Carly Putnam, Policy Director and KIDS COUNT coordinator for OK Policy, speaking about the latest KIDS COUNT report that shows Oklahoma continues to be among the bottom states for overall child well-being. [OK Policy]
Number of the Day
44th
Oklahoma’s ranking for overall child well-being. Among the 16 components of the report, Oklahoma ranked among the top half of all states in only three indicators. By contrast, the state ranked 40th or below on seven of 16 indicators. [KIDS COUNT via OK Policy]
Policy Note
2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book: This year’s Data Book shows a mixed and uneven picture of child well-being across the country. Since 2019, seven of the 16 key indicators have improved, seven have worsened and two remain unchanged. Because state policies and conditions shape children’s opportunities, a child’s future still depends in large part on where they grow up. Where children live shapes their health and quality of life. Data from the KIDS COUNT Data Center show persistent disparities across states and communities, driven by differences in policy, economic conditions, infrastructure, resources, and neighborhood characteristics. [Annie E. Casey Foundation]
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