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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
Nearly double the necessary signatures submitted to get an Oklahoma minimum wage increase on the ballot: State law requires ballot initiative proponents to gather 92,263 signatures in 90 days. Raise the Wage said they gathered almost 180,000. [KOSU]
- From $7.25 to $15: Oklahoma’s Path to Fairer Wages [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Supporters turn in petition to raise minimum wage in Oklahoma [Tulsa World]
State Government News
Oklahoma Senate’s GOP caucus chooses Lonnie Paxton, of Tuttle, to be its new leader: Republicans in the Oklahoma Senate picked another new leader, Monday, the second one in five months. State Sen. Lonnie Paxton, of Tuttle, was chosen as the caucus’ pro tempore-designee for the 2025 legislative session. [The Oklahoman]
- Republican caucus picks Sen. Lonnie Paxton as next Senate president pro tem [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma Senate selects Paxton as Pro Tem Designee amid controversy [The Journal Record]
Oklahoma senate meets to condemn political violence, confirm OSU Regent and choose new leader: Oklahoma Senators sped through a gubernatorial confirmation and internal leadership vote Monday, but not without ensuring they condemn acts of political violence in light of a recent attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump. [KOSU]
- Stitt nominee to OSU regents finally confirmed [Tulsa World]
- ‘Third time’s the charm:’ Senate approves Stitt’s newest nominee for seat on OSU/A&M board [The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Large trove of Native American records now available to Tulsans: A vast collection of Native American historical records is now available through the Tulsa Public Library System. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Health News
Bird flu detected in Oklahoma dairy cows: Oklahoma is the 13th state to find the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in dairy cows. The U.S. Department of Agriculture shows two positive cases in the state and Lee Benson, a public information officer at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF), said the milk samples came from two barns on the same farm. [KOSU]
- Oklahoma becomes 13th state with confirmed case of bird flu in dairy cattle [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma not entitled to federal family planning grants, US court rules: A U.S. appeals court on Monday said Oklahoma cannot access federal family-planning grants that were withdrawn after the Republican-led state refused to refer pregnant women to neutral counseling services that included information about abortion and other options. [Reuters]
- Case Summary: Oklahoma v. United States Department of Health and Human Services [Constitutional Accountability Center]
- Opinion: Rejecting Oklahoma’s Attempt to Distort and Weaponize the Spending Clause Against Reproductive Rights, Tenth Circuit Affirms Federal Government’s Authority to Require Non-Directive Counseling and Referral for Abortion Under Title X. [Miriam Becker-Cohen / Constitutional Accountability Center]
Oklahoma reports first West Nile Virus case and death: here’s how to protect yourself: The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) reported its first human case and death from the West Nile Virus, which spreads through mosquito bites. The infected patient lived in Southwest Oklahoma and was hospitalized before they died from the West Nile Virus. [KGOU]
The 988 suicide prevention lifeline started 2 years ago. Here’s how it’s going in Oklahoma: If you dial or text 988 on your phone, the call center you’re connected to depends on your number’s area code. If you live in Oklahoma, you’ll likely be connected to the state’s primary call center, managed by Solari Crisis and Human Services. Callers can expect an average answer speed of 11 seconds. [KOSU]
Criminal Justice News
‘Freak accident’ between 2 state corrections employees leaves 1 dead, 1 injured: Cpl. Robert Sumner worked at the John Lilley Correctional Center in Boley. He was on his way in a state van to guard a prisoner at OU Medical when he collided with another John Lilley employee on Highway 62 around 5:22 a.m. [KOSU]
State Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit Alleging Inhumane Conditions at Hinton Prison: Seven state prisoners suing the Oklahoma Department of Corrections over their prolonged confinement in small shower stalls have not exhausted the agency’s grievance process and should have their lawsuit dismissed, two state attorneys wrote in a federal court filing last week. [Oklahoma Watch]
Tulsa Police Department unit aids Republican convention security in Milwaukee: A Tulsa Police Department unit is on security detail at this week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, officials said Monday. [Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Oklahoma City nonprofit expands tiny home community for foster care alumni: Approximately 200 young people are aging out of foster care in Oklahoma every year. One nonprofit is expanding its ability to provide housing opportunities and support to the population. [KGOU]
Oklahoma homeowners pay among the highest premium rates in the nation. A look at why: According to a July 1 report by industry watcher Bankrate, the current national average cost of homeowners insurance is $2,230 per year for $300,000 worth of dwelling coverage. In Oklahoma, the cost is $4,700. [Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
Opinion: Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony thinks the public is being fleeced: When Corporation Commissioners Todd Hiett and Dana Murphy voted to approve the multi-decade 2021 Winter Storm bond deals for Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co., Oklahoma Natural Gas Co., Public Service Co. of Oklahoma and Summit, each time, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) issued a public news release giving target estimates for the bonds’ costs and glowing quotes from Hiett and Murphy about “hundreds of millions of dollars” in “savings” for utility customers that would result from this creative financing mechanism called “securitization.” Having voted against the bond deals, I filed warnings instead. [Bob Anthony / The Oklahoman]
Education News
OKCPS board votes in policy to comply with Oklahoma’s new inappropriate communication law: House Bill 3958 requires school personnel engaging in electronic or digital communication with an individual student to include the student’s parents or guardians, unless the communication is via a school-approved platform and related to school and academic communications. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma AG continues push to dissolve religious charter school contract with latest motion: Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed a motion Monday opposing St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School’s request for the Oklahoma Supreme Court to stay an order to rescind a state board’s contract with the school. [The Oklahoman]
Lawsuit Against TPS Moves Forward: Two Tulsa Public School Board members are moving forward with a lawsuit alleging that other TPS school board members violated Oklahoma’s Open Meeting Act. The suit could eventually have a major impact on how the TPS board conducts meetings. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Walters, Tulsa Public Schools superintendent talk about past state takeover threat: State Superintendent Ryan Walters and Tulsa Superintendent Ebony Johnson on Monday morning publicly discussed how they moved on from conflict over Walters’ summer 2023 state takeover threats to working together toward progress for local students. [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa superintendent says decision to work with Ryan Walters has paid off for district [The Oklahoman]
‘Where else could we go?’: Bacone College alumni, staff discuss historic college’s past and future: America’s first higher-education institution for Native Americans opened over a century ago. But the college has recently struggled to stay afloat amid financial struggles. It now faces a grim choice: fight for what’s left or close the doors forever. [KOSU]
Community News
Oklahoma City Memorial Museum offers lessons on responding to political violence: Oklahoma is no stranger to political violence. OKC Memorial Museum CEO Kari Watkins says we can apply lessons learned from the 1995 Murrah Building Bombing to today’s political environment. [KOSU]
Local Headlines
- ‘Twisters’ stars walk red carpet at OKC premiere [Tulsa World]
- Human Rights Commission holds panel on housing in Oklahoma City July 24 [City of OKC]
- Collinsville Health Center offering immunizations for students returning to school [Owasso Reporter/Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“It’s been humbling to be part of a solution to a problem that is faced by so many hard-working Oklahomans, and that’s what I love most about the initiative petition process is knowing I played a vital role in changing a policy that politicians didn’t have the courage to tackle themselves.”
-Volunteer signature collector and lead trainer for Yes on SQ 832 Cindy Alexander said regarding the success of the SQ 832 signature drive and the significance she feels about volunteering her labor and expertise to the signature gathering efforts. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Number of the Day
15
Number of years since Congress last raised the federal minimum wage in 2009. This is the longest period of time without an adjustment since the minimum wage was first created in the 1930s. [U.S. Department of Labor]
Policy Note
Understanding the impact of Alaska’s proposed $15 minimum wage: This November, Alaska voters will decide whether to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027. This new wage floor will produce significant increases for Alaska’s low-wage workers, helping them make ends meet amid high costs of living throughout the state. The minimum wage increase will help lock in the wage gains low-wage workers have experienced during the economic recovery from the pandemic and will create greater equity by disproportionately lifting wages for women, workers of color, and parents. [Economic Policy Institute]
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