OKPOLICY.ORG
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
Policy Matters: It’s past time to raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage: If you want to understand America, follow the money. Or tellingly, follow who isn’t getting any. In Oklahoma, that’s far too many of our friends and neighbors who aren’t earning enough to get by. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
‘A remarkable man’: Former Gov. George Nigh dies at 98: A native of McAlester who served in the military, taught in classrooms and became revered as “a true public servant,” former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh died today at age 98. Former Gov. David Walters said Nigh “believed in public service and devoted his life to it as a legislator, lieutenant governor and (who) served as governor longer than any other.” [NonDoc]
- Former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh dies at 98 [Oklahoma Voice]
- George Nigh dies at 98: Oklahomans remember former governor, longtime politician [The Oklahoman]
- George Nigh’s favorite act as a politician? Making the musical theme ‘Oklahoma’ the state song [The Oklahoman]
- George Nigh’s legacy includes a highway that’s critical to Northwest Oklahoma [The Oklahoman]
- George Nigh, former governor and UCO leader, dies at 98 [The Journal Record]
- Former Oklahoma governor George Nigh dies at 98 [KOSU]
State Government News
As board members call Walters’ collusion accusation ‘ludicrous,’ third-party report offers new TV details: One day after Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters contradicted the claims of officials investigating reports that nude women appeared on his office screen during a State Board of Education meeting, a second report sent to legislators Wednesday from a third-party vendor offered more insight into the slate of entertainment services accessible on Walters’ TV set, though it said no determination about what happened could be made from the initial review. [NonDoc]
- Walters says board members, teachers’ unions, Gov. Stitt set up nudity scandal to ‘assassinate’ him [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Oklahoman reporter explains Ryan Walters controversy on CNN [The Oklahoman]
- Emails show complaint by state education board member over images of naked women [The Oklahoman]
Education Watch: Images on Walters’ Office Television Spur Investigations: Board members said images of nude women displayed on a television in Superintendent Ryan Walters’ office during a closed session of last week’s board of education meeting. The revelation set off a frenzy of news reports and social media posts. Here’s what you need to know. [Oklahoma Watch]
- Additional Oklahoma agency to join probe into nude women allegations [Oklahoma Voice]
- District attorney requests OSBI’s help with investigation into Ryan Walters’ TV [Tulsa World]
- 5 things to know about accusations of porn on Ryan Walters’ office TV [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma agency examines Walters’s TV, OSBI and county law enforcement launch formal probes [StateImpact and OMPX via KGOU]
Constituent Presses Rep. Stephanie Bice to Hold In-Person Town Halls: Republican Rep. Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma on Wednesday night defended her use of remote town halls after a constituent on the call confronted her and accused her of dodging voters. The question came during a telephone town hall event featuring Republican Reps. Jason Smith of Missouri and Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, who each chair a House committee. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma reverses course, restores access to some paper vehicle titles access: The state has restored the ability for individuals to obtain paper copies of vehicle titles in some cases. Service Oklahoma announced the change Wednesday after input from residents, lawmakers and others following its implementation of a new law. [Oklahoma Voice]
Northern Oklahoma elected official accused of stealing cows: Shane Jones serves as chairman for the Kay County Board of Commissioners, where he represents Ponca City and the surrounding area. He faces charges of stealing at least nine cows and branding them as his own. According to the office of Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, investigators say Jones was hired to move the cows in question for an auction house earlier this year. [KOSU]
- Kay County commissioner faces felony charges amid cattle rustling accusations [The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Medicaid was signed into law 60 years ago. Trump’s big bill is chiseling it back: The Republican Party’s big tax and spending bill delivered not just $4.5 trillion in tax breaks for Americans but some of the most substantial changes to the landmark safety net programs in their history. The trade-off will cut more than $1 trillion over a decade from federal health care and food assistance, largely by imposing work requirements on those receiving aid and by shifting certain federal costs onto the states. [AP via KFOR]
- From OK Policy: We can’t celebrate Medicaid’s legacy without fighting for its future (Policy Matters)
US Senate confirms Trump pick to head Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Susan Monarez as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday. Monarez — whom the Senate confirmed on a party-line vote, 51-47 — will now be responsible for the national public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The Atlanta-based agency has faced backlash as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pursues a vaccine-skeptical agenda. [Oklahoma Voice]
Epstein files must be released by Trump administration under obscure law, Democrats contend: U.S. Senate Democrats on Wednesday began charting a little-known legal path to force President Donald Trump’s administration to release the investigative files on the now deceased Florida sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein. [Oklahoma Voice]
Trump’s EPA proposes rollback of basis for climate change rules, sparking Dem outrage: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency submitted a proposal Tuesday to rescind a 2009 finding that has provided the foundation for the agency’s regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, drawing strong opposition from Democrats and climate groups. [Oklahoma Voice]
Education News
Fuel OKC bringing educators to Oklahoma from Mexico, funding paraprofessional degree program: In an effort to address the state’s ongoing teacher shortage, an Oklahoma City nonprofit has created a new program to bring educators from Mexico to Oklahoma classrooms despite the risk of xenophobic rhetoric inflaming tensions about immigration issues across America. [NonDoc]
A new proposal could allow Medicaid to fund more services for eligible kids in Oklahoma schools: Pending federal approval, schools could recoup more Medicaid dollars from providing services like occupational and speech therapy, and behavioral health supports to eligible students. [StateImpact via KGOU]
Health News
In Enid, a fatal overdose highlights a lack of drug treatment options: Three people overdosed on fentanyl one night this spring in a quiet residential neighborhood in Enid. There’s a shortage of treatment providers in this mostly rural part of the state. Data from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shows some of the counties with the highest unmet need for drug treatment are in Western Oklahoma. [The Frontier]
Criminal Justice News
Opinion: Data is key to bringing justice-involved people back to workforce: A clear, public-facing dashboard lets families, advocates, policymakers, and taxpayers, see exactly how many people are in jail, along with other data points like why they’re there, and for how long. This holds the system accountable. By tracking trends daily, we can spot barriers in the system and address them faster. [Melissa Walton / The Journal Record]
Economy & Business News
Tax-Free Weekend: When is it and what to know for Oklahoma’s 2025 holiday: Oklahoma’s 2025 Sales Tax holiday is coming up, but several Oklahomans may have questions about how this will impact their purchases. [News 9]
- From OK Policy: Sales tax holiday is poor policy
Community News
No, Oklahoma County is not removing Juneteenth as a county holiday. Here’s what happened: Juneteenth has not been scrubbed from the list of holidays observed by Oklahoma County government, but its omission sparked a short-lived firestorm before it was found to have been what Commissioner Myles Davidson said was a clerical error. [The Oklahoman]
- One calendar mistake reveals festering tensions in OKC metro [Oklahoma City Free Press]
High Noon recalls vodka seltzers in Oklahoma mislabeled as Celsius energy drinks: Due to a packaging error, a popular energy drink shipped to Oklahoma may actually have alcohol in the can. High Noon, a popular vodka seltzer, is recalling the 12-pack box of High Noon Beach Variety because the packages may contain cans labeled as Celsius Astro Vibe Energy Drink. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- City of Tulsa installs boulders along sidewalk outside downtown bus station [Tulsa World]
- Tulsans confront immigration misinformation through firsthand accounts from refugees [Public Radio Tulsa]
- New $2.7M park long time coming for OKC neighborhood [The Journal Record]
- Tenant rights training set for August 5th, says Oklahoma City officials [KFOR]
Quote of the Day
“Who are these people? Ripping health care away from the American people. The largest cuts in Medicaid in American history. Ripping food out of the mouths of children, seniors and veterans who are going to go hungry as a result of this one big, ugly bill.”
– House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries describing the proposed federal budget package, which includes what would be the largest Medicaid cuts in U.S. history. The bill also slashes funding for food assistance, prompting Jeffries to warn it would leave vulnerable Americans hungry, and marks a sharp rollback of the safety net programs established during the Great Society era. [AP via KFOR]
Number of the Day
$1.44 billion
The amount Oklahoma’s top 1% of earners are projected to receive in federal tax cuts in 2026 under the budget “megabill.” That $1.44 billion is part of a nationwide $117 billion in tax benefits heading to the wealthiest Americans next year. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy]
Policy Note
After Decades of Costly, Regressive, and Ineffective Tax Cuts, a New Course Is Needed: Substantial historical tax cuts have disproportionately benefited high‑income households while contributing to escalating deficits, ultimately demonstrating limited effectiveness in promoting broad-based economic growth. Effective tax policy should pivot from regressive and costly tax reductions toward revenue‑neutral, progressive reforms that preserve horizontal equity and safeguard investments in areas such as clean energy, development, and infrastructure. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
