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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
New education laws take effect in Oklahoma this school year (Capitol Update): As the school year begins, my thoughts turn to some of the new requirements Oklahoma schools must attend to in the year ahead. As usual, legislators have enacted a variety of education laws they deem necessary to improve student outcomes and safety. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
Oklahoma News
CNBC ranks Oklahoma in the bottom quarter of states for business: Oklahoma ranks near the bottom for business in the U.S., scoring well in the cost category, but grading poorly in education, quality of life and workforce, according to rankings in a recent poll. [The Oklahoman]
New report finds Oklahomans do not want state-required religion: A report by a coalition of public interest groups found that 87% of Oklahomans believe religious freedom means politicians have no right to dictate what their children believe in. That’s a key finding in the new report titled, “Public Schools, Personal Faith” issued by the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice and several other public interest nonprofits. [Public Radio Tulsa]
State Government News
OG&E grid upgrades aim to strengthen Oklahoma power reliability: As a dozen or so governors converged on Oklahoma City for the National Governors Association’s annual summer meeting at the end of last week, so did a couple of U.S. Department of Energy officials embarking on a national tour. They all shared one concern: electrical grid resilience. [The Journal Record]
Federal Government News
Homeland Security Sec. Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee) Faces Backlash from MAGA Allies Over Immigration Comments: Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, is facing criticism from some of President Donald Trump’s strongest supporters after suggesting the United States should distinguish between legal and illegal immigration and consider reforms to employment-based visa programs to address labor shortages. [Native News Online]
- Trump official urges governors to help with immigration arrests of ‘worst of the worst’ at Oklahoma event [Oklahoma Voice]
Attorney general to investigate whether Dr. Fauci broke Oklahoma law: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond says he’s launching an investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci, joining a multi-state effort targeting the former chief medical adviser to the president during the pandemic. [The Oklahoman]
First foreign terrorist removal case in special court stems from Oklahoma 2024 election day plot: On Thursday, The U.S. Department of Justice filed the first case in a special court for immigrants facing terror charges. The case is tied to a foiled 2024 election day mass shooting plot hatched in OKC. [KOSU]
Tribal Nations News
More tribal nations in Oklahoma are opposing, weighing data centers on their lands: Multiple tribal nations across Oklahoma are talking about AI data centers. Here’s an update on where some of them stand. [KOSU]
Tribal leaders in Oklahoma feel let down by closure of OSU economic development department: OSUIT’s Workforce and Economic Development Department partnered with tribes and other businesses in the state, offering tailored opportunities including credit courses, non-credit workshops, certificates and short-term intensive training. [KOSU]
Citizen Potawatomi Nation joins confederation of 12 sister tribes across U.S., Canada: The Bodéwadmi Confederation of Tribal Nations is a formal body composed of eight Potawatomi tribes in the United States and four in Canada. Tribal leaders formed the union last year at the 2025 Potawatomi Gathering in Wayland, Mich. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
Can AI read voters? We put an Oklahoma firm’s tool to the test: Political forecasting has constantly evolved since its start a century ago. Soon, it could be commonplace to entrust the brunt of that process to artificial intelligence. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma state superintendent candidate reprimanded for using school resources in campaign material: A school district issued a statement about a candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction after he used one of its classrooms in campaign ads. James Taylor is a history teacher at Little Axe Public Schools and a Republican running for state superintendent. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KOSU]
- Oklahoma candidate deletes campaign content filmed in school classroom [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma Superintendent candidate James Taylor responds to school district’s statement [News on 6]
Election Roundup
- Drummond and Mazzei face off Aug. 25. Here’s where they stand on key issues. [Tulsa Flyer]
- Oklahoma Governor Candidates Split on Taxes, Spending [News 9]
- Rep. Brecheen to have town hall in Poteau on August 26 [Poteau Daily News]
- SD 18 runoff: Jack Stewart, Tyler Herring debate dark money, lobbying influence [NonDoc]
Are you planning to vote in Oklahoma this fall? You should know this first: Got questions about the upcoming Aug. 25 and Nov. 3 elections? We’ve got answers. The Tulsa Flyer collaborated with KOSU, The Frontier, The Oklahoma Eagle and Focus: Black Oklahoma to produce a comprehensive election guide for Oklahomans. [KOSU, Tulsa Flyer, & The Frontier]
- Oklahoma Voice releases voter guide ahead of Aug. 25 runoff election [Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy: What’s on the ballot for the August 25, 2026 elections in Oklahoma?
Opinion: Oklahoma voters, focus on candidates’ record, not rhetoric: Every election season seems to bring another label. Conservative. Moderate. RINO. MAGA. Liberal. Before long, we spend more time debating labels than discussing the future of Oklahoma. Maybe we’re asking the wrong questions. [Former State Rep. Mark McBride / The Oklahoman]
Education News
Oklahoma’s Elite State Boarding School Refuses to Adopt Title IX Protections. A Departing Administrator Called It a Crisis Waiting to Happen.: In 2023, facing criticism over the handling of sexual harassment complaints, the new president of an elite, state-funded boarding school promised to write a new, more positive chapter. One of his top concerns was that the school refused to adopt discrimination protections that apply to nearly every other school under federal laws. [Oklahoma Watch]
What vaccines does your child need to attend school in Oklahoma?: As children are preparing to start school in the coming weeks, parents are double-checking the state’s immunization requirements. [The Oklahoman]
Health News
Medicaid work rule leaves homeless people in the cold: In the spring, the federal government finalized regulations requiring millions of people who receive Medicaid benefits to prove they’re working, volunteering, or going to school to keep their coverage. But the administration decided that being homeless isn’t a medical condition and can’t count as an automatic out from having to meet the new requirements. [KFF Health News via KOSU]
- From OK Policy: “Work requirements” won’t work for Oklahoma
Justice System News
OKC delays vote to renew Flock contract for license plate cameras: The Oklahoma City Council has deferred voting on whether to renew its contract with a controversial vendor of automated license plate readers that works with law enforcement agencies across the country. City officials made the announcement on social media less than 24 hours before the scheduled vote. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma County jail trust turns to WAPO, medieval king, quantum physics in sheriff suit: Oklahoma County jail trust lawyers are trying to shoot down Sheriff Tommie Johnson III’s legal case against the trust and Oklahoma County commissioners with court filings, calling it a “phantom controversy” and a political power play. [The Oklahoman]
‘Made my blood boil ‘: DA blasts defense’s courtroom statements after Jesse Butler case is dismissed: A high-profile sexual assault case that captured attention across the country officially came to an end on Monday. A Payne County judge dismissed the case against Jesse Butler, the Stillwater teenager who pleaded no-contest to multiple sexual assault charges as his youthful offender supervision reached its legal end. [KOCO]
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DA: Federal review sought after judge ends remaining state case against Jesse Butler [Fox 25]
1,200+ Tulsans showed up to clear their warrants. Organizers were caught by surprise.: The sheer number of people who showed up to take advantage of the city’s offer caught officials by surprise. They were expecting between 300 and 400 participants based on pre-registrations. More than 1,200 showed up. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Economy & Business News
New southeast Oklahoma solar plant will power Google operations in region: Tech giant Google and energy company RWE Americas have signed an agreement to build a solar power facility in southeast Oklahoma. [KOSU]
Three major retail projects are moving forward in Oklahoma. What’s the latest?: Big business is coming to Oklahoma as plans are still on for IKEA, Scheels, Legends Tower and more are still in the works for the coming years. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa women gain ground in tech, but challenges remain: Women are making strides in the technology industry, but there is more to be desired in terms of access and opportunity. Nile Dixon, data scientist for the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, unveiled the findings of the “State of Women in Technology” report Friday at Gradient, a downtown Tulsa coworking space. [Tulsa Flyer]
Community News
‘An American matter’: Islamic Society of Tulsa files discrimination suit against Broken Arrow: Nearly seven months after its Broken Arrow mosque proposal was denied, the Islamic Society of Tulsa filed a civil lawsuit against the city and four councilors who rejected its rezoning application and permit requests. [Tulsa Flyer]
- Islamic groups sue Broken Arrow over rezoning for mosque denial [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- As Tulsa faces big challenges, city councilors to review their powers under City Charter [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa Public Schools to move elementary alternative education program [Tulsa World]
- Lawsuit takes aim at fee added to receipts at three Broken Arrow stores [Tulsa World]
- Family, lowrider community remember OKC man killed trying to diffuse fight [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“You can’t really worry about getting paperwork done when you don’t know where you’re eating today.”
— Dustin Goss, a case manager at Samaritan House, a homeless shelter in Kalispell, Montana, explaining why new federal work requirements for Medicaid will strip benefits from many eligible unhoused individuals. He’s worried that people who qualify for an exemption will still get tangled in bureaucratic tape because they often start with temporary and informal jobs that don’t always come with a pay stub. [KFF Health News via KOSU]
Number of the Day
5 million+
Projected rise in number of uninsured people in the U.S. by 2034 due in large part to federally mandated work requirements and other changes to Medicaid included in H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. [KFF]
Policy Note
A Closer Look at the Work Requirement Provisions in the 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation Law: On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law a budget reconciliation package once called the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” that includes significant changes to the Medicaid program. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the Medicaid work requirement provisions in the passed budget reconciliation law will be the largest source of Medicaid savings, reducing federal spending by $326 billion over ten years and cause millions to become uninsured. [KFF]
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