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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.
State Government News
Oklahoma Legislature receives ‘C’ grade on 2024 pro-economic growth bills: An annual evaluation by the State Chamber Research Foundation gives the legislature a “C” grade for its voting record on bills it deemed pro-economic growth in the 2024 session. [Journal Record]
Long Story Short: The state continues to delay an Oklahoma Supreme Court order regarding St. Isidore (audio): Jennifer Palmer updates on the state’s delay in complying with an order by the Oklahoma Supreme Court over St. Isidore Catholic Virtual School. [Oklahoma Watch]
Federal Government News
Rep. Kevin Hern fired up about budget, spending: ‘Congress has no focus’: Budgets are out of fashion in Congress, and 1st District Congressman Kevin Hern thinks that’s a mistake. The result, in Hern’s estimation, is continued deficit spending that, for Hern, is perhaps the most important issue before Congress. [Tulsa World]
Federal wildlife officials propose listing butterfly as threatened in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it would seek protections for the regal fritillary, large non-migratory butterfly with orange and black markings. [Oklahoma Voice]
Voting and Election News
SD 47 runoff: Kelly Hines, Jenny Schmitt vie for GOP nomination: In State Senate District 47, an open metro-area seat that each remaining Republican candidate has likened to a microcosm of Oklahoma, veteran Kelly Hines and health care professional Jenny Schmitt are looking to distinguish themselves ahead of this month’s GOP runoff election. [NonDoc]
HD 20 runoff: Former firefighter faces retired OSSAA executive in Newcastle, Blanchard area: Despite their different professional backgrounds, former firefighter Jonathan Wilk and retired coach Mike Whaley say they share a common goal for House District 20 — to craft public policy providing families with support and resources they need to survive. [NonDoc]
Keith’s cash on hand far exceeds other Tulsa mayoral candidates as Election Day nears: With three weeks until the Aug. 27 municipal elections, Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith has a deep war chest to draw from as she campaigns to become the city’s 41st mayor, according to the latest campaign finance reports filed with the Tulsa City Clerk’s Office. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma Democrats praise choice of Tim Walz as vice presidential candidate: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s selection as the Democratic candidate for vice president has injected energy and excitement into the 2024 presidential campaign, the chair of Oklahoma’s Democratic Party said Tuesday. [The Oklahoman]
Health News
Oklahoma hospitals supported $30.5 billion economic impact amid COVID-19 pandemic: A new report released by the Oklahoma Hospital Association found state hospitals had an estimated $30.5 billion economic impact in 2021 amid an increase in care during the pandemic. [KOSU]
Telehealth abortion still on the rise, especially in states with shield laws, report shows: Telehealth made up 20% of all abortion care in the first three months of 2024, and the monthly total of abortions exceeded 100,000 for the first time since the group began tracking abortion data in 2022. [Oklahoma Voice]
Invasive tick species confirmed in Oklahoma for the first time: The Asian longhorned tick can harm livestock and spread disease. And as of this week, they’ve been found in Oklahoma. [KOSU]
Opinion: Main Street pharmacies in Oklahoma are closing. The deck is stacked against them: Two years ago, I penned a column warning of the impact of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) on our health care system. I wish I could report that my warning was heeded, but just this month the Federal Trade Commission issued a report highlighting Pharmacy Benefit Managers “profiting by inflating drug costs and squeezing Main Street pharmacies.” [Oliver Lackey / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Prosecutors drop charges against seven former staffers accused of abuse at Oklahoma center for people with developmental disabilities: Eight former staffers at the Robert M. Greer Center faced felony charges including caretaker abuse and conspiracy in 2023 after police spent months investigating allegations of beatings, chokings and other abuse against residents at the center. Charges have been dropped against all but one of the former staffers as of Tuesday morning after prosecutors were “unable to locate a necessary witness,” according to court documents. [The Frontier]
First Watch: Stuff You Should Know: Last week, The Frontier published the latest story about beleaguered prison health-care provider Turn Key, which was founded by Oklahoma House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols. The investigation, done in collaboration with the Marshall Project, found that at least 50 people who were under Turn Key’s care died during the past decade. [Oklahoma Watch]
Rev. Jeff Hood prays for the condemned at their executions. His first time was in Oklahoma: So far, the death penalty opponent has been at seven executions − six by lethal injection and one by nitrogen gas. His eighth will come on Sept. 26, unless Oklahoma death row inmate Emmanuel Littlejohn gets clemency. [The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma’s oil industry touts a voluntary fund to clean up oil wells. Major drillers want their contributions refunded.: Oklahoma’s oil industry pays into a voluntary fund to clean up oil wells, but many drillers opt out. The money that has been refunded to these companies in recent years could have restored an estimated 1,500 orphan well sites. [The Frontier]
Multiple safety violations found within Edmond construction contractor follow trench collapse: In February, Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigators learned a 61-year-old worker employed by Jerlow Construction Co. died after a 9-foot deep trench collapsed at a residential worksite in Shawnee. [KOSU]
Ranching program looks to increase producer’s profitability from the ground up: Oklahoma’s Noble Research Institute is working with Ranch Management Consultants to offer a “Ranching for Profit School” in Ardmore next month. The school looks to teach farmers and ranchers to increase their profit, improve management, better the health of the land and livestock and sustainability for the future. [KOSU]
Education News
OMES partners with Canadian Valley Technology Center to enhance aviation training: The Office of Management and Enterprise Services announced a partnership with the Canadian Valley Technology Center Campus in El Reno, Oklahoma. [Journal Record]
Opinion: Ryan Walters is hell-bent on ruining the teaching profession: Ryan Walters is the state superintendent of Oklahoma public schools, and many in public education hate him. That sounds hyperbolic, but it is not. Teachers, principals, superintendents. Many hate him because he’s an opportunist politician actively making educators’ lives worse. [Alex Shirley / The Oklahoman]
Community News
Oklahoma turnpike bridge project will close a portion of Route 66 for about a year: A small portion of Route 66 will close later this month and traffic will be diverted as officials replace a bridge on the Turner Turnpike in Wellston. The action comes as officials are widening the Turner Turnpike. [Oklahoma Voice]
Local Headlines
- Tour shows what completed OKPOP museum could look like [Tulsa World]
- Stillwater Electric Utility offers free home energy audit [Journal Record]
- Norman closer to receiving funds from Oklahoma opioid settlement [KOSU]
- Cushing unable to produce potable water after ‘significant failure’ at plant [KOSU]
- Good news for retail: OKC hits highs with OAK, OKANA and discount chains [The Oklahoman]
- Greater OKC Hispanic Chamber hosts 23rd business expo, career fair [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“This happens far too often that people just get away with it.”
– RoseAnn Duplan, a policy specialist with the Oklahoma Disability Law Center, said after prosecutors in Garfield County this week announced they were dropping charges against seven former staff members accused of systemic abuse at an Enid center for people with developmental disabilities. [The Frontier]
Number of the Day
7%
More than seven percent of athletes on Team USA are children of immigrant parent(s) or second-generation immigrants. [The Guardian] | [Full Report from the Institute for Immigration Research]
Policy Note
Undocumented kids have a right to attend public schools. This coalition wants to keep it that way.: A new coalition is on high alert for violations of a landmark Supreme Court ruling that guarantees children the right to a free public education regardless of their immigration status. Known as Education for All, the campaign is working to counteract anti-immigrant rhetoric and conservative policy proposals seeking to limit the educational rights of undocumented children, which are protected by the 1982 Supreme Court decision Plyler v. Doe. [Chalkbeat]
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