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: The myth of Oklahoma’s fiscal self-reliance: Oklahoma prides itself on being lean and self-reliant, living within its means while others spend recklessly. But the numbers tell a different story. In truth, billions in federal dollars — much of it from taxpayers in other states — prop up Oklahoma’s finances. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
State Government News
Oklahoma receives green light to remove soda, candy from food stamp eligibility list: Clients of a government food program will soon have to scratch certain items off their grocery list. State leaders sought and obtained federal approval to remove sodas and candy from allowable items under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also called SNAP, despite concerns the policy change won’t help improve Oklahoma’s health outcomes. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma’s 2025 approved legislative interim studies for education: During the late summer and early fall before the next legislative session ramps up, lawmakers will explore issues in interim studies that may turn into bills. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
- From OK Policy: What’s that?: Interim study
Oklahoma House study will examine legal boundaries of traffic surveillance tech: Lawmakers will take a look at surveillance methods used by law enforcement on Oklahoma roads in an interim study this fall. [The Journal Record]
Board members say Ryan Walters tried to ‘destroy’ their reputations over TV content: The two Oklahoma State Board of Education members who said they saw images of naked women on a television screen in state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters’ office during a board meeting are asking why Walters’ teaching certification shouldn’t be revoked. [The Oklahoman]
- What was on Ryan Walters’ TV? Does Jackie Chan film line up with board members’ accounts? [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma emergency management head talks disaster preparedness, hazard mitigation: This summer saw immense river flooding that resulted in more than 130 deaths in Texas and heavy rainfall that blocked roadways in Oklahoma. Disaster preparedness and hazard mitigation are becoming more important as climate change causes more severe and unpredictable weather, scientists say. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
Federal Government News
Trump illegally froze 1,800 NIH medical research grants, Congress’ watchdog says: President Donald Trump’s freeze on $8 billion of congressionally appropriated funding to the National Institutes of Health was illegal, the Government Accountability Office reported Tuesday. [Oklahoma Voice]
ICE has a new courthouse tactic: Get immigrants’ cases tossed, then arrest them outside: Inside immigration courts around the country, immigrants who crossed the border illegally and were caught and released are required to appear before a judge for a preliminary hearing. But in a new twist, the Trump administration has begun using an unexpected legal tactic in its deportation efforts. [Oklahoma Voice]
Saquon Barkley Declines Role in White House Fitness Initiative: Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley has respectfully declined an invitation to serve as a celebrity ambassador for President Donald Trump’s new national fitness program, the “President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.” [The Black Wall Street Times]
Opinion: Gen Z men voted for Trump to drain ‘the swamp.’ After Epstein, they feel duped: Going to an all-boys high school, where I graduated this spring, I understand why many young men voted for President Donald Trump. But now, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein might have changed that, ushering in a major shift in how older members of Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, vote in the next election. [Eli Thompson / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Confederate Albert Pike’s Return is a Warning to Black America: It’s not lost on me that a man who fought to keep my ancestors enslaved once stood in stone near Congress. Albert Pike, a Confederate general, white supremacist, and ideological architect of racial exclusion in Freemasonry, stood in statue form in Washington, D.C., for over a century. Now, we face a chilling truth: the past isn’t just being remembered—it’s being resurrected. [Nehemiah Frank / The Black Wall Street Times]
Tribal Nations News
10th Circuit: Federal courts lack jurisdiction over Indian-on-Indian misdemeanor assault: In a case involving the assault of a Tulsa police officer that further changes the jurisdictional landscape of eastern Oklahoma, the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals held July 30 that, when a misdemeanor assault is committed by an Indian against an Indian within Indian Country, the crime is the “exclusive jurisdiction of the tribal courts” and the federal government has no right to charge the perpetrator. [NonDoc]
Cherokee Nation opens $40.5M Head Start in Tahlequah: On Tuesday, Cherokee Nation leaders met to celebrate the grand opening of its flagship Early Childhood Unit/Head Start facility in Tahlequah. [The Journal Record]
Education News
State of the Schools: Leaders highlight challenges and career-ready initiatives: Three metro education leaders talked about what their districts are doing to help students succeed after graduation and what business leaders can do to help during the annual State of the Schools event Wednesday. [The Journal Record]
Moore superintendent defends Oklahoma education system after No. 50 ranking in survey: The superintendent of one of Oklahoma’s largest school districts has given an emphatic defense of the state’s education system after a recently released survey ranked it 50th in the nation. [The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma ranks 46th in 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book, highlighting lawmakers’ misplaced priorities
Education Watch: State Proposes Grading Schools on Teacher Effectiveness: A new Education Department proposal would replace chronic absenteeism on the A-F school report cards with a new measure they’re calling teacher effectiveness. [Oklahoma Watch]
- ‘Teacher effectiveness’ metric won’t be added to school evaluations, Education Department confirms [Oklahoma Voice]
Health News
Historically redlined communities have slower EMS response times: Residents of historically redlined communities experience slower response times from emergency medical services, according to a study published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open. [Oklahoma Voice]
Screen Time Linked to Heart and Metabolic Issues in Youth: A groundbreaking study has revealed a stark connection between excessive screen time and an increased risk of heart and metabolic problems in children and teenagers. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Oklahoma City ranks as least healthy large U.S. city, new report says: A new study looking at America’s 100 largest cities ranks Oklahoma City as the unhealthiest. The study considered over 30 factors, including how walkable the city is, air quality and food insecurity. [News 9]
Ascension St. John celebrates after years of work to earn top trauma level status: Officials from Ascension St. John Medical Center in Tulsa were joined Wednesday by city leaders to celebrate the hospital’s recent achievement of the highest level in trauma care. [Tulsa World]
OU Health launches hybrid nursing model with Nexus Bedside: OU Health has launched an innovative hybrid nursing model combining virtual and in-person nursing teams to enhance care coordination and strengthen the nursing workforce at the state’s flagship academic health system. [The Journal Record]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Out-of-State Landlord Buys With Tax Credits, Boots Tenants: A father and son from Texas are buying up restricted housing meant for low-income Oklahoma tenants. Then they’re booting the tenants out. [Oklahoma Watch]
Tenant rights clinic rebrands amidst Oklahoma’s housing crisis (video): Oklahoma ranked one of the highest in the nation for eviction rates, with some of the fastest timelines in the country in Oklahoma. One local law school is expanding it’s mission to help tenants understand their rights. [KFOR]
Mayor’s Office lays out plan for rehousing initiative to address homelessness in Tulsa: The Mayor’s Office on Wednesday provided more details on a plan to get about 300 homeless individuals and families into permanent housing by the late spring of 2026. [Tulsa World]
New homelessness diversion pilot program launches in Oklahoma City: A new pilot program in Oklahoma City aims to reduce homelessness by diverting people and families away from emergency shelters and quickly connecting them with stable housing solutions. [KOSU]
Opinion: It’s immoral to add more people to Oklahoma City’s homelessness: In Oklahoma City, we consistently see people camping outside and know that families are using motels for long-term housing, as seniors also struggle to age in place, all because of a lack of affordable housing options. The federal government’s response? Budget bills that slash housing assistance in addition to crucial programs like Medicaid and SNAP even more to fund over $1 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthiest people in the country over the next 10 years. [Councilwoman JoBeth Hamon / The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
Planned $4 billion aluminum plant has ‘vast’ potential, Tulsa Ports economic director says: A $4 billion aluminum production plant planned for the Tulsa Port of Inola has the potential to significantly increase barge traffic, jobs and economic development for the region, the economic development director for Tulsa Ports said. [Tulsa World]
Community News
Men unite over a morning meal during monthly ministry gatherings: The Christian Business Men’s Connection of Oklahoma regularly hosts the CBMC Metro Prayer Breakfast that draws a large crowd each year. Brent Vawter, the ministry’s senior area director said the group branched out to sponsor monthly breakfasts for men five years ago. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the group to host the first Men’s United Breakfast in 2020 and the initiative has continued since that time. [The Oklahoman]
Vigils calling for immigration justice restarting every Wednesday in OKC: Organizers are holding the vigils every Wednesday in protest of tough immigration policy shifts under President Donald Trump’s administration, which is pursuing his presidential campaign promise to significantly increase deportations. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Grants for fortifying homes from weather damage expand into Tulsa area [Tulsa World]
- OKC’s Rodeo Cinema is rounding up a free new film and discussion series on civics and democracy [The Oklahoman]
- World’s Fair of Money brings millions in old money to OKC [The Journal Record]
- Norman City Council explores alternative funding for flood warning system after FEMA cuts [KGOU]
Quote of the Day
“Our immigration system needs a complete overhaul so that people can come here and find community and live the American dream.”
– The Rev. David Wheeler, senior minister at New Covenant Christian Church of Oklahoma City, urging for a more compassionate approach to immigration. He sees the fight for immigrant justice as deeply rooted in religious values shared across the U.S. and globally. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
432
The number of facilities ICE used to detain immigrants from May to late June 2025, up from 315 in the month before Trump’s second inauguration. Since Jan. 20, at least 45 of these facilities hadn’t held immigrants in over a decade. [Vera Institute for Justice]
Policy Note
How Trump Used the Criminal System to Massively Expand Immigration Detention: Throughout Trump’s second term, ICE has dramatically expanded its use of detention centers — activating hundreds of facilities, including previously unused ones, and deploying migrants to overseas locations such as Guantánamo Bay. This shift accompanies a broader enforcement agenda marked by intensified interior raids, fast-track deportations, and new legislation like the Laken Riley Act, continuing a hardline stance with mounting humanitarian and legal concerns. [The Marshall Project]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma shouldn’t allow private prisons to reopen as immigration detention centers. Here are 6 reasons why.
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
