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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
National Study: Undocumented Immigrants Contribute $227M in Oklahoma Taxes a Year: Immigration policies have taken center stage in public debates this year, but much of the conversation has been driven by emotion, not data. A new in-depth national study from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy aims to help change that by quantifying how much undocumented immigrants pay in taxes – both nationally and in each state. [The Black Wall Street Times]
- In Oklahoma and 39 other states, undocumented immigrants pay higher state and local tax rates (8.9 percent) than the top 1 percent of Oklahoma households (6.4 percent). This clearly demonstrates that undocumented immigrants do in fact pay taxes and at a much higher rate than Oklahoma’s wealthiest residents. [OK Policy & ITEP]
State Government News
OSDE attempts to deprive schools of rollover funds for safety, security enhancements despite previously promising them: The Oklahoma State Department of Education is attempting to take away certain funds the state legislature allotted school districts to make security enhancements after the Uvalde shooting, even though OSDE’s website said districts would be able to keep the money—until lawmakers began asking questions. Now, numerous Republican lawmakers are calling for State Superintendent Ryan Walters to be held accountable, with at least one of them calling for Walters to be impeached for the first time. [KFOR]
Oklahoma regulators’ decision to accept thousands from those they regulate raises ethical questions: An Oklahoma Voice analysis of campaign finance records filed from January 2018 to July 2024 show the state’s three corporation commissioners have accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars combined from individuals or industries with direct links to those they’re tasked with regulating. Although it’s legal under state law to accept those donations, experts say it raises some ethical questions about whether certain donors may receive preferential treatment. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Use my taxes to make sure all Oklahoma public school kids have food: Considering that Oklahoma leaders boast of historic high savings accounts of up to $5 billion, that cost seems like a doable amount. I cannot think of a better use of my taxes than making sure any child who arrives at school hungry has access to a meal. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Opinion: A tale of missed chances in Oklahoma’s fiscal strategy: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and legislative Democrats there prioritized investing in health insurance coverage (regardless of immigration status), in medical and paid family leave, in public education, in providing no-cost breakfast and lunch for school kids, and in tuition-free access to state colleges for students whose families earn less than $80,000. In other words, they opted to give the working class a hand-up, not a hand-out, in hopes of creating a better Minnesota. #ImagineThat. [Arnold Hamilton / Journal Record]
Tribal Nations News
Mississippi returns indigenous remains, artifacts to Chickasaws: Following the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act’s guidelines, Mississippi Department of Archives and History identified and created a summary of all the cultural items and remains in its possession. Then, it consulted with the Chickasaw Nation to return them. The department consults with other tribes to return their remains and cultural items as well. [Mississippi Today]
Cherokee class becomes first Native American language course at Duke University: Trinity College, now known as Duke University, ran the Cherokee Industrial Indian Boarding School in North Carolina. Now, more than 140 years later, Duke University is bringing back one of the languages they attempted to erase. [KGOU]
Voting and Election News
Sen. Mullin ‘very, very, very confident’ of fair and secure election: Americans should not be worried about illegal voting in this year’s elections, U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin told a group in Chandler on Thursday morning. [Tulsa World]
Did voters hear what they needed from Tulsa mayoral candidates?: The candidates who took the stage at the ‘Tulsa Two Step’ mayoral debate count on the voters’ trust. With that in mind, 2 News spoke with several voters to find out what they wanted to hear at the debate. [KJRH]
- Candidates for mayor toss digs, define themselves at mayoral debate [Tulsa World]
Gen Z Shuns Political Labels and Demands Brand Accountability: As the 2024 Presidential election rapidly approaches, the political landscape in the United States remains deeply divided. However, there are several issues where American consumers, particularly Generation Z, find common ground. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Education News
Muskogee Public Schools announces end of funding for after-school programs for several schools in district: Muskogee Public Schools announced their previous after-school program funding ended on June 30 and the after-school program is no longer available. [Fox 23]
- Muskogee Public Schools Shuts Down After-School Programs Due To Lack Of Federal Funds [News on 6]
Bixby parent reacts to Walters’ attacks on superintendent, school district fiscal management: “It’s really disheartening that Oklahoma City can’t get on board to help our school districts and help you guys. To our financial team, know that parents have no worries,” said a Bixby school parent. [Tulsa World]
Superintendents address new Bible mandate, biggest issues Oklahoma education faces (video): Before the start of the school year, KOCO sat down with six local superintendents — Dr. Dudley Darrow (Enid Public Schools), Dr. Mike Simpson (Guthrie Public Schools), Dr. Jamie Polk (Oklahoma City Public Schools), Dr. Rick Cobb (Mid-Del Schools), Paul Blessington (Harrah Public Schools) and Dr. Jason Perez (Deer Creek School District). [KOCO]
Could Oklahoma be next for ‘First Amendment-approved’ Bible curriculum?: A New York-based organization says it has a “First Amendment-approved” Bible curriculum that is already being used by 1,000 public schools in 45 states across the country. [The Oklahoman]
Education Watch: OKCPS Superintendent Wants to Reclaim Title of Largest District: Leaders of the state’s two largest school districts — Oklahoma City and Tulsa — are in a friendly competition to best the other in student enrollment and academics. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma schools struggle to find bus drivers as new school year approaches: While students are anxiously awaiting the start of the school year, schools across Oklahoma are still working to be fully staffed. [Fox 25]
Upcoming OK homeschooling extracurricular activities study sees mixed reaction: Some Oklahoma parents whose children are homeschooled are sharing mixed reaction ahead of an upcoming study on potentially allowing those homeschoolers to participate in public school extracurricular activities. [KFOR]
Enrollment at Oklahoma’s public universities growing: Enrollment at Oklahoma’s public universities is rebounding, with a growing number of freshmen planning to attend many of the state’s schools this fall. [Oklahoma Voice]
OU president describes ‘headwinds’ preventing growth in state education system: “We’re trying to attract world class talent to come to O.U. and faculty and staff, they look at the education system here in K through 12 for their families, and they don’t want to see drama and they don’t want to see an education system that doesn’t give their kid the best opportunity to be successful,” OU President Joseph Harroz said. [KFOR]
Opinion: It is time to stand up for teachers; give them the respect, support they deserve: Educators are the backbone and heart of our society. They play a crucial role in shaping the minds and futures of our youths, yet they are often undervalued and underappreciated. The rhetoric in our state against teachers has been abhorrent, and it is time to end it. [Jena Nelson / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Ryan Walters’ agenda is actively harming Oklahoma’s students: This summer, I left Oklahoma because Ryan Walters’ agenda to turn the state’s schools into a political playground no longer serves the values I hold dear as an educator. I needed to leave so I could speak out against this danger without fear of losing my job daily for teaching a true, unabridged history of this nation and supporting students regardless of their background. [Alona Whitebird Medina / The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
New bans on panhandling in medians spark debate over free speech rights: Oklahoma City, where courts struck down a panhandling ban, offers city cleanup work to panhandlers. [Oklahoma Voice]
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma PR firm sues Canoo over missed payments: Electric vehicle company Canoo is being sued by an Oklahoma communications agency for breach of contract. The lawsuit states that Canoo hired Saxum for media and strategic communication services on Aug. 10, 2023. [Fox 25]
- Electric vehicle company Canoo facing breach of contract lawsuit [KFOR]
- Air Capital Equipment, Inc. filed a lawsuit in May against Canoo for more than half a million dollars [Fox 25]
Oklahoma farm land values increase for fourth straight year: From 2023-2024, the average value of farm real estate in Oklahoma rose 8.6% to $2,400 per acre, according to the survey. Farm real estate value is the value of all land and buildings used for agricultural production that could be sold under the current market conditions. [KOSU]
Community News
OKC’s Fertile Ground looking to tackle food waste with new USDA-funded program: Local organization Fertile Ground Cooperative, 2228 S Santa Fe Ave., is hoping to help Oklahoma City area residents significantly curb the amount of food waste that ends up in landfills locally, through a grant funded pilot-program of the USDA and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma’s gay rodeo continues despite loss of long-time director: A free and welcoming rodeo is continuing in El Reno even after the recent death of its passionate director. Oklahoma’s gay rodeo — officially called the Great Plains Rodeo — breaks some traditional rodeo rules. Women are allowed to compete in bull riding, and men are allowed to compete in barrel racing. Some “camp” events like steer decorating are also on the schedule. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Opinion: Bridging generations brings better outcomes for children and parents: Improving outcomes for children and raising the household income of families in poverty are too often treated as separate goals. However, research shows that these two challenges are deeply interconnected and that addressing them with a two-generation approach can advance solutions for both. [Karen Tilkin / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Edmond mayor will not seek re-election [Journal Record]
- Edmond Mayor Darrell Davis will step aside at end of current term [The Oklahoman]
- Feds award $2.2 million to help plan for OKC bridge replacements [The Oklahoman]
- Wynnewood voters to soon decide on $28.5M bond for school improvements [KOCO]
Quote of the Day
“I’ve felt like the only authority I have as a senator is making statutes and funding. And if they don’t have a functioning organization that is willing to be in partnership with the legislature, then we’re going to talk about withholding resources. That’s really the only way I feel like we can get the attention of the State Department of Education.”
-Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, who serves as chair of the Senate’s Education Committee, commenting about the State Department of Education’s recent decision to take back unspent funds from local school districts designated for use in school safety. [KFOR]
Number of the Day
$161 billion
An estimate from the USDA’s Economic Research Service in 2010 about the cost of food waste. This represents about 31 percent food loss at the retail and consumer levels, corresponding to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food. [The Oklahoman] | [USDA]
Policy Note
Treat Kids as Kids: A Modern Approach to Ensuring Safe Communities: Across the nation, incidents involving youth crime underscore the importance of ensuring communities have the best information, tools, and resources to ensure public safety without abandoning decades of progress in juvenile justice reforms. A new report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics on Crimes Involving Juveniles, 1993-2022 shows fluctuations in the incidence and patterns of youth crime over time. While upticks in certain offense categories demand action and justice, it is crucial to view them within a broader context. [Administrator of the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Liz Ryan / Newsweek]
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