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.
Oklahoma News
Despite growing criticism, McCall denies request for Ryan Walters investigation: Following possibly the most vocal and public call to date for a legislative investigation into State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters from nearly two dozen Oklahoma House Republicans, Speaker Charles McCall sent a message to legislators rejecting their request Tuesday afternoon. [NonDoc]
- House speaker declines GOP lawmakers’ request to investigate Ryan Walters [The Oklahoman]
- House Speaker responds to Republicans’ call for impeachment investigation of Ryan Walters [KOCO]
- Several House Republicans call for impeachment investigation into Walters [Oklahoma Voice]
- OSDE At the Center of Bipartisan Questioning [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Calls to investigate Superintendent Walters grow louder [KSWO]
- ‘It seems to be getting worse’: Oklahoma Senator calls out State Supt. for funding issues [Fox 25]
- As constituents call House members, confidence grows more will sign letter calling for Walters investigation [KFOR]
- Support Grows for Investigation Into Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters, OSDE [News 9]
- 30 more Republicans must sign letter before investigative committee looks into State Superintendent Ryan Walters [KOCO]
State Government News
Drummond orders Walters to comply with Open Records Act, Walters does not respond: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond sent State Superintendent Ryan Walters a very strongly-worded letter last month demanding Walters and the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) comply with the Open Records Act, after his officer received dozens of complaints. Walters never responded. [KFOR]
OSDE asks attorney general whether Oklahoma school security funds roll over, Ryan Walters says: Walters denied reports from some superintendents and state legislators that the Oklahoma State Department of Education took back funds for school security that weren’t spent yet. [KOCO]
Ryan Walters’ letter seeks ‘clarification’ from AG’s office on payment for asthma inhalers: Nearly 14 months after $250,000 in state funds was earmarked for the purchase of emergency asthma inhalers for public schools, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters is asking for clarification from Attorney General Gentner Drummond on whether he can spend the money. [The Oklahoman]
Raise exceeding $16,000 for Oklahoma Broadband Office’s executive director approved: The Broadband Governing Board approved the salary increase for Mike Sanders, the executive director, which brings his salary to $201,175. The increase is effective immediately. [Oklahoma Voice]
Law firm to investigate Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett: Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Kim David on Tuesday announced the law firm Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis has been hired to conduct a confidential investigation into alleged misconduct by fellow Commissioner Todd Hiett. [Journal Record]
- Calls continue for Oklahoma Corp. Commissioner’s resignation amid finger-pointing [KFOR]
- Law firm hired to investigate Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner accused of sexual assault [Fox 25]
Federal Government News
States, like Oklahoma, want to lower drug prices. A federal law stands in their way.: In recent years, all 50 states have enacted laws designed to lower prescription drug costs by curbing the power of PBMs, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy, a nonpartisan research group. But thanks to a 50-year-old federal law called the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, better known as ERISA, almost none of those measures applies to the 65% of Americans who work for large employers that cover their workers through so-called self-funded health care plans. [Oklahoma Voice]
Voting and Election News
Tulsa mayoral debate fact check reviews record, claims: When did Karen Keith first learn of allegations of abuse at a Tulsa juvenile detention center? Did Monroe Nichols miss a vote on a bill to fund Arkansas River levee repairs? We investigated. [The Frontier]
Less than 1% apart in primary, Blair and Pokorny hit HD 53 runoff: Republicans Nick Pokorny and Jason Blair are competing in the Aug. 27 runoff to succeed Rep. Mark McBride (R-Moore), who has served as chairman of the House Appropriation and Budget Subcommittee on Education. [NonDoc]
Education News
Tax Credit Program Sparks Statewide Surge in Private School Tuition: When parents enrolled their children in a small private school in Ardmore in the fall of 2023, the tuition was $1,000 per semester. The Parental Choice Tax Credit Program started in December, promising parents a tax credit of up to $3,750 per student for spring tuition. Global Harvest Christian School responded by raising its spring tuition to $3,500. [Oklahoma Watch]
- Long Story Short: Oklahoma Tax Credit Program Sparks Statewide Surge in Private School Tuition (audio) [Oklahoma Watch]
School districts left in the lurch on maternity leave reimbursements, Education Committee chairman says: The state’s top Republican on common education matters says the Oklahoma State Department of Education failed to fully implement paid maternity leave for school employees, leaving school districts across the state in the lurch for untold thousands of dollars for the fiscal year that ended June 30. [Tulsa World]
Agriculture organizations give funds for OSU research center: Oklahoma State University’s Agronomy Research Station has one of the top wheat breeding programs in the world and it’s about to get bigger. [KOSU]
Opinion: Ryan Walters craves national spotlight while Oklahoma education remains low in rankings: There is no evidence that the Oklahoma State Board of Education is anything other than a rubber stamp to whatever state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters proposes. [Janis Blevins / The Oklahoman]
Health News
New study seeks veterans in Tulsa: The Laureate Brain Institute is looking for post-9/11 veterans for a study to improve brain function after a traumatic brain injury. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Criminal Justice News
City of Edmond Approves Settlement. with Glynn Simmons, Who Wrongfully Spent 48 Years Behind Bars: The City of Edmond has reached an agreement to award Glynn Simmons a partial settlement of $7.15 million after his conviction for a 1974 murder was overturned. Simmons spent nearly five decades behind bars before being released from prison in 2023. [News 9]
Oklahoma contractor charged with embezzling from Owasso, Collinsville customers: A Tulsa-area contractor faces 17 counts of felony embezzlement and one count of engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses following an investigation by Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s Consumer Protection Unit. [Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Study: Nearly half of Oklahoma’s Section 8 vouchers expire before they can be used: For people who can’t afford their own place to live, getting a Section 8 housing voucher can be a relief or even a cause for celebration. The realities of the housing market, however, mean nearly half of those vouchers expire before they can be used. [The Oklahoman]
Community News
Now a refugee in Oklahoma, Feroz Bashari was once the voice of his nation’s government: Three years ago this month, the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan after U.S. and allied militaries began withdrawing from the country. Millions faced an uncertain future, including the ousted Afghan government’s own spokesman and longtime coalition translator, Feroz Bashari. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Location announced for Tulsa Latter-day Saints regional temple [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa Premium Outlets crosses finish line 10 years after announcing development [Tulsa World]
- Norman City Council postpones OTA decision [KFOR]
Quote of the Day
“The parental choice tax credit is a private school subsidy.”
– Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, speaking about Oklahoma’s private school tax credits that went into effect in December 2023. An Oklahoma Watch report found that about 1 in 8 schools (12%) capped tuition at or near $7,500, the maximum amount a family can receive from the Parental Choice Tax Credit Program. [Oklahoma Watch]
Number of the Day
Policy Note
‘Internet to go’ programs get a boost: The FCC recently voted to allow schools and libraries to use federal funds to support Wi-Fi hotspot lending programs, which caught fire during the pandemic. The efforts are viewed by some as a small, but critical, way to help close the digital divide. [Route Fifty]
- Mapping digital inequity in every state [U.S. Census Bureau]
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
