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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
Policy Matters: Our children are paying for grown-up power plays: Going back to school always brings both nerves and excitement: new teachers, different classmates, and high hopes. But this year in Oklahoma, students face a greater threat: schools, teachers, and classrooms shaken by the political ambitions and reckless decisions of our state’s school superintendent. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
CoreCivic Advertises Jobs at Vacant Prisons in Watonga and Sayre: As federal spending on immigrant enforcement and detention soars, a private prison company is advertising detention officer positions at vacant prisons in Watonga and Sayre. [Oklahoma Watch]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma shouldn’t allow private prisons to reopen as immigration detention centers. Here are 6 reasons why.
State Government News
Oklahoma lawmakers consider adding state oversight for homeless shelters: The Oklahoma lawmakers behind a controversial bill to restrict the locations of homeless shelters are now pushing for more state oversight. [The Frontier]
Lawmakers study Texas pressures on Oklahoma water: Increasing pressures coming from Texas on resources in southeastern Oklahoma have resulted in calls for the Legislature to add to the number of rivers, like the Illinois River, protected under the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Act. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma AG launches open records transparency form: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has launched a complaint form that allows citizens to appeal denied open records requests. It allows a person whose request to inspect or copy a public record is denied by a public body to file a request review within 30 days of the denial. [The Journal Record]
Federal Government News
Trump’s mass deportations opened the door for deploying National Guard in D.C.: President Donald Trump’s move to deploy 800 National Guard members in the District of Columbia over claims that crime is plaguing the city – despite historic lows – follows his use of the military in his administration’s growing immigration crackdown. [Oklahoma Voice]
Court ruling lifts protections for lesser prairie chicken: Endangered Species Act protections for the lesser prairie chicken were scrapped on Tuesday after a ruling by a federal judge in Texas. [Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
Some Oklahoma towns still ticket tribal citizens, in violation of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling: The U.S. Supreme Court held in the 2020 McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling that the Muscogee Nation reservation is Indian Country. As a result, citizens of tribal nations can’t be prosecuted in state court in most of the eastern part of the state. But Henryetta is one of a number of towns that have continued to give tribal citizens traffic citations in defiance of the ruling. [The Frontier]
Cherokee Nation argues for legislation limiting UKB economic development: Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. recently called on Congress to restore a federal law requiring the Cherokee Nation’s consent before other tribes, specifically the United Keetoowah Band, can place land into trust within its reservation. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Tribally-administered Summer EBT improved food security, study finds: The summer EBT program, also called SUN Bucks, started nationwide last year. When the program began, the State of Oklahoma and a dozen other states declined the funding. But the Cherokee and the Chickasaw Nations administered their own programs. [KOSU]
Education News
‘Waste of taxpayer money’: Concerns surround OSDE new assessment plan: After announcing the end of some state testing, Superintendent Ryan Walters announced there will be testing, but with districts choosing their vendors for tests. Regardless, the agency that works behind the scenes with test scores and more has concerns. [KFOR]
Oklahoma schools to continue charging meal fees, despite Walters’ demands: Multiple Oklahoma school districts say they will continue to charge cafeteria fees despite demands from the state’s public education chief to provide all meals for free. [Oklahoma Voice]
Educator warns mental health support for students at risk after PRIME program ends: Rural Oklahoma schools are grappling with new challenges in mental health support following recent federal funding cuts to a critical program. [News Channel 8]
UCO ends print publication of student newspaper: The future of University of Central Oklahoma’s student newspaper, The Vista, is unclear following a decision to immediately end the print publication. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: In just 10 years, Oklahoma’s reading, math scores fell to be the worst in the US: At the very time we need to repair and strengthen public education, the governor, the former speaker of the House and the state schools superintendent were so focused on vouchers, tax credits and tax cuts — a total distraction from improving education outcomes. It took time, resources and attention away from the real need. [Former Representative Mark McBride / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ people, long discredited, could make a comeback: Political currents are shifting. Conservative majorities in the courts, in state legislatures and at the federal level have reshaped the legal landscape, opening the door for Republican lawmakers and conservative Christian groups to reinstate a practice that has been roundly discredited by the medical community. [Oklahoma Voice]
Criminal Justice News
Tulsa Area Emergency Management director resigns ahead of first court appearance: The former leader of Tulsa’s emergency management response services resigned ahead of his first appearance in court Wednesday regarding his arrest on a child pornography charge. [Tulsa World]
Can you flip off a cop? Here’s what the law says in Oklahoma: Traffic stops can get frustrating for drivers in a hurry, and sometimes lead people to do or say things they may regret later. But is lashing out, maybe just by flipping off the officer who pulled you over, a punishable offense in Oklahoma? [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
What is ‘hostile architecture?’ Why Oklahoma City put rocks under overpass bridges (video): Officials said the boulders are to push people toward housing or other resources, but experts say it’s not an effective way to address the problem. [The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
Google announces plans to build data center in Stillwater, expand Pryor campus: Google plans to build a new data center in Stillwater and expand its data center at the MidAmerica Industrial Park, officials announced Wednesday. [Tulsa World]
- Google announces new investments in Oklahoma data centers [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Google pledges $9 billion to expand AI, cloud infrastructure in Oklahoma [Reuters]
Office tenants plan growth as hybrid work boosts demand: Office users nationally said they expect to grow or maintain their footprints as in-office attendance continues to improve, according to a CBRE survey. Forty-three percent of respondents said they expected to expand their office space, while only 33% plan to use less space. [BridgeTower Media Newswires via The Journal Record]
Community News
Farmers’ Almanac predicts ‘old-fashioned’ winter. What to expect in Oklahoma for 2025-2026: Last winter, Oklahoma saw a polar vortex and La Niña temperatures create some of the coldest daily temperatures in the state’s history. But this isn’t always the case for winter in the Sooner State. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Edmond adopts University District Plan to create a new mixed-use neighborhood [The Journal Record]
- OKC Council approves TIF funds for storytelling elements in Clara Luper Civil Rights Center [The Oklahoman]
- OKC’s Freedom Fiesta concert to feature ‘Clara Luper’ composer, youth choir, stomp group [The Oklahoman]
- Scheels to receive largest retail incentive package in OKC history [News 9]
Quote of the Day
“If anyone wants to stop talking about inflation and do something about it, they should roll up their sleeves and help administer the Summer EBT Program.”
– Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., speaking about summer food assistance administered through the Tribes, including the Cherokee Nation, have improved food security among participants. [KOSU]
Number of the Day
$990 billion
The amount the federal government is projected to cut from Medicaid and CHIP over the next decade under a law enacted in 2025, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. Only a small fraction of these cuts — about 2.5% — relate to fraud, waste, or abuse, while most will shift significant costs to states, adding to financial pressures alongside other mandated program changes. [Congressional Budget Office]
Policy Note
Medicaid, CHIP, and Affordable Care Act Marketplace Cuts and Other Health Provisions in the Budget Reconciliation Law, Explained: The “Big Beautiful Bill” makes sweeping cuts to Medicaid, CHIP, and Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies, fundamentally reshaping U.S. health coverage. New work and eligibility verification requirements, limits on how states can fund their share of Medicaid, and federal caps on spending will shift costs to states and restrict access to care. These changes are expected to drive up uninsured rates, strain state health systems, and increase financial and health insecurity for low-income families.[Georgetown Center for Children and Families]
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