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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
The Rates of Wrath: In recent months, the statutory limitations on Oklahoma’s ability to challenge excessive rates have come under fire; studies of property insurance rate-making have been proposed and approved in both the Oklahoma Senate and House of Representatives, which will evaluate Oklahoma’s legislation on rate regulation. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma to begin controversial test to weed out ‘woke’ teacher applicants today: Teachers from “liberal” states who have relocated to Oklahoma and are seeking to work there must take a controversial new assessment, to be given for the first time today, that “keeps away woke indoctrinators,” according to Oklahoma’s top education official. [CNN]
- New details emerge about Ryan Walters’ ‘woke’ test for teachers from California, New York [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
State leaders brace for ‘heavy lift’ from Medicaid, food stamp changes: President Donald Trump’s massive spending and tax law slashes funding for health care and food assistance. That legislation, and other Trump actions, proved a central theme of discussion during the National Conference of State Legislatures summit. States are still sorting through the long-term impacts of the legislation — and what, if any, actions they can take to soften the blow. [Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy: Facts and figures on federal grant dollars in Oklahoma (2024)
What was on Ryan Walters’ TV? Sheriff’s office wraps up its investigation: The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office has completed its investigation into what happened during a closed meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education in July, when two board members reported seeing images of naked women appearing on a television in state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters’ office. The sheriff’s office spokesperson said their office cannot comment on specifics the investigation unless the district attorney chooses not to file charges. [The Oklahoman]
- The latest on nude images on Ryan Walters’ TV: Sheriff turns over findings to prosecutor [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, OSBI wrap up investigation into State Superintendent Ryan Walters [KFOR]
OK Human Services partners with OK Juvenile Affairs to support First-Time Offender programs (video): Oklahoma Human Services is partnering with the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs to support First-Time Offender programs with federal money from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. [Fox 23]
Oklahoma Ethics Commission provides Guardian 2.0 update: The second iteration of Oklahoma’s online platform for filing and disclosure is still on track to launch next month. Guardian 2.0 will serve as the new system for disclosures by lobbyists, liaisons, political candidates and party committees, PACs and certain state officers and employees. [The Journal Record]
Capital Insider: Oklahoma Department of Education ‘test’ to vet teacher candidates from out of state raises concerns: The new school year is underway around Oklahoma and teachers from some states are now being required to pass a test developed by PragerU – an organization headed by conservative talk show host Dennis Prager – before they can be hired to teach and certified in Oklahoma. This test is being pushed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters to combat what he calls “leftist ideology” in the classroom in Oklahoma. Has this test as a condition of employment been properly approved? [KGOU]
- OSDE’s America First assessment includes questions on Congress and gender [KOCO]
Federal Government News
ICE Is Deporting Thousands With Minor Offenses — From Traffic Violations to Weed Possession: That risk has grown greater for thousands of immigrant families under the Trump administration, as officials expand efforts to deport people with little or no criminal history. The monthly number of people deported whose most serious conviction was a traffic violation — such as driving without a license — has more than tripled in the last six months, hitting almost 600 in May, according to new estimates by The Marshall Project. In total, over 1,800 people with traffic violations have been deported this year. [The Marshall Project]
Trump’s DEI ban in K-12 schools, higher ed ruled ‘unlawful’ by federal judge: A federal judge in Maryland has struck down the U.S. Education Department’s attempts to do away with diversity, equity and inclusion practices in schools. The Thursday ruling marks a blow to President Donald Trump’s administration as it continues to take significant strides to try to crack down on DEI efforts across the federal government. [Oklahoma Voice]
SCOTUS asked to overturn same-sex marriage. What could that mean in Oklahoma?: The U.S. Supreme Court has officially been asked to overturn the 2015 decision that granted equal marriage rights to LGBTQ+ couples, causing concern for many around the nation and in Oklahoma. [The Oklahoman]
How recent Supreme Court rulings affect Oklahoma’s legal landscape: Recent high-impact rulings and emergency docket decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court are almost certain to drive changes across the country, a legal analyst said, including impacts on Oklahoma’s legal landscape. [Gaylord News via Tulsa World]
Oklahoma Watch: Mullin’s late disclosures show millions more in stock and bond sales: For the second time in two weeks, Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin has disclosed trades showing that he violated a federal conflicts of interest and financial transparency law. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma lesser prairie chicken loses endangered species act protections after Texas court order: The lesser prairie chicken, a dancing grouse that has long teetered between threatened and endangered classifications, lost its federal protections in court in a victory for Great Plains petroleum and cattle industries. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Smithsonian Order by Trump Feels Alarmingly Nazi-Inspired: Since his first term, President Trump has pursued an aggressive campaign to recast America’s story—launching the 1776 Commission a ‘white supremacist version’ of American history to counter The 1619 Project, pushing for a “patriotic education” that minimizes slavery’s role, and now, in his second term, signing an executive order that targets the Smithsonian. [Nehemiah Frank / The Black Wall Street Times]
Opinion, U.S. Sen. James Lankford: What you might have missed in the One Big Beautiful Bill: Sometimes, when a huge bill becomes law, the more people read about it, the less they like it. But that has been the exact opposite effect for the One Big Beautiful Bill. Republicans in Congress passed the 940-page One Big Beautiful Bill, and President Donald Trump signed it on July 4 to create the most significant America first tax and government reform bill in our generation. [U.S. Sen. James Lankford / Tulsa World]
- Protesters criticize Lankford ‘s lack of accessibility outside private luncheon [Public Radio Tulsa]
Tribal Nations News
Despite tribal citizenship, traffic tickets for Freedmen descendants to remain in city court: Adeal for the City of Tulsa to send traffic and other municipal cases involving Muscogee Nation citizens to tribal court doesn’t cover the descendants of formerly enslaved people who are also tribal citizens. [The Frontier]
- Listen Frontier: Beyond McGirt: How local governments keep testing tribal rights (podcast) [The Frontier]
Education News
Report: Despite Walters trying to implement it, Trump admin says Walters’ testing elimination plan ‘nowhere near’ approved: The Trump administration says it has not approved Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ plan to replace statewide end-of-year testing with local assessments, and federal and state law still prevent it from taking effect. [KFOR]
Students, families, districts prepare for a cellphone-free school year: Thanks to a new state law, students across the state are not allowed to use cellphones, smart watches and other electronic devices during the school day.[Tulsa World]
Former NFL player, Oklahoma education secretary team to highlight innovative teachers: Oklahoma secretary of education Nellie Tayloe Sanders and former NFL player Curtis Lofton are publicly embarking on what they call their “Pursuit of Passion” tour, designed to spotlight innovative teachers and programs using unique methods — outside of simply reading, writing or lecturing —– that ensure students “discover their abilities.” [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Scrapping the print edition of the University of Central Oklahoma’s paper cheapens student education: Our colleges and universities are supposed to be embracing policies and programs that provide skills and experiences that set their students up for success in the professional workplace. That’s why it’s so puzzling that Oklahoma’s third largest public university has decided the best way to position their journalism and communication students for success is by eliminating the print edition of its student-run newspaper, The Vista. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Editorial: What can you do to help Tulsa Public Schools this year? Here’s a list: Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Ebony Johnson is looking at everything in her organization and thinking about students and teachers every time. But she can’t do it alone. She has a lot of people cheerleading her efforts, which she appreciates, but she also needs more. [Tulsa World Editorial Board]
Editorial: Let’s resist treating some of our high school graduates as ‘aliens’: President Trump, in a move supported by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, is attempting to kill a sensible program that gives in-state tuition to undocumented students if they graduate from a state high school, meet admission standards and have demonstrated they are following the established process to become citizens. [The Oklahoman Editorial Board]
- Opinion: It’s worth it for Oklahoma to give non-US citizens in-state college tuition [William Langdon / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Is Oklahoma City really that unhealthy? Officials challenge latest study: For years, city leaders have tried to battle the notion that Oklahoma City is an unhealthy place to live. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: For 70% of girls, digital connection is not helping reduce levels of hopelessness: Recent research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Girl Scouts of the USA indicates an alarming mental health crisis among girls. The report shows that nearly 70% of girls ages 5 through 13 are experiencing loneliness, which can affect their mental health. Despite constant digital connection, girls are reporting significant levels of sadness, loneliness and hopelessness. [Stacy McNeiland / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Rep. Suzanne Schreiber & Dr. James D. Cash: Progress on health care price transparency: Would you agree to purchase expensive items or services without having any idea how much they cost? Of course not. Yet, when it comes to medical care, we frequently do exactly that. This absurdity helps explain why we spend more than double on health care for every individual in the U.S. than the average of other industrialized nations — without superior results to show for it. [Rep. Suzanne Schreiber & Dr. James D. Cash / Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma may see new ICE detention facilities in former prisons: Oklahoma Watch has reported that CoreCivic is in negotiations to reopen two closed prisons in Oklahoma as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities, with details revealed during a quarterly earnings call last week. [KOCO]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma shouldn’t allow private prisons to reopen as immigration detention centers. Here are 6 reasons why.
How a closer look at arrestees’ past could cut the length time spent in Oklahoma County jail: Closer, standardized background checks are reducing the time some criminal defendants spend in the crowded Oklahoma County jail facing charges before they’re conditionally set free after promising to appear in court. And it could tamp down the jail population. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa property crime hits historic low in 2024, while violent crime up slightly: Reported property crime in Tulsa during 2024 declined to its lowest level in at least 10 years, while violent crime edged up slightly but remained well below its 2020 peak, according to the latest figures from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Program. [Tulsa World]
The Frontier wins a national Edward R. Murrow Award: The Frontier and The Marshall Project have won a national Edward R. Murrow Award for their collaborative reporting on the Oklahoma-based jail health care company Turn Key Health Clinics. [The Frontier]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Facing eviction? Here’s what to know about Oklahoma’s landlord-tenant rights: Among real estate investors, Oklahoma is considered one of the most landlord-friendly states in the country. With no rent controls, a cheap and simple eviction processes and low property taxes, Oklahoma has seen an influx of corporate landlords buying and building properties across the state. [The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy: The legislature last session failed to advance bills that would have reduced evictions and protected tenants from bad actor landlords
Homelessness among topics raised with Oklahoma Policy Institute: Homelessness was top of mind, when the Oklahoma Policy Institute came to Tahlequah to hear from residents. The open forum took place Aug. 14 at the Tahlequah Public Library, and opening statements were given by Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. Hoskin said he considered it an honor to be at the event and said he admires OPI and utilizes the information the organization makes available. [Tahlequah Daily Press]
Key to Home successfully houses 45 people living along OKC’s General Pershing Blvd: Forty-five people living in an encampment along General Pershing Boulevard in Oklahoma City have moved into housing through the city’s Encampment Rehousing Initiative. The initiative was led by the Key to Home Partnership, a collaboration of local agencies, service providers and government partners working together to address homelessness in the city. [KOSU]
City of Tulsa wants to spend $6 million to rehouse homeless. Here’s how it would work: The $6 million Safe Move Tulsa Rehousing Initiative calls for housing 300 individuals or families within the next nine months. The goal is to house 100 to 150 unsheltered individuals or families and 150 to 200 individuals or families who are currently in shelters. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma home equity jumps 431% since 2020: Home equity across the U.S. has grown significantly since 2020, increasing by an average of 142% nationwide, according to a recent study. Bankrate’s home equity data study shows homeowners in Oklahoma have seen bigger returns on their investment in the past five years than in every other U.S. state except West Virginia. [The Journal Record]
Opinion: Myth-busting the common misconceptions about homelessness: The myth is “homelessness could never happen to someone like me.” As humans, we believe we’re immune to hardship — “Bad things happen to other people, not me.” The truth is, homelessness often begins with circumstances many of us could face like illness, disability and job loss. [Sarah Grounds / Tulsa World]
- From OK Policy: Homelessness in Oklahoma – Information and Resources
Opinion: Homelessness can’t be fixed without social workers doing the hard parts: Tulsa leaders often speak of the need for more housing access for supportive programs. Just as important are the case managers and social workers providing the resources keeping people successfully in their homes. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
Opinion: Food, other costs increasing could result in critical losses to our community: Even before the threat and implementation of tariffs and the labor issues brought on by immigration raids, we as a nation have been building toward a crisis with our big-box capitalist approach to consumer goods and services, especially food. It has left us vulnerable to the whims of politicians and oligarchs. If the restaurant industry as a whole is going to survive relatively intact, I think a few things are needed. [Linda Ford / Tulsa World]
Community News
Is Mass safe? ICE raids have undocumented Hispanic Catholics on edge, OKC priests say: With people from around the world attending Mass, including people from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Africa, “it’s like the United Nations here” at St. Eugene, 2400 W. Hefner Road, said the church’s pastor. The church has two Spanish Masses and three English Masses each weekend, plus a Swahili Mass once a month, he proudly pointed out. So, instead of tiptoeing around the subject, Goins said he spoke about the ramped-up immigration enforcement at one of the church’s recent Spanish Masses. [The Oklahoman]
After helping his interpreter escape the Taliban, a marine works to keep him safe: Oklahoma is home both to veterans who deeply care about Afghans and to politicians who, at times, stoke anti-immigrant fear. The story of an Afghan interpreter helping keep military service members safe is one of many about the deep relationships forged in war, the legacy of U.S. foreign policy and how Islamophobia and patriotism come into conflict — especially in red states. [NonDoc]
Local Headlines
- Woman ‘shoved’ by Edmond officer at jail files lawsuit over ‘objectively unreasonable’ broken leg [NonDoc]
- Get your kicks: Proposed Route 66 display to celebrate OKC’s ties to iconic song [The Oklahoman]
- Tulsa Public Schools policy proposal could ban ‘discriminatory’ school mascots [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- Gov. Stitt urges OSSAA to reconsider decision on Glencoe boys basketball transfers [The Oklahoman]
- Tulsa levees to receive long-overdue upgrades, Lankford says during Tulsa stop [Tulsa World]
- How Tulsa Premium Outlets has been a boon for Jenks a year later [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“Number one was tax cuts. Number two, what the hell is going on in Washington?”
– Oklahoma state Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, speaking about the two biggest issues on Oklahoma lawmakers minds during this past legislative session. While Oklahoma lawmakers secured another round of income tax cuts, Haste said they are still wrapping their heads around the fiscal impacts of President Donald Trump’s massive spending and tax law. [Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy: Billions in federal dollars — much of it from taxpayers in other states — prop up Oklahoma’s finances.
Number of the Day
$1 trillion
The estimated downstream costs that counties and other subnational governments could face over the next 10 years as federal policy changes shift financial and administrative responsibilities onto them. [National Association of Counties]
Policy Note
Tough Challenges for Counties in a New Era of Fiscal Federalism: Counties face a fiscal squeeze as they are required to balance budgets each year amid rising costs and stagnant or shrinking revenues — often constrained by state policies and formula changes. With obligations to residents unchanged, local leaders must explore new revenue streams, reduce services, or pursue a combination of both. Achieving financial stability will require more than austerity; it demands innovative revenue solutions and strategic fiscal management. [Governing]
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