In The Know: Elimination of state portion of grocery sales tax starts this week | State 7th worst for women’s equality | Aug. 27 election previews | Homelessness and the lack of affordable housing

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

Elimination of Oklahoma grocery sales tax around the corner: Oklahomans will see a drop in their food bill with the upcoming elimination of the state sales tax on groceries. House Bill 1955 eliminates the state’s 4.5% tax on groceries effective Aug. 29. Local taxes will remain, such as those charged by cities. [Oklahoma Voice]

• Grocery stores prepare for state sales tax changes Thursday [Tulsa World]

Tracing the source of dark money-fueled attack ads that helped topple the Oklahoma Senate’s next leader: The attempts to build layers of secrecy around a tangled web of independent political groups span numerous post office boxes, corporate filings and other records across several states. [The Frontier]

Oklahoma ranks 7th worst for women’s equality in 2024 report: Women’s Equality Day in the U.S. has special significance for many women this year as one of their own has emerged as a major party’s presidential nominee for just the second time in U.S. history. [Journal Record]

State Government News

OSBI Commission clarifies process on complaints against director, declines cold-case review: With nearly half of its seven members taking part in their first meeting, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Commission voted Wednesday to clarify its policies about how to handle any future allegation of wrongdoing by an OSBI director. [NonDoc]

Governor’s office provides more details after DHS director’s departure: The resignation of the director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services is not related to a high-profile custody case nor any pending cases, according to the governor’s office. [Tulsa World]

Capitol Insider: State Board of Education Disputes Attorney General’s Legal Opinion: The last week has featured a collision of the State Department of Education and the Attorney General’s office. It goes back to the board’s decision not to allow legislators into executive sessions of the board’s meetings. [KGOU]

Opinion: State Rep. Andy Fugate explains why he believes Ryan Walters should be impeached: What do you do when a guy simply refuses to do his job? When he spends all his time in the video studio that everyone else refers to as a car? When grant writers, program managers, accounting staff, accreditation staff, your entire legal counsel staff and not just one, but TWO chief financial officers quit, you have to wonder why? [Rep. Andy Fugate / The Oklahoman]

Tribal Nations News

Cherokee Nation takes long-term approach to substance abuse recovery via harm reduction: The Cherokee Nation’s approach to substance abuse recovery is harm reduction, which has drawn criticism from some who work in addiction recovery. [Tulsa World]

Cherokee Nation breaks ground on state-of-the-art addiction treatment center: Leaders of the Cherokee Nation gathered Thursday to break ground on a new state-of-the-art addiction treatment center near Tahlequah, the first of $76 million worth of capital projects the tribe is undertaking to help Cherokees struggling with substance use disorders. [Journal Record]

Voting and Election News

Latino legislative candidates reflect on primary losses, representation in Oklahoma statehouse: The two new Latinos who ran for seats in the Oklahoma legislature tried to use a newly spurred civic energy in their communities to help propel them into office. But that energy didn’t carry voters to the polls during this year’s June primaries like they’d hoped. [KOSU]

Political notebook: Dark money makes late appearance in runoff campaigns: The dark money outfit Sooner Conservatives Action, which appears to be linked to Oklahoma business interests, reported almost $200,000 in independent expenditures to benefit incumbent state Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, ahead of Tuesday’s runoff with upstart Jim Shaw. [Tulsa World]

Aug. 27 Election Round-up:

• Senate District 3 runoff: ‘Lot of lies’ as Stephens, McIntosh compete for shifted seat [NonDoc]
• Senate District 47 candidates ready to race for Pro Tem Treat’s seat [The Oklahoman]
• House District 32 runoff gets expensive, negative as Rep. Kevin Wallace faces Jim Shaw [NonDoc]
• House District 50 runoff features cockfighting commotion, a theft plea and debate drama [NonDoc]
• House District 98 runoff: Dean Davis, Gabe Woolley face off to represent Broken Arrow district [NonDoc]
• Two candidates vie in runoff election for Rep. Rhonda Baker’s seat [The Oklahoman]
• Pawnee County sheriff runoff: As Price challenges Varnell, accusatory videos dominate election [NonDoc]
• Mayoral Candidates Say Yes To ACTION Tulsa [Oklahoma Eagle]
• Four more Tulsa mayoral candidates: Kaleb Hoosier, Paul Tay, John Jolley and Casey Bradford [NonDoc]
• Tulsa City Council District 1: Incumbent Vanessa Hall-Harper challenged by Angela Chambers [NonDoc]
• Tulsa County District 2 Democratic runoff: Sarah Gray, Maria Barnes want change at juvenile facility [NonDoc]
• Tulsa County District 2 Republican runoff: Rep. Lonnie Sims, Melissa Myers talk turnpike, juvenile center [NonDoc]
• Voter Guide: 2024 Black Wall Street Times Tulsa Elections [Black Wall Street Times]
• Supporters of a hotel tax increase in OKC say it would promote tourism. Will it be enough? [The Oklahoman]
• OKC officials advocate for hotel tax hike, citing benefits and minimal resident impact [Fox 25]

Education News

School security has many different looks, but it remains a constant focus, officials say: As the 2024-25 school year starts across Oklahoma, districts are constantly devising and working on ways to keep kids safe — not just from intruders, but also from storms, especially with strong memories of the mammoth 2013 tornado that destroyed two elementary schools in the Moore Public Schools district and killed seven students at Plaza Towers Elementary in south Moore. [The Oklahoman]

‘From the classroom to the courtroom’: Former Norman teacher’s battle over banned books isn’t over: Thursday, two years after former Norman High School English teacher Summer Boismier shared a QR code with students to the Brooklyn Public Library’s website, the State Board of Education revoked her teaching certificate.
But Boismier said the fight isn’t over yet. [KGOU]

Edmond lawmakers ask school district to reconsider policy on display of American flags: Four state lawmakers − all of them from the Edmond area − have sent a letter to Edmond school officials urging administrators to rethink their position on student displays of the American flag. [The Oklahoman]

• Ryan Walters, social media weigh in on Edmond North flag policy [The Oklahoman]

Schools tackle period poverty by providing free menstrual products to students: Several area schools are attempting to remove a health barrier to student attendance, one tampon a time. According to a 2023 survey, 1 in 4 menstruating students nationwide reported they missed school due to not having access to pads, tampons or other menstrual hygiene products. [Tulsa World]

Tulsa Public Schools losing transfer game as football facilities lag behind suburban rivals: When asked how Tulsa Public Schools can compete in the ever-changing landscape of Oklahoma high school football, Edison coach Robert Borgstadt made his feelings clear. “To be honest, TPS, they’re screwed,” Borgstadt told the Tulsa World. “Until they start building facilities like the suburb schools — they probably don’t have to be exactly like Jenks or Union but — until they start fundraising and getting the money and the facilities that those schools have and doing the things that those schools do, they have no chance of keeping their kids.” [Tulsa World]

OSU premieres documentary on Oklahoma teachers and the work they do: The idea was to do a short video with a simple goal: Get students to become teachers. But before long, Kelly Kerr, a former Tulsa World staff photographer and an award-winning multimedia producer at Oklahoma State University, found out there was a bigger story to tell. [Tulsa World]

Opinion: Oklahoma needs to invest in arts education to improve academic outcomes and well-being: Imagine a classroom where creativity has no limit, where students gain valuable skills through music, painting and dance. In such an environment, students can find their unique voice and learn to think, solve problems and relate deeply with others. This is the impact of arts education, a vital yet overlooked component of education in Oklahoma. [Trent Riley / The Oklahoman]

Health News

Helping a minor travel for an abortion? Some states have made it a crime: Helping a pregnant minor travel to get a legal abortion without parental consent is now a crime in at least two Republican-led states, prompting legal action by abortion-rights advocates and copycat legislation from conservative lawmakers in a handful of other states. Republican lawmakers in Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma introduced abortion trafficking bills during their most recent legislative sessions, although those bills failed to advance before the sessions ended. [Oklahoma Voice]

Oklahoma State Department of Health celebrates community health workers: The Oklahoma State Department of Health is celebrating community health workers this week. These professionals help link people to health care and social services. [KGOU]

Opinion: Plenty big ticket votes await Oklahomans in November. But one key issue will be missing: Oklahoma’s November ballot will include many big items to vote on, including our next president, a corporation commissioner and our newest state lawmakers. Disappointingly an option to expand women’s reproductive health access won’t be one. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]

Criminal Justice News

Federal lawsuit aims to change Oklahoma’s parole process for juveniles: Reporter Keaton Ross of Oklahoma Watch discusses his story about a lawsuit that argues the state’s parole process for juvenile homicide offenders is unconstitutional. [Public Radio Tulsa]

Person killed in Edmond police shooting: One person was shot and killed by an Edmond officer Friday night, according to the Edmond Police Department. [KOCO]

Investigation opened into Cleveland County Detention Center inmate’s death: The inmate’s death is being reported as a suicide, but the Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of death. [KOCO]

Charges dismissed against prominent Native artist Bunky Echo-Hawk: A Pawnee County judge dismissed the criminal case against well-known Oklahoma artist Bunky Echo-Hawk Friday, more than two years after he was accused of molesting a child. [The Oklahoman]

Housing & Economic Opportunity News

Growing numbers of homeless increase traffic at Tulsa shelters, services: A growing number of Tulsans are depending on the Tulsa Day Center for shelter and other services. Through the first half of 2024, Tulsa Day Center received about 800 more visits — about a 17% increase — over the first half of last year. [Tulsa World]

Economy & Business News

Where exactly are all the AI jobs?: After a fever-pitch in 2022, tech hiring has leveled out a bit. But AI will continue to permeate every industry in years to come, a Stanford report finds. [Oklahoma Voice]

Community News

Oklahoma Capitol rally demands impeachment of State Superintendent Ryan Walters: Around 100 people showed up at the Oklahoma Capitol on Saturday to demand the impeachment of State Superintendent Ryan Walters. Multiple state lawmakers and advocates spoke at the event, which was organized by Oklahomans for Democracy. All of them asked people to contact their lawmakers about Walters and to begin participating more politically. [Tulsa World]

2 books represent Oklahoma at the National Book Festival: Two books at the National Book Festival represented Oklahoma over the weekend. “This Indian Kid: A Native American Memoir” by Eddie Chuculate was chosen in the “Great Reads for Kids” category, and “Otis W. Leader: The Ideal American Doughboy” by Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer was chosen in the “Great Reads for Adults” category. [KOSU]

Opinion: Separation of church and state is good for the church and good for the state: Christian nationalism is more a political ideology than a theological position. At its core, it is a belief that America is superior to all other nations, that God has uniquely blessed America over all nations, and that America should be recognized as a Christian nation. [Rev. Don Heath / The  Oklahoman]

Local Headlines

• City councilmembers have chosen Yukon’s new city manager. Who is he? [The Oklahoman]
• Former Love County treasurer indicted, again [The Oklahoman]
• ‘Nobody should be taking a victory lap’: Petition to investigate commissioner fails [Fox 25]
• Gambling? Nudists? What was going on behind the 8-foot fence in Edmond? [The Oklahoman]
• Decades in the making, Zink Lake to open on Friday with 4-day Big Dam Party [Tulsa World]
• Oklahoma City leaders to vote on Will Rogers World Airport name change [The Oklahoman]

Quote of the Day

“A lot of people are paying 50% to 60% of their income on rent, because rent is so high. And one little life change, like an automobile breaking down, or a health event or a mental health breakdown or something, can can throw them into homelessness pretty quick, for lack of a rent payment.”

-Tulsa Day Center CEO Mack Haltom, speaking about the connection between the lack of affordable housing and the increase of people experiencing homelessness. [Tulsa World]

Number of the Day

Policy Note

The Rent-Wage Gap: Perspectives on Housing Affordability: From the tenant’s viewpoint, the rent-wage gap transcends mere statistics; it translates into a daily struggle. Soaring rent prices, especially burdensome for low- and middle-income workers, force many to allocate an imbalanced share of their income to rent, leaving little for essentials like food, healthcare, and education. The resulting stress and uncertainty contribute to mental health problems and a diminished quality of life. [National Low-Income Housing Coalition]

• From OK Policy: Oklahomans will go another year without solutions to housing crisis (2024 Legislative Wrap-up) 

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