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
Oklahoma Corporation Commission approves rate hike for ONG: The average Oklahoma Natural Gas customer’s monthly bill will increase by $1.33 after the Oklahoma Corporation Commission voted to approve a rate hike Tuesday. The increase will add more than $31 million to ONG’s annual base rate revenue, which is currently around half a billion dollars. [KOSU]
- Corporation Commission approves another ONG rate increase [KFOR]
State Government News
Oklahoma Gov. Stitt’s work permit, visa task force releases final report: Gov. Kevin Stitt’s work permit and visa task force has five recommendations for how Oklahoma can encourage non-citizens to join its workforce. They include establishing a new government office and providing certain folks with special privilege cards to drive — which require legislative will to implement. [KOSU]
- Task force identifies ways to help undocumented Oklahomans in the workforce [KOCO]
‘Legitimacy’ of Corporation Commission at stake in Hiett scandal, Bob Anthony says: Votes cast by Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett should be considered violations of state ethics rules and grounds for legal appeal in cases that can involve hundreds of millions of dollars and utility bills paid by Oklahomans, longtime Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony said Tuesday. [Tulsa World]
Legislators discuss alternatives to incarceration for youth justice system: State Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, held the study to examine the rehabilitative nature of the juvenile justice system and explore alternatives to incarceration. Jill Mencke, youth justice policy analyst at Oklahoma Policy Institute, talked to the committee about using diversion to empower youth and keep them out of prison. [Journal Record]
- From OK Policy: Better Tomorrows: A Landscape Analysis of Oklahoma’s Youth Justice System and Suggested Reforms
Long Story Short: Parental Tax Credit Program Has No Standards for Accreditation (audio): Oklahoma Watch · Parental Tax Credit Program Has No Standards for Accreditation Jennifer Palmer reveals how little private school accreditation means in light of the new state tax credit program. [Oklahoma Watch]
- First Watch: Stuff You Should Know: A zoo association accredited an Oklahoma private school to get your tax dollars [Oklahoma Watch]
Tribal Nations News
Chickasaw Historical Society Examines Food Sovereignty during Annual Conference: The 2024 Chickasaw Historical Society (CHS) Ittafama Ithana (Gathering to Learn) Conference, conducted Aug. 8-9, provided opportunity to honor a longtime culture keeper and learn about tribal food sovereignty, past and present. [Native News Online]
Lawsuit between tribal member, Broken Arrow Public Schools settled: A lawsuit filed by Otoe-Missouria citizen and Osage descendant Lena Black was voluntarily dismissed with prejudice last week, meaning the case is permanently closed. [KOSU]
Hope in sight for Oklahoma Superfund site thanks to efforts by Quapaw Nation: The ghost town of Picher is known for its dark and disheartening history. But the Quapaw Nation is actively working to change that narrative. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma election results 2024: Tulsa mayor race headed to runoff, OKC hotel tax passes: Oklahomans headed to the voting booth Tuesday to decide local issues like taxes, school bonds and legislative seats. [The Oklahoman]
- Unofficial results for Aug. 27 Runoff Primary and Special Elections [Oklahoma Election Board]
- Oklahoma election results [KFOR]
- See final Tulsa and Oklahoma election results [Tulsa World]
- OKC passes hotel tax increase, Tulsa mayoral race goes to runoff in August election [KGOU]
- Special Election Results: 3 Incumbent Lawmakers Lose Seats, School Bonds & More [News 9]
- House appropriations chairman, two other incumbents knocked out in Republican runoffs [Tulsa World]
- Three Oklahoma incumbent state lawmakers lose runoffs [Oklahoma Voice]
- Voters sink Stephens, wash out Wallace, dump Davis [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma legislative runoffs see 4 candidates win outright, 6 head to general election [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma City voters approve 3.75% increase to hotel tax [Oklahoma Voice]
- Cashing In On Tourism: OKC Hotel Tax Increase Passed [News 9]
- Tulsa elections: 4 incumbents reelected, 3 seats sent to November runoff [NonDoc]
- Tulsa mayoral election heads to November runoff election [Oklahoma Voice]
- Monroe Nichols, Karen Keith reach Tulsa mayoral runoff [NonDoc]
- Monroe Nichols, Karen Keith headed to runoff election in Tulsa mayor’s race [Tulsa World]
- Four City Council incumbents reelected; two others in runoffs [Tulsa World]
- Guthrie and Purcell bond proposals pass easily, but those in 4 other districts go down [The Oklahoman]
- Sheriff showdowns: Varnell to vacate Pawnee County, Merritt and Shirey head to general [NonDoc]
Oklahoma’s election system ‘100% accurate,’ says chief election official: Oklahoma’s election system functioned with 100% accuracy during the June primary election, says the state’s chief election official. The announcement came Monday, just a day before thousands of Oklahomans were expected to return to the polls for the August primary runoff election. [The Oklahoman]
- From OK Policy’s Shiloh Kantz: More leaders should quash election conspiracies
Low voter turnout concerns as Oklahoma heads to polls, analyst cites hurdles: “We’re consistently ranked very, very low in relation to the rest of the country and even surrounding states,” said OK Policy’s Cole Allen. A limited early voting period, voter registration requirements and voting during the workday are some factors that contribute to low voter turnout in Oklahoma. [Fox 25]
Has Oklahoma always trended conservative? Polling expert looks at voting history: More than most, Pat McFerron knows what Oklahomans are thinking. Ballotpedia, the nonpartisan online political encyclopedia, calls McFerron one of the nation’s “top influencers.” [The Oklahoman]
Health News
GRAND Mental Health ‘Care-A-Van’ visits rural Oklahoma towns: Throughout the week, a van will be stationed in different towns in Oklahoma, stocked with free snacks and health professionals from GRAND Mental Health. The van is part of a new pilot program launched by GRAND to introduce its services to rural areas in Oklahoma. [KOSU]
Criminal Justice News
At the Oklahoma County jail, a lack of staff means security checks often get skipped: When jailers don’t check on arrestees, the consequences can be deadly. Jail officials have tried boosting detention officer pay and hiring a private staffing company to help, but say more funding is needed. [The Frontier]
A petition for a grand jury investigation of an Oklahoma County official failed. What’s next?: A group of Del City leaders said they had gathered more than 5,000 signatures when they submitted the petition on Aug. 12, but officials with the Oklahoma County Election Board announced Aug. 20 they’d validated only 4,180 of them. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Stitt advocates for less housing regulations in national media appearance: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt appeared Sunday on CBS’ Face the Nation to talk about the Republican platform before November’s election. Stitt was questioned about former President Trump’s plan to tackle the housing shortage across the country, including in Oklahoma. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Opinion: The childhood hunger issue is not just about a human need. It’s about economics, as well: Chronic food insecurity is not just about hunger; it’s about the physical, emotional and cognitive development of our children. To ensure our children reach their full potential, we must align our efforts to provide a secure safety net. [Stacy Dykstra / The Oklahoman]
Community News
Construction on Veterans Hospital in Tulsa hits milestone; Inhofe’s memory honored: A few short speeches, the Star Spangled Banner and a crane lift on Tuesday morning marked one more milestone along the road to completion of the Veterans Hospital in Tulsa. [Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Amid Rigby uncertainty, Edmond City Council uncorks brewery plan, green-lights electric projects [NonDoc]
- Council approves OKC Will Rogers International Airport as new name [Journal Record]
- Norman City Council Unanimously Rejects Turnpike Expansion Resolution [News 9]
Quote of the Day
“We don’t give youth service agencies the flexibility to try new things and things that could work for these counties, and so without the funding to be able to make those things happen, they can’t try new things.”
– Jill Mencke, youth justice policy analyst at OK Policy, speaking about roadblocks to reform at an interim study on Tuesday focused on the rehabilitative nature of the juvenile justice system and explore alternatives to incarceration. [Journal Record]
Number of the Day
5%
Oklahoma’s Earned Income Tax Credit — a tax credit that subsidizes work for low-income families — is capped at 5% of the federal EITC credit. Of the 30 states that provide this tax credit to low-wage workers with families, Oklahoma has the nation’s fourth lowest credit. [OK Policy]
Policy Note
States Should Continue Enacting and Expanding Child Tax Credits and Earned Income Tax Credits: State child tax credits and EITCs build on the success of both federal credits by helping families afford the basics and reducing poverty; this, in turn, helps them thrive in the long run through improved child and maternal health, school achievement, and other benefits, research has found. Because people of color, women, and people who immigrated to the U.S. are overrepresented in low-paid work and in families with little to no earnings — due in part to discrimination, bias, and other structural barriers to opportunity — these two state credits are an important tool for advancing equity. And by bolstering families’ incomes, they also boost local communities and state economies. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
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