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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
Fact Sheet for State Question 845: Changes to Judicial Nominating Commission: State Question 845 would change the rules for Oklahoma’s 15-member Judicial Nominating Commission, which reviews candidates for certain judicial vacancies. It would update geographic representation to use current congressional districts and remove limits on how many commissioners can be attorneys, have immediate family members who practice law, or belong to the same political party. It would also change commissioners’ term lengths, allow members to serve up to 12 consecutive years, and adjust how the commission’s three at-large members are chosen. [Cole Allen / OK Policy]
State Government News
Lawmakers say workers at state mental health clinics being told to resign: Two lawmakers are sounding the alarm after hearing that Oklahoma officials emailed numerous employees encouraging them to resign from their jobs at state-run outpatient mental health clinics. [The Oklahoman]
Rose State College professors propose constitutional convention framework: As part of Rose State College‘s Constitution Week festivities, political science professors debated the merits of and a potential framework for an Oklahoma constitutional convention amid Gov. Kevin Stitt’s call for a vote three weeks earlier. [The Journal Record]
Cedar Lake Water Fight Deepens After State Approves Dam Settlement: After a regulatory settlement over unpermitted dams, the fight over water near Cedar Lake in Canadian County now moves to who can use water from streams that feed the lake. [Oklahoma Watch]
Opinion: Oklahoma doesn’t need Stitt’s magic wand: As Gov. Kevin Stitt nears the end of his eight years in public office, this much is certain: He is a slow learner. He still seems to think an Oklahoma governor can simply sign an “executive order,” wave a magic wand and – voila! – his subjects will do as he commands. Except it doesn’t work that way. Never has. And hopefully never will. [Arnold Hamilton / The Journal Record]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Inola aluminum smelter, Rep. Danny Williams, Not Your Average Joe lawsuit and more (podcast): The panelists talk about the City of Inola extending a moratorium on an aluminum smelter as well as having citizens vote on the project in April, lawmakers plan to hold an open hearing for embattled State Rep. Danny Williams and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling against a temporary injunction on an Oklahoma law banning certain conversations regarding race and gender. The trio also discusses an audit of Oklahoma County’s murky finances and the Trump Administration suing Oklahoma nonprofit coffee company Not Your Average Joe. [KOSU]
Federal Government News
Trump withdraws Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, as his nominee to lead ICE: The White House said Thursday that it was withdrawing its nomination of Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, to lead U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ensuring that an agency at the forefront of President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda will remain without a Senate-confirmed leader for at least a while longer. [NPR]
- Trump pulls nomination of Oklahoma-native Lance Schroyer for ICE [The Oklahoman]
- Trump withdraws Oklahoman’s nomination to lead ICE [Tulsa World]
- White House yanks Oklahoma nominee to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement [Oklahoma Voice]
Census data shows US poverty rate drops to lowest on record, but experts are cautious: The official poverty rate in the United States dipped slightly by half a percentage point last year to a historic low of 10.2%, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday. The supplemental poverty rate, a more holistic figure that includes an individual’s non-cash resources, remained essentially unchanged at 13.1%, according to the bureau’s annual poverty report. The report measured 2025 numbers in comparison with 2024 and previous years. [Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy: Latest Census Bureau poverty data misses state-by-state trends
More GOP lawmakers break with Trump on Iran as gas prices keep climbing: As the November midterms approach, vulnerable U.S. House Republicans voted late Tuesday to require congressional approval for President Donald Trump to continue his war in Iran. [Oklahoma Voice]
Justice Sotomayor warns about decline in civics, growth of AI at Tulsa event: A U.S. Supreme Court justice is warning that a sharp decline in public knowledge about how the government works could lead to the end of U.S. democracy. [The Oklahoman]
- Justice Sotomayor concerned Americans may not be able to ‘keep’ republic [Tulsa World]
- Ignorance of civics and government is the biggest US threat, says Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor [Tulsa Flyer]
Opinion: Constitution Day at 239 highlights unfinished work on voting: When Americans go to the polls — or choose to vote by mail — they should be able to understand the rules governing that vote. And, as the United States House of Representatives Administration committee states: ”Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution explains that the States have the primary authority over election administration, the ‘times, places, and manner of holding elections.’” That should not be controversial. [Mary L. Smith and Robert Henry / The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Choctaw Nation approves $3.1B budget with $617M in investments: The Choctaw Nation Tribal Council unanimously approved a $3.1 billion expense budget for fiscal year 2027 during its Sept. 12 meeting. [The Journal Record]
Voting and Election News
Do Fewer Than Four in 10 Oklahomans Participate in Presidential Elections?: Yes. 1,566,173 Oklahomans voted in the 2024 presidential election, which is about 39% of Oklahoma’s total population – but that includes children and others ineligible to vote. [Oklahoma Watch]
Education News
Oklahoma CareerTech board to vote on request for funding increase: A state board governing vocational learning centers could ask for a $67.87 million budget increase next year with the goal of expanding workforce training. [Oklahoma Voice]
National screen time debate reaches Oklahoma schools: As questions swirl nationwide about the appropriate role of technology in children’s education, some Oklahoma parents, lawmakers and districts are calling for a reduction to in-school screen time. [Oklahoma Voice]
Health News
Oklahoma mothers sue over abortion ban for fatal fetal conditions: A new lawsuit filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights against the state of Oklahoma seeks to require the state to allow pregnant Oklahomans to obtain abortions in cases when their babies are diagnosed with fatal fetal conditions, meaning they will not survive outside the womb for a significant amount of time. [The Oklahoman]
- Women sue Oklahoma after traveling for abortions following fetal diagnoses [Tulsa World]
FDA acknowledges estrogen patch shortage, says it’s working to increase supply: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it’s helping manufacturers increase the supply of estrogen-based hormonal patches and acknowledged a current nationwide shortage as more women seek hormonal therapies for symptoms related to menopause. [Oklahoma Voice]
What The Frontier found at an Oklahoma boarding school for troubled teens: Former students described physical restraints, forced exercise, food restrictions, unpaid labor, and close monitoring at New Lifehouse Academy. [The Frontier]
Justice System News
Eye on Oklahoma: Missing Guns, 17 Vehicles and a Meat Slicer (video): Since 2021, the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector has identified more than 3,000 items unaccounted for in sheriff’s departments statewide. [Oklahoma Watch]
Swadley’s Bar-B-Q owner assaulted in jail while awaiting sentencing, judge told: Restaurateur Brent Swadley was assaulted this month in the Grady County jail, a defense attorney has disclosed to his trial judge at a hearing. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Emails: Mayor’s office directed police ‘enforcement’ against Tulsa’s Food Not Bombs: Released this week, email records show a member of Mayor Monroe Nichols’ management team asked the Tulsa Police Department to engage in “enforcement” against a local group that protests war by distributing food, water and resources to individuals experiencing homelessness and hunger. The action resulted in the May arrest of four members, with three of those criminal cases pending in municipal court. [NonDoc]
Poll finds more than half of Oklahomans have struggled with food bills: More than half of Oklahomans polled recently by the Hunger Free Oklahoma organization said they’ve struggled at times over the past year to put food on their tables. [Tulsa World]
As new homes go up in north Tulsa, some see progress. Others still have questions.: North Tulsa has seen a wave of new housing construction in recent years. While some see the new housing options as signs of progress, others question how the changing landscape might impact longtime north Tulsa residents. [Tulsa Flyer]
Economy & Business News
As fuel prices soar, input costs for Oklahoma producers climb: Diesel prices are at a record high in Oklahoma, where fuel prices are typically among the cheapest in the nation. The agriculture industry faces even higher input costs ahead of fall harvest. [KOSU]
- Record diesel prices hit North Dakota farmers at the wrong time [Oklahoma Voice]
Community News
How the Terence Crutcher Foundation transformed tragedy into 10 years of community action: At its 10th anniversary gala, the Terence Crutcher Foundation honored a decade of advocacy, youth development and investment in North Tulsa. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Cherokee Strip exhibit in Enid catalyzes conversations about racism, stereotypes: A traveling exhibit about racist items found in thrift stores is making a stop at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid to spark more mindful conversations. It opened this month and will run through Oct. 30. [KGOU]
Oklahoma City hosts first public El Grito for Mexican Independence Day: The tradition of “El Grito”, which can be translated to mean the call, shout or cry, is one of Mexico’s most meaningful rituals, commemorating the historic call that ignited the fight for Mexico’s Independence. In previous years the Oklahoma City celebration was held privately inside the consulate, but this Tuesday marked the first of an annual event to publicly celebrate and center Oklahoma communities. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Special meeting held for proposed Piedmont Data Center [KFOR]
- Tulsa Ports approves legal action against Inola smelter petition [KOSU]
- What you need to know about the proposed $12 million cuts at Tulsa Public Schools [Tulsa Flyer]
- Once Again, It’s 918 Day! [Public Radio Tulsa]
Quote of the Day
“We have to work diligently every day to protect our balance and to protect our government and its system of government. It’s not something that just happens. It wasn’t created by our founders to be a system of government where people (are) apathetic to its structure or to its function.”
-U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, speaking at a Tulsa event where she warned attendees that a sharp decline in public knowledge about how the government works could lead to the end of U.S. democracy. [Tulsa World]
Number of the Day
32%
Percentage of U.S. adults who responded “not sure” to one or more of four factual questions about American politics. An analysis found Americans who are highly engaged in public life are more likely than those who are less engaged to correctly answer several factual questions about politics. [Pew Research]
Policy Note
Driving Change: A Guide to Community Engagement Initiatives: Community engagement is the foundation of a thriving society, fostering civic participation and empowering individuals to influence decisions that shape their communities. Effective community engagement initiatives promote inclusivity, encourage collaboration, and ensure that diverse voices contribute to public policy and local governance. This guide explores various strategies for engaging with your community, advocating for policy changes, and making a tangible impact. [Pepperdine School of Public Policy]
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