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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: We can’t continue to ignore Oklahoma’s poverty problem: Oklahoma’s poverty problem is becoming impossible to ignore. Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau last week showed the state’s poverty rate climbed to 15.9 percent, the nation’s sixth highest rate. What’s even more alarming is that about 1 in 5 Oklahoma children live in poverty. It’s clear that we’re moving in the wrong direction. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
Oklahoma prosecutor accused of undermining abuse victims charged with crimes: A recently enacted law, Senate Bill 1835, known as the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act, lets domestic violence victims seek a sentence modification if they can show their abuse contributed to the crime. Victims rights advocates say Tulsa County District Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler is requiring victims waive those rights if they enter a plea agreement. [Oklahoma Voice]
New Data: Child poverty rate in Oklahoma climbs to 20.8% in 2023: New Census data from 2023 shows Oklahoma ranks as the 6th poorest state in the nation. Oklahoma’s child poverty rate is the 7th highest. The Oklahoma Policy Institute said this means for a family of three, a child was living in a household that brought in less than $25,000 a year. [Fox 25]
- From OK Policy: 2023 Census data: Oklahoma ranks as sixth poorest state
State Government News
St. Isidore, state board seeking two-week extensions from SCOTUS: Catholic leaders in Oklahoma and a state board that previously offered them authorization are seeking an extra two weeks to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in their quest to establish the nation’s first religious charter school. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma’s Republican Party is shifting to the right. Where does that leave moderates?: Though the GOP has run the show in state government for the past two decades, its supermajority now faces relentless attacks from far-right caucuses in both the House and Senate. [The Oklahoman]
Agency makes changes to proposed Oklahoma toll road following opposition from Norman residents: The OTA removed plans for frontage roads and three interchanges on the turnpike after the Norman City Council on Aug. 27 refused to support a resolution calling for the interchanges and frontage road. [Oklahoma Voice]
Roundup: OU policies change, horse racing PAC fined, sheriff lays off staff, grand jury mulls Walters: In this roundup, get caught up on developments concerning the University of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, layoffs at the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and more. [NonDoc]
Federal Government News
Democrats trying to protect IVF, Oklahoma Republicans claim more about politics than policy: This week, Senate Democrats failed for the second time to get enough votes for a bill that would guarantee access to IVF care nationwide. Oklahoma senators who voted no on the bill claim the legislation was more about politics than policy. [KOCO]
Ponca City designated as a World War II Heritage City by National Park Service: Ponca City and Kay County are among the newest designations in the World War II Heritage City program that honors local contributions made to the war effort. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
Cherokee Film Studios celebrates expansion of Owasso soundstage: “We want to become Oklahoma’s and Hollywood’s favorite place to film.” Jennifer Loren’s words to attendees at Cherokee Film Studios’ latest ribbon cutting Wednesday were met with loud applause. [Tulsa World]
- Photos: Cherokee Film Studios holds ribbon-cutting ceremony for expansion [Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma Governor highlights recent voter purge as latest in ongoing election integrity efforts: Gov. Kevin Stitt says more than 450,000 Oklahomans have been purged from the state’s voter registry since 2021. While removing inactive and ineligible voters is routine, now is a good time for Oklahomans to ensure they didn’t accidentally get cut from the rolls. [KOSU]
- To check your registration status and more, visit the Oklahoma Election Board’s Voter Portal
- Oklahoma Governor purges 453,000 voters weeks before election [The Black Wall Street Times]
Oklahoma policy advocates push for increased voter education ahead of general election: The website World Population Review ranks Oklahoma at the bottom for voter turnout. Historically, Oklahoma has carried one of the nation’s lowest voter turnout rates. The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy is one of several organizations pushing voter registration to get more young people to the polls. [News 9]
- Opinion: Nonprofits empower communities to vote [Marnie Taylor / The Journal Record]
Education News
Oklahoma’s disturbing spike in school threats reflects national trend: What to know: In just one week, roughly 20 Oklahoma schools had to cancel class or increase police presence after receiving threats. [The Oklahoman]
- State Superintendent Ryan Walters responds to increase in school threats, says violence won’t be tolerated [News 9]
Oklahoma schools to deploy AI reading assistant statewide: While the Oklahoma State Department of Education is giving access to Amira to every kindergarten through 5th grade student in Oklahoma Public School Districts, Tulsa Public Schools was already using this software. [KTUL]
Former Poteau High School head football coach under investigation by Oklahoma State Board of Education: Poteau High School head football coach Greg Werner, who resigned just days before the season started, is being investigated by the Oklahoma State Board of Education. OSBE confirmed on Wednesday that Werner is under investigation by their department, but they too stopped short of saying why. [Fox 24]
Education Watch: Spring test scores released: The Oklahoma Department of Education published spring test results for the 2023-24 school year. Oklahoma parents and schools received individual student test scores last month. [Oklahoma Watch]
Health News
Surgery during ‘rocket attacks’: Ukrainian doctors train at OU Health to provide reconstructive care: As the war between Russia and Ukraine rages on, Ukrainian physicians are tending to a historic volume of patients with complex head and neck injuries from missile attacks and rocket blasts. OU Health is teaching some of these surgeons reconstructive techniques they can take back home. [KGOU]
Edmond receives funding for mental health initiatives: Nearly $1 million a year in federal dollars over the next four years will help fund the City of Edmond and its partners in their ongoing commitment to meeting the mental health support needs in the community. [The Journal Record]
Oklahoma City-County Health Department installs 9 public health kiosks: Nine kiosks with free resources can be found in public spaces and community centers in Oklahoma City, Midwest City and Spencer. The kiosks include supplies like rapid COVID-19 and flu tests, emergency mylar blankets, early detection pregnancy tests, Narcan and fentanyl test strips. [KOSU]
Opinion: Temporary treatment is not enough to fix our nation’s serious mental health issues: We often hear the familiar refrain: Take the person to a behavioral health clinic. It sounds like the solution, but it’s not. It’s merely a temporary fix for a complex and deep-rooted systemic problem. [Kati Malicoate / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Tulsa boasts health care programs reaching ‘legacy” status: It’s a high-impact and high-emotion term, but used casually and commonly. Let’s salute all those that have made the IMPACT team, the Bedlam Clinic and Good Samaritan Health Services three of Tulsa’s true legacies. [Gerard Clancy, M.D. / Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Ninnekah schools to pay $7.5 million to settle sexual abuse lawsuit: Ninnekah Public Schools will pay $7.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by 14 women and girls who sued the district over alleged sexual abuse by their high school basketball coach. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Ninnekah Public Schools settles sexual assault lawsuit for $7.5 million [The Oklahoman]
- Ninnekah Public Schools reach settlement in sexual assault lawsuit [KFOR]
OK Supreme Court closes door on survivors. Will Biden reopen it?: Days after the Oklahoma Supreme Court made a final decision to bar 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre survivors from seeking justice, the lead attorney for the 110 and 109-year-old plaintiffs renewed calls for President Joe Biden to launch a federal investigation. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Economy & Business News
Norman community reacts to approval of $1 billion entertainment district, funding of new OU arena: After a contentious hearing, the Norman City Council approved a plan early Wednesday to create a $1 billion entertainment district that would be the future home of a new University of Oklahoma arena. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Norman City Council approves $1B entertainment district project [The Journal Record]
- Norman City Council approves UNP entertainment district; critics discuss pursuing petition for citywide vote [OU Daily]
- ‘People will remember’: Norman residents want public vote on arena and entertainment district financing plan [KFOR]
Fed’s interest rate cut generally a good thing, local experts say: The Federal Reserve’s first interest-rate cut in four years of half a percentage point — a big drop in economic and banking circles — shows a psychological end to high inflation, local financial experts said. [Tulsa World]
- How will recent interest rate cuts affect Oklahomans? [KOCO]
- Federal Reserve cuts key rate by sizable half-point [AP via The Journal Record]
Opinion: Hispanic entrepreneurship at the forefront of the American business boom: Each year from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, Americans celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month as a time to recognize the many contributions, diverse cultures and extensive histories of the Hispanic communities in the United States. The American dream of small business ownership is embraced by people of all cultures and heritages. [Mindy Brissey / The Journal Record]
Community News
Opinion: End hate in our speech before it turns into actions: There are things I hate: black licorice, underwire bras and meetings that could have been emails. But living beings? No. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Celebrate civic pride on 918 Day with music and dance in Tulsa [Public Radio Tulsa]
- City breaks ground on new $13.8 million animal shelter [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Plan for $30 million in downtown improvements announced [Tulsa World]
- Bricktown’s $1.6B development awaits land deal, permits [The Journal Record]
- Public gets first glimpse of OAK, upcoming showcase of fine dining, lodging, retail and art [The Oklahoman]
- MAPS 4 Mental Health & Addiction facility could be built near OKC’s new Diversion Hub [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“It can include targeted tax relief through the child tax credit, expanding the earned income tax credit, expanding the sales tax relief credit and making sure that any tax changes that happen really focus on lower income Oklahomans and not just across the board tax cuts. Which, actually end up benefitting the wealthy more than they do everyday Oklahomans.”
– Dave Hamby, OK Policy Communications Director, listing ways Oklahoma lawmakers can help address the state’s climbing poverty rate with solutions that provide relief to low-income Oklahomans, not just the wealthy. [Fox 25]
Number of the Day
Policy Note
How Cutting Back the Child Tax Credit Led to Another Year of Poverty: While the economy was a key topic of discussion for the two presidential candidates when they met on the debate stage for the first time, the duel ended without explicit consideration of those most vulnerable to the vicissitudes of inflation and high housing costs. As they outlined their ideas for assisting struggling Americans, neither Vice President Kamala Harris nor former President Donald Trump made mention of a sobering statistic that was released by the Census Bureau earlier in the day: Roughly 43 million Americans live in poverty, among them millions of children. [New Republic via MSN]
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