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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
Oklahoma plans to carry out third execution of 2024 unless the governor grants mercy: Oklahoma plans to execute its third prisoner this year unless Governor Kevin Stitt grants mercy to Emmanuel Littlejohn, who was sentenced to death for killing Root-N-Scoot store owner Kenny Meers, 31, during a 1992 robbery in southeast Oklahoma City. [The Frontier]
State Government News
Contested mental health consent decree gets preliminary approval: A consent decree requiring the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to provide quicker restorative treatment to jail inmates judged mentally incompetent received preliminary approval in an order filed late Thursday by U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell of Tulsa. [Tulsa World]
Childcare providers alarmed over proposed DHS cuts: Oklahoma childcare providers warn that families could soon find themselves with much fewer affordable childcare options if an emergency policy, proposed by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, is approved. [KFOR]
- Oklahoma on ‘cusp of a child care cliff’ as federal funding expires, advocate warns [Tulsa World]
Scammers go after Oklahoma Turnpike Authority customers: Scammers are trying to get into the wallets of Oklahoma Turnpike Authority customers. Many people have been receiving text messages indicating they owe tolls. The messages ask them to click on a link to get more details. [Oklahoma Voice]
Stitt joins GOP ‘energy choice’ coalition to address energy prices: A group of Republican governors are pushing back against clean energy mandates — and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has joined the effort. [Oklahoma Voice]
This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Commissioner Todd Hiett, Ryan Walters investigation, Narcan vending machines and more (audio): Three Republican lawmakers calling on the state Supreme Court to disqualify Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett from utility rate hike cases, investigation against State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Department of Education and ethics questions regarding a southeast Oklahoma representative over green-energy projects on his land. [KOSU]
Federal Government News
Advocates call for expanding free school meals at U.S. Senate hearing: Amid persistent child hunger and food insecurity in the United States, lawmakers and advocates on Wednesday stressed the importance of school meal programs during a U.S. Senate Agriculture subcommittee hearing. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
‘Adversarial disparagement’: O’Brien case inflames Muscogee Nation, Tulsa traffic ticket dispute: In a decision that could determine whether Oklahoma municipalities inside Indian Country reservations retain criminal jurisdiction over tribal citizens under state law, the state Court of Criminal Appeals appears set to rule on the case of an Osage Nation citizen charged by the City of Tulsa for several traffic offenses in the Muscogee Nation Reservation. [NonDoc]
Bittersweet return for Oklahoma tribe bringing back remains from Indian boarding school: It was a bittersweet return for an Oklahoma tribe that ventured to Pennsylvania in hopes of bringing back the bodies of two children. The tribe announced they were only able to bring back one of their members from a notorious Indian boarding school. [KOCO]
Voting and Election News
Oklahoma heightens civic engagement worries with removal of over 453,000 from voter rolls: The removal of more than 453,000 inactive or ineligible Oklahoma voter registrations has prompted concerns over citizen disillusionment and calls for state residents to make sure they can vote in nearing elections. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma voters will decide four Congressional races this fall: Every contest features a Republican incumbent squaring off against a Democratic challenger. Independent candidates are also running in three of the races. [The Oklahoman]
Voters will fill 32 seats in the Oklahoma House this election. Meet the candidates: Oklahoma voters will decide who holds 32 seats in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in November. Sixty-nine races already are finished, either because only one person filed for the seat or as a result of the primary and runoff elections held earlier this year. [The Oklahoman]
Three candidates compete for seat on Oklahoma Corporation Commission: Oklahoma voters will decide on a new corporation commissioner to fill the shoes of longtime Commissioner Bob Anthony. Three candidates are on the Nov. 5 general election ballot: Republican Brian Bingman, 70; Democrat Harold Spradling, 89; and Libertarian Chad Williams, 43. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: The heart of a red state beats purple: It would be an upset of biblical proportions if Donald Trump failed to carry Oklahoma in the November general election. Even so, predictability should not lessen the significance of the outcome. Why? Because turnout and margin could provide keen insight into where Oklahoma is heading, socially and politically. [Arnold Hamilton / The Journal Record]
Education News
Oklahoma schools inundated with violence threats: As the fall semester gets into full swing, Oklahoma schools are experiencing a spike in threats of violence. Dozens of schools have received threats this month. [KGOU]
- Metal detectors, bag checks coming to Tulsa Public Schools after social media threats [Tulsa World]
Tishomingo Public Schools respond to viral image of six students displaying racial slur: The Tishomingo Public Schools superintendent issued an apology Thursday after a photo of six high school students displaying a racial slur went viral on social media. [The Oklahoman]
- Tishomingo Schools increase security after racist viral social post [KFOR]
Health News
Broken Arrow police bring mental health specialists to crisis calls: For the past several weeks, Tessa Mitchell has been riding in the front seat of a police cruiser. Mitchell is a care coordinator for the nonprofit Grand Mental Health — it’s her job to get people in crisis to community resources. She’s paired with Tiffany Yarborough, a Broken Arrow police officer. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Suicide prevention program implemented in Oklahoma spotlighted at national Catholic event: An alarming spate of young people dying by suicide motivated a leader with Catholic Charities of Oklahoma City to create a mental health program for parishes and incorporate a key suicide prevention program to aid parochial schools. [The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
State lawmakers gathering support for investigation into DHS, several juvenile detention centers: State lawmakers are continuing to gather support for a possible state and federal investigation into the Department of Human Services. Recently discovered documents show they also want to order the investigation into several juvenile detention centers, including the one in Tulsa. [Fox 23]
Oklahoma Prosecutors May Pressure Domestic Violence Survivors To Waive Their Rights: The Tulsa County District Attorney’s office drafted a form for people entering plea deals that would require waiving their rights under the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act. [HuffPost]
Appeal filed after lawsuit against Tulsa in Terence Crutcher slaying was dismissed: Attorneys for the estate of Terence Crutcher Sr. on Monday appealed lower court rulings that dismissed claims against the city of Tulsa and the officer who fatally shot him. [Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
3D-printed homes studied as solution to Oklahoma housing crisis: Emerging technology could be a key part of addressing the ongoing housing crisis. State Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City held an interim study this week taking a look at 3D-printed homes. [The Journal Record]
Economy & Business News
‘Equitable’ and ‘trustworthy’ Tulsa tech collective looks to spend $51 million: A July grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration totaling $51 million is giving The Tulsa Hub for Equitable and Trustworthy Autonomy (THETA) cash for a push into making Tulsa more of a tech town. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Oklahoma ranks among tax-friendly states for retiree: The best place to retire depends on what you’re looking for. Is it a low cost of living, access to quality health care, proximity to family or a warm climate? Acknowledging that retirees have specific financial concerns, SmartAsset analyzed tax data to find the most tax-friendly places for a happy retirement. [The Journal Record]
Community News
Opinion: Tulsa faith leaders swapping pulpits for United in Faith Week: As a Muslim mother of five and the executive director of Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry, I’ve seen firsthand how faith can build bridges instead of walls. That’s why I’ve joined hands with Jamaal Dyer, senior pastor of Friendship Church, to co-chair a new Tulsa Area United Way initiative that might raise a few eyebrows but will surely raise many spirits: United in Faith Week. [Aliye Shimi / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Human Rights Commission to host housing advocacy discussion Sept. 25 [The City of Oklahoma City]
- Jabee’s Eastside Pizza House is closing. It’s not the only uniquely local business struggling [The Oklahoman]
- Free India Food & Art Festival in Oklahoma City expected to draw more than 20,000 people [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“Mental health — if it rises, it raises everybody. So it’s not just helping the few — it’s helping the family, the community and everybody.”
– Broken Arrow Police Chief Brandon Berryhill, on the value of the area’s crisis response teams, which pair specialists with patrol officers and deploy them to crisis calls. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Number of the Day
Policy Note
Arguments Against Taxing Unrealized Capital Gains of Very Wealthy Fall Flat: A proposal in the Biden-Harris Administration’s 2025 budget would require households with more than $100 million in wealth to pay income taxes of at least 25 percent of their annual income, including their unrealized capital gains — gains in the value of assets that they have not yet sold. Critics argue that unrealized capital gains, which are a primary source of income for many extremely wealthy households, are mere “paper” gains that do not constitute real income (though they meet a textbook definition of income). But unrealized gains make asset owners better off in very real ways. Claiming that unrealized gains are not “real” is akin to claiming that individuals such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are not rich unless they sell their companies’ stock. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities]
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