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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
State troopers’ efforts leave influx of homeless at Tulsa parks, on streets, leaders say: With a state operation to clear encampments and other sites used by Tulsa’s homeless having come to an end, observers say the early signs are that hundreds of the individuals affected are relocating to other parts of the community, including city parks and private property. [Tulsa World]
- Opinion, Tulsa County Commissioner Lonnie Sims: County commissioners remain ready to be a partner in solving homelessness [Lonnie Sims / Tulsa World]
- Editorial: Tulsa County commissioners need to stop the shakedown against the city [Tulsa World Editorial Board]
Opinion: Homelessness is not a crime. Housing, not handcuffs, is the solution: Operation SAFE offers a false choice: Accept treatment or face jail. But the treatment options simply do not exist. Shelters are full. Mental health and substance use programs are underfunded and overwhelmed. The infrastructure to support this initiative is not in place, making the promise of help feel more like a threat. [Meghan Mueller / The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Board recommends 17.58% pay hike for Oklahoma judges: panel has recommended all Oklahoma judges receive a 17.58% salary hike. If approved by lawmakers, the proposed hike recommended Tuesday by the Board of Judicial Compensation would mean the Oklahoma Supreme Court chief justice would earn $233,062 a year while district judges would make $197,189. [Oklahoma Voice]
Turnpike engineers to reveal new route for controversial Norman south extension toll road: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is scheduled to unveil revised plans for a south extension toll road to be built in Cleveland and McClain counties. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma Bill Calls For Charlie Kirk Statue at All State Colleges: Oklahoma state senators have introduced a bill requiring all state colleges to erect and protect statues honoring the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. [Newsweek]
Capitol Insider: Oklahoma Supreme Court puts new social studies standards on hold: New Oklahoma school social studies standards approved by the State Board of Education in February were effective for the start of this school year. They’ve been put on hold by the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Almost three dozen petitioners filed suit to prevent implementation of the standards. What is the impact of the court’s decision? [KGOU]
Opinion: Tulsa Race Massacre petition drive begs the question: What victims should Oklahoma remember?: Each year, Oklahoma leaders seem content to let June pass by without ordering our states’ flags be lowered in remembrance of one of the worst acts of racial violence in our nation’s history: the Tulsa Race Massacre. In fact, for at least the past decade, a review of state records shows governors haven’t typically issued executive orders requiring flags be lowered to half-staff to commemorate the anniversary of the attack, including during the 100th anniversary events in 2021 that drew thousands to Tulsa. The omission feels purposeful. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
Chance of government shutdown rises as US Senate fails to advance spending bill: The U.S. Senate deadlocked Friday over how to fund the government past a deadline at the end of September, escalating the odds of a shutdown and heightening tensions on Capitol Hill. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Congress locked in game of shutdown chicken as funding deadline nears [The Hill]
- 5 things to watch as a shutdown looms [The Hill]
Permanent extension of federal health care subsidies estimated to cost $350 billion: The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office announced Thursday that if lawmakers permanently extend the enhanced tax credits for certain people who buy their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, it would cost the government $350 billion over 10 years and increase the number of those with health insurance by 3.8 million. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Loss of health care tax credit looms for Oklahomans. State health industry says results will be extreme. [The Journal Record]
Oklahoma marijuana farms pose a threat to national security, officials tell Congress: At a congressional hearing, witnesses and lawmakers called for the federal government to take stronger action against illicit marijuana farms and cited reporting by The Frontier and ProPublica. [The Frontier]
ICE looks to expand office space in Oklahoma City: Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is looking to expand its office locations across the country, according to The Washington Post. Oklahoma City is a target. [KOSU]
DACA recipients swept up in Trump mass deportation campaign, advocates report: Advocates Thursday raised alarm over immigrants with special deportation protections facing detainment across the country, as the Trump administration continues its aggressive mass deportation campaign. [Oklahoma Voice]
Under pressure, some immigrants are leaving American dreams behind: An increasing number of immigrants without legal status — even some who have lived here for decades — are finding it easier to seek opportunities in other countries than to stay in the U.S. amid threats of detention and deportation. [Oklahoma Voice]
State lawmakers ask Trump administration to end its review of state regs: State lawmakers from across the country are asking the Trump administration to stop its review of state laws it says are overly burdensome on businesses. [Oklahoma Voice]
Supreme Court issues decisions on religious charter school, exemptions and opt-out rights: In what is starting to feel like a yearly tradition, the recent Supreme Court term was another consequential one, with three decisions that have the potential to influence the legal landscape of religious liberty for years to come. [BJC Online]
Opinion: Give independent farmers like me a chance to compete: Small farms like ours produce just 4% of all meat sold in the United States. The other 96% comes from a few massive corporations. State laws like California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3 hold the world’s largest meat companies accountable by mandating minimum housing requirements for certain farmed animals and banning the sale in those states of many meat products made using confinement practices. The laws create a national market for small farms, offer consumers more choices and help animals. [Nate Beaulac / Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
Chickasaw, Choctaw Nations wage legal fights against social media companies for roles in mental health crisis: The Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations are suing social media giants for their role in the growing mental health crisis for Indigenous young people. The nations argue that using social platforms can replace human interaction and give rise to cyber-bullying, body dysmorphia and suicide pacts. [KOSU]
Muscogee Nation election results: Freeman defeated, return to in-district voting approved: Voters in the Muscogee Nation ousted one incumbent, sent another to a runoff and narrowly approved a constitutional amendment that will limit participation in future National Council races to only the district in which a citizen is registered. [NonDoc]
Voting and Election News
Petitioners File Ballot Initiatives to Create Tulsa Race Massacre Holiday, Overhaul Legislative Process: Oklahoma voters have filed two initiative petitions thus far in September, one to create a state holiday honoring Tulsa Race Massacre victims and another to guarantee a minimum number of bill hearings for each legislator. [Oklahoma Watch]
Education News
Oklahoma does away with fine arts requirements to earn a high school diploma: Starting with eighth-graders this year, Oklahoma won’t require fine arts credits to earn a high school diploma. The decision to offer fine arts curriculum will now be left up to school districts across the state. Rural districts with already limited resources could see cuts. [The Frontier]
Is Oklahoma Breaking Public Schools? (podcast): Testing the line between church and school is a recurring American theme. What’s been happening to American public schools lately is different: more coordinated, more creative, and blanketing the nation. Pressure on what kids learn and read is coming from national parents’ movements, the White House, the Supreme Court. [The Atlantic]
OKC school shocked after Trump officials end National Blue Ribbon award: The Blue Ribbon program, which recognized both public and private schools for academic excellence and closing achievement gaps, had been in place for more than 40 years. The decision to end the program, announced in letters sent to state school chiefs on Aug. 29, came just before winners were likely to be revealed and caught many educators by surprise. [The Oklahoman]
- Prestigious ‘Blue Ribbon Award’ for top performing schools discontinued by U.S. Department of Education [KFOR]
Ryan Walters investigating OK school districts for allegedly not honoring Charlie Kirk’s death: Oklahoma State Department of Education has launched investigations into 12 school districts after receiving reports that those districts either did not lower their flags or failed to hold a moment of silence to honor the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a spokesperson for the agency said. [The Oklahoman]
- Opinion: Ryan Walters exploiting tragedy for political gain [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Full Court Press: How OSSAA’s Latest Legal Loss Extends Basketball Controversy: The OSSAA case about the Glencoe High School basketball team stems from a low-stakes confrontation, a petty feud involving small-town neighbors and relatives, but taps into a legal quagmire with state-wide implications. [Oklahoma Watch]
Area districts discuss efforts to ensure meals for students in greatest need: About a month into the school year, several Tulsa-area districts said they are seeing brisk response rates from families on free and reduced-price school meal applications. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma farm to table grants open for public schools: Applications are open for the Oklahoma Local Food for Schools Program. The Oklahoma Local Food for Schools Program connects public school districts to local producers and processors. It was modeled after a similar national initiative and is administered by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry. [KOSU]
Opinion: Early childhood is pivotal. We must build strong foundations for OKC’s future: Investing in our youngest residents is the smartest and most compassionate thing we can do. Imagine building a house. You wouldn’t start with the roof — you’d begin with a solid foundation. The same is true for the human brain. In the earliest years of life, a child’s brain is under rapid construction, forming the architecture that will support learning, relationships and resilience for a lifetime. [Sarah Rahhal / The Oklahoman]
Health News
As AI enters exam rooms, states step up oversight: This year alone, more than a dozen states have passed laws regulating AI in health care, according to Manatt Health, a national health services firm. State AI legislation has been sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans and has been approved with bipartisan support, a reflection of broad concerns over its expanding use in health care. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma girl first to undergo first-of-its-kind heart surgery: A metro girl is the first to have a groundbreaking heart surgery. That girl’s story started way before this surgery though. News 4 first introduced you to Marlee back in 2017. Marlee was abandoned at the hospital and was born with a life-threatening heart condition. [KFOR]
Presbyterian Health Foundation donates $20 million toward new Oklahoma Children’s OU Health Heart Center: The Presbyterian Health Foundation announced a $20 million donation toward a new heart center in Oklahoma during a Friday event. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KOSU]
- OKC is getting a new $220M pediatric heart center. Here’s what to know [The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Tulsa County law enforcement agencies say McGirt decision still causing them problems: Three area law enforcement leaders speaking to the Tulsa Republican Club on Friday said that the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2020 McGirt decision and cases it triggered continue to cause problems for them. In McGirt and several subsequent lower court rulings, the courts determined that most of eastern Oklahoma’s tribal reservations were never properly dissolved. A wave of lawsuits, intended to clarify the altered judicial and law enforcement landscape, have in some cases further tangled the issues. [Tulsa World]
Citizen-led board that advises on county jail looking for new leader after Steele resigns: The Oklahoma County jail trust isn’t the only local criminal justice organization struggling at the top − so is the citizens group whose job is to give trustees public input and recommendations on how to run the county jail. [The Oklahoman]
No other option’: After psychiatrist ignores court order, admitted killer of Sgt. Bobby Swartz in legal limbo: Three years after the shooting death of Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Bobby Swartz, a district judge has found that she has “no other option” than to dismiss criminal charges and pursue “civil commitment” of the shooter, whose two-year stay at a state hospital has underscored systemic issues with competency restoration in Oklahoma. [NonDoc]
Opinion: Allow people to leave prison with a restored smile and legislated resumes: Oklahoma legislators have mandated that inmates must leave prison with a resume, but many incarcerated people leave with little else in their possession, including a full set of teeth. Lawmakers show no regard for the fact that these returning citizens will find themselves facing prospective employers who will judge them, if not for their past mistakes, then surely, for their appearance. [Geneva Phillips / Tulsa World]
Opinion: I don’t feel safe in this community after witnessing April Wilkens’ hearing: I recently sat in a courtroom and watched District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler conduct a hearing before Judge David Guten against April Wilkens. Wilkens is a 55-year-old vegan grandmother who has already spent 27 years in prison for killing her abuser. She came before the court under Oklahoma’s Survivors’ Act — a law designed to recognize that sometimes, survivors of prolonged violence act in ways that cannot be understood outside the context of their abuse. This resentencing law should’ve all but guaranteed release for Wilkens. What I saw broke my heart and enraged me. [Paula Marshall / Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
OKC is in urgent need of more housing. Meet the new committee coming up with solutions: A new group is dedicated to tackling Oklahoma City’s urgent need for more housing, which could include strategies for increasing housing inventory and preserving the homes already here. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa faces housing deficit as rents rise: Tulsa city leaders say the city is facing a housing deficit and needs to boost construction by 55% over the next decade to keep up with demand. The city says they’re dealing with rising rents, outdated building codes, costly regulations, and a mismatch between housing supply and household size. [KTUL]
Community News
How religious is Oklahoma? State ranks among most in US, but faith falling, study shows: Oklahoma is one of the most religious states in the U.S. Residents pray daily more than others, attend services more frequently, and view religion as very important in their lives. But rates are decreasing, according to a recent study. [The Oklahoman]
‘Unite 25’ organizers hope to fill ballpark for night of unity, faith: Amy Frazier cheered along with thousands of Oklahomans at the parade held to celebrate the Oklahoma City Thunder’s first NBA championship, and she wondered what it would be like to see a similar-sized crowd, except this time people would be worshipping God and praising his name. [The Oklahoman]
Ahead of retirement, Moore’s first Black officer remembers incredible moments in Oklahoma history: Nate Tarver, now retiring as chief of police for OU, has been recognized as a trailblazer in the Black community and in law enforcement. That praise is a far cry from the derogatory statements and racist comments he was hearing when he first joined Moore. [The Oklahoman]
Black Town Homecoming Project Launches in Greenwood District: Open Design Collective has officially announced the launch of the Black Town Homecoming Project, a groundbreaking initiative in collaboration with the Oklahoma Historical Society to honor the legacy and future of Oklahoma’s historic Black towns of Tullahassee, Taft, and Rentiesville. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Before he was killed, Charlie Kirk was planning an Oklahoma event, lawmaker says: Slain conservative influencer Charlie Kirk had planned to appear in Oklahoma this fall, U.S. Rep. Tom Cole confirmed. Cole, a Republican from Moore who leads the powerful House Appropriations Committee, said he had been looking forward to welcoming Kirk to Oklahoma on Oct. 16. [The Oklahoman]
What a new poll shows about where Americans think the country is heading: Republicans’ outlook on the direction of the country has soured dramatically, according to a new AP-NORC poll that was conducted shortly after last week’s assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Overall, about one-quarter of Americans say things in the country are headed in the right direction, down from about 4 in 10 in June. Democrats and independents didn’t shift meaningfully. [Associated Press]
- Opinion: ‘Let this be a turning point.’ Oklahomans react to Charlie Kirk, how we ease political discourse [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Tulsa mayor talks sales tax rates, city funding needs and a conversation long overdue [Tulsa World]
- An associate of ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic dies in tiger ‘accident’: Here’s what we know [The Oklahoman]
- Invasive jellyfish spotted in Oklahoma lake. Are they harmful? [The Oklahoman]
- Part of new Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum opens soon to host family festival [Tulsa World]
- In photos: Tulsans gather in support of Gaza [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Piedmont gets $2 million for right-sizing its water infrastructure [KOSU]
- Former Oklahoma lawmaker Richard Morrissette passes away at 69 after cancer battle [KTUL]
- Original ‘Your Vote Counts’ Panelist and former Rep. Richard Morrissette passes away at 69 [News on 6]
- Oklahoma City bombing prosecutor Pat Ryan dies while snorkeling in Aruba [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“Homelessness is not a crime. It is instead a crisis rooted in poverty, trauma and systemic failure. The solution is not handcuffs or Oklahoma Highway Patrol sweeps — it’s housing, health care and compassion.”
-Meghan Mueller, president & CEO of the Homeless Alliance, writing about the harms created by the governor’s recent initiative to clear encampments in Tulsa. She argues that this punitive approach to homelessness has only made the path to stability longer and more treacherous for our most vulnerable neighbors. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
82%
In Tulsa’s annual Point in Time count of people experiencing homelessness, 82% of respondents said their homelessness began in Oklahoma, and 75% said it began in Tulsa, underscoring the need for local systems of care and prevention. [Housing Solutions]
Policy Note
The Public Health Implications of Housing Instability, Eviction, and Homelessness: Housing instability is a public health crisis that causes and exacerbates health problems, erodes communities, and drives health inequities. Families grappling with housing uncertainty experience physical and mental health challenges from elevated rates of childhood and chronic disease and mortality to stress, depression, anxiety, and suicide. Those who lack stable housing are more likely to experience homelessness, unemployment, substance use, food insecurity, and violence. The ripple effects of housing instability extend far beyond individual households, making it difficult for residents to invest in their homes, relationships, and neighborhoods, thereby disrupting the fabric of entire communities. [Network for Public Health Law]
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