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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.
State Government News
Oklahoma Board of Education meeting raises questions about access, transparency: The ongoing showdown over transparency between state legislators and the State Board of Education entered a fourth month on Thursday, with the board again declining to conduct an executive session during its monthly meeting. [The Oklahoman]
- Education Watch: In Free Press Case Against Walters, Judge Sides with Journalists [Oklahoma Watch]
- First Watch: Stuff You Should Know [Oklahoma Watch]
Who was in charge while Gov. Stitt was in surgery? Due to delay in notification, that’s unclear: After Gov. Kevin Stitt’s recent heart surgery, many officials were not informed for days — including the lieutenant governor. The delay in notification has some political experts scratching their heads and wondering just who was in charge of the state for a period of time. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, Pinnell would take over the governor’s duties, but Pinnell was unaware the governor was hospitalized. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma board approves over $158 million in grants for broadband projects: Over $158 million in broadband expansion projects were approved Thursday by the Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board. The 50 awarded projects are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act Capital Project Funds. The Oklahoma Broadband Office had $159 million available to award for the projects. [Oklahoma Voice]
Shelley Zumwalt announces retirement as head of Oklahoma Tourism: The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (OTRD) announced her retirement Thursday. Shelley Zumwalt has worked with OTRD for over a decade, starting her career in an entry-level position. [Fox 25]
- Tourism Director Shelley Zumwalt leaving state government [Tulsa World]
Opinion, Tulsa County DA Steve Kunzweiler: Scrutiny needed on Oklahoma’s mental health and substance abuse agency: Not enough attention is being made to a Sept. 13 press release from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services about ending its vending machine distribution program to reduce opioid overdose deaths. With little fanfare, the agency stated “operational challenges” as the reason for discontinuing providing free naloxone and fentanyl test strips through these machines. Curiously omitted from its release was the true cost of the financial boondoggle. [Steve Kunzweiler / Tulsa World]
This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Ryan Walters lawsuit, illegal immigration, private school tax credits and more: The panel discuss a federal judge ruling against State Superintendent Ryan Walters in his legal battle with Oklahoma City television station KFOR, Attorney General Gentner Drummond asking an appellate court to overturn the injunction against Oklahoma’s new anti-illegal immigration law and a consent decree to bring more mental health treatment with inmates in county jails. [KOSU]
Editorial: Oklahomans expect to know where all tax dollars are spent, including private schools: School choice does not mean throwing $600 million in taxpayer funds into an untraceable black hole. Yet that’s what Oklahoma lawmakers created, and they need to fix it. This private school tax credit scheme has been riddled with problems including dubious accreditation among some schools and surges in tuition at many participating schools, as reported by Oklahoma Watch. [Editorial / Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
Breaking down Oklahoma’s purged voters: Through records from the State Election Data Warehouse, News 4 was able to track the voters purged in the last two years. Over 240,000 voters were removed and of that number 46.6% were Republicans, 31.2% were Democrats, 21.4% were independents and 0.79% were libertarians. [KFOR]
Conservatives size up Tulsa mayoral candidates Karen Keith, Monroe Nichols: Tulsa municipal elections are nonpartisan, but runoff candidates Monroe Nichols and Karen Keith are well-known Democrats. The candidate who came in a close third, but didn’t advance out of the primary, avidly campaigned as Republican. His supporters could have a big say in who Tulsa’s next mayor is, even with their candidate out of the race. [Tulsa World]
Education News
School accreditation, budget request, teacher certification define State Board of Education meeting: In a marathon meeting that lasted more than four hours, members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education accredited school districts for the 2024-2025 school year, revoked two teacher certificates and suspended two others, and approved a budget request to the Legislature that seeks $3 million for Bibles and $500,000 for a teacher open-carry pilot program. [NonDoc]
- Ryan Walters requests $500,000 to train select Oklahoma teachers to carry firearms [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters wants to spend $6 million on classroom Bibles [StateImpact Oklahoma via Public Radio Tulsa]
- Walters asks Oklahoma lawmakers for $3 million in public funds to buy Bibles [Oklahoma Voice]
- State school board member, lawmakers raise legal concerns over Walters’ proposed Bible purchases [KFOR]
- Firearm training for teachers, $3 million for Bibles proposed in Oklahoma education budget [Tulsa World]
- Ryan Walters calls for $6M to purchase Bibles for classrooms in proposed budget [The Oklahoman]
13 Oklahoma school districts receive low accreditation marks, but are making improvements: Thirteen Oklahoma school districts had their accreditation approved with warning or probation – the two most at-risk categories – by the state Board of Education during its monthly meeting Thursday. [The Oklahoman]
Shawnee superintendent to face hearing over teaching license after state board vote: Aaron Espolt, the superintendent of Shawnee Public Schools, will face an Oklahoma State Department of Education hearing on the status of his teaching license, following a unanimous vote by the State Board of Education Thursday. Espolt was placed on paid administrative leave by the school district in August while he is being investigated by the state board. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa Public Schools’ accreditation affirmed again as district reaches calmer waters: Tulsa Public Schools officials walked out of the Oklahoma State Department of Education to rounds of applause on Thursday, as a yearlong effort to prevent a district takeover appeared to have reached a conclusion. [Oklahoma Voice]
- State Board of Education axes TPS’ monthly presentation requirements [Public Radio Tulsa]
- State board lifts in-person reporting requirement for Tulsa Public Schools [Tulsa World]
- Protests, talks of Bibles and guns: Oklahoma State Board of Education holds meeting (photos) [The Oklahoman]
District leaders express frustration with rhetoric around education: ‘It’s demoralizing’: Given three minutes each, some Tulsa-area superintendents didn’t mince words this week when offered the chance to speak directly to community and business leaders about the state of public education. [Tulsa World]
Higher ed leaders prioritize partnerships with industry to get graduates workforce-ready: To help turn out graduates who are more workforce ready, area higher education leaders say they will continue to look for ways to promote partnerships with business and industry. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: Oklahoma’s regional university system boon for state workforce development: In September we celebrate Workforce Month, and as schools across our state settle into the rhythm of another school year, educators once again take up the mission of preparing students for their futures. Will they be welders, nurses, neuroscientists, engineers or — if our prayers are answered — a new generation of teachers? [Chuck Perry / Tulsa World]
Editorial: School security must evolve to meet dangers in today’s culture: School safety involves much more than a physical barrier, though having protections such as metal detectors and campus security are critical. Getting at the root causes of youth violence remains a challenge. [Editorial / Tulsa World]
Health News
Oklahoma represents nearly one-third of pregnancy-related prosecutions a year after Roe’s end: Oklahoma had the second-highest number of pregnancy-related prosecutions nationwide in the year after Roe. v. Wade was overturned, according to a new study by the advocacy organization Pregnancy Justice. [KGOU]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma carries out its third execution of 2024: Emmanuel Littlejohn was sentenced to death for the murder of an Oklahoma City convenience store owner. Gov. Kevin Stitt did not act on a recommendation from the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board to grant clemency. [The Frontier]
- “Not pro-life”: Oklahomans decry execution of Emmanuel Littlejohn [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Gov. Kevin Stitt quietly denies clemency, Emmanuel Littlejohn executed [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma death row inmate Emmanuel Littlejohn executed [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma executes a man for a 1992 killing despite board recommending his life be spared [AP via Public Radio Tulsa]
- Oklahoma inmate executed for 1992 murder [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma executes Emmanuel Littlejohn as protesters stand vigil (photos) [The Oklahoman]
Investigation underway after death of 63-year-old OCDC inmate: An investigation is underway after a 63-year-old Oklahoma County Department of Corrections inmate reportedly died on Thursday morning. [KFOR]
- Oklahoma County jail inmate found unresponsive in cell is sixth to die this year [The Oklahoman]
‘Say their name’: Vigil held in OKC for loved ones lost to murder: A candlelight vigil in Oklahoma City took place on the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims, which Congress designated in 2007. In 2023, there were about 2,500 fewer homicides in the United States, marking an 11.6% decrease over the previous year, according to the FBI. Still, there were 19,252 murders. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Human Rights Commission meets on tenants rights, solutions to high OKC eviction rate: A lively roundtable discussion on tenant rights and housing needs in Oklahoma City, hosted by the Oklahoma City Human Rights Commission, explored the topic of housing as a human right amid various factors for the city’s high eviction rate, which is the 20th-worst for cities across the country. [The Oklahoman]
Long Story Short: Collaborative Financing to Fuel Tenant Right-to-Counsel (audio): Heather Warlick covered an announcement from Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Impact Investing Collaborative regarding a partnership in financing Right-to-Counsel services for Oklahomans. Jennifer Palmer recently analyzed the state test scores for the 2023-2024 school year. Heather rejoins to talk about a mega-landlord with project-based apartment complexes in Oklahoma that have failed recent inspections. [Oklahoma Watch]
Community News
‘We love the community’: Enid event provides time to reflect, discuss city challenges: Enid is a regional shopping and health care center for northwest Oklahoma and southern Kansas. Vance Air Force Base, with its mission of training pilots, and large grain-storage facilities remain the economic mainstays for this city of about 51,000. [NonDoc]
Opinion: Cities do not prosper on roads and lights alone: No one is against infrastructure or public safety. No one. If a political candidate tries to make that argument of an opponent, don’t believe them. But communities don’t prosper on these issues alone. These are basic necessities of a town that require constant maintenance and resources. These are not drivers of economic development, tourism and expansion. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Dilapidated properties near Tulsa homeless outreach program demolished [Tulsa World]
- Norman Public Library mold issues could be traced back to 2018 as city enters litigation [Fox 25]
- Edmond residents express frustration on higher taxes for improvement projects [KOCO]
- ‘A significant cost’: Edmond community weighs pros & cons of upcoming GO bond vote [KFOR]
Quote of the Day
“At a time when we all need to be on the same page — higher ed, our tech partners, our chambers, our businesses and our schools — we have people who aren’t building bridges, they’re burning bridges.”
-Bixby Superintendent Rob Miller, speaking to business and community leaders about the state of public education in Oklahoma. [Tulsa World]
Number of the Day
17.4%
The poverty rate for females in Oklahoma is 17.4%, compared to 14.4% for males. [U.S. Census via OK Policy]
Policy Note
The Coming Policy Backwash from the COVID Revenue Wave: As a recent study documents, federal fiscal stimulus created a budget windfall for states. Most cut taxes, and some now must scramble to make up for shortfalls. Congress is likely to impose tighter restrictions on future countercyclical aid, so it’s a time for all levels of government to get their acts together. [Governing]
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