OKPOLICY.ORG
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
How Oklahomans are helping with Hurricane Helene recovery: Federal, state and tribal agencies have swooped in to help after Hurricane Helene caused massive flooding in the Southeastern U.S. late last week. [KOSU]
State Government News
State auditor reports leaders of Oklahoma town overpaid themselves, wrote blank checks: A small northern Oklahoma town lost 39% of its public funds over five years to misuse and self-dealing by local elected officials, an investigative audit found. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Audit shows Noble Co. town misappropriated over $336K [KFOR]
Oklahoma Supreme Court staying out of Corporation Commission conflict: Hiett in August asked justices to block Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony from looking into accusations against him. The Supreme Court on Monday refused his request. [The Oklahoman]
- Court deals Hiett setback, declines to intervene in fellow corporation commissioner’s investigation [Tulsa World]
- Hiett’s request to stop investigation denied by court [KFOR]
Health insurance alternative offered to Oklahoma’s small businesses by State Chamber: ChamberCare is now accepting applications from small businesses headquartered in Oklahoma. This option is available to employers who are members of the State Chamber or participating local chambers and employ between two and 50 people. [Oklahoma Voice]
Long Story Short: KFOR sues the Oklahoma State Department of Education (audio): Jennifer Palmer covered the latest Board of Education meeting, where much of the conversation focused on the agency’s budget request. Keaton Ross wrote about one lawmaker’s push to move school board elections to the November ballot. KFOR Reporter Dylan Brown joins to discuss the station’s lawsuit against the OSDE. [Oklahoma Watch]
Tribal Nations News
Unique car tag agreement being discussed between Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation: Gov. Kevin Stitt has proposed a potential two-compact deal with Cherokee Nation that would differ from the ones signed by the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. [KOSU]
‘It’s just what the Cherokee Nation ought to do:’ tribe plans long-term investment in housing: The Cherokee Nation voted to permanently reauthorize its 2019 Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act, which helped fund 2,800 housing and community projects. The reauthorization dedicates $40 million every three years for housing needs and community growth within the nation’s reservation. [KOSU]
Several Northern Oklahoma tribes awarded domestic violence assistance grants: The Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program allocated funding to tribes to decrease domestic violence incidents within the reservation and to provide support to tribes exercising sovereign authority over these crimes and the perpetrators. [KGOU]
Oklahoma Democrats get $50,000 to boost outreach efforts to Indigenous communities: Christmas came early for the Oklahoma Democratic Party. The Democratic National Committee announced it will grant $50,000 to help the state party’s outreach to tribal communities. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
Mayoral candidates differ on reparations for massacre survivors: During a televised News On 6 debate Monday night, candidate Monroe Nichols — who is Black — said he doesn’t have a defined position on cash reparations. But Keith — who is White — is not neutral on cash reparations. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Karen Keith’s false claim accusing Nichols of defunding police: Tulsa mayoral candidate Karen Keith falsely accused her leading opponent Monroe Nichols of voting to defund the police during a mayoral debate hosted by News on 6 Monday night. [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Full Video: Tulsa mayoral debate between Karen Keith, Monroe Nichols [News on 6]
Opinion: Stitt ‘purged’ Oklahoma’s voter rolls. Make sure you’re still registered to vote: If you are concerned about whether you are still on the voter list, you can quickly check or update on the Oklahoma Voter Portal. Be sure you check by Oct. 11, because your voice is needed for us to build Oklahoma’s bright future. [Senator Julia Kirt / The Oklahoman]
Education News
Lawmakers hear about ‘passing the trash’ during study on sexual abuse in schools: Oklahoma public schools have been “passing the trash” by not properly reporting or dealing with sexual predators, lawmakers were told during an interim study Tuesday on sexual abuse in schools. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma lawmakers, homeschool parents discuss Tim Tebow bill: Oklahoma lawmakers are discussing whether homeschoolers should be able to get involved in public school extracurricular activities. On Tuesday, some lawmakers said they have concerns about the Tim Tebow bill possibly coming to Oklahoma. [Fox 25]
What is fueling chronic absenteeism? Leaders met in downtown OKC to discuss solutions.: A violence prevention conference in downtown Oklahoma City recently drew education officials, law enforcement officers, community advocates and faith leaders to brainstorm solutions with the local county district attorney on how to combat chronic absenteeism in schools. [The Oklahoman]
Emergency teacher certifications up from last year: As school gets underway, the numbers are in and according to the State Board of Education, Oklahoma emergency teacher certifications are up from last year. As the number of those requesting new emergency certifications rises, the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) is worried for the future of education. [KFOR]
Health News
Lawmakers dig into Norman, Oklahoma drinking water quality: A legislative intern’s search for answers about her health issues prompted Oklahoma lawmakers to take a closer look at toxins in drinking water. [The Oklahoman]
OSU and OU study aims to see if Ozempic can curb alcohol use: A collaborative study between Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma is testing whether drugs like Ozempic can curb alcohol use. Ozempic mimics the hormone that creates the feeling of food-derived reward and can help curb appetites in patients. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Criminal Justice News
Court ruling casts doubts on use of license plate readers, lawmaker says: A recent court ruling in McClain County should cast doubts about the future of high-tech license plate readers used by many law enforcement agencies, including the Tulsa Police Department, a Republican state lawmaker said. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma Bets on Body-Worn Cameras to Improve Prison Conditions: Unsatisfied with the information she was receiving from the state, [Cynthia] Butler started advocating for a transparency initiative that most police departments have adopted: Requiring corrections officers to wear body-worn cameras while on duty. [Oklahoma Watch]
Funding chasm puts new Oklahoma County Jail in peril: Oklahoma County needs a new jail, and voters approved $260 million in bonds to pay for it in 2022. Two years later, however, that amount represents less than half the current projected costs of a facility originally sold to voters as a $300 million project. [NonDoc]
Attorneys representing domestic abuse survivors serving time file more appeals: Attorneys representing 13 domestic abuse survivors who are in prison filed a second round of appeals in several of those cases. This year, the legislature passed the Survivor’s Act, allowing for leniency in sentencing, but the courts will decide whether that applies to people already serving. [KOCO]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
There are hundreds of kids in OKC experiencing homelessness. This group provides help: Homelessness in Oklahoma City is a visible issue that touches seemingly every stretch of the metro area. It affects every age group, even teens and young adults, which usually goes unreported due to their ability to stay hidden. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma board approves over $158 million in grants for broadband projects: The 50 awarded projects are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act Capital Project Funds. The projects will bring internet service to over 28,000 homes and businesses spanning 28 counties in Oklahoma, mostly in rural areas. [KOSU]
What is a TIF district? Understanding tax increment financing: Tax Increment Financing is a public funding mechanism that reallocates newly generated tax revenues for up to 25 years to support development and infrastructure improvements in designated areas; here is everything you need to know about it. [News 9]
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma food industry braces for impact from dockworker strike: Dockworkers at 36 East and Gulf Coast ports went on strike over wages and the use of automation Tuesday after the existing contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight. [Journal Record]
- Port strikes, Hurricane Helene damage could hurt Oklahoma’s supply chain [The Oklahoman]
- Expert explains how dockworkers strike could impact Oklahoma supply chain [KOCO]
Oklahoma could soon allow third-party delivery of alcohol: Lawmakers next session will consider legalizing third-party delivery of alcohol. The Senate Business and Commerce Committee on Tuesday held an interim study on allowing third-party entities like Uber, DoorDash and Shipt to deliver alcohol. [Oklahoma Voice]
Report: Sterlin Harjo, Ethan Hawke TV pilot shot in Tulsa becoming an FX series: Variety reported in an exclusive that a Sterlin Harjo and Ethan Hawke drama pilot has been ordered to series at FX. The pilot for “The Sensitive Kind” was shot in Tulsa last spring. [Tulsa World]
Historically dry September sets up northeast Oklahoma for ‘bleak,’ ‘dismal’ October: The severe drought conditions that dominated September in northeastern Oklahoma, making it one of the area’s driest Septembers on record, are expected to not only continue in October but possibly get worse. [Tulsa World]
Community News
The Plan to Save Frank Lloyd Wright’s Only Skyscraper Isn’t Going as Planned: Less than two years ago, the building was thought to have been rescued from financial woes. Now the new owners have it on the auction block and some Wright-designed furnishings have already been sold. [The New York Times]
Local Headlines
- Sand Springs considers switching from EMSA service [Tulsa World]
- $500K grant to transform south OKC neighborhood [The Journal Record]
- OKC’s Will Rogers airport tops pre-pandemic passenger numbers after busy summer [The Oklahoman]
- Cannabis company announces 120 employees laid off in Oklahoma City [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“Why should the responsibility be on the voter to retain their rights? With simple policy changes, we can make sure eligible Oklahomans are able to vote in every OR any election they choose.”
– State Senator Julia Kirt, Oklahoma City, writing in an op-ed about Oklahoma’s so-called “use it or lose it” law that allows the removal of inactive voters from state voter rolls. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
19.3%
Only 19.3% of Oklahomans aged 18 to 24 cast ballots in the November 2022 general election. [U.S. Census Bureau]
Policy Note
‘Least Contacted and Most Undecided:’ Young Voters in Rural America: Rural young voters continue to feel ignored in politics as the presidential election intensifies, according to research this spring from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). Described as the least contacted and most undecided demographic by the Rural Youth Voter Fund, their participation in the upcoming presidential elections could be critical in deciding the next four years and beyond. In swing states during the 2022 midterm elections, youth made up 10% to 15% of all votes cast, according to CIRCLE, large enough to change outcomes. [The Daily Yonder]
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
