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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
Fact Sheets: State Questions on the 2024 General Election: To help Oklahomans better understand the state questions that will be on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, OK Policy staff have developed non-partisan fact sheets that explain the purpose of the questions, background information, arguments made by both supporters and opponents, and resources for more information. These pages include downloadable PDFs, and the pages will be updated as new resources become available through the election.
Oklahoma News
State Education Department Seeks Bids for 55,000 Classroom Bibles: Bids opened Monday for a contract to supply the state Department of Education with 55,000 Bibles. According to the bid documents, vendors must meet certain specifications: Bibles must be the King James Version; must contain the Old and New Testaments; must include copies of the Pledge of Allegiance, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights; and must be bound in leather or leather-like material. A salesperson at Mardel Christian & Education searched, and though they carry 2,900 Bibles, none fit the parameters. But one Bible fits perfectly: Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the U.S.A. Bible, endorsed by former President Donald Trump and commonly referred to as the Trump Bible. They cost $60 each online, with Trump receiving fees for his endorsement. [Oklahoma Watch]
- State Department of Education’s demands for 55,000 Bibles point to one promoted by Trump [Tulsa World]
- Civil rights groups want Walters to say where OSDE found $3M to buy Bibles for schools [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma Freedom Caucus supports classroom Bible mandate [KGOU]
State Government News
Senate official calls on Ryan Walters to disburse funds for emergency inhalers: The Oklahoma State Senate Appropriations Chairman has issued a public call for State Superintendent Ryan Walters to carry out the Legislature’s intent to distribute funds appropriated 15 months ago for emergency asthma inhalers in public schools. [Tulsa World]
- Influential Oklahoma lawmaker presses Ryan Walters to buy inhalers for schools after delay [The Oklahoman]
Stitt appoints interim director for Oklahoma tourism, recreation agency: Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed the head of state parks as interim director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department on Thursday. Sterling Zearley will step into the role Oct. 14, replacing former director Shelley Zumwalt who announced her retirement last month following the release of a critical audit. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma’s tourism department is getting a new interim leader [The Oklahoman]
Brent Swadley addresses Oklahomans, defends business against ‘political gamesmanship’: Brent Swadley, the owner of the Swadley’s BBQ chain, released a letter to Oklahomans on his family’s story on the investigation into the business. [Fox 25]
- Swadley’s BBQ co-founder says company remains a pawn in ‘political gamesmanship’ in contract scandal [KOCO]
- Swadley’s BBQ co-founder pens letter, claims legal battle is ‘personal’ [KFOR]
Alleged bookkeeper for notorious marijuana farm sues OMMA, attorney general: A medical marijuana “bookkeeper” is complaining that the fate of his grower license will be decided by someone working for the same agency that recommended he face criminal charges. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma Human Services offers relief for SNAP fraud victims: With the rise in fraudulent activity targeting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Oklahoma Human Services is stepping in to support families who have been victims of theft. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation seeks public comment on rules changes: Every year, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation revises the rules that govern hunting and fishing across the state and asks for feedback on proposed rules changes. This year’s revisions would make relatively minor tweaks to hunting and fishing in Oklahoma. [KOSU]
Roundup: Drummond criticizes Walters, Tulsa mayoral candidates spar, Swadley strikes back: Brent Swadley is lawyering up. Tulsa is preparing for a change in leadership with a second mayoral candidate debate. Read more about those developments and more — including a Department of Justice investigation into the Tulsa Race Massacre, new high-speed internet grants to rural areas and a new letter from Attorney General Gentner Drummond criticizing Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters. [NonDoc]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma Politics: Todd Hiett investigations, Ryan Walters Bibles, Shelley Zumwalt retiring and more (audio): The panel discusses the State Supreme Court giving the go ahead for an investigation of Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett, State Superintendent Ryan Walters requesting $6 million to put Bibles in every public school classroom as well as $500,000 for school personnel firearm training and Gov. Kevin Stitt undergoing heart surgery without notifying his next in succession. [KOSU]
Tribal Nations News
Army returns remains of 9 Indigenous children who died at boarding school over a century ago: The remains of nine more Native American children who died at a notorious government-run boarding school in Pennsylvania over a century ago were disinterred from a small Army cemetery and returned to families, authorities said Wednesday. [AP]
Study: Indigenous workforce boosts Oklahoma labor force participation rate: A new report finds Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate has jumped above the national average, largely because of Native American workers. New data from the Federal Reserve Bank show a higher percentage of Native Americans are part of Oklahoma’s workforce than at any time in the past two decades, with the participation among Indigenous folks growing since 2021. [KGOU]
Voting and Election News
Ads target three Oklahoma Supreme Court justices: A group frustrated by Oklahoma Supreme Court rulings has launched an unusual campaign aimed at convincing voters to remove three justices at the November ballot box. Critics though said the effort is “tragic” and is a knee-jerk reaction by some who want to alter the makeup of the Oklahoma’s highest court because they disagree with the court’s decisions. The ads target Justices Noma Gurich, Yvonne Kauger and James Edmondson. [Oklahoma Voice]
TU students push for young voter engagement with mayoral Q&A: As the November election draws closer, many young voters are trying to stir up political engagement among their peers, partisan or not. That push extended to the campus of the University of Tulsa Wednesday night, when TU’s Student Economic Association invited one of the city’s two mayoral candidates for a Q&A. [Public Radio Tulsa]
After Oklahoma purged thousands from voter rolls, am I still registered? How to check: After Oklahoma officials removed 453,000 inactive and ineligible Oklahoma voter registrations recently to ensure the state’s voter rolls are up to date and accurate, some voters have wondered where to see if they’re registered or not. There’s still time to check your registration or register to vote this month to ensure you’re still eligible to vote on Nov. 5. Here’s how. [The Oklahoman]
- The deadline to register for the November general election is Friday, Oct. 11. Check the OK Voter Portal for more information or to check your registration status.
Education News
Walters moves to dismiss Bixby superintendent’s defamation lawsuit: In the dismissal motion, State Superintendent Ryan Walters claims immunity as an official through the state’s Government Tort Claims Act, which holds that state officials cannot be held liable for performing duties within the scope of their employment. [StateImpact via KGOU]
- Ryan Walters claims immunity after being sued for calling district leader a clown and a liar [The Oklahoman]
- Ryan Walters claims immunity in Bixby superintendent’s defamation case [Tulsa World]
Education Watch: Pandemic Funding for Schools Reaches the Deadline: Monday was the deadline for schools to commit to spending the last of the COVID-19 recovery money — more than four years after the pandemic disrupted education. The public should soon have a more complete picture of how schools chose to spend the massive influx in federal cash in response to the pandemic. [Oklahoma Watch]
Former Oklahoma Rep. Kendra Horn hired to lead OKCPS Foundation: A significant year of leadership change in Oklahoma City Public Schools now touches the district’s fundraising arm, where former U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn will take over as president and CEO. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Former U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn will become next leader of OKCPS Foundation [The Oklahoman]
Health News
More women are seeking sterilizations post-Dobbs, experts say: In the months after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to an abortion, there was a spike in the number of women seeking sterilizations to prevent pregnancy, a recent study shows. Researchers saw a 3% increase in tubal sterilizations per month between July and December 2022 in states with abortion bans, including Oklahoma. [Oklahoma Voice]
Integris Health and Francis Tuttle strengthen health care workforce: Oklahoma’s ability to develop a ready workforce took center stage during the pandemic, when Integris Health had to quickly train bedside caregivers. Working with local technology centers, including Francis Tuttle Technology Center, the health system ensured new patient care tech hires received Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training and certification. [Journal Record]
Unison breaks ground on holistic health and wellness collective: Construction of a locally owned collective centered on holistic health and wellness will begin next week on a 7-acre site along Broadway Extension in north Oklahoma City. [Journal Record]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma lawmakers use Richard Glossip’s case to highlight ‘flaws’ in criminal justice system: An interim study at the Oklahoma state Capitol on Thursday focused on ways to fix the criminal justice system, including ways to improve the death row process. State Rep. J.J. Humphrey called the study to look at “flaws” in the system. It centered around the high-profile case of death row inmate Richard Glossip. [KOCO]
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide if Oklahoma must execute a man it doesn’t want to kill: The state’s Republican attorney general took the rare step of asking the Supreme Court to set aside Richard Glossip’s capital conviction. [Vox]
- Glossip’s case highlights flaws in Oklahoma’s criminal appeals system, lawmakers discuss [Fox 25]
Convicted of murder as a teenager, Wayne Thompson hopes for a second chance at freedom: He was 15 when he killed his sister’s abuser. Even after years of good conduct, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has rejected recommending him for release. [The Frontier]
Authorities investigating death of Cleveland County jail inmate: Authorities confirmed an inmate died Thursday morning at the Cleveland County jail. The inmate was identified as Alex Wright, 34. In March, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control arrested Wright on a firearm complaint and drug trafficking complaints. He was scheduled for a formal arraignment later this month in Cleveland County District Court. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion, Reps. McDugle and Humphrey: The Supreme Court Must Stop Oklahoma From Executing Innocent Man: As Republican members of the Oklahoma legislature, we strongly support the death penalty. We believe it to be an important component of a functioning criminal justice system—but not when it involves the execution of an innocent man based on a conviction obtained using knowingly false testimony. That is why we have joined the Oklahoma attorney general in urging the United States Supreme Court to send Richard Glossip’s case back to state court for a new trial. [Reps. Kevin McDugle and JJ Humphrey / Newsweek]
- Opinion: The Supreme Court Should Stop the Glossip Execution [Kenneth Cuccinelli / The New York Times]
Opinion: Making divorce harder to get in Oklahoma can escalate domestic violence: This summer, the Oklahoma Access to Justice Foundation published a research report investigating access to divorce, finding that the legal process for divorce is disjointed and unnecessarily complex for Oklahomans without an attorney. Our report also highlighted research showing that increased access to divorce can lower domestic violence rates by 30% and leads to significant decreases in spousal homicide and female suicide rates as well. [Katie Dilks / Tulsa World]
Opinion, District Attorney Jack Thorp: Survivors’ Act form about securing rights, not waiving them: Oklahoma’s district attorneys have taken action to help survivors of domestic abuse, who are also criminal defendants, understand what is happening as they move through the legal process. Following the recent implementation of the Senate Bill 1835, known as the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act, we began providing an acknowledgment form that demonstrates defendants understand the consequences of their actions. [Jack Thorp / Tulsa World]
Editorial: Public Safety Tax working, now put more attention on recruiting young people: The city of Tulsa the city ought to plan long-term, focusing more attention on raising officers from in-state, starting with outreach in area high schools and following them through to Oklahoma colleges. [Editorial / Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Oklahoma County Social Services Department facing immediate closure: At the end of this month, the Oklahoma County Social Services Department will be disbanding, according to its director. The department has historically housed the Oklahoma County Pharmacy, Homeless Services and the Gatekeeper Program for the elderly. The closure is due to SB 1931 that flew under the radar as it sailed through the legislature. The new law was intended to shield counties from shouldering the burden of providing services better suited to nonprofits and charitable organizations. [OPMX vis KGOU]
- ‘Disappointed and saddened’: Oklahoma County Social Services to disband on Oct. 31 [Fox 25]
North Tulsa Neighborhood Revitalization Plan Faces Challenges: According to U.S. census tract estimates cited in the Kirkpatrick Heights-Greenwood Master Plan, north Tulsa is losing Black residents by the thousands. The vital objectives of the Master Plan are to stem that outflow, and stabilize and revitalize north Tulsa neighborhoods. The Tulsa Development Authority (TDA), through its PartnerTulsa staff, is finalizing a legal process to begin implementing the plan. And yet, enforcing the master plan faces substantive obstacles. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Community News
How big is too big for OKC? Recent annexation reignites a decades-old debate: Oklahoma City Council has decided to annex 320 acres as part of a proposed 1,000-acre “mega-site” meant to draw major developers that could bring thousands of jobs. The annexation follows a storied legacy of the city swallowing up land at the edges of its boundaries, leading to a larger and larger city footprint. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Tulsa World Youth Advisory Board outlines most pressing problems: The inaugural class of the Tulsa World Youth Advisory Board had a lot to say about problems teens are facing, such as the potential danger of social media and the divisiveness among Oklahoma’s leaders. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Parents of emaciated Midwest City 7-year-old enter not guilty pleas, two more charged [The Oklahoman]
- Collinsville animal rescue facing loss of its home after city decides to cut ties [Tulsa World]
- Hotel at Crybaby Hill to highlight Route 66 [Public Radio Tulsa]
- City announces plans for Route 66-themed hotel at Cry Baby Hill [Tulsa World]
- City of Norman sues contractors over mold-plagued library [KGOU]
- Red Rock town audit reveals $336,000 in misappropriated funds, lack of oversight [KGOU]
- Price Tower auction postponed at request of Bartlesville landmark’s owner [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“It appears to me that this bid is anything but competitive. It adds to the basic specification other requirements that have nothing to do with the text. The special binding and inclusion of government documents will exclude almost all bidders. If the bid specs exclude most bidders unnecessarily, I could consider that a violation.”
-Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, speaking about the State Department of Education’s bid documents for purchasing 55,000 Bibles for Oklahoma classrooms. He said The request for proposals is so narrowly tailored that it might violate state law. [Oklahoma Watch]
Number of the Day
67.6%
When Oklahoma’s total labor force participation rate first exceeded the U.S. average in 2023, the Native American rate soared from 61.5% in 2022 to 66%, overtaking the state average by three percentage points. By the first half of 2024, Oklahoma’s Native American participation rate increased further to 67.6%, helping bring the state’s overall rate up to 63.2% while the nation’s plateaued at 62.6%. [Kansas City Fed]
Policy Note
Oklahoma’s Rising Labor Force Participation Driven Largely by Native Americans: Oklahoma’s labor force participation recently moved higher than the U.S. rate for the first time in over three decades. Most of the labor force gains were in or near the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metropolitan areas, but the southeastern portion of the state also made a sizable contribution. This edition of Oklahoma Economist finds that the state’s increase in labor force participation since 2021 has been primarily driven by heightened participation among the Native American population, in both metro and non-metro areas. Additionally, these gains have mostly been concentrated at schools, hospitals, and government entities. [Kansas City Fed]
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