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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
Policy Matters: Indigenous Peoples Day should remind us that we’re stronger together: Each year, Indigenous Peoples Day calls on Oklahomans to reflect and learn from the first peoples of this land. It’s more than symbolic; it is a call to honor the strength, resilience, and living cultures of the 39 state- and federally recognized Tribal nations that make Oklahoma their home. At the same time, the day also asks us to look honestly at how we understand one another, particularly when state leaders misrepresent who Tribes are and distort the meaning of sovereignty. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
State Government News
High court strikes down Oklahoma business courts: The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled 6-2 on Tuesday that the Legislature “exceeded the boundaries” of the state Constitution in part because lawmakers lack the authority to create a court system beyond the eight that already exist. The justices found that legislators attempted to create a special type of judge who is paid differently, has different terms and is exempt from voter scrutiny, an oversight power guaranteed to Oklahomans by the state Constitution. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Why the Oklahoma Supreme Court rejected an attempt to create business-only courts system [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma Supreme Court nixes business courts in Tulsa, OKC [Tulsa World]
Advocates urge Oklahoma lawmakers to increase funding for mental health services: Mental health service providers are continuing to sound the alarm about budget cuts and their impact on services across Oklahoma. Close to 30 people showed up to advocate for increased funding for mental health services at the Oklahoma Capitol building Tuesday evening. Senate and House Democrats hosted community members to discuss the state budget in advance of the next legislative session. [KOSU]
- From OK Policy: Oklahoma’s mental health system is at a crossroad. Will we choose deepened neglect or compassion?
Staff at OK Health Care Authority sounding the alarm on Stitt’s new pick: Several staff members have come out now saying that Governor Stitt’s pick for Director of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority isn’t the right person for the job. [KFOR]
Education Watch: Superintendent Fields Establishes Priorities for Next 15 Months: Oklahoma’s new state superintendent, Lindel Fields, said he’ll spend the next 15 months stabilizing and strengthening the Department of Education for whomever is elected to state superintendent in 2026. Fields, a retired career tech administrator, isn’t running. [Oklahoma Watch]
- State Superintendent Lindel Fields aims to set new tone in Oklahoma education [Public Radio Tulsa]
Oklahoma State Department of Education granted extension for budget proposal: Oklahoma’s Department of Education, under the new leadership of Lindel Fields, is requesting additional time to finalize its budget proposal for fiscal year 2026. [KOCO]
Another top aide, Matt Mohler, departs Oklahoma State Department of Education: News 4 confirmed on Wednesday that Oklahoma State Department of Education Chief of Staff Matt Mohler is no longer employed by the department. Mohler had served as the chief of staff under former State Superintendent Ryan Walters since February. [KFOR]
Ryan Walters facing ethics investigation over departure from office: The Oklahoma Ethics Commission revealed Tuesday it is gathering materials and information regarding Walters’ departure from office. Walters, who did not immediately return a request for comment, resigned Sept. 30 to become the CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a conservative nonprofit that he promoted through his elected position. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Walters under new ethics investigation over ties to anti-union nonprofit he now leads [KFOR]
Ryan Walters vowed to pull these teachers’ licenses. Now their cases could be dropped: The Oklahoma State Board of Education plans to halt efforts made under former state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters to suspend, or in some cases revoke, the teaching certificates for 13 educators, including two targeted by Walters for political speech. [The Oklahoman]
Long Story Short: Dozens of Lawsuits and Hundreds of TV Appearances (podcast): Jennifer Palmer’s latest story looks back at the tenure of Superintendent Ryan Walters, who left public office for a job in the private sector last week. Jake Ramsey covered the eviction rates of both Tulsa and Oklahoma City and how Tulsa has used a project called the Landlord Tenant Resource Center to curb those rates. Keaton Ross wrote about a pending federal rule change that would allow Oklahoma prisons to install cell phone signal jamming technology. [Oklahoma Watch]
Former Oklahoma senate leader sues state for negligence in traffic accident that injured son: Former Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat is suing Canadian County and the state for how they handled a traffic stop and resulting accident that left Treat’s son traumatized and seriously injured. [KOSU]
Stitt declares environmental emergency in Caddo County after saltwater purge: The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is using emergency funds to help remediate the site at Five Mile Creek. A trench and pit were dug to collect the fluid and divert it away from water bodies. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
Federal Government News
Shutdown day eight: Congress standoff unchanged as first missed federal payday nears: Congress has just one week to break the stalemate and fund the government before active duty military members miss their first paycheck of the shutdown. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Trump floats plan to deny back pay to furloughed federal workers after shutdown [Oklahoma Voice]
- Federal government shutdown grinds into a week two as tempers flare at the Capitol [KFOR]
- Oklahoma Representative Tom Cole address latest efforts during government shutdown [KFOR]
Oklahoma families fear losing WIC benefits amid government shutdown: As the federal government shutdown reaches its one-week mark, many Oklahoma families are anxious about the potential loss of the Women, Infants and Children program, which provides crucial food assistance for young children. [KOCO]
Former FBI Director Comey pleads not guilty to criminal charges demanded by Trump: Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to two felony charges Wednesday in federal court in Virginia, in response to an indictment that followed an extraordinary pressure campaign from President Donald Trump. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
Health agencies lose ‘the backbone folks who can keep things running’ to Indian Health deployments: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is transferring dozens of public health corps officers from their posts around the country to work multi-month stints at Indian Health Service centers with severe staffing shortages. [Politico]
Despite federal shutdown, Indian Health Services clinics remain open: Speaking at the quarterly meeting of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma Wednesday afternoon at Osage Casino, Rear Adm. Travis Watts with Indian Health Service reiterated that the agency’s clinics and hospitals are still open and seeing patients despite the government shutdown. [Tulsa World]
Wildlife Department announcement draws chilly reception from Cherokee, Muscogee leaders: Leaders of the Muscogee and Cherokee nations are objecting to an announcement from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation that the state’s hunting and fishing laws will be enforced on their reservations. [Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
House District 35: Vacant seat draws 5 Republicans, 1 Democrat for special election: Five candidates have filed to run in a special Republican primary for the Oklahoma House District 35 seat vacated by former Rep. Ty Burns, who resigned earlier this year after pleading guilty to three misdemeanors for domestic abuse and assault. One Democrat also filed for the seat prior to today’s 5 p.m. deadline to enter the special election. [NonDoc]
Editorial: Keep our sense of community strong with a YES vote on Oct. 14 bond issue: Voters are being asked to approve bonds totaling a record $2.718 billion for hundreds of improvement projects, ranging from street and drainage enhancements to new and expanded libraries and parks, new police and fire facilities, economic development activities and new affordable housing. [The Oklahoman Editorial Board]
Education News
Education Department Releases Student Test Scores: What the Data Show: The scores for the 2024-25 school year, published online this week, come with a caveat: they look significantly lower than last year, but students didn’t learn less. It’s due to changes in what the state considered proficient. [Oklahoma Voice]
Health News
Tulsa’s COVID cases are spiking. What you should know if you test positive: If you tested positive for COVID-19 recently, you’re not alone. Tulsa’s cases nearly doubled from August to September, according to data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health — just in time for cold and flu season, too. [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Criminal Justice News
OK County commissioners vote to borrow $215 million for new jail. What’s next? Asking voters: Oklahoma County government’s excellent credit rating got it a great interest rate on the $215 million it is borrowing to expand work at the new county jail site, officials said, but voters will decide whether to complete the project, expected to cost $750 million, presumably in a public safety sales tax election. [The Oklahoman]
Confusion surrounds Oklahoma Survivors’ Act as recent denials raise questions: Confusion and frustration are mounting in Oklahoma following recent denials under the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act, a law passed in 2024 designed to reduce sentencing for victims of domestic violence. [KOCO]
- Fears of Survivors’ Act being ‘misinterpreted’ after another denial [KFOR]
FBI releases results of ‘Summer Heat’ effort: The FBI on Wednesday announced the arrest of nearly 100 individuals in Oklahoma over the past three months as part of its nationwide effort to “crush” violent crime. [Tulsa World]
- FBI Oklahoma City reports 92 arrests during ‘Operation Summer Heat’ [Fox 25]
Community News
Amid government shutdown, families of OKC bombing victims to help lead tours at memorial: Visitors to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum usually can meet a National Park Service ranger on the grounds, where rangers lead tours or help visitors interpret the symbolic elements of the outdoor memorial. But during the federal government shutdown, those rangers have been furloughed. Instead, people affected by the April 19, 1995 bombing are stepping in to lead the tours. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa Race Massacre grave search to resume Monday: The search for burials from Tulsa’s 1921 Race Massacre will resume Monday at Oaklawn Cemetery, city officials said late Wednesday. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma seeing ‘significantly higher’ divorce rates than most states, Census Bureau says: People are getting married older. Millennials don’t want to follow in their parents’ footsteps. Maybe it’s too expensive to get married. Maybe it’s too expensive to get divorced. Whatever the reason may be, divorce is growing less and less common. However, there are 14 states bucking the trend, where the divorce rate is still “significantly higher” than the national average. [KFOR]
Local Headlines
- Yukon data center plan sparks controversy among residents [The Oklahoman]
- OKC ready to move quickly on projects if voters OK $2.7B funding [The Journal Record]
- Holt My Beer profits donated to OKC Animal Shelter [Fox 25]
- Tulsa Housing Authority advances $190M redevelopment of Comanche Park [KTUL]
- Superintendent Johnson credits collaboration for Tulsa’s student achievement improvements [KTUL]
Quote of the Day
“I’ve seen what happens when people are given the tools to heal. I’ve also seen what happens when there’s more addiction, incarceration, homelessness, suicide. These are preventable outcomes, but only if we invest in prevention.”
– Ashley Gay, who manages programs at Heather’s Hope Housing in Comanche, said she was able to rebuild her life because of the support she received. Speaking on the issue, she stressed that mental health funding is a critical part of the services needed to keep people safe, housed, and well in Oklahoma. [KOSU]
Number of the Day
35%
The share of nonelderly adults enrolled in Medicaid who have a mental illness, including 10% living with a serious mental illness. These rates are higher than among adults with private insurance or no coverage — and deep Medicaid cuts under H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” could jeopardize access to care for millions. [KFF]
Policy Note
Medicaid’s Role in Mental Health and Substance Use Care: Medicaid is the largest payer of mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services in the U.S., covering over 20 million adults with such conditions and helping improve access to care. Enrollees under Medicaid are more likely to receive needed treatment than those with no insurance or private plans, especially for serious mental health conditions. Beyond direct care, Medicaid’s support helps reduce uncompensated care burdens on health providers and can moderate spending on other high-cost services by addressing behavioral health needs early. [Commonwealth Fund]
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