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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
Judges on the 2024 ballot in Oklahoma: What you need to know: Oklahoma is one of 39 states where voters have a role in selecting judges. On Nov. 5, 2024, Oklahoma voters will decide whether to retain three Supreme Court justices, three Court of Civil Appeals judges, and six Court of Civil Appeal judges. Judicial elections usually don’t attract as much publicity as other races, but this year has been markedly different. Conservative dark money groups this year have targeted the three Supreme Court justices appointed by Democrat governors. These attack ads seek to shake up the composition of the state’s top court. [OK Policy]
Voting in Oklahoma: Everything you need to know: OK Policy and Together Oklahoma are sharing some resources and information to help navigate the state’s election process, including key deadlines and how to get more information. [Kandis West / Together Oklahoma]
- Oklahoma’s 2024 general election | Resources and other information you need to know [OK Policy]
Oklahoma News
GEER funds report: Grand jury finds ‘grossly negligent’ actions but ‘insufficient evidence’ for charges: Oklahoma’s multi-county grand jury released a report today examining the extent to which Gov. Kevin Stitt, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and other public officials’ handling of pandemic-era federal funding bordered upon criminal actions or negligence, but jurors ultimately found “insufficient evidence” of criminal activity. [NonDoc]
- Grand Jury: State’s Handling of GEER Programs Troubling, But Not Criminal [Oklahoma Watch]
- An Oklahoma grand jury issues a scathing report, but no indictments on federal education money [The Frontier]
- Grand jury: Oklahoma governor’s management of pandemic programs was ‘indefensible’ [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma grand jury blames Ryan Walters, Gov. Stitt for COVID relief misspending [The Oklahoman]
- No indictments, but ‘pervasive mismanagement’ found after grand jury inquiry into pandemic relief funds for education [Tulsa World]
- ‘Waste and mismanagement’: Multi-County Grand Jury investigation into GEER funds released [Fox 25]
- Grand jury investigation uncovers mismanagement, waste in pandemic education relief funds [KFOR]
- Read: Multi-county grand jury report
State Government News
Oklahoma Supreme Court to hear case against former chair of state Corporation Commission: The Oklahoma Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case filed against Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett. [Oklahoma Voice]
Criminal activity linked to illegal immigration, lawmakers told: The director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs told lawmakers on Tuesday that he is convinced transnational criminal organizations based in China have become deeply rooted in Oklahoma. An interim study on threats posed by illegal immigration was organized by Reps. David Hardin, R-Stilwell, and Danny Williams, R-Seminole. [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma lawmakers hear immigration concerns from law enforcement [Journal Record]
OMES officer to pay fine for ethics violations: The chief information officer for the state’s Office of Management and Enterprise Services agreed on Friday to pay a $2,500 fine for violating state ethics rules. A settlement agreement reached between Joe McIntosh and the Oklahoma Ethics Commission didn’t include specific allegations. [Tulsa World]
For sale: Oklahoma’s naloxone vending machines: Vending machines once used by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health for naloxone and fentanyl test strips are up for sale. The department set up the vending machines a year ago but has since removed them under new leadership. Now, those same vending machines are available for purchase. [KOSU]
Long Story Short: Education Department Updates Bible Plan After Concerns By State Purchasing Agency (audio): Paul Monies updates you on the State Department of Education’s plan to buy 55,000 Bibles for Oklahoma classrooms. Keaton Ross discusses a pending constitutional amendment that seeks to change Oklahoma election law. Heather Warlick wrote about how Oklahoma tenants have little recourse against bad landlords. [Oklahoma Watch]
Tribal Nations News
Hoskin: Social media post praising Columbus signals ‘weird obsession’ of state ed department: The Oklahoma State Department of Education has received backlash for an online post marking Columbus Day, despite Oklahoma not recognizing the holiday. The post drew criticism online, including from Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Oklahoma Ed Department sparks anger with post honoring Columbus on Indigenous People’s Day [The Oklahoman]
- Columbus Day post by Oklahoma Dept. of Ed sparks controversy [The Black Wall Street Times]
Voting and Election News
State Question 833: Proposed new property tax districts draw praise, concerns: A proposal authorizing the creation of new taxing districts that could help cities finance infrastructure improvements — if all the property owners within the district agree — will be decided by voters taking part in Oklahoma’s Nov. 5 general election. [NonDoc]
- From OK Policy: SQ 833 Fact Sheet
What to Know About State Question 834 and Prohibiting Noncitizens From Voting in Local Elections: The Oklahoma Legislature wants voters to change one word in the state constitution to explicitly forbid noncitizens from participating in state and local elections. [Oklahoma Watch]
- From OK Policy: SQ 834 Fact Sheet
Oklahoma voters to decide legislative seats: Oklahomans will select future lawmakers in the Nov. 5 election. Several races have already been decided, but some high profile races are still on the ballot. [Oklahoma Voice]
The bond election on the Edmond ballot is not actually for schools. Here’s where the money would go: Edmond Public Schools officials want voters to know the school district has nothing to do with the Nov. 5 city bond election to raise $231 million for street repairs, park improvements and a new fire station, which will raise property taxes if approved. It is not a school bond election, and some people are confused about it. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa County Election Board encouraging use of second early, in-person voting location: The Tulsa County Election Board plans to hold early, in-person voting for the Nov. 5 elections at two sites — the current Election Board facility at 555 N. Denver Ave., and the future home of the Election Board at 12000 E. Skelly Drive.[Tulsa World]
Opinion: We asked Oklahomans whether they would vote on Nov. 5. Here’s what they said: A recent WalletHub study indicates Oklahoma has the worst voter representation of anywhere in the country on election day. On Nov. 5, Americans will vote for a new president. A victory in one of the so-called “swing states” where both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have strong support might be decisive to the election outcome. Has Oklahomans’ enthusiasm for voting increased or diminished? [The Oklahoman]
Education News
Judge denies OU request to close courtroom in Open Records Act case: Despite the University of Oklahoma’s attempt to block the public and press from attending, a summary judgment hearing in NonDoc’s Open Records Act litigation seeking reports about misconduct allegations against former President David Boren will be held in open court. [NonDoc]
Oklahoma’s career and technical programs add $1 billion to state economy: Oklahoma’s career and technical schools reported that its programs added nearly $1 billion to the state’s economy during the 2023 fiscal year. The CareerTech programs accounted for over $29 million in income tax and sales tax revenue and more than 8,600 jobs in 2023. [Oklahoma Voice]
Criminal Justice News
‘They were wrong’: Oklahoma nonprofit study reveals prosecutorial misconduct: An Oklahoma nonprofit is using their new study about prosecutor misconduct to call for criminal justice reform in our state. The Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice released a study Tuesday called “The Truth Will Always Come Out: Prosecutorial Misconduct, Brady Violations, and Lack of Justice in Oklahoma.” It focuses on prosecutors withholding evidence in Oklahoma criminal trials. [Fox 25]
- The Truth Will Always Come Out: Prosecutorial Misconduct, Brady Violations, and Lack of Justice in Oklahoma [Oklahoma Appleseed]
Jimcy McGirt pleads no contest to sex offense probation violation in Seminole Nation court: The man behind the landmark McGirt v. Oklahoma U.S. Supreme Court case, which reaffirmed the sovereignty of several Oklahoma tribes, was back in court this week. Jimcy McGirt conceded there’s enough evidence to charge him for violating his federal probation in court on Tuesday. [KOSU]
Three people died in shootings in OKC over two days. Is public policy on guns to blame?: Fatal shootings have pushed Oklahoma City’s homicide count this year to 70, five fewer than all of last year. And it’s only October. Though not all homicides this year have been gun-related, the increased death toll has put a spotlight on gun violence in Oklahoma City. [The Oklahoman]
OK County jail trust says state Health Department rushed to Supreme Court without cause: The Oklahoma State Department of Health was too quick to take the Oklahoma County jail trust to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in its attempt to gain unfettered, unannounced access for jail inspections, the trust argues. [The Oklahoman]
Sheriff’s budget battle in Cleveland County gets heated: A bitter budget battle in Cleveland County heated up on Tuesday when Cleveland County commissioners and Sheriff Chris Amason had a fiery exchange during the county budget meeting. Amason said he has missing funds from his budget, but commissioners said he has simply “mismanaged” his money. [KFOR]
$5 million gift to aid Tulsa groups serving domestic violence, child abuse survivors: A$5 million donation announced this week will help two local organizations better serve families and individuals affected by child abuse and domestic violence. [Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
There’s untapped energy underneath Oklahoma’s plains. This OU researcher wants to find it: Invisible to the eye, below Oklahoma’s sweeping plains, lies a source of energy that may play a starring role in the nation’s future as it wrestles with the often-conflicting priorities of fueling the economy with affordable energy and moderating the effects of industrial production and transportation on the global climate. Hot rocks. [The Oklahoman]
Can Remote Workers Reverse Brain Drain?: Researchers found that when remote workers were paid to move to Tulsa, everyone came out ahead. [New York Times]
Local Headlines
- Petition process to bring Norman entertainment district to public vote is wrapping up [KOCO]
- Norman residents to deliver entertainment district petition results in hopes of public vote [OU Daily via KGOU]
- Fire danger projected to extend into Tulsa area this week [Tulsa World]
- Philanthropist who heled create Homeless Alliance dead at 68 [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“(W)e find the grossly negligent handling of federal grant money and utter lack of internal controls and oversight over the grant-funded initiatives to be irresponsible, disappointing, and indefensible. What’s more, the waste and misspending of millions of dollars in emergency aid was easily preventable.”
-Findings from a multi-county grand jury looking into how Oklahoma officials, including the governor and state superintendent, mismanaged millions in pandemic relief funds for programs meant to help low-income and privately educated students in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. [The Frontier]
Number of the Day
-12%
Percentage decrease of Florida’s per-pupil expenditures between 2008 and 2019, while state spending on educational vouchers and tax credits increased by 313% to $996.3 million during that same period as the state expanded its subsidies for private schools. [The Fiscal Consequences of Private School Vouchers / Southern Poverty Law Center]
Policy Note
How States Use Tax Credits to Fund Private School Choice: An Explainer: Most of the biggest recent developments in the world of private school choice have centered around education savings accounts, a twist on the private school voucher that parents can spend on tuition, fees, and a wide range of other costs tied to their students’ learning outside the traditional public school system. But close to two dozen states also operate smaller-scale private school choice programs that rarely draw attention on the same scale. These programs, known broadly as “tax-credit scholarships,” typically target smaller populations of students and offer fewer dollars per child than vouchers and ESAs. [Education Week]
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