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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
Working across the aisle to address Oklahoma’s needs (Capitol Update): Sometimes it appears that little worthwhile is happening at the state capitol because the attention seems to focus on hot button, culture war issues promoted to gain political leverage by one group against another. If you look closely, you can find good work being done by many legislators who are working across the aisle to address the state’s many needs. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
Oklahoma News
Families and Teachers Ask Supreme Court to Stop Superintendent’s Push for Bibles in Public Schools: A coalition of parents, students, teachers and faith leaders are asking the state’s highest court to block the state superintendent’s mandate to teach the Bible in public schools and his agency’s impending $3 million purchase of Bibles. [Oklahoma Watch]
- 32 Oklahomans ask state Supreme Court to block school Bible purchases, teaching [Oklahoma Voice]
- Walters sued in Oklahoma Supreme Court over classroom Bible mandate [Public Radio Tulsa]
- ACLU of Oklahoma Files Lawsuit to Block OSDE Bible Mandate [The Black Wall Street Times]
- Lawsuit asks Oklahoma Supreme Court to stop Walters’ mandate, state spending on Bibles [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma Supreme Court asked to block Ryan Walters’ Bible edict [Tulsa World]
- 32 Oklahomans file suit in state Supreme Court against OSDE’s Bible mandate [2News Oklahoma]
- ACLU challenges Oklahoma’s Bible school mandate, citing constitutional concerns [Fox 25]
- New lawsuit filed against OK Superintendent Ryan Walters Bible mandate [KFOR]
- Plaintiff in lawsuit over Bible mandate says Walters is violating constitution, religious liberty of students [KFOR]
- More than 30 Oklahomans, including parents, teachers file lawsuit against Ryan Walters [KOCO]
- Oklahoma parents and teachers sue to stop top education official’s classroom Bible mandate [AP]
State Government News
Oklahoma has no plans to fine a troubled center for people with developmental disabilities, even after repeated problems: The Robert M. Greer Center was facing over $500,000 in fines for failing to protect clients from threats to their safety. But the state decided to instead hire a consulting company to suggest changes at the facility. [The Frontier]
Legal roundup: Bible mandate lawsuit filed, Norman anti-TIF petition submitted and more: Amid escalating 2024 general election coverage and a heated Senate District 47 debate Wednesday night, the world of Oklahoma politics remains hectic. The world outside of politics, however, remains busy as well, so read this roundup to catch up on important legal developments. [NonDoc]
Oklahoma lawmakers discuss regulations for children on social media: The Oklahoma Senate Judiciary Committee heard multiple presentations during the the interim study about the dangers of social media for children, including presentations from psychologists, law enforcement and youth services groups. [Oklahoma Voice]
First Watch: Stuff You Should Know: As Jennifer Palmer and Paul Monies reported, Oklahoma’s governor and his political allies in charge of $18 million in pandemic relief funds mismanaged the programs meant to help both low-income and privately educated students in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released Tuesday by the state’s multicounty grand jury. [Oklahoma Watch]
Tribal Nations News
Tribal nations endorse retention of Oklahoma Supreme Court justices: At their October quarterly meeting, the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Tribes, composed of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Muscogee, Seminole and Choctaw Nations, voted unanimously to support the retention of Oklahoma Supreme Court Justices Noma Gurich, Yvonee Kauger and James Edmondson. [KOSU]
- From OK Policy: Judges on the 2024 ballot in Oklahoma: What you need to know
Oklahoma music artist releases album in Cherokee to help keep language alive: It was suggested to Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey that it’s a horrible thing when something vanishes from the face of the earth, whether that something is an endangered species or a language. Mackey is fighting to keep the Cherokee language alive, and his way of “fighting” is to create music. [Tulsa World]
- ‘In Cherokee, you see everything in color:’ Songwriters work with translators on new music [KOSU]
- WATCH: Tsitsutsa Tsigesv ᏥᏧᏣ ᏥᎨᏒ by Agalisiga Mackey NPR Tiny Desk Concert Contest Submission 2024 (video) [YouTube]
Opinion: Indian Tribes Should Be Wary of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act: The proposed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act has ignited debate across the country, with its stated aim to “strengthen voter integrity” by tightening voter eligibility requirements. While the legislation may be framed as a protective measure, Indian Tribes should carefully examine its potential impacts on their communities. The unique political, cultural, and historical status of Tribal nations in the U.S. raises significant concerns about how this legislation could undermine the rights of Native voters and erode Tribal sovereignty. [Kevin Allis / Native News Online]
Voting and Election News
Brewer, Hines talk Ryan Walters, abortion, housing and taxes in Senate District 47 debate: Trading jabs over who is being more honest with voters while disagreeing about abortion, taxation and education, Senate District 47 hopefuls Kelly Hines and Erin Brewer outlined their visions for the open Edmond and Oklahoma City seat in a debate Wednesday night. [NonDoc]
‘Leave it at home’: A reminder that wearing or doing certain things at the polls could get you in trouble: Whether it’s wearing a campaign hat or T-shirt, taking a selfie with your ballot, bringing your kids along or telling people who you voted for, Oklahoma election officials want voters to know there’s a number of things that you can and cannot legally do when going to the election polls. [KFOR]
Opinion: Many politicians have worked to fuel doubts about elections, despite no evidence: For 200 years, American elections were internationally viewed as the freest, fairest and most accurate in the world. But now, thanks to the unfounded claims made in 2020, some Americans have begun to doubt the integrity of those elections. And many politicians have worked to increase those doubts, even though there is no evidence that American elections are anything but free, fair and accurate. [Robert Konieczny / The Oklahoman]
Education News
Education Watch: Oklahoma’s ACT scores ranked second-to-last: Oklahoma’s average composite ACT score dipped to 17.6 for the Class of 2024, a cohort of students who were freshman during the first full year of COVID-19 school disruptions. Only Nevada was lower, with a 17.2. The data, released Wednesday, show Oklahoma is well below the national average of 19.4. The maximum score on the ACT is 36. [Oklahoma Watch]
Tulsa middle and high schools adjust to added security measures: In the wake of a nationwide spike in school violence threats made via social media, Superintendent Ebony Johnson announced in September that when students returned Wednesday from fall break, all TPS secondary sites would incorporate mandatory bag checks and student screening via wanding or metal detectors every day until further notice. [Tulsa World]
Judge denies OU’s request to close the courtroom in NonDoc case: A judge has decided to let the public into the civil case filed by NonDoc Media and Tres Savage demanding OU release information regarding the investigation into former OU President David Boren and former OU Vice President Jim “Tripp” Hall. [KFOR]
New online tool aims to bolster Oklahoma’s teaching workforce with resources and jobs: Oklahoma State Superintendent, Ryan Walters, announced the rollout of a new tool to recruit teachers. The new website, Teach-OK.com, is an online resource designed to guide educators through the certification process. [News Channel 8]
Sky’s the limit: TCC’s Air Traffic Control Program fast-tracks students amid nationwide shortage: Participants in Tulsa Community College’s Air Traffic Control program previously had to go to Oklahoma City to the only Federal Aviation Administration Academy to complete training. TCC and the FAA’s new agreement allows students to bypass OKC training and go directly to on-the-job learning. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Health News
OU Health places last beam in behavioral health hospital for children: A ceremony Thursday celebrated the construction of what will be the latest addition to the OU Health Medical Center, a new behavioral health hospital for children. [KOSU]
Mental health support goes high tech through Hope chatbot: Are you feeling down and depressed, having trouble falling asleep or maybe sleeping too much? A good friend, family member or a counselor might ask these questions, but the queries are coming from another source these days. [The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Judge orders man accused of planning Election Day attack to remain in custody: An Afghan man who is accused of plotting an Election Day attack in the U.S. was ordered Thursday to remain in custody as officials disclosed that he had previously worked as a security guard for an American military installation in Afghanistan. [AP via The Journal Record]
- Afghan refugee appears in Oklahoma federal courtroom on Election Day terror plot charges [KOSU]
- Election Day terror plot suspect denied pretrial release [KFOR]
- Afghan citizen charged in OKC terror plot appears in court [News 9]
- New details, French connection emerge in Election Day terrorism case [The Oklahoman]
Attorney: Perpetrators of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre must be identified: Survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre are calling for the identification of those responsible for the violence, according to an attorney representing them. The plea comes shortly after the Department of Justice began interviewing survivors and their descendants as part of the first federal investigation into the racist attack that left as many as 300 people dead. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Multiple system failures flood and cause damage to troubled Oklahoma County jail: A “series of significant system failures” caused flooding and damage on several floors of the Oklahoma County jail recently, disrupting operations and underscoring “the critical need for a new, modern facility,” according to jail leadership. [The Oklahoman]
Community News
‘I feel lucky to be a part of it’: Oklahomans aid hurricane-affected states in recovery: Oklahomans are familiar with unspeakable damage caused by natural disasters as tornados wreak havoc over the Sooner State year after year. So when catastrophes strike other states, Okies are quick to lend a hand. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Norman residents submit over 11,000 signatures for entertainment district petition; nearly double amount needed [KGOU]
Quote of the Day
“We are devout Christians, but different Christian denominations have different theological beliefs and practices. It is not the role of any politician or public school official to intervene in these personal matters.”
– Erika Wright, one of the 14 parents of Oklahoma public school students who have joined a coalition of parents, students, teachers and faith leaders asking the state’s Supreme Court to block the state superintendent’s mandate to teach the Bible in public schools and his agency’s impending $3 million purchase of Bibles. [Oklahoma Watch]
Number of the Day
81,000
Oklahoma needs more than 81,000 additional homes or apartments just to meet the needs of extremely low-income renters, those making less than around $22,000 per year for a family of four. [National Low-Income Housing Coalition via OK Policy]
Policy Note
A Road Map to Address America’s Housing Crisis: Housing is a cornerstone of American life—a key determinant of economic opportunities, health and safety, educational outcomes, and more. Yet today, the US faces a national housing crisis, wherein home prices and rents have risen significantly and the largest number of Americans on record are experiencing homelessness. The promise of safe, stable, and affordable housing is moving out of reach for millions of Americans across incomes and generations—for first-time homebuyers, cost-burdened renters, and unhoused individuals alike. [Urban Institute]
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