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.
New from OK Policy
Oklahoma lawmakers examine alternatives to unnecessary pretrial detention (Capitol Update): Last week, the House Public Safety Committee, chaired by Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell, held an interim study on criminal pretrial procedures, with Rep. Erick Harris, R-Edmond, presenting. Harris said that, with the overcrowded conditions in Oklahoma’s jails and corrections system, he wants to make certain there is enough room to hold those who need to be held in jail awaiting trial. There are people taking up space in jails that is needed for those violent offenders who must be held. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
State Government News
Oklahoma health care agency boasts low payment error rate: Oklahoma’s Medicaid payment error rate is well below the national average, according to the agency that administers the program. Oklahoma’s “improper payment rate” for Medicaid, also known as SoonerCare, was 0.15% in 2025 compared to the national average of 6.12%, according to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. [Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy: What’s That? Error Rates
Lawmakers form caucus to oversee implementation of childhood literacy legislation: bipartisan group of legislators said Monday they are forming a caucus to oversee implementation of reading instruction in public schools and will meet “regularly” with “educators, parents and national experts.” [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma State Department of Education must revisit ruling on former Norman teacher’s license, judge rules: A judge ruled that former State Superintendent Ryan Walters was biased against Summer Boismier, who lost her teaching license after sharing a QR code giving students access to banned books. [News 9]
Brent Swadley sues Oklahoma state auditor over unreleased audit: Convicted restaurant owner Brent Swadley is suing Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd, alleging her office violated the Oklahoma Open Records Act by withholding records related to a forensic audit of his company’s contract with the state Department of Tourism. [News 9]
Local cattle rancher grapples with potential loss of business to turnpike construction: The OTA’s construction of the ACCESS Oklahoma Turnpike has already disrupted local some businesses. One cattle ranch in Norman may also be impacted. [KGOU]
Oklahoma lawmakers explore new safety alerts that could warn about wrong-way drivers: After losing their 19-year-old daughter in a wrong-way crash, an Oklahoma couple is pushing for technology that could give other drivers time to escape danger. [News on 6]
Federal Government News
AI boom complicates Fed’s fight against inflation: The artificial intelligence boom, increasingly acknowledged at the Federal Reserve as helping drive inflation, has left central bankers faced with cooling the rest of the economy to lower price pressures amplified by an industry of marquee names like Amazon, Apple and Anthropic considered immune to rate hikes. [Reuters via The Journal Record]
Trump order sets up new women’s health research initiative at NIH, White House task force: President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday establishing a Women’s Health Division within the National Institutes of Health. [Oklahoma Voice]
Opinion: Trump is making Lankford really twist to explain things: I’ve decided that our senator, James Lankford, must keep himself in shape by turning himself into a pretzel to defend the actions of President Donald Trump instead of speaking up for us — his constituents. [William C. Wertz / The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Court Upholds Environmental Protection Agency’s Authority Over Tribal Lands in Oklahoma: A federal court last week ruled against the Pawnee Nation, upholding a Trump administration decision that gives the Environmental Protection Agency unconditional authority over tribal lands in Oklahoma. [Native News Online]
Osage legislators seek answers after warrant served on homeschool co-op: The Osage Nation Police Department and the Pawhuska Police Department executed search warrants on two Pawhuska properties on Oct. 13 in search of books, shelves and other materials that were previously in the Osage Nation’s now-shuttered private school, Daposka Ahnkodapi, for student use. [Tulsa World]
Articles of impeachment submitted against United Keetoowah Band chief: Sequoyah District Rep. Donald Adair accuses Chief Jeff Wacoche of elder abuse, malfeasance, nonfeasance and moral turpitude. Those allegations largely stem from a July meeting in which tribal employees were notified of ongoing financial problems. [KOSU]
Opinion: Native Voters Must Not Let Election Chaos Keep Them Home: In our democracy, Americans should not have to worry about whether their ballots will be tampered with or their votes counted. Yet the administration’s efforts to change election rules have given voters more reason to worry. That concern makes voting that much more urgent. [Levi Rickert / Native News Online]
Voting and Election News
Election Roundup
- Oklahoma Governor campaign trail is coming to an end as general election nears [News 9]
- Oklahoma voters to pick new lieutenant governor in Nov. 3 election [KOSU]
- Democrat in lieutenant governor’s race hopes to bridge divides, fix Oklahoma’s big problems [Oklahoma Voice]
- Sullivan, MacIntyre square off over Oklahoma’s insurance crisis [The Oklahoman]
- Democrat Jena Nelson, 2 independents challenge Republican Stephanie Bice for Oklahoma’s CD5 seat [KOSU]
- HD 100: In top target for Democrats, Chaunté Gilmore challenges Rep. Marilyn Stark a third time [NonDoc]
- HD 64: Louis Jackson, Kathy Suttles offer competing visions for Lawton, SWOK [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma Co. candidate forum eyes sales tax, jail talk, budget board [News 9]
Opinion: Oklahoma voters, your family’s politics don’t have to be yours: We all cherish family traditions. In some families, those traditions include political beliefs handed down across generations. But honoring that history does not have to mean repeating every choice without question. [Brandy Torres-DeMark / The Oklahoman]
Education News
Tulsa Public Schools board votes to close 17 schools as proposed: After almost two hours of public comment, a 90-minute presentation and another hour of discussion, Tulsa Public Schools’ board of education voted 6-1 Monday night to approve Superintendent Ebony Johnson’s recommendation to close 17 schools at the end of the current academic year. [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa Public Schools board votes to close 17 schools amid $12 million budget shortfall [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]
- Tulsa Public Schools board votes 6-1 to close 17 schools despite community pushback [Tulsa Flyer]
- Tulsa Public Schools Board vote to close, consolidate 17 schools [News on 6]
Health News
Construction begins on new labs in Tulsa for foundation created by Oklahoma opioid lawsuit: Oklahoma was the only state to settle an opioid lawsuit with Purdue Pharma before the company filed for bankruptcy in 2019. The unique $270 million deal established an independent foundation focused on addiction research and treatment in Oklahoma. Seven years later, its leaders are building office and laboratory space in Tulsa. [KOSU]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Oklahoma banking deserts spark debate over access to services: For thousands of Oklahomans, particularly those over 65, banking can be a challenge, made more difficult when they live in banking deserts, where brick-and-mortar banks are becoming fewer and farther between. [The Journal Record]
Economy & Business News
Half of Oklahoma’s tech graduates are leaving the state, study warns: A study released Monday by the Oklahoma Technology Alliance warns that half of Oklahoma’s college students with technology-related degrees are migrating to other states even as the state continues its efforts to grow employment opportunities. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma faces challenges in tech industry; leaders discuss what needs to change [KFOR]
Community News
Stand Up Sunday grows from OKC church to national movement: A day of action against antisemitism and faith-based hate that began at an Oklahoma City church two years ago drew more than 2 million participants nationwide Sunday, according to organizers. [The Journal Record]
Local Headlines
- $57M in public spending near Buc-ee’s sparks sprawl fears in west OKC [The Oklahoman]
- Explained: City council passes ‘Idaho Rule’ for Norman cyclists [OU Daily]
- Tulsa’s sheriff defends Flock cameras, challenges judge’s ruling on privacy rights [Tulsa World]
- Major BOK Center upgrades hinge on Tulsans approving hotel guest tax increase, leaders say [Tulsa World]
- Inside Tulsa’s proposal to increase the hotel/motel tax for the first time in decades [The Oklahoma Eagle]
Quote of the Day
“I grew up in that neighborhood — two and three generations in that community. It’s going to be hard to adapt to another community and build those relationships again. The kids are just going to be everywhere.”
— Monica Carrizalez, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Sequoyah Elementary in Tulsa, said during her remarks to the Tulsa Public Schools board of education during their Monday meeting. The board ultimately voted 6-1 to close 17 schools in the district amid an anticipated $12 million budget shortfall and persistently declining enrollment. This year, Oklahoma’s statewide public school enrollment saw its biggest drop in enrollment since the pandemic due to declining birth rates and the state’s new private school voucher program. [Tulsa World]
Number of the Day
-10,640
The change in number of children enrolled in public schools in Oklahoma this year, a 1.5% decrease compared to last school year. The state has 686,718 public school students enrolled in 2026, a 2.4% drop from the state’s peak of 703,650 public school students in 2020. [Oklahoma State Department of Education]
Policy Note
Shrinking Budgets, Fewer Students: Public school districts nationwide are navigating compounding challenges that are forcing hard decisions and placing growing pressure on leaders to adapt. In our spring 2026 American School District Panel (ASDP) survey data, we observe major shifts in the top challenges district leaders are facing, compared with 2025 survey results. Specifically, budget shortfalls and declining enrollment have risen to the top of district leaders’ concerns, even as other long-standing challenges remain pressing issues. [Rand]
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
