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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
A look at the lawsuit filed challenging the purchases of classroom Bibles (Capitol Update): One of the interesting things about living in these times is the re-litigation of matters long thought to be settled. Who would have thought that public school teachers could be required by the state to teach from Bibles that were purchased and delivered to schools with state tax dollars? [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
Oklahoma News
Oklahoma AG files brief opposing new immigration process meant to keep families together: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a press release Tuesday that he’s against a new federal immigration process meant to keep families of mixed statuses together. He’s filed an amicus brief against it in a federal court case in Texas. [KGOU]
‘Focus: Black Oklahoma’: Oklahoma Muslims, Bibles in classrooms, Tulsa mayoral race (audio): This episode of Focus: Black Oklahoma features stories on the impact of Oklahoma’s Muslim community, State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ directive to incorporate Bible teaching in classrooms and the race to elect a new mayor in Tulsa. [KOSU]
State Government News
Tulsa County Social Services Department will remain open, as Oklahoma County’s closes: The Social Services Department in Tulsa County will remain open despite a different interpretation of the same law in Oklahoma County. The director at Oklahoma County Social Services, Christi Jernigan-Marshall, said her department is forced to disband by the end of this month at the behest of bills passed last legislative session. [KOSU]
Oklahoma Republican wants corporal punishment for special needs students: On Monday, an Oklahoma House Representative held an interim study to explore the effectiveness of corporal punishment in state classrooms. A report from the U.S. Department of Education found that Black students, who account for 15% of enrolled students, make up 37% of students who receive this form of punishment. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Oklahoma lawmakers discuss road user fees: Lawmakers on Tuesday discussed the idea of Oklahomans paying mileage-based “road use charges” in the future. A new funding stream for ODOT will eventually be needed to offset declines in gas tax revenues taken in by the state, officials said. [Tulsa World]
Federal Government News
Federal agency closes First National Bank of Lindsay in South Central Oklahoma: Officials from the office said they found false and deceptive bank records, and information that suggested fraud and revealed losses in the bank’s capital, according to a news release from the federal agency. [KGOU]
- First Watch: Stuff You Should Know [Oklahoma Watch]
Several rural parts of Oklahoma to receive high-speed internet for the first time: The Oklahoma Broadband Office manages the grant program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA dollars, to connect nearly 50,000 homes and businesses in 55 of the state’s 77 counties thru high-speed internet. [KXII]
Tribal Nations News
NIH grant boosts OU efforts to improve cancer outcomes in Indigenous communities: OU received a $17.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to work with tribal nations to address disparities in cancer outcomes. [KGOU]
Cherokee Nation partners with Amazon on tribe’s new film institute: In an effort to bolster Native representation in the film industry, Amazon is partnering with the Cherokee Nation to fund the tribe’s new film institute. [Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
Election Roundup
- 2024 Election Voter Guide: Everything to know from polling place to what’s on your ballot [The Oklahoman]
- Candidates for Tulsa’s House District 79 appeal to independents [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Debate declined as Lonnie Sims, Sarah Gray compete for Tulsa County commissioner post [NonDoc]
- From OK Policy: 2024 General Election Info
Juvenile Justice Center the flash point at Tulsa mayoral candidate forum: Two weeks before Election Day, the campaign rhetoric seems to be crystalizing around whether Karen Keith bears any responsibility for alleged criminal activity at the Tulsa Juvenile Justice Center and whether Monroe Nichols has misled the public on that point. [Tulsa World]
Supreme Court retention: PAC targets Yvonne Kauger, James Edmondson, Noma Gurich: Voters will decide whether to retain Oklahoma Supreme Court Justices Noma Gurich, Yvonne Kauger and James Edmondson on Nov. 5, with conservative groups campaigning for their ouster while tribal leaders and a Democratic PAC urge their retention. [NonDoc]
- Like ad attacking them, dark money is also responsible for ad urging voters to support OK Supreme Court Justices [KFOR]
- From OK Policy: Judges on the 2024 ballot in Oklahoma: What you need to know
Long Story Short: What to Know About State Question 833 (audio): Keaton Ross wrote about State Question 833, a ballot initiative that proposes allowing municipalities to create public infrastructure districts. [Oklahoma Watch]
- From OK Policy: SQ 833 Fact Sheet: Public Infrastructure Districts
Education News
Oklahoma lawmakers consider statewide school cellphone restrictions: A statewide restriction on cellphones in schools appears to be under significant consideration in the Oklahoma Legislature, as lawmakers dedicated hours this week to studying negative effects of digital media on children and teenagers. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Lawmakers study cell phone use by students [The Journal Record]
Plans for Oklahoma City’s first Montessori elementary school get key approval: The contract with the Oklahoma Montessori Initiative, which will begin July 1 and run through June 2030, is a key step toward the planned opening of the school for the 2025-26 school year. [The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Cleveland County officials say the Sheriff’s Office isn’t cooperating with an investigation into jail deaths: There have been at least five deaths at the Cleveland County Detention Center this year. The County Commissioners say Sheriff Chris Amason’s office hasn’t handed over records to a consultant hired to examine the root causes of detainee deaths. [The Frontier]
- Cleveland Co. Commissioners: Jail death investigation stalled by sheriff [News 9]
Housing and Economic Opportunity News
Critical need programs seek to break poverty cycle: Twenty-five percent of Oklahomans need Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to buy groceries, Sen. Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City) told the Senate General Government Committee last week during a legislative interim study focused on poverty in the state. Sen. Carri Hicks (D-Oklahoma City) partnered with Kirt to present the study looking at poverty in Oklahoma, the programs that meet critical needs, and long-term paths for Oklahomans to escape poverty. [Southwest Ledger]
Annual survey: Homelessness now OKC’s biggest concern: Street conditions, the long-standing No. 1 complaint about city services, was surpassed this year by homelessness. [The Journal Record]
Community News
Retired CEO shares stories from ‘beyond the blue doors of a Boys & Girls Club’: Jane Sutter, 71, retired as president of the Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County in 2020, after nine years in the leadership post, but she couldn’t forget many of the young people who walked through the “blue doors” of the organization’s flagship club at 3535 N Western Ave. and how wonderful it was to see their lives changed. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- Norman City Council delays another proposed agreement supporting turnpike expansion [News 9]
- Architects approved by OKC City Council for new Thunder arena Tuesday [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma City pulls water from Canton Lake to replenish parched Lake Hefner [KGOU]
- OKCPS official: Opening of Belle Isle high school building to be delayed by nearly a year [The Oklahoman]
- Diverse committee of OKC leaders to help shape professional soccer movement in city [KOCO]
Quote of the Day
“Those engaged in misleading the citizens of Oklahoma by sound bites and mudslinging are attempting to destroy a nonpartisan judiciary in favor of judges who will decide cases based upon a political agenda. The independence of the judiciary is at stake. Voters should ask the question — who will be picked to replace me? Someone who has worked hard and dedicated their life to public service, or a pure-politician who will do the bidding of the executive branch?”
– Sitting Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Noma Gurich said in response to sharp partisan attack ads featured in the campaign to oust herself and two other sitting justices on the Oklahoma General Election ballot next month. [NonDoc]
Number of the Day
86.1%
County or municipal police accounted for 86.1% of referrals to the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs in 2023. [OK Policy analysis of OJA data]
Policy Note
- New from OK Policy: Reimagining Youth Justice in Oklahoma
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