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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.
Oklahoma News
Damage, injuries reported as tornadoes tear through Oklahoma: Officials are still trying to determine how many tornadoes touched down Sunday morning, but preliminary reports say at least six people were taken to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.[Oklahoma Voice]
- Damage, injuries reported as tornadoes tear through Oklahoma [KOSU]
- At least 100 homes damaged Sunday as tornadoes ripped through central Oklahoma [The Oklahoman]
- EF-1 tornado damages Newcastle Elementary School gym, classes to go virtual [Fox 25]
- Severe weather damages over 200 structures across Oklahoma, assessments ongoing [Fox 25]
- Harrah community left shattered after EF-3 tornado rips through [KFOR]
- Live weather updates: Severe storms crossing Oklahoma City metro, tornado warnings issued [The Oklahoman]
OKC Canoo workers face furloughs ahead of holiday season: Several workers at the Canoo plant in Oklahoma City received a letter Thursday telling them they were furloughed for the next three months without pay or health insurance. The company released a statement and said that it was “23% of factory workers. [KFOR]
- ‘I don’t see them lasting’: Canoo furloughs 30 employees at Oklahoma City facility [Fox 25]
- Archive: State leaders had promised Canoo a package of economic incentives reportedly valued at over $300 million, including a record $15 million in cash from the governor’s discretionary Quick Action Closing Fund. [Oklahoma Voice]
Sheriff authorized secretive briefings at county office to ‘reboot’ government: In the weeks leading up to the 2024 election, Logan County Sheriff Damon Devereaux appears to have authorized a series of secretive briefings inside the sheriff’s office training room. The topic? “Reboot our Body Politic.” The flyer invited people to “learn about associators, consulates, citizenship, our body politic, history of the founding documents, the alterations of the American and state governments, and the undermining of our vested authority.” “Associators” appears to be a reference to people who joined militias during the American Revolution. [The Oklahoman]
‘I’m afraid.’ OKC Latino community speaks on election, immigration, their concerns: When Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into state law in May a bill authorizing state and local law enforcement authorities to arrest people in Oklahoma who didn’t have proper legal documentation, the action was widely viewed as a political stunt. But passage of the law struck fear into the heart of Oklahoma City’s Latino community. [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Oklahoma lawmakers accuse Ryan Walters of ethics violations following OSDE video: Some Oklahoma lawmakers claim State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters violated ethics rules. These accusations come after the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) posted a video online about the cost of educating immigrants in the Sooner State amid the border crisis. [Fox 25]
- Gross Misconduct: A Comprehensive Compilation of Ryan Walters’ Misdeeds in Office [Oklahoma Appleseed]
- From OK Policy: All children have the fundamental right to an education
Oklahoma attorney general fires Mental Health Department’s legal counsel in settlement dispute: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond removed on Friday attorneys hired by the governor to intervene in a mental health competency lawsuit. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Drummond fires lawyers hired by Stitt in inmate mental health settlement dispute [Tulsa World]
- Oklahoma AG Drummond firing lawyers hired by Gov. Stitt in mental health lawsuit [The Oklahoman]
Lawsuit over severance package can proceed, Oklahoma County judge rules: An Oklahoma County judge on Friday ruled an open records lawsuit seeking a copy of a former state agency head’s severance agreement can proceed. J.D. Strong was awarded a $169,341 severance package when he left employment as head of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma human services department requests audit of grant program: Oklahoma Department of Human Services asked for an audit of a grant program meant to help child care deserts, citing concerns of “disallowable expenses” in an initial review of the program. [Oklahoma Voice]
Political notebook: ‘Private sector’ leaders are best, Stitt tells California audience: Gov. Kevin Stitt spoke last week at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., with billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso. According to a report from the university, Stitt and Caruso agreed people in government are too cautious. “It’s so true that bureaucracies are so afraid to make a decision because they’re only criticized for saying yes. We need to have more people from the private sector lead.” [Tulsa World]
Opinion, Capitol Insider: Change in leadership creates ‘monumental’ legislative election: The general election is on Tuesday. Statewide, voters will be voting on president, judicial retention, two state questions, and Congress except in District three, where Frank Lucas has already been reelected. [KGOU]
Federal Government News
Trump’s mass deportation plan could rely on state cooperation: By law, immigration is a federal matter, and former President Trump has said if re-elected he’ll federalize state National Guard troops, activate the military and build detention camps in his plan to hold “largest deportation program in American history.” But experts and close Trump affiliates say state and local actions could affect any mass deportation program he might attempt. [Oklahoma Voice]
D.C. Digest: Cole leads House contingent in Middle East: Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole and four other U.S. representatives spent part of their pre-election recess in the Middle East, visiting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others. [Tulsa World]
Tribal Nations News
Voters in Arkansas set to weigh in on embattled casino coveted by 2 Oklahoma tribes: Oklahoma tribes are spending millions on a casino in Russellville, Arkansas that’s been embroiled in legal issues for years. The Cherokee Nation and the Choctaw Nation are battling over a license for one of the Natural’s State’s new gaming houses in Pope County. Arkansans will weigh in on the issue tomorrow. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Voting and Election News
Gov. Stitt playing hard-ball politics for his final two years in office: With the general election just days away and the final two years of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s term quickly approaching, the governor still needs a political win. A big one. Questions about his impact and influence — both in and out of Oklahoma — and what the future holds for the governor are quietly being discussed. Those questions are difficult. And the future remains cloudy. Stitt and his political action committee have focused this election season on ousting three Oklahoma Supreme Court justices and remaking the court before he leaves office. [The Oklahoman]
The Frontier fact-checked dark money ads in the Oklahoma Supreme Court retention election: Outside groups are spending millions trying to sway voters in judicial races that are supposed to be nonpartisan. We found inaccuracies in some messages. [The Frontier]
Could independents swing Oklahoma election results? More voters say they’re independent: Oklahomans and voters across the United States have increasingly opted to identify as independent. But one day ahead of a presidential election that could be determined by a razor-thin margin, experts say being independent doesn’t equate to being undecided. [The Oklahoman]
- For most Oklahomans, Election Day is still Tuesday [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma college students face particular barriers to voting: One of the major barriers to voting on Election day is a lack of transportation. That can be even more of a problem for college students, but there is help available. [KGOU]
Amid record-breaking 2024 early voting, Souls to the Polls event sees lower attendance: A coalition of local ministers, Black Greek fraternity and sorority members, northeast Oklahoma City residents and even some politicians marched from Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church to the Oklahoma County Election Board this past weekend to cast early ballots for the 2024 presidential election. [The Oklahoman]
- Long lines, camaraderie mark early voting start [The Journal Record]
- Oklahomans turn out in record numbers to vote early [KGOU]
Why more Native Americans are on U.S. ballots than ever before: At least 170 Native American, Native Hawaiians, and Native Alaskans are on ballots this fall, an all-time high, according to a database collected by the group Advance Native Political Leadership. The group has been tracking Indigenous candidates dating back to 2016, from school boards all the way to the U.S. Congress. [NPR]
Frustrated with poultry pollution, east Oklahoma candidate takes on incumbent and Tyson Foods: After lawmakers push to deregulate poultry sector, a candidate in an eastern Oklahoma House race says voters want a voice at the Oklahoma capitol. [Investigate Midwest]
Incumbent Oklahoma delegation holds big financial advantage over opponents: Most of Oklahoma’s Congressional incumbents are out-fundraising and out-spending their opponents during the final stretch of the campaign. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Tulsa Race Massacre survivor votes Kamala Harris for President: At 109 years old, Tulsa Race Massacre survivor Lessie Benningfield Randle voted for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris during early voting in Oklahoma on Friday. [The Black Wall Street Times]
- 1921 Race Massacre survivor publicizes vote for Kamala Harris [Public Radio Tulsa]
Election roundup
- As 30 legislators seek reelection, harassment case resurfaces in HD 83 [NonDoc]
- 2024 general election races in the Tulsa area [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Tulsa County Commissioners defend mayoral candidate against juvenile center abuse allegations [Public Radio Tulsa]
- Tulsa City Council District 7 Candidates have sharply different views [The Oklahoma Eagle]
- Tulsa city government will see major makeover on Tuesday [Tulsa World]
- Mayoral candidates share views on Tulsa’s transit system [Public Radio Tulsa]
Opinion: Bottom 10 again: Oklahoma early voting options trail the rest of the U.S. as lines last for hours: A week out from the U.S. presidential election, we were running neck-and-neck with Alabama and New Hampshire for being the biggest voting stinkhole in America. I don’t know about you, but that’s not an election contest I want to win. It’s downright embarrassing – for the three states. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
- Note from OK Policy: Oklahoma has the shortest in-person early voting period of any state that allows early voting. (Alabama and New Hampshire are the only states that don’t allow early voting.) Most states opened early voting a week or two ago, with some states opening it up as early as Sept. 20. You can see a comparison of early voting dates from the U.S. Vote Foundation.
Education News
OSU veterinary school placed on probationary accreditation, dean steps down: With the state’s only veterinary medicine school facing probationary accreditation, the school’s top administrator has stepped down. [Tulsa World]
Tulsa Public Schools on the value of Social, Emotional Learning: The largest district in the state of Oklahoma, Tulsa Public Schools, described how not only does Social and Emotional Learning belong in school and is well integrated into its curriculum, but it is also the foundation of learning. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Want the Bible in public school classrooms? There’s an app for that: An Oklahoma City man said a free Bible app can help state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters place the Bible into public schools, while saving Oklahoma taxpayers millions of dollars. [The Oklahoman]
Health News
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program transfers to AG’s Office: The Oklahoma Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program will operate under the Office of the Attorney General starting today. The program investigates and resolves complaints involving long-term care facilities like nursing homes and assisted living centers. [The Journal Record]
- Oklahoma long-term care advocacy program moves from OHS to attorney general’s office [KGOU]
Criminal Justice News
Police officers in Oklahoma City, Edmond cleared in shootings: An Oklahoma County grand jury this week took no action against three Oklahoma City police officers who fatally shot a man after reviewing bodycam video, dashcam video and recordings of their interviews about the Aug. 2 shooting. Grand jurors also took no action against Edmond police officers over two use-of-force incidents, one of them fatal. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa County DA declines to file charges against former Broken Arrow police officers: Three former Broken Arrow police officers have entered into deferred prosecution agreements with the district attorney regarding ammunition taken from an abandoned home. [Tulsa World]
Stitt appoints third new leader for Juvenile Affairs in four years: A third director in four years has been named to lead the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs. Timothy Tardibono was identified by Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday as his choice to lead the agency that oversees juvenile detention and various services provided to minors who have been charged with committing crimes in Oklahoma. [Tulsa World]
Here’s how Diversion Hub and LiveFree OKC are putting $2M in DOJ grant funding to work: Two organizations devoted to interrupting the cycle of violence and diverting Oklahoma City residents away from the local county jail are receiving a $2 million federal grant to expand community violence intervention work in the city. [The Oklahoman]
- WATCH: A community discussion about youth justice in Oklahoma [OK Policy / YouTube]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Opinion: Gatesway finds role in reducing homelessness: The Gatesway Foundation is in the final stretch of meeting a goal that is part of its plans to double the available Gatesway housing for people with intellectual and development disabilities. The effort plays a critical role in reducing homelessness. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
More signs point to Meta data center coming to Tulsa: As new information about the planned $800 million data center in east Tulsa trickles out, it’s becoming more and more apparent that it will be a Meta facility. [Tulsa World]
Community News
Appeasing Millwood Public Schools, revised NE OKC TIF expansion advances: To limit the impact on Millwood Public Schools, an Oklahoma City review committee approved a revised tax increment finance district expansion today, bumping the proposal forward in support of a major development that includes a USA Volleyball-affiliated complex. [NonDoc]
‘America First’ debate goes back to 1940, Tulsa Library Trust award-winning author says: H.W. Brands, author of “America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War,” was named the 2024 recipient of the Tulsa Library Trust’s Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award. The book details the conflicts within the United States in the time leading up to the 1940 election, as what would become known as World War II was beginning to rage across the European and Asian continents and Americans were debating their country’s role in world events. [Tulsa World]
Growing number of dams have risks for houses downstream, Oklahoma expert says: Many people may not know it, but about 20% of the nation’s dams are in Oklahoma. There are more than 4,700 in all, including more than 2,000 identified as flood-control dams. [Tulsa World]
- Few have flood insurance, even though the risk may be rising [Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Geary Police chief, officers resign on same day. What’s next for the small town? [The Oklahoman]
- New neighborhood being built on former home of ‘egg dome’ church at NW 36 and Walker [The Oklahoman]
- OKC was awarded a $975K federal grant for transit-oriented development. What’s the plan? [The Oklahoman]
- Self-driving public transit project slated for north Tulsa [Public Radio Tulsa]
Quote of the Day
“A voteless people are a hopeless people.”
-Randy Hunt, a participant in the Souls to Polls voting participation event in Oklahoma City. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
292,455
The number of Oklahoma voters who cast ballots during the in-person absentee voting period, which ran from Oct. 30 through Nov. 2. [Oklahoma Election Board]
- Note: Oklahoma’s four-day window for early voting is the nation’s shortest among the 48 states that allow it. [U.S. Vote Foundation]
Policy Note
Election night is not results night… and that’s OK!: As we approach Election Day, it’s important to remember that we will not have the official results on election night—this is a standard part of the elections process that allows for every eligible vote to be counted and checked. As in previous elections, the results reported on election night are the unofficial results and are considered official only when certain procedures are complete. [Verified Voting]
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