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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
Ryan Walters invites students to pray after announcing Bible purchase for AP gov. classes: Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters spoke directly to students in a new video praying for President-Elect Trump. Walters announced on Thursday that 500 Bibles have been purchased for Oklahoma AP government classes. [Fox 25]
- Oklahoma purchases over 500 Bibles for classrooms [Oklahoma Voice]
- Ryan Walters announces first Bible purchases for Oklahoma classrooms [Tulsa World]
- Ryan Walters says more than 500 Bibles purchased for Oklahoma public schools [The Oklahoman]
- Walters mandates schools show video inviting students to pray for Trump [KOSU]
- Walters orders public schools show students video of him speaking politically-charged opinions, praying for Donald Trump [KFOR]
State Government News
‘Significant win for Oklahoma’: Deal reached to settle mental health competency lawsuit: An agreement has been reached to settle a lawsuit alleging unconstitutional delays of mental health competency restoration services for pre-trial defendants in Oklahoma who have faced extraordinary wait times for treatment of severe mental illness. Gov. Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who in recent months had been at odds with each other over the litigation, announced the agreement in separate press releases today. [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma officials agree to settle mental health lawsuit [Oklahoma Voice]
- End in sight for lawsuit that’s caused public strife between Oklahoma governor, attorney general [KOSU]
Commission evaluates Oklahoma economic development incentives: Members of the Oklahoma Incentive Evaluation Commission voted Thursday to recommend retention of the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate and 10 other incentive programs designed to stimulate the state’s economy. [Tulsa World]
New Senate leader Lonnie Paxton shares his priorities for Oklahoma lawmakers in 2025: Senate Pro Tem Designee Lonnie Paxton says his priorities are now those of his entire caucus, and during his first press conference with reporters as the chamber’s new leader, he talked about how he plans to move forward with a new crop of senators. [KOSU]
Opinion, This Week in Oklahoma: Ryan Walters’ busy week, Stitt’s Faith-based Office, new Senate leadership and more (audio): The panel discusses a busy week for State Superintendent Ryan Walters preparing for President-elect Trump to take office and possibly dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, Gov. Kevin Stitt creating an Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and Senate Republican and Democrats electing new leadership. [KOSU]
Opinion: In door-to-door campaigning, candidates heard dissatisfaction with Ryan Walters: So the question for the new Legislature is this: Will members be listening to the voices of political party zealots who want you to focus on bumper-sticker issues? Or will they make an effort to address the real issues that real people talked about to those who were willing to listen? [William C. Wertz / The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
Oklahoma’s Lankford, Hern join Republican leadership: Oklahomans in Washington increased their influence as Sen. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma City) and Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Tulsa) joined the Senate and House Republican leadership teams. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Three years after the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed, what is it doing for OKC?: It’s been three years since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed, and the Biden-Harris administration is still awarding grants across the nation from the $1.2 trillion funding package. Plenty of that is going to Oklahoma and its capital city, OKC, for projects like roads and bridges, sidewalks, a new pedestrian bridge and planning Amtrak service from OKC to central Kansas. [The Oklahoman]
Voting and Election News
Straight-Party Voting Declines: The popularity of Oklahoma’s straight-party voting option appears to be waning after a record-breaking surge four years ago. Just under 38% of Oklahoma voters who participated in the Nov. 5 election checked the option to vote straight party for Republicans, Democrats or Libertarians in all partisan races, according to data provided Wednesday by the Oklahoma State Election Board. [Oklahoma Watch]
Opinion: Trump’s election raises troubling doubts about what we learned as children: This moment in history should be a call to action for all who believe in the integrity of our democratic processes and the promise of gender equality. We must engage in thoughtful dialogue, promote responsible voting and encourage leaders who embody the principles we hope to pass down to our children. [David Myers / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Is Tulsa changing its political identification? (video): Local public policy analyst David Blatt joins Ginnie Graham to dive into the results of the recent Tulsa mayoral election. What do the numbers tell us and what does it mean for Tulsa? [Tulsa World]
Opinion: Voters worried that AI would make this election worse. It did: With the election behind us, many politicians are busy crafting narratives about what their campaigns did right, or what the other side did wrong, placing blame and taking credit for how candidates fared on the ballot. But how did voters fare? [TU President Brad Carson / Tulsa World]
Opinion: Dead last in voter turnout isn’t good enough. A few changes to Oklahoma election laws could help: In this year’s presidential election, barely half of eligible Oklahoma voters – 53% – cast a ballot, according to preliminary data. This turnout rate was the lowest of any state and a full 10 points below the national turnout rate of 63%. Four years ago, Oklahoma also ranked dead last. [David Blatt / Oklahoma Voice]
- OK Policy archive: Repairing Oklahoma’s Broken Democracy
Education News
‘Improve academic outcomes’: Group launches website to streamline OKC school enrollment: On Wednesday, the nonprofit organization Fuel OKC launched a new website to streamline the enrollment process for neighborhood and charter schools in Oklahoma City. [Fox 25]
Possibility of 4-day school week stirs conversation: The topic of a four-day school week is making headlines again in Oklahoma. About a decade ago, hundreds of districts made the switch as a way to save money. [KFOR]
How a $500,000 donation will help Norman elementary school students learn: A $353.9 million bond proposal approved by Norman voters in early 2023 means each of the school district’s 17 elementary schools soon will have a so-called “STEAM” classroom. But equipping those science, technology, engineering, art and math classrooms isn’t cheap. [The Oklahoman]
- Norman Public Schools Foundation donates $500K gift for STEM learning [The Journal Record]
OSU plans to ask Oklahoma Legislature for $75 million for tuition waivers: During the Faculty Council meeting Tuesday, OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum said the university is looking to receive a budget increase to help cover the deficit tuition waivers create. [The O’Colly]
New rule requires Oklahoma students to fill out FAFSA to graduate: The class of 2025 will be the first group of Oklahoma high school students required by state law to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before they graduate. [The Oklahoman]
Health News
March of Dimes reports 11% preterm birth rate in Oklahoma, matches U.S. rate: According to a new report by women and child advocacy group March of Dimes, Oklahoma received an unsatisfactory grade when it comes to maternal and infant health. [Fox 25]
Experts call for modernized HIV education and decriminalization in Oklahoma: Experts said they hope to finally get legislation across the finish line to improve how students are taught about HIV and to decriminalize exposure. [Oklahoma Voice]
OSU medical students organize health fair to benefit northeast Oklahoma residents: OSU medical students will host a health fair for northeast Oklahomans at Holmes Park Elementary School in Sapulpa on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. [KOSU]
Opinion: Reproductive freedom wins among voters even in heavily conservative states: Reproductive freedom had a strong night on Nov. 5, as voters directly overturned abortion bans and enshrined reproductive rights into state constitutions while also electing conservative politicians. [Janet Koven Levit / Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Execution date set for Kevin Ray Underwood, sentenced for 10 year old’s murder in Purcell: An execution date has been set for death row inmate Kevin Ray Underwood, 44, who was convicted of first-degree murder. He was sentenced for killing 10-year-old Jamie Bolin in 2006 in Purcell. [Fox 25]
Oklahoma City cop is investigated for slamming 70-year-old man to the ground: An Oklahoma City police officer is under investigation and on paid leave following the release of body camera footage that shows him slamming an elderly Vietnamese man to the ground during a traffic stop. The man suffered a brain bleed and remains hospitalized after the incident. [NPR]
Tracking Hate: A List of hateful acts since Trump’s ’24 election win: Racist texts to Black students across the country, the vandalization of a mural on Black Wall Street, a racist encounter at a truck stop and a woman targeted by a group of Trump supporters represent just four recent examples of hateful acts since Trump’s election win. [The Black Wall Street Times]
- From OK Policy via The Journal Record: We can’t normalize hate
Editorial: Oklahoma law enforcement pursuits eighth highest in U.S. What will lawmakers do?: A four-part investigative series by the Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team published this week shows Oklahoma with the eighth-highest rate in the U.S. for law enforcement pursuit-related deaths. Many of these started from minor traffic violations, and 1 in 4 of those killed were innocent people who were simply in the way. This is the type of reporting every Oklahoman, especially those in elected office and law enforcement, should be reading. But this problem has been known — and ignored — for years. [Editorial / Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Tenants, landlords have different viewpoints: A general consensus among renters is that landlords are greedy, and want to evict people so they can lease out the property again. But landlords only make money if tenants stay for a longer period of time than one year. [Tahlequah Daily Press]
Housing needs to be discussed at Enid forum in December: Oklahoma’s housing future will take center stage this winter as a series of six regional housing forums are scheduled across the state through February. The forums will provide insights into the 2024 Oklahoma Statewide Housing Needs Assessment, a report that could influence housing policy and development for years. [Enid News and Eagle]
- Registration for Regional Housing Forums events in Enid, Chickasha, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Ardmore [Housing for Communities]
Economy & Business News
Oklahoma child care facilities face ‘burdensome’ licensing requirements, study finds: Oklahoma children outnumber the spots available in licensed child care facilities, and rural counties are feeling the burden of uneven access. [KGOU]
OKC is leading the state’s already healthy economy. Could that change under Trump?: Oklahoma’s economy is healthy, but economists say much of that success can be attributed to Oklahoma City’s focus on jobs, education and quality of life. [The Oklahoman]
Community News
Amid bank failure fallout, City of Lindsay audit reveals ‘gross mismanagement’: Already facing turmoil with the federal takeover of a failed local bank and the seemingly related suicide of a prominent community leader, the City of Lindsay was further rocked Wednesday with the release of a new audit that found “significant mismanagement” of municipal finances from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2022. [NonDoc]
- State auditor finds Lindsay financial mismanagement cost more than $2 million [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma auditor finds thousands of mismanaged funds in Lindsay [KOSU]
Oklahomans of different beliefs gather over a meal to foster interfaith friendships: Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma focuses on human rights issues, fostering interfaith friendships, and interfaith cooperation through community service. “Amazing Faiths” is a way to bring people together for conversations about faith in a safe environment. Along the way, attendees share a meal together and learn more about local issues of concern such as hunger, homelessness and domestic violence. [The Oklahoman]
This denomination has the second most churches in Oklahoma — and it’s growing: A growing Pentecostal denomination is second only to Southern Baptists in the number of churches across Oklahoma. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Don’t tune out all news; do a self-audit to add in more local information: If people tune out everything, they miss community opportunities for engagement. That makes the work of local journalists even more difficult. The fewer people paying attention to local news, the more likely it is that local journalism will go away. Now is a time to do a self-audit of news consumption. Phase out the noise far-removed from your daily life and add in voices closer to home. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Mayor G.T. Bynum uses final State of the City address to thank Tulsans [Tulsa World]
- Edmond City Council sets timeline for Ward 1 appointment [The Journal Record]
Quote of the Day
“Child care is a crisis that keeps women and their families from advancing economically — and especially in Oklahoma. Additionally, child care providers are struggling to stay open, meet state and federal licensing requirements and pay a living wage.”
-United WE president and CEO Wendy Doyle, speaking about childcare in the state. [KGOU]
Number of the Day
2.45
The median number of children in Oklahoma between the ages of zero to 5 per available childcare slot in the state. This means half of all counties in Oklahoma have more than two children per available licensed childcare slot. [Understanding Access and Barriers to Childcare in Oklahoma / United WE and Oklahoma State University]
Policy Note
Impact of Donald Trump’s Tax Proposals by Income Group: President-elect Donald Trump has proposed a wide variety of tax policy changes. Taken together, these proposals would, on average, lead to a tax cut for the richest 5 percent of Americans and a tax increase for all other income groups. If these proposals were in effect in 2026, the richest 1 percent would receive an average tax cut of about $36,300 and the next richest 4 percent would receive an average tax cut of about $7,200. All other groups would see a tax increase with the hike on the middle 20 percent at about $1,500 and the increase on the lowest-income 20 percent of Americans at about $800. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy]
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