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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
FOX 25 uncovers the Heritage Foundation’s sweeping influence in Oklahoma education: When it comes to Oklahoma education, who is really running our public schools? A stunning finding revealed in an Open Records Request- the architect of Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation, has a sweeping influence on the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). [FOX 25]
- The Heritage Foundation’s Influence on Oklahoma Education [The Black Wall Street Times]
Effort launched to open Oklahoma’s primary elections: Every registered voter, regardless of political affiliation in Oklahoma, would have the ability to cast a vote in all contested state and county elections if an initiative petition effort announced Tuesday is successful and if voters approve the state question. [NonDoc]
- Open Primary Supporters Launch Ballot Initiative Effort [Oklahoma Watch]
- Oklahoma voters to be asked to open primaries [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahomans file petition for open primary election system [The Journal Record]
- State Question 835: the citizen-led attempt to open up Oklahoma’s primary elections [KOSU]
- Proposed state question would change Oklahoma election system [Tulsa World]
- State Question 835: Oklahomans could vote on open primary system [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma United files petition for proposal to end closed primaries [FOX 25]
- ‘It’s time to fix this’: Oklahoma United pushes for open primaries in state elections [News 9]
State Government News
Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission launches search for state’s next Supreme Court justice: The Judicial Nominating Commission is looking for a new judge following the Nov. 5 election when Justice Yvonne Kauger became the first Oklahoma Supreme Court justice to lose a retention vote. [Oklahoma Voice]
Monson helped shape many of Oklahoma’s tax and health policies: Leonardo da Vinci is often called a “Renaissance man,” suggesting he was skilled in many different fields, with knowledge and abilities across many different fields in both arts and science. Angela Monson must surely be Oklahoma’s “Renaissance woman.” [The Oklahoman]
Federal Government News
What does Trump’s plan to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education mean for Oklahoma? State leaders weigh in: Oklahoma education leaders are weighing in with their concerns and ideas for how to move Oklahoma’s education system forward if President-elect Trump follows through with his vow to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. [KFOR]
Federal agency fights for nursing home staffing mandate, but for how long?: The federal government is asking a judge to rule that it has the power to impose staffing requirements on nursing homes that collect billions of federal tax dollars through Medicaid and Medicare. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
Muscogee Supreme Court: Freedman case spurs powers dispute over special justice law: The Muscogee Nation Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments Friday, Jan. 10, in a case questioning the constitutionality of a controversial bill that would allow the nation’s principal chief — with approval from the Muscogee National Council — to appoint temporary “special justices” to the court for cases where a regularly-appointed justice recuses. [NonDoc]
Maria Tallchief Barbie launch celebrates Osage citizen, first prima ballerina: From the Firebird-red-ruffled costume to the eye-catching makeup, the new Maria Tallchief Barbie matches the elegance and grace of the nation’s first prima ballerina, who broke boundaries as a world-renowned Osage dancer. [KOSU]
U.S. Rep Tom Cole: A heritage to be proud of: In August of 1990, President George H.W. Bush declared November as National Native American Heritage Month. Today, 34 years later, November remains a time to celebrate our nation’s first Americans, as well as their traditions, languages, and stories. [U.S. Rep Tom Cole / The Journal Record]
Education News
State Department of Education bought 532 Trump Bibles, purchase order shows: A purchase order obtained by the Tulsa World indicates that the Oklahoma State Department of Education is buying Bibles endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump despite abruptly canceling a previous bid solicitation. [Tulsa World]
Long Story Short: Superintendent Ryan Walters’ new video message mandate (audio): Jennifer Palmer has been following Superintendent Ryan Walters’ latest announcements, which included buying Trump Bibles and a new video message mandate. [Oklahoma Watch]
Tulsa school board settles two pending lawsuits about discrimination, negligence: After a 45-minute executive session, the Tulsa school board unanimously approved a pair of motions to settle two pending lawsuits against the district: a discrimination suit filed by a former employee and a negligence suit filed by the guardian of a Tulsa Public Schools student who was hurt while at one of the district’s alternative schools, Project Accept. [Tulsa World]
Tulsa Public Schools students post improved test scores, but variables cloud gains: As presented Monday night, 43.5% of economically disadvantaged students in grades three through five and 33.3% of economically disadvantaged students in grades six through eight are projected to score at a basic level or better on the English language arts portion of next year’s Oklahoma State Testing Program based on their performance on the NWEA MAP exam earlier this semester. [Tulsa World]
How STEM teachers are innovating to prep students for the future: STEM teachers like Jermaine Simpson teaches computer classes that he hopes will help students use all their resources without becoming “detached from the world.” Meanwhile, Chivon Smith accepted “the challenge to help kids fall in love with science” by engaging in authentic learning. Both are teaching classes where students begin with stereotypes and assumptions. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Health News
Opinion: Medicare Advantage is a huge disadvantage for my rural hospital: MA plans are marketed to tout more savings and benefits to patients. In reality, they offer patients less choice, delay vital care, impose a significant administrative burden on hospitals, and lead to clinician burnout. [Roger Knak / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma crash reports no longer track when officers intentionally hit fleeing vehicles: The Department of Public Safety is shutting down its collection of data regarding officers intentionally hitting fleeing drivers in chases — a maneuver used by its state troopers much more than all other law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma combined. [Tulsa World] | [Deadly Pursuit: A Tulsa World investigation into who is being killed in chases and why series]
Community News
Opinion: Why political debates are essential, even during the holidays: Politics is especially interesting because it is just so complex, and it affects all our lives in ways that are impossible to comprehend fully. And that means the only way to understand political issues better is to discuss them with others, especially with those who see things differently. [Richard Kyte / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Tulsa VA hospital to be named for James Inhofe [Tulsa World]
- Fundraising for OKPOP completion reaches $8.6 million of $18 million goal [Tulsa World]
- Planned data center water usage projected to max out at 1 billion gallons a year [Tulsa World]
- Longtime pastor chosen second time for interim OKC council Ward 7 seat [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma City advances $32M animal shelter project [The Journal Record]
- City council approves land donation for MAPS 4 Multipurpose Stadium [The Oklahoman]
- Airport officials say proposed OKC skyscraper, tallest in the US, could endanger flights [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“Our voters get to see all the candidates and our candidates have to face all the voters. As a result, our leadership delivers unity and consensus outcomes that are clearly moving us forward. The entire state deserves that same level of success, and that’s why an open primary system for Oklahoma is so important and so valuable.”
– Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, a former Republican state senator, said in a press release issued by Oklahoma United, the group leading the effort to get State Question 835 on the ballot. If passed, every registered voter, regardless of political affiliation in Oklahoma, would have the ability to cast a vote in all contested state and county elections. [NonDoc]
Number of the Day
87
Number of Indian Boarding Schools that operated in Oklahoma, more than twice as many as any other state. [U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs]
Policy Note
- Note: November is Native American Heritage Month
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