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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
OK Policy’s Best of 2024: As 2024 comes to a close, we’re proud to share some of OK Policy’s most impactful publications of the year. From in-depth reports and thoughtful commentary to data-driven analysis, these highlights reflect our commitment to advancing policies that build a more prosperous, equitable Oklahoma. Explore the best of our work from 2024 and see how research, advocacy, and community voices are shaping our state’s future. [OK Policy]
Oklahoma News
Proposed Rules Would Require Students to Prove Citizenship or Legal Immigration Status: Children would have to show proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status to enroll in a public school under new rules proposed by the Oklahoma Department of Education, a practice that could run afoul of federal law and deter children who are undocumented or from mixed-status families from attending school. [Oklahoma Watch]
- Oklahoma education department proposal would track immigration status upon enrollment [KGOU]
- From OK Policy: Statement: All children have the fundamental right to an education
State Government News
Medical marijuana industry offers feedback on proposed rule changes by Oklahoma regulatory agency: Oklahoma’s medical marijuana regulatory agency heard public feedback Tuesday on proposed rules that would implement legislation passed by the Legislature this year. [Oklahoma Voice]
- New marijuana testing rules a focus of complaints from industry licensees [Tulsa World]
- Medical marijuana business owners sound off on ‘excessive’ rule changes in Oklahoma [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma Labor Department urges workers to check for back pay: The Oklahoma Department of Labor is urging workers to claim more than $1.3 million in unpaid wages that are currently sitting in federal accounts. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma lawmaker files bill focusing on railroad safety and improvements: Nearly a half dozen bills have been filed to improve rail infrastructure in the state to address issues like train size, railroad conditions, and crew size. House Speaker-elect Kyle Hilbert filed a bill on this topic, and he wants to localize the solution, specifically in Mannford. [Fox 23]
Federal Government News
Oklahoma delegation supports eliminating US education department, expects little impact to school funding: As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the Oval Office, the Republican goal to abolish the Department of Education is back on the table with the support of Oklahoma’s U.S. House delegation and the state’s superintendent of public instruction. [OU Daily]
Tribal Nations News
Tahlequah man accused of threatening Cherokee chief: According to documents filed with the Cherokee Nation District Court, the arrest was made after Chickasaw Nation citizen Sean Nordwall is alleged to have posted a meme in a Facebook group Monday comparing Hoskin to Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare CEO who was shot and killed Dec. 4. [Tulsa World]
United Keetowah Band strikes $5.6 million health care agreement panned by Cherokee Nation: The United Keetowah Band (UKB) signed what’s known as a “638 agreement” and assumed responsibility for its purchase and referred program, also known as PRC or contract health. PRC programs allow tribal citizens to receive specialty health care outside the Indian Health Service (IHS) system. [KOSU]
First Watch: Stuff You Should Know: The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals recently ruled against Nicholas Ryan O’Brien, an Osage Nation citizen, who sought to dismiss traffic violations in Tulsa under the McGirt decision. [Oklahoma Watch]
Education News
Signing bonus program attracts 61 teachers to rural Oklahoma schools: $1.2 million signing bonus program drew 61 teachers to schools in rural Oklahoma, the state Department of Education reported Tuesday. The state agency offered signing bonuses of up to $25,000 to teachers certified in secondary math and science who agreed to teach in a rural school for the 2024-25 academic year. [Oklahoma Voice]
State regents seek higher education investments, ‘new category’ dollars for OU, OSU: For the 2025 regular session of the Oklahoma Legislature, the State Regents for Higher Education are requesting a $95 million base budget increase through the standard systemwide formula benefiting all institutions, as well as a new $150 million “research university” line item that could reshape the funding dynamics among the state’s colleges and universities. [NonDoc]
Health News
Opinion: An Oklahoma doctor’s legislative wish list to improve health care outcomes for patients, providers: As we approach a new year — and a new legislative session — it’s imperative to explore how legislators have the power to improve health care in 2025 and beyond. [Edgar Morris Boyd / Oklahoma Voice]
Criminal Justice News
A week before Christmas, Oklahoma will execute Kevin Underwood: As some Oklahomans prepare to celebrate the Christian holiday honoring the birth, death and resurrection of a man devoted to the redemption of humanity, Oklahoma’s evangelical elected officials will carry out the execution of Kevin Underwood, the final execution of 2024 in the U.S. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Are undocumented immigrants filling Oklahoma prisons?: No. Undocumented immigrants account for less than 2% of Oklahoma’s total prison population as of 2024. According to Gov. Kevin Stitt, there are about 500 prisoners with undocumented status in the state. [Oklahoma Watch]
Judge to hear testimony against three murder defendants in ‘God’s Misfits’ case: Sometime between September and October 2023, Tifany Adams issued a warning about what would happen if anyone tried to take her young grandchildren, a murder investigation found. “Bodies would fall,” she reportedly said. [The Oklahoman]
Crime rate and fatal accidents: Oklahoma ranked among least safest states for seniors: A recent study by Seniorly, a company that provides online tools and personalized guidance for those searching for a senior living community, ranked Oklahoma as one of the least safest states for the elderly. [The Oklahoman]
OK County: $40 million jail health center left for dead because OKC Council won’t budge: The $40 million Medical and Behavior Care Center that was meant to be part of a new Oklahoma County jail complex at 1901 E Grand Blvd. is all but dead, county commissioners said, after the Oklahoma City Council refused Tuesday to cooperate immediately with the Board of County Commissioners. [The Oklahoman]
Seven Oklahoma City police officers cleared in fatal shooting of 77-year-old woman: An Oklahoma County grand jury has decided not to indict seven Oklahoma City police officers for a fatal shooting Oct. 10. [The Oklahoman]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Developer, neighbors reach deal on OKC multifamily development: A proposed multifamily development in southwest Oklahoma City won City Council approval Tuesday after an 11th-hour compromise between the developer and neighbors who at first vehemently protested the development. [The Journal Record]
Long Story Short: HUD Ends Section 8 at Duncan Apartments, Residents Told To Leave (audio): Heather Warlick wrote a follow-up about a Duncan apartment complex that has lost Section 8 funding. Keaton Ross reported that Oklahoma’s parole rate is on the rise after years of decline. [Oklahoma Watch]
Economy & Business News
Stardust Power looks to break ground on Muskogee refinery in early 2025: A lithium refiner announced the official acquisition of a 66-acre site in Muskogee Tuesday. Stardust Power Inc., a development-stage manufacturer of lithium products, is a step closer to breaking ground on its strategically central lithium refinery at the Southside Industrial Park in Muskogee after completing the acquisition and receiving a general permit for stormwater discharges from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. [The Journal Record]
Invisible to most, many Black women are active in farming. Now they’re raising their voice: Tammy Gray-Steele’s family was part of a group of Freedmen who moved to Oklahoma before it was a state. Along with members of the Five Tribes who had once been slave holders, her ancestors made the trek westward cross-country along the Trail of Tears. [The Oklahoman]
Community News
Opinion: Help nonprofits bridge the winter funding gap: As the calendar year comes to a close, year-end donations become a crucial source of funding for nonprofits. For nonprofits, the holiday season marks a time when donations can significantly boost their budgets, enabling them to continue providing essential services in the coming year. [Marnie Taylor / The Journal Record]
Editorial: Sometimes lights in the skies aren’t spies or aliens: It’s a drone. It’s Iran. It’s a plane. It’s the aliens. It’s a helicopter. It’s a planet. It’s a mass scare fueled by half-baked theories cooked up on social media and a president-elect who flirts with conspiracies. [Editorial / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Developer: Proposed concert venue is a final chance for saving Gold Dome from demolition [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“None of the needs they claim to be concerned about in any way depend on knowing the number of students who are undocumented. If you want to determine how many students need English language services, then figure that out, but it’s not a citizenship question.”
– David Blatt, director of research and strategic impact for Oklahoma Appleseed, a legal advocacy group, pushing back on a proposed rule change requiring students to prove citizenship or legal immigration status to attend school in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Department of Education says the rule is necessary to assess statewide and local educational needs, including for English as a Second Language teachers and tutors, transportation needs and anticipated funding. [Oklahoma Watch]
Number of the Day
22%
Between January 2020 and September 2024, the price of day care and preschool rose about 22%, according to national data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). [Pew Research]
Policy Note
2024 Must-Reads: 9 Stories About Early Care and Education That We Can’t Stop Thinking About: Child care funding, the cost and quality of care, and working conditions and pay for early educators, were among the year’s top themes. We want to celebrate and honor the powerful stories that have shaped important conversations around our nation’s youngest children and the families, caregivers, and early educators who support them. [The 74]
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