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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
Policy Matters: State, local media vital to Oklahoma’s success: Strong, independent local media is the heartbeat of our communities. They help connect us and hold the powerful accountable, whether it’s at the city hall, school board, or local business level. When no one is watching, the temptation to cut corners — or worse — becomes too great. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record]
Oklahoma News
No ‘A’ on statewide School Report Card, but state shows slight improvement in 2 categories: The state received an F grade in chronic absenteeism for 2022-23, but that grade improved to a D for 2023-24. The state’s grade for postsecondary opportunities for students also rose, from a C to a B. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma releases A-F grades for public school performance [Oklahoma Voice]
Ryan Walters’ proposed rules could require schools to report number of undocumented students: Oklahoma schools could soon be required to report the number of undocumented students in its district after the Oklahoma State Department of Education quietly published a series of proposed changes to the agency’s administrative rules on its website. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma education chief proposes checking students’ immigration status [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma Proposes Chilling New Rule For Immigrant Children [HUFFPOST]
- Do The Right (and Legal) Thing: School districts should ignore Walters’ directive on undocumented students [Oklahoma Appleseed]
- From OK Policy: Statement: All children have the fundamental right to an education
State Government News
Two Oklahoma legislators step down for positions in Tulsa County: Reps. Amanda Swope, D-Tulsa, and Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso, are leaving the Oklahoma Legislature for positions in the City of Tulsa and Tulsa County governments. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Another Tulsa-area state lawmaker resigns for local government role [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma lawmakers call for more oversight on turnpike toll hikes: State Rep. Annie Menz (D-Norman) plans to file legislation requiring the OTA to get approval from the legislature before raising tolls. [KOSU]
EV startup Canoo halts all state operations, furloughs 82 employees: Canoo, the troubled electric vehicle startup with plans for EV production in Oklahoma City and battery production in Pryor, announced Wednesday that it will immediately furlough 82 employees and idle all factory operations in the state. [Tulsa World]
- Canoo furloughs workers, idles factory [KFOR]
Gov. Kevin Stitt orders state agencies to end most remote work: Most state employees working remotely will have to return to their regular work places by Feb. 1, Gov. Kevin Stitt said Wednesday. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma AG boosts government transparency with statewide Open Records seminars: In a step toward greater government accountability, nearly 750 Oklahomans attended Open Meetings and Open Records seminars across the state this fall. [The Black Wall Street Times]
‘Hey, you’re not getting paid. See you later.’: Employers have failed to pay Oklahoma workers millions in wages. Here’s a look at the companies that owed the most money. [The Frontier]
Federal Government News
When is the government shutdown deadline? What to know as shutdown looms: In the midst of a looming government shutdown, President-elect Donald Trump has come out against Congress’ plan to fund the government through March. Trump’s statement comes after Congressional leaders released the text of a short-term bill to keep the federal government funded on Tuesday night. [The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Muscogee Nation, City of Tulsa try to settle federal lawsuit: Mayor Monroe Nichols appears to be making good on his campaign promise of striving for better relations with area tribes. Both the city of Tulsa and the Muscogee Nation announced in a court filing this week that they have been working on settling a federal lawsuit filed by the tribe against the city over criminal jurisdiction. [Tulsa World]
Miami Tribe of Indians gears up for opening of Indigenous food market: The Miami Tribe of Indians in Northeast Oklahoma is working to increase food security and support local businesses. The Prairie Sky Market will feature tribal and locally grown produce, a hot and cold deli and prepackaged meals made and processed at the facility. [KOSU]
16 communities across Cherokee Nation reservation to get reliable internet, cell coverage by 2026: The Cherokee Nation will bring high-speed internet and cell service to more than 6,000 homes in northeast Oklahoma through the Cherokee Connect Broadband Initiative. [KOSU]
Tribal partnership lands $13.7M for Norman bridge: Christmas came early for the City of Norman this year, thanks to the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, which obtained a $13.7 million federal grant for the replacement of critical bridge infrastructure linking east Norman to Moore, Oklahoma City and Interstate 35. [The Journal Record]
Education News
What could Ryan Walters do next after being bypassed by Donald Trump?: He has options: It’s long been a poorly kept secret that Ryan Walters, since taking office in 2023, has wanted to be a part of a Trump administration, maybe even serving as the U.S. education secretary. Walters has spent tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money to hire an out-of-state marketing firm to promote him online, set up national media appearances and ghost-write op-ed pieces, looking to increase his profile. [The Oklahoman]
Some lawmakers question private school transparency amid Oklahoma’s School Choice debate: When it comes to School Choice, some state lawmakers say they worry private schools don’t need to be as transparent as public schools, even though they accept tax dollars. [KTUL]
- From OK Policy: Vouchers: Another Wrong Turn for Oklahoma Schools
Students with disabilities are spending more time in general education. Are teachers being prepared?: More students with disabilities than ever before are spending at least 80 percent of their school day in general education classrooms. Federal data show that share of students has more than doubled in the last 35 years. [KGOU]
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education present legislative agenda, budget requests: The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education unveiled its legislative agenda and budget request Dec. 17, asking the state legislature for an appropriation totaling over $1.1 billion. [OU Daily]
Education Watch: Education Department Proposes American Flag Policy: School districts could soon be required to create new policies ensuring students can fly the American flag on school grounds, according to proposed rules published Monday by the Oklahoma Department of Education. [Oklahoma Watch]
Health News
Abortions in Kansas skyrocket in 2023, fueled by bans in Oklahoma, surrounding states: Oklahoma residents made up 3,283 of those abortions, and 64 of them were performed on people under 18. The state only fell behind Texas, whose residents received 7,606 abortions in Kansas. [KOSU]
Vasectomy clinic comes to Tulsa on a recurring basis: Planned Parenthood Great Plains held their vasectomy clinic Wednesday at the Tulsa Health Center, and starting in January will hold bi-monthly vasectomy clinics. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma set to execute Kevin Underwood for murder of 10-year-old girl. Here’s what to know: Oklahoma is set to execute Kevin Underwood on Thursday in the murder of Jamie Rose Bolin, a beloved 10-year-old girl nicknamed “Coppertop.” [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board gets fifth member: The Oklahoma Pardon Parole Board has its full contingent of five members. Gov. Kevin Stitt late Tuesday announced the appointment of M. Sean Malloy to the five-member panel. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Gov. Kevin Stitt fills final spot on Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board [The Oklahoman]
Grandmother accused of orchestrating two murders laughed after ambush, key witness says: A key witness admitted in testimony in a double murder case that he fatally stabbed a mother of two after falling for claims the children were being abused. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Alleged killer mirrors culture, confusing power with harm; time to reject it: The news released about Luigi Mangione has been on my mind constantly. He’s alleged to have killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. By all accounts, Mangione seems to be one of the smartest, most privileged young men of his generation. And yet, even he resorted to violence, believing it was the only way to achieve his idea of justice. [Sheyda Brown / Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Amid mayoral transition, Tulsa Housing Authority hopes to clear audit backlog, open new units: The Tulsa Housing Authority is making progress toward finishing a multi-year backlog of legally mandated audits, but the process is expected to run well into the term of newly elected Mayor Monroe Nichols. [NonDoc]
Those caring for relatives in need can apply for new state tax credit: Oklahomans who take care of infirm or elderly relatives may claim a break on their state taxes in 2025. Many thousands should qualify to benefit from the break created by the Oklahoma Legislature when it passed the Caring for Caregivers Act in 2023. [Tulsa World]
Community News
Study: ‘Wealth defense industry’ diverts charitable giving for profit: Americans continue to donate increasing amounts to charities each year, but a new study shows how wealth management funds and private foundations are hoarding a large percentage of charitable giving for profitable tax benefits. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Opinion: Remember, you don’t have to figure this out alone: As we roll into the new year — a season full of resolutions and “new year, new me” platitudes — it’s worth pausing to think about what helps us move forward. For many, the idea of self-improvement feels like a mountain of pressure, especially when it seems like everyone else has it all figured out. [Jonathan Kratz / Tulsa World]
Local Headlines
- Watonga’s city council ousts a member to trigger emergency powers [The Oklahoman]
- OKC adds new regulations for home-sharing services like Airbnb, VRBO [The Oklahoman]
- OKC’s Rapid Northwest bus route provided nearly half a million rides in its first year [KOSU]
Quote of the Day
“It’s, again, politics ahead of setting good policy. The superintendent is trying to play politics with kids.”
-State Sen. Michael Brooks of Oklahoma City said responding to the State Department of Education request for reports related to the number of undocumented students within school districts. [The Oklahoman]
Number of the Day
3
Number of Oklahoma counties — Harmon, Jefferson, and Roger Mills — that are considered news deserts because they don’t have a news outlet serving their community. Seven other counties — Choctaw, Coal, Cotton, Haskell, Hughes, Okfuskee, and Tillman — were identified as being at risk for losing their county’s sole local news source. [Local News Initiative / Northwestern University]
Policy Note
The State of Local News 2024: Expanding Deserts, Shifts in Ownership, and Expanded Digital Coverage: The loss of local newspapers is continuing at an alarming pace, deepening the local news crisis and further depriving people of information they need to make informed decisions. Local news deserts are spreading. A furious pace of mergers and acquisitions is underway, as many longtime newspaper owners bail, and regional chains capitalize on opportunities. Meanwhile, the number of standalone digital local news sites has continued to grow. [Local News Initiative / Northwestern University]
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