OKPOLICY.ORG
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
Oklahoma teachers, students grapple with fears of deportation under Trump: Across Oklahoma, educators and students are navigating daily lessons while not knowing what moves elected officials in the White House, or Oklahoma’s state government, might make that could upend their lives in the U.S. [The Oklahoman]
State Government News
Oklahoma Corporation Commission advances OG&E rate hike: The Oklahoma Corporation Commission advanced a rate increase for OG&E Tuesday, with one of the votes in favor coming from Commissioner Todd Hiett, who awaits a state Supreme Court decision determining his eligibility to weigh in on cases involving the company. [The Journal Record]
Judge rejects poultry industry request to postpone court hearing: An evidentiary hearing regarding the state of Oklahoma’s Illinois River watershed pollution lawsuit against poultry industry companies is scheduled to start Tuesday in Tulsa federal court. [Tulsa World]
State-run medical marijuana test lab set to open in Oklahoma City in early 2025: Oklahoma’s medical marijuana regulatory agency is working to open a testing laboratory in February in Oklahoma City. Renovations for the lab for Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, or OMMA, began the week of Nov. 11 and are expected to last 90 days. [Oklahoma Voice]
Public input wanted: How should Oklahoma regulate pollution from fossil fuels?: Oklahoma’s fossil fuel industries are likely facing new emissions requirements after federal guidelines were established earlier this year. [KOSU]
Political notebook: Justice for Greenwood wants quick turnaround on Race Massacre review: Justice for Greenwood, the nonprofit representing the two last known survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre, urged the U.S. Department of Justice to “elevate” its cold case review of Tulsa’s 1921 Race Massacre. [Tulsa World]
Roundup: Cherokee tag deal struck, pagan prayer irritates politicians, OU finances improve, JNC busy: As you return to a normal routine this week, make sure to catch up on these nine news items you may have missed, including a major deal between Oklahoma and the Cherokee Nation, as well as an unusual pagan prayer in Tulsa that has been misrepresented as “satanic” by politicians. [NonDoc]
Could Texas get legal sports betting before Oklahoma? Maybe: There is a possibility that Texas, which has virtually no casinos, could have legal sports betting before Oklahoma. [Tulsa World]
Opinion, Capitol Insider: State of Oklahoma and Cherokee Nation reach tentative tag agreement: It’s no secret that the Stitt administration and tribal nations have had a strained relationship, but they have worked together at times. The latest example is a new motor vehicle tag compact between the State of Oklahoma and the Cherokee Nation. [KGOU]
Opinion: Oklahoma child care options are abysmal, and it’s not by accident. Guess who’s to blame? Lawmakers: I naively expected finding child care to be easy when I was pregnant with my daughter over seven years ago. As I quickly learned, our male-dominated, Republican-run Legislature has done a phenomenal job ignoring a major challenge facing parents. Because if there’s one thing that unifies Oklahoma’s working parents, it’s that we pretty much all have war stories from our quest to find quality and affordable child care. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]
Federal Government News
The next census will gather more racial, ethnic information: The U.S. Census Bureau and a growing number of states are starting to gather more detailed information about Americans’ race and ethnicity, a change some advocates of the process say will allow people to choose identities that more closely reflect how they see themselves. [Oklahoma Voice]
Tribal Nations News
Missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis gets U.S. House committee’s attention: There are 86 missing Indigenous people from Oklahoma, according to data from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons Systems. At a Nov. 20 U.S. House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies hearing, Rep. Tom Cole, the Appropriations Committee chairman, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the federal government is working to provide resources and services to combat the crisis. [Tulsa World]
Native housing crisis spurs record $5.3M in FHLB grants: The Housing Authority of the Seminole Nation secured its second $500,000 grant through the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Topeka to support a pair of four-bedroom shelters that will provide emergency housing for homeless youth who are couch surfing, living without adult supervision, or sleeping on park benches. [Tribal Business News]
Heirs of Choctaw Nation citizen sue federal government over land lease process: Heirs of a Choctaw Nation citizen are suing the U.S. government for allegedly allowing an oil and gas company to wrongfully lease his land allotment. [The Oklahoman]
Cherokee Nation completes first child care center upgrade from $80 million initiative: After doubling funding this year to improve its early childhood centers, the Cherokee Nation has completed the first of seven rehabilitated child care facilities. [Oklahoma Voice]
Native American Organizations Respond to Flawed NBC Exit Poll: Following the results of the presidential election, IllumiNative, Native American Rights Fund (NARF), Native Organizers Alliance (NOA), and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) released a statement addressing the misleading data surrounding Native voter turnout. This comes after misleading exit polls shared by NBC. [Native News Online]
Dozen WWI Indigenous soldiers from Oklahoma are eligible for Medal of Honor review: Indigenous soldiers who served during World War I were not considered for the Medal of Honor because of their race. But now, an Arkansas research center has teamed up with the World War One Valor Medals Review Task Force to determine which Indigenous veterans are eligible for the highest American military decoration. About half are from Oklahoma. [KOSU]
Will Trump follow through on promise to Lumbee Tribe?: President-elect Trump in September promised that he would sign legislation to grant federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe, a distinction that would unlock access to federal funds. Now, as Trump prepares to return to the White House in January, the promise will be put to the test. He has Republican allies in Congress on the issue, and now the Lumbee, as well as tribal nations across the country, are watching closely to see what comes next. [The Journal Record]
Opinion: Language is important in respecting Native American heritage: Halito, Chim Achukma (Hello, how are you?) Another Native American Heritage month has almost passed, and I hope it means something to everyone. I’d like to speak in terms of generalities concerning Native people. [Alan Simpson / The Oklahoman]
Voting and Election News
Property ownership requirement bars Edmond renters from holding city office: Since its original 1925 text, the Edmond City Charter has contained language excluding residential renters — as well as anyone who lives with a spouse who may not have property in their name — from seeking municipal office, according to Edmond City Attorney Madeline Sawyer. [NonDoc]
Oklahoma’s 2026 Governor’s Race: Key Figures Who Have Been Speculated To Run: Speculation is growing around potential candidates for Oklahoma’s 2026 gubernatorial race, with names like U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, Speaker Charles McCall, and State Superintendent Ryan Walters all considered possible contenders. [News 9]
2025 Board of Education Candidate Filing opens: Local school board candidate filing will be held Dec. 2-4, 2024 (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) at the candidate’s County Election Board. The Board of Education Primary Election will be Tuesday, February 11, 2025, while the Board of Education General Election will be Tuesday, April 1, 2025. For more information, visit the Oklahoma Election Board website.
- Tulsa-area school board filing window opens Monday [Tulsa World]
Education News
‘Fraction of the cost’: Supplier says OSDE could have spent far less on Bible purchase: Did state officials miss out on a chance to save taxpayer dollars when purchasing hundreds of Bibles for Oklahoma public schools? Mark Herkommer, managing director of the Herkommer Foundation, told FOX 25 that his organization could have supplied the texts for significantly less than their reported cost. [Fox 25]
Oklahoma higher education system transitions to new chancellor: ‘Hand the baton off’: The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is witnessing a near-seamless transition in leadership between Chancellor Allison Garrett, whose retirement becomes effective Sunday, and Chancellor-elect Sean Burrage, who was chosen by the nine-member regents’ board to lead the system that oversees Oklahoma’s 25 colleges and universities. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Oklahoma’s schoolteachers need more education on how to deal with trauma: Trauma has increasingly become a major health problem for children and adults in the United States. While Oklahoma requires teachers in preparation programs to be trained on mental health and some trauma impacts, there is no state statute that requires learning educators to be trained in trauma-informed practices. [Jenna Orth / The Oklahoman]
Health News
Medical students propose legislation to expand Medicaid coverage for prostate cancer screening: A coalition of Oklahoma medical students is working with the State Medical Association (OSMA) to propose a measure that would expand coverage of prostate cancer screening under Medicaid during the next legislative session. [Public Radio Tulsa]
Opinion: Dental insurance is shortchanging Oklahomans: The Oklahoma Dental Association, representing more than 1,600 dentists statewide, recently surveyed its members, and the findings were alarming. Over 90% of dental practices in Oklahoma reported significant issues with insurance companies, showing just how widespread the problem is. [Lindsay A. Smith, DDS / Tulsa World]
Opinion: Not all abortions are wanted, and that’s why women need health care freedom: I recently read a news article of a woman who died in Texas from complications of her miscarriage. This woman could have been me. [Dorenda Squire / Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Convicted murderer of Jamie Rose Bolin seeks mercy as execution looms: Kevin Ray Underwood, 44, is set to be executed by lethal injection Dec. 19 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester for the murder of a 10-year-old girl. On Wednesday, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board will consider his longshot request for clemency. [The Oklahoman]
Loss of health care provider creates legal, financial concerns for OK County jail: When the Oklahoma County jail lost its health care provider in October, it also lost medical malpractice insurance coverage, leaving it — and county taxpayers — exposed. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma County plans to break ground for care center at new jail site. What if a judge says no?: Oklahoma County is plunging ahead with a $43 million Medical and Behavior Care Center, which it might not legally be able to finish. The facility is part of the planned new county jail complex it can’t yet afford, on land it owns but doesn’t fully control. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma AG launches new program to recognize law enforcement officers: Four law enforcement officials — two police officers, a sheriff’s deputy and an Oklahoma Highway Patrolman — are set to be honored as regional law enforcement officers of the year by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Study finds Oklahoma counties using personhood laws to prosecute pregnant women: For 16 years before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the right to an abortion in the Dobbs decision, Oklahoma prosecutors in eight rural counties filed 113 pregnancy-related criminal charges. In the past two years, the pace of those filings has shot up, with 79 such charges — mostly in Kay and Comanche counties. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Housing & Economic Opportunity News
Homeless camps disappearing from some highways, but not due to new state ban: State agencies tasked with enforcing a new law banning homeless camps along highways and turnpikes are not looking at changing their response to those making underpasses their homes. [The Oklahoman]
- Key to Home Partnership houses 26 people living outside in various downtown OKC encampments [KOSU]
Tulsa leaders call on national organization, initiative to help boost affordable housing: The organizers behind a national effort to increase affordable housing have accepted an invitation to help Tulsa address its own housing shortage. Officials have announced that the Housing Partnership Network is set to launch an initiative in Tulsa with a special focus on north Tulsa. [Tulsa World]
A look at how tariffs, deportations and more of Trump’s proposals could affect housing costs: Americans hand over a huge chunk of their paycheck for a roof over their heads. Policymakers are looking out for indications of what President-elect Donald Trump plans to do to ease housing costs next year after an election where voters were laser-focused on the economy. [Oklahoma Voice]
New abandoned shopping cart retrieval program draws criticism from outgoing Tulsa city councilor: The announcement last week that the city of Tulsa is implementing a $100,000 pilot program to collect abandoned shopping carts marks the culmination of a year and a half of discussions among city leaders, grocers and other stakeholders on how best to address a sensitive issue with direct ties to homelessness. [Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
Walmart becomes latest — and biggest — company to roll back its DEI policies: Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is rolling back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, joining a growing list of major corporations that have done the same after coming under attack by conservative activists. [Tulsa World]
These are five of the best paying jobs in Oklahoma if you only graduated high school: Here are the highest-paying jobs for Oklahomans that only require a high school diploma or equivalent, and also have at least 100 average annual job openings, based on data from the state’s long-term industry and occupational employment projections between 2022 and 2032. [The Oklahoman]
After surge of online banking, Oklahoma bank closes 3 sites: The First National Bank and Trust Co. is closing a few locations in southwest Oklahoma as more customers switch to digital banking. Although the physical locations will not be there, bank officials said the institution will still serve the areas. [KOSU]
Architects and filmmakers are celebrating preservation of OKC’s Jewel Theater: After sitting dormant for five decades, local architects and community leaders are joining together to bring the historic Jewel Theater back to life. [The Oklahoman]
Local Headlines
- OKC could be changing rules for home-sharing services like Airbnb, VRBO [The Oklahoman]
- New TIF districts for northeast OKC proposed to drive tourism in Adventure District [The Oklahoman]
- These two Oklahoma airports are some of the most expensive airports to fly out of in US [The Oklahoman]
- Janet Yowell will leave her fingerprints all over Edmond’s economic footprint as EEDA head [The Oklahoman]
- New interchange to slow traffic near Catoosa [Tulsa World]
- Major I-35 expansion projects planned to ease gridlock, improve safety in north Oklahoma County [Oklahoma Voice]
- Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum leaves office grateful to have served, unconcerned about legacy [Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“We don’t live in a world where moms or dads must stay home with their kids anymore. Our society often requires two-parent incomes to afford the basic necessities like health care, housing and food. And, we shouldn’t be forcing adults to choose between having children and a career.”
-Oklahoma Voice editor Janelle Stecklein, writing about the need for Oklahoma lawmakers to take action on addressing the state’s child care shortage [Oklahoma Voice]
Number of the Day
32.9%
Housing accounted for the largest share of total expenditures (32.9 percent) for households in 2023. Housing expenditures increased 4.7 percent in 2023, after a 7.4-percent increase in 2022. Expenditures on rented dwellings and owned dwellings both increased, by 7.6 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively. [Bureau of Labor Statistics]
Policy Note
How trends in American Indian and Alaska Native population growth impact employment data: American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) is a broad and diverse Census-defined racial category that includes Indigenous populations with origins in North America and South (including Central) America. Within the United States, American Indian or Native American is also a political identity defined by tribal citizenship. Of the nearly 8 million people who selected the AIAN racial category in the 2020 Census, more than half (4.9 million) did so in combination with another race. [Economic Policy Institute]
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
