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.
New from OK Policy
Join Our Team as a Regional Organizer, Southwest Region (Winter 2025): OK Policy is hiring for a Regional Organizer supports OK Policy in the development and implementation of virtual and community-based advocacy actions that further policy goals. This position works as part of OK Policy’s grassroots advocacy arm Together Oklahoma (TOK) to engage communities and affinity groups. Apply by Jan. 5. [Learn more and apply]
State Government News
Canoo could be required to repay Oklahoma incentive money: Electric vehicle maker Canoo Inc. could be required to repay $1 million in Oklahoma job creation incentives after closing factories in the state. [The Frontier]
- Former employee: Canoo never built vehicles in Oklahoma, most employees never moved to Oklahoma [KFOR]
- Former employee with Canoo prior to Oklahoma relocation says state leaders missed signs company was bad investment [KFOR]
- Electric vehicle company Canoo furloughs 82 employees and pauses operations in Oklahoma City [KGOU]
Stitt Ends State Employee Telework Options: After pushing remote work before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt now wants state employees to come back to the office full time in early 2025. [Oklahoma Watch]
- Oklahoma Gov. Stitt issues order requiring state employees to return to the office in 2025 [The Oklahoman]
- ‘It’s not right’: State employee reacts to Gov. Stitt’s new executive order [KFOR]
Stitt’s renewable energy move draws Republican backlash: A recent action by Gov. Kevin Stitt to bring a renewable energy collaboration to Oklahoma has drawn criticism from Oklahoma Republican leaders. [The Black Wall Street Times]
From business in Oklahoma to the grocery tax cut, Governor Kevin Stitt is sharing his response to some key issues in our state, and how he plans to address them moving forward: From business in Oklahoma to the grocery tax cut, Governor Kevin Stitt is sharing his response to some key issues in our state, and how he plans to address them moving forward. [Fox 25]
Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman report budget issues amid grocery sales tax cut confusion: City officials are reporting there is confusion about how to properly implement the state’s new grocery tax exemption. It only has to do with state taxes on groceries, not local municipalities. [Fox 25]
- From OK Policy: Will Oklahomans still pay sales tax on groceries?
Oklahoma senators to refile bill to limit virtual school days: An Oklahoma Senate bill that would curtail school districts’ use of virtual instruction days is expected to make a comeback in the 2025 Legislative Session. [Oklahoma Voice]
Oklahoma officials break ground on Capitol arch project: State officials broke ground Thursday on a project to build an arch and amphitheater on the south side of the Capitol complex. The project, which lawmakers set $4.3 million aside for, is expected to be complete within two years of construction beginning. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Arch project starts at Capitol with $4.3M price tag [The Journal Record]
Opinion: District court judge made right decision to protect free markets: Oklahoma appears to be taking a page out of the California playbook — just from the opposite side. In both cases, each state is injecting unnecessary regulatory burdens into business and financial operations based on partisan politics. [John Wittman / The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Dear Santa: Oklahoma is grateful for what we have. Here’s our new wish list: Dear Santa: We’ve been good this year. Well, mostly. Collectively, we’ve been good. If you made a naughty or nice list of everyone in our city and state, the “nice” list would be longer. We think. [Russ Florence / The Oklahoman]
Editorial: Relatively new drone technology questions need faster government response: As New Jersey residents take issue with the uptick in nighttime illuminations, Oklahoma continues to work toward becoming a U.S. drone hub. That’s why we appreciate Gov. Kevin Stitt’s response to the national news stories about the possible increase of drones in the Garden State. He acknowledges drone technology as an “exciting new industry” in Oklahoma but also calls on the Department of Public Safety to procure detection systems. [Editorial / Tulsa World]
Federal Government News
States to lose out on billions if GOP spurns disaster aid in spending bill, Dems say: U.S. House Democrats released details early Thursday on how much federal disaster aid each state would lose if Republicans drop it from a stopgap spending bill that’s been rejected by their own members as well as President-elect Donald Trump. [Oklahoma Voice]
Black Wall Street National Monument bill passes U.S. Senate: With just days left before the end of the Congressional session, U.S. Senators on Wednesday passed the bill to establish Black Wall Street as a national monument in Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Tribal Nations News
Federal court orders energy company to remove wind farm on Osage land: After a 10-year court battle, a federal judge has ordered the removal of a wind farm on Osage land. The judge also awarded the Osage Mineral Council more than $300,000 in damages. [KOSU]
- Judge orders Enel to remove Osage County wind farm, pay damages [Tulsa World]
Muscogee Nation, Tulsa weigh potential settlement in federal lawsuit: The federal lawsuit, Muscogee Creek Nation v. City of Tulsa, was filed in November and stems from a traffic ticket issued by the city to a Muscogee citizen. [KOSU]
- Tulsa, Muscogee Nation federal case in ‘active settlement discussions’ [Public Radio Tulsa]
Miami Tribe of Oklahoma gears up for opening of Indigenous food market: The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma in is working to increase food security and support local businesses. The Prairie Sky Market will be at the intersection of Old Route 66 and Highway 69 in North Miami. [KOSU]
Education News
As Walters touts new standards, board tackles dozens of certificate suspensions, revocations: With Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters announcing sweeping new plans for 2025 administrative rule changes and proposed amendments to social studies standards, the State Board of Education met Thursday and took action on two months’ worth of teaching certification agenda items. [NonDoc]
- Revisions to Oklahoma’s social studies standards include increase in Christianity content [KOSU]
- Bible, Christianity feature heavily in proposed social studies standards for students [Tulsa World]
- Ryan Walters announces proposed new social studies standards after promised ‘overhaul’ [The Oklahoman]
- Walters reveals new pro-Bible standards for history classes [Oklahoma Voice]
- Oklahoma education department releases controversial K-12 social studies standards [Fox 25]
- Faith leaders worry OSDE’s proposed social studies standards are part of an agenda [KFOR]
- Lawmakers access ed board executive session, Walters comments on immigrant student count proposal [KGOU]
- After months of stalemate, legislators allowed into education board’s executive session [The Oklahoman]
- Shawnee superintendent’s teaching license suspended by Oklahoma State Board of Education [The Oklahoman]
- Four northeastern Oklahoma educators’ teaching certificates suspended [Tulsa World]
- Ryan Walters shares list of proposed rules in public schools for Oklahoma State Education Board (video) [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma State Board of Education punts on student transfer appeals: After more than an hour in executive session, the Oklahoma State Board of Education declined to take any action Thursday afternoon on four denied transfer appeals involving Tulsa area school districts. [Tulsa World]
Cleveland County judge questions attorneys, examines briefs and evidence in pronoun case: he district judge presiding over a lawsuit between a Moore family, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Oklahoma State Board of Education spent almost two hours Thursday afternoon questioning attorneys on both sides of the case during a hearing at the Cleveland County Courthouse. [The Oklahoman]
Why It’s Hard to Control What Gets Taught in Public Schools: Oklahoma and Texas are among more than 20 states that have passed laws since 2021 seeking to control how race, gender and American history are discussed in schools. But in a climate of extraordinary political scrutiny on the curriculum, many teachers say those efforts have little influence on how they run their classrooms. [New York Times]
University of Tulsa unveils Oklahoma’s first cyber range: The University of Tulsa’s Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute announced the launch of a cyber range that will rapidly expand services to protect and defend Oklahoma entities from cyber threats. TU is the first institution in the state to offer a fully functional cyber range to outside organizations. [The Journal Record]
Health News
Community Care promotes revolutionary healing in Melanated communities: Since the start of colonization, African Americans and Native Americans have endured ongoing grief and violence leading to intergenerational trauma and social inequities that persist today. This includes land dispossession, enslavement, human trafficking, forced assimilation, and much more, emphasizing the need for community care. [The Black Wall Street Times]
Opinion: An Oklahoma doctor’s legislative wish list to improve health care outcomes: Every December brings new opportunities to make lists, whether they’re for gifts, holiday cards or resolutions for the new year. For physicians like me, however, there’s also the ever-present policy wish list filled with ways to improve patient care and cut through the red tape that limits our capacity to help more Oklahomans. [Edgar Morris Boyd / The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma carries out last execution of 2024: Oklahoma carried out its fourth execution of 2024 on Thursday with the death of Kevin Ray Underwood on his 45th birthday. [The Frontier]
Longtime Cleveland County DA Greg Mashburn to retire in 2025: Longtime Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn has announced he will retire. After 18 years as the top prosecutor for Cleveland, Garvin and McClain counties, Mashburn will leave office on March 1, 2025. [The Oklahoman]
City of Tulsa, community partners receive $2 million grant to combat violent crime: Violent crime doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Nothing in life does. That truth is at the heart of the city’s new Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative, an effort to use mentoring and other strategies to reduce violent crime. [Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
Amazon workers strike: Will Christmas packages be delayed in Oklahoma? What to know: Amazon employees are participating in the “largest strike” against the company in its history, just six days before Christmas. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the union holding the strike representing 7,000 of the company’s employees nationwide, suggested Christmas gifts shipped during this time may be late. [The Oklahoman]
Chamber report highlights OKC’s economic growth: Business growth in Oklahoma City this year reflects the confidence found in the latest report from the National Federation of Independent Business. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose by eight points to 101.7, after 34 months of remaining below the 50-year average of 98. [The Journal Record]
Americans with disabilities work remotely more than the general population in these states: The national adoption of remote work spurred by the pandemic has been touted for opening accessibility opportunities to the larger labor force. And yet, workers with disabilities have varied access to it throughout the country. [Tulsa World]
Community News
‘This is not a distant news item’: Gaza trauma hangs heavy for Oklahomans: While the violence in the Gaza Strip might seem half a world away, its impact extends far beyond the Middle East — even to doorsteps in Oklahoma. [NonDoc]
‘Focus: Black Oklahoma’: Monroe Nichols, medical gaslighting, Black rodeo culture (audio): This episode of Focus: Black Oklahoma features stories on the swearing in of Tulsa mayor Monroe Nichols, how ‘medical gaslighting’ affects patients, a discussion on Black rodeo culture and more. [KOSU]
Local Headlines
- Edmond mayoral debate scheduled for Jan. 22 at UCO [NonDoc]
Quote of the Day
“Most of these people, all they did was get Oklahoma addresses and turn them in and say they moved, but they never did. A lot of the engineers, some of the directors, things like that, they would just travel here every couple of weeks, spend a week here, go home for a week, and come back.”
-A former Canoo employee, speaking about the company’s September announcement that it would relocate 140 of its highly paid engineers from Torrance, California, to Oklahoma. The company, which received millions in taxpayer dollars, announced this week that it closed its Oklahoma facilities and furloughed all its local employees. [KFOR]
Number of the Day
$200 million
The amount of taxpayer dollars slated to be used in 2025 for families to claim tax credits for private school tuition. That amount is scheduled to increase to $250 million in 2026. [House Bill 1934]
- From OK Policy: Private school tax credits will give everyone’s taxes to people who don’t need our help
Policy Note
How vouchers harm public schools: Voucher programs for schools are rapidly expanding across the country. Under these programs, public budgets provide funding to parents to either send their children to private school or homeschool them. These programs’ growing popularity raises the question of whether letting public money leave the public school system and subsidize private forms of schooling is a way to improve children’s access to an excellent education. EPI’s analysis shows that vouchers harm public schools. [Economic Policy Institute]
You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
