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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
‘Balance of interests’: Appellate court supports Tulsa jurisdiction over Indian defendants: In a landmark opinion that could eventually be challenged before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruled today that the City of Tulsa retains criminal jurisdiction over non-member Indigenous defendants for offenses committed within Indian Country reservations because the state “has a strong sovereign interest in ensuring public safety on the roads and highways of its territory and in ensuring criminal justice for all citizens — Indian and non-Indian.” [NonDoc]
- Court ‘bulldozes’ tribal law in Tulsa case over jurisdiction, attorney says [Tulsa World]
State Government News
Berry-Rock and Beyond: How Ex-Secretary’s Investment Ties Sparked Lawsuits, Audits and Controversy: Former oil and gas executive Elliot Chambers was in government service for just two years but left behind a string of lawsuits and audits that continue at the Oklahoma Commissioners of the Land Office. [Oklahoma Watch]
Oklahoma senator writes legislation to authorize recall elections of state officials: Oklahomans would have the opportunity to recall a member of the state Legislature or any statewide elected official under a measure currently being developed by a state senator. [The Oklahoman]
New anti-abortion bill revives attempts to classify procedure as a felony in Oklahoma: The fight to tighten Oklahoma’s already strict abortion laws has resumed as one Republican lawmaker introduced the first anti-abortion bill of the 2025 legislative session. [The Oklahoman]
Judge hears third day of testimony in hearing over poultry litter use in Illinois River watershed: A water quality expert for the state of Oklahoma estimated that poultry companies’ birds placed with growers in the Illinois River watershed are responsible for producing on average 255,120 tons of poultry litter per year, with about half of it exported out of the watershed. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma Space Industrial Development Authority seeks funding increase: The Oklahoma Space Industrial Development Authority has asked the Legislature for a sizable appropriations bump in the next fiscal year. [Tulsa World]
Editorial: Gov. Kevin Stitt’s firing of environmental secretary was petty political move: The firing of Oklahoma’s secretary of energy and environment by Gov. Kevin Stitt is obnoxious political theater meant as a jab at his rival, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who is likely to run for governor. [Editorial / Tulsa World]
Editorial: Oklahoma’s claims of being pro-family values not supported by numerous rankings: Oklahomans are proud of the state’s pro-family, traditional values reputation, ignoring data showing ongoing harm to children and women. That can be turned around if people remain engaged and demand more from their elected officials. Information recently presented to the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth indicates that Oklahoma has one of the top rates of child maltreatment, at nearly double the national rate. [Editorial / Tulsa World]
Federal Government News
Boost in federal dollars could strengthen prenatal, early childhood Oklahoma home visiting services: The federal government is increasing funding for a program that offers families free, voluntary home visits by health professionals from pregnancy to kindergarten. The state hopes to use those dollars to fill maternal and infant health care gaps. [KGOU]
Opinion: Oklahomans must fight against efforts to implement dangerous Project 2025 agenda: Project 2025 isn’t just another political agenda. It’s a dangerous blueprint to dismantle vital American institutions and strip away our freedoms. Living in a place where these harmful policies have already taken root, Oklahoma is ground zero. [Arianna Morgan / The Oklahoman]
Tribal Nations News
Northeast Oklahoma law enforcement signs letter panning United Keetowah Band Light Horse Police: A letter condemning the United Keetowah Band’s Light Horse police department was signed by 32 law enforcement agencies and led by the Cherokee Nation. It stems from a recent case dismissal. [KOSU]
Cherokees take five school sites into trust: As part of the Cherokee Nation’s efforts to reclaim dispossessed properties, remains and archives, five formerly federally run schools have been signed back over to the tribe. [Tulsa World]
Recent survey shows what Indigenous Oklahomans value when voting: The Indigenous Futures Survey is the largest survey created by and for Native Americans, and its most recent findings highlighted Indigenous people in Oklahoma prioritize tribal sovereignty, cost of living and environmental protections when casting their votes.: [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
2 Oklahoma City Council members retain seats without challenge, competitive races in 2 other wards: Two Oklahoma City Council members will keep their seats, while voters in two wards will face a decision in February. [KOSU]
- New faces coming to OKC, Edmond city councils [The Journal Record]
Oklahoma City school board elections: Race for chair draws incumbent, challenger: Incumbent Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education Chair Paula Lewis drew a challenger in her bid for another term, but two other board members up for reelection did not. Election filing for school board offices in Oklahoma County ended Wednesday. [The Oklahoman]
Education News
Report shows modest ‘turning point’ in Oklahoma teacher workforce recovery: Against a backdrop of record emergency certifications issued in the state and high staffing vacancy levels, a new report suggests a potential “turning point” in the momentum to recover Oklahoma’s teacher workforce. [KGOU]
Oklahoma higher ed gender gap widens: women earn 61% of college degrees, certificates: The gender gap of college degree holders is continuing to widen, according to a new report from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. In the 2023 to 2024 school year, women earned about 61% of all degrees and certificates conferred at public higher education institutions, while men earned 39%. Women outpaced men in all seven degree and certificate categories.[KOSU]
New chancellor of higher education sworn in: Sean Burrage was sworn in as the new chancellor of higher education Thursday. Burrage will lead the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the body that oversees the state’s public colleges and universities. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Sean Burrage swears in as Oklahoma State System of Higher Education chancellor [KGOU]
- New Oklahoma chancellor sworn in by father, a retired federal judge, at regents’ meeting [The Oklahoman]
Education Watch: Only Minor Concerns Found During OSSM Inspection: A state watchdog found no health or safety violations at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics during an inspection of the residential high school. [Oklahoma Watch]
‘It was a shock’ Holdenville superintendent says FBI never told district teacher was being investigated for child pornography: A federal arrest affidavit, obtained by News 4, is shedding new details on what led to FBI agents arresting a Holdenville High School teacher while he was teaching this week, for possession of child pornography. [KFOR]
Criminal Justice News
Oklahoma death row inmate files suit over clemency hearing: An inmate facing execution later this month has asked a federal judge to force the state to have a full contingent of the five-member Pardon and Parole Board hear his clemency request or issue a stay. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Confessed child killer Kevin Ray Underwood asks federal judge for execution stay [The Oklahoman]
‘Unreasonable use of force’: OKCPD officer charged for slamming Lich Vu to ground: Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna has charged Oklahoma City Police Department Sgt. Joseph Gibson with one count of aggravated assault and battery for throwing 71-year-old Lich Vu to the ground during an Oct. 27 argument about a traffic violation. [NonDoc]
- OKC officer charged with aggravated assault after incident with 71-year-old man [The Oklahoman]
- Asian community, former AG react to officer assault charges in use-of-force case [KFOR]
- Oklahoma City’s Vietnamese community asks for justice in excessive force case against 71-year-old [KOCO]
‘Systemic failure’: Edmond residents sought help for Ross Norwood weeks before police shooting: Late on Sept. 3, an Edmond man lit his front porch ablaze in the midst of a psychotic episode that had been percolating for days, prefaced by hundreds of disturbing social media posts and erratic behavior that frightened his neighbors and spurred calls for help. Shortly before midnight, an Edmond police officer responded to the fiery scene and shot the incoherent man, believing the grill lighters used to start the porch blaze were knives. [NonDoc]
OKC Police solve 50-year-old murder using genealogy: For the first time, the Oklahoma City Police Department has solved a case by comparing DNA evidence from the crime scene to private genealogy databases. The finding brings closure to the nearly 50-year-old murder of Lela Orr Johnston. [KOSU]
- OKC police solve 50-year-old cold case homicide using DNA, genealogy [The Oklahoman]
Opinion: Tulsa’s Women in Recovery has 15 years of proven success in avoiding prison: Close to 700 women have graduated from the Women in Recovery program, affecting more than 2,500 children. Tulsa County has reduced the number of women going to prison by 72%, and the recidivism rate of graduates is an unbelievably low 3% (compared to about 21% of Oklahomans released from prison). [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
OKC says retailers owe city $1.4 million from uncollected grocery sales tax: Oklahoma City lost about $1.4 million in tax revenue from retailers mistakenly exempting the local portion of grocery sales taxes. Oklahoma’s state sales tax on groceries was eliminated this year, but some customers and retailers were confused about whether any tax should be collected at all. In fact, the state’s repeal did not affect local sales taxes, which should have been collected like normal. Some businesses failed to do that, however. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa’s, state’s economies looking bright for next year, expert says: Oklahoma’s and Tulsa’s economies next year are likely to repeat a successful 2024, an expert said Thursday. [Tulsa World]
Developers pitched billion-dollar dreams for Oklahoma, but so far haven’t followed through: If one were to believe the news releases, the hype and boasting of politicians, construction should already be underway on a $5.6 billion oil refinery in Cushing, a $2 billion amusement park in Vinita, a $1 billion solar panel factory in Inola, and skyscrapers and an amphitheater in Oklahoma City. Yet, as 2024 draws to a close, all of the projects are stalled or delayed indefinitely. [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“This is about more than just one case — it’s about preserving the inherent right of Tribal Nations to protect and ensure safety for everyone within their borders, where the exercise of state and local jurisdiction comes in the form of cooperation — not unlawful usurpation.”
-Muscogee Nation Chief David Hill, speaking about an Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruling Thursday that state and local governments may exercise criminal jurisdiction on Tribal land. [Tulsa World]
Number of the Day
8.6%
Share of workers (167,300) in Oklahoma’s labor force who are immigrants. [American Immigration Council]
Policy Note
Why Immigration Policy Matters for the National Debt: Immigration is projected to be the primary driver of U.S. population growth in the coming decades, which will impact the size and composition of the nation’s labor force. Changes to immigration policy could alter these trends. At a time when soaring national debt threatens economic prosperity, it is important to understand how immigration impacts federal spending and revenues and economic growth. [Bipartisan Policy Center]
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