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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.
State Government News
Judge gives Oklahoma pensions green light to work with green banks: An Oklahoma judge ruled the state cannot enforce its ban on using banks with pro-green energy policies for state business. [KOSU
- First Watch: Stuff You Should Know: States telling banks who they must or mustn’t have as customers is becoming a thing. [Oklahoma Watch]
Tribal Nations News
Boarding schools investigation a step closer as bills progress: The Truth and Healing Indian boarding school bill has gotten further in the legislative process this year than previous years, passing through two major committees in each chamber of Congress. In February, U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, introduced their version of the bill to the House, which may soon be heard on the House floor. [ICT + Tulsa World]
Ojibwe band celebrates land transfer that represent what was illegally taken: In the late 1940s and ‘50s, the federal government illegally transferred thousands of acres away from the tribe. Leadership of the Bureau of Indian Affairs incorrectly believed it could sell land without the consent of a majority of tribal landowners. At the time, an estimated 18,000 acres were involved. [ICT]
Voting and Election News
Are you registered to vote? What to know about Oklahoma election dates, ballots: Oklahomans must register to vote by Oct. 11 if they want to cast a ballot for president this year. It’s also the deadline for verifying that your voter information is accurate and that you haven’t been purged from the rolls due to inactivity. With the recent adoption of online voter registration in Oklahoma, the process is surprisingly easy. [The Oklahoman]
With Biden out, how will Oklahoma Democratic delegates cast their votes? What we know: What does that mean for Oklahoma’s Democratic delegates who, by law, are supposed to vote for the candidate who won the state’s presidential primary? Here’s what to know about the unusual circumstance delegates will face at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma Democrats: U.S. is ready for female commander-in-chief [The Journal Record]
Former Gov. David Walters among first to nudge Biden toward the exit: On July 2, less than a week after Walters says Biden’s performance in a debate against Republican Donald Trump turned a watch party at Walters’ home into a wake, he and fellow Democratic National Committee executive committee member James Zogby circulated a proposal to reopen the presidential nomination process. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma Democrats now looking at potential candidates for vice president’s post: Nationwide, nine Democrats ― eight men and one woman ― seem to be at the top of the list as likely choices for vice president. That group includes, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. In Oklahoma, the list of potential vice presidents mentioned is much smaller: three. [The Oklahoman]
Health News
How long are Oklahomans expected to live? Low education and poverty rankings tell the story: Oklahoma ranks as the eighth lowest life expectancy in the nation, part of a trend that covers much of the South, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Oklahoma, the current leading cause of death is heart disease, the CDC reports.[The Oklahoman]
Criminal Justice News
Grants can close some gaps but pay problems persist for Oklahoma Sheriffs: Sheriffs can now apply for legislature-funded grants through Oklahoma’s Attorney General. The extra money is appreciated but doesn’t address a root issue many sheriff’s offices face. [KOSU]
Report: Police force on Black Tulsans far exceeds representation in city: The department’s 2023 annual report shows 371 verified uses of force during arrests; 176 of these — 48.2% — were on Black people. This rate is more than triple Tulsa’s Black population of roughly 15%, though the numbers mirror national statistics. [KOSU]
Education News
Challenge flag: Jeff Myers child neglect charge revived on appeal: In granting prosecutors’ appellate motion Friday, a Garfield County associate district judge is allowing a child neglect case against former Kingfisher High School football coach Jeff Myers to continue after it was initially thrown out last month. [NonDoc]
Oklahoma City metro school districts share if they will follow mandated Bible curriculum: Many districts around the Oklahoma City metropolitan area say they’re evaluating the situation, and waiting for more information from the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). [FOX25]
Report shows Oklahoma public education ranks low: The study from WalletHub ranks Oklahoma’s school systems 50th in the nation, just beating out New Mexico. The study used dropout and graduation rates and test scores. It also ranked education funding, safety, and the percentage of certified teachers. [News9]
- Oklahoma’s education system ranked second-worst in the country: See the study: [The Oklahoman]
Community News
Late Jackson Lee advocated for Black Tulsans during tenure: She may have held one of Texas’ congressional seats, but Sheila Jackson Lee advocated for Black Tulsans while in Washington. While the congresswoman is known for leading efforts to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, she also promoted awareness around the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. [Public Tulsa Radio]
Local Headlines
- OKC metro area’s population reaches nearly 1.5M [The Journal Record]
Quote of the Day
“Finding where these children are that died at the schools, where they are buried, and getting to some resolution. There are many children whose stories have not been told, whose bodies have not yet been returned to their families and communities, and we have to reconcile somehow with what happened to cause the conditioning of our people.”
-Wilson Pipestem, representative of the Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, said when discussing The Truth and Healing Indian boarding school bill H.R. 7227 authored by U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla which may soon be heard on the House floor. There were 76 boarding schools in Oklahoma, according to Department of Interior reports, which is more than any other state. [ICT + Tulsa World]
Number of the Day
52
The number of cents generated in tax revenue for every tax dollar spent on Oklahoma tax credits for the film industry from 2017-2020, according to a report from the state’s Incentive Evaluation Commission. [OK Policy]
Policy Note
The Payoff of State Film Tax Credits: Audits in a number of states have found that tax incentive programs for film and TV end up as money losers. Although some states are considering capping their programs, more are expanding theirs. [Governing]
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