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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
Will recommendations from immigrant-focused task force get traction this session? (Capitol Update): While HB 4156 gave state law enforcement officers the authority to arrest people who are found in Oklahoma without legal authority to be in the U.S., the “Oklahoma State Work Permits and Visa Task Force” has issued recommendations towards a more balanced approach to the immigration issue. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]
Oklahoma News
Oklahoma lawmaker asks state charter school board to keep focus on students: The chair of the Oklahoma Senate’s Education Committee encouraged members of the Statewide Charter School Board on Monday to keep their focus on improving student outcomes for all charter school students across the state. [The Oklahoman]
- State senator asks Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board to keep focus on kids [Tulsa World]
Despite opt-outs by GOP states, debut of kids’ summer food program seen as a success: The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program — or Summer EBT — has popped up in 37 states, the District of Columbia and multiple territories and tribal nations this year. Advocates say that despite the program’s fair share of challenges, especially given its first year of implementation, the program emerged as an important resource in the fight against kids’ summer hunger. [Oklahoma Voice]
- From OK Policy Partners: Hunger Free Oklahoma responds to Governor Stitt’s office’s statement on decision to opt out of Summer EBT for the second year in a row
State Government News
New task force aims to unlock potential of Oklahoma students with help of technology: State Education Secretary Nellie Tayloe Sanders will lead a task force created by a recent executive order from Gov. Kevin Stitt. Known as the Human Potential for Future Industries Task Force, the working group will bring together state leaders in education and workforce development to develop ideas and methods that help students discover their talents and use technology to cultivate those skills. [The Oklahoman]
- Oklahoma Leaders To Look At Innovative Approaches To Education [NEWS9]
Legal roundup: McGirt arrested again, Kiamichi River power plant opposed, Freedom Center case decided: Did you know a hydroelectric power plant is being proposed along the Kiamichi River in southeast Oklahoma? Meanwhile, it’s been determined that a nonprofit owns the historic Freedom Center of Oklahoma City, and a large fine is being proposed against a PAC associated with the Oklahoma Republican Party for misreporting income and expenses to the Federal Election Commission. [NonDoc]
Opinion: Grocery tax relief brings savings and headaches: Be prepared for a headache if you want to explore Oklahoma’s new grocery sales tax exemption. To put it simply, it’s complicated. [Joe Hight / Journal Record]
- From OK Policy: Fact Check: Will Oklahoma families save $800 a year from eliminating the state portion of the grocery sales tax?
Federal Government News
The U.S. Supreme Court’s so-called shadow docket is having a heyday. That might not be great for Oklahoma: The high court’s normal procedure is to decide cases after exhaustive reviews of trial court records, extensive briefs, and oral arguments. The considered decision is accompanied by opinions, some of which will be cited for a century or more. Not so on the shadow docket. [Oklahoma Watch]
Tribal Nations News
Rebecca Nagle’s ‘By the Fire We Carry’ questions treatment of Indigenous nations, democracy at large: A small-town murder that became known as the Murphy case asked the question: Did Congress disestablish the Muscogee Nation reservation? The Supreme Court later answered in the McGirt. v. Oklahoma decision. Those two cases are at the center of Rebecca Nagle’s new book By the Fire We Carry, a historical and, at times, personal account that confronts Oklahoma’s past, the Supreme Court’s questionable present and the generations-long fight for tribal sovereignty. [KOSU]
- The long fight for Oklahoma tribal sovereignty [ICT]
- How a Small Town Murder in Oklahoma Sparked a Supreme Court Battle Over Tribal Sovereignty [Literary Hub]
Film institute launched to fight lack of Native filmmakers: The Cherokee Nation launched one of the only tribally operated film and media education and workforce development centers in the country on Sept. 3, with courses set to begin in January 2025. [ICT]
Teepee Drive-In showing two ‘Reservation Dogs’ episodes in lead-up to Emmy Awards today: The free screening event is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10, five days before the Emmy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. “Reservation Dogs” earned four nominations, including one for best comedy series. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma Department of Transportation to change tribal nation boundary signs: Highway signs marking the boundaries of the state’s tribal nations will soon be removed and replaced by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The new signs will be standardized. Every sign will be brown with white lettering, which indicates a site of cultural or historic interest, according to the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. [Tulsa World]
Jimcy McGirt scheduled to appear before Seminole Nation judge today: According to the official court summons, McGirt, a Seminole Nation citizen and sex offender, has been charged with three counts relating to his sex offender status. [KOSU]
Voting and Election News
Recount in Tulsa mayoral election to continue for Day 4: The recount in Tulsa’s mayoral election is set to continue for a fourth day on Tuesday, as the third day of ballot examination ground on without any significant shift in results. [Tulsa World]
New proposal would allow Oklahoma candidates to spend campaign money on caregivers: The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has proposed a new policy to allow political candidates and elected officials to spend campaign funds on child care or other caregiving expenses. The commission released a draft opinion Friday in response to a request from Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, who has said the policy could reduce barriers to elected office for parents of young children. [Oklahoma Voice]
Education News
State board approves new charter school site in Blanchard: A new charter school is headed to Blanchard after the Statewide Charter School Board voted unanimously Monday to allow The Academies of Oklahoma to expand to its third site next fall. [KGOU]
- Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board approves new academy in Blanchard [Oklahoma Voice]
German students’ learning from Oklahomans highlighted in documentary to be shown at OU: German students and their teacher visited Oklahoma City and Tulsa in June 2023 to hear stories and reflections of history from a civil rights leader, a local rabbi, an African American studies scholar, the son of Holocaust survivors and a 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre historian. [The Oklahoman]
FOX 25 digs through State Supt. travel records, reveal $27K+ in tax dollars spent: Dozens of trips, all across the country, were paid for with your tax dollars that were meant for public education. Our previous reporting revealed you’re paying a $60,000 contract to help promote State Superintendent Ryan Walters on the national stage. But that’s not all. We poured through travel records to find out what else you’re paying for and how much. [FOX25]
Health News
Oklahoma State Medical Association seeks to curb physician burnout with free counseling sessions: In 2023, 48.2% of physicians surveyed by the American Medical Association reported experiencing at least one symptom of burnout, which is down from 53% in 2022. A wellness program in Oklahoma is supporting physicians with up to eight free and confidential counseling sessions. [KGOU]
Owasso’s Bailey Medical Center unveils $1.3 million labor, delivery unit expansion: The Owasso hospital converted three intensive care unit rooms at around 1,900 square feet into labor, delivery, recovery and post-partum (LDRP) rooms, increasing its capacity for deliveries. [Tulsa World]
Opinion: Oklahoma puts ideology before patients. Doctors can’t practice medicine because of it: A woman facing a nonviable pregnancy that puts her life at risk should have immediate access to life-saving care. Instead, Oklahoma women have come forward to share how they were told they must be closer to death or leave the state to seek medical help. [Sen. Carrie Hicks / The Oklahoman]
- Related: Post-Roe health provider survey finds abortion bans create bad outcomes and distress [Oklahoma Voice]
Criminal Justice News
Manager of Tulsa County’s troubled juvenile detention center optimistic about progress: Just a few weeks since taking over, the man charged with helping fix Tulsa County’s beleaguered Family Center for Juvenile Justice believes that some initial improvements and a new commitment to transparency are already paying off. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma judge accused of drive-by shootings, misconduct resigns after dementia diagnosis: A judge accused of two drive-by shootings and sexual misconduct resigned Monday, effective immediately. [The Oklahoman]
With few other options, Oklahoma County jail officials approve a new deal with Turn Key Health Clinics after company threatens to walk out: Turn Key Health Clinics said it would leave the jail in a matter of days without a new contract in place. Jail officials also approve plans to seek bids from other medical providers and could seek an early exit to the Turn Key deal. [The Frontier]
Opinion: A blue-ribbon commission could end the quagmire about the role of guns in society: Gun violence is now a political statement. More toxic for our country perhaps than even the violence itself, is the ongoing and progressing confusion about the role of guns in our society. [Michael Lock / The Oklahoman]
Economy & Business News
Here’s how national job trends and Oklahoma compare to one another: National trends showed a 0.1% increase in unemployment in August, at par with Oklahoma’s rates in July as businesses slowed down hiring efforts, according to the latest data. [The Oklahoman]
Boeing says it has deal to avoid strike by machinists: Boeing, which has business operations in Oklahoma, refurbishing military aircraft, said 33,000 workers represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers would get pay raises of 25% over the four-year contract, with average wages rising 33% due to seniority step increases. [The Journal Record]
Oklahoma City Apple store workers reach tentative contract with Apple: Following a strike authorization last month, union-represented workers at the Oklahoma City Apple store in Penn Square Mall have reached a tentative labor contract with the tech giant. Nearly two years after voting to unionize, employees represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) announced the agreement on Friday afternoon. [KOSU]
American Airlines adding more than 300 jobs to its Tulsa maintenance facility: American Airlines will add more than 300 jobs at its Tulsa facility as it increases lines of heavy check maintenance work, the company announced Monday. [Tulsa World]
Two Oklahoma businesses make Chamber’s Top 100 list: Each is a woman-owned business founded in the past five years. The Oklahoma businesses selected are Grow Grit Press LLC, an Edmond publishing company founded in 2019 by Mary Nhin, creator of the “Ninja Life Hacks” children’s book series, and Valor Payroll Solutions, a Tulsa company founded in 2020 by payroll expert Christina Hageny. [The Journal Record]
Local Headlines
- Low water pressure? Water line break in downtown Oklahoma City affecting pressure, traffic [The Oklahoman]
- An odd 2000 ballot question set undisclosed baseline funding for Edmond police, fire [NonDoc]
Quote of the Day
“Charter schools at their core are meant to be innovative. (They’re) not to supplant or replace traditional public schools.”
-State Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, said in a presentation to the Statewide Charter School Board–a board Pugh created when he authored Senate Bill 516, which not only transferred oversight of the state’s seven virtual charter schools to the new board, but it also provided for the board to assume sponsorship of five brick-and-mortar charter schools previously sponsored by the State Board of Education. [Tulsa World]
Number of the Day
47.3%
Just about half of minimum wage workers (47.3% nationally) are working that job as full-time employment. [Bureau of Labor Statistics]
Policy Note
Most minimum wage studies have found little or no job loss: A new review finds that most minimum wage studies find no job losses or only small disemployment effects. In other words, the vast majority of minimum wage research implies that minimum wage policies have unambiguously raised the total earnings of low-wage workers.[Economic Policy Institute]
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