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In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. E-mail your suggestions for In The Know items to gperry@okpolicy.org. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
Today you should know that the Osage Nation’s trust case against the federal government will likely end with a $380 million settlement, the largest tribal trust settlement in U.S. history. School districts across Metro OKC extended their school days. Attorneys argued before a Supreme Court referee over the constitutionality of a bill that transfers $101.7 million from the state Transportation Department.
The OK Policy Blog cited a new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City that shows low- and moderate-income populations face increased hardship in Oklahoma. A former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper charged with second-degree rape turned his patrol car camera off after stopping a woman over suspicion of driving under the influence. The Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board and the Employees Benefits Council will meet to set rates and discuss changes to state employees’ health plans.
The Okie Women Blog reported on the Tulsa Community Women’s Reentry Project, a program that provides job placement, mentoring, and other resources upon release from prison to non-violent female offenders with children. In today’s Policy Note, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released it’s 2011 KIDS COUNT Data Book, exploring how kids and families are faring in the wake of the recession. Today’s Number of the Day is the average amount in tuition and fees for a year of community college in the United States.
In The News
$380 million expected in federal Osage trust case settlement
The Osage Nation’s 11-year-old trust case against the federal government likely will end in December with the largest tribal trust settlement in U.S. history, an attorney told a tribal council Wednesday morning. After attorney Wilson Pipestem, one of the lawyers who represented the tribe in the trust case, presented the $380 million settlement agreement, the Osage Minerals Council unanimously gave its preliminary approval. The money is to be divided between those who own headrights, or shares, of the tribe’s subsurface mineral estate that lies beneath all of oil-rich Osage County. “Given the history of tribal litigation for trust mismanagement, this is probably about as good as it’s going to get,” said tribal member and headright owner Joe Conner of Fairfax. “And given the political environment right now, this is a minor miracle.”
Read more from the Tulsa World at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110818_11_A1_PAWHUS731757&rss_lnk=12
Longer school days
School districts across the Metro are adding minutes to their school days. Kids in Edmond will spend an extra 20 minutes per day in class. School staff say this will add nine potential make-up days to the school year. Those days might come in handy if we get a lot of snow days.
Read more from Fox25 at http://www.okcfox.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/kokh_vid_3853.shtml?wap=0
Lawsuit over transfer of road funds is argued
Attorneys argued Wednesday over the constitutionality of a bill passed this year that deals with future appropriations to the state Transportation Department as well as transfers $101.7 million from the agency to be spent on other purposes this fiscal year. It’s the second time in a couple months that Jerry Fent, an Oklahoma City attorney, asked the state Supreme Court to decide whether a bill dealing with state highway and bridge money is constitutional. The arguments were made before a Supreme Court referee. Fent said the measure, Senate Bill 976, violates the state Constitution’s “one subject matter” rule.
Read more from the Tulsa World at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110818_12_A14_OKLAHO101630&rss_lnk=12
No recovery yet for low- and moderate-income populations
Despite a modest recovery in the overall economy, a new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City finds that low- and moderate-income populations continue to face increased hardship in Oklahoma and other states in the Tenth Federal Reserve District. The FRB of Kansas City conducts a quarterly survey of non-profit and community organizations that serve low- and moderate-income (LMI) populations in the Tenth District.* Respondents are asked about the economic conditions of the clients they serve. The results are used to construct indices measuring the financial condition, service needs, jobs availability, affordable housing, and credit access of LMI populations. The June report found conditions continuing to worsen for LMI populations.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog at https://okpolicy.org/no-recovery-yet-for-low-and-moderate-income-populations/
Oklahoma ex-trooper is accused of turning off car camera before sexual contact
A former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper charged with rape turned off his car camera and had sexual contact with an intoxicated woman in his patrol car after pulling her over for suspicion of driving under the influence, according to an affidavit. Patrick Venable, 27, is accused of taking the woman into custody on the Broadway Extension in Oklahoma City at 4:35 a.m. June 20 and then driving her to her house in Guthrie to have sex. Venable was charged in Logan County on Tuesday with second-degree rape. Venable, who has quit the patrol, said the sex was consensual. He plans to plead not guilty.
Read more from NewsOK at http://newsok.com/oklahoma-ex-trooper-is-accused-of-turning-off-car-camera-before-sexual-contact/article/3595372#ixzz1VNnNbIt9
State health plans to undergo changes
The Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board and the Employees Benefits Council will meet Friday to set rates for health plans offered to state employees, and some plans are expected to undergo changes. OSEEGIB will consider changes to bring HealthChoice plans into compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as well as plans geared toward tobacco users, said Hilary Johnston, public information officer for OSEEGIB. Negotiations on rates for health maintenance organization plans offered to state employees will also be finalized Friday morning, said Brian King, communications officer for EBC.
Read more from OETA at http://news.oeta.tv/headlines/politics/3492-state-health-plans-to-undergo-changes.html
Tulsa Community Women’s Reentry Project
Created by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Division of Female Offender Operations in partnership with Resonance Center for Women, Inc., the Tulsa Community Women’s Reentry Project has been in operation since April 2011. The project’s goal is to help female offenders find jobs within 30 days of prison release. To qualify, one must be a non-violent female offender with children, who will be returning to Tulsa upon release and who has a parole officer. Project leaders begin meeting with these women 3 to 6 months prior to their release. Upon release, they receive a reentry basket filled with necessities. They enter work readiness classes, get help finding child care and, if necessary, receive substance abuse treatment. On graduation after 6 months, the women receive a professional mentor. The project is took 100 women during the first year.
Read more from OkieWomen at http://oklahomawomen.blogspot.com/2011/08/tulsa-community-womens-reentry-project.html
Quote of the Day
[G]iven the political environment right now, this is a minor miracle.
Joe Conner, member of the Osage Nation on a $380m settlement with the federal government
Number of the Day
$2,713
Average amount in tuition and fees for a year of community college in the United States, compared to $7,605 for a 4-year public institution, 2010
Source: American Association of Community Colleges
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
2011 Data Book Profiles on Key Indicators of Child Well-being
The recession hit vulnerable families hard, and unemployment and foreclosure starts remain high. In 2010, 11 percent of children in the U.S. had at least one unemployed parent and 4 percent have been affected by foreclosure since 2007. It is critical that we address these economic challenges to ensure the well-being of children, families, and the nation.
Read more from AECF at http://datacenter.kidscount.org/Databook/2011/OnlineBooks/ForMedia/StateProfiles/KCDB2011_profiles_OK_FINAL-rev.pdf
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