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In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.
Oklahoma News
Even with millions in new funding, Oklahoma still faces staffing shortages for disability services: Care providers in the state have faced a staffing crisis for years due to low pay. It could pose a problem as the state aims to end a 13-year waiting list for developmental disability services. [The Frontier]
Ryan Walters wins GOP nomination for Oklahoma state schools superintendent over April Grace: Ryan Walters, Gov. Kevin Stitt’s education secretary, won the Republican runoff primary for state schools superintendent on Tuesday with 53% of the vote for Oklahoma’s top education office. [The Oklahoman] | Walters promised to work hand-in-hand with Stitt to deliver school choice to Oklahomans. [Tulsa World]
- Ryan Walters: Runoff win a ‘victory for school choice’ [NonDoc]
Leslie Osborn, Todd Russ, Kim David advance in statewide primary runoffs: Rep. Todd Russ (R-Cordell) won the Republican nomination for state treasurer in a runoff election Tuesday night. Oklahoma Commissioner of Labor Leslie Osborn held off a challenge from Rep. Sean Roberts (R-Hominy), wrapping up a race that caused a rift among state Republicans and prompted Roberts to sue a fellow legislator. Sen. Kim David (R-Porter) won the party’s nomination for an open seat on the Corporation Commission. The candidates will now head to the general election on Nov. 8. [NonDoc]
- Osborn, Russ, David advance from runoffs in state secondary office races [Tulsa World]
- Labor commissioner Leslie Osborn wins runoff against governor-backed challenger Sean Roberts [The Oklahoman]
All election results are posted by the Oklahoma State Election Board online and are unofficial until they are certified by the board.
Federal Government News
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visits Tulsa to plug federal funding of local project: U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited Tulsa on Tuesday to highlight $10 million in federal funding recently awarded to a project to reconnect West 51st Street under U.S. 75. [Tulsa World]
Voting and Election News
- U.S. Senate: Markwayne Mullin tops T.W. Shannon, faces Kendra Horn [NonDoc]
- Mullin beats T.W. Shannon, Madison Horn to face Lankford [The Oklahoman]
- Mullin, Madison Horn celebrate Senate runoff victories [Tulsa World]
- U.S. Senate: Madison Horn tops Jason Bollinger, now faces U.S. Sen. James Lankford [NonDoc]
- Josh Brecheen advances in 2nd Congressional District [NonDoc]
- Brecheen edges Frix in runoff for Markwayne Mullin’s congressional seat [Tulsa World]
- Brecheen tops Frix for GOP nomination for Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District [The Oklahoman]
- Incumbent GOP state senator fends off challenge from the right; 5 legislative races decided in runoff [The Oklahoman]
- Seifried defeats Jackson in state Senate District 2 GOP runoff [Tulsa World]
- Calvey beats Gieger for Oklahoma County DA nomination [NonDoc]
- Republican Kevin Calvey wins runoff in Oklahoma County district attorney race [The Oklahoman]
- Carrie Blumert, Myles Davidson advance in Oklahoma County Commissioner runoffs [The Oklahoman]
- 2022 Oklahoma City-Area Election Results [The Oklahoman]
- Five Tulsa city councilors reelected; three others face runoffs [Tulsa World]
- Tulsa voters approve amendments to City Charter [Tulsa World]
- Kelly Dunkerley set to be new Tulsa County commissioner [Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Protective order warned of man accused in killing of Oklahoma County Deputy Bobby Swartz: Benjamin Plank, 35, is accused of shooting to death Sgt. Bobby Swartz, 58, of the Oklahoma County sheriff’s office and wounding Mark Johns as the deputies attempted to serve an eviction notice on him in southwest Oklahoma City, where Plank lived with his mother. [The Oklahoman]
Groups hope to draw attention to death penalty in Oklahoma with 25 white crosses: Twenty-five crosses have been erected along the front lawn of The Lazarus Community at Clark Memorial United Methodist Church, 5808 NW 23, each one representing a person the state of Oklahoma is scheduled to execute, beginning Thursday with James Coddington, and extending into 2024. [The Oklahoman]
- Column: Why I believe James Coddington is deserving of clemency [Justin Jones Guest Column / The Oklahoman]
General News
Tolls set for Gilcrease Expressway; Berryhill-area toll reduced from planned cost: The toll rates for the Gilcrease Expressway, which is expected to open in late September, were set Tuesday by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Passenger cars, or vehicles with two axles, traveling the length of the new roadway on the western edge of Tulsa will pay $2.05 if using PikePass and $4.10 if using PlatePay. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma Local News
- ‘Be patient’: Edmond State of the City talk touts infrastructure projects [NonDoc]
Quote of the Day
“This job is much more challenging than serving in a restaurant, and this rate reimbursement doesn’t even become competitive to that. For me, it speaks to the long-term issue that Oklahoma has had of not prioritizing people with disabilities.”
-Elijah Blankenship, Chief Operating Officer for the service provider Gatesway Foundation, speaking about staffing challenges in the disability services sector [The Frontier]
Number of the Day
$15.6 billion
Total economic impact that tribes made in Oklahoma in 2019. In addition to direct contributions, tribes generate billions in production by companies that support tribes’ business operations. Oklahoma tribes support 113,442 jobs in the state, representing $5.4 billion in wages and benefits to Oklahoma workers. [Oklahoma Native Impact Study]
Policy Note
The Economic Impact of Tribal Nations in Oklahoma: This report evaluates and quantifies the statewide economic contribution of tribes within the state of Oklahoma. Working with the tribes, the report utilizes data on tribal businesses, governments, and other sources of tribal contribution such as expenditures on capital projects, and federal dollars that come to the state to support projects within the Oklahoma tribal areas. [Oklahoma Native Impact Study]
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