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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.
Health News
Editorial: 988 welcomed addition to mental health crisis care: In just two months, about 5,000 Oklahomans have dialed 988 seeking help for their brain health, a good sign people are getting to know the new three-digit code. [Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
Pastor Derrick Scobey and Adam Luck appointed to Oklahoma County jail trust: Pastor Derrick Scobey and Adam Luck, former Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board chair, were unanimously appointed to the Oklahoma County jail trust by the Board of County Commissioners. Both committed to following their conscience while carrying out their new role. [The Oklahoman]
- Derrick Scobey, Adam Luck appointed to Oklahoma County jail trust [NonDoc]
Oklahoma officers fatally shoot man after slow-speed pursuit: The fatal shooting of a man by a law enforcement officer in western Oklahoma is under investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. [The Oklahoman]
In federal plea deal, former Pelco accountant accuses former manufacturing exec and ex-OU Regent of fraud: Phil Albert, the former manufacturing executive who served six years on the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents before resigning in January, “engaged in a scheme and artifice to defraud Pelco Structural and its owners by embezzling” at least $1.5 million between 2016 and 2019, according to a former Pelco accountant’s sworn plea agreement filed in federal court last week. [NonDoc]
Economic Opportunity News
$50 million grant will help reimagine north Tulsa neighborhood: Tulsa Housing Authority took a big step forward in its ambitious plan to help revitalize one of the most economically distressed areas along the 36th Street North corridor. On Monday, THA won a $50 million Choice Neighborhoods Initiative grant from the federal government to help fund the estimated $190 million Envision Comanche project. [Tulsa World]
Economy & Business News
Gas prices continue to fall, but trend could end with transition to winter fuel: Gas prices continue to fall, but trend could end with transition to winter fuel: Gasoline prices continue to tick downward in the longest decrease in seven years, but that trend could end soon, a national analyst said. [Tulsa World]
‘Can we afford it?’ Interest rates are humbling OKC homebuyers: Every tick up in mortgage rates melts away home-buying power and sends borrowers’ monthly payments soaring. [The Oklahoman]
Education News
Hofmeister to ask Legislature to fund $5,000 across-the-board teacher pay raises amid worsening shortages: State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, who is running for governor, announced Monday that she will be seeking a $5,000 across-the-board teacher pay hike by including it in her agency’s annual budget request to the Oklahoma Legislature. [Tulsa World]
- OEA Responds To Potential Teacher Raises [NewsOn6]
General News
Banned books celebrated for real topics, freedom at OKC church’s read-out event: They may have been challenged or banned outright from some schools and libraries across the country, but a book about a Muslim youth’s immigration experience, a memoir about an individual’s journey of self identity and a dystopian novel focusing on a fertility crisis each found a home on Sunday at an Oklahoma City church. [The Oklahoman]
Local News
- Oklahoma City annexed and rezoned 160 acres; Deer Creek residents feel ignored [The Oklahoman]
Quote of the Day
“It’s time for our state leaders to start recognizing that education is a workforce, and it is one of the largest workforces in our state and we have to invest in that workforce.”
— Katherine Bishop, the president of the Oklahoma State Department of Education, speaking on the need for Oklahoma to invest in teachers for the long-term as well as the short-term. [NewsOn6]
Number of the Day
23
As of today, there are currently 23 calendar days left in which to register for the November’s general election. The voter registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 14. [Oklahoma Election Board]
Policy Note
Online Voter Registration: Online voter registration systems supplement the traditional paper-based process, by which new voters fill out a paper form that is submitted to election officials, who confirm the registration is valid and enter the information from the paper application into the registration system. As of June 2022, a total of 42 states and D.C. offer online registration. Oklahoma is one of two states in the process of implementation. [National Conference of State Legislatures]
- The Oklahoma Legislature approved online voter registration in 2015. The first phase (updating addresses and changing party affiliation online) launched in 2018. The second phase (full online voter registration) has not yet been implemented. [Oklahoma Election Board]
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