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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. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
Today you should know that former state Sen. Debbe Leftwich is asking a judge to delay her bribery trial because of “the extensive and sensational media coverage” of the conviction of her co-defendant. Unless Congress enacts a fix for the military and other departments facing sequestration, Oklahoma is expected to be hit hard by additional spending cuts, losing thousands more uniformed and civilian personnel.
Another officer has been put on leave after the Oklahoma Highway Patrol released a dash cam video that appears to show a police officer kicking a driver in the face during a traffic stop. The state’s 8th Annual Latino Youth Conference is expected to attract thousands of Hispanic teens.
The Number of the Day is the number of Oklahoma households receiving a benefit to pay their heating bill through the ‘Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program’, or LIHEAP. In today’s Policy Note, Oklahoma Policy Institute takes a closer look at how Oklahoma faired in a recent state-by-state report on the status of women.
In The News
Former Oklahoma senator seeks trial delay
Former state Sen. Debbe Leftwich is asking a judge to delay her bribery trial at least four months. The jury trial is set to begin Dec. 9. Her attorneys argue she cannot get a fair trial in December because of “the extensive and sensational media coverage” of the conviction of her co-defendant, former state Rep. Randy Terrill.
More spending cuts to military could hit hard at Oklahoma bases
Oklahoma military bases could be hit hard by more years of spending cuts, losing uniformed and civilian personnel, training time and maintenance work, according to estimates provided Thursday by Sen. Jim Inhofe’s office. Fort Sill, an artillery training base, could lose an entire brigade — about 1,400 uniformed personnel — and Tinker Air Force Base would need fewer civilian workers if the flow of aircraft needing maintenance slowed, Inhofe staff members said.
Study: 250,000 Oklahomans eligible for health insurance subsidies
More than 250,000 people in Oklahoma are eligible for subsidies to purchase insurance because of the Affordable Care Act, according to a new study by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. The study used data from the U.S. Census Bureau to examine how many people in each state would qualify for reduced insurance premiums under the law.
Dash cam video in Miami, OK, case puts fourth lawman on leave
Oklahoma Highway Patrol dash camera video released this week appears to show a trooper pulling a Miami man out of his pickup onto the ground and a Miami police officer running toward the driver and kicking him in the face. A fourth Miami police officer has been put on administrative leave with pay in connection with the case, City Manager Jeff Bishop said Wednesday.
Signup underway for the 8th Annual Latino Youth Conference for at-risk youth in the Tulsa metro area
Tulsa Latino leaders are hoping to reach at-risk youth in the Tulsa metro area by introducing them to outstanding professionals and leaders in Oklahoma. Signup for the 8th Annual Latino Youth Conference is underway. The two-day event is expected to attract thousands of Hispanic teens.
Quote of the Day
“This is immoral.”
Sen. Jim Inhofe, on automatic budget cuts under ‘sequestration’ that are now slashing military spending across the board
Number of the Day
47,566
The number of Oklahoma households receiving a benefit to pay their heating bill through the ‘Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program’, or LIHEAP, in 2012
Source: Campaign for Home Energy Assistance
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
The State of Oklahoma Women (Part One): Economic security and leadership
In September, the Center for American Progress released a report titled, “The State of Women in America: A 50-State Analysis of How Women are Faring Across the Nation.” The report uses a total of fourteen indicators in three categories – economic security, the leadership gap, and women’s health and healthy families – to produce a nationwide ranking.
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