In The Know: Oklahoma's Senate seat remains open as politicians announce future plans | The state finalizes a deal to pay for housing after Gov. Stitt cleared homeless encampments in Oklahoma City | More

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.

TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) 80%   The increase in the number of students in pre-K through 12th grade experiencing homelessness over the past 17 years, reaching about 1.2 million nationwide. These students face major barriers to learning, including chronic absenteeism rates more than twice those of all students and significantly lower high school graduation rates compared with stably housed peers from low-income families. [National Center for Homeless Education] From OK Policy: Homelessness in Oklahoma - Information & Resources More Affordable and Available Housing Would Mean Fewer Children and Young People Experiencing Homelessness    Increasing the supply of truly affordable housing leads to fewer children and young people experiencing homelessness, especially in communities where low-income families can actually find units that fit their budgets. Counties with more affordable homes see far fewer students forced to double-up, move frequently, or sleep in unstable places. Expanding and preserving affordable housing — through stronger tenant protections, zoning reforms, and investments in low-cost housing options — helps keep kids housed and connected to school. Stable housing is one of the strongest foundations for children's health, learning, and long-term stability. [Urban Institute] "This contract represents shared goals and a commitment to long-term solutions both for the people who are unhoused, as well as the broader community... On occasion, people do need to be connected to a higher level of support that will last longer, (but) many others will achieve self-sufficiency within twelve months."   —Erika Warren, a spokesperson for Oklahoma City rehousing initiative Key to Home, on an agreement for the state to pay $800,000 for housing and services for people displaced by Gov. Kevin Stitt's operation to clear homeless encampments from state property. [The Frontier] Oklahoma News   Oklahoma politicians announce future plans, considering open Senate seat: As Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin prepares to take on the role of Secretary of Homeland Security, some of the state's politicians are making announcements about their political futures. Mullin's departure from the Senate means Gov. Kevin Stitt has the authority to appoint someone to finish his term, which will close in January 2027. [KOSU] 'Ready for a new chapter': Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell says he's not running for governor [KOCO]  The state finalizes a deal to pay for housing after Gov. Stitt cleared homeless encampments in Oklahoma City: Oklahoma has agreed to spend up to $800,000 to house about 40 people after Gov. Kevin Stitt's Operation SAFE — a shift from his earlier opposition to using tax dollars for homelessness housing. It's the only time The Homeless Alliance, an Oklahoma City shelter, can remember the state agreeing to pay for housing for people experiencing homelessness in the area. [The Frontier] From OK Policy: Housing is out of reach for working Oklahomans, seniors and people with disabilities State Government News   State prepares for 2030 census with new outreach and funding plan: With the end of the decade only a few years away, Oklahoma is gearing up to improve the state's census error rate by creating a comprehensive outreach strategy, featuring a multilingual, multimedia awareness campaign and partnerships with nonprofit and community organizations. [The Journal Record]   Oklahoma insurance commissioner approves CompSource conversion plan amid policyholder opposition: Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready on Thursday approved CompSource Mutual Insurance Co.'s conversion plan, which drew immediate pushback from some policyholders, who still must vote to approve the plan. [The Journal Record]   OETA brings back live pledge nights after federal funding loss: OETA launched its spring fundraising drive on Feb. 28, the same day that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced on social media that it had formally dissolved after the Republican-led Congress last year fulfilled President Donald Trump's request to claw back $1.1 billion that had been allocated for public broadcasting, eliminating a significant source of financial support for hundreds of public radio and TV stations across the country, including in Oklahoma. [The Oklahoman]   Legislative Roundup Oklahoma Senate advances bill creating fund to pay for Summer Olympics [Oklahoma Voice] Laws honoring Charlie Kirk did not advance in Oklahoma Legislature [The Oklahoman] Two measures to reshape Oklahoma education board, superintendent selection advance [KSWO] Bill in OK Legislature seeks to help with online ticket bot problem [KFOR] Federal Government News   Rep. Kevin Hern Appears to Have Tardy Stock Disclosures; His Office Disputes He's Late: Rep. Kevin Hern, a Republican from Oklahoma, appears to have failed to properly disclose millions of dollars worth of stock and corporate-security trades during the past year, which would be a violation of a federal transparency law, according to a NOTUS analysis of congressional financial records. [Oklahoma Watch]   4 things to know about Markwayne Mullin: Last week, the only Native American in the U.S. Senate, Markwayne Mullin, was nominated by President Donald J. Trump to join his cabinet as Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security. Here are four things to know about him. [ICT]   Tribal Nations News   Native American Life Expectancy Increases but Still Lowest Among U.S. Populations: New health data released last week showed that life expectancy rates for American Indian and Alaska Natives increased by 4.5 years, the largest increase among racial and ethnic groups, according to a new KFF analysis of mortality rates from 2021-2023. [Native News Online]   Peoria Tribe Chief wins reelection by 2 votes: Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma Chief Rosanna Dobbs won reelection Saturday by two votes, narrowly defeating Charla EchoHawk. [KOSU]   Cherokee Nation bringing job fairs to Tulsa, Muskogee this week: Small business owners, contractors and those looking for employment are invited to Cherokee Nation's job fairs in northeastern Oklahoma this week. [The Oklahoma Eagle]   Education News   Lawmakers grapple with future of Oklahoma high school sports governing body: Over a month after Oklahoma's governor called for the abolition of an organization that governs high school athletics, lawmakers remain divided over whether the century-old body needs an overhaul. [Oklahoma Voice]   Oklahoma board again rejects Jewish charter school but vows to support it in court: The Statewide Charter School Board on Monday voted to deny a resubmitted application to open Ben Gamla Jewish Charter School. Board members said they had no choice but to comply with a 2024 decision from the Oklahoma Supreme Court that prohibited the concept of taxpayer-funded religious schools. [Oklahoma Voice] Statewide Charter School Board rejects revised Ben Gamla proposal [Tulsa World] Former Cherokee Supreme Court justice to lead University of Tulsa: The University of Tulsa announced Monday that former Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Justice Stacy Leeds would become the university's new president starting July 1. [Public Radio Tulsa] University of Tulsa names new president, an alumna of TU College of Law [Tulsa World] Cherokee citizen and TU law school grad Stacy Leeds named university's next president [Tulsa Flyer] Opinion: Oklahoma needs to fund afterschool programs. They work.: States like Missouri, Alaska and Alabama, as well as 25 others, have committed to funding afterschool programs, programs that have proven time and time again to improve academic outcomes and graduation rates. And so far, Oklahoma has not. [Tristy Fryer / The Oklahoman]   Health News   Taxpayer dollars flood pregnancy centers. Oversight hasn't followed.: In Oklahoma, state auditors discovered that an anti-abortion nonprofit disbursed less than 7% of the $1.6 million it promised to nonprofits under the state's Choosing Childbirth program. Oversight of taxpayer funding remains weak, either blocked by legislators or ignored by state agencies. [Oklahoma Voice]   INTEGRIS Health and United Healthcare reach agreement: A deal was reached between INTEGRIS Health and UnitedHealthcare on Monday night after thousands of Oklahomans were at risk of potentially losing care. [KFOR] UnitedHealthcare remains in-network for INTEGRIS Health patients after agreement is reached [News 9] Criminal Justice News   Domestic Violence Intervention Court in the works for Oklahoma County: A federal grant will help Oklahoma County establish a new treatment court to support services for victims of domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Intervention Court could be in place by November. [The Oklahoman]   County jail trust erupts over apparently unauthorized staff pay raises: Some employees at the Oklahoma County jail recently received pay raises despite the Criminal Justice Authority, the trust that runs the facility, voting to postpone all salary increases, according to perplexed trustees who got in a shouting match while trying to determine who approved the raises. [The Oklahoman] 'Unilateral override': Jail pay raise debacle sees Kimrey accused of 'insubordination' [NonDoc] OK County jail trustee, admin argue over pay raises at latest meeting (video) [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma man pleads guilty in case swept up by McGirt controversy: A Norman man has pleaded guilty to arson and gun charges after being accused of setting fire to the home and vehicles of a McClain County sheriff's deputy. [The Oklahoman]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   Opinion: Collaborative approach helps stabilize Oklahoma foster care: As someone who works daily with foster families and children, I can tell you that the need for foster homes remains urgent. Community support matters. We need employers who support foster parents, churches that surround families with encouragement and neighbors who offer practical help, but mostly we need individuals who are willing to consider fostering so children are not left waiting. [Katherine Craig / The Oklahoman]   Economy & Business News   Gas prices spike across US amid Iran war: Global prices for Brent crude oil, the international standard, climbed over $100 a barrel. Prices were just above $70 a barrel in the days before the U.S. and Israel launched a surprise Feb. 28 attack on Iran, killing the regime's top leader and other powerful government figures. [Oklahoma Voice]   Stitt's Call for Medical Marijuana Revote Sparks Pushback Across Oklahoma: On Feb. 2, his final State of the State address, Stitt proposed a statewide revote to possibly end the medical marijuana industry in Oklahoma. That leaves dispensaries, growers and medical marijuana patients facing an uncertain future. [The Black Wall Street Times]   Tulsa City Council to discuss possible moratorium on new data center construction: Tulsa city councilors on Wednesday will discuss a proposal to impose a 365-day moratorium on the construction of new, large-scale data centers in the city. [Tulsa World]   Companies behind Inola aluminum smelter outline project details, address concerns: A planned $4 billion aluminum smelter to be built at the Port of Inola will be a game changer for the Tulsa area and the U.S., officials behind the project told the Tulsa World in an exclusive interview. [Tulsa World]   AfroPop Soda Announces Distribution Partnership With RNDC, Expanding Path Toward National Growth: AfroPop Soda, the culturally driven Black-owned beverage brand known for its bold flavors and celebration of Black creativity, has announced a new distribution partnership with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), positioning Oklahoma's only Black-owned soda brand for expansion and national growth. [The Black Wall Street Times]   Local Headlines Rejected Edmond Walmart Neighborhood Market wins second court battle [NonDoc] Jenks leaders believe The Ranch can be a 'Gathering Place contender.' Some are skeptical. [Tulsa Flyer] Support Our Work with a Donation 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. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave #1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 United States  918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org okpolicy.org    Connect with us:   If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive emails from us, please unsubscribe.

In The Know: Oklahoma has the highest insurance rates, despite lower incomes | Judge denies governor's request to intervene in city of Tulsa, Muscogee Nation lawsuit | Harold Hamm asked Stitt for Senate appointment

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.

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) $571 million   The total authorized budget for the state's Fiscal Year 2027 (which starts on July 1, 2026) is about $571 million less — about 4.5% — than its legislative expenditure authority from June 2025. This means that lawmakers this session have fewer dollars to spend to address the state's needs through its public budget. [OK Policy] Sound State Revenue Choices Essential to Counteract Harmful Policies and Build Forward   State and local policymakers nationwide are facing a one-two punch entering 2026. For one, last summer's harmful Republican megabill paired enormous tax breaks for wealthy households and corporations with historically deep cuts that will take away people's vital health care and food assistance, all while foisting considerable new costs and responsibilities onto states and localities. The resulting damage to people and communities is expected to be significant. And it comes at a time when many states are also facing intensifying budget pressures from the second threat: their own recent policy choices, like widespread income tax cuts, costly private school voucher programs, and a growing trend of property tax cuts and caps. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] "You can reduce who's receiving benefits, or you can reduce how much you pay for it. I mean, I'm oversimplifying it, but it's essentially those two things. And neither of those measures are fun conversations, but it's an important topic that we're discussing this year."   —Oklahoma House Speaker Rep. Kyle Hilbert (Bristow), speaking about the status of Medicaid/SoonerCare funding negotiations among lawmakers. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority has requested $495 million of additional funding for FY 2027 in order to maintain current services due in large part to decreased federal funding because of 2026's One Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1). [NonDoc] From OK Policy: H.R. 1 could push Oklahoma's health care system past its breaking point Oklahoma News   Federal judge agrees Oklahoma is failing to implement mental health consent decree: The state of Oklahoma is making insufficient effort to fix a system that keeps people languishing in jail instead of getting mental health treatment, according to U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell. [KOSU]   Oil Tycoon and GOP Donor Harold Hamm Asked Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt for Senate Appointment: Oil and gas magnate Harold Hamm, one of the wealthiest people in America and a major Republican donor, called Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday night, asking for the appointment to Oklahoma's newly open Senate seat. [Oklahoma Watch] These names are floating around as Markwayne Mullin's Senate replacement [The Oklahoman] Who plans to run for Markwayne Mullin's Senate seat? [KFOR] Gov. Stitt mum on pick for US Senate but says it will be a 'great Oklahoman' who fills the seat [KOCO] Tulsa Sheriff Vic Regalado 'considering' 1st Congressional District campaign amid shakeup [Tulsa World] Weekly rewind: U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin's resignation shakes up Oklahoma politics [Tulsa World] Opinion: Call it the Mullin Scramble. Who will come out on top? [Former Rep. Mark McBride / The Oklahoman] Partisanship perseveres: State Question 836 fails to hit signature threshold: A petition effort to change Oklahoma's primary system fell short of the required signature threshold to make it to a future ballot, the Oklahoma Secretary of State's Office announced Thursday. Organizers for State Question 836 turned in more than 200,000 signatures to the Secretary of State's Office, but it's unclear how many of the signatures were able to be verified. [NonDoc] Effort to open Oklahoma primaries falls short [Oklahoma Voice] Open primary state question fails; officials note invalid signatures [The Oklahoman] As open primaries in Oklahoma fail, a bill to codify partly closing them advances [KOSU] Grading Oklahoma: Oklahoma has the highest insurance rates, despite lower incomes: Even though the state's median household income are among the nation's lowest, the coverage rates are three times the average. [The Oklahoman]   Oklahoma riot law at the middle of years-long court dispute: Oklahoma's top criminal appeals court has ruled that a standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court about "true threats" of violence does not apply to the state's century-old law on prosecuting riots. [The Oklahoman]   Gov. Stitt signs executive order declaring a state of emergency for northeast Oklahoma: Governor Kevin Stitt signed Executive Order 2026-11 on Friday, declaring a State of Emergency in Alfalfa, Okmulgee, Grant, Major, Creek, Rogers, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties to ensure essential resources can quickly reach Oklahomans after the severe weather this week. [KFOR]   State Government News   Efforts move forward that could roll back Medicaid expansion: Despite voters already having voted in Medicaid Expansion, there is an effort that has moved forward that could allow the state to opt out of costs. This would ultimately restrict how many people could stay on Medicaid in Oklahoma. [KFOR]   Eliminating Oklahoma's medical marijuana industry would be 'death blow,' costly to state: A growing chorus of bipartisan voices, both inside and outside the industry, are pushing back against Gov. Kevin Stitt's recent calls to "shut down" Oklahoma's multi-billion dollar medical marijuana industry. [Oklahoma Voice]   Mulready Approves CompSource Conversion Plan: Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready on Thursday approved CompSource Mutual Insurance Co.'s conversion plan, which drew immediate pushback from some policyholders, who still must vote to approve the plan. [Oklahoma Watch]   House Speaker Kyle Hilbert wants primaries moved to March: Oklahoma Speaker of the House of Representatives Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, wants Oklahomans to vote earlier and, he says, more often. Whether or not it's his intention, Hilbert would also make it harder for voters to switch party affiliations ahead of elections. [Tulsa World]   Oklahoma Chronicle: Investing in Education: Oklahoma lawmakers have come up with a plan to improve child literacy scores across the state. The move comes with a hefty price tag and many are not happy about where the money will come from. [KOCO]   Legislative Roundup Bills filed after scathing audit would tighten financial oversight of state agencies [Tulsa World] Lawmakers Advance Several Voting Bills [Oklahoma Watch] Bills to watch: lawmakers advance key bills on elections, education, and taxes [The Journal Record] Here are the cost of living bills still standing as Oklahoma legislative session barrels forward [Tulsa Flyer] Monday Minute: Appointment decisions [NonDoc]  Opinion: SB 1450 brings clarity to those seeking to reenter the workforce: For years, fines and fees have quietly limited the ability of many Oklahomans to fully reenter the workforce. Even after completing court-ordered requirements, relief from certain costs can depend more on discretion than on clear, consistent standards. SB 1450, authored by Sen. Julie Daniels and advancing this session, addresses that gap. The bill modifies Oklahoma's waiver and ability-to-pay provisions by requiring waiver of certain court costs and fees once defined conditions are met. It also clarifies timelines for payment and establishes a substantial compliance standard. [Tiffani Shaw / Tulsa World]   Opinion: How ironic: While Oklahoma Republicans stood for America, they bowed as Trump trampled voter rights: Bowing down to Trump might seem like politics as usual in the Republican-controlled Oklahoma House. But here's where it gets delightfully ironic and raises some uncomfortable questions for Republican lawmakers about whether they actually do intend to protect American citizens living in this state. As House Republicans were standing to honor Trump, his Department of Justice was busy suing Oklahoma's election chief to try to force the release of private voter data. That's data that American citizens living in Oklahoma have made crystal clear that they don't want in anybody's hands except our state election officials. [Janelle Stecklein / Oklahoma Voice]   Federal Government News   What's the cost of Trump's war in Iran? US House Dem asks budget agency to add it up: The top Democrat on the U.S. House Budget Committee sent a letter to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Thursday, asking its experts to determine how much the war in Iran could cost. [Oklahoma Voice] D.C. Digest: War cost adds to Cole's appropriations duties [Tulsa World] Listen Frontier: Why Trump picked Markwayne Mullin for Homeland Security (podcast): On this podcast, we're talking about one of the more surprising political shakeups in Washington — the firing of Kristi Noem and the appointment of Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her. [The Frontier] Native Americans react to Sen. Markwayne Mullin's DHS appointment [NPR via KOSU] From fighter to Trump adviser, is Markwayne Mullin a good fit for DHS? [The Oklahoman] Is the ICE budget for converting warehouses to detention facilities more than Oklahoma's total annual spending? Yes: According to a document released amid ICE's acquisition of warehouses, ICE plans to spend $38.3 billion to expand detention capacity to 92,000 beds–more than Oklahoma's 2024 expenditure of $30.7 billion. [Oklahoma Watch]   Tribal Nations News   Teeing up OK Supreme Court case, federal judge boots Stitt motion in Muscogee, Tulsa settlement: District Judge John Russell announced today he will enter an order denying Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's intervention request aimed at preventing the enforcement of a settlement agreement in the Muscogee Nation's lawsuit against the City of Tulsa. The order portends a conclusion to the federal case, but it does allow the Stitt administration to continue making some of its arguments against the agreement in state court. [NonDoc] Judge denies governor's request to intervene in city of Tulsa, Muscogee Nation lawsuit [Tulsa World] Cherokee Nation Principal Chief optimistic for next Oklahoma governor, addresses Stitt on 'McGirt': Gov. Kevin Stitt, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has repeatedly called for limits to tribal sovereignty and has claimed Oklahoma's reservations were disbanded upon statehood, despite the landmark McGirt case that ruled half the state was tribal land. [KOSU]   Black Creek leaders seek federal records tied to Freedmen citizenship debate: Attorneys representing Black Creek descendants in an ongoing citizenship dispute with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation are requesting records from the federal government they say could shed light on how national policymakers are understanding the decades-long fight over Freedmen citizenship. [The Black Wall Street Times]   Education News   Essay controversy spurs OU criticism across spectrum: After the University of Oklahoma gained national notoriety last year for terminating a teaching assistant over a religious essay controversy, President Joe Harroz said he relied on OU's Faculty Senate Executive Committee throughout the process — a claim the body quickly disputed in a formal resolution. [NonDoc]   Criminal Justice News   SCOTUS considers whether plea deals block all appeals in Oklahoma: The ability to appeal or not to appeal was the question before the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, as justices considered how broadly appeal waivers in plea agreements should be enforced in the case of Texas defendant Munson Hunter. [Gaylord News via The Black Wall Street Times]   OK County Commissioner Myles Davidson will not be charged over sexual accusations: Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davison will not face criminal prosecution over accusations he groped a woman last year. [The Oklahoman]   Ex-Oklahoma cop arrested after investigators say he admitted to lying: A former police officer has been arrested on accusations he lied about an arrest in a rural western Oklahoma city. [The Oklahoman]   Family of armed man fatally shot by Tulsa Police officer seek answers, transparency: The family of an armed, suicidal man fatally shot by Tulsa Police are searching for answers nearly one month later. Karmen Glunt is asking that an outside, independent oversight committee be formed to review police shootings such as the Feb. 8 shooting of her brother. [Tulsa World]   Community News   Opinion: God knows we can and must do better. The choice is ours: Our beloved country is not in a good place, and life is getting worse. The inhumanity, injustice, racism and violence happening in our country is beyond comprehension, yet true. And just think how fortunate, even blessed, our country has been for 250 years! Sure, we have had our wars, famines, depressions, controversies and other challenges along the way, but we have always come back — even prospered. We still have the freedom and ability "IF" we have the desire and determination to correct our course. [The Rev. Lee Stephens / The Oklahoman]   Opinion: Jesse Jackson's words transformed my life at 10 years old: As a young Black boy attending a predominantly white school, where daily microaggressions came not only from students but sometimes from teachers, that declaration reshaped how I saw myself. The Rev. Jackson had an uncanny ability, through both word and presence, to make you feel seen and heard. [The Rev. A. Byron Coleman III / The Oklahoman] Support Our Work with a Donation 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. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave #1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 United States  918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org okpolicy.org    Connect with us:   If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive emails from us, please unsubscribe.