In The Know: Oklahoma Secretary of State won't resign after arrest | Violent crime in US fell at record pace in 2025 | Inola aluminum smelter raises health, environmental and security concerns

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.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) Inola aluminum smelter raises health, environmental and security concerns (Capitol Update)   Possibly the most consequential news of the week, at least in Eastern Oklahoma, resides in the judicial branch. Attorney General Gentner Drummond filed for an injunction in federal court against the owners of the proposed aluminum smelter in Inola seeking to halt construction while litigation over the smelter’s ownership and potential health and environmental effects proceeds. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] What’s on the ballot for the August 25, 2026 elections in Oklahoma?   All Oklahoma voters, regardless of political party, can vote on the two state questions appearing on the Aug. 25 ballot. In addition, several cities across Oklahoma will hold municipal elections on local offices and ballot measures. Some counties also have local ballot measures or county offices on the ballot, depending on where voters live. [Get Vote-Ready] | [Find Your Sample Ballot] Take Our Quick Online Survey Share this link with your friends and family in Oklahoma! -7   The gap between Oklahoma fourth graders’ average reading scores and the national average in 2024. Oklahoma was 5 points above average when tracking began in 1992, but scores have declined since 2002. [The Nation's Report Card] How Money Matters: Education Funding and Student Outcomes   A large and growing body of evidence shows that money, when spent equitably and effectively on key school resources, improves student outcomes and closes achievement and opportunity gaps. Research consistently shows that when more money is spent on education, especially for students from low-income families, achievement and graduation rates improve, along with life outcomes such as employment and wages. [Learning Policy Institute] "Tomorrow’s workforce begins in today’s elementary classrooms."   — Jake Yunker, executive director of the State Chamber Research Foundation, discusses why literacy reforms and stronger support for teachers are so important to Oklahoma’s future. He explains that literacy is both a workforce development issue and one that shapes the opportunities available to Oklahoma children — and why investing in public schools and educators matters. [The Oklahoman] State Government News   Benjamin Lepak won't resign after arrest: Oklahoma Secretary of State Benjamin Lepak does not plan to resign after his recent arrest on suspicion of public intoxication, according to two people familiar with the matter. It was his second alcohol-related arrest since 2021. [The Oklahoman]   State audit finds $3.73 million in misspent Tulsa Public Schools bond funds: A former bond director at Tulsa Public Schools wrongly profited from millions of dollars meant for student facilities, a state audit alleged Tuesday. [Oklahoma Voice] New findings released in multimillion-dollar scheme involving Tulsa Public Schools bond director [KOTV via Tulsa Flyer] Second audit details activity in Tulsa Public Schools bond office [Tulsa World] Appeals court won't rule in Oklahoma's poultry pollution lawsuit for now: At the State of Oklahoma’s request, a federal appeals court says it will not yet issue a judgment in the state’s case against a slew of poultry companies. [KOSU]   AG comments on Gov. Stitt's warning to three Oklahoma cities: Gov. Kevin Stitt is warning three Oklahoma cities: either enforce the state’s anti-camping law or receive a sizable bill. But Attorney General Gentner Drummond said he doesn’t think those threats are justified. [Public Radio Tulsa]   Federal Government News   Trevor Pemberton, Zach West nominated as federal district judges: On his Truth Social account Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced a slate of nominations to the federal judiciary, including a pair in Oklahoma where the state’s three districts have seen increased workloads under the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma. [NonDoc]   Tribal Nations News   Osage Congress considers language charter school following immersion school closure: The Osage Nation Congress is considering a public charter school with the state of Oklahoma after the executive branch recently closed the immersion school. [KOSU]   Tribal leaders to discuss healthcare, gaming and elections at Tulsa meeting: United Indian Nations of Oklahoma will bring Tribal leaders and partners together Aug. 27 in Tulsa for its quarterly meeting, addressing federal Indian health policy, Tribal sovereignty, threats to Tribal gaming from prediction markets, Oklahoma’s November election and Native voter engagement. [The Journal Record]   OETA expands free streaming access with First Nations Experience: Every Oklahoman deserves free access to trusted educational and cultural programming, no matter where they live. To help meet that need, the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) has expanded its free livestream offerings with the addition of FNX or First Nations Experience, bringing the total number of live channels available through OETA to six. [Cherokee Phoenix]   Voting and Election News   Election Roundup Oklahoma Republicans raise millions ahead of key runoff elections [Oklahoma Voice] State questions, party nominees to be decided in Oklahoma's August runoff election [KOSU] Mazzei, Drummond talk campaign spending, endorsements ahead of Oklahoma runoff [Oklahoma Voice] Drummond outraises, outspends Mazzei ahead of GOP governor runoff [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma GOP governor candidates outline plans to lift state’s 50th education ranking [KOCO] Last three remaining governor candidates meet at forum, answer questions about Oklahoma's top issues [Public Radio Tulsa] Fact-check: Candidates clash over past allegations in Oklahoma superintendent runoff debate [The Frontier] From the Mississippi Miracle to Consolidation and Cursive: Fact-Checking the Oklahoma State Superintendent Runoff Debate [Oklahoma Watch] GOP insurance commissioner runoff has become contentious ahead of election day [The Oklahoman] District 1 OK County: Jason Lowe, Kayla Baker compete in unusual Democratic runoff [NonDoc] County sales tax vote looms over District 3 OK County runoff election [The Oklahoman] Education News   Epic’s new superintendent vows transparency while rebuilding Oklahoma’s largest virtual school: Epic Charter Schools, Oklahoma's largest virtual charter school, begins the new school year emphasizing financial stability and student success after years of controversy and challenges. [KOCO]   Opinion: Oklahoma literacy law is a good start, but only the beginning: With the launch of the Oklahoma Literacy Initiative, we can help more Oklahoma children discover the power of reading. During this year’s legislative session, Oklahoma leaders took an important step forward by strengthening the Strong Readers Act. The Legislature deserves tremendous credit for making early literacy a priority and establishing a stronger foundation for evidence-based reading instruction. But passing a law is only the beginning. [Jake Yunker / The Oklahoman]   Health News   Is Oklahoma among the states with the shortest life expectancies for women?: Yes. Oklahoma has the 48th highest female life expectancy among the states and the District of Columbia at 76.5 years, according to the most recently available state-by-state federal report. [Oklahoma Watch]   Reported Oklahoma cyclosporiasis cases reach 544, but new illnesses may be declining: Oklahoma has reported 544 cyclosporiasis cases so far this year, according to new data from the State Department of Health. An agency spokesperson said the state may be starting to see the number of new illnesses decline. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]   Justice System News   Violent crime in US fell at record pace in 2025: Violent crime in the United States fell by an estimated 9.3% in 2025, marking the largest year-to-year decline in the national violent crime rate since the FBI began estimating crime in 1936, according to new national data. [Oklahoma Voice]   Oklahoma City Council renews license plate reader contract despite pushback: The Oklahoma City Council voted Tuesday to extend the city’s contract with an automated license plate reader (ALPR) company, despite opposition from some residents. Five council members voted in favor, and three voted against it. Ward 8 Councilman Mark Stonecipher was absent. [KOSU]   Man with gang ties pleads guilty to murder from 2004 Tulsa shooting: A man with gang ties already serving a federal prison term for an illegal weapon possession charge has been sentenced to serve another 10 years in state prison in connection with a 2020 murder stemming from a shooting 16 years earlier. [Tulsa World]   Sheriff accused of 'conspiracy' to get paid for jail inmate transports: With several legal disputes resolved by a judge, Oklahoma County jail trust attorneys have accused Sheriff Tommie Johnson III in court filings of claiming political power he doesn't have, and breaking the law in a "civil conspiracy" to get his department paid for transporting jail inmates to court and back. [The Oklahoman]   Community News   This neighborhood group is urging Black Tulsans to talk about mental health: The topic of mental health took center stage Monday night as Tulsa nonprofit Northside Neighbors launched its mental health campaign. “Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Well.” is a series of social media callouts and in-person events to normalize conversations around mental health. [The Oklahoma Eagle]   Calvary Baptist and sit-in plaza will be part of sit-in commemoration: A march from a historic church building to a special downtown Oklahoma City plaza is planned as community members honor a civil rights icon and the movement she led. [The Oklahoman]   Local Headlines Cleanup is underway after large natural gas tank fire in Glenpool [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU] OKC's May Avenue bridge, NW 23rd projects on track for 2027 [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.