[In The Know] Continued analysis on Oklahoma's education report cards, Claremore teacher wins 'Oscars of teaching,' and more

View this email in your browser. 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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. NOTE: 'In the Know' will be on hiatus until Dec. 9 while our staff takes time off for the holiday and then attends an annual conference in Washington, D.C. the following week. If you enjoy reading these weekly updates, we encourage you to make an online donation to support our mission. New from OK Policy Oklahoma college students are hungry, and there’s more we can do to help. The teacher walkout in 2018 brought much attention to the state of public education in Oklahoma, including food insecurity among students. Too many of our children are hungry - 60 percent of Oklahoma’s K-12 students rely on free or reduced lunch and other child nutrition programs to have enough to eat. Once these children transition to college, these programs no longer apply to them--but the hunger stays. [Naomi Curtis/OK Policy] In The News New state report cards show Oklahoma schools' grades are slipping: A third of Oklahoma schools’ performance is slipping, based on metrics released by the State Department of Education. Of about 1,500 schools assigned grades on the annual report card, 493 saw a decrease in their overall letter grades. Only 234 schools saw an increase in performance, while a vast majority had no change. [KOSU] One-third of Oklahoma schools require ‘heavy focus’. [Oklahoma Watch] Overall, Oklahoma’s letter grades (A-F) have dropped from last year in most criteria, which is an average of five categories. [CNHI] 30 Oklahoma City public schools got F's in annual report cards. [Oklahoman] Many suburban Tulsa schools see declines in overall state report card grades. [Tulsa World] Claremore teacher surprised with prestigious Milken Educator Award: The Milken Educator Awards have been called the "Oscars of teaching," and a Claremore teacher is the only one in Oklahoma to get one this season. Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister surprised Will Rogers Junior High English language arts teacher Brooke Lee with the award Tuesday morning in a school-wide assembly. [Public Radio Tulsa] She is among about 40 teachers being honored with Milken Educator Awards in 2019-20 and the only honoree in Oklahoma.[Tulsa World] Tulsa World editorial: New state rules will put Oklahoma school back to a five-day week. Now how do we keep them open?: Proposed new state guidelines will almost certainly roll back the four-day school week trend that has brought embarrassment to Oklahoma. The new standards are appropriate, but they don’t do anything to address the greater problem that led to four-day weeks in the first place — the underfunding of Oklahoma public schools. [Tulsa World/Editorial] OK Policy analysis shows that progress has been made recently on restoring funding for essential services like education, but it will be a long rebuilding project to full budget recovery. Despite move to new cells, struggle over solitary confinement for death row prisoners continues: The Oklahoma Department of Corrections has moved 33 death row inmates into a new unit inside McAlester’s Oklahoma State Penitentiary following discussions with ACLU attorneys this summer. But the ACLU still believes the inmates’ constitutional rights are being violated, and the inmates are still technically being held in solitary confinement as well as being denied religious services. [The Frontier] Citizen-led ballot measures gaining steam in Oklahoma: Apparently frustrated by years of inaction, Oklahomans increasingly are circumventing the Legislature and instead trying to create laws at the ballot box. Since January 2016, voters already have weighed in on five citizen-initiated ballot measures and gave their stamp of approval to three. A sixth ballot measure — tackling Medicaid expansion — seems all but guaranteed to make the 2020 ballot. [CNHI]  Citing polling support for vaccines, health officials urge 'education' on vaccinations: Oklahoma health officials are highlighting the importance of vaccines as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the country is experiencing a massive influx of measles cases. [Oklahoman] Is Oklahoma an anti-vaccination state? Poll finds strong support for vaccines. [Tulsa World] State in no rush to raise speed limits: Transportation officials aren’t rushing to raise speed limits to 80 mph on rural turnpikes in the state. However, important studies are examining factors ranging from road topographies to accident histories to determine if higher speed limits might be in order for some stretches of road. Most likely candidates include portions of the HE Bailey, Muskogee, Cimarron, and Indian Nations turnpikes. [Journal Record$] Tulsa councilor headed to White House for conference with female municipal leaders: Tulsa City Councilor Jeanie Cue will join nearly 100 other female elected officials who will meet with senior administration officials for briefings and discussions on community revitalization, economic growth, child care and a number of other issues.  [Tulsa World] Hoskin to serve on Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy board: January Hoskin, first lady of the Cherokee Nation, has assumed a leadership role on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. [Muskogee Phoenix] Quote of the Day “You’re seeing the people take it upon themselves to act. Oklahomans want to use their voice to change policy, and our constitution allows us to do that.” -Amber England, spokesperson for Yes on 802 campaign to expand Medicaid discussing citizen-led ballot measures. [CNHI]  Number of the Day 16,871 Number of Oklahoma students in 2018 who experienced homelessness of the state's 695,298 students. [U.S. Department of Labor] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note The economic debate over the minimum wage, explained: For at least the last 25 years, labor economists have been compiling reams of evidence trying to answer one big question: Do minimum wage laws cost us jobs? [Vox] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.   Connect with Us   Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

 

 

[In The Know] Oklahoma school report cards released, bill would increase accountability for state's charter schools, and more

View this email in your browser. 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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. New from OK Policy (Capitol Update) A look at redistricting in Oklahoma: An initiative petition to create an independent, bipartisan redistricting commission to redraw legislative and congressional districts in Oklahoma recently was filed by a group called “People Not Politicians.” The proposal would be on the ballot next year as SQ 804 and beginning after the 2020 census, the commission would do the redistricting now done by the Legislature. [Steve Lewis / OK Policy] In The News Report cards released for every Oklahoma public school: Statewide grades for Oklahoma public schools have dropped in evaluations of the 2018-19 school year. Oklahoma School Report Cards were released Monday with A-F grades for every public school, every school district and for the state as a whole. [The Oklahoman] The second year of the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s revamped school report cards saw an increase in the number of Tulsa Public Schools sites with failing grades. [Tulsa World] The state's schools grades are slipping, according to new report cards. [StateImpact Oklahoma] Yearly public school report cards released showing strengths, weaknesses. [Free Press OKC] OK Policy analysis shows that progress has been made recently on restoring funding for essential services like education, but it will be a long rebuilding project to full budget recovery. Lawmaker files bills to increase accountability of state’s charter schools: Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, filed two bills Friday to continue his efforts to improve administrative and financial accountability of Oklahoma’s virtual and brick-and-mortar charter schools. SB 1099 would require sponsors of brick-and-mortar charter schools to provide additional oversight of charters. [Shawnee News-Star] OK Policy has found that virtual charter schools are a cause for concern. Interim study examines state’s merit system reform: State Rep. Mike Osburn (R-Edmond) hosted an interim study recently before the House Government Efficiency Committee to examine possible changes to the merit system for state employees. State agencies use the merit system as their human resources management structure. Around two-thirds of the state’s more than 30,000 employees are classified within the merit system. Osburn, who chairs the House Government Efficiency Committee, said he had concerns regarding how the merit system may hinder effective human resources practices. [Edmond Sun] Does investigative tool cloaked in secrecy give prosecutors too much power?: In the multicounty grand jury system, Oklahoma prosecutors have a powerful tool to investigate allegations of crimes and public corruption across counties. But their power is not unlimited. A presiding judge is needed to approve subpoenas, and case law from several court rulings over the years places a check on prosecutorial conduct. Now the multicounty grand jury is back in the spotlight, with attorneys from separate court cases alleging that Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater misused the grand jury process. [Oklahoma Watch] Tulsa World editorial: Opening of Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice offers building with hopeful tone: Tulsa families and youths in crisis now have a more comfortable, safe and welcoming building for sorting out their legal challenges and trauma. After years of fighting for funding and searching for space, the Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice opens next week. About 6,000 youths a year go through the center for issues including adoption, child custody, juvenile offense and child abuse or neglect. [Editorial Board / Tulsa World] KIDS COUNT shows Oklahoma in bottom 10 states for child well-being. Lawsuit challenging school name change to proceed: Oklahoma County District Judge Richard C. Ogden denied a motion by Oklahoma City Public Schools to dismiss the lawsuit during a hearing. The district contends it complied with board policy when it renamed Northeast Academy. Renaming Northeast Academy, a predominantly black school, was criticized by parents and alumni who said the name change wipes away the school's history and legacy. [The Oklahoman] School’s in session: New Positive Tomorrows campus to open next week: Estimations are that there may be 6,000 children in the Oklahoma City metro area whose families struggle with homelessness to one degree or another. Many enroll in other public schools; some may bounce from one school to another. Positive Tomorrows, which will have an enrollment capacity of about 210, will offer a place for more stability and continuity, especially for those who might qualify as chronically homeless. [Journal Record $] Norman ranked most inclusive city in the state: Norman is the most inclusive city for Oklahoma's LGBTQ community, according to a national group's annual ranking. The municipalities were assessed by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which used its Municipal Equality Index to tally its scores. [Norman Transcript] Cherokee Nation, OSU host topping out ceremony for joint medical school: Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma State University marked the topping out of their new Tahlequah medical school on Monday. The final beam for the OSU School of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation was hoisted into position, putting it on track for the first cohort of students to start in August. [Public Radio Tulsa] New exhibit highlights Cherokee influence on Will Rogers’ life: He is known as the Cherokee Kid, but discussion about Will Rogers’ Cherokee heritage usually ends there as people move on to discuss his worldwide fame, prolific film career and influential political humor. A new exhibit, which opened this weekend at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, tells the previously untold story – how Cherokee history and culture shaped Oklahoma’s Favorite Son. [Claremore Progress] Burial committee sets meeting date to review scanning results: The 1921 Graves Investigation Public Oversight Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Carver Middle School, 624 E. Oklahoma Place, to review findings of subsurface scanning earlier this fall at Oaklawn Cemetery and Newblock Block. The committee is looking for unmarked burials from Tulsa’s 1921 Race Massacre. Officials at the time documented 37 deaths from the massacre but acknowledged widespread rumors of a higher — and perhaps much higher — death toll. [Tulsa World] Quote of the Day “We recognize that when our kids’ families live in poverty and when schools have concentrations of poverty, those schools need additional resources in order to help those students achieve. But we don’t give it to them, and then we give them a grade that only reflects the lack of resources that we’re providing.” -Tulsa School Superintendent Deborah Gist speaking about recently released school report cards [Tulsa World] Number of the Day $12.9 Billion The total economic impact that tribes made in Oklahoma in 2017. In addition to direct contributions, tribes generate billions in production by companies that support tribes’ business operations. [Source: Oklahoma Native Impact] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note STUDENT VOICE: “Colleges and universities need to remove barriers that prevent Native students from thriving in college”: A University of Tulsa student writes about how higher education can better meet the needs of students from tribal communities by addressing their ignorance of the realities, histories and cultures of Native communities. Colleges and universities need to remove barriers that prevent Native students from thriving in college. [Hechinger Report] Note: November is Native American Heritage Month. We recognize and celebrate the history, cultures, and contributions of American Indian and Alaska Native people in the state and across the country. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Connect with Us   Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

 

 

Nearly 500 elderly Oklahomans died prematurely due to Medicaid non-expansion, state hires Medicaid consultant, and more [In The

View this email in your browser. 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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. In The News Report: 476 older Oklahomans died prematurely because of Medicaid non-expansion: Nearly 500 low-income, older Oklahomans died prematurely because the state did not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, according to a new report. The report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that 15,600 deaths among low-income people ages 55 to 64 in a four-year period could have been avoided if all states had expanded Medicaid. [The Oklahoman] OK Policy supports straightforward Medicaid expansion and has provided information and resources to better understand the issue.  State health officials hire Medicaid consultants, sign contract for nearly $1.5 million: The Oklahoma Health Care Authority finalized a contract Thursday to pay no more than $1.49 million over the next year to Health Management Associates Inc. to help Gov. Kevin Stitt finalize and implement a health care plan he has hinted centers on some form of a Medicaid block grant. [The Oklahoman] OK Policy recently examined another state's Medicaid block grant proposal, noting that it threatens access to health care and rests on shaky legal ground. Tulsa World editorial: Oklahoma's failure to accept Medicaid money costs everyone, including those who have jobs and insurance: It’s not news to working Oklahomans that the cost of health care is taking a bigger bite of their income. A study by The Commonwealth Fund shows that the average potential cost of employer-sponsored health insurance premiums and deductibles in 2018 was about $7,311 in Oklahoma. That’s about 12.3% of the median state income. [Editorial Board / Tulsa World] Teacher numbers up as pay raises make hiring, retention easier, education leaders say: Oklahoma’s teacher workforce numbers are rebounding, and state and local education leaders say statewide teacher pay raises passed by the Legislature appear to be helping. [Tulsa World] OK Policy analysis shows that progress has been made recently on restoring funding for essential services like education, but it will be a long rebuilding project to full budget recovery. State defines line it would draw for allowing four-day school weeks: The state’s bar has been set for schools to operate on a four-day week and the requirements could force many schools back to five days a week. School leaders and community members can weigh in for the next three weeks on new proposed qualifications schools must meet to use an abbreviated academic calendar. [Oklahoma Watch] A-F report cards to grade every Oklahoma public school: Oklahoma School Report Cards are about to be released with A-F grades for every public school in the state. These grades will be based on the 2018-19 school year. [The Oklahoman] After selling state plane, Stitt flying commercial, taking helicopter and driving: When Gov. Kevin Stitt headed to Washington, D.C., this week to testify before Congress, he climbed aboard a commercial Southwest Airlines jet. [CNHI]  Five Tribes say they're waiting for an offer from governor on gaming compacts: Whatever Gov. Kevin Stitt is selling, the leaders of Oklahoma’s five largest Indian tribes aren’t buying.“It felt like a used car salesman thing, telling me I need a vehicle, and I’m saying, ‘No, I don’t. I have a good vehicle,’ ” Choctaw Chief Gary Batton said Friday. [Tulsa World] Cherokee Nation leading the way in fight against diabetes: The Cherokee Nation has its sights on eliminating the significance of diabetes in Northeastern Oklahoma, and have been encouraging folks to get outdoors and get active this month - National Diabetes Awareness Month. [Tahlequah Daily Press] Party heads discuss bill to ban smoking in bars: In the last regular legislative session, a bill to prohibit bar patrons from smoking inside did not make it through the Legislature, but House Speaker Pro Temper Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, is planning to introduce the legislation again during the second session of the 57th Oklahoma Legislature. [Tahlequah Daily Press] Improvement seen against juvenile sex trafficking: The nation’s preeminent group fighting the sex trafficking of minors started rating states in 2011 and the nation as a whole received a failing grade. [The Oklahoman] Local nonprofit group provides Thanksgiving meals to area food insecure college students: Members representing The Thanksgiving Project supplied dinners Saturday at Langston University-Tulsa for food insecure students representing Tulsa Community College; Platt College; Northeastern State University; University of Oklahoma; Oklahoma State University; and Tulsa Technology Center. [Tulsa World] Certificates of compliance slowing down marijuana business renewals: A new law enacted Sept. 1 states medical marijuana commercial businesses must possess a “certificate of compliance” from the city and/or county where the business is located to receive a license to operate, or to renew an existing license. [The Oklahoman] Virtual visits growing for new medical marijuana patients. [CNHI] Quality should not depend on ZIP codes says newest Board of Ed member: Meg McElhaney was appointed to serve on the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education Thursday and believes ZIP codes should not determine the quality of education in the district. [Free Press OKC] Oil, gas companies work to reduce emissions as political debate continues: Many Oklahoma-based oil and natural gas operators are testing the air as the nation’s climate change debate continues. Some such as Devon Energy and Chesapeake Energy have evaluated how a future environment, where a constrained carbon use exists, would impact their businesses. [The Oklahoman] Expert panel to discuss MAPS 4 projects, downtown: The Oklahoman has assembled an expert panel to discuss downtown development as it relates to proposed MAPS 4 projects. [The Oklahoman] MAPS 4 would fund new, permanent home for Palomar, OKC's Family Justice Center. [The Oklahoman] An end to gerrymandering: A grassroots group that wants to end partisan gerrymandering in Oklahoma is taking its act on the road this fall. As part of a statewide tour, People Not Politicians visited Ada on Thursday to drum up support for a plan to take the task of redrawing the state’s legislative and congressional districts out of politicians’ hands. That job would be turned over to an independent commission made up of three Republicans, three Democrats and three Independents. [CNHI] The new law readers want most? End daylight saving time: When you ask for new law ideas on the same day daylight saving time ends, guess what people suggest? End daylight saving time. Of the more than 300 ideas that came in during its “It ought to be a law” contest, ending daylight saving time was by far the most requested new law proposal. It also received the most votes in our online poll where we posted the top 10 new law ideas. [Tulsa World] Quote of the Day “We still have work to do to ensure we have a sufficient educator workforce to reduce class sizes and bolster student learning, but this sustained uptick in (teacher) numbers is a strong indicator that we have begun to reverse course and attract new talent to a profession with unparalleled impact on young lives.” -State Education Superintendent Joy Hofmeister [Tulsa World] Number of the Day 27.4% Percentage of Native American children in Oklahoma who are living in poverty [Source: KIDS COUNT] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note Child nutrition programs in Indian Country: Nearly 60 percent of counties where American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) make up the majority population have the highest food-insecurity rates in the nation. Child food insecurity rates get as low as 42% in Indian Country, approximately double the national rate of 20.9 percent in 2014. [Indigenous Food & Agriculture Initative] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.   Connect with Us   Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

 

 

[The Weekly Wonk] EITC is effective anti-poverty program, a call for bipartisan cooperation, and more

View this email in your browser. What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know. Click here to subscribe to In The Know. NOTE: The Weekly Wonk will be on hiatus for the next two weeks while our staff takes time off for the holiday and travels to Washington D.C. for an annual conference. If you enjoy reading these weekly updates, we encourage you to make an online donation to support our mission. This week’s edition of The Weekly Wonk was published with contributions from Open Justice Oklahoma Intern Thomas Gao. This Week from OK Policy The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is one of the most effective anti-poverty programs in America. Despite its effectiveness, 1 in 4 Oklahoma households eligible for the EITC do not claim the credit because the rules on who can claim it are extensive and challenging to understand. If Congress were to simplify the rules around the EITC, they could make this already effective anti-poverty tool even more effective. In her weekly Journal Record column, Executive Director Ahniwake Rose called on our state to work across partisan lines to advance policies that allow all Oklahomans to thrive. OK Policy in the News Policy Director Carly Putnam spoke to Bloomberg Law about model legislation, pushed by national organizations, that is threatening access to health care in Oklahoma. KOCO cited data from a recent juvenile justice report published by Open Justice Oklahoma, a program of OK Policy.

[In The Know] AG to appeal opioid decision, state officials finish counting Medicaid expansion signatures, and more

View this email in your browser. 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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. In The News Oklahoma Attorney General to appeal Balkman ruling in opioid trial: Nearly a week after Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman issued his final order in the landmark trial, state Attorney General Mike Hunter announced that he and his team will appeal the judge’s decision. [NonDoc] Attorney General Mike Hunter said attorneys disagree with Judge Thad Balkman’s ruling that requires Johnson & Johnson to only pay one year of the costs to abate the public nuisance. [CNHI] Johnson & Johnson previously announced that it, also, plans to appeal the ruling Balkman issued Nov. 15, but for far different reasons. [The Oklahoman] State officials finish counting Medicaid expansion signatures: State officials have completed their review of 313,677 signatures turned in to put the question of Medicaid expansion to a statewide vote next year. The secretary of state’s office counted 299,731 signatures, leaving the Medicaid expansion campaign more than enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. Now, it's up to the state's high court to issue an order stating whether the number of certified signatures is sufficient to put the Medicaid expansion question on the ballot. [The Oklahoman] OK Policy supports SQ 802 and has provided information and resources to better understand the issue.  Wayne Greene: Gov. Kevin Stitt should look at Puerto Rico's Medicaid mess before he signs up Oklahoma for block grant funding: Gov. Kevin Stitt should look at Puerto Rico's Medicaid mess before he signs up Oklahoma for block grant funding. ... A reduced variation of Medicaid in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories is funded through annual block grants. [Wayne Greene / Tulsa World] OK Policy examined another state's Medicaid block grant proposal, noting that it threatens access to health care and rests on shaky legal ground. State sends fewer kids to juvenile lockups as focus shifts to rehabilitation: The recent release of hundreds of inmates isn’t the only way the state of Oklahoma is addressing the number of people behind bars. It’s locking up fewer young people, too. KOCO 5 News was given rare permission to go inside the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center in Tecumseh to see how the Office of Juvenile Affairs has shifted its focus from punishment to progress. [KOCO] An OK Policy analysis recently noted that Oklahoma must continue to reduce juvenile incarceration to minimize disruption to youths’ lives.  (Audio) Cost of living adjustments, Governor Stitt testimony & tribal gaming compacts & more: This Week in Oklahoma Politics discusses the renewal of calls to provide a Cost of Living Adjustment for state retirees, Gov. Kevin Stitt goes before the U.S. Senate to support a federal proposal to stop states from using the Clean Water Act to block energy projects, and time is running out in the stalemate between the governor and tribal leaders over gaming compacts. [KOSU] A breakdown of the nearly $139 million that Oklahoma collected from state tribes in fiscal year 2018: Since 2005, the State of Oklahoma has collected money from tribal gaming in the state. The yearly fees collected by the state have increased every year since 2005. The current agreement provides that, in exchange for exclusive rights to conduct gaming in Oklahoma, the tribes pay the state an exclusivity fee starting at 4% and topping out at 6% on electronic Class III games. They also pay 10% on the monthly net win from table games. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma State Election Board debuts new OK Voter Portal: The Oklahoma State Election Board will allow voters to have more information at their fingertips thanks to their new OK Voter Portal. “The OK Voter Portal is a one-stop-shop for voters. It’s convenient, mobile-friendly, and most importantly—it’s safe and secure,” Paul Ziriax, State Election Board Secretary said in a news release. [CNHI] State pays to eradicate bed bugs from education department: Officials have paid nearly $7,200 to eradicate bed bugs inside the state building that houses education officials. Ultimately, one dead bed bug was discovered inside the Oliver Hodge Building, said Jake Lowrey, a spokesman for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which manages the building. [CNHI] Speakers discusses impact of colonization on mental health: As part of American Indian Heritage Month, Northeastern State University hosted Dolores Subia Bigfoot to give a presentation on the impacts of colonization on American Indian mental health. [CNHI] Oklahoma schools teach native history in Thanksgiving: Oklahoma teachers are painting a more complete picture of Thanksgiving as they embrace the Native American perspective of the holiday’s origins. School districts across the state have requested to use a lesson booklet developed from the Native American Student Services office in Oklahoma City Public Schools. [The Oklahoman] Chuck Hoskin Jr.: New Cherokee outpatient facility will transform health care for generations: The largest tribal outpatient health facility in America is now open in Tahlequah. It was a transformational moment in Cherokee Nation's history. The new facility - which includes more than 240 exam rooms, two MRI machines, an ambulatory surgery center, 34 dental chairs, full-service optometry and many specialty health services - will have a generational impact on health care in the Cherokee Nation and Northeast Oklahoma. [Chuck Hoskin Jr. / CNHI] Will Oklahoma County officials raise their own salaries?: Oklahoma County's elected officials put off a vote Thursday on raising their own salaries "effective immediately" because of legal concerns. The three county commissioners, sheriff, treasurer, assessor, clerk and court clerk now make $105,262 a year. At issue is whether they legally can accept almost $13,000 more a year in salary now or after they are reelected. [The Oklahoman] OKCPS appoints ‘good listener’ Meg McElhaney to board: The Oklahoma City Public Schools Board filled its vacant District 7 seat by appointing marketing executive Meg McElhaney to the unexpired term this evening. [NonDoc] The empty seat represents District 7, which covers much of the southeast side of Oklahoma City. Many of the schools in the district are majority Hispanic. [The Oklahoman] Cooper: This MAPS about ‘people, parks and places’: About 50 Oklahoma City residents quizzed city officials on what MAPS 4 would mean for their neighborhood, while also getting updates on the progress of the Better Streets, Safer City initiative passed in 2017.[NonDoc] Parking discussion for new police headquarters cut short: Plans to demolish the old Oklahoma City police headquarters and municipal court buildings were approved by the Downtown Design Review Committee on Thursday, but a discussion about creating a parking lot where the buildings now stand was cut short due to legal considerations. [Journal Record $] Broken Arrow mayor claims victory in medical marijuana ordinance lawsuit; plaintiff says court ruling is not 'vindication' for city: The city of Broken Arrow claimed victory Thursday in a lawsuit that challenged medical marijuana ordinances it approved last year, but the attorney who filed the petition argued the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling does not vindicate the city. [Tulsa World] Editorial: How a City Fought Runaway Capitalism and Won: Tulsa's Greenwood neighborhood survived the Black Wall Street massacre. It wasn’t going to back down when the dollar stores came to town. [Victor Luckerson / New York Times] Tulsa demonstrates inclusiveness as it seeks true reconciliation of 1921 Race Massacre, John Hope Franklin dinner speaker says: Tulsa is willing to dive deep into its tragic history to heal pain in the present, which Imam Omar Suleiman says is instrumental to “build beyond the moments.” Too often, he explained, people are comfortable simply gathering for events or news conferences. The community must construct solid relationships between terrible tragedies. [Tulsa World] Former State Rep. Elmer Maddux dies Wednesday: Former State Rep. Elmer Maddux, a long-time farmer and rancher in Mooreland and champion of rural Oklahoma, died Wednesday night. Maddux represented Northwest Oklahoma (District 58) in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1988-2004. [CNHI] Quote of the Day “We can keep locking them up and locking them up – I've been in law enforcement for 20 years and that hasn't changed at all, so we've got to start rethinking the way we serve our communities. Yes, there's always going to be jails and there's always going to be bad-doers, but what are we doing on the front end to prevent people from even going there?” -Lt. Wayland Cubit with the Oklahoma City Police Department speaking about the pilot Man-Up program for justice-involved youth in Oklahoma [KOCO]  Number of the Day 96,177 The number of jobs that Oklahoma tribes supported in the state in 2017, representing $4.6 billion in wages and benefits to Oklahoma workers. [Source: Oklahoma Native Impact] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note Tribal Technology Assessment: The state of internet service on tribal lands: Access to high-speed Internet service has become an essential component to the nation’s economy, education, and healthcare. However, federal data continues to show tribal lands are the least connected areas of the country. [American Indian Policy Institute] Note: November is Native American Heritage Month. We recognize and celebrate the history, cultures, and contributions of American Indian and Alaska Native people in the state and across the country. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.   Connect with Us   Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe