[In The Know] Thousands brave bad weather to vote early | Some residents without power until next week | Election news & notes

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. Some stories may be behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and click here see past editions. Oklahoma News 'I was determined': Thousands brave weather to vote early in Oklahoma: The rain didn’t stop them. Neither did the piercing wind. Voters bundled into coats and masks and clung to umbrellas as an early morning storm in the Oklahoma City metro dared them to give up plans to vote early on Thursday. Oklahoma is still reeling from an ice storm that left more than 200,000 without power this week. Regardless, 50,200 Oklahomans cast their ballots in person by 5 p.m. on the state’s first day of early voting, the Oklahoma State Election Board reported. [The Oklahoman] However long it takes': Starting in the rain and ending in sunshine, voters line up at ONEOK Field to cast early ballots [Tulsa World] Early voting begins, OKC voters met with hourslong wait times [The Oklahoman] Early voting begins across Oklahoma amid record turnout [AP News] Election will happen with or without power [CNHI via Muskogee Phoenix] Thousands cast ballots on first day of early voting at ONEOK Field [Public Radio Tulsa] Early voting is available in the county where you are registered to vote. Early voting will be held 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 29 & 30, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 31 [Oklahoma State Election Board] Early voting locations in Oklahoma, listed by county [Oklahoma State Election Board] Oklahoma ice storm among worst to affect state utility: An ice storm that struck Oklahoma this week is among the worst ever to affect the state’s largest utility system, the company’s president said Thursday. “This is probably the most severe storm we’ve ever had on our system,” according to OGE Energy Corp. CEO, Chairman and President Sean Trauschke. We probably had in excess of 500,000 outages,” and repairs could take up to a week to complete. [AP News] Oklahoma power outage: Numbers to know as work continues to get power back on [The Oklahoman] OG&E still assessing power restoration times [CNHI via Claremore Progress] After ice storm, some OKC residents may not have electricity until late next week [Public Radio Tulsa] OKC metro schools cancel Friday classes, adjust next week [The Oklahoman] Early ice storm creates unique challenges for Oklahoma health care providers [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU] Long recovery expected following Oklahoma ice storm [KOSU] Ice storm 2020: The end is not near [Journal Record] Opinion: Ice storm is a teachable moment for those temporarily without power [OKC Free Press] COVID 19: 1,041 new infections and 20 more deaths reported in Oklahoma: The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 1,041 new cases of COVID-19 and 20 more deaths Thursday — including two in Tulsa County — as the statewide seven-day rolling average continues to surpass 1,000 new cases daily. Numbers released around 9 p.m. Thursday show that 120,193 Oklahomans have had or still have COVID-19 and that 1,306 Oklahomans have died from the disease. [Tulsa World] Each case of COVID-19 has a cost, which differs from state to state according to the rate of uninsured and other factors – and Oklahoma’s costs are around the middle of the pack at $124 per COVID-19 case, according to a recent report. [Journal Record] Election News These Oklahoma politicians gave misinformation a boost: An Oklahoma Watch investigation into the spread of misinformation, which looked at how frequently state political parties and politicians shared content flagged by fact-checkers on Facebook this year, found Murdock, R-Felt, was one of the most prolific sharers of posts identified on the site as false or misleading. [Oklahoma Watch] OK Policy: Choose healthy news over junk. Critics of SQ 814 explain pitfalls of funding change: A state question on Tuesday’s ballot threatens to erode health care outcomes, the head of the Oklahoma State Medical Association said Thursday. Dr. George Monks, the group’s president, joined former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson and others in a virtual press conference to urge voters to turn down State Question 814. The Legislature put the constitutional amendment on the ballot. It would change the funding process for the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, created 20 years ago by a vote of the people. [Tulsa World] OK Policy has published a non-partisan fact sheet for SQ 814 available at okpolicy.org/okvotes. Contentious funding of Medicaid on ballot [Journal Record] Supporters of SQ 805 slam foes' 'fear-mongering' of reform petition: Proponents of a sentencing-reform measure on the general election ballot pushed back Thursday against an opposition campaign they say exploits fear and misinformation. State Question 805, which reached the ballot through an initiative petition, would amend the state constitution to bar prison sentences that exceed statutory guidelines because of prior convictions for nonviolent crimes. It is intended, supporters say, to curb Oklahoma’s high incarceration rates and their social and economic consequences. Many in law enforcement oppose the measure and say it would allow for the earlier release of repeat offenders for crimes such as burglary and domestic abuse. But Goss and others supporters say advertisements opposing the state question go too far. Some are particularly upset about a television ad they compare to the “Willie Horton” spot from the 1988 presidential campaign. [Tulsa World] OK Policy has published a non-partisan fact sheet for SQ 805 available at okpolicy.org/okvotes. How a domestic violence loophole could doom a campaign to cut Oklahoma’s harsh prison sentences [Mother Jones] Dozens of Tulsa religious leaders announce their support for SQ805 as voting begins [Public Radio Tulsa] SQ 805 would put limitation of criminal penalties in Oklahoma constitution: SQ 805 will be on Oklahoma’s Nov. 3 ballot, but its proposal was originally developed in 2016 when a comprehensive, statewide task force assembled to identify prison reform initiatives that could dethrone Oklahoma as No. 1 in the world for incarceration rates. The Pew Charitable Trust and The Crime and Justice Institute, national leaders in policy analysis and development, led the Oklahoma Justice Reinvestment Task Force. Recommendation No. 11 advised Oklahoma lawmakers to revise sentence enhancements for nonviolent offenders. [NonDoc] OK Policy has published a non-partisan fact sheet for SQ 805 available at okpolicy.org/okvotes. Oklahoma teenagers want their voices heard to make the world ‘a better place’ (video): Most Oklahoma high schoolers can’t vote and that isn’t lost on them. But, they all want to have a bigger influence on the 2020 election, which they feel will have an outsized influence on their future. So in a series of Zoom focus groups last week, StateImpact and Generation Citizen asked Oklahoma high school students for a discussion about how they are consuming and using information about each candidate’s campaign and platform. [StateImpact Oklahoma] College football players and the election: 'We're the next generation of voices. It's no longer acceptable to sit on the sidelines.' [Tulsa World] Opinion: We have a choice to be compassionate: America has a momentous choice to make in the next few days. No, I am not talking about the election. I am talking about how we will treat each other after the election. Any election is cause for some angst and anxiety. But, as with everything else in 2020, the negative mental health effects of this election cycle are on some form of steroids unknown to even the Russian Olympic squad. America, on the eve of this election, is a nation on the brink of tearing itself apart. [Opinion / Enid News & Eagle] Opinion: Moving beyond national elections: We often hear that “all politics is local,” and this statement is still true today. I would add the importance of state politics as well. While we often focus on the presidential election every four years, this year, state and local elections are just as important, if not more. You might not think that when you consider the amount of money spent on the national elections, but it’s true. While state and local politics may not be as flashy as national politics, I believe state and local elections are just as crucial. [Opinion / Norman Transcript] Health News Health Department reports 9 new flu-related hospitalizations in Oklahoma: Nine additional Oklahomans were hospitalized statewide for flu-related illnesses during the past week, including two in Tulsa County, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported Thursday. There have been 26 hospitalizations in the state since Sept. 1, including that of an infant in Tulsa County, but no deaths have been reported. All but two hospitalizations have been of patients 50 and older, and the median age of those hospitalized has been 70. [The Oklahoman] Tulsa Public Schools, Oklahoma Caring Van team up to offer free flu shots for kids [Public Radio Tulsa] TSET helps PMTC lure 42 doctors to rural, underserved communities: A partnership between the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) and the Oklahoma Physician Manpower Training Commission (PMTC) has resulted in the successful placement of 42 doctors in more than two dozen cities. The physician loan repayment program benefits rural and underserved communities across the state. [Southwest Ledger] State Government News Initial state unemployment claims decline by 13%: Initial claims for state jobless benefits declined by 13% last week compared to the prior one-week period, according to a government report. The U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday that 4,591 workers filed for first-time jobless benefits with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. That’s 686 fewer than the revised number of workers who filed initial claims during the week ending Oct. 17. Continuing claims also declined by 14,314 to 59,007 the week ending Oct. 17. [Tulsa World] Initial and continued unemployment insurance benefit claims, and the four-week moving average for continued claims declined for the 18th consecutive week, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reported on Thursday. [Journal Record] Oklahoma County Sheriff race, state questions, tribal gaming compacts & more (audio): This Week in Oklahoma Politics discusses the outgoing Republican Oklahoma County Sheriff endorsing the Democratic candidate for the election to replace him, SQ 805 to remove sentence enhancements for nonviolent offenders and State Question 814 to take money from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust to give to lawmakers to pay for Medicaid expansion. [KOSU] Federal Government News Tribal leaders unite against potential federal legislation: Leaders of three of the Five Tribes released a statement on Thursday opposing legislation in response to the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision. [KOSU] USDA provides $26.4M for rural broadband: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing is investing $26.4 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Oklahoma. The investment is part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program. [Journal Record] Criminal Justice News Oklahoma Department Of Corrections halts awarding credits for good behavior: The Oklahoma Department of Corrections intends to stop reducing prisoners’ sentences in exchange for good behavior and their participation in programs designed to help them restart their lives after prison. The agency announced the decision after getting an informal opinion from the Attorney General’s Office. [KOSU] Quote of the Day “I’m 68 years old, and my voice is important. I was determined no matter what the hardship to continue on and make my voice heard.” -Lynn Barnes speaking about her 90-minute wait in the pouring rain to cast her early vote on Thursday. [The Oklahoman]   Number of the Day 50,200 The number of Oklahomans who participated on the first day of early voting by 5 p.m. on Thursday  [Source: Oklahoma State Election Board via The Oklahoman]   See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note 5 Things You May Not Know About Local Election Officials: The highly decentralized nature of our election system creates a patchwork of approximately 10,000 jurisdictions at the county or municipal level. At the heart of every one are local election officials, and in many ways they are the unsung heroes of our democracy. That’s because when they do their jobs well, they often go largely unnoticed. Tens of millions of Americans routinely vote without facing long lines or other challenges, but I’ve never seen see a headline of “Local Election Official Aces Incredibly Complex Technological and Administrative Test.” To be sure, no election official (or election) is perfect, and one disenfranchised voter is too many. And it’s appropriate to have incredibly high expectations of these stewards of our democracy. But many of the recent public attacks that they are facing are unfair and untrue. [Brennan Center for Justice] 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] Early voting starts today | Official: 'No end of this peak in sight' | Managed care bad for patients, providers

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. Some stories may be behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and click here see past editions. New from OK Policy Managed care will be bad for patients and providers: The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) is currently accepting proposals from corporations, in an effort to privatize Medicaid and outsource the services that OHCA has successfully provided for decades. Managed care has already failed in Oklahoma, with no evidence to suggest the market has changed since the last attempt. This transition would not only be a significant financial risk for the state, but would likely harm both patients and providers. [Emma Morris / OK Policy] Policy Matters: Voting hits close to home: With so much attention placed on the presidential election these days, it is worth remembering that our state and local races are the ones that most deeply impact our day-to-day lives. In my family, voting was never a matter of ideology. Rather, it was about representation. It was about community. [Ahniwake Rose / OK Policy] Oklahoma News Early voting still on despite unusual Oklahoma weather: Despite Oklahoma’s unusually wacky weather early voting for the Nov. 3 election will begin Thursday. County election officials in Oklahoma, Cleveland and Pottawatomie counties said Wednesday their early voting locations have power and are ready to go for the three-day early voting period that ends Saturday. [The Oklahoman] Early voting is available in the county where you are registered to vote. Early voting will be held 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 29 & 30, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 31 [Oklahoma State Election Board] Early voting locations in Oklahoma, listed by county [Oklahoma State Election Board] With surge of mail-in ballots, election officials unsure what to expect when in-person voting starts Thursday [Tulsa World] 'No end of this peak in sight': Public health official concerned for 65-and-older demographic as October becomes worst month for COVID-19 in Oklahoma: Oklahoma has amassed more COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in October than in any other month and is poised to surpass the monthly deaths record before the weekend. Dr. Jennifer Clark offered her data presentation Wednesday morning during the weekly COVID-19 session of Project ECHO, an Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences program that helps serve rural and underserved areas. She pointed to multiple charts that depict ways to view the state’s positive cases, which she said last peaked in mid- to late July. “We’ve definitely blown that out of the water with no end of this peak in sight,” Clark said. [Tulsa World]  COVID hospitalizations drop below 900 as Oklahoma posts 743 new cases [Public Radio Tulsa] Tulsa officials asking for greater virus cooperation from county residents, neighboring city leaders [Public Radio Tulsa] Tulsa Heath Department offers guidelines for celebrating Halloween during pandemic [Tulsa World] Making phone calls, finding beds — hospitals working together to match resources with need [Enid News & Eagle] State nursing shortage magnified with COVID outbreak [Southwest Ledger] Fall ice storm ‘worst nightmare’ for many in Oklahoma: More than 350,000 homes and businesses in Oklahoma were without electricity Wednesday as cleanup continued from an ice storm that ravaged much of the state. Gov. Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for 47 of the state’s 77 counties because of severe winter weather. [AP News] COVID-19, ice storms leave homeless scrambling for scarce overnight shelter [The Oklahoman] Ice storm debris could take months to clean up; and costs may not be covered by your insurance [The Oklahoman] Some shelters at capacity, struggle as power lost [OKC Free Press] Emergency blood shortage; donors needed following ice storm [Guthrie News Leader] Election News Oklahoma ice storms leave thousands without power on eve of early voting: Hundreds of thousands in Oklahoma are still without power on Wednesday after powerful ice storms downed electrical lines across the state on Monday, creating hazardous conditions the day before in-person early voting is set to begin in the state. The Oklahoma State Election Board said that a lack of electricity would not keep Oklahomans from voting. “Oklahoma has a paper-ballot-based system, which ensures that voting in Oklahoma will go on regardless of whether or not we have power,” said a spokeswoman. [New York Times] Election 2020: Oklahoma sample ballot and other voter resources [Oklahoma Watch] Ready, set, vote! 4 steps to be ready for Nov. 3 [The Oklahoman] Inhofe, Broyles trade barbs in final days of campaign [Tulsa World] Kendra Horn vs. Stephanie Bice: Where the 5th Congressional District candidates stand [The Oklahoman] Small-town strangers compete for southwest Oklahoma’s HD 56 [NonDoc] SD 5 candidates agree on issues, not on politics [NonDoc] Munson seeks another term in north OKC HD-85 against Robinson [OKC Free Press] Oklahoma Senate leader Greg Treat faces Democratic challenger [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma County positions up for grabs during election [The Oklahoman] Tulsa Transit offering free daytime rides Thursday through Saturday in support of early voting [Public Radio Tulsa] Two Oklahoma voters discuss the impacts of being unemployed during the pandemic [Oklahoma Engaged via KGOU] Oklahoma Engaged: How the white evangelical Protestant voting bloc impacts elections in Oklahoma: Over time, Perry says the values of white evangelical Protestants and the Republican party have practically merged together. Pew finds that over the past 25 years, white evangelical Protestants have seen one of the biggest shifts toward the GOP, making them the most solidly and consistently Republican major religious groups in the country. [Oklahoma Engaged via KGOU] Health News Should Oklahoma reroute public health funding to pay for Medicaid expansion?: One of two state questions on the general election ballot, State Question 814 would reroute public health funding to Medicaid expansion. Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton with Oklahoma Engaged explains the proposal and where the money would come from. [Oklahoma Engaged via KGOU] OK Policy: Rerouting TSET funds is one of several funding mechanisms available to lawmakers to pay for Medicaid expansion. Additionally, OK Policy has published a non-partisan fact sheet for SQ 814 available at okpolicy.org/okvotes.  EMSA to end contract next month with staffing provider it's suing: As they fight it out in federal court, a contractor providing paramedics for Tulsa and Oklahoma City’s public emergency medical provider threatened to terminate its contract at the end of January, in the middle of a five-year deal. The Emergency Medical Services Authority, however, decided on Wednesday to end its agreement with American Medical Response sooner. [Public Radio Tulsa] The Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) will take over ambulance operations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa from its contractor, American Medical Response, amid a legal battle over $16 million in disputed payments. [The Oklahoman] State Government News Virtual public meetings to sunset Nov. 15: State lawmakers will require all government bodies to start meeting again in person starting Nov. 16 even as health officials are urging Oklahomans to social distance to slow the spread of COVID-19. Since March, the Legislature has permitted Oklahoma public bodies to meet virtually. This practice allowed appointees, elected officials and the public to participate remotely in a bid to protect participants from COVID-19 until Nov. 15. Because of how they wrote the law, even Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt can’t use an emergency declaration to override its end date. [CNHI via Norman Transcript] Capitol Update: Extending teleconference meeting law before February requires special session Medical marijuana surplus pays for 794 teachers: Taxes and fees assessed on Oklahoma’s cannabis industry produced enough revenue to pay the salaries of almost 800 teachers, a spokeswoman said. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) contributed $42 million to the state Department of Education, which included $30 million appropriated by the state Legislature plus $12 million from the OMMA. [Southwest Ledger] Supreme Court ruling could cost state agency up to $9.5 million: A study of the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that indicates potentially one-third or more of Oklahoma remains Indian reservations shows Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners are bracing for possible loss of regulatory enforcement and revenue. [Southwest Ledger] Criminal Justice News Some question the legitimacy of certain Shaken Baby syndrome convictions: Many of the people convicted on shaken baby or abusive head trauma evidence maintain their innocence, but proving it can often be a difficult prospect — the cases and trials rely heavily on expert testimony that can prove expensive for defendants and are based on science that some in the medical field question. [The Frontier] Freedom with a cost: Her shaken-baby conviction was overturned, but she had to plead guilty to stay out of prison [The Frontier] Tulsa Police union chair dead from COVID-19: Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police Board of Directors Chairman Jerad Lindsey has died from COVID-19. In recent years, Lindsey emerged as a vocal critic of police oversight proposals from Mayor G.T. Bynum. [Public Radio Tulsa] Lindsey started his career with Tulsa Police Department in 2005 and worked as patrol officer. He recently was serving also as Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police vice president. [Tulsa World]  SQ 805 draws praise, criticism: When the Prison Policy Initiative reported that Oklahoma incarcerated 1,079 per 100,000, the state was labeled “the world’s prison capital.” After more than two years, the label has not gone away as incarceration numbers continue to surge. [Southwest Ledger] OK Policy has published a non-partisan fact sheet for SQ 805 available at okpolicy.org/okvotes. Oklahoma Local News Tulsa Mayor urges prudence despite some positive signs in 1st quarter for city budget [Public Radio Tulsa] Tulsa County Courthouse to undergo asbestos cleaning [Tulsa World] 4 reasons why the OKC council can't make up its mind on panhandling law [The Oklahoman] Lawton City Council approves hotel-motel tax proposal for Feb. 9 vote [Lawton Constitution] [Southwest Ledger] Quote of the Day "Our health care system is getting overwhelmed. They keep wanting to know why the public is playing Russian roulette with their health and with the health of the health care system." -Dr. Bruce Dart, director of the Tulsa Health Department [Public Radio Tulsa] Number of the Day 45.5% Share of Oklahoma counties (35 of 77) where at least half of residents lack broadband internet access. [Source: Federal Communications Commission] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note Digital Equity for Students and Educators: The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has made it impossible to ignore the nation’s digital divide, which has exacerbated deep inequities in every community across the United States. For many school districts across the country, reliance on remote (mostly digital) instruction has continued into the fall. But remote learning requires digital technologies—access to broadband internet and one-to-one (1:1) computer devices— that an estimated 13.5 million school-age children (ages 5-17) lack. This digital divide threatens to widen pre-existing inequities and the opportunity to learn; putting the nation’s most underserved school-aged children at risk. [National Education Association] 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

 

 

 

Hospital official: 'Very, very dark winter' ahead | Ice storm hits state | Pandemic blamed for enrollment decline [In The Know]

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. Some stories may be behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and click here see past editions. Oklahoma News 'Vast majority' of Tulsa's record COVID-19 hospitalizations are from outside city, officials say: Tulsa’s COVID-19 hospitalizations a week ago were 20% above its record over the summer, with the “vast majority” of patients coming from outside the city limits, Mayor G.T. Bynum said Tuesday during a news conference. Unfortunately, Bynum pointed out, he and the City Council are powerless to enact any sort of mitigation strategies beyond Tulsa. Nonetheless, the mayor, city councilors and Bruce Dart of the Tulsa Health Department plan to meet Friday to discuss the state of affairs and whether there is more that Tulsa itself can do. [Tulsa World] Saint Francis Health System warns of 'a very, very dark winter' for COVID-19 in Oklahoma [Public Radio Tulsa] Oklahoma COVID-19 hospitalizations begin creeping back up [AP News] Tulsa Public Schools employee dies with COVID-19, district confirms [Tulsa World] [Public Radio Tulsa] COVID-19 cases reported at Muskogee and Fort Gibson high schools [Muskogee Phoenix] Noting 'spotty compliance' with mask requirement, Tulsa Transit will let drivers deny boarding [Public Radio Tulsa] The number of positive COVID-19 tests reported by the Oklahoma State Department of Health increased by 1,010 to 118,409 on Tuesday. The Health Department reported 22 deaths, the largest single-day report during the pandemic. The state's death toll rose to 1,273. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma ice storm a 'worst nightmare,' leaves 200,000 without power: A “worst nightmare” of an autumn ice storm wrecking trees and power lines across the metro area left more than 226,000 without power Tuesday. [The Oklahoman] Ice storm wreak havoc on power grid. [The Oklahoman] Ice storm causes damage to Survivor Tree at Oklahoma City National Memorial [KOCO] Education News Tulsa Public Schools officials blame pandemic for 3,000 student drop in enrollment: Tulsa Public Schools officials said Monday the district lost about 3,000 students over the past year, three times what they expected based on the past few years. Chief Operations Officer Jorge Robles believes the pandemic is to blame. He said the drop is mostly due to lower enrollment in early grade levels, including steep declines in pre-K and third grade. [Public Radio Tulsa] Unclaimed funds: Many Oklahoma schools yet to claim share of $12 million from CARES Act: With only three days left to apply, fewer than half of Oklahoma’s public school districts have claimed a share of $12 million in federal relief funds set aside to pay for online courses and instruction for students amid the pandemic. The “Learn Anywhere Oklahoma” initiative is funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security — or CARES — Act. Emergency funds from the federal government were set aside for each governor to address individual state needs. In Oklahoma, schools can claim a share of Learn Anywhere funds based on the number of students enrolled in the school district. The funds are used to purchase access to online courses — either for local teachers to use in their own instruction or for students to be enrolled in online courses with instructors employed by the state’s vendor, called Edmentum. [Tulsa World] Criminal Justice News DOC strategy seems to be slowing spread: The Department of Corrections’ strategy seems to be slowing the spread of the COVID-19 inside state prisons, an advocate said Tuesday. Bobby Cleveland, executive director of the Oklahoma Corrections Professionals, said when he visited the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester last week, employees were complimentary of the agency’s approach. [CNHI via Tahlequah Daily Press] Sheriff says Tulsa County Jail COVID-19 outbreak decreasing among inmates, increasing among staff [Public Radio Tulsa] Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah, NSU join fight against domestic violence: Tahlequah Mayor Sue Catron has declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and she and other Tahlequah leaders hope to open dialogue and unite advocates in an effort to end the scourge. [Tahlequah Daily Press] Election News In a pandemic, door knocking a candidate conundrum: Among the many impossible-to-predict consequences that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on local candidates, its effect on door knocking and other in-person campaigning efforts could be the most significant. Whether to knock on constituents’ doors has become one of the most contentious campaign strategy questions of 2020. [NonDoc]  Inhofe, Broyles, make final push as election day nears: The race between incumbent Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe and Democrat challenger Abby Broyles is one of contrasts. Inhofe is representative of Oklahoma’s conservative old guard, loyal to a brand of politics that’s battle tested in the state. Broyles would represent a dramatic departure from Inhofe’s politics. She’s progressive, with calls to decriminalize marijuana, reform policing, and address climate change. [The Frontier] How the three state Supreme Court justices on the retention ballot ruled on recent major cases: From the validity of certain Indian gaming compacts to legislation implementing tax hikes, Oklahoma Supreme Court justices often are asked to rule on the constitutionality of bills and actions that can have a dramatic impact on the lives of Oklahomans. State voters will decide Nov. 3 whether three of the nine current Oklahoma Supreme Court justices will retain their jobs. [The Oklahoman] OKC charter: Votes decide even mundane changes: The OKC charter serves as the governing document of the city and contains within it ordinances and laws. On Nov. 3, voters will have the option to vote for or against nine propositions. [NonDoc] Infrastructure, county jail focus in Oklahoma County commissioner race: The race for Oklahoma County’s District Two commissioner seat pits a longtime incumbent against a first-time candidate who both say they will focus on improving local infrastructure and the county jail. [The Oklahoman] State Questions explained: Learn more about SQ 805 and SQ 814 via these explainer videos. [Oklahoma Engaged] Oklahoma Engaged Live: Voice of the Voter, Episode 4 (audio) [Oklahoma Engaged via KGOU] OK Policy has published non-partisan fact sheets on both state questions, as well as other voting resources at okpolicy.org/okvotes. Editorial: Report any bullying at the ballot box: Reports of voter intimidation at the polls aren't something the Daily Press gets much of. This year, though, it may be different. A handful of local residents say they've been approached and threatened if they don't vote a certain way. [Editorial / Tahlequah Daily Press] The Frontier will be on the lookout for any problems that prevent people from voting. You can help us. [The Frontier] Economic Opportunity Internet service is critical now more than ever, but in Oklahoma City there's a divide in access among high-income and low-income areas: Internet service proviers face criticism for neglecting poorer neighborhoods, with some research describing the lack of infrastructure available to low-income residents as digital redlining, a modern mashup of a term historically used to describe how racial minorities were prevented from owning homes in some neighborhoods. [The Oklahoman] OK Policy: Broadband is more important than ever — here is how Oklahoma can respond Economy & Business News 'Reagan' biopic filming in Oklahoma halts production after crew members test positive for COVID-19: Production has temporarily halted on the Oklahoma-made biopic "Reagan" after multiple people on set reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. [The Oklahoman] Quote of the Day "I believe in liberty, I believe in all those things. That's why I joined the Army. That's why I fought for the country. But these are things to keep America safe, and to keep our communities going. I don't want to shut things down, and I want people to stay healthy and have their loved ones and everything like that. I don't understand why people don't understand what a big deal this is." -Dr. Roger Gallup, a pulmonologist and critical care physician working a COVID unit at Tulsa's Saint Francis Hospital [Public Radio Tulsa] Number of the Day 15,638 Adults and children in Oklahoma who receive assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which is a time-limited cash assistance to low-income families with minor children who are deprived of parental support because of the absence, death, incapacity, or unemployment of at least one parent. [Source: Spotlight on Poverty]  See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note Family Cash Assistance Programs Marked by Historical Racism, Especially in South: Low benefits in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program are rooted in historical racism, especially in the South, where cash assistance has been consistently weaker since policymakers created TANF’s predecessor nearly a century ago. The result is now a program that does not cover the basic needs of low-income families during times of joblessness, illness, or disability. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] 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