An Open Letter to Gov. Stitt: This is a Public Health Emergency

View this email in your browser. Dear Gov. Stitt:  Health officials statewide have been urgently raising the alarm that our communities need to take action to help protect Oklahomans’ health and safety from COVID-19, especially for our youngest children who are unable to be vaccinated.  As the result of legislative action this spring, local leaders are able to exert local control and take certain proactive virus-fighting steps if — and only if — the governor declares a state of emergency.  That time is now.  The facts are these:  The CDC has identified 66 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties as being in the high to substantial transmission areas for the virus.  Initial studies show that COVID-19’s delta variant spreads more easily than the original strain. This is especially true for unvaccinated individuals. Children under the age of 12 are more susceptible to the virus because they cannot be vaccinated; as a result, the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatricians have both recommended universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status. Allowing schools to require mask-wearing better supports in-person learning for all students, including those who may be immunocompromised.  Only 2 out of every 5 Oklahomans are fully vaccinated. While our elderly population has a relatively high vaccination rate around 75 percent, only about 1 in 6 Oklahoma children age 12-17 are fully vaccinated.  Hospitalizations in Oklahoma are climbing at rates we haven’t seen since the peak of last fall’s surge; if we continue on our current course, health officials predict we soon will be left without hospital capacity. There is growing concern in the medical community that COVID infections will be causing long-term damage and may become a "mass disabling event." If so, this will come at a great personal cost, but also a considerable expense for taxpayers. With increased precautions today, we can minimize future risks and costs. As the vaccines began rolling out and hospitalizations subsided this spring, many Oklahomans may have been lulled into complacency with a false sense that the pandemic was over. Enjoying the normalcy of pre-pandemic times — such as going out in public without masks or dining in at our favorite restaurants — made things feel like they were back to “normal.” But, this was only a temporary illusion of safety. This pandemic is far from over. Experience has shown there are two proven tools that can slow this virus to manageable levels: getting vaccinated and wearing masks.  Oklahomans need you to use your powerful platform to encourage mask wearing and to vigorously promote vaccination, especially among groups that may be hesitant. Every elected official and community leader should be shouting down misinformation about the vaccines, which are both safe AND our best weapon to fight the virus.  But for Oklahoma to be fully effective in this fight, your fellow Oklahomans need you to declare a state of emergency that would allow local leaders to implement all available strategies to slow the viral spread. This move would not require you to implement a change, but makes available more lifesaving options to local authorities who are closest to the situation in their communities.  The “personal responsibilities” argument that has been used during this discussion does not apply when we’re dealing with the health and welfare of our children who by their age and maturity lack the agency with which to make these decisions for themselves. The responsibility for their safety rests with each one of us. You, in particular, carry a unique and heavy responsibility for their well-being as the result of the extraordinary power our lawmakers granted you this spring.  We urge you to fulfill your moral responsibility to do everything within your power to protect your fellow Oklahomans, especially our children. Their continued health and safety requires you to act today: It’s time for you to immediately declare a public health emergency. --- Contact Gov. Stitt 405-521-2342 | Email 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] Feds, neighboring states taking virus-related actions | Open letter to Gov. Stitt | Medicaid's 56th anniversary

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 An open letter to Gov. Stitt: This is a public health emergency: Health officials statewide have been urgently raising the alarm that our communities need to take action to help protect Oklahomans’ health and safety from COVID-19, especially for our youngest children who are unable to be vaccinated. As the result of legislative action this spring, local leaders are able to exert local control and take certain proactive virus-fighting steps if — and only if — the governor declares a state of emergency. That time is now. [OK Policy] Fifty-six years of Medicaid: Fiscally responsible and morally mandated: The Medicaid program, since it was signed into law in 1965, has provided access to affordable health care for millions, strengthened private insurance and Medicare, and positively impacted state budgets. Passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 improved the program and the entire United States health system by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of preexisting conditions, covering preventive services, and eliminating lifetime limits on coverage. Additionally, the ACA’s option for states to expand Medicaid extended the program to cover more low-income adults, which has helped narrow racial disparities in health outcomes. And Medicaid has been particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, as more people have relied on this coverage to get vital care. [Emma Morris / OK Policy] Oklahoma News Feds, neighboring states act as COVID-19 numbers climb: Rates in Oklahoma and neighboring states continue to grow. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the seven-day average increased more than 50% in Missouri and Arkansas, 149% in Oklahoma and 256% in Louisiana. Missouri has the nation’s fourth-worst diagnosis rate over the past week, with one in every 360 people diagnosed with COVID-19, the AP reported. A Springfield hospital announced Tuesday that it expanded its morgue capacity amid an increase in COVID-19 deaths, while the Kansas City mayor announced he would reinstate an indoor mask mandate for everyone age 5 and older effective Monday. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson declared a public health emergency Thursday and announced a special legislative session to change a law that prevents public schools from requiring masks. Oklahoma has a similar law. [The Journal Record] As COVID-19 hospitalizations climb, Oklahoma hospitals prepare for the worst [KFOR] These 4 maps show how COVID is affecting Oklahoma today [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma woman begs people to get vaccinated as husband fights for life [KOCO] COVID risk remains highest among unvaccinated older adults [Public Radio Tulsa] New statewide map shows vaccination rates by ZIP Code [News On 6] Tinker Air Force Base requiring masks regardless of COVID vaccination status [Tulsa World] 'It's confusing': Oklahoma businesses, schools respond to new CDC mask guidance [The Oklahoman] Opinion: State of emergency necessary as 'personal responsibility' not enough [Column / Norman Transcript] At Oklahoma Children's Hospital, available pediatric beds are scarce as RSV surges: Pediatric bed space is scarce at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, but COVID-19 isn’t to blame, a leader of the hospital said Thursday. Rather, it’s largely RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, driving high numbers of hospitalizations for kids. The virus — normally seen in the winter months — has gone “absolutely, exponentially off the charts” over the past two months, said Dr. Cameron Mantor, chief medical officer for Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health. [The Oklahoman] Lawmakers looking at eviction policy as moratorium comes to an end: A federal moratorium on evictions ends this weekend and that has some worried about a potential surge of filings against people who struggled to pay rent throughout the pandemic. On Monday, there are 87 eviction cases on the docket in Oklahoma County. That is similar to dockets throughout this week. [FOX 25] Tulsa officials address rent assistance as CDC eviction moratorium set to expire [News On 6] Council working group to look at rental property policies in Tulsa [Public Radio Tulsa] Eviction moratorium ends Saturday. What will it mean for OKC apartment renters, investors? [The Oklahoman] Health News 'Rural EMS is in trouble': Volunteer ambulance services face staffing shortages: A retired nurse who farms. A beauty salon owner with four children. A minister who is going back to school. These are among the nine people who make up the volunteer ambulance service in Laverne, tasked with covering more than 800 square miles in Harper County. It’s not enough. Like many rural ambulance services in Oklahoma and across the country, Laverne is struggling to find volunteers to keep up with the demands of medical emergencies in this rural area 180 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. [The Oklahoman] SoonerCare using libraries to educate people who could be eligible: Circulation Supervisor at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center library, Gina Brown, has helped around 15 people apply for Sooner Care. [KTEN] Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl are driving a spike in Oklahoma deaths: A flood of counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with the powerful opioid fentanyl drove a spike in drug overdose deaths across Oklahoma last year, according to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. Oklahoma saw 136 overdose deaths from fentanyl in 2020, a nearly 152 percent increase over the previous year, according to preliminary Bureau of Narcotics data. Last year was a record year for fatal drug overdoses in Oklahoma — 1,002 people died, exceeding the previous high of 883 deaths in 2019. [The Frontier] States could get billions from opioid lawsuits. They have to decide how to spend it: When Oklahoma settled an individual case against Purdue Pharma in 2019, the money helped establish an addiction treatment center at Oklahoma State University, in an initiative steered by Attorney General Mike Hunter. But members of the state legislature were outraged that the money had not been placed in the state’s treasury for them to decide what to do with. They’ve since changed the law so they get authority over divvying up money from future settlements. [STAT] State Government News Oklahoma revenue exceeds estimate, leads to $282M surplus: Oklahoma closed the books on the fiscal year that ended June 30 with a $282 million deposit into the state’s Rainy-Day Fund, state finance officials announced on Thursday. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services released figures that show the state’s general fund collections in Fiscal Year 2021 exceeded both the official estimate and prior-year collections. [AP News] Initial, rolling Oklahoma unemployment claims decline: The number of initial unemployment claims and the less volatile moving four-week average of initial claims are both down in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reported Thursday. The number of initial weekly claims fell by about 50%, from 7,787 to 4,394, and the moving average dropped from 8,237 to 7,046, the OESC reported. [AP News] Despite the decline, initial claims are still double what they were during the same period two years ago, before the pandemic. [Tulsa World] Supreme Court referee hears conflict of interest arguments on Corporation Commissioner Hiett: The Oklahoma Supreme Court is to decide later this year whether a former state legislator can get Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett removed from office. On Wednesday, a court referee heard arguments from attorneys and will summarize the arguments for the court's justices to consider when they return from recess in September. [The Oklahoman] Health care, jobs among House study issues: Interim study topics in the state House of Representatives this summer and fall will include health care, job development and other business issues, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on student learning, potential measures to reduce reliance on public welfare programs, neighborhood blight, the impact of Oklahoma’s high incarceration rates on convicts and their families, and an intrastate collegiate athletic conference. [Southwest Ledger] Reparations study denied by state House speaker; 'Conversation absolutely has to be held,' proponent says: Reparations for damage done to Tulsa's Greenwood district during the 1921 Race Massacre were a matter of discussion at that time, and they still are today, a state representative said. Earlier this summer, state Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, requested an interim study on the issue. That request was turned down by House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma House of Representatives study to consider Inner Dispersal Loop alternatives: Alternatives to the Inner Dispersal Loop around downtown Tulsa are the subject of an interim study approved in recent weeks by state Speaker of the House Charles McCall, R-Atoka. The study was one of two requested by Rep. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa. [Tulsa World] Tensions flare in Azerbaijan, Washington as Stitt tours Baku: On Wednesday, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt tweeted photos of himself sampling caviar and touring historical sites in Azerbaijan as he spends the week working to strengthen Oklahoma’s economic relationship with the Eurasian nation. On the same day, tensions flared at Azerbaijan’s border with Armenia, and the U.S. House of Representatives voted to cut off funding to Azerbaijan in response to what members of Congress described as “ongoing Azerbaijani aggression in the region.” [Journal Record] Federal Government News On partisan vote, House defeats proposal by Rep. Tom Cole to ban abortion funding: The U.S. House on Thursday rejected an effort by Rep. Tom Cole to extend a ban on federal funding of abortion, though the fight over the long-standing Hyde amendment is expected to continue in the next few months. The vote was 217 to 208 against Cole’s procedural motion. The vote was entirely along partisan lines, as all Republicans backed Cole’s effort and all Democrats opposed it. [The Oklahoman] Tribal Nations News Public Defender: Feds, Tribes have proven they're up to the challenge of more cases after McGirt: A local attorney intimately familiar with the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2020 ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma pushed back Thursday on Gov. Kevin Stitt and law enforcement officials’ claims the decision has imperiled public safety. [Public Radio Tulsa] Criminal Justice News Wayne Greene: Interim study process could reinvigorate criminal justice reform in Oklahoma: Speaker of the House Charles McCall approved 113 interim studies for state House committees recently. Formally, interim studies are assignments for legislative committees to look at particular issues, usually in one or two hearings. Often they're the result of specific legislation that is important to members but which can't seem to get traction. Other times, they're opportunities for legislators to explicate important or emerging issues for their peers, trying to build momentum in general if not toward a specific legislative goal for now. [Tulsa World] Education News Oklahoma state agency recommends closing some Mid-Del elementary schools: A years-long study by a state agency dug into how to improve the Mid-Del School District and recommended closing some elementary schools because of low enrollment rates and outdated or under-utilized buildings. [KFOR] Quote of the Day “I just feel like above all else, above all the B.S. that’s running around, against all the false statements and strong opinions. Just do yourself a favor, do your family a favor, do your friends a favor. Just go get your shot. People should know the vaccine is there to help. COVID is not slowing down and it can happen to you.” -Elizabeth Satter, whose husband went from being a healthy 27-year-old to being debilitated by COVID [KFOR] Number of the Day 601,023 Number of Oklahoma children who are insured by Medicaid, as of June 2021. This represents nearly 2 out of every 3 children in Oklahoma. [Source: Oklahoma Health Care Authority] Policy Note Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid Expansion Benefits Hospitals, Particularly in Rural America: Medicaid has long played a greater role in providing health coverage in rural areas than in urban areas, and the ACA has made Medicaid even more vital to rural America. Nearly 1.7 million rural Americans have gained coverage through Medicaid expansion, and in expansion states, rural residents make up a larger share of expansion enrollees than of the states’ combined populations [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

 

 

 

[In The Know] Health officials sound warnings as virus numbers climb | Opioid money going unspent | Running a fair race

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 Policy Matters: Running a fair race: While the words are very similar, there is a significant distinction between equality and equity. As I was thinking about the difference between them, I was reminded that the current Olympic games provide an excellent opportunity to showcase why equity should be our preferred goal. [Ahniwake Rose / Journal Record] Oklahoma News COVID-19: Oklahoma back in top 10 on virus cases: Only a couple of months after moving out of the top 10, Oklahoma is back to nearly leading the country in COVID-19 rates. In the most recent federal data available, the state on Monday bumped up to the federal government’s light-red zone for new cases per capita and dark-red zone for test positivity rate. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma sees 'orange' wave as COVID-19 cases increase statewide [Enid News & Eagle] Tulsa County facing even worse COVID-19 numbers if residents don't get vaccinated, Tulsa Health Department executive director tells city councilors [Tulsa World] | [Public Radio Tulsa] As Oklahoma’s COVID-19 cases climb, state sees an uptick in new vaccinations [The Oklahoman] As COVID cases surge, Rep. Frank Lucas urges Oklahomans to get vaccinated [The Oklahoman] No hazard leave for unvaccinated Tulsa city employees [Tulsa World] Parents, tell us what you want to know about kids' return to school as COVID cases climb [The Oklahoman] Most of the money Oklahoma secured from opioid companies has gone unspent: Oklahoma has secured more than $372.6 million in settlements from drug manufacturers and distributors, but only about 15 percent of the money has so far gone to pay for opioid addiction research and treatment. Millions more dollars have gone to pay for outside attorneys fees. And Oklahoma State University has yet to use any of the more than $100 million it received in state settlement money in 2019 to create a new national addiction treatment and research center. [The Frontier] Health News EMSA response times below standards due to staffing shortages: Response times for Oklahoma's largest ambulatory care provider have not met compliance standards in more than a year for the Oklahoma City area, largely due to staffing shortages. [The Oklahoman] State Government News Okla. lawmaker calls for special session to prevent private businesses from requiring COVID-19 vaccine: An Oklahoma lawmaker is calling on Gov. Kevin Stitt to convene a special session for the legislature to prevent private businesses from requiring employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. State Republican Sen. Warren Hamilton sent a letter to the governor, saying he’d like to see the legislature prohibit any entity from mandating the COVID-19 vaccine. [KOCO] Six months after storm, $4 billion in utility debts loom: During a meeting this morning, the Oklahoma Development Finance Authority approved contracting with bond counsel, special counsel, disclosure counsel and 18 banks to underwrite the state’s new, mammoth utility ratepayer debt securitization programs. ODFA could end up issuing about $4 billion in bonds in an effort to limit the interest rate payments that utility companies will pass along to Oklahomans who sustained inflated electricity and gas bills when natural gas prices spiked during February’s historic winter storm. [NonDoc] Lawmakers criticize OU over SEC decision; 34 sign letter expressing disappointment: In a letter to University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz on Wednesday, several lawmakers expressed disappointment in the school’s decision to leave the Big 12 and join the Southeastern Conference with the University of Texas. [Tulsa World] Big 12 sends 'cease and desist' letter to ESPN as Oklahoma, Texas seek SEC membership [Tulsa World] Federal Government News Hern slams proposed spending increases for climate change, education, family planning, more: Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) on Tuesday called for a 20% reduction in proposed spending increases in House Democrats' "minibus" spending package, lambasting what he called several "massive" increases to various federal agencies. [Public Radio Tulsa] Tribal Nations News Cherokee Nation runoff: Two candidates request recounts, consider challenges: Two candidates who finished second in their races Saturday for open Cherokee Nation Tribal Council seats quickly questioned the unofficial results and filed requests for recounts this afternoon. District 2 candidate Bobby Slover and District 7 candidate David Comingdeer sent NonDoc copies of their official paperwork requesting recounts in the Cherokee Nation runoff. [NonDoc] 'This project has persevered': Get a first look at Oklahoma City's First Americans Museum: The building sat as an empty shell for years, museum Director James Pepper Henry said. Seeing the hard work come to fruition was rewarding, he said, for him and board members of the American Indian Cultural Center Foundation and the Native American Cultural and Education Authority who got a first look on Tuesday. [The Oklahoman] Criminal Justice News Jail trust contracts juvenile housing with Pawnee County Sheriff's Office: The Oklahoma County Jail Trust signed an agreement Monday with the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office for use of Pawnee County's detention facilities for housing youthful offenders. The contract came after the trust was forced to relocate juvenile detainees after a failed Oklahoma State Department of Health jail inspection. The June 23 inspection, an unplanned follow-up to one in February, cited 35 deficiencies at the Oklahoma County jail. [The Oklahoman] OSBI investigates separate police shootings in Oklahoma: State investigators are investigating separate police shootings in Chickasha and near Marlow in Stephens County, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation reported Wednesday. [AP News] Economic Opportunity 'Better for everyone': Officials urge Tulsa landlords to seek rental assistance instead of evictions: With the federal government’s eviction moratorium ending this weekend, Tulsa could face an unprecedented wave of homelessness if local landlords don’t help tenants apply for financial assistance instead of taking them to court, officials said Wednesday. [Tulsa World] City Council creates working group to tackle rental property maintenance, tenants' rights [Tulsa World] Officials promote rental assistance as eviction moratorium ends, hundreds face legal action [Public Radio Tulsa] Tulsa City Leaders To Discuss Eviction Prevention Resources Ahead Of Federal Eviction Moratorium's End [News On 6] Project helps Metro Park neighborhood connect, improve quality of life: “This is my neighborhood. I love it,” said Cecilia Middleton about the Metro Park neighborhood west of downtown Oklahoma City. We stood on her porch and visited about her neighborhood as a church youth group from Texas was hard at work preparing her backyard for a replacement fence. Local donors provided the materials. [Free Press OKC] Education News How one Oklahoma school district is using the state’s Counselor Corps to improve mental health accessibility: Brenda Dalton knows the ideal way to get kids in Poteau back into the swing of things for learning is to give them mental health support. “We feel like the best thing for our students is for someone to be here on staff who knows our teachers and knows our kids, every day,” she said. That’s why the Poteau Public Schools Student Services Director made a big bet on asking for help via Oklahoma’s Counselor Corps, a $35 million program to hire hundreds of counselors in schools across the state. [StateImpact Oklahoma] OU strategic plan maps out research, student body goals for years ahead: The Oklahoma Policy Institute reports that from 2008 to 2019, Oklahoma cut higher education allocations by 35.3% per student, becoming one of only six states that cut funding more than 30% during those years. [The Norman Transcript] State Regents for Higher Education: Search for new chancellor finally moving forward: It has been nearly two years since Glen D. Johnson announced his intended retirement as chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, but the former Democratic speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives will remain in his lucrative state job for another few months as the search for his successor is only now underway. [NonDoc] General News Massacre reparations legal team says additional litigation over graves investigation possible: The legal team representing the three known living survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in a lawsuit for reparations for the attack and its ongoing harm said they may bring additional litigation regarding the city of Tulsa's oversight of the search for massacre victims' remains. [Public Radio Tulsa] Oklahoma Local News Medicaid signup fair coming to Del City [KFOR] As state takes over Western Heights, community activism at heart of changes for troubled district [The Oklahoman] Hotel assessments to begin again Sunday as city reestablishes Tourism Improvement District [Tulsa World] Quote of the Day “If we had had the same vaccine rates in May, June and July that we had had previously, we wouldn’t be here today. We have got to get our vaccination rates up over 75% but continue to take this layered approach to it with (the) vaccine, masks, and hand washing if we are truly going to get past this.” -Tulsa Health Department Executive Director Bruce Dart speaking about the need to increase vaccinations in Oklahoma, where only about half of adults are fully vaccinated [Tulsa World] Number of the Day 57% Percentage of all Oklahoma childbirths in 2019 that were covered by Medicaid. More than 28,000 Oklahoma births were covered by Medicaid that year. [Source: OHCA] Policy Note Expanding Medicaid for Parents Improves Coverage and Health for Both Parents and Children: Medicaid coverage has health and other benefits for children that extend into adulthood, other research shows. Children also benefit directly when their parents gain coverage because the parents have better access to care and health outcomes and the family has more financial security. [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

 

 

 

[In The Know] State health officials ask Gov. for emergency order as CDC issues new mask guidance | Hospitalizations rising

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 State health officials call for emergency order amid COVID-19 surge, react to CDC mask guidance: In Oklahoma doctor’s demeanor grew grim when asked her response to the near-reversal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s masking guidance. Dr. Mary Clarke, president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, spoke slowly: “This is absolutely preventable.” She said the members of eight different medical associations “are effectively in 100% agreement that we do need an emergency order” from Gov. Kevin Stitt — which he has said he will not issue. [Tulsa World] If Oklahoma’s COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to grow on their current trajectory — and they have climbed dramatically in recent weeks — hospitals could soon be overwhelmed, health leaders warned Tuesday. [The Oklahoman e-edition] An emergency order would also allow public schools to issue mask mandates. [AP News] A medical official said it’s illegal for hospitals to convert spaces to treatment rooms without an exception from the governor. The state department of health said in a video message yesterday statewide hospitalizations are currently at a manageable level but the numbers are moving in the wrong direction. [AP News via Public Radio Tulsa] Number of Oklahomans hospitalized with coronavirus at highest levels since February [The Frontier]  CDC changes course on indoor masks in some parts of the US [AP News via Lawton Constitution] Recommendations for fully vaccinated people [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] Health News Medicaid expansion "a boon" for underserved Bartlesville area residents: Bartlesville's Family Healthcare Clinic is getting an influx of new patients since Medicaid expansion took effect July 1 - many of whom haven't been to a doctor in years. "What we have seen in our clinic is a big boon, if you will, because folks who have been to the doctor maybe only once or twice in their lives are now able to come in and get their basic health care needs met," said Molly Collins, the clinic's executive director. [Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise]  All Ascension St. John associates given Nov. 12 deadline for COVID vaccination: Associates of one of Tulsa’s largest health care systems got an order on Tuesday — get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Nov. 12. [Tulsa World] Tulsa mayor announces COVID policy changes for city employees to increase vaccinations [Tulsa World] State Government News A year from statewide primaries, here's how much Gov. Stitt has raised for his reelection campaign: Gov. Kevin Stitt raised more than $773,000 from April through June for his reelection effort, achieving $1.2 million in his account a year before the 2022 primary. Stitt’s money came mostly from individual Oklahomans, according to his latest campaign finance report, and he has not added any personal funds. Stitt’s Republican primary opponent, former state Sen. Ervin Yen, collected $12,784 in the second quarter of the year and had $168,134 in his account at the end of June. [The Oklahoman] Federal Government News U.S. Rep. Mullin: Democrats, media share blame for insurrection: In a newly released interview about his experience inside the House chamber during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, Rep. Markwayne Mullin said Democrats and the media share in the blame for the insurrectionists' violent attempt to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 election. [Public Radio Tulsa] Tribal Nations News Lawmakers threaten to withhold major funds from Native tribes over treatment of descendants of the enslaved: Members of Congress on Tuesday threatened to withhold tens of millions of dollars in federal funding from four Native American tribes in Oklahoma, adding to renewed public pressure to end policies that discriminate against descendants of Black people who were enslaved by the tribes before the Civil War. [New York Times] Criminal Justice News Crackdown on distracted, speeding turnpike violators in the works: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is supplying seven to nine new vehicles for state troopers seeking to crack down on distracted driving, aggressive driving and speeding. In addition, the OTA hopes to add additional troopers to its ranks following an Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy that begins Wednesday. [Tulsa World] Law enforcement job fair aims to bolster ranks amid retirements, public perceptions [Tulsa World] Tulsa police chief says his tweet accomplished its goal — drawing attention to outbreak of gun violence: Police Chief Wendell Franklin is well aware that the tweet he posted Monday has drawn a fair amount of attention on social media, and he’s fine with that. That was his goal. But critics of the tweet said all Franklin’s message had done was to sow more dissension in the community. [Tulsa World] Final Oklahoma County Jail youthful offenders relocated to Pawnee County Detention Center: All remaining juveniles have been moved out of the Oklahoma County Jail, one week after the decision was made to do so. The 11 remaining youthful offenders are being held in the Pawnee County Detention Center. They were moved Monday afternoon, after nearly a week of working to find suitable arrangements, according to a statement issued by jail administration. [The Oklahoman] Jail trust, Pawnee County OK juvenile contract [The Oklahoman e-edition] Economy & Business News Musician's nonprofit awards $300,000 in seed funding to two Tulsa start-ups: Grammy Award-winning Pharrell Williams and his nonprofit initiative, Black Ambition, has awarded a total of $300,000 in seed money to a pair of Tulsa-based start-ups. Quirkchat received $250,000 and Boddle Learning $50,000. [Tulsa World] Education News New state law keeps schools from slowing expected COVID spread, in the way of CDC's new masking guidelines: Despite newly revised federal masking guidelines due to low vaccination rates, Enid area schools’ hands are tied from slowing down a surge in reported COVID-19 case outbreaks that health officials say to expect in the coming weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday recommended that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging. [Enid News & Eagle] Masks are a choice, said Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister in response to Tuesday’s updated guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It’s not a mandate. It’s a choice—a gift to others,” said Hofmeister in a statement. [Lawton Constitution] CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] General News Grant County sales tax expired for 3 months, but the government kept collecting: A 1 percent Grant County sales tax — which voters originally passed in 2011 to help fund county law enforcement and fire department operations — had expired on April 30 and, because of a number of delays in setting an election date, had not yet been renewed but was still collected for three months. [NonDoc] Oklahoma Local News Tulsa Transit saw sharp drop in ridership in Fiscal Year 2021, even as pandemic briefly waned [Public Radio Tulsa] Enid reports 'fantastic start' of fiscal year for hotel tax revenue after low winter months of pandemic [Enid News & Eagle] Luther Threatt Station on list to share in $3 million Black history preservation grant [Luther News] Quote of the Day “Even during the darkest days of our peak, in December of the pandemic, we did not have the number of positives being admitted to the ICU that we do now.” -Dr. David Kendrick, founder and CEO of MyHealth Access Network and chair of the Department of Medical Informatics at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine. He noted that there has also been a shift to younger unvaccinated COVID patients needing ICU beds. [Tulsa World] Number of the Day 140,793 Number of Oklahomans currently enrolled in Medicaid expansion, as of 7/26/21 [Oklahoma Health Care Authority] Policy Note How Connecting Justice-Involved Individuals to Medicaid Can Help Address the Opioid Epidemic: The ACA Medicaid expansion provided new opportunities to connect individuals leaving incarceration to coverage and services that can mitigate these risks and help people successfully transition into the community with services to support recovery and treatment. [KFF] 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