[In The Know] Health officials still urging vaccination | Redistricting special session | A call for civility

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: A Call for Civility: Teddy Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech often gets cited by those seeking elected office. It celebrates those who are “actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.” Unfortunately, too many public meetings these days feel like they’re devolving into the kind of chaos where bloody confrontation is possible. Like earlier this month when a fight broke out at a Lindsay city council meeting, or the many city council and school board meetings statewide that have turned into shouting matches where unruly participants had to be forcefully removed. [Ahniwake Rose / The Journal Record] Oklahoma News State is past COVID delta surge but still has work to do vaccinating more Oklahomans: If another variant doesn’t usurp delta as the dominant variant, COVID-19 cases should continue to drop during the next couple of months, Dr. Dale Bratzler said Wednesday during his weekly press briefing. Bratzler, the University of Oklahoma’s chief COVID officer, said he thinks the state is now beyond the delta surge. He noted that case counts and hospitalizations are still declining, though hospitalizations are doing so more slowly than new cases. [Tulsa World] "The wildcard would be if we saw a variant come into the United States and into Oklahoma that started spreading rapidly, like we did with Delta, but at this point in time, there are no variants that seem to be taking over," Bratzler said. [Public Radio Tulsa] 'That's the tragedy of this': Sick people not getting optimum care while COVID ravages Oklahoma hospitals [Tulsa World] Oklahoma COVID-19 cases trend downward, but hospitals remain strained [The Frontier] Schools With No Masking 3.5 Times More Likely To Experience COVID Outbreak [Public Radio Tulsa] White House COVID-19 response adviser talks COVID-19 boosters with StateImpact Oklahoma [StateImpact Oklahoma]  Your Guide To COVID-19 Vaccine Information For Parents, Young Adults [KOSU] Oklahoma City VA system to begin offering Pfizer booster [The Lawton Constitution] Health News A salmonella outbreak in the US has hit Oklahoma with 51 confirmed cases. Here's what we know: A nationwide outbreak of salmonella has brought 51 confirmed cases to Oklahoma, with health officials working across several states to figure out the source. As of Monday, Oklahoma was the second-highest state with confirmed cases of the outbreak strain Salmonella Oranienburg, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Texas was the top state, at 81. [The Oklahoman]  State & Local Government News As Lawmakers Prepare for Redistricting Special Session, What You Need to Know: Lawmakers will be returning to the State Capitol this fall for a special session to carry out the once-a-decade task of redrawing legislative and congressional boundaries. Gov. Kevin Stitt announced last week that he is calling lawmakers into a special session on Nov. 15 to solely focus on redistricting work that must be completed this year. [Oklahoma Watch] Council to decide redistricting response to OKC population boom [The Oklahoman] Lawmakers study potentials of public work program partnership: A forum held at the Oklahoma Capitol this week focused on possibilities for a potential partnership of government, private industry and nonprofit organizations that might create work opportunities for unemployed and underemployed Oklahomans. [The Journal Record] Holt: The rule of law holds us together: The pandemic shone a light on how necessary – and how fragile – is the very concept of the “rule of law,” Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt told those gathered at the Oklahoma County Bar Association’s Law Day Luncheon on Tuesday, held at the Skirvin Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. Policy makers, lawyers and citizens must be made aware of how their individual actions may either uphold the rule of law, or lead to the destruction of our American way of life, Holt cautioned. [The Journal Record] Lt. Governor joins Tullahassee’s Reparations Advisory Commission: Joining a group of U.S. mayors in pursuing a path to reparations, Oklahoma’s historically all-Black town of Tullahassee has enlisted Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell to join its advisory commission. A few months ago, City Manager Cymone Davis organized a community cleanup to revitalize Tullahassee, Oklahoma’s oldest surviving all-Black town. She didn’t know what to expect. [The Black Wall Street Times] Federal Government News Oklahoma Welcomes Hundreds Of Afghan Refugees — Despite The State GOP's Objections: Catholic Charities is the sole refugee resettlement agency in Oklahoma, and they're gearing up for the arrival of around 1,800 Afghans in the days and weeks to come. That's the third most in the country, after only California (5,255) and Texas (4,481). Tulsa alone is set to take in 850, more than most states. Preparing for the refugees' arrival has fallen largely on the shoulders of the city's faith leaders. [Public Radio Tulsa] Six things you should know about the Afghan refugees and the resettlement program in Oklahoma [The Oklahoman] Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum Speaks With KWGS About Welcoming Afghan Refugees [Public Radio Tulsa] Tribal Nations News As two challenge results, Muscogee Nation reports ‘abundance’ of late absentee ballots: After “extremely slow mail delivery” caused an “abundance” of absentee ballots in the recent Muscogee Nation primary election to arrive after the Sept. 18 deadline, the tribe’s election board is considering what actions, if any, can be taken to remedy the situation, according to a statement posted to Facebook on Monday. [NonDoc] Cherokee Nation announces it now has 400,000 tribal citizens: The Oklahoma-based Cherokee Nation said Wednesday that it has reached 400,000 tribal citizens and expects to become the most populous indigenous tribe in the United States again. In March, the Arizona-based Navajo Nation announced that it had become the nation’s most populous tribe when it reached a population of nearly 400,000 to surpass the Cherokee Nation, which then had about 392,000 citizens. [AP News] Panel recommends 5 new federal judgeships for Oklahoma: A judicial panel has recommended the creation of five additional federal judgeships in Oklahoma because of an increased caseload due to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding crimes committed on tribal lands. [AP News] Tulsa U.S. Attorney's Office adds 24 prosecutors to help with surge in cases due to McGirt ruling [Tulsa World] 'Well overdue': Remembrance service is set for Native American boarding school youths: An Oklahoma child psychologist remembers hearing the oral histories about Native American children separated from their families and sent to boarding schools where they were surrounded by strangers and immersed in a strange culture. [The Oklahoman] Criminal Justice News Oklahoma County grand jury requested for jail trust, Pardon and Parole Board: Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater today asked a judge to impanel a grand jury to examine — at a minimum — the operation of the Oklahoma County Jail and the state’s Pardon and Parole Board, which controversially recommended the early release of a man who subsequently confessed to murdering a woman and cooking her heart with potatoes. [NonDoc] Oklahoma County's presiding judge, Ray C. Elliott, agreed Wednesday to convene the grand jury at the request of District Attorney David Prater. The Oklahoma County grand jury was given the power to issue subpoenas, investigate and charge by indictment, and make accusations for removal. Jury selection was set for Oct. 18. [The Oklahoman] How much did crime change in 2020? The numbers are in: A world-stopping pandemic, a chaotic political spell and a crashing stock market weren’t the only characteristics to mark 2020 in the United States: Certain violent crimes jumped, as well. Homicides in the U.S. increased 29% over 2019 — the largest one-year jump since the FBI began keeping records — and Tulsa followed that trend. [Tulsa World] Economic Opportunity Mobile showers restore confidence and dignity for Tulsa homeless: Operating a homeless outreach program since last fall, Evan Dougoud kept asking people what kind of help they needed. That’s why he calls his nonprofit effort the BeHeard Movement. He wants to give homeless people an opportunity to speak for themselves. [Tulsa World] General News Joint church service aims to 'break down the walls of racism': Racial segregation legally ended in the United States nearly 60 years ago, but the Rev. W.R. Casey will tell you there is still one hour every week where it remains largely in effect. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma Local News Oklahoma City Council signs off on several upcoming celebrations [The Oklahoman] City's top designation for flood-mitigation efforts boosts flood insurance discounts for Tulsans [Tulsa World] Superintendent Gist's contract extended by Tulsa school board [Tulsa World] Services set Saturday for former Tulsa superintendent Keith Ballard [Tulsa World] Quote of the Day “What it showed is that mask requirements are 3.5 times more likely to reduce an outbreak in schools. So we actually have pretty good data now for mask effectiveness in schools.” -Ashley Weedn, a pediatrician at OU Health [Public Radio Tulsa] Number of the Day $10 billion An automatic expungement system is estimated to help reduce unemployment for justice-involved Oklahomans. This increase in employment could increase Oklahoma’s GDP by up to $10 billion annually [Source: Oklahoma Policy Institute] Policy Note Dozens of new expungement laws already enacted in 2021: This year is turning out to be another remarkable year for new record relief enactments. In just the first six months of 2021, 25 states enacted no fewer than 51 laws authorizing sealing or expungement of criminal records, with another 5 states enrolling 11 bills that await a governor’s signature. Three of these states authorized sealing of convictions for the first time, seven states passed laws (or enrolled bills) providing authority for automatic sealing, and a number of additional states substantially expanded the reach of their existing expungement laws. [Collateral Consequences Resource Center] 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] Hospitals still facing capacity limits | Court fines and fees | Demographic, diversity changes

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 Oklahoma hospitals still face care limitations amid capacity crunch despite decline in COVID-19 admissions: Oklahoma’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have been on a downward trajectory for about a month now but not enough to lift some limitations on levels of care available — especially in intensive-care units. Statewide, the number of COVID inpatients has dropped 35% since the delta variant surge’s peak average of 1,607 in late August to 1,040 reported Tuesday. COVID patients in ICUs have gone from 448 to 324 — a decrease of 28%. [Tulsa World] Despite the hopeful trends, hospitals and health care workers are still under strain, leaders of the Healthier Oklahoma Coalition said Tuesday. [The Oklahoman] Free COVID-19 tests for children offered at Oklahoma Children's Hospital in OKC [The Oklahoman] THD Holding Free COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic At Tulsa State Fair [Public Radio Tulsa] OBI resumes antibody testing on donations [CNHI via The Claremore Daily Progress] State Government News Group of state lawmakers discuss changing court’s fines and fees structure: Four Oklahoma state representatives are examining the way court costs are levied across the state, with hopes to improve the system. The Oklahoma Policy Institute’s Damion Shade spoke to the committee about Oklahoma’s fee and fine structure at the district court level, noting that people who are forced to pay large court fees and fines are negatively impacted by the process, as well as their families and communities. [The Black Wall Street Times] Mapping rural America’s diversity and demographic change: Indigenous groups are the largest population of color in rural areas in eastern Oklahoma, the Four Corners area, much of the northern tier of the Great Plains, and in most of Alaska and have been found to have lower educational attainment, higher poverty rates, lower household incomes, and lower occupational attainment compared to Indigenous groups who live in metropolitan areas. [Brookings Institute] Oklahoma's rural turnpikes need modernized, more interchanges, officials say: Under pressure from local and tribal leaders to modernize Oklahoma’s rural turnpikes, transportation officials said they’re examining the entire turnpike network to consider where to add interchanges so motorists can better access underserved locations and increase use of toll roads. [CNHI via The Ada News] Federal Government News Inhofe fires first shots on Biden administration in Afghanistan hearing: As the Senate Armed Services Committee’s ranking Republican, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe set the tone Tuesday for his party’s questioning of top military officials during a hearing on the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. [Tulsa World] Fact checking revived concerns on methane fees: Is cattle industry being taxed?: In voicing opposition to Democrat-led efforts regarding federal infrastructure legislation moving through Congress, Oklahoma Republican Rep. Markwayne Mullin has revived a concern long-held by those in the agriculture industry: a tax on methane. [Tulsa World] State senator Nathan Dahm joins race against incumbent Sen. James Lankford: State Sen. Nathan Dahm, of Broken Arrow, announced on Tuesday that he will run for the U.S. Senate, giving incumbent Sen. James Lankford a third opponent in the 2022 Republican primary. [The Oklahoman] Tribal Nations News U.S. judiciary seeks more Oklahoma judges after Supreme Court ruling: The federal judiciary is asking Congress for five more judges in Oklahoma following a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that recognized parts of Oklahoma as Native American reservation land and barred state prosecutions of crimes in those areas. [Reuters] The conference, the policy-making arm of the federal court system, said Congress should create three new judgeships in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, based in Muskogee, and two new judgeships in the Northern District, based in Tulsa. [The Oklahoman] Cherokee Nation reaches $75M settlement with drug companies: The Cherokee Nation and three opioid distributors reached a $75 million settlement to resolve opioid-related claims against the companies, the tribe and the companies announced Tuesday. [AP News] The settlement, announced Tuesday, is the largest ever received by the Cherokee Nation, which in 2017 became the first tribe to sue pharmacies and distributors for supplying the opioid epidemic. [The Oklahoman] In a statement, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said the opioid crisis had disproportionately affected people in his community. [KOSU] Joy Harjo rings in third term as U.S. poet laureate: Tulsa native and Muscogee Nation citizen Joy Harjo, the first Native American woman to serve as the nation’s poet laureate, began her third term in September, an honor previously bestowed only once. [Gaylord News / NonDoc] Criminal Justice News Gov. Stitt won't consider Julius Jones' commutation, will leave matter for clemency hearing: Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday declined to take up the matter of commutation for death-row inmate Julius Jones, saying a clemency hearing is more appropriate. [Tulsa World] In a letter sent to Pardon and Parole Board director Tom Bates, Stitt said he is “not accepting the Pardon and Parole Board’s recommendation to commute the sentence of Julius Jones because a clemency hearing, not a commutation hearing, is the appropriate venue for our state to consider death row cases.” [NonDoc] Stitt said he will not make a final decision until after the Oct. 5 clemency hearing before the board. [The Oklahoman] State law requires clemency hearings at least 21 days before a scheduled execution date. Jones is scheduled to die on Nov. 18. [AP News] Economy & Business News As Marijuana Industry In Oklahoma Booms, Rural Utilities Feel Growing Pains: The medical marijuana industry in Oklahoma is booming, but some utility providers struggle to keep up with the growing need for water and electricity. Since Oklahomans legalized medical marijuana in 2018, nearly 10% of the population has obtained cards to buy cannabis. Meanwhile, 8,630 growers have opened shop in the state. [KOSU] Education News Keith Ballard, 'a powerful force in Oklahoma education,' dies nine months after diagnosis with ALS, Lou’s Gehrig’s disease: Keith Ballard, former superintendent of the Tulsa, Claremore and Oologah school districts who went on to become a professor at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, died Tuesday. He was 72. [Tulsa World] General News 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Survivors See Long-Awaited Day In Court: A motion to dismiss a case against Tulsa Regional Chamber and other entities brought by the three survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was heard at Tulsa County Courthouse on Tuesday. There were so many people in attendance - many in purple Justice for Greenwood shirts - the hearing was delayed as a bigger courtroom was found. Once everyone was settled, Judge Caroline Wall said she knew the case was emotional and if spectators had to react they should step outside. [Public Radio Tulsa] Oklahoma Local News OKC redistricting criteria approved by City Council [NonDoc] OKC Council hears strategies on homelessness, renews CJAC agreement [OKC Free Press] Masks not required at this year's Tulsa State Fair, but they are recommended [Tulsa World] Quote of the Day “We still are very much struggling in the state in terms of ICU beds.” -Dr. Jean Hausheer of the Healthier Oklahoma Coalition [The Oklahoman] Number of the Day 18% Percent of children in Oklahoma who are Hispanic of any race (2019) [KIDS COUNT] Policy Note Key facts about U.S. Latinos for National Hispanic Heritage Month: As part of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Pew Research published some key facts about the nation’s Latino population by geography and characteristics like language use and origin groups. [Pew Research] NOTE: National Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. Each week, OK Policy will share policy notes and numbers to recognize this commemoration. 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] Classrooms have most cases among high-risk settings | 'Back to Work' incentive ends | Expungement interim study

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 Interim study examines how to increase access to expungement (Capitol Update): Recently Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond, hosted an interim study in the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee on potential criminal record expungement reform. The purpose of criminal justice is to separate offenders from society where necessary for protection, to deter future criminal misconduct, and to rehabilitate those who have offended. In a few cases, the behavior is so abhorrent that justice demands punishment for the sake of punishment. But in most nonviolent cases, the creation of a permanent public record to follow offenders for the rest of their lives contributes little to those goals, and instead adds barriers to their achievement. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Oklahoma News School classrooms have most COVID-19 cases among high-risk settings, says Tulsa Health Department: School classrooms are experiencing the most COVID-19 cases among high-risk settings in Tulsa County, according to the Tulsa Health Department. Kelly VanBuskirk, who is THD’s COVID-19 response incident commander, said Monday that children ages 5-17 are the second-largest demographic of COVID patients in Tulsa County since mid-August. VanBuskirk said 6.7% of new hospital admissions of Tulsa County residents for COVID from Sept. 19-25 were for patients ages 4 and younger. [Tulsa World] Drive-through vaccines, booster shots offered in Tulsa through reopened Saint Francis program [Tulsa World] 'Back to Work' incentive, unemployment programs end as Oklahoma waits for court ruling: When Oklahoma's "Back to Work" incentive program launched in May, the $1,200 payment for leaving unemployment was limited to the first 20,000 approved applications. When the program ended this month, however, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission had only given preliminary approval to less than half of that. [The Oklahoman] Health News Days Before Tulsa State Fair, New COVID Cases Nearly Double That When 2020 Event Was Canceled: With the Tulsa State Fair beginning Thursday, new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations continue to decline in Tulsa County; however, both are substantially higher than they were when officials called off last year’s fair. There were more than 2,200 new cases reported in Tulsa County last week, which represented a fourth straight week with fewer new cases than the week before. When local officials canceled the Tulsa State Fair in August 2020, there had been just under 1,200 new cases. More than half of Tulsa County's new cases now are among those 35 and younger. [Public Radio Tulsa] Saint Francis Executives List Millions In Additional Costs From COVID-19 Pandemic: Leaders with Saint Francis health system in Tulsa said Monday the hospital has racked up millions of dollars in increased costs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its chief financial officer said a significant portion of that is from not billing patients for care related to the illness. [Public Radio Tulsa] Texas abortion restrictions have stoked a new battle over access in Oklahoma: As Texans seeking abortions inundate Oklahoma clinics, providers and reproductive rights advocates are concerned about new laws set to take effect here in November. [The Frontier] Criminal Justice News Reform advocates tell lawmakers more access to expungement could save state money, help people secure employment: In Oklahoma, expungement reform offers a second chance for people convicted of lower level crimes, but making the expungement process easier is the first step to reform, Ryan Haynie, a Criminal Justice Reform Fellow at Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs said. Expungement is the sealing of criminal records for people who have had charges dismissed, pardoned, deferred or even go long enough without other convictions. There are exceptions for violent and sexual offenses. [Enid News & Eagle] OK Policy: Justice reform issues showcase bipartisanship  Former Attorney For Death Row Inmate Says Original Trial Was Flawed: A former attorney for a man sitting on Oklahoma’s death row says his original trial wasn’t fair. Amy McTeer represented John Marion Grant who is scheduled for execution Oct. 28. McTeer said there were no other Black men on Grant’s Osage County jury, and the court treated him with unnecessary roughness. [Public Radio Tulsa] Todd Lamb to resign from jail trust, replacement not yet named: An item set to change the makeup of the Oklahoma County Jail trust was instead stricken from the agenda during Monday's county commissioners' meeting. While no official letter of resignation has been released, Commissioner Kevin Calvey added an item to the agenda last week to accept former Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb's resignation as a trustee and appoint a replacement. However, Calvey has since removed the item from discussion. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma County Commissioners hear public, move very little business along [OKC Free Press] Tahlequah urges Supreme Court to review case of deadly force: On Monday, U.S. Supreme Court justices were expected to decide whether to review the Tahlequah case, with an announcement likely in the days following. If justices decline to take the case, the 10th Circuit court’s decision will stand, and Dominic Rollice’s estate can pursue its lawsuit against Tahlequah and the officers. [The Oklahoman] Julius Jones: A collision of uncertainty and finality: "There’s no going back once an execution is carried out, much in the same way you can’t recall a bullet after the trigger is pulled. Before you carry it out, you better be damned sure you got this one right. Which brings us to the case of Julius Jones." [Opinion Column / Tulsa World] Economic Opportunity Groups Agree State Landlord-Tenant Act Needs Updated But Largely Differ On Substance Of Changes: While they may not see eye-to-eye on many things, landlord and tenant groups agree Oklahoma’s rental housing laws need updating, and there’s some agreement on what needs to change. [Public Radio Tulsa] Education News DA: Allegation against John Woods ‘doesn’t rise to the level of a criminal case’: While stating that he starts every review of a case by “believing the victim,” Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn has declined to pursue charges after a woman filed a police report alleging that now-former University of Oklahoma lobbyist John Woods sexually assaulted her. [NonDoc] General News Oklahoma Domestic Violence Reports Reach Highest Level in 20 Years: Thousands of other abuses occurred across the state last year amid a worldwide pandemic that left victims even more vulnerable to violence at home. In Oklahoma, which consistently ranks among states with the highest rates of women killed by men, 2020 produced a record number of domestic violence reports. [Oklahoma Watch] Justice for Greenwood hosts prayer rally, donates to churches damaged or destroyed during Tulsa Race Massacre: North Tulsa community members, pastors and activists gathered Monday night to pray in advance of Tuesday morning’s hearing on a motion to dismiss a 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre reparations lawsuit. During the prayer rally, hosted by the Justice for Greenwood Foundation, the foundation donated $33,000 to 11 churches that were damaged or destroyed during the massacre 100 years ago. [Tulsa World] Quote of the Day "(Oklahoma's high eviction rate) is not because our state is poorer, because our rents are higher, because our tenants are more rent burdened, because we have worse renters in some way. It’s directly tied to our laws and policies." -Oklahoma Access to Justice Foundation Executive Director Katie Dilks [Public Radio Tulsa] Number of the Day 19 Number of states that are streamlining criminal record expungement through some form of automation. This topic was part of a recent interim study about increasing access to expungement in Oklahoma. [Clean Slate Initiative]  Policy Note To Boost Hiring, New York Makes Case for a ‘Clean Slate’: For many Americans, criminal records stand as stubborn barriers to employment and housing. Several states are now advancing efforts to automatically seal and expunge those records. [Bloomberg] 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] Redistricting special session set for Nov. 15 | New higher ed chancellor named | COVID-19 updates

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 Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt calls for November special session for redistricting: Gov. Kevin Stitt is calling state lawmakers back to the state Capitol to approve new maps for Oklahoma's legislative and congressional districts. Stitt on Friday set Nov. 15 as the start of a special legislative session on redistricting. [The Oklahoman] The 2021 Oklahoma special session has been anticipated since the spring because access to finalized 2020 census data was delayed for states. State law allowed lawmakers to use estimated data to create new state legislative district boundaries within a margin of population. But federal law is more strict for congressional district populations. [NonDoc] House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, said he believed the process can be completed in a week. [Tulsa World] In his executive order, Stitt said that lawmakers will only be able to use the special session to redistrict Oklahoma’s congressional districts; to update and redistrict as necessary the state’s legislative districts; and to amend candidacy and redistricting deadlines. [CNHI via The Norman Transcript] Census Bureau data shows population increases in urban and suburban parts of Oklahoma and population declines in rural areas of the state. [AP News] (Podcast) Capitol Insider: Changes Coming To Oklahoma Legislative, Congressional Districts [KGOU] 'Kids really taking the burden': COVID-19 surge follows return to school in Oklahoma: Unlike the first three COVID-19 surges in Oklahoma, children and adolescents have shouldered the disease load this summer as the delta variant sweeps through the state. Public school districts were prohibited from mandating masks by Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Republican-controlled Legislature as students returned to classrooms in August. The 17-and-younger demographic comprised 17.4% of weekly reported cases, rising rapidly to 30.0% by Sept. 4. Three public school districts and three charter schools defied the new law, and a district court judge temporarily blocked it with an injunction Sept. 8. [Tulsa World] Measuring Full Effects Of COVID-19 On Oklahoma Student Learning Will Be Incredibly Difficult [KOSU] Oklahoma coronavirus numbers, hospitalizations decline [AP News] Oklahoma's first-dose vaccinations subside after boost amid delta variant surge [Tulsa World] Eligible Oklahomans, including teachers and other frontline workers, can get COVID-19 booster doses [The Oklahoman] Rollout date set for booster vaccines through Tulsa Health Department's COVID relief efforts [Tulsa World] | [Public Radio Tulsa] COVID booster clinics planned for this week in Garfield County, area counties [Enid News & Eagle] COVID-19 Tests Will Be Easier To Get In Oklahoma As State Renews Contract With IMMY Labs [KOSU] COVID Reinfections Have Jumped 300% Since May [Public Radio Tulsa] As Oklahoma’s COVID-19 toll hits 10,000, 'it’s OK to ask for help,' grief experts say [The Oklahoman] Allison Garrett selected as first female chancellor of Oklahoma higher education: The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education voted today to hire Emporia State University President Allison Garrett as the state’s new systemwide chancellor, a decision that concludes a multi-year effort to find Glen Johnson’s successor and that will bring Garrett back to a state where she earned degrees from two private universities. [NonDoc] Allison Garrett, the first woman selected as chancellor, will succeed Glen Johnson, who is retiring Nov. 7 after 14 years as chancellor. Garrett will take office Nov. 8, said regents Chair Jeffrey Hickman. [AP News] The nine-member board of regents administers funds, sets academic standards and determines courses of study for all 25 public colleges and universities in Oklahoma. The chancellor acts as the chief executive officer for the state’s public higher education system. [The Oklahoman] Health News Oklahoma abortion clinics see surge in out-of-state patients following new Texas law: Oklahoma abortion clinics are seeing a surge in out-of-state patients after Texas recently implemented the strictest anti-abortion law in the country. Women are traveling from as far as Houston, Galveston and Corpus Christi to seek an abortion in Oklahoma City. [The Oklahoman] The new Texas law prohibits abortions after about six weeks, a very early stage of pregnancy. Many women are now traveling out of state for the procedure. [The New York Times] State Government News Official expects state economic 'explosion': A labor shortage and supply chain disruptions continue to hamper Oklahoma’s economy as it tries to shrug off the lingering effects of COVID-19, but the state’s top economic development officer says he expects “some pretty big explosions in GDP over the next couple of years.” “Personally, I’m very bullish on where we’re headed as a state, mainly because I’m seeing the companies that are going to grow here and the ones that are wanting to locate here,” Oklahoma Department of Commerce Executive Director Brent Kisling told a legislative panel. [Tulsa World] Legislative studies examine possibilities for Oklahoma jail and prison reform: Legislators from both sides of the aisle grappled with how best to improve Oklahoma's criminal justice system this week during a series of studies at the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Some legislators examined and discussed the reentry system for those released from county jails or Department of Corrections facilities. Others explored the conditions of detainees and inmates, as well as the correctional officers who supervise them. [The Oklahoman] Column: Oklahoma's excessive court costs created a self-defeating system: When people are sentenced for criminal offenses, in addition to their punishment, they are often assessed thousands in court costs, fees and assessments. Those range from a $6 law library fee to a $100 trauma care assistance fund fee. There’s a $10 sheriff’s courthouse security fee, a $15 District Attorneys Council assessment fee (misdemeanor) or $50 (felony), a $25 court information system fee and more. In total, costs on a misdemeanor case are close to $1,000 and a felony, even for a nonviolent offense, go up even more. People charged with multiple counts from the same incident can owe thousands in costs. [Steve Lewis / Tulsa World] Lawmakers mull increasing access to polls: Access to voting remains at the forefront of many lawmakers’ conversations, as some states have implemented stricter voting rules while legislation to open up access is being considered. Three state lawmakers recently hosted an interim study on Oklahoma’s absentee voting process. [Tahlequah Daily Press] Oklahoma regulators hear utilities' ideas to limit future cold snap costs: Regulated Oklahoma utilities are considering returning to an old-school way of buying fuel used to support power generating needs, potentially protecting customers from the types of astronomical price spikes seen in recent extreme winter weather. [The Oklahoman] Mike Mazzei drops out of treasurer race: Former state Sen. Mike Mazzei has dropped his campaign for state treasurer, citing a conflict with the financial services company with which he is affiliated. [Tulsa World] Federal Government News First Afghanistan refugee arrives in Tulsa with welcome from Catholic Charities, volunteers: The first Afghan refugee assigned to Tulsa arrived Friday evening at Tulsa International Airport and was welcomed by Catholic Charities. The nonprofit in a statement earlier Friday said the 36-year-old man “will most likely be very anxious upon arrival in his new hometown.” Tulsa is expected to receive about 800 people who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the country. [Tulsa World] Tribal Nations News Land vote marks new start, curbs tensions between Citizen Potawatomi, city of Shawnee: John “Rocky” Barrett was in high school when he learned Shawnee officials had quietly annexed Citizen Potawatomi lands into their city. The 1960s land sweep came without warning and divided the city and tribe for generations. Now they hope to start a new joint chapter. Shawnee’s seven commissioners voted unanimously earlier this week to detach about six square miles of land, mostly owned by the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, from their suburban city. [The Oklahoman] Criminal Justice News 'Something that I don't take lightly': Gov. Stitt still mulling Julius Jones commutation: Gov. Kevin Stitt said he is leaning on his faith and the advice of former Oklahoma governors as he carefully considers whether to commute the sentence of a high-profile death row inmate. Stitt said Friday he is still considering whether to commute the sentence of Julius Jones, whose case has garnered national attention. [The Oklahoman] Stitt taps George ‘Buddy’ Leach III as DA for District 1: George “Buddy” Leach III will be the new district attorney for District 1 after his appointment was announced Friday by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Spanning the Oklahoma panhandle, the district covers Beaver, Cimarron, Harper and Texas counties. Leach will succeed James M. Boring, who will retire Sept. 30. [NonDoc] A $50,000 bond for a 43-cent theft: How the cash bail system favors the wealthy: Last month, a homeless man in Duncannon, Pennsylvania paid a convenience store $2 for a bottle of Mountain Dew and then left. But the soda cost 43 cents more than that, and after the Exxon store called the police, Joseph Sobolewski was arrested, receiving a felony charge and a $50,000 cash bond, PennLive reported. During the pandemic, some state and local courts reduced or eliminated bonds to keep jail populations down. Oklahoma County Chief Public Defender Robert Ravitz said early efforts to reduce bonds and release people held on misdemeanors had tapered off by the summer last year. [Big If True] Column: Oklahoma can do simple things to reduce trauma for children of incarcerated parents: Criminal justice reforms aren’t all about major shifts in laws or funding; sometimes it’s as simple as phone calls and visitations. Oklahoma does not fare well in incarceration and hasn’t for decades. The state has the dubious distinction of locking up more people than any other democracy in the world. It’s been No. 1 in female incarceration for more than 30 years and has ranked among the top five for men about that long. Overall, the state is No. 3 in the incarceration rate. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World] Economic Opportunity Back Rent Up In Oklahoma County: Analysis: Around 6.3 million rental households nationwide could face eviction in the near future, despite the availability of extensive government funding for rental assistance. More than one out of every five Oklahoma County rental households were in arrears as of early August, according to a new county-by-county analysis by Surgo Ventures, a nonprofit organization that uses data to analyze health and social problems in communities. An estimated 25,690 (20.7 percent) rental households are in danger of eviction. [Patch] A chance for panhandlers to earn a day’s wage: Response to a new employment program for people who are panhandling exceeded expectations during the first week. “It is really encouraging. People do want to work,” said Lindsay Cates with the city of Oklahoma City. “Employment is what this program is really about.” [The Journal Record] Education News From Nairobi to Oklahoma: A Kenyan’s journey past obstacles to education: On a cold Friday morning in September 2019, a young Kenyan man woke up early in Nairobi, eager to fly to the United States. Had he really slept at all? With the joy and anxiety of traveling to the U.S. for the first time, it must have been hard to rest the night before. [NonDoc] Oklahoma Local News Tulsa Commission adds sixth City Council redistricting plan for consideration [Tulsa World] | [Public Radio Tulsa] Oklahoma man took beer during Capitol riot, pleads guilty [AP News] | [Public Radio Tulsa] Quote of the Day "Whether your goal is as deep as helping the human spirit or as simple as saving money on incarceration, the assistance we give Oklahomans as they leave a state correctional facility can make all the difference in their transition back into society." -Rep. Ajay Pittman speaking during an interim study about resources made available to Oklahomans when leaving a correctional facility [The Oklahoman]  Number of the Day >100,000 More than 100,000 Oklahomans would be eligible to seal criminal records and lead more productive lives if Oklahoma implemented an automatic expungement system. [OK Policy] Policy Note During the pandemic, employers in the hospitality sector turned to the formerly incarcerated to fill jobs: Significant hurdles certainly continue to make finding employment difficult for the formerly incarcerated. But there has been recent progress, thanks to organizations that help formerly incarcerated men and women acquire job readiness and essential related skills, and have pushed “ban the box” policies to prevent criminal background checks from hindering employment opportunities. [The Counter] 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