Oklahoma News What Legislators Did Instead of Funding Voter-Approved Criminal Justice Reforms: Oklahoma voters sent a message in 2016: Stop sending people to prison on minor drug and property crimes. Direct money saved to counties for drug and mental health treatment. State lawmakers still haven't gotten the second half of that. [Oklahoma Watch] | From OK Policy: Oklahomans deserve overdue investments in well-being | Follow through on SQ 781 by funding treatment and rehabilitation services State Government News Moratorium on commercial marijuana licenses starts Aug. 26: The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority is processing an influx of applications for new grower, dispensary and processor licenses as a moratorium on new licenses begins Aug. 26. [Tulsa World] Tribal Nations News Cherokee leaders discuss the state of tribal sovereignty following major Supreme Court decisions: Cherokee Nation officials discussed the ramifications of several recent Supreme Court decisions during a virtual event Saturday, holding firm to the nation's rights even after an "erosion" of sovereignty from the high court and "anti-Indian" attacks by Oklahoma state leaders. [Public Radio Tulsa] | ᏣᎳᎩ: Wherever We Are, Aftermath of McGirt Edition (Video) Voting and Election News Election audit finds no tabulation errors: A post-election audit of 36 races in 33 counties found no tabulation errors and only a few errors in the handling of ballots, a report released Monday by the Oklahoma State Election Board says. [Tulsa World] | [The Oklahoman] Republican Corporation Commission hopefuls try to get voters' attention for runoff: This year's election begins a period of turnover for the commission and comes at a time of some controversy and turmoil regarding utility rates. [Tulsa World] Health News Report ranks Oklahoma near bottom in health care: Expansion of Oklahoma's Medicaid program, set in motion by passage of State Question 802 in 2020, has substantially reduced the number of people in the state without health insurance. However, according to a recent examination of data by finance website WalletHub, Oklahoma still lags every other state in the nation except for Texas in comparisons of percentages of insured adults. [Journal Record] Education News Oklahoma schools now require 'biological sex affidavit' for student athletes: Oklahoma public schools have started requiring students from kindergarten to college to complete "biological sex affidavits" if they want to compete in school sports, in accordance with a state law that took effect earlier this year. [Today] Educators concerned about number of non-certified teachers to fill classroom gaps: As school districts across the state prepare for the upcoming school year, the state has a rapidly growing need to fill numerous teacher openings across the state, including adjunct teachers. [KFOR] Report critical of Oklahoma school funding formula: As lawmakers call for ever greater control over school operations, teacher advocates say their efforts will result in a growing teacher shortage. Last week, the Legislative Office of Fiscal Oversight, or LOFT, issued a report claiming the state's funding formula for schools is too confusing, and recommended that legislative leaders make their own appointments to the state Board of Education. [Journal Record] General News State audit cites Oklahoma County's lack of internal controls: The annual state audit of Oklahoma County government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, found "significant deficiencies" and "material weaknesses" in various internal controls, including for coronavirus relief and emergency rental assistance programs. [The Oklahoman] $850K settlement reached in lawsuit after 2016 Okla earthquakes: A wastewater disposal well operator has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit filed after two earthquakes in 2016 caused damage near Pawnee and Cushing. [Tulsa World] Garden of knowledge: Looking back on Greenwood Rising's first year: The museum features the icons of Black Wall Street and memorializes the victims of the violence. Officials would have been happy to greet 2,500 visitors each month. Five thousand toured the museum the first month the doors opened. Attendance has held relatively steady all year, averaging 4,500 monthly guests. [Tulsa People] | 
