[In The Know] Lawmakers approve $1B of ARPA spending | Gender care issue now on governor's desk | How schools adapted to end of universal free lunch

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser Friday | September 30, 2022 Subscribe  //  View latest headlines Number of the Day 11% Percentage of Oklahoma households with children ages 0 to 4 where adults had to take unpaid leave in order to manage child care disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic [KIDS COUNT] Policy Note The child care crisis just keeps getting worse For both workers and parents, already-grim trends in child care have only gotten worse since the pandemic began: program costs have increased, while waiting lists in several states number in the tens of thousands. [Vox] Quote of the Day "It's disturbing that some legislators have chosen to hijack what should be a straightforward special session focused on COVID relief funding to advance a political agenda. Unfortunately, instead of supporting the mental health of Oklahoma's children, lawmakers are once again inserting themselves into private health care." - Statement from Oklahoma State Medical Association about lawmakers threatening to withhold federal relief dollars from the University of Oklahoma health system because of its program that offers gender-affirming care to LGBTQ youth. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma News Oklahoma lawmakers approve stimulus spending, drought relief, economic development funds: Oklahoma lawmakers reconvened a special legislative session on Thursday to spend more than $1 billion in federal stimulus funds, $250 million for economic development projects and $20 million for emergency drought relief. [The Oklahoman] Despite gender treatment fracas, lawmakers pass bills doling out more than $1 billion [Tulsa World] Oklahoma legislature approves $14M in ARPA funding to upgrade Inola's wastewater infrastructure [KRMG] Gov. Kevin Stitt to decide bill targeting OU Children's gender care: The Oklahoma Children's Hospital would have to immediately halt any "gender reassignment medical treatment" on minors if Gov. Kevin Stitt signs legislation approved by lawmakers Thursday. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Senate: No ARPA funding for gender treatment [The Journal Record] Gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth limited by Oklahoma Legislature in ARPA health funding bill [KGOU] OU Health ceasing some gender care after funds threatened [Public Radio Tulsa] As pandemic response wanes, Oklahoma schools adapt to the end of universal free lunch: Some schools worked to continue offering free meals, but others have to go back to sending out free and reduced lunch applications and managing lunch debt. [StateImpact Oklahoma] State Government News Oklahoma Turnpike Authority: 'We have to upcharge significantly for license plate tolling': Drivers on Oklahoma turnpikes may have noticed a price hike in tolls after the rollout of the state's new PlatePay cashless tolling system. [StateImpact Oklahoma] Editorial: State owes it to taxpayers to fund completion of OKPOP: The Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture's request for state ARPA money was turned down, and lawmakers have been reluctant to provide more funding. Last session, the Legislature approved $46 million in bonds for the Oklahoma Historical Society — which oversees OKPOP — on the condition that none of it be used on the unfinished museum. [Editorial / Tulsa World] Federal Government News White House Hunger Conference puts spotlight on Oklahoma group: This week's White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health put a spotlight on 23 organizations that promote access to affordable food, including one from Oklahoma. [Tulsa World] USDA spending only a sliver of conservation funding on climate-smart practices, a new report finds: The U.S. Department of Agriculture spent $7.4 billion dollars on two of its conservation programs in recent years, but a report from an environmental group found a very small percentage of that money went to practices that help fight climate change. [KOSU] Voting and Election News Oklahoma governor's race tightening? Election analyst shifts race outlook: A national election analyst group is shifting its outlook on Oklahoma's governor's race less than six weeks from November's midterms. [Fox 25] Health News OSDH: 4,100 more COVID-19 cases reported statewide, 54 virus-related deaths added to provisional death count: Fifty-four virus-related deaths and 4,100 coronavirus cases have been added to the state's count since Sept. 22, according to weekly numbers released by the Oklahoma State Department of Health. [NewsOn6] Medical providers work to break down big barriers to help Oklahoman Hispanic community: Integris Health is working to provide more access to preventative care in Oklahoma's Hispanic communities. [KOCO] Economic Opportunity Grants to benefit homebuyers, renters with low, moderate incomes: The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency recently approved more than $2.65 million in HOME Investment Partnerships Program grants to benefit low- to moderate-income homebuyers and renters in Oklahoma City and other communities in the state. [The Journal Record] Education News Column: Oklahoma has 33,000 teachers choosing not to teach; we need them back: Oklahoma doesn't have a teacher shortage; it has a shortage of respect and retention. For a little more than 10 years, professional teachers have been opting out of the industry, choosing careers with better pay and less headaches. The pandemic created a surge of that trend, putting the state in our current crisis and public education in an unfair culture war. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World] Tulsa World Opinion podcast: When Oklahoma's certified teachers choose not to teach (audio) [Tulsa World] Funding to encourage STEM education, future teachers: The University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Public Schools and Central Oklahoma STEM Alliance will collaborate in a new program to help educators earn master teacher credentials and ultimately encourage students to pursue careers in classrooms in Oklahoma. [The Journal Record] Oklahoma to receive nearly $12m to provide students with healthier learning environments: The U.S. Education Department says the money can be used for a number of projects to help student's social, mental, emotional and physical well-being. It says some districts are using the money to hire more psychologists and expand counseling programs. [News9] Tulsa school board extends Superintendent Deborah Gist's contract: After a four-hour executive session, Tulsa Public Schools' Board of Education voted 4-3 late Thursday to add another year to Superintendent Deborah Gist's contract. [Tulsa World] General News Column: DRS promotes Disability Employment Awareness Month in October: October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month in recognition of the critical part workers with disabilities play in a diverse and productive workforce. [Enid News & Eagle] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. 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 included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Your support makes this possible.   OK Policy is here to cut through the noise and look at the bottom line for what news and policy means for everyday Oklahomans. Tax-deductible donations from individuals like you makes our work possible. Support Our Work with a Donation Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave. #1005 | Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120 918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org Connect with us: Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences

[In The Know] How community book ban efforts gained momentum | State question process deserves better | Lawmakers to consider drought relief

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 included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser Thursday | September 29, 2022 Subscribe  //  View latest headlines New from OK Policy Policy Matters: State question process deserves better Last week culminated a slow-motion nightmare for advocates of State Question 820, the ballot initiative that will put full legalization of marijuana to a vote of the people. However, as Paul Monies with Oklahoma Watch reported, SQ 820 advocates became "unwitting guinea pigs" in a new process intended to speed up signature verification by using an outside vendor. Instead, it took three times longer, cost the state more than $350,000, and delayed Oklahomans from being able to vote on SQ 820. [Shiloh Kantz / Journal Record] Policy Matters Number of the Day 1.1% Local criminal justice fines and fees revenue in Oklahoma represents a 1.1% share of the state general fund revenue in 2021, tied with Florida and South Carolina. Thirteen other states had a higher rate. [Tax Policy Center] Policy Note What Would It Take for States to Reform Local Fines and Fees? Fines and fees make up a small share of state and local revenue overall, but they can be devastating for low-income residents, especially Black, Latine, and Native American households, who are disproportionately affected by criminal legal systems. These penalties, such as traffic tickets and court costs, also create harmful incentives for police departments and courts. [Tax Policy Center] Quote of the Day "What we're really talking about here is a vocal minority trying to dictate what other people's families, what other people's children, should be reading in order to advance their own agendas." - Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada, President of the American Library Association, speaking about efforts to ban books [Oklahoma Watch] Oklahoma News Special legislative session to take up drought relief: Lawmakers plan to dole out an additional $20 million for drought relief along with more than $1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds during this week's special session. Lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Wednesday for the special session. They plan to leave the door open for a final adjournment, called sine die, on Oct. 14. [Tulsa World] In Oklahoma special session, drought relief likely, grocery tax relief not [The Journal Record] Oklahoma lawmakers provide "unprecedented" drought relief to farmers, ranchers [CNHI] Book Ban Disputes Roiled These Oklahoma Communities. Here's What Happened: Calls to ban books have been around for decades, but coordinated social media efforts can spread them far, wide and at lightning speed. Now, complaints from a vocal few threaten to set off a blanket ban or lead to self-censorship out of fear — limiting book choices for thousands of students in a single district. [Oklahoma Watch] How Books Wind Up On School Library Shelves [Oklahoma Watch] State Government News Lawmaker Dismisses Lawsuit Over GEER Spending Records: A state representative who sued the state will soon receive the spending records on a COVID-19 relief program created by the governor in 2020. [Oklahoma Watch] Judge dismisses lawsuit against Stitt appointee on Oklahoma Veterans Commission: A local judge dismissed a lawsuit alleging Gov. Kevin Stitt violated state law when he appointed a new member of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission. [The Oklahoman] Former Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority director Travis Kirkpatrick dies: Travis Kirkpatrick, a longtime Oklahoma civil servant and former director of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, died Tuesday. Kirkpatrick, 40, spent nearly 18 years serving in a variety of roles of state government. [The Oklahoman] Tribal Nations News United Methodists will host vigil for victims of Native American boarding schools: Members of The Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference (OIMC) of The United Methodist Church will gather on Friday for a prayer service in conjunction with National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools being observed across the United States and Canada.  [The Oklahoman] 'The only true Native American in the Senate': Markwayne Mullin is poised to make history as the first tribal citizen in the U.S. Senate in nearly two decades but not all Native voters are happy. [Indianz.com] Voting and Election News The Frontier to fact-check gubernatorial and Oklahoma County DA debates: The Frontier is partnering with NonDoc and News 9 to fact-check debates in the gubernatorial and Oklahoma County district attorney races ahead of the November election. Gov. Kevin Stitt and Democratic challenger Joy Hofmeister have agreed to a debate hosted by NonDoc and News 9 at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City. [The Frontier] Editorial: Elections at risk because of extremists harassing workers: Political extremists' harassment of election board officials by weaponizing the open records law and threats against poll workers are appalling and put Oklahoma elections at risk. [Editorial / Tulsa World] Health News OU Health cancels gender care after funds threatened: The University of Oklahoma Medical Center confirmed Wednesday it is planning to stop offering some gender-affirming medical treatments after state lawmakers threatened to withhold millions of dollars in federal funding earmarked for the University Hospitals Authority. [The Journal Record] Guest column: Leave gender-affirming care to medical experts — not politicians [Carrie Davis and Mitch Prinstein Guest Column / The Oklahoman] 'Not done.'Activists say abortion restrictions in Oklahoma aren't enough: An annual anti-abortion campaign began on Wednesday in the Oklahoma City metro area, with activists saying their mission to eliminate legalized abortion is still incomplete, despite Oklahoma's abortion ban.  [The Oklahoman] Criminal Justice News Oklahoma Lawmaker Calls for Investigation of Prosecutor for Deliberately Withholding Evidence of Innocence in Richard Glossip Retrial: An Oklahoma state representative has called for an investigation into the practices of the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office following additional revelations that county prosecutors deliberately withheld exculpatory evidence and manufactured false testimony to secure a conviction and death sentence against Richard Glossip in his 2004 retrial. [Death Penalty Information Center] Death row inmate's attorney, state lawmaker call for new trial to forestall one of Oklahoma's 25 scheduled executions [CNHI] Question of suspect's competency stalls case in slayings of three women: The man accused of killing three Tulsa women earlier this year will undergo a mental evaluation after his attorney raised concerns about his client's ability to comprehend reality. [Tulsa World] Mental health crisis is 'gaping wound,' needs prioritization by Legislature, Tulsa County DA says after stabbing: Speaking at the Tulsa Police Department a day after being stabbed, reportedly by his adult daughter at his home, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said mental illness needs to be prioritized in the state. [Tulsa World] Tulsa County DA recovering after being stabbed multiple times by daughter Public Radio Tulsa] Two Oklahomans plead guilty to federal hate crime for racial attack outside Shawnee bar: After an assault left a Black man unconscious and bleeding in the parking lot outside a Shawnee bar in 2019, his attackers drove off into the night. This week, both attackers admitted they assaulted the victim because of his race. [The Oklahoman] Economy & Business News Three cities written out of RTA plan: Significant progress has been made on plans for high-capacity transit in central Oklahoma even as three cities have dropped out of the alliance, officials said this week. [The Journal Record] OKC oil executive to pay $1.9 million to settle federal investigation: The owner of an Oklahoma City oilfield services company has agreed to pay a monetary penalty and correct several violations of environmental law after an investigation by state and federal regulators. [The Oklahoman] What does small-town Oklahoma have to offer people wanting to live outside the city? Lots: If you're looking to move out of the big city and get into a new home, small-town Oklahoma has lots to offer for a lot less — lots and lots of vacant lots for sale for much less than lots in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and other not-so-small towns. [The Oklahoman] Education News What to Do When the School Wants to Remove IEP Services: According to the National Center for Statistics, the number of students receiving special education services has increased, from 6.4 million to 7.0 million between 2011–12 and 2017–18. The National Educational Association states that nationwide the current average per student cost in public schools is $7,552, and the average cost per special education student is an additional $9,369 per student (total average cost is $16,921 per special education student). [TulsaKids] Scissortail Studios opens pathway to filmmaking in Oklahoma City high schools: Oklahoma City Public Schools and local film industry officials say they hope a new high school film program, established this school year as Scissortail Studios, will grow Oklahoma's pipeline to the the cinema workforce. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma City Public Schools announces launch of Scissortail Studios [The Oklahoman] OKCPS announces film and video production program for schools [KFOR] Program lets students in on action of film production [The Journal Record] Tulsa study offers more evidence of pre-K's benefits into adulthood: Many people might think the main benefit of a high-quality preschool program is the academic boost it gives young children when they enter elementary school. [The Hechinger Report] Edmond City Council, school board discuss EPS growth, possible new schools: The Edmond City Council and city staff members met with the board and other representatives of Edmond Public Schools Tuesday night to address the district's increasing needs during a period of significant growth, particularly on the city's east side. [NonDoc] General News Signs pop up in Oklahoma City encouraging people to 'close the library': Mysterious signs have been popping up in the Oklahoma City metro this week calling on residents to vote to "close the library," on election day and attend a "book burning party," the following week. [StateImpact Oklahoma] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. 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 included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Your support makes this possible.   OK Policy is here to cut through the noise and look at the bottom line for what news and policy means for everyday Oklahomans. Tax-deductible donations from individuals like you make our work possible. Support Our Work with a Donation Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave. #1005 | Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120 918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org Connect with us: Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences