Oklahoma News In Oklahoma, a Red State Model of Criminal Justice Reform: In the last half-decade, Oklahoma has enacted a series of landmark legislation that has reclassified drug offenses, removed barriers to reintegration, and reappropriated funding to social services — all with stunningly positive outcomes. More than a one-off effort, these policies span two different governorships and demonstrate how justice reform can earn bipartisan support and a warm public reception — all while helping people involved in the carceral system. [Arnold Ventures] Oklahoma Supreme Court rules school districts, not governor, should decide mask mandates: The Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down the governor's influence over school mask mandates in an opinion issued Tuesday, ruling in favor of doctors and parents who challenged a state law that at one point effectively blocked masking requirements in public schools. [The Oklahoman] - Oklahoma Supreme Court rules school masking requirements don't need governor approval [KGOU]
- State Supreme Court tosses school mask requirement restriction [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma holds drives across state to push people to register to vote (video): There's a nationwide push to get people to register to vote. There were registration drives across the state and country on Tuesday. The big message is that your voice matters. [KOCO via MSN] State Government News Legislature expected to resume special session next week: The Oklahoma Legislature expects to resume its recessed special session next week after a joint committee on Tuesday puts its stamp on more than $1 billion in projects to be paid for with COVID-related federal funds. [Tulsa World] Tribal Nations News Tribal leaders criticize Castro-Huerta ruling during congressional hearing: A congressional subcommittee investigating the impact of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned decades of precedent in Native American law heard testimony today that the court ignored tribal sovereignty to reach its decision. [NonDoc] Voting and Election News Editorial: Lack of contested races hurts Oklahoma: Nearly 70% of Oklahoma's state legislative elections in 2022 will be decided without a single vote cast in November, a recent Oklahoma Watch story reported. [Enid News & Eagle] Economy & Business News OKC to fund new office to promote film industry: Oklahoma City will provide $750,000 in economic development funds over the next three years to launch a new office that will promote and support the emerging film industry. [The Journal Record] OKC home prices not greatly affected by rising mortgage rates: Most people selling homes in Oklahoma City haven't had to reduce asking prices much, if at all, even as rising mortgage interest rates have acted to slow home sales in markets across much of the rest of the country. [The Journal Record] Japanese company to buy Oklahoma wind energy: In a sign of the increasing interconnectedness of businesses around the globe, and of the increasing interest many have in investing in green energy to offset carbon footprints, a company in Japan has agreed to become a major purchaser of energy produced by a wind farm in Oklahoma. [The Journal Record] Education News OKC Public Schools sees increased enrollment over last year: Oklahoma City Public Schools is 98.6% staffed and has enrollment up over last year at this time according to OKCPS Superintendent Sean McDaniel. [Oklahoma City Free Press] The Frontier fact-checked Oklahoma's book-banning controversy: Some news reports on book bans have lacked nuance and context, or contained factual errors. Statements by public officials sometimes repeated inaccurate information. [The Frontier] Results of Oklahoma's Purdue settlement beginning to take shape at OSU's Center for Health Sciences: With Wednesday National Opioid Awareness Day, officials with OSU Center for Health Sciences say unexpected developments have changed the National Center for Wellness and Recovery's trajectory, with research accelerating to the extent that the center could soon be involved in groundbreaking discoveries. [Tulsa World] 'Maddening and frustrating': UCO staff member outraged about possibility of job cuts: An email sent to University of Central Oklahoma says declining enrollment could force UCO to cut 30 faculty positions by the end of the school year. The university says UCO is facing financial challenges related to declines in enrollment, there are no decisions or current plans to eliminate faculty positions. [OKC Fox 25] General News Oklahoma's water resources are plentiful, yet exhaustible: The summer of 2022 is likely a preview of things to come as climate change and a growing population in central Oklahoma and other parts of the state put additional stress on water resources, including in parts of western Oklahoma that have seen extreme drought in recent years. (Following this year's dry summer, even swaths of eastern Oklahoma are showing "extreme drought.") [NonDoc] Local News 'Unbelievably unethical': retired Tulsa Police officer sues city for discrimination: A former major with the Tulsa Police Department has refiled a lawsuit against the city seeking at least $600,000 in damages for discrimination. She is also seeking damages for embarrassment, humiliation, and mental anguish. [Public Radio Tulsa] | 
