Oklahoma News Group pushes for new criminal justice reform as Oklahoma's incarceration rate rises: A grassroots movement in Oklahoma is underway to reshape criminal justice by improving crime prevention programs and developing better alternatives to incarceration, supporters say. Faith leaders, social workers, attorneys, tribal officials and nonprofit organizations want to change long-standing beliefs about crime and punishment. [Oklahoma Voice] Federal judge considers fate of Oklahoma law on race, gender teaching: After two years of waiting, House Bill 1775 finally had its day in court. The 2021 law, one of Oklahoma's most controversial, bans eight race and gender concepts from public school classrooms and prohibits mandatory diversity training at universities. Oklahoma City federal Judge Charles Goodwin heard oral arguments Monday on a lawsuit seeking to overturn the law. [Oklahoma Voice] - After 2 years, HB 1775 lawsuit gets hearing on injunction [NonDoc]
- After two years, arguments in stalled lawsuit against Oklahoma's critical race theory ban begin [The Oklahoman]
- Controversial bill on teaching race, gender has first hearing in federal court [Tulsa World]
- Federal judge hears opening statements in lawsuit against Oklahoma's House Bill 1775 [KOSU]
State Government News Oklahoma Senate leader details plans to make state budget process more transparent: Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, on Monday announced the Senate will take steps to make the budget process more transparent for lawmakers and the general public. In a first, the Senate will publicly unveil by mid-March its proposed spending plan for the upcoming budget year. [Oklahoma Voice] Tribal Nations News Federal judge indicates he will dismiss civil lawsuit over Tulsa's right to issue tickets to tribal citizens: A federal judge said Monday that he would dismiss a civil lawsuit that challenged the city of Tulsa's right to issue traffic tickets to tribal citizens. Chief U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson of the District of New Mexico told attorneys during an online status conference hearing that he would issue the order "in the near future." [Tulsa World] Oklahoma tribal nations receive roughly $8 million to bolster recycling efforts: The Environmental Protection Agency is granting more than $8 million dollars to bolster Oklahoma tribal nations' recycling efforts. All of these grants are part of President Joe Biden's Investing in America Plan. It is an effort to bolster the EPA's National Recycling Strategy. [KOSU] You'll be able to buy or rent 'Killers of the Flower Moon' digitally this week. Here's how: Martin Scorsese's Oklahoma-made cinematic epic "Killers of the Flower Moon" will be available to buy or rent starting this week, Apple Original Films announced Monday. [The Oklahoman] Health News OHCA removed 250,000 from Medicaid including some who were still eligible: The Oklahoma Health Care Authority began removing more than 250,000 people because they were temporarily added to Medicaid during COVID-19. The state's effort to be complaint to the rules leaves the homeless out; some will lose their Medicaid and have little recourse. [City News OKC] Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) concerns aren't just for infants: The dangers of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, for older adults is nothing new. But, like so many things, our awareness of it and other contagious respiratory illnesses increased with the advent of COVID-19. In particular, the dangers of RSV became more evident with last year's so-called tripledemic, when — alongside COVID and the flu — the virus filled hospitals with infants and older people alike. [Adam Cohen and Dr. Judith James / The Oklahoman] Criminal Justice News Report reflects rising opposition to capital punishment: More Americans now believe the death penalty, which is undergoing a yearslong decline of use and support, is being administered unfairly, a finding that is adding to its growing isolation in the U.S., according to an annual report on capital punishment. Only five states – Texas, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Alabama – conducted executions this year. That was the lowest number in 20 years, said Robin M. Maher, executive director of the nonprofit center, which takes no position on capital punishment but has criticized the way states carry out executions. [AP via Journal Record] Housing & Economic Opportunity 'This is important:' How shift in public opinion helps OKC improve homelessness: Oklahoma City wants to get more people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing. Last week, MAPS4 began its first phase of affordable housing improvement. A change in public perception has led to more conversations about the unsheltered population. City leaders said this creates strong partnerships to lift people out of homelessness. [News 9] Economy & Business News Applications for unemployment benefits trend higher: Claims for unemployment benefits continued to creep up in mid-November in Oklahoma and across the country. According to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, for the file week that ended Nov. 18, the number of initial claims for unemployment benefits filed in the state, unadjusted, totaled 1,389, an increase of 182 from the previous week. For the same file week, the less volatile four-week moving average of initial claims was 1,341, an increase of 25 from the previous week's average. [Journal Record] Google grants $65,000 to bolster female entrepreneurship in Oklahoma through accelerator programs: This grant from Google will fund StitchCrew, an Oklahoma-based accelerator that develops public-private partnerships to connect traditionally overlooked entrepreneurs with the capital, network, and resources they need to build and scale companies across the region. [KOKH] Poultry processor closes Oklahoma facilities: Cooks Venture is shutting down its operations and facilities in eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas. The company breeds pasture-raised heirloom chickens and it produces regenerative agriculture systems. Two processing plants in Jay and Tahlequah are being shut down, along with six farms and plants in Arkansas. There were 511 employees at all locations combined. [KOSU] Opinion: Oklahoma needs a new workforce delivery system to build a strong economy: Most people can easily understand that, for the economy to function, businesses need staff and people need jobs. What's not easily understood is how much effort and coordination go on behind the scenes to connect people to work … and therein lies opportunity. Over the past year, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC), CareerTech, and Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) have been working together to build this system. [Trae Rahill / The Oklahoman] Education News Opinion: If students avoided sleep deprivation, absenteeism and cellphones, grades would improve: As a teacher, I have three enemies: 1. Sleep deprivation; 2. Absenteeism; 3. Cellphones. I am convinced that if students avoided all three, then their grades would improve by at least one letter grade. [K. John Lee / The Oklahoman] General News Oklahoma's environmental agency could be awarded $500 million in federal grants. It needs your ideas: State environmental officials hope to land potentially millions in federal grant funding aimed at improving air quality and reducing pollution in Oklahoma. Officials met with industry and community leaders Tuesday in Oklahoma City to discuss eligible projects, and now, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is soliciting feedback on ideas as the group develops a long-term, statewide Priority Climate Action Plan. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Local News - Oklahoma City offering free rides on public transport in December, including new bus line [The Oklahoman]
- OKC arena vote: Here are some columnists' takes on the plan [Opinion / The Oklahoman]
- OK County officials address concern new jail site could affect OKC Stockyards [The Oklahoman]
- 'Running out of time': Delay with new Jail site confounds county leaders [NonDoc]
- U.S. Department of Energy awards Tulsa $50K for phase 1 of clean energy project: [Tulsa World]
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