In The Know: Former Gov. George Nigh dies at 98 | A new proposal could allow Medicaid to fund more services in Oklahoma schools | It’s past time to raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry.

THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025 Subscribe // View latest headlines Policy Matters: It's past time to raise Oklahoma's minimum wage   If you want to understand America, follow the money. Or tellingly, follow who isn't getting any. In Oklahoma, that's far too many of our friends and neighbors who aren't earning enough to get by. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] $1.44 billion   The amount Oklahoma's top 1% of earners are projected to receive in federal tax cuts in 2026 under the budget "megabill." That $1.44 billion is part of a nationwide $117 billion in tax benefits heading to the wealthiest Americans next year. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy] After Decades of Costly, Regressive, and Ineffective Tax Cuts, a New Course Is Needed   Substantial historical tax cuts have disproportionately benefited high‑income households while contributing to escalating deficits, ultimately demonstrating limited effectiveness in promoting broad-based economic growth. Effective tax policy should pivot from regressive and costly tax reductions toward revenue‑neutral, progressive reforms that preserve horizontal equity and safeguard investments in areas such as clean energy, development, and infrastructure. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] "Who are these people? Ripping health care away from the American people. The largest cuts in Medicaid in American history. Ripping food out of the mouths of children, seniors and veterans who are going to go hungry as a result of this one big, ugly bill."   - House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries describing the proposed federal budget package, which includes what would be the largest Medicaid cuts in U.S. history. The bill also slashes funding for food assistance, prompting Jeffries to warn it would leave vulnerable Americans hungry, and marks a sharp rollback of the safety net programs established during the Great Society era. [AP via KFOR] You're invited to join a Community Listening Session near you!   This summer, the Oklahoma Policy Institute and Together Oklahoma are hosting in-person listening sessions across the state to hear directly from Oklahomans about the issues that matter most in their communities. These free, public events offer a chance to connect with neighbors, share your experiences, and speak with policy experts. Participants will receive compensation for their time.   Make your voice heard—find a session near you and join the conversation.   Make Your Voice Heard — In Person or Online   Can't attend in person? Take our online survey (available in English and Spanish) and share your thoughts about the laws and policies that affect you and your neighbors. Your input helps shape our priorities for the next legislative session to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable communities across Oklahoma. Oklahoma News   'A remarkable man': Former Gov. George Nigh dies at 98: A native of McAlester who served in the military, taught in classrooms and became revered as "a true public servant," former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh died today at age 98. Former Gov. David Walters said Nigh "believed in public service and devoted his life to it as a legislator, lieutenant governor and (who) served as governor longer than any other." [NonDoc] Former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh dies at 98 [Oklahoma Voice] George Nigh dies at 98: Oklahomans remember former governor, longtime politician [The Oklahoman] George Nigh's favorite act as a politician? Making the musical theme 'Oklahoma' the state song [The Oklahoman] George Nigh's legacy includes a highway that's critical to Northwest Oklahoma [The Oklahoman] George Nigh, former governor and UCO leader, dies at 98 [The Journal Record] Former Oklahoma governor George Nigh dies at 98 [KOSU] State Government News   As board members call Walters' collusion accusation 'ludicrous,' third-party report offers new TV details: One day after Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters contradicted the claims of officials investigating reports that nude women appeared on his office screen during a State Board of Education meeting, a second report sent to legislators Wednesday from a third-party vendor offered more insight into the slate of entertainment services accessible on Walters' TV set, though it said no determination about what happened could be made from the initial review. [NonDoc] Walters says board members, teachers' unions, Gov. Stitt set up nudity scandal to 'assassinate' him [Public Radio Tulsa] Oklahoman reporter explains Ryan Walters controversy on CNN [The Oklahoman] Emails show complaint by state education board member over images of naked women [The Oklahoman] Education Watch: Images on Walters' Office Television Spur Investigations: Board members said images of nude women displayed on a television in Superintendent Ryan Walters' office during a closed session of last week's board of education meeting. The revelation set off a frenzy of news reports and social media posts. Here's what you need to know. [Oklahoma Watch] Additional Oklahoma agency to join probe into nude women allegations [Oklahoma Voice] District attorney requests OSBI's help with investigation into Ryan Walters' TV [Tulsa World] 5 things to know about accusations of porn on Ryan Walters' office TV [Tulsa World] Oklahoma agency examines Walters's TV, OSBI and county law enforcement launch formal probes [StateImpact and OMPX via KGOU] Constituent Presses Rep. Stephanie Bice to Hold In-Person Town Halls: Republican Rep. Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma on Wednesday night defended her use of remote town halls after a constituent on the call confronted her and accused her of dodging voters. The question came during a telephone town hall event featuring Republican Reps. Jason Smith of Missouri and Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, who each chair a House committee. [Oklahoma Watch]   Oklahoma reverses course, restores access to some paper vehicle titles access: The state has restored the ability for individuals to obtain paper copies of vehicle titles in some cases. Service Oklahoma announced the change Wednesday after input from residents, lawmakers and others following its implementation of a new law. [Oklahoma Voice]   Northern Oklahoma elected official accused of stealing cows: Shane Jones serves as chairman for the Kay County Board of Commissioners, where he represents Ponca City and the surrounding area. He faces charges of stealing at least nine cows and branding them as his own. According to the office of Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, investigators say Jones was hired to move the cows in question for an auction house earlier this year. [KOSU] Kay County commissioner faces felony charges amid cattle rustling accusations [The Oklahoman] Federal Government News   Medicaid was signed into law 60 years ago. Trump's big bill is chiseling it back: The Republican Party's big tax and spending bill delivered not just $4.5 trillion in tax breaks for Americans but some of the most substantial changes to the landmark safety net programs in their history. The trade-off will cut more than $1 trillion over a decade from federal health care and food assistance, largely by imposing work requirements on those receiving aid and by shifting certain federal costs onto the states. [AP via KFOR] From OK Policy: We can't celebrate Medicaid's legacy without fighting for its future (Policy Matters) US Senate confirms Trump pick to head Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Susan Monarez as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday. Monarez — whom the Senate confirmed on a party-line vote, 51-47 — will now be responsible for the national public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The Atlanta-based agency has faced backlash as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pursues a vaccine-skeptical agenda. [Oklahoma Voice]   Epstein files must be released by Trump administration under obscure law, Democrats contend: U.S. Senate Democrats on Wednesday began charting a little-known legal path to force President Donald Trump's administration to release the investigative files on the now deceased Florida sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein. [Oklahoma Voice]   Trump's EPA proposes rollback of basis for climate change rules, sparking Dem outrage: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency submitted a proposal Tuesday to rescind a 2009 finding that has provided the foundation for the agency's regulation of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, drawing strong opposition from Democrats and climate groups. [Oklahoma Voice]   Education News   Fuel OKC bringing educators to Oklahoma from Mexico, funding paraprofessional degree program: In an effort to address the state's ongoing teacher shortage, an Oklahoma City nonprofit has created a new program to bring educators from Mexico to Oklahoma classrooms despite the risk of xenophobic rhetoric inflaming tensions about immigration issues across America. [NonDoc]    A new proposal could allow Medicaid to fund more services for eligible kids in Oklahoma schools: Pending federal approval, schools could recoup more Medicaid dollars from providing services like occupational and speech therapy, and behavioral health supports to eligible students. [StateImpact via KGOU]   Health News   In Enid, a fatal overdose highlights a lack of drug treatment options: Three people overdosed on fentanyl one night this spring in a quiet residential neighborhood in Enid. There's a shortage of treatment providers in this mostly rural part of the state. Data from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shows some of the counties with the highest unmet need for drug treatment are in Western Oklahoma. [The Frontier]   Criminal Justice News   Opinion: Data is key to bringing justice-involved people back to workforce: A clear, public-facing dashboard lets families, advocates, policymakers, and taxpayers, see exactly how many people are in jail, along with other data points like why they're there, and for how long. This holds the system accountable. By tracking trends daily, we can spot barriers in the system and address them faster.  [Melissa Walton / The Journal Record]   Economy & Business News   Tax-Free Weekend: When is it and what to know for Oklahoma's 2025 holiday: Oklahoma's 2025 Sales Tax holiday is coming up, but several Oklahomans may have questions about how this will impact their purchases. [News 9] From OK Policy: Sales tax holiday is poor policy Community News   No, Oklahoma County is not removing Juneteenth as a county holiday. Here's what happened: Juneteenth has not been scrubbed from the list of holidays observed by Oklahoma County government, but its omission sparked a short-lived firestorm before it was found to have been what Commissioner Myles Davidson said was a clerical error. [The Oklahoman] One calendar mistake reveals festering tensions in OKC metro [Oklahoma City Free Press] High Noon recalls vodka seltzers in Oklahoma mislabeled as Celsius energy drinks: Due to a packaging error, a popular energy drink shipped to Oklahoma may actually have alcohol in the can. High Noon, a popular vodka seltzer, is recalling the 12-pack box of High Noon Beach Variety because the packages may contain cans labeled as Celsius Astro Vibe Energy Drink. [The Oklahoman]   Local Headlines City of Tulsa installs boulders along sidewalk outside downtown bus station [Tulsa World] Tulsans confront immigration misinformation through firsthand accounts from refugees [Public Radio Tulsa] New $2.7M park long time coming for OKC neighborhood [The Journal Record] Tenant rights training set for August 5th, says Oklahoma City officials [KFOR] 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. Support Our Work with a Donation Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave #1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 United States  918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org okpolicy.org    Connect with us:   If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.

In The Know: Ryan Walters claims story of nudity on his television is 'coordinated attack' | As Trump ramps up deportations, some immigrants spend time in an Oklahoma for-profit prison | What you need to know about Oklahoma's tax-free shopping weekend

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2025 Subscribe // View latest headlines 30%   The percentage of low-income Oklahomans that are either experiencing homelessness or spending more than half their income on rent. Most don't get any federal rental assistance — not because they don't qualify, but because funding simply isn't there. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] Policy Basics: Federal Rental Assistance   Federal rental assistance — including Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing, and project-based aid — serves millions of seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and working families, significantly reducing homelessness and deep poverty. However, demand far exceeds supply, with crucial need across every state for more funding and expanded program access. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] "To not only reverse course on housing first, but institute priorities to institutionalize and criminalize homelessness — it's really just a devastating blow to our work."   - April Doshier, the executive director of Norman nonprofit Food and Shelter, explains how housing-first principles have seen progress over the last decade — but says President Trump created an obstacle to further progress with his recent executive order that shifts funding from being used for housing-first initiatives to being used for programs that require sobriety and treatment. [KGOU] You're invited to join a Community Listening Session near you!   This summer, the Oklahoma Policy Institute and Together Oklahoma are hosting in-person listening sessions across the state to hear directly from Oklahomans about the issues that matter most in their communities. These free, public events offer a chance to connect with neighbors, share your experiences, and speak with policy experts. Participants will receive compensation for their time.   Make your voice heard—find a session near you and join the conversation.   Make Your Voice Heard — In Person or Online   Can't attend in person? Take our online survey (available in English and Spanish) and share your thoughts about the laws and policies that affect you and your neighbors. Your input helps shape our priorities for the next legislative session to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable communities across Oklahoma. State Government News   'Desperate tactics': Walters blames TV drama on 'lies' as OMES report contradicts claims: Answering questions for the first time since State Board of Education members reported seeing naked woman displayed on his office television, Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters insisted at a press conference Tuesday that two agencies had concluded investigations with no findings of impropriety. However, the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office responded that its inquiry remains active, and a report sent to legislators by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services contradicted some of Walters' claims. [NonDoc] State superintendent suggests Oklahoma governor may be responsible for nude women allegations [Oklahoma Voice] Ryan Walters claims story of nudity on his television is 'coordinated attack' [KOSU] Ryan Walters says he's cleared in TV nudity investigation. Sheriff's office says case is open [The Oklahoman] Ryan Walters TV nudity investigation: Which agencies are involved? What's next? [The Oklahoman] Watch: Ryan Walters hosts press conference day after investigation on OSDE meeting opens (video) [The Oklahoman] Who is Ryan Walters? What to know about Oklahoma's top educator, controversy [The Oklahoman] Who's Who on the Oklahoma State Board of Education? [News 9] Opinion: Oklahoma students and teachers pay the price for Ryan Walters' bad calls [Tamecca Rogers / The Oklahoman] Did Ryan Walters receive $120,000 from a non-profit funded by school privatization advocates while serving as the Secretary of Education?: Yes. Walters received an annual salary of at least $120,000 as the CEO of the nonprofit Every Kid Counts, which receives a substantial amount of its funding from national school privatization and charter school expansion advocates, while serving as Oklahoma's Secretary of Education. [Oklahoma Watch]   Opinion: Gov. Stitt and RFK Jr. pledge to 'Make Oklahoma Healthy Again.' Their policies signal the opposite: Gov. Kevin Stitt welcomed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the Oklahoma Capitol for the "Make Oklahoma Healthy Again" rally. It served as a dramatic photo op, but behind the cameras, the policies promoted were anything but healthy. [Sharon D'Souza / Oklahoma Voice] From OK Policy: Policy Matters: Making Oklahoma healthy requires more than a slogan (commentary) Federal Government News   Judge blocks Trump administration's efforts to defund Planned Parenthood: A federal judge on Monday ruled Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide must continue to be reimbursed for Medicaid funding as the nation's largest abortion provider fights President Donald Trump's administration over efforts to defund the organization in his signature tax legislation. [AP via KFOR]   Drummond, state AGs: Congress should act to invalidate abortion shield laws: Oklahoma's Attorney General Gentner Drummond signed a letter Tuesday asking Congress to ban so-called abortion shield laws in states where the procedure remains legal. [Oklahoma Voice]   As Trump ramps up deportations, some immigrants spend time in an Oklahoma for-profit prison: CoreCivic, one of the nation's largest private correctional facility operators, has struck a deal to house up to 360 detainees for Immigration Customs and Enforcement at its Cimarron Correctional Facility in Cushing. The prison is one of 18 CoreCivic facilities nationwide with agreements to hold immigration detainees. [The Frontier] From OK Policy: 6 reasons why Oklahoma shouldn't allow private prisons to reopen as immigration detention centers. Tom Cole's Powerful Spot on the Appropriations Committee Is Motivating Him to Stay in Congress: Republican Rep. Tom Cole, who has spent more than 20 years in the House, says he is planning on running for a 13th term, in large part because of what he and other members of the Oklahoma delegation are able to deliver now that they've accumulated more power. [Oklahoma Watch]   Norman nonprofit expects Trump order on homelessness to impact operations: Last week, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to change the way homelessness is managed in the country. One Norman nonprofit says the changes will set back progress. [KGOU] Opinion: Trump wants to kill a homeless support model that works [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World] From OK Policy: Homelessness in Oklahoma - Information & Resources Section 8 Recipients at Risk Under Trump's Two-Year Housing Limit: A Trump administration proposal to cap Section 8 housing assistance at two years for able-bodied, non-disabled adults is sparking concern nationwide—especially in Tulsa, where advocates warn it could destabilize families already facing rising rents and income inequality. [The Black Wall Street Times]   Tribal Nations News   Oklahoma Indigenous cancer rates rising as Congress spars over future of IHS funding: Both the U.S. House and Senate have passed separate appropriation bills earmarking billions of dollars for the Indian Health Service in advance appropriations for Fiscal Year 2027. However, the respective bills fall far short of what tribal representatives requested to better fund the IHS. [KOSU] Opinion: President Trump: If You Want to Honor Native Americans, Fund Our Programs [Levi Rickert / Native News Online] Judge rejects stay for 'Muscogee v. Kunzweiler' amidst 'Stitt v. Tulsa' question: Muscogee v. Kunzweiler asks the same question as Tulsa v. O'Brien on a federal level: can the state prosecute tribal members on reservation land even if they're not members of that tribe? [KOSU]   Education News   Questions about passage of Oklahoma social studies standards dominate court hearing: An Oklahoma Supreme Court referee peppered an Oklahoma State Board of Education attorney with questions about the Open Meeting Act during a hearing in a lawsuit filed over new social studies standards backed by state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. [The Oklahoman] Supreme Court referee hears arguments in social studies standards case [Tulsa World] $39 million building for optometry college opening at Northeastern State in Tahlequah: One of the nation's top optometry schools, located in Cherokee County in eastern Oklahoma, has a new $39.3 million facility. [The Oklahoman]   Opinion: Here's who we have to thank for restoring education proficiency benchmarks: Concerns about Oklahoma's education cut scores have come back into the conversation ― and rightly so. It's time to speak plainly about what happened, who fixed it and why it matters. [Former State Representative Mark McBride / The Oklahoman]   Criminal Justice News   Next Oklahoma execution may be pushed back to October after inmate caught with cellphones: The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has been secretly asked to push back the state's next execution to October. Attorney General Gentner Drummond made the request after convicted murderer Tremane Wood was caught three times with cellphones. [The Oklahoman] From OK Policy: Oklahoma Death Penalty Tracker  Oklahoma City detainees could be housed in Cleveland County jail if proposal passes: Oklahoma City is considering an agreement that would be the first of its kind between the city and Cleveland County to house some OKC detainees in Norman at the Cleveland County Detention Center. [The Oklahoman]   OKC Council approves contract with controversial AI facial recognition company: Oklahoma City police now have a contract with a controversial artificial intelligence facial recognition company as the technology faces legal controversies around the globe over concerns with privacy and bias. [The Oklahoman]   Stigma still keeps police from seeking mental health care, study finds: Police officers may face hundreds of traumatic incidents over the course of their careers, but many still hesitate to seek mental health support when they need it. [Oklahoma Voice]   Faith-based Oklahoma prison program sets inmates up for future success, one haircut at a time: Eric Cotter has finally found something that gives him hope that there's a place for him outside prison when he's released after serving his two-decade prison sentence. Incarcerated at the Clara Waters Community Corrections Center in Oklahoma, Cotter is one of the inmates participating in R.I.S.E Program Inc., a pioneering cosmetology and barbering project. [Oklahoma Voice]   Long Story Short: Anonymous Source Sheds Light on Panhandle Police Impunity (podcast): Valerie Scott covered upcoming changes for low-income Oklahomans under Trump's budget bill. Keaton Ross reported on AG Gentner Drummond appointing Ryan Stephenson as special prosecutor in the Glossip case. After the first Justice in No Man's Land series, we received tips about injustices in District One—one from a claimed ex-Guymon patrol officer with case details and a YouTube link. J.C. Hallman reports on the tip. [Oklahoma Watch]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   Oklahoma hospital launches accessible, affordable housing initiative for people with disabilities: Bethany Children's Health Center celebrated the opening of its first home in a new initiative that aims to address the need for affordable and accessible housing for individuals with disabilities during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday. [StateImpact via KGOU]   Economy & Business News   Job insecurity shakes one in four employees while employers remain cautious: Job openings fell to 7.4 million last month from 7.7 million in May, the U.S. Labor Department reported Tuesday, and the cooling labor market is expected to continue. The Federal Reserve projects the unemployment rate will hit 4.5% in 2025, up from the current 4.1%. It hasn't been that high since October 2021 when the economy still was recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. [The Journal Record]   What you need to know about Oklahoma's tax-free shopping weekend: Oklahoma students will be heading back to class before we know it, and the state has planned its annual tax-free weekend for Aug. 1-3. [Fox 25] From OK Policy: Oklahoma's sales tax holiday costs about $7 million in state revenue annually, and it has not been shown to promote economic growth of increase spending. Community News   This close to reaching space: After 25 years, Oklahoma finally crosses the 'starting line': For more than two decades, the state government struggled to market Oklahoma's largest runway as a spaceport. Now, a new crop of leaders has inked a deal meant to refuel the vision for the Oklahoma Spaceport near Burns Flat. [The Oklahoman]   'Fighting More Than Fire': Keith Daniels uncovers Tulsa's Black firefighter legacy: For decades, the bravery of Tulsa's Black firefighters has been hidden behind smoke and silence. While their white counterparts were heralded as heroes, Black firemen often risked their lives without recognition, while also battling the flames of hate from racist Jim Crow laws. [The Black Wall Street Times]   Local Headlines Owasso police face backlash over social media post [Public Radio Tulsa] 'Clerical error' creates hard feelings between Oklahoma County commissioners [KOSU] OK County still paying interest on lost earnest money from canceled land buy for school [The Oklahoman] OKC tasked with eliminating decades-old racist language from hundreds of land covenants [KOCO] 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. Support Our Work with a Donation Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave #1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 United States  918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org okpolicy.org    Connect with us:   If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.