In The Know: Lack of Affordable Housing Prices Out Oklahoma Renters | Bulldozers won’t solve homelessness | Data shouldn’t be political

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, SEPTEMBER 11, 2025 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) Policy Matters: Data shouldn't be political   This week, the U.S. Census Bureau released its annual American Community Survey data — one of the clearest mirrors we have to see how Americans are really doing. For most, it will pass quietly; for some leaders, it will be dismissed outright. However, the truth is plain: without trustworthy data, we are steering in the dark. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] Bulldozers won't solve homelessness (Commentary)   Gov. Stitt wants Oklahomans to believe a police escort and a bulldozer can solve homelessness. Last week, he ordered the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to sweep homeless encampments from state land in Tulsa, offering people two options: a shelter bed or a jail cell. On paper, it might look like action. In reality, it's governance by wrecking ball. [Sabine Brown / OK Policy] 38%   The share of people in Oklahoma prisons who currently exhibit symptoms of a serious mental illness. [Oklahoma Department of Corrections] Reducing Arrest and Jailing of People with Mental Health Disabilities, Including Those with Intersectional Identities    People with mental health disabilities are disproportionately arrested and jailed, often for behaviors tied to unmet treatment needs or crises rather than serious crimes. Structural barriers — including underfunded community services, lack of crisis response alternatives, and reliance on police as first responders — perpetuate this cycle. Expanding community-based care, crisis response teams, and diversion programs are essential to keep people out of jail, while ensuring that those who do encounter the justice system receive adequate protections and access to treatment. [Safety + Justice Challenge] "Here's the truth: Our prisons are also serving as our largest mental health institutions. Too many Oklahomans end up incarcerated not because they're hardened criminals, but because they're sick. Without proper treatment, they cycle through jails and prisons, never truly getting well."   - Mark McBride, former member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, reflecting on the state's mental health crisis. He warned that Oklahoma is "putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound" instead of making the real investments that would provide treatment and support — helping people stay housed and out of the justice system. [The Oklahoman] 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. Next up: Enid! Thursday, September 25 | 5:30 p.m. | Enid Public Library Register Now LAST CHANCE to Make Your Voice Heard! Survey Closing Sunday, September 14.   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   Lack of Affordable Housing Prices Out Oklahoma Renters: Amidst a national housing crisis, a quarter of Oklahoma renters met the qualifications to be considered extremely low-income, according to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition. [Oklahoma Watch] From OK Policy: Housing is out of reach for working Oklahomans, seniors and people with disabilities State Government News   AG to permit Oklahoma State Board of Education attorney hire despite objections: Attorney General Gentner Drummond will allow the Oklahoma State Board of Education to hire its chosen attorney despite his doubts of the candidate's qualifications, he said Wednesday. [Oklahoma Voice]   AG Drummond issues binding opinion on drag shows: A newly issued binding Opinion from Attorney General Gentner Drummond declares that "obscene" drag show performances in the presence of children or in a public place are illegal. [Journal Record] Attorney general clarifies that 'obscene material' in drag shows would break new law [Tulsa World] Oklahoma high court affirms dismissal of lawsuit challenging Stitt's order to end remote work: The Oklahoma Supreme Court tossed out a lawsuit challenging a gubernatorial executive order that ends remote work for state employees. [Oklahoma Voice] Oklahoma Supreme Court upholds Gov. Stitt's order requiring state employees to work in office [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma leaders condemn political violence after Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in Utah: Oklahoma lawmakers, state officials and university organizations are condemning political violence after conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on Sept. 10. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma lawmakers react to shooting death of Charlie Kirk [Fox 25]  State school board member, education advocates say Walters' canceled meeting left hundreds of teachers without full pay: Oklahoma State Board of Education members say hundreds of newly hired teachers have gone without full pay for a month after State Superintendent Ryan Walters abruptly canceled last month's board meeting. [KFOR]       Father sues Oklahoma Human Services after former worker pleads guilty to kidnapping: A metro father is suing after his one-year-old was kidnapped by a former Oklahoma Human Services worker. Earlier this year, Xander Faison was a DHS hotline worker and used fake papers to remove a child and take her to her own apartment. [KFOR]   Federal Government News   US paid El Salvador $4.76 million to detain up to 300 migrants in mega-prison: The Trump administration paid El Salvador $4.76 million to detain up to 300 immigrant men for up to a year at a notorious mega-prison and barred the funds from being used to help asylum seekers, reproductive care or diversity initiatives, according to a court document filed Tuesday. [Oklahoma Voice]   Supreme Court rules Trump administration can refuse to spend $4B in foreign aid for now: The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday said the Trump administration can temporarily hold on to $4 billion in foreign aid funding approved by Congress, overturning a lower court's order and continuing a struggle over who controls the nation's purse strings.  [Oklahoma Voice]   US Supreme Court sets Trump tariffs case arguments for November: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in early November on whether President Donald Trump's emergency tariffs are legal, according to an order the court released Tuesday. [Oklahoma Voice]   RFK Jr. lists 100+ recommendations to 'Make America Healthy Again': The Trump administration released its strategy to Make America Healthy Again on Tuesday, which officials hope will reduce chronic diseases and align federal policy with their beliefs. [Oklahoma Voice]   Tribal Nations News   Cheat sheet: 3 challenge Leonard Gouge in Muscogee Nation's Tvlse District B seat: Lahoma Schultz, former Muscogee National Council Rep. Lucian Tiger III and Ashley Wolfvoice are challenging incumbent Rep. Leonard Gouge to represent seat "B" of the Tvlse District, the most urban district in the Muscogee Nation Reservation. [NonDoc]   Incumbent Galen Cloud sees old, new opponents in Muscogee Nation's McIntosh District election: Muscogee voters will see a rematch of the 2021 election — plus one new face — in the McIntosh District "B" seat this year. Incumbent Muscogee National Council Rep. Galen Cloud, Jeff Francis Jr. and former Rep. Adam Jones III are all campaigning for the seat located in the southeast corner of the Muscogee Reservation. [NonDoc]   Voting and Election News   Oklahomans headed to the polls: Many Oklahomans went to the polls on Tuesday to decide a variety of measures. [KFOR]   Education News   Lawmaker launches "Junior Senator Reading Challenge" challenging Oklahoma students to read 25 books in a year: Each year at the state capitol, lawmakers work on legislation to improve educational outcomes in Oklahoma. A state senator from Claremore is thinking outside of the box, working to increase reading efforts without any legislation at all. [News 9]   Health News   Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation receives $3M grant to improve diagnosis of immune system disease: The National Institutes of Health has awarded the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation a four-year grant aimed at helping more easily diagnose and predict the progression of sarcoidosis, a disease of the immune system. [The Journal Record]   'We are forever changed': Texas woman shares impact of state abortion bans with Oklahoma City crowd: A small audience at Rodeo Cinema in Oklahoma City fell silent, taking in the moment as movie credits rolled after a Sunday matinee showing. Repro46, a group educating Oklahomans on reproductive health care amid the state's abortion ban, was hosting free screenings of the documentary Zurawski v Texas there and in Tulsa. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]   Opinion, Former Rep Mark McBride: Oklahoma's mental health crisis is only getting worse. We must decide to fix it: The larger issue is whether we as a state are willing to treat mental health as a real priority. When it comes to prisons, we never hesitate to build full-scale facilities. But when it comes to mental health, we trim the vision, scale down the beds and settle for patchwork fixes. If we don't change course, Oklahoma will keep paying more in the long run — whether in prisons, emergency rooms or lives lost on our streets. [Mark McBride / The Oklahoman]   Criminal Justice News   Commissioner Myles Davidson speaks out for first time following VPO filing, sexual harassment allegations: In Wednesday's Board of County Commissioners meeting, District 3 Commissioner Myles Davidson spoke out for the first time, following the victim protective order filed against him. [KFOR] Davidson ignores demands to resign over sex assault claims, but will step down as chairman [The Oklahoman] Attorney General says Swadley's defense filing may have used AI, cites fake ruling: Was generative AI used to write a mistake-filled legal argument by defense attorneys in a highly publicized criminal case in Oklahoma? Attorney General Gentner Drummond says that is likely what happened in his fraud case against the owner of Swadley's Bar-B-Q. [The Oklahoman] Was AI used to write a defense argument in an Oklahoma criminal case? AG Drummond says probably (video) [The Oklahoman] First indictment after 2023 McCurtain County sheriff scandal: After two years, a federal court issued the first criminal indictment related to a scandal that rocked McCurtain County under the administration of now-ousted Sheriff Kevin Clardy. [KJRH]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   Available numbers don't bear out Stitt's claim that 45% of Tulsa homeless are from out of state: In a television interview, Stitt said 45% of the "new homeless" in Tulsa are from out of state. The Tulsa World contacted several local business leaders, as well as the Tulsa Regional Chamber, to ask for numbers. None had any. [Tulsa World]   Economy & Business News   State support fuels $99M Rogers County manufacturing expansion, creates 660 jobs: Across the country, industries are facing an unprecedented demand for skilled labor, a challenge Oklahoma is meeting head-on through targeted partnerships and strategic investments. In collaboration with the State of Oklahoma, Claremore manufacturers have been leveraging state resources to expand operations, create jobs and strengthen the local economy. [The Journal Record]   Local Headlines Protesters decry Tulsa County GOP's constitution class with ties to Christian nationalist [Public Radio Tulsa] 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. 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