In The Know: Oklahomans push back against plans for an ICE detention facility | Gov. wants to create state website promoting school choice | New Office of Juvenile Affairs budget request prioritizes importance of early treatment

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. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) New Office of Juvenile Affairs budget request prioritizes importance of early treatment (Capitol Update)   The Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) has amended its Fiscal Year 2027 budget request since the departure of former Director Tim Tardibono and his replacement with Interim Director Sharon "Shel" Millington. Both director appointments were made by Gov. Kevin Stitt, but Tardibono resigned after a year on the job amid a crisis at the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center (COJC) in Tecumseh. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] 73,609   The number of women, infants, and children in Oklahoma who relied on the WIC program as of November 2025. WIC provides vital nutrition support, breastfeeding assistance, and health services that have been demonstrated to improve pregnancy outcomes, infant health, and early childhood development. [Oklahoma Department of Health] WIC Works: A Cost-Effective Investment in Improving Low-Income Families' Nutrition and Health   The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) yields strong returns for low-income families by improving nutrition, reducing adverse birth outcomes, and lowering health-care costs. Studies show that when families participate in WIC, children are healthier, their diets more nutritious, and families utilize preventive health services more effectively. Incentives like updated food packages and breastfeeding support amplify its impact while keeping program cost-effectiveness high. Ensuring broader access and higher participation in WIC strengthens family stability and public health while delivering value to taxpayers. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] "But that policy alone is not enough to ease the concerns of our communities when every day on our screens we are seeing families ripped apart, inhumane detention centers, and even the execution of U.S. citizens. I ask you to please make decisions that empower our community to feel safe and protected in our homes."   —Laura Susana Tapia, an Oklahoma City resident who works closely with its Latino community, said in her testimony at Tuesday's City Council meeting. She noted that despite Oklahoma City's policy to not ask about immigration status when it comes to essential services, people are still afraid. [Oklahoma Voice] Learn how advocacy actually works — and how YOU fit into it   Most people care about what's happening at the Capitol. Far fewer know how to actually influence it. We'll break down how advocacy really works — who to contact, when it matters most, and how everyday people have changed decisions simply by showing up consistently. You'll learn practical skills like making effective calls, writing letters, meeting with lawmakers, and telling your story in a way that lands. View all upcoming Advocacy Training dates, locations, and registration details. Find an Advocacy Training in Your Community UPDATE: Altus Advocacy Training postponed   Due to inclement weather this week and continued impacts on travel, OK Policy and Together Oklahoma have decided to reschedule our Altus Advocacy Training that was scheduled for Thursday night. We hate having to postpone, and we appreciate your understanding. We look forward to sharing updated event details soon. Join advocates and community activists from all across the state on March 3 for our 2026 Day of Action, hosted by OK Policy and Together Oklahoma.   Our Day of Action provides you with an opportunity to engage with legislators and get the information, tools, and resources you need to advocate for the changes that you would like to see in your community. Register Now Oklahoma News   Oklahomans denounce potential ICE processing center at OKC City Council meeting: Dozens of outraged Oklahomans on Tuesday spent hours lambasting a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility slated to open in the south part of the city. But city councilors, who spent over three hours listening to public comment about the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's planned immigration processing center, said their hands were tied. [Oklahoma Voice] Oklahoma City residents voice concerns about proposed ICE facility [KGOU] 'We must fight.' Residents oppose planned ICE detention facility at OKC Council meeting [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma City Council discusses potential ICE detention center [The Journal Record] Watch: Councilman Camal Pennington opposes ICE detention facility in OKC (video) [The Oklahoman] Can OKC block an ICE facility like Durant, KC? It's complicated. Here's what officials say. [The Oklahoman] Oklahomans push back against plans for an ICE detention facility during city council meeting [KFOR] OKC Council to address concerns about planned ICE detention facility. Watch recap [The Oklahoman] Trump Admin. seeking access to detailed voter data, here's details on OK's response: The state election board said they got the request last summer, and they gave instructions on how the government could access publicly available data through the state election data warehouse, which gets updated every night. [KFOR] Tracker of Justice Department Requests for Voter Information [Brennan Center for Justice] These are the states where incomes grew the most, least in recent decades: Household incomes have grown in nearly every state over the past 50 years, but a new study concludes that growth has been uneven across the country. An analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, released Tuesday from the Urban Institute's Center for Local Finance and Growth, found inflation-adjusted incomes in Western, mid-Atlantic and New England states have grown the most since 1970, while incomes in Midwestern states have grown the least. [Oklahoma Voice] Median household income in Oklahoma grew by 32 percent from 1970 to 2023, which matched the national growth rate. Despite the growth, Oklahoma's median income remained ranked at 45th in both 1970 and 2023. [Urban Institute] State Government News   How politics and power could shape Oklahoma Legislature in 2026: Oklahoma's 2026 legislative session kicks off Monday, Feb. 2, and for some lawmakers, it's an opportunity to bolster their campaigns for a statewide office. For others, the session marks a chance to shake up the power balance. [The Oklahoman]   Oklahoma schools need hundreds more teachers, Fields tells lawmakers: Oklahoma is short by about 725 more teachers, an issue that has plagued classrooms for years despite a push from the Legislature to fix the problem. Increasing first-year teacher salaries is crucial to closing the gap, State schools Superintendent Lindel Fields told lawmakers during a legislative budget hearing on Monday, Jan. 26. [The Oklahoman] Emergency certifications for educators grow amid Oklahoma teacher shortage [News on 6] Oklahoma Gov. Stitt wants to create state website promoting school choice: Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt says he's creating a website to promote school choice in Oklahoma. As part of Stitt's initiative announced Tuesday, Jan. 27, the governor has tapped his top education adviser to oversee the launch of the site, which he is calling the "Oklahoma School Choice Hub." [The Oklahoman]   Consent decree: State late with strategic plan, service waitlist sees 'steady increase': Eleven months after the Oklahoma Legislature approved a consent decree without a full proposal for meeting mandated benchmarks, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has yet to submit a final strategic plan about improving competency restoration services for pre-trial detainees deemed unfit for prosecution. [NonDoc]   Oklahoma lawmakers to consider raw milk rules, eminent domain, land management: Lawmakers have filed dozens of bills covering food and agriculture, but some issues concerning property and food are dominating topics this upcoming Oklahoma Legislative Session. [KOSU]   Oklahoma lawmakers file a flurry of bills seeking to regulate AI: Oklahoma lawmakers have introduced several bills in advance of the 2026 legislative session aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence in political advertising, public policy and placing limits on AI usage for children. [The Frontier]   Oklahoma lawmaker proposes tax credit expansion for family caregivers: A new tax credit may be coming for caregivers in Oklahoma. State Representative Tammy West filed House Bill 4118 that would expand eligibility and qualifying expenses for a first-in-the-nation tax credit. [KSWO]   ODOT requests more in budget for state highway maintenance: Oklahoma's taxpayer-supported highway system may lose $3 billion in value over the next decade as pavement erosion and other deterioration is anticipated to outpace maintenance, Department of Transportation Director Tim Gatz said Tuesday. [Tulsa World]   Bills seek to license, increase minimum age of Oklahoma strippers: At least two lawmakers have filed legislation that would require strippers to be licensed by the state before they can perform. Both bills also seek to increase the minimum age to perform in strip clubs from 18 to 21. [Oklahoma Voice]   Federal Government News   Will there be another government shutdown? Latest updates out of D.C.: Following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Senate Democrats are building up efforts to reject a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security and potentially cause a partial government shutdown. [The Oklahoman]   Homeland Security boss Noem in hot water after response to Minneapolis killings: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing mounting criticism, including from some congressional Republicans and moderate Democrats, for her response to a second killing by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. [Oklahoma Voice]   Stillwater-based rare earth mining company receives $1.6 billion federal investment: The U.S. Department of Commerce is backing a nearly $1.6 billion investment in a Stillwater-based company to help advance industries in Oklahoma and Texas. As part of the investment into USA Rare Earth, funding will go to advancing a rare earth mine in Texas and expand magnet manufacturing in Oklahoma. [News 9] Trump administration invests in another US rare earth miner to loosen China's grip on supply [Associated Press] First Watch: Stuff You Should Know: Trump admin. investing $1.6 billion in USA Rare Earth to build facility in Oklahoma [Oklahoma Watch] Federal funding law includes money for Oklahoma weather, climate institutions: A spending package signed by Pres. Donald Trump will fund several programs at the National Weather Center in Norman that were once at risk of shuttering. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]   Trump administration creates "catastrophic" difficulties for Oklahoma City nonprofit: Leaders of the Spero Project say recent federal policy changes have disrupted refugee resettlement efforts in Oklahoma City. [News 9]   IRS tax filing season 2026 is here. Deadlines, when to expect your refund, more: While taxes aren't due until April 15, you can start filing and sending in your returns at any time. The quicker you file, the quicker you receive your refunds. [The Oklahoman]   Editorial: Governors are right. New immigration approach needed: Even Democratic leaders gave President Donald Trump grudging credit for increasing border security and reducing illegal immigration. But in recent weeks the president's efforts to deport immigrants already in this country — supposedly "the worst of the worst" — have gone terribly wrong. [The Oklahoman Editorial Board]   Tribal Nations News   Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to Hold Legislative Hearing on Justice and Safety for Native Children: The hearing will examine Title II of the draft Native Children's Commission Implementation Act, posted by Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, which focuses on improving justice and safety outcomes for Native children, including Tribal-federal coordination on public safety, juvenile justice, victim services, and systemic responses to violence affecting Native youth and families. [Native News Online]   An EPA proposal would make it harder for tribes to protect their water: Earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposal to revise the Clean Water Act, specifically a section of the law that regulates water quality and limits states' and tribes' authority over federal projects, as well as how tribes can gain the authority to conduct those reviews. [Grist via High Country News]   Native federal judges to headline Sovereignty Symposium: A historic assembly of five Native American U.S. District Court judges will headline the Sovereignty Symposium, convening in Oklahoma City in June for a groundbreaking examination of ethical leadership and the protection of sovereignty through the federal bench. [Cherokee Phoenix]   Education News   Birth Rates, School Choice Contribute to Falling Enrollment: Public school enrollment statewide declined by more than 10,000 students this year, the largest dip since the pandemic, mirroring national trends, new data shows. [Oklahoma Watch]   OSDE Child Nutrition Programs searching for Summer Food Service sponsors: The Oklahoma State Department of Education's (OSDE) Child Nutrition Programs are searching for sponsoring organizations for their 2026 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Potential eligible sponsorship organizations include public or governmental agencies, private, nonprofit residential summer camps and private, nonprofit organizations. [Fox 23] From OK Policy: Leaders shouldn't ask nonprofits to do the government's job Health News   Oklahoma lawmaker files bill to fund 988 Mental Health Lifeline: As federal support for the 988 Mental Health Lifeline is set to expire, one Oklahoma legislator has filed a bill to help keep the line open in the state. Rep. Kevin Norwood, R-Owasso, has filed House Bill 4092, which would create the 988 Trust Fund. [KSWO]   Criminal Justice News   Long Story Short: How Oklahoma's Domestic Violence Sentencing Law is Failing in Practice (podcast): Journalists discuss a deep dive into the Survivors' Act and how, a year after it became law, implementation hasn't been what everyone hoped; a look at the large numbers of lawmakers running for higher office and how they are able to keep their leadership positions in the Legislature; and another story about State Farm, which over the past two months has come under significant scrutiny over bad-faith roof claims. [Oklahoma Watch]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   Oklahomans react to view of homelessness amid winter storm: 'No human being deserves this': In a video interview recorded Saturday, Jan. 24, several homeless people staying in an Oklahoma City park described their experience sleeping outside in freezing, snowy weather. A group of about five people opted to sleep in the camp about a block away from OKC's Homeless Alliance around a fire to protect their belongings and keep an eye on one member, who has mobility issues. [The Oklahoman] Opinion: Letter from the executive editor: Tulsa at its best when it cares for neighbors in need [Gary Lee / The Oklahoma Eagle] State Farm ordered to open its books in Oklahoma home insurance lawsuit: State Farm, one of the country's largest homeowners insurance providers, is now on the clock in Oklahoma to submit documents revealing details about its internal underwriting and claims practices in a lawsuit that could ultimately affect millions of policyholders nationwide. [The Oklahoman] State Farm asks Oklahoma Supreme Court to block AG from intervening in customer lawsuit [KFOR] Economy & Business News   Half of US workers doubt wages will ever keep up with inflation: Half of American workers in a new report worry their wages will never catch up to the cost of living. The 2026 Financial Outlook Report from Resume Now reveals heightened financial anxiety among the U.S. workforce and growing uncertainty about their economic futures. [The Journal Record]   Oklahoma auto insurance premiums are rising. Here's what it means for your wallet.: Oklahomans could pay 8.7% more on their car insurance over the next few months — or an average of about $72 more per month, according to a report that just dropped. Oklahoma is projected to have the fifth-highest increases in the nation over the first three months of 2026. [Tulsa Flyer]   US-based company joins UAE for aluminum smelter at Port of Inola: U.S.-based Century Aluminum has joined a United Arab Emirates company planning to build a $4 billion aluminum smelter at the Port of Inola. [Tulsa World]   Community News   Tulsans mourn Minnesota shooting victims, rail against fascism: More than 100 people turned out to a Tulsa vigil for two people killed in Minnesota. Protestors sang songs and lit candles in freezing temperatures. Some gave short speeches encouraging the type of community action described in media reports about Minneapolis' response. [Public Radio Tulsa] Tulsa vigil honors Alex Pretti and Renee Good after deadly ICE shootings [Tulsa Flyer] Vigil for Minneapolis (photos) [Tulsa World] 'A warning cry to humanity': Tulsa's Jewish community centers Holocaust education on remembrance day: Tuesday marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz. Sofia Thornblad, Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art (SMMJA) chief curator and director of collections & Holocaust education, said the importance of learning about people murdered by the Nazis, including political enemies, intellectuals, LGBTQ+ people, and six million Jews is more relevant than ever. [Public Radio Tulsa]   After a decade of growth, Tulsa's Asian community debuts its largest-ever event: Tulsa Asia Fest takes over the Arvest Convention Center Saturday, with representation from dozens of Asian nations. Tulsa's growing Asian community is the centerpiece of a free weekend festival celebrating some of the city's most diverse cultures. [Tulsa Flyer]   Local Headlines Edmond school bond election to build and improve schools, buy buses [The Oklahoman] As Tulsa thaws, water main breaks are surging. Local businesses are feeling the impact. [The Oklahoma Eagle] OKC Mayor David Holt to preside over the United States Conference of Mayors 94th Winter Meeting [KFOR] Support Our Work with a Donation 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. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. 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.