In The Know: A $40,000-per-year AI school with no teachers is opening in Oklahoma | Child vaccination rates continue to drop in Oklahoma as exemptions rise | Rethinking pretrial detention in Oklahoma

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.

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) Rethinking pretrial detention in Oklahoma (Capitol Update)   Sen. Mark Mann, D-Oklahoma City, has requested an interim study entitled “Does Oklahoma have the Resources Necessary to Implement Criminal Pretrial Supervision Requirement?” The Senate, unlike the House, does not publish the specifics of interim study requests. However, from the title, it appears Sen. Mann wants to examine the potential costs of providing an alternative to pretrial incarceration where appropriate. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] OK Policy & Together OK are bringing the voices of your community to the Capitol.   This summer, we’re hosting listening sessions in towns and cities across the state to provide an opportunity for the public to have conversations with our fellow Oklahomans about issues that matter most in their communities. By hearing directly from residents, we can better advocate for state policies that reflect your priorities.   Sessions are free and open to the public, and participants will be compensated for their time (in-person events only). [Learn More] Find A Listening Session Near You Take Our Quick Online Survey $104.2 million   Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit program awarded households earning $150,000 or more $104.2 million for the 2026-27 school year, or 40.8 percent of the total distributed funds — a 2 percent increase over the previous year. [Oklahoma Tax Commission] The True Cost of Private School Voucher Programs   Educating students using private school vouchers is more expensive than educating them in public schools. A 2018 study found the cost of educating a student through an Arizona private school voucher program was 75% higher than the cost of educating a public school student.1 Another study estimated that shifting to a system of private school vouchers could raise education costs by 25% or more when accounting for students who would have attended private schools without a voucher, plus the additional administrative costs for the program, such as record keeping and monitoring. [Education Law Center / Public Funds Public Schools] "What scares me is they’re going to try to take even more public school funds to do their little pet school projects."   — Jami Cole, an elementary educator and leader of the public school advocacy group Edvocates, on the diversion of taxpayer dollars away from public schools and toward private institutions like the teacherless, AI-powered Alpha School set to open in Oklahoma this August. [Oklahoma Watch] Oklahoma News   A $40,000-per-Year AI School With No Teachers Is Opening in Oklahoma This August: An AI-powered, billionaire-backed chain of private schools promises to educate students with two hours of virtual learning a day and entrepreneurship workshops. There are no teachers, and tuition is nearly double the most expensive private school in the state. [Oklahoma Watch]   Federal Government News   ICE officers to wear body cameras at traffic stops, White House border czar says: In the wake of two fatal shootings in Texas and Maine, U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement officers will wear “at least one body camera” during traffic stops, Tom Homan, the president’s border czar, said over the weekend. [Oklahoma Voice] Former immigration chief on what's next for ICE [WBUR via KOSU] Trump imposes new 50% tariff on many imports from Canada: President Donald Trump took executive action to impose 50% tariffs on a wide range of imports from Canada in retaliation to what his administration called "discriminatory" Canadian trade practices in certain sectors against the United States, according to administration officials. [USA Today via The Oklahoman]   Tribal Nations News   Centuries of Cherokee Nation Principal Chief records scattered across the country: The Cherokee Nation estimates thousands of records related to its principal chiefs are scattered across the country. Now, the tribe plans on recovering as many as it can. [KOSU]   Seeing longer Oklahoma wildfire seasons, tribal fire departments fight fire with planned fire: As Oklahoma’s wildfire seasons burn hotter and longer, Indigenous communities are leading efforts to control and prevent the damage. [KOSU]   Voting and Election News   Republican candidates compete for Oklahoma GOP nomination in Labor Commissioner runoff: Republican voters will choose between Reps. John Pfeiffer and Kevin West in the Aug. 25 election, after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote during the primary. [KOSU]   Education News   Oklahoma City metro schools work to fill nearly 200 teacher vacancies: With less than a month until the school year begins, Oklahoma City metro school districts are working to fill nearly 200 teacher vacancies, with special education and early education positions in particular high demand. [KOCO]   Pre-K suspensions in Tulsa Public Schools are up. TPS wants that number to be zero.: The district saw a slight increase in the overall number of suspensions this past year, especially at the elementary level. Preschool to fifth grade students are primarily being sent home for disruptive classroom behavior and physical conflicts with peers, TPS reports. [The Oklahoma Eagle]   Health News   FDA: Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce sample produced a false positive for cyclospora: A top U.S. Food and Drug Administration official said Monday that a false positive report for the parasite cyclospora from a Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce sample does not change the basis for an ongoing agency investigation. [Oklahoma Voice]   Child vaccination rates continue to drop in Oklahoma as exemptions rise: Despite efforts to increase immunization rates by providing free and more accessible vaccinations, experts say Oklahoma’s overall child vaccination rates are down amid skepticism about the efficacy of vaccines. [Oklahoma Voice]   Oklahoma officials warn kratom users about fatality risk from synthetics: The rise of synthetic kratom has multiple state agencies concerned about the fatality risk for Oklahomans who might think they're buying a legal, plant-based product. [Tulsa World]   Justice System News   What are Flock Cameras? Are there any in OKC?: Across Oklahoma, concern about Flock cameras is growing. Many residents worry their information is being tracked, but law enforcement said these cameras help keep everyone safe. [News 9]   Economy & Business News   Tulsa firms anticipated to propel growth as global space economy skyrockets: Companies like Agile Space Industries in Tulsa should propel Oklahoma’s aerospace industry to new heights as the global space economy is expected to triple in size in the coming decade, according to a new growth strategy for the sector adopted by the state. [Tulsa World]   Oklahoma medical marijuana advocates criticize new packaging laws meant to protect children: House Bill 4454 was meant to address a growing health concern – the consumption of high-dosage marijuana products by children. How? By requiring producers to package or label their edible weed in a way that isn’t “attractive to children.” Advocates and patients say the law is confusing and hard to follow. [KOSU]   Local Headlines Tulsa Police Chief Dennis Larsen announces retirement [Tulsa World] OK County renews development pact with chamber as aerospace news hits [The Oklahoman] Fixing busted OK County jail elevators could cost $3 million or more [The Oklahoman] OKC councilmember appointed to chair national Large Cities Council [The Oklahoman] Hochatown sues Airbnb over tax revenue sent to neighboring Broken Bow [The Oklahoman] Piedmont water outages continue as city works to restore system [News 9] 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. 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