In The Know: Local partnerships with ICE result in record number of immigration arrests in Oklahoma | Will new Oklahoma government help those on SoonerCare? | Voters need to see the whole movie, not just the final scene

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 10, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) Policy Matters: Voters need to see the whole movie, not just the final scene   Three out of four Oklahoma voters didn’t vote in June’s primary. In the August runoff, four out of five stayed home. With so many not participating, blaming voters alone misses the point. Oklahomans should ask: What are we doing, or not doing, that leaves so many feeling disconnected from decisions that affect their lives? [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] 22.2%   Percentage of registered voters in Oklahoma who cast ballots during the Aug. 25 statewide election, which included two state questions and primary runoffs. State Question 846 received the highest vote total with about 535,000 ballots cast, while there are more than 2.4 million registered voters in Oklahoma. [Oklahoma Election Board] 5 Quick Steps To Protect Your Right To Vote   As misinformation and confusion about election integrity continue to spread, citizens can work to strengthen American democracy by focusing on what matters most—that individuals are ready to vote. [Center for American Progress] "When four out of five voters stay home, Oklahomans are telling us something even without casting a ballot."   -OK Policy Executive Director Shiloh Kantz, writing about increasing voter turnout in Oklahoma. She argues that we should stop blaming nonvoters and instead improve civic education, remove barriers to participation, and help people understand the full story of their choices before asking them to make decisions on election day. [The Journal Record] Oklahoma News   Local partnerships with ICE result in record number of immigration arrests in Oklahoma: Oklahoma law enforcement agencies’ partnerships with federal immigration forces have resulted in the arrests of over 1,800 people, the majority of whom have no criminal history, records show. [Oklahoma Voice] From OK Policy: What's That? 287(g) Agreements State Government News   Jilted developer of Guardian System 2.0 files countersuit against Ethics Commission: Nine months after the Oklahoma Ethics Commission dissolved its contract with RFD & Associates for an upgrade to the state agency’s financial disclosure system for political candidates and committees, the software development company has filed counterclaims against the state. [NonDoc]   Community, scientist disputes Oklahoma water agency finding that dams not to blame: There is no link between the construction of two dams and declining water levels at a lake west of Oklahoma City, according to the findings of a report released by a state agency tasked with managing water. [Oklahoma Voice] Why are wells running dry at Cedar Lake? Residents, Oklahoma officials have different answers [KOSU] Trump-backed Oklahoma politician says U.S. 'wasn't built by immigrants': An Oklahoma politician who helped rally Black voters for President Trump says the “fake news media” is lying about systemic racism in America.  America is actually the land of systemic opportunity, T.W. Shannon told thousands of people gathered at the Republican midterm convention on Wednesday, Sept. 9. [The Oklahoman]   Long Story Short: University Hiring, Housing After Prison, and Educator Exam Data (podcast): Investigating whether a new decree from Gov. Kevin Stitt is chilling faculty recruitment at Oklahoma’s regional universities and examining the severe housing barriers facing a woman released after three decades in prison. Plus, breaking down troubling state test results for educator preparation programs that raise sharp questions about their overall efficiency. [Oklahoma Watch]   Federal Government News   Trump doesn’t have the power to limit mail-in voting, lawmakers tell US Supreme Court: The hotly contested U.S. Postal Service rule restricting mail-in voting usurps Congress’ authority, as well as states’ power to administer elections, more than 250 current and former members of Congress said in a filing to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday. [Oklahoma Voice]   Trump administration aims to exclude many noncitizens from the census: The Trump administration wants to overhaul the U.S. census to exclude noncitizens who don’t have a green card from the country’s next population count in 2030, according to a Wednesday notice in the Federal Register.  [Oklahoma Voice]   Tribal Nations News   Osage Nation lawmakers approve investigation into new chief: Osage Nation lawmakers have authorized an investigation into the newly elected chief of their northern Oklahoma tribe, as tensions grow over the closure of a language immersion school and a purported budget crisis. [The Oklahoman]   Choctaw Nation celebrates the launch of new language app, Rosetta Stone partnership: A new Choctaw language app, created through Rosetta Stone's Endangered Language Program, is now available at no cost through the tribe’s online portal. [KOSU]   Education News   New report finds administrative reporting burdens for Oklahoma charter schools: A report released Wednesday by the Oklahoma Center for Education Policy at OU found administrative burdens and state policy inefficiencies hamper Oklahoma charter schools. [StateImpact Oklahoma via KGOU]   Oklahoma’s Only Public Liberal Arts College Is at War With Itself: A dispute over the future of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma has erupted into an unusually public confrontation between faculty and the university’s administration, with professors warning that proposed changes could fundamentally alter the state’s 118-year-old public liberal arts college. [Oklahoma Watch]   Education Watch: New Graduation Requirements Started with This Year’s Freshmen: This year’s 9th graders are the first class of high schoolers facing completely overhauled graduation requirements. Fine arts, world language and physical education are now encouraged, but not required. Students now must complete six credits in courses that align with their individual career interests, called pathway units. [Oklahoma Watch]   Appeals court dissolves injunction blocking law limiting race, gender discussions in common education: In a split ruling Wednesday, a federal appeals court dissolved a temporary injunction issued in 2024 that blocked implementation of portions of a 2021 state law designed to limit classroom discussions of subjects related to race and gender. [Tulsa World]   Health News   Editorial: Will new Oklahoma government help those on SoonerCare?: In January, Oklahoma will have a new governor, and new agency leaders at the Capitol will be administering the state's health care and food assistance support system. The two candidates for governor, Republican Mike Mazzei and Democrat Cyndi Munson, may well have very different ideas on how the new work requirements should be interpreted and administered. [The Oklahoman Editorial Board]   Justice System News   Dan Kirby federal case dismissed, felony homicide charge filed by Muscogee Nation: Nine months after their high-profile conviction was vacated on appeal, federal prosecutors have dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against former Oklahoma House Rep. Dan Kirby related to the 2022 death of his girlfriend. However, Kirby, whose girlfriend died when he ran his motorcycle off a rural road after a day of partying, now faces a charge in Muscogee Nation District Court for the same incident. [NonDoc]   In court, OK County sheriff draws a line over jail inmate transports: Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III has asked a judge to rule in his favor in the ongoing dispute between him the trust that runs the county jail over who has the obligation to transport inmates to court and back. [The Oklahoman]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   This program helps put Tulsa teachers on the path to homeownership. It’s expanding: Green Country Habitat for Humanity’s Education Begins With Home program connects Tulsa-area teachers with cost assistance, accessible mortgage options, homebuyer education and financial counseling on their pathway to homeownership. [Tulsa Flyer]   Local Headlines Class size concerns take center stage at first Tulsa Public Schools community meeting [Tulsa World] TPS asks for public feedback for potential cuts in the wake of a $12 million budget shortfall [Public Radio Tulsa] Judge dismisses ORED Rock Creek Entertainment District lawsuit motions, rules in favor of city [OU Daily] 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 emails from us, please unsubscribe.