In The Know: Muscogee Nation increases minimum wage for tribal employees | The biggest reason for uptick in Oklahoma hunger rates? Reforms to SNAP | Judge calls Trump mail ballot rule ‘substantively unconstitutional’

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, SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 Subscribe // View web version (current and archived) 825,720   The estimated number of Oklahomans who experienced food insecurity in 2024. Oklahoma’s food insecurity rate was 20.2 percent, compared with 14.4 percent nationwide. [Feeding America] Map the Meal Gap 2026   Food insecurity remains widespread across the United States, affecting every county and congressional district, and is at its highest level in a decade. Children, older adults, rural communities, Southern states, and many communities of color face especially high rates, reflecting persistent disparities in income, opportunity, and access to resources. High food and household costs continue to strain family budgets, while many people experiencing food insecurity earn too much to qualify for SNAP. Ongoing economic pressures and cuts to federal nutrition assistance could deepen these challenges, underscoring the need for strong public policies, accessible nutrition programs, and continued data collection to ensure communities can respond effectively. [Feeding America] "I do not want Oklahoma to be known as the state with the highest food insecurity rates. I want Oklahoma to be known for how we responded to this news. Oklahomans know how to take care of each other. We have seen it time and again, whether responding to tornadoes, floods, or a government shutdown. Addressing this challenge will take all of us, from government and business leaders to organizations and individuals throughout our communities, pulling in the same direction."   — Jeff Marlow, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, speaking about the collective action needed to address Oklahoma’s growing food insecurity. [Tulsa Flyer] State Government News   Interchanges removed from controversial Oklahoma turnpike design amid local opposition: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is moving forward without two interchanges on a planned turnpike after the proposal failed to secure approval from the Norman City Council. [Oklahoma Voice]   In Depth: Oklahoma has gone 56 years without a constitutional convention vote: Oklahoma voters are supposed to be asked every 20 years whether the state should hold a constitutional convention. However, it has been 56 years since that question has been asked. [Fox 23]   Federal Government News   Judge calls Trump mail ballot rule ‘substantively unconstitutional’ as court battle extends: A Massachusetts federal judge on Monday declined the Trump administration’s request to overturn the temporary restraining order she signed last week that blocks the U.S. Postal Service from carrying out a rule placing new restrictions on mail-in voting. [Oklahoma Voice]   US House clears spending stopgap backed by Trump that averts government shutdown: The U.S. House approved a short-term government funding bill Tuesday that would avoid a shutdown this fall once President Donald Trump signs it. [Oklahoma Voice]   Tribal Nations News   Muscogee Nation increases minimum wage for tribal employees: The Muscogee National Council approved a minimum wage increase for tribal employees on Saturday, which will grow to $20 per hour over the next two years. [KOSU] Muscogee Nation National Council approves minimum wage increase [Tulsa World] FBI offers $25,000 reward to solve 2 cold cases involving tribal citizens in Oklahoma: The FBI is increasing the minimum reward to $25,000 for certain Indian Country cases through its Voices Not Forgotten Initiative. Two cases involve tribal citizens in Oklahoma. [KOSU]   Voting and Election News   Eye on Oklahoma: Unlimited Money (video): A recent Supreme Court decision allows Oklahoma political parties to coordinate unlimited campaign spending with candidates, potentially reshaping state elections. [Oklahoma Watch]   Education News   A Tulsa teacher went to a Ryan Walters' Teacher Freedom Alliance event. Here's what he saw: In July, the Teacher Freedom Alliance held its annual meeting, which Tulsa teacher Micah Cash attended. Last week, he published a write-up of the experience in the Tulsa-based publication The Pickup. [KOSU]   Stitt’s Tenure Ban Is Costing Oklahoma’s Rural Universities Their Top Candidates: Gov. Kevin Stitt’s decree ending faculty tenure is already costing regional universities top-choice hires and other applicants, making it harder for schools in remote locations to attract academic talent. [Oklahoma Watch]   Health News   Is human-caused air pollution responsible for more than five times as many deaths as homicide in the United States?: Yes. 100,000 deaths annually are attributable to domestic anthropogenic emissions of PM2.5 pollutants, five times the homicide deaths in the United States in 2024. [Oklahoma Watch]   Justice System News   Oklahoma City man sentenced to 18 years for federal drug and gun crimes: An Oklahoma City man was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to felony possession of firearms and intent to distribute PCP. [The Oklahoman]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   The biggest reason for uptick in Oklahoma hunger rates? Reforms to SNAP: A long-held perception — particularly among Republican officials — is that the country could eliminate the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and let charities handle hunger response. Not true, according to Oklahoma leaders working in the food insecurity space. They say the scale the government can reach is far greater than what charitable systems can muster. [Tulsa Flyer]   Oklahoma ranks worst for childhood hunger. The state’s most affluent communities aren’t immune to the impact: Bixby doesn’t seem like a community experiencing a surge of food-insecure families. The suburb south of Tulsa is full of restaurants and grocery stores that aren’t on the menu in lower-income parts of the county. Its median household income is 60% higher than the state’s, and the poverty rate sits at 5.6% — compared to 14.9% for the state. But Oklahoma’s top ranking in childhood hunger doesn’t stop at a city’s limits. [Tulsa Flyer]   Eye on Oklahoma: Serial Evictions (video): Residents at the Westmoor Mobile Home Park, owned by the out-of-state company YES! Communities, are facing serial evictions, leaving them stuck at the park, unable to move up the proverbial economic ladder. And the park is pushing tenants into rent-to-own deals that legal experts contend are little more than a profitable scheme that rarely benefits tenants. [Oklahoma Watch] From OK Policy: Bills to extend the eviction timeline and add legal remedies for tenants to hold landlords accountable failed in the 2026 legislative session; these policies should be introduced again and passed next session. Eye on Oklahoma: Oklahoma Tenant Laws (video): Dawn Deschler is on her second lease at the Villas at Midtown apartment complex in Tulsa, and despite consistently paying her rent, she has been without air conditioning since the beginning. [Oklahoma Watch]   Economy & Business News   Editorial: Nuclear project in OK has promise, but there's reason not to rush: Oklahoma's regulatory track record in general means that more than the usual amount of scrutiny should be aimed at the state's and federal government's environmental protection plans. And because of Oklahoma's failure over the years to keep track of where wells have been drilled across the state — many have been found unexpectedly — special precautions will have to be taken. [The Oklahoman Editorial Board]   Local Headlines Discolored water in OKC tied to heat and high demand, officials say [The Oklahoman] Greater OKC Chamber outlines defense growth and transit plan [The Journal Record] Oklahoma Turnpike Authority unveils design for Toby Keith Expressway bridge [The Oklahoman] Wasted water: Officials say El Reno ‘failed’ to enforce stop-work order at leaky bitcoin site [NonDoc] New pollinator garden coming to Norman City Hall [KGOU] Here’s how Tulsans are making sense of their higher PSO bills [Tulsa Flyer] Sand Springs celebrates opening of new middle school built with 2024 bond money [News on 6] 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.