In The Know:

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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

New from OK Policy

Meet OK Policy: Andrea McNeil, Senior Operations and Development Associate: ” I love the variety of projects I have the opportunity to work on and the many ways that my work contributes to the mission of the organization — a mission which I deeply believe in.” [OK Policy]

In The News

Recommendations for commuted prison sentences are up 1,300% and paroles up 41%. So what’s changed?: Early waves of criminal justice reform have generated a gargantuan 1,300% leap in favorable recommendations for commuted prison sentences, with paroles up a robust 41%, according to state government data. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended commutation for 140 inmates from March through August, compared to only 10 during the same span in 2018. [Tulsa World]

Department of Corrections faces psychologist staffing challenges: The number of psychologists employed by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections has dwindled during recent years. The agency currently has nine psychologists and 22 vacancies, a staffing level that the agency’s chief mental health officer described as critical. Those nine psychologists include three clinical coordinators, who have caseloads but also serve as regional supervisors. [The Oklahoman]

If Oklahoma expands Medicaid, it seems unlikely the state will operate the program: Whether Oklahoma expands Medicaid fully through the ballot box or partially through the legislature, it’s likely a private company will be hired to run it. Oklahoma’s Health Care Working Group spent hours this week learning the ins and outs of managed care organizations, which take a set per member, per month payment for delivering Medicaid services. [Public Radio Tulsa]

Oklahoma Veterans Affairs director to resign: The executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, who was retained despite a highly critical state audit of the agency released last year, plans to resign. Doug Elliott, who served as the agency’s director since February 2018, will step down Sept. 30. [The Oklahoman]

State clarifies position on calling Johnson & Johnson a family company: The state of Oklahoma’s reference to Johnson & Johnson as not living up to its image as “a family company” was in no way intended to cause confusion with the separate and independent company S.C. Johnson. [CNHI]

Lawmakers looking for ways to get more Oklahoma high schoolers in AP courses: Oklahoma high schoolers’ participation in Advanced Placement courses is up slightly, but officials want to boost it even more. [Public Radio Tulsa]

Swine garbage feeding prohibited in Okla. after Nov. 1: Beginning Nov. 1, the practice of garbage or waste feeding will be prohibited in Oklahoma after the passage of House Bill 2155. [Duncan Banner]

Gross receipts to the treasury reflect modest growth: Gross receipts to the treasury for August reflect modest growth, according to a revenue report released Thursday by State Treasurer Randy McDaniel. [Tulsa World]

The Oklahoman Editorial: Suicide: Casting a light on a tough subject: According to America’s Health Rankings from United Health Foundation, Oklahoma saw 21.4 suicides per 100,000 people in 2018. The national rate was 13.9 per 100,000, and Oklahoma’s figure also was up slightly from 20.7 per 100,000 the year before. That’s a problem. [Editorial Board / The Oklahoman]

Editorial: Oklahoma needs more child care support: Our congressional delegation needs to ensure more access to and better quality of child care to support Oklahoma’s children, families and businesses. [Paula Koos / The Oklahoman]

Tulsa World Editorial: Rapes in Oklahoma rising, and law enforcement needs to catch up: A troublingOklahoma Watch report finds that police are clearing rape cases at possibly record low rates. At the same time, rape reports have reached a 20-year high. That’s not acceptable. [Editorial Board / Tulsa World]

Tickets and warnings from the OHP: Where you are mostly likely to get them in Oklahoma: Tickets and warnings from the OHP: Where you are mostly likely to get them in Oklahoma. [Tulsa World]

Dueling PR campaigns show opposing sides of tribal gaming debate: As Gov. Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma’s Native American tribes clash on renegotiating the tribal gaming compacts, dueling public relations campaigns highlight both sides of the debate. [The Oklahoman] U.S. Rep. Cole says gaming compact dispute could wind up in court. [The Oklahoman]

Delaware County residents ask judge to stop water board from issuing short-term permits to poultry farm: A judge heard testimony Friday morning from the executive director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and a Delaware County resident who is seeking a preliminary injunction against OWRB issuing more short-term groundwater permits to a nearby poultry feeding operation. [The Frontier]

TPS officials say falling into $20 million deficit was inevitable without state intervention after years of education cuts: The looming $20 million budget cut for Tulsa Public Schools was inevitable without further state intervention, according to district officials. Rebecca Fine, education policy analyst with the Oklahoma Policy Institute, said she’s not surprised by the TPS shortfall given the decade of devastating budget cuts and lack of operational funding in the state’s recent education boosts. [Tulsa World]

Tulsa charter schools face growing pains as they expand to more grades: Facility expansion has been the biggest challenge for three Tulsa Public Schools-sponsored charter schools that are in the process of taking on additional grades. [Tulsa World]

Tulsa Mayor scraps police oversight plan; alternative in works: Mayor G.T. Bynum is scrapping his police oversight proposal and hopes to present an alternative to the City Council later this month, councilors were informed by email Friday evening. [Tulsa World]

Mistrust still an issue between Oklahoma City police and undocumented community: In July, a man and his children were attacked by three Oklahoma City teenagers with BB guns. But the family didn’t report the incident to police, reported local TV station KFOR. They were undocumented, so they feared deportation. [The Oklahoman]

Judge orders zombie SeeWorth, Inc. to stop draining accounts — follow law: Wednesday, District Judge Cindy Truong ordered the parent corporation of the defunct SeeWorth Academy Charter School to stop spending money from accounts of the closed school and comply with Oklahoma school laws “effective immediately.” [Free Press OKC] OKCPS board member Mark Mann defended the district’s position and said obtaining property, funds and financial records from Seeworth has been “a constant battle.” [NonDoc]

Muscogee (Creek) chief candidates make their cases during forum: Two weeks before the Muscogee (Creek) Nation primary elections, eight of the 10 people vying to replace James Floyd as the tribe’s principal chief took part in a candidate forum to present their cases to voters. [Tulsa World] One candidate for Muscogee is still awaiting the resolution of tribal court gambling-related charges. [Tulsa World]

Teehee hopes for congressional collaboration on seating her as Cherokee Nation delegate: Kim Teehee, who made history last month after being confirmed as the Cherokee Nation’s first delegate to Congress, doesn’t plan to show up in Washington this week and demand a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. [The Oklahoman]

Lankford says he’s pushed Homeland Security to enact election security measures despite Senate majority leader blocking congressional action: U.S. Sen. James Lankford’s name is coming up in connection with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in a potentially uncomfortable way for such stories about election security that refer to McConnell as “Moscow Mitch.” [Tulsa World]

Quote of the Day

“I do think the result of it is inmates really have a sense of hope, and you think about hope and how important that is to the rehabilitation of people and the mental health of people. It’s a powerful force for good.”

– Pardon and Parole Board Executive Director Steven Bickley, on the recent surge in the approval of commutation and parole applications [Tulsa World]

Number of the Day

47

Total number of individuls on Death Row in Oklahoma as of August 1, 2019

[Source: Oklahoma Dept. of Corrections]

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

Government programs usually cost money. These ones actually make money: That’s a big deal. It suggests that if taxpayers decide, in the short run, to invest heavily in children’s health and education, they’ll actively save money decades in the future, money that could be used for other priorities or even for tax cuts. It’s in voters’ self-interest to try to make kids better off. [Vox]

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In The Know:

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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

In The News

OSBI warrant: ‘Ghost students’ at Epic: A state investigation alleges Epic Charter Schools, the state’s largest virtual charter school system, embezzled millions in state funds by illegally inflating enrollment counts with “ghost students.” The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation alleged Epic co-founders David Chaney and Ben Harris “devised a scheme to use their positions as public officers to unlawfully derive profits from state appropriated funds. [The Oklahoman] The agent reviewed bank statements and found Chaney and Harris split school profits of at least $10 million between 2013 and 2018, the affidavit states. [Oklahoma Watch] State superintendent reacts to Epic Charter Schools investigation; online school official claims innocence. [Tulsa World] 

Missing in Oklahoma: State could take steps to curb ‘epidemic’ of missing Native American women:Oklahoma has one of the highest rates of missing or murdered Native American women, according to a report from the Urban Indian Health Institute. But the report doesn’t show a complete picture of the problem because of a widespread lack of comprehensive data. [The Oklahoman]

Kiowa Leader: Find other solutions to increase state revenues: Following a letter by Gov. Kevin Stitt to the Tulsa World on July 8 regarding renegotiation of state gaming compacts, the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma Chairman Matthew Komalty has responded with a suggestion for the state to find another way of increasing revenue. [The Lawton Constitution] Gaming compact debate expected to fuel discussion at OIGA conference. [Journal Record ]

Pain meds as public nuisance? Oklahoma tests a legal strategy for opioid addiction: Johnson & Johnson was the sole defendant in a closely-watched trial that wrapped up in Oklahoma state court this week, with a decision expected later this summer. The ruling in the civil case could be the first that would hold a pharmaceutical company responsible for one of the worst drug epidemics in American history. [NPR]

OSBI continues mission despite low numbers: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Director Ricky Adams said the agency is rebuilding after a decade of budget cuts. The state’ primary investigative agency has 73 personnel, with a goal of increasing to 93 by the end of the year and hopes to achieve the optimal number of 132 employees by 2025. [McAlester News-Capital]

Public Service Co. of Oklahoma joins sister utility to propose significant wind development across north-central Oklahoma: Public Service Co. of Oklahoma and its sister company, Southwestern Electric Power Co., are once again asking regulators to allow them to recover costs for projects that would add more wind power to their generating fleets. [The Oklahoman] The proposed move is part of a long-range plan to increase reliance on natural gas and renewable energy resources. [Tulsa World]

The Oklahoman Editorial Board: Academy wants Oklahomans’ views on energy: Each year since 1985, the Oklahoma Academy has gleaned feedback from the public and used it to give policymakers recommendations about a range of issues. This year’s topic — energy — should generate plenty of ideas. [Editorial Board / The Oklahoman]

OKCPS Board denies Wheeler District charter again: It’s “no” again for frustrated Wheeler District developers who want to establish a charter school with a fixed collection zone similar to John Rex charter downtown. They now have 30 days to appeal the decision. [Free Press OKC]

Pathway to Greatness plan nears completion about month before OKCPS school year starts: Oklahoma City Public Schools is still making changes to its Pathway to Greatness plan, which will be implemented during the upcoming school year. District officials are detailing the progress being made on their website. [KOCO]

Proposed pay raises for Cherokee Nation officers rejected: Members of a key rules committee voted earlier in the day on Monday and the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council voted Monday evening to turn down a recommendation for raises that would have more than doubled the salary of the tribe’s deputy chief, raised the principal chief’s pay by 84% and increased other salaries by 26% to 35%. [Journal Record]

Oklahoma lawmakers react as House votes to condemn Trump’s racist tweets: Read responses from Oklahoma lawmakers after the Democratic-led U.S. House voted Tuesday to condemn President Trump’s racist tweets directed at four nonwhite congresswomen. [The Oklahoman]

Apollo program had many Oklahoma engineers: In the early days of NASA and the space program, many Oklahomans had critical jobs to protect astronauts and make sure their missions were a success. Oklahoma natives were seemingly present at every stage of the Apollo program, especially at Mission Control in Houston. [The Oklahoman]

Quote of the Day

“The OSBI served a search warrant last night in northwest Oklahoma City regarding our investigation into Epic Charter Schools. At this point, our investigation is ongoing.”

– Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Brooke Arbeitman. In court filings, OSBI alleges Epic Charter Schools, the state’s largest virtual charter school system, embezzled millions in state funds by illegally inflating enrollment counts [Tulsa World]

Number of the Day

$906 million

The inflation-adjusted decline in state budget appropriations since FY 2009

[Source: Oklahoma Policy Institute]

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

An Epidemic of Disbelief: What new research reveals about sexual predators, and why police fail to catch them: Each year, roughly 125,000 rapes are reported across the United States. Sometimes the decision to close a case is surely correct; no one wants to smear an innocent man’s reputation or curtail his freedom because of a false report. But in 49 out of every 50 rape cases, the alleged assailant goes free—often, we now know, to assault again. Which means that rape—more than murder, more than robbery or assault—is by far the easiest violent crime to get away with. [The Atlantic]

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In The Know:

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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

New from OK Policy

Rules to protect payday loan customers are under attack…again: In the fall of 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued new rules to protect payday loan customers from some of the most harmful practices in that industry. These loans, usually paid back in one payment on the borrower’s next payday, carry extremely high interest rates and borrowers can easily become trapped in an endless cycle of re-borrowing to keep afloat. But now the same federal agency that issued the rule has announced plans to scrap important provisions of it, leaving many consumers unprotected. [OK Policy]

In The News

GOP leaders seek ‘objective data,’ new budget office: While answering questions about HB 2484, Rep. Jon Echols stood on the House floor and calmly revealed an alarming detail about Oklahoma’s government. “During the budgetary process, it’s become routine for the Senate to have one set of numbers and the House to have another set of numbers,” said Echols (R-OKC). “It makes far more sense to have a fiscal team that, at the end of the day, answers to both sides of the Legislature so we are all operating off of the same numbers.” [NonDoc]

Stitt signs Unity Bill regulating Oklahoma medical marijuana industry: Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 2612 Thursday, a measure commonly referred to as the medical marijuana Unity Bill. The bill encompasses Oklahoma’s fledgling medical marijuana industry. [NewsOK] More on the ‘Unity Bill’ and medical marijuana in Oklahoma. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma bankers are frustrated that it’s taking so long for federal legislation to catch up to state laws on marijuana, Oklahoma Bankers Association President Roger Beverage said. [Journal Record ]

Bill to teach ‘consent’ fails, sexual assault reported between House pages: Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted down HB 1007, a proposal that would have annually required schools to provide education about consent and healthy relationships. Called Lauren’s Law, the bill failed 39-56 after extensive questions and debate over the word “culture” and whether “abstinence” should be taught as well. [NonDoc] Last year, House Bill 2734, also known as Lauren’s Law, passed through the Oklahoma House of Representatives before dying in the Senate. [Norman Transcript]

Senate OKs plan to push school districts to 5-day weeks: A plan to force more Oklahoma school districts to return to five-day school weeks has cleared the Oklahoma Senate. The Senate voted 31-17 on Thursday for the bill that now goes to the House. According to the state Department of Education, 92 of Oklahoma’s more than 500 school districts currently are operating on four-day school weeks. [AP News] What Oklahoma schools need is more funding – despite the teacher walkout, school funding is still down from 2008.

Legislation proposed to expand Tulsa Teacher Corps, allowing district to independently certify: Staff with Tulsa Public Schools said as teachers leave the field at an alarming rate, they’re looking to the state for help. If House Bill 1990 or Senate Bill 217 pass, the district could create their own certification system. [KJRH] Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist asked community members to support educators and students by serving as substitute teachers during a press conference at Kendall-Whittier Elementary on Thursday morning. [Tulsa World]

Proposed measure would direct Oklahoma schools to install panic button systems: A proposed bill that would put panic button systems in Oklahoma schools is expected to be heard by lawmakers Thursday. SB 267, authored by Sen. Nathan Dahm, R- Broken Arrow, would direct each school district, “if funding is available,” to “install and maintain a panic button
system.” [KFOR]

Fifteen bills StateImpact is watching in the 2019 Oklahoma Legislature: With a huge freshman class and a promise for less gridlock, Oklahoma lawmakers filed more than 2,800 bills this legislative session. With a third of the session now over, the StateImpact team has an update on some bills we’re following. [StateImpact Oklahoma]

Ginnie Graham: Oklahoma lawmakers need to stop scaring away voters: Out of one of the biggest time-suck debates in the Oklahoma House comes a superfluous bill from Rep. Sean Roberts to root out all those wily immigrants hell-bent on messing with our elections. Of course, that’s never been shown — anecdotally or statistically — to be a problem in our state, or any others for that matter. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]

Hamilton: Voter fraud, democracy and a made-up problem: Even though nearly half its members are brand spanking new, the state House proved this week it remains remarkably adept at embracing a solution in search of a problem. Case in point: Hominy Rep. Sean Roberts’ House Bill 2429, which would require the Oklahoma State Election Board to periodically search for “potential non-citizens” on voting rolls. [Arnold Hamilton / Journal Record]

Sunshine Week: Rules governing Oklahoma law enforcement not considered a public record by many agencies: Despite being one of the most important documents governing how law enforcement agencies, administrators and officers carry out their duties, many Oklahoma law enforcement agencies do not consider the rules their departments and officers operate under to be a matter of public record. [The Frontier] Responses by Oklahoma sheriffs to Open Records Act requests by The Frontier. [The Frontier]

It’s Sunshine Week – a time to celebrate your right to know: Launched by the American Society of News Editors and co-sponsored by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, #SunshineWeek focuses attention on access to public information, open government and journalism’s role in promoting transparency. [Oklahoma Watch]

Mullin urges Congress to renew mental health program as funding nears end: U.S. House Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Westville, on Thursday introduced a bipartisan bill alongside House and Senate members to expand a national mental health treatment program for which funding runs out March 31. [Gaylord News] Expanding Medicaid in Oklahoma would help 97,000 Oklahoma access the mental health services they need.

Deep in US oil country, students set to march for climate: Oil is everywhere in Oklahoma, says local student Luke Kerr. But that has not deterred him from planning a protest here calling for its phasing out in the state’s capital city on Friday – mirroring similar events due to be staged around the world by students skipping school. [Reuters]

Regional Food Bank helping feed Oklahoma City students during spring break: Through March 22, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is providing free meals and snacks to Oklahoma City Public School students who usually rely on free or reduced meals on school days. [KFOR] From 2014 to 2016, one in seven Oklahoma families experienced food insecurity.

Lawsuit threatened if public comment not included in council hearings on Equality Indicators: The family of Terence Crutcher and other advocates for police reform on Thursday praised the City Council for voting to hold public meetings on the 2018 Equality Indicators report but said the format of the meetings is flawed. [Tulsa World] Mayor responds to criticism from Terence Crutcher’s sister with frustration about portrayal of police. [Tulsa World]

OU president says the school has turned the corner financially: Eight months into his tenure, University of Oklahoma President Jim Gallogly thinks the university’s finances are turning a corner. [Tulsa World] OU Board of Regents members Leslie Rainbolt-Forbes and C. Renzi Stone were officially elected as chair and vice-chair of the Board at this week’s Board of Regents meeting. [OU Daily]

Quote of the Day

“We had a funding-neutral bill with state agencies that can implement it and community-based organizations that are willing to support it and implement it, and it got hung up by ignorance and ideology. “I don’t understand how lawmakers up there couldn’t see that we need to make this a priority in Oklahoma with our awful statistics.”

– Stacey Wright, founder of Yes All Daughter, on the failure of a bill that would require schools to teach about consent and healthy relationships (Source: NonDoc)

Number of the Day

85

Number of hours a minimum wage worker in Oklahoma has to work each week to afford a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rate

[Source: National Low Income Housing Coalition]

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

America is failing its black mothers: Put simply, for black women far more than for white women, giving birth can amount to a death sentence. African American women are three to four times more likely to die during or after delivery than are white women. According to the World Health Organization, their odds of surviving childbirth are comparable to those of women in countries such as Mexico and Uzbekistan, where significant proportions of the population live in poverty. [Harvard Public Health]

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In The Know:

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. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.

New from OK Policy

Bill Watch: Quieter year expected on the tax front: Lawmakers filed hundreds of bills this session that would revise Oklahoma’s tax system. As the 2019 session gathers steam, here are a few of the tax bills that are worth careful attention. [OK Policy]

OK PolicyCast 43: 2019 Bill Watch, Part 1: In this episode, Gene Perry talks to OK Policy’s Executive Director David Blatt and Policy Director Carly Putnam about the big issues we’re keeping an eye on this year related to the state budget, taxes, and health care. [OK Policy]

Statement: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reversal of rules protecting consumers from payday debt trap will harm Oklahomans: Last week the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed to reverse their own rule, issued in 2017, protecting consumers from the harms of predatory lending, despite the lack of new evidence that the rule needs to be reconsidered. [OK Policy]

In The News

Cooper, Hamon continue youth movement on Oklahoma City Council: James Cooper will be Oklahoma City’s first openly gay councilman, winning a five-way race in Tuesday’s primary to take inner-northwest’s open Ward 2 seat. JoBeth Hamon will succeed retiring Meg Salyer as the central city’s councilwoman in Ward 6 on the strength of a grassroots campaign that topped a far better-funded competitor. [NewsOK] When Tuesday’s winners are seated, five of Oklahoma City’s nine elected officials will be 40 or younger, as the generational shift highlighted by David Holt’s election as mayor last year deepens its hold on governance. [NewsOK]

Voters keep late Edmond mayor on ballot for general election, select new Norman mayor: A deceased man is headed to a runoff election for Edmond mayor after voters on Tuesday gave late Mayor Charles Lamb enough votes for a top-two finish with former Mayor Dan O’Neil. Lamb was being promoted by some Edmond residents who hoped he will be re-elected posthumously, giving the city council the authority to pick his successor. [NewsOK] Breea Clark is Norman’s next mayor, incumbents Kate Bierman and Stephen Tyler Holman won re-election and the Ward 3 race is headed to a runoff. [Norman Transcript]

Voters OK school bond issues in Edmond, Norman: Voters in Edmond and Norman on Tuesday approved school bond issues that will pay for new schools, classroom additions, storm shelters and security and technology upgrades among other improvements. Both proposals easily surpassed the required 60 percent support to pass. [NewsOK]

30,000 Oklahoma teachers have left profession in the past 6 years, report shows: A new report released by the state shows 30,000 Oklahoma teachers have left the profession in the past six years. The exodus represents an average of 10 percent of Oklahoma’s teacher workforce, in comparison to a national attrition rate of 7.7 percent, the state Department of Education said in a news release. [Tulsa World]

House leader promises additional funding for higher education: The days of budget cuts to Oklahoma’s higher education system are over, the majority floor leader of the state House of Representatives said Tuesday. Oklahoma’s colleges and universities, state Rep. Jon Echols said, will see an increase in their funding, including more money to pay tuition for students who attend both high school and college at the same time. [Journal Record ] Restoring higher education funding to ensure a well-educated workforce is one of OK Policy’s 2019 legislative policy priorities.

Bill aimed at reforming Oklahoma’s parole process approved by House committee: A bill aimed at reforming the state’s parole system was approved Tuesday by the House Judiciary Committee, as state lawmakers continued to advance changes sought by a criminal justice reform coalition. House Bill 2273 would require the Pardon and Parole Board to state the reason when denying an inmate parole. [NewsOK]

Cell by Cell: Tracking every jail death in Oklahoma: Over the past five years, at least 115 people have died in Oklahoma jails. The Frontier is tracking every jail death in Oklahoma in 2019. We hope to uncover more about how and why people die in Oklahoma jails. [The Frontier]

Tulsa nonprofit reconnects kids with incarcerated parents: New Hope Oklahoma is a non-profit in Tulsa is working to end generational incarceration. Right now, Oklahoma incarcerates more people at a faster rate than any other state, impacting 10 percent of Oklahoma’s children. [KJRH]

Anti-abortion rally draws hundreds to state Capitol: Several hundred anti-abortion activists gathered Tuesday at the state Capitol to urge Republican lawmakers to criminalize abortion. The rally focused on Senate Bill 13, which would classify abortion as murder. [NewsOK]

$2.1 million county error due to software glitch: The Grady County Treasurer’s Office has traced a school funding error to a software glitch.  During November 2018, December 2018 and January 2019, ad valorem taxes had not been transferred to Chickasha Public Schools. As of Monday the funds are to be transferred to Chickasha Public Schools. [Norman Transcript]

Gatz appointed ODOT executive director: The Oklahoma Transportation Commission appointed Tim Gatz as executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, effective April 1. Gatz is secretary of transportation and the executive director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, responsibilities he will retain in addition to his role at ODOT. Gatz was appointed secretary of transportation by Gov. Kevin Stitt in January. [Journal Record]

Group accuses Tulsa County Court Clerk employee of Ku Klux Klan ties: A Tulsa County Court Clerk employee has been accused of being a member of the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist and Christian identity groups by an organization that tracks and exposes hate groups. [The Frontier]

Quote of the Day

“It’s heartbreaking. Sometimes I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs, ‘Help us! Help our kids!’”

-Shawna Mott-Wright, Tulsa Classroom Teacher’s Association vice president, speaking about a new report finding that 30,000 Oklahoma teachers have left the profession in the past 6 years [Source: Tulsa World]

Number of the Day

34.3

Fatalities per 10,000 people who bike to work in Oklahoma City, 2012-2016, the highest fatality rate among all large U.S. cities.

[Source: League of American Bicyclists]

See previous Numbers of the Day here.

Policy Note

Tech Is Splitting the U.S. Work Force in Two: The forecast of an America where robots do all the work while humans live off some yet-to-be-invented welfare program may be a Silicon Valley pipe dream. But automation is changing the nature of work, flushing workers without a college degree out of productive industries, like manufacturing and high-tech services, and into tasks with meager wages and no prospect for advancement. [New York Times]

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