[In The Know] Oklahoma Legislature forms health care working group, Rural hospitals foundering in states that declined Obamacare

View this email in your browser. 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 Oklahoma Legislature forms Medicaid expansion, health care working group: Leaders of Oklahoma’s House and Senate announced plans Monday for a bipartisan, bicameral working group to study health care in what may be the most telling sign to date the Legislature plans to tackle Medicaid expansion next year. [The Oklahoman] On Monday, House Speaker Charles McCall and Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat announced that a select group of lawmakers, including 14 Republicans and four Democrats, will join with Oklahoma Deputy Secretary of Health Carter Kimble and Samantha Davidson, policy director in the office of Gov. Kevin Stitt, to develop an “Oklahoma solution” for increasing access to health care and providing insurance coverage for more Oklahomans. [Journal Record] Need more information about the ballot initiative to put Medicaid expansion on the ballot? Visit our SQ 802 resources page. ‘Leaving billions of dollars on the table' Rural hospitals foundering in states that declined Obamacare: More than half of all rural hospitals in Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia and Oklahoma lost money from 2011 through 2017. In Kansas, the bloodletting was even more widespread. Two out of three rural hospitals in the state operated in the red during the seven year period. Five were forced to shut down. [Gatehouse News] Expanding health coverage would be especially beneficial for rural Oklahoma. Experts say state at top of pack in opioid overdoses: On Friday, OSU Medical Center for Wellness and Recovery wrapped up its week-long event with a panel of law enforcement officials and a director of treatment and recovery. Dr. Jason Beaman, chair of Psychiatry at OSU Center for Health Sciences, cited an effort to combat the opioid epidemic, and said Tahlequah is one of the top four areas in the state of Oklahoma for opioid overdoses. [Tahlequah Daily Press] Oklahoma to address opioid abuse, rising insulin costs during interim studies: A local state senator will be taking an in-depth look at the opioid epidemic and services for those with Type 1 diabetes over the next few months. Every year the Oklahoma Senate selects topics to thoroughly study and discuss with subject-matter experts in hopes of developing new policies and legislation in those areas. [Pawhuska Journal-Capital] COLUMN: Oklahoma House pursues child-focused interim studies: The Oklahoma House of Representatives has green-lit 99 interim studies to be held over the summer months, which means legislators will be back in Oklahoma City for meetings soon. More information about each approved study can be found at OkHouse.Gov, along with details of the 46 studies that were requested by members but rejected by the Speaker of the House. [Joe Dorman / Duncan Banner] Check on the 2019 KIDS COUNT Data Book to see how Oklahoma's children are faring. INTERVIEW: Multi-state licensure to allow doctors to practice across borders: Oklahoma’s legislature recently enacted HB 2351, entering Oklahoma into the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, effective Nov. 1. The compact is an agreement among more than 25 states that allows qualified physicians to obtain an expedited medical license in any compact-member state. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Capitol restoration ramps up: With lawmakers out for the summer, hundreds of workers have overtaken the Oklahoma state Capitol, increasing efforts with the Capitol Restoration Project. [The Oklahoman] Risha Talks: Could it help if race were included in ACE assessments? I’ve been reading the recent Tulsa World series on scores for Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, an assessment that calculates how rough your childhood was or is. The higher your score, the higher the likelihood that you will experience health and mental problems possibly into adulthood. ACE scores are impacted by such things as parental separation, emotional neglect and domestic violence. Why am I sharing this with you? [Risha Grant / Tulsa World] Fairer tax and economic policies could reduce parental stress and improve child well-being. Tulsa World editorial: Stricter limits on emergency teacher certification right move but no solution: New limits regulating emergency teaching certifications recognize the importance of early education and focuses on quality in the classrooms. The Oklahoma Department of Education released the requirements last week, and two recently appointed board members say they will give more scrutiny to all requests. [Editorial Board / Tulsa World] Tribes unify as Stitt tries to renegotiate gaming compact: Twenty-nine tribal leaders sent a letter to Gov. Stitt saying they “stand united” when it comes to Oklahoma’s Gaming Compact. The letter followed the governor’s announcement in early July that he wants to renegotiate the agreement, which allows tribes to operate casino games in exchange for giving the state a percentage of their revenue through “exclusivity fees.” [KGOU] What's That? Tribal Gaming Compacts Revenues, competition on the rise for tribal casinos: Many tribally owned casinos are raking in more than $50 million in annual revenues, according to a national survey. While tribally owned casinos across 21 states reported rising earnings this year, they also reported rising competition driving trends toward more focused market research and advertising. [Journal Record] Public continues voicing opinions on ICE presence at Oklahoma County jail; trust to ask for $100,000 from county commissioners: For the second meeting in a row, members of the public addressed the Oklahoma County Jail Trust to voice their opinions on having ICE present in the county jail. [The Oklahoman] With the new format for public comment adopted this week allowing members of the public to speak on specific agenda items, several took advantage to address multiple concerns. [Free Press OKC] How ICE works at the Oklahoma County jail: For years, two ICE agents have used office space in the jail to help screen inmates for citizenship status during intake, said Mark Myers, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office. This is separate from any formal program ICE offers for local law enforcement, which Oklahoma County is not part of. [The Oklahoman] Residents hear new details on MAPS 4 mental health proposal at town hall: New details about what a mental health package would look like if included in MAPS 4 were discussed Monday night during Oklahoma County Commissioner Carrie Blumert’s mental health town hall. Dozens gathered at NorthCare, a mental health treatment facility in Oklahoma City, to learn more details about the proposal and to hear from a panel of service providers on why this type of package is needed. [The Oklahoman] Tulsa City Council subcommittee proposes short-term rentals ordinance without special exception requirement: A City Council subcommittee and the Mayor’s Office are working on a proposed short-term rental ordinance that would remove one of the key recommendations of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, city officials said Monday. [Tulsa World] David Boren situation features ethical complexities: Despite boasting a population or nearly 4 million people, Oklahoma often has the tendencies of a small town. When it comes to attorneys, educators and political appointees, the state is even smaller. So when Oklahoma’s arguably most prominent political figure is accused of sexual misconduct, it might seem unavoidable for accusing parties and those tasked with serving the public interest to hold their own relationships of ethical complexity. [NonDoc] Quote of the Day “A hospital closure is a frightening thing for a small town. It places lives in jeopardy and has a domino effect on the community. Health care professionals leave, pharmacies can’t stay open, nursing homes have to close and residents are forced to rely on ambulances to take them to the next closest facility in their most vulnerable hours.” - Patti Davis, president of the Oklahoma Hospital Association, on how losing a hospital can devastate rural communities, leaving them with diminished prospects for economic development [Gatehouse News] Number of the Day 27.3% Percentage of murders that were intimate-partner murders (one spouse killing the other) in 2017 [Source: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note 18 and On Your Own: A New Way to Ease the Transition From Foster Care: The years between 18 and 21 are a precarious time for anyone. That’s particularly true for the more than 23,000 young adults who age out of the foster care system each year. Some 20 percent of them become homeless the moment they’re turned out of foster care. The chance that an aged-out foster child will earn a college degree is less than 3 percent. And 70 percent of the young women no longer under foster supervision become pregnant by the time they turn 21. [Politico] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Connect with Us Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

 

 

27.3%

Percentage of murders that were intimate-partner murders (one spouse killing the other) in 2017

[Source: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation]

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[In The Know] Legislators expect some form of Medicaid expansion, State to begin crackdown on emergency certifications for nonac

View this email in your browser. 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: Justice Data Analyst Ashley Harvey: I provide data related to Oklahoma justice processes; to do this I gather, clean, validate, and document data from various source. I also collaborate with justice system advocates and stakeholders to understand the problems facing our justice system and ways to make progress through accountability and transparency. [OK Policy] In The News Legislators expect some form of Medicaid expansion: The Oklahoma Legislature's regular session ended this year with several issues hanging in the air, as one bill to expand Medicaid died in the Senate, but has generated talk of a ballot initiative. A bill addressing Medicaid expansion was actually heard in a Senate committee meeting this year, but failed to make it any further before the session ended. [Tahlequah Daily Press] Expanding health coverage in the state could mean better health outcomes and fewer deaths, especially from cancer. Lawmaker's firm reaps payment to help throw Speaker's Ball: A company headed by a Republican House member was paid tens of thousands of dollars to help throw a lavish party in honor of House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, raising conflict-of-interest questions. An Oklahoma Ethics Commission report shows Poligram, an event planning and management firm founded and run by Rep. Mike Osburn, R-Edmond, was paid $40,000 in operating expenses related to planning the 2019 Oklahoma Speaker’s Ball. [Oklahoma Watch] Teacher shortage: State to begin crackdown on emergency certifications for nonaccredited teachers: State leaders are rolling out new limitations to try to stem Oklahoma’s surging tide of emergency certifications for nonaccredited teachers. The Oklahoma State Department of Education issued new guidance to public schools across the state this week that places new requirements and restrictions on would-be teachers of the youngest students. [Tulsa World] Tulsa lawmaker uses rarely invoked legal provision to attend closed-door meeting on Epic Charter Schools investigation, educators: When the Oklahoma State Board of Education met behind closed doors this week to discuss investigations into Epic Charter Schools and proposed actions against educators’ state certifications, they had a unique observer present. State Rep. Sheila Dills, a freshman Tulsa lawmaker, used a rarely invoked legal provision in state law to sit in on the state board’s executive session. [Tulsa World] State Board of Education annexes Oklahoma school with few staff, little funds: In a dilemma that confounded state officials, a southeast Oklahoma school district has lost its accreditation. The Oklahoma State Board of Education voted to annex Swink Public Schools after members learned the district’s bank account was significantly low and the school had no governing board, superintendent or principal. [The Oklahoman] Legal expert says Stitt mistaken on tribal gaming fees assessment: An American Indian law expert says Gov. Kevin Stitt is using incorrect figures to make a case for renegotiating the state’s tribal gaming compacts. In a recent opinion piece, Stitt said “most” tribal compacts nationwide include gaming exclusivity fees that pay states 20% to 25%, compared to the 4% to 6% that Oklahoma gets from its compacts which were agreed upon more than a decade ago. [Tulsa World] OIGA's Matthew Morgan On Tribal Gaming Negotiations [KGOU] Sexual assault tracking system set to roll out: In 2017, then-Gov. Mary Fallin created a task force to look at how the state’s law enforcement agencies gather, analyze and store sexual assault evidence. The task force sent a survey to the more than 400 law enforcement agencies in the state to find the number of untested sexual assault kits. [Edmond Sun] It’s high time: Medical marijuana businesses face compliance deadline: The time is fast approaching when all businesses involved in Oklahoma’s medical marijuana industry will be required to participate in “seed-to-sale” tracking of products. Wyatt said many may not be ready. Growers, especially, may have some catching up to do before the law takes effect on Aug. 29. [Journal Record] State on track for REAL ID in April 2020: The state is on track to get its driver's licenses up to federal standards by the end of April 2020, but that’s about six months after the federal deadline. Federal officials gave state leaders until October to issue federally compliant identification cards under the REAL ID law. [CHNI] Tax-free weekend coming to Oklahoma: Savvy shoppers are set to take advantage of a tax-free weekend in Oklahoma. Consumers can make purchases on most clothing or footwear items listed for less than $100 without paying sales and use tax on Aug. 2-4. [The Oklahoman] Sales tax holidays are not the economic boost we think they are - in fact, they cost us money in the long run.  As public funding dipped, student loan debt soared: Dr. Gary Sims’ story is one of dozens we have heard about student loan debt. Most of the stories come from public education teachers, social workers and other professionals who will never earn a physician’s salary. While researching the topic of student loan debt, we have heard from people whose Social Security checks, disability checks and paychecks are being garnished. [Ted Kachel and Karen A. Gray / NonDoc] Point of View: OKC's amnesty won't solve fines-fees problem: Oklahoma City recently launched an amnesty program for people with unpaid fines and fees. While the amnesty program may help a few, it will not give most low-income Oklahomans their independence. It’s a temporary response to a long-standing problem, and city councilors should now focus on permanent solutions. [Ryan Gentzler, Lisa Foster, and Joanna Weiss / The Oklahoman] Those who can least afford it often have the most debt due to fines and fees.  Code School to empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking: Oklahoma City’s family justice center is launching a coding academy to empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The program, Ctrl+Shift Code School, is designed to equip survivors with education and training to pursue careers as software and web developers. Applications also are open to the public. [The Oklahoman] As county commissioner job evolves, women prove effective: On a rock and shale road in Grant County, Cindy Bobbitt’s four-door truck rolled to a stop. She pulled on her brown work gloves — a notable addition to her jeweled belt and sunglasses — and went to inspect a hole in a nearby bridge. [The Oklahoman] OKCPS suddenly bails on SeeWorth name and campus: Oklahoma City Public Schools announced Friday that they will move the planned SeeWorth alternative school program to the Putnam Heights building at N.W. 36th and N. Georgia. [Free Press OKC] The “alternate school” program will operate under the name Putnam Heights Academy after short notice from Seeworth’s board of directors that they will not be relinquishing their building lease along with the charter school, OKCPS Superintendent Sean McDaniel said during a Friday press conference. [NonDoc] Police, city leaders tout success in program tackling violent crime: In two areas of Oklahoma City known for violent crime in recent years, police and city officials say they’ve seen significant improvement — thanks in part to an overtime program funded through the Oklahoma attorney general’s office. [The Oklahoman] Changing the culture: Tulsa activists are reshaping the conversation around race and social justice: Ron Halford remembers his parents screaming at the television in frustration over news that someone who looked like him had suffered an injustice and nothing would be done to rectify it. Nearly a half-century later, Halford — with his hair showing signs of gray — admitted that he’s recently conducted himself in the same fashion. [Tulsa World] 61st and Peoria: Positive progress dominoes in long-troubled neighborhood thanks to community resource officer: Donnie Johnson lofted a spiral skyward, and young Errick Yance reached out in anticipation. The Tulsa police officer told the 8-year-old the pass would be a tough one to catch. The football bounced off Errick’s hands and tumbled to the pavement at the Savanna Landing apartment complex near 61st Street and Peoria Avenue. [Tulsa World] Unbreakable? Keystone dam stood strong against pressures of historic flood: The flood of May 2019 was a record breaker, but it was nowhere near a dam breaker. At Keystone Dam, when the reservoir’s water hit a record height and the flow through the dam hit a level not seen in three decades, even a black cat that crossed its path turned out to be lucky. [Tulsa World] House approves two-year budget deal boosting spending $54 billion: A sweeping, two-year budget plan to keep the federal government funded, increase spending on both defense and non-defense programs and suspend the national debt ceiling drew bipartisan support from members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation but created an unusual split among its Republican members. [NonDoc] Quote of the Day "I believe wholeheartedly that if it goes to the ballot, it passes. Everyday Oklahomans agree, and it polls very high. We've neglected Oklahomans for years, and years, and years at the expense of big corporations, and it's time we take care of Oklahomans." - Rep. Matt Meredith (D-Tahlequah), speaking about the ballot initiative to expand health coverage for over 100,000 Oklahomans that will begin collecting signature July 31 [Tahlequah Daily Press] Number of the Day 27 months Median prison stay for commercial drug crimes in Oklahoma in FY 2018. This is 60 percent longer than the national average. [Source: Oklahoma Department of Corrections] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note Behind the minimum wage fight, a sweeping failure to enforce the law: As Democrats make raising the minimum wage a centerpiece of their 2018 campaigns, and Republicans call for states to handle the issue, both are missing an important problem: Wage laws are poorly enforced, with workers often unable to recover back pay even after the government rules in their favor. [Politico] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Connect with Us Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

 

 

[The Weekly Wonk] Medicaid expansion signature-gathering to begin; Northeast Oklahoma field organizer, & more

View this email in your browser. What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know. Click here to subscribe to In The Know. This Week from OK Policy This week, advocates will begin collecting signatures to place the Oklahoma Medicaid expansion ballot initiative, State Question 802, on the ballot. Organizers will have until 5 pm on October 28, 2019 to collect 178,000 signatures (15 percent of the total number of votes cast in the last gubernatorial election). To answer questions about the ballot initiative process and next steps, we published a page of information and resources on SQ 802. On Monday, we launched the search for a part-time field organizer in northeast Oklahoma to support the work of our grassroots advocacy citizen coalition, Together Oklahoma (TOK). Field organizers will bring awareness of TOK priority issues to their dedicated region with a focus on tax and budget issues, health care, economic security, and criminal justice. The deadline to apply is Friday, August 16. In his weekly Journal Record column, Executive Director David Blatt warned about a recently proposed plan that would worsen the accuracy of the U.S. poverty measure and cause hundreds of thousands of people to lose access to critical health and nutrition programs. Steve Lewis’s Capitol Update shared highlights from the nearly 100 House interim studies approved by House Speaker Charles McCall. In this week’s edition of Meet OK Policy, we’re featuring Justice Data Analyst Ashley Harvey. Meet more members of our staff here. Upcoming Opportunities We’re hiring a field organizer in northeast Oklahoma: Organizers will work to expand our membership base, support our volunteer leaders, and equip and train individuals for effective advocacy. Organizers will develop local outreach strategies and convey our policy proposals throughout their region in an engaging and empowering way. The deadline to apply is Friday, August 16th. Weekly What’s That Emergency certification, what’s that? Emergency certification is a process for school districts to fill a position when there is no candidate available who meets the state’s certification requirements. To be approved for emergency certification, a district must go through an application process proving that exhaustive efforts to fill the position with a certified teacher have been unsuccessful. The State Department of Education issued 32 emergency certifications in 2011-21; by 2018-19, that number had soared to over 3,000 as the state continued to struggle to recruit and retain qualified teachers. Click here to read more about emergency certifications. Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here. Quote of the Week “There are times when people say, ‘Not everyone needs to go to college,’ and there are times when people say, ‘It’s just not worth the cost.’ And I will agree that maybe not everyone needs a bachelor’s degree. But everyone actually does need to have some sort of post-high school learning — unless any of us are OK with someone being able to earn only $9,000 a year.” – Danette Howard, senior vice president and chief strategy officer for the Lumina Foundation, speaking at the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s State of Education event this week [Tulsa World] Editorial of the Week Tulsa World Editorial: There is a solution to the sad state of health our state is in Oklahoma’s health outcomes are No. 47 in the nation and getting worse, according to America’s Health Rankings. We’re No. 45 in cancer deaths, No. 48 in cardiovascular deaths, No. 43 in diabetes, No. 43 in infant mortality and No. 44 in premature death…. All of these Oklahoma problems have a common solution: Medicaid expansion. Numbers of the Day 96,177 – The number of jobs that Oklahoma tribes supported in the state in 2017, representing $4.6 billion in wages and benefits to Oklahoma workers. 66% – Percent of Oklahoma certified teachers no longer in the classroom in 2017 who said they would need more than higher pay to go back to the classroom. $12.9 billion – The total economic impact that tribes made in Oklahoma in 2017. In addition to direct contributions, tribes generate billions in production by companies that support tribes’ business operations. 9% – Percent the mean hourly wage for all workers in the OKC metro was below the national average in May 2019. 66.8% – Percent of adults served by Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) that were employed in jobs in their communities – one of the highest rates in the nation See previous Numbers of the Day and sources here. What We’re Reading Probation and parole violations are filling up prisons and costing states billions [Governing] Minimum wage workers can’t afford housing [US News] How legal marijuana is helping the black market [Politico] Among Philly kids, trauma and poverty are linked to mental illness, learning problems and more [Philadelphia Inquirer] Major study suggests Medicaid work requirements are hurting people without really helping anybody [Vox] Connect with Us Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

 

 

 

[In The Know] Epic to receive state funds while investigation continues, State election board preparing to purge voter rolls

View this email in your browser. 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 Today is the last day to apply to our Communications Director: The Communications Director has primary responsibility for developing and implementing an integrated, organization-wide strategic communications plan that helps to shape policy debates and broaden awareness of OK Policy’s mission, work, and policy solutions. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 26th at midnight. In The News Epic to receive state funds while OSBI embezzlement investigation continues: Epic Charter Schools will receive public funds as usual this school year, despite state investigators alleging the virtual charter school embezzled millions of taxpayer dollars. State schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister confirmed Thursday that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation recommended that Epic receive its yearly allocation of state aid, which the state will begin distributing next month. [The Oklahoman] She said state funding for Epic won’t be disrupted as an investigation of the charter schools continues. [Journal Record] Hofmeister: Epic complaints raised for years, but Education Department lacked power to verify: The state Board of Education met Thursday and discussed, both publicly and behind closed doors, the investigation of Epic Charter Schools. State and federal investigators are probing allegations of embezzlement of public funds by the online school’s leaders. They have denied wrongdoing. [Oklahoma Watch] Because of the state’s dedication to privacy, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister says the alleged abuse would not have been preventable under current state law. [StateImpact Oklahoma] State election board preparing to purge 134,000 from voter rolls: More than 134,000 Oklahoma voters risk becoming inactive if they don’t confirm their address by this weekend. Every other year, Oklahoma removes thousands of voters for being inactive. In April, the state election board purged about 88,000 people from the rolls who, in 2015, hadn’t responded to or had an address confirmation mailer returned. [Public Radio Tulsa] Post-secondary education needs to be revamped, expert tells Tulsa Regional Chamber: College might not be for everybody, but post-secondary education is, a leading authority on the subject told the Tulsa Regional Chamber on Thursday. A big reason for that is because 99 percent of jobs created since the Great Recession require some sort of post-high school credential, Howard said. That may also be one reason many sectors of the economy report labor shortages. [Tulsa World] Higher education has sustained drastic cuts to funding since 2008, with state spending on higher ed decreasing by 26 percent.  Oklahoma may be on track to hit another record of emergency-certified teachers: Public schools will be starting up again in a few weeks, and Oklahoma may be on track to hit another record for the number of emergency-certified teachers in K-12 classrooms. More than 1,600 emergency-certified teachers have been approved to instruct students at public schools around the state for the 2019-2020 school year. That’s 400 more than this time last year. [Public Radio Tulsa] What's That? Emergency Certification Interim study on student loan debt approved: State Rep. Melissa Provenzano (D-Tulsa) is set to begin work on an interim study into Oklahoma's student loan debt. Provenzano hopes to use the recently approved study to work with local agencies to examine the student loan debt crisis in Oklahoma and to propose possible legislation that will lead to fewer Oklahoma students with extreme student loan debt. [Claremore Daily Progress] Former state lawmaker's death ruled suicide: The former state lawmaker who fatally shot himself last month was heavily intoxicated, according to an autopsy report released Wednesday. Jonathan Nichols, 53, died inside his home the evening of June 5 from a contact gunshot wound to the chest. [The Oklahoman] Commissioners honor retiree, renew contracts, and question sheriff again: The Oklahoma County Board of County Commissioners met in their regular weekly session Wednesday where they renewed contracts, questioned the sheriff, and honored a long-term employee who was retiring. [Free Press OKC] Oklahoma Tax Commission adopts mobile app for vehicle registration renewals: Oklahoma vehicle registration renewal is the latest task you can complete with your smartphone. The Oklahoma Tax Commission has adopted the Gov2Go mobile app, which can handle every step of the process, from payment to reminding you the next time your registration is due. [Public Radio Tulsa] 'Public service' valuations complex but usually worked out, administrator says: A dance of sorts between the ad valorem division of Oklahoma’s Tax Commission and owners of “public service” companies plays out largely behind the scenes, every year. [The Oklahoman] McKinsey advised Johnson & Johnson on increasing opioid sales: Although McKinsey is not a defendant, Oklahoma used McKinsey consulting records to help build its case against Johnson & Johnson and a subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, for what the state said was irresponsible marketing of a fentanyl patch called Duragesic. [New York Times] Alisa Bell: Medicaid kids need coverage to age 26 too: After years of working with expecting and parenting adolescent families, I see the link between lack of health care and struggle toward self-sufficiency. As we ponder the findings from the Tulsa World’s recent eight-day series on Adverse Childhood Experiences and mental health, we must consider increasing the age limit for SoonerCare coverage. [Tulsa World] Tulsa World Editorial Board: All people released from prison should have job opportunities: Getting a job is foremost on the mind of Corey Atchison, a Tulsa man released last week from prison after serving 28 years on a wrongful conviction. During his first days spent with family, he spoke to Tulsa World reporter Samantha Vicent about a more pressing concern. [Editorial Board / Tulsa World] Access to educational opportunities for incarcerated Oklahomans is crucial to their successful reentry after release. Swink Public Schools loses accreditation, consolidated with Fort Towson: The Oklahoma State Board of Education on Thursday approved the mandatory annexation of Swink Public Schools with its neighboring district of Fort Towson after several board members expressed reservations and concerns. [Tulsa World] Norman City Council member Scott launches Senate campaign: Alex Scott, a public servant, organizer and Norman City Council member, has launched her campaign to represent Oklahoma's 15th Senate District in the Oklahoma State Senate. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Scott worked in Moore Public Schools prior to her election to city council. [Norman Transcript] Ardmore refinery sues chemical manufacturers for toxic ‘forever chemical’: An Oklahoma petroleum refinery has sued several chemical manufacturers and fire suppression equipment companies for damages it expects to incur because of a type of chemical that was used in the fire-extinguishing foam stored and used at the refinery. [The Frontier] Mayor, parks director explain why golf courses won't get additional funding in Improve Our Tulsa renewal: The $639 million Improve Our Tulsa renewal proposal does not include additional funding for the city’s four golf courses because that is not a high enough priority, Mayor G.T. Bynum said Thursday. [Tulsa World] Oklahoman Joshua Harris-Till now leads Young Democrats of America: When Joshua Harris-Till bought his car two years ago, it had 17 miles on it. After a tenure as president of the Young Democrats of Oklahoma and a campaign to earn the same title on the national level, Harris-Till now marvels when he looks at the odometer: 77,000 miles, and climbing. [NonDoc] Quote of the Day “There are times when people say, ‘Not everyone needs to go to college,’ and there are times when people say, ‘It’s just not worth the cost.’ And I will agree that maybe not everyone needs a bachelor’s degree. But everyone actually does need to have some sort of post-high school learning — unless any of us are OK with someone being able to earn only $9,000 a year.” - Danette Howard, senior vice president and chief strategy officer for the Lumina Foundation, speaking at the Tulsa Regional Chamber's State of Education event this week [Tulsa World] Number of the Day 66.8% Percent of adults served by Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) that were employed in jobs in their communities - one of the highest rates in the nation [Source: Oklahoma Department of Human Services] See previous Numbers of the Day here Policy Note Probation and parole violations are filling up prisons and costing states billions: According to the most comprehensive report of its kind, states spend more than $9 billion a year incarcerating people who violate community supervision terms that even corrections officials admit are difficult to comply with. [Governing] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. Connect with Us Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe