[In The Know] Some local virus-related restrictions reinstated | State unemployment numbers | Next steps for Medicaid expansion

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. Some stories may be behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and click here see past editions. New from OK Policy Capitol Update: An early look at requested interim studies in the House:  Typical of an election year, there were only 88 interim study requests in the House of Representatives this year compared with 146 last year. The Senate has not published its interim study requests. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Oklahoma News Oklahoma reports 283 more COVID-19 cases, no new deaths: The Oklahoma State Department of Health said that the additional cases bring the state’s total to 15,928. The actual number of cases is believed to be far higher, but many people haven’t been tested and some who get the disease don’t show symptoms. [AP News] Visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov for the latest COVID-19 numbers in Oklahoma.  As cases climb, Oklahoma mayors reinstate local restrictions to curb coronavirus spread [The Frontier] Tulsa mayor imposes 'minimally invasive' restrictions as COVID-19 grows at 'unacceptable' rate, with 'great potential' to overwhelm health systems [Tulsa World] Contact tracers 'inundated' as virus spikes locally, with possible influx from rally evident this week [Tulsa World] Questions over funding delay implementation of Tulsa County COVID-19 prevention plan [Tulsa World] Houses of worship continue pandemic precautions [The Oklahoman] Langston University suspends athletics for fall semester due to coronavirus pandemic [The Oklahoman] Norman reports record-high increase in COVID-19 case numbers [Norman Transcript] Choctaw Nation: Masks required on all properties [McAlester News Capital] Editorial: Your right to go without a mask ends at the point we're sharing the same air [Tulsa World Editorial] New unemployment claims fall to lowest level in months, as COVID-19 cases continue to tick upward: The number of weekly first-time unemployment claims filed in Oklahoma fell last week to its lowest level since early March, prior to the state seeing record spikes in unemployment claims brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, according to preliminary data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor. [The Frontier] Thousands of unemployment fraud victims in limbo, but state hosting events in Tulsa, OKC metros to clear log jam [Tulsa World] OESC convention center event draws 1,000+ jobless seeking relief [OKC Free Press] Listen Frontier: Unemployed and waiting in line (audio) [Podcast / The Frontier] With Medicaid expansion approved, what happens next?: Oklahoma voters on Tuesday approved a state question to expand Medicaid, but legislators won’t decide until next year how to pay for the expansion. State Question 802 requires the state to expand Medicaid by July 1, 2021 — the start of the next fiscal year. [The Oklahoman] Medicaid expansion will begin no later than July 1, 2021, a year from now. It will bring health care to somewhere around 200,000 working-poor Oklahomans and will help alleviate the nation’s second-worst rate of uninsured citizens. Over the course of a generation, that should result in healthier, more prosperous Oklahomans and a more financially stable health care system. [Wayne Greene Opinion Column / Tulsa World] A majority of Oklahoma voters ignored the tactics of fear and division this week and took steps toward a healthier future by passing State Question 802, which will expand Medicaid coverage to 215,000 — maybe more — low-income adults. Voters accomplished what legislators refused to do. [Editorial / Enid News & Eagle] Health News Former Oklahoma commissioner of mental health to lead statewide nonprofit: Terri White, former commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health, will be the new CEO of Mental Health Association Oklahoma, the group announced Thursday. [The Oklahoman] White resigned from the state department in January and was plucked amid pandemic chaos by a national search firm MHAOK hired to find Brose’s successor. [Tulsa World] White will assume her new role at the end of August as the successor to longtime CEO Mike Brose, who announced his planned departure earlier this year leading to the commencement of the national search. [The Journal Record] Medicaid, COVID and mental health: Q&A with Terri White: [The Frontier] Congressional investigators look into COVID-19 billing at two hospitals in Oklahoma: Two small hospitals in Oklahoma City and Tulsa are among 10 facilities being contacted by congressional investigators over the price of COVID-19 testing and reports of surprise medical bills. [Oklahoma Watch] State Government News Seeking casinos, United Keetoowah Band and Kialegee Tribal Town sign new gaming compacts: Two small Native American tribes that have clashed with larger tribes in pursuit of developing casinos have signed new gaming compacts with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. [NonDoc] Stitt described the compacts as promoting economic development, but the chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association immediately challenged their legality. [The Oklahoman] Signed Wednesday, each agreement is site-specific for an as yet unbuilt facility outside the tribes’ jurisdictional areas within a mile of a highway. [Tulsa World] Former top public safety officials sue governor over terminations: Former Public Safety Commissioner Rusty Rhoades and two of his former top aides on Thursday sued Gov. Kevin Stitt. The suit alleges that Rhoades and his aides were fired after they discovered wrongdoing in how the Department of Public Safety handled civil asset forfeitures. [Tulsa World] Criminal Justice News Man's release after his children's death prompts questions about case of mother, still jailed, whose toddlers drowned: Authorities in Tulsa continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of two children in their father’s locked truck after the man’s release from jail last month. But in a similar case, a woman charged after her children were swept into an east Tulsa creek and drowned remains jailed on $500,000 bond, which has brought scrutiny and questions of whether prosecutors are applying the law equally. [Tulsa World] Protesters focus criticism on DA David Prater at OKC rally: Oklahoma County DA David Prater is now receiving open and persistent criticism by Black Lives Matter OKC – Oklahoma City and allies after some of its teen members were charged with inciting to riot. [OKC Free Press] Terrorism defendant charged again: A protester was charged Thursday for a second time with terrorism based on statements he allegedly made on Facebook Live on May 30. He is accused in the second terrorism charge of involvement in the attempted burning of CJ's Bail Bonds May 30 in Oklahoma City. [The Oklahoman] Union accuses Norman of violating statute by defunding police: Norman's police union is alleging the city council broke the law when it voted last month to reduce the police department's budget by $865,000 and reallocate the money. [The Oklahoman] Five officers either have resigned or put in for an earlier retirement since June 16 when the city council’s budget amendments left nine positions unfilled, Norman Police Department officials confirmed this week. [Norman Transcript] Four police officers facing layoffs will get to keep their jobs following the recent resignations of three officers and the retirement of two others, a Norman Police Department spokesman said Thursday. [The Oklahoman] NAACP calls for resignation of parole board member: The Oklahoma chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is asking Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board member Allen McCall to resign following the revelation of emails he sent concerning death row commutation requests. [The Frontier] Oklahoma Highway Patrol faces imminent shortage of troopers: For Col. Brent Sugg of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the last few months have been “rough.” But for the chief of the state’s largest law enforcement agency, the next few years could be even rougher. [The Oklahoman] Economic Opportunity Annual count of OKC’s homeless population increases: More than 1,500 people were experiencing homelessness on the night of Oklahoma City’s annual count, according to a report released by the city and the Homeless Alliance. The community conducted its annual Point in Time Count of the homeless population Jan. 23, and 1,573 people were counted, up from 1,273 the year before. [The Journal Record]  Economy & Business News Oklahoma gross receipts show signs of economic resiliency, concern: In spite of a sharp downturn in oil and gas production tax collections, the Oklahoma economy displayed signs of resiliency in June, state Treasurer Randy McDaniel said as he released the monthly Gross Receipts to the Treasury report. [The Journal Record] But the June collections continued showing how weak Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry has become in the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting low energy prices. [OK Energy Today] Restaurants continue to adjust to public health demands: A tough week got tougher on Wednesday for local restaurants and bars when Mayor David Holt announced a "dimming" to the reopening schedule. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma medical marijuana dispensaries forced to find new homes as 7-Eleven discontinues leases: Many Oklahoma cannabis dispensaries are being uprooted from their locations with little warning after Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. decided to not renew leases with any medical marijuana businesses. [NonDoc] National rig numbers drop again while Oklahoma holds steady: Oklahoma maintained its rig count at 10 in the past while the nationwide oil and gas rig numbers dropped by two to reach 263. A year ago, Oklahoma had 97 active rigs. [OK Energy Today] Chesapeake Energy transformation of OKC came with a price: The future for Chesapeake Energy may be uncertain, but the company’s impact on Oklahoma City, much of it shaped by founder Aubrey McClendon, is extensive. [The Oklahoman] Drought expected to grow across Oklahoma: Oklahoma climatologist Gary McManus says this week’s scorching summer weather is an indication that not only will the high temperatures continue to grow, but so will the state’s drought. [OK Energy Today] Opinion: Rich become richer, poor become poorer under pandemic economy: The June labor report announced a drop to 11.1 percent unemployment and the addition of 4.8 million jobs, and after four months of coronavirus closures, billionaires are nearly $600 billion richer than they were before the pandemic. Meanwhile, the middle class is getting decimated, and those job figures do not reflect our current reality. [Opinion / OKC Free Press] Education News TPS launches Tulsa Virtual Academy for families who don't want their kids to go to school during pandemic: Tulsa Public Schools is launching a district-wide virtual option for families who don’t want to send their children to school amid the COVID-19 pandemic this fall. [Tulsa World] Column: No one knows how to operate schools in a pandemic: Among all the professional development and higher education related to teaching and operating schools, no lessons exist on handling a pandemic. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World] General News Census door knockers starting in Oklahoma, five other states later this month: Homes in six states across the U.S. can expect to get knocks on their doors from census takers in two weeks as part of a soft launch of the next phase of the largest head count in U.S. history, Census Bureau officials said Wednesday. [AP / Tulsa World] Canadian County leads the way in Oklahoma census responses. Topping the list of all 77 counties statewide, Canadian County’s self-response rate to the 2020 U.S. Census stood at 67.5% on July 1. Of that total, 59.1% of responses had been made online. [Yukon Progress] ‘Abolitionist’ candidates largely unsuccessful in legislative races: At least eight self-proclaimed “abolitionists,” those who want to ignore the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade and abolish abortion entirely, lost their legislative bids Tuesday. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma primary results push Republicans and Democrats further apart: Those on high alert may have felt a slight shudder pass through state politics on Tuesday, something that may have been a tremor caused by Republicans and Democrats pulling in opposite directions. [Tulsa World] Opinion: What is the Fourth of July to the Black American?: "Imagine being so deprived of your history and culture that you didn’t know about a major historical holiday until your early twenties. If you’re reading this and you are white, you literally can’t. The colonizers, slave owners and confederate leaders of your ancestry all have holidays and statues for their 'works.'" [Opinion / The Frontier] Op-Ed: A 'monumental' swing in public opinion on the future Confederate statues: What you think about removing Confederate statues has less to do with your opinions about race and more with how you perceive the motivation behind removing them in the first place. [Op-Ed / Tulsa World] Editorial: Oklahomans show they can vote by mail, and the state should accommodate them: Oklahoma has a good election system, but we can make it better: Safer and open to broader participation. When the Oklahoma Legislature reconvenes, we think a top priority should be a thorough study of how we can improve our elections and at the top of that list should be expanding the opportunity for Oklahomans to vote securely by mail. [Tulsa World Editorial] Oklahoma Local News Mandatory face mask vote on Tuesday's agenda for Norman [The Norman Transcript] OU coaches, athletic director to have pay cut by 10% [The Oklahoman] Quote of the Day “For two years now, we’ve had a proposal for how you fund Medicaid expansion that did not include tax increases, did not include cuts to education, all of those things that we are now being told will have to happen. So I’m still very hopeful that we can go back to the funding plan that we’ve had all along, and that could be the cornerstone to how we do this without damaging the rest of the state's budget or increasing taxes.” -Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada [The Oklahoman] Number of the Day 157,740 Oklahoma's continued unemployment claims, which shows the total number of people who are receiving unemployment benefits in a given week, for the week ending June 27. That is down from the previous week’s claims, which hit an all-time high of 182,191. [Source: The Frontier] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note Why Do We Treat Unemployment Applicants as Potential Criminals? Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is available to anyone who "self-certifies" as not being able to work because of the pandemic, whether they were furloughed or lost their job due to a business closure, or were unable to work because they became sick or had to take care of a family member. But there's a catch: U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) guidelines require states to include messaging in the self-certification process warning that claimants could be prosecuted if they are found to have committed fraud. While the goal of this provision is to keep people who are not eligible for benefits from applying, there's evidence that the warnings are keeping away people who do likely qualify. [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

 

 

 

[The Weekly Wonk] Oklahomans pass SQ 802 | State should accommodate vote by mail

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 Policy Matters: Passing SQ 802 – next step to a stronger Oklahoma: As Oklahoma and the nation wrestle with the COVID-19 resurgence, it is time to set aside politics and focus on health care issues. OK Policy Institute and other state health advocates look forward to working with Gov. Stitt, lawmakers, and policymakers to quickly implement SQ 802 to address these needs. The clock has started on the 90-day window for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to submit the state’s plan to federal regulators. Oklahoma officials were ready to fully expand Medicaid on July 1, and lawmakers even identified a funding mechanism that didn’t entail raising taxes. As a result, Oklahoma should be well-positioned to meet this first deadline and move forward quickly. [Ahniwake Rose / The Journal Record] Statement Re: Passage of State Question 802: Oklahomans made the right choice Tuesday by passing SQ 802, which will provide life-changing health care coverage for more than 200,000 Oklahomans and create a significant economic stimulus when implemented. OK Policy is grateful for Oklahoma voters who did the right thing both for Oklahoma and our neighbors who otherwise would go without health insurance. [Read full statement] Health Policy Minute Episode 38: Oklahoma expands Medicaid (video): Carly Putnam, Policy Director and Health Care Policy Analyst for OK Policy, joined Community Catalyst to discuss reaction to passage of SQ 802. [Community Catalyst] Medicaid expansion can address Oklahoma’s mental health and criminal justice needs: To have any hope of aspiring to “top 10” status in fighting mental illness and addiction, Oklahoma needs a large infusion of dollars into the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. As luck would have it, that may now be possible. More than 313,000 Oklahomans signed the petition for State Question 802, which would expand Medicaid coverage that would pump over $1 billion annually into Oklahoma health care. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update]

[In The Know] Unemployment claims | Half of Oklahoma virus cases confirmed in June | Medicaid expansion funding

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. Some stories may be behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and click here see past editions. Note: In The Know will be off tomorrow, Friday, July 3rd, and resume Monday morning. New from OK Policy Policy Matters: Passing SQ 802 – next step to a stronger Oklahoma: Oklahomans made the right choice on Tuesday by passing State Question 802, which will provide life-changing health care coverage for more than 200,000 Oklahomans. More than the impact it will have on our neighbors who previously lacked coverage, it is poised to create a stronger Oklahoma. In order for our state to be a place where all residents have the opportunity to thrive, residents must first be healthy. It’s a cornerstone to our future success. [Ahniwake Rose / The Journal Record] Oklahoma News With workers facing long lines and waits, state employment agency seeks to increase in-person unemployment claims processing: More than three months after the novel coronavirus pandemic caused a surge in Oklahoma’s unemployment, thousands of Oklahoma workers continue to wait for unemployment assistance, prompting the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission to expand its efforts to offer in-person assistance. [The Frontier] Hundreds showed up Wednesday seeking help, enduring high temperatures in long lines outside. At least one woman passed out while waiting and required medical attention. [The Oklahoman] Fraudulent unemployment claims battle continues [The Oklahoman] Over half of Oklahoma's COVID-19 cases confirmed in June, according to OSDH data: More than half the overall COVID-19 cases in Oklahoma were recorded in the month of June, according to data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. [Enid News & Eagle] Oklahoma COVID-19 Hospitalizations Reach New High [KOSU] OKC Mayor David Holt issues new COVID-19 directives [NonDoc] OKC reinstating some restrictions in response to spike [The Oklahoman] Masks now required on elevators in Oklahoma County facilities [The Oklahoman] 14 OU Football Players, Two Staff Members Test Positive For COVID-19 [KOSU] Norman council to consider mask policy but not business closures [The Oklahoman] Tulsa County's cumulative cases could reach 10K-15K in next six weeks, according to health department data [Tulsa World] Two Tulsa County residents die from the disease as state exceeds 14,000 cases [Tulsa World] Oklahoma lawmakers have a year to figure out how to pay for Medicaid expansion: Roughly $200 million will be needed to implement the Medicaid expansion constitutional amendment voters narrowly approved on Tuesday. Lawmakers have exactly one year to find it. Legislative leaders say several options are on the table. None are likely to be painless — especially at a time when state tax revenue is contracting because of the COVID-19 crisis. [Tulsa World] OK Policy: Oklahomans made the right choice Tuesday by passing SQ 802, which will provide life-changing health care coverage for more than 200,000 Oklahomans and create a significant economic stimulus when implemented. [OK Policy] Health Policy Minute Episode 38: Oklahoma Expands Medicaid (feat. Oklahoma Policy Institute) [Community Catalyst] Voters Extended Health Insurance to 215,000 Oklahomans. Meet Three of Them [Oklahoma Watch] How Oklahoma Voted on Medicaid Expansion [Oklahoma Watch] Republican Leaders Want to End Obamacare. Their Voters Are Expanding It. [The New York Times] Oklahomans Just Embarrassed Trump a Second Time [The Atlantic] Voters in deep-red Oklahoma approve Medicaid expansion [The Washington Post] Black Lives Matter protest over criminal charges planned in OKC: Hundreds are expected Thursday morning at a protest in Oklahoma City over the filing of terrorism and other felony charges against those involved in demonstrations in May after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. [The Oklahoman] Facing charges from street painting incident, activists turn themselves in [Free Press OKC] Oklahoma County commissioners discuss possible Black Lives Matter mural [The Oklahoman] Lankford proposes to replace Columbus Day with Juneteenth [The Oklahoman] After Oklahomans Vote, Four Takeaways From the Primary: Nearly 675,000 Oklahomans cast their ballot Tuesday in an election that will not only have deep ramifications for November’s general election, but also the state’s future. [Oklahoma Watch] House warming: Oklahoma primaries bring new faces [NonDoc] Urban-rural divide on display in Oklahoma’s primary election [AP News] Horn launches first ad, as Republicans prepare for runoff [The Oklahoman] Progressive candidate unseats Democratic incumbent for OKC House seat [The Oklahoman] Johns, McCortney win primaries as county votes to expand Medicaid [The Ada News] Sen. Dist. 43 goes to runoff [The Duncan Banner] Payne County voters back Medicaid expansion; give Talley a second term [Stillwater News Press] White wins commission race; Dobrinski, Patzkowsky earn seats in legislature [Woodward News] Republican candidates for Oklahoma County sheriff head to runoff, commissioner wins primary [The Oklahoman] State Government News Governor's attorney: Oklahoma Supreme Court lacks authority to invalidate gaming compacts: The Oklahoma Supreme Court has no authority to void state gaming compacts that were approved under federal law, an attorney for Gov. Kevin Stitt argued Wednesday in an appearance before a Supreme Court referee. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma legislators warn of 'spread of anarchy' due to lacking support for law enforcement: Amid widespread calls for police reform, 12 Oklahoma legislators offered their support for law enforcement Wednesday, warning "the spread of anarchy is quite likely" due to changes in public opinion on police. [The OKlahoman] State agencies working to increase Oklahoma speed limits: Last November, Oklahomans voted to increase speeds on our highways from 75 to 80 mph, but it hasn't happened yet. State agencies are working on speed studies to make sure it's safe. [KTUL] Federal Government News Lankford proposes to replace Columbus Day with Juneteenth: Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford is cosponsoring an amendment that would replace Columbus Day with Juneteenth, though the sponsors said it should not be a paid federal holiday that costs money and affects businesses. [The Oklahoman] Criminal Justice News Two Oklahoma officers charged with second-degree murder after allegedly stunning man more than 50 times: Two police officers from Wilson, a small town about 20 miles west of Ardmore, were charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday in connection with an in-custody death where they allegedly used a stun gun against a man more than 50 times. [The Frontier] Court records state that the man’s cause of death was determined to have been “complications of myocardial infarction (clinical) in the setting of cardiomegaly and critical coronary atherosclerosis and law enforcement use of electrical weapon and restraint.” [The Oklahoman] Death row inmates eligible for commutation hearings, AG Hunter says: Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter said Tuesday death row inmates are eligible for commutation hearings through the state’s Pardon and Parole Board. In a letter to the board, Hunter said former Attorney General Scott Pruitt previously issued an opinion that would allow the board to hear proceedings and recommend any inmate for commutation through the governor. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma judge seeks delay in disciplinary proceedings: An Oklahoma County district judge accused of not paying taxes requested a delay in disciplinary proceedings against her in a separate case that charges her with inappropriate behavior in the courthouse. [AP News] 'He taught me how to cop': Tulsa mourns fallen officer as another improves in hospital: Tulsa police gave a full escort to fallen Sgt. Craig Johnson on Wednesday evening as his body was taken from Saint Francis Hospital to the Medical Examiner’s Office. Officer Aurash Zarkeshan, who remains hospitalized after both he and Johnson were shot Monday morning, is improving. [Tulsa World] A parked police car becomes a symbol of Tulsa's support for officers who were shot [Tulsa World] Economic Opportunity Oklahoma City's homeless population increases 24%, largest uptick since 2007: Over 1,500 people were experiencing homelessness during Oklahoma City’s yearly count of its homeless population in January, a 24% increase over last year’s numbers. The 2020 Point-In-Time count, a report released Wednesday by city officials and the Homeless Alliance, shows the largest uptick in the city’s homeless population since 2007. [The Oklahoman] Pandemic isolates Oklahoma domestic violence victims: The novel coronavirus is a germy wrench stuck in the gears of domestic violence advocacy programs across the state. Measures taken to escape Covid-19 have made it harder for some domestic violence victims to find safety from their abusers. Victim advocates also fear they may experience more severe violence in their isolation. [StateImpact Oklahoma] Economy & Business News U.S. farmers scramble for help as COVID-19 scuttles immigrant workforce: As combines work their way north from the Southern Plains of Texas and Oklahoma, farmers and harvesting companies are having a hard time finding and keeping workers. Any delays in the harvest could send wheat prices higher and cause a scramble to secure supplies to make bread and pasta. [Reuters] Tulsa focuses on Route 66 in final push to win Tesla's new factory; Musk hints at visit: With a decision coming within weeks if not days, Tulsa began making one final argument Wednesday to convince Tesla to build a new “Cybertruck Gigafactory” here instead of in the Texas capital. [Tulsa World] OU Energy Institute plans webcast discuss energy industry changes: Threats and opportunities in the energy industry will be the topic of the next University of Oklahoma Energy Institute webcast. [The Oklahoman] Business leaders say area’s economy improving with reopening: Business leaders say the economy has begun to recover as businesses reopened in the past month in nine Midwest and Plains states, but it remains weaker than before the coronavirus outbreak began, according to a monthly survey released Wednesday. [The Journal Record] Education News Oklahoma awards $16 million in grants to 150 school districts to mitigate COVID-19 impact on students: Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister have awarded incentive grants totaling $16 million to 150 school districts needing help to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on student learning. [Tulsa World] General News Census door knockers starting in 6 states later this month: Homes in six states across the U.S. — including Oklahoma County, OK — can expect to get knocks on their doors from census takers in two weeks as part of a soft launch of the next phase of the largest head count in U.S. history, Census Bureau officials said Wednesday. [AP News] Oklahoma Local News Tulsa Library goes 'Fine Free' during COVID-19 pandemic [Tulsa World] Tulsa County program to offer $30 million to small businesses, nonprofits affected by pandemic [Tulsa World] OSU planning in-person classes in spring 2021 [The Oklahoman] Cherokee Nation invests $476,000 in northeast Oklahoma rural fire departments [Muskogee Phoenix] Rural Oklahoma community split over Nazi, Confederate symbols [CNHI] Quote of the Day “I can get insurance. I don’t have to worry about meds. Won’t have to stress about insulin and anything like that." –Ryan Gerhard, who worked two jobs and rationed his insulin, speaking on what Medicaid expansion means for him. [Oklahoma Watch] Number of the Day 0.5 Oklahoma's score out of 5 on the COVID-19 housing policy scorecard used to rate each state's pandemic responses to evictions and prevention of homelessness, as of July 2, 2020. [Source: Eviction Lab] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note The Coming Wave of Coronavirus Evictions Will Wipe Out Black Renters: Even as coronavirus case counts continue their ominous rise across the U.S., protections to stall evictions in U.S. states are slipping away. Eviction bans in five states expired on July 1, leaving only a few places with protections that extend beyond the end of the federal eviction moratorium this month. [Bloomberg City Lab] 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

 

 

 

[In The Know] Oklahomans approve SQ 802 | Hospitalization levels remain 'manageable' | Gov. encourages masks, but no mandate

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. Some stories may be behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and click here see past editions. New from OK Policy Statement Re: Passage of State Question 802: Oklahomans made the right choice Tuesday by passing SQ 802, which will provide life-changing health care coverage for more than 200,000 Oklahomans and create a significant economic stimulus when implemented. OK Policy is grateful for Oklahoma voters who did the right thing both for Oklahoma and our neighbors who otherwise would go without health insurance. [Read full statement] Oklahoma News Oklahoma voters approve Medicaid expansion, join majority of states: Oklahoma voters narrowly approved an expansion of Medicaid on Tuesday after years of local political opposition and the governor’s own claim that it would result in budget cuts to core services next year. Passage of State Question 802, which received just under 51 percent of the vote, will allow more than 200,000 Oklahomans to qualify for the federal/state plan that provides health coverage for low-income Americans. [The Frontier]  After years of legislative inaction, voters say yes to Medicaid expansion [Oklahoma Watch]  SQ 802 narrowly passes; Medicaid expansion comes down to rural vs. urban votes [Tulsa World] Medicaid expanded: State Question 802 passes by a hair [NonDoc] Oklahoma voters narrowly approve Medicaid expansion [AP News] Oklahoma voters approve Medicaid expansion as coronavirus cases climb [Politico] As Oklahoma coronavirus cases surge, officials tout state’s ‘manageable’ hospitalization levels: As the number of new coronavirus cases has reached record highs in recent weeks, Gov. Kevin Stitt and health officials have continued to stress that hospitalization levels remain “manageable.” [The Frontier] The recent spike in COVID-19 cases seen in Oklahoma does not warrant a return to the restrictions of earlier phases in the state’s reopening plan, said Stitt, but signals that new tactics are needed going forward. [The Journal Record] More than 300 COVID-19 patients remain hospitalized [OSDH / Muskogee Phoenix] Opinion: Words worth heeding from Fauci [The Oklahoman Editorial Board] Stitt encourages Oklahomans to wear masks to reduce COVID-19 spread but will not mandate face coverings: Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday strongly urged Oklahomans to wear a mask when they can’t social distance to slow coronavirus spread, but said he would not mandate it for the state. [Tulsa World] In a news conference, the governor wore an Oklahoma-branded neck gaiter he briefly pulled up to cover his nose and mouth, saying, "It's this easy." This marked the first time Stitt wore a mask to any one of more than a dozen COVID-19 news conferences he’s led since the pandemic started. [The Oklahoman] The first-term governor’s demonstration of masking-up came on another day of Oklahoma’s COVID-19 positive cases going up, this time by 585, a single-day reporting record. [NonDoc] In another new high, Oklahoma reports 585 new coronavirus cases: Oklahoma health officials report 585 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on Tuesday, representing another new high in single-day infections. Two additional Oklahomans have died due to COVID-19, bringing the state's death toll to 387. [KOSU] Visit coronavirus.health.ok.gov for the latest COVID-19 numbers in Oklahoma.  Election News Complete results and interactive dashboard [Oklahoma State Election Board] Primary election results: More votes cast than presidential primary in March [Tulsa World] Oklahoma election coverage: Voters decide on Medicaid expansion, more key races [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma voters approve Medicaid expansion, decide legislative races [KOSU] Voters say Black Lives Matter, health care are important [The Oklahoman] Election results from Tuesday's primary and special elections [The Ardmoreite] Election Day during a pandemic? It was like a lot of other Election Days in Tulsa County [Tulsa World] Voting polls busy despite increasing COVID rates [Southwest Ledger] Three GOP senators head to runoff, Wayne Shaw loses [NonDoc] Dossett, Rogers win state Senate primaries; four legislative incumbents beaten [Tulsa World] Mauree Turner takes HD 88, Ajay Pittman retains HD 99 [NonDoc] Pae wins Republican primary for House District 62 seat [Lawton Constitution] Caldwell retains seat over challenge from Venus [Enid News & Eagle] Pederson wins second term in Senate District 19 [Enid News & Eagle] Senate District 15 primary: Scott will face Standridge in general election [The Oklahoman] Council member Alex Scott wins Democratic nomination for District 15 state Senate seat [Norman Transcript] Sneed headed back for second term in District 14 [Muskogee Phoenix] SW Oklahoma voters elect new legislator, force another into a runoff; elect sheriffs; reject SQ 802; approve 22 of 23 Altus charter changes [Southwest Ledger] Oklahoma legislator catches COVID, halts campaigning amid primary challenge [The Oklahoman] Terry Neese, Stephanie Bice move on to CD 5 runoff [NonDoc] Bice, Neese in runoff to take on Horn in CD5 race [The Frontier] Inhofe, other congressional incumbents glide to primary victories [Tulsa World] Sheriff races: Runoffs for Oklahoma, Cleveland counties. [NonDoc] Masks a sign of politics at Oklahoma precincts Tuesday [KOSU] Health News She needed lifesaving medication, but the only hospital in her Oklahoma town did not have it: Surrounded by 2,000 square miles of prairie and dotted with small farming communities, Memorial Hospital is among at least 13 facilities in the state that hired private management companies based on promises of financial turnarounds but were instead left scrambling after sinking deeper into debt, an investigation by The Frontier and ProPublica found. [The Frontier] State Government News Pandemic Unemployment Assistance requests represent large part of pending claims: Agency officials said a majority of the remaining PUA claims have not had any weekly assistance claims submitted, making up at least half of an additional 45,000 claims that exist in the system where an applicant either failed to finish the filing process or never initiated a weekly benefits claim once they had completed the initial filing process. [The Oklahoman] Unemployment expo gathering amid COVID-19 surge: A state agency’s plan to hold a large in-person gathering inside a Midwest City convention center should not amount to a public health threat, Oklahoma leaders said Tuesday. [CNHI via The Duncan Banner] Federal Government News Inhofe echoes White House message on Russian bounties: Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe took the side of President Donald Trump on Tuesday and said he was convinced the president had not been briefed on intelligence reports that Russia paid bounties to the Taliban to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma tribal pacts including sports betting become effective, but battle is on: On Monday, controversial new tribal compacts executed by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt and a pair of federally-recognized tribes became effective immediately after they were recorded in the Federal Register. However, the compacts are facing a legal challenge pending in the Oklahoma Supreme Court. [Sports Handle] Criminal Justice News Attorney General says Jones and other death row inmates can apply for commutation: Oklahoma’s attorney general believes death row inmates are eligible to receive a commutation hearing, according to a letter his office issued Tuesday that refers to a previous attorney general opinion on the matter. [The Frontier] In Tuesday’s letter, Hunter advised the board that it doesn’t need a new opinion because a previous one affirmed the board’s power to recommend commutations and the governor’s authority to grant them. [Tulsa World] Parole board member threatens director in effort to stop Julius Jones commutation hearing: The executive director of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board requested a leave of absence last week after a board member threatened him with a grand jury investigation unless he made efforts to keep death row inmates from seeking commutation hearings. [The Frontier] 1 of 2 Oklahoma officers shot during traffic stop dies: One of the two Tulsa, Oklahoma, police officers who were shot during a traffic stop has died, authorities said Tuesday. [AP News] Sgt. Craig Johnson, a 15-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department, succumbed Tuesday to gunshot wounds he suffered in the line of duty. [Tulsa World] David Anthony Ware was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Sgt. Craig Johnson, the authorities said. [New York Times] TPD Officer Popsey Floyd described Sgt. Johnson as a true community servant that served all Tulsans, recalling a time when Johnson used his connections to get bikes purchased and delivered to underserved children in north Tulsa. [Black Wall Street Times] Oklahoma County district judge seeks delay in disciplinary proceedings: Oklahoma County District Judge Kendra Coleman is asking a special court to put off disciplinary proceedings against her while her criminal case is pending. [The Oklahoman] "True change": Oklahoma County Jail Trust officially takes over county jail: After months of planning, the Oklahoma County Jail Trust officially takes over management of the county jail Wednesday, removing the sheriff’s office from operations and instead bringing in a small team of administrators, most with experience from the state’s corrections system. [The Oklahoman] More OKC protesters charged with rioting: Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater filed two more rioting cases Tuesday, despite complaints he has excessively charged protesters to stifle the exercise of free speech at future demonstrations. [The Oklahoman] Point of View: Data show SQ 805 is smart policy for Oklahoma: Oklahoma sends people to prison for much longer than almost every other state — nearly 70% longer, on average, for property crimes and 79% longer for drug crimes. Do these long prison terms for nonviolent offenders make us safer? No. Our state’s crime rates and other research suggest that excessive prison sentences do not produce safer communities. [Trent England & Mike O'Neal Op-Ed / The Oklahoman] Economic Opportunity Op-Ed: Tulsa, Tulsa County need to get COVID-19 eviction relief right: Tulsa’s eviction rate was too high before COVID-19. We rank 11th in the nation. But now the consequences of eviction for families are even higher. Eviction puts families out on the street during a pandemic — along with their belongings and pets — with too few options for rehousing and with the new record of eviction. [Teresa Meinders Burkett Op-Ed / Tulsa World] OK Policy and its Open Justice Oklahoma program have been tracking evictions in Oklahoma and noted that reopening Oklahoma’s courts must be done thoughtfully to avoid a public health disaster. Education News High court ruling protects Oklahoma scholarship program aiding religious schools: The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in a Montana case on Tuesday effectively protected a scholarship program in Oklahoma that benefits religious schools. In a 5-4 decision, justices ruled that the Montana Supreme Court erred in applying a state constitutional ban on aid to religious schools to a scholarship program funded by tax credits. [The Oklahoman] Hofmeister, Student Advisory Council voice classroom concerns: State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, along with her Student Advisory Council, voiced their concerns about learning amid the pandemic and how racism impacts the classroom. [FOX25] Opinion: Back-to-school planning a major challenge: The COVID-19 pandemic made Oklahoma’s 2019-20 school year unlike any other, although the coming school year could rival it. Plans presented Monday by Oklahoma City Public Schools include the option of in-person or virtual learning, with every child in the district — roughly 35,000 students — receiving a mobile device. Oklahoma City will be one of just a handful of large districts statewide to outfit every child in that way. [The Oklahoman Editorial Board] Oklahoma Local News OKC firefighters return from quarantine as one goes to hospital for COVID [Free Press OKC] Oklahoma City lays off eight employees [The Oklahoman] Tulsa school board District 6 representative Ruth Ann Fate defeated by Jerry Griffin; former Edison teacher John Croisant elected to District 5 [Tulsa World] Tulsa County results: Court clerk wins four more years; Josh Turley advances to face Karen Keith [Tulsa World] Norman City manager gets raise, council to consider mandatory mask ordinance [Norman Transcript] Muskogee voters turn down ballot proposition for strong mayor form of government [Muskogee Phoenix] Quote of the Day "(It) really made me feel for folks who are in a difficult financial situation.” -Kevin Penry, a Republican and retired pastor from Edmond, who voted for SQ 802 citing a recent experience having to purchase expensive health insurance on the federal marketplace. [AP News] Number of the Day 1,149 The number of evictions granted in Oklahoma as of July 1, 2020 since a state of emergency was declared on March 15.  [Source: Open Justice Oklahoma] See previous Numbers of the Day here. Policy Note Millions of Americans Skip Payments as Tidal Wave of Defaults and Evictions Looms: Americans are skipping payments on mortgages, auto loans and other bills. Normally, that could mean massive foreclosures, evictions, cars repossessions and people's credit getting destroyed. But much of that has been put on pause. Help from Congress and leniency from lenders have kept impending financial disaster at bay for millions of people. But that may not last for long. [NPR] 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