[In The Know] Some seek tax exemptions due to McGirt decision | 25% of Oklahomans vaccinated | Charter school 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. New from OK Policy How HB 1888 came back from the dead this session (Capitol Update): No idea introduced into the legislative process is ever truly dead until the legislature has adjourned Sine Die. Living proof exists this year in House Bill 1888 by Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, and Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant. HB 1888 says that “no public body shall conduct any form of gender or sexual diversity training or counseling.” Public body is expansively defined to include everything from a department of state or local government to a study group supported by public funds. Absent in the bill, however, is any definition of “gender or sexual diversity training or counseling.” [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Oklahoma News Some Oklahomans seek tax exemptions in light of McGirt decision: Some Oklahoma taxpayers are seeking tax exemptions in light of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that said the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's reservation was never disestablished. Several taxpayers have filed protests with the Oklahoma Tax Commission seeking to be exempted from having to pay certain taxes, top agency officials told The Oklahoman. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma school district sues over charter school settlement: Oklahoma City Public Schools is challenging a settlement that the State Board of Education approved aiming to change how schools are funded in the state. The school district filed a petition Wednesday challenging the board’s authority to settle a 2017 lawsuit allowing charter schools to receive more local tax dollars. [AP News] Editorial: Don’t shift more tax money to charters at the cost of traditional public schools: The state Board of Education voted 4-3 Thursday to settle a long-running suit over tax funding for charter schools. State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister opposed the settlement. Gov. Kevin Stitt has supported it, and the four board members who voted for it were his appointees. We agree with Hofmeister. [Editorial Board / Tulsa World] Oklahoma hits the 2 million dose mark; 25% of state's adults are fully vaccinated: Two million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered across Oklahoma, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [The Oklahoman] Nearly a third of Oklahomans have received virus vaccination [AP News] Rolling average of COVID deaths rises slightly in Oklahoma [AP News] Listen Frontier: Oklahomans we’ve lost [The Frontier] COVID in Oklahoma tracker: Updates on new cases, deaths, vaccines for April 2021 [The Oklahoman] Health News Taking a look at Medicaid expansion issues: On June 30, 2020, the Oklahoma Medicaid Expansion Initiative, State Question 802, passed by a majority vote (50.49% yes and 49.51% no) to expand Medicaid eligibility to adults age 19-64 whose income is 138% of the federal poverty level. [Woodward News] Doctors accuse UnitedHealthcare of stifling competition: UnitedHealthcare, one of the nation’s largest health insurers, is being sued in two states by a large group of anesthesiologists who are accusing the company of stifling competition by forcing the doctors out of its network and by using its enormous clout to pressure hospitals and surgeons to stop referring patients to them. [New York Times] Note: UnitedHealthcare is one of the four companies recently awarded managed care contracts by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.    State Government News Updates from the state Capitol – Republicans push through education reform, prohibitions on diversity training in schools: Tensions were high at the state Capitol this week as Republicans pushed through education reform and moved to prohibit schools from mandating gender or sexual diversity training. [The Frontier] Data privacy bill dead, but author vows to continue to fight: Rep. Collin Walke on Thursday accused the Senate Judiciary chairwoman of putting profits over privacy after she declined to hear his bill that would protect the public against unauthorized data collection. [Tulsa World] Progressive group vows to challenge Oklahoma legislators who limit protests: An Oklahoma progressive advocacy group has vowed to challenge state legislators who change state law to limit protests. Oklahoma Progress Now is asking its supporters to pledge to help unseat up to 17 Republican state lawmakers who introduced 11 bills the group says would challenge the right to protest. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Democrats have won some special elections, but this race may be the toughest yet: Oklahoma Democrats don’t often win elections. But when it comes to special elections, Democrats have some track record of success. In 2017, Oklahoma Democrats flipped four Republican-held legislative seats, two of which have since flipped back in subsequent elections. [The Oklahoman] Federal Government News Sexual assault allegations at Fort Sill draw Oklahoma lawmakers' concerns: Oklahoma lawmakers pledged Friday to monitor the investigation of sexual assault allegations made by a soldier at Fort Sill, as a post commander said officials acted quickly to protect the soldier and launch a probe. [The Oklahoman] Criminal Justice News Politics, protests and policing: Tulsa's police chief reflects on topics discussed at FBI institute: As one of many law enforcement leaders gathered from across the country for an exchange of ideas, stories and instruction, Tulsa’s police chief didn’t expect much notice. To his surprise, police executives who had faced the hottest fire of 2020’s civil unrest and taken over departments in cities such as Seattle and Portland found his department’s situation particularly novel. [Tulsa World] History of violence, poor conditions at Oklahoma County jail puts future of trust in doubt: The call that a riot was breaking out on the second floor of the Oklahoma County jail came in at 11:26 p.m. Feb. 7. "There's like four people using weapons," an inmate told the central control employee. "I'm looking on the camera right now," the employee said. "I don't see that." Are you sure, the inmate asked. "Yep," the employee replied. "But I'll check with the rover, thank you." A review of surveillance video, however, shows the employee, Martin Jacobs, "never picked up his radio to notify anyone," according to an internal investigative report of the altercation on 2B that night. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma City Police Department releases video footage of Oklahoma County Jail hostage situation [KOSU] Economic Opportunity Housing advocates say evictions are continuing at 'full steam,' despite a federal ban: On March 26, a sheriff’s deputy walked up to a one-story brick home in a suburb of North Tulsa, Oklahoma, and told the woman inside it was time to leave. She called Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma in a panic. Eric Hallett, the attorney on the phone, instructed her to grab important documents and medicine. There was a chance she wouldn’t be allowed to return. [NBC News] Temporary housing facility for the homeless in east Tulsa draws complaints, concerns: In February, when the snow fell and the temperatures stubbornly stuck below zero, homeless outreach workers were out day and night ushering people off the streets, out of their hidden encampments and into warm, covered quarters. [Tulsa World] City Care nonprofit to open new low-barrier shelter for Oklahoma City's homeless community: A new low-barrier shelter is set to open in Oklahoma City, offering much-needed emergency shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The new City Care Night Shelter is expected to open Tuesday in a former warehouse at 532 N Villa. [The Oklahoman] Economy & Business News Signs abound for an energy rebound: Travel records show U.S. consumers are driving and flying at the highest rate since the pandemic forced stay-at-home orders and lockdowns one year ago, Oilprice.com reports. Oklahomans filling their gas tanks on Friday paid an average $2.64 per gallon, up nearly 13 cents from one month ago, according to the AAA Gas Prices website. [The Journal Record] Immigrants with temporary status have grown deep roots in US: Irma Chavez is a married mother of four who leads a business networking initiative in this small Arkansas city she calls home. It's a long way from her life as a live-in housekeeper in California years ago, and further still from a childhood working in El Salvador's coffee fields. [The Oklahoman] Tulsa World owner Lee Enterprises unveils $5 million stimulus program for local businesses: Tulsa World Media Co. is launching its third local business stimulus program aimed at helping companies succeed in our rapidly evolving economic environment. [Tulsa World] Education News What people are saying about next OSU President Kayse Shrum: After a lengthy executive session that lasted well into Friday night, the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical Colleges named Dr. Kayse Shrum as Oklahoma State University’s 19th president and its first female president. [NonDoc] Committee recommends Shrum as next Oklahoma State president [AP News] Kayse Shrum 'humbled' to be named next Oklahoma State president [Tulsa World] General News City of Tulsa sued for Race Massacre-related documents: An attorney who has sued the city of Tulsa for reparations for victims and descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre has filed a lawsuit for the release of records related to the massacre and the coming centennial of the attack. [The Oklahoman] The art of hope: Exhibit brings artists together to examine past, future of Greenwood [Tulsa World] Crystal Echo Hawk of Pawnee Nation has emerged as a passionate advocate for Native peoples: Crystal Echo Hawk, an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, has become a well-known advocate for Native peoples. Born in Provo, Utah, Echo Hawk, 49, founded IllumiNative, which aims to transform public perceptions and stereotypes of Native people. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Local News City council runoffs set Tuesday in west-side wards [The Oklahoman] Talks on new franchise agreement underway between city, PSO [Tulsa World] Edmond mayoral candidate yet to file campaign reports [NonDoc] Quote of the Day “If our solution to a bad zip code is to tell kids they can go to a different zip code, we’re not fixing the bad zip code. And not every kid is going to be able to get out of that district.” -Rep. Forrest Bennett, D-Oklahoma City, speaking about inequities among the state's school districts [NonDoc] Number of the Day $531 million Amount of state revenue increases approved by lawmakers in 2018 to support education. Two measures now being considered by Oklahoma lawmakers (HB 2041 and HB 2083) would cut revenue by $540 million, which is $9 million more than the new revenue raised by lawmakers in 2018. [Source: OK Policy] Policy Note From the Archive: Nation's Least-Funded Schools Get What They Pay For: No state has suffered more than Oklahoma when it comes to education funding over the past decade. As it has struggled to balance its budget in the face of declining oil revenue, spending on schools has declined further than anywhere else. Oklahoma now spends $1 billion less on K-12 education than it did a decade ago. [Governing] NOTE: As Oklahoma lawmakers are considering revenue cuts (HB 2041 and HB 2083) that would undo 2018's new revenue supporting education, we're revisiting this piece from Governing about the impacts from Oklahoma's underfunded schools.  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] Supporting working families | Charter school funding | Legislative maneuvering is bad governance

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's edition of The Weekly Wonk was published with contributions from Communications Intern Lilly Strom. This Week from OK Policy Well-designed paid family and medical leave programs assist working families: Paid family and medical leave is a policy that provides employees who have paid a set amount into the system with a certain amount of paid time off from work to attend to their family, whether it’s caring for a newborn, bonding with a newly adopted child or foster child, or tending to the employee’s or a family member’s severe health condition. [Josie Phillips / OK Policy] Policy Matters: Just plain bad governance: Oklahomans should expect crystal-clear transparency from their elected officials, along with plentiful opportunities to engage in lawmaking whether through public hearings or testimony from impacted communities. Instead, we’re walking through a carnival fun house where the mirrors distort reality and nothing is as it seems. [Ahniwake Rose / Journal Record]

[In The Know] McGirt decision expanded to Choctaw, Seminole reservations | Looking at school funding impacts | Virus vigilance

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 Well-designed paid family and medical leave programs assist working families: Paid family and medical leave is a policy that provides employees who have paid a set amount into the system with a certain amount of paid time off from work to attend to their family, whether it’s caring for a newborn, bonding with a newly adopted child or foster child, or tending to the employee’s or a family member’s severe health condition. [Josie Phillips / OK Policy] Oklahoma News Choctaw, Seminole reservations recognized by Oklahoma appeals court: The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Thursday that the Choctaw Nation and Seminole Nation reservations were never disestablished, completing the process of shifting criminal jurisdiction in most of eastern Oklahoma to the federal government and the Five Tribes in cases involving Indians. [The Oklahoman] With the rulings Thursday, the original McGirt decision that the Muscogee (Creek) Nation had never been disestablished now applies to any case involving an American Indian when the crime occurred within any of the five tribes’ boundaries that collectively cover all or parts of 52 of the state’s 77 counties. [Tulsa World] A closer look at Oklahoma’s move to alter education funding and make student transfers easier: Two education measures finalized this week mark a win for those who subscribe to the philosophy that public tax dollars should follow students to the school of their choice. Gov. Kevin Stitt on Wednesday signed into law bills to alter the school funding formula and expand students’ ability to transfer between schools. [Oklahoma Watch] COVID-19 metrics much better in Oklahoma, but rises in other states signal warning to maintain vigilance: Metrics gauging COVID-19’s effects in Oklahoma are looking good, but Dr. Dale Bratzler warned the worst reaction would be for people to become too complacent and not adhere to proper pandemic precautions. Bratzler, OU’s chief COVID officer, on Thursday offered a much rosier portrait of the state’s status as cases are down tremendously from the peak and still slightly decreasing. Among the caveats? Cases are rising — dramatically in some instances — in other states as variants spread. [Tulsa World] Health officials say there are now 5 known coronavirus variants in Oklahoma [Public Radio Tulsa] Editorial: It is too early to relax personal and public precautions against the pandemic. [Editorial / Tulsa World] State Government News Special session ‘the only option we have’ on redistricting: The Oklahoma Legislature will return for a fall special session to complete the congressional redistricting process and possibly tweak the legislative redistricting maps that they are constitutionally required to pass before the end of the 2021 regular legislative session. [NonDoc] Failed mask purchase by state draws another lawsuit: More than 1 million N95 masks sold to the state of Oklahoma at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic ended up in Mongolia, according to a breach of contract lawsuit filed in Tulsa federal court. Tulsa business PPE Supplies LLC claims in a lawsuit it filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma that it was told more than a million of the protective masks it purchased as part of a contract with the state of Oklahoma were instead sold to Mongolia. [Tulsa World] House Republicans revive bill to ban mandatory gender, sexual diversity training or counseling: A Republican state lawmaker amended a bill in committee this week to bring back a plan to prohibit mandatory training or counseling on gender or sexual diversity. Senate Bill 627 dealt with the Red River Boundary Commission until Rep. Danny Williams (R-Seminole) replaced its language with that of House Bill 1888, which was laid over last month and missed the deadline to pass its chamber of origin amid a flood of objections from Oklahomans. [Public Radio Tulsa] OK Policy: Setting aside the policy implications, the legislative maneuvering we’re witnessing is just plain bad governance.  Criminal Justice News Jail trust brings in DOC officers to ease staffing woes: The Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, otherwise known as the jail trust, approved an agreement today with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections that would bring in officers from that agency to supplement jail staff because the trust says it currently lacks the staff to safely operate the jail. [NonDoc]  Oklahoma County jail trust faces fierce public criticism over detention center deaths, conditions [The Oklahoman] Jail Trust focuses on Health Dept. criticism, staffing, medical contractor [OKC Free Press] Attorney to face jury trial on racketeering, witness tampering; judge tosses murder solicitation charge: A Tulsa County judge dismissed a murder solicitation charge against a Delaware County attorney after finding insufficient evidence in his contact with one of his incarcerated clients, but the judge left intact counts of witness tampering and racketeering. [Tulsa World] Economy & Business News USDA spending billions for farmers missed in previous coronavirus aid programs: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is spending $6 billion on new programs to help farmers, ranchers and producers who were left out of previous pandemic aid. Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary of Agriculture, said in a statement that there were gaps in the past two iterations of the Coronavirus Assistance Program. The creation of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers program is an effort to mend those gaps. [KOSU] Education News COVID-19 expected to have lasting impact on colleges and universities, report says: A report released Thursday gives higher education good marks on spending COVID-19 relief dollars but says institutions could suffer financially if out-of-state students don’t return. The Oklahoma Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency said higher education in the state got $180 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds, of which $114 million had been spent through February. [Tulsa World] General News Lawsuit filed against city of Tulsa for denying access to Tulsa Race Massacre public records: A Tulsa attorney filed a lawsuit against the city of Tulsa, The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission and the Tulsa Development Authority for allegedly violating the Oklahoma Open Records Act and denying access to public records related to the Tulsa Race Massacre. [Tulsa World] Officials taking different approach to homeless encampment cleanups: The people who spent hours in homeless encampments along Riverside Drive south of the River Spirit Casino on Thursday were there to clean up, not clean out. There is a big difference between the two. [Tulsa World] Wayne Greene: Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado says he wants a state law with "bite" to let him protect Second Amendment rights: Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado strongly endorsed three Second Amendment bills pending in the Oklahoma Legislature in a March 25 speech to the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association and called for even more “bite” in state law to prevent federal gun laws from infringing on state citizens’ gun rights. [Wayne Green Op-Ed / Tulsa World] Quote of the Day “Whoever has the most power on their end of the rope wins. And that’s what we’re seeing today. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always lead to the best policy. When you have winners and losers, the losers are often left exploited, they are often left demoralized, disenfranchised, marginalized. And that’s why it’s not a good way to make decisions.”  -Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, describing recent legislation that changes the state's education funding model [Oklahoma Watch] Number of the Day 8 Of the 193 countries in the world, only 8 countries do not offer any form of paid maternal leave. The U.S. is the only wealthy country to not guarantee paid family leave. [Source: NPR] Policy Note Paid Family Leave Policies And Population Health: Studies on PFL in the US and other developed countries indicate short- and long-term health benefits of leave taking for children and mothers, such as a decreased incidence of low birthweight and preterm births, increased breast-feeding, reduced rates of hospitalizations among infants, and improved maternal health. [Health Affairs] 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] Gov. signs education funding change | Legal challenge for charter school funding | Legislative transparency needed

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 Policy Matters: Just plain bad governance: Oklahomans should expect crystal-clear transparency from their elected officials, along with plentiful opportunities to engage in lawmaking whether through public hearings or testimony from impacted communities. Instead, we’re walking through a carnival fun house where the mirrors distort reality and nothing is as it seems. [Ahniwake Rose / Journal Record] Oklahoma News Gov. Kevin Stitt signs controversial education funding change: Despite opposition from the state’s top education official and many public school advocates, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a controversial education funding measure that will have school funding more closely follow students. [The Oklahoman] HB 2078 and SB 783 passed the Senate and House respectively today despite significant opposition from educators, particularly in rural areas. HB 2078 will adjust the state aid formula in an effort to tie funding more closely to current student enrollment, while SB 783 establishes a statewide student transfer policy intended to offer parents greater opportunity to enroll their children in other school districts. [NonDoc] Critics of HB 2078, including Republican State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister, said the change would particularly harm rural schools, where district enrollment can fluctuate dramatically based on economic factors. [AP News] As it was, 11 Republicans in the Senate and 16 in the House, most of them representing rural constituencies, voted against the measures. [Tulsa World] First legal challenge to charter school funding move by State Board of Education is filed: The first of possibly several legal challenges to a settlement deal by four members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education who are intent on increasing state funding to charter schools was filed Wednesday. Oklahoma City Public Schools went to district court and filed a petition challenging the state board’s authority in the matter and seeking a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction to block any reallocation of revenue that currently flows only to traditional public schools. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma charter school leader explains lawsuit that has ‘seismic effect’ on education funding [StateImpact Oklahoma] OKCPS predicts it will lose millions of dollars after recent funding resolution [KGOU] Oklahoma County jail officials blame short staffing, poor infrastructure after inmate killed: Four days after Oklahoma County Jail detainees took a guard hostage while demanding better living conditions, officials deflected blame onto a staffing shortage and longstanding infrastructure deficiencies. The deadly incident Saturday focused a new spotlight on the 30-year-old jail, which has long been plagued with complaints about sanitation, flooding, food and safety for the 1,600 or so people locked up in the 13-story tower. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma County jail, site of deadly standoff, had substandard conditions, report found [New York Times] New report paints picture of an understaffed, malfunctioning Oklahoma County jail [KGOU] (Video) Oklahoma County jail shares update following hostage situation [The Oklahoman] “My son didn’t have to die”: OKC police kill county jail inmate [The Black Wall Street Times] Health News COVID-19: Most metrics continue downward trend; Tulsa County sees slight increase in new cases: Oklahoma’s coronavirus metrics were continuing a largely downward trend on Wednesday. The state reported that 2,229 new cases were confirmed within the one-week period that ended Wednesday, bringing the state’s seven-day rolling average of new cases to a low not observed since mid-June last year: 318. Tulsa County, however, reported 306 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the week, a slight increase in a metric that had been decreasing since mid-January. The region’s seven-day rolling average rose from 40 to 44. [Tulsa World] Trends look good but COVID still uncontrolled in Oklahoma, epidemiologist says [Public Radio Tulsa] COVID-19 in Oklahoma tracker: Updates on new cases, deaths, vaccines for March 2021 [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma County to provide up to 10,000 virus vaccinations [AP News] Tulsa Health Department COVID-19 vaccine clinic at River Spirit Expo to move to Expo Square Pavilion [Tulsa World] 'Access equals hope': Oklahomans are more likely to die from an overdose than from a car accident or gun violence, says Dr. Kelly Dunn, executive director of clinical treatment for Oklahoma State University’s National Center for Wellness and Recovery. In fact, nearly 1,000 Oklahomans die each year from an overdose, according to the Oklahoma Policy Institute. [Tulsa People] State Government News Proposed change to Oklahoma's Promise scholarship program would raise stakes for students: Northern Oklahoma College’s president says a proposed state bill adding more strings to scholars in Oklahoma’s higher education scholarship program would have a “chilling effect” on the state’s future work force. [Enid News & Eagle] Bill banning 'gender and sexual diversity training' resurrected in House committee: Legislation that Democrats and LGBTQ advocates thought they had killed reappeared in a House committee Wednesday afternoon in the guise of an unrelated bill. Rep. Danny Williams, R-Seminole, managed to get language barring all state and local governments from providing mandatory "gender and sexual diversity training" inserted into Senate Bill 627, by Rep. David Bullard, R-Durant, which came from the Senate as a measure reconstituting the Red River Boundary Commission. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma Legislature sees an increase in anti-transgender bills targeting schools and youth: Several anti-transgender bills have been filed this legislative session, and while most have failed to clear initial deadlines, advocates say the damage has already been done in the message it sends to Oklahoma’s LGBTQ youth. At least 10 bills were filed this year to limit everything from participation in school sports to health care access for transgender or LGBTQ youth, according to an analysis by The Frontier. [The Frontier] Oklahoma health officials can’t account for more than $20 million in protective equipment spending: In its rush to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, the Oklahoma State Department of Health paid out more than $20.4 million for protective equipment that it has no record of receiving, a report from the state auditor has found. The purchases were part of 62 wire payments the health department made last year for protective equipment that totaled almost $37 million, according to a routine statewide audit. [The Frontier] The audit also found several payments from the Health Department that weren't entered into the state accounting system during the 2020 fiscal year: 18 wire transfers totaling over $18 million. [The Oklahoman] Legislative leaders lift Oklahoma House, Senate mask requirements: Legislative leaders have relaxed COVID-19 protocols at the Oklahoma state Capitol in light of a decrease in new infections and widespread vaccine offerings. House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, and Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, lifted Monday a requirement that Capitol visitors and state employees wear masks in legislative areas of the building when social distancing was not possible. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Lawmakers Move Forward On Redistricting, Despite Delays In Census Data: Oklahoma lawmakers have a state constitutionally-required deadline on May 28th, the end of their current session, to pass new legislative district maps. But this isn’t just the case in Oklahoma. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, there are 12 other states with constitutions calling for redistricting in the year after the census. [KOSU] Oklahoma asks court to rethink overturning murder conviction: Oklahoma’s attorney general on Wednesday asked the state’s highest criminal court to reconsider its ruling overturning a man’s murder convictions and death sentence because of jurisdictional issues stemming from the U.S. Supreme Court’s determination that much of eastern Oklahoma remains an American Indian reservation. [AP News] The Chickasaw Nation on Wednesday asked the Court of Criminal Appeals for leave to file a brief in the Bosse case responding to Hunter's request for a rehearing. The tribe also proposed a 60-day extension of the stay in the case, hoping to give all the parties a timetable. [The Oklahoman] 'Fracture' in criminal system created by Supreme Court decision, Tulsa County DA says [Tulsa World] Court vacates decision involving ODOT, old hotel: The highway widening project is long since finished. The hotel that had some of its property condemned to make way for the road project – and even more of the property flood-damaged during construction – closed a decade ago. But the court case involving the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Trade Winds Motor Hotel East is ongoing. [The Journal Record] Federal Government News Looking at what CDC extending nation’s eviction moratorium means for Oklahomans: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended the nation’s eviction moratorium, saying more than 10 million families are behind on rent. But there are ways for those families to get help paying rent now. [KOCO] Sen. Lankford calls treatment of children at border 'human tragedy': U.S. Sen. James Lankford briefed the press Wednesday on his recent trips to the southern U.S. border, detailing the large numbers of illegal crossings and describing the treatment afforded asylum seekers, many of them children, as a “human tragedy.” [Tulsa World] Expanded unemployment benefits harm children, Hern says: Republican Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma's first congressional district says that generous, pandemic-inspired unemployment benefits are harming American children. [Public Radio Tulsa] Criminal Justice News Video has become the strongest witness for the prosecution in police shootings: Prior to the introduction of body-worn cameras, prosecutors and the public had to largely rely on police accounts of fatal shootings. Early information the Oklahoma City and The Village police departments released to the public about three police shootings in the past year where officers were later charged differed in key details from what body camera footage showed when it was later released, according to video, press releases and other public records reviewed by The Frontier. [The Frontier] City of Oklahoma City sued for gunshot injury to protester by OKC police: A protester who participated in a May 31, 2020 protest in Oklahoma City filed a lawsuit against the City of Oklahoma City Wednesday. She is claiming injuries from a projectile fired by Oklahoma City Police (OKCPD) Officers that night permanently injuring her right arm. [Free Press OKC] Economy & Business News Study: Oklahoma is great for retirement: When it comes to living happily ever after, Oklahoma is a good choice for a comfortable retirement. The cost of living in Oklahoma City is 15% lower than the national average, according to PayScale. And the state overall has the second-lowest cost of living in the country on some rankings. [The Journal Record] Report suggests seaweed as sensible supplement to cattle feed: Thoughts of gassy cows don’t exactly keep David Lalman up at night. However, the professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Oklahoma State University said he has been intrigued by a new study that suggests feeding seaweed to cattle could help reduce their gassy emissions and, thus, help to curb global warming. [The Journal Record] General News Tulsa Race Massacre topic of new ABC Audio podcast: The first episode of a new ABC Audio podcast — “Soul of a Nation: Tulsa’s Buried Truth” — will debut Tuesday, April 6. The podcast, written and hosted by ABC News senior national correspondent Steve Osunsami, is timed to premiere in advance of the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. [Tulsa World] (Video) First Greenwood Art Project works go on display [Tulsa World] Oklahoma Local News Infrastructure a common thread in OKC Ward 1 race [NonDoc] OKC Ward 3 candidates a contrast in vision [NonDoc] OKC school board candidates focused on COVID recovery, diverse views [The Oklahoman] Quote of the Day “Children in rural Oklahoma deserve to have a high quality education, and HB 2078 potentially jeopardizes that. This bill removes financial safeguards meant to protect all students from the impact of abrupt changes in the local economy." -State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, speaking about a new law that changes Oklahoma's school funding formula [NonDoc]  Number of the Day 91% Percentage of small business-owners in California who reported paid family and medical leave having a positive or neutral effect on profitability [Source: American Progress Institute] Policy Note Key Takeaways from BPC’s Survey of Small Business Views on Paid Family Leave: Studies on paid family leave in the US and other developed countries indicate short- and long-term health benefits of leave taking for children and mothers, such as a decreased incidence of low birthweight and preterm births, increased breast-feeding, reduced rates of hospitalizations among infants, and improved maternal health. [Health Affairs] 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