[In The Know] Health officials: Hospitalizations near capacity | Local schools say hands tied by SB 658 | More

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. Oklahoma News Concerns grow over bed capacity, rising COVID hospitalizations among young Oklahomans: The latest COVID-19 surge is affecting a younger population than previous waves did, and hospitals are having to contend with an influx of COVID-19 patients on top of an already busy summer, health leaders said Tuesday. On Tuesday, the three-day average for COVID-19 hospitalizations in Oklahoma was 841, including 246 in intensive-care units. Those levels now mirror what they looked like in February, when the state was still in the throes of a winter surge. [The Oklahoman] Cherokee Nation suspends elective surgeries as health system sees surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations [Tulsa World] Cherokee Nation experiencing COVID-19 hospitalization surge, new cases predominately unvaccinated patients [KFOR] As COVID patients get younger and sicker, vaccine-hesitant Oklahomans need to re-evaluate, health care pros say [Tulsa World] Are hospitals reaching max capacity? [The Lawton Constitution] Oklahoma is reporting an average of 1,657 infections per day in the past week. [KOSU] Under federal emergency, hospitals can reorder to cope with COVID surges [Public Radio Tulsa] Poll: Oklahomans don't want state involved in businesses' vaccination decisions: About two-thirds of Oklahomans believe COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, but a majority think state government should stay out of businesses’ decisions about requiring vaccinations of employees, according to a recent poll. Some 65% of respondents agreed with the statement that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, while 27% disagreed. [Tulsa World] Only 47% of those questioned in the new poll said it was appropriate for government agencies serving the public to require workers to be vaccinated; 49% disagreed and 4% were undecided. [The Oklahoman]  Local officials say hands tied by Senate bill restricting COVID response: With school about to begin and COVID cases rising to dangerous levels once again, Norman leaders and health experts are saying that their hands are tied when it comes to protecting students and Norman residents. Democrats in the state Legislature are urging Gov. Kevin Stitt to call a special session to repeal SB 658, a bill that prevents schools from implementing mask mandates and also prevents public schools and colleges from requiring students to get the COVID-19 vaccination. [The Norman Transcript] Masks to be optional for Sand Springs Public Schools as start of classes looms amid surging COVID-19 pandemic [Sand Springs Leader] Arkansas parents sue state over ban on school mask mandates — could other states be next? [Forbes] Oklahoma State Supt. Joy Hofmeister about back to school, COVID-19 Delta Variant [News 9] Oklahoma doctor does not expect session on virus masking [AP News] | [Public Radio Tulsa] House Democrats call for special session to address COVID-19 crisis [The Journal Record] COVID-19 information Oklahomans need to know [Tulsa World] State party chair pushes baseless COVID theories [Tahlequah Daily Press] Grading Oklahoma: Our state is 45th in education: Grading Oklahoma is a weekly look at how we stack up on a national scale. Each week, The Oklahoman features a different subject area to illustrate and examine on a closer level. This week's ranking focuses on education. The ranking combines several educational indicators analyzed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, including children not in school, children not proficient in reading or math, and high school students not graduating on time. [The Oklahoman] Visit OKPolicy.org/KIDSCOUNT to see more links and resources about child well-being in Oklahoma.   COVID-19 spike prompts Biden to launch new eviction ban: The Biden administration has created a new eviction ban that will run through October 3 for renters in communities with surging COVID-19 rates, which is more than 80% of counties across the U.S. States with the highest rates of Covid-19 cases are mostly concentrated in the South and include Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma. [Forbes] Landlords, tenants fill courts as eviction moratorium ends [AP News / Muskogee Phoenix] Social Services Hub for Tulsa County residents facing eviction opens for 90-day run [Public Radio Tulsa] | [Tulsa World] Great Plains Improvement Foundation assists Comanche County residents who face eviction [KSWO] State Government News Lawsuit alleges Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority violated public meeting laws: A new lawsuit alleges an Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority board did not follow public meeting laws when it adopted emergency agency rules in June. The lawsuit filed Friday in Oklahoma County District Court alleges the Food Safety Standards Board did not follow the state's Open Meeting Act when notifying the public of a special meeting. [The Oklahoman] State agency Twitter accounts: The good, the surprising, the inactive: Did you know that Oklahoma has a Peanut Commission? I was sorely unaware. Sadly, it appears the commission doesn’t have a Twitter account, but luckily the Sorghum Commission does! [NonDoc] Federal Government News Fledgling prairie chicken review needs more time, Oklahoma lawmakers say: U.S. Sens. James Lankford and Jim Inhofe don't want the lesser prairie chicken to be added to a list of protected species in Oklahoma, claiming that placing the bird on the list would hurt business in the state. [The Oklahoman] Tribal Nations News In Okmulgee, Muscogee Nation Council House highlights history: Anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of how Muscogee Nation citizens and Native Americans at large feel about their reservation sovereignty should take a trip to Okmulgee and tour the historic Muscogee Nation Tribal Council House in the center of town. [Joe Tomlinson / NonDoc] Economic Opportunity OKC Council delays vote on manufactured home community amid property value, crime concerns: A re-zoning request made in the hopes of building a manufactured home community has become controversial among constituents and city council members, leading to a deferred vote at Tuesday's council meeting. [The Oklahoman]  COVID, housing equity, fears of neighbors highlight City Council meeting [OKC Free Press] Black Women’s Equal Pay Day addresses inequities for Black women: Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, in recognition of the fact that Black women make 63 cents for every dollar earned by a White man, took place on Tuesday, August 3. [The Black Wall Street Times]  Economy & Business News ‘Craft Beer Trail’ could drink in profits: In the past decade, craft breweries have brewed up popularity in Oklahoma, going from just three independent breweries in 2008 to more than 60 today. In addition, the craft beer industry now has an economic impact of more than $700 million in Oklahoma alone, and the Craft Brewers Association of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Agritourism say tourism could drive that number even higher. [The Journal Record] Education News TCC using COVID relief funding to pay off student debts, offer 'clean slate': Hoping to help students who’ve been adversely affected by the pandemic stay in school, Tulsa Community College is dedicating a portion of its federal COVID aid to forgiving their debts. [Tulsa World] High school administrators, OSSAA hoping for 'normal' fall but prepared to adjust due to COVID-19: Athletes, coaches and administrators at high schools across the state are preparing for the start of the 2021-22 athletic season. Cross country, fall baseball, fast-pitch softball and volleyball begin contests next week while football games start at the end of the month. [The Oklahoman] General News Editorial: Oklahoma GOP leader embarrasses state, his party by comparing Holocaust to vaccination push: Oklahoma Republican Chairman John Bennett recently compared efforts to urge COVID-19 vaccinations to Nazi persecution of Jews during the Holocaust. The comparison is wrong and offensive. [Tulsa World Editorial] Oklahoma Local News 'A badge of courage': How "Okie" went from slur to a source of pride in Oklahoma [The Oklahoman] City of Tulsa unveils new electric bus, one of four to be added to fleet [Tulsa World] | [Public Radio Tulsa] Quote of the Day “I’m not ready for it to give me the fight of my life... It’s time to be vaccinated.””  -Grace Zieba, an emergency room nurse with Integris Grove Hospital, said she was among those who resisted getting vaccinated for scientific reasons. She said she felt young and healthy, but treating gravely ill patients younger and healthier than she is finally persuaded her to get the shot. [Tulsa World] Number of the Day 65% Percentage of Oklahomans polled who agreed with the statement that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, while 27% disagreed. [Sooner Survey via Tulsa World] Policy Note Risk, Trust, and Flawed Assumptions: Vaccine Hesitancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The pace at which the present pandemic and future public health crises involving viral infections are eradicated heavily depends on the availability and routine implementation of vaccines. This process is further affected by a willingness to vaccinate, embedded in the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy. The World Health Organization has listed vaccine hesitancy among the greatest threats to global health, calling for research to identify the factors associated with this phenomenon. [Frontiers in Public Health] 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] Officials wrestle with protecting children as school starts | Pediatricians encouraging masks, vaccinations | More

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 The winding path of SB 658 (Capitol Update): It appears from a brief search of various public school websites that classes will begin anywhere from one to three weeks from now. With the spiking COVID cases and hospitalizations, I can only imagine the anxiety of school board members and school administrators about how to make school safe. We are better off in many ways than August 2020. A lot of people, not including children under 12, are protected by vaccination. Doctors know better how to treat the seriously ill, and treatment drugs are more widely available. But some things are worse. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Oklahoma News Tulsa Public Schools COVID safety plan includes mask expectation: With the first day of school less than three weeks away, Tulsa Public Schools is asking staff and students not to ditch their masks quite yet. Presented as part of a staff report at Monday night’s school board meeting, the district’s COVID-19 safety plan for the 2021-22 school year includes “expecting” students and staff to wear masks while on campus. TPS’ first day is Aug. 19. [Tulsa World] Number of Oklahomans hospitalized with coronavirus at highest levels since February [The Frontier] Lawmakers, health experts, educators wrestle with protecting children when school starts [CNHI via McAlester News-Capital] OU pediatricians encourage masks, vaccinations ahead of back-to-school [Public Radio Tulsa] Oklahoma running out of pediatric hospital beds as delta cases rise [HuffPost] Oklahoma House Democrats call for special session to undo ban on school mask mandates [The Oklahoman] | [Tulsa World] | [Public Radio Tulsa] | [OKC Free Press] Keeping kids healthy in another Oklahoma COVID-19 surge: what parents and schools can do [The Oklahoman] More than 150,000 Oklahomans now receiving SoonerCare through expansion: More than 150,000 Oklahomans (breakdown attached) are now receiving SoonerCare health benefits due to Medicaid expansion. This amount adds to the already one million plus Oklahomans receiving SoonerCare benefits. Some of the new benefits for qualifying adults include behavioral health coverage, tobacco cessation, prescriptions and much more. [Tulsa World] Health News OU Health trying to strengthen nursing workforce amid shortage 'crisis': OU Health announced several new initiatives Monday aimed at strengthening the state's nursing workforce amid a shortage of nurses in Oklahoma and nationwide. [The Oklahoman] State Government News 'We don't know their trauma': Lawmaker wants to address law enforcement pursuit dangers, highlight harm experienced by innocent victims: State Rep. Ajay Pittman wants to identify ways to address the dangers of law enforcement pursuits for all Oklahomans and give voices to innocent people harmed by vehicular chases. [Tulsa World] Commission approves new county roads and bridges work plan: The Oklahoma Transportation Commission signed off Monday on an updated five-year work plan for county roads and bridges. State lawmakers created the County Improvements for Roads and Bridges program in 2006 in order to help local governments pay for projects they couldn’t afford on their own. The updated plan covers work through fiscal year 2026. [Public Radio Tulsa] Federal Government News 19 HBCUs are getting a boost in research funding from the USDA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is helping beef up research at 19 historically Black colleges and universities, and the money could have a broader impact for minority communities. The USDA and Black farmers have had a rocky relationship over the years, but the Biden administration says it's working on that. It's investing nearly $22 million in historically Black land grant institutions to support research. Langston University in north-central Oklahoma got funding for four projects. [KOSU] Economic Opportunity As federal eviction moratorium ends, Tulsa asks, 'What's going to happen now?': With an eviction pending and the federal moratorium lifted, Lisa Hughes went to a Tulsa County courthouse on Monday morning to ask a seemingly simple question. “What’s going to happen now?” [Tulsa World] Social services hub to prevent evictions will be onsite at court [Public Radio Tulsa] Rental assistance available despite eviction moratorium ending [News On 6] Economy & Business News Would you pay more for 'responsibly sourced natural gas'? Producers think many consumers will: Many consumers will pay a premium for products they believe could help others, lead to more ethical treatment of animals or save the environment. These sorts of behaviors are leading some energy and utility companies to ask, is there a market for responsibly sourced natural gas that isn't harmful to people or the planet? [The Oklahoman] Long-stalled Deep Deuce development reimagined as 'zero energy' neighborhood: A new proposal to complete a long-stalled housing development in Deep Deuce calls for the region's first "zero energy" neighborhood that would also honor the area’s African American heritage and change the orientation of remaining homes so that they face interior courtyards. [The Oklahoman] Education News Judge gives Western Heights 8 days to respond to OSDE: Oklahoma County District Court Judge Aletia Timmons is giving Western Heights Public Schools eight days to file a response to a State Board of Education emergency petition that asks her to order Western Heights’ board to acknowledge the state’s authority over the troubled district’s day-to-day operations. [NonDoc] Multiple school buses fail inspection as Western Heights troubles deepen [The Oklahoman] In Moore, a way forward from devastation: Moore Public Schools has come a long way in ensuring the safety of its students since an EF5 tornado tragically ended a May school day in 2013, Superintendent Robert Romines said during Friday’s JR/Now webinar. [The Journal Record] Oklahoma Local News Smoke from wildfires trips 'unhealthy' air quality warnings in Tulsa, Washington counties [Tulsa World] Greenwood Rising history center grand opening set for Wednesday [Tulsa World] Oklahoma County Commissioners award CARES money to Sheriff’s Office [OKC Free Press] Cleghorn said unsuccessful recruitment efforts are causing issues for city departments [The Lawton Constitution] Quote of the Day “When it comes down to it, our students’ health should not be a political issue.” -Katherine Bishop, president of the Oklahoma Education Association [CNHI via McAlester News-Capital] Number of the Day 50.5% Percentage of Oklahoma adults (18 and older) who are fully vaccinated. (As of July 23, 2021) [CDC]  Policy Note What doctors wish patients knew about the dangerous Delta variant: For the first time in over a year, people have been feeling a sense of hope that the pandemic might be dispersing to the background, allowing a return to some sort of normalcy. But experts warn not to let your guard down just yet because of the quick spreading and contagious COVID-19 Delta variant. [American Medical Association] 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] Surge of COVID patients, young and unvaccinated | Increased call for vaccinations as hospitalizations rise

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. Oklahoma News 'It's a crisis': COVID-19 hospitalizations soaring at record pace as virus spreads faster than ever in Oklahoma: COVID-19 hospitalizations have skyrocketed at record rates to reach levels now that Oklahoma endured in fall 2020 as the virus spreads more efficiently than ever in the state. In only a month, COVID hospitalizations have gone from lows similar to June 2020 after quarantine to then what took four months to hit October 2020 levels — when then-president Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force advised Gov. Kevin Stitt that “many preventable deaths” were happening in Oklahoma. [Tulsa World] As other governors pull out vaccine media blitz, Oklahoma’s Stitt largely silent [Oklahoma Watch] Editorial: Gov. Kevin Stitt should be more aggressive in vaccination advocacy [Editorial / Tulsa World] Oklahoma City ICUs near capacity as COVID-19 cases surge [FOX 25] Oklahoma virus hospitalizations top 700, 225 in ICU [AP News] On Friday, the Health Department reported 1,777 new COVID-19 cases [The Oklahoman] Amid surge in COVID-19 cases, Bartlesville doctors urge Oklahomans to get vaccinated [Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise] [Doctors' letter to the community: Believe science. Get the vaccine.] New surge of COVID patients, young and unvaccinated, 'very scary' for Saint Francis physicians: Apathy and complacency — not anti-vaccine sentiment or denial of the existence of the pandemic — drove the vast majority of new COVID-19 patients filling up hospital beds in Tulsa to choose not to be vaccinated. And physicians on the front lines of the latest surge in cases say the consequences have been both stunning and devastating. [Tulsa World] 'I feel like I’m sending my kids into the lion's den.' Back-to-school worries grow amid COVID surge [The Oklahoman] 'Mask bullies' concern state parents as fall semester looms [The Oklahoman] These 4 maps show how COVID is affecting Oklahoma today [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma GOP likens vaccine mandates to persecution of Jews: The Oklahoma Republican Party faced fierce criticism Friday for a Facebook post likening COVID-19 vaccine mandates to the persecution of Jewish people in Nazi Germany. [AP News] Oklahoma GOP leader defends comments comparing vaccine mandates to Jewish persecution [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma GOP chairman doubles down on comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust [KOSU] Top Republicans denounce Oklahoma GOP for comparing vaccine mandates to Jewish persecution [The Oklahoman] Jewish Federation of Tulsa calls out state GOP for using Star of David in vaccine dispute [Tulsa World] Oklahoma GOP leader compares vaccine mandates to the Holocaust: ‘Take away the star and add a vaccine passport’ [Washington Post]  State Government News Legislative action to block COVID-19 vaccine mandates appears unlikely: Despite mounting political pressure, it appears unlikely state lawmakers will be called into a special legislative session to address COVID-19 vaccine mandates. A vocal contingent of roughly two dozen Republican legislators is pressuring the state's top elected officials to take action to prohibit local hospitals from implementing COVID-19 vaccine requirements for their employees. [The Oklahoman] Lawmakers seek studies on prison staffing, other criminal justice issues: State Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, has spent much of the summer sounding the alarm over Oklahoma’s prison understaffing problem. On June 18 he asked Gov. Kevin Stitt to declare a state of emergency, arguing that low staffing numbers have elevated the risk of riots and violence in state prisons. He’s appeared on weekly Facebook Live broadcasts with Bobby Cleveland, director of the Oklahoma Corrections Professionals group, to provide updates on what he’s hearing from prison workers. [Oklahoma Watch] State unravels massive fraud in Oklahoma unemployment claims: Throughout the pandemic, fraudsters, hackers and thieves have stolen what could easily exceed a half-a-billion state and federal dollars meant to be used as unemployment assistance for Oklahomans. It is believed to be the largest theft of public money in Oklahoma state history. [The Oklahoman] 'Ridiculous': Oklahoma cannabis patients, workers rally at state Capitol: Medical marijuana patients and people who work in the fledgling industry rallied at the Oklahoma state Capitol on Friday to show support for the state's marijuana laws and to call for increased transparency from the state entity that regulates cannabis. [The Oklahoman] At least 100 medical cannabis patients and business owners went to the Oklahoma Capitol and the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority’s new office on Friday with a message for the agency’s leadership: improve transparency or resign. [Tulsa World] Sources: Talks underway to potentially remove Bennett as chair: Following a Facebook video in which Oklahoma GOP Chairman John Bennett continued to equate the treatment of unvaccinated Americans to that of Jews during the Holocaust, a source with direct knowledge said conversations about possibly removing Bennett from office are in progress. [The Norman Transcript] AG candidate Gentner Drummond has already raised more than half a million: Tulsa attorney and Osage County rancher Gentner Drummond raised $546,763 in the first month of his second bid to become attorney general. The election is next year. [The Oklahoman] Federal Government News Stitt, other Oklahoma officials urge Supreme Court to overturn Roe v Wade: Gov. Kevin Stitt and several other Oklahoma elected officials urged the U.S. Supreme Court last week to overturn its longstanding protections for abortion, as a recent poll showed a narrow majority of Oklahomans favor state restrictions. [The Oklahoman] Appropriations package moves without Oklahoma delegation’s amendments: The U.S. House passed a major appropriations bill along party lines Thursday, without amendments proposed by members of the Oklahoma delegation. The bill passed by a vote of 219-208, with only Democrats voting for the bill and only Republicans voting against. The bill includes funds for several government departments and agencies for fiscal year 2022. [Gaylord News / NonDoc] Newspapers face challenge with postal rate increase: A planned postal rate increase by the United States Postal Service to offset projected losses has stoked opposition from publishers and mailers, as well as members of Congress. “We believe that the PRC, Postal Regulatory Commission, did not have the authority to approve a rate increase above the rate of inflation, which is what they did,” said Brett Wesner, National Newspaper Association chairman and owner of 10 newspapers in western Oklahoma, including the Cordell Beacon. [Gaylord News / NonDoc] Tribal Nations News Promised Land recap: Osage Nation seeks reservation reaffirmation: As with most complex civil issues, many people will readily admit that they have not been keeping up with the cascade of news about the affirmed Indian Country reservations in eastern Oklahoma. To be sure, many tribal citizens, state leaders, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, other lawyers and victim advocacy groups are particularly focused on the topic. [NonDoc] Criminal Justice News 'This evening is about hope': Prison nonprofit, Oklahoma partners push for justice reform: While Oklahoma no longer ranks No. 1 overall for incarceration rates, the state is still high on the list, and community leaders and nonprofits like Prison Fellowship say further work is necessary. [The Oklahoman] Economic Opportunity 'A sandbag operation': With moratorium ending, Tulsa braces for a potential flood of evictions: As Tulsa went into lockdown, most parents stopped bringing their children to the day care center where she worked. And Brooke, like an estimated 20.6 million other Americans in the spring of 2020, lost her job during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Tulsa World] Federal eviction moratorium expired July 31 [KFOR] How Oklahoma evictions might spike after July [AP News / Tulsa World] How Oklahomans can get help as the eviction moratorium ends [News On 6] 'A time bomb ticking': See rental arrears in Oklahoma County [Patch] Economy & Business News Energy professionals in limbo amid industry transition: While most industries across the country are struggling to find people they need to produce the goods and provide the services now in high demand in a post-COVID economy, there is at least one industry awash in talent just itching to find a job. [The Journal Record] Education News All aboard: Regents vote for OU to join the SEC in 2025: Hitch up the wagon and get some apples for the ponies — the University of Oklahoma’s athletic programs are headed to the SEC in 2025, if not earlier. The OU Board of Regents voted unanimously today to join the University of Texas in leaving the Big 12 Conference for the powerful Southeastern Conference, which accepted the two schools’ request for membership Thursday. [NonDoc] SEC welcomes Texas, Oklahoma after boards accept invitations [AP News] The Source podcast: What an SEC move will mean for OU, Texas and the Big 12 [The Oklahoman] General News Exhumed remains reburied at Oaklawn amid protests from Greenwood descendants: The remains of 19 people exhumed from Oaklawn Cemetery earlier this summer were reinterred Friday over the loud objections of 25 to 30 possible descendants of those individuals. [Tulsa World] Kristi Williams is a member of the Graves Investigation Public Oversight Committee. She protested the reinterment, and said the remains shouldn’t be buried yet because they haven’t been identified. [Public Radio Tulsa] Kristi Williams is a descendant of Massacre survivors. Her great aunt escaped Greenwood’s famous Dreamland Theatre during the racist, city-sanctioned attack on the community in 1921. [Black Wall Street Times] Faith coalition to give survivors funds as Tulsa Race Massacre 'atonement': The leader of a Tulsa faith coalition said the organization plans to deliver donations to 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre survivors within the week. Aliya Shimi, executive director of Tulsa Metropolitan Ministries, said the organization has raised money for the last three known race massacre survivors as part of its Greenwood Restoration and Reparation Fund. [The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Local News Closed school set to become community resource center for eastside OKC [The Oklahoman] Big economic development projects on OKC Council agenda [The Journal Record] OKC Mayor David Holt re-election campaign funds top $500,000 [The Oklahoman] OKC Pride Alliance Parade small but enthusiastic in spite of heat, COVID [OKC Free Press] Quote of the Day "(W)e are now currently suffering from massive disinformation. It is heartbreaking to see lies and deception from all sides of the political spectrum costing people their lives, purely to gain more attention for themselves." -Bartlesville physicians' letter to the community entitled, "Believe science. Get the vaccine." [Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise] Number of the Day 17.5%  Percentage of Oklahoma children aged 12-17 who are fully vaccinated, which is a little more than 1 in 6. (As of July 23, 2021) [CDC]  Policy Note State Juvenile Justice Reforms Can Boost Opportunity, Particularly for Communities of Color: States can expand opportunity and build stronger, more prosperous, and inclusive communities by reducing the incarceration of children and young adults and increasing the use of sensible alternatives that advance equitable outcomes. The number of youth being arrested and incarcerated has fallen dramatically over the past two decades, giving states an opportunity to close youth prisons and invest the savings into community-based approaches that nurture children and young adults while building stronger communities. These policy improvements would particularly benefit communities of color since young people of color are still much more likely to be incarcerated than their white peers. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] 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

 

 

 

[Weekly Wonk] Declaring a public health emergency | Medicaid anniversary | Equity as a policy goal

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 An open letter to Gov. Stitt: This is a public health emergency: Health officials statewide have been urgently raising the alarm that our communities need to take action to help protect Oklahomans’ health and safety from COVID-19, especially for our youngest children who are unable to be vaccinated. As the result of legislative action this spring, local leaders are able to exert local control and take certain proactive virus-fighting steps if — and only if — the governor declares a state of emergency. That time is now. [OK Policy] Fifty-six years of Medicaid: Fiscally responsible and morally mandated: The Medicaid program, since it was signed into law in 1965, has provided access to affordable health care for millions, strengthened private insurance and Medicare, and positively impacted state budgets. Medicaid has been particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, as more people have relied on this coverage to get vital care. [Emma Morris / OK Policy] Joint committee to evaluate uses for federal relief dollars (Capitol Update): Last Wednesday the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding — co-chaired by Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, and Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston — outlined the process it will use to distribute the $1.87 billion that will be coming to Oklahoma through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Policy Matters: Running a fair race: While the words are very similar, there is a significant distinction between equality and equity. As I was thinking about the difference between them, I was reminded that the current Olympic games provide an excellent opportunity to showcase why equity should be our preferred goal. [Ahniwake Rose / Journal Record]