[In The Know] COVID and back to school planning | Rep. Lucas calls on Oklahomans to vaccinate | 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 Back to school amid a COVID surge: Schools, universities contending with new limits on mask mandates: The Oklahoma State Department of Education and Oklahoma State Department of Health on July 19 jointly issued new guidance for “Preventing COVID-19 in Schools and Higher Education” that encourages the “universal and correct use of masks,” physical distancing and/or cohort grouping of students and staff, contact tracing and recommending vaccination for all eligible staff and students. But Oklahoma is among a growing number of states with new legal constraints on school leaders’ ability to require vaccination or to impose mask mandates. [Tulsa World] Delta variant surging in Oklahoma; new cases top 1,000 [The Journal Record] Delta variant is definitely in Southwest Oklahoma [The Lawton Constitution] Health News U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas: I'm vaccinated against COIVD-19, and you should be, too ... as soon as possible: We’ve all been busy this summer, and we’re all enjoying the freedom from COVID but there’s one thing Oklahoma needs you to not forget: Get your COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. COVID-19 vaccines — whether it’s Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson — are safe, effective and free. America’s three COVID vaccines were bolstered by American innovation, developed with the help of America’s brightest scientists and distributed with the help and strength of America’s workforce. [U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas / Tulsa World] Republican congressman urges Oklahomans to vaccinate [The Journal Record] In op-ed, Lucas calls for 'war-like effort' to increase Okla. COVID vaccination rate [Public Radio Tulsa] COVID-19 outbreaks hit some church camps, but total shut-downs were largely avoided [The Oklahoman] Red state Medicaid expansion momentum continues to grow: In just the past week, two dark red states — Oklahoma and Missouri — received new attention for making expansion a reality. [NC Policy Watch] Saint Francis, Blue Cross Blue Shield reach three-year agreement: Saint Francis Health System and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma announced Monday that they have reached a new agreement, heading off a possible split that would have affected thousands of the health insurer’s members. [Tulsa World] State Government News Stitt appointments rundown: Dana Kuehn named to Oklahoma Supreme Court: Gov. Kevin Stitt today appointed Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Dana Kuehn to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, an announcement that punctuates a slate of recent comings and goings in state government. [NonDoc] In a statement, Stitt said Judge Dana Kuehn of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals would fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by retiring Justice Tom Colbert. [AP News] The appointment marks the first time the high court will have a majority of justices appointed by Republican governors. [The Oklahoman] Kuehn is the first woman to serve on both of the state’s high courts, previously serving on the Court of Criminal Appeals. [Tulsa World] Stitt makes surprise trip to Azerbaijan to discuss 'strategic partnerships': Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-Okla.) is a long way from home this week, as his office announced Monday morning he had landed in Baku, Azerbaijan, for a week-long trip to "promote and expand Oklahoma’s strategic partnerships with Azerbaijan." The Southern Caucuses nation on the Caspian Sea has an oil-and-gas economy bolstered by tourism and agribusiness, all sectors Oklahoma is long-established in or aiming to grow. [Public Radio Tulsa] The state's first driver's license 'megacenter' open in Oklahoma City: Long lines and an hours-long wait couldn't deter those on Monday who were seeking renewed driver's licenses or REAL IDs at one of two new “megacenters” created to help alleviate the state’s backlog of driver’s license requests. [The Oklahoman] ‘Discussions with people’: NonDoc staff visits Duncan: The small staff at NonDoc is based in the Oklahoma City metro, but they try to keep tabs on events, issues and stories in other parts of the state. Last week, they kicked off a Rural Listening Tour in an effort to strengthen existing connections and make some new ones. [NonDoc] Federal Government News Lankford: Earmarks 'not appropriate,' used as enticements for votes: Sen. Jim Inhofe has made several funding requests, including $866,000 for Tulsa Community College’s nursing program, $20 million for a new Tulsa International Airport tower and $43 million for repairs along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. Lankford said addressing those kinds of needs should be hashed out by Congress during the budgeting process rather than through direct requests. [Public Radio Tulsa] Tribal Nations News Victim in McGirt case 'plunged back into a black hole,' federal prosecutors say: In the past year, the name McGirt has become widely used shorthand for the U.S. Supreme Court decision on criminal jurisdiction in Indian country in Oklahoma. The name evokes varying responses depending on a person’s view of the decision, which has led to most of eastern Oklahoma being affirmed as Indian reservations. [The Oklahoman] Criminal Justice News Oklahoma’s rape kit backlog is forcing police departments to prioritize testing: A recent rise in sexual assault cases is adding to a staggering backlog of rape kit testing that a 2019 law was supposed to help combat. Passage of Senate Bill 975 in May 2019 forced all law enforcement to send rape kits for testing within 20 days of collecting physical evidence, but the law meant to ensure the testing of every kit has created a new logjam. And some police departments have responded by prioritizing testing based on the violence of the alleged rape. [Oklahoma Watch] Attention on 'ghost owner' investigations as criminal cannabis case has tie to Tulsa law firm: he criminal case against an employee of a Tulsa law firm with hundreds of cannabis-related clients has drawn attention to investigations of “ghost owners,” with an attorney encouraging medical marijuana businesses to look into whether they’re actually operating legally. [Tulsa World] Economic Opportunity Homelessness in Tulsa caused by high eviction rate, lack of affordable housing: As COVID-19 spread across the country, the number of homeless exploded, especially families, and especially in the Tulsa area. But even before the pandemic, homelessness was grabbing a hold of more people. The reason? The Executive Director of Housing Solutions, Becky Gligo, points to the Tulsa area's high eviction rate and alarming lack of affordable housing. She said Tulsa has the 11th highest eviction rate in the country. [KJRH] OK Policy: Turning the tide on evictions: Using federal aid, support to reduce Oklahoma’s eviction crisis  Plan to tackle homelessness making progress [KFOR] Opinion: Dreamers are caring for COVID-19 patients. They deserve legal status: As Oklahomans face a troubling new wave of COVID-19 infections, they depend on our state’s resilient health care workers to care for them. But patients don’t always realize that many of the employees monitoring their respirators, administering their medications and nursing them to health face a momentous struggle of their own. When they clock out at the end of the day, they confront a terrible reality: As undocumented immigrants who came to Oklahoma as children — age 7 on average —they lack the basic security to call this state home. [Opinion / Tulsa World] Economy & Business News Manufacturing expanding; wages increasing: Manufacturers in the region that includes Oklahoma had to raise wages more than ever before to attract and retain enough workers to keep up with demand, shows the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s July Manufacturing Survey, released this week. [The Journal Record] General News Oaklawn remains exhumed in search of Race Massacre burials to be reburied: The remains of 19 bodies that were exhumed from Oaklawn Cemetery in June will be reinterred during a private ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday. City officials said Oaklawn will be closed Wednesday through Friday because of the activity. [Tulsa World] With eye on SEC, Oklahoma, Texas move toward leaving Big 12: Oklahoma and Texas took the first formal step Monday toward moving to the Southeastern Conference and leaving the Big 12 behind. The only schools to win college football national championships during the Big 12′s 27-year history notified the conference they would not be renewing an agreement that binds its members through 2025. [AP News] The repercussions would be felt across college sports. [New York Times] Young Perspective: What are you doing today to help prevent world from repeating wrongs?: In the state of Oklahoma, there are over 26,000 homeless children. Unaccompanied youths make up 6% of the homeless population in Oklahoma City and are more likely to be experience violence, sexual assault, crime, physical illness, severe anxiety, depressing and early pregnancy. How can we expect to challenge our youths to change the world if we have neglected them ourselves? The hard truth is youths who are homeless or experience any type of abuse, in the long run, have low intellectual functioning, which impacts life achievement. [Baruc Lara Op-Ed / The Oklahoman] Oklahoma Local News Tulsa County Commissioners Approve $75,000 In American Rescue Plan Money For Tourism Media Buy [Public Radio Tulsa] EMSA Medical Director Tells City Councilors Recruiting Paramedics Is Harder Than Ever [Public Radio Tulsa] Survey: Nonriders believe in public transit [The Journal Record] Quote of the Day "We have a vaccine that can defeat this virus, and I appeal to every Oklahoman and American to join in our war-like effort to bring an end to this pandemic once and for all." -U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas [Tulsa World Op-Ed] Number of the Day 983,728 Number of Oklahomans who are insured by Medicaid, as of June 2021. (Note: This does not include the new enrollees from Medicaid expansion.) [Source: OHCA] Policy Note New Data: Medicaid Adult Dental Coverage is Wise Investment for Economic Recovery, Health: It’s long been clear that expanding oral health care access is vital to advancing racial justice, improving health equity, and reducing economic inequality. New analysis also shows it’s cost-effective, and would only cost about $4.64 per person each month, the majority of which would be covered by the federal government. [Community Catalyst] 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. rules out school mask mandates | Virus rates increasing in Indian Country | Racial health disparities

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 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). The ARPA funds will be delivered to the states in two allocations over two years and can be used only to respond to the public health emergency and negative economic effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Such uses can include payments to state agencies, nonprofits, industry, and households. They can also include investments in public infrastructure. [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Oklahoma News COVID in Oklahoma: Gov. Kevin Stitt rules out school mask mandates, 'not planning' emergency order: Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday said he won't implement another state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic, ruling out the possibility of mask mandates in Oklahoma schools. Despite calls from some health leaders to make the declaration, Stitt said he is "not planning on declaring an emergency," a measure that is now a prerequisite for public schools to require masks. "This is about personal responsibility," Stitt said at a press conference in Tulsa. "This is about freedoms." [The Oklahoman] National statistics indicate that only about 40% of Oklahomans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which puts the state in the bottom tier of states. [Tulsa World] Senate Bill 658, which Stitt signed into law in May, prohibits public school districts from implementing mask requirements unless, at minimum, a governor-declared state of emergency is in effect in their area. [Public Radio Tulsa] Pandemic surge hitting Oklahoma more rapidly than a year ago as delta variant is 'fastest and fittest' yet [Tulsa World] Oklahoma coronavirus cases, hospitalizations spike again as vaccination efforts stall [Oklahoma Watch] New Oklahoma virus cases top 1,000 for 3rd consecutive day [AP News] As COVID-19 cases surge in Oklahoma, state health officials look to re-hire contact tracers [The Frontier] District-wide mask mandates are unlikely this fall in Oklahoma schools. But what about in individual classrooms? [KOSU] As COVID-19 infections rise again in Indian Country, Oklahoma becomes epicenter: Oklahoma's rising COVID-19 caseload is driving a resurgence of infections in Indian Country. New cases in Oklahoma and neighboring Kansas add up to half of all cases reported since late June by health care providers that primarily serve Native Americans. The rise worries clinicians like Dr. George Adam Vascellaro, who has watched the coronavirus pandemic wage a devastatingly disproportionate toll on Indigenous families and communities. [The Oklahoman] White House sending $1.7M to Oklahoma rural health clinics to help boost COVID vaccination rates [Public Radio Tulsa] Oklahoma health systems face backlash over COVID-19 vaccine requirements for workers [The Oklahoman] As Delta variant spreads, Oklahoma Corrections Department reports few new COVID-19 cases [Oklahoma Watch] Will Oklahoma houses of worship return to COVID safety protocols? Some never ceased such measures [The Oklahoman] Health News Panel examines roles of Tulsa Race Massacre, Medicaid expansion in health disparities: We’re hearing from experts about how the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre played a role in some of the health disparities Black Oklahomans face even to this day. And how the recent expansion of Medicaid could address some of the disparities. [KOCO] Resistance to Medicaid expansion creates different health care access along state borders: Missouri and Oklahoma are the most recent states to adopt Medicaid expansion. Oklahoma expanded coverage July 1. A voter-approved amendment would have expanded coverage by July 1 in Missouri too, but it faced legal challenges. On Thursday, the state Supreme Court upheld the amendment’s constitutionality, overturning a lower court’s ruling. [Public Integrity] State Government News Stitt taps Tulsa man for AG despite ‘not qualified’ rating: A Tulsa attorney whom the American Bar Association rated as “ not qualified ” to serve as a federal judge was tapped Friday by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to serve as the state’s next attorney general. After a two-month search that began in May after Republican Mike Hunter stepped down suddenly, Stitt selected John O’Connor, 66, to fill the vacancy, giving the governor an ally in his increasingly contentious relationship with some of the Native American tribes in the state. [AP News] American Bar Association questioned Oklahoma AG John M. O'Connor's experience, judgment [The Oklahoman] Gov. Kevin Stitt appoints new Oklahoma AG who plans to run in 2022 [The Oklahoman] Political notebook: Area lawmakers given leadership posts on committee managing $1.9 billion in federal aid: Several area lawmakers snagged leadership positions on the joint legislative committee overseeing the state’s $1.9 billion in pandemic relief funds authorized by the American Relief Plan, or ARPA. The joint committee will work with the administration in determining how the federal funds will be spent over the next two years. [Tulsa World] Oklahoma House denies interim study on reparations for Tulsa Race Massacre: Oklahoma lawmakers have denied a request for an interim study on reparations surrounding the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The proposal from Representative Regina Goodwin who says the house denying that study is basically saying they don’t want to talk about it. [FOX 25] New survey highlights Oklahomans' differing perceptions on race: Oklahomans’ opinions of their home state vary considerably by skin color, a recent survey for five nonprofit organizations found. “When you ask Black and white Oklahomans about their experiences at work, they’re incredibly different,” said Kevin Jessop, whose company Evolve Research conducted the survey. “Black Oklahomans are far less happy at work than white Oklahomans. [Tulsa World] Federal Government News Counties struggle to decide how to spend millions in federal dollars: County commissioners in Southwest Oklahoma are grappling with how to spend millions of dollars from the federal government. Comanche County will receive almost $23.5 million from the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan signed into law March 12. [The Lawton Constitution] Biden administration plans revisions to waters of the United States: A U.S. federal court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to block an effort by the Biden administration to revise how the country’s navigable waters are to be regulated. At President Joe Biden’s direction, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is aiming to reverse the Donald Trump administration’s 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule and restore more stringent language that was in place from the implementation of the 2015 Waters of the United States regulations. [NonDoc] Inhofe praises defense bill after funding added: U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe on Thursday praised the annual defense bill approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee, saying a last-minute amendment he offered provided a sufficient increase in funding. [The Oklahoman] Tribal Nations News Victim in McGirt case 'plunged back into a black hole,' federal prosecutors say: In the past year, the name McGirt has become widely used shorthand for the U.S. Supreme Court decision on criminal jurisdiction in Indian country in Oklahoma. The name evokes varying responses depending on a person’s view of the decision, which has led to most of eastern Oklahoma being affirmed as Indian reservations. [The Oklahoman] Chickasaw Nation election preview: Three incumbents face challengers: Three legislative seats are up for grabs in the Chickasaw Nation general election, the ballot deadline for which was extended July 20 by the Tribal Legislature from July 27 to Tuesday, Aug 3. Ballots are due by 10:30 a.m. that day, with ballot tabulation slated to begin at 11 a.m. [NonDoc] Criminal Justice News Video shows OHP pursuit involving spike strips that ended in fatal crash but wasn't considered a use of force: On a weekday afternoon, a state trooper stood beside Interstate 44 watching a stolen car speed toward him at 100-plus mph as precipitation fell amid freezing temperatures. His flashing lights on, the trooper waved through motorists before acting in “a small window of opportunity.” He pulled spike strips into the path of the eluder, who swerved and died in a violent barrel roll. [Tulsa World] Economic Opportunity Serial evictions in Tulsa County add to ongoing eviction crisis as CDC moratorium comes to an end: Serial evictions continue to pose problems for tenants in Oklahoma, trapping low-income renters in a vicious cycle of owing not only back rent to stay in their homes but other fees and court costs. Legal experts describe it as a way for landlords to collect more money, and it adds to the eviction crisis existing in Tulsa County. The Oklahoma Policy Institute launched a project called Open Justice Oklahoma, which tracks the most prolific serial evictors in the state. The data found Cobblestone Apartments in Tulsa County to be at the top of that list, with 629 evictions filed from 2019 to 2020. [KJRH] OK Policy: Turning the tide on evictions: Using federal aid, support to reduce Oklahoma’s eviction crisis City officials explain how apartments like Vista Shadow Mountain can become uninhabitable: Regina Edwards enjoyed living at Vista Shadow Mountain Apartments — until she didn’t. Edwards, 59, was one of more than 100 tenants at the south Tulsa complex who had until Friday to get out because conditions had gotten so bad the city wouldn’t let them stay. [Tulsa World] While food access improves in some parts of OKC, other areas still struggle with food deserts: Census tract data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Access Research Atlas shows sprawling areas designated as food deserts across the metro area. Some of the emptiest stretch from downtown Oklahoma City toward Will Rogers Airport along Interstate 240, where the Rosales family lives. [The Oklahoman] Economy & Business News Marijuana is Oklahoma's latest boom industry. But can it be sustained?: At a distance, Shawnee's Main Street looks like any postcard from small-town America. This wide stretch of pavement lined by historic buildings reflects modern commerce in a downtown born before its own state government. Quaint shops and restaurants contribute to the old-town feel, but Oklahoma's newest billion-dollar industry has left an impressive mark — and coined a new name. [The Oklahoman] Legal cannabis industry funds more enforcement efforts as criminals 'make us look bad': With a more open cannabis industry in Oklahoma spurring organized crime concerns, state agencies say they need to team up and expand compliance and enforcement efforts with funding provided from the fees paid by medical marijuana businesses operating legally. [Tulsa World] Industrial park in Pryor opens amenities meant to attract big business: MidAmerica Industrial Park in Pryor opened up a retail center today that saw ground broken in 2018. It’s part of a 162-acre development that’s slated to eventually have a 300-unit apartment building and 100 homes. [Public Radio Tulsa] Dilapidated Panhandle wind farm towers to be cleaned up: The owner of a dilapidated Oklahoma Panhandle wind farm has presented plans to clean up the most dangerous of the wind turbine towers. The plans are to address dangerously broken-down towers and turbines of the 60-tower KODE Novus I and II wind farm near Guymon, Oklahoma, The Oklahoman reported. [AP News] Oklahoma Local News How 2 Unite Norman conservatives are changing politics in Oklahoma's most progressive city [The Oklahoman] OKC Pride Alliance Parade rescheduled for July 31 [The Oklahoman] Quote of the Day “I think if we are going to be honest about the present-day health disparities in Black communities in Tulsa or anywhere in this country, we must be honest about the history of this country. We have to acknowledge and realize that the disenfranchisement, the marginalization, and the undervaluing of Black lives is the reason why we continue to experience these disparities.” -Tulsa city counselor Vanessa Hall-Harper [KOCO] Number of the Day $65 million Estimated increase in Oklahoma state and local tax revenue by 2025 due to Medicaid expansion [Source: Commonwealth Fund] Policy Note Medicaid Continuous Eligibility Linked with Better Health, More Efficient Health Care Spending: Continuous health insurance coverage limits gaps in coverage and provides consistent access to health care, improves health status and well-being, and drives more efficient health care spending. By reducing the administrative costs associated with people cycling on and off of Medicaid due to temporary fluctuations in income, states can dedicate more of the Medicaid dollar to pay for health care. [Georgetown University Health Institute Center for Children and Families] 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] Min. wage anniversary | Addressing over-incarceration | Improving mental health | Bringing everyone to the table

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 Happy birthday to the minimum wage: In honor of the 12th anniversary of the $7.25 minimum wage and the thousands of people who rely on it, we wanted to take a look at what life was like back in 2009 and all the ways our world has changed while the minimum wage has remained stagnant. [Josie Phillips / OK Policy] Addressing ‘upstream’ issues in Oklahoma’s over-incarceration problem (Capitol Update): New Secretary of Public Safety Tricia Everest told the Pardon and Parole Board that incarceration isn’t necessarily the best answer for offenders who are not a danger to themselves or others. She also suggested that it is important to recognize “if we can’t divert individuals upstream that at the point of sentencing, we have a plan of reentry.” [Steve Lewis / Capitol Update] Medicaid expansion will improve mental health in Oklahoma (Guest Post): The passage of Medicaid expansion and opening up of enrollment in June are positive steps in improving Oklahoma’s ranking as 41st in the nation for adult mental health. This should assist some of the 92,000 uninsured adults with a mental illness and a number of the 248,000 Oklahomans who had a substance use disorder in the past year. [Whitney Cipolla / Guest Post] Policy Matters: Bringing everyone to the table: Managing groups – whether in private business or the public sector – is never an easy task, especially as we work with people who have an array of beliefs and life experiences. Successful leadership focuses on bringing people together toward a common vision; this requires leaders to emphasize inclusion, not division. Unfortunately, this lesson is being ignored by too many Oklahoma leaders recently. [Ahniwake Rose / Journal Record]

Join the team as a Regional Organizer for Together Oklahoma

View this email in your browser. Join the team as a Regional Organizer for Together Oklahoma The Oklahoma Policy Institute is currently hiring for three regional organizers in Northeast, Southwest, and Central Oklahoma. Under the leadership of OK Policy's Legislative & Outreach Director, the Regional Organizer provides structured leadership in the development and implementation of community-based advocacy actions that further policy goals identified by OK Policy, and works closely with Together Oklahoma (TOK) chapters, which are composed of volunteers that form OK Policy's grassroots advocacy arm. Applications for these positions close on August 16, 2021 at 5:00 PM (CST). Apply Now To Apply In addition to the online application above, you will be asked to submit: a cover letter that includes your interest in the position, a detailed explanation of how your experience meets the qualifications and prepares you for the responsibilities outlined in the job description, a brief description of your current understanding of OK Policy’s mission, any previous involvement you have had with OK Policy, and your salary expectations; your resume that includes at least three professional references; and an original writing sample per the description linked in the application. Apply Now   About OK Policy OK Policy values its employees, and as such, offers competitive total compensation package, which includes cash compensation and benefits. These positions are eligible to participate in the following benefits: Cafeteria Plan: including health and dental insurance, retirement plans, health savings account (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), dependent care accounts (DCA), and more. These positions are eligible for paid time-off (PTO) benefits. The mission of OK Policy is to advance equitable and fiscally responsible policies leading to expanded opportunity for all Oklahomans through non-partisan research, analysis, and advocacy. OK Policy is committed to building a more diverse and inclusive organization to fully represent and engage all Oklahomans. Recruiting staff that reflects the diversity of perspectives and experiences of Oklahoma is a priority. We strongly encourage applicants from diverse communities, constituencies, and identities, including but not limited to: people of all ethnic/racial backgrounds, people of all gender identities/gender expressions, people with disabilities, low-income and LGBTQ+ persons. Current elected officials are not eligible for employment at OK Policy. Visit our Jobs & Internships page to view the latest job and internship opportunities. 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] 'Put public health over politics' | Eviction spike feared | Happy birthday to the minimum wage

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 Happy birthday to the minimum wage: The last time the national minimum wage was raised was in 2007, with the wage increase taking effect on July 24, 2009. A minimum wage is meant to ensure a minimum standard of living for each employee — particularly entry-level and low-wage workers. In 2020, more than one million workers nationally earned equal to or less than the minimum wage, and women — particularly Black and Hispanic or Latina women — were the most likely to earn at or below the minimum wage. A strong majority — 7 in 10 — of minimum wage workers are in the service industry. In honor of the 12th anniversary of the $7.25 minimum wage and the thousands of people who rely on it, we wanted to take a look at what life was like back in 2009 and all the ways our world has changed while the minimum wage has remained stagnant. [Josie Phillips / OK Policy] OK Policy hosting community listening sessions in Weatherford, Altus: To hear the concerns of everyday Oklahomans, the Oklahoma Policy Institute will be hosting listening sessions in southwestern and western Oklahoma. Two listening sessions are planned at the end of the month in Weatherford and Altus. [OK Policy] Join the team as a Regional Organizer for Together Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Policy Institute is currently hiring for three regional organizers in Northeast, Southwest, and Central Oklahoma. Under the leadership of OK Policy’s Legislative & Outreach Director, the Regional Organizer provides structured leadership in the development and implementation of community-based advocacy actions that further policy goals identified by OK Policy, and works closely with Together Oklahoma (TOK) chapters, which are composed of volunteers that form OK Policy’s grassroots advocacy arm. Applications for these positions close on August 16, 2021 at 5:00 PM (CST). Click here to learn more and apply. Oklahoma News Editorial: Oklahoma Gov. Stitt should put public health over politics: Whether it’s politics, fear, misinformation or complacency as restrictions have eased, consider this: The unvaccinated make up 90% of recent hospitalizations, according to the Oklahoma Health Department. Yet our governor, Kevin Stitt, as if channeling the will of parts of his base, seems content to sit back and let the pandemic run its course, even as the dangerous new delta variant surges across the state. [Editorial / The Oklahoman] Why vaccinated people are getting ‘breakthrough’ infections: A wedding in Oklahoma leads to 15 vaccinated guests becoming infected with the coronavirus. Raucous Fourth of July celebrations disperse the virus from Provincetown, Mass., to dozens of places across the country, sometimes carried by fully vaccinated celebrants. [New York Times] Oklahoma virus cases again top 1,000, daily average at 875 [AP News] City managers share 'the good, the bad and the ugly' of COVID pandemic [Enid News & Eagle] COVID cases on the rise in Oklahoma [The Lawton Constitution] Oklahomans We’ve Lost: A dedicated nurse who threw Halloween parties and cared for rescue dogs [The Frontier] Oklahomans fear eviction spike as federal moratorium expires: Thousands of Oklahomans are likely to be forced out of their homes this summer as one of their last safeguards expires. The moratorium, which temporarily halts evictions for unpaid rent, was extended for a third time at the end of June in hopes of keeping people housed while federal funding is still being disbursed. While the moratorium kept some families off the streets, it didn’t protect tenants from piling up months of debt from back rent that will soon be due. [Oklahoma Watch] OK Policy: Turning the tide on evictions: Using federal aid, support to reduce Oklahoma’s eviction crisis Apartment shortage continues as deadline looms [The Journal Record] How Oklahoma evictions might spike after July [The City Sentinel] As moratorium end date looms, state agencies prompt struggling renters to seek out financial aid [KFOR] Oklahoma is getting $2 billion. How should it be spent?: Oklahoma is about to go on a multi-billion dollar spending spree — but there’s a catch, actually several. Oklahoma, like other states, has already dolled out hundreds of millions of federal dollars on COVID-19 response efforts through Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funding that was approved by Congress last year. State leaders, however, have another reservoir of money to spend thanks to a new relief package — the American Rescue Plan Act — that President Joe Biden signed into law in March. [Oklahoma Watch] Health News Author of law restricting schools from requiring masks stands behind it: The American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization of 67,000 pediatricians, recommended this week that all students over the age of two wear masks in school, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. The advice comes as the more transmissible delta variant of COVID is on the rise. [Public Radio Tulsa] More than 135,000 Oklahomans now get benefits under SoonerCare expansion: It's been three weeks since Oklahomans who applied for SoonerCare under the new expansion could start going to the doctor. A lot of those newly eligible people tried to get SoonerCare in the past but were denied. Health officials said the expansion helps a lot of people who usually fall through the cracks. [News 9] State Government News Report: Stitt to name John O’Connor next Oklahoma attorney general: Three years after an American Bar Association committee deemed him “not qualified” for a federal judicial nomination, Tulsa lawyer John O’Connor has been selected by Gov. Kevin Stitt to be Oklahoma’s next attorney general, according to multiple sources and a report in The Oklahoman. [NonDoc] The decision comes after a two-month search in which the governor considered district attorneys, a judge on the Court of Civil Appeals and members of his administration. [The Oklahoman] Initial unemployment claims plummet more than 50%, lowest this year: The number of initial state unemployment claims dropped more than 50% last week, marking their lowest seven-day total this year, according to a government report. The U.S. Department of Labor reported Thursday that 3,562 Oklahoma workers filed first-time claims last week, which is fewer than half the revised figure of 7,787 people who filed initial claims the prior week. [Tulsa World] Gov. Kevin Stitt taps OKC attorney for state appeals court: Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed attorney Gregory Blackwell to the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals on Wednesday, choosing him over two judges in southeastern Oklahoma. Blackwell, 43, of Oklahoma City, succeeds P. Thomas Thornbrugh, who retired from the District 3, Office 1 seat in April. No legislative confirmation is required of Stitt’s selection. [The Oklahoman] Woodward attorney named to OJA Board: Woodward attorney Bart Bouse has been named to the Oklahoma Board of Juvenile Affairs. Bouse started his duties immediately. Speaker of the House of Representatives Charles McCall appointed Bouse to the nine-member board. The board is the rulemaking body for the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA). [Woodward News] Turnpikes converting to no-cash tolls: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) will begin converting the state turnpike system to cashless tolling for motorists who normally pay with cash. The conversion away from cash begins on the John Kilpatrick Turnpike in north Oklahoma City on July 25. A trial run has been conducted on one ramp in Jenks on the Creek Turnpike. [Southwest Ledger] Federal Government News White House sending $100M to rural health clinics to help boost COVID vaccination rates: As the Delta variant pushes a rise in COVID-19 cases, the White House is sending $100 million to rural health centers to help bring up low vaccination rates. "This funding, made possible by the American Rescue Plan, will provide nearly 2,000 rural health clinics the resources they need to better reach unvaccinated Americans in their communities with information about COVID-19 and the vaccines and answers to their questions," White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said during a Thursday briefing. [Public Radio Tulsa] First Congressional District must shrink by 18,000: Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District, which includes most of metropolitan Tulsa, will have to shed about 18,000 people in the current redistricting process, officials say. [Tulsa World] Inhofe: Oklahoma military bases poised to grow in 2022: All five of Oklahoma’s military installations will remain viable and are poised to grow under the latest annual federal defense appropriation bill, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe’s office said Thursday. [AP News] Tinker Air Force Base expansion to close two-mile stretch of Douglas Boulevard [The Oklahoman] Watch Now: Lankford report claims Biden administration is wasting billions by not finishing Trump wall: U.S. Sen. James Lankford fired another round in his border war with the Biden administration on Wednesday, this time in the form of a 36-page report that says the U.S. is spending $3 million a day — and probably more than $2 billion total — not to complete contracts already awarded for construction of former President Donald Trump’s “wall” between the United States and Mexico. [Tulsa World] Tribal Nations News 'Our history, the way we want it to be told': Choctaw cultural center opens in Oklahoma: The Choctaw Nation’s new cultural center tells the stories of 600 generations. The space, which opens Friday, embodies the Chahta newvt aya — the Choctaw journey, said center director Stacy Halfmoon. [The Oklahoman] Criminal Justice News Policing – public safety reform listening session reveals concerns and pain: Oklahoma City community members expressed their ideas and concerns about policing and public safety reforms during a listening session Wednesday. The event, called “Reimagine Community Policing Listening Session” was held by OKC Councilman James Cooper and State Representative Mauree Turner in Edgemere Park near N.W. 36th and Walker. [OKC Free Press] Man declared actually innocent in 1990 slaying sues City of Tulsa again: A man’s legal fight against the city of Tulsa over his wrongful conviction and incarceration has moved to federal court after he reached a settlement with the state. Corey Atchison, 50, sued the city of Tulsa July 14 in Tulsa federal court, seeking an unspecified amount of damages after spending 28 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. [Tulsa World] Economy & Business News Investment aims to produce more engineers in Oklahoma: The rising aerospace industry and others in Oklahoma will generate demand for more than 3,000 new engineers annually in coming years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It has been estimated that more than 400,000 new engineers will be needed annually to meet needs of the nation. [The Journal Record] OKC ranked among ‘friendliest’ for first-time homebuyers: Oklahoma City ranks highly among cities friendly to first-time homebuyers, according to online loan marketplace LendingTree. [The Journal Record] Education News The Source podcast: From shredded documents to a state audit, how did Western Heights schools get here?: State officials stepped in to turn around the struggling southwest Oklahoma City school district, but not without shocking resistance from the local school board. Podcast host and education reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel retells the saga in Western Heights. [The Oklahoman] General News Supporters call for Mexican consulate in Oklahoma: Supporters of a permanent Mexican Consulate in Oklahoma are calling on the community to take action. Scissortail Community Development Corporation President Robert Ruiz said opening a Mexican consulate in Oklahoma City would make a big difference for Mexican citizens who are trying to conduct daily business. [News 9] Mayor, sheriff support effort to establish Mexican Consulate in Tulsa [Tulsa World] Racial violence flared at OKC theme park 50 years ago. Why the tragedy matters today: Easter Sunday was one of the biggest days of the year for the old Springlake Amusement Park, which had hosted a massive egg hunt and used the time to celebrate the opening of another season of family fun in northeast Oklahoma City dating back to the early 1920s. Easter fell on April 12 in 1971. Racial tension was wound tight by years of sit-ins and demonstrations for racial equality met with resistance, apathy or both by much of Oklahoma's white community. [The Oklahoman] Quote of the Day “When you’re facing eviction, to people who have never been there, it’s just a piece of paper. But it’s your whole livelihood. It’s like when someone’s hiding around a corner and jumps out and scares you and your heart beats fast. That’s what it feels like, but it never goes away. Your heart never starts resting again, you never catch your breath.” -Terra Atkins, a volunteer tenant-rights leader with Allied Communities of Tulsa Inspiring Our Neighborhoods [Oklahoma Watch] Number of the Day 608,000 Estimated number of Oklahoma workers who would see a wage increase if the minimum wage was raised to $15/hour. This is more than one in three Oklahoma workers. [Source: CNBC] Policy Note When it comes to raising the minimum wage, most of the action is in cities and states, not Congress: Prospects for raising the federal minimum wage, which has stood at $7.25 an hour since 2009, appear to have stalled out yet again, despite broad public support for the idea. In truth, though, for the past several years most of the real action on minimum wages has been in states, counties and cities, not on Capitol Hill. [Pew Research Center] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. 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