Drummond calls for ODMHSAS commissioner to be fired; Inside OSU president's resignation — and Thunder vs. Nuggets preview

What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is May 5, and here are a few quickies:

• President Trump issued an executive order to end federal funding for public media. Here’s what that means for KOSU. KGOU general manager Dick Pryor wrote about the order in his Manager’s Minute.

• Speaking of the president, Trump told Meet The Press moderator Kristen Welker that he was unsure of his obligation to uphold the Constitution despite the oath every president takes to do so.

• Today is Cinco de Mayo. Here are some ideas for eats and fun in and around OKC.

• Stock futures are slightly lower despite market’s best winning streak in two decades. Click here for live updates.

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Weather Update ⛅

The week will start pretty nice, but more rain and storms are on the way starting late Monday into Tuesday. The severe weather threat will be relatively low, but the flooding threat in many parts of Oklahoma could be significant.

Did you get any gardening done this weekend? Here’s what I ended up with in our humble garden:

• Julia Child yellow rose bush

• Calibrachoa

• Yellow Bells Esperanza (not shown below)

• Rose Marvel meadow sage

• White dark eye gerbera daisies

• Some petunias

• A thing of lemon basil

Do I know what I’m doing? Absolutely not.

Does that stop me from researching and trying each year? Not at all.

🌡️ Monday's high in OKC 72°
🌡️ Monday’s high in Tulsa 73°

Allergy report: Tree pollen (moderate), grass pollen (very high)

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Oklahoma AG calls for commissioner’s firing amid mental health agency’s ‘financial meltdown’

By Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice
Click to read the story.
Donate to Oklahoma Voice.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The state’s attorney general called Friday for Oklahoma’s commissioner of mental health to be fired, a day after the agency she oversees warned lawmakers that it will not be able to pay its employees later this month.  

Attorney General Gentner Drummond said the governor needs to fire Commissioner Allie Friesen, who heads the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, after legislators revealed they had learned that the agency expected to run out of funds as early as Wednesday. On Friday, they said the agency shifted that payroll shortfall date to May 21.

The payroll issue is the latest in a series of reports of financial disarray and shortfalls at the agency, which has an annual budget of about $610 million and slightly more than 2,000 employees. The agency is the subject of a handful of probes, including from lawmakers, the state auditor and inspector, and a “special investigator” who will be appointed by Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt.

The agency reported a $43 million deficit and requested $6.2 million to make ends meet through the end of the fiscal year, but officials haven’t been able to explain how they reached these numbers or publicly answer questions about their payroll costs, drawing the frustration of state lawmakers. 

Drummond on Friday called the disarray at the mental health department a “financial meltdown” and “nothing short of government malpractice.”

“Gov. Stitt should have fired his failed agency head months ago when we first learned of her incompetent leadership,” he said in a statement. “I am calling on Gov. Stitt to immediately terminate Commissioner Allie Friesen and seek guidance from industry experts so he can appoint a new leader who is up to the job.”

Stitt appointed Friesen to the role in January 2024 and said Friday that she continues to have his support. Friesen has blamed many of the financial issues on her predecessors.

Stitt said in a statement Friday that Drummond should focus on prosecuting criminals rather than those he has “targeted as political enemies.”

Click to finish the story.

What to watch this week in Oklahoma politics, energy

By Scott Mitchell
MitchellTalks.com

The clock is ticking at the state legislature: Only 26 days remain to finalize the state budget by the constitutional deadline of May 31. Lawmakers hope to adjourn by mid-May, but don’t expect things to slow down. Behind the scenes, bills thought to be dead could re-emerge in conference committees and budget talks.

Among the big issues:
• Ongoing investigations into financial troubles at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
• Gov. Stitt’s push for a tax cut amid signs of economic uncertainty.
• Energy sector impacts as oil prices hover near $60/barrel—potentially below break-even for many producers.

Other stories to watch:
• Oklahoma and Texas are working together to replace the I-35 Red River bridge, but high water levels are complicating construction.
• A legal debate brewing over whether lithium-rich saltwater is a mineral—potentially triggering new royalty payments to landowners.

Plus: On Capitol Hill, watch for movement on the reconciliation package this week as congressional committees begin marking up the legislation.

👉 Follow ongoing coverage at News 9, News On 6, and OK Energy Today.

Visit me at MitchellTalks.com, and check out my YouTube channel.

Inside Kayse Shrum's surprising resignation as OSU's president

By Ashton Slaughter, The O’Colly
Click to read the story.

Former Oklahoma State President Dr. Kayse Shrum's resignation in February seemed sudden, but records obtained by The O’Colly indicate her suggestion on university funding was the first step in a long process with an abrupt ending.

On May 30, 2023, in an Oklahoma State leadership budget meeting for the 2023-24 fiscal year, Shrum suggested that $5 million from the OSU Medical Authority and Trust (OSUMA) would be put toward the OSU Research Foundation (OSURF) and Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE).

Shrum noted there was $10 million in the OSUMA base; half in Poly-Tech and the other in OAIRE. Shrum suggested transferring $5 million from OSUMA to OSURF and OAIRE, and taking $500,000 from OAIRE and giving it to the Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute (HPNRI).

This started a 21-month saga that included unanswered emails, rescheduled meetings and Shrum’s Feb. 3 resignation.

Click to finish the story.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

A concise summary of the latest news from across the state:

• Tulsans organize ‘die-in’ to underscore attacks on democracy (KWGS)

• Hundreds gather in OKC’s Scissortail Park for ‘March Until They Hear Us’ (KOCO)

• Creek Freedmen case moves to oral arguments at tribal Supreme Court (Black Wall Street Times)

• One dead after apparent road rage incident in East Tulsa (Tulsa World)

• One shot dead by police, five others injured after downtown crowd fight, multiple shooters (Tulsa World)

• Jimcy McGirt indicted on federal charges for failure to register as sex offender (Mvskoke Media)

• Incarcerated Women Find Their Voices Through Journalism (Oklahoma Watch)

• Family members of Muskogee man found dead hold vigil searching for answers (News On 6)

• Construction of Google data center disrupts Stillwater pond (KFOR)

• Trespassing enforced, security ramped up at vacant Promenade Mall (News 2 Oklahoma)

• Grady County families stranded after dam collapse washes away road (KFOR)

• 56-year-old man dead after train crash in Muskogee County (Fox 23)

• Sapulpa woman sentenced to 20 years for Sand Springs murder (Sapulpa Times)

• Rogers County seeks federal grant to enhance safety on rural roads (KTUL)

• Interstate 35 at Interstate 44 now open following construction project (KOCO)

• Atoka County Sheriff's Office investigating death (KTEN)

• Bryan County father arrested in son’s shooting death (KXII)

• Jason May found not guilty in high-profile Carter County trial (Ardmoreite)

• Drummond to host town hall on pharmacy benefit managers (Ardmoreite)

• Water pressure restored on Guthrie’s west side after beleived elusive leak beneath river floodwaters (Guthrie News Page)

SPORTS 🏀⚾🥎🏈

NBA Playoffs Game 1: Denver @ Oklahoma City
8:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV/Max

• NBA playoffs: What to expect in Thunder-Nuggets series (NBA.com)

• NBA MVP race between SGA, Nikola Jokic is mere subplot for Thunder vs Nuggets series (Oklahoman)

• Russell Westbrook Experience returns to OKC for Thunder-Nuggets in NBA Playoffs: Buckle up (Oklahoman)

• Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receives mural in downtown OKC (Oklahoman)

• Bill Haisten: SGA-Jokic and OKC-Denver are a difficult next chapter in the Thunder’s story (Tulsa World)

• Oklahoma City Thunder The Chase: Can the Thunder keep their win-streak alive? (News 9 / News On 6)

• ESPN experts pick second-round winners (ESPN)

• Shaq likes Denver to win series vs. Oklahoma City (Athlon Sports)

• Oklahoma softball earns SEC regular season championship despite Florida loss (OU Daily)

• Oklahoma baseball drops final game in Mississippi series behind outfield collapse (OU Daily)

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