What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is May 20, and here are a handful of headlines before we get started:

• For the first time in 9 years, the Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA’s Western Conference Finals. Game 1 vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves tips off just after 7:30 p.m. You can watch the game from the Paycom Center — or on ESPN. 💙🧡

• President Trump suggests former President Biden’s team hid cancer diagnosis (The New York Times)

• Head of CBS News forced out amid tensions with President Trump (The New York Times)

• Stock futures flat after S&P winning streak hits 6 days. (CNBC)

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Weather Update ☀️

Sunshine returns after a weekend and a Monday filled with severe weather. Storms return this weekend — but for now, sun.

🌡️ Tuesday's high in OKC 79°
🌡️ Tuesday’s high in Tulsa 77°

Federal changes to food stamps could cost Oklahoma nearly $500M: DHS director

By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma could be on the hook for paying almost $500 million if Congress moves forward with historic plans to shift food stamp costs to states.

Jeffrey Cartmell, Gov. Kevin Stitt’s appointee to head the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, discussed the potential impact during his confirmation hearing Monday before the state Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee.

The committee’s chair Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, asked Cartmell about the potential impact of proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The program provides electronic benefits to purchase certain food items for those who qualify. 

Cartmell said changes to the program formerly known as food stamps could range from $170 million to $450 million a year depending on which cost-sharing plan is adopted by the Republican-led Congress.

He said the U.S. House is considering for the first time requiring states to pay matching dollars on SNAP. He said states could be required to pay up to 25% match.

About 17% of Oklahomans receive food stamps.

Last year, a 10% match would have cost his agency $170 million, he said. A 25% match would cost between $430 million to $450 million, he said.

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Audit adds $2 million to Oklahoma mental health agency budget gap

By Sierra Pfeifer, KOSU
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The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services needs an extra $2 million to maintain services until July, according to a report requested by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

The report was prepared by David Greenwell, an accountant — and former Oklahoma City councilman — tasked with looking into the department’s financial standing after it unexpectedly cancelled state contracts and ran out of money to pay its employees.

Greenwell estimates the mental health agency needs $29.9 million to finish out the fiscal year, which ends on June 30.

The legislature agreed to grant a $27.9 million supplemental earlier this month, after a series of hours-long hearings, but this year's budget has not yet been finalized. Whether more funds will be directed to the agency remains unclear.

According to the report, the new total is based on actual expenditures and revenues through May 11, 2025, using historical data and trend analysis for a “best-effort projection with a reasonable margin of error.”

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A man who couldn’t talk died after staff at an Oklahoma facility choked him, a lawsuit claims

By Kayla Branch, The Frontier
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Before he died, staff at a state facility choked a nonverbal man with towels and bed sheets until he lost consciousness, a lawsuit claims. 

For nine years, Shermaine Brooks lived at the Robert M. Greer Center in Enid, a facility for people with developmental disabilities and mental health conditions, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims abuse from staff ultimately caused Brooks’ death, which happened roughly six months after reports of widespread systemic abuse of residents at the Greer Center became public. Staff were accused of beating, choking and bribing residents to attack each other. 

An Enid Police Department investigation remains open after Brooks died over Memorial Day weekend 2024. No criminal charges have been filed. Nearly a year after his death, the state medical examiner hasn’t released an autopsy report.

Some of the circumstances of Brooks’ death are “consistent” with other abuse allegations at the Greer Center and give “reason to believe that the death of Shermaine is tied to abuse that he received at Greer,” said Monica Maple, the lawyer representing Brooks’ family in the civil case. 

The lawsuit accuses Oklahoma Human Services and Liberty of Oklahoma, the company that previously managed Greer, of failing to protect residents from abuse. Liberty of Oklahoma has denied all allegations in court and pushed to have parts of the case dismissed. The company did not respond to requests for comment. 

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These tribes want a key piece of Oklahoma land returned

By Em Luetkemeyer, Oklahoma Watch
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The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, a Native American nation in Oklahoma, is trying to negotiate with the Trump administration to see if it can help win back a piece of land that was taken over by the federal government more than 150 years ago.

The nearly 10,000-acre patch of land located near El Reno in western Oklahoma has been under federal government control since the 1800s and was once used for military purposes. It is now home to a Department of Agriculture center whose research includes forage, hydraulics and livestock. But for decades, the federally recognized Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes have fought for the land to be transferred back to them.

The nation may be gaining ground with one of President Donald Trump’s cabinet members: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

“[Burgum] did say it was going to be one of his priorities to investigate on whether those lands can be returned,” said Reggie Wassana, the governor of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.

In early May, Wassana and other tribal leaders met with Burgum, who had a reputation of working with the tribes on issues like public safety, education and tribal representation in his home state of North Dakota.

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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• Video shows police unit getting struck by lightning as severe storms move through Oklahoma (KOCO)

• Tornado in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma caught on camera (News On 6)

• Damaging hail, tornadoes cross Oklahoma on Monday, leaving thousands without power: Recap (The Oklahoman)

• What do I do if my property is damaged by hail in Oklahoma? (News 9)

• Semi driver found impaled at Edmond construction site after traffic stop (KOCO)

• OSBI investigates altercation that left 81-year-old man dead, another injured (KOCO)

• Former Oilton and Inola police officer charged in 2024 assault, 2019 rape (2 News Oklahoma)

• Tornadoes expose staffing crisis at National Weather Service (KOCO)

• More than 150 people arrested at OKC birthday party for allegedly street racing (KOCO)

• News 9 chopper pilot Jim Gardner set to retire after decades-long career (News 9)

• Cancun Mexican restaurant set to close (2 News Oklahoma)

• Gov. Stitt announces $4 billion aluminum smelter coming to Oklahoma (KOSU)

• PSO bills hinge on outcome of Jenks plant acquisition case (Tulsa World)

• Turnpike Authority to host town halls for toll road; opponents say engineers won't listen (The Oklahoman)

• Miss Oklahoma Competition moves to OKC metro after 70 years in Tulsa (KTUL)

• Muskogee County storms uproot trees, damage homes (News On 6)

• Medical Examiner lists cause of death for inmate who died inside Comanche County Detention Center (KSWO)

• Bear relocated from Antlers neighborhood (KTEN)

• Oklahoma Health Care Authority appoints new state Medicaid director (KGOU)

• Controversial Oklahoma bill would block cities from banning pet stores (KFOR)

• An Antlers musician takes his Texoma roots center stage (KTEN)

• Business owners concerned about NW OKC road construction (KFOR)

• OKPOP Museum reaches 82% of fundraising goal following HB2673 becoming law (Fox 23)

• History maker Dr. Mautra Jones to join Oklahoma Hall of Fame (Black Wall Street Times)

• Missing man found deceased in Logan County crash (Guthrie News Page)

• MMIP event celebrates women, culture, and survival (Mvskoke Media)

• Muskogee animal control praised for rescuing unborn fawn after roadside accident (KTUL)

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