Mental Health Budget Crisis, Social Studies Standards Battle — and Rail Funding Cuts

What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is April 29, and here are a few quickies:

• Canada elects Liberal Party’s Mark Carney, per projections from both CBC and CTV.

• Massive blackout in Spain and Portugal on Monday. Multiple outlets are reporting electricity is slowly returning there overnight into Tuesday.

• Join The Frontier tonight in Tulsa for its 10th anniversary celebration with Mayor Monroe Nichols.

• The Tulsa Press Club is hosting Randy Krehbiel for a talk about his new book on the Tulsa Race Massacre.

• Stock futures haven’t moved much Monday night despite fifth straight winning day. Click here for live updates.

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Weather Update 🌧️

It’s looking like a rainy day on Tuesday, so pack that umbrella and rain coat.

🌡️ Monday's high in OKC 71°
🌡️ Monday’s high in Tulsa 70°

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State review uncovers $27.4 million shortfall, accounting issues at Oklahoma mental health agency

OKLAHOMA CITY — A legislative watchdog agency reported Monday that the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) still cannot account for $27.4 million related to a recalculation of its budget shortfall last year, raising new concerns about the agency’s longstanding financial management practices.

The findings, presented by Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) Director Regina Birchum to lawmakers, stem from a months-long investigation prompted by discrepancies ODMHSAS disclosed in early 2024. Officials initially told the Legislature the department faced a $63 million funding gap, but later revised that figure to $6.2 million. LOFT’s report revealed that even after extensive questioning, agency leaders were unable to fully explain how the $27.4 million difference was calculated.

Lots of coverage was devoted to this story on Monday, and Oklahoma Memo has gathered the best of those stories:

• Oklahoma mental health department ‘has a long-standing issue’ with proper accounting: LOFT (Oklahoma Voice)

• LOFT: ODMHSAS still has $27.4 million ‘unexplained’ from shortfall recalculation (NonDoc)

• Mental health agency hammered for accounting: 'The most confusing budgeting we've seen' (Tulsa World)

• Persistent budget gaps in Oklahoma's mental health agency exposed by legislative review (KOSU)

• LOFT shares findings of Dept. of Mental Health investigation with lawmakers (KFOR)

• Mental health agency launches new CFO search following Oklahoma lawmaker grilling (Oklahoma Voice)

Republican lawmakers mull proposal to reject new Oklahoma academic standards

By Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice
Click here to read the story.
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OKLAHOMA CITY — After a private meeting with state Superintendent Ryan Walters, Republican lawmakers made no promises that a leading state senator’s resolution would succeed in rejecting new academic standards proposed for social studies and science education.

Senate Education Committee chairperson Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, filed the resolution Thursday afternoon after half of the Oklahoma State Board of Education said they weren’t aware of changes made to the social studies standards before they approved them in February. Pugh declined to comment while exiting a closed-door Senate Republican Caucus meeting Monday.

Walters joined the caucus meeting midway through. Afterward, he declined to share details of what he discussed but said he had a “great conversation” and “appreciated the invite.”

Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said after the meeting the GOP majority is still discussing whether it will put Pugh’s resolution up for a vote by the full Senate. In previous weeks, he said there hadn’t been “a whole lot of movement to reject those standards” among the caucus.

Click to finish the story.

Heartland Flyer faces uncertain future as Texas strips rail funding

By Luisa Clausen, KOSU
Click here to read the story.
Donate to KOSU.

A passenger rail route connecting Fort Worth and Oklahoma City could lose its daily service by June after Texas lawmakers stripped funding for the Heartland Flyer from the state’s upcoming budget.

The Heartland Flyer, jointly funded by the Texas and Oklahoma departments of transportation, has served the 206-mile route since 1999.

Amtrak operates the line, and Texas contributes approximately $2.6 million annually to support it. That funding was removed from the $337 billion, two-year state budget approved by the Texas Legislature, which prioritizes teacher pay raises, border security and property tax cuts.

The Heartland Flyer carried roughly 80,000 passengers in 2024, a 14% increase over the previous year.

Click here to finish the story.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• Oklahoma County Jail employee fired, charged after fight leads to inmate death (KFOR)

• Edmond commuters to face delays as I-35 lane closures continue through Friday (News 9)

• Long road to successful car tag compact, leaders say (Cherokee Phoenix)

• Here's what it was like inside (and outside) Sen. James Lankford's Oklahoma City book signing (KOSU)

• Norman Music Festival reigns despite rains in 17th year (OKC Free Press)

• 3 arrests made in deadly road rage shooting in Midwest City (News 9)

• Governor appoints retired Edmond teacher to Oklahoma State Board of Education (Oklahoma Voice)

• Mystery task force releases preliminary wildfire response findings (2 News Oklahoma)

• Casino patron charged after viral outburst: Man accused of destroying slot machine while high on PCP (News 9)

• 8 people, including 2 children, taken to hospital after car crashes into OKC laundromat (KOCO)

• President Trump vows to bring back Columbus Day, despite it never going away, worrying some Oklahoma Natives (KOCO)

• Edmond PD alerts campers of Arcadia Lake flooding and fishing area closures (KFOR)

• New guide boosts Black-owned restaurants in Oklahoma City (KOCO)

• Tulsa Public Schools talks about adding AI to curriculum with President Trump's executive order (2 News Oklahoma)

• OSU faculty members disappointed after federal funding cut for research (News On 6)

• Nonprofits in Bartlesville launch initiatives to combat homelessness and addiction (KTUL)

• Tulsa mom demands action after son allegedly put in chokehold by school officer (KTUL)

• Inside the trial that exposed Oklahoma’s broken justice system: Q&A with Gary Pitchlynn (Black Wall Street Times)

• Scholarship Supports Greenwood Legacy, New Generations of Tulsa (The Oklahoma Eagle)

• Sapulpa, Bristow among communities in second pilot launch OKReady “Strengthen Oklahoma Homes” program (Sapulpa Times)

• Ponca City police investigating fatal train accident (Kay News Cow)

• City of Guthrie to end contract with Flock camera system in 2025 (Guthrie News Page)

• Full Council revises code on trying mentally-ill defendants in criminal trials (Mvskoke Media)

• Groundbreaking on new housing project to help DV survivors, families (McAlester News-Capital)

• New police chief hired in Calera (KTEN)

• Garvin County woman arrested, accused of trafficking fentanyl (KXII)

• Incentives vs. sponsorships: Ardmore Tourism Authority to take a close look at policies (Ardmoreite)

• Cy responds to floitod damage while preparing for impending storms (KSWO)

• Comanche County Emergency Management gives details on flooding damages identified so far (KSWO)

• Pennsylvania man caught in online sting pleads to lewd proposals to teen (Lawton Constitution)

• Two Oklahoma oil and gas plays recorded increased drilling activity (OK Energy Today)

SPORTS 🏀⚾🥎🏈

• Oklahoma fishing guide breaks his own world record with 118-pound bighead carp (News On 6)

• Ex-Alabama forward Derrion Reid commits to OU men’s basketball (Tulsa World)

• ‘Late-bloomer’ Coleman is latest Cowboy Basketball signee (OKState)

• Oklahoma State loses key defensive tackle Justin Kirkland to transfer portal (News On 6)

• OU baseball plummets in Top 25 after series loss at Georgia, Dayton Tockey injury (Tulsa World)

• Week 12 OU Baseball Report: Another turnaround required from Sooners (Clay Horning)

🗣️ Story Tips, Ideas, Feedback

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