Election Results, Mental Health Cuts and a New Japanese Restaurant in OKC

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What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is April 2, and here are a few quickies:

• First, here are election results from Tuesday.

• Hungry? Check out the newest Japanese restaurant in OKC.

• Big national story: Wisconsin Democrat wins Supreme Court seat.

Don’t forget to support local journalism wherever you can, if you’re able.

For journalism to thrive, it’s important that journalists be supported.

Weather Update 🌧️

Storms overnight. Could be rainy rest of the week, too.

🌡️ Wednesday's high in OKC 73°
🌡️ Wednesday’s high in Tulsa 74°

Allergy Report for April 2 🤧

Tree pollen will be high today.
Grass pollen will be moderate.
Ragweed pollen won’t be an issue.

For more depth on Wednesday’s allergy news, click here.

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🇺🇸 Election results: Stillwater approves new animal shelter, Lowe becomes county commissioner and more

By Abigail Siatkowski and Luisa Clausen, KOSU
Click here to read story.
Donate to KOSU.

Voters in 71 Oklahoma counties went to the polls Tuesday to consider a wide array of issues and candidates.

They cast ballots to decide school bonds, pick state lawmakers and reshape city codes. Below are many of the notable results. The full results are available on the state Department of Elections website.

Click to read the rest of the story.

Providers say they face cuts amid $43 million Oklahoma mental health department shortfall

By Barbara Hoberock, Oklahoma Voice
Click to read the story.
Donate to Oklahoma Voice.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The state’s mental health commissioner on Tuesday said the agency is dealing with a $43 million shortfall, which some say has resulted in cuts to providers.

Commissioner Allie Friesen spoke with providers who contract with the Oklahoma State Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services during  an emotional meeting where providers expressed frustration with the sudden cuts.

Officials originally believed the shortfall was $63.7 million, she told providers.

“So, the $43 million is the number,” Friesen said during the meeting. “It’s a fun, super fun dance to try to manage the Legislature and the executive branch. They hate each other, and I can’t win.”

She said she doesn’t have the tolerance for politics getting in the way of patient care.

Click to finish the story.

The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

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

• Edmond residents choose Mark Nash as next mayor (KOCO)

• Tori Collier defeats incumbent Tina Floyd for Office 5 seat of Norman Public Schools Board of Education (OU Daily)

• Another measles cases confirmed, with exposure notice for western Oklahoma (Tulsa World)

• Execution date for former federal inmate who killed Tulsa woman in 1999 (Tulsa World)

• Arrest warrant issued for Norman teacher accused of enabling child sexual abuse (KFOR)

• Oklahoma Lawmakers Hear Few Eviction Bills, Advance One (Oklahoma Watch)

• Oklahoma Senate Democrats hold Lawton town hall as concern grows over Westwin Elements refinery (Black Wall Street Times)

• Charlie Kirk's visit to Oklahoma State causing mixed reactions among students, other attendees (O’Colly)

• CN Election 2025: District 10 Tribal Council candidates Q&A (Cherokee Phoenix)

• Osage Nation teams up with county officials for storm spotter training (Osage News)

• Ardmore police officer will go to trial in domestic assault case (KTEN)

• Cine Latino co-founder honored amid film festival shakeup (Oklahoma City Free Press)

• City of Tulsa announces plans to create 3 tax incentive districts (2 News Oklahoma)

• 'Very shocking': Rogers, Mayes County United Way closing after 38 years (2 News Oklahoma)

• 'Gem of Muskogee': Students clean up Honor Heights Park ahead of Azalea Festival (2 News Oklahoma)

• Worker dies in 'tragic accident' at Bixby construction site; OSHA investigating (News On 6)

• Local baseball nonprofit seeking help from City after their electricity panels were vandalized (Fox 23)

• WATCH: Car crashes into Plaza District bar, police working to identify driver (News 9)

• 'Number 446': how one special buffalo serves as a testimony to Cheyenne and Arapaho resilience (KOSU)

SPORTS 🏀⚾🥎🏈

Week 8 OU Baseball Report: The series we've been waiting for arrives Thursday

By Clay Horning, Oklahoma Columnist
Click here to read the column.
Support Clay’s work.

Here’s the SEC series we’ve been waiting for.

Sixth-ranked LSU (26-3, 7-2) arrives at ninth-ranked Oklahoma (22-5, 5-4) Thursday night and if that’s not enough, the series opener will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

L. Dale Mitchell Park ought to be full and the humanity beyond the outfield wall ought to be dense.

Here’s the other thing.

The Sooners can win this series.

Click to read the rest of the column.

More Sports Coverage 👀

• Oklahoma baseball holds off Texas Tech, 8-6 (X)

• Sooners softball run rules UT-Arlington (SoonerSports)

• Oklahoma State softball preparing for Arizona trip, 'feel good' about progress (O’Colly)

• Oklahoma State wrestling adds two transfers from Penn State (O’Colly)

• ORU's new women's basketball coach Cophie Anderson looks to continue winning, high-paced offense (Tulsa World)

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