What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Thursday, September 4, and there’s reason for mental health advocates in the state to be really concerned this morning.

If you’ll recall, previous Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) commissioner Allie Friesen was fired earlier this year by the state Legislature, a move that irritated Gov. Kevin Stitt but was celebrated by Attorney General Gentner Drummond.

Drummond is often a critic of Stitt, and he happens to be running to replace him in 2026.

Stitt replaced Friesen with a career military man who had no experience in the mental health arena. Here’s what he said at the time of Retired Rear Admiral and current Interim ODMHSAS Commissioner Gregory Slavonic:

“It is no secret that the Department of Mental Health has long been in need of reform,” said Gov. Stitt. “It is imperative that Admiral Slavonic is allowed to do the hard work needed to remove corruption and conflicts of interest without political interference. There are brighter days ahead for this department and those that rely on its services. I’m grateful to Admiral Slavonic for his willingness to set another Oklahoma agency on the right course.”

Let’s put emphasis on the “those that rely on its services” part of that statement because on Wednesday, we learn from NonDoc reporter Andrea Hancock that the agency is planning to do a lot of cutting — and it’s caught the state Legislature by surprise:

1. Major contract cuts: Out of 573 contracts reviewed, only 128 will be fully renewed, 122 will see reduced funding, and 312 will not be renewed at all.
   

2. $40 million in cuts: The changes are projected to generate more than $40 million in “cost optimization.”
   

3. Broad range of services affected: Cuts will touch addiction services, adult and children’s mental health programs, criminal justice initiatives, recovery housing, advocacy and training, and peer support networks.
   

4. Severe impact on smaller providers: Some community organizations (e.g., OCARTA) face cuts of nearly 70%, likely forcing closure of programs or entire operations, especially in rural areas.
   

5. Timing and rollout: Providers were given 30 days’ notice ahead of an Oct. 1 implementation date, catching many — including lawmakers — off guard. Legislators now have a month to decide whether to intervene, possibly through a special session or supplemental funding.

Brandi Vore, executive director of the Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery & Transformation Association, told NonDoc what this is going to do to her organization, and it’s not good. As the story’s headline reads, these cuts will directly affect thousands of Oklahomans.

Sad.

Please take 5 minutes and read NonDoc’s reporting on this development. It’s worth the time, and it’s important.

You can message me anytime at [email protected].

Weather Update ☀️

Rain chances return Friday, but Thursday would be a terrific day to get the yard mowed.

🌡️ Thursday's high in OKC 88°
🌡️ Thursday’s high in Tulsa 86°

Walters declines to show up for Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting

By Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice
Click here to read the story.
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OKLAHOMA CITY — With state Superintendent Ryan Walters a no-show, the Oklahoma State Board of Education took the unusual step of carrying out its own meeting Wednesday morning.

Officials and staff from six state agencies — but none from the Oklahoma State Department of Education — helped make the seven-minute meeting happen at the state Capitol. Typically the board meets at the Education Department with agency staff handling logistics.

A state Senate meeting room was teeming with spectators, reporters and lawmakers as four members of the seven-seat board waited to no avail for Walters, who typically chairs the board. 

Once the clock struck 10 a.m., the four present members — Mike Tinney, Becky Carson, Chris Van Denhende and Ryan Deatherage — called the meeting to order and voted to hire Oklahoma City attorney Ryan Leonard as their next board counsel, replacing Chad Kutmas who stepped down last month. They also voted to start the process to hire their next board secretary by posting the open position.

Two absent board members, Sarah Lepak and Zachary Archer, had scheduling conflicts with the atypical meeting date and time, Tinney said.

Walters’ office did not explain why he was absent. Instead, his spokesperson, Madison Cercy, said Walters “is focused on tackling the big issues facing Oklahoma schools and is pleased to welcome Ryan Leonard to the team.” 

However, a scathing statement from Attorney General Gentner Drummond puts the board’s action to hire Leonard in doubt. Drummond, who has the authority to approve or deny the board’s contract with an attorney, said Leonard is “woefully inadequate” for the position.

“The board’s decision to hire a politically connected attorney with little to no experience advising a state board is yet another example of the dysfunction that has plagued public education since Gov. (Kevin) Stitt first appointed Ryan Walters,” said Drummond, a Republican candidate to succeed Stitt as governor.

Click here to finish the story.

Education department forced to release key card data for Matt Langston

By Jennifer Palmer, Oklahoma Watch
Click here to read the story.
Donate to Oklahoma Watch

Texan Matt Langston has kept his campaign business running while collecting a six-figure salary as the Department of Education’s chief policy advisor, though he rarely comes into the office.

Langston badged into the department’s office on North Lincoln Boulevard on 27 days in 2023. In 2024, that dwindled to 11 days. And through June of this year, Langston worked in person on just four days, according to data obtained by Oklahoma Watch under the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

That’s just 42 days in the office since Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters hired Langston in January 2023 and issued a directive ending telework for the agency’s employees. 

“He is a ghost employee,” former state representative Mark McBride said after reviewing the findings.

Last year, McBride, along with other state lawmakers, asked the attorney general to investigate whether Langston was a ghost employee, which is a person on an organization’s payroll who does not actually perform the duties associated with their position. The attorney general declined to investigate.

Since 2023, Langston’s political consulting firm, Engage Right, worked for two Texas candidates, formed a political committee in Florida and sent campaign emails on Walters’ behalf.

Click here to finish the story.

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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:

• Demand for Oklahoma scholarship program could exceed funding, official says (Oklahoma Voice)

• Lobbyists spent hundreds of thousands in Oklahoma's legislative session. Here's where the money went (The Oklahoman)

• Gov. Kevin Stitt indicates state might clear homeless from state-owned properties in Tulsa (Tulsa World)

• No students injured after Oologah school bus involved in fatal crash with pick-up truck (News On 6)

• Could Oklahoma see remnants of Hurricane Lorena this weekend? (KOCO)

• Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to host open house announcing where south extension project will move (News 9)

• Lawmakers say no impeachment talks surrounding Supt. Walters (KFOR)

• Wagoner Co. deputies arrest man for allegedly hitting volunteer firefighter with car twice (Fox 23)

• More grocery options heading to north Tulsa (2 News Oklahoma)

• NVIDIA, Black Tech Street to advance AI education in Tulsa (The Black Wall Street Times)

• Oklahoma tobacco money board calls out unnamed corporations but has plenty of problems of its own (Oklahoma Voice)

• Tulsa expands Route 66 façade grant to newer buildings (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Two SW Oklahoma vocational schools receive national honors (KSWO)

• Lawton Constitution announces sale to Hilliary Communications (Lawton Constitution)

• Sharon-Mutual seeks $3.8 million bond (Woodward News)

• Logan County Free Fair is back through Sept. 6 with rodeo, carnival, and more (Guthrie News Page)

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