OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt said Wednesday that he wants to assure Oklahomans that services will continue to be delivered amid probes of financial problems at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. But he said hard questions need to be asked about how contracts were initiated with nonprofit providers and about how they are delivering on critical mental health services. Stitt made an initial call for an audit in early March after concerns about funding the department through the remainder of fiscal year 2025 were...

Fans of Tulsa’s iconic comfort food eatery Bros. Houligan can now get their chicken-fried steak and cream gravy fix in Broken Arrow at Houligan’s Corner. The restaurant at 22431 E. 71st St., Broken Arrow, opened Saturday. The owners Trent and Jessie Vallier licensed with Bros. Houligan, 4848 S. Yale Ave., so they are serving the same menu. Even some of the same kitchen crew came over to expand the brand to Broken Arrow. The hours at Houligan’s Corner are 4-9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday through...

All the talk about the city’s 911 dispatch system, the unrelenting demands on first-responders and the growing need for mental health services can get a little dizzying. On Monday, city leaders clarified the challenge and offered a way to make things better: They’re adding mental health clinicians to the 911 Center — five to be exact — ensuring that every hour of the day, every day of the week, 365 days a year, a mental health professional will be embedded to ensure that individuals experiencing mental health problems receive care...

If there is one thing necessary to keep a locally owned restaurant operating for half a century, Thomas Hunter, owner of Tulsa’s Ricardos Mexican Restaurant, believes he has a pretty good idea what it is. It’s not simply having on the menu unique, signature dishes available nowhere else, such as Ricardos’ chile rellenos, which have been a staple of the restaurant since its opening day, or its simple but addictive three-ingredient queso. Nor is it providing generous portions at affordable prices. For example, another popular Ricardos offering, the Ricardos Grande...

On April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City was rocked by domestic terrorism. A new Netflix documentary — “Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror” — is being released in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Premiering April 18, the documentary provides a chronological account of the chaos, shock and acts of courage that unfolded in the wake of the deadly attack while also delving into the investigation that found Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols to be responsible. Greg Tillman, who directed “Oklahoma City Bombing:...

Southwest Airlines and Tulsa International Airport announced daily nonstop service from Tulsa (TUL) to Nashville International Airport (BNA). The flight is 90 minutes. Southwest is the only commercial airline offering nonstop service between Tulsa and Nashville. In 2024, Nashville had 17.1 million visitors, a new record for the city and a 2% increase from the previous year. Tourism in Nashville is expected to continue growing, with projections estimating 18.1 million visitors by 2027, the year the new Nissan Stadium (future home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans) opens, and exceeding 20...

The commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services said Friday that she is working with three local mental health service providers to ensure that they can continue their work uninterrupted through the end of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. The statement from Commissioner Allie Friesen came a day after the Office of Management and Enterprise Services terminated the state's contracts with Grand Mental Health, Family & Children’s Services and CREOKS effective May 10.

The disarray surrounding state funding for mental health services continued Thursday. The day began with three of Tulsa County's four Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics receiving notice from the state that their contracts would be terminated effective May 10. By the end of the work day, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Office of Management and Enterprise Services issued a statement saying they would do everything they can to ensure that there are no interruptions in service. How that will be accomplished, however, remains...

The iconic music television series “Austin City Limits” is capping its 50th anniversary celebration with a special installment — “Austin City Limits Hall of Fame Honors Garth Brooks.” Recorded live at ACL’s studio home, ACL Live in Austin, Texas, the broadcast premieres 7 p.m. Saturday, May 3 as the capstone of the 50th season. The special will be available to stream online at pbs.org/austincitylimits . “Austin City Limits,” the longest-running music series in TV history, premiered on PBS in 1975. Brooks made his ACL debut in 1990 after the release...