Latest news with #Tulsa-area
Associated Press
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Graves Mclain Injury Lawyers to Host Free Back-to-School Festival With the Tulsa Drillers at Oneok Field to Support Local Students and Families
TULSA, OKLAHOMA / ACCESS Newswire / July 24, 2025 / Graves McLain Injury Lawyers is proud to announce the return of its annual Back-to-School Festival, this year held in partnership with the Tulsa Drillers at ONEOK Field on Sunday, August 10, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This free, family-friendly event helps Tulsa-area children and families prepare for the upcoming school year by providing backpacks, school supplies, snacks, and interactive activities - all while connecting families with vital community resources in a fun, festive Come join us and the Drillers at the ballpark for a fun family-friendly festival to kick off the 2025-2026 back-to-school season! The first 2,000 school-aged children in attendance will get to choose a free backpack to fill with essential school supplies, including notebooks, markers, colored pencils, pencils, pencil sharpeners, rulers, and folders (while supplies last). In addition to the backpacks and supplies, families will enjoy games, giveaways, special appearances, and access to a wide range of local organizations offering educational tools and community resources. The event is designed not only to ease the financial burden of the back-to-school season but also to bring the Tulsa community together. Local nonprofits, businesses, and service providers will be on-site hosting interactive activities and sharing information on free programs and support services available to families year-round. The goal is to create a space where parents and students can discover the many resources our community offers and begin the school year equipped, informed, and encouraged. Festival highlights include: 'At its heart, this festival is about giving Tulsa kids the tools and confidence they need to succeed in the classroom.' said Chad McLain, partner at Graves McLain Injury Lawyers. 'If we can help lift even a small burden for families during the back-to-school season and connect them with incredible resources available in Tulsa - that's a win. We're grateful for all our partners who are helping make this event possible.' 'This event is a great example of what can happen when local organizations come together with a shared purpose,' said Justin Gorski, Assistant General Manager and VP of Marketing for the Tulsa Drillers. 'Graves McLain, the Official Personal Injury Lawyers of the Drillers, has been an active and engaged partner, and it's clear how deeply they care about the Tulsa community. Hosting this event at ONEOK Field makes it even more special. Many of these families may have never stepped inside a professional ballpark before. To give them the run of the stadium, filled with support, joy, and opportunity, is truly powerful. We're proud to be part of something that helps local kids feel confident, celebrated, and ready for the school year ahead.' The back-to-school initiative is part of Graves McLain Injury Lawyers' long-standing commitment to serving Tulsa families. The firm originally launched its Free Backpack Program in 2016, with the mission to provide brand-new backpacks filled with supplies to as many Tulsa Public Schools students as possible. What began as a small, school-by-school donation effort has grown into a major annual event thanks to the vision of firm partners - Dan Graves, Chad McLain, and Rachel Gusman, the dedication of the entire Graves McLain team, and the support of every community partner involved. The firm is currently welcoming additional community partners and volunteers who want to take part in this impactful day. Local businesses, nonprofits, and service providers are invited to host tables, lead kid-friendly activities, or volunteer. For more information, or to sign up to get involved, visit Media are welcome to attend. Interview and photo opportunities with organizers, community partners, and attendees will be available throughout the event. View last year's event photos at and a sizzle reel at Post-event 2025 photo requests may be sent to Janina Dorman at [email protected]. About Graves McLain Injury Lawyers Founded in 2010, Graves McLain Injury Lawyers is Oklahoma's premier personal injury law firm, dedicated to fighting for those who have suffered serious injuries due to the negligence of others. With a focus on cases involving motor vehicle crashes, commercial truck accidents, defective drugs and medical devices, and medical malpractice, the firm has built a reputation for delivering exceptional results and compassionate advocacy. Backed by an 'AV' rating from Martindale-Hubbell-the highest distinction for legal ability and ethics-Graves McLain Injury Lawyers is committed to upholding the highest professional standards while aggressively pursuing justice for its clients. The firm has secured millions in verdicts and settlements, helping injured Oklahomans and their families rebuild their lives. At Graves McLain, every case matters. The firm's experienced attorneys provide the value, care, and justice that injury victims deserve, bringing comfort and peace of mind to families facing life's most difficult challenges. For more information, visit About the Tulsa Drillers The Tulsa Drillers baseball club is the Double-A affiliate of the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers and is Tulsa's oldest professional sports franchise. The Drillers play their home games at beautiful ONEOK Field, located in the Historic Greenwood District of downtown Tulsa. Many former Drillers players are currently stars in Major League Baseball including Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Will Smith and Nolan Arenado. For more information, visit Contact Information Janina Dorman [email protected] SOURCE: Graves McLain Injury Lawyers press release
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Under scrutiny, Oklahoma leader points finger for $43M deficit, contract cancellations
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Allie Friesen attends a meeting Thursday at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City with House lawmakers reviewing her agency's finances. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma's mental health department faces a $43 million deficit, and letters canceling some provider contracts were sent without the agency head's knowledge, the agency's commissioner said during a special legislative hearing Thursday. Oklahoma lawmakers questioned Commissioner Allie Friesen for hours amid reports of financial disarray at the Oklahoma State Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and outrage over provider contracts being 'cut' or 'canceled.' She was one of 11 witnesses called by the committee to testify under oath. Friesen, who was appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in January 2024, said her administration inherited a 'chaotic' situation and former agency leaders failed to make proper budget requests of the Legislature, leading to financial shortfalls. 'What this administration will not tolerate is, 'Make it look good and don't show anybody the bad,'' she said. The extent of the shortfall has been under question, as officials originally believed it was $63 million. Friesen said further investigation after the deficiency was initially brought to her attention found it was $43 million. Some providers who have contracts with the agency have said they received notice that their contracts were altered or terminated retroactively, meaning funds for services already provided may not come. Letters referenced 'incentive or bonus payments,' Friesen said, and some providers 'independently' decided to lay off staff and close facilities. 'As soon as I realized that those are functioning not as a bonus, but rather as a core component of care, we pivoted,' Friesen said. 'And we realized that we needed to quickly ask for a supplemental (appropriation), and we need to make sure that these providers have what they need.' The agency requested a $6.2 million supplemental appropriation Monday to ensure 'balanced budget and the continued delivery of essential behavioral health services' for the current fiscal year. It was unclear how the agency planned to fill the rest of the deficit. Other letters canceled contracts for three Tulsa-area certified community behavioral health clinics in relation to a protest to a request for proposal, or RFP. Friesen said these letters were sent by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services without her or her general counsel's knowledge. Christa Helfrey, a spokesperson for OMES, said in a statement after the hearing that the process has been reviewed to ensure there is 'no potential lapse in communication or services for Oklahomans' and the agency is 'committed to assisting all agencies with the procurement process.' Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, who chaired the special committee said there is 'an ongoing dispute' over the process for soliciting bids for services in the Tulsa area that some claim was unfair. He said notices of cancellation, effective May 10, from OMES were sent to Family and Children's Services, CREOKS Health Services, and Grand Mental Health, all of which are involved in the dispute. Tulsa District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler, who testified Thursday, questioned why all three cancellations were for providers in the Tulsa area and whether they were retaliatory against contractors who 'challenged' the agency's RFP. In its budget proposal this year, the Mental Health Department requested $569 million from the state Legislature for the 2026 fiscal year, a 48% increase from last year's appropriation. Friesen said the agency is working on an amended budget request to present to the Legislature. The Legislature must approve a state budget by the end of session in May. House budget chair Trey Caldwell, R-Faxon, previously told Oklahoma Voice the agency's past administration had been paying prior year bills with new money, and it caught up with them. The agency has several ongoing financial strains, including a recently approved consent decree expected to cost between $26 million and $45 million over three to five years, and the construction of a new inpatient behavioral health hospital that's $124 million over budget. Friesen reported Thursday that the agency has reduced the competency restoration waitlist to 154 individuals, which is a 33% reduction from the time the lawsuit that led to the settlement was filed. A total of four staff members left the agency in December and were asked, but 'not required,' to sign what Friesen referred to as both 'nondisclosure agreements' and 'settlements' during her testimony. The agency's former chief financial officer, Richard Edwards, previously told Oklahoma Voice he resigned under threat of termination and was being used as a scapegoat for the financial issues. The agreements did not resolve legal issues or complaints, Friesen said. Lawmakers requested to see the agreements, which Friesen said she will provide within the week, pending a review of their confidentiality. A handful of investigations into the agency have been requested, including to the state auditor, the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency, a 'special investigator,' and Thursday's special House committee. Ahead of Thursday's hearing, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said lawmakers weren't sure how it was going to end and just wanted to 'dig in' to find out 'what in the world is going on.' 'Let's get some answers,' Hilbert said. 'And obviously there's a lot of talk about the numbers, and that certainly matters, the budget matters. But we also have to talk about the people at the end of those numbers that are impacted by the decisions that have been going on.' Investigations from the state auditor, the House, and LOFT are all in communication and collaborative efforts, he said. He was unsure what the plans of the special investigator were. Commissioner Friesen on Thursday also briefly referenced an investigation from the Office of the Inspector General, a federal agency that's tasked with rooting out fraud, waste and other abuses and to improve Medicaid and Medicare efficiency. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Stitt said Wednesday that if the committee finds something that needs to be 'fixed,' he'll be the first to take action. He reiterated his stance that funding for the agency is not being cut and said some contracts were under review where the request for proposal process 'wasn't done accurately.' 'What you're seeing now is because (Allie) got rid of her CFO, and she got rid of, like, four or five of her lieutenants, and then everything started coming up,' he said. 'So sometimes, when you have people with agencies that have been there for 30, 40 years, they're moving the ball pretty good. They understand how this, how this building works, and they're paying every invoice so nobody squawks.' After meeting for over three hours, House lawmakers said they planned to continue the hearing next week. The Mental Health Department's interim chief financial officer, a former chief of staff, the director of the Legislature's fiscal oversight body, a few providers, and the purchasing director for the state will return next week to testify. Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel contributed to this story. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Multiple candidates join 2026 race to become state superintendent of public instruction
Two more candidates have filed paperwork with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to run for state superintendent of public instruction in 2026 and a third candidate has announced he'll also join the race. Ana Davine Landsaw, of Tahlequah, and Riley Williams, of Calera, joined current Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Rob Miller in formally filing paperwork to enter the race on the Republican side. Current state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, also a Republican, hasn't yet announced if he will be running for reelection, for another office or not at all. Landsaw said on her campaign website she grew up in Bristow and now works as the assistant director of the Alternative Certification for Educators (ACE) Institute at Northeastern State University, which provides training for career professionals transitioning into a teaching career. She said one of her campaign priorities is to provide an 'open forum' at the Oklahoma State Department of Education 'where all Oklahomans can access educational resources, receive professional development, and voice concerns freely without backlash.' She also wants to 'reclaim control of education by empowering local communities, educators and families to have a stronger voice in shaping policies that impact students.' According to her LinkedIn page, Williams spent more than five years with the Federal Aviation Administration, most recently as a radiation safety program manager. In December, she started the 'Innovating Education' podcast, with a focus on discussions on education reform, policy advancements and innovative teaching practices. Her campaign website notes she has 'two children who need extra educational support, including a son with Down syndrome.' Among her ideas to improve Oklahoma education are 'competency-based, personalized learning,' the thought that students should advance based on understanding and skill development, not seat time. Multiple Tulsa-area media outlets have reported that former Tulsa Public Schools board member Jerry Griffin also will run for state superintendent. Griffin sent out a press release saying, 'It's time to put education back in the hands of educators, strengthen our schools, and prepare students for a future of success.' It's unclear if Griffin, who served on the Tulsa school board from June 2020 through January 2024, is running for a party nomination or as an independent. As of Thursday, he hadn't yet filed campaign paperwork with the Ethics Commission. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 3 more candidates say they're entering race for state superintendent
