>>> WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF DIABETES AMONG OKLAHOMANS?

>> WE FIND THAT IN OUR FREE CLINICS, PROBABLY 70% TO 80% OF THE PATIENTS ARE BEING TREATED FOR DIABETIC CONDITIONS, SO IT'S A HUGE NEED.

>>> MORE CHILDREN BEING DIAGNOSED ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM EVERY YEAR.

>> WHEN YOU ARE A PARENT OF A CHILD OR YOUNG ADULT WITH AUTISM, IT ALSO FEELS LIKE YOU'RE ON AN ISLAND.

>>> HIS HIGH-FLYING PEERS BID A FOND FAREWELL TO AN OKLAHOMA HERO.

>> HE WAS INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH THE SPACE PROGRAM, SHARING HIS THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON NASA MISSIONS UNTIL THE VERY END OF HIS LIFE.

>>> NBA STAR TRAE YOUNG GIVING BACK TO HIS HOMETOWN OF NORMAN.

>> THAT TAKES US FROM A REGIONAL FACILITY TO A NATIONAL FACILITY.

TRAE YOUNG.

WE HIT THE LOTTERY, HIM GROWING UP IN NORMAN.

>>> OKLAHOMANS CAST THEIR EYES TO THE DARKENED SKIES.

>> TO HAVE IT RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA WITH TOTALITY IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA MAKES IT REALLY UNUSUAL.

>>> THOSE STORIES, PLUS AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE PROS AND CONS OF AN IN-DEMAND WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS, NEXT ON "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

I'M RICH LENZ.

THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM HAS BEEN STEADILY RISING SINCE THE 1990S, AND NOW ACCORDING TO THE CDC, AN ESTIMATED 1 IN 36 AMERICAN CHILDREN ARE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.

IT WAS 1 IN 150 IN 2000.

WITH MORE ON THE SITUATION HERE IN OKLAHOMA, WE'RE JOINED BY REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON.

TAELYR?

>> REPORTER: RICH, APRIL IS RECOGNIZED AS AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH.

THIS WEEK I SPOKE WITH AUTISM OKLAHOMA, AN ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ON THE SPECTRUM.

AUTISM OKLAHOMA STARTED AS A GRASSROOTS EFFORT IN 2002.

>> THE ORGANIZATION GOT STARTED VERY ORGANICALLY BY OUR FOUNDER, MELINDA LAUFFENBURGER, WHOSE DAUGHTER, JOY, HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM.

>> REPORTER: ABOUT 3% PARENTS REPORTED THEIR CHILD IT AUTISM BETWEEN 2016 AND 2019.

SHE LEFT A NOTE AT THE LIBRARY LOOKING FOR SUPPORT.

>> MEET HERE THURSDAY NIGHT AT 7:00, AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS THEY WERE HAVING HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES COME JUST SEEKING ANY KIND OF SUPPORT AND ANSWERS AND WHAT DO WE DO IN NETWORKING.

>> REPORTER: THAT'S WHERE COLLEEN CALLAHAN FIRST HEARD ABOUT AUTISM OKLAHOMA.

>> WE ALMOST JOINED THE GROUP WHEN IT STARTED AT THE LIBRARY IN EDMOND WAY, WAY, WAY BACK, BUT BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ACTIVE DUTY AND COULDN'T GET BACK UP THERE OFTEN ENOUGH, SO I LET IT DROP.

>> REPORTER: YEARS LATER, SHE GOT A CALL FROM SOMEONE THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH THE ORGANIZATION.

>> GOT A MESSAGE FROM DEAN LOES WHO ASKED IF I COULD COME IN AND DO A PANEL TO FIND OUT SOME OF THE NEEDS FOR A SCHOOL CHOICE OPTION.

SHE CREATED A HOME SCHOOL ART PROGRAM WHICH WAS PERFECT FOR MY SON, ALEX.

>> REPORTER: AUTISM OKLAHOMA OFFERS MULTIPLE ART PROGRAMS.

ONE OF THEM, DUETS, WAS FEATURED ON OETA'S "GALLERY AMERICA."

>> SO THE CONCEPTS OF OUR PROGRAM IS -- >> THREE, TWO, ONE.

ACTION.

>> REPORTER: THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OFFERS A FILM PROGRAM, "INADVISABLE LAYERS. "

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD CURTAINS.

>> REPORTER: CALLAHAN'S SON, ALEX GEDDES, JOINED "INVISIBLE LAYERS" LAST YEAR.

>> USUALLY WE WOULD START CHATTING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF IDEAS TO COME UP WITH FOR WHAT WE WANNA FILM, AND SOMETIMES WE JUST DO THE FILMING, SO YEAH.

>> REPORTER: ALTHOUGH THE AVERAGE AGE TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM IS 5, CALLAHAN WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN ADULT.

THAT LED HER TO JOIN THE FILM PROGRAM AS WELL.

>> FINDING THAT OUT, IT EXPLAINED A WHOLE LOT AND IT ALSO GIVES ME A LOT MORE INSIGHT OF, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> REPORTER: THIS WEEK, THE "INVISIBLE LAYERS" CREW ARE BRAINSTORMING ABOUT THEIR NEXT FILM PROJECT.

>> DOES ANYONE HAVE OFF OF THE TOP OF THEIR HEADS AN ADDITIONAL IDEA?

>> AT FIRST IT MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE MUCH.

WE USUALLY JUST PLAN THINGS OUT LIKE WE DO, BUT LEMME TELL YOU, IT'S MORE THAN JUST THAT.

WE DO SOME PROMOTIONAL STUFF FOR CERTAIN EVENTS LIKE THE PEACE WALK THAT WE DO.

>> REPORTER: AUTISM OR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER REFERS TO A GROUP OF RELATED BRAIN-BASED DISORDERS CHARACTERIZED BY CHALLENGES WITH SOCIAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS OR RESTRICTED BEHAVIORS OR THINKING.

>> PEOPLE ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM OFTEN HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC PASSION, AND WHAT WE DO IS BY GETTING TO KNOW OUR PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IS WE CONNECT THE SPECTRUM BY PUTTING PEOPLE WITH THOSE COMMON PASSIONS TOGETHER AND PUTTING SOME PURPOSE TO IT BY PUTTING A PROGRAM UNDER THEM.

>> REPORTER: THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS FOR A GROUP CAN VARY DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF INTEREST.

>> IT MAY HAVE 25 PARTICIPANTS.

IT'S JUST WHEN ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT WE CAN GET PULLED TOGETHER WITH THE PROPER RESOURCES AND STAFFING AND VOLUNTEERS AND EQUIPMENT, WHATEVER IT TAKES.

>> REPORTER: COMMUNITY IMPACT DIRECTOR STACEY WEDDINGTON SAYS "INVISIBLE LAYERS" BEGAN AFTER A GROUP OF AUTISM OKLAHOMA MEMBERS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN FILMMAKING.

>> SPENDING TIME WITH THEM.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE KEPT HEARING, "OH, I'D LOVE TO MAKE A MOVIE," AND YOU KNOW, "I'D LOVE TO BE STEVEN SPIELBERG," AND, "HOW COOL WOULD IT BE IF WE COULD JUST, YOU KNOW, IF I COULD WRITE A SCRIPT," AND SO WE PUT A PROGRAM TOGETHER UNDER THEM.

>> REPORTER: THE GROUP MADE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES AT A FEW INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVALS LIKE DEAD CENTER FILM FESTIVAL.

>> THEY HAVE MADE SOME CREATIVE FILMS THAT HAVE GONE ON TO WIN DEAD CENTER FILM FESTIVAL, BARE BONES FILM FESTIVAL, EYE CATCHER FILM FESTIVAL AND ACTUALLY A FILM FESTIVAL IN LOS ANGELES.

WE LOADED UP THE FILM CREW AND FLEW THEM TO L.A., RENTED A COUPLE OF AIRBNBS AND THEY WERE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THAT FILM FESTIVAL WHERE THEY WERE ACTUALLY AWARDED A TOP HONOR.

>> REPORTER: DURING THE YEAR, AUTISM OKLAHOMA MEMBERS MEET UP AT SOCIAL GROUPS.

CALLAHAN SAYS THE EVENTS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL FOR HER SON.

>> HAVING HIM GET THAT CHANCE TO BE WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE SPECTRUM, GIVING ME A CHANCE TO BE WITH OTHER PARENTS, PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR CHILD HAS NEEDS, THAT MAYBE A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OUT THERE DON'T HAVE.

THAT UNDERSTANDING, AND THAT INCLUSION MEANS THE WORLD.

>> WE STARTED A PROCESS BY WHICH THE INDIVIDUALS COULD KIND OF TELL US THEIR COMFORT LEVEL WITH A COLOR-CODED NAME TAG.

SO RED IS, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA STAND BACK AND WATCH.

I DON'T WANT YOU COMING, YOU KNOW, AND APPROACHING ME.

YELLOW WAS KIND OF A PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

>> REPORTER: WEDDINGTON ENCOURAGES OKLAHOMANS TO BE OPEN TO GETTING TO KNOW THOSE WHO MAY BE DIFFERENT.

>> SO JUST, JUST THE LITTLEST AMOUNT OF PATIENCE AND THE LITTLEST AMOUNT OF EMPATHY FOR ANYBODY, WHETHER THEY'RE OLDER OR THEY HAVE A PHYSICAL DISABILITY OR THEY'RE AUTISTIC.

>> REPORTER: AUTISM OKLAHOMA IS GEARING UP FOR THEIR ANNUAL PEACE WALK.

TULSA'S WALK WILL BE MAY 18th AND OKC WILL BE JUNE 1st.

>> TAELYR, THANK YOU.

>>> IF YOU DIDN'T CHECK OUT MONDAY AFTERNOON'S TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE, YOU'RE OUT OF LUCK UNTIL 2044.

ACTUALLY, 2045 HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

BUT FOR THOSE WHO DID DON THEIR SPECIAL GLASSES, THE COSMIC EVENT PRETTY MUCH LIVED UP TO THE HYPE.

THE PEAK OF THE SOLAR ECLIPSE OCCURRED AT ABOUT 1:45 IN THE AFTERNOON, AND TEMPERATURES REPORTEDLY DROPPED ABOUT FIVE DEGREES DOWN IN BROKEN BOW, WHICH WAS WITHIN THE PATH OF TOTALITY.

AND IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA, IT GOT DARK EARLY.

>> YOU KNOW, SEEING AN ECLIPSE IS ALWAYS A BIG DEAL.

THERE ARE ECLIPSES QUITE OFTEN, BUT THEY'RE USUALLY OVER WATER AND IN INACCESSIBLE PLACES.

SO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ONE IN SUCH A POPULAR POPULOUS AREA MAKES IT INCREDIBLY SPECIAL, AND TO HAVE IT RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA WITH TOTALITY IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA MAKES IT REALLY UNUSUAL.

HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, RIGHT AT THE MUSEUM WE'RE GETTING ABOUT 93.9% TOTALITY.

WE HAVE TONS OF ACTIVITIES AT SCIENCE MUSEUM OKLAHOMA TODAY FOR THE ECLIPSE.

SO WE HAVE ACTIVITIES IN OUR FRONT YARD, WHAT WE CALL IT, WHICH IS BY THE PARKING LOT.

WE CAN HAVE -- WE HAVE TELESCOPES TO WHERE ANYBODY CAN SEE THE ECLIPSE THROUGH OUR SOLAR TELESCOPE.

WE'RE BUILDING INDIRECT VIEWERS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THOSE SOLAR VIEWER GLASSES, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE ECLIPSE SAFELY.

>> ARE THE NEXT TOTAL ECLIPSE COMING TO PARTS OF OKLAHOMA IS EXPECTED TO BE ON AUGUST 12, 2025.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

>>> IN A WEEK THAT SAW THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMANS GAZING UP AT THE SKY, WE TAKE TIME NOW TO HONOR A MAN WHO TRAVELED INTO SPACE AND AROUND THE MOON DURING HIS REMARKABLE CAREER.

ASTRONAUT THOMAS STAFFORD WAS LAID TO REST IN HIS HOMETOWN OF WEATHERFORD LAST FRIDAY.

REPORTER ANDREW HARTSHORN WAS THERE AND HAS OUR REPORT.

♪♪ >> REPORTER: FRIENDS AND FAMILY GATHERED LAST WEEK TO HONOR THE LIFE OF GERALD THOMAS STAFFORD.

THEY LOVED HIM ALMOST AS MUCH AS HE LOVED THE SPACE PROGRAM.

>> HE WAS INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH THE SPACE PROGRAM, SHARING HIS THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON NASA MISSIONS UNTIL THE VERY END OF HIS LIFE, AND I'LL TELL YOU, I RECEIVED A WEEKLY PHONE CALL FROM TOM TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT I SHOULD DO.

TOM WAS A GENTLEMAN, AND HE WAS ALSO A DEAR DELEGATE.

HE FLEW OUR FIRST RENDEZVOUS IN SPACE ON GEMINI 6 AND PILOTED GEMINI 9'S PATH TO EARTH WITH A PENCIL AND PAPER, WHEN THE SPACECRAFT'S GUIDANCE COMPUTER FAILED IN ORBIT.

>> REPORTER: STAFFORD FLEW 130 DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIRCRAFT IN HIS CAREER.

IT COULD BE SAID THAT HE SPENT MORE TIME WITH HIS HEAD IN THE AIR THAN WITH HIS FEET ON THE GROUND, AND IT MAKES SENSE HE WOULD MEET A MAN WHO WOULD BECOME A CLOSE FRIEND, COSMONAUT ALEXEI LEONOV DURING THE APOLLO-SOYUZ MISSION MISSION IN 1975.

THEIR FRIENDSHIP SEALED WITH A HANDSHAKE 143 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH.

>> ON OCTOBER 19th, ALEXEI LEONOV PASSED AWAY.

HE HAD A FULL SPACE FUNERAL, FULL RUSSIAN FUNERAL.

THEY INVITED TOM STAFFORD TO COME TO THE FUNERAL.

THEY ALSO INVITED HIM TO PRESENT A EULOGY, AND TOM WENT.

HE PRESENTED A EULOGY IN RUSSIAN.

IN RUSSIAN.

HE DIDN'T NEED AN INTERPRETER.

THEY WERE SUCH GOOD FRIENDS, THEY COULD SPEAK TOGETHER IN ANY LANGUAGE, AND AT THE END OF THAT, TOM HAD A FEW REMARKS.

IN CONCLUDING, HE SAID, "FAREWELL, MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, ALEXEI.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU."

>> REPORTER: THE APOLLO-SOYUZ MISSION CEMENTED STAFFORD'S PLACE IN HISTORY AND INSPIRED OTHER ASTRONAUTS LIKE THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN IN SPACE, JOHN HERRINGTON.

>> WATCHING THE GUYS BACK IN THE '60s AND '70s, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE MY, THEY WERE MY HEROES.

I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD BECOME AN ASTRONAUT.

I NEVER DREAMED I'D BE, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERED A COLLEAGUE WITH THESE GENTLEMEN.

I WATCHED, YOU KNOW, BACK WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN.

>> REPORTER: JOHN HERRINGTON, AI WAS A YOUNG MAN.

>> REPORTER: JOHN HERRINGTON, A MEMBER OF THE CHICKASAW NATION AND WETUMKA NATIVE, ATTENDED AEROSPACE DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL, HOPING TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG OKLAHOMANS TO CONSIDER A SPACE EXPLOSION.

SPACE EXPLOSION.

I'VE BEEN FRIENDS WITH GENERAL STAFFORD SINCE I CAME BACK TO OKLAHOMA AFTER RETIRING FROM NASA.

HE HAS INVITED ME TO PRETTY MUCH EVERY EVENT HE'S HAD HERE IN THE STATE TO HONOR THE APOLLO PROGRAM, AS WELL AS APOLLO-SOYUZ, AND IT'S SAD CAUSE I KNOW HE WAS LIVING IN FLORIDA AS WELL AS HERE.

HE'S A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AND A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.

>> REPORTER: STAFFORD'S DISTINGUISHED CAREER INCLUDES BEING AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL SPACE MEDAL BY PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W.

BUSH AND RUSSIA'S ORDER OF FRIENDSHIP.

HE IS THE ONLY PERSON IN HISTORY TO RECEIVE BOTH AWARDS.

DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COLD WAR, TOM STAFFORD WAS TRUSTED TO HEAD THE AIR FORCE FLIGHT TEST CENTER, AND AT THE SAME TIME COMMAND THE MOST SECRETIVE U.S. MILITARY FACILITIES, AREA 51.

NASA ADMINISTRATOR AND FORMER ASTRONAUT BILL NELSON PROVIDED AN APT DESCRIPTION OF GENERAL STAFFORD BY COMPARING HIM TO THE SYMBOL OF THE NATION HE LOVED AND SERVED FOR MOST OF HIS ADULT LIFE.

>> THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES HAS AN EAGLE WITH SPREAD WINGS, AND ONE TALON IS A SHEATH OF ARROWS, AND IN THE OTHER, AN OLIVE BRANCH.

THE GREAT SEAL IS A METAPHOR OF TOM'S PUBLIC SERVICE.

HE TRAINED AS A WARRIOR.

HE LIVED AS A PEACE MAN.

>> REPORTER: GENERAL TOM STAFFORD WAS 93 YEARS OLD WHEN HE PASSED AWAY IN FLORIDA ON MARCH 18th.

ANDREW HARTSHORN, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> GREAT MAN, THANK YOU, ANDREW.

>>> BIG PHARMA CANNOT KEEP DRUGS LIKE OZEMPIC AND MOUNJARO AND OTHERS IN STOCK, AND WHILE THAT IS GREAT FOR THEIR BOTTOM LINE, DIABETICS WHO ARE PRESCRIBED THESE DRUGS CAN SOMETIMES HAVE A TOUGH TIME GETTING THEM.

AS YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD BY NOW, THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT, SEMAGLUTIDE HAS BEEN PROVEN TO HELP PEOPLE LOSE WEIGHT, AND THAT'S MAKING THEM VERY POPULAR.

THE PROS AND CONS OF THAT IS THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK'S "IN-DEPTH" CONVERSATION, COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

HERE'S A PREVIEW: >> PEOPLE WHO'VE NORMALLY BEEN ABLE TO GET IT THROUGH THEIR DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND PHARMACY WILL COME TO US, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET IT OR THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD IT, AND SO WE'VE NOT HAD HUGE ISSUES WITH SUPPLY, BUT AGAIN, WE WORK WITH A VERY REPUTABLE LOCAL, YOU KNOW, PHARMACY THAT'S BASED IN HERE IN AMERICA THAT WE KNOW THERE ARE STANDARDS, THEIR POTENCY TESTING ALL THE, ALL THE STANDARDS THAT THEY ADHERE TO.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO ALL THE OTHER PLACES THAT YOU COULD POTENTIALLY GET THE MEDICATION FROM, BUT CERTAINLY THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND IS, IS A FACTOR.

>> OVER IN THE LONG-TERM, IT'LL, IT'LL START TO DROP BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET THESE DRUGS EITHER BY INSURANCE OR BY JUST LACK OF PRODUCTION.

SO THE COMPANIES ARE ACTUALLY CREATING A HUGE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES CAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S NOT ON THE HORIZON.

SO, SO IN THE FUTURE, I THINK THEY'LL BE MORE AVAILABLE.

THE, THE QUESTION WILL ALWAYS BE THE COST.

>> THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

>>> NBA ALL-STAR TRAE YOUNG GREW >>> OZEMPIC WAS APPROVED AS A DIABETES TREATMENT SEVEN YEARS AGO AND ACCORDING TO THE LATEST OKLAHOMA DIABETES PREVENTION REPORT MORE THAN 390,000 ADULT OKLAHOMANS SUFFER FROM DIABETES, ABOUT 13% EVER OUR ADULT POPULATION.

CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW ON DIABETES AWARENESS DAY AT THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

>> REPORTER: RICH, THAT BREAKS DOWN TO ONE IN EIGHT ADULTS WITH TYPE 1 OR TYPE 2 DIABETES.

IT'S ESTIMATED MORE THAN 18,000 ADULTS ARE DIAGNOSED WITH THE CHRONIC ILLNESS IN OUR STATE EACH YEAR, MEANING IT'S A WAY OF LIFE FOR MANY OKLAHOMANS.

>> A STRAP IN THERE.

>> GOOD.

>> USE THAT STRAP?

>> REPORTER: IT'S SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND TIME FOR TAYLOR YOUNG AND HIS LIMP WIZARD'S BAND MAIDS TO PRACTICE FOR THE NEXT SHOW.

♪♪ NO MATTER HOW GOOD BAND PRACTICE GOES -- ♪♪ NEW ENGLAND HAS TO STAY ON TOP OF HIS BLOOD SUGAR BECAUSE HE HAS TYPE 1 DIABETES.

>> USUALLY I HAVE A SENSOR.

IF YOU HE DON'T HAVE INSURANCE AND TYPE 1 DIABETIC MINIMUM COST OUT-OF-POCKET IS $1200 TO $1500 A MONTH, JUST TO STAY ALIVE, NOT TO GET THE BEST TREATMENT YOU CAN GET.

>> REPORTER: CURRENTLY YOUNG CHANGED JOBS AND WAITING FOR HIS NEW INSURANCE TO KICK IN.

SO HE'S NOT WORRIED RIGHT NOW, BUT A FEW YEARS AGO, HE WAS STRUGGLING JUST TO AFFORD THE COST OF STAYING ALIVE.

HE'D LIKE TO SEE LAWMAKERS TAKE ACTION TO HELP THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE INSURANCE TO BETTER AFFORD THINGS LIKE INSULIN.

>> I REALIZED IN SOME STATES THEY PASSED LAWS THAT CAPPED THE PRICE OF INSULIN.

IT'S LIKE CLICK BAIT.

PEOPLE SEE THAT, THEY'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.

THEY DON'T INCLUDE A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S CAPPING THE PRICE FOR PEOPLE WITH INSURANCE.

>> REPORTER: THAT'S SOMETHING SENATOR KERRY HICKS WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE LEGISLATURE TAKE A POINT ITSELF.

>> A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE WERE ABLE TO CAP THE OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS FOR FOLKS WITH HEALTH INSURANCE.

UNFORTUNATELY IF YOU ARE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AND OKLAHOMA'S NUMBER ONE IN FOLKS PUT HEALTH INSURANCE, YOU'RE SUBJECTED TO THE LIST PRICE, $250 TO $300 FOR JUST A VIAL OF INSULIN.

>> HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU THINK IS IN HERE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF MONEY.

>> ONE OF THESE VIALS IN NOVALOG, A FEW OTHER BRANDS, FOUR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES THE SAME THING.

ONE OF THIS RETAILS OVER THE COUNTER WITHOUT INSURANCE FOR $365.

>> REPORTER: YOUNG HAS 50 ANTI-VIALS IN THE BAG, HE SPENT MORE THAN $18,000 TO FILL IT.

EACH VIAL OF INSULIN LASTS YOUNG ABOUT THREE WEEKS.

FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD THEIR INSULIN BECAUSE OF A LACK OF INSURANCE, THE HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR THE UNINSURED CAN HELP CONNECT THEM WITH RESOURCES.

>> WE HAVE A HIGH RATE OF UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS AND THE FREE CLINICS ARE SOMETIMES THE ONLY OPTION FOR INDIVIDUALS TO GET CARE AND WE PROVIDE SERVICES LIKE SPECIALTY CARE AND REFERRALS FOR SURGERIES, IMAGING, THINGS LIKE THAT, MEDICATION ASSISTANCE AND NAVIGATION, HELPING PEOPLE GET CONNECTED TO FREE CLINICS.

>> REPORTER: JANINE JONES IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE ALLIANCE AND NOTES QUITE A FEW OKLAHOMANS ARE USING THE FREE CLINICS.

>> IN OUR FREE CLINIC, 70% TO 80% OF THE PATIENTS ARE TREATED FOR DIABETIC CONDITION SO IT'S A HUGE NEED.

>> REPORTER: JONES AND HER ORGANIZATION WERE AT THE CAPITOL ON MONDAY TO TAKE PART IN THE LEGISLATIVE DIABETES ADVOCACY DAY.

SENATOR KERRY HICKS IS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE DIABETES LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS WHICH PUT ON THE EVENT.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD A LEGISLATIVE DIABETES ADVOCACY DAY.

IN THE LAST TEN YEARS WE'VE BEEN TO PIECE TOGETHER THE PIECE.

>> REPORTER: WHAT IS NOT CLEAR IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO.

TYPE ONE IS AN AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER WHICH MAKES A PERSON DEPENDENT ON AN OUTSIDE ORDER OF INSULIN.

>> TYPE 2 IS A RESISTANCE TO INSULIN, THROUGH LIFESTYLE BEHAVIOR, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, YOUR BODY DEVELOPS A RELUCTANCE TO PROCESS THE INSULIN THAT YOUR BODY IS PRODUCES.

TYPE 2 DIABETES CAN PROGRESS TO A POSITION WHERE YOU WOULD NEED INSULIN ADMINISTERED AS WELL TO STAY HEALTHY AND STAY ALIVE.

>> REPORTER: OBESITY CAN SERVE AS A WERE YOU CURSOR FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES.

IN OKLAHOMA MORE THAN HALF OF ALL NEW CASES ARE TYPE 2 DIABETES ARE RELATED TO OBESITY.

THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL ESTIMATES MORE THAN 1 MILLION OKLAHOMANS MAY BE PREDEMOCRATIC.

JANET WAS ON THE VERGE AND PREDIABETIC UNTIL SHE TOOK ACTION.

>> MY HIGH WEIGHT WAS 300 POUNDS AND FOR A 5'2" WOMAN IT'S TOO MUCH.

I HAD JOINT PROBLEMS, LIVER ISSUES.

>> REPORTER: SHE'S AN ADVOCATE WITH THE NON-PROFIT CALLED TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY FOR T.O.P.S.

THEY LOOK TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF PEOPLE'S LIVES BY CHANGING EATING HABITS.

AVOIDING DIABETES THROUGH DIET DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO HAVE KALE FOR EVERY MEAL.

>> WE EAT SENSIBLY.

I ATE MORE OF THE FOODS THAT ARE HEALTHY FOR ME THAT I LIKE AND LESS OF THE FEW THAT ARE LESS HEALTHY FOR ME.

I STILL EAT ALL OF THE FOODS I LIKE AND I LIKE ALL THE FOODS I EAT.

>> REPORTER: TAYLOR IS LOOKING TO WHEN HIS INSURANCE KICKS IN BECAUSE HE'LL BE ABLE TO TRACK HIS BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS MORE CLOSELY.

>> I'LL HAVE MY CGM, CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITOR BACK, I WEAR IT ON MY ARM AND CONNECTS TO MY PHONE.

I CAN SEE MY BLOOD SUGAR AT ALL TIMES.

>> REPORTER: THAT CAN KEEP YOUNG AND THE REST OF HIS BAND ROCKING ON.

♪♪ DIABETES IS A COSTLY CHRONIC DISEASE COSTING OKLAHOMANS $2.8 BILLION IN DIRECT MEDICAL EXPENSES A YEAR.

RICH?

>> JASON, THANK YOU.

>>> FOR A RECAP ON OTHER NEWS, WE BRING IN OUR CONTENT PARTNER, SEAN ASHLEY, THE PUBLISHER JOINS US FROM OUR OETA STUDIO IN THE CAPITOL.

LAWMAKERS SEEM DETERMINED TO BUILD A LARGE ARCH ON THE SOUTH END OF THE CAPITOL BUT SOME ARGUE THE MONEY COULD BE BETTER SPENT ELSEWHERE.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> REPORTER: A BILL MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE WOULD PROVIDE $4.3 MILLION TO BUILD THE ARCH THAT WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL PLANS OF SOLOMON LEYTON, WHEN HE DESIGNED THE CAPITOL MANY YEARS AGO ON THE SOUTH LAWN.

THE BILL HAS WORKED ITS WAY THROUGH THE SENATE TOURISM AND WILDLIFE COMMITTEE AND IS BEING HELD UP IN THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

THE ARCH WAS PART OF THE CAPITOL'S ORIGINAL PLAN AND EVEN RE-ENVISIONED WHEN WORK BEGAN ON RENOVATING THE CAPITOL; HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF COST, IT WAS REMOVED THEN.

THIS SEEMS TO BE THE THIRD OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO GET THAT DONE.

>> WONDER IF IT WILL EVER HAPPEN.

A SHUCKED BILL IS ADVANCING THAT WOULD ALLOW PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO HIRE CHAPLAINS.

EXPLAIN WHAT A SHUCKED BILL IS AND TELL US ABOUT THE STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL FROM DEMOCRAT LAWMAKERS.

>> REPORTER: THE SHUCKING OF A BILL TAKES PLACE WHEN A LAWMAKER REMOVES THE CONTENTS OF A BILL AND REPLACES IT WITH NEW LANGUAGE, AND USUALLY THAT NEW LANGUAGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE ORIGINAL BILL PROPOSED.

IN THE CASE WE ARE DISCUSSING, THE ORIGINAL BILL HAD TO DO WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS, VIDEO AND AUDIO GENERATED BY DROPS AND THE NEW BILL AS YOU SUGGESTED THE NEW LANGUAGE DEALS WITH CHAPLAINS SERVING AS SCHOOL COUNSELORS.

DEMOCRATS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BILL BECAUSE IT LACKS A LOT OF DEFINITIONS.

IT'S NOT DEFINED FOR EXAMPLE EXACTLY WHAT A CHAPLAIN IS AND EXACTLY WHAT THEIR ROLES WOULD BE IN THE CLASSROOM.

THEY OPPOSE THAT BILL IN COMMITTEE, WHICH NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE FLOOR, WHERE IT'S LIKELY TO FACE OPPOSITION AS WELL.

>> A FEDERAL COURT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., IS ASKING THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND GOVERNOR STITT.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

>> REPORTER: WELL, THIS INVOLVES A NEARLY 4-YEAR-OLD CASE FILED BY SEVERAL OF OKLAHOMA'S NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES ARE TRIBES AGAINST THE GOVERNOR RELATED TO COMPACTS THAT HE SIGNED WITH SOME OF THE SMALLER TRIBES AND SUBMITTED TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FOR REVIEW.

WHEN THE TRIBES FILED THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE GOVERNOR, THE GOVERNOR HIRED OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO REPRESENT HIM, AND SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND ATTEMPTED TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF THE STATE SAYING HE SHOULD BE REPRESENTING THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN THIS LAWSUIT.

THE GOVERN DISAGREES.

THE FEDERAL COURT ASKED THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT TO LOOK AT OKLAHOMA LAW AND DETERMINE WHO REPRESENTS THE STATE IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.

IT COULD HAVE SIGNIFICANT RAMIFICATIONS FOR CASES GOING FORWARD.

>> SEAN ASHLEY, THE GOVERNOR UNCAPPED HIS VETO PEN THIS WEEK.

GIVE US THE DETAILS.

>> REPORTER: YES, THE GOVERNOR VETOED SENATE BILL 1390, WHICH DEALS WITH PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS WHICH THE GOVERNOR DESCRIBED AS SORT OF THE MIDDLEMAN BETWEEN CONSUMERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES IN DECIDING THE VARIOUS BENEFITS THAT VADS ON INSURANCE PLANS WILL RECEIVE FROM THEIR FAMILY.

THE GOVERNOR WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THE DEFINITIONS OF THAT BILL OF "COVERED ENTITY" AND "PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGEMENT."

HE SAID COMPANIES THAT HAD SELF-FUNDED PLANS MIGHT BE CONSIDERED PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS UNDER THE BILL AND WOULD THEREFORE BE SUBJECT TO A LOT OF REGULATION THAT NORMALLY THEY WOULD NOT FACE.

HE SUGGESTED IF THE DEFINITIONS COULD BE IMPROVED, HE MIGHT BE WILLING TO LOOK AT ANOTHER BILL AND SIGN IT.

>> FINAL QUESTION, THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE WAS SCHEDULED TO CONSIDER 42 HOUSE BILLS ON WEDNESDAY BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WHY NOT?

>> REPORTER: THE SENATE WAITING ON THE HOUSE TLO PROVIDE AN OUTLINE ON THE BUDGET PLAN SO IT CAN SUBMIT IT TO THE PUBLIC.

IT APPEARS THE BILLS THEMSELVES WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS BECAUSE THE DEADLINE FOR THEM TO DO SO WAS THURSDAY.

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THEY DO WITH THE PROPOSALS THAT WERE IN THOSE BILLS IN TERMS OF PERHAPS SHUCKING OTHER BILLS AND STICKING THOSE IDEAS IN THEM.

>> VERY GOOD, SEAN ASHLEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> REPORTER: YOU'RE WELCOME.

>>> NBA ALL-STAR TRAE YOUNG GREW UP IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND HE'S NEVER FORGOTTEN THAT.

THE FORMER OU SHARPSHOOTER HAS TEAMED UP WITH THE CITY OF NORMAN TO CREATE A MECCA FOR YOUTH SPORTS.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US WITH A LOOK AT THE JUST-OPENED YOUNG FAMILY ATHLETIC CENTER.

STEVE?

>> REPORTER: RICH, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS 122,000-SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY CAN'T BE OVERSTATED.

NINE YEARS AGO, NORMAN VOTERS APPROVED A SALES TAX TO PAY FOR AN ATHLETIC COMPLEX AND A NEW POOL, BUT THANKS TO TRAE YOUNG AND HIS FAMILY, IT'S A LOT MORE.

A LOCAL LEGEND AND TRAE YOUNG'S FATHER.

TRAE'S ONLY BEEN HERE TWICE BUT HASN'T SEEN THE FULL SPECTRUM YET SO HE'S EXCITED.

I SENT HIM LOTS OF VIDEOS AND PICTURES.

>> REPORTER: TRAE YOUNG'S TALENT AND LOYALTY TO HIS HOMETOWN SHOULDN'T BE UNDERSTATED.

HE PLAYED AT OU FOR A YEAR.

WHEN YOU HAVE HIS KIND OF TALENT, YOU GO TO THE NBA.

THE TRAE YOUNG FAMILY FOUNDATION DONATED $4 MILLION TOWARDS THIS $42 MILLION FACILITY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF NORMAN, THAT OPENED A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH AGO.

THE YOUNG FAMILY ATHLETICS CENTER BOASTS EIGHT BASKETBALL COURTS WHICH CAN BE CONVERTED INTO 12 VOLLEYBALL COURTS AND THAT'S NBA QUALITY WOOD ON THE FLOOR.

NORMAND PARKS DIRECTOR JASON OLSEN SAYS NORMAN CITY VOTERS APPROVED A TAX INITIATIVE THAT WOULD BE AN INDOOR MULTISPORTS CENTER AND COMPOSITION SWIMMING POOL.

>> WE HAVE SWIM CLUBS, THE HIGH SCHOOL AND WE HOSTED OUR FIRST COMPETITION THIS PAST WEEKEND, A MASTER SWIM MEET IN THIS PAST WEEKEND.

>> REPORTER: WHEN THE YOUNG FAMILY FOUNDATION BECAME INVOLVED, HE SAYS THE DREAM GOT MUCH BIGGER.

>> THAT BRINGS, TAKES US FROM A REGIONAL FACILITY TO A NATIONAL FACILITY.

TRAE YOUNG, WE HIT THE LOTTERY.

HIM GROWING UP IN NORMAN, PARKS, YMCA, WENT TO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AT A REC.

CENTER.

WE'RE LUCKY TO HIT THE LOTTERY WITH TRAE AND NOW THAT'S HIT IT BIG, HE'S GIVING BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY.

>> REPORTER: THE FACILITY ALSO BOASTS NOT ONLY A COMPETITION SWIMMING POOL BUT ALSO A WARM WATER RECREATION POOL.

CECELIA BROWN IS A RETIRED OU PROFESSOR WHO SAYS SHE SWIMS THREE DAYS A WEEK.

MONDAY SHE TOOK A DIP IN THE POOL HERE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> IT WAS AWESOME.

IT WAS AWESOME.

A LITTLE LONELY, IT WAS ME AND ONE OTHER GUY BUT THAT'S OKAY, HAVING YOUR LANE TO YOURSELF IS AWESOME AND IT WAS THE TEMPERATURE WAS WONDERFUL.

THE LOCKER ROOM WAS CLEAN, NOT CROWDED.

IT WAS GREAT.

>> REPORTER: WHAT ALSO MAKES THIS PLACE UNIQUE IS A 26,000-SQUARE-FOOT NORMAN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM SPORTS AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE CENTER.

PRESIDENT AND CEO RICHIE SPLIT SAYS NORMAN'S REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND THE YOUNG FAMILY FOUNDATION MADE SENSE TO EVERYBODY.

>> WE'RE SITUATED RIGHT BETWEEN THE NATATORIUM SWIMMING POOL AND BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL COURTS AND OUR SERVICES ARE EVERYTHING FROM ORTHOPEDIC SPORTS MEDICINE SURGEONS TO PHYSICAL THERAPY TO ATHLETIC TRAINING TO SPORTS MEDICINE.

NEXT LEVEL SERVICES THAT INCLUDES FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE, THAT INCLUDES VERY SPECIFIC MOVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS, STRENGTH IMPROVEMENT, JUST OVERALL PERFORMANCE FOR EVERY LEVEL OF ATHLETE OR HUMAN WHO WANTS TO DO BETTER.

>> REPORTER: A NEARBY LOCKER ROOM HERE INCLUDES TRAE YOUNG'S LOCKER.

AND NOT FAR FROM TRAE YOUNG'S LOCKER IS THIS INFRARED SAUNA.

IT USES LIGHT AND HEAT INSTEAD OF STEAM.

IT'S A NEW THING IN THE SAUNA INDUSTRY AND A NEW ERA IN NORMAN.

>> HONESTLY, IT WAS TOUGH FOR OUR FAMILY AT THE TIME WITH TWO DAUGHTERS PLAYING VOLLEYBALL AND TRAE PLAYING BASKETBALL, WE WERE GOING SEPARATE DIRECTIONS AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ONE FACILITY IN NORMAN THAT COULD CATER TO BOTH, YOU KNOW, BOTH SPORTS AND ALSO YOU KNOW, THE NEXT KID THAT'S COMING UP IN THIS COMMUNITY MAY NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF MILES TO PLAY IN BIG BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS OR BIG VOLLEYBALL EVENTS.

>> SPORTS TOURISM, ESPECIALLY YOUTH SPORTS TOURISM, COULD SAY IT'S PANDEMIC-PROOF.

REMEMBER ALL THE STORIES, THE FIRST THING TO COME BACK ONLINE WAS YOUTH SPORTS.

PEOPLE WILL TRAVEL ANYWHERE, THEY SPEND A LOT OF MONEY DOING THAT, AND WE LOVE HAVING THAT MONEY COME TO NORMAN AND STAYING HERE AND THIS THING IS CRAZY.

YOU COME UP HERE ANY GIVEN WEEKEND AND THERE WILL BE A THOUSAND PEOPLE PLAYING BASKETBALL, SWIMMING.

THE PARKING LOT FOR HERE WILL BE FULL.

THE PARKING LOT NEXT DOOR AT THE NBC SUITES IS FULL AND YES, SPORTS TOURISM IS HUGE AND WE'RE HAPPY TO CRACK INTO THAT.

>> NOT ONLY THE LOCAL CONNECTION, BUT WE'RE GOING FAR BEYOND THE BORDERS OF OKLAHOMA.

>> REPORTER: I'LL BET WHEN YOU GET GAMES GOING IT'S EXCITING.

>> IT'S RAW CAWS.

THE PARENTS AND KIDS ARE LOVING IT.

WHAT'S IT LIKE, TO SEE TRAE YOUNG ON THE SCOREBOARD OR SEE YOURSELF FINISHING A PLAY ON A 74-FOOT-LONG SCOREBOARD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FACILITY.

>> THIS WOULD HAPPENED WITHOUT US.

IT WAS VOTED ON BY THE CITIZENS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GIVE A SMALL DONATION AND MAKE IT EVEN BIGGER AND MAKE IT A NATIONAL FACILITY, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THIS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> REPORTER: PARKS AND REC.

DIRECTOR JASON OLSEN SAYS THEY'VE DONE THE MATH AND THESE TOURNAMENTS AND 2 FNCHTS FULL HOTEL ROOMS MEAN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX REVENUES EACH YEAR.

RICH?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

QUITE A PLACE.

>>> THE PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS ORGANIZATION OR PBR UNVEILED ITS ALL HAVE TIES TO OKLAHOMA.

PAULO CRIMBER ENTERS THE PRESTIGIOUS RING OF HONOR.

FRANK NEWSOM WINS THE JIM SHOULDERS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.

TIFFANY OWENS, THE SHARON SHOULDERS AWARD, AND CASEY TIBBS WAS HONORED POSTHUMOUSLY WITH THE TY MURRAY TOP HAND AWARD.

>> IT'S OUR 32nd YEAR AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS OVER THE YEARS, BUT WE ARE EXPERIENCING A BIT OF A, A LITTLE CLIMB HERE IN POPULARITY AND HAVE SOLD OUT 33 EVENTS SINCE JANUARY.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT RUN, BUT CELEBRATING OUR HEROES, YOU KNOW, AND REMEMBERING THOSE THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS, A LOT OF ALL TO REALLY BUILD THE PBR INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY, AND THEN CELEBRATING THOSE PEOPLE NOT ONLY FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE ARENA, BUT FOR WHAT THEY BRING TO THE WESTERN LIFESTYLE AND KEEPING IT ALIVE AND PROMOTING IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> AND IT WOULDN'T BE THE PBR WITHOUT INDUCTING A BULL, TOO.

THAT HONOR GOES TO THE LEGENDARY SMOOTH OPERATOR, WHO PROBABLY WASN'T SO SMOOTH TO TRY AND RIDE.

>>> THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS UP IN 75 OF OKLAHOMA'S 77 COUNTIES YEAR-TO-YEAR.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S "OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW" WITH JASON DOYLE.

>> REPORTER: IT SEEMS MORE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA THAN ANY OTHER PART OF THE STATE.

THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN OUR STATE IS IN McINTOSH COUNTY WITH 6.7%, FOLLOWED BY SEMINOLE COUNTY WITH 6.1%, HASKELL COUNTY AT 6%, LATIMER COUNTY AT 5.9% AND PITTSBURG COUNTY AT 5.6%.

DEWEY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA HAS THE LOWEST COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AT 2.4%.

THE STATEWIDE UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURE IS AT 3.6%.

OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND FILED THIS WEEK THE FIRST LAWSUITS AGAINST NATURAL GAS MARKETERS.

HE'S ACCUSING OF MANIPULATING PRICES DURING WINTER STORM URI IN FEBRUARY 2021.

OHE ALLEGES ENABLING ENTITIES NOW KNOWN AS E.T.

GATHERING AND PROCESSING DUE TO A MERGER, AND SYMMETRY ENERGY SOLUTIONS USED A VARIETY OF TACTICS TO DRIVE UP THE INDEX PRICES.

DRUMMOND INDICATES OTHER COMPANIES MAY FACE LAWSUITS AS WELL.

>>> OKLAHOMA CITY BASED VIGILANT AEROSPACE IS NOW THE STRATEGIC PARTNER TO DRONE PORT NETWORK.

VIGILANT WILL PROVIDE ITS DETECT AND AVOID AND AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE FOR UNCREWED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS FOR ITS NEW PARTNER'S DRONE PORTS AS THEY ARE DEVELOPED.

CALLED FLIGHT HORIZON, THE SOFTWARE PROVIDES AIRSPACE MANAGERS WITH A VIEW OF ALL AIRCRAFT IN SELECTED AIR SPACE, HELPING TO PROVIDE SAFE FLIGHT CONTROL FOR DRONES AND UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS.

JASON DOYLE, "THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW."

>> JASON, THANKS.

>>> A DRUG CALLED SEMAGLUTIDE HAS PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN HELPING PEOPLE LOSE WEIGHT, AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE BEEN PRESCRIBED DRUGS LIKE OZEMPIC AND MOUNJARO TO DO THAT.

HOW DO THEY WORK?

ARE THEY SAFE?

AND WHY IS THERE A SHORTAGE?

ALL GOOD QUESTIONS THAT MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD WILL ATTEMPT TO ANSWER WITH HER PANEL OF GUESTS IN THIS WEEK'S "IN-DEPTH" DISCUSSION.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

HERE TO DISCUSS THE PROS AND CONS LIKE OZEMPIC IS DR. JACOB E. FREEDMAN, DIRECTOR OF THE HAROLD HAMM DIABETES CENTER AND DARA STEWART, A REGISTERED NURSE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

SO FIRST OFF, DR. FREEDMAN, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THESE MEDICATIONS AND DO YOU SEE THEM AS THIS REMARKABLE LIFE-CHANGING NEW TREATMENT FOR DIABETES?

>> WELL, TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, IT'S BEEN A GAME-CHANGER IN ENDOCRINOLOGY FOR DIABETES.

THEY WERE DEVELOPED PROBABLY AROUND TEN YEARS AGO FOR TREATMENT OF DIABETES AND THE EFFECTS OF WEIGHT LOSS HAVE PROVEN REMARKABLE IN MANY, MANY WAYS.

SO IT'S REALLY CHANGED THE TREATMENT PARADIGMS THAT WE'VE HAD FOR DIABETES, AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOW COMING TO THE FOREFRONT ABOUT THE USE OF THESE DRUGS.

SO I WOULD SAY IT'S REALLY A GAME-CHANGER.

>> DARA, YOU'RE PRESCRIBING THESE MEDICATIONS DIRECTLY TO PATIENTS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CRITERIA ONE STARTS TO TAKE OZEMPIC OR OTHER WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS?

>> WE ARE A CASH PAY AND NOT INSURANCE BASED SO WE AREN'T GOVERNED BY THE RULES OF INSURANCE BUT WE WANT TO SEE PEOPLE WITH A BMI ABOVE 30 OR IF THEIR BMI IS ABOVE 25, THEY HAVE SOME OTHER COMORBIDITY, HYPERTENSION, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, BUT WE REALLY DO SEE PEOPLE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS, BUT THAT'S A GENERAL GUIDELINE AS FAR AS IF YOU'RE MEDICALLY OBESE OR MEDICALLY OVERWEIGHT ARE THE TYPES OF PATIENTS THAT WE TYPICALLY TREAT.

HOWEVER, WE DO TREAT PEOPLE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS >> DOCTOR, CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW OZEMPIC AND OTHER WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS WORK ON THE BODY AND THE BRAIN?

>> WELL, WE ONLY HAVE TEN MINUTES.

I'LL TRY AND ENCAPSULATE.

SO ORIGINALLY THEY ARE DIABETES DRUGS.

YOU HAVE A MEAL AND DON'T PRODUCE ENOUGH INSULIN.

YOUR BLOOD SUGAR IS TOO HIGH.

TAKING THESE DRUGS ALLOWS THE PANCREAS TO RELEASE MORE INSULIN SO IT LOWERS YOUR BLOOD SUGAR DURING A MEAL.

WHAT WAS KEY IS THAT IT DOESN'T CAUSE LOW BLOOD SUGAR AS A COMPLICATION OF DIABETES MEDICATION.

SO THAT BEING SAID, IT WORKS NOT ONLY ON THE PANCREAS BUT ALSO ON THE BRAIN, WHICH IS REALLY CRITICAL FOR WHERE THINGS ARE TODAY, SO THE WEIGHT LOSS EFFECTS CAME ABOUT BECAUSE WE DISCOVERED THAT THE RECEPTORS FOR THIS HORMONE CREATE SATIETY AND YOU LOSE THAT SIGNAL WHEN YOU HAVE DIABETES OR OBESITY.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU'RE FULL.

YOU HAVE A HARD TIME CONTROLLING YOUR APPETITE AND WEIGHT.

OBESITY DRIVES THE PANCREATIC AFFECTS THAT CAUSE DIABETES.

YOU CAN GET A TWO-FOR-ONE, RELEASE MORE INSULIN, LOWER BLOOD SUGAR AND THE FEELING OF FULLNESS IS REALLY CRITICAL FOR HOW THESE DRUGS WORK IN THE LONG RUN TO CAUSE APPETITE SUPPRESSION AND THEREFORE WEIGHT LOSS, AND AS WE KNOW, BEING OVERWEIGHT CAUSES A LOT OF OTHER COMPLICATIONS, NOT JUST DIABETES SO HYPERTENSION, KIDNEY DISEASE AND OTHER FACTORS THAT REALLY DRIVE THE HEALTH CARE COSTS UP.

SO NOW WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THESE DRUGS IS THEY'VE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN CLINICAL TRIALS NOT JUST TO TREAT DIABETES BUT TO TREAT OTHER DISORDERS, PARTICULARLY HYPERTENSION NOW AND EVEN THE RISK OF HEART ATTACKS FOR PATIENTS WITH DIABETES AND HIGH-RISK CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

THOSE COMPLICATIONS ARE BEING MET BY THIS DRUG WHICH WE ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED JUST TO LOWER YOUR BLOOD SUGAR.

SO THAT'S WHY WE SAY IT'S BEEN A GAME-CHANGER WITH THESE OTHER EFFECTS THAT HAVE COME ABOUT THAT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING >> DARA, AS WE'RE SEEING THIS SURGE IN PEOPLE TRYING TO GET A HOLD OF THESE WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS, ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS THAT YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BEFORE STARTING TO TAKE THEM?

>> THE MOST COMMON ARE NAUSEA, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF CONSTIPATION, SLOWING DOWN THE BOWELS, BUT ALL OF THAT'S REALLY THINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH.

SOME OF THE MAIN WARNINGS HAVE BEEN A POTENTIAL FOR A THYROID CANCER, WHICH WE'VE NEVER SEEN IN PRACTICE BUT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WARN EVERYONE ABOUT AND CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT ANYONE AT INCREASED RISK WHO HAD THAT HISTORY IN THEIR FAMILY AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE ASKING THE PANCREAS TO DO MORE, IT CAN GET A LITTLE ENFLAMED SO THAT'S A POTENTIAL RISK FACTOR BUT AGAIN SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN ONCE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS SO NOT SPEAKING FROM AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY BUT BY AND LARGE THEY'RE SAFE MEDICATIONS FOR THE LAST TEN OR SO YEARS IN DIABETICS SO YEAH.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER BUT FOOD CHATTER, FOOD NOISE.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE TERMS.

>> YES, SO WHAT I HEAR FROM MY PATIENTS OFTEN IS THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT FOOD LIKE THEY NORMALLY WOULD.

FINISH ONE MEAL, PLANNING THE NEXT, PLANNING YOUR SNACK, THINKING ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GO AND STOP AND DRIVE THROUGH AND ORDER OUT.

JUST NOT HAVING TO THINK ABOUT FOOD ALL THE TIME AND REALLY REFRAMING THAT FOR PEOPLE OF THINKING ABOUT FOOD AS FUEL AND NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT WE, JUST BECAUSE IT SOUNDS GOOD OR FEELS GOOD OR TASTES GOOD, BUT THINKING ABOUT WHAT AM I PUTTING IN MY BODY AND WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS LONG-TERM AND SO AS PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SILENCE THAT FOOD NOISE AND THE CONSTANT THINKING AND CRAVING FOODS, THEY'RE REALLY ABLE TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.

I HEAR ALL THE TIME "I CRAVE SALAD.

I DON'T LIKE FISH BUT NOW I WANT TO EAT FISH.

"THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY THAT IT WORKS THAT HELPS PEOPLE MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.

>> DR. FREEDMAN, WHERE WOULD YOU SAY THESE DRUGS HAVE BECOME SO POPULAR IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND IS THERE A SHIFT IN PERSPECTIVE OF HOW DOCTORS ARE TREATING OBESITY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THAT QUESTION I WANT TO MENTION ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS JUST A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE MISUSED OR NOT USED UNDER A PHYSICIAN'S GUIDANCE, YOU CAN HAVE SOMETHING CALLED GASSTEROPAREISIS, THE FILLING OF THE BOWEL AND THE INABILITY TO MOVE FOOD, SO IF YOU RAMP UP TOO QUICKLY OR YOU'RE OVERUSING THEM, THAT'S A CONDITION THAT ACTUALLY IS VERY CONCERNING TO PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND USING IT UNDER A IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT PEOPLE WHO LOSE WEIGHT ON THESE DRUGS, THEY ALSO LOSE LEAN BODY MASS OR MUSCLE MASS.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN AGING PERSON, SOMEBODY LIKE ME OVER 60, I NEED ALL THE MUSCLE I CAN KEEP.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, I MET SOME PEOPLE ON THE DRUG WHO HAVE HAD SUCCESS LOWERING THEIR BLOOD SUGAR BUT SOMEONE FOR EXAMPLE SAID TO ME, I USED TO BE ABLE TO WATER SKI BUT I LOST SO MUCH MUSCLE MASS THAT I'M NO LONGER ABLE TO DO THAT.

COMPANIES ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THEY CAN STOP THAT PART OF THE PROCESS.

SO THERE ARE SOME COMPLICATIONS TO USING IT THAT YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, AS WAS DISCUSSED, THE ABILITY TO NOT CRAVE FOOD AND YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR APPETITE AND ALSO BEEN SHOWN TO WORK FOR THINGS LIKE SMOKING OR ALCOHOL.

SO IN ANECDOTAL STUDIES WE FIND THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADDICTIONS JUST SOME OF THE SAME CHEMICALS THAT CAUSE FOOD ADDICTION CAN BE REVERSED OR PREVENTED WITH THESE DRUGS, SO IF YOU'RE WANTING TO STOP SMOKING OR WANTING TO STOP ALCOHOL USE, THERE MIGHT BE A PLACE FOR THAT AS WELL, WHICH AGAIN JUST CREATES ANOTHER WORLD OF PATHWAYS THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND BETTER ABOUT WHY DOES THIS FOOD SENSING ACTUALLY WORK FOR THESE OTHER DISORDERS THAT ARE VERY COMMON.

>> IF WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS SHORTAGE OF MEDICATION THAT WE'RE SEEING.

DARA, THE SOARING DEMAND AGAIN LED TO THIS NATIONAL SHORTAGE.

ARE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP, AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING DIRECTLY FROM YOUR PATIENTS ABOUT THE SHORTAGE?

>> YES, IT DEFINITELY COMES AND GOES.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WHO HAVE NORMALLY BEEN ABLE TO GET IT THROUGH THEIR DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND PHARMACY WILL COME TO US, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET IT OR THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD IT, AND SO WE'VE NOT HAD HUGE ISSUES WITH SUPPLY, BUT AGAIN, WE WORK WITH A VERY REPUTABLE LOCAL, YOU KNOW, PHARMACY THAT'S BASED IN HERE IN AMERICA THAT WE KNOW THERE ARE STANDARDS, THEIR POTENCY TESTING, ALL THE, ALL THE STANDARDS THAT THEY ADHERE TO.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO ALL THE OTHER PLACES THAT YOU COULD POTENTIALLY GET THE MEDICATION FROM, BUT CERTAINLY THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND IS, IS A FACTOR.

>> DOCTOR, WE ARE HEARING FROM PATIENTS LIKE DARA, THEIR INSURANCE WON'T COVER THEM, THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEM.

IN YOUR OPINION, DO YOU THINK THE WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS SHOULD BE COVERED BY INSURANCE AND MORE PARTICULARLY MEDICARE?

>> RIGHT, THAT'S A HOT TOPIC, BECAUSE IT ESTIMATES THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD GET THESE DRUGS AND HAVE MEDICARE COVERAGE WOULD BANKRUPT THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE HAVING HAPPEN.

THE CONCEPT IS IT WILL COME DOWN.

AS MORE ANALOG, MADE T WILL BE MORE AVAILABLE AND I THINK OVER IN THE LONG-TERM, IT'LL, IT'LL START TO DROP BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET THESE DRUGS EITHER BY INSURANCE OR BY JUST LACK OF PRODUCTION.

SO THE COMPANIES ARE ACTUALLY CREATING A HUGE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES CAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S NOT ON THE HORIZON.

SO IN THE FUTURE, I THINK THEY'LL BE MORE AVAILABLE.

THE, THE QUESTION WILL ALWAYS BE THE COST.

>> DR. JACOB FREEMAN AND DARA STEWARD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

JOINING ME FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS IS ANDY CAMPBELL, A REVEREND AT THE YALE AVENUE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN TULSA AND CURRENTLY TAKING OZEMPIC.

CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCES ABOUT TAKING OZEMPIC?

>> CERTAINLY.

I WAS FIRST PRESCRIBED OZEMPIC ABOUT THE TIME THAT IT CAME OUT.

I AM A POST WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY PERSON, SO THIS HAS BEEN A WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY ADVENTURE BECAUSE I'M A TYPE 2 DIABETIC.

THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL REASON FOR OZEMPIC COMING OUT ON THE MARKET TO CONTROL BLOOD SUGARS.

SO YEARS I'VE BEEN TAKING IT AND SO I AM GLAD TO BE ON IT.

MY BLOOD SUGARS ARE UNDER CONTROL.

BEFORE THE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY, I USED TO TAKE QUITE A BIT OF INSULIN AND I DON'T TAKE ANY INSULIN ANYMORE, SO FOR ME, IT'S BEEN KIND OF A GODSEND TO HAVE NOT JUST THE SURGERY, THE WEIGHT LOSS BUT OZEMPIC HELPED WITH THAT A COUPLE WITH A NUMBER OF MEDICATIONS.

>> YOU DON'T TAKE INSULIN AT ALL?

>> NO, I USED TO TAKE 90 UNITS A DAY.

>> I SAW THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES.

HOW MUCH WEIGHT DID YOU LOSE?

>> MY PEAK WAS 300 POINTS AND CURRENTLY JUST A LITTLE OVER 150.

>> THAT'S CRAZY.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO YOU LOSE THE WEIGHT, NOT INCLUDING THE SURGERY?

>> OH, GOSH, THAT'S BEEN ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO THAT I WAS AT THAT WEIGHT AND THE SURGERY HELPED RIGHT AWAY.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN AMAZING THING.

I WAS GRATEFUL FOR THAT, AND MEDICATIONS, A LOT OF EXERCISE.

I RAN A HALF MARATHON AT ONE POINT AND THINGS THAT I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE ABLE TO DO AND WHEN OZEMPIC CAME OUT, MY DOCTOR SAID THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO CONTINUE TO HELP YOU OUT.

IRONICALLY, SHE DID INFORM ME, SHE SAID, BY THE WAY, YOU MIGHT LOSE A LITTLE MORE WEIGHT.

AND THAT'S THE THING.

SHE SAID, THAT MIGHT BE A POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECT.

ALL'S I KNEW, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP CONTROL THINGS IN MY LIVER TO HELP MY BLOOD SUGARS AND HELP ME LIVE LONGER, BE HEALTHIER, ALL OF THOSE GOOD THINGS.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIDE EFFECTS YOU NOTICED?

>> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, WEIGHT LOSS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT I HAVE LOST MORE WEIGHT.

I MOVED TO TULSA ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO AND I WEIGHED ABOUT 190 POUNDS THEN, ON OZEMPIC, SHORTLY, FOUR-PLUS YEARS AGO I THINK IS WHEN I GOT ON IT, AND CONTINUED WEIGHT LOSS.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF NAUSEA THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH IT, BUT THAT WAS HAPPENING AFTER THE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY ANYWAY.

I THINK ANYBODY WITH MY EXPERIENCE WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE CAREFUL, PARTICULARLY WITH ORGANIZATIONS, AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU DO, BUT FOR ME, IT'S BEEN A VERY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE, AND NOW THAT IT'S IN THE NEWS, IT'S BEEN KIND OF INTERESTING THAT YOU KNOW, FINDING OUT THAT THIS THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS SIMPLY FOR CONTROL OF MY DIABETES NOW THIS MEDICATION AND OTHERS LIKE IT ARE BEING MARKETED FOR WEIGHT LOSS.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE NATIONAL SHORTAGE WE'RE SEEING.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY ISSUES GETTING A HOLD OF YOUR MEDICATION?

>> I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT MY WIFE HAS VERY GOOD INSURANCE THAT CARRIES ME AND SO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE, HAVEN'T HAD ANY INTERRUPTIONS AND THE SHORTAGE OF COURSE IS BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR IT FOR THE WEIGHT LOSS.

I DID RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION FROM THE PHARMACY WITH THE LAST SHIPMENT THAT I HAD, WHICH WAS THREE MONTHS' WORTH THAT SAID THE COUPON THAT HAD BEEN APPLIED, WHICH I HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS A COUPON BEING APPLIED, IS GOING TO RUN OUT.

WE'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR COSTS AND OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

SO WHO KNOWS?

IT MAY BE THAT THIS IS A DRUG THAT, BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE ARE WANTING IT FOR ANOTHER PURPOSE, BUT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TAKING IT FOR THE PURPOSE I'D ORIGINALLY HAD.

>> ANDY CAMPBELL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, CASSIDY.

>> CASSIDY, GREAT JOB, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> IF YOU'RE A BABY BOOMER OR OLDER, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOU OCCASIONALLY FIND YOURSELF TECHNICALLY CHALLENGED BY THE LATEST ADVANCES IN COMPUTERS, BUT AS YOU AGE, KNOWING HOW TO USE A TABLET OR SMARTPHONE CAN LITERALLY BE A LIFESAVER.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE TRAVEL TO THE PALMETTO STATE TO LEARN MORE IN THIS REPORT FROM OUR PBS PARTNERS AT SOUTH CAROLINA ETV.

>> I WAS BORN IN THE UNIVERSE 1926 AND I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THE EASTOVER COMMUNITY ALL MY LIFE, AND I HAD TEN CHILDREN.

I RAISED SEVEN OF MINE AND TWO GRANDCHILDREN.

I WAS ALL MY LIFE AND STILL BEING BUSY AT WHAT I CAN DO.

>> REPORTER: SHE HAS ARTHRITIS IN HER HANDS AND RELIES ON A WHEELCHAIR TO GET AROUND.

SHE'S NO LONGER ABLE TO DO SOME OF HER FAVORITE HOBBIES LIKE SEWING QUILTS OR CRAFTS OR TENDING TO THE GARDEN BUT STILL DOES WHAT SHE CAN TO STAY ACTIVE.

>> I STILL COOK.

I LIKE BOILED POTS.

I LIKE PEAS AND BEANS AND OKRA AND CABBAGE AND SPINACH.

I MAKE BISCUITS.

I LOVE MY BISCUITS.

>> REPORTER: BESIDES COOKING SHE SPENDS TIME ON HER TABLET.

SHE ENJOYS KEEPING ONE RELATIVES THROUGH FACEBOOK AND PLAYS GAMES THAT KEEP HER MIND ENGAGED.

>> IF YOU DON'T DO THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU SOON GO DOWN.

>> REPORTER: SINKLER SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP LEARNING ESPECIALLY AT HER AGE.

SHE BELIEVES STAYING ACTIVE HELPS PROTECT SENIORS FROM DEMENTIA AND OTHER HARMFUL CONDITIONS.

THAT'S WHY SHE DECIDED TO TAKE A DIGITAL LITERACY CLASS BACK IN 2021.

THAT CLASS HOSTED BY PALMETTO CARE CONNECTIONS IS WHERE SHE LEARNED HOW TO NAVIGATE HER TABLET, EXPLORE THE INTERNET AND USE TELEHEALTH.

>> WHEN COVID BEGAN, WE STARTED PCC'S DIGITAL LITERACY INCLUSION PROGRAM AND WHAT WE WERE DOING WAS TEACHING DIGITAL LITERACY SCHOOLS.

WE HAD MEMBERS CALL OUR OFFICE SAYING I HAVE A TELEHEALTH VISIT WITH MY DOCTOR BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, HOW DO I DO IT?

WHERE DO I GO?

FOR US, IT STARTED OUT TEACHING FOLKS HOW TO DO TELEHEALTH VISITS BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO USE A DEVICE.

THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET.

>> HOW ARE YOU DOING, CAROL?

>> I LIKE BEING WITH OTHER PEOPLE, FOR ONE, AND I LIKE WHAT THEY TAUGHT ON THE TABLET.

>> REPORTER: THE CLASS COVERED HOW TO CREATE AN EMAIL ADDRESS AND A PASSWORD, ALSO HOW TO SEARCH ON GOOGLE.

SHE SAYS THE ONE TOPIC SHE ENJOYED MOST WAS SOCIAL MEDIA.

SHE LEARNED HOW TO SAFELY USE SITES LIKE FACEBOOK WITH HER CHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN SCATTERED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

FACEBOOK HAS HELPED HER STAY IN TOUCH.

CATHY SAYS TEACHING SENIORS HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA AND FACETIME CUTS DOWN ON THE ISOLATION THEY MAY FEEL AT HOME.

>> DURING THE PANDEMIC, ONE POPULATION THAT SUFFERED THE MOST WERE THE SENIORS.

THEY DID NOT LEAVE THEIR HOME.

THEIR KIDS AND THEIR GRANDKIDS DIDN'T WANT TO COME OVER AND VISIT, THEY WERE AFRAID THEY'D GET THEM SICK.

THEY WERE VERY ISOLATED.

ISOLATION LEADS TO DEPRESSION.

DEPRESSION LEADS TO POOR OUTCOMES.

SENIORS WERE A HIGH-RISK GROUP WE WANTED TO TARGET.

THEY TAUGHT THEM HOW TO USE ZOOM SO THEY COULD CONNECT TO THEIR CHURCH FAMILY AND ATTEND CHURCH SERVICES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE TAUGHT THEM HOW TO USE FACETIME SO THEY COULD FACETIME KIDS AND GRANDKIDS AND BRINGING LIFE BACK TO THEM.

>> EVERYTHING'S NEW, AND YOU GOT TO LEARN ALL THAT BEFORE YOU CAN DO IT.

OH, YEAH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO TRY TO KEEP LEARNING.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LEARN THE NEW STUFF TO KEEP UP WITH IT.

>> REPORTER: MRS. SINKLER WAS AMONG THE FIRST 100 SENIORS TO PARTICIPATE IN A DIGITAL INCLUSION PROGRAM.

SINCE THAT INITIAL PILOT, THE PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED TO OFFER SERVICES TO YOUNGER PEOPLE, INCLUDING SPECIAL SESSIONS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN AND HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.

TO DATE, MORE THAN 1,400 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN DIGITAL LITERACY BY PALMETTO CARE CONNECTIONS.

>> ALL OF US AT THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT" THANK THE OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS FOR HONORING THIS NEWS TEAM WITH THE BEST NEWS FEATURE SERIES AWARD, FEATURING OKLAHOMA'S 13 REMAINING HISTORIC BLACK TOWNS.

THIS IS A PROMOTION YOU'LL SOON SEE ON OETA.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO OETA'S "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT" FOR WINNING THIS YEAR'S OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS AWARD FOR BEST NEWS FEATURE SERIES.

THE AWARD HONORS BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS, THE YEAR-LONG SPECIAL REPORTS ON OKLAHOMA'S 13 REMAINING HISTORICAL BLACK TOWNS.

EACH STORY HIGHLIGHTS THE ORIGIN OF EACH TOWN AND THOSE WHO REMAIN TO FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE.

YOU CAN WATCH "BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS" AT OETA.TV UNDER THE SHOW'S TAB.

>>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," A MYSTERY IN MUSKOGEE.

IS THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF ONE OF OKLAHOMA'S GREATEST LAWMEN LOCATED SOMEWHERE BENEATH THIS THICK CANOPY OF TREES JUST NORTH OF DOWNTOWN?

A MAN NAMED ORANGE REX BELIEVED THAT IT DOES, SOMEWHERE IN THE HEART OF A CEMETERY IN DESPERATE NEED OF SOME TLC.

>>> WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER, PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY THE OETA PRODUCTION TEAM.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE, OETA.TV.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER BY SEARCHING OETA O&R.

ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE JUST SEARCH THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON THE AIR EACH WEEK, I'M RICH LENZ.

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.

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