>>> AFTER NINE DAYS OF PROTESTS, THINGS ARE WINDING DOWN.

>> THAT CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

MORE AND MORE TEACHER GROUPS OF SAYING YES, IT'S TIME TO GO BACK TO CLASS.

>> PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESORTED TO PANHANDLING TO GET THROUGH A DAY ARE BEING GIVEN A HAND UP IN ONE CITY IN OKLAHOMA.

>> WHAT DOES $65 MEAN TO YOU?

>> IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EATING AND DOING LAUNDRY AND, YOU KNOW, JUST EVERYTHING.

>>> STRONG EARTHQUAKES BRING A QUICK REACTION FROM STATE REGULATORS.

>> WE DO HAVE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ACTIONS WITH A FAIR DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> THOSE STORIES AND THE WEEK IN BUSINESS, ON ONR.

>>> A WILDFIRE IN NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA HAS LEFT A TURKEY HUNTER BADLY BURNED AFTER BECOMING TRAPPED BY THE FLAMES.

ANOTHER FIRE NEAR WOODWARD HAS BURNED MORE THAN 120,000 ACRES AND FORCED 450 PEOPLE FROM THEIR HOMES.

WEATHER CONDITIONS IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA AND THE PANHANDLE ARE IDEAL FOR WILDFIRES TO DEVELOP AND QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

WINDS HAVE GUSTED AS HIGH AS 50 MILES AN HOUR IN THE AREA.

>>> THE STATE'S LARGEST TEACHERS UNION HAS CALLED FOR AN END TO A TEACHER WALKOUT THAT HAS CLOSED SCHOOLS FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, AFTER REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS SAID THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY MORE NEW REVENUE FOR EDUCATION.

THE OKLAHOMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION SAYS IT'S NOW TIME FOR TEACHERS TO SHIFT THEIR FOCUS TO ELECTING PRO-EDUCATION CANDIDATES, AND MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD AT THE BALLOT BOX.

>> WHAT DO WE WANT?

>> Reporter: AS OKLAHOMA'S WEATHER TURNED WARMER, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS CONTINUED TO MAKE THE TREK TO OKLAHOMA CITY TO ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL EDUCATION FUNDING.

KEITH MILLER, THE BAND DIRECTOR AT TULSA MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, WAS ONE OF THEM.

>> I'M HERE THE SAME AS EVERY OTHER TEACHER OUT HERE IS, TO GET THE MONEY OUR KIDS DESERVE SO THEY CAN HAVE THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE SO THEY CAN HAVE THE FUTURE THEY DESERVE.

>> Reporter: BUT DESPITE THOSE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FILLING THE CAPITOL FOR NINE DAYS, THERE HAVE BEEN NO SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE MOVEMENT TOWARD PROVIDING EDUCATION FUNDING.

PRIOR TO LAST FRIDAY, ABOUT 95 PERCENT OF THE O.E.A.

'S DEMANDS HAD BEEN MET, INCLUDING $70 MILLION AND LONG AWAITED TEACHER PAY RAISES.

>> WE ASKED FOR $6,000, AND THEY HAVE DELIVERED AN AVERAGE OF $6,100.

THAT'S ANYWHERE [ INDISCERNIBLE ].

>> Reporter: ALICIA PRIEST SAYS LAWMAKERS HAVE ALSO FUNDED A PAY RAISE FOR PERSONNEL OF $450, WELL SHORT OF THE $2500 THE O.E.A.

WAS DEMAND.

>> THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN HISTORY THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN A PAY RAISE SPECIFICALLY TO SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS.

SO THAT IS -- THAT'S GOOD!

THAT'S MOVEMENT!

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> WE ARE MOVING MOUNTAINS.

WE ARE [ INDISCERNIBLE ] WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

GIVE IT UP FOR YOURSELVES FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN!

>> [ APPLAUSE ] >> Reporter: OKLAHOMA STATE SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION SHAWN HINES SAY THERE HAS ALREADY STARTED TO PAY DIVIDENDS.

>> BARTLESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAD A TEACHER CAREER FAIR THIS WEEK.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THEY HAD TEACHERS FROM KANSAS COME TO THE CAREER FAIR, BECAUSE NOW THEY OFFER COMPETITIVE PAY RATES WITH KANSAS.

>> Reporter: BUT THERE WAS A DANGER THAT TEACHERS WOULD LOSE PUBLIC SUPPORT FROM THE WALKOUT.

>> THAT CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING IN EVERY COMMUNITY, SUPERINTENDENTS ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH TEACHERS.

EVERYONE IS SAYING IT'S TIME TO GO BACK TO CLASS.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE POSSIBLE REVENUE MEASURES TO INCREASE EDUCATION FUNDING.

THE O. A. .

-- O.E.A.

ASKED TO APPROVE SENATE BILL 888, TO TAX PROFITS FOR THE WIND INDUSTRY.

THAT WOULD PUMP MILLIONS BACK INTO OKLAHOMA'S COVERS.

ACCORDING TO HIM, THE CREDITS AMOUNT TO ABOUT 500 TO 750 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS, WITH MOST OF THAT GOING TO OUT-OF-STATE OR EVEN INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS.

>> CHECK'S IN THE MAIL TO ITALY.

CHECK'S IN THE MAIL TO SPAIN.

FOREIGN INTEREST, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CONDITION OF OKLAHOMA'S CLASSROOMS, THE CONDITION OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, ABOUT OUR BRIDGES AND HIGHWAYS, BUT THEY DO CARE ABOUT THEIR PAYMENT.

>> Reporter: BUT IT IS BELIEVED THAT WOULD DAMAGE OKLAHOMA'S REPUTATION AND INVITE LAWSUITS.

>> THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO OKLAHOMA, THE INCENTIVES FOR THE EXISTING PROJECTS, THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT THAT CAPITAL INVESTMENT, AND IT'S BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE FINANCING.

AND NOW TO RETROACTIVELY CHANGE THOSE TERMS, IT JEOPARDIZES THINGS TO THE POINT OF DEFAULTING ON LOANS.

>> I THINK JUST THINK ABSOLUTELY DETRIMENTAL FOR ANY LAWMAKER OR ANYONE IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION TO BE ATTACKING OUT-OF-STATE INVESTMENT.

IT SENDS A CHILLING MESSAGE REGARDLESS OF INDUSTRY, SUGGESTING THAT OKLAHOMA CAN'T BE TRUSTED AND THAT WE DON'T APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT.

>> Reporter: THERE IS ALSO A WIND GENERATION TAX SIMILAR TO THE GROSS PRODUCTION TAX PAID BY THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

IF SUCH A TAX IS CONSIDERED, IT SHOULD BE APPLIED TO EVERY PLANT WHICH GENERATES ELECTRICITY.

>> THERE IS NO GENERATION TAX ON WIND, THERE IS NO GENERATION TAX ON HYDROELECTRIC, A COAL PLANT, OR GAS.

PART OF THE ARGUMENT WOULD BE WHY ARE WE NOT DOING THIS ACROSS THE BOARD FOR POWER GENERATION.

>> Reporter: THE O.E.A.

SAYS IT WILL SUPPORT THOSE WHO CONTINUE THE WALKOUT OR RETURN TO THEIR CLASSROOMS, BUT THE ASSOCIATION WILL NOW TURN ITS ATTENTION TO THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.

>>> SHAWN ASHLEY IS HERE TO TELL US MORE.

THE OKLAHOMA POLICY INSTITUTE HAS RELEASED A STUDY OF NEW TAX BILLS THAT SHOW FUNDING SHORTFALLS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PAY RAISES.

DO LAWMAKERS KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO FIX THAT?

>> THEY ANTICIPATE GROWTH REVENUE THAT WILL COVER THAT DEFICIT.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, HOUSE BILL 1010XX, THE FUNDING BILL THAT WAS APPROVED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE FIRST YEAR, MOST OF THE MONEY POURS INTO THE GENERAL-REVENUE FUND, PARTICULARLY MONEY FROM THE CIGARETTE TAX.

BUT IN 2020, THAT MONEY IS SET ASIDE FOR THE HEALTHCARE ENHANCEMENT FUND, SO IT IS PULLED OUT OF THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND, AND THAT WILL BE UPWARDS OF $250 MILLION THAT WILL MOVE FROM ONE FUND TO ANOTHER THAT WILL HAVE TO BE OVERCOME BY GROWTH REVENUE.

IF THAT'S NOT THERE, THE LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW TO BALANCE THE BUDGET WHILE HAVING THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY.

>> WHAT ISSUES REMAIN FOR LAWMAKERS TO WORK OUT FOR THE 2019 FISCAL YEAR WHICH BEGINS JULY 1ST?

>> WITH THE HOUSE BILL 3705, WHICH PROVIDES $2.9 BILLION OF FUNDING, THEY'VE TAKEN A BIG BITE OUT OF THAT, BUT ALL THE OTHER AGENCIES NEED THEIR FUNDING FOR THE COMING YEAR, INCLUDING MONEY THAT WAS PROMISED TO STATE EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR PAY RAISES.

THEY HAVE TO COVER THOSE COSTS AS WELL.

>> RELATED TO THIS, OF COURSE, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO FILE TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO YEARS PAST?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A RECORD YEAR COMPARED TO THE RECENT YEARS IN WHICH THE BOARD HAS DATA.

WE'RE SEEING THAT A NUMBER OF CITY INCUMBENTS WILL FACE CHALLENGERS IN THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS IN JUNE, AND THEN PERHAPS IN NOVEMBER AS WELL.

>> THIS WAS ALSO A DEADLINE WEEK.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE SAW A LARGE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT WENT FROM THE SENATE TO THE HOUSE, AND FROM THE HOUSE TO THE SENATE THAT DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE PROCESS.

NORMALLY LAWMAKERS PUT ABOUT 421 MEASURES ON GOVERNOR FALLIN'S DESK.

THEY'RE GOING TO FALL WELL SHORT OF THAT AMOUNT THIS YEAR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>>> A TEXTBOOK IN ADA HAS BECOME A SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION AND AN EXAMPLE OF THE STATE OF EDUCATION FUNDING IN OKLAHOMA.

FOR 7-YEAR-OLD MARLEY PARKER, DISCOVERING SHE WAS USING A TEXTBOOK THAT WAS ONCE USED BY COUNTRY MUSIC AND TELEVISION STAR AND NATIVE OKLAHOMA BLAKE SHELTON, WAS A REAL THRILL.

NOT SO MUCH FOR HER MOM.

THE READING BOOK "LOOK AWAY" WAS USED BY SHELTON IN 1982.

HER MOTHER SHELLY, A FORMER TEACHER, WROTE ON FACEBOOK THAT SHE WAS EMBARRASSED THE TEXTBOOK WAS STILL IN USE.

>>> AFTER FIGHTING A LAWSUIT TO FORCE THE RELEASE A STATE AUDIT ON THE TAR CREEK CLEAN-UP PROJECT, OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE HUNTER DECIDED TO MAKE IT PUBLIC.

FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL SCOTT PRUITT REFUSED TO RELEASE THE AUDIT, CLAIMING IT WAS A GRAND JURY DOCUMENT, BUT THE CASE WAS NEVER SENT TO A GRAND JURY.

THE AUDIT SHOWS, HOWEVER, THE PROJECT MANAGER ON THE CLEAN-UP CONTRACT HELPED RIG BIDS AS PART OF A POSSIBLE CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE STATE.

THE AUDIT CONCLUDES A PROJECT THAT SHOULD HAVE COST $600,000 ENDED UP COSTING OVER $3 MILLION.

NO ONE WAS EVER CHARGED AS A RESULT OF THE STATE AUDIT.

>>> A NATIONAL WATCHDOG GROUP FILES NEW LAWSUITS TO FORCE THE RELEASE OF COMMUNICATIONS INVOLVING THE EPA, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL SCOTT PRUITT AND SENATOR JAMES INHOFE.

THE SUIT SPECIFICALLY SEEKS ALL COMMUNICATIONS INVOLVING TAR CREEK AND WORK OF THE PUBLIC TRUST THAT WAS CREATED TO HELP WITH THE CLEANUP.

THE CAMPAIGN FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FILED THE LAWSUIT THAT RESULTED IN THE CURRENT ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE HUNTER DECIDING TO RELEASE A STATE AUDIT OF THE TAR CREEK CLEAN UP CONTRACTS.

>>> IN BUSINESS TODAY FROM "THE JOURNAL RECORD", TAX DOLLARS HEADED TO THE STATES GENERAL REVENUE FUND CAME IN $21 MILLION ABOVE THE MONTHLY ESTIMATE.

FOR THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE STATE HAS COLLECTED $4 BILLION, WHICH IS NEARLY $142 MILLION ABOVE WHAT WAS EXPECTED.

PART OF THE REASON FOR THE INCREASE IS NEW REVENUES STEMMING FROM SALES TAXES ON VEHICLES AND OTHER NEW TAXES.

>>> DESPITE THE WINDFALL OF A BIG TAX CUT, DEVON ENERGY IS LAYING OFF ANOTHER 300 EMPLOYEES.

THE COMPANY EXPECTS TO SAVE UP TO $200 MILLION IN COSTS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

RECECENTLY DEVON ALSO BEGAN A $2 BILLION STOCK AND DEBT BUYBACK PLAN.

A YEAR AGO THE FIRM LAID OFF NEARLY A THOUSAND WORKERS.

>>> OKLAHOMA'S CREDIT IS IMPROVING BECAUSE OF THE TAX INCREASES.

MOODY'S INVESTOR SERVICES RAISED THE STATE TO A "CREDIT POSITIVE" RATING FIVE MONTHS AFTER LISTING OKLAHOMA AS "CREDIT NEGATIVE" BECAUSE OF THE ON-GOING HOLES IN THE STATE BUDGET.

STATE TREASURER KEN MILLER SAYS THE CHANGE IS GOOD NEWS BUT ADDED THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FUND STATE GOVERNMENT'S NEEDS.

TED STREULI JOINS US TO DISCUSS OTHER STORIES IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> THERE IS A MOVEMENT TO GET A PETITION DRIVE TO REPEAL THE TAX INCREASES FOR PAY RAISES FOR TEACHERS.

WHO IS BEHIND THIS, AND WHAT ARE THE CHANS THIS WOULD GET TO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT?

>> THIS IS APPARENT WILL NOT AN AD HOC GROUP.

THEY ARE VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT THE $450 MILLION TAX PACKAGE, THE BIGGEST TAX INCREASE WE'VE SEEN SINCE 1990, BY FAR.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN HISTORY.

SO NATURALLY THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME OPPOSITION TO THIS.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF DOING TO COLLECT ENOUGH VALID SIGNATURES AND GET THAT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT TO HAVE A CHANCE OF REPEALING THIS.

THIS WAS A POPULAR MEASURE; PEOPLE REALLY WANTED TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE.

>> LAWMAKERS HAVE VARIOUS BILLS PENDING ON ZERO-EMISSION ENERGY PRODUCTION, INCLUDING ONE THAT WOULD PUT NEW TAX CAPS ON SOLAR AND GEOTHERMAL.

IS THERE A CHANCE OF APPROVAL?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY BECAUSE SO MUCH HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.

ONE IS THE POSSIBILITIES OF AROUND WIND ENERGY.

THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT BOTH CREATING A GROSS-PRODUCTION TAX ON WIND, BUT THEY'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT TAXING THE CAPACITY OF EACH WIND FARM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CAMPS ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT ARGUMENT.

EITHER WAY, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND NEW WAYS TO SOLIDIFY THAT REVENUE STREAM, MAKE SURE THE STATE DOESN'T END UP IN ANOTHER HOLE.

>> THERE IS AN ISSUE INVOLVING PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS.

>> THERE'S A BILL THAT WOULD PREVENT CITIES IN OKLAHOMA FROM ADDING A TAX OR IN ANY WAY PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM USING PLASTIC BAGS, LIKE AT THE GROCERY STORE.

THAT'S NAPPED A NUMBER OF CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY ON THE COASTS.

THE REAL OBJECTION TO THIS IS FROM THOSE SAYING IT'S THE STATE TAKING TOO MUCH LOCAL CONTROL AWAY FROM THE CITIES.

THEY THINK THE STATE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON CORE SERVICES AND LEAVE LOCAL ISSUES TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

>> CHANGES ARE COMING TO THE SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME.

>> THIS IS PART OF A $20.3 MILLION PACKAGE THAT WILL BE PAID FOR WITH BONDS THE CITY WAS ABLE TO SELL.

IT GOT THE SOFTBALL FOLKS TO KEEP THE WORLD SERIES THERE THROUGH 2023, AT LEAST, THEY'LL ADD ABOUT 4,000 NEW SEATS, BRINGING CAPACITY UP TO 11,000.

THEY'RE ADDING A LOT OF NEW AMENITIES, PARTICULARLY FOR BROADCAST, BECAUSE THOSE ARE CARRIED ON ESPN.

CONSTRUCTION ISN'T GOING TO START UNTIL LATER THIS YEAR, AFTER SOFTBALL SEASON IS OVER.

>> TED STREULI, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>>> THE OKLAHOMA CORPORATION COMMISSION TOOK SWIFT ACTION FOLLOWING A STRONG EARTHQUAKE IN NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

LESS THAN 12 HOURS AFTER THE QUAKE, THE COMMISSION ISSUED AN ORDER TO A WASTEWATER INJECTION WELL OPERATOR TO LOWER ITS VOLUME.

IT'S PART OF THE COMMISSION'S EFFORT TO REDUCE REACTION TIME TO STRONG EARTHQUAKES.

>> Reporter: OKLAHOMANS WERE STARTLED BY THE 4.6, EAST-SOUTHEAST OF COVINGTON T. WAS THE STRONGEST QUAKE IN OKLAHOMA SINCE THE 5.3 OF NOVEMBER OF 2016.

THE OKLAHOMA CORPORATION COMMISSION HAS BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON THE GROWING SEISMIC ACTIVITY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE.

>> THIS PARTICULAR CLUSTER STARTED LATE LAST WEEK, AND WE'VE BEEN WATCHING IT.

SATURDAY, OF COURSE, WE CLIMBED OVER A 4 MAGNITUDE.

BECAUSE OF THAT, WE TOOK ACTION ON SATURDAY TO REDUCE VOLUME IN THAT AREA.

THAT THIS IS THE COVINGTON-DOUGLAS AREA.

>> Reporter: THEY REDUCED THE WATER INJECTION TO ONLY 5,000 BARRELS A DAY.

IT WASN'T ALWAYS THAT WAY, IN 2009, OKLAHOMA BEGAN EXPERIENCING AN UNEXPLAINED INCREASE IN SEISMIC ACTIVITY.

THE STATE HAD ALWAYS BEEN SEISMIC, BUT 2011 WAS A GAME CHANGER.

AT THE TIME, THE 5.7 WITH AN EPICENTER NEAR PRAGUE WAS THE STRONGEST IN THE STATE.

IT CAUSED A TURRET TO COLLAPSE, AND DAMAGED A BRIDGE.

THE CORPORATION COMMISSION AND THE OKLAHOMA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY STUDIED THE REAL SEISMICITY.

INFORMATION COULD EVEN BE FOUND IN A DATABASE IN 2011.

>> WE HAD ONE PERSON WHO WAS HAVING TO DO OTHER THINGS AS WELL, AND THAT WAS IT, AND A LOT OF PAPER FILES, NOTHING ELECTRONIC.

SO WHEN WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT VOLUMES AND THAT TYPE OF THING, IT ALL HAD TO BE BY PAPER.

AND TO SAY IT WAS TIME CONSUMING WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

>> Reporter: THE COMMISSION TOOK HIS FIRST LARGE-SCALE ACTION IN 2015.

IT TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS TO DEVISE THE PLAN TO REDUCE INJECTION WELL VOLUMES AND PRESSURES.

>> IT TOOK US ALMOST SIX MONTHS TO DESIGN WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE LOGAN COUNTY TREND, WHICH WAS OUR FIRST LARGE-SCALE ACTION INVOLVING PORTIONS OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY, LOGAN COUNTY, LINCOLN COUNTY, AND PAYNE COUNTY.

>> Reporter: AS TIME WENT BY, THE COMMISSION BECAME MORE EFFICIENT.

MORE STAKEHOLDERS BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE PROCESS.

>> A LOT OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF FUNDING WE RECEIVED WHICH, UNFORTUNATELY, IS NOW GONE, FROM THE GOVERNOR, FROM THE OKLAHOMA RESOURCES BOARD, FROM THE GROUNDWATER PROTECTION COUNCIL, FROM THE EPA, WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE SOME PEOPLE.

WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO GET SOFTWARE AND COMPUTERS IN AND START ELECTRONIC REPORTING.

>> Reporter: LEGISLATIVE AND INDUSTRY BACKING PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE CORPORATION COMMISSION GETTING A HANDLE ON THE CONNECTION BETWEEN INJECTION AND SEISMIC ACTIVITY.

THERE WILL BE ADJUSTMENTS ONCE THE QUAKES HIT A CERTAIN LEVEL.

EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY HAS DECREASED FROM ITS PEAK IN 2015 SINCE THE CHANGES INJECTIONS.

IT APPEARS 2018 WILL CONTINUE A DOWNWARD TREND.

SKINNER SAYS WE'LL NEED TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS IN OKLAHOMA.

>> WE DO HAVE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ACTIONS WITH A FAIR DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> THE CORPORATION COMMISSION ALSO IS MONITORING INCREASED SEISMIC ACTIVITY NEAR ENID.

MORE ACTION IN BOTH THAT AREA AND IN THE COVINGTON-DOUGLAS AREA IS EXPECTED SOON.

>>> AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE DOWN ON THEIR LUCK WORK FOR THE CITY HAS BEEN LAUNCHED IN TULSA.

IT'S CALLED "A BETTER WAY" AND IS MODELED AFTER SOMETHING TRIED IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.

IF IT WORKS AS WELL IN TULSA, THE MAYOR HOPES IT WILL FORGE A BETTER WAY FOR OTHER CITIES IN OKLAHOMA AND ACROSS THE NATION.

>> Reporter: WE SEE THEM ON STREET CORNERS IN MOST METROPOLITAN AREAS OF OKLAHOMA -- PANHANDLERS CARRYING SIGNS ASKING FOR HANDOUTS.

SOME FEEL SYMPATHY AND GIVE THEM MONEY.

OTHERS LOOK AWAY AS IF THEY AREN'T THERE.

A NUMBER OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY'RE BUMS -- SUBSTANCE ABUSERS WHO DON'T WANT TO WORK.

BUT G.T.

DOESN'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

>> RATHER THAN TREATING THEM LIKE CRIMINALS, WE WANT TO TREAT THEM LIKE OUR NEIGHBORS, AND CONNECT THEM WITH PEOPLE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE TRAINED TO HELP THEM GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

>> Reporter: HE WENT THROUGH ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, TO INVESTIGATE A PROGRAM CALLED "A BETTER WAY", WHICH OFFERS JOBS.

HE GOT FUNDING FOR IT IN THE CITY'S BUDGET -- 50,000, MATCHED BY THE [ INDISCERNIBLE ] BOARD.

>> THEY PUT IN 50,000 AS WELL TO MATCH OUR DONATION, BECAUSE WHAT THESE FOLKS ARE DOING A LOT OF TIMES IS PICKING UP DEBRIS AND LIMBS AND THINGS THAT END UP IN OUR REFUSE SYSTEM, AND OUR TRASH BOARD DECIDED TO HELP US TEST THIS OUT.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM HAS ONLY BEEN UP AND RUNNING FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT WORD IS GETTING AROUND.

THREE DAYS A WEEK, THIS GREEN AND WHITE TRUCK TAKES WILLING PEOPLE TO WORK.

THIS WEEK IT WAS TO CLEAN UP CITY PARKS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS WILL PAY $65.

WHAT WILL THAT MEAN TO YOU?

>> IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EATING AND DOING LAUNDRY AND EVERYTHING.

>> Reporter: SHE ISN'T HOMELESS, BUT AFTER A BRAIN ANEURYSM A FEW YEARS AGO, SHE HAS HAD A HARD TIME HOLDING A JOB.

>> I'VE TRIED TO NOT ACCEPT THAT I HAVE A DISABILITY.

I HAVEN'T APPLIED FOR DISABILITY.

BUT HEADACHES KEEP ME DOWN.

>> Reporter: SHE AND OTHERS ON THE WORK CREW SAY THEY'RE HAPPY TO BE OUT HERE, AND THAT IT SURE BEATS PANHANDLING.

>> I WOULD ALWAYS GIVE EVERYTHING I HAD TO SOMEONE WHO WAS PANHANDLING.

AND IT'S HARD.

THAT'S THE HARDEST THING TO DO, TO PANHANDLE AND SHOW PEOPLE I'M HUNGRY OR WHATEVER.

>> Reporter: SHE AND OTHERS GOT UP EARLY TO WORK.

THIS MAN LIVES AT THE HOMELESS SHELTER.

OF PANHANDLING -- >> IT'S A SHAMEFUL FEELING, I CAN'T LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYE, I STAND THERE WITH A SIGN, WHEN THEY TRY TO HAND ME MONEY, I SAY I WOULD RATHER HAVE A JOB IF YOU COULD GIVE ME A JOB.

>> Reporter: THIS WOMAN IS IN CHARGE OF "A BETTER WAY" AND SAYS IT'S ALL ABOUT CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE.

>> I TRY TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT A DAY-LABOR PROGRAM, NOT A CONTINUAL, SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT, THAT IT IS A BETTER WAY, A LAUNCH PAD INTO A BETTER SITUATION FOR YOU.

>> Reporter: THIS MAN INTRODUCES HIMSELF TO THE WORKERS DURING A COMMUNAL LUNCH BREAK.

>> OUR PROCESS IS TO GET TO KNOW EVERYBODY WHO SAYS THEY WANT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.

WE DO IT SORT OF A CAREER PROFILE, MEET WITH THEM SEPARATELY.

IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE DO LAND THEM IN THEIR NEXT JOB, THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A GOOD FIT FOR THEM.

>> Reporter: HE HAS FOUND PEOPLE WITH ALL KINDS OF ABILITIES, FROM MANAGEMENT TO SKILLED LABOR.

>> LATELY I WAS A SMALL-ENGINE MECHANIC, WORKED ON LAWN MOWERS, CHAINSAWS.

I REALLY LIKED THAT.

I GOT TRAINING IN ARKANSAS.

>> Reporter: BIENAM BELIEVES IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR THE CITY.

>> IT'S EASY TO FORGET THEIR WORK IS A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO THE CITY, BEAUTIFYING IT AND CLEANING IT UP.

>> Reporter: IN ALBUQUERQUE, IT HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED THE SIZE OF THE PROGRAM, WITH TWO CREWS WORKING FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

>>> ON THE NEXT ONR, LAWMAKERS SETTLE IN TO WORK ON NEXT YEAR'S STATE BUDGET.

THAT STORY AND MORE ON THE NEXT ONR.

>>> MUSKOGEE'S HONOR HEIGHTS PARK IS AGAIN THE SITE OF THIS YEAR'S AZALEA FESTIVAL.

HERE'S A LOOK FROM ONR VIDEOGRAPHER TIM CARSON.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

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