>>> WILL LAWMAKERS CHANGE THE WAY STATEWIDE QUESTIONS ARE PUT TO A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE?

>> WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE CAMPAIGN ON STATE QUESTION 832 FOR STANDING UP FOR THE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME OKLAHOMANS WHO NEED HELP MOST.

>>> WILL THIS MAN LOCATE THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF THIS MAN?

>> THERE ARE 2,000 HEADSTONES IN THERE THAT ARE, AND I WOULD SAY AT LEAST 500 OF THEM ARE BURIED AND FACE DOWN.

>>> CLEVELAND COUNTY RECEIVES A LARGE GRANT TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM.

>> WE ARE GOING TO HIRE TWO PROSECUTORS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY ON A REGULAR BASIS AND CONNECT BETTER WITH THE COMMUNITY GROUPS.

>>> PLUS, FEDERAL MONEY TO BOOST THE ARTS IN OKLAHOMA, POST PANDEMIC.

>> WHAT WE WANT ARE THESE FUNDS TO BE RESTORATIVE, TO MAKE OUR ORGANIZATIONS WHOLE TO HELP FILL IN THOSE GAPS OF REVENUE LOSS.

>>> THE GRAND OPENING OF A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> WE KNEW IF WE HAD A FACILITY THIS LARGE, WE COULD REALLY HAVE A HUGE IMPACT.

IMPACT MORE PEOPLE, MORE STUDENTS, MORE SENIORS.

>>> THOSE STORIES, PLUS AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON TAXES.

NEXT, ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," I'M RICH LENZ.

LEGISLATORS HAVE PASSED A LAW THAT WILL MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET STATE QUESTIONS ON BALLOTS, EVEN AS AN ADVOCACY GROUP PUSHES AHEAD WITH ITS EFFORTS TO BRING A MINIMUM WAGE HIKE TO A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT JASON DOYLE JOINS US FROM OUR OETA STUDIO INSIDE OF THE CAPITOL WITH THE DETAILS.

JASON?

>> REPORTER: RICH, THE PROPONENTS OF STATE QUESTION 832 GOT THE GO-AHEAD FROM THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT TO BEGIN COLLECTING SIGNATURES.

IT TOOK WEATHERING TWO LEGAL CHALLENGES TO GET TO THIS POINT.

NOW A BILL ON THE WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK COULD CHANGE THE RULES BEFORE THOSE SIGNATURES ARE TURNED IN TO BE COUNTED.

SHYLO CAPITALS IS THE FIRST REGISTERED OKLAHOMA VOTER TO SHINE 832, SHE DID SO TUESDAY AT THE LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S DONORS.

>> WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE CAMPAIGN ON STATE QUESTION 832 FOR STANDING UP FOR THE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME OKLAHOMANS WHO NEED WEST.

>> REPORTER: THE CAMPAIGN HAD TO WEATHER TWO CHALLENGES.

>> THE PROCESS IS NOT AN EASY ONE.

WE HAVE TO COLLECT OVER 92,000 SIGNATURES FROM REGISTERED OKLAHOMA VOTERS TO QUALIFY FOR THE BALLOT.

>> REPORTER: THE CAMPAIGN IS ASKING OKLAHOMA VOTERS TO PUT A MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE ON THE BALLOT.

>> IT WILL BE A GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE FROM $7.25 AN HOUR THAT'S BEEN THERE SINCE 2009, ALMOST 15 YEARS TO $15 AN HOUR BY 2029, AND THEN IT WILL BE TIED TO THE COST OF LIVING.

BECAUSE WE JUST BELIEVE THAT WHEN THE COST OF HOUSING, GAS AND GROCERIES KEEP GOING UP, WAGES SHOULD GO UP AS WELL.

>> REPORTER: AS RAISE THE WAGE OKLAHOMA CAMPAIGN SPOKESPERSON AMBER ENGLAND POINTED OUT, THE PLAN IS TO GRADUALLY INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE INSTEAD OF ALL AT ONCE.

IF 832 IS APPROVED, IT WOULD TAKE FIVE YEARS FOR THEM TO REACH THE $15 AN HOUR MORNING.

FROM 2026 TO 2027, IT GOES FROM $10.AUTO TO $12 AN HOUR.

INCREASE FROM 2030 ON WILL BE TIED TO A FEDERAL MEASURE OF THE COST OF LIVING.

>> IT WOULD HAVE AN UNLEGISLATED AUTOMATIC INCREASE THAT IS TIED TO COST OF LIVING IN PLACES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO OR CHICAGO, BIGGER CITIES THAT REALLY DON'T BEAR MUCH RESEMBLANCE TO THE ACTUAL COST OF LIVING IN OKLAHOMA, PARTICULARLY RURAL PARTS OF OKLAHOMA.

>> REPORTER: THE STATE CHAMBER AND THE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU CHALLENGED THE MINIMUM WAGE PETITION.

BOTH TIMES THE STATE SUPREME COURT DECIDED THE SIGNATURE GATHERING SHOULD MOVE FORWARD.

STATE CHAMBER RESEARCH DIRECTOR BEN LEPACK SAYS IT COULD HAVE IMPACTS ON GROWTH AND PRICES FOR THE CONSUMER >> WHEN YOU INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE YOU HAVE FEWER JOBS SO YOU HURT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO HELP BUT ALSO YOU SEE A RISING INFLATION AND INCREASED COSTS AT A GAS PUMP, AT THE GROCERY STORE CHECKOUT LINE.

>> REPORTER: HE SAYS RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE WILL NOT HAVE A WIDESPREAD IMPACT ON THE WORKER.

>> A VAST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WORK ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE.

>> THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT 320,000 WORKERS AND OVER 200,000 CHILDREN LIVING WITH FAMILIES WILL BE IMPACTED ABOUT I THIS POLICY.

>> WHILE THE RAISE THE WAGE CAMPAIGN IS COUNTERING ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE ISHT U, IT'S ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING SURE ANY POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE INITIATIVE PETITION LAW DOESN'T DERAIL THE EFFORT TO GET THE QUESTION ON THE BALLOT.

THEY ARE HOLDING VOLUNTEER TRAININGS LIKE THIS ONE IN ENID ON WEDNESDAY EVENING TO HELP WITH THAT.

>> WE ARE REQUIRING A TRAINING BEFORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING PETITIONS.

WE TRACK EVERY PETITION WITH A THOSE YOU GOT THE DOOR FOR EVERYONE WHO GETS ONE.

WE HAVE THEM SIGN AN AUTHORIZATION FORM FOR CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, A PIECE OF PAPER SAYING THEY'VE BEEN TRAINED.

THEY GO THROUGH AN HOUR-LONG TRAINING.

>> REPORTER: THE TRAINING MIGHT BECOME WEDNESDAYY.

WEDNESDAY THE HOUSE WENT 518 TO THE GOVERNOR WHICH MAKES CHANGES TO THE PROCESS.

>> 72AYE, 25 NAY.

>> REPORTER: IT INCLUDES A NEW $750 FILING FEE FOR INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND ALSO REQUIRES A LEGAL FIRST AND LAST NAME TO BE USED ON THE PETITION AND INCREASES THE REQUIREMENT OF MATCHING DATA POINTS FOR SIGNATURE TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE.

>> IN ORDER FOR THE SIGNATURE TO BE APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MORE DATA POINTS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION "A" WHICH IS LISTING THE FIVE MUST BE MATCHED TO THE VOTER REGISTRATION FILE.

THAT'S IT.

>> LAWMAKERS LIKE SENATOR GEORGE YOUNG FEEL THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD HAVE LEFT THE PETITION PROCESS AS IS.

>> PETITIONS GET PEOPLE MORE INTERESTED, INVOLVED.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO BE PROMOTING BECAUSE IT HELPS US TO GET MORE FOLK AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR STATE AND YET WE HAVE A LEGISLATURE THAT'S TRYING TO KILL THAT INTEREST AND TO PUT A DAMPER ON THE ABILITY OF CITIZENS OF OKLAHOMA BEING ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE WELFARE FOR THEIR OWN WELL-BEING AND THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

>> REPORTER: EVEN IF THE RAISE THE WAGE CAMPAIGN SUCCESSFULLY COLLECTS MORE THAN 92,000 VALID SIGNATURES, STATE QUESTION 832 IS EXPECTED TO STILL HAVE A DIFFICULT PATH TO THE BALLOT.

>> WE EXPECT MORE DELAYS.

WE'RE NOT CERTAIN WHEN WE'LL BE ON THE BALLOT BUT WE DO KNOW THAT OKLAHOMANS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE THIS ISSUE FOR OURSELVES.

>> REPORTER: AMBER ENGLAND SAYS THE CAMPAIGN IS FOCUSED ON DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THE ISSUE BEFORE VOTERS.

>> THIS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN NOT DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE.

DO YOU THINK VOTERS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE THE ISSUE FOR OURSELVES?

WE PUT TRUST IN OKLAHOMA VOTERS.

THIS IS WHAT THE PROCESS IS ABOUT.

>> REPORTER: BECAUSE SENATE BILL BILL 518 WAS PASSED WITH A PROCEDURE CALLED ANNAGE, IF WILL GO INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY, IMPACTING THE STANDARD FOR THOSE SIGNATURES THAT THE RAISE THE WAGE CAMPAIGN IS COLLECTING NOW.

>> JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> ALSO THIS WEEK, THE HOUSE RELEASED IT'S 2025 BUDGET OUTLINE, AND WHILE IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT THE SENATE PUT OUT A FEW WEEKS AGO, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES.

ACCORDING TO INFORMATION RELEASED BY THE HOUSE, REPRESENTATIVES HOPE TO SPEND ABOUT 4.25% LESS THAN THEY DID IN 2024.

AND THE SENATE SEEKS TO SPEND ABOUT 4.25% MORE.

THAT ADDS TO UP ABOUT $1 BILLION LESS IN THE HOUSE THAN IN THE SENATE.

WE ASKED QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SHAWN ASHLEY, WHAT'S NEXT, NOW THAT THESE "BUDGET BLUEPRINTS" HAVE BEEN MADE PUBLIC.

>> WELL, THE RELEASE OF THE HOUSE BUDGET BLUEPRINT ALLOWED THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND ACTUALLY CONSIDER SOME OF THE HOUSE BUDGET RELATED BILLS THAT HAD MISSED DEADLINE ON APRIL 11TH, THE SENATE SUSPENDED RULES SO THAT THEY, THOSE COULD BE CONSIDERED ON THURSDAY.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT THIS DOES IS OPEN UP NEGOTIATIONS FORMALLY BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON FINDING AN AGREEMENT ON THE BUDGET, LOOKING AT THE TWO DOCUMENTS, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE DOCUMENTS, THERE ARE SOME POINTS OF AGREEMENT.

IN OTHER CASES, THEY'RE ONLY A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS APART, BUT IN SOME CASES, IT'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

SO IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO WORK OUT THAT FINAL RESOLUTION.

>>> AND HOUSE LEADER CHARLES McCALL IS STILL CONSIDERING A QUARTER PERCENT INCOME TAX CUT TIED TO REVENUE GROWTH, HOWEVER, SENATE LEADER GREG TREAT SAYS THE ELIMINATION OF THE GROCERY SALES TAX WILL BE THE ONLY TAX CUT THE SENATE WILL CONSIDER DURING THIS SESSION.

>>> DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS IN BOTH CHAMBERS CLAIM STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS IS OVERSTEPPING HIS AUTHORITY IN ADOPTING NEW RULES, BUT WALTERS SAYS THAT'S NOT TRUE.

OF PARTICULAR CONCERN IS A NEW ACCREDITATION PROCESS THAT DEMANDS SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE AT LEAST 50% OF THEIR STUDENTS TEST AT BASIC LEVELS OR HIGHER IN BOTH ENGLISH OR MATH OR FACE AN ACCREDITATION DEFICIENCY.

>> NO AGENCY CAN STAND ITS OWN POWERS UNDER ITS OWN AUTHORITY WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS TRYING TO DO WITH THE NEW RULES AND ANY ACTION TAKEN BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REGARDING THESE RULES WILL BE ENFORCEABLE.

THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD REJECT HIS NEW ADMINISTRATIVE RULES.

WE ARE MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH THE SESSION AND WE STILL HAVE TIME TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.

DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATORS IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE STAND READY TO REJECT WALTERS' RULE.

WE ASK OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE TO JOIN US IN HOLDING RYAN WALTERS ACCOUNTABLE.

>> RESPONSE, THE SUPERINTENDENT RELEASED A STATEMENT THAT READ IN PART, "DEMOCRATS TOOK AIM AT THE OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION, WELL-ESTABLISHED PRECEDENT AND THE CLEAR WILL OF OKLAHOMANS TODAY.

DEMOCRATS WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO TRY TO REGAIN CONTROL OF OUR KIDS EDUCATION.

ON BEHALF OF OUR OKLAHOMA STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES IN OKLAHOMA WE WILL NEVER GIVE IN TO THEIR DEMANDS."

>>> FRIDAY MARKED THE 29th ANNIVERSARY OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING THAT CLAIMED 168 INNOCENT LIVES.

THE ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM INCLUDED THE READING OF THE NAMES OF THE VICTIMS UNDER THE SAME BRIGHT BLUE SUNNY SKIES THAT EXISED ON APRIL 19th, 1995 BEFORE THE BOMB EXPLODED AT :02 A.M. TROYING THE MURAH BUILDING.

>>> THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS' OFFICE IN NORMAN IS ONE OF JUST 13 RECIPIENTS NATIONWIDE OF A FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GRANT.

THEY SAY THE PURPOSE IS TO BETTER CONNECT THEIR OFFICE TO AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NON-PROFITS DEDICATED TO REDUCING THE IMPACT OF CRIME.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

STEVE?

>> YES, RICH.

ONE OF THE OTHER GOALS HERE IS TO REDUCE WHAT'S CALLED THE RECIDIVISM RATE AMONGST THOSE WHO'VE BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW.

THE CONCEPT IS VERY SIMILAR TO COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING THAT MANY EXPERTS SAY PRODUCED ENCOURAGING RESULTS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES.

GREG MASHBURN HAS LED THE DISTRICT 21 DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR CLEVELAND, McCLAIN AND GARVIN COUNTIES FOR 17 YEARS.

JUST OVER A YEAR AGO, MASHBURN APPLIED FOR SOMETHING CALLED THE FEDERAL INNOVATIVE PROSECUTIONS GRANT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

MASHBURN FOUND OUT THEY GOT IT LAST FALL.

>> OUR RETAIL CRIME IS SKYROCKETING.

SHOPLIFTING, THAT KIND OF STUFF.

DRUGS, FENTANYL, JUST LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE NATION, FENTANYL IS DRIVING UPWARD AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY SEEING A LOT OF METHAMPHETAMINE COMING ACROSS THE BORDER.

IT'S THERE.

>> REPORTER: FENTANYL STILL NUMBER ONE?

>> I WOULD SAY METH IS PROBABLY NUMBER ONE BUT FENTANYL IS BEING ADDED TO METH, BEING ADDED TO ALMOST EVERY OTHER DRUG THAT WE'RE SEEING.

WHEN YOU FIND SOME DRUGS, IT'S NOT JUST METH ANYMORE.

IT'S METH AND FENTANYL.

IT'S COCAINE AND FENTANYL.

FENTANYL IS DEFINITELY RUNNING RAMPANT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> REPORTER: IT'S A TICKING TIME BOMB?

>> 100%, IT IS.

>> REPORTER: THE $385,000 FEDERAL GRANT STRETCHES ACROSS TWO YEARS.

>> SO BASICALLY WHAT WE'LL DO WITH THE GRANT IS HIRE TWO PROSECUTORS THAT WILL GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY ON A REGULAR BASIS AND CONNECT BETTER WITH THE COMMUNITY GROUPS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM OUT THERE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CONNECTING WITH OUR OFFICERS ON THE STREET.

>> REPORTER: THE GRANT ALSO ALLOWED DISTRICT 21 TO PURCHASE COMPUTER SOFTWARE THAT CONNECTS THEIR CURRENT CASES TO A MAPPING SYSTEM THAT TRACKS THOSE CASESES OUTCOMES, THAT WILL PINPOINT HIGH CRIME AREAS AND FIGURE OUT SOLUTIONS.

>> A LOT OF TIMES WE KNOW A CRIME OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CHARGE COMES TO US FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT WE AREN'T ABLE TO KNOW WHAT LED UP TO THE TOUCH LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IS THERE SOMETHING GOING ON, IS THIS A REPETITIVE CRIME OR REPETITIVE CRIMINAL?

IS THERE ONE PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH MULTIPLE FAMILIES OR MULTIPLE HOMEOWNERS AND WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE GET DISCONNECTED FROM.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A LOT OF THESE KINDS OF CASES IN THIS PART OF TOWN.

WELL, THAT MAY TAKE SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR FOR US TO SEE THE DESK, THE GUY THAT'S SITTING AT HIS DESK LOOKING AT THAT, THE PROSECUTOR IS LIKE I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THESE CASES OUT OF THAT PART OF TOWN.

IF WE HAVE PROSECUTORS TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TALKING TO THE CRIMESTOPPER, TALKING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHES, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT'S GOING OUT, GOING ON, ON OUR STREETS.

>> IT'S HARD TO PUT A PERCENTAGE ON IT.

>> REPORTER: TANYA McCAULEY IS A RETIRED NORMAND PARAMEDIC WHO VOLUNTEERS AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD FOR NORMAND CRIMESTOPPERS, KEY IN STOPPING CRIMES BECAUSE THEY FEED POLICE ANONYMOUS TIPS.

HOW MUCH HAS IT CHANGED SINCE YOU WERE RIDING AROUND ON THE STREETS OF NORMAND 25 YEARS AGO?

>> IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

I MEAN, FROM THE CALL VOLUME, IT WAS SO MINIMAL BACK IN 1998 THAT NOW THE CALL VOLUME IS OUTRAGEOUS, AND THE DIFFERENT KIND OF CALLS.

WE DO HAVE A LOT MORE DRUG-RELATED CALLS, A LOT MORE ASSAULT CALLS, AND CALLS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

>> REPORTER: DONATIONS TO FOR DEMAND CRIMESTOPPERS IS DOWN 80% SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THINGS LIKE THIS FEDERAL GRANT CAN ONLY HELP.

McCAULEY THINKS THE CENTRAL GRANT WILL HELP CRIMESTOPPERS GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT.

>> COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS A BIG THING.

IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT US, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO HAVE THAT RESOURCE, SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO WORK WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WITH THE DA'S OFFICE, DOING THEIR COMMUNITY OUTREACH, SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE HAVE THIS SERVICE AVAILABLE.

>> WE HAVE A HIGHER INCARS VASION RATE IN OUR STATE, NOT BECAUSE OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BUT BECAUSE OF OUR SOCIAL ILLS IN OUR STATE.

YOU CAN'T BE CAN'T HAVE EDUCATION PROBLEMS, CAN'T BE TOP IN TEEN PREGNANCY AND CAN'T HAVE THE DRUG PROBLEM IN OUR STATE AND NOT THINK WE'LL NOT HAVE THE HIGH INCARCERATION RATE.

SO ALL OF THOSE SOCIAL ILLS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> REPORTER: ALEXIS WHITE IS A UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE WHO STARTS LAW SCHOOL IN THE FALL.

SHE'S IN CHARGE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION FOR DISTRICT 21, SHE FILED THE PAPERWORK FOR THE FEDERAL GRANT AND SHE THINKS THESE NEW TOOLS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> IT'S REASONABLE RECIDIVISM CAN BE ROLLED BACK.

WE'RE TAKING LESS OF A PASSIVE STANCE AND MORE OF AN INVOLVED STANCE.

WE'RE GOING TO OUR COMMUNITIES, ASKING WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM US?

LUCKILY WE ARE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH AMAZING NON-PROFITS ACROSS OUR JURISDICTION THAT DO AMAZING THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

SOMETIMES IT'S CONNECTING THE DOTS.

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY IN NEED OF THIS RESOURCE AND WE EXACTLY WHO TO CALL.

>> ACCORDING TO FIRST ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY JENNIFER AUSTIN, DISTRICT 21 WAS THE ONLY DA'S OFFICE IN THE STATE THAT WAS ABLE TO TAP INTO THIS FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GRANT.

RICH.

>> VERY INTERESTING, THANK YOU, STEVE.

>>> TAX DAY FELL ON A MONDAY THIS WEEK.

APRIL 15th THE DEADLINE FOR FILING YOUR RETURNS, ALTHOUGH MANY TAXPAYERS ARE GRANTED EXTENSIONS.

AS ALWAYS, THERE ARE NEW RULES AND DEDUCTIONS IN PLACE OR UNDER DISCUSSION AND SO, WE WILL DISCUSS THAT IN OUR UPCOMING "IN-DEPTH" CONVERSATION LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

HERE'S A PREVIEW WITH MODERATOR, CASSIDY MUDD.

>> HOPEFULLY YOU DIDN'T MISS THE 15th AND JUST IN CASE YOU DID, IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.

THE THING YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN SAY IF YOU HAD PAID ON TIME, IS THAT THERE WILL BE A SMALL INTEREST PAYMENT, AND SO THIS OCCURS EVEN IF YOU FILE AN EXTENSION.

SO SUPPOSE YOU -- YOU NEED SOME EXTRA TIME.

MAYBE LIFE COMES AT YOU AND YOU JUST KNOW YOU NEED THAT EXTRA WEEK OR TWO WEEKS, OR IF YOU LIKE ME LAST YEAR, MAYBE A MONTH OR TWO, BUT YOU FILE YOUR EXTENSION AND YOU DO STILL OWE THOSE TAXES AT THE TIME THEY'RE PAID.

SO EVENTUALLY YOU'LL PAY YOUR TAX BILL, BUT THERE WILL BE A SMALL INTEREST RATE ATTACHED TO THAT.

>> CONSIDERATION OF WHAT TAX CREDITS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE AND HOW MUCH THOSE ARE.

THAT'S THE SELF TAX RELIEF CREDIT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION EARLIER IN THE SESSION WHEN THE SPEAKER HAD A BILL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE LOWEST TAX BRACKETS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO PAID LESS THAN ARE, IN TAX BRACKETS THAT ARE LESS THAN THAT 4.65, 4.75, BUT AGAIN, THOSE PEOPLE ARE VERY FEW AND PROBABLY NOT PAYING TAXES ANYWAY.

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

>>> THERE IS SOMETHING PROFOUNDLY FORLORN ABOUT A NEGLECTED CEMETERY, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT INCLUDES THE REMAINS OF DOZENS OF PROMINENT OKLAHOMANS.

A GROUP IN MUSKOGEE HAS JUST BEGUN EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP THE HARDING MEMORIAL CEMETERY, WHERE THEY BELIEVE A LEGENDARY FIGURE IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY MAY BE BURIED.

♪♪ COULD THE ENTRIES RECORDED IN THIS WORN LEDGER DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1900s HOLD THE KEY TO SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF WHAT LIES BENEATH THIS SEVEN ACRE CANOPY OF FOREST AND THORNY UNDERBRUSH JUST NORTH OF DOWNTOWN MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA?

A MAN NAMED ORANGE REX BELIEVES IT DOES.

>> ORANGE, LIKE THE COLOR OF THE FRUIT.

O-R-A-N-G-E. REX.

LIKE THE DINOSAUR.

T-REX.

REX IS MY GIVEN NAME.

I WEAR A LOT OF ORANGE AS PART OF, I WAS AN ENTERTAINER AND HAVE BEEN FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.

I DO JUGGLING, FIRE BREATHING, STILT WALKING.

AND IN THE PURSUIT OF THAT, I DEVELOPED A CHARACTER CALLED ORANGE REX.

>> A CHARACTER TO BE SURE, BUT ONE THAT HAS DONE A RIGOROUS AMOUNT OF RESEARCH SINCE ACQUIRING THESE LEDGERS FROM AN OKLAHOMA CITY THRIFT STORE FOR $25.

>> I WOULD DESCRIBE HIM AS AN ACTIVIST GENEALOGIST, BECAUSE SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT HE FINDS IS JUST SO INCREDIBLE.

>> LINCOLN COCHRAN IS THE FOUNDER OF THE BLACK WALL STREET ALLIANCE, AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO UPLIFTING THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF BLACK OKLAHOMANS, AND HE THINKS THIS OVERGROWN TRACK OF LAND IS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT.

>> SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THESE GREAT SITES AROUND OUR STATE AND THEY WILL YIELD TOURISM DOLLARS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT KIND OF HISTORY CONNECTION.

>> WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO ORANGE REX'S COUNTY LEDGERS AND THIS PARTICULAR ENTRY.

DOES THE NAME BASS REEVES RING A BELL?

>> I LEARNED OF BASS REEVES AND I, I LOOKED HIM UP AND SURE ENOUGH, I HAD HIM.

>> A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS SEEN THE LEDGERS AND SAYS, WHILE THIS ISN'T REEVES OFFICIAL DEATH CERTIFICATE, IT DOES APPEAR TO BE AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTATION.

>> THE LEDGERS ARE A COLLECTION OF TWO DOCUMENTS THAT WERE RECORDED AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

THEY WOULD'VE BEEN A MEDICAL EXAMINER OR DOCTOR CERTIFICATE AND THEN FOLLOWED BY AN UNDERTAKER CERTIFICATE.

>> BASS REEVES, A FORMER SLAVE WHO BECAME ONE OF THE GREATEST LAWMEN IN OKLAHOMA HISTORY, REPORTED TO HAVE ARRESTED MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND MEN AND WOMEN DURING HIS 32-YEAR CAREER AS A DEPUTY U.S.

MARSHAL AND MUSKOGEE POLICEMAN.

>> YOU LAW MAN FOR AN OUTLAW?

>> A BIT OF BOTH, I RECKON.

>> THIS MAN HELPED BUILD THE STATE.

HE HELPED TAME THE STATE.

HE REALLY DID DO A LOT AS THE MARSHALS DID TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COULD BECOME A STATE.

>> REEVES DIED IN 1910, AND REX IS CONVINCED HIS GRAVE SITE IS LOCATED SOMEWHERE IN HERE.

THE LONG-NEGLECTED HARDING MEMORIAL CEMETERY.

>> SO REX, WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

IS THIS ANOTHER HEADSTONE?

>> OH WELL, THIS IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE A CENOTAPH, WHICH IS A MARKER COMMEMORATING SOMEONE THAT ISN'T ACTUALLY BURIED IN THE CEMETERY.

SHE'S BURIED IN NASHVILLE.

>> OKAY.

>> BUT THIS IS WHO THE CEMETERY IS NAMED AFTER.

SO WE'LL CONSIDER IT LIKE THE DEDICATION STONE FOR THE CEMETERY.

THIS IS MABEL HARDING.

>> ON A GRAY MARCH MORNING, REX LED A SMALL GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS INTO A REASONABLY ACCESSIBLE AREA.

IT'S ESTIMATED THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,000 GRAVESTONES HERE, BUT NO ONE REALLY KNOWS, BECAUSE GETTING TO THEM IS VERY DIFFICULT.

>> FIRST, I'LL START WITH THE SNAKES, WHICH OKAY, THEY SHOULD BE ASLEEP RIGHT NOW.

THE TICKS, OKAY, EVERYBODY, OKAY, WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT.

BRIARS, BUSHES, TANGLES, TREES.

IT HAS NOT BEEN CLEARED PROBABLY 20 YEARS.

>> SHIRON BUTTERFLY THOMAS RAY IS THE FOUNDER OF LEGACY KEEPERS AND A MEMBER OF AN ORGANIZATION STARTED BY ORANGE REX CALLED THE MUSKOGEE COUNTY CEMETERIES AND CARETAKERS ASSOCIATION.

>> AND WHEN YOU GET IN THERE, I MEAN, THERE ARE 2,000 HEADSTONES IN THERE THAT ARE, AND I WOULD SAY AT LEAST 500 OF THEM ARE BURIED AND FACE DOWN.

AND YOU JUST, YOU HAVE TO CLEAR 6 TO 12 INCHES OFF THAT WHOLE PLACE.

AND THERE ARE LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL HEADSTONES THAT ARE STANDING.

THE ONE THAT WE BELIEVE IS HIS IS FACE DOWN.

AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, VERY, VERY -- YOU CAN'T JUST GO, LET'S FLIP IT OVER AND SEE.

SO THE -- WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT WILL DO IT, A MONUMENT COMPANY THAT WILL DO IT.

>> ALL OF WHICH TAKES MONEY, AND A WHOLE LOT OF VOLUNTEERS WILLING TO DO A WHOLE LOT OF HARD WORK FOR A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

>> WE NEED EVERY LITTLE PERSON THAT HAS A, A SHOVEL, WEED EATER, CHAINSAW.

WE'RE GONNA NEED EVERYBODY.

>> HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT BASS REEVE'S GRAVE SITE IS IN THERE?

>> I'M, I'M PRETTY SURE HE IS IN THERE, BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE, WHERE HE IS AT.

WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO GET IN THERE AND CLEAN THIS PLACE UP AND FIND OUT WHERE HE IS AT.

>> WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THIS?

>> OH, I'D HAVE TO SAY A COUPLE YEARS MAYBE.

>> NOW OBVIOUSLY, CLEANING OUT A SEVEN ACRE CEMETERY IS GOING TO BE A HERCULEAN TASK, BUT IF THEY CAN DO IT AND IF BASS REEVES GRAVESTONE IS SOMEWHERE BEHIND ME, WHAT AN AMAZING THING THAT WILL BE.

THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF AN ICONIC OKLAHOMAN, WHO'S CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF A VERY POPULAR STREAMING MINI-SERIES.

>> I NEED A MAN WITH A GOOD GUN AND A STRAIGHT SPINE.

YOU UP TO THE TASK?

>> I WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE IN MY SUNDAY BEST IF I WASN'T.

>> I THINK HAVING THE SERIES, THAT WAS ONE OF MY RECOMMENDATIONS TO ANYONE THAT WOULD LISTEN BECAUSE HIS STORY WAS TOO BIG TO JUST MAKE IT INTO A MOVIE.

SO THE SERIES WAS THE IDEAL.

>> IT'S CERTAINLY INTRODUCING THE COMPELLING TALE OF REEVES' LIFE TO A NEW AUDIENCE, AND HOPEFULLY INSPIRING VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING DESCENDANTS OF PEOPLE BURIED HERE, TO HELP CLEAN UP AND RESTORE THE CEMETERY.

>> HE IS ACTUALLY MY GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME, RIKISHA HARRISON IS SEEING THE LEDGER RECORDING OF WALLACE McNAC, ANOTHER U.S. DEPUTY MARSHALL AND CREEK LIGHT-HORSE POLICEMAN.

>> IT TIES EVERYTHING IN FOR ME.

IT, IT, IT'S, UHM, A VERY EMOTIONAL MOMENT, IT'S REALLY HARD TO DESCRIBE.

>> DESCENDANTS TEND TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING BLAMED FOR THE CONDITION OF THE CEMETERY.

AND DEATH DOESN'T CARE WHO YOU ARE.

WHEN YOU GO, THINGS ARE LEFT UNDONE AND PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS PICK THEM UP.

>> THIS CEMETERY WAS VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY SIGNIFICANT FROM 1905 UP THROUGH THE '20s AND '30s AND '40s.

IT STARTS TO BECOME BROKEN SORT OF IN THE SENSE THAT THE FAMILIES THAT REALLY FOUNDED IT, MANY OF THEM HAVE MOVED AWAY.

>> THE CEMETERY RESTS ON CREEK NATION PROPERTY, AND SHIRON SAYS THEIR COOPERATION WILL BE IMPORTANT MOVING FORWARD, AND AS THEY DO, ANOTHER ISSUE WILL BE PROTECTING THIS HALLOWED GROUND FROM PEOPLE WITH ULTERIOR MOTIVES.

>> EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT MAJORLY STARTING ANYTHING NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT SET BACK, PUT A WITH EDGE IN THERE AND JUST OUT OF RESPECT, YOU KNOW?

>> THE SAD PART IS THAT SOMETIMES WHEN YOU OPEN SOMETHING UP AND YOU DO IT TOO SOON AND YOU DON'T HAVE SECURITY SET, YOU DON'T HAVE THE PARAMETERS SET.

YOU GOT EVERYTHING FROM WHAT WE CALL GRAVE, GRAVE HUNTERS, TREASURE HUNTERS.

>> YOU GOT TO RUN YOUR STRING LIVE AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A DRAINAGE PLAN AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME BEFORE JUST FLIP OPEN A STONE AND CALL OUT BASS REEVES, AND THEN HAVE A BUNCH OF FANATICS TRIPPING IN THERE TO SEE 'EM.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO PREVENT.

I'M TRYING TO NOT MAKE A CIRCUS OUT OF THIS.

>> BUT THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE FOR ANOTHER DAY.

FOR NOW, CLEARING THE WAY TO REEVE'S BURIAL SITE, IF IT'S HERE, IS A WORTHWHILE GOAL, AND EVEN IF IT ISN'T, THERE ARE DOZENS OF OTHER NOTABLE OKLAHOMANS BURIED HERE INCLUDING SOLOMON SIR JONES, WHOSE 29 SILENT FILMS DOCUMENTING AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN THE 1920s, REMAIN A TREASURE DROVE OF OKLAHOMA HISTORY.

>> THERE ARE LITERALLY DOZENS OF IMPORTANT MEN BURIED IN THERE.

THERE'S A HUNDRED REVERENDS IN THE, IN THE CHURCH SECTION.

THERE'S JUDGES, THERE'S LAWYERS, THERE'S, IN MY OPINION, OF ALL THE CEMETERIES, IT WAS CALLED THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE SOUTHWEST AS FAR AS CEMETERIES GO.

I BELIEVE HE'S IN THERE.

AND IF THE FOREST IS IN THE WAY, WE'LL CUT DOWN THE FOREST.

>> HOPE THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL.

>>> THE GARDEN OAKS COMMUNITY CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY IS NOW OPEN THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF THE ALPHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

TAELYR JACKSON WAS ON HAND FOR THE GRAND OPENING AND JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON WHAT THE CENTER HOPES TO PROVIDE.

TAELYR?

SFWLR >> REPORTER: RICH, PART OF THE ALPHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF OKLAHOMA'S MISSION IS TO EMPOWER ,UPLIFT AND PROVIDE AID TO COMMUNITIES IN OKLAHOMA.

THE FOUNDATION SAYS THIS COMMUNITY CENTER WILL HELP THEM ACHIEVE JUST THAT.

>> I SAID WHO ARE YOU WITH?

>> REPORTER: THE ALPHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF OKLAHOMA IS BRINGING NEW LIFE TO THE FORMER GARDEN OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

>> THE SCHOOL HAD BEEN VACANT FOR MANY YEARS AND WE PURCHASED THE FACILITY WITH THE GOAL OF CONVERTING IT INTO A COMMUNITY CENTER.

CHAIRMAN GEORGE WILLIAMS SAYS THE FOUNDATION RAISED NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS FOR RENOVATIONS.

>> WE HAD TO RENOVATE THE BUILDING COMPLETELY A NEW ROOF.

THERE WAS ASBESTOS IN THE FACILITY.

WE COMPLETELY REDID THE ELECTRICAL AND THE PLUMBING AND DID, DID ALL THE INTERIOR REMODELING.

>> REPORTER: THE FOUNDATION, ESTABLISHED BY A LOCAL ALUMNI CHAPTER OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY INC.

PURCHASED THE OLD SCHOOL THREE YEARS AGO.

>> OUR FRATERNITY IS ABOUT GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED SERVICES.

AND WE KNEW IF WE HAD A FACILITY THIS LARGE, WE COULD REALLY HAVE A HUGE IMPACT.

IMPACT MORE PEOPLE, MORE STUDENTS, MORE SENIORS.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE THE IDEA FOR THIS CAME, CAME ABOUT.

AND LIKE I SAID, THE COMMUNITY'S BEEN BEHIND US, THEY'VE SUPPORTED US THE WHOLE WAY, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE OUR GRAND OPENING TODAY.

>> HAVING A BUILDING LIKE THIS COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE PROGRAMS, TO BUILD CAMARADERIE, TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS IS GOING TO BE MAGNIFICENT, AND JUST LIKE THE ALPHA PHI ALMA MOTTO, FIRST OF ALL, SERVE ALL, TRANSCEND ALL THIS BUILDING IS GONNA TRANSCEND GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> REPORTER: WILLIAM SAYS THERE WAS A NEED FOR SUCH A PLACE ON THE EASTSIDE.

>> THIS AREA OF OUR CITY IS HISTORICALLY BEEN MARGINALIZED AND WE KNEW THAT WE COULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT IN THIS PART OF OUR CITY.

THE NEIGHBOR, THE GARDEN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HAS WELCOMED, WELCOMED US WITH OPENED ARMS.

THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE THROUGH PROVIDING DONATIONS, VOLUNTEERING, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND SO WE JUST KNOW THAT THE FACILITY FIT WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO AND THE COMMUNITY NEEDS THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PROVIDING.

>> IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT, BECAUSE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE AREA DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES.

THERE'S NOT, YOU KNOW, A BIG GIANT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OR YMCA LIKE YOU HAVE IN OTHER AREAS.

>> REPORTER: WYJUANA MONTGOMERY IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A NON-PROFIT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM CALLED REACH FORWARD FOUNDATION.

>> >> IT'S AMAZING WHEN YOU CAN GET A FACILITY IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS STATE OF THE ART, THAT LOOKS MODERN, THAT IS NICE AND FRESH AND CLEAN AND IS AN INVITING SPACE, YOU KNOW, SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ALSO UNDERSTAND THEY'RE VALUABLE.

>> REPORTER: SHE PLANS TO PUT ONE OF THE MANY CLASSROOM SPACES TO WORK.

>> MAJORITY OF THE YOUTH, AT LEAST HALF OF THEM ARE ON THE EAST SIDE AND OTHERS ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE AND THE SOUTH SIDE.

SO I HAD THE PLEASURE OF CONNECTING WITH SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ALPHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WHILE WE WERE ALL SWEATING IT OUT AT THUNDER CONCESSIONS, RAISING MONEY, LEARNED THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE DOING THIS.

SO SINCE OUR PROGRAMMING IS TYPICALLY SECOND SATURDAYS FROM NOON TO 2:00, THEY JUST TOLD ME TO LOOK AROUND, SEE IF I FIND A CLASSROOM SPACE THAT FITS.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING HERE.

>> REPORTER: THE GARDEN OAKS COMMUNITY CENTER WILL PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR FUN AND EDUCATION FOR THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY.

>> WE'LL HAVE A LIBRARY AND MEDIA CENTER FOR STUDENTS TO COME AND GET AFTERSCHOOL TUTORING AND DO WORK.

WE'LL HAVE A MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTOR PROVIDING MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THERE'S SPACES FOR OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO MEET.

THERE'S SPACES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA TO COME AND HAVE BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND BABY SHOWERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS.

WE HAVE YOUTH SPORTS TEAMS USING OUR OUTDOOR AREA FOR PRACTICE.

SO THE SKY'S REALLY THE LIMIT WITH WHAT WE CAN DO.

>> REPORTER: THE CENTER ALSO HAS A S.T.E.M.

LAB WHERE DR. ARRON LAMPKIN WILL LEAD S.T.E.M.

AND ROBOTICS.

>> YEAH, SO I'LL TEACH ELECTRONICS AND ROBOTICS AND SO I BASICALLY HANDS ON LEARNING AND TINKERING.

SO S.T.E.M.

IS ALL AROUND YOU.

SO SOME DAYS THEY'LL BRING STUFF THAT THEY FEEL IS TRASH.

WE MAKE IT INTO TREASURE.

AND SO WE ALL ABOUT TAKING THINGS APART, PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER SO THAT YOU KNOW HOW IT WORKS.

IF YOU UNDERSTAND HOW SOMETHING WORKS, YOU CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR WAY IS AND WHAT'S YOUR PURPOSE.

SO WE TEACH THE LIFE SKILLS ON HOW YOU MATTER AND HOW OTHER PEOPLE MATTER.

>> REPORTER: LAMPKIN SAYS POURING INTO YOUTH IS IMPORTANT.

>> IF WE DON'T WORK ON THEM NOW, THEN WHEN IT COMES TO LATER, THINGS WILL BE CHAOTIC.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO INVEST, PLANT THAT SEED, WATER AND GROW IT.

AND THEN BY EXPOSING 'EM TO AS MUCH, THEY CAN'T SAY, I DON'T KNOW.

THEY CAN SAY, I'M GONNA FIGURE IT OUT BASED ON WHAT I KNOW AND WHAT I EXPERIENCED.

SO YOU'RE GONNA EXPECT GREAT THINGS OUT OF THIS FACILITY.

JUSTICE THROUGHOUT HISTORY ALPHA MEN ARE ALWAYS ABOUT DOING GREAT THINGS AND CHANGING THE WORLD.

>> THIS ISN'T THE FIRST SCHOOL ON THE EAST SIDE TO BE REPURPOSED.

IN 2017, THE PAGE WOODSON SCHOOL WAS RENOVATED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

RICH?

>> TAELYR, THANK YOU, LOOKS GREAT.

>>> DR. RUTH RAY JACKSON HAS BEEN SELECTED TO SERVE AS THE 17th PRESIDENT OF LANGSTON UNIVERSITY, OKLAHOMA'S ONLY HBCU.

JACKSON WAS APPOINTED AS INTERIM PRESIDENT IN JULY OF LAST YEAR.

PRIOR TO TAKING THAT PROMOTION, JACKSON WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.

BEFORE THAT, JOINING LANGSTON, JACKSON SPENT 11 YEARS AT LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AS A DEPARTMENT CHAIR.

>>> AN OKLAHOMA AEROSPACE COMPANY HAS RECRUITED A FORMER EXECUTIVE FROM ELON MUSK'S SPACEX.

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

>> OKLAHOMA CITY BASED SKYDWELLER AERO HAS HIRED BARRY MATSUMORI AS ITS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.

MATSUMORI IS A FORMER SENIOR EXECUTIVE FOR SPACEX, VIRGIN ORBIT AND IMPULSE SPACE.

HE HOLDS MORE THAN 25 PATENTS FOCUSED ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SPACE TECHNOLOGIES.

SKYDWELLER HAS DEVELOPED UNCREWED SOLAR-POWERED AIRCRAFT WITH LARGE WINGSPANS AND A ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT.

THE AIRCRAFT ARE AUTONOMOUS AND CAPABLE OF STAYING IN FLIGHT FOR 90 DAYS OR MORE.

>>> OKLAHOMA CITY INVESTMENT FIRM ECHO IS LAUNCHING A NEW PROGRAM CALLED ECHO IMPACT WHICH WILL INVEST IN AND INCUBATE BUSINESSES IN OVERLOOKED COMMUNITIES AND TO ENCOURAGE INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT.

LEADING THE PROGRAM WILL BE COMMUNITY DEVELOPER SANDINO THOMPSON.

HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH SEVERAL MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE REDEVELOPMENT OF NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> OKLAHOMA CITY-BASED MIDFIRST BANK IS SET TO ACQUIRE SIX HOUSTON, TEXAS BANKING LOCATIONS FROM AMERANT BANK.

ONCE THE DEAL CLOSES, MIDFIRST WILL MANAGE THE EXISTING CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS WHICH TOTAL APPROXIMATELY $576 MILLION IN DEPOSITS AND THE $529 MILLION IN ACTIVE LOANS.

THE MOVE IS EXPECTED TO ACCELERATE MIDFIRST'S GROWTH PLAN IN TEXAS.

ALL OF THE AMERANT BANK EMPLOYEES WILL BE RETAINED BY MIDFIRST.

THE DEAL IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THIS YEAR.

>>> YOU CAN NOW HAVE A ROBOT MOW YOUR LAWN IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THAT'S BECAUSE AUTMOW OF OKC HAS LAUNCHED.

IT SELLS AND SERVICES ROBOTIC LAWN MOWING SOLUTIONS.

THE COMPANY CONSULTS WITH A POSSIBLE CLIENT TO SEE IF IT IS FEASIBLE TO INSTALL THE ROBOT MOWERS.

THEY TRAIN THE CLIENTS TO USE AND PROGRAM THE DEVICES TO AUTOMATICALLY TRIM THE LAWN.

AUTMOW USES AN ELECTRIC FLEET THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH KINGBEE RENTALS, ALLOWING THE COMPANY TO REDUCE ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT.

JASON DOYLE, "THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW."

>> I WANT ONE OF THOSE.

THANK YOU, JASON.

>>> THE DEADLINE TO FILE YOUR TAXES HAS COME AND GONE AND THERE WERE CHANGES THIS YEAR ON BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, AND MORE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WITH MORE ON THAT, HERE'S MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD WITH THIS WEEK'S "IN-DEPTH" DISCUSSION.

CASSIDY?

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

AS TAXPAYERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ZRAMBLE TO MEET NONE'S DEADLINE FOR TO FILE THEIR 2023 RETURNS THERE ARE PLENTY TO FILE AN EXTENSION.

JOIN ME TO DISCUSS IS DR. TRAVIS ROCHE, ASSOCIATE PROVER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AND CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICINGS AND FOR MORE ON HOW TAXES AFFECT OKLAHOMANS, WE'RE JOINED BY ANGELA MONSON, OUTREACH AND LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE OKLAHOMA POLICY INSTITUTE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT "THE OKLAHOMAN"S WHO YET HAVE TO FILE FOR TAXES.

WHAT ARE NEXT STEPS AND ANYTHING YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FILING?

>> HOPEFULLY YOU DIDN'T MISS THE 15th.

IN CASE YOU DID, IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.

THE THING THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN SAY IF YOU HAD PAID ON TIME IS THAT THERE WILL BE A SMALL INTEREST PAYMENT.

SO THIS OCCURS EVEN IF YOU FILE AN EXTENSION SO SUPPOSE YOU NEED SOME EXTRA TIME, MAYBE LIFE COMES AT YOU, YOU NEED THE EXTRA WEEK OR TWO WEEKS OR LIKE ME, LAST YEAR, A MONTH OR TWO.

YOU FILE YOUR EXTENSION AND YOU STILL OWE TAXES AT THE TIME THEY'RE PAID.

SO EVENTUALLY YOU'LL PAY YOUR TAX BILL BUT THERE WILL BE A SMALL INTEREST RATE ATTACHED TO THAT.

>> HOW LONG IS THAT EXTENSION COVERING YOU FOR?

>> THROUGH OCTOBER 15th.

>> AND IF YOU ARE LATE AND HAPPEN TO PAY A PENALTY, IS THAT ONLY FOR IF YOU OWE MONEY TO THE STATE?

>> TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THAT'S RIGHT.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA WILL GIVE YOU INTEREST ON SOMETHING THEY'D REFUND YOU.

>> ANGELA, WERE THERE ANY CHANGES IN THE LAST LEGISLATION THAT AFFECTED HOW PEOPLE FILED TAXES THIS YEAR?

>> NOT REALLY.

THERE HAVE NOT BEEN MAJOR CHANGES IN OKLAHOMA TAX FILING PROCESS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

THERE HAVE BEEN SMALL CHANGES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IN INCOME TAXES OWED IN THE BRACKETING, BUT THEY'RE SMALL AND THE VERY UNUSUAL THING AND PROBABLY NOT THE BEST OF THINGS FOR OKLAHOMA, IF YOU ARE EARNING $7,000, IF YOUR TAXABLE INCOME IS EVEN AS LOW AS $7,000, YOU'RE ALREADY AT THE HIGHEST TAX BRACKET IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

>> AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT MEANS YOU PAY THE TAX BRACKET ON THE AVERAGE IS 4.75%.

SO IF YOU HIT $7,000 OR $700,000, YOU'RE STILL PAYING THE SAME PERCENT OF TAXES.

>> ARE WE SEEING A NEW AND IMPROVED IRS AFTER LAST YEAR'S FEDERAL SPENDING BILL THAT HIRED OVER 80,000 NEW IRS WORKERS.

ARE WE SEE THAT IN OKLAHOMA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

MY IN-LAWS FILE PAPER RETURNS AND THEY HAD AN ISSUE GETTING THEIR STIMULUS PAYMENT OVER THE COVID RECESSION AND SO I GOT ONE, MY WIFE GOT ONE, BUT THEY JUST, IT NEVER SHOWED UP AND THEY KEPT WAITING AND THEY CALLED THE TAX OFFICE AND BE PUT ON HOLD FOR HOURS, TWO HOURS, AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME.

AS SOON AS THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT PASSED AND THERE WAS EXTRA FUNDING THAT WENT TO THE IRS, THEY GOT THEIR STIMULUS PAYMENT, TWO YEARS LATE BUT IT CAME ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE NEW FUNDING OPENED UP FOR THE IRS.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS SHORTER WAIT TIMES FOR PEOPLE WHO CALL, THERE'S MORE OUTREACH, MORE HELP AND SO JUST BASIC EFFICIENCY IN THAT OFFICE.

WE FORGET THAT WHEN WE EXPECT OUR GOVERNMENT TO DO A JOB, WE DO ACTUALLY HAVE TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT TO DO THAT JOB, AND IN THE CASE OF THE IRS, IT'S BEEN KIND OF DEMONIZED BY POLITICS.

YOU HATE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN WHEN REALLY THIS IS A SERVICE TO HELP PEOPLE HAVE THEIR TAXES PAID ON TIME, AND TO GET HELP IF THEY NEED IT.

>> SPEAKING ABOUT FUNDS AND THE GOVERNMENT, ANGELA, I WANT TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT OKLAHOMA'S TAX BURDEN.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE TAX BURDEN ISN'T THE ACTUAL DOLLARS AND CENTS COMING OUT OF YOUR POCKET.

IT'S THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT YOU PAY TO STATE AND LOCAL TAXES?

>> ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT OKLAHOMA IS A REALLY HIGH, HIGH TAX STATE.

OKLAHOMA HAS A DEPENDENCY ON CERTAIN REVENUE STREAMS THAT OTHER STATES DON'T HAVE, SO MAYBE WE FILL IT MORE FREQUENTLY LIKE INCOME TAX BUT 38% OF STATE'S REVENUE, ALMOST 40% OF ALL OF THE MONEY THAT THE STATE SPENDS ACTUALLY COMES FROM OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL INCOME TAX.

AND THE BULK OF THAT MONEY ACTUALLY IS SPENT ON EDUCATION.

AND THEN GENERAL GOVERNMENT, THINGS THAT PAY FOR LIKE OUR STATE TAX COMMISSION OR JUST THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, BUT THERE ARE ALSO THINGS LIKE HEALTH CARE AND TRANSPORTATION, TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES, WHICH IS A LOT OF FEDERAL DOLLARS THERE, TOO.

BUT THE TAX BURDEN THAT WE PLAY IS NOT JUST INCOME TAX THOUGH.

IT'S SALES TAX WHICH A LOT OF STATES DON'T HAVE.

WE GOT RID OF THE STATE PORTION OF THE GROCERY TAX THIS YEAR BUT GROCERY TAX OR SALES TAX IS THE PRIMARY REVENUE SOURCE FOR OUR CITIES AND TOWNS AND SOME COUNTIES, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IN OKLAHOMA ACTUALLY HAVE A SALES TAX.

EVEN THOUGH THE STATE PORTION OF GROCERY TAX IS GONE, PEOPLE BUY GROCERIES AFTER THE LAW GOES INTO EFFECT, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO PAY TAXES ON THOSE GROCERIES BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THE MUNICIPAL TAX AND IN THOSE COUNTIES THAT CHARGE SALES TAX PAY THE COUNTY TAX AS WELL.

>> ANGELA, YOU MENTIONED THE GROCERY TAX.

DO YOU THINK THE CUT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE OKLAHOMA ECONOMY?

>> OH, YOU KNOW, THE STATE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THAT REVENUE BACK IN.

THAT'S ONE THING FOR SURE, AND IN FACT, LAST YEAR, BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING ON THE FISCAL YEAR '25 BUDGET RIGHT NOW.

BUT THE FISCAL YEAR '24 BUDGET ACTUALLY WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO EVEN 2000 BUDGET, LIKE 13% LESS, SO SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.

GOVERNMENT'S GOTTEN SMALLER BUT THE POPULATION HAS GROWN, THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE ARE DEEPER, THINGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE.

OUR ECONOMY IS TAKING HITS.

IT HAS BEEN TAKING HITS, STATE AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS AND BUILDINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED, ALL KINDS OF HIGHER ED THAT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED, ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE PAID FOR ARE TAKING HITS.

SO THE GROCERY SALES TAX WILL CREATE A DENT IN OUR BUDGET, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT EITHER WE COME ONE MORE REVENUE OR WE CUT MORE SERVICES.

NOW, OUR ECONOMY IS DOING OKAY AND THE PROFESSOR HERE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE MORE MONEY COMING IN, BUT THE VALUE OF DOLLARS NOW IS NOT LIKE IT WAS YOU KNOW, 40 YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS A MERE BABY, RIGHT?

SO THE GROCERY SALES TAX HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF THAT.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY OUT THERE TO BE EXPENDED.

IN FACT, WE'RE TRYING TO, MY AGENCY TO DO MORE TO GET MORE MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF OKLAHOMA RESIDENTS.

>> DR. COCHE, HOW ABOUT THE GROCERY TAX AFFECT OKLAHOMA?

>> PROBABLY NOT MUCH.

WE STILL HAVE OKLAHOMA CITY TAXES INVOLVED THERE.

BUT I THINK FOCUSING ON THE DENT THAT THAT PUTS INTO OUR BUDGET IS IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE POLITICIANS SEEKING TO GET A STATE INCOME TAX CUT AND I WOULD JUST ASK OUR LISTENERS, THE WATCHERS OF THIS PROGRAM TO THINK OF A SINGLE QUALITY OF LIFE METRIC THAT THEY BELIEVE WE'RE PURCHASING WELL ON.

IF WE THINK ABOUT EDUCATION, HOW WE TREAT OUR VETERANS, ARE WE MEETING THE STANDARD WE EXPECT?

ALMOST NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN I THINK YOU CAN SAY THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.

WE ARE ONE OF THE LEADING STATES FOR VETERAN SUICIDE.

EVERY DAY THERE'S NOT A SCHOOL SHOOTHING IT'S A BLESSING.

WE TAKE THE CASE IT'S MENTAL HEALTH DRIVING THE TRAGEDIES, WHY AREN'T WE INVESTING IN THAT?

BY REDUCING OUR TAX INCOME THROUGH GROCERY TAX OR THROUGH INCOME TAXES, WE CANNOT ADDRESS THOSE PRIORITIES AND WE'RE NOT MEETING ANY OF THOSE PRIORITIES RIGHT NOW.

>> ANGELA?

>> YES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

BUDGET IS POLICY.

PROGRAMS, POLICY, THINGS THAT HELP PEOPLE MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS ARE BASED ON AVAILABLE REVENUE.

OTHERE THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE AS INDIVIDUALS CANNOT PAY FOR, THEY HAVE TO BE PUBLICLY FINANCED, GOOD EDUCATION SYSTEM OR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

THOSE THINGS REQUIRE REVENUE.

PEOPLE SAY I DON'T WANT TO PAY TAXES, I DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN A WORLD OR A STATE WHERE PEOPLE DON'T PAY TAXES.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE PAYMENT OF THE TAXES IS FAIR AND THOSE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT ARE NOT MOST BURDENED.

THERE'S A CREDIT THAT THE STATE OFFERS IT'S $40.

IT WAS $40 WHEN IT WAS CREATED $30.

IT'S STILL $40.

YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF $40 NOW AND THE VALUE OF $40 30 YEARS AGO AND IT'S NOT WORTH VERY MUCH.

OUR EFFORT IS TO EXPAND THAT, MAKE IT REAL DOLLARS FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT AND THOSE WHO MAKE UNDER $6,000, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

$60,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, FIVE, SIX IS NOT A LOT OF.

MONEY WE'LL GET A BETTER RETURN THAN FOLKS LIKE THE PROFESSOR WHO COULD TAKE THAT MONEY AND STATUTE IT IN A 401(k).

MOST PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WILL PUT THAT MONEY BACK IN THE ECONOMY AND IT WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT.

>> SOME OF THE TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE TO OKLAHOMAN, ANY MORE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?

>> I AM A FAN OF THE ONE THAT GOES TOWARD SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS.

ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON THEM IS GREAT AND IT'S A POSITIVE OF THE OKLAHOMA TAX, THE WAY WE SET THINGS UP.

THAT COUNTS AGAINST YOUR OKLAHOMA PORTION OF YOUR TAX BILL.

>> LET'S MOVE BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT "THE OKLAHOMAN"S THAT FILE FOR THEIR TAX RETURN ON TIME.

WHEN CAN THEY EXPECT THAT REFUND?

>> THAT IS MAYBE A BETTER QUESTION FOR YOU.

I HAVEN'T SEEN MINE SHOW UP.

IT'S QUICK.

>> IF YOU FILE ELECTRONICALLY AND DIRECT DEPOSIT IT'S QUICKER.

THE STATE TAX OFFICIAL SAYS OFFICIALLY THREE, FOUR WEEKS.

BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THOSE WHO FILES ON TIME GETTING A REFUND, I HOPE IT'S NOT THREE TO FOUR WEEKS.

I HOPE IT'S MUCH SOONER.

IT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN MUCH SOONER.

OUR STATE TAX COMMISSION, I SHARED SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE A LONG TIME AGO, A COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OR POLICY-MAKING OVERSIGHT FOR TAX COMMISSION AND THAT AGENCY WAS JUST LIKE A WELL-OILED ENGINE, AND I HOPE THAT IT STILL IS.

PEOPLE NEED THAT MONEY.

PEOPLE WHO ARE DEPENDING ON TAX REFUNDS ARE FOLK WHO NEED THAT MONEY AND GOING TO SPEND IT TO BUY TIRES OR CAR FIXED OR BUY BABY SOME SHOES OR WHATEVER NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

THAT MONEY WILL BE EXPENDED INTO OUR ECONOMY.

>> YOU MENTIONED BEFORE YOU'VE BEEN AT THE CAPITOL THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS SITTING IN ON DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS TOPIC.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM LEGISLATORS?

>> THE SENATE THIS YEAR SAYS WE'RE GOING TO BE TRANSPARENT AND DID A PROCESS THAT SORT OF LOOKED LIKE THE PROCESS WE USED BACK IN THE DAY WHERE THEY ACTUALLY BROUGHT AGENCIES IN AND INVITED THE PUBLIC TO HEAR ABOUT THEIR REQUESTS AND THEIR NEEDS, BUT THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN PROMOTED.

IT'S BEEN AN OPEN, TRANSPARENT PROCESS, WHICH IS GOOD.

KUDOS TO THE STATE SENATOR AND SENATOR ROGER THOMPSON FOR SPEARHEADING THAT EFFORT.

THE HOUSE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS FINALLY RELEASED THEIR BUDGET.

I SAT THROUGH A MEETING TODAY THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS MEETING, WHERE THEY LOOKED AT THE HOUSE NUMBERS, SENATE NUMBERS, AGENCY REQUEST NUMBERS SO WE SAW WHAT THE AGENCY SAID THEY NEEDED, AND THEN THE VARIANCE AND THE DIFFERENCES.

SO WE SEE THE NUMBERS.

THAT PROCESS OF NEGOTIATION SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE THEY HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET BEFORE THE END OF SIGNING ADJOURNMENT, WHICH IS THE LAST FRIDAY IN THE MONTH OF MAY AND WE ALWAYS HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET AND ALWAYS MET THAT DEADLINE BUT THE TRUTH, STILL, AS THEY SAY THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.

WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS LOOKS LIKE.

>> ANGELA, LOOKING AHEAD, ARE THERE ANY NEW RULES OR ONES THAT ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT IN THE LEGISLATURE NOW THAT WILL AFFECT HOW PEOPLE FILE FOR TAXES NEXT YEAR?

>> NO, NOT HOW THEY FILED FOR TAXES.

CONSIDERATION OF WHAT TAX CREDITS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE AND HOW MUCH THOSE ARE, THAT'S THE TAX RELIEF CREDIT WE'RE WORKING ON, THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION EARLIER IN THE SESSION WHEN THE SPEAKER HAD A BILL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE LOWEST TAX BRACKETS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO PAY LESS THAN OR IN TAX BRACKETS THAT ARE LESS THAN THAT 4.65, 4.75, BUT AGAIN THOSE PEOPLE ARE FEW AND PROBABLY NOT PAYING TAXES ANYWAY, IF THAT HIGHEST TAX BRACKET KICKS IN AT $7,000.

SO THAT'S A CONVERSATION STILL ABOUT WHERE PEOPLE FALL IN THE OKLAHOMA TAX SCHEME OF THINGS, BUT NOT HOW YOU FILE YOUR TAXES.

IT'S JUST HOW MUCH TAXES YOU MAY OR MAY NOT PAY.

>> DR. ROCHE, CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE STATE REVENUE FUNDS?

>> SURE.

ONE THING THAT I THINK WOULD BE ENLIGHTENING TO MOST PEOPLE, I LEARNED IS NOT TOO RECENTLY THE MAJORITY OF THE MONEY COMING INTO OUR REVENUE FUND COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

WE BRING IN A LOT OF MONEY, THESE ARE FUNDS, THE MOST RECENTLY PASSED AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, PART OF THE REASON WHY WE HAVE A BUDGET SURPLUS RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE OF THAT FEDERAL LEGISLATION.

THE ISSUE WITH THIS OF COURSE IS THAT THE OKLAHOMA DELEGATION VOTED AGAINST IT.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHICH WE WANT TO HAVE OUR CAKE AND EAT IT.

WE HAVE THE OKLAHOMA DELEGATION WHO VOTED AGAINST THIS, AND YET WE WANT TO CUT TAXES BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN.

THESE TWO DON'T MEET.

IF WE WANT A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT'S THE FISCAL BACKGROUND.

>> SPEAKING OF FEDERAL DOLLARS, TWO MAJOR SOURCES FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, THE MEDICAID PROGRAM WHICH PAYS FOR 90% OF ALL LONG-TERM CARE, NURSING HOME SERVICES AND EXPANSION OF HEALTH CARE TO SINGLE DULTS NOW COVERED BY MEDICAID, FEDERAL SOURCE OF REVENUE AND FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS.

I HAVE TO PUT THIS LAST PLUG IN ON NEXT THURSDAY, APRIL 25th AT THE STATE CAPITOL FOR OUR DAY OF ACTION, 9:00, REGISTRATION, 10:00.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW HOW THEIR STATE REVENUE IS SPENT AND HOW THEY CAN MAKE SURE THEY CAN, HOW BUDGET POLICIES MATCH PEOPLE'S NEEDS, JOIN US AT THE STATE CAPITOL NEXT THURSDAY, 9:00.

>> WE'LL LEAVE IT THERE, DR. TRAVIS ROCHE AND ANGELA MUNSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, GLAD TO BE WITH YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU, CASSIDY.

>>> THE OKLAHOMA ARTS COMMUNITY IS RECEIVING $10 MILLION IN FEDERAL ARPA FUNDING TO RE-ENERGIZE THEIR EFFORTS FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC.

182 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE WILL BE RECEIVING MONEY.

REPORTER ANDREW HARTSHORN HAS MORE ON WHO IS GETTING WHAT AND WHAT FOR.

>> REPORTER: LAURA POLLOCK PLAYS FIRST VIOLIN FOR THE OKLAHOMA YOUTH ORCHESTRA.

♪♪ HER LOVE OF MUSIC COMES NATURALLY.

>> I'VE BEEN PLAYING SINCE I WAS 5.

MY PARENTS JUST PUT ME IN IT.

MY PARENTS ARE MUSICIANS AND MY MOM ACTUALLY IS A PIANIST AND SHE WANTED TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO PLAY ALONG WITH, SO SHE HAD ME PLAY VIOLIN AND I'VE JUST BEEN DOING IT EVER SINCE.

>> REPORTER: LAURA HAS BEEN PART OF THE ORCHESTRA FOR MOST OF HER CHILDHOOD.

>> I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

I'VE, I'VE BEEN IN THE ORGANIZATION FOR ABOUT, I WANNA SAY EIGHT YEARS, BUT I, I'VE BEEN IN OIO, THE TOP ORCHESTRA FOR THREE YEARS, AND IT REALLY IS A BIG PART OF MY LIFE AS IT'S ONE OF MY MAIN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, AND IT'S ALSO, IT PUSHES ME TO A LIMIT THAT NO OTHER ORGANIZATION THAT I'M IN DOES.

>> REPORTER: THE OKLAHOMA YOUTH ORC VA ORCHESTRA IS A NON-PROFIT 501 (C)(3) ORGANIZATION THAT FEATURES MUSICIANS AGES 8 THROUGH 18 FROM THE OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, THEY FACED FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES.

>> THAT WAS A LITTLE ROUGH.

WE, WE MET ONLINE VIA ZOOM AND THERE WASN'T MANY PEOPLE AT ALL.

>> REPORTER: DOZENS OF OTHER ART ORGANIZATIONS FACED SIMILAR HURDLES.

>> SO THE ARTS NON-PROFIT SECTOR IN PARTICULAR TOOK A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAD A HISTORIC REVENUE LOSS, $44 MILLION WERE REPORTED IN JUST THE NINE MONTHS ALONE OF THE HEART OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> REPORTER: ON APRIL 11th, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT HELPED ANNOUNCE THE DISPERSAL OF $10 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDING.

95 URBAN ORGANIZATIONS AND 87 RURAL ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED FUNDING.

>> WE'RE GONNA TRUST THE ARTS COUNCIL.

IT'S A GREAT BOARD.

AND AMBER SHARPLES IS THE DIRECTOR.

AND SO SHE WILL PUT THAT GRANT PROGRAM OUT ALL ACROSS THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA.

♪♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME!

>> REPORTER: THE OKLAHOMA OPRY WAS ONE OF THE 182 ORGANIZATIONS TO RECEIVE A GRANT.

>> THE OKLAHOMA OPRY HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1977.

WE ARE OKLAHOMA'S OFFICIAL COUNTRY MUSIC SHOW.

GOVERNOR FRANK KEATING WAS THE FIRST GOVERNOR TO SIGN US OFFICE.

AND THEN EACH GOVERNOR SINCE HAS OKAYED IT AS WELL.

>> REPORTER: STARS LIKE BLAKE SHELTON GOT HIS START IN THE OPRY BACK IN 1996.

>> WHEN YOU COME TO AN OPRY SHOW, YOU CAN IMAGINE YOU'RE SEEING THE STARS OF TOMORROW.

YOU'RE SEEING THE NEXT GENERATION AND SOMETIMES THOSE BIG NAMES COME BACK TO SEE US.

SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU'RE GONNA SEE WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR.

♪♪ >> REPORTER: CURRENTLY THE OKLAHOMA OPRY IS OPERATING OUT OF THE ACMO BUT HAS PLANS TO MOVE THEIR OWN BUILDING NEXT DOOR.

>> RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ACM AT UCO ON THE BRICKTOWN CANAL IS A FOUR-STORY BUILDING THAT JUST NEEDS A LOT OF LOVE.

WE HAVE A, RIGHT NOW WE ARE, WE HAVE A LEASE TO PURCHASE AGREEMENT AND WE ARE WORKING AT FIRST PHASE ONE IS $1.25 MILLION AND WE WILL PAY THAT BUILDING PAID OFF.

>> REPORTER: FUNDING CRITERIA WAS BASED ON THE ART ORGANIZATION'S OPERATING BUDGET, LOSSES CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC, AND THE REACH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THEIR PROGRAMMING.

>> OUR ENSEMBLES PERFORM AT LEAST THREE CONCERTS EVERY YEAR, USUALLY AT OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

AND WE INVITE THE COMMUNITY OUT TO THOSE PERFORMANCES TO SHARE THE GOODWILL WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE ALSO OFFER A SUMMER CAMP FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOOL STRING STUDENTS.

THAT TAKES PLACE IN JUNE OF EVERY YEAR."

>> REPORTER: THE CANTERBURY VOICES ALSO RECEIVED ARPA FUNDING.

THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 55 YEARS.

PAM MOWRY IS THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

>> WE'RE A MID-SIZE ARTS ORGANIZATION.

OUR ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET AT ABOUT $600,000 A YEAR AND WE LOST $100,000 EACH YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> REPORTER: IN ADDITION TO THE FEDERAL MONEY, FOUR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS DONATED AN ADDITIONAL $50,000 TO AID ORGANIZATIONS THAT BENEFIT THEIR COMMUNITIES IN WAYS THAT EXTEND BEYOND JUST ENTERTAINMENT.

♪♪ >> THE ARTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO A STRONG ECONOMY, EDUCATION, QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND SO THESE ARPA FUNDS, THIS HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN OUR SECTOR IS REALLY GONNA TRANSFORM OKLAHOMA TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE, NOT ONLY FOR COMMUNITIES BUT IN THE REGION AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> REPORTER: ANDREW HARTSHORN, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> THOSE YOUNG FOLKS CAN REALLY PLAY.

GOOD JOB, ANDREW.

>>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," THE LEGISLATURE IS CLOSE TO PASSING TOUGH NEW ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION LAWS.

JASON DOYLE REPORTS ON THE REACTION TO THEM FROM MINORITY LAWMAKERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:00 P.M. >>> WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE COWGIRL ARTISTS OF AMERICA SCREENING AND ART SHOW, HOSTED BY OUR GALLERY AMERICA COLLEAGUES AND EDITED BY OETA'S BRANDON DOWNEY.

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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