>> THE SECRETARY OF TOURISM REJECTS CALLS FOR HER RESIGNATION FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF AN AUDIT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE NO PLANS TO RESIGN.

>> MINORITY LAWMAKERS VOICE THEIR DISAPPROVAL OF A NEW LAW TARGETING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN OKLAHOMA.

>> THIS BILL IS INCREDIBLY BROAD.

IT DOESN'T CONSIDER SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, LIKE HOW IT'S GOING TO BE ENFORCED.

>> AN O.U.

PROFESSOR RECEIVES A LARGE GRANT TO TRACK THE RELEASE OF METHANE GAS.

>> METHANE GAS IS ONE OF THE SERIOUS CONSIDERATIONS WE NEED TO LOOK AT, SO WHAT THIS RESEARCHER IS DOING AT O.U.

IS IMPORTANT.

>> HELPING OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS REBOUND FROM LEARNING LOSS CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> THERE ARE CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES.

THAT SOCIALIZATION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BEFORE THEY ENTER SCHOOL.

>> HOW LEFTOVER CONCESSIONS ARE HELPING FEED THE HUNGRY IN OKLAHOMA.

>> O.U.

DONATED OVER 14,000 POUNDS LAST YEAR.

THEY'RE USING OUR PLATFORM IN ORDER TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO DONATE MORE.

>> THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS -- OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

STATE SECRETARY OF TOURISM SHELLY ZUMWALT IS REJECTING CALLS FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND THAT SHE RESIGN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF AN AUDIT THAT ALLEGES SERIOUS MISMANAGEMENT BY ZUMWALT IN HER PREVIOUS POSITION AS THE DIRECTOR OF OESC, THE OKLAHOMA EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION.

IN HER REPORT, STATE AUDITOR CYNDI BYRD ALLEGES THAT ZUMWALT MISMANAGED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, FAILED TO FOLLOW PROPER BIDDING GUIDELINES IN AWARDING VENDOR CONTRACTS AND DID NOT ADEQUATELY DISCLOSE THAT HER HUSBAND WORKED FOR A SOFTWARE COMPANY HIRED BY THE OESC, CREATING WHAT DRUMMOND CALLED A BRAZEN CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

ZUMWALT TOLD US SHE DIDN'T D -- SHE DID NOTHING WRONG.

>> BEFORE I GOT TO THE AGENCY, WE HAD SET UP THE SCENARIO WHERE MY HUSBAND NEVER WORKED ON ANY OESC BUSINESS.

AND THAT WAS DISCLOSED FROM THE MOMENT THAT THAT CONTRACT WAS SIGNED IN MARCH.

WE SET UP A SITUATION WHERE JOHN WAS NEVER GOING TO WORK ON ANY OF THE OESC BUSINESS, OR REALLY STATE BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT A CONFLICT IN THAT SITUATION.

AND SO I WAS COMPLETELY BLINDSIDED, YOU KNOW, FOR MULTIPLE REASONS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT I HAVEN'T TRIED TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IN THE PAST.

>> SO OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOT STEPPING DOWN RIGHT AWAY.

IS THAT -- IS THAT WHAT I GET FROM THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE NO PLANS TO RESIGN.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT AN AG THAT ALREADY SAID HE'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

YOU'VE GOT AN AUDITOR RUNNING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND WITHIN AN HOUR, WE GOT NO NOTICE, THE HOUSE DIDN'T GET ANY NOTICE.

WITHIN AN HOUR, THEY COORDINATED THEIR PRESS STATEMENTS ON THIS, YOU KNOW, 200 PAGE REPORT.

SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS, WHEN YOU POLITICIZE, YOU TRY TO ATTACK OTHER POLITICAL OPPONENTS, IT'S JUST VERY FRUSTRATING FOR OKLAHOMANS.

>> IN A STATEMENT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RELEASED EARLIER THIS WEEK, GENTNER DRUMMOND SAID IN PART: THIS LEVEL OF SELF-DEALING REPRESENTS AN UNFORGIVABLE BREACH OF TRUST THAT DISQUALIFIES MS. ZUMWALT FROM OVERSEEING THE EXPENDITURE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.

SHE SHOULD RESIGN IMMEDIATELY AND COOPERATE FULLY WITH MY OFFICE AS I SEEK TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY OKLAHOMA STATUTES WERE VIOLATED.

>> GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT WILL DECIDE THE FATE OF A TOUGH NEW IMMIGRATION BILL PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD PUNISH AND/OR REMOVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENTERED OKLAHOMA ILLEGALLY.

WITH MORE ON WHAT'S IN THE BILL AND THE OBJECTIONS TO IT, WE'RE JOINED BY CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT, JASON DOYLE FROM OUR OETA STUDIO INSIDE THE CAPITOL.

JASON?

>> RICH, LEGISLATIVE LEADERS BASED HOUSE BILL 4156 ON TEXAS LEGISLATION, MAKING IT A CRIME TO BE IN THE STATE IF A PERSON IS AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRAN AND LAWMAKERS WASTED NO TIME IN PASSING THE LEGISLATION OVER THE OBJECTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS AND OTHERS.

>> COMO ESTA!

(CROWD CHEERS) >> AS THE OKLAHOMA SENATE PREPARED ON TUESDAY TO TAKE UP HOUSE BILL 4156, THE IMMIGRATION BILL, A CROWD OF ABOUT 150 PEOPLE GATHERED TO CALL ON LEGISLATORS TO PULL BACK AND NOT PASS THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

MANY IN THE CROWD BELIEVE THAT LAWMAKERS ARE NOT CONSIDERING THE FEAR THIS LAW WILL LIKELY CREATE IN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES IN OKLAHOMA.

>> I ACTUALLY GREW UP UNDOCUMENTED IN THE UNITED STATES.

ACTUALLY, AS OF 2020, I JUST BECAME A PERMANENT RESIDENT, WHICH IS A GREEN CARD HOLDER.

>> TASNEEM AL-MICHAEL GREW UP HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> AND THIS IS MY HOME.

THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE FOR ME TO REALLY TRY AND GO TO.

MY FOLKS ARE FROM BANGLADESH, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, IS THAT THIS ISSUE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT LATINOS, HISPANICS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKED THE SPEAKER AND I TO BE ABLE TO GIVE HIM AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO PROTECT OKLAHOMANS.

IT'S A SIMPLE, SIMPLE REASON I'M RUNNING.

>> DURING TUESDAY'S DEBATE OF HOUSE BILL 4156, SENATE PRO-TEM GREG TREAT, ONE OF THE PRIMARY AUTHORS, SAID THIS LEGISLATION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE CRISIS ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER WITH MEXICO.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS ADMITTED -- IN JANUARY, HE FINALLY SAID THE BORDER IS A CRISIS.

THE U.S. CONGRESS, WE POINT FINGERS, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THINGS.

THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO IMPACT IT.

>> THIS BILL IS INCREDIBLY BROAD.

IT DOESN'T CONSIDER SO MANY THINGS, LIKE HOW IT'S GOING TO BE ENFORCED.

IT DOESN'T PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND RESOURCES.

>> WE CAUGHT UP WITH REPRESENTATIVE SANDOVAL DURING SUNDAY'S FESTIVAL IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA CITY SO DISCUSS THE IMMIGRATION BILL.

>> RIGHT NOW THIS BILL, UNFORTUNATELY, FOCUSES ON ELEVATING CERTAIN POLITICAL POINTS GIVEN THAT IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR AND IMMIGRATION IS ONE OF THE #1 ISSUES.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST KIND OF FOCUSING ON THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> WHEN THE MEASURE WAS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR LAST WEEK, ALONZO SANDOVAL TRIED TO AMENDMENT IT.

>> MOTION TO MOVE THE AMENDMENT.

>> HOWEVER, THAT AMENDMENT WAS QUICKLY TABLED.

>> RESPECTFULLY MOVE TO TABLE THE PRESIDENT.

>> MY APPROACH WAS TO MAKE SURE, OKAY, IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE TO THE TABLE AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HAVING A GOOD CONVERSATION THAT'S MORE FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS, AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE WE TRY TO HAVE MORE OF A BALANCED APPROACH AND A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE IMMIGRATION CRISIS.

>> SOME ARE CONCERNED THE HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE BILL WILL LEAD TO RACIAL ROW FILING IN OKLAHOMA.

>> PROFILING IS A HUGE CONCERN.

THE WAY THE BILL IS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, IT DOESN'T SPECIFY ANY LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT.

IT DOESN'T PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING OR RESOURCES TO ENFORCERS AS TO HOW THEY WOULD EVEN, LIKE, GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING WHETHER SOMEONE IS LAWFULLY PRESENT OR NOT.

>> THIS BILL AS WE KNOW IT IS GOING TO ALLOW RACIAL PROFILING AND POTENTIALLY SEPARATE FAMILIES, BUT MORE IMPORTANT, IT'S A FEDERAL ISSUE AND THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE IS NOT CAPABLE AND NOT EDUCATED ENOUGH TO DELVE INTO THESE TYPE OF ISSUES.

>> HOWEVER, TREAT SAYS IMMIGRATION IS NOT JUST IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S PURVIEW.

>> THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE TALKS ABOUT NATURALIZATION, AND NATURALIZATION ONLY IN THE CONSTITUTION.

THE IMMIGRATION CASE AS EBBED AND FLOWED IN COURTS SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THIS COUNTRY.

>> THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DONE TO PROTECT IMMIGRANTS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OKLAHOMA.

>> YES, WE MIGHT WANT TO HAVE A LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT WITH NEWER ARRIVALS, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING TO THE UNITED STATES UNLAWFULLY.

BUT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS, MAYBE EVEN DECADES, YOU KNOW, PAYING THEIR TAXES, WORKING, CONTRIBUTING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO THE ECONOMY, TO THE WORKFORCE, AN -- >> WHILE HOUSE BILL 4156 HAS A WIDE MARGIN OF SUPPORT IN THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE.

SENATE PRO TEM TREAT BELIEVES THE BILL'S JOURNEY INTO LAW WILL NOT END WITH THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE.

>> OKLAHOMANS ELECT US TO LEAD, TO PROTECT THEM, THEIR PROPERTY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SAFE AS A STATE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS BILL GIVES LAW ENFORCEMENT THOSE TOOLS.

WILL THIS BE CHALLENGED?

MORE THAN LIKELY IT WILL BE CHALLENGED.

>> THE ACLU OF OKLAHOMA IS AN ADVOCATE FOR OKLAHOMA'S IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES, AND IT MIGHT FILE A LAWSUIT TO STOP THE BILL FROM GOING INTO EFFECT.

>> THE ACLU IS THINKING ABOUT ALL OF OUR OPTIONS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS BE SUPPORTIVE TO THE COMMUNITY.

RIGHT NOW, LITIGATION IS EXPENSIVE.

IT TAKES TIME, BUT WE KNOW THE IMPACT OF THIS BILL THAT MOST EVENTUALLY WILL BECOME LAW WILL BE FELT IMMEDIATELY, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE A RESOURCE TO THE COMMUNITY FIRST AS WE CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT OUR LITIGATION STRATEGY, IF THERE IS ONE.

>> EACH STATE'S TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO STOP THAT FLOW COMING THROUGH THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

>> LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT THE BILL AT A NEWS CONFERENCE ON -- HOUSE BILL LANDED ON HIS DESK.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE A DECISION RIGHT NOW WHETHER I'LL SIGN IT OR NOT.

THERE'S TOO MANY VARIABLES ON, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IN THE BILL.

OUR TEAM WILL LOOK AT IT, AND THEN WE WILL REVIEW THAT.

>> THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL ESTIMATES NEARLY 69,000 UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS RESIDED IN OKLAHOMA ACCORDING TO 2021 DATA.

STITT NOTES THAT THOUSANDS MORE ARE COMING THROUGH THE U-S/MEXICO BORDER, AND STATES HAVE TO PROTECT THEIR CITIZENS.

4156.

>> THE FACT THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS NOT USING THE TOOLS IN HIS TOOL BELT TO SECURE THE SOUTHERN BORDER, SO YES, STATES ARE STEPPING UP TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO -- WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO COME HERE ILLEGALLY, NOT FOLLOW OUR RULES.

>> IF THE GOVERNOR DOES SIGN HOUSE BILL 4156, IT WILL GO INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

STITT HAS UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK TO DECIDE WHAT ACTION HE WILL TAKE, IF ANY.

RICH.

>> JASON, THANK YOU.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID DURING HIS NEWS CONFERENCE THAT HE WOULD CONSIDER VETOING THE 2025 BUDGET IF IT DID NOT INCLUDE AN INCOME TAX CUT.

>> IF WE'RE GONNA SPEND A BILLION AND A HALF OR $2 BILLION OR WHATEVER THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING OUT OF SAVINGS, CAN WE NOT DO A QUARTER OF A POINT CUT, WHICH ANNUALIZED WOULD BE ABOUT $250 MILLION.

IF YOU -- IF YOU'VE REALLY GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO SPEND A BILLION AND A HALF, LET'S GIVE OKLAHOMANS A QUARTER OF A POINT, RIGHT?

LET'S GIVE THEM -- LET'S GIVE EVERY SINGLE OKLAHOMAN A PAY RAISE.

IT'S THEIR MONEY ANYWAY.

SO I WOULD LOVE -- WOULD LOVE TO GET THAT DONE.

>> NOW THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID THAT HE WOULD CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS.

WITH DETAILS ON THAT, LET'S HEAD BACK AND SPEAK WITH SHAWN ASHLEY.

WHAT ELSE DID THE GOVERNOR SAY HE WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT WHEN IT COMES TO TAX CUTS?

>> GOVERNOR STITT SAID HE WOULD BE WILLING TO LOOK AT ADJUSTING THE INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX BRACKETS.

AS PEOPLE MAY KNOW, OUR TAX BRACKETS ARE RATHER TIGHT, AND BY EXPANDING THEM AND ADJUSTING THE NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, IT WOULD BE POSITIVE TO GIVE OKLAHOMANS WITHIN THOSE BRACKETS A TAX CUT.

THAT IDEA HAS BEEN FLOATED IN THE PAST, BUT THE LEGISLATURE HAS NEVER REALLY TAKEN UP THE GOVERNOR OR OTHER LAWMAKERS ON THAT IDEA.

>> WE'LL SEE IF THAT HAPPENS.

OKAY.

THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT DEADLINE WEEK FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

EXPLAIN WHY.

>> WELL, IN ORDER FOR BILLS TO MAKE THEIR WAY FOR THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, THEY HAVE TO HIT SEVERAL BENCHMARKS, AND ON THURSDAY BILLS HAD TO BE HEARD ON THE FLOOR OF THE OPPOSITE CHAMBER.

HOUSE BILLS IN THE SENATE AND SENATE BILLS IN THE HOUSE.

THIS GIVES LAWMAKERS AN IDEA OF EXACTLY THE PROPOSALS THAT ARE UP FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE FINAL MONTH OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS THEY HEAD TOWARDS SINE DIE ADJOURNMENT AND THEY WILL ENTER MOSTLY THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE PROCESS TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS OF THOSE BILLS.

>> SHAWN, ANOTHER BILL LANDING ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK BANS THE USE OF RANKED VOTING IN OKLAHOMA ELECTIONS.

SO FOR OUR VIEWERS, EXPLAIN WHAT RANKED VOTING IS, AND THEN GIVE US THE DETAILS ON THAT BILL.

>> YEAH.

RANKED CHOICE VOTING ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO PUT IN RANK ORDER, IF YOU WILL, A SET OF CANDIDATES ON A BALLOT RATHER THAN SIMPLY CHOOSING ONE FOR A POSITION.

OFTENTIMES THIS IS USED WHERE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE CANDIDATES IN A SINGLE RACE TO HELP DETERMINE WHO WOULD MOVE FORWARD INTO A RUNOFF OR PERHAPS EVEN WHO WOULD WIN BY COMBINING THEIR FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD CHOICE PICKS.

IN THE CASE OF A BILL THAT IS NOW BEFORE THE GOVERNOR, THE BILL WOULD BAN RANK CHOICE VOTING IN OKLAHOMA.

ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS FOR THAT IS THAT OKLAHOMA'S CURRENT VOTING STRUCTURE AND THE MACHINES THAT IT UTILIZES ARE NOT SET UP FOR THAT, ALTHOUGH IN THE FUTURE THOSE MACHINES WILL BE REPLACED AS THEY ARE CURRENTLY AGING OUT.

>> SOME OTHER STATES RIGHT NOW DO DO THIS RANKED CHOICE VOTING AS WE SPEAK.

NOW, THE GOVERNOR VETOED THE OKLAHOMA SURVIVORS ACT.

NOW, WHY DID HE OPPOSE THIS BILL PUT FORWARD BY SENATE LEADER GREG TREAT?

>> WELL, THE OKLAHOMA SURVIVORS ACT WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE LENIENT SENTENCING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS CONVICTED OF CRIMES AGAINST THEIR PERPETRATORS.

IN HIS VETO MESSAGE, THE GOVERNOR ARGUED, HOWEVER, THAT THE BILL WAS NOT THAT LIMITED.

WHAT IT MIGHT ALLOW SOMEONE TO DO IS TO CITE THAT PREVIOUS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN ANOTHER CRIME, AND THEREFORE, SEEK A MORE -- LENIENT SENTENCE ON THAT BASIS.

THE VETO OVERRIDE IS WAITING IN THE HOUSE TO SEE IF IT MIGHT BECOME LAW OVER THE GOVERNOR'S OBJECTION.

>> SHAWN, I FOUND THIS INTERESTING, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT MY CURSIVE HANDWRITING NEEDS WORK, AND NOW OKLAHOMA SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE REQUIRED TO WORK ON THEIRS.

EXPLAIN THAT.

>> SENATOR KEVIN MATTHEWS IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL WHICH REQUIRES CURSIVE WRITING TO BE TAUGHT.

THE SENATOR ARGUES IT HELPS IMPROVE BRAIN FUNCTION TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, MUCH LIKERT OR MUSIC IS SET -- LIKE ART OR MUSIC.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, SENATOR MATTHEWS NOTED THAT THE OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION AND U.S. CONSTITUTION ARE WRITTEN IN CURSIVE, SO IN ORDER TO READ THEM, YOU NEED TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT OF CURSIVE WRITING.

>> SHAWN, ONE MORE FOR YOU.

I KNOW LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW SCHOOLS TO HIRE CHAPLAINS, AND THAT IS MOVING FORWARD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE, AND NOW IT GOES BACK TO THE SENATE FOR CONSIDERATION OF A SERIES OF AMENDMENTS THAT WERE REALLY NECESSARY TO MOVE THE BILL FORWARD.

THOSE BILLS PROHIBIT THE CHAPLAINS FROM PROS TELLTIZING WHEN THEY ARE IN THE SCHOOLS AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND BE TIED TO A PARTICULAR DENOMINATION, BUT THERE WAS STILL OPPOSITION TO THE BILL.

REPRESENTATIVE MICKEY DOLLENS NOTICED THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD AMPLE TIME FOR FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL COUNSELORS IN SCHOOL AND HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO DO SO AND ARE TAKING THIS APPROACH INSTEAD.

AS I SAID, THE SENATOR WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER THE HOUSE AMENDMENTS BEFORE IT CAN GO TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

>> GREAT INFORMATION, AS ALWAYS, SHAWN ASHLEY, PUBLISHER OF QUOR QUORUM CALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY.

>> YOU'RE WELCOMED.

>> GETTING STATE-WIDE QUESTIONS ONTO A BALLOT IS A TIME-HONORED WAY FOR OKLAHOMA ACTIVISTS TO GET THEIR INITIATIVES BEFORE A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

BUT A LAW PASSED LAST WEEK, CHANGES THAT PROCESS.

FOR THE BETTER OR WORSE?

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR SUSAN CADOT.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE VOTE AND PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF THE VOTE.

TO ME, THIS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT'S ASKING THAT A LEGISLATIVE MATTER BE REFERRED TO THE PEOPLE.

AND SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE SIGNING IN THIS ARE WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE OR THAT THEY ARE REGISTER VOTERS, SURE.

SO AN EXAMPLE I WOULD USE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY JOHN SMITHS ARE THERE IN THIS ZIP CODE?

SO IF SOMEBODY HAS THOSE THREE RIGHT NOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE 10 VOTERS REGISTERED THAT WAY.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT CONCERN.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNING THOSE PETITIONS ARE LEGAL RESIDENTS, LEGAL VOTERS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT THE ASPECT OF TRYING -- I THINK IT'S THIS IDEA OF TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE HAVE COME TO ME WITH.

IT SEEMS TO BE MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO VOICE OUR OPINION AND TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS THAT YOU GUYS PLAY A PART IN EVERY DAY.

>> THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

>> THE EMISSION OF METHANE GAS IS SAID TO BE A KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO GLOBAL WARMING.

AND HERE IN OKLAHOMA, THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, IN ADDITION TO OUR 4.6 MILLION HEAD OF CATTLE, PRODUCE LOTS OF METHANE.

NOW AN O.U.

PROFESSOR HAS RECEIVED A LARGE GRANT TO TRY AND KEEP TRACK OF IT.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH THAT STORY.

STEVE?

>> RICH, OIL AND GAS IS BY FAR THE LARGEST INDUSTRY IN OKLAHOMA.

THE PRODUCTION OF IT ISN'T GOING AWAY SOON.

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, A LONG-TIME OIL AND GAS EXPERT TELLS ME IT'S ACTUALLY ACCELERATED OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS.

BUT THIS O.U.

PROFESSOR AND THE OTHER EXPERT TELL ME BETTER MONITORING OF METHANE EMISSIONS IS A GROWING NECESSITY.

DR. BEN BEN WANG IS A NATIVE OF CHINA WHO GOT HIS PH.D.

IN ELECT ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING 16 YEARS AGO.

HE WAS AWARDED AN AWARD THAT COMES WITH A GRANT.

HE WILL USE THAT MONEY FOR MINIATURE INFRARED SENSOR CAMERAS THAT WILL TRACK METHANE GAS EMISSIONS, WHICH ARE OTHERWISE COLORLESS AND ODORLESS.

THOSE SENSORS WILL BE STATIONED ALL OVER THE GROUND AS PART OF A LARGER NETWORK.

>> THE METHANE EMISSION, ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS THAT THE WHOLE NATION, THE WHOLE GLOBE IS FOCUSING ON, THEY DRY TO REDUCE THE CARBON EMISSION BY HALF BY THE END OF THE 2030, AND THEN BY 2050, THE MISSION IS TO MAKE ZERO NET EMISSION OF CARBON, AND METHANE IS A BIG CONTRIBUTOR.

>> PROFESSOR WANG ISN'T BREAKING NEW GROUND WHEN HE SAYS OIL AND GAS ARE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO METHANE EMISSIONS.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS SAY METHANE IS NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR 25% OF GLOBAL WARMING AROUND THE WORLD.

>> YEAH, I'M NOT AGAINST OIL AND GAS.

OKAY?

THEY'RE STILL VERY IMPORTANT ENERGY WE LEVERAGE.

THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS THE LEAK PART.

IF WE CAN CONTAIN THE CARBON INSIDE THE PIPE AND USE IT IN THE RIGHT WAY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT, RIGHT, WHICH CAN LOWER THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT AND MAKE OUR FUTURE SOCIETY MORE SUSTAINABLE BY LEVERAGING THE ENERGY.

>> THIS DOCTOR IS THE DEAN EMERITUS OF BUSINESS SCHOOL AND PROFESSION OF ECONOMICS AT OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY.

HE ALSO SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION COMPANY FOR 24 YEARS.

HE SAYS THERE'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS INCREASE OF CRUDE OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION IN THE U.S.

SINCE THE YEAR 2000.

HE SAYS IT STARTED RIGHT AFTER AN AMERICAN OIL COMPANY DISCOVERED YOU CAN MINE CRUDE OIL AND NATURAL GAS FROM SHALE ROCK UNDER THE EARTH THROUGH A PROCESS KNOWN AS HYDRAULIC FRACKING.

>> BY HYDROCARBONS, I MEAN CRUDE OIL AND ALL OF ITS BY-PRODUCTS LIKE GASOLINE, FUEL AND JET FUEL, AND THERE'S NATURAL GAS, AND THERE'S COAL.

SO I INCLUDE COAL, NATURAL GAS AND OIL WHENEVER I TALK ABOUT HYDROCARBON, SO THERE'S BEEN AN EFFORT ENVIRONMENTALABLY, UNDERSTANDABLY, TO REDUCE THESE IMPACTS.

METHANE GAS IS ONE OF THE SERIOUS CONSIDERATIONS WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

SO WHAT THIS RESEARCHER IS DOING AT OU IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S A SMALL PIECE OF A GREAT BIG PUZZLE, AND THAT'S WHAT I HOPE TO KIND OF HELP YOU CONNECT TOGETHER, BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT.

THERE'S A LOT OF METHANE GAS RESEARCH BEING DONE RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S A LOT OF SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT THAT'S ONGOING.

>> DR. AG SAYS IN 2005, THE UNITED STATES WAS PRODUCING 5 MILLION BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL A DAY THROUGH HYDRAULIC FRACKING.

HE SAYS THAT NUMBER NOW IS 13 MILLION BARRELS A DAY, MAKING THE U.S.

THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF CRUDE OIL IN THE WORLD, WHICH AG SAYS, ON ONE LEVEL IS GOOD, BECAUSE HIGH U.S. PRODUCTION HAS DRIVEN THE COST DOWN.

>> THIS IS A BIGGER -- THERE'S A BIGGER PUZZLE HERE THAT JUST THIS RESEARCH BEING -- THAN JUST THIS RESEARCH BEING DONE HERE AT OU, BECAUSE THEY'RE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THAT SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY TO TRY TO DETECT METHANE GAS EMISSIONS.

IT'S SO REMARKABLE THAT IN THE LAST 25 YEARS WE'VE GONE FROM ALMOST -- WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH, OKAY, OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS TO REALLY RUN OUR ECONOMY THE WAY WE'D LIKE TO AND GROW OUR ECONOMY TO AN OVER-ABUNDANCE OF A SURPLUS OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS.

>> AG SAYS HE CAN'T CONFIRM ANY REPORT OF CLAIMING METHANE EMISSIONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A QUARTER OF GLOBAL WARMING.

BUT HE KNOWS VERY SMART PEOPLE FROM BOTH THE ENVIRONMENTAL SECTOR AND ALSO INSIDE THE OIL INDUSTRY ARE WORKING ON WAYS OF MITIGATING METHANE EMISSIONS.

FOR INSTANCE, HE SAYS RIGHT NOW SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING ON SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY FROM SPACE THAT COULD SOON DETECT METHANE EMISSIONS ANYWHERE ON THE EARTH.

>> THAT WOULD BE PRETTY BIG, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> IT WOULD BE HUGE.

IN FACT, I THINK I MENTIONED EARLIER IN SOME OF OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT THAT'S REMARKABLE ABOUT THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENED IN REALLY THE LAST 25 YEARS.

>> PROFESSOR WANG SAYS THE COST OF TECHNOLOGY HE NOW TAKES ADVANTAGE OF TO COME UP WITH THE METHANE SENSORRING NETWORK HAS DROPPED DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT YEARS.

HE ALSO SAYS HE ENVISIONS A DAY WHEN YOU CAN TRACK METHANE GAS EMISSIONS THROUGH THE USE OF A COMPUTER CHIP ON A CELL PHONE, NOT TO BLOW YOUR MIND OR ANYTHING.

>> SO THAT'S THE BIG PICTURE, IF WE CAN MAKE THOSE DEVICES TO BE LOW COST, HIGH PERFORMANCE, AND THEN BEING ABLE TO TALK TO THE INTERNET, WE WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE A NETWORK EASILY GOING TO THE FIELD.

>> THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I'VE REACHED OUT REPEATEDLY TO THE PETROLEUM ALLIANCE OF OKLAHOMA AND INDIVIDUAL OIL PRODUCERS TO GET THEIR TAKE ON THIS KIND OF METHANE GAS RESEARCH.

MOST DIDN'T RESPOND.

A COUPLE SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO.

RICH.

>> UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN A "SMIDGE" IN OKLAHOMA.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S STATE-WIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW WITH JASON DOYLE.

>> OKLAHOMA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN MARCH TICKED DOWN TO 3 AND A HALF PERCENT, DOWN BY ONE-TENTH OF A PERCENT COMPARED TO FEBRUARY.

THAT BREAKS DOWN TO JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN 70,000 OKLAHOMANS IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE.

HOWEVER, THE STATE'S LABOR FORCE GREW BY ONE-TENTH OF A PERCENT LAST MONTH.

EDUCATION AND HEALTH SERVICES AND GOVERNMENT SECTORS ADDED THE MOST JOBS IN MARCH, WHILE CONSTRUCTION AND MINING AND LOGGING POSTED THE LARGEST JOB LOSSES.

THE AVERAGE HOURLY WAGE ALSO GREW IN MARCH UP TO 29.35 AN HOUR, UP FROM 29.21 IN FEBRUARY.

FIRST QUARTER PROFITS FOR OKLAHOMA CITY-BASED BANKFIRST CORPORATION DIPPED THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 2024, THE BANKING COMPANY REPORTS NET INCOME OF 50.3 MILLION DOLLARS.

DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2023, BANKFIRST CLEARED 57 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.

HIGHER INTEREST RATES ARE STARTING TO TAKE A TOLL ON BANKFIRST'S INCOME FROM INTEREST ON LOANS.

AS OF MARCH 31ST, THE COMPANY HAD TOTAL ASSETS OF 12.6 BILLION, AN INCREASE OF 230.4 MILLION SINCE THE LAST QUARTER OF 2023.

THE PARENT COMPANY OF UTILITY PUBLIC SERVICE OF OKLAHOMA, OR PSO, IS DECLARING A QUARTERLY DIVIDEND.

AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER SAYS INVESTORS SHOULD RECEIVE A PAYMENT OF 88 CENTS A SHARE ON JUNE 10TH.

INVESTORS WILL NEED TO OWN THE STOCK BY MAY 10TH TO RECEIVE THE DIVIDEND PAYMENT.

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS LIKE WHAT THEY SEE IN OKLAHOMA HOUSING, MAKING THE STATE THE FIFTH AMONG STATES WITH THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF HOME SALES GOING TO THOSE INVESTORS.

ACCORDING TO ATTOM'S, FIRST QUARTER U.S. HOME SALES REPORT 8.4 PERCENT OF ALL HOME SALES IN OKLAHOMA WENT TO INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS.

ONLY TENNESSEE, ALABAMA, INDIANA, AND KANSAS SELL MORE RESIDENTIAL HOUSES TO INVESTORS INSTEAD OF PRIVATE OWNERS.

LAST WEEK, GAS PRICES IN OKLAHOMA AND ACROSS THE NATION JUMPED DUE TO INCREASED TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN.

THIS WEEK, THINGS ARE EASING FOR MOTORISTS IN THE SOONER STATE, ACCORDING TO TRIPLE A, WITH THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A GALLON OF REGULAR UNLEADED AT 3.16.

THAT'S SIX CENTS LESS THAN LAST WEEK AND THREE CENTS LESS THAN A MONTH AGO.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE HAS DROPPED TWO CENTS SINCE LAST WEEK TO 3.65 A GALLON.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> JASON, THANKS.

>> THE POTTS FAMILY FOUNDATION, LOCATED IN OKLAHOMA CITY, IS SET TO DONATE A 4-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO HELP YOUNG CHILDREN CATCH UP EMOTIONALLY AND ACADEMICALLY FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC.

EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON IS HERE TO TELL US MORE.

TAELYR?

>> RICH, KNOW AND GROW OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED LAST WEEK.

THE PROJECT WILL BUILD ON STATEWIDE EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS THE POTTS FAMILY FOUNDATION IS KNOWN FOR, AS WELL AS FUNDING COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTERS.

>> DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, EVERYDAY LIFE CHANGED DRASTICALLY.

MASK MANDATES, CURBSIDE SERVICE AND REMOTE WORKING BECAME THE NEW NORM, LEAVING PARENTS TO FACE NEW CHALLENGES.

>> IF YOU WERE A FIRST TIME PARENT IN 2020, YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A PARENT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN ANYONE WHO CAME BEFORE YOU AND EVEN FIRST-TIME PARENTS TODAY.

SO ADDRESSING THOSE SPECIAL NEEDS, HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES, THAT SOCIALIZATION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BEFORE THEY ENTER SCHOOL SO THEY WILL BE READY TO BE AROUND OTHER CHILDREN THEIR OWN AGE.

>> THE FOUNDATION CEO SAID THE FOUNDATION NEW SUPPORT WAS NEEDED FOR CHILDREN BORN UNDER SUCH UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> THE POTTS FAMILY FOUNDATION HAS LONG TRIED TO BE THE VOICE OF YOUNGER CHILDREN.

SO WHEN THE PANDEMIC OCCURRED, ONE OF THE THINGS THE LEADERSHIP KNEW WAS THAT YOUNG CHILDREN WERE GOING TO REALLY BE IMPACTED BY THE FALLOUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO WE APPROACHED THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SAID WE NEED TO INVEST IN THESE YOUNGER CHILDREN.

>> THE LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATED FUNDS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

THAT AGENCY THEN CONTRACTED THE POTTS FAMILY FOUNDATION TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN THAT WERE BORN BETWEEN 2019 AND 2023.

>> SO THE VERY FIRST THING THAT WE DID WAS A RESEARCH PROJECT.

WE WORKED WITH 15 DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND TWO STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS TO ASK QUESTIONS OF PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS, LIKE PEDIATRICIANS, WHAT ARE WE SEEING WITH THESE KIDS BORN AROUND THAT TIME?

AND SEVERAL THINGS CAME OUT OF THAT REPORT.

>> ONE OF THOSE THINGS SHOWED THAT CHILDREN BORN DURING THE PANDEMIC ARE DEVELOPING AT A DIFFERENT PACE THAN THOSE BORN BEFORE 2019.

>> SO WE'RE SEEING CHILDREN ENTERING SCHOOL WITHOUT THE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE, AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS, A CHILD MIGHT NOT BE READY TO LEARN TO READ BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T DEVELOPED SOCIAL SKILLS.

THEY'VE NEVER HAD TO WORK COOPERATETIVELY WITH THEIR -- CORPORATIVELY WITH THEIR PEERS.

THEY'RE NOT HAD ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.

>> DAVE: CARRIE WILLIAMS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OKLAHOMA PARTNERSHIP OF SCHOOL READINESS.

>> WE KNOW THAT 90% OF THE CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENTS BEFORE THEY FIRST ENTER SCHOOL.

SO THAT FIRST 2,000 DAYS OF A CHILD'S LIFE IS A CRITICAL TIME FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S A CRITICAL TIME TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO POSITIVE EARLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS AND FAMILY SUPPORTS, BECAUSE IF WE ENTER SCHOOL NOT READY TO LEARN, OUR STATISTICS ALSO SHOW THAT CHILDREN DON'T CATCH UP.

SO IF THEY'RE NOT READING ON GRADE LEVEL BY THE TIME THEY'RE IN THIRD GRADE, WE SEE HIGHER INSTANCES OF DROPOUT.

>> OKLAHOMA PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOOL READINESS WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE POTTS FAMILY FOUNDATION.

>> SO WE TALK ABOUT CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

READING TO KIDS IS NUMBER ONE.

HAVING ACCESS TO QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, WHETHER THAT BE AT HOME OR AT A CHILD CARE FACILITY ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA WHERE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES, WHERE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO CURRICULUM THAT SUPPORTS THEIR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SKILLS.

>> GRIFFIN SAYS IT WILL LEAD TO GETTING THE CHILDREN RESOURCES THEY NEED TO CATCH UP.

>> SO KNOWING THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE ENTERING SCHOOL VERY SOON, AND SOME OF THEM ARE ALREADY ENTERING PRE-K, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SPECIAL NEEDS, AND SO THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO LEARN WHAT THEY NEED AND THEN TE WE DO KNOW AND GROW, TO TRY TO SUPPORT THAT COMMUNITY WITH THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO HELP THE KIDS EITHER CATCH UP OR ADDRESS THE SPECIAL NEEDS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PARENTS, ESPECIALLY FIRST TIME PARENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT DEVELOPMENT SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

>> KNOW AND GROW PLANS TO PROVIDE $4.5 MILLION TO RURAL COMMUNITIES FOR THOSE EFFORTS.

>> RIGHT KNOW THERE ARE THREE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS THAT ARE PART OF A NATIONAL NETWORK OF FAMILY RESOURCES.

THEY'RE ALL IN URBAN AREAS, ONE IN NORMAN, ONE IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND ONE IN TULSA.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ADD 8 RURAL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS TO THAT STATEWIDE NETWORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS ARE FAMILY RESOURCE HUBS.

>> GRIFFIN SAYS THIS WILL HEALTH PROVIDE RESOURCES THAT FAMILIES NEED TO PRODUCE SCHOOL-READY CHILDREN.

>> A SYSTEM OF SERVICES TO MEET FAMILIES WHERE THEY ARE, SAYING WHAT ARE YOU NEED?

MAYBE IT'S ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY FIRST.

WHEN WE'RE ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY, WE NEED TO ALWAYS UNDERSTAND MAYBE YOU REALLY NEED TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CHILD DEVELOPMENT.

PART OF THAT IS EARLY RELATIONAL WORK.

>> WE NEED THOSE ACCESSES TO RESOURCES IN ORDER FOR CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE, AND IT'S A PROBLEM IN OKLAHOMA BECAUSE 55% OF OUR STATE IS A CHILD CARE DESERT.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NEEDING ACCESS TO THOSE QUALITY EARLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN, MANY FAMILIES IN OKLAHOMA DON'T HAVE THOSE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.

>> THAT MEANS THAT ONE OR BOTH PARENTS MIGHT NEED TO LEAVE THE WORKFORCE TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

>> SO WE HAVE TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CHILD CARE.

WE HAVE TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS, LIKE HOME VISITING PROGRAMS.

IT'S REALLY CRITICAL RIGHT NOW AS WE'RE COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, AND WE HAVE ALL OF THESE CHILDREN WHO WERE BORN DURING THAT TIME FRAME THAT DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES.

>> THE PROJECT IS FUNDED THRH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT AND IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

RICH?

>> TAELYR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IT'S A PROGRAM WITH AN UNUSUAL NAME, CREATED TO HELP ALLEVIATE FOOD INSECURITY IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY METRO AREA.

IT'S CALLED, "GO SEE THE CITY."

ANDREW HARTSHORN REPORTS ON THEIR GOALS AND HOW THEY'RE GOING ABOUT ACHIEVING THEM.

>> ONCE THE CLOCK REACHES ZERO AND THE ROARING FANS HAVE HAD THEIR FILL OF FOOTBALL AND FOOD, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE UNSOLD OR UNUSED CONCESSION FOOD AFTER THE GAME?

>> THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF GO SEE THE CITY MAKES SURE IT DOESN'T GO TO WASTE.

>> OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY WHERE AFTER THEIR GAMES WHEN THEY HAVE UNUSED FOOD, WE'RE GOING TO -- THEY'RE GOING TO BE USING OUR PLATFORM IN ORDER TO CONNECT WITH CHARITIES IN ORDER TO DONATE THAT FOOD.

>> GO SEE THE CITY IS A TECH COMPANY THAT CAME BY THE NAME FROM THE USE OF THEIR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM POWERING THEIR APP.

IT CONNECTS FOOD DISTRIBUTORS WITH CHARITIES IN THEIR AREA TO HELP THE HUNGRY.

IT GOT STARTED IN FLORIDA, BUT HERE IN OKLAHOMA, THE PROGRAM IS GOING BIG.

OU MEMORIAL AND PAYCOM ARE THE FIRST TWO TO DONATE TO THE CITY'S CAUSE.

>> IT FEELS AMAZING TO JUST TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THE PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, BUT TO DO IT AT THIS SCALE IS ABSOLUTELY MIND BLOWING.

AND WE'RE JUST SO APPRECIATIVE TO NOT ONLY, LIKE O.U., PAYCOM, BUT SPEARHEADED SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES THAT ALLOWS THEM TO ADOPT OUR PLATFORM TO USE IT.

>> GO SEE THE CITY IS PARTNERED WITH THE LEAFY GROUP.

THAT COMPANY MANAGES THE CONCESSION STANDS AND AT PAYCOM AND SEVERAL OTHERS.

GO SEE THE CITY ALSO DELIVERS EXTRA FOOD TO PARTNERSHIPS.

>> SO WE ARE PARTNERED WITH DOOR DASH AS WELL AS ROADY, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, NONPROFITS SOMETIMES DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS, AND SO THEY HAVE LOW STAFFING AS WELL.

SO WE PARTNER WITH BOTH OF THESE DELIVERY SERVICES TO GUARANTEE PICKUP FROM THESE LOCATIONS, PLUS THESE ARE POUNDS AND POUNDS OF FOOD, SO THIS GUARANTEES THERE WILL BE A VEHICLE OF SIZE TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP THIS FOOD.

>> LAST SATURDAY WAS OU'S SPRING GAME.

DURING THE REGULAR SEASON, THE STADIUM IS FILLED TO CAPACITY WITH OVER 80,000 PEOPLE.

THE LEFTOVERS COULD LEAD TO HUNDREDS OF MEALS.

>> WE'RE DOING ABOUT 300 MEALS.

ON A NORMAL FOOTBALL GAME, WELL, LAST SEASON ALONE WE DONATED OVER 14,000 MEALS.

SO IT'S FUND FOR US TO SEE THE FOOD IS GOING TO A GOOD CAUSE.

CERTAINLY, WE DON'T WANT TO OVERPRODUCE, BUT WHEN WE DO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT GETS USED AND GOES TO THE RIGHT PLACE RATHER THAN END UP IN A LANDFALL.

>> MARK HAS BEEN WITH THE LEVI GROUP FOR 19 YEARS AND SAYS HE SAYS THE SAME THING AT ALL STADIUMS, EXCESS OF UNUSED FOOD.

>> PIZZA FROM PIZZA HUT, CHICKEN TENDERS, A LOT OF STUFF, ESPECIALLY WITH THE QUALITY AND TECHNOLOGY OF OVEN, YOU CAN TAKE LEFTOVERS AND MAKE THEM FRESH.

>> MISSION CHURCH GETS HELP FROM GO SEE THE CITY AND CONNECTS FAMILIES IN THE AREA WITH THE UNUSED STADIUM FOOD.

>> WE SERVE PREDOMINANTLY CHILDREN WHO ARE AT-RISK KIDS, CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES, BUT WE ALSO SEE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE UNHOUSED, AND WE SEE A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH DHS, ARE LOW INCOME OR HAVING SOME KIND OF ISSUES AT HOME THAT THEY JUST NEED SOME EXTRA HELP.

>> THE CHURCH PASSES OUT THE FOOD TO THE FAMILIES IN THE AREA, BUT SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO FIND OTHER PLACES FOR THE EXTRA.

>> WE FEED KIDS FROM THE COMMUNITY, BETWEEN 40 AND 50 KIDS NORMALLY, AND WE MAINLY DISTRIBUTE THAT NIGHT, BUT SOME OF THESE DONATIONS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THROUGH GO SEE THE CITY HAVE BEEN SO LARGE THAT WE PUT OUT THE INFORMATION THROUGH OTHER RESOURCES, THROUGH DHS, THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THROUGH OTHER CHURCHES, THINGS LIKE THAT, TO LET FAMILIES WHO NEED FOOD KNOW THAT WE'LL BE THERE.

>> RESTAURANTS GENERATE 22 TO 33 BILLION POUNDS OF FOOD WASTE ANNUALLY, AND 40% OF ALL FOOD IN THE U.S. ENDS UP AS WASTE IN LAND FILLS ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

THE GO SEE THE CITY PROGRAM MAKES A SMALL DENT IN THAT FOOD WASTE.

>> OU DONATED OVER 14,000 POUNDS LAST YEAR.

THEY'RE USING OUR PLATFORM IN ORDER TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO DONATE MORE, ONLY BECAUSE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO BETTER TRACKING AS WELL AS CONNECT QUICKER WITH THE CHARITIES.

>> SMITH AND HER CREW ARE ALSO COLLECTING UNUSED CONCESSION FOOD AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER PLAYOFF GAMES.

>> WE STREAMLINE THE PROCESS, AND TOO, A LOT OF THE NONPROFITS HERE DO WEEKLY FEEDINGS, BUT THEY'VE HAD TO SCALE BACK DUE TO THE FACT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DONATIONS, SO OUR PROGRAM HELPS, ONE, BECAUSE WE GUARANTEE DONATIONS AS LONG AS THERE ARE GAMES.

THEY'RE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH OUR PLATFORM IN ORDER TO GET DONATIONS.

>> ANDREW, THANKS.

THAT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

>> AS YOU SAW IN THAT STORY, "GO SEE THE CITY" WAS ON HAND TO COLLECT UNUSED FOOD AT THE THUNDER PLAYOFF GAME ON SUNDAY NIGHT, A GAME OKC WON BY 2 POINTS OVER NEW ORLEANS.

WASN'T NEARLY THAT CLOSE IN GAME 2!

THE TOP-SEEDED THUNDER BLOWING OUT THE PELICANS, BEATING THEM BY 33 POINTS, 124 TO 92.

OKLAHOMA'S ONLY MAJOR LEAGUE PROFESSIONAL TEAM, UP 2 GAMES TO NONE HEADING DOWN TO THE BIG EASY FOR GAME 3 ON SATURDAY.

>> THE VERY FIRST INITIATIVE OR STATE-WIDE QUESTION APPEARED ON AN OKLAHOMA BALLOT IN 1908.

IN RECENT YEARS, THE FREQUENCY OF THESE STATE-WIDE MEASURES HAS BEEN INCREASING.

LAST WEEK, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW THAT COULD SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS.

WITH MORE ON THAT, HERE'S SUSAN CADOT WITH THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR STITT SIGNED SENATE BILL 518, WHICH MAKES CHANGED TO OKLAHOMA'S INITIATIVE PETITION PROCESS.

JOINING ME NOW TO DISCUSS THOSE CHANGES AND WHAT THEY CAN MEAN FOR US IS SENATOR GEORGE YOUNG OF OKLAHOMA CITY AND REPRESENTATIVE MARK LA PACK OF CLAREMORE.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> EITHER ONE OF YOU CAN FIELD THIS FIRST QUESTION.

IT'S PURELY INFORMATIONAL FOR ME AND MAYBE FOR THE VIEWERS AT HOME.

WHAT IS AN INITIATIVE PETITION?

>> WELL, I LIKE TO SAY IT LIKE THIS.

IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST FORMS OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION THAT CAN OCCUR WITHIN OUR STATE GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE THE FACT IS THERE ARE TWO WAYS FOR US TO PUT STUFF INTO STATUTE AND LAW, AND THE REPRESENTATIVE AND MYSELF ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT, AND THAT IS THE STUFF WE DO EVERY DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL, PASSING LEGISLATION.

THE OTHER WAY IS THROUGH INITIATIVE PETITIONS.

CITIZENS GET TOGETHER ON ISSUES THEY WANT TO HAVE A VOTE ON TO BE ABLE TO SAY YES OR NO, UP AND DOWN ON, AND THEY CAN GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND PUT SOMETHING, AND IT BECOMES LAW IF IT IS PASSED BY THE CORRECT PERCENTAGES THIS TIME OR MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE -- >> ALSO, WE NORMALLY THINK OF PUTTING THINGS INTO LAW, BUT THERE IS ALSO A PETITION PROCESS TO ESSENTIALLY OVERRULE WHAT WE MIGHT HAVE PASSED.

IT'S CALLED A REFERENDUM.

AND THEN ANOTHER ONE THAT WILL ACTUALLY OVERRULE A PETITION THAT BECAME LAW THROUGH A VOTE.

THOSE TWO KINDS OF REFERENDUMS ARE ALSO THERE, VERY RARELY USED, BUT IT'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITIZEN TO MORE DIRECTLY HAVE A VOICE IN THE LAWS OF OKLAHOMA.

>> SO AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA ISSUE THAT WAS APPROVED?

THAT WAS AN INITIATIVE PETITION?

>> MEDICAID EXPANSION, 78781, THOSE ALL HAPPENED IN THE LAST 7, 8 YEARS.

>> SO OKLAHOMA IS PRETTY ACTIVE IN THAT PROCESS?

>> IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY YEAR WE HAVE SOME ATTEMPT.

SOME STATE QUESTIONS, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE.

WE HAVE ONE GOING RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> ON THE MINIMUM WAGE QUESTION.

I BELIEVE THE NUMBER IS 832.

SO THEY'RE OUT GATHERING SIGNATURES RIGHT NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND DOING RESEARCH FOR THIS, I FOUND THAT NOT EVERY STATE HAS THIS.

I THINK ONLY ABOUT 25, 30 HAVE THIS OFFERING FOR CITIZENS TO ENGAGE IN THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE OF THEIR STATE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO BE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THAT, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S -- AS I SAID EARLIER I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST FORMS OF PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS IN ANY STATE TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PRESENTING SOMETHING TO THE CITIZENS OF OKLAHOMA THAT THEY WOULD APPROVE AND THEY WOULD GO INTO STATUTE FOR LAW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, NOW THERE'S A PROPOSED CHANGE AT 518.

REPRESENTATIVE, WHAT DOES THAT CHANGE ENCOMPASS?

>> YOU KIND OF HAVE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS.

SO WHEN THE SIGNATURE GATHERS ARE -- SIGNATURE CIRCULATORS, IS WHAT THEY CALL THEM, ARE OUT, THEY COLLECT INFORMATION.

IT'S NO THE JUST A SIGNATURE ON A PETITION.

THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES AROUND THE PETITION PAMPHLET, THEY CALL IT ITSELF.

THERE'S PAGES WHERE YOU'VE GOT TO FILL OUT INFORMATION AND SIGN YOUR NAME.

AND THERE'S FIVE THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED RIGHT NOW, YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME, THE ZIP CODE, YOUR HOUSE NUMBER, NOT THE FULL ADDRESS, JUST THE NUMBER, AND -- WELL, I THINK IT ASKS FOR THE ADDRESS, BUT THE NUMBER IS WHAT IS CRITICAL, AND THEN THE BIRTH MONTH AND DAY, AND THEN YOU SIGN, AND THOSE ELEMENTS, THOSE FIVE DATA POINTS, WE CALL THEM, DATA ELEMENTS, RIGHT NOW AFTER THE SIGNATURES ARE COLLECTED, THERE'S A VERIFICATION PROCESS WITH OUR VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION, AND THE CURRENT PROCESS SAYS YOU NEED 3 OF THE 5 TO MATCH A VOTER REGISTRATION FOR THAT SIGNATURE TO COUNT.

SO THE BILL PROPOSES A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND THESE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ONES.

ONE IS THAT YOU USE YOUR LEGAL FIRST AND LAST NAME.

AND SECOND, IT REQUIRES FOUR DATA POINTS FOR A MATCH INSTEAD OF THREE OF THOSE FIVE.

THERE'S OTHER PUBLICATION, PUT SOME STUFF ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WEBSITE, SEND NOTICE TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, BUT I THINK WHEN THE BILL WENT THROUGH, THERE WASN'T A SINGLE QUESTION ABOUT ANY OF THAT.

>> SENATOR, WHY IS THAT CONTROVERSIAL?

>> WELL, THERE WERE TWO OTHER THINGS PART OF THE CHANGES TOO, AND THAT IS THE PERIOD FROM 30 TO 60 DAYS.

>> I'M SORRY.

THE APPEAL PERIOD, THE PROTEST PERIOD WAS EXPANDED FROM 10 TO 20 DAYS.

>> 10 TO 20 DAYS, YEAH.

>> AND THAT PROTEST PERIOD OCCURS IN TWO PARTS OF THE PROCESS, UP FRONT BEFORE THE SIGNATURES START, THE GATHERING PROCESS, AND THEN AFTER THE SIGNATURES ARE GATHERED.

SO THAT TIMELINE WAS EXTENDED.

>> AND THE OTHER ONE WAS THAT NOW THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THOSE FOLK WHO ARE GATHERING THOSE SIGNATURES MAY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK.

NOTHING ATTACHED TO IT, NO -- >> WELL, THAT'S IN A DIFFERENT BILL, AND IT MAY PASS.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT 518 DOESN'T HAVE THAT.

>> THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE TABLE NOW.

>> IS THERE ALSO A PROPOSAL THAT THERE HAS TO BE SIGNATURES ON AN INITIATIVE PETITION FROM SOMETHING IN ALL 77 COUNTIES?

>> WE'VE HAD THAT PROPOSAL MANY TIMES, AND DIFFERENT BILLS HAVE RUN THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

I MIGHT NOTE, THIS IS AN ISSUE, AN IMPORTANT ISSUE ON THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT POLITICALLY THAT DON'T WANT YOU MESSING WITH THE INITIATIVE PETITION PROCESS TOO MUCH.

THEY WANT ACCESS.

AND SO YOU GET THOSE THAT ARE OPPOSED TO ANY CHANGES.

YOU KIND OF HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ON THAT.

IT'S AN INTERESTING ISSUE.

BUT YES, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THOSE GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS, WE'VE HAD -- >> PER COUNTY, YEAH.

>> PER COUNTY, THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF VOTES IN EACH COUNTY THRESHOLD.

WE'VE HAD THE SAME IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.

THERE WAS ONE THIS YEAR THAT SAID NO MORE THAN 5% IN ANY ONE COUNTY.

ALL OF THOSE ARE DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA AREA HAVE THE POPULATIONS, AND IT KIND OF BECOMES A RURAL METROPOLITAN SUBURB TYPE OF ISSUE, WHICH A LOT OF OUR DISAGREEMENTS ARE REALLY THAT VERSUS DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN.

IT'S INTERESTING.

IT'S REALLY VERY MUCH STILL A VERY RURAL VERSUS METROPOLITAN DISAGREEMENT ON A LOT OF THINGS.

>> IT'S VERY PERSONAL TO ME, BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THE THREE PETITIONERS WHO OFFERED 780 AND 781 TO GET IT.

>> OH, YOU DID?

>> YEAH.

SO I SAW THAT PROCESS CLOSE AND UP FRONT AND HOW PEOPLE RESPONDED TO IT AND HOW THEY APPRECIATE THE FACT THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF THINGS THAT WE DO ON A DAILY BASIS, BUT THEY HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR, TO TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

OBVIOUSLY, I'M FULL AHEAD WITH IT.

I THINK IT'S GREAT, AND I HATE TO SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING DONE THAT SORT OF PUTS A DAMPER ON THAT DEMOCRATIC PROCESS I THINK THAT EXISTS.

>> HOW MUCH MORE OF A CHALLENGE DO YOU THINK THIS CHANGE PRESENTS TO OKLAHOMANS?

THAT GREAT OF A CHALLENGE OR JUST A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER?

>> WELL, I THINK IT -- FOR ME, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE VOTE AND PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF THE VOTE.

TO ME, THIS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT'S ASKING THAT A LEGISLATIVE MATTER BE REFERRED TO THE PEOPLE, AND SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE SIGNING THIS WHO ARE THEY SAY THEY ARE, OR THAT THEY'RE REGISTERED VOTERS.

>> SURE.

>> SO AN EXAMPLE I WOULD USE, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY JOHN SMITHS ARE THERE IN THIS ZIP CODE?

SO IF SOMEBODY HAS THOSE THREE RIGHT NOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE TEN VOTERS REGISTERED THAT WAY, AND I'M JUST GUESSING AT A NUMBER.

WELL, IS THAT A MATCH OR NOT?

MAYBE.

PROBABLY, BUT WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

BUT A FOURTH DATA POINT WOULD KIND OF NARROW THAT A LITTLE BIT AND GIVE YOU SOME MORE ASSURANCE.

>> AND YOU'RE SAYING, NO, IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE TOUGHER, RIGHT?

>> I DON'T WANT IT TO BE TOUGHER.

I THINK WE'RE AT A GOOD POINT RIGHT NOW.

I WAS AN AUDITOR FOR MANY YEARS.

MY UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IS IN ACCOUNTING.

WHEN YOU AUDIT, YOU DON'T DO EVERY TRANSACTION FOR 12 MONTHS FOR THAT COMPANY TO SEE.

YOU PICK A MONTH OUT, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE.

THEY PICK A SECTION OUT AND CHECK THEM.

I DON'T THINK THERE HAS EVER BEEN THAT MUCH DISCREPANCY THAT HAS CAUSED US TO WANT TO CHANGE THAT PROCESS, AND THAT'S WHAT IT REALLY BOTHERS ME, THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT PROCESS IN MANY WAYS TO MAKE IT, IF NOT MORE DIFFICULT, TO PUT A KIND OF SHADOW ON IT THAT MAKES FOLKS WHO SIGNS STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS.

THAT'S ALL I'M CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> SENATOR, WHERE DID THIS COME FROM AND WHEN DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT IT?

>> I THINK IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS.

FOR ME, SINCE 780, 781, BECAUSE ONCE THAT PASSED, I SAW RIGHT AFTER THAT THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OCCURRED -- I HEARD A LEGISLATOR SAY THAT THE PEOPLE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY WERE VOTING FOR.

THAT BOTHERED ME BECAUSE I HAD SPENT TIME AGAIN CRISSCROSSING THE STATE TALKING TO FOLK ABOUT THE VERY THING THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE, I THINK, TO THEM IN VOTING FOR THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND PUTTING THEIR NAME ON THAT PETITION, PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT.

SO I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT HARDER.

I THINK IT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST ITEMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA THAT ENHANCES VOTERS, CITIZEN PARTICIPATION.

>> SO DO YOU THINK 780, 781 WAS THE IMPETUS FOR 518?

>> OH, NO.

>> IT'S JUST ALL THE TIME SOMEONE IS TRYING TO CHANGE IT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IN SOME CIRCLES WAS.

I THINK MAYBE MEDICAID EXCHANGES AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA HAVE -- MEDICAID EXPANSION PASSED BY LESS THAN 6,000 VOTES IN OKLAHOMA.

IT WAS A VERY CLOSE QUESTION.

AND SOMETHING THAT, FROM A LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE AND FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH'S PERSPECTIVE, SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HAVE SIGNED UP FOR FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE WE DID THROUGH A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

BUT IN ANY TIGHT ELECTION, YOU START QUESTIONING THE PROCESS.

I WOULD SAY THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA QUESTION IS THE ONE I HEARD THE MOST.

I WAS VOTING FOR -- AND AN EXAMPLE IS, GRANDMA THAT HAS CANCER AND A LOT OF PAIN AND THE CHILD THAT NEEDS SOME RELIEF.

I WASN'T VOTING FOR A MEDICAL MARIJUANA SHOP ON EVERY CORNER AND SEVERAL THOUSAND GROW OPERATION, MANY OF THEM ARE ILLEGAL.

SO -- >> THERE IS A PLETHORA.

>> I THINK IT SHARPENED THE DEBATE AROUND THAT.

BUT THAT STILL PASSED BY THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.

THOSE GOT ON THE BALLOT, AND THE MOST RECENT ONE, 820, ON RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA GOT ON THE BALLOT.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SOME NEW SOFTWARE WAS USED IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, AND IT STILL GOT ON THE BALLOT, AND FAILED.

SO I THINK THEY'LL STILL GET ON THE BALLOT.

I THINK THERE WILL JUST BE MORE CERTAINTY AROUND THESE THINGS.

AND THEN FOR THE PERSON THAT SAYS, GOD, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT'S WHAT I WAS VOTING FOR, I'M LIKE, WELL, THAT WAS THE WAY WE VOTED, YOU KNOW.

>> HERE WE ARE.

AND THINGS CAN BE REINED IN A LITTLE BIT.

I KNOW THE MARIJUANA AUTHORITY IS TRYING TO WORK ON THAT AND DOING A GOOD JOB IN THAT ARENA.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

I DO KNOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS PASSED IN MISSOURI.

I WANT TO FIND OUT IF YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF HOW THAT'S PERFORMING IN MISSOURI AND IF YOU THINK THIS PARTICULAR MEASURE, 558, WILL BE SUCCESSFUE SUCCESSFUL.

>> I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH ANY RESULTS FROM ANY OTHER STATE.

>> I'M NOT EITHER.

IN FACT, YOUR TELLING US HOW MANY STATES HAVE THIS PROCESS WAS NEWS TO ME.

I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT TOO MUCH N TERMS OF SUCCESSFUL OR NOT, I LOOK AT IT AS WE'LL BE MORE SURE THAT SOMEBODY SIGNING THE PETITION IS A REGISTERED VOTER, PERIOD.

>> LISTEN, I APPRECIATE THAT CONCERN.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNING THOSE PETITIONS ARE LEGAL RESIDENTS, LEGAL VOTERS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT.

BUT THE ASPECT OF TRYING -- I THINK IT'S THIS IDEA OF TRYING TO MAKE IS MORE DIFFICULT.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE HAVE COME TO ME WITH.

IT SEEMS TO BE MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO VOICE OUR OPINION AND TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS THAT YOU GUYS PLAY A PART IN EVERY DAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE WILL WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME WITH US HERE ON IN-DEPTH.

>> ENJOYED IT.

>> SUSAN, THANK YOU.

>> A FASCINATING PIECE OF AMERICAN HISTORY IS THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW REPORT.

WE'RE GOING TO HEAD TO OPELOUSAS, LOUISIANA, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ORPHAN TRAINS THAT TRANSPORTED HUNDREDS OF YOUNG IMMIGRANTS TO THEIR NEW HOMES IN THE SOUTH.

THE STORY, COURTESY OF OUR PBS PARTNERS AT LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> MID 1800S NEW YORK WAS EXPERIENCING A POPULATION BOOM.

IMMIGRANTS, MAINLY FROM IRELAND, GERMANY AND ENGLAND, WERE CROSSING THE ATLANTIC IN HOPES OF A BETTER LIFE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MANY FAMILIES WERE MET WITH THE BRUTALITY OF POVERTY, DISEASE AND HOMELESSNESS THAT WAS RAMP PANTT THE CITY AT THE TIME.

THE MOST VULNERABLE GROUP WERE IMMIGRANT CHILDREN.

HISTORIANS HAVE HYPOTHESIZED THAT ANYWAY FROM 20 TO 30,000 CHILDREN LIVED ON THE STREETS N TODAY A'S MATH THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 150,000.

HOW DID THEY MANAGE THE ORPHAN PROBLEM?

IT HAS TO DO WITH THIS GUY.

HE BORROWED THE PLACE OUT METHOD THAT WOULD TAKE ORPHAN CHILDREN ON TRAINS TO OTHER PARTS OF THE MIDWEST WHERE KIDS WOULD BE MATCHED WITH ADOPTIVE PARENTS.

THE TRAINS WERE NAMED ORPHAN TRAINS, AND LOUISIANA IS LINKED TO THEM.

>> MY FATHER WAS A NEW YORK ORPHAN.

HE WAS BORN OCTOBER THE 27th 1904.

HE CAME TO LOUISIANA APRIL 1907.

HE CAME ON THE FIRST TRAIN LOAD OF ORPHANS.

HE WAS 2 AND A HALF YEARS OLD WHEN HE GOT HERE.

AT THAT TIME, HE WAS PROBABLY LEARNING TO SPEAK ENGLISH WITH HIS PARENTS THAT ADOPTED HIM SPOKE FRENCH, SO THEY TAUGHT HIM HOW TO SPEAK FRENCH.

>> THE EMBODIMENT OF THE HISTORY HE WAS NEVER TAUGHT.

HIS FATHER WAS AN ORPHAN TRAIN RIDER WHO HID HIS PAST BEHIND A LIFETIME OF CAJUN VALUES.

HE ACCUMULATED WELL, EVEN SUCCESSFULLY RUNNING FOR MAYOR IN 1942.

HIS CAMPAIGN WOULD EMPHASIZE THAT HE WAS BORN IN OPELOUSAS, A WHITE LIE THAT YOU WAS REVEALED ONLY AFTER HIS DEATH.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK HE WOULDN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT?

>> I THINK THAT'S JUST THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ORPHANS.

THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THAT I FOUND OUT LATER THEY WERE ORPHANS, BUT THEY NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ORPHANS AND ALSO CAME FROM NEW YORK.

>> THE ORPHAN TRAIN DISCOVERY LEFT ROY AND HIS FAMILY WITH A WEB OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

EACH CRUMB OF INFORMATION LEADING TO ANOTHER FORK IN THE ROAD.

>> MY INTEREST WASN'T REALLY IN WHO THE PARENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN, BUT MAYBE WHAT COUNTRY THEY WOULD HAVE COME FROM TO KNOW WHAT NATIONALITY WE MIGHT HAVE IN US.

WE HAVEN'T FOUND TOO MUCH.

>> SO WHAT'S, I GUESS, THE BIGGEST ROADBLOCK WITH FINDING INFORMATION OUT ABOUT HIM.

>> RECORDKEEPING WAS NOT DONE REAL GOOD AT THE TIME, AND THE RECORDS THAT WERE KEPT, THEY HAVE KEPT PRIVATE.

>> THE ROY FAMILY IS HARDLY A UNIQUE STORY.

THOUSANDS OF OTHER LOUISIANA FAMILIES ARE LINKED TO ORPHAN TRAINS.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT 2,000 CHILDREN WERE SENT TO LOUISIANA FROM NEW YORK BETWEEN 1869 AND 1929.

>> WE KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DON'T KNOW.

IT WAS AN UNTOLD HISTORY.

THERE WAS A HUGE STIGMA PLACED DURING THAT TIME.

I'M SECOND GENERATION TO AN ORPHAN TRAIN RIDER, AND IT WAS VERY HUSHED UP.

THEY WERE VERY QUIET ABOUT IT.

>> MARTHA IS THE BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE ORPHAN TRAIN MUSEUM IN OPELOUSAS.

HER MISSION TO IS GATHER AS MANY WITH THE SHARED HISTORY AS POSSIBLE, BUT IT'S HARD TO TRACK.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF SEALED DOCUMENTS THERE, AND YOU KNOW, PRIVACY ACT, I'M SURE, AND I DO TRULY BELIEVE IT WAS FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE CHILDREN.

>> ORPHAN TRAIN CHILDREN WERE BULLIED FOR BEING DIFFERENT, MAKING THEIR IDENTITY SOMETHING TO BE ASHAMED OF AND HIDDEN.

YET THE ORPHAN TRAIN MUSEUM IS COLLECTING STORIES FROM FAMILIES TRYING TO PUT THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER.

>> AND WE HAVE A LIST OF 433 NAMES.

WE WANT TO DOUBLE THAT.

>> HISTORY IS SLOWLY UNRAVELING ITSELF.

FOR THE ROYS, THE SEARCH IS STILL ONGOING, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH IT.

>> NEVER KNEW ABOUT THAT.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, AN EVENT THAT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 1943 RETURNS TO EL RENO THIS YEAR, THE NATIONAL LAND AND RANGE JUDGING CONTEST, FEATURING MORE THAN A THOUSAND STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

STEVE SHAW REPORTS.

>> WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT OKLAHOMA CITY'S FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA'S KACI FERGUSON.

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

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.

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