DID.

TUESDAY EVENING AT SEVEN ON ETA EXPLORE EARTH'S WONDERS ON NATURE.

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS AT SEVEN ON ETA.

THE STATE'S LARGEST INSURER BY MARKET SHARE, SUED BY THOUSANDS OF CLIENTS.

THE LATEST ON THE ONGOING LITIGATION.

THEY'RE USING EVERY EVERY MOTION, EVERY STALLING TACTIC AS A WAY TO TRY TO BULLY PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE IN LITIGATION WITH.

ANOTHER WEEK OF LITTLE TO NO RAIN AND TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES FOR OKLAHOMA RANCHERS AND FARMERS, NONE OF US HUMANS, ANIMALS, WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO RECOVER AND REALLY LET OUR BODIES COOL.

THIS LITTLE GIRL BECOMES THE STATE'S VERY FIRST RECIPIENT OF A PARTIAL HEART TRANSPLANT AT OU CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

YOU KNOW, AS A TEAM, I'M JUST PROUD THAT WE CAN DO IT.

AND WE DID IT.

AND AND SHE DID SO WELL.

SO TESTAMENT TO THE WHOLE GROUP.

THE SECOND ANNUAL BIO WEEK WRAPS UP IN OKLAHOMA CITY'S INNOVATION DISTRICT.

WE HOPE TO HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE AND REALLY AGAIN, SHOWCASE THE OKLAHOMA STRONG MADE IN AMERICA VIBE HERE.

SO EXCITED TO DO THAT.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA'S FIRST FULL TIME FEMALE PRESIDENT QUICKLY ANNOUNCES BIG CHANGES.

WELL, THE THE BUZZ IN TULSA HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.

I'VE BEEN TO RESTAURANTS AND HEARD PEOPLE IN THE NEXT BOOTH TALKING ABOUT IT AND THEN JUST NONSTOP MESSAGES, SOCIAL MEDIA, PHONE CALLS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THOSE STORIES.

PLUS, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE NEXT WEEK.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M TAELYR JACKSON.

FOUR DAYS FROM NOW, VOTERS WILL HEAD TO THE POLLS TO DECIDE A HANDFUL OF PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTIONS, INCLUDING FOR INSURANCE COMMISSIONER.

NOW THAT RACE IS RECEIVING A LOT OF ATTENTION BECAUSE HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE IS SKY HIGH IN OKLAHOMA AND THE STATE'S LARGEST INSURANCE COMPANY, STATE FARM, IS CURRENTLY FACING MULTIPLE LAWSUITS INVOLVING HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THAT.

STEVE TAELYR, THESE LEGAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BUBBLED UP FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.

A TULSA POLICE LIEUTENANT IS AMONG AT LEAST A THOUSAND OKLAHOMANS WHO ARE SUING STATE FARM FOR BEING ANYTHING BUT A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

BILLY HIRSCH AND HIS WIFE, LACEY, BOUGHT THIS FOUR BEDROOM BROKEN ARROW HOME IN 2020.

HE SAYS A HAILSTORM HAMMERED HIS NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE SPRING OF 2023.

A FEW MONTHS LATER, WE WERE HAVING A TREE TRIMMER, YOU KNOW, UP ON A SCISSOR LIFT TRIMMING OUR TREES, AND HE SENT US A PICTURE AND SAID, THERE'S A HOLE IN YOUR ROOF.

HERE ARE PHOTOS OF LIEUTENANT HERSH'S OLD ROOF.

HE SAYS HE HAD THREE DIFFERENT ROOFING CONTRACTORS ASSESS THE DAMAGE.

AND THEY SAID, YEAH, YOU'VE GOT SIGNIFICANT HAIL DAMAGE, ROOFS IN REAL BAD SHAPE.

IT NEEDS A FULL ROOF REPLACEMENT.

EVERY TIME WE SPEAK TO A CONTRACTOR, THEY'D BE LIKE, WHO IS YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY?

WE'D SAY STATE FARM, AND THEIR HEAD WOULD JUST DROP AND THEY'D SAY, WELL, I MEAN, SOME OF THEM TOLD US, YOU KNOW, WELL, YOU DEFINITELY NEED A ROOF AND THERE'S NO WAY STATE FARM IS GOING TO PAY OUT ON IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF ASKED THEM, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

AND THEY SAID THAT IN THEIR EXPERIENCE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, IT'S IT'S BEEN A PATTERN THAT STATE FARM IS REFUSING TO TOTAL ROOFS, REFUSING TO PAY OUT ON CLAIMS FOR WIND AND HAIL DAMAGE THAT ANY OTHER INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD WOULD NORMALLY BE PAYING OUT ON.

HIRSCH FILED A CLAIM WITH STATE FARM ANYWAY, AND STATE FARM DENIED IT.

SO LOOK, THE CUSTOMERS ARE TOTALLY GETTING SCREWED HERE.

REGGIE WHITTEN IS CO-FOUNDER OF WHITTENBURG LAW FIRM IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

HIS FIRM REPRESENTS HIRSCH AND MORE THAN 900 OTHER STATE FARM POLICYHOLDERS WHO ARE NOW SUING THE INSURANCE GIANT FOR FRAUD.

LAST THURSDAY, IN A COMANCHE COUNTY COURTROOM WHERE CAMERAS WERE NOT ALLOWED, WHITTEN ACCUSED STATE FARM OF DECEPTIVE PRACTICES.

HE DEMANDED STATE FARM HAND OVER INTERNAL DOCUMENTS THAT HE CLAIMS SHOW THAT THE LARGEST HOME CAR AND PROPERTY INSURER IN AMERICA HAS ACTED IN BAD FAITH IN THEIR HANDLING OF WIND AND HAIL CLAIMS FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.

WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS, LET THE CUSTOMERS OF STATE FARM SEE THE DOCUMENTS, AND THAT'S WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS ASKED FOR.

HE HAS ASKED TO SEE THE DOCUMENTS.

SO TODAY I HEARD SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

I HEARD STATE FARM'S LAWYERS SAY THAT THEY SHOULD BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE CUSTOMER?

WHAT WHAT COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE IS THE CUSTOMER HAD?

THEIR CLAIMS ARE BEING CUT BY 50% AND THEY DON'T KNOW IT.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BUY INSURANCE FROM STATE FARM.

THEORETICALLY, IF THEY FOUND OUT THEIR CLAIMS WERE GOING TO BE CUT BEFORE THEY EVER HAPPENED, AND THAT THIS IS ALL A SECRET SCHEME, AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRACK THEIR SAVINGS AND LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.

WELL, WE ALLEGE THAT'S BAD FAITH AND FRAUD.

WHITTEN ASKED DISTRICT JUDGE GRANT SHEPPARD TO COMPEL STATE FARM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JOHN FARNEY TO TESTIFY IN THE COMANCHE COUNTY CASE.

JUDGE SHEPPARD LATER GRANTED THAT MOTION, WHEN FARNEY TESTIFIES IS UNCLEAR.

STATE FARM SAYS IF YOU COMPEL THE CEO TO TESTIFY IN A DEPOSITION, THAT'S ALL HE'D DO.

WELL, LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY.

THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM TAKING MY CLIENT'S DEPOSITIONS.

MY CLIENTS ARE WORKING PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE JOBS.

THEY HAVE FAMILIES.

THEY HAVE KIDS.

ALL OF MY CLIENTS ARE BUSY PEOPLE, TOO.

CITING SCHEDULING CONFLICTS, ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND MONDAY DECLINED OUR INTERVIEW REQUEST.

TWO MONTHS AGO, HE ANNOUNCED HE WAS SUING STATE FARM, TOO.

THERE ARE DOCUMENTS IN STATE FARM'S POSSESSION THAT I WANT TO SEE.

AND IF THOSE DOCUMENTS ILLUSTRATE A PURPOSEFUL SCHEME TO INCREASE THE RATES OF OKLAHOMANS AND DECREASE THE CLAIMS PAYABLE, THEN WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM.

EVERY CUSTOMER IS ENTITLED TO SEE THIS, AND WE'RE OFFICERS OF THE COURT.

WE HAVE THOSE DOCUMENTS THERE UNDER PROTECTIVE ORDER.

WE CAN'T REVEAL THEM.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO A DAY OF TRYING THIS IN COURT AND SHOWING THEM TO EVERYBODY.

THEN NOBODY HAS TO TAKE ANYBODY'S WORD FOR IT.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, STATE FARM SENT ME A STATEMENT THAT READS, IN PART, STATE FARM STRONGLY DISAGREES WITH BROAD CLAIMS THAT MISCHARACTERIZE HOW WE SERVE CUSTOMERS OR EVALUATE COVERED DAMAGE.

THESE ARE ALLEGATIONS IN PENDING LITIGATION, NOT FINDINGS OF FACT.

OKLAHOMANS DESERVE A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN ALLEGATIONS, LEGAL ARGUMENTS AND UNPROVEN FACTS.

TURNING DISPUTED LITIGATION CLAIMS INTO A BROAD PUBLIC NARRATIVE CREATES CONFUSION FOR CUSTOMERS, AGENTS AND COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON A STRONG INSURANCE MARKET.

AFTER SEVERE WEATHER, STATE FARM HAS PAID MORE THAN $1 BILLION TO OKLAHOMA CUSTOMERS FOR WIND AND HAIL, DAMAGE TO THEIR HOMES AND PROPERTY.

REMEMBER BILLY HIRSCH?

HE FILED A SECOND CLAIM WITH STATE FARM AFTER ANOTHER HAILSTORM HIT IN 2024, HE SAYS STATE FARM DENIED THAT CLAIM BECAUSE THEY SAID THE ROOF DAMAGE WAS LESS THAN BILLY'S $3,000 DEDUCTIBLE.

AND AND WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED AT THIS POINT THAT IF THERE'S STILL A HOLE IN THE ROOF AND AND THE ROOF IS IN AS BAD A SHAPE AS THE CONTRACTORS ARE SAYING, WE DON'T WANT IT TO BECOME A LARGER ISSUE WHERE CATASTROPHIC, EXACTLY WHERE WE END UP HAVING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OR WHO KNOWS WHAT.

SO WE BORROWED AGAINST THE EQUITY IN OUR HOUSE AND PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR A TOTAL ROOF REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $22,500.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

IT IS.

WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT IT YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T IT DIDN'T FINANCIALLY RUIN US.

IT'S NOT PUT US INTO BANKRUPTCY OR ANYTHING, BUT IT HAS COMPLETELY SHIFTED OUR FINANCIAL PLANNING.

YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S TAKEN AWAY YOUR EQUITY.

YES.

BILLY HIRSCH WAS A STATE FARM POLICY HOLDER SINCE HE WAS 16 YEARS OLD.

THEY ARE A GIANT CORPORATION WITH AN ARMY OF ATTORNEYS.

AND I THINK THEY USE THEY'RE USING EVERY EVERY MOTION, EVERY STALLING TACTIC AS A WAY TO TRY TO BULLY PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE IN LITIGATION WITH.

HIRSCH'S CASE AGAINST STATE FARM WAS ACTUALLY FILED IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY.

HE SAYS THE LATEST HE'S HEARD IS IT WILL GO TO TRIAL THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER.

THAT COMANCHE COUNTY CASE, I'M TOLD, SHOULD GO TO TRIAL SOMETIME IN NOVEMBER.

TAELYR STEVE, THANKS.

ALL REGISTERED VOTERS CAN TAKE PART IN NEXT TUESDAY'S ELECTION.

THERE ARE TWO STATE QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT AND RACES INVOLVING BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

LAST SUNDAY, A NONPARTISAN GROUP.

THANKS FOR.

OKAY.

THANKS FOR VOTING.

OKAY.

GATHERED AT WINTER PARK IN OKLAHOMA CITY TO FORM A GIANT BOAT AS A REMINDER TO GET OUT TO THE POLLS.

SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO PROVIDE PROOF OF IDENTITY AT THE POLLS.

YOU CAN, OF COURSE, PROVIDE YOUR FEDERALLY ISSUED OR STATE ISSUED IDENTIFICATION CARD.

WE ALSO ACCEPT FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBAL ID CARDS AS WELL.

NOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE THAT CARD, MAKE SURE THAT IT DOES HAVE A PICTURE ON IT AND THAT IT DOES HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE THAT FALLS AFTER THE DATE OF THE ELECTION.

SOMETIMES WE FIND OUT THAT THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE REALIZE THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.

BUT OF COURSE, IF THAT DOES HAPPEN, YOU CAN ALWAYS SHOW YOUR VOTER ID CARD IF YOU HAVE THAT HANDY.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR RACES AND ISSUES TO BE DECIDED NEXT TUESDAY.

STATE QUESTION 844 WILL AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO EXEMPT MANUFACTURERS FROM PAYING CERTAIN TAXES, WITH THE STATE BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING UP THE LOST REVENUE STATE.

QUESTION 846 INVOLVES CHANGING VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS FOR FUTURE ELECTIONS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE IS A DEMOCRAT RUNOFF FOR THE U.S.

SENATE, AND REPUBLICAN RUNOFFS INCLUDE GOVERNOR, STATE SUPERINTENDENT, INSURANCE COMMISSIONER AND LABOR COMMISSIONER.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SPORADIC SHOWERS ON MONDAY AND FRIDAY AROUND THE STATE.

IT'S BEEN ANOTHER HOT, DRY WEEK IN OKLAHOMA.

BAD NEWS IF YOU'RE A RANCHER OR FARMER TRYING TO PROTECT YOUR LIVESTOCK AND CROPS.

NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW WITH AN UPDATE ON THAT.

NOAH TAELYR, THERE'S SO MANY FACTORS AT PLAY HERE FOR AG PRODUCERS, BUT WITH A DEVELOPING WORLD AND CHANGING FARM SCAPE WATER ACCESS REMAINS A TOP CONCERN.

DRIED CROPS, COWS CLUSTERING UNDER THE SHADE.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE IMAGES YOU'LL SEE DRIVING THROUGH MUCH OF RURAL OKLAHOMA.

AND WE HAVE LIKE 4000 ACRES HERE AND IT'S PRETTY CONTIGUOUS.

IT'S ALL LACED TOGETHER.

SO IT KIND OF MAKES IT EASIER FOR TAKING CARE OF EVERYTHING.

AND THERE IS A LOT TO TAKE CARE OF.

FOR BRENDA HAWKINS, IT'S VERY DEMANDING.

SHE INHERITED HER FATHER'S AG LAND, LOCATED SEVERAL MILES FROM WHERE SHE NOW RAISES CATTLE AND THE STATE'S SOARING, SEARING TEMPERATURES DELIVER QUITE A BLOW.

WE NEVER HAD TEMPERATURES IN THE HUNDREDS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, AND I'M 70 YEARS OLD.

DURING THIS OKLAHOMA HEAT STREAK, TEMPERATURES HAVE EXCEEDED 100 DEGREES MORE THAN THREE FOURTHS OF AUGUST SO FAR.

THIS WEEK BROUGHT THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR ON TUESDAY, AND THE HOTTEST STATEWIDE AVERAGE SINCE 2022.

IT DOESN'T COOL DOWN MUCH AT NIGHT.

YOU KNOW, MOST NIGHTS HAVE BEEN NOT EVEN BELOW 80.

AND SO NONE OF US HUMANS, ANIMALS, WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO RECOVER AND REALLY LET OUR BODIES COOL.

WELL, SO IT JUST GRADUALLY BUILDS UP AND, AND ACCUMULATES AND BECOMES, YOU KNOW, MUCH WORSE.

THIS YEAR'S HIGH HEAT COMES WITH DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

MANY OF BRENDA'S FARM PONDS STAY DRY.

YOU KNOW, IF IT RAINS TWO INCHES, IT WILL BE A PUDDLE.

SHE HAS ONE POND THAT RETAINS WATER.

DOCTOR ROD HALL, STATE VETERINARIAN, SAYS FARM PONDS DO A GREAT JOB OF COOLING DOWN CATTLE, BUT DON'T ALWAYS CUT IT WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTHY INGESTION.

THIS TIME OF YEAR IS DRY AS IT'S BEEN.

THEY'RE GETTING KIND OF LOW AND THEY TEND TO GET STAGNANT AND KIND OF NASTY.

SO THE CATTLE WON'T DRINK AS MUCH OF THAT KIND OF WATER AS THEY WOULD IF THEY HAVE.

ANOTHER SOURCE, DOCTOR HALL URGES LIVESTOCK OWNERS TO SUPPLEMENT COOL, CLEAN DRINKING WATER TO KEEP CATTLE HEALTHY.

FOR EXAMPLE, THESE MASSIVE TIRE TANKS ARE ALL OVER BRENDA'S FARM, HOLDING TREATED DRINKING WATER.

ALL THIS WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, HOWEVER, TOOK A LOT OF RISKY MANEUVERING.

I GOT RID OF ALL THE CATTLE, SO I DIDN'T HAVE ANY CATTLE AT ALL.

AND WE JUST BASICALLY SPENT THE MONEY FROM SELLING THE CATTLE TO RUN WATER LINES.

IT WAS KIND OF SCARY GETTING RID OF ALL OF THEM BECAUSE YOU'RE THINKING, OH, I GOT TO START ALL.

IT'S GOING TO START COMPLETELY OVER.

BUT.

I'M NOT GOING TO LET THEM GO TILL THEY DROP DEAD.

BRENDA BUILT BACK A HERD OF ABOUT 300 HEAD, BUT ADVERSITY NEVER CEASES AS HER LOCAL RURAL WATER DISTRICT IS STRETCHED THIN.

SO, LIKE OUR DISTRICT TIES ON DOWN AT ELGIN TO SOME HOUSING ADDITIONS.

AND SO, SO ALL OF US PEOPLE IN THE RURAL AREA ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN WHEN YOU DID THAT?

AND OF COURSE, NOBODY HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT UNTIL WE GET INTO A WATER ISSUE OR WHATEVER, NOT ONLY IS WATER A PROBLEM OUT HERE, BUT SO IS ADEQUATE GRASS TO FEED THE CATTLE.

AND BY THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, MIDDLE OF AUGUST, OUR OUR PASTURES ARE USUALLY THE QUALITY IS GOING DOWN ANYWAY.

BUT THIS YEAR WE, WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE RAINS EARLY TO PRODUCE THE GOOD GRASS LIKE WE NORMALLY DO.

SO PASTURE CONDITIONS IN MANY LOCATIONS ARE NOT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE.

SO SOME OF THE FARMERS AND RANCHERS MAY BE HAVING TO SUPPLEMENT WITH SOME HAY ALREADY AND OR TRYING TO PROVIDE MORE GRAIN SUPPLEMENTATION TO OFFSET WHAT THEY NORMALLY WOULD GET IN PASTURE WHEN GRASS DRIES OUT.

DOCTOR HALL SAYS CHOOSING THE RIGHT FEED IS IMPERATIVE, AS A HEAVY AMOUNT OF GRAIN CAN ACTUALLY GENERATE MORE HEAT DURING THE ANIMAL'S DIGESTIVE CYCLE.

IN CASES WHERE THERE'S JUST NO AIR MOVEMENT, REALLY HOT TEMPERATURES AND THEN HIGH HUMIDITY AS WELL, WE'VE SEEN SOME SITUATIONS IN FEED YARDS WHERE THEY'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CATTLE DIE FROM HEAT STROKE, SCORCHED PASTURES, AFFECTS THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF GRASS.

DEAD GRASS LACKS PROTEIN, WHICH IS WHY SUPPLEMENTAL FEED IS NECESSARY.

INSTEAD OF HAY, BRENDA OPTS FOR A PROTEIN RICH OPTION CALLED LIQUID FEED.

WE'RE BRINGING OUT HERE IN A BIG TANK, AND YOU SCREW THIS OFF AND A BIG HOSE AND YOU JUST FILL IT UP AND IT'S BASICALLY LIKE PANCAKE SIRUP FOR COWS.

THEY KNOW THEY WILL COME RUNNING AND THEY'LL GET THESE WHEELS GOING SO FAST IT'LL THROW SIRUP ALL OVER THIS.

THIS WILL ALL BE BROWN.

FARM CROPS DRY UP JUST LIKE THE PRAIRIE GRASS.

BRENDA SAYS.

OUT HERE, IT'S BECOMING LESS AND LESS REALISTIC TO MAINTAIN CROP FIELDS.

HER FATHER USED TO GROW WHEAT ON THIS LAND.

WHEN I PUT ALL THE WHEAT BACK, I JUST LET IT LAY OUT WHEN IT WAS BECAUSE WE WERE IN A DROUGHT.

SO YOU DIDN'T MAKE A WHEAT CROP.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S NO REASON TO SOW THE WHEAT.

THERE'S NO REASON TO SPEND ALL THAT MONEY ON MAINTENANCE AND LABOR AND STUFF AND GO DO SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IS NOT GOING TO BE A SUCCESS.

SHE HAS OFFICIALLY TRANSFORMED THE WHEAT FIELDS INTO GRASSLAND FOR THE CATTLE DOCTOR.

HALL SAYS FARMERS AND RANCHERS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF BATTLING EXTREME HEAT AND DROUGHT.

I MEAN, IT'S VERY BAD.

I'M NOT TRYING TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECTS OF IT, BUT BUT THIS REALLY IS NOTHING NEW FOR FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR FOR YEARS.

HOWEVER, BRENDA SEES ISSUES COMPOUNDING.

YOU HAVE TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

AND I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, ALL ACROSS AMERICA, I DON'T THINK WE MAYBE PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE FOR A LOT OF THINGS.

BUT WATER, WATER IS LIFE, SHE SAYS.

BACK IN 2012, THIS WAS A CREEK, A PRIMARY WATER SUPPLY FOR THOSE NEARBY.

NOW IT'S CRACKED EARTH, ENVELOPED BY WEEDS AND BETWEEN DWINDLING SOURCES, THE INCREASED STRAIN ON RURAL WATER DISTRICTS AND INCREASE IN DEVELOPMENTS LIKE DATA CENTERS, SHE SAYS.

SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE DIFFERENTLY.

I HAD A GENTLEMAN SIDE HERE THE OTHER DAY, HE SAID.

YOU KNOW, WE THINK GASOLINE IS HIGH HERE AT $5.

WE'RE GOING TO BE BUYING WATER THAT'S GOING TO COST MORE THAN WHAT THIS GAS AND DIESEL IS COSTING US.

DOCTOR HALL SAYS IF YOU NEED HELP, IF YOU NEED GUIDANCE, CONTACT RESOURCES LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF AG AND OSU EXTENSION TAELYR.

NOAH, THANKS.

MAJOR MEDIA CONGLOMERATES ARE CUTTING NEWSROOM STAFFS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

COMPANIES LIKE NEXSTAR, SCRIPPS, SINCLAIR, CBS, CNN AND OTHERS HAVE ELIMINATED HUNDREDS OF POSITIONS SINCE MAY.

TWO.

LOCAL TV NEWSROOMS IN THE TULSA MARKET HAVE BEEN DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED, GIVING VIEWERS FEWER OPTIONS AND LESS INFORMATION.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR UPCOMING IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH RICH LENZ AND A PANEL OF TV JOURNALISM PROFESSIONALS.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

THEY SAID.

HERE'S THE DEAL.

WE'RE DOWNSIZING.

WE'RE MERGING TULSA AND OKLAHOMA MARKETS.

MOST OF YOU WILL BE AFFECTED.

IF YOU ARE, YOUR PHONE WILL RING.

AND THEN THEY LEFT.

THEY WALKED OUT AND ALL OF US WERE STANDING.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID IT'S LIKE THE HUNGER GAMES.

WE WERE ALL LOOKING LIKE, NOW WHAT?

AND THEN MY PHONE RANG.

AND THEN YOUR PHONE AND MY PHONE RANG.

AND SO IT WAS IT WAS HEARTBREAKING AND VERY HARD.

YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT CHANNEL EIGHT WAS ONE OF THE TOP ABC STATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, AND IT WAS H THE PLACE.

I'M A TULSA HOMER.

SO I GREW UP IN, YOU KNOW, BOB HOWER AND ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE.

IT WAS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST STATION.

YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

THEY DON'T YET KNOW WHAT'S ABOUT TO HIT THEM.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ABOUT TO GO INTO CLASSES.

THEY'RE ABOUT TO LEARN ABOUT THESE THINGS.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE REALISTIC FOR THEIR TEACHERS, TO BE REALISTIC, NOT TO JUST TELL ABOUT THE GLORY DAYS AND ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, BUT ALSO TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE INDUSTRY SO THEY CAN PREPARE THEMSELVES AND ARM THEMSELVES FOR JOB SECURITY, MULTITASKING, LEARNING HOW TO DO MORE THAN ONE THING.

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

IN THE PAST, INFANTS NEEDING SURGERY TO REPAIR A FAULTY HEART VALVE WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SURGERIES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THOSE HEART VALVES ONCE THEY GREW, BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE CASE IN THE FUTURE.

RECENTLY, THE PEDIATRIC HEART TEAM AT OU HEALTH SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMED THE FIRST PARTIAL HEART TRANSPLANT IN OKLAHOMA, GIVING A CHILD HEART VALVES THAT WILL GROW AS THE CHILD GROWS, ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR MULTIPLE SURGERIES LATER IN LIFE.

WE SPOKE WITH THE DOCTOR WHO PERFORMED THE SURGERY, AND THE MOTHER OF THE YOUNG PATIENT.

MY HOPE FOR HER IS, OF COURSE, FOR HER TO GROW AND, YOU KNOW, BE THE BRIGHT BABY GIRL THAT SHE IS.

WE'RE HOPING THAT SHE DOESN'T NEED ANY MORE SURGERIES IN THE FUTURE, SINCE THOSE VALVES WILL GROW WITH HER.

AND I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE TEAM THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR HER, AND IT BENEFITS HER IN THE LONG RUN AS WELL.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE'VE PUT TWO VALVES IN A BABY THAT TYPICALLY WOULD REQUIRE MULTIPLE HEART SURGERIES THROUGH LIFE AS THAT CHILD GREW, AND I'M HOPING THAT SHE WON'T HAVE TO HAVE THESE ANYMORE.

AND THAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST SUCCESS FOR US.

AND THEN WE THIS IS KIND OF ONE OF THE VERY FEW LAST FRONTIERS IN CONGENITAL HEART SURGERY.

AND OUR PROGRAM 12 YEARS AGO WASN'T REALLY ON THE MAP.

AND THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY.

FEWER THAN 50 PARTIAL HEART TRANSPLANTS IN BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA'S NEW PRESIDENT, STACY LEEDS, IS ALREADY MAKING BIG CHANGES, THE BIGGEST SLASHING THE COST OF TUITION IN HALF.

IT'S A BOLD MOVE DESIGNED TO HELP INCREASE THE PRIVATE COLLEGES IN-STATE ENROLLMENT.

STACY LEEDS HAS BEEN ON THE JOB AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH, AND HAS ALREADY MADE MAJOR HEADLINES WHEN SHE ANNOUNCED THE UNIVERSITY'S NEW TUITION RATES.

SO THERE'S THREE THINGS THAT WERE TOP OF MIND.

WHAT WOULD THIS MEAN FOR OUR FUTURE STUDENTS?

WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR OUR CURRENT STUDENTS?

AND THEN WHAT IT ULTIMATELY WOULD MEAN FOR THE FINANCIAL SECURITY LONG TERM OF OUR UNIVERSITY STARTING IN 2027, UNDERGRADUATE TUITION RATES WILL BE SET AT $25,000, A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE FROM THE $54,000 RATE STUDENTS CURRENTLY PAY.

THIS MAKES TUITION PRICES AT TWO MORE AFFORDABLE THAN SOME OTHER PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS IN THE STATE.

UNDERGRADUATE TUITION FOR TWO SEMESTERS AT ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY IS $36,250.

THE RATE AT OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY IS $30,698.

WELL, THE THE BUZZ IN TULSA HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.

I'VE BEEN TO RESTAURANTS AND HEARD PEOPLE IN THE NEXT BOOTH TALKING ABOUT IT AND THEN JUST NONSTOP MESSAGES, SOCIAL MEDIA, PHONE CALLS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS EVEN BEFORE THAT STARTED WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

SO IT'S BEEN A LONGER CONVERSATION THAT IT MIGHT SEEM TO THE PUBLIC, BUT IT'S BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY WELL RECEIVED.

LEEDS SAID THE NEW RATE WAS MADE POSSIBLE DUE TO CHARITABLE DONORS.

WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF GENERATIONS OF GENEROUS DONORS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA, AND BECAUSE OF NEW GIFTS THAT ARE COMING IN, BECAUSE OF THIS BOLD MOVE THAT WE'RE TAKING.

MOODY'S, A CREDIT RATING FIRM, DOWNGRADED T U.S.

BOND RATING ON AUGUST 4TH.

THE FIRM SAYS IT'S BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITY HAS ROUGHLY $126 MILLION OF DEBT AND A LIMITED CASH FLOW TO PAY IT DOWN.

DESPITE THAT, T U IS MOVING FORWARD IN THE UNIVERSITY REMAINS CONFIDENT THAT IT WILL MAINTAIN ITS QUALITY EDUCATION.

YOU KNOW, THE ONE EXTRAORDINARY THING ABOUT THIS UNIVERSITY IS THE SMALL CLASS SIZE AND HOW ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS IT IS.

AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US IN THIS TYPE OF DECISION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN TRULY MAINTAIN THAT THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE SPECIAL.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT MEASURED GROWTH OVER SEVERAL YEARS, AND NOT ALL AT ONCE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL STUDENTS ON THIS CAMPUS, ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE WILL MAKE WILL FIRST ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND OUR, YOU KNOW, EXCELLENCE PARAMETERS.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT BRUCE BIGLER SHARED HIS EXCITEMENT FOR THE NEW RATES AT LAST WEEK'S PRESS CONFERENCE.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S A REALLY POWERFUL STATEMENT THAT KIDS NOT JUST FROM TULSA, BUT KIDS FROM OKLAHOMA, FROM ALL ACROSS THE NATION, FROM ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, HAVE A PLACE HERE AT T U. AND WE WANT THEM TO DISCOVER WHAT THEY CAN DO AND THE POTENTIAL THAT THEY CAN UNLOCK.

HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA.

BIGLER, WHO GREW UP IN TULSA, SAYS THIS WILL OPEN THE DOOR FOR OTHERS WHO THOUGHT THE UNIVERSITY WASN'T AN OPTION FOR THEM DUE TO THE PRICE.

WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR ME TO ACTUALLY APPLY TO COLLEGE TO, YOU STILL FELT A LITTLE BIT OUT OF REACH.

AND OUT OF ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES WHO I GREW UP WITH HERE IN TULSA, I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO COME TO T U. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE TULSA'S SCHOOL, WE SHOULD BE TULSA'S UNIVERSITY.

AND I THINK TODAY WE'RE MAKING REAL STEPS TO GET ONE, ONE STEP CLOSER TO THAT DREAM.

TULSA REGIONAL CHAMBER PRESIDENT MICHAEL NEAL SAYS THIS MOVE NOT ONLY HELPS STUDENTS, IT HELPS TULSA'S ECONOMICS.

SO WHEN WE MAKE A WORLD CLASS, A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE RIGHT HERE IN TULSA FOR EVERYBODY THAT LIVES HERE, WE'RE DOING MORE THAN OPENING A DOOR FOR STUDENT.

WE'RE OPENING A DOOR FOR AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY LEAD TO GRADUATED FROM T U WITH A LAW DEGREE IN 1997, BECAME HIS FIRST FULL TIME FEMALE PRESIDENT ON JULY 1ST.

SHE MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS THE DEAN OF THE SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR COLLEGE OF LAW AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.

BUT COMING BACK TO SERVE AT THE INSTITUTION IN THIS CAPACITY IS MEANINGFUL.

IT'S SPECIAL.

THIS UNIVERSITY IS QUITE A STORY AS FAR AS MY OWN FAMILY IS CONCERNED.

MY BROTHER WAS THE FIRST IN OUR FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE AND GRADUATE, AND HE CAME HERE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA.

AND THEN I FOLLOWED COMING TO LAW SCHOOL.

AND AS SHE REFLECTS ON HER OWN FAMILY'S LEGACY AT T U, SHE HOPES THE NEW RATE WILL HELP STUDENTS START THEIR OWN.

AND NOW I HAVE A SON THAT'S GOING TO BE A STUDENT ON CAMPUS.

SO TO US, THIS HAS BEEN THE PATHWAY TO A REALLY GREAT PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE.

AND I WANT THE SAME FOR THE REST OF THE STUDENTS WHO COME HERE AS WELL.

A NEWLY RELEASED AUDIT SHOWS MORE FINANCIAL ABUSE AT TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE AUDIT ALLEGES FORMER TPS BOND AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR CHRIS HUDGINS USED HIS POSITION TO FUNNEL MILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS TO HIMSELF AND PREFERRED VENDORS FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS.

HUDGINS IS FACING FRAUD CHARGES STEMMING FROM AN EARLIER AUDIT.

THE AUDITOR SENT THE NEW FINDINGS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND THE TULSA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO REVIEW FOR POSSIBLE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

THE SECOND ANNUAL BIKE WEEK IS WRAPPING UP IN OKLAHOMA CITY'S INNOVATION DISTRICT.

THE EVENT PROMOTES COLLABORATION BETWEEN ENTREPRENEURS, RESEARCHERS, AND STUDENTS TO ADVANCE THE STATE'S BIOSCIENCE SECTOR.

JASON DOYLE ATTENDED THE FIVE DAY GATHERING AND JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

JASON TAELYR OKLAHOMA CITY IS ON ITS WAY TO BECOMING A HUB FOR BIOTECH.

BIOTECH IS A WAY TO BRING THE INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, AND INVESTORS TOGETHER TO BRING MORE INNOVATIONS INTO REALITY.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO CY VANCE SCIENCE TRIVIA NIGHT.

ON TUESDAY NIGHT, TRIVIA MASTER ADDISON GETS THE TRIVIA COMPETITION UNDERWAY, TESTING BIOTECH WORKERS AND OTHERS ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF SCIENCE AND POP CULTURE.

WHAT IS THE CELL THAT IS FORMED BY THE JOINING OF A MALE AND FEMALE GAMETE?

IF IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU'VE TAKEN A BIOLOGY COURSE, THE ANSWER IS ZYGOTE.

OF COURSE, IN BIOLOGY, CELLS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO DEVELOPING NEW TECHNOLOGY.

MANY OF OKLAHOMA'S BIOTECHNOLOGY RELATED FIRMS AND AGENCIES WERE SHOWCASED WHEN BIOTECH OPENED AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY INNOVATION DISTRICT ON MONDAY, AND THAT INCLUDES NANO INC.

WE WERE FOUNDED IN 2018.

WE ARE FROM OKLAHOMA, BORN AND BRED HERE, AND WE ARE DEVELOPING THIS PRODUCT.

IT'S OUR FLAGSHIP NANO FIBER MEMBRANE.

SO SMART WOUND CARE.

YES, YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT.

SMART WOUND CARE.

SO WHAT DOES NANOS WOUND SENTINEL DO?

IT IS A COLOR CHANGING NANOFIBER MEMBRANE THAT CHANGES COLOR IN RESPONSE TO HEAVY COLONIZATION OR EARLY PATHOGENIC ACTIVITY, INDICATING EARLY INFECTION.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS PRODUCT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC.

HOWEVER, IT WAS ORIGINALLY MEANT TO HELP VETERANS AND WARFIGHTERS ALIKE.

WE ACTUALLY WERE STARTED TO COMMERCIALIZE THIS FIRST FOR THE CIVILIAN MARKETS, REALLY FOCUSING ON THE VA, HOME HEALTH, THOSE RURAL HEALTH ENVIRONMENTS, WHICH IN AND OF THEMSELVES ARE AUSTERE ENVIRONMENTS.

AND THEN WE GOT HOOKED UP WITH THE DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY.

AND THEY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THE PAST FEW YEARS OF THE BATTLEFIELD SITUATION AND WHERE WE'RE KIND OF SITTING.

AND THEY HAD A DIRECT NEED FOR DELIVERING A PRODUCT LIKE OURS TO THOSE RULE ONE WARFIGHTERS TO HELP WITH THE DEMAND FOR WOUND SENTINEL NANO IS EXPANDING HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

WE ARE OPENING UP OUR PILOT MANUFACTURING HERE, SO WE HOPE TO HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE AND REALLY, AGAIN, SHOWCASE THE OKLAHOMA STRONG MADE IN AMERICA VIBE HERE.

SO EXCITED TO DO THAT.

WELL, NANO IS ON THE WAY TO EXPANSION IN OKLAHOMA.

SOME INNOVATIONS ARE JUST IN THE IDEA PHASE AND NEED A HAND TO GET THEM TO MOVE FORWARD.

THAT'S WHERE AN AGENCY LIKE I TWO COMES INTO PLAY, PROVIDE ADVISORY SERVICES AND ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR THOSE YOUNG COMPANIES.

SO THAT'S I2EI2E WAS CREATED BY THE OKLAHOMA CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ALSO KNOWN AS OCAST.

IT WAS GIVEN MONEY BY THE LEGISLATURE TO ASSIST HIGH GROWTH SMALL BUSINESSES TO DEVELOP THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.

RAINEY SAYS THESE BIOTECH ENTREPRENEURS ARE COMING UP WITH GREAT IDEAS BUT NEED HELP TO GET THEM INTO THE MARKETPLACE.

SO THAT INVOLVES IDEAS AND CONCEPTS LIKE MARKET DEVELOPMENT, SEGMENTATION OF MARKET, MARKET ENTRY.

WHO WHO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS?

WHAT PROBLEMS ARE YOU SOLVING?

HOW MUCH CAPITAL DO YOU NEED, AND IS THAT AN EFFICIENT ROUND OF CAPITAL TO MEET A VALUATION INFLECTION POINT TO GROW THE VALUE OF YOUR BUSINESS BY GROWING THESE SMALL BIOTECH COMPANIES FROM SCRATCH, IT GIVES OKLAHOMA THE ABILITY TO FURTHER DIVERSIFY THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

WE'RE SO EXCITED THAT THERE CONTINUES TO BE JUST A REAL BUBBLING UP OF EXCITEMENT AND ACTIVITY, NOT JUST FOR STARTUPS, BUT GROWTH STAGE COMPANIES THAT CONTINUE TO EXPAND HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

AND WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO DO THIS WEEK WAS REALLY TALK ABOUT THE TREND LINES, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE BIOSCIENCE ECONOMY IN OKLAHOMA, CELEBRATE WHAT'S ALREADY TAKING PLACE.

JEFF SEYMOUR IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE OKC INNOVATION DISTRICT, WHERE BIOTECH IS BEING HELD.

HE ADDS THAT BIOTECH CAN THRIVE AND GROW IN OKLAHOMA BECAUSE THERE IS A NEED FOR SPECIALIZED MEDICINE TO HELP TACKLE THE STATE'S HIGH LEVELS OF CHRONIC DISEASES.

OKLAHOMA CITY AND OKLAHOMA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE TO THINK ABOUT SPECIALIZED MEDICINE, ESPECIALLY MEDICINE, FOR VERY TARGET POPULATIONS.

THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY TO SERVE, YOU KNOW, RURAL AND TRIBAL PARTNERSHIPS AND, YOU KNOW, NEEDS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE'VE GOT A RURAL POPULATION, WE'VE GOT NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATIONS, WE'VE GOT UNIQUE ASSETS IN IN THE HUMAN BIOLOGY TO LINK TO THIS KIND OF VISION.

THAT'S DOCTOR JOHN ARMITAGE, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF OUR BLOOD INSTITUTE ON A FUTURE OF INNOVATION PANEL DISCUSSING HOW CURRENT ASSETS CAN BE USED TO DEVELOP A WAY TO STOP A DISEASE FROM PROGRESSING.

THIS ROOM IS ABOUT REINVENTING OUR APPROACH TO THINGS THAT ARE LYING ON THE TABLE.

AND JUST BECAUSE NOBODY ON THE COAST HAS THOUGHT THAT THAT'S VALUABLE DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T LOOK AT THAT VALUE, KNIT IT TOGETHER, AND PRODUCE SOMETHING UNIQUE, AND REALLY GOES TO SPACES THAT THIS HIGH PRICED BIO IS STRUGGLING WITH.

WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO THINK ABOUT IS WHAT ARE THE COMPANIES HERE, THE PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT ARE WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE REALLY ON THE BLEEDING EDGE OF WHERE TECHNOLOGY IS HEADED, AND HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE COMPANIES AND HELP THEM THINK ABOUT THEIR INTERACTION WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD, BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT HOW THE GENERAL PUBLIC GETS AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S HERE AND HOW IS IT GROWING.

WELL, OKLAHOMA'S BIOTECHNOLOGY SECTOR IS GROWING.

IT WASN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY.

NOT MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND INVESTORS FOR BIOTECH STARTUPS.

MY FIRST COMPANY I FOUNDED IN 2015, THERE.

THAT WAS BEFORE VCS EXISTED IN THE STATE THAT IT WAS I2EO CAST AND SOME STATE PROGRAMS.

AND SO I HAVE REALLY HAD THE DISTINCT HONOR TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THE INDUSTRY AT AS AS IT HAS GROWN, LUXON ADDS THAT OKLAHOMA HAS A CHANCE TO CREATE A UNIQUE SPACE IN THE GLOBAL BIOTECHNOLOGY MARKET.

IT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO OKLAHOMA.

WE HAVE SUCH A DISTINCT OPPORTUNITY HERE TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT'S MEANINGFUL IN THE STATE, RATHER THAN TRYING TO PLUG INTO SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BUILT, WHICH MAKES FOR A HIGH TECH OPPORTUNITY.

EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT AS GOOD AS THESE GUYS AT SCIENCE TRIVIA.

2030.

ON FRIDAY, INNOVATION ON THE BLOCK WAS HELD TO HELP EXPOSE KIDS TO HANDS ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENTS.

AS BIO WEEK WRAPS UP AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY INNOVATION DISTRICT AND CHECKING BUSINESS NEWS, TOURISM IS BIGGER THAN EVER IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S STATEWIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

A RECORD $4.8 BILLION WAS GENERATED FROM 25 MILLION VISITORS TO OKLAHOMA CITY, ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT BY THE GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THAT'S A RECORD SETTING YEAR FOR TOURISM'S IMPACT ON THE CAPITAL CITY.

VISITOR SPENDING GREW BY 3.5%.

DAY TRIPS BROUGHT IN 16.5 MILLION VISITORS, WHILE OVERNIGHT STAYS LOGGED 8.4 MILLION VISITORS.

HOTEL DEMAND PUSHED LODGING SPENDING UP BY 6.1%.

OKLAHOMA CITY BIOTECH COMPANY SITE ADVANCED BIOLOGICS IS LAUNCHING A NEW STANDALONE SERVICE TO HELP MEET A GROWING DEMAND FOR ANALYTICAL SERVICES.

SITE EVENTS IS A CONTRACT DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATION WHICH SCALES UP THE MANUFACTURE OF NEW MEDICINES AND THERAPIES.

THE ANALYTICAL SERVICES WILL BE OFFERED WITHOUT A CONTRACT TO MANUFACTURE A PRODUCT WITH SITE EVENTS, AND WILL GIVE SUPPORT FOR A CLIENT'S PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING MAKING SURE IT'S READY TO GAIN REGULATORY APPROVAL.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED CONTINENTAL RESOURCES IS MAKING A PLAY IN THE PERMIAN BASIN WITH ITS AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE FIREBIRD ENERGY TWO LLC FROM QUANTUM CAPITAL GROUP.

THE DEAL WOULD GIVE CONTINENTAL 147,000 NET ACRES IN THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS OIL AND NATURAL GAS FORMATION.

IT CURRENTLY IS PRODUCING 32,000 BARRELS OF OIL EQUIVALENT PER DAY, INCLUDING THE FIREBIRD DEAL.

CONTINENTAL HAS INCREASED ITS HOLDINGS IN THE PERMIAN BASIN BY 40% OVER THE LAST 14 MONTHS.

THE DEAL IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE IN SEPTEMBER.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED BANK SEVEN CORPORATION IS INCREASING THE DIVIDEND IT PAYS TO INVESTORS BY 11.11%.

THAT BRINGS THE DIVIDEND UP TO $0.30 A SHARE.

IT WILL BE PAID ON OCTOBER 8TH TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE STOCK IN THEIR PORTFOLIO BY SEPTEMBER 18TH.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

IN MAY, KTUL CHANNEL EIGHT IN TULSA CLOSED ITS NEWSROOM AND STUDIO ON LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, DRAMATICALLY DOWNSIZING THEIR NEWSGATHERING PRESENCE IN GREEN COUNTRY.

TWO WEEKS AGO, KJRH CHANNEL TWO ELIMINATED DOZENS OF POSITIONS IN ITS NEWS DEPARTMENT, SAYING THEY WERE TRANSITIONING TO AN AI POWERED BROADCAST JOURNALISM COMPANY.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR VIEWERS IN TULSA AND THE FUTURE OF LOCAL TV BROADCAST NEWS?

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR RICH LENZ RICH TAELYR.

THIS IS A TOPIC THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, BECAUSE I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE WORKING CAREER IN LOCAL TV NEWS AND SPORTS AND THE CHANGES I'VE SEEN IN THE LAST 45 YEARS, NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE BETTER, ARE PROFOUND.

AND I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE.

WILL MY PANEL OF GUESTS FEEL THE SAME WAY?

LET'S FIND OUT.

JOINING US TODAY, DESIREE HILL, THE ASSOCIATE DEAN AT THE GAYLORD SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AT OU, FORMER EXECUTIVE PRODUCER LAUREN COSBY, A 35 YEAR VETERAN OF RADIO AND TV JOURNALISM, AND SUNNY LEE, A VERY POPULAR RADIO AND TV PERSONALITY IN THE TULSA AREA FOR MORE THAN 22 YEARS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING PART IN THIS.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

THOSE ARE VERY BRIEF INTRODUCTIONS, SO I'D LIKE TO GIVE EACH OF YOU A MOMENT TO KIND OF TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER.

AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH YOU.

DESIREE.

SO I'M LIKE YOU, I, THIS HAS BEEN MY ENTIRE WORKING CAREER.

I'VE BEEN IN JOURNALISM, TELEVISION IN PARTICULAR, WORKING IN NEWSROOMS IN OKLAHOMA FOR A LOT OF YEARS.

I'VE TRANSITIONED THOUGH, TO ACADEMIA, WHERE NOW I AM THE ASSISTANT DEAN OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION AT GAYLORD COLLEGE AT OU.

LAUREN COSBY, 35 YEARS.

THAT'S A LONG TIME.

TELL US WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

I STARTED AT 14 AS AN INTERN AT KRMG RADIO.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE KIDDING WHEN YOU SAID NO.

I WAS 14 YEARS OLD, AND THEN I WAS BECAME A REPORTER AND NEWS ANCHOR.

THEN I DECIDED TELEVISION WOULD BE MORE STABLE, AND I WANTED TO STAY IN TULSA.

SO I WENT TO WORK IN TV AT CHANNEL EIGHT, FIRST FOR FIVE YEARS AS A PRODUCER, AND THEN TO CHANNEL TWO AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER FOR LIKE ALMOST 14 YEARS.

AND THEN AT CHANNEL SIX IS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.

SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, I WAS WITH A GUY NAMED ED TAELYR AND BECKY DIXON DOING SATELLITE STUFF AND INTERNET THINGS.

AND ALSO I JUST LEFT OUT THERE WAS LIKE A YEAR AND A HALF IN KANSAS CITY, WHICH WAS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AT THE NBC AFFILIATE.

AND I ALSO DID RADIO ON THE STATION WHERE RUSH LIMBAUGH WORKED AND WALTER CRONKITE WORKED.

VERY GOOD.

SUNNY, HOW ABOUT YOU?

I STARTED AT KVOE RADIO IN 2004 AND WAS JUST KIND OF STARTING OUT AS THE.

THEY SAID THEY NEEDED A LITTLE FEMALE PERSONALITY TO BALANCE OUT THE TWO ALPHA MALES THAT I WORKED WITH.

I STAYED THERE FOR 15 YEARS.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AND WHEN I LEFT RADIO, I GOT A CALL FROM CHANNEL EIGHT AND THEY SAID, WE WANT TO LIGHTEN UP THE MORNING SHOW A LITTLE BIT AND HAVE SOME A LITTLE BIT OF FUN, A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHTNESS.

SO I JOINED THE MORNING SHOW AT CHANNEL EIGHT.

I WAS THERE FIVE YEARS AND THEN LEFT AND WENT TO WAS LET GO FROM FROM CHANNEL EIGHT, FROM SINCLAIR WHEN THEY KIND OF DOWNSIZED AND I WENT OVER TO FOX 23.

IT WAS OWNED BY MAGIC AT THE TIME, AND I WAS THERE FOR 15 MONTHS AND THAT WAS MY LAST LAYOFF.

OKAY.

SO OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE TULSA TELEVISION STATIONS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SUNNY, LET'S STAY WITH YOU.

AS YOU SAID, YOU'RE AN ALUMNI ALUMNUS ALUM IS WHICH IS IT?

DESIREE?

WELL, ALUMNA.

ALUMNA.

RIGHT.

ALUMNI OF CHANNEL EIGHT.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ASKING YOU JUST PERSONALLY WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN YOU RECEIVED THAT NEWS, BUT ALSO WHEN YOU HEARD WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT CHANNEL TWO JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER.

JUST YOUR PERSONAL THOUGHTS.

HOW DID IT HIT YOU?

WELL, WE GOT AN EMAIL.

I WAS AT CHANNEL EIGHT, AND WE KNEW THAT AT THAT TIME THAT SINCLAIR WAS STARTING TO MAKE SOME DOWNSIZES TO SOME OF THEIR STATIONS.

THEY WERE COMBINING STATIONS THAT WERE CLOSE TOGETHER, FOR INSTANCE, OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA, AND THEY COMBINED THE TWO BUILDINGS.

AND SO WE GOT AN EMAIL SAYING THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN ALL STATION MEETING.

AND WE ALL KIND OF KNEW WHEN WE WALKED INTO THE STUDIO AND WE SAW THE BIG WIGS WITH SINCLAIR.

AND IT WAS THE ODDEST WAY TO BE LET GO BECAUSE THEY SAID, HERE'S THE DEAL.

WE'RE DOWNSIZING.

WE'RE MERGING TULSA AND OKLAHOMA MARKETS.

MOST OF YOU WILL BE AFFECTED IF YOU ARE.

YOUR PHONE WILL RING.

AND THEN THEY LEFT.

THEY WALKED OUT AND ALL OF US WERE STANDING.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID IT'S LIKE THE HUNGER GAMES.

WE WERE ALL LOOKING LIKE, NOW WHAT?

AND THEN MY PHONE RANG.

AND THEN YOUR PHONE AND MY PHONE RANG.

AND SO IT WAS IT WAS HEARTBREAKING AND VERY HARD TIME.

AND IT JUST THAT SEEMED TO BE THE BEGINNING OF THAT HAPPENING ACROSS THE NATION.

AND IT WAS LIKE DEJA VU.

OH, YEAH.

MONTHS LATER WITH CHANNEL TWO, YOU SEE THE SAME THING HAPPENING.

I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENED AT FOX 23, AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT CHANNEL TWO.

AND I WAS HEARTBROKEN BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE JOURNALISTS THAT I WORKED WITH, WHETHER THEY WERE PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS, CAMERA ON AIR, WENT TO CHANNEL TWO WHEN CHANNEL EIGHT SHUTTERED.

AND AND THEN FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN WAS DEVASTATING FOR THEM.

AND LAUREN, JUST QUICKLY YOUR THOUGHTS.

YOU WORKED AT CHANNEL EIGHT FOR A LONG TIME.

THAT ICONIC FACILITY.

AND BASICALLY THEY SAID, LAST ONE OUT.

YOU KNOW, TURN OUT THE LIGHTS.

YOUR THOUGHTS.

WE'VE ALL BEEN CRYING ABOUT IT EVER SINCE.

THERE'S BEEN COMMISERATION, PARTIES AND ALL THAT.

YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT CHANNEL EIGHT WAS ONE OF THE TOP ABC STATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, AND IT WAS AIT'S THE PLACE.

I'M A TULSA HOMER, SO I GREW UP IN, YOU KNOW, BOB HOWER AND ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE.

IT WAS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST STATION.

YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

BUT IT'S IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S NO LOCAL OWNERSHIP.

AND THEY WERE A SMALL COG IN A BIG, BIGGER COMPANY.

AND WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO GET INTO THAT ABOUT LOCAL AS OPPOSED TO NATIONAL OR CONGLOMERATE OWNERSHIP.

BUT DESIREE, YOU BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF TV JOURNALISTS.

SO I'M VERY INTERESTED TO SEE YOUR POINT OF VIEW.

DO YOU SEE OPTIMISM OR DO YOU SHARE SOME OF OUR CONCERNS?

BOTH I AND I HAD STUDENTS IN YOUR SCENARIO.

SO SOME OF MY FORMER STUDENTS WORKED WITH YOU AND SOME OF MY FORMER STUDENTS WORKED AT OR HAD WORKED AT CHANNEL TWO IN TULSA.

SO IT'S WE'RE ONE BIG FAMILY, AS I THINK MAYBE THE AUDIENCE IS, IS HEARING RIGHT NOW AS THEY LISTEN TO THIS IN THIS INDUSTRY.

SO THE WAY THE STUDENTS, I THINK I THINK THE STUDENTS DON'T.

WE I JUST CAME FROM AN OPEN HOUSE AT OU TODAY BEFORE I CAME HERE WITH OUR NEW CLASS OF FRESHMEN COMING IN, THEY DON'T YET KNOW WHAT'S ABOUT TO HIT THEM.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ABOUT TO GO INTO CLASSES.

THEY'RE ABOUT TO LEARN ABOUT THESE THINGS.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE REALISTIC FOR THEIR TEACHERS TO BE REALISTIC, NOT TO JUST TELL ABOUT THE GLORY DAYS AND ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, BUT ALSO TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE INDUSTRY SO THEY CAN PREPARE THEMSELVES AND ARM THEMSELVES FOR JOB SECURITY, MULTITASKING, LEARNING HOW TO DO MORE THAN ONE THING.

BUT I ALSO THINK WE DON'T WANT TO BE A DOWNER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME PROFESSORS WHO BASICALLY WANT, YOU KNOW, THE STUDENTS LEAVE AFTER TAKING THAT PERSON'S CLASS BECAUSE THEY'VE TALKED SO TERRIBLY ABOUT OUR INDUSTRY.

IT'S A CALLING IN JOURNALISM, AND IF YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR HEART, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO BE IN THIS INDUSTRY, WHATEVER IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, DESIREE SAID.

SO I HAD A FORMER BOSS AT CHANNEL EIGHT WHO WAS AT RSU, AND HE WANTED ME TO COME SPEAK TO HIS CLASS, AND I GO, HERE'S THE SPEECH.

I'M GOING TO OPEN THE DOOR AND WALK IN.

I'M GOING TO GO RUN, DO SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT I GO, YOU KNOW WHY I'M NOT DOING THAT?

BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE SAID.

FOR ME, IT WAS A CALLING AND THE MONEY WASN'T THE THING.

AND IF IT'S IN YOUR BLOOD, THEN IT'S YOU NEED TO DO IT AND YOU WILL SUCCEED.

YOU'LL FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOURSELF REAL QUICKLY.

DESIREE, ONE MORE FOR YOU.

EXPERIENCE IS INVALUABLE IN OUR BUSINESS, RIGHT?

WE ALL GET BETTER WITH TIME IN THIS FIELD, BUT WHAT ARE SOME THINGS, PERHAPS 1 OR 2 THINGS THAT MAYBE THE YOUNG STUDENTS ARE DOING BETTER.

BETTER MAYBE THAN US OLD TIMERS THAN I SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

WHEN I SAY OLD TIMERS, IS THERE ANYTHING SKILLS THEY HAVE THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T HAVE?

WELL, OF COURSE THEY'VE GOT THE SKILL OF THIS.

YOU KNOW, THEY CAN QUICKLY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE TUNED IN TO NEWS.

THEY MAY NOT BE WATCHING A NEWSCAST, BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE CHECKING THE NEWS ALL DAY ON THEIR PHONES, ESPECIALLY THE JOURNALISM STUDENTS.

SO SOMETIMES THEY GET CRITICIZED FOR THAT.

WELL, YOU ASK, HOW MANY OF YOU WATCH A NEWSCAST AND NOBODY RAISES THEIR HANDS AND EVERYBODY'S UPSET, BUT THEY'RE TUNED IN AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING MORE NEWS THAN WE DID WHEN WE WERE IN THOSE SITUATIONS, BECAUSE WE WEREN'T, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS TOOL.

SO THEY'RE REALLY GOOD WITH THOSE TOOLS.

BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO DISCOUNT OLDER PEOPLE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE BIGGEST ADOPTERS OF NEW TECHNOLOGY HAVE BEEN THE OLDEST COLLEAGUES IN THE NEWSROOM.

AND SOMETIMES THE ONES THAT DON'T WANT TO DO IT ARE THE YOUNGER ONES, RIGHT?

SO I DO THINK IT CAN BE A STEREOTYPE IF WE SAY, OH, YOU KNOW, THE YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE REALLY GREAT WITH, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL MEDIA.

SOMETIMES IT'S THAT OLDER PERSON.

SO I THINK THE BASICS ARE THE SAME THOUGH.

THE BASICS AND THE FOUNDATIONS OF ETHICS, WRITING, THINKING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

SO HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT A FEW CONGLOMERATE COMPANIES OWNING HUNDREDS OF TELEVISION STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT NEWS, DIVERSITY AND NEWS CONTENT AND NEWS AVAILABILITY.

ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, SURE.

SURE.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT?

IT'S VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE, I MEAN, THE NUMBER ONE THING I HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHEN THEY FIND OUT WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING IS I DON'T WATCH THE NEWS BECAUSE IT'S TOO NEGATIVE OR IT'S TOO POLITICAL.

AND, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE FALL IN ONE OF TWO PARTIES.

AND SO IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN AND THE WAY THAT THEY FEEL, THEN, OH, THEY'RE ALL FOR THAT STATION.

BUT IF IT GOES IN OPPOSITION TO THEIR POLITICAL OR RELIGIOUS OR ETHICAL BELIEFS, IT GOES THE OTHER WAY.

SO YOU HAVE THIS HUGE BIG PARTING GAP.

IT IS A IT'S A VERY BIG CONCERN BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE ONE COMPANY THAT FEELS ONE PARTICULAR WAY AND THEY ARE OWNING 39% OF A MARKET SHARE, OR THEY'RE OWNING TWO OF THE FOUR RADIO TV STATIONS IN A MARKET, THEN THE AVERAGE VIEWER IS GETTING BOMBARDED WITH SLANTED, WHAT SOME PEOPLE MAY CALL SLANTED JOURNALISM OR PARTICULAR WAYS THAT THEY WANT THE NEWS PRESENTED.

I'VE READ, I'M SURE YOU HAVE PROBABLY BOTH HEARD THIS SAYING, BUT THEY SAY IT'S NOT THE JOURNALIST'S JOB TO LOOK OUTSIDE WHEN IT'S RAINING AND ASK THE RAIN.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE RAIN AND ASK THE PLANTS, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE RAIN?

IT'S YOUR JOB TO SAY IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE AND THAT'S OUR JOB AS JOURNALISTS IS TO TELL THE NEWS.

AND TOO BAD IF IT MAKES SOMEBODY MAD OR TOO BAD IF IT DOESN'T ALIGN WITH THEIR POLITICAL OR SOCIAL BELIEFS.

THIS IS THE NEWS.

THIS IS THE STORY AND PRESENT IT.

AND IT IS VERY CONCERNING.

WHEN YOU HAVE ONE MARKET THAT IS OWNED BY A LARGE CONGLOMERATE.

LAUREN, YOU WATCH A LOT OF NEWS, RIGHT?

I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN IN THAT BUSINESS FOR 35 YEARS.

IN YOUR VIEW, DO TWO AND EIGHT THE STATIONS, DO THEY BEAR ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENT THEY PRODUCE?

DO YOU THINK THEY PRODUCED GOOD ENOUGH NEWS CONTENT THAT PEOPLE WOULD VALUE AND CONTINUE TO WATCH, OR ARE THEY TO BLAME FOR THEIR CONTENT?

HOW GOOD A JOB WERE THEY DOING?

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE CONTENTS TO BLAME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I PULLED THESE STATS OUT.

46% OF TOTAL TV VIEWING TIME IS NOW STREAMING.

THE TRADITIONAL BROADCAST VIEWING HAS FALLEN BELOW 19%.

SO I THINK IT'S KIND OF A CONVERGENCE OF THAT.

THESE BIG COMPANIES, YOU KNOW, I'LL DO MY CHANNEL TWO THING REAL QUICK.

CHANNEL TWO WAS KTEW SCRIPPS OWNED IT.

THEY HAD LIKE 8 OR 9 TV STATIONS.

SO JACK R HOWARD RETIRES AND THEY DECIDE, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO NAME.

WE'RE GOING TO HONOR HIM.

I'M SURE HE'S AN HONORABLE GUY.

WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE CALL LETTERS TO KJRH.

WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU CHANGE A KTE CHANNEL TWO TO KJRH?

THEY DIDN'T CHANGE THEIR DETROIT STATION, THEY DIDN'T CHANGE THEIR HOMETOWN.

SO I DON'T I THINK IN THE BIGGER COMPANIES, IN YOUR SMALLER FISH, YOU'RE NOT VERY IMPORTANT TO THEM.

CHANNEL SIX IS IMPORTANT TO GRIFFIN.

AND I SAW RATINGS RECENTLY, AND IT SHOWS THAT THERE'S SOME OF THESE OTHER STATIONS HAVE GOT THREE AND 4000 VIEWERS AT A TIME.

AND, AND CHANNEL SIX AND NINE CLOCK THEM.

I WORKED FOR BOTH GRIFFIN STATIONS IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND IN TULSA.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S A LOCALLY OWNED COMPANY.

THESE OTHER STATIONS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE OUTSIDE OWNERSHIP.

THERE USED TO BE MORE LOCALLY OWNED THAN, YOU KNOW.

NOW THEY'RE GOING AWAY 3 OR 4 COMPANIES.

THEY'RE GOING AWAY.

OKAY.

SO A FRIEND OF MINE SENT ME A VIDEO A FEW WEEKS AGO, BLUES SINGER, HANDSOME GUY, 65 YEAR OLD AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN SINGING A GREAT SONG.

IT WAS AWESOME, I LOVED IT, I LOVE MUSIC, I PLAY MUSIC.

IT WASN'T THAT PERSON DIDN'T EXIST.

THE SONG WAS A.I.

THE PERSON WAS A.I.

SO DOES ANYONE HERE.

AND I'LL START WITH YOU, DESIREE, DO YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN A.I.

GREAT LOOKING ANCHOR PERSON DOING THE NEWS IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE IF IT'S NOT ALREADY HAPPENING.

NO, I HAVE, BECAUSE IF IT'S GOING TO SAVE MONEY, THERE IS GOING TO BE A COMPANY THAT DOESN'T CARE THAT THEIR PROFIT MARGIN MAY NOT BE THAT BIG, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME MONEY FOR $0, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE $0 FOR THAT A.I.

PERSON.

DO I THINK THE AUDIENCE, I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING IS TO SEE HOW THE AUDIENCE IS GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT SORT OF ALMOST, YOU KNOW, EXPERIMENT.

BECAUSE WHAT MY BELIEF AND MY UNDERSTANDING OF HUMANS IS, WE WANT TO SEE HUMAN BEINGS.

WE WANT TO SEE A REAL PERSON.

AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS WHO YOU THINK.

IT MIGHT BE TOUGH TO TELL.

WELL, CORRECT.

CORRECT.

BUT I THINK IF I'M THE HUMAN PERSON, I'M GOING TO MARK IT AGAINST THE A.I.

PERSON, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE MY PROMO.

IT'S GOING TO BE WHERE A REAL HUMAN THAT'S A ROBOT, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO WORK HARD ON THAT.

AND THAT IS THAT IS WHAT I THINK.

BUT ABSOLUTELY, IF SOMEONE CAN SAVE MONEY, THEY'RE GOING TO TRY IT AND SEE HOW IT WORKS.

IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO GET BACK INTO TV NEWS, WILL YOU DO IT?

OH, BOY.

YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING AWFULLY GUN SHY NOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, I STILL LOVE IT.

THERE IS NO EXCITEMENT LIKE A NEWSROOM ON A BUSY DAY, ON AN ELECTION DAY, ON A BREAKING NEWS DAY.

THAT KIND OF ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM IS WHAT MADE ME GET UP AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING AND SHOWER, DO MY FACE HAIR, MAKEUP AND GET IN THERE TO WORK.

BECAUSE THERE WAS IT WAS AN EXCITEMENT.

IT WAS AN ADRENALINE RUSH.

AND I THINK THAT SOME OF THE STATIONS THAT ARE PARING DOWN AND GETTING RID OF ANCHORS AND GOING WITH REPORTERS, I UNDERSTAND THE COST SAVING ASPECT, BUT A LOT OF THESE KIDS ARE RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE.

THEY'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

THEY THEY COULD MAKE MORE MONEY WORKING AT A GAS STATION THAN ALL OF TRYING TO PAY OFF COLLEGE LOANS AND DO THIS JOB.

THEY DON'T HAVE A LOVE FOR THIS AREA BECAUSE THEY MAY BE RIGHT OUT OF SCHOOL IN NEBRASKA OR NEW YORK.

THEY COME HERE.

IT'S A LADDER.

IT'S A STEP STOOL FOR THEM TO GREATER THINGS.

WHEN YOU HAVE ANCHORS THAT ARE EMBEDDED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE THEIR FAMILIES HERE, THEIR KIDS HERE, THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY KNOW THEIR NEIGHBORS, THAT IS INVALUABLE.

THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK THAT THE BIG COMPANIES NOW ARE LOSING THAT ASPECT BY CUTTING THE ANCHORS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE TRENCHES.

WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

BUT I WANT TO GIVE EACH OF YOU A CHANCE TO SHARE SOME FINAL THOUGHTS, MAYBE SOMETHING I HAVEN'T BROUGHT UP YET.

SO LET'S LET'S BEGIN WITH LAUREN.

MY MAIN CONCERN WITH CHANNEL TWO AND AND CHANNEL EIGHT AND THEN ALSO THE TULSA WORLD.

OUR NEWSPAPERS AREN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE.

I THREW NEWSPAPERS WHEN I WAS A KID, BUT AND BEEN IN BROADCASTING ALL THE TIME.

I WOULD SAY IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A REALLY GREAT COMMUNITY, YOU NEED TO HAVE A GREAT LOCAL NEWSPAPER FIRST.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED FOUR TV STATIONS DOING THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIMES EVERY DAY, BUT YOU NEED ENOUGH TO WHERE YOU KNOW YOU'RE STILL COMPETITIVE.

AND I WORRY ABOUT THE SECOND OR THIRD TIER, YOU KNOW, CITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT EVERYBODY'S LIFE, NOT GOING COVERED, PEOPLE NOT KNOWING ABOUT STUFF BECAUSE THERE'S NOBODY TO COVER IT.

DESIREE.

I WANT TO CALL UPON THE AUDIENCE IN THIS IN THIS WITH THIS PLATFORM, WHICH OETA HAS A GREAT AUDIENCE ALREADY.

CONTENT COSTS MONEY, PAY FOR A NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION.

WE'VE WE'VE, WE, WE KIND OF SCREWED UP IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN WE CAME ON WITH THE INTERNET.

THEY GAVE IT AWAY.

THEY GAVE THE CONTENT AWAY, THE NEWSPAPERS DID.

AND SO PEOPLE GOT OUT OF THE HABIT.

SO IF YOU'RE FROM PONCA CITY OR ENID OR A SMALL TOWN, GET A SUBSCRIPTION.

IF THERE STILL IS A LOCAL PAPER THERE, BE WILLING TO PAY FOR A LITTLE BIT.

BE WILLING TO TO ASK YOUR FRIENDS, BUY THEM A SUBSCRIPTION, GET A MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION TO QUALITY CONTENT.

BE WILLING TO DO THAT.

WE ALL HAVE TO ELEVATE, AND WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS WORK.

30S LEFT.

OKAY, I WOULD SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST, DON'T COUNT ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO GET A HEADLINE.

SOMETIMES A STORY IS MUCH BIGGER THAN A HEADLINE, WHICH IS WHAT A LOT OF NEWER CONSUMERS, YOUNGER CONSUMERS ARE SEEING.

YOU CAN'T TELL THE WATERGATE SCANDAL IN A HEADLINE.

AND SO PEOPLE ARE GETTING SHORTER AND SHORTER ATTENTION SPANS.

TAKE THE TIME TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE JOURNALISM AND REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT LOCAL NEWS IS.

IF THERE ARE NO IF ALL YOU HAVE IS THE FOXES IN THE HEN HOUSE AND THERE IS NO GUARD DOG THERE, WHICH IS A FUNCTION OF A TV STATION, THEN YOU ARE FACING A REAL CATASTROPHE.

CITIES OUR SIZE BIGGER OR SMALLER.

THEY NEED LOCAL MEDIA TO KEEP THINGS ON THE UP AND UP.

SUNNY LEE, LAUREN COSBY, DESIREE HILL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK GREAT CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL REVIEW, WE'RE ACTUALLY HEADING SOUTH OF THE BORDER TO MEXICO TO CHECK OUT TOROS DE TIJUANA, A PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM THAT PLAYS JUST 24 MILES AWAY FROM THE SAN DIEGO PADRES IN THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT MAKES THE LEAGUE DIFFERENT?

WELL, FOR ONE, THE PRICES, AS WE LEARNED FROM REPORTER RILEY ARTHUR AT KPBS IN SAN DIEGO, ONE OF THE BEST BASEBALL TEAMS IN MEXICO JUST MADE THE PLAYOFFS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THEM RIGHT HERE IN TIJUANA.

IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO A MEXICAN LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME, IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN US MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

FUNDAMENTALLY, THE GAME IS PLAYED THE SAME, AND THEY'VE EVEN ADOPTED MODERN PACE OF PLAY RULES LIKE A PITCH CLOCK.

I MEAN, THE GAME IS THE SAME.

I THINK MEXICAN LEAGUE, YOU CAN COMPARE IT TO PROBABLY A TRIPLE A, TRIPLE A BALL.

AND GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE IN THE IN THE BIG LEAGUES TRY TO COME OVER HERE, TRY TO GET BACK TO THE US.

SOME OF THEM TRY TO GO TO KOREA.

SO IT'S A VERY COMPETITIVE LEAGUE OBVIOUSLY, AND A LOT OF GUYS THAT CAN CAN MAKE IT UP THERE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO COME BACK AND SEE IF THEY GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO MAKE IT TO THE BIG LEAGUES.

THIS SEASON, THE TOROS ACQUIRED FORMER DODGERS WORLD SERIES THIRD BASEMAN JUSTIN TURNER, AND HE'S BEEN A HUGE DRAW FOR AMERICANS TO CROSS THE BORDER FOR GAMES.

SEE A PARTIR DE ESTA TEMPORADA CON LA LLEGADA DE JUSTIN TURNER SE HA INCREMENTADO Y HOY PODEMOS HABLAR DE UNA TERCERA PARTE UN 33 POR CIENTO DE LA GENTE VIENE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS.

TICKETS TO THE GAME START AROUND 2 USD.

AND THEN THERE'S THE FOOD.

MUCH OF IT IS COOKED FRESH AND AFFORDABLE, WITH TACOS STARTING AT LESS THAN $3.

BEERS COME IN 32 OUNCE CUPS AND COSTS AROUND $9.

SO FOR ABOUT $15, YOU CAN BUY YOUR TICKET AND HAVE DINNER.

AND GRAB A DRINK AT THE GAME.

THERE ARE FOUR MAIN MASCOTS.

THE BULL HONORS A LEGACY OF BULLFIGHTING THAT WAS ONCE POPULAR IN THE REGION.

THE TOROS HAVE THREE DANCE SQUADS.

LAS CARITAS ARE CROSS BETWEEN CHEERLEADERS AND DANCERS.

LOS TORITOS ACTS AS HITMEN, REGULARLY PERFORMING SHIRTLESS.

AND TORO BEATS BRINGS BREAKDANCING TO THE FIELD.

THE FANS ARE EXTRA LOUD AT THE END OF EVERY GAME A BAND PLAYS, SO FOR THE PRICE OF A TICKET, YOU ALSO GET A FREE CONCERT.

JUST LIKE BANANA BALL, THERE IS SO MUCH SPECTACLE THAT IT CAN BE HARD TO ACTUALLY WATCH THE GAME, WHICH IS A SHAME BECAUSE THE TIJUANA TOROS ARE A TOP TEAM.

NUESTRO NIVEL DE BASEBALL.

PORQUE ESTO ES UN EQUIPO JOVEN, PERO PROTAGONISTA EN DOS ANOS HA CALIFICADO A VECES A PLAYOFF Y YA TIENE TRES CAMPEONATOS DE SU DIVISION Y DOS CAMPEONATOS NACIONALES.

THE PLAYOFFS RUN THROUGH MID SEPTEMBER.

I LIKE THAT THEY HAVE SEVERAL FORMER MAJOR LEAGUERS ON THE TEAM.

THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

I LIKE THE NOISE AND THE PARTY.

YEAH FOR THE MOST PART.

YEAH.

THE MUSIC THAT JUST KEEPS GOING AND GOING AND GOING.

IT'S LIKE A PARTY OF A BASEBALL GAME.

AND YOU CAN CATCH THE TOROS DE TIJUANA AT THE TOROS MOBILE PARK.

RILEY ARTHUR, KPBS NEWS ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT ELECTION NIGHT IN OKLAHOMA.

WE'LL HAVE TEAM COVERAGE FROM THE WATCH PARTIES AS VOTERS CHOOSE CANDIDATES FOR SEVERAL MAJOR OFFICES, INCLUDING GOVERNOR AND STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

FRIDAY AT SEVEN, WE'LL SAY SO LONG FOR NOW, WITH A LOOK AT SKATEBOARDING ON THE PLAZA IN OKLAHOMA CITY, PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA LEVI WILKERSON AND LEGACY CHOUTEAU.

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

RICHLANDS WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

IT'S A NEW DAY.

BUT IT ALL FEELS OLD.

IT'S A GOOD LIFE, THAT'S WHAT I'M TOLD.

BUT EVERYTHING, IT ALL JUST FEELS THE SAME.

AND MY HIGH SCHOOL, I FELT MORE TO ME LIKE A JAIL CELL, A PENITENTIARY.

MY TIME SPENT THERE.

IT ONLY MADE ME SING.

BUT I DON'T EVER WANNA BE LIKE YOU.

I DON'T WANNA DO THE THINGS YOU DO.

I'M NEVER GONNA HEAR THE WORDS YOU SAY.

AND I DON'T EVER WANNA.

I DON'T EVER WANNA BE.

YEAH.

I DON'T WANNA BE JUST LIKE YOU.

OH.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS IS THE ANTHEM.

THROW ALL YOUR HANDS UP.

YEAH.

I DON'T WANNA BE YOU.

COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.

GET A REAL JOB.

THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID TO ME.

BUT I COULD NEVER LIVE THE WAY THEY WANT.

I'M GONNA GET BY AND JUST DO MY TIME OUT OF STEP WHILE THEY ALL GET IN LINE.

I'M JUST A MINOR THREAT.

SO PAY NO MIND.

DO YOU REALLY WANNA BE LIKE THEM?

DO YOU REALLY WANNA BE ANOTHER TREND?

DO YOU WANNA BE PART OF THAT CROWD?

CAUSE I DON'T EVER WANNA.

OKLAHOMA.

AGRICULTURE STARTS AT SUNUP.

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