>>> THE PFIZER VACCINE RECEIVES FULL APPROVAL FROM THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINSTRATION, AS OFFICIALS HOPE IT MAY CLEAR SOME VACCINE HESITANCY.

>> IT MAY HELP INSTILL ADDITIONAL CONFIDENCE AMONGST THOSE WHO WERE POSSIBLY ON THE FENCE REGARDING THE SAFETY AND THE EFFICACY OF THE VACCINES.

>>> OKLAHOMA'S FAVORITE SPORT KICKS OFF WITH COLLEGE STADIUMS RETURNING TO FULL CAPACITY.

>> A FOOTBALL GAME WEEKEND BRINGS 9 TO 10 MILLION DOLLARS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT DIRECT SPENDING TO THE COMMUNITY.

>>> OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY TAKING STEPS TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN THE WORKFORCE FOR OUR STATE'S GROWING AEROSPACE INDUSTRY.

>> OUR DEPTH, AND BREATH OF KNOWLEDGE, FACULTY AND RESEARCH INVESTMENTS CANNOT BE MATCHED.

>>> OKLAHOMA WORKERS, FINDING JOBS AND HIGHER WAGES TO GO ALONG WITH THEM.

>> YOU DO SEE THAT THERE ARE SIGNS, UH, WAGES ARE INCREASING AND THAT THERE'S, THERE'S A PRETTY STRONG AND HEALTHY RECOVERY GOING ON IN THE LABOR MARKET.

>>> PLUS, A LEGENDARY OKLAHOMA BAND, GETS THE "CALL" TO HEAD TO THE HALL OF FAME.

>> I'M AN OKIE FROM WAY BACK AND, UH, JUST, UH, I -- I THINK THE RECOGNITION OF THE CALLS' WORK AND MY PLAYING OR ANYTHING ABOUT IT, IS WONDERFUL.

>>> THOSE STORIES, AND MORE.

NEXT ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

[ MUSIC ] >>> HELLO EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

I'M RICH LENZ.

THIS WEEK, THE PFIZER VACCINE BECAME THE FIRST CORONAVIRUS VACCINE TO RECEIVE FULL F.D.A.

CERTIFICATION.

THE MODERNA AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINES RETAIN THEIR EMERGENCY APPROVAL FOR NOW.

RORY TAYLOR EXPLAINS WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT AND COULD LEAD TO SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES RAMPING UP THEIR EFFORTS TO MAKE THE VACCINE MANDATORY WHILE STILL ALLOWING FOR LIMITED PROVISIONS TO "OPT OUT".

>> THE FDA HAS GIVEN ITS FULL AND FINAL APPROVAL, THE FULLY-APPROVED PFIZER VACCINE NOW NAMED 'COMERNITY,' AND AN OFFICIAL BIOLOGICS LICENSE APPLICATION.

>> THE FDA APPROVED VACCINE AND THE EUA AUTHORIZED VACCINE HAVE THE SAME FORMULATION AND CAN BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY TO PROVIDE THE COVID-19 VACCINE SERIES AMONG OTHER THINGS.

FULL AUTHORIZATION MEANS THAT DOCTORS CAN PRESCRIBE AND USE THE VACCINE AS THEY SEE FIT.

>> THIS FULL FDA APPROVAL MAY HELP GIVE MORE BACKING TO PROVIDE US RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN THEY RECOMMEND THE VACCINE TO THEIR PATIENTS, AND ALSO IT MAY HELP INSTILL ADDITIONAL CONFIDENCE AMONGST THOSE WHO WERE POSSIBLY ON THE FENCE REGARDING THE SAFETY AND THE EFFICACY OF THE VACCINES.

>> THE FDA AND OTHER DOCTORS DO CAUTION AGAINST GOING TOO FAR OFF-LABEL IN VACCINE PRESCRIPTION THOUGH, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUTH.

>> WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DOCTORS ASKING ABOUT, CAN I GO OFF LABEL AND USE THE PFIZER VACCINE FOR YOUNGER KIDS, FDA AND CDC HAVE COME OUT WITH A STRONG RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU DON'T DO THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT DOSE OF THE VACCINE WILL BE RECOMMENDED FOR THAT AGE GROUP.

>> COMERNITY'S AUTHORIZATION COMES AMID INCREASING REQUIREMENTS FOR VACCINATIONS ACROSS THE NATION.

NEW YORK CITY ANNOUNCED THE SAME DAY THAT COVID VACCINES WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF IN SCHOOLS.

HERE IN OKLAHOMA, INTEGRIS HOSPITALS ANNOUNCED THEY'D BE MANDATING VACCINATION FOR ALL STAFF.

THE QUESTION BECOMES WHO CAN MANDATE A VACCINE OR ADD ONE TO THE CURRENT PEDIATRIC VACCINE SCHEDULE WITH SMALLPOX OR MUMPS?

KEITH REED IS DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

>> WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT ADDING A COVID VACCINE TO THE SCHEDULE RIGHT NOW, UH, THE PROCESS FOR ADDING A VACCINE TO THE SCHEDULE, WHICH IS MOST COMMONLY THE CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE USED FOR ENTRY INTO SCHOOLS THAT REQUIRES A COMBINATION OF APPROVALS THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, SO THERE'S NO ONE ENTITY THAT HAS THAT PARTICULAR AUTHORITY TO MANDATE THAT.

>> CURRENTLY SENATE BILL 658, THE SAME LAW BANNING MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS, ALSO PROHIBITS PRIMARY OR SECONDARY EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS FROM REQUIRING A COVID-19 VACCINE FOR ATTENDANCE OR ENROLLMENT.

HOWEVER, THERE IS NO LAW PREVENTING THE PRIVATE SECTOR FROM REQUIRING A COVID VACCINATION.

>> A LOT OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE LARGER ORGANIZATIONS, THEY HAVE THE -- THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION THEY NEED AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE AS FAR MANDATING VACCINES.

THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN PUT OUT REALLY FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO HELP ASSIST THEM WITH THAT DECISION MAKING AND REALLY THAT'S WHERE ANY VACCINE MANDATES RESTAURANT NOW IS, AT LEAST FOR OKLAHOMA, IS -- IS WITHIN THAT PRIVATE SECTOR AND THOSE BUSINESSES THAT IS, ASIDE FROM THOSE NOW FEDERALLY REQUIRED.

>> MY ADMINISTRATION HAS IMPOSED NEW VACCINE REQUIREMENTS ON FEDERAL WORKERS.

THE ARMED FORCES, PEOPLE WORK IN FEDERAL MEDICAL FACILITIES AND NURSING HOME WORKERS.

>> THAT DECISION HAS BEEN CHALLENGED BY SOME ORGANIZATIONS.

THE CEO OF CARE PROVIDERS OKLAHOMA, SAYS IT COULD RESULT IN STAFFING SHORTAGES IF ENOUGH NURSES REFUSE TO GET THE VACCINATION.

CITING SIMILAR CONCERNS, OU HEALTH HAS ROLLED BACK THEIR VACCINATION MANDATES, ALTHOUGH MANY OKLAHOMA HOSPITAL NETWORKS DO REQUIRE THEM AS PART OF THEIR TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.

JILL MCSPARRIN, A NURSE WITH INTEGRIS, SAYS STAFFING SHORTAGES ARE ALSO CAUSED BY HEALTH CARE WORKERS OVERWHELMED BY THE SURGE IN TREATING UNVACCINATED PATIENTS.

>> WE'RE ALREADY SHORT ON NURSES AND NOW SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO ARE REALLY SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT RETIRING EARLY, FINDING ANOTHER AREA OF NURSING OR FINDING A NEW CAREER ALTOGETHER.

I MEAN, I WANT OKLAHOMAN'S TO KNOW IF THEY SAW WHAT WE SEE EVERY DAY, THEY WOULD BE IN LINE FOR THE VACCINATION.

>> OKLAHOMANS WHO SUFFER FROM COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS HAVE NOW BEEN APPROVED TO RECEIVE A THIRD DOSE OF THE MRNA VACCINES TO INCREASE IMMUNE RESPONSE.

>> PEOPLE SHOULD TALK TO THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER ABOUT THEIR MEDICAL CONDITION AND WHETHER GETTING THIS ADDITIONAL DOSE IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEM BECAUSE THE PATIENT'S CLINICAL TEAM IS BEST POSITIONED TO DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF IMMUNE COMPROMISED AND THE APPROPRIATE TIMING OF THE VACCINATION.

>> THIS THIRD SHOT SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH THE PFIZER AND MODERNA "BOOSTER" DOSES THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO MOST AMERICANS SOMETIME IN THE FALL.

ALSO THIS WEEK, JOHNSON AND JOHNSON RECOMMENDED A BOOSTER SHOT TO RE-INVIGORATE A DETERIORATED IMMUNE RESPONSE SIX MONTHS AFTER INITIAL INOCULATION, BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR THAT.

RORY TAYLOR, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> RORY, THANK YOU.

>>> THIS WEEK, A TEACHER IN GROVE AND AN OKLAHOMA CITY TEENAGER DIED FROM COVID-19.

AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON, OKLAHOMA'S DEATH TOLL IS NEARING 9100 PEOPLE.

1600 ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH THE VIRUS, THE FOURTH HIGHEST TOTAL PER CAPITA IN THE NATION.ON FRIDAY, OKLAHOMA CITY HOSPITALS ANNOUNCED THERE WERE NO I-C-U BEDS LEFT.

NEW CASES IN THE LAST WEEK, AVERAGING MORE THAN 2500 PER DAY, WITH A TOTAL OF 22,426 ACTIVE CASES.

42% OF OKLAHOMA'S POPULATION IS FULLY VACCINATED.

>>> OKLAHOMA'S COLLEGE FOOTBALL STADIUMS ARE EXPECTED TO ALLOW FOR FULL CAPACITY WHEN THE SEASON KICKS OFF IN LESS THAN A WEEK AND THAT IS WELCOME NEWS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS IN NORMAN, STILLWATER AND TULSA.

STEVE SHAW REPORTS ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND ON THE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE TO HELP KEEP THE FANS AND THE ATHLETES SAFE WITH THE PANDEMIC STILL VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES.

>> WE DON'T OPEN UNTIL 4.

>> JEFF STEWART HAS OWNED THE ICONIC O'CONNELL'S IRISH PUB AND GRILLE ON CAMPUS CORNER IN NORMAN SINCE 1979.

>> THE TEAM IS GONNA BE INCREDIBLE.

IF HE CAN KEEP THOSE HORSES GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION -- I CAN'T -- THERE'S NOTHING GONNA STOP US.

>> O'CONNELL'S IS NORMALLY OPEN AT 11 A.M. FOR NOW THEY'LL CONCENTRATE ON JUST THE DINNER CROWD BECAUSE STEWART SAYS THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE RAISED WAGES.

THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EMPLOYEES.

>> IT'S CHALLENGES OF ALL TYPES.

NOT JUST STAFF, BUT MATERIALS, SUPPLIES.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ON YOUR DELIVERY TRUCK WHEN IT COMES IN THE BACK DOOR.

.

>> GO!

>> IN NORMAN, COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH ORGANIZED RELIGION.

>> DURING A NORMAL SEASON, A FOOTBALL GAME WEEKEND BRINGS 9 TO 10 MILLION DOLLARS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT DIRECT SPENDING TO THE COMMUNITY, AND JUST LOCAL TAXES AROUND $300,000.

>> BUT WITH OWEN FIELD LIMITED TO JUST 25% OF CAPACITY, LAST SEASON WAS NOTHING LIKE NORMAL.

>> AS A FAN BEING ABLE TO PULL UP TO THE FRONT DOOR ON GAMEDAY AND WALK RIGHT UP TO CAMPUS CORNER WAS CONVENIENT, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO SE HERE IN NORMAN.

WE WANT YOU TO HAVE TO PARK AND WALK AND LAST YEAR CAMPUS CORNER WAS A GHOST TOWN, THE GAMES PEOPLE WOULD GO HOME.

THEY DON'T SPEND THEIR MONEY HERE.

THEY DIDN'T TAILGATE.

THEY DIDN'T ENJOY THE GAME DAY FESTIVITIES.

>> HE SAYS REVENUES PLUMMETED 60%.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

60% SOUNDS RIGHT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

LIKE, IT WAS SUCH A DEPARTURE OF WHAT IT NORMALLY WAS AND THAT'S WHAT YOU COUNT ON THOSE DAYS YOU KNOW LIKE YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A BUNCH OF MONEY THAT DAY.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST COVID-19 CASUALTIES HERE IN NORMAN WAS SOONER LEGENDS INN AND SUITES, WHICH CLOSED IT'S DOORS FOR GOOD IN MARCH OF 2020.

ALL THAT'S LEFT IS THOSE SIGNS.

>> SOONER LEGENDS WAS ONE OF OUR GREAT LONGSTANDING HOTELS HERE IN NORMAN.

WITH THE NAME, IT WAS A SOONER INSPIRED HOTEL WITH LOTS OF MEMORABILIA AND OTHER THINGS RELATED TO SOONER ATHLETICS, SO WE WERE VERY SAD TO SEE THAT THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

THEY WERE ONE OF THOSE CASUALTIES WE LOST OTHER RESTAURANTS AND THINGS AS WELL OVER IN STILLWATER.

>> OVER IN STILLWATER -- >> WE OPENED IN JULY OF 1975.

WE JUST CELEBRATED 46 YEARS OF BUSINESS.

>> ESKIMO JOE'S ICONIC OWNER STAN CLARK SPENT 2020 MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS.

>> GOSH YOU KNOW FIRST OF ALL WE ALWAYS CARED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR GUESTS, OUR TEAM MEMBERS, EVEN OUT SUPPLIER PARTNERS AS THEY CAME IN AND SERVICED US.

SO THERE WAS LOTS AND LOTS OF CHANGE NOT JUST ON GAME DAYS, BUT GAME DAYS THEY JUST HAVE THAT SPECIAL ENERGY.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT.

A GAME DAY WHEN WE GET THE PEP BAND IN HERE AT ESKIMO JOES AND THEY ARE JUST ROCKING OUT THE FIGHT SONG, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO MORE ENERGY THAN THAT.

>> STAN SAYS WHEN VACCINES BECAME AVAILABLE IN MARCH AND APRIL, HIS BUSINESS RUSHED BACK.

VISIT STILLWATER PRESIDENT AND CEO CRISTY MORRISON SAYS A NORMAL FOOTBALL WEEKEND HERE BRINGS IN SEVEN TO $8 MILLION.

>> THAT'S BEEN KIND OF WHAT HAS BEEN SO BRUTAL ALL ACROSS THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IS THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE WAS SO IMPACTED PARTICULARLY WITH THE SHELTER IN PLACE OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS AND NOW THAT WE'RE GOING BACK INTO BUSINESSES THOSE ARE THE SAME INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED TO GET PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO WORK.

>> AS FOR THE PLAYERS, OSU OFFENSIVE LINEMAN JOSH SILLS SAYS VACCINATIONS AMONGST TEAM HAVE SKYROCKETED.

>> I KNOW IN OUR ROOM A COUPLE WEEKS AG WE HAD FIVE GUYS FOUR GUYS THAT HAD GOTTEN THE VACCINE AND IF ONE PERSON HAD TESTED POSITIVE, THEY WOULD HAVE WIPED US OUT AND NOW YOU CAN'T RESCHEDULE GAMES LIKE WE HAD LAST YEAR.

YOU WOULD HAVE TO FORFEIT IT.

SO I THINK GUYS ARE LOOKING AT IT AS I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT GUY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY'RE REALIZING THE POTENTIAL WE HAVE THIS YEAR AND THE TEAM WE HAVE AND WE CAN TRULY DO SOMETHING SPECIAL.

>> A STAR OU LINEBACKER WAS A LITTLE MORE SUBDUED.

>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT WAS THAT HARD.

I DON'T THINK IT TOOK TOO MUCH CONVINCING FOR GUYS TO GET VACCINATED.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THE TEAM VACCINATED.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE A BIG FACTOR IN WHAT GOES ON THIS SEASON.

>> AS FOR FANS WHO ATTEND THE GAMES, AN OSU SPOKESMAN TELLS ME "DISCUSSIONS ARE STILL BEING HAD ABOUT REQUIRING MASKS, ETC."

OU TELLS ME NO FINAL DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT MASKS FOR THE SOONERS' HOME OPENER SEPTEMBER 11TH.

OU STARTS THEIR SEASON AT TULANE SEPTEMBER 3TH, AND ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE THERE, MUST EITHER SHOW PROOF THEY'VE BEEN VACCINATED OR THEY'VE HAD A NEGATIVE COVID TEST WITHIN THE PREVIOUS THREE DAYS.

STEVE SHAW, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> STEVE, THANKS.

>>> OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN O'CONNOR IS MAKING GOOD ON HIS VOW TO CHALLENGE THE SUPREME COURT'S MCGIRT DECISION.

O'CONNOR HAS FILED ANOTHER SET OF PETITIONS WITH THE HIGH COURT.

IN THE FILINGS, O'CONNOR CONTENDS THE SUPREME COURT "WRONGLY DECIDED" THE MCGIRT CASE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE OVERTURNED CLAIMING LAST YEAR'S DECISION QUOTE, "CONTRAVENED LONGSTANDING PRECEDENT ON THE DIS-ESTABLISHMENT OF INDIAN RESERVATIONS."

THE SUPREME COURT IS CONSIDERING TAKING UP AT LEAST ONE OF THE CASES THAT O'CONNOR IS CITING TO TRY AND OVERTURN, OR LIMIT THE MCGIRT DECISION.

>>> OKLAHOMA'S LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS NEARLY TWO FULL PERCENTAGE POINTS BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE MEANING OKLAHOMANS ARE FINDING JOBS AND GETTING BACK TO WORK.

BUT AS JASON DOYLE REPORTS, IT ALSO MEANS THEY'RE ABLE TO DEMAND HIGHER WAGES FROM EMPLOYERS WHO ARE DESPERATE TO RESTORE THEIR WORKFORCE TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

>> OKLAHOMA WORKERS ARE IN DEMAND AS THE STATE'S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO SHOW RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF A WORLD WIDE PANDEMIC.

>> YOU SEE THIS, WHEN YOU DRIVE AROUND THE STATE, YOU SEE HELP WANTED SIGNS IN FRONT OF EVERY BUSINESS, RIGHT?

THIS IS A SIGNAL THAT PEOPLE AREN'T COMING IN AND ASKING FOR JOBS, BUT THAT EMPLOYERS ARE TRYING TO LURE PEOPLE INTO ACCEPT JOBS.

>> THE MOST RECENT OKLAHOMA EMPLOYMENT REPORT SHOWS THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED TWO TENTHS OF A PERCENT FROM JUNE TO JULY, TO 3.5% THE NUMBERS ALSO SHOW OKLAHOMA WORKERS ARE CERTAINLY IN A BETTER POSITION THAN THIS A YEAR AGO AND BETTER THAN THE NATION >> IN OKLAHOMA, OUR LABOR FORCE NUMBERS ARE AT OR ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.

AND SO IN OKLAHOMA, WHEN YOU SEE A LOW UNEMPLOYMENT LIKE THIS, IT REALLY DOES SIGNAL THAT THE LABOR MARKET'S PRETTY TIGHT.

>> BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HIT OKLAHOMA IN MARCH OF 2019, DAWN NORTON THOUGHT SHE HAD LANDED A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

>> I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE MY DREAM JOB IN JANUARY OF 2020, AND WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS COMING, WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

I WAS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AND I ENDED UP FURLOUGHING IN THE EARLY APRIL, 2020.

>> JUST AS HER FURLOUGH WAS ABOUT TO END, HER "DREAM JOB" WAS ELIMINATED.

>> COVID CREATED A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND I PERSONALLY WAS SURPRISED BY MY LAYOFF.

I WAS COMPLETELY CAUGHT UNAWARE BY IT.

>> NORTON'S PATH WOULD TAKE HER AWAY FROM HOSPITALITY MARKETING AND INTO A MARKETING POSITION WITH EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS.

>> IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC -- IT'S -- THE HOURS ARE BETTER.

I HAVE A GREAT WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND THERE'S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH FOR ME.

I'M GETTING TO TRY NEW THINGS THAT I HAVEN'T DONE BEFORE.

>> BECAUSE OF THE DEMAND FOR WORKERS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.

>> IN THE SURVEYS WE DO AT THE KANSAS CITY FED, WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING, UH, INCREASES IN WAGE PRESSURES.

SO FIRMS HAVING TO OFFER ABOVE WHAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER NORMAL WAGES TO KEEP OR ATTRACT WORKERS.

>> FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OKLAHOMA CITY BRANCH EXECUTIVE CHAD WILKERSON SAYS THE NUMBERS HE HAS SEEN, SHOW A DEFINITE TILT IN FAVOR OF JOB SEEKERS.

>> LOOKING AT THE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, IT IS UP TO 60.6%, I BELIEVE, AFTER DROPPING CONSIDERABLY MORE DURING THE DOWNTURN, BUT THAT IS ALMOST BACK TO ITS PRE PANDEMIC LEVEL AS WELL.

>> ARE EMPLOYERS HAVING TO RAISE WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING AS FAR AS COMPENSATION GOES TO ATTRACT QUALIFIED WORKERS?

>> THEY ARE, THEY ARE, UM, I'VE SEEN IT IN TERMS OF, IF, IF IT'S HOURLY, I'VE SEEN SOME GO UP AS MUCH AS THREE BUCKS AN HOUR, UH, SALARY I'VE SEEN SALARIES GO UP AS MUCH AS 10,000, YOU KNOW, ANNUALLY, UH, LOTS OF SIGN-ON BONUSES, LOTS OF CREATIVITY, UH, LOTS OF RETENTION BONUSES.

>> BETTY TAYLOR WITH EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS SAYS REMOTE WORK ALSO HAS CHANGED THE NATURE OF COMPETITION FOR QUALIFIED WORKERS, PITTING STATE EMPLOYERS AGAINST HIGHER PAYING OUT OF STATE JOBS.

>> I'VE SEEN A LOT OF COMPANIES ON THE COAST OR IN LARGER CITIES, UH, KIND OF START TO FEED INTO OUR WORKFORCE TO OFFER REMOTE WORK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE.

AND OBVIOUSLY THOSE JOBS PROBABLY PAY MORE BECAUSE THOSE, THE CITIES ARE TYPICALLY, UH, CITIES THAT ARE MORE EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN.

>> WORKERS ALSO ARE BEING OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THROUGH EXTRA TRAINING.

>> AND SOME COMPANIES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT, THEIR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, UH, PARTNER WITH VOTECHS PARTNERING WITH COLLEGES.

I SEE MORE AND MORE CLIENTS WILLING TO TRAIN.

>> THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA CURRENTLY OFFERS WORKERS A FREE PROGRAM, CALLED SKILL UP, TO OBTAIN SKILLS WHICH CAN OFTEN LEAD TO BETTER JOBS.

>> IT'S A DOORWAY TO ALLOWS PEOPLE THAT MAYBE THEY'RE FOCUSING ON A CERTAIN SKILL SET IN TERMS OF LIKE LEADERSHIP OR MANAGEMENT.

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO FIND A JOB THAT TAKES THEM TO MAYBE A HIGHER PAY LEVEL.

>> THE STATE RECENTLY EXTENDED THE PROGRAM THROUGH JANUARY 2022.

>> TO HELP THEM IMPROVE THEIR SKILL SETS IN THE MARKETPLACE, HELP THEM GET BETTER SKILLS SO THAT THEY CAN APPLY FOR JOBS THAT PAY HIGHER WAGES AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

>> EARLY RESEARCH CONDUCTED THUS FAR SUGGESTS THE THREE FEDERAL PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, WHICH OFFERED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND WAS DISCONTINUED BY THE STITT ADMINISTRATION DID NOT PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN KEEPING WORKERS ON THE SIDELINES.

>> BUT I THINK A LARGER PIECE OF THE EXPLANATION IS REALLY THIS, THIS SOCIETAL PIECE THAT PEOPLE REALLY ARE RETHINKING HOW THEY ENGAGE THE ECONOMY, AND PEOPLE REALLY ARE BEGINNING TO RETHINK NOT IN MASS, BUT CERTAINLY ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT IT SHOWS UP IN THE DATA.

>> EVEN THOUGH THINGS SEEM TO BE OPTIMAL FOR MEMBERS OF THE WORK FORCE, THERE ARE SIGNS OF A SLOW DOWN ON THE HORIZON.

>> SO CONSUMER CONFIDENCE, UH, YOU KNOW, IS THAT A PANDEMIC ERA, LOW HOME-BUILDER SENTIMENT IS LOW, UH, NATIONAL RETAIL SALES DIPPED IN JULY.

UH, WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS THIS MONTH'S LABOR REPORT, YOU SEE A COUPLE OF SECTORS THAT, UH, SHED A FEW JOBS RATHER THAN POSTING SOME JOB GAINS.

>> THAT SENTIMENT PLAYED OUT IN THE JULY EMPLOYMENT REPORT WITH LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY ALONG WITH EDUCATION AND HEALTH SCIENCES ADDING JOBS WHILE THE TRADE, TRANSPORTATION, AND UTILITIES SECTOR ALONG WITH THE EVER IMPORTANT MANUFACTURING SECTOR SHED JOBS.

>> IF THE ECONOMY IS A CAR GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, WE'RE NOT THE DELTA VARIANTS, NOT HITTING THE BRAKES, BUT WE'VE DEFINITELY LET OUR FOOT OFF THE GAS A LITTLE BIT.

AND WE'RE KIND OF COASTING TO A SLOWER SPEED.

>> JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> AND JASON CONTINUES OUR COVERAGE OF OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMIC OUTLOOK WITH THIS WEEK'S "OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW".

>>> TULSA BASED VAST BANK IS LAUNCHING A NEW "CRYPTO BANKING" SERVICE.

IT WILL ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO BUY CRYPTOCURRENCIES THROUGH A TRADITIONAL CHECKING ACCOUNT.

THE SERVICE IS AUGMENTED BY AN APP IN WHAT IS THOUGHT TO BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND CRYPTO BANKING SERVICE.

VAST BANK CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO SEVERAL CRYPTOCURRENCIES.

THE BANK WILL CHARGE A 1% CRYPTO TRADING FEE FOR TRANSACTIONS.

>>> WILLIAMS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER JOHN CHANDLER HAS ANNOUNCED HE WILL RETIRE FROM THE COMPANY IN MARCH OF NEXT YEAR.

HE HAS SERVED AS WILLIAMS C-F-O SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2017.

CHANDLER WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING HIS SUCCESSOR.

>>> OKLAHOMA CITY BASED FLEXCARE INFUSION CENTERS IS EXPANDING IN OKLAHOMA AND ALABAMA.

THE AMBULATORY INFUSION CENTERS HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE RIVER CITIES CAPITAL EQUITY FIRM TO HELP ACCELERATE THE COMPANY'S GROWTH.

TWO NEW CENTERS IN TULSA AND ONE IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, HAVE ALREADY OPENED WITH PLANS FOR CENTERS IN LAWTON, STILLWATER AND THREE OTHER CITIES IN ALABAMA.

>>> OKLAHOMA CITY BASED HI-TECH ASSETS IS CHANGING ITS NAME TO CIRCLE I-T.

THE COMPANY SPECIALIZES REPURPOSING OLD COMPUTERS, CELL PHONES, TABLETS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES SO THEY DON'T GO INTO LANDFILLS.

THE NAME "CIRCLE I-T" IS MEANT TO REFLECT THE COMPANY'S FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY AND REPURPOSING USED TECH DEVICES.

>>> ONE FAMILY WILL BE ABLE TO BOOK A STAY IN SEPTEMBER AT THE OKLAHOMA LAKEHOUSE FEATURED IN THE YOUTUBE SERIES, NERF HOUSE SHOWDOWN.

VRBO AND NERF ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO ALLOW ONE FAMILY TO RENT THE LAKE HOUSE ON THE SHORES OF THE GRAND LAKE O'THE CHEROKEES NEAR EUCHA.

THE HOUSE HAS BEEN RIGGED OUT TO FEATURE SEVERAL NERF CHALLENGES AND GAMES AS SEEN IN THE ONLINE SHOW.

THE BOOKING WILL OPEN ON VRBO ON SEPTEMBER 1ST AND WILL BE GOOD FOR A STAY AT THE HOME LATER IN THE MONTH.

BOOKING IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> JASON, GREAT JOB.

>>> STATE SUPERINTENDENT JOY HOFMEISTER HAS AWARDED A $4.2 MILLION GRANT TO THE OKLAHOMA CHAPTER OF "TEACH FOR AMERICA".

THE MONEY WILL BE USED RECRUIT AND DEVELOP 50 NEW EDUCATORS WHO WILL COMMIT TO TEACHING FOR TWO YEARS IN OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS AND, PAY FOR THE HIRING OF ADDITIONAL TUTORS TO HELP TO ADDRESS PANDEMIC-RELATED LEARNING LOSS.

THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS USING A PORTION OF ITS FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDING TO PAY FOR THE THREE-YEAR GRANT.

RETURN TO INDEX OF STORIES... >>> OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY RECENTLY LAUNCHED THE "OKLAHOMA AEROSPACE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION"-- WITH THE GOAL OF DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS FOR AN INDUSTRY THAT CONTINUES TO GROW IN OUR STATE.

WE'RE PLEASED TO WELCOME TAYLOR JACKSON TO OUR "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT TEAM.

>> THE OKLAHOMA AEROSPACE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION WILL EXPAND OSU'S REASEARCH WHILE IMPACTING THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF OKLAHOMA‘S AEROSPACE INDUSTRY.

THIS FACILITY BRINGS INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIC EXPERTS UNDER ONE ROOF, CREATING EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OSU STUDENTS AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH ERS IN APPLYING TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS FOR WIDE RANGE OF BUSINESS SECTORS.

>> FRONTIER ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CEO, BRENDA ROLLS SAY HER COMPANY HAS ALWAYS EMPHASIZED HIRING AND RETAINING OKLAHOMA STATE GRADUATES.

>> ROUGHLY 90% OF FRONTIER'S DEGREED TEAMMATES HAVE PROUDLY GRADUATED FROM OKLAHOMA STATE THROUGH ROBUST INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, BOTH WITH OKLAHOMA STATE DIRECTLY AND THROUGH THE NASA SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM, TECHNICAL COLLABORATION AND POST-GRADUATION EMPLOYMENT•" >> THE N.A.S.A SPACE GRANT WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE "HANDS ON" OPPORTUNITIES FOR OSU STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND AND PARTICIPATE IN AERONAUTIC PROJECTS.

SENIOR ALEXIS VANCE SAYS EXPOSURE TO NASA AS A SOPHOMORE YEAR, LED TO HER INTEREST IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING.

>> WE GOT TO DESIGN A TOOL AND WE GOT TO WORK WITH NASA ENGINEERS FOR A FULL YEAR, THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE I ENDED UP GETTING AN INTERNSHIP THROUGH THE NASA PATHWAYS PROGRAM AND HAVE NOW DONE DIFFERENT INTERNSHIP AT NASA SPENDING OVER A YEAR THERE.

>> VANCE IS THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY OSU AND BELIEVES THE PROGRAM HAS PREPARED HER FOR THE FUTURE.

>> I WORK IN RESEARCH HERE AT OSU AND SO THE EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT UM ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT AS A SENIOR I‘M ALSO THINKING ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS WE HAVE WITH THE DIFFERENT AEROSPACE COMPANIES IN OKLAHOMA OF COURSE ALL OF US SENIORS ARE THINKING ABOUT OUR NEXT OPPORTUNITIES."

>> FOR OVER 50 YEARS OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY HAS PARTNERED WITH NASA TO BRING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THEIR STUDENTS.

NOW OSU IS MAKING EDUCATIONAL ADVANCES OF THEIR OWN >> WE‘VE BEEN TRAINING PILOTS FOR MORE THAN 80 YEARS.

OUR DEPTH, AND BREATH OF KNOWLEDGE,FACULTY AND RESEARCH INVESTMENTS CANNOT BE MATCHED•" >> OTHER PARTNERS IMPACTING OSU‘S ADVANCEMENT IN AEROSPACE RESEARCH INCLUDE THE FAA, AIRFORCE, NAVY AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND.

>> THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRIME CONTRACTORS, WE‘RE DESIGNING AND MANUFACTURING SPACE FLIGHT HARDWARE FOR THE SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM.

AND WE HAVE PRODUCTS FLYING ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.

>> TRACK 30 OSU HAS BEEN AWARDED GRANTS TOTALING $33.8 MILLION FOR AEROSPACE-RELATED RESEARCH AND MORE THAN 4.8 MILLION IN AVIATION RESEARCH.

>> THE ENTREPRENEURIAL AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE HAVE WITH TULSA AND THE INNOVATION LABORATORIES AND THE OKLAHOMA SPACE PORT COMES ON THE HEELS OF THE NEWS FROM A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATOR INVESTED IN THE OKLAHOMA ENGINEERING INITIATIVE.

>> AS PART OF IT'S LAND GRANT MISSION, OSU HAS SOUGHT TO CREATE A CULTURE THAT STRESSES THREE CORE VALUES: ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, STUDENT SUCCESS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

>> EVERY LAND GRANT MISSION HAS ENGINEERING AS ONE OF THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF ITS MISSION."

>> PRESIDENT SHRUM SAYS THAT WILL REQUIRE AN EMPHASIS ON ENGAGING YOUNGER STUDENTS TO GET INVOLVED IN "STEM" COURSES; SCIENCE, MATH AND ENGINEERING.

>> ONE IMPORTANT WAY WE LIVE UP TO OUR LAND GRANT MISSION OF ACCESS AND SERVICES IS THROUGH GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS, AND THE OUTREACH WE PROVIDE TO K-12 SCHOOLS.

MORE THAN 1500 OKLAHOMA STUDENTS THIS PAST SUMMER ATTENDED A STEM CAMP HOSTED BY OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.

>> WITH CAMPUS LOCATIONS IN STILLWATER, TULSA AND OKLAHOMA CITY, OSU IS CONFIDENT IT'S NEW INSTITUTE WILL OPEN PATHWAYS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS ACROSS THE TAELYR JACKSON OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> TAYLOR, THANK YOU.

>>> OKLAHOMA'S SENIOR SENATOR IS ASKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE NEARLY $2-MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING TO HELP ESTABLISH A CENTER FOR BIOMEDICAL DATA SCIENCES IN OKLAHOMA.

JIM INHOFE SAYS THE NEW FACILITY WOULD BE HOUSED INSIDE THE OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION, WHICH HAS ALREADY SET UP PART OF THE DATA BASE NEEDED TO ARCHIVE INFORMATION GENERATED BY ITS RESEARCH.

IF CONGRESS APPROVES THE FUNDING, O-M-R-F WOULD INVEST IN HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECRUIT AND HIRE MORE DATA SCIENTISTS.

>> I THINK THE UNIQUE CHALLENGE AND UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY IS TO BRING TOGETHER BIOLOGISTS TO WORK TOGETHER AND MATHEMATICIANS AND COMPUTER SCIENTISTS TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS DATA.

>> O-M-R-F WILL COLLOBRATE WITH RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS LIKE LANGSTON UNIVERSITY, THE OKLAHOMA CITY V-A MEDICAL CENTER, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA TO SHARE THE DATA COLLECTED THROUGH THE CENTER.

>>> ON SATURDAY, ONE OF OKLAHOMA'S VERY BEST ROCK BANDS WILL FINALLY BE INDUCTED INTO THE "OKLAHOMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME".

"THE CALL" BURST ONTO THE SCENE IN THE EARLY '80'S, PROPELLED BY A NEW T.V.

CHANNEL CALLED.M.T.V.

THEY HAD A NUMBER ONE SONG, WERE ADMIRED BY SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE BUSINESS, BUT NEVER QUITE BROKE THROUGH TO ENJOY THE STARDOM THEY DESERVED.

NOW, THANKS TO A NEW BOOK THAT CHRONICLES THEIR CAREER, THERE IS RENEWED INTEREST IN THEIR WORK AND PLANS TO PLAY TOGETHER AGAIN.

[ MUSIC ] FOLLOWING HIS INDUCTION INTO THE HALL, HE WILL REUNITE WITH SOME OF THE ORIGINAL BAND MEMBERS TO PLAY A SET AT MAGGIE'S MUSIC BOX.

[ MUSIC ] >> OH, YEAH, IT MEANS A LOT TO ME.

YOU KNOW, I AM AN OKIE FROM WAY BACK AND I THINK THE RECOGNITION OF THE CALLS' WORK AND MY PLAYING OR ANYTHING ABOUT IT IS WONDERFUL.

>> SCOTT GREW UP IN TULSA AND PLAYED IN THE STAGE BAND AT EDISON HIGH SCHOOL.

100 MILES TO THE WEST IN OKLAHOMA CITY, THE SINGER AND BASSEST MICHAEL BEAM WAS DEVELOPING ONE OF THE MOST POIGNANT AND POWERFUL VOICES IN ROCK HISTORY.

[ MUSIC ] >> HE WAS A REALLY GOOD SOLID BASS PLAYER AND WONDERFUL SINGER.

JUST A VERY POWERFUL VOICE AND NOT ONLY JUST ON PITCH ALL THE TIME, BUT THE EMOTIONS CAME THROUGH TRULY AND JUST REALLY, YOU KNOW, A VERY HONEST KIND OF SINGING STYLE THAT YOU RECOGNIZED IMMEDIATELY THAT THIS GUY, YOU KNOW, HE MEANS IT.

>> SADLY, BEAN WILL NOT BE PART OF SATURDAY'S INDUCTION CEREMONY.

IN 2010 HE SUFFERED A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK WHILE ATTENDING A MUSIC IN BELGIUM.

HE WAS 65 YEARS OLD.

>> HE WAS A VERY PASSIONATE PERSON AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAID THE CALLS' MUSIC IS WHAT IT IS BECAUSE IT'S WHAT I HAD IN ME.

HE SAID I COULD HAVE WRITTEN CHEESY POP SONGS.

HE SAID I COULD HAVE DONE THAT ALL DAY LONG, BUT THIS IS WHAT I HAD IN ME AND, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO GET IT OUT.

[ MUSIC ] >> NOAH HAN WROTE RECALLING THE CALL, THE 80'S MOST UNRECOGNIZED HIT BAND.

>> THE CALL HAD A LOT OF HIT VIDEOS AND HIT SONGS ON THERE.

YOU KNOW, TO ME IT'S STILL ASTOUNDS ME THAT THEY JUST DIDN'T QUITE GET TO THAT NEXT LEVEL.

THEY WERE REFERRED TO AS AMERICA'S U2 AT ONE POINT AND PETER GABRIEL SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE THE NEXT BIG THING.

THEY WERE THE BAND TO WATCH FOR IN THE 80s.

TOURING IN THE EARLY DAYS WITH SIMPLE MINES AND PETER GABRIEL, THEY FELT THE CALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE BIG ACT AND THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN OPENING FOR THE CALL.

>> THE GROUP OF PRODUCED EIGHT STUDIO ALBUMS THAT WERE CONSISTENTLY EXCELLENT AND RECEIVED WELL BY THE CRITIC.

WHY DIDN'T THEY BREAKTHROUGH TO ENJOY INTERNATIONAL STARDOM.

>> WE WERE WITH THREE OR FOUR MAJOR RECORD LABELS -- THIS IS GOING TO BE BIG.

SO WE WOULD SIGN AND START RECORDING, AND THEN THERE WOULD BE A BIG SWITCH UP AT THE TOP AND THE PRESIDENT WOULD BE GONE AND THEY WOULD GET A NEW GUY AND HE WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND IT AT ALL.

WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THESE GUYS.

>> THAT HAPPENED WITH THE HIT SONG THAT PROPELLED THE BAND INTO HEAVY ROTATION ON MTV.

>> GUY CAME TO THE STUDIO TO SEE WHAT WE WERE DOING IN MALIBU AND HE HEARD THE ALSO CAME DOWN AND HE SAID THAT'S TERRIBLE.

THAT'S THE WORST SONG I EVER HEARD.

YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT ON THE RECORD.

>> THANKFULLY THE MTV EXECUTIVES DIDN'T AGREE.

LET THE DAY BEGIN WAS A NUMBER ONE ON THE MAJOR BILLBOARD ON THE CHART.

>> IT WAS THE TRANSITION TO SOLVE TO CD.

>> IT WAS THE CALL CURSE WHEN THE BAND FIRST FORMED AND THE RECORD COMPANY GREW IMPATIENT WAITING FOR THE GUYS TO SETTLE ON A NAME.

>> THEY STARTED SUMMING NAMES TO US THAT WERE TERRIBLE.

ONE OF THEM WAS MIKEY AND THE MONKEYS.

>> THEY FINALLY SETTLED ON THE CALL, AS IN THE CALLING TO PLAY MUSIC THAT WAS INSPIRING, THOUGHT PROVOKING AND SUBTLY BASED ON THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH.

>> IT WAS THE REASON I ALWAYS STAYED WITH THE BAND BECAUSE OF THAT PURPOSE.

I JUST FELT THAT THAT WAS THE REASON TO PLAY MUSIC.

>> THEY WERE DEFINITELY SPIRITUAL, HAD A LOT OF CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE, BUT THEY NEVER CONSIDERED THEMSELVES TO BE A CHRISTIAN BAND.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BEAT YOU OVER THE HEAD WITH THEIR BELIEFS.

THEY JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THIS IS HOW THEY FELT.

>> THAT SPIRIT WILL BE HEARD AND FELT ONCE AGAIN ON MAGGIE'S OUTDOOR STAGE BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M. ON SATURDAY.

>> WHEN SCOTT AND NOLE APPROACHED US ABOUT HAVING THIS, THIS WAS A NO-BRAINER.

>> KEVIN SMITH OWNS AND OPERATES MAGGIE'S MUSIC BOX WITH HIS WIFE AMY.

>> MY WIFE AMY AND I WERE HUGE CALL FANS.

IN OUR MINDS, THESE GUYS WERE HUGE AND IT IS OVERDUE.

>> HOW ABOUT REQUESTS.

>> HOW ABOUT SOLID NUMBER ONE.

>> THAT WOULD BE LET THE DAY BEGIN FROM 1989.

THAT'S WAS A SHUFFLE INSTEAD OF THE REGULAR SHUFFLE, IT WAS A TRIPLET SHUFFLE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THEY WERE OKIES AND THEY WERE FROM HERE.

I WANTED TO BRING ATTENTION TO THAT.

I THINK THEY ARE JUST AS DESERVING, YOU KNOW, AS A LOT OF THE OTHER MUSICIANS THAT ARE IN THERE.

YOU KNOW, I AM GLAD IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING.

[ MUSIC ] >> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CALL'S HALL-OF-FAME INDUCTION AND NOLE'S BOOK CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE oeta.tv.

>>> WHEN THE "REDBUD VALLEY NATURE PRESERVE" FIRST OPENED IN CATOOSA IN 1990.

.IT AVERAGED ABOUT 3-THOUSAND VISITORS A YEAR.

.NOW, IT'S 15-THOUSAND.

.AND ALL OF THAT FOOT TRAFFIC IS WEARING OUT THE HABITAT, IN ADDITION TO THE OCCASIONAL ACT OF VANDALISM.

BECAUSE OF THAT, THE PRESERVE WILL CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC ON AUGUST 30TH AND NOT RE-OPEN UNTIL MAY OF 2022.

EDDIE REESE, CHIEF NATURALIST FOR THE OXLEY NATURE PRESERVE, WHICH ALSO OVERSEES "REDBUD VALLEY, EXPLAINS WHY-- AND THE WORK THAT WILL BE DONE OVER THE NEXT NINE MONTHS.

RETURN TO INDEX OF STORIES... >> REALLY IT'S JUST GETTING LOVED TO DEATH AND IT JUST NEEDS A BREAK.

IT'S KINDA LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE GET SICK OR A PET GETS SICK, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE A BREAK AND LAY DOWN AND REST TILL WE FEEL BETTER.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS JUST KIND OF THE CLOSING IT DOWN AND TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF OF IT AND JUST LET IT REST AND RECOVER."

AND WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK IN, UH, NOW THAT IT'S CLOSED AND DO SOME REMEDIATION STUFF AND, UH, YOU KNOW, REPAIR SOME OF THOSE TRAILS AND EROSION AND, AND THERE'S BEEN SOME POACHINGS.

THEY'VE BEEN TAKING OUT, UM, THIS LITTLE BARREL CACTUS THAT GROWS HERE AND I'VE NEVER SEEN IT ANYWHERE ELSE, NOT QUITE LIKE THIS ONE, I'M SURE IT IS, BUT IN OUR AREA, IT'S THE ONLY PLACE I KNOW YOU FIND IT AS HERE.

AND SO I'M GOING TO TRY AND REPROPAGATE THOSE AND GET THOSE ESTABLISHED BACK OUT ON THE PRAIRIE.

>> EDDIE SAYS HE'LL BE WORKING WITH A SMALL BUDGET AND NEEDS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP REHABILITATE THE PRESERVE.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, YOU CAN CALL THE OXLEY NATURE CENTER AT 918, 596-9054.

>> WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A BUDGET WHEN WE HAVE A VERY SMALL STAFF ANYMORE.

SO, UH, WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD CREW OF VOLUNTEERS THAT, UH, LIKE TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL RECRUIT SOME MORE, YOU KNOW.

WE'LL NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET."

RETURN TO INDEX >> TEROUS NO QUESTION THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF MISINFORMATION SURROUNDING COVID-19.

AS WE ALL KNOW, YOU CAN'T TRUST EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INTERNET.

IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION SUSAN GADOT AND HER GUESTS DISCUSS SOME OF THE MYTHS AND MISPERCEPTIONS SURROUNDING THE VIRUS.

>> SOME CALL THEM COVID CONCERNS, OTHERS CALL THEM COVID CONSPIRACY THERE'S.

WE WILL TACKLE SOME OF THE MORE WELL TRAVELED IDEAS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE WILL DISCUSS THOSE IDEAS WITH OUR GUESTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

WE HAVE BEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SEEN THINGS OR HEARD SOME THINGS FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND THERE IS SO MUCH GOING AROUND.

LET'S JUST DIVE IN.

WE WILL GO ROUND ROBIN AND ASK YOU THESE IDEAS OF EACH OF YOU AND GET YOUR OPINION.

KATHERINE, WE WILL START WITH YOU.

ONE OF THE MOST PREVALENT PIECES OF INFORMATION THAT'S APPEARED REPEATEDLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THE VACCINE IS UNSAFE AND WOULD CONTAIN MILES-PER-HOUR THAT WOULD ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO TRACK MY MOVEMENT.

>> I THINK ANYBODY WHO HAS SEEN THESE NEEDLES AND HOW TINY THEY ARE COULD TELL YOU MICROCHIPS WOULD NOT FIT IN THAT VEHICLE.

AS LONG AS YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE, YOU CAN BE TRACKED ANYWAY.

THERE ISN'T AN INCENTIVE TO PUT A MICROCHIP IN YOUR VACCINE.

THAT ISN'T HAPPENING.

>> DR. CLARK, WE WILL ADDRESS THE SECOND POINT, COVID IS NO WORSE THAN THE SEASONAL FLU, TRULY?

>> THAT IS FALSE.

WE WERE HOPING THAT WOULD BE TRUE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, BUT THAT HAS PROVEN NOT TO BE TRUE.

WE HAVE HAD THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE INFECTED WITH INFLUENZA ON A YEARLY BASIS AND RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBERS DIE.

THE COVID INFECTION OF COVID-19 CURRENTLY HAS KILLED 4 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE.

IT IS NOTHING LIKE INFLUENZA.

THE SYMPTOMS ARE DIFFERENT AND THE SEVERITY IS MUCH, MUCH HIGHER IN COVID-19.

>> IS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, EASILY TRANSFERRED ANOTHER FACTOR AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE KNOW NOW THAT THE COVID VIRUS ITSELF SPREADS MUCH QUICKER THAN OTHER AIRBORNE VIRUSES AND WE ARE ALSO FINDING THAT THE NEW VARIANT, INCLUDING THE CURRENT DELTA VARIANT, SPREADS FASTER THAN THE ORIGINAL VARIANT.

AND MAY HAVE MORE VARIANT COMING FROM THE DEVELOPMENT FOR THAT, TOO.

>> [ INDISCERNIBLE ] SPEAKING OF THAT, WE ARE COMING TO YOU.

THERE IS A BIT OF FEELING, I HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

I AM SAFE.

I WANT TO GO AHEAD WITHOUT MY MASK AND NOT HAVE TO WEAR A MASK.

I AM NOT SURE I AM CALLING THIS A MYTH SO MUCH AS A DEBATE.

SHOULD THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED HAVE TO WEAR A MASK AND TAKE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS THE NON-VACCINATED NEED TO?

>> THINKING ON THIS, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED OVERTIME.

THERE WAS RECENTLY AN OUTBREAK IN CAPE COD THAT SHOWED 469 PEOPLE WERE INFECTED AND 364 OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE FULLY VACCINATED.

NOW, MOST OF THEM DID NOT END UP IN THE HOSPITAL AND DID NOT GET VERY SICK.

BUT WE NOW KNOW, PARTICULARLY WITH THE DELTA VARIANT, ESSENTIALLY ACTING LIKE A NEW VIRUS, EVEN IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED, YOU CAN GET INFECTED AND YOU CAN POTENTIALLY SPREAD THAT INFECTION TO OTHER PEOPLE.

WE NOW HAVE A STRONG RECOMMENDATION THAT IF YOU HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED, AGAIN YOUR CHANCE OF GETTING THE INFECTION IS REDUCED.

YOUR CHANCE OF COMPLICATIONS IS LOWER, BUT YOU CAN GET INFECTED, SO WE RECOMMEND WHEN YOU ARE INDOORS OR AROUND OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU WEAR A MASK.

THIS PANDEMIC IS NOT OVER YET.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU SOMETHING THAT I HEARD THAT IF YOU ARE VACCINATE, YOU KNOW, THE RESPONSE, THE SYMPTOMS HAPPENS ONCE IT GETS INTO YOUR SYMPTOM, BUT THE VIRUS YOURSELF CAN LIVE IN THE NASAL PASSAGES BEFORE IT GETS INTO YOUR SYSTEM.

YOU DO HAVE THE CONTAMINATES THERE AND YOU CAN SPREAD THEM UNTIL IT SHUTS IT DOWN.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THEATRICAL.

A STUDY CAME OUT YESTERDAY THAT SHOWED EVEN PEOPLE WHO DEVELOPED SYMPTOMS WILL SPREAD THE VIRUS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THEY EXHIBIT SYMPTOMS, AND THEN THEY PASS THE MOST VIRUS OR THEY SHED THE MOST VIRUS DURING THAT TIMEFRAME THAT THEY ARE SYMPTOMATIC, BUT WITHIN THE FIRST FEW DAYS.

EVEN IF YOU GENT YOU ARE INFECTED, YOU MAY BE SPREADING THE VIRUS.

>> LET ME DOUBLE BACK ONE MORE TIME REAL QUICK.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO SAY WELL, IF I GET SICK, IF I AM A BREAKTHROUGH PATIENT, I HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, I WILL FEEL BAD FOR A FEW DAYS AND I WILL BE OKAY.

WHY IS IT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO HAVE NOT GOTTEN VACCINATED.

>> I HIGHLIGHTED IT'S CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THOSE AROUND YOU.

IT'S PART OF BEING A CITIZEN TO TRY TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE THAT MAY BE AROUND YOU.

WHEN YOU GO OUT, TO A RESTAURANT OR SHOPPING OR OTHER THINGS, YOU DON'T KNOW THE PEOPLE WE ARE AROUND YOU.

THEY MIGHT HAVE AN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED CONDITION OR HAVE CANCER, THEY ARE AT RISK TO GETTING THE VACCINE.

YOU DON'T KNOW.

IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY EVEN IF YOU ARE FULLY VACCINATED TO GO AHEAD AND WEAR A MASK WHEN YOU ARE IN PUBLIC TO PROTECT THOSE AROUND YOU AND PROTECT YOU FROM BEING A BREAKTHROUGH CASE.

>> MENTIONING FROM THE C.D.C., CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL HAS CHANGED, SOME SAY ISFLIP FLOPPED THAT IT MEANS THEY ARE NOT REALLY TELLING THE TRUTH AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE WHAT THE C.D.C.

SAYS, DO YOU THINK THAT'S A VALID ARGUMENT?

>> I THINK THAT THE C.D.C.

IS CLASSICALLY BEEN A LITTLE BIT SLOW, NOT NECESSARILY FLIP-FLOPPING.

SOMETIMES THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CAUTIOUS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE TO DO THIS AND THEN WALK THAT BACK.

THEY WOULD RATHER SAY WE ARE NOT SURE IF YOU NEED TO DO THIS AND THEN YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD.

[ INDISCERNIBLE ] INTERVIEWED SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO USED TO WORK AT THE C.D.C.

AND TALKED TO THE FORMER DIRECTOR, HE SAID WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A MORE CONSERVATIVE AND SLOWER INTUITION.

THIS IS A NOVEL VIRUS.

THERE WERE THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT IT WHEN IT HIT THE SCENE.

IF YOU REMEMBER WAY BACK AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS, WE WERE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT SURFACE TRANSMISSION.

WE WOULD TOUCH THINGS AND THE VIRUS WOULD BE ON OUR HANDS AND WE WOULD SPREAD IT THAT WAY BECAUSE A LOT OF VIRUSES DO SPREAD THAT WAY.

WE HAVE LEARNED AS TIME HAS GONE ON IT'S MORE OF A RESPIRATORY VIRUS THAN A TRANSMISSION VIRUS.

PEOPLE WERE LYSOLLING THEIR GROCERIES, BUT WE KNOW THAT'S NOT NECESSARY.

THIS IS AN EVOLUTIONARY AND WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

WITH REGARDS TO PROTECTING PEOPLE WE ARE NOT VACCINATED AND WHAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT?

ONE THING WE NEED TO REMEMBER IS THAT NOBODY UNDER 12 CAN GET VACCINATED.

SO CHILDREN ARE SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO GET VACCINATED.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A STRETCH TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING TO PROTECT THEM.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT, KATHERINE.

THANK YOU.

DR. CLARK, RECENTLY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRYING -- I WILL READ THIS ONE, HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TREAT COVID WITH THE ANTI PARASITE DRUG FOR ANIMALS, AND MANY ARE BECOMING SICK.

DO YOU KNOW IF A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIMENTING?

SHOULD THEY DISTRUST THE VACCINE?

IF YOU ARE GOING TO EXPERIMENT WITH AN ANIMAL DRUG, WHY NOT JUST GET THE VACCINE?

>> RIGHT, YES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE USING THE DRUG AS A PREVENTIVE AND/OR A TREATMENT.

THERE IS A PARTICULAR STUDY THAT CAME OUT IN THE JOURNAL OF THERAPEUTICS, THE JULY-AUGUST EDITION THAT WAS A META-ANALYSIS, WHICH MEANS IT'S A RETROSPECTIVE INTERVIEW WITH PATIENTS.

THERE WAS SOME SUGGESTION THAT PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE DRUG MAYBE DID BETTER.

STILL THOSE STUDIES CAN'T REALLY TEASE OUT OTHER VARIABLES.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY STUDIES WE USE TO CHANGE OUR PRACTICE CLINICALLY.

THE DRUG IS A MEDICATION THAT CAN BE USED THEORETICALLY, IN HUMANS IN A VERY RARE CASE.

BUT 99.9% OF THE TIME IT'S USED IN CATTLE, HORSES AND COWS.

AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING IS THEY ARE GOING TO FEED STORES AND PICKING UP DOSES THAT ARE CONCENTRATED FOR CATTLE, AND READING INTERNET GUESSTIMATES ABOUT WHAT KIND OF DOSE YOU TAKE AND WHEN, WHICH IS LEADING TO OVERDOSING, AND SECONDARY SIDE EFFECTS AND MAKING PEOPLE SICK.

IT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM A RASH, NAUSEA, VOMITING, HEADACHE, DIARRHEA, LOW BLOOD PRESSURE, COMA, DEATH.

THERE IS EVERYTHING THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY HAVE WITH ANYTHING ARE POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS OF IT AND WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF THE POISON CONTROL CENTERS GETTING CALLS ON THIS.

IT'S NOT RECOMMENDED FOR COVID-19 PREVENTION OR TREATMENT.

MERCK WHO IS THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE UNITED STATES FOR THE DRUG HAS A PHYSICIAN STATEMENT SAYING IT'S NOT RECOMMENDED OR WE DO NOT RECOMMEND IT AND THERE IS NO EFFICACY TO SHOW IT'S USED FOR A PREVENTION OR TREATMENT.

PLEASE DON'T USE IT.

THERE IS A TREATMENT AVAILABLE, A PREVENTIVE AVAILABLE FROM COVID-19 THAT HAS BEEN WIDELY STUDIED THAT'S CALLED THE COVID-19 VACCINE.

PFIZER VACCINE HAS NOW BEEN FULLY FDA APPROVED.

IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO 1.2 BILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE, BILLION.

IT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE SAFE, PROVEN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE.

WE HAVE THE DATA ON THAT.

WE DO NOT HAVE THE DATA ON THE ANIMAL DRUG.

PLEASE GET VACCINATED.

>> WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED HYDRO CHLOROQUINE.

IS THAT STILL A THING?

ARE PEOPLE STILL USING THAT?

>> THERE WAS SOME EARLY STUDIES THAT SUGGESTED MOSTLY, OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES THAT SUGGESTED THAT HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE MIGHT PREVENT OVER REDUCE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, BUT THEN THAT DRUG WAS SUBJECTED TO WELL DESIGNED, RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIALS WHERE PEOPLE WERE BLINDED TO THE TREATMENTS THAT THEY WERE RECEIVING.

ALL OF THOSE OTHER POTENTIAL VARIABLES THAT DR. CLARK MENTIONED WERE TAKEN OUT OF CONSIDERATION.

WHAT THEY SHOWED WAS THE DRUG DON'T WORK.

IT DID NOT REDUCE INFECTION RATES WITH COVID-19.

IT DID NOT REDUCE SYMPTOMS.

AND IN FACT SOME PATIENTS HAD COMPLICATIONS FROM USE OF THE DRUG.

SO IT IS NO LONGER USED AND FRANKLY, AS YOU KNOW WE SOLD OUR STOCKPILE.

>> HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE.

THANK YOU, THERE.

KATHERINE, THIS MYTH I HAVEN'T HEARD BUT OTHERS HAVE.

5G A FACTOR IN THE SPREAD OF COVID?

>> 5G IS BASICALLY A WIFI, CELL SIGNAL, INTERNET THAT GOES TO YOUR CELL PHONE FROM THE BIG TOWERS.

THAT IS A DIGITAL SIGNAL THAT CAN UPLOAD TO DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.

WE ARE BIOLOGICAL, AS MUCH AS I WISH I COULD DOWNLOAD A FASTER METABOLISM OR MAYBE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK MANDARIN, UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN I CAN ACCIDENTALLY DOWNLOAD THE CORONAVIRUS.

>> THANK YOU.

DR. CLARK, THIS NEXT ONE, WE ARE USING ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT TO DISINFECT SURFACES, WHY CAN'T WE USE THAT ON THE HUMAN BODY.

>> ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT IS EFFECTIVELY DAMAGING TO CELL MEMBRANES, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE ABLE TO USE IT FOR BACTERIA, VIRUSES AND SURFACES.

SURFACES ARE INANIMATE.

THERE AREN'T CELL MEMBRANES ON SURFACES.

IF YOU USE ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT ON HUMAN SKIN, INTERNALLY, EXTERNALLY, YOU WILL DAMAGE THE CELLS THAT MAKE UP YOUR BODY.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN'T STERILIZE YOUR SKIN.

THERE IS NO WAY TO COMPLETELY REMOVE EVERY VIRUS, EVERY BACTERIA, EVERY YEAST THAT'S ON YOUR SKIN.

THAT'S PART OF US.

THAT'S PART OF OUR NORMAL FLORA AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU WOULD KILL THE HOST BEFORE YOU WOULD KILL EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEEDED TO.

>> THIS IS MY FINAL QUESTION.

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND JUST A QUICK ANSWER FROM THE DOCTORS -- I HAVE HEARD THIS ONE.

SOME BELIEVE THE NUMBERS ARE BEING FUDGED.

SOME DEATHS ARE BEING ATTRIBUTED TO COVID THAT ARE NOT PARTICULARLY DUE TO COVID.

I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE DEEP INTO THIS WITH YOUR POSITION, YOUR HIGH POSITIONS AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH COVID NOT ONLY HERE IN OKLAHOMA, BUT ALSO IN THE NATION.

IS THIS ONE TRUE OR FALSE?

>> IT'S PATENTLY FALSE.

THERE IS NO INSENSITIVE FOR ANY OF US TO OVER DIAGNOSIS COVID-19 OR DIAGNOSE DEATHS TO COVID-19.

THERE IS NO INCENTIVE TO DO THAT.

WE RECENTLY HAD A CONFERENCE CALL WHERE WE BROUGHT IN THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER WHO WALKED THROUGH HOW THEY ASSIGN DEATHS.

IF A PERSON HAS A CAR CRASH AND HAPPENS TO HAVE A POSITIVE COVID TEST, THAT IS NOT COUNTED AS A COVID DEATH.

IT'S ONLY THOSE DIAGNOSES WHERE COVID CONTRIBUTES TO THE DEATH.

>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

I WOULD SAY LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR FRANK ANSWERS TO ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS.

IF THEY ARE CIRCULATING AROUND, WE FEEL THEY NEED TO BE ANSWERED.

THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US TO DO THAT.

I AM SURE WE WILL BE BACK TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN IN THE FUTURE ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU ALL.

>> REALLY GOOD, IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION RIGHT THERE.

SUSAN, THANK YOU.

>>> OKLAHOMA IS MAKING PROGRESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST OPIOID ADDICTION, HOWEVER THE PANDEMIC HAS NOT HELPED.

OVERDOSES ARE ON THE RISE.

ACCORDING TO THINK SMART OKLAHOMA, LAST YEAR THERE WERE 670 OVERDOSE DEATHS IN OUR STATE.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE WILL HEAD TO ALZHEIMER'S -- ALASKA.

>> AS THE PANDEMIC BEGAN LAST YEAR, MANY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS AROUND THE STATE SENT CLIENTS HOME.

OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES MOVED ONLINE OR EXPANDED TELEHEALTH OPTIONS, BUT THE NEED FOR INPATIENT RECOVERY SERVICES DON'T GO AWAY.

IF ANYTHING, IT'S ONLY GROWN.

>> WE HAVE SEEN A SURGE OF OPIATE USE AND METHAMPHETAMINE USE THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> HE'S THE DIRECTED OF TRUE NORTH RECOVERY.

THEY OPENED THE FOURTH RECOVERY CENTER IN NOVEMBER.

ACCORDING TO STATE STATISTICS, DRUG OVERDOSES INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2020 COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS.

IN 2019, MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE DIED OF OPIOID-RELATED OVERDOSES IN ALASKA.

>> THE FACT REMAINS THAT PEOPLE ARE DYING EVERY DAY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> HE AND MANY OF HIS STAFF ARE IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY THEMSELVES.

THEY UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE TO REMAIN SOBER AND HOW ISSUES LIKE SOCIAL ISOLATION AND JOB LOSS BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC CAN COMPOUND EXISTING SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS.

THE NEW FACILITY HAS 15 BEDS.

RESIDENTS SPEND FOUR MONTHS LIVING IN A COMMUNAL SETTING, ATTENDING GROUP MEETINGS, CLASSES AND ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS WITH TRAINED COUNSELORS.

>> WE CLOSED DOWN A LOT OF THINGS, BUT THE PIPELINE OF NARCOTICS COMING TO OUR STATE HAS NOT SLOWED DOWN.

>> MANY OF RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE EXCEPT MEDICAID.

>> THIS IS WHERE WE DO OUR PROCESS GROUP FOR THE MORNING.

WE GET UP AND WE SPEAK AND JUST TELL WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND GET TO LET IT OUT.

>> AFTER STRUGGLING WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUGS HIS ENTIRE LIFE, JAMES GRIM ARRIVED FOUR MONTHS AGO AT TRUE NORTH RECOVERY'S RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM.

AS A CONTRACTOR WHO WORKED INDEPENDENTLY, HE COULD USUALLY HIDE HIS ADDICTION, BUT THE STRESS OF THE PANDEMIC LED HIM TO RELAPSE LAST YEAR.

IN A WAY, HE SAYS IT WAS THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.

>> I ENDED UP IN HERE.

THIS PLACE SAVED MY LIFE.

IT LET ME UNDERSTAND WHAT ADDICTION IS THAT THIS THING CAN'T BE PRAYED AWAY.

THIS IS HERE FOR LIFE AND I MET OTHER PEOPLE THAT I CAN MANAGE IT WITH.

>> GRIM GRADUATED THIS WEEK AND MOVED INTO THE TRANSITIONAL PROGRAM.

HE WILL RECEIVE OUTPATIENT SUPPORT.

HE LOOKS FORWARD TO SHARING WHAT HE'S LEARNED WITH OTHERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.

>> THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY SHAME FOR ANYBODY TO COME INTO TREATMENT AND ASK FOR HELP.

AND I HAVEN'T FELT ANY SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE.

>> AS HE TRANSITIONS BACK TO LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY, HE ALSO KNOWS HE HAS A SUPPORT NETWORK TO FALL BACK ON.

FOR ALASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, I AM MADELINE BAXTER.

>> ON THE NEXT OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, TWO CONVICTED MURDERERS ASK FOR COMPUTEITATION.

>>> FOR ALL OF US HERE ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, I AM RICH LENZ.

STAY COOL, STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY AND STAY TUNED TO OETA.