IF THE LEGISLATURE IS SIDING WITH THE TRIBELE COMPACTS THEY WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE VOTERS.

THE LEGISLATURES HAS THE AUTHORITY TO COMPACT.

THAT'S NOT EXCLUSIVELY WITH THE GOVERNOR IT'S NOT WITH AN ANSWER SENSE WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

WE ARE STILL OPTIMISTIC AND HOPEFUL AND WANT THE GOVERNOR TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WE WILL STAY PLUGGED IN THIS IS A FAIL STATE AND BACK SUIT.

>> I SPOKE WITH PUBLISHER SHAWN ASHLEY.

WHAT DOES THE LAWSUIT REPRESENT IN TERMS OF GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE LEADERS.

>> IT CREATES AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC.

LEGISLATURE LEADERS LEGISLATURE LEADERS DISAGREED WITH ONE ANOTHER ON ONE ISSUE, IN THIS CASE WHAT ROLE THE LEGISLATURE CAN PLAY IN THE COMPACTING PROCESS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY SEEM TO BE UNITED IN COMMON GOALS AS WE SAW THOUGHT THE SESSION.

THEY WILL POINT OUT THEY HAVE POLICY DIFFERENCES BUT REMAIN FRIENDS AND COMMITTED TO WORKING TOGETHER.

>> DO WE HAVE AN IDEA HOW THIS WILL PROCEED OR THE COURT MIGHT GO MAKE A DECISION ONE OF THE NEXT STEPS IS TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

THEY WILL MAKE A DECISION QUICKLY.

THESE BILLS TAKE EFFECT TOWARDS THE END OF OCTOBER.

THEY WANT TO REACH A DECISION BEFORE THE EXTENSIONS COULD BEGIN TO BE VITAL.

>> IS IT HYPERBOLE TO SAY THIS COULD BLOW UP TO BUDGET AGREED UPON.

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE COURTS DECISIONS THAT COULD EFFECT THE BUDGET THEY RENDERED DECISIONS THAT DIDN'T ADVERSELY IMPACT THE BUDGET.

IN THIS CASE, THE COURT COULD FIND THE LEGISLATURE OVERSTEPPED THE BOUNDS AND INTERFERED IN THE COMPACTING PROCESS.

THAT COULD EFFECT, $57 MILLION SCHEDULED TO COME IN THE STATE DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

>> SHAWN, PUTTING THE LAWSUIT ASIDE.

WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION WILL BE NOW.

TAX CUTS WILL BE AT THE TOP.

>> TAX CUTS REMAIN AT THE TOP OF THE GOVERNOR'S PRIORITY LIST.

HE TRIED TO GET IT DONE IN 2022 AND SPECIAL SESSION IN 2022 AND UNSUCCESSFUL.

IT WAS SOMETHING HE CALLED FOR IN THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH IN 2023.

ONCE AGAIN, UNSUCCESSFUL IN ACCOMPLISHING.

THE BARRIERS HAS BEEN THE SENATE.

ANOTHER AREA WE MIGHT SEE ACTIVITY FROM THE GOVERNOR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

HE APPOINTED A TASK FORCE TO MODERNIZE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THE 11 MEMBER TASK FORCE WILL ISSUE A REPORT TO HIM AND SPEAKER MCCALL AND THE MINORITY LEADERS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

>> LET ME ASK THE SAME QUESTION ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE LEADERS.

WHAT ARE THE PRIORITY FOR SAY GREAT TREAT IN THE SENATE AND CHARLES MCCALL IN THE HOUSE.

>> THE CONTRACTS ARE AT THE TOP OF THE PRIORITY LIST.

LAWMAKERS WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH AND SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR DOES.

HE CALLED IT LIKE A PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

AFTER WHICH THEY COULD DECIDE IF CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE.

HOUSE SPEAKER HAS OFFERED AN INTERIM STUDY THAT WILL BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER TO LOOK AT CONPACTS.

>> MONDAY ENDED THIS VERY LONG LEGISLATURE SESSION.

PICK ONE NEWER LEGISLATURE FROM EACH CHAMBER THAT MADE HIS OR HER PRESENCE FELT IN THE SESSION.

RICH, THAT'S VERY HARD TO DO.

I WILL SAY THIS FRESHMAN CLASS HAD A LOT OF INPUT INTO LEGISLATION.

ONE NEWER LEGISLATOR HAS BEEN SENATOR JESSICA GARVIN.

SHE WAS ELECTED IN 2020.

STILL IN HER FIRST FOUR YEAR TERM IN THE STATE SENATE.

SHE OFFERED THE LEGISLATION PROVIDING MATERNITY LEAVE THAT WAS PASSED IN THE REGULAR SESSION.

>> 2024 WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT AND WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THE LAWSUIT.

SHAWN ASHLEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

>> OPERATION LONE STAR IS NOW UNDERWAY AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

50 OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARDSMEN VOLUNTEERING FOR A MISSION THAT GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT AND TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT CONSIDER CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

AND CRITICS CALL.UNNECESSARY AND CONTROVERS REPORTER JASON DOYLE ATTENDED THE GUARD'S SEND-OFF CEREMONY IN NORMAN, AND JOINS US NOW WITH MORE, JASON.

>> DESPITE THE POLITICAL ISSUE SURROUNDING SENDING NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER.OKLAHOMA'S SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN.ARE READY TO TAKE ON THE TASK TO SUPPORT BORDER SECURITY.

RETURN TO INDEX OF STORIES.

>> THE VOLUNTEER TASK FORCE IS CELEBRATEDFY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND DIG DIG NA TERRIES.

THEY WILL ASSIST TEXAS IN SECURING THE SOUTHERN BORDER WITH MEXICO.

>> TODAY MARKS ANOTHER CHAPTER AS THEY PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT TO PROTECT THE SOUTHWESTERN BORDER OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> BASICALLY LENDING A HAND TO THE TEXAS GUARD.

JUST SUPER EXCITING TO HELP AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

>> OKLAHOMA SPECIALIST REECE HEART JOINED TWO YEARS AGO AND THIS IS HIS FIRST DEPLOYMENT.

>> SUPER EXCITING.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM TO LEND A HAND.

>> JOINING HEART IS CAPTAIN JAYCE CROWDDER.

HE WILL BE ONE OF THE COMMANDERS.

>> WE HAVE A SECTION OF THE BORDER WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THE MONITORING.

MORE OR LESS, WE'LL MONITOR AND WATCH FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO CUT AND BREAK THOSE BARRIERS.

>>Reporter: CROWDER SAID THE 50 NATIONAL GUARDSMAN WILL GET MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE MISSION.

ONCE THEY ARRIVE IN EL PASO, TEXAS.

>> IT'S ALL GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE GET DOWN THERE.

WE HAVE A FEW DAY PROCESS WHEN WE GET DOWN TO TEXAS TO TRAIN SOLDIERS ON WHAT WE WILL DO AND THE DAY-TO-DAY WILL LOOK LIKE.

>> SUPPORTERS ARE HERE AT THE NORMAN MILITARY COMPLEX ON THIS DAY.

THERE IS ONE STATE LAWMAKER THAT DISAGREES TO SEND THE GUARDSMAN AND WOMEN TO THE NATIONAL BORDER.

THIS U.S. NAVY VETERAN TOLD THE OKLAHOMAN THAT IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE TO SEND THEM IN HARMS WAY TO SCORE POINTS.

WE REQUESTED AN INTERVIEW BUT SHE WAS UNAVAILABLE THIS WEEK.

THIS IS DURING A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND GREG ABBOTT FOR PLACING BARRIERS IN THE RIO GRANDE TO STOP THE CHANCES OF PEOPLE GETTING ACROSS.

THEY FILED A LAWSUIT TO HAVE THE BARRIERS REMOVED.

WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE POLITICS, CAPTAIN CROWDER WAS HAVING NONE OF THAT AND FOCUSED ON DEPLOYMENT.

>> I DON'T HAVE DOUBTS.

I'M THERE TO SUPPORT TEXAS.

>> WE HAVE FENTANYL DEATH EFFECTING OKLAHOMA.

WE HAVE STUFF POURING IN FROM THE BORDER.

>> THIS WAS CONTRIBUTING TO IT SAFETY OF THE NATION.

>> I READ THERE IS ENOUGH FENTANYL SEIZED TO KILL EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN.

I KNOW, PERSONALLY, IN OUR STATE THE DEATHS INCREASED 500%.

IT'S A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

>> U.S.

SENATOR JAMES VISITED THE SOUTHERN BORDER WITH NEX SEVERAL TIMES AND NOTED THAT THEY APPRECIATE THE NATIONAL GUARDS HELP.

>> THEY TOLD ME OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW GRATEFUL THEY ARE TO HAVE THE BACK-UP AND HELP.

PEOPLE TO BE SPOTTERS.

PEOPLE TO SAY, THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE MOVING ACROSS TO TARGET INDIVIDUALS.

>> THEY ARE CALLING FOR CONGRESS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN TO TAKE ACTION TO CURVE THE ILLEGAL CROSSINGS.

>> ONE POLICY CHANGE NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

THIS WAS IN PLACE PRIOR TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND COST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NOTHING.

THE REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU ARE SEEKING, YOU KNOW, IMMIGRATION TO THE U.S., YOU WILL REMAIN IN THE U.S. UNTIL YOUR COURT HEARING.

>> THEY AGREE CONGRESS NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION.

>> IT'S THE MOST EXPLOITED ISSUE DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

A HORRIBLE PROBLEM DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO DECIDE WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR ASYLUM.

>>Reporter: HE SAID THIS HAS A DIRECT IMPACT.

>> WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS TRAFFICKED IN THE STATE.

THEY TELL US OVER AND OVER AGAIN, A LOT OF FOLKS WORKING ON THE ILLEGAL MARIJUANA FORMS ARE CHINESE NATIONALS THAT COME FROM THE TEXAS SIDE.

THEY WORK THEIR WAY UP TO OKLAHOMA.

THEY ARE WORKING ILLEGAL GROW OPERATIONS.

>> THERE IS A TYPE OF SURGE THREATENING NATIONAL SECURITY.

>> THERE IS A SURGE ALONG THE BORDER.

SINGLE ADULT MALES FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, CHINA, RUSSIA, AND WEST AFRICA.

THEY ARE COMING IN.

THESE ARE FOLKS THAT WE DON'T TYPICALLY TASK.

THE CARTELS ARE BRINGING THESE INDIVIDUALS IN.

IT'S A MONEYMAKER FOR THE CARTEL BUT NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE FOR THE UNITED STATES.

>> THE REPORT SAID ENCOUNTERS DECEASED BY 42%.

EVEN THOUGH THE MISSION IS 30 DAYS MUCH SHORTER THAN MOST OVERSEES DEPLOYMENTS DEPLOYMENTS GOVERNOR STITT SAID FAMILIES WILL MISS THEIR LOVED ONES.

>> THIS IS A SHORTER DEPLOYMENT AND THEY WILL BE IN THE U.S.

THEY ARE PROTECTING OUR INTEREST AS U.S. CITIZENS.

>> WITHOUT THE FAMILIES WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO.

THAT'S THE ONE THING I BELIEVE.

WITHOUT THEM WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT.

MOST OF THEM ARE PROUD OF WHAT WE DO.

>> LET'S HAVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

>> >> GOVERNOR STITT SAYS THERE WILL BE ANOTHER GROUP OF VOLUNTEER OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARDSMEN AND WOMEN GOING TO THE U-S MEXICO BORDER IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION LONE STAR.SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.

RICH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THIS WEEK,TWO MAJOR ROADWAYS IN TULSA BUCKLED FROM INTENSE TEMPERATURES HEAT ADVISORIES AND HEAT INDICES ABOVE 100, ARE ALMOST AN EVERY DAY OCCURENCE.

HOW IS OKLAHOMA HOLDING UP AS WE BEGIN AUGUST AND CONCLUDE ONE OF THE HOTTEST JULY'S ON RECORD?

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S INDEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR REECE WETZEL COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WE HAD ALL THAT RAINFALL EARLIER THIS, THIS SUMMER, SO THAT ADDED THE MOISTURE TO THE AIR WHEN IT EVAPORATES.

BUT WE ALSO HAD SOME FLOW FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO UP THIS WAY.

IT GOT OUR DEW POINT TEMPERATURES UP IN THE, THE LOW EIGHTIES TO THE MID EIGHTIES EVEN.

SO VERY HIGH DEW POINT TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH THE, THE HEAT THAT SET IN PRODUCE THAT, THAT HEAT INDEX OF 126.

BUT WE'VE HAD HEAT INDEX VALUES IN JULY AND, AND LATER IN JUNE OF 115 TO, TO 125.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING UNCOMMON THIS SUMMER.

IT'S, IT'S BEEN SHORT, BUT VIOLENT BURSTS OF HEAT THIS YEAR >> HEAT ALERTS GET ISSUED WHEN WE HAVE FIVE OR MORE HEAT RELATED CALLS WITHIN A 24 HOUR PERIOD.

IT WILL BE ISSUED AT THAT POINT.

THOSE REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL ONE OF TWO THINGS HAPPEN.

EITHER THE TEMPERATURES COME DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY OUTSIDE OR WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF THOSE HEAT RELATED CALLS.

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

BUT FIRST, THE NEXT STOP ON OUR YEAR-LONG TOUR OF OKLAHOMA'S 13 REMAINING HISTORIC BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS-- .TAFT, OKLAHOMA.

LOCATED IN MUSKCOGEE COUNTY, TAFT HAS HISTORICAL TIES TO THE TRIBES IN THE AREA AND ONCE PRODUCED A MILLIONARE NOT YET IN HER TEENS.

WITH MORE ON THE UNIQUE HISTORY OF TAFT, WE'RE JOINED BY TAELYR JA.

>> BACK IN THE 1970s TAFT CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COMEDIANS IN THE COUNTRY.

♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪♪ >> THE RICHEST COLORED GIRL IN THE WORLD, SHE LIVED HERE.

I DON'T KNOW, AS A CHILD.

NOT AS AN ADULT.

>> 11-YEAR-OLD SARAH BECAME KNOWN AS THE YOUNGEST BLACK MILLIONAIRE DUE TO PLOT ALLOTMENTS AND PART LUCK.

EACH MEMBER OF HER FAMILY WERE GIVEN LAND DURING THE FREEDMAN ALLOTMENT KNOWN AS TAFT.

THEY GAVE HER FAMILY LAND AND IT HAD OIL.

SHE MOVED TO KANSAS WHERE SHE SPENT THE REST OF HER LIFE.

SARAH DIED IN 1967 AND DIED IN TAFT.

IT ORIGINALLY WASN'T CALLED THAT.

A LAWYER AND FORMER RESIDENT.

THE CHILD WAS TOWN WAS RENAMED TAFT AFTER PRESIDENT TAFT.

IT WAS MADE UP OF FREEDMAN SPECIFICALLY CREEK FREEDMAN.

>> PART OF HER ALLOTMENT WAS HERE.

>>Reporter: GLORIA SAID HER GRANDMOTHER DONATED HER LAND TO A LOCAL CHURCH THAT STILL STANDS TODAY.

>> SHE TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY DID THE ENROLLMENT.

SHE WAS ONE OF 13 CHILD 13 CHILDREN, WHEN THEY CAME IN TO SIGN THEM UP SHE WAS 12 YEARS OLD.

>> MANY HAD CONNECTIONS TO THE MUSKCOGEE TRIBES.

>> THEY BROUGHT THE SLAVES WITH THEM.

>> THE SLAVES BECAME FREEDMAN AND AFTER THE CIVIL WAR NEW TREATIES BETWEEN THE FIVE TRIBES AND U.S.

WERE CREATED LEADING TO THE CHEROKEE MUSKOGEE CREEK AND SEMINOLES WITHIN THE NATION.

IN MODERN DAY TAFT LIKE MANY OTHER REMAINING BLACKTOWNS COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE LOOKING TO UPGRADE TO TOWNS.

ONE OF THE FIRST GOALS IS TO IMPROVE TAFT'S INNA INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> WE PUT IT BACK IN THE TOWN.

WE GO TO THE TOWER AND CIRCULATE AND COME BACK AND CLEAN IT UP.

>> TAFT RECEIVED AN ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN GRANT FOR MORE THAN $90,000.

THROUGH THE RESOURCE BOARD TO BE USED FOR WATER IMPROVEMENTS.

>> YOU HAVE A WATER TOWER.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HOUSES IN TAFT AND STORES IN TAFT.

I KNOW WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

>> DURING HER TIME AS MAYOR DAVIS WAS PART OF THE AREA TO BUILD HOMES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS AFTER BEING INVITED TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> DURING THE VISIT PRESIDENT FORD HAD A GOLDEN RETRIEVER RUNNING AROUND IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

EVERYBODY WAS PETTING ON THE DOG AND TALKING ABOUT THE DOG.

I SAID TO PRESIDENT FORD, I SAID PRESIDENT FORD.

I'M FROM TAFT OKAY, , OKLAHOMA.

I DIDN'T COME TO TALK ABOUT A DOG.

CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSES?

HE SAID YEA.

>>Reporter: THE CONVERSATION WAS SUCCESSFUL.

>> WITHIN THREE MONTHS TIME WE HAD A VISIT FROM HENRY REECE FROM THE HUD OFFICE.

THAT'S HOW WE GOT THE 24 HOUSES UP UNDER THE FORD ADMINISTRATION.

>> DAVIS BELIEVED PUTTING THE SCHOOL IN THE TOWN WOULD ATTRACT NEWCOMERS.

AT ONE POINT THEY HAD A SCHOOL.

>> THIS BUILDING, NOT THIS BUILDING BUT A BUILDING THAT WAS HERE WAS WHERE I WENT TO SCHOOL.

>> DAVIS SAID IT WAS A FULL HOUSE AT MOLTON SCHOOL.

>> WE HAD A LOT OF KIDS.

THE CHILDREN LIVED THERE WAS THE DEAF BLIND OR ORPHAN HOME.

THEY WENT TO SCHOOL WITH THE KIDS DOWN HERE.

IT WAS A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THE 12th GRADE IN ONE BUILDING.

>> THE SCHOOL CLOSED DURING HER FIRST TERM.

>> BY NO MEANS IT WAS UPSETS TO SEE THE SCHOOL CLOSE.

WE CLOSED THEM BY THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE AND NOT BY THE DEMAND OF THE STATE OFFICE TELLING US WE HAD TO CLOSE.

TAFT HAS BEEN HOME TO NUMEROUS SCHOOLS AND SATE RUN FACILITIES.

IN 1906 THEY FOUNDED AN INDIAN MISSION SCHOOL.

IT BECAME THE DEAF, BLIND, AND ORPHAN INSTITUTE FROM 1909 TO 1961.

THEN THEY HAD THE DR.EDDY WARRIOR CENTER.

EDDY WAS SELECTED AS THE MAYOR AND WAS THE FIRST SELECTED AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN.

DAVIS WAS NAMED THE STATE'S OUTSTANDING WOMAN OF THE YEAR AND MET FORD AND CARTER.

SHE ALSO MET RED FOX.

THAT DIDN'T TURNOUT WELL.

>> DO YOU KNOW, TWO DUCKS IN MY LIVING ROOM NO ONE WANTS.

>> RED FOX WAS THE NIGHTMARE OF ME AND TAFT.

>> FOLLOWING SAMMY DAVIS JR. THAT DONATED MONEY TO THE CITY OF LANGSTON.

FOX ADOPTED TAFT.

DAVIS AND FOX'S RELATIONSHIP TOOK A TURN FOLLOWING A CHECK PRESENTATION.

>> HE WROTE US A $10,000 CHECK.

WITHIN SECONDS AFTER I STEPPED OFF THE PODIUM HE ASKED ME, BEFORE I WENT UP THERE TO RECEIVE IT AND RECEIVE IT FROM HIM TO GIVE THIS CHECK BACK TO HIM.

>> DAVIS SAID THIS CREATED UNWANTED RUMORS.

>> IT WASN'T KNOWN I HAD GIVEN THE CHECK BACK TO HIM.

I HAD JUST BUILT A NEW DEN ON MY HOUSE AND THE LIES SPREAD LIKE FLIES THAT I HAD STOLE THE $10,000 CHECK RED FOX HAD GIVEN TO HER.

WHERE DID THE MONEY GO.

>> SHE FOUND OUT ONCE THE REPORTER DID DIGGING.

THEY FOUND OUT THE MONEY DONATED TO THE TOWN WAS CASHED AT A BANK IN CALIFORNIA.

>> I GET TOO EMOTIONAL OVER THIS BECAUSE I WENT THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER BECAUSE OF RED FOX.

THAT'S WHY MY CAREER STARTED TO TUMBLE DOWN BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WAS BELIEVING I HAD STOLE $10,000 FROM THE TOWN.

>>Reporter: THE TOWN SEVERED TIES WITH FOX AND DAVIS WAS RE-ELECTED AS MAYOR IN THE 2000s.

AT ONE POINT AND TIME THIS STREET WAS FULL OF BUSINESSES BUT THAT CHANGED WHEN HIGHWAY 16 WAS BUILT.

>> THERE WERE A FEW MORE AMENITIES.

LIKE THE GROCERY STORE AND GAS STATION.

>>Reporter: THEY ALSO HAD AN NEWS PAPER.

>> WE WERE A BOOMING TOWN.

WE HAD A BIG SCHOOL.

WE HAD GROCERY STORES.

I WASN'T HERE WHEN THE BANK WAS HERE.

WE HAD LUMBAR YARDS AND COTTON GIN.

SEVERAL NIGHTCLUBS.

>> TAFT REACHED THE PEAK POPULATION OF 772 IN THE 1940s.

THEY SAW A DECLINE IN THE 60s BUT REGAINED PEOPLE IN THE 1970s.

TODAY TAFT THE IS HOME TO LESS THAN 200 PEOPLE.

>> IT WAS A BIG FAMILY.

>> THEY CREATED THE TAFT FACEBOOK PAGE TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> I MIGHT SEE SOME OF MY FAMILY FOR 10 TO 20 YEARS.

I COME BACK AND A LOT OF PEOPLE I DIDN'T KNOW.

WHEN FACEBOOK POPPED OFF, I'M LIKE, OH, YEAH, I'M SETTING UP THE PAGE.

RESIDENTS COME BACK DURING MEMORIAL DAY AND JUNETEENTH.

THEY HOPE TO SEE MORE COME BACK HOME SOON.

>> WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD MEMORIAL DAY.

YEARS AGO MS. DAVIS STARTED A PARADE ON MONDAY.

ALWAYS MEMORIAL DAY WAS THE HOMETOWN EVENT WHEN THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE AND LEFT AND FAMILIES WERE STILL HERE WOULD COME DOWN AND GO TO THE MIDDLE OF THE TOWN AND HAVE A GOOD TOWN.

>> FOR US IT WAS MORE OF A BIG FAMILY REUNION FOR THE WHOLE TOWN.

>> TAFT RESIDENTS ARE ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEARS CELRBRATION.

OUR NEXT INSTALLMENT OF BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS, WILL TAKE US TO BROOKSVILLE IN POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY JOEL FILOMENO WILL HAVE THAT REPORT COMING UP IN THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER, RICH.

>> TAYLOR VERY NICE STORY.

THANK YOU.

HOPE IS ALIVE ANNIVERSARY-CAM HOPE IS ALIVE IS AN OKLAHOMA CITY-BASED NON-PROFIT THAT OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMS TO TREAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

STEVE SHAW REPORTS ON THE ORGANIZATION'S LATEST EFFORTS AS IT CELEBRATES IT'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROVIDING POSITIVE CHANGE FOR ADDICTS, AL AND THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE AND CARE FOR THEM.

>>> HOGAN TRAN IS A 31-YEAR-OLD NATIVE OF THE COUNTRY OF VIETNAM.

PHOTO OF HIM AND HIS FATHER HERE HIS FATHER FOUGHT IN THE VIETNAM WAR.HIS FAMILY MIGRATED HERE.WHEN TRAN WAS FOUR YEARS OLD.

>> HE'S A SMART YOUNG MAN.

HE GRADUATED FROM THE CLASSEN SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDIES.AND HE WORKS AS AN AERCRAFT MECHANIC AT WILEY POST AIRPORT IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

TRAN SAID HIS LIFE FELL APART IN 2008.

>> I GOT HEAVY INTO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS IT WAS A ESCAPE I COULD ON THE SEE MY WAY THROUGH AND RUNNING AWAY FROM MY PROBLEMS DURING WHEN MY MOM AND SISTER NEEDED ME THE MOST.

>> AS A STUDENT AT O.U.

HIS DRUG DEALING TOOK HIM DOWN.

>> I WAS CAUGHT AND TAKEN TO THE CORRECTION CENTER IN 10 MONTHS.

>> HE GOT OUT IN 2014.

TRAN HADN'T BOTTOMED OUT.

BEFORE HE KNEW IT HE WAS BACK AT THE RACES.

HIS DRUG OF CHOSE WAS METHAMPHETAMINE.

>> I ENDED UP BUYING A HOME AND LOST JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

I LOST MY JOB, MY GIRLFRIEND, I LOST THE HOUSE AND TRUCK.

>> WHAT YEAR WAS THIS?

>> THIS WAS IN 2019.

>> HOGAN TRAN WAS IN NO MANS LAND.

>> THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND PRAYING SOMETHING WOULD RELIEVE ME OF IT.

I TRIED KILLING MYSELF TWO TIMES.

SOMEWHERE IN THE DARKNESS I COULD SEE THE LIGHT AND GOD WAS THERE.

>> ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS LEAD TRAN TO THE NONPROFIT HOPE IS ALIVE IN 2022.

HE'S ONE OF 15 MEN THAT LIVE IN THIS SOBER LIVING GROUP HOME IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

HOPE IS ALIVE HAS 25 OF THE PLACES FOR MEN AND WOMEN.

STRETCHED ACROSS 12 CITIES.

OKLAHOMA, KANSAS, COLORADO, MISSOURI, TEXAS, AND NORTH CAROLINA.

HOPE IS ALIVE EXISTS TO RAD RADICALLY CHANGE THE LIVES OF DRUG ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLIC.

YOU HAVE TO DIG DEEP IN YOUR SOUL, GET A JOB, AND PAY $600 FOR RENT.

THE PROGRAM TAKES TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE.

THEY SAID MORE THAN 80% OF THE FOLKS ENTERING THE PROGRAM MAKE IT THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE.

IN THE PAST YEAR THEY SAY, OF THEIR 240 GROUP HOME RESIDENTS, 26 LICENSES HAVE BEEN RESTORED AND $223,000 IN DEBT HAS BEEN REPAID.

JENNA DID METH FOR THE FIRST TIME 21 YEARS AGO WHEN SHE LEARNED HER PARENTS WERE GETTING DIVORCED.

>> I WAS IN MY ADDICTION FOR 20 YEARS OFF AND ON.

I HAVE THREE KIDS AND FIGURED THEY DESERVED BETTER.

I WAS TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED.

>> KIM HAS BEEN SOBER SINCE 2022.

SHE LIVED IN THE HOPE IS ALIVE GROUP HOME IN TULSA AND WICHITA.

SHE'S NOW ON THE STAFF IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> NICE TO HAVE A CLEAR HEAD AND NOT HAVE TO USE A SUBSTANCE TO COVER UP YOUR FEELINGS OR EMOTIONS JUST TO FEEL BETTER.

>>Reporter: CHAMBERS IS A FORMER O.U.

CHEERLEADER THAT'S BEEN IN RECOVERY FOR A YEAR AND HALF.

>> WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT STORIES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SIMILAR AND COMMON ELEMENTS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF LOSS AND PAIN AND REGRET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RESENTMENTS MAYBE.

>>Reporter: HOPE IS ALIVE STARTED 10 YEARS AGO WITH A SINGLE GROUP HOME.

NEXT TUESDAY, AUGUST 8th.

LEGENDARY FOOTBALL COACH TIM TEBOW WILL BE THE FEATURED SPEAKER AT THE 10 YEAR HOPE IS ALIVE ANNIVERSARY DINNER AT THE NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM.

SO FAR, MORE THAN 9 MONEY PEOPLE PLAN TO ATTEND.

ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 11th THEY PLAN TO HOST A FREE CONCERT.

>> THIS IS FOR ANYBODY STRUGGLING WITH DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, OR ADDICTION TO COME AND BE PART OF THE FREE WORSHIP NIGHT.

>> WHERE IS THAT?

>> CROSSING COMMUNITY CHURCH.

WE HAVE 2200 PEOPLE AND CAPACITY IS 2,500.

>> ON AUGUST 11th.

>> TEBOW WILL RETURN AS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AMANDA OVERSEES ALL OF THE WOMEN'S HOMES.

SINCE THE PANDEMIC ADDICTION PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN MUCH WORST.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS AND DEAL WITH THIS ON ANOTHER LEVEL.

>> DEAL WITH WHAT?

>> FENTANYL AND OPIOIDS.

>> FENTANYL IS EVERYWHERE.

IT'S IN COCAINE.

>> A FEW YEARS AGO YOU NEVER HEARD ABOUT FENTANYL.

>> DRUG DEALERS ARE CUTTING COCAINE WITH FENTANYL AND DON'T REALIZE IT.

>> STEVE SHAW.

>> STEVE, THANK YOU.

>> ONE IN 7 PEOPLE FACE HUNGER ORGANIZES ARE TRYING TO TACKLE THE NEVER CHANGING CHALLENGE.

>> LET'S GO.

LET'S KEEP IT ROLLING.

>> CHASE PARSONS IS THE DIRECTOR OF OKC DREAM CENTER.

AN ORGANIZE FOUNDED IN 2012 TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO THOSE IN NEED AND ON THE TOASTY SATURDAY MORNING.

PLENTY OF PEOPLE ACCEPTED HELP.

>> WHEN WE FIRST CAME ON THE CAMPUS HERE THERE WAS A SMALL CHURCH FOOD PANTRY GOING ON AND THEN THE ORGANIZE JUMPED IN AND WITHIN TWO YEARS KIND OF BASICALLY CONSUMED THAT UNDER THE UMBRELLA.

>> THE OKC DREAM CENTER BEGAN DRIVE-THRU FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS DURING COVID-19.

PARSONS THAT HELPED THEM MEET AND INCREASE DEMAND.

>> IT'S GROWN FROM 100.

NOW, LIKE TODAY.

EVERY MONTH FOR THE LAST YEAR AND HALF WE HAVE PREPPED TO SERVE UP TO 200 FAMILIES EVERY SINGLE MONTH.

>> THE PANDEMIC IS OVER BUT THE DEMAND FOR FOOD REMAINS.

>> A LOT OF FAMILIES ON FIXED INCOMES, IT'S HARD RIGHT NOW.

OTHERS THAT WERE -- THEY HAVEN'T MADE A SUCCESSFUL STEP BACK INTO A SEEMINGLY NORMAL WAY OF LIFE AFTER COVID-19.

>> THE REGIONAL FOOD BANK OF OKLAHOMA SAID EACH YEAR THEY DISTRIBUTE 50 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO REACH NEW ORGANIZES LIKE THE OKC DREAM CENTER.

>> WE PARTNER WITH 1,300 COMMUNITY BASED PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE 53 COUNTY SERVICE AREA.

>> DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY INDICATIONS KATHY SAID BEFORE THE PANDEMIC THE NEED WAS ON THE DECLINE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, ANY GAINS WERE WHIPPED OUT WITH THE PANDEMIC.

WE IMMEDIATELY SAW UPWARDS OF A 30 TO 50 50% INCREASE IN NEED.

>> MANY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH RISING INFLATION COSTS.

>> INFLATION INCREASES BUT THEIR WAGES DO NOT.

WE TEND TO DESCRIBE PEOPLE AS CHRONICALLY HUNGRY PEOPLE.

>> FOOD INSECURITY ROSE ONCE ADDITIONAL BUT TEMPORARY PANDEMIC AID WAS DISCONTINUED.

>> WE DEFINITELY SAW AN IMPACT AFTER THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE BENEFITS ENDED.

>> ACCORDING TO U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORTS.

OKLAHOMA RANKED FOURTH IN SNAP BENEFIT PARTICIPATION IN 2022.

THIS IS REFLECTED IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE STATE.

THEY FIND THEIR DOLLARS IS NOT GOING AS FAR AS IT USED TO.

>> THEY CAN'T BIAS MUCH FOOD AS THEY USED TO BE.

WHEN THE SNAP BENEFITS WERE CUT WHICH IS $230 THAT'S A HUGE HIT.

>>Reporter: THE CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER MATT JOSEPH SAID WE ARE A TOP 10 STATE.

>> WE ARE NUMBER FIVE IN THE NATION FOR FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE.

WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST FOOD INSECURE PLACES FOR FOOD IN CHILDREN.

MANY CHILDREN GO TO BET TO BED NOT KNOWING WHERE THEIR FOOD WILL COME FROM.

>> THEY ARE JUST ONE BILL AWAY FROM THEIR GROCERY MONEY.

THAT WERE WE COME IN TO HELP.

IT'S A PROBLEM THAT'S GETTING WORST.

IT'S A SOLVABLE PROBLEM WE HAVE.

>> A REAUTHORIZED BILL FROM THE U.S. CONGRESS COULD HELP FUND ESSENTIAL FOOD PROGRAMS.

>> THAT MIGHT SEEM FUN BUT HOW DOES IT EFFECT FOOD INSECURITY.

WITHIN THE FARM BILL IS THE FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ELECTED OFFICIALS PAY ATTENTION AND MAKE SURE THE PROGRAMS RECEIVE ALL OF THE FUNDING POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED.

>>Reporter: THE FOOD BANK OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA DISTRIBUTES FOOD TO SEVERAL HUNDRED ACROSS THE REGION.

>> WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

WE DOUBLED THE SIZE OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION.

WE GO FROM 30 MILLION MEALS PER YEAR TO 60 MILLION MEALS PER YEAR.

>> OKC FOOD CENTER VOLUNTEER WHITNEY HELPS RUN THE DISTRIBUTIONS.

>> WHEN RESOURCES COME IN THEY GO BACK OUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.

>> THE >> CHESAPEAKE PURCHASED SHARES FOR $2 MILLION.

THE COMPANY STILL HAS 725-MILLION LEFT IN ITS STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM.

TULSA BASED WILLIAMS REPORTS STRONG SECOND QUARTER PROFIT GROWTH AT 547-MILLION DOLLARS.BEATING SECOND QUARTER 2022'S NET INCOME BY 36-PERCENT THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO BELIEVE ITS CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR THIS YEAR WILL BE IN THE RANGE OF 1.6 BILLION TO 1.9 BILLION D THE SECOND QUARTER WAS THE FIRST FULL QUARTER IN WHICH WILLIAM'S NEW ACQUISITION, THE MOUNTAINWEST PIPELINE TRANSMISSION AND STORAGE ASSETS, CONTRIBUTED TO THE COMPANY'S BOTTOM LINE.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED HR AND PAYROLL SOFTWARE COMPANY PAYCOM REPORTS SECOND QUARTER NET INCOME OF 64.5 MILLION DOLLARS.THAT'S COMPARED TO THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2022'S PROFIT OF 57.4 MILLION.

REVENUE WAS UP BY 26.6 PERCENT FOR THE COMPANY DURING THE SECOND QUARTER.AT 401 POINT ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

PAYCOM EXPECTS NEXT QUARTER TO HAVE TOTAL REVENUES IN THE RANGE OF 410 TO 412 MILLION.

AND ITS REVENUES FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR TO CLEAR ONE POINT SEVEN BILLION DOLLARS.

JASON DOYLE.THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA CLOSE TO THE HEAT DOME.

THEY ARE GETTING MANY MORE TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES THAN WE ARE.

>> WHEN I LOOKED EARLIER THEY WERE AT LIKE 20 COMPARED TO 2 OR 3.

>> ALMOST 30 DAYS COMPARED NOW OF ALMOST 100 DEGREES.

OF COURSE, WE HAD IN THIS PART OF THE STATE WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES.

THE HEAT INDEX, THOUGH, REGARDLESS HAS BEEN IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS A LOT THIS SUMMER.

>> BRETT, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE HEAT THEY ARE ISSUED ALERTS.

>> THEY HAVE FIVE HEAT RELATED CALLSMENT IT'S ISSUED AT THAT POINT.

THEY COME DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY ON THE OUTSIDE OR SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HEAT RELATED CALLS.

>> HAVE THEY BEEN PICKING UP THIS WEEK.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN PICKING UP.

TYPICALLY JULY AND AUGUST ARE THE BUSIEST MONTHS.

SO, WE EXPECT AN UPTICK.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON.

>> HOW FAST DO THEY HAVE WHEN THEY FEEL HEAT RELATED ILLNESS SYMPTOMS.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET INSIDE AND GET COOLED DOWN TO GET HYDRATED QUICKLY AND ALWAYS CALL.

IT'S BEST TO CALL AND BE CHECKED OUT BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL THAN WAIT AND CHANCE IT IF YOU NEED TO BE TRANSPOINT OUT THED WE CAN DO THAT.

>> GARY, WE ARE IN AUGUST WHICH IS THE HOTTEST MONTH.

WHAT IS THE DATA SAYING ABOUT THIS MONTH.

WE WILL GET COOLER DAYS BUT WILL IT LAST.

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY IF IT WILL LAST LONG.

WE LOOK AT THE AUGUST OUTLOOK FROM THE CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER THEY SEE ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES.

DOESN'T SAY HOW HIGH THEY WILL BE.

IF THEY ARE ABOVE NORMAL ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST HALF THEY ARE EXTREMELY HOT.

>> WE SPOKE ABOUT HOW WEIRD OKLAHOMA COULD BE WITH THE WEATHER.

IS THIS SUMMER ABNORMAL OR FOLLOWING THE TREND.

>> DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE.

IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA THEY GET 30 TO 40 DAYS OF 100 DEGREES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE REST OF THE STATE FROM MAY FORWARD WE HAD AN UNUSUAL WET AND MILD PERIOD FROM THE PANHANDLE THROUGH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

WEST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA TOP TEN WETTEST SUMMERS ON RECORD SO FAR FOR THOSE AREA.

WE HAD 10 TO 15 TO 20 INCHES OF RAIN.

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T GET THAT IN A YEAR.

MILD SUMMER FOR THOSE FOLKS.

JUST NOW, WE ARE STARTING TO ENTER THE HEAT.

A VERY LATE START TO THE SUMMER FOR MANY OF US.

>> BRETT, WHAT ARE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU OFFER IF SOMEONE EXPERIENCES HEAT RELATED ILLNESS?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST GET INSIDE.

GET COOL WATER.

CALL 9-1-1 IF YOU NEED THE NEED TO.

TO PREPARE TO GO OUTSIDE MAKE SURE YOU TAKE BREAKS IF YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE.

COME INSIDE AND SIT-IN FRONT OF AN AIR CONDITIONER.

GET COLD WATER.

SECONDLY, HYDRATE BEFORE YOU GO OUT.

STAY HYDRATED WHITE OUTSIDE.

HYDRATE WHEN YOU COME BACK INSIDE.

AS FAR AS CLOTHING COVER AS MUCH OF YOUR BODY AS YOU CAN.

LOOK FOR LIGHT CLOTHING THAT WILL WICK THE WET AWAY FROM YOUR BODY AND LIGHT COLORED.

IF YOU HAVE IT AVAILABLE USE THE SUNSCREEN TO PROTECT YOUR SKIN.

IF YOU DO OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES DO THEM AND PLAN AHEAD FOR THE MORNING HOURS OR LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THE AIR TEMPERATURES ARE COOLER.

>> GARY, YOU SAID EARLY IN THE MORNING OR LATE AT NIGHT WHEN THEY ARE COOLER.

THEY ARE STILL HOT.

>> ONE PROBLEM WE SEE IT'S NOT COOL ENOUGH AT NIGHT FOR PEOPLE TO RELIEVE THE HEALTHY AT HEAT AT TIMES.

WE HAD TEMPERATURES IN THE 80s.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO RELIEVE THE HEAT STRESS WHEN THE TEMPERATURES ARE THAT HIGH, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE SUNLIGHT IS OUT LONGER TOO.

>> THE TEMPERATURES CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON LIVESTOCK AND EVERYTHING, CORRECT?

>> RIGHT WHEN WE SEE LARGE CATTLE DIE OFF IT'S WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DON'T GET DOWN FAR ENOUGH.

WE GET STILL AIR AND NOT MUCH WIND AND IT'S TOUGH ON CATTLE AND OTHER LIVESTOCK.

>> HOW MANY HEAT ALERTS DO YOU ISSUE PER YEAR?

>> WE SEE BETWEEN 4 AND 7 PER YEAR.

SO FAR IN 2032 WE HAD TWO IN THE WESTERN DIVISION IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THREE IN THE EASTERN DIVISION IN TULSA.

>> THAT NUMBER IS CREEPING UP TOWARDS THE AVERAGE?

>> CORRECT.

>> DO YOU ANTICIPATE IT TO GO OVER THE AVERAGE?

>> AROUND WHERE IT USUALLY IS.

WE DON'T SEE AN UPTICK OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE NORMALLY SEE.

>> BRETT, WE MENTIONED THE HEAT INDEXES.

PAUL VALLEY BROKE A 30 YEAR RECORD 126 DEGREES AT THE HEAT INDEX.

WHAT'S CAUSING THAT?

>> RIGHT, OF COURSE WE HAD ALL OF THE RAINFALL THIS SUMMER.

THAT ADDED THE MOISTURE TO THE AIR.

WE HAD FLOW FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO THAT GOT OUR DEW POINT TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW TO MID 80s EVEN.

HIGH DEW POINT TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH THE HEAT THAT SET IN AND PRODUCED THAT HATE INDEX OF 126.

WE HAD HEAT INDEX VALUES IN JULY AND LATER IN JUNE OF 115 TO 125.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING UNCOMMON THIS SUMMER.

VIOLENT BURSTS OF HEAT THIS YEAR.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, SHORT AND VIOLENT BURSTS HAS OKLAHOMA SEEN SUMMERS LIKE THAT, MAYBE 10, 12 YEARS AGO WE HAD RECORD BREAKING HEAT ACROSS THE STATE.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT TREND IN AUGUST?

>> SURE, WE SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE THIS TYPE OF HEAT FARTHER INTO AUGUST.

WE WILL GET THE COOL DOWN BUT YOU TALKING ABOUT THE 2011 SUMMER THAT WAS THE HOTTEST SUMMER FOR ANY STATE, FOR THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA THAT WAS THE HOTTEST ON RECORD.

LAST YEAR ON RECORD SUMMER WAS THE HOTTEST.

SUMMERS VERY BUT WE HAD EXTREME SUMMERS.

>> OKLAHOMA DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A PATTERN.

YOU SEE THINGS THAT SAY THIS IS NOT THE NEW NORMAL.

THIS IS ABNORMAL.

IS THIS NOT OKLAHOMA OR EXTERNAL REASONS.

>> THEY ARE NORMALLY HOT.

IT'S HOW HOT ARE THEY NORMALLY GOING TO GET.

WE HAVE SEEN A BIT OF A BURST OF EXTREME HEAT LAST YEAR.

2011, 2012.

GENERALLY, SUMMERS HAVE REMAINED NORMALLY CHAOTIC.

>> NORMALLY CHAOTIC.

>> OTHER THAN 2011.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TOO UNUSUAL LATELY.

>> THIS SUMMER COMPARED TO 2011, WE ARE NOT CLOSE.

>> NO, THIS IS NOTHING LIKE 2011.

IT'S NOTHING LIKE LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR WE HAD 30 TO 50 TO 60 DAYS OF 100 DEGREES.

THIS YEAR HARDLY THAT AT ALL.

>> BRETT, IF SOMEONE IS OUTSIDE WORKING AND DOING ACTIVITIES AND START TO FEEL TIRED.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEAT EXHAUSTION AND STROKE.

>> THEY ARE BOTH HEAT ILLNESS.

HEAT EXHAUSTION IS THE MILDEST.

YOU WILL HAVE DIZZINESS, LIGHT-HEADEDNESS, LIGHT-HEADEDNESS.

YOU WILL STILL BE SWEATING.

THE BODY IS PRODUCING MOISTURE TO COOL YOU DOWN.

THE MORE SEVERE FORM, THE HEAT STROKE, IS WHEN YOU NO LONGER HAVE THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE SWEAT.

YOU HAVE ALTERED MENTAL STATUS.

CONFUSION.

SOME COULD HAVE SEIZURE LIKE ACTIVITIES AND YOU SHOULD CALL 9-1-1.

>> HOW LONG DOES SOMEONE HAVE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE TO CALL 9-1-1.

>> THE SOONER THE BETTER.

YOU COULD HAVE BRAIN DAMAGE TO THE BODY.

IT COULD HAVE GREAT IMPACTS ON THE BODY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

>> WHEN IN THE HEAT IT DILATES YOUR BLOOD VESSELS.

YOU ARE LOSING SWEAT AND WATER VOLUME AS WELL AS ELECTROLYTES.

THEY HAVE A BIG ROLE IN CARDIAC FUNCTION THE WAY YOUR HEARTBEATS.

YOU CAN HAVE CARDIAC DYSFUNCTION DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY.

>> OKAY.

>> WE DID A STORY ABOUT FLASH DROUGHTS.

WE HAD A LOT OF RAIN THIS SUMMER.

WILL THE HEAT CANCEL THAT OUT?

>> IF IT CONTINUES THIS WAY, WE WILL SEE DROUGHT CONDITIONS START TO RETURN.

WE HAVE SEEN IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA ABNORMALLY DRY CONDITIONS STARTS TO FESTER.

IF THAT CONTINUES FOR A WEEK OR TWO WITHOUT MORE RAINFALL AND THIS TYPE OF HEAT THE EVAPORATION TAKES OVER AND WE WILL SEE IT START TO COME BACK.

I HOPE IT DOESN'T OCCUR, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT IT WILL BE.

WHERE IT'S FLOURISHING THAT'S AN AREA WHERE WE ARE DOING DAMAGE.

>> HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE -- HOW MANY DAYS IN A ROW OF 100 DEGREES BEFORE WE ARE IN DANGER OF WILDFIRES AND OTHER THINGS THAT COME FROM THIS?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY.

WITH THE EXTREME HEAT AND THE DRYNESS THEY HAD WE ARE SEEING RED FLAG FIRE DANGER.

EXTREME FIRE DANGER IN SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA THAT'S TODAY.

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO SEE THAT DAMAGE OCCUR.

WILDFIRE DANGER STARTS TO ERUPT WHEN THE VEGETATION STARTS TO WELTS AND GO DORMIENT AND DIE.

ITS WON'T TAKE A WEEK OR TWO.

SPORTS AND PEOPLE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE.

HOW DOES IT IMPACT PEOPLE IN THEIR ADULTHOOD OR CHILD.

>> IT'S MORE EFFECTED ON PEOPLE IN THE CHILDHOOD AS WELL AS THE ELDERLY POPULATION.

THEY ARE LESS RESILIENT TO THE FORCES OF THE HEAT AND WHAT IT DOES TO YOUR BODY.

BE SELF AWARE IF YOU ARE A COACH OR LOOKING AFTER ADOLESCENTS.

LOOKOUT FOR THE WARNING SIGNS AND IF IN DOUBT CALL 9-1-1.

WE ARE GLAD TO ASSESS AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS SAFE.

>> ALL RIGHT, GARY, I HAVE AN ODD QUESTION FOR YOU.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME OKLAHOMA HAD A COLD SUMMER?

IS THERE A CHANCE IT WILL RETURN?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAD A COLD SUMMER.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 1992.

AFTER AN ERUPT SENT THE PARTICLES IN THE AIR.

IT TOOK ABOUT A YEAR.

BARELY GOT ABOVE 100.

I DON'T EXPECT THAT TO OCCUR AGAIN.

WE DON'T WANT THAT.

>> I MIGHT CALL FOR MORE ELITE I'D LIKE TO TANK EVERYONE FOR JOINING US AND THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING TO OKLAHOMANS ABOUT THE TOPIC.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>>ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

A GRASS ROOTS EFFORT TO REDUCE VIOLENCE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

WE'LL PROFILE THE LIVE FREE O.K.C.

PROGRAM HEADED UP BY LOCAL ACTIVIST, JABEE WILLIAMS AND LEARN HOW HE PLANS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AT A TIME.

AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOTANICAL GARDEN, SHOT AND EDITED BY O.E.T.A.

'S LUIS RENDO PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE, OETA.TV.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER BY SEARCHING OETA ONR, AND ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE, JUST SEARCH, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR WEEKEND!

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