>> A GATHERING AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION TO PROTEST A PLANNED EXECUTION, PLUS: >> THE ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE GOVERNMENT FROM EXTENDING PUBLIC BENEFITS TO KIDS WHO GO TO RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS.

>> SYPHONING PUBLIC MONEY FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION IS DEFINITELY PART OF THE PLAN.

>> A CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION PUSHES BACK AGAINST A PROPOSED CATHOLIC VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA.

OUR YEAR-LONG SERIES ON OKLAHOMA'S REMAINING BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS CONTINUES IN CLEARVIEW.

>> SO IF YOU WANNA MOVE TO CLEARVIEW, COME ON.

WE'LL FIND A PLACE FOR YOU.

AND IT'S -- IT'S AN EASY PLACE TO LIVE IN.

>> IS IT TIME TO SIGNIFICANTLY RAISE OKLAHOMA'S MINIMUM WAGE?

>> GOOD COMPANIES THAT WANNA STAY IN OKLAHOMA WOULD WANT THEIR EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS TO BE MAKING, YOU KNOW, A LIVING WAGE.

>> THAT'S GONNA PRICE OUT TONS OF, IF NOT MOST, SMALL BUSINESSES FROM BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LABOR MARKET, 'CAUSE THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE.

>> PLUS, KEEPING OUR STATE'S WEATHER FORECASTING CAPABILITIES STATE-OF-THE-ART NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

PHILLIP HANCOCK WAS EXECUTED THURSDAY MORNING AT THE STATE PENITENTIARY IN MCALESTER AFTER GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT FORMALLY DENIED HIS REQUEST FOR CLEMENCY WITHOUT COMMENT.

BACK ON NOVEMBER 7TH, THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD VOTED 3-2 TO SPARE HANCOCK'S LIFE, BUT THAT DECISION ULTIMATELY RESTED IN THE HANDS OF THE GOVERNOR.

AT THAT HEARING IN OKLAHOMA CITY, HANCOCK'S LAWYERS, AS WELL AS TWO OKLAHOMA STATE REPRESENTATIVES, PLEADED FOR HANCOCK'S LIFE, SAYING HE KILLED TWO MEN IN SELF-DEFENSE AND THAT THE JURY THAT CONVICTED HANCOCK IN 2001 NEVER SAW OR HEARD TESTIMONY THAT COULD HAVE PROVEN IT.

>> THE DUTY THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS GRAVE, AND THE ONE THING I'D SAY IS WE'VE GOTTEN IT WRONG SO MANY TIMES IN OKLAHOMA.

LET'S STAND UP AND LET'S GET IT RIGHT AT LEAST ONCE.

LET'S GRANT CLEMENCY FOR PHILLIP HANCOCK AND ALLOW THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT HE'S GONNA HAVE TO MAKE.

I WOULDN'T WANT THAT DUTY EITHER.

>> RICH: ON THURSDAY MORNING, THE OKLAHOMA COALITION TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY DEMONSTRATED SILENTLY IN FRONT OF THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE PAROLE BOARD HAS NOW RECOMMENDED CLEMENCY FOUR TIMES, WITH STITT DECLINING TO ACT IN THREE CASES, THOUGH HE DID COMMUTE JULIUS JONES' SENTENCE TO LIFE IN PRISON.

HANCOCK IS THE 11TH PERSON TO BE EXECUTED SINCE OKLAHOMA'S DEATH ROW MORATORIUM WAS LIFTED IN 2021.

>> RICH: A NATIONAL CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION CALLED "FAITHFUL AMERICA" IS OPPOSED TO OKLAHOMA ALLOWING PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR OFFERING PUBLIC FUNDING TO SUPPORT PRIVATE RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS LIKE THE PROPOSED ST. ISIDORE CATHOLIC VIRTUAL SCHOOL.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THEIR MESSAGE TO STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, RYAN WALTERS.

>> AS OF RIGHT NOW, ST. ISIDORE OF SEVILLE VIRTUAL CATHOLIC CHARTER SCHOOL WILL BE THE FIRST STATE-FUNDED RELIGIOUS SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA WHEN IT OPENS NEXT FALL.

HOWEVER, LOCAL AND NATIONAL RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ARE EMPHATIC IN THEIR BELIEF THE COURTS WILL STOP IT.

>> ERIN BREWER AND HER HUSBAND, SHAWN, ARE PROUD PARENTS OF TWO KIDS WHO ATTEND DEER CREEK PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN EDMOND.

ERIN'S ALSO THE COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR FOR AN ORGANIZATION THAT CALLS ITSELF THE "OKLAHOMA PARENT LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY COALITION."

SHE SAYS OKLAHOMA HAS NO BUSINESS USING PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS TO START AN ONLINE CATHOLIC CHARTER SCHOOL.

>> HOW DID WE GET HERE IS THE QUESTION.

>> UMM.

THAT'S A GREAT ONE.

YOU HAVE TO GO BACK UP QUITE A WAYS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE GOT HERE, BUT PART OF IT IS WE ARE NOT VERY GOOD VOTERS IN OKLAHOMA.

>> BREWER SAYS VOTER APATHY HAS ALLOWED POLITICIANS, LIKE STATE EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS, TO MANIPULATE THE MESSAGE.

>> SO A LOT OF OUR RURAL OKLAHOMANS LIVE IN NEWS DESERTS.

FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE STATIONS LIKE OETA, I THINK, THAT ARE SERVING A STATEWIDE POPULATION.

BUT JOURNALISM -- I THINK OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS ARE DYING OUT.

UMM, OUR LOCAL TELEVISION COVERAGE -- MANY OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES ARE GETTING NEWS FROM OTHER STATES INSTEAD OF OKLAHOMA.

>> I REACHED OUT TO RYAN WALTERS THROUGH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION BY PHONE AND EMAIL THIS PAST MONDAY.

WALTERS, WHO SERVES ON THE OETA BOARD BY VIRTUE OF HIS ELECTED POSITION, HASN'T RESPONDED.

EPISCOPAL PRIEST NATHAN EMPSALL IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED "FAITHFUL AMERICA."

HE SAYS THEY HAVE MORE THAN 200,000 MEMBERS.

AND THEY SAY THEY'RE THE LARGEST ONLINE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> OUR MEMBERS ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THE WAY THAT GOVERNOR STITT AND MR. WALTERS HAVE BEEN ERODING THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IN SCHOOLS BY ADVANCING AN AGENDA OF RIGHT WING CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM.

EMPSALL SAYS 12,000 FAITHFUL AMERICA MEMBERS HAVE SIGNED A LETTER OPPOSING THE PLANS FOR THE ST. ISIDORE VIRTUAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL AND SENT THEM TO SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE DISTRICTS OF ALL 1700 OF OKLAHOMA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> LAST JUNE, THE OKLAHOMA STATEWIDE VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE ST. ISIDORE AS THE STATE'S FIRST ONLINE CATHOLIC SCHOOL.

OPPONENTS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST IT IN DISTRICT COURT IN JULY.

>> TEACHING OUR KIDS IS A REALLY HARD JOB, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW.

AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT MR. WALTERS IS MAKING IT EVEN HARDER BY ADDING SAMPLE PRAYERS AND HIS BRAND OF RELIGION ON TOP OF THE JOB THAT TEACHERS ALREADY HAVE TO DO.

>> ST. ISIDORE VIRTUAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL WOULD BE OPERATED BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

I REACHED OUT TO THE ARCHDIOCESE HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY ABOUT ALL OF THIS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THEY SENT ME TO A COUPLE OF CATHOLIC LAW PROFESSORS FROM OUT OF STATE.

MICHAEL MORELAND IS A LAW PROFESSOR AT VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY, OUTSIDE PHILADELPHIA.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, BECAUSE PARENTS AND STUDENTS DESERVE CHOICES IN THE KIND OF EDUCATION THAT THEY GET.

AND THE FACT IS THAT OKLAHOMA IN ITS CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY OPENED THEM UP TO PRIVATE ACTORS, INCLUDING FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS THAT OPERATE ONE OF THE ONLINE SCHOOLS IN THE STATE.

AND THE SUPREME COURT HAS BEEN PRETTY CLEAR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT WHERE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE CHARTER SCHOOLS, DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE FUNDING PROGRAMS THAT ARE OPEN TO NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT ONCE THEY DO, ONCE THE STATE MAKES THAT DECISION AND MAKES THOSE CHOICES OPEN FOR PARTICIPANTS, PARENTS AND SCHOOLS, THE STATE CAN'T THEN DISCRIMINATE AGAINST RELIGION SPECIFICALLY.

>> NICOLE GARNETT IS A LAW PROFESSOR AT NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY.

IN SOUTHBEND.

>> SO, YES, I HAVE STUDIED THE QUESTION EXTENSIVELY, AND I THINK THERE ARE DIFFERENT LAYERS TO THE QUEST.

THE FIRST IS CAN THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE MONEY FOR CHILDREN TO ATTEND RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS?

DOES THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA PROHIBIT THAT?

AND THE ANSWER IS NO.

THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE CLEAR OVER 20 YEARS AGO THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE GOVERNMENT FROM EXTENDING PUBLIC BENEFITS TO KIDS WHO GO TO RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS.

AND A FEW YEARS AGO, THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT SAID THE SAME THING.

>> LORI WALKE DISAGREES.

SHE'S SENIOR MINISTER AT MAYFLOWER CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND IS ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS SUING TO STOP ST. ISIDORE FROM OPENING.

>> SYPHONING PUBLIC MONEY FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION IS DEFINITELY PART OF THE PLAN.

SHE SAYS IF STATE EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS HAS IT HIS WAY, HE'LL DO AWAY WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION ALTOGETHER.

>> AS A PASTOR, WHAT IS ONE OF THE MOST CONCERNING THINGS TO ME IS THE ELEMENT OF COERCION IN ALL OF THIS.

THERE HAS BEEN LOTS OF TALK ABOUT REQUIRING STUDENTS TO PRAY, REQUIRING TEACHERS TO LEAD PRAYER IN VERY SPECIFIC WAYS.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING OF MANY PEOPLE OF FAITH IS THAT COERCION IS THE OPPOSITE OF FAITH.

AND THAT MAKES IT, TO USE A THEOLOGICAL WORD, A SIN.

>> I ALSO REACHED OUT TO STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND'S OFFICE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

HE ALSO LAUNCHED A LEGAL CHALLENGE TO ST. ISIDORE.

HIS OFFICE SENT ME A STATEMENT THAT BASICALLY SAYS STATE TAX DOLLARS HAVE NO BUSINESS FINANCING A RELIGIOUS PRIVATE SCHOOL.

RICH.

>> RICH: STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

>> RICH: A PROPOSED STATE QUESTION THAT WOULD DOUBLE OKLAHOMA'S MINIMUM WAGE FROM $7.25 TO $15 IS ALREADY DRAWING OPPOSITION FROM THE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU AND BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS.

WE'LL DISCUSS THE PROS AND CONS OF A BOOST IN THE MINIMUM WAGE IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

HERE'S A PREVIEW: >> I DON'T KNOW HOW A PERSON WOULD LIVE ON 7.25 AN HOUR.

I -- I JUST DON'T, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE TRYING TO RAISE A FAMILY, BOTH -- EVEN WITH BOTH PARENTS OR IF IT'S A FOUR-MEMBER HOUSEHOLD.

I -- I DON'T SEE WHERE EVEN BOTH PEOPLE MAKING MINIMUM WAGE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE A LIVABLE WAGE.

>> 7.25 IS NOT A LIVABLE WAGE, BUT IT'S ALSO THE MINIMUM.

IT'S NEVER INTENDED TO BE A LIVABLE WAGE.

AND WHAT THE MARKET HAS DRIVEN IS A WAGE THAT'S MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA NOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DEMAND A LIVABLE WAGE AT $35 AN HOUR, 'CAUSE THAT WOULD -- THAT WOULD CRUSH BUSINESSES AND REALLY HURT OUR ECONOMY.

>> RICH: THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

OKLAHOMA CONGRESSMAN FRANK LUCAS IS PUSHING FOR THE RE-AUTHORIZATION OF THE 2017 "WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION ACT," WHICH HELPS NOAA MAINTAIN STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT, SOMETHING THAT IS VITAL HERE IN UNPREDICTABLE OKLAHOMA.

REPORTER JOEL FILOMENO JOINS US NOW WITH MORE DETAILS.

JOEL.

>> ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, NATURAL DISASTERS ACROSS THE NATION RESULTED IN $21-AND-A-HALF BILLION DOLLARS IN AGRICULTURAL LOSSES IN 2022.

I SPOKE WITH CONGRESSMAN LUCAS ABOUT THE IMPACT REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WEATHER ACT WILL HAVE ON ALL OKLAHOMANS.

>> THERE'S NOTHING MORE INCONSISTENT, MORE FICKLE THAN MOTHER NATURE.

US REPRESENTATIVE FRANK LUCAS SAYS THE RENEWAL OF THE WEATHER ACT WILL KEEP THE PROGRESS GOING FOR DEVELOPING STORM PREDICTION TECHNOLOGY.

>> I'M VERY PROUD OF MY BILL.

IT WAS THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE WEATHER BILL SINCE 1992, AND NOW, FIVE YEARS LATER, IT'S TIME TO REAUTHORIZE AND CONTINUE TO BUILD OFF THAT.

THE WEATHER ACT WAS PREVIOUSLY PASSED DURING THE FIRST SESSION OF THE 115TH U.S. CONGRESS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED THE BILL INTO LAW ON APRIL 2017.

>> THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROMISING TECHNOLOGIES AND TECHNIQUES IN WEATHER, HURRICANE FORECASTING OR EFFORTS TO SPEED UP OUR TORNADO PREDICTIONS, BUT BRING IT DOWN UNDER AN HOUR WERE BASICALLY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TWO A WEEK TO TWO-YEAR SEASONAL WEATHER FORECASTING.

>> WEATHER PREDICTION REQUIRES ACCURATE DATA, AND LUCAS SAYS THE RENEWAL WILL HELP ENSURE NOAA GETS THAT INFORMATION.

>> BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY WE USE TO GET OUR INFORMATION CHANGES, WE HAVE TO STAY CURRENT WITH THAT.

FELLOW U.S. HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE STEPHANIE BICE CO-SPONSORED REPRESENTATIVE LUCAS' PROPOSAL THAT.

FELLOW U.S. HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE STEPHANIE BICE CO-SPONSORED REPRESENTATIVE LUCAS' PROPOSAL TO REAUTHORIZE THE WEATHER ACT AND SAID IN A STATEMENT: AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND ESPECIALLY OKLAHOMANS, RELY ON ACCURATE WEATHER FORECASTING IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEIR LIFE AND PROPERTY.

THE WEATHER ACT REAUTHORIZATION ENSURES WE HAVE THE RESOURCES WE NEED WHEN CRITICAL WEATHER EVENTS STRIKE.

I AM GRATEFUL THAT THIS LEGISLATION INCLUDES MY BILLS, THE NOAA WEATHER RADIO ACT, THE NATIONAL MESONET AUTHORIZATION ACT, AND THE WING ACT.

>> LUCAS ADDS THAT THE WEATHER ACT OPENED THE DOOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE RADAR TECHNOLOGY TO HELP FARMERS IN OKLAHOMA BETTER PREPARE FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER.

>> THEY'RE WORKING HARD, ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER ENTITIES, TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF WEATHER RADAR.

WHY DOES THAT MATTER?

IT HAS BEEN SINCE THE 1980S, SINCE WE'VE HAD A COMPLETE UPDATING OF THE WEATHER RADAR SYSTEM.

>> SO THESE ARE SOME RECENT DATA FROM HORAS.

BOB PALMER IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ADVANCED RADAR RESEARCH CENTER IN NORMAN.

>> THEY CAN'T STOP THE STORM, BUT THEY CAN TRY TO PROTECT CERTAIN TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> HE SAYS THAT TRADITIONAL WEATHER RADARS ARE LIMITED BY THEIR MOBILITY AND RANGE.

THAT TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES IN ORDER TO SCAN A STORM.

SO A COUPLE DECADES AGO, OU AND NATIONAL SEVERE STORMS LAB AND EVEN THE FAA AT THE TIME SORT OF GOT TOGETHER AND STARTED THINKING ABOUT NEXT GENERATION RADARS.

OU'S ADVANCED RADAR RESEARCH FACILITY HAS DEVELOPED A NEW MODERN RADAR TO GATHER CRITICAL WEATHER DATA.

>> IT'S A TYPE OF RADAR THAT'S BEEN USED IN THE MILITARY FOR DECADES, AND IT'S CALLED A PHASED ARRAY RADAR.

PALMER SAYS THEIR PHASED ARRAY RADAR, CALLED THE HORUS SYSTEM, GATHERS WEATHER DATA AT A QUICKER RATE THAN A DOPPLER RADAR.

>> THESE THINGS THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR WEATHER APP THAT YOU TYPICALLY LOOK AT A STORM AND YOU GET AN UPDATE OF THAT IMAGE EVERY FIVE MINUTES WITH A PHASED ARRAY SYSTEM, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET THOSE UPDATES EVERY FEW SECONDS.

>> HE ALSO SAYS THE HORUS RADAR ISN'T LIMITED BY MOBILITY.

>> YOU CAN SCAN OVER IN THIS DIRECTION, AND THEN IF THERE'S A STORM OVER HERE, YOU CAN SCAN OVER THERE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT REPOSITIONING A BIG DISH.

>> PALMER SAYS THAT THEY MOST LIKELY HAVE TO UPSCALE THE HORUS SYSTEM FOR FUTURE USE DURING SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS.

BUT TO GET EVEN HIGHER RESOLUTION DATA, YOU NEED A BIGGER SYSTEM.

AND SO WE HAVE PLANS TO GO AFTER THAT AND BUILD LARGER SYSTEMS WITH BETTER RESOLUTION BUT STILL BASED ON THE HORUS TECHNOLOGY.

>> THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REPUBLICAN SAYS THAT FARMERS ARE A MAIN FOCUS WHEN IMPROVING WEATHER FORECASTS.

>> AGGIES MOST FAMOUSLY NEED BETTER WEATHER FORECASTING SO THEY CAN RAISE THE FOOD AND FIBER WE NEED, BUT A VARIETY OF OTHER INDUSTRIES ALSO USE THIS INFORMATION.

>> PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN FARMERS & RANCHERS UNION, SCOTT BLUBAUGH, SAYS THE NEW HORUS SYSTEM WILL BENEFIT FARMERS MAKING DECISIONS ON CROPS.

>> YOU DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA RAIN, AND THE WEATHER PEOPLE TELL YOU IT'S NOT GONNA RAIN, AND THEN YOU GET A BIG RAIN, AND YOU RUIN THE CROP, SEE.

SO THAT REALLY HAVING THAT GOOD INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO PREDICT TWO OR THREE DAYS IN ADVANCE IS JUST -- IS JUST GREAT FOR OUR BUSINESS.

HE SAYS BECAUSE OF CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS FARMERS ARE ALSO DEALING WITH SHORTER WINDOWS TO GET CROPS IN THE GROUND.

>> DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON WHY THE WEATHER'S CHANGING, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE EVENTS ARE MORE SEVERE, AND THEY'RE MORE CLOSER TOGETHER, AND THEY COST US MORE MONEY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE LUCAS SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT MORE HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR FARMERS IF HIS WEATHER ACT PASSES IN BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE U.S. CONGRESS.

>> THE ABILITY TO DO WEATHER FORECASTING, SHORT-TERM INTERMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM, WHETHER YOU'RE AN AGGIE OR SOMEBODY IN THE ENERGY BUSINESS OR JUST WHAT'S THE DRIVE TO WORK GONNA BE LIKE TOMORROW, THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT.

>> ON NOVEMBER 8TH, THE U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY UNANIMOUSLY AGREED ON THE LANGUAGE FOR REAUTHORIZATION OF THE WEATHER ACT.

NOW THE BILL MAKES ITS WAY TO THE FULL HOUSE.

RICH.

>> RICH: THANK YOU.

>> RICH; CLEARVIEW, OKLAHOMA, ONE OF 13 REMAINING HISTORIC BLACK TOWNS IN OUR STATE, WAS FOUNDED IN 1903 AND WAS ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS LINCOLN IN HONOR OF OUR 16TH PRESIDENT.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON THE HISTORY OF THIS SMALL TOWN IN OKFUSKEE COUNTY IS TAELYR JACKSON.

TAELYER?

>> CLEARVIEW HAS HAD ITS SHARES OF UPS AND DOWNS OVER THE YEARS.

IT STARTED WITH A NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT LOOKING FOR FREEDMEN THAT WERE SEARCHING FOR A NEW LIFE WITHIN INDIAN TERRITORY.

WE WANT TO WARN YOU THAT SOME OF THE IMAGES YOU WILL SEE ARE GRAPHIC.

♪♪ >> ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF OKEMAH IN OKFUSKEE COUNTY IS THE QUIET LITTLE TOWN CLEAR VIEW, FOUNDED BY JA ROPER, LA MEL JACKSON AND JOHN GRACE.

LIKE SEVERAL OTHER HISTORIC BLACK TOWNS, CLEAR VIEW WAS HOME TO FREEMAN.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF RAILROADS THAT WERE IN OKLAHOMA AT THAT TIME, SO THE TOWN BEGAN TO BE ESTABLISHED IN INDIAN LAND, FREED MEN LAND IS WHAT IT WAS.

THOSE PROMOTERS WHO KNEW THERE WITH YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD PLAQUE LAND IN OKLAHOMA, YOU BARS FACING THERE WAS AN IDEA OF BECOMING AN ALL BLACK STATE, AND THEN WITH THAT IDEA THEN BECAME THE PROMOTION OF BLACK TOWNS ALONG THESE RAILROAD TRACKS.

>> CLEARVIEW HISTORIAN THEY ADVERTISED IN OUT OF STATE NEWSPAPERS.

>> SO WHAT THEY DID WAS THEN AFTER THEY HAD PLATTED THE LAND AND STARTED THE LAND COMPANY IS THEY STARTED ADVERTISING, AND THEY ADVERTISED IN THE STATES OF TEXAS, LOUISIANA, ARKANSAS, MISSISSIPPI, ALL OF THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES, AND THEY WERE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE FORMER SLAVES IN THE SOUTH.

>> THANKS TO ADVERTISING, FREED MEN FLOCKED TO CAREER VIEW ESTABLISHING CHURCHS, BUSINESSES, AND A NEWSPAPER.

>> BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE WERE AGRICULTURALISTS, THEY WERE ALL PREPARED, THEY WERE ALL ESTABLISHED IN A TRADE.

THEY KNEW HOW TO MAKE HORSESHOES, KNEW HOW TO BE BLACKSMITHS, KNEW HOW TO MAKE CLOTHES, HATS, KNEW HOW TO MAKE BRICK.

THEY KNEW HOW TO BUILD HOUSES.

>> BY 1907, THE TOWN WAS HOME TO MORE THAN 600 PEOPLE.

>> WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE TOWN IN THE PEAK OF THE TOWN IS THAT YOU HAVE THIS JEALOUSY OF THE WHITES THAT LIVED IN THE AREA THAT DID NOT WANT THE SUCCESS OF THE BLACK TOWNS, DID NOT WANT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO THERE WAS AN EFFORT, ESPECIALLY HERE, OKFUSKEE COUNTY THAT SOME OF THE WHITES GOT TOGETHER AND SIGNED THESE CONTRACTS WITH EACH OTHER THAT THEY WOULD NOT SELL TO BLACKS.

THEY USED SCARE TACTICS OF SAYING THAT WE WOULD HANG YOU.

IN FACT, YOU PROBABLY HEARD OF THE STORE OF LAURA NELSON, THE HANGING OF HER ON THE BRIDGE BETWEEN OKEMAH AND BOWLY.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED THAT WOULD SCARE THE BLACKS.

>> LESS THAN A DECADE LATER, CLEARVIEW'S POPULATION BEGAN TO DECREASE PARTLY DUE TO THE BACK TO AFRICA MOVEMENT.

>> SHE CAME TO OKLAHOMA AND HAD THE IDEA OF GOING BACK TO AFRICA.

AND HE CAME THROUGH WITH THIS IDEA OF TAKING BLACKS BACK TO AFRICA.

>> SHE SAYS CHIEF LED SOME RESIDENTS OUT OF CLEARVIEW AROUND 1913.

>> THE STORY IS IT WAS NOT FAR FROM CLEARVIEW THAT HE SET UP HIS CAMPS TO TAKE PEOPLE BACK.

>> DUE TO LOGISTICAL ISSUES, MANY OF SAM'S FOLLOWERS NEVER MADE IT TO AFRICA.

>> HE DIDN'T GET HIS SHIP LIKE HE WANTED IT, SO A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE DIED IN THAT CAMP, AND HE DIDN'T MAKE IT BACK TO AFRICA.

>> BACK IN CLEARVIEW, THE TOWNS RELIANCE ON AGRICULTURE CREATED PROBLEMS OF ITS OWN IN THE 1920'S AND 30'S WHEN COTTON PRICES SIGNIFICANTLY DROPPED AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION HIT.

IN 1937, THE RAILROAD CLOSED.

JOBS IN TOWN WERE HARD TO FIND LEADING TO AN EXODUS FOR MANY RESIDENTS SEEKING A BETTER LIFE OUT OF STATE.

FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS, CLEARVIEW MAYOR MARILYN JACKSON, HAS WORKED TO IMPROVE THE TOWN'S INFRASTRUCTURE.

CLEARVIEW RECEIVED A 100,000-DOLLAR GRANT FOR BRIDGE AND ROAD IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY FACILITIES GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM.

JACKSON USED THAT GRANT MONEY TO REPLACE THE TOWN'S MAIN ROAD.

>> CALL IT THE TRACK, THE OLD RAILROAD TRACK.

IT JUST GOT PAVED ALL THE WAY FROM THE CEMETERY TO THE BOTTOM OF JAMES HILL, WHICH IS HALFWAY BETWEEN.

>> JACKSON AND OTHER TOWN LEADERS ARE COMMITTED TO FIXING UP THE TOWN WITH THE HOPES OF LURING TOURISTS AND FORMER RESIDENTS BACK TO PAY A VISIT.

>> ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I'M TRYING TO DO IS GET THE LOTS CLEANED UP, YOU KNOW.

PEOPLE HAVE INHERITED LOTS, AND THEY'RE SMALL LOTS.

SO THERE IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO BUILD SOMETHING ON.

>> THE OLD TOWN HAS SOME LIFE LEFT AND STORIES TO TELL.

THE MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTION IN TOWN IS THE OKLAHOMA AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATOR HALL OF FAME MUSEUM.

THE MUSEUM WAS CREATED BY OKLAHOMA EDUCATION HALL-OF-FAMER, WHO IS ALSO THE HUSBAND OF TOWN HISTORIAN SHIRLEY.

>> HE LOOKED AROUND AND HE THOUGHT ABOUT THERE'S NOT VERY MANY AFRICAN AMERICANS BEING INDUCTED INTO THESE HALLS OF FAME.

AND HE SAID, I HAD GREAT TEACHERS AND HE THOUGHT ABOUT I HAD GREAT TEACHERS ALSO, BUT NONE OF THEM ARE BEING RECOGNIZED, AND WE THOUGHT -- WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET THESE EDUCATORS RECOGNIZED.

>> VISITORS CAN ALSO CHECK OUT THE TOWN GIFT SHOP AND PURCHASE CLEARVIEW PILLOWS AND COOKBOOKS.

THE OLD GYM HAS BEEN RENOVATED TO HOST EVENTS LIKE BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND FAMILY REUNIONS.

JACKSON SAYS THE REUNIONS ALWAYS DRAW A LARGE CROWD BACK TO TOWN IN THE SUMMERTIME.

>> WE JUST FINISHED UP ON LABOR DAY AND DID THE GOLDEN FAMILY REUNION, AND ABOUT 3 OR 400 PEOPLE HERE, AND THEN THE FRENCH FAMILY CAME IN, AND THEY HAVE A BIG FAMILY.

>> CLEARVIEW'S ONCE BUSTLING POP BUSTLEPOPULATION OF 700 IS DOWN.

>> THAT INSPIRED ONE RESIDENT TO BUILD A RESTAURANT HERE IN TOWN CALLED WANDA JEAN.

>> WHAT'S ON THE MENU TODAY?

>> TODAY WE HAVE FRIED PORK CHOPS, SMOTHERED POTATOES AND FRIED OKRA.

>> IT SITS MAIN TREAT OVERLOOKING THE TOWN'S ROAD.

SHE NAMED IT AFTER HER MOTHER WHO STILL LIVES IN CLEARVIEW TODAY.

>> THERE WERE 7 OF US, 5 BOYS, 2 GIRLS, NO FATHER, SO IT WAS PRETTY ROUGH.

PLAYED BASKETBALL AND TRACK, DID ALL OF THAT.

THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING HERE WHEN I WAS HERE, PROBABLY LIKE LITTLE STORES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> WANDA JEAN'S UPTOWN OPENED IN 2021 AND IS A LOCAL FAVORITE.

>> I LIKE EATING OVER THERE.

I LOVE THE HOT WINGS, BECAUSE THEY CHANGED, AND I'M TRYING TO GET THEM TO CHANGE BACK.

>> SHE SAYS WHAT'S GOOD FOR HER BUSINESS AND GOOD FOR CLEARVIEW TOO.

>> MY MAIN REASON OPENING UP WANDA JEAN'S UPTOWN TO, BRING IN POSITIVE STUFF TO THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, HELP, YOU KNOW, WITH THE JOBS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> RESIDENTS SAY GROWING UP IN CLEARVIEW WAS LIKE HAVING A HUGE EXTENDED FAMILY.

>> EVERYBODY HERE, IF THEY'RE NOT BLOOD RELATED, THEY'RE MARRIED INTO OR WE CLAIM THEM AS COUSINS AND AS SISTERS AND BROTHERS.

>> WELL, I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS AROUND.

WE HAD A HIGH SCHOOL.

I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN '61.

THEY CLOSED IT IN '64.

>> WE HAD TO WALK ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE TO CATCH THE SCHOOL BUS, AND BUS ROUTE WAS VERY LONG, AND WE WERE PROBABLY ABOUT THE FIRST ONES ON THE BUS, AND THEN WE TRAVELED ALL THROUGH THE COUNTRY PICKING UP KIDS, BECAUSE THE AREA WAS MOSTLY AGRICULTURE.

>> WELL, BACK IN THE '50s, THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO, WE HAD A HARD TIME IN THE COTTON FIELD.

WE CHOPPED COTTON, WE PICKED COTTON.

WE DID ALL THOSE THINGS, AND WE USED TO HAVE TO CARRY WATER.

WE DIDN'T HAVE RUNNING WATER.

WE HAD OUTDOOR TOILETS.

WE DIDN'T HAVE NONE OF THE CONVENIENCES THAT WE ARE TODAY.

>> HE'S ONE OF 17 KIDS.

HE AND HIS BROTHER EARL LIVE IN THE SAME HOME THEY GREW UP IN.

>> OH, YEAH, A LOT OF TIMES, WHEN THE BUS COME, YOU BETTER GO IN THE HOUSE AND EAT, BECAUSE YOU IF DIDN'T, THERE WASN'T NOTHING TO EAT,.

>> RESIDENTS HOPE THE NEWFOUND AWARENESS LIKE BLACK HISTORICAL TOWNS LIKE THEIRS WILL ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES.

>> BRING SOME KIND OF FACTORY IN HERE.

IF YOU BRING A FACTORY IN HERE, YOU CAN GET WORKERS, AND WORKERS BRING PEOPLE.

>> SO IF YOU WANT TO MOVE TO CLEARVIEW, COME ON.

WE'LL FIND A PLACE FOR YOU, AND IT'S AN EASY PLACE TO LIVE IN.

>> COMING UP, IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE NEW YEAR.

JOEL FILOMENO REPORTS ON THE SMALL TOWN OF VERNON, LOCATED IN MCINTOSH COUNTY.

>> RICH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> A SCIENTIST AND HIS TEAM WORKING AT THE OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION HAVE HELPED DISCOVER THE CAUSE OF A RARE BRAIN DISORDER IN YOUNGER PEOPLE, AND IT COULD LEAD TO NEW TREATMENTS FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE.

DR. GAURAV VARSHNEY USED ZEBRA FISH TO CONFIRM A GENETIC MUTATION WHICH CAUSES THE RARE BRAIN DISORDER THAT IMPACTS MOTOR AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS.

>> ONE OF THE REASON WHY WE USE ZEBRA FISH IS THE 80% DISEASE CAUSING GENES HAVE A COUNTERPART IN ZEBRA FISH.

THEY'RE ALSO TRANSPARENT.

SO WE CAN FOLLOW ORGAN DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THEIR DEVELOPMENT IN LIVE ANIMALS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.

>> SO MY GOAL IS TO USE THIS DISEASE MODEL AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION.

AND THESE THERAPEUTICS CAN ALSO BE USED TO TREAT SOME OTHER DISEASES, SUCH AS PARKINSON.

>> DR. VARSHNEY IS COLLABORATING WITH A SCIENTIST IN LONDON, WHO DISCOVERED THE MUTATED GENE IN HUMANS IN 2020 AND ASKED HIM TO TEST THE FINDINGS USING ZEBRA FISH AT OMRF.

>> CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION IS INCREASING ITS REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

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

>> THE CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION HAS PURCHASED THE UNION PLAZA BUILDING IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE 250,000 SQUARE FOOT, 18-STORY OFFICE TOWER IS ALREADY THE HOME TO A BRANCH FOR SOVEREIGN BANK, WHICH IS THE CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION'S BANKING BUSINESS.

THE TRIBE PLANS TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE BUILDING SO IT REFLECTS CULTURAL INTEGRITY.

THE TERMS OF THE DEAL WERE NOT DISCLOSED.

>> OKLAHOMA'S INSTITUTIONS FOR HIGH LEARNING FAILED TO MAKE THE TOP 200 IN THIS YEAR'S LIST OF BEST U.S.

COLLEGES BY RESEARCH.COM.

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HAD THE HIGHEST RANKING AT 202.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA RANKS 205, AND OKLAHOMA STATE PLACED AT 293.

THE RANKINGS TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION COST, ACCEPTANCE RATE, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, ENROLLMENT NUMBERS, GRADUATION RATES, AND DEGREE OFFERINGS.

THE TOP UNIVERSITY ACCORDING TO RESEARCH.COM IS THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.

>> IF IT FEELS LIKE YOU GET A LOT OF TELEMARKETING SPAM CALLS, IT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE YOU LIVE IN OKLAHOMA.

TRUECALLER'S MONTHLY U.S. SPAM AND SCAM REPORT RANKS OKLAHOMA 3RD IN THE NUMBER OF SPAM CALLS RECEIVED IN RELATION TO POPULATION.

THE REPORT REVEALS OKLAHOMANS RECEIVED MORE THAN 39 MILLION SPAM AND SCAM CALLS IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR ALONE.

IF YOU WANT FEWER SPAM CALLS, CONSIDER MOVING TO HAWAII.

THAT'S THE STATE WITH THE FEWEST.

MISSISSIPPI AND SOUTH CAROLINA ARE THE ONLY TWO STATES RECEIVING MORE OF THOSE ANNOYING CALLS THAN OKLAHOMA.

>> OKLAHOMA CITY BASED BANK 7 CORP WILL BE PUTTING A LITTLE CASH IN ITS INVESTORS' POCKETS THIS QUARTER.

SHAREHOLDERS WILL RECEIVE A 21-CENT PER SHARE DIVIDEND ON THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK.

SHAREHOLDERS WILL NEED TO OWN BANK 7 STOCK BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON DECEMBER 22ND TO RECEIVE THE DIVIDEND PAYMENT ON JANUARY 4, 2024.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> RICH: THANKS, JASON.

>> OKLAHOMA IS ONE OF 13 STATES THAT STILL ADHERES TO THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE OF $7.25 AN HOUR.

FIVE STATES HAVE NO STANDARD MINIMUM WAGE, AND 26 STATES EXCEED THE FEDERAL MINIMUM.

NOW THERE IS A PROPOSED STATE QUESTION THAT WOULD RAISE OKLAHOMA'S MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR AND NOT EVERYONE AGREES THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, AS WE LEARN IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

THANKS, RICH.

>> TODAY WE'RE JOINED BY CHAD WARMINGTON, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE STATE CHAMBER OF OKLAHOMA, AND TIM O'CONNOR, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL OKLAHOMA LABOR FEDERATION.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> TIM, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHY DO YOU FEEL AN INCREASE IN THE STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE IS NEEDED?

>> WELL, BASED ON THE INTERACTION IN WASHINGTON TO TRY TO RAISE THAT ON A FEDERAL LEVEL, ESTATES ARE LEFT WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO -- STATES ARE LEFT WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR STATES ARE MAKING AT LEAST A GOOD MINIMUM WAGE.

>> CHAD, THE PASSING OF STATE QUESTION 832 WOULD, QUOTE, RESULT IN HIGHER DROPS AND FAILURE RATES FOR BUSINESSES.

CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT.

>> YOU BET.

I THINK WHEN YOU'VE SEEN WHEN STATES OR CITIES HAVE TAKEN ONA HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE, THE RESULTING IMPACT IS ACTUALLY HARMFUL FOR THE PEOPLE IT INTENDED TO HELP, WHICH ARE PEOPLE AT THE LOWER END OF THE PAY SCALE.

YOU PRICE BUSINESSES FROM OUT OF THE MARKET FROM BEING ABLE TO AFFORD ENTRY LEVEL HELP OR SOME OF THE JOBS THAT ARE CLOSER TO THE MINIMUM WAGE.

SO YOU HAVE A NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND WHAT YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO IS HELP FOLKS THAT MAYBE ARE AT THAT LOWER END OF THE INCOME SCALE.

>> TIM, IF THE STATE QUESTION IS PASSED, WILL THE MINIMUM WAGE GO FROM 7.25 TO $15 IMMEDIATELY?

>> I THINK THE STATE QUESTION THAT'S BEEN DRAWN UP AS INCREMENTAL STAGES ON HOW THAT INCREASES, BUT IT GETS TO A MAXIMUM OF $15 AN HOUR, AND THEN I THINK AFTER THAT, I THINK THERE'S A THING THAT RAISES IT BASED ON THE -- WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE ECONOMY.

>> HOW WOULD THIS REALLY AFFECT SOMEBODY'S LIFE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING TO STAY AHEAD OF INFLATION?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW A PERSON WOULD LIVE ON 7.25 AN HOUR.

I JUST DON'T, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE TRYING TO RAISE A FAMILY, EVEN WITH BOTH PARENTS OWE OREGON IF IT'S A FOUR MEMBER HOUSEHOLD, I DON'T SEE WHERE EVEN BOTH PEOPLE MAKING MINIMUM WAGE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE A LIVEABLE WAGE IN OKLAHOMA CITY OR EVEN AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SO, YOU KNOW, I MIGHT AGREE WITH HIM THAT A LOT OF COMPANIES ALREADY PAY ABOVE MINIMUM WAGE.

SO JUST PASSING A LAW THAT SAYS THEY HAVE TO MEET A CERTAIN MINIMUM STANDARD OF $15 AN HOUR SHOULDN'T BE A BIG PULL FOR ANY COMPANY THAT'S HERE IN OKLAHOMA RIGHT NOW.

>> CHAD, WHAT ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES YOUR ORGANIZATION IS FINDING WITH THE STATE QUESTION?

>> WELL, I THINK IT ACTUALLY -- TIM AND I PROBABLY AGREE ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, NOBODY IS GOING TO MAKE A FAMILY LIVING WAGE AT 7.25 AN HOUR.

AND FRANKLY, IN THIS ECONOMY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

IF YOU ARE WORKING FOR 7.25 AN HOUR, THERE ARE A LOT OF JOBS THAT PAY FAR MORE THAN THAT, AND AGAIN, GOING BACK TO MY ORIGINAL POINT, WHICH IS THE MARKET AS DEMANDED AND THE ECONOMY AND BUSINESSES HAVE RESPONDED AND THEY PAY FAR MORE THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE STATE QUESTIONS DOES.

THE STATE QUESTION RAISES IT IMMEDIATELY TO 9 AND EVENTUALLY TO 15, BUT THE REAL PART, THE PART WE'RE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT, AFTER THAT FIVE-YEAR PERIOD OF RAISING IT.

THEN IT IMMEDIATELY TIES IT TO CPIW., WHICH IS A PORTION OF THE WPI DEVELOPED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT -- CPI DEVELOPED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT THAT MEASURES THE COST OF INFLATION IN CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO OR NEW YORK, AND THEN OUR MINIMUM WAGE WOULD INCREASE BASED ON THAT CPI DESIGNATION.

SO THAT IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE OVERALL MARKET IN OKLAHOMA IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

IF YOU LOOK AT JUST THE 3 YEAR, 5 YEAR, 10 YEAR AVERAGES, IF YOU FOLLOWED THE 3 YEAR AVERAGE OF CPIW, $35 AN HOUR.

THAT'S GOING PRICE OUT TONS OF, IF NOT MOST SMALL BUSINESSES FROM BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LABOR MARKET, BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE, SO IT'S GOING TO DRIVE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES AWAY.

I THINK WHERE TIM AND I WOULD AGREE IS, YEAH, 7.25 IS NOT A LIVEABLE WAGE, BUT IT'S ALSO THE MINIMUM.

IT'S NEVER INTENDED TO BE A LIVEABLE WAGE.

AND WHAT THE MARKET HATS DRIVEN IS A WAGE THAT'S MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.

SO WE DON'T WANT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA NOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DEMAND A LIVEABLE WAGE AT $35 AN HOUR.

THAT WOULD CRUSH BUSINESSES AND REALLY HURT OR ECONOMY.

>> WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY STARTED MINIMUM WAGE BACK IN 1938 OR WHENEVER IT WAS, THE MINIMUM WAGE THAT THEY SET WAS ACTUALLY A WAGE THAT FAMILIES COULD LIVE ON.

OVER THE YEARS, IT'S GOTTEN KIND OF STAGNANT, AND IN 2009, THE LAST INCREASE OF 7.25, AND I JUST BELIEVE THE COMPANIES -- GOOD COMPANIES THAT WANT TO STAY IN OKLAHOMA WOULD WANT THEIR EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS TO BE MAKING, YOU KNOW, A LIVING WAGE WITH BENEFITS.

>> CHAD, I WANTED TO ASK YOU, WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE JOBS THAT ARE PAYING MORE THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE THAT ARE OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE FOR OKLAHOMANS?

>> JOBS THAT ARE PAYING MORE?

>> YES.

I WOULD SAY MOST JOBS ARE PAYING MORE.

I THINK WHAT MINIMUM WAGE IS IN OKLAHOMA, IF YOU'RE ENTRY LEVEL AND A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND LOOKING TO DO JUST SOME PART-TIME WORK, MINIMUM WAGE WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED MAYBE TO BE A FAMILY EARNING WAGE OR FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGE.

THAT IS NOT WHAT IT IS ANYMORE, BECAUSE NOBODY IS PAYING THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK FULL TIME.

THERE IS NOT FULL-TIME WORK IN OKLAHOMA THAT'S PAYING 7.25 AN HOUR.

AND IF YOU ARE GETTING 7.25 AN HOUR, YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED VERY HARD, BECAUSE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OPENED JOBS PAYING FAR MORE THAN THAT.

SO AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE, FOR US.

THIS IS A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.

WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO LIVE ON 7.25, BUT WHAT WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM IS A MANDATED UNCONSTITUTIONAL TIE TO A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INDEX THAT WOULD EXACERBATE WAGES FAR BEYOND WHAT THE MARKET WOULD DEMAND IN OKLAHOMA AND MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR BUSINESSES TO COMPETE AND FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET JOBS, BECAUSE THERE WOULDN'T BE, IF YOU HAD TO PAY $35 AN HOUR.

>> HERE AGAIN, I MEAN, IT'S A STATE QUESTION THAT PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA WOULD VOTE ON.

WHY NOT LET THE PEOPLE VOTE ON THAT ISSUE AND SEE WHAT THEY THINK.

I THINK YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT THEY THINK IT'S TIME FOR A RAISE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE.

>> TIM, CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE HEARING FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING 7.25?

>> WELL, IN MY ARENA OF WORK, I REALLY AM NOT AROUND A LOT OF 7.25 AN HOUR JOBS.

I KNOW THEY'RE OUT THERE.

I'VE TALKED TO OTHER ENTITIES THAT -- GROUPS THAT WE WORK WITH THAT DEAL MORE WITH 7.25 AN HOUR, BUT I JUST -- ANY TIME THERE'S BEEN A QUESTION ABOUT RAISING A MINIMUM WAGE, LABOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON THE SIDE OF THE WORKER AND FELT THAT THOSE RAISES WERE NECESSARY.

>> DID IT ACTUALLY COMPETE WITH WAGES THAT OTHER STATES HAVE TO OFFER?

>> I'D PROBABLY HAVE TO SAY NO, BUT WE DO PRETTY GOOD FOR THE AREA THAT WE LIVE IN.

>> CHAD, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU'S PERSPECTIVE JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

THEY SAY THE STATE QUESTION WILL UNDERMINE ITS EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE FREEDOMS OF FARMERS AND RANCH ARE RANCHERS, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY?

>> I CAN'T SPECIFICALLY SPEECH OFFICIALLY FOR THE FARM BUREAU, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT ELIMINATE EXCEPTIONS ALREADY IN PLACE.

SPECIFICALLY FOR FOLKS IN THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY IT TALKS ABOUT LIMITING THOSE EXCEPTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE FOR FEED STORES AND TEMPORARY WORKERS AND OTHER THINGS, AND I THINK AGAIN THAT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF A MANDATE THAT IS A ONE SIZE FITS ALL THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY WORK.

IF YOU'RE WORKING AS AN AGRICULTURE WORKER, PART-TIME AS A STUDENT AFTER SCHOOL BAILING HAY, YOU DON'T CERTAINLY NEED TO BE GETTING AND SHOULD BE PAID 22 TO $35 AN HOUR FOR THAT KIND OF WORK WHEN IT'S INTENDED TO BE TEMPORARY, IT'S SEASONAL IN NATURE.

SO I THINK THEIR CONCERNS ARE THAT AN ACROSS THE BOARD MANDATE MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE JOBS THAT THEY KNOW THEY NEED TO GET DONE THAT ARE TYPICALLY DONE BY PEOPLE WHO AREN'T TRYING TO SUPPORT A FAMILY, THAT ARE ENTRY LEVEL OR FIRST TIME JOBS, MANDATED AT A WAGE MUCH HIGHER THAN THE MARKET SHOULD DEMAND.

>> TIM, IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT?

>> IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THAT SOME PEOPLE THAT TALK AGAINST TRY TO RAISE WAGES FOR LOW WAGE WORKERS ARE MAKING, YOU KNOW, 200 TIMES MORE THAN WORKERS THAT THEY HAVE -- THAT THEY EMPLOY THEMSELVES.

SO IT'S OKAY TO TALK TO A CEO AND SAY, YEAH, I MADE THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND MY WORKERS MAKE THIS LOW AMOUNT OF MONEY.

THERE'S NO NEED TO RAISE THAT WAGE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THEY'RE GOING TO TREAT THEIR WORKER RIGHT.

IN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE THEY DON'T, I GUARANTEE AT LEAST A BASIC MINIMUM WAGE THAT THEY CAN MAKE IS A GOOD BENEFIT FOR OKLAHOMA AND I BELIEVE THE COUNTRY.

>> LISTEN, I WOULDN'T DISAGREE, IF THAT WAS THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND, BUT I THINK AGAIN IT'S A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.

YOU'RE NOT WORKING IN OKLAHOMA FOR 7.25 AN HOUR AND TRYING TO SUPPORT A FAMILY.

ANY JOB OPENINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN OKLAHOMA WOULD SHOW YOU FAR ABOVE THAT IS WHAT THOSE ENTRY LEVEL WAGES ARE.

MINIMUM WAGE IS KIND OF A -- IT'S UNNECESSARY IN KIND OF TODAY'S ECONOMY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT STARTING SALARIES AT MCDONALD'S AT $15 AN HOUR AND UP FROM THERE, 7.25 ISN'T EVEN IN THAT BALLPARK.

SO AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM, AND WHAT WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE, AND AGAIN, WHAT THE PROPONENTS OF THIS STATE QUESTION AREN'T TELLING YOU IS ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN POST FIVE-YEAR INCREMENT AND THE AUTOMATIC TIE TO CPIW.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT GETS REALLY CONCERNING FOR US.

AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR BRIEF THAT WE FILED WITH THE SUPREME COURT, IT'S BLATANTLY UNCONSTITUTION WILL A.

THE STATE CAN'T DELL INDICATE DELEGATE THEAUTHORITY.

THEY TRIED BEFORE.

THE COURT THREW IT OUT, AND WE'RE PRETTY CONFIDENT THEY WOULD DO THAT AGAIN.

>> ON A STRAIGHT MINIMUM WAGE QUESTION, SURE, MAYBE THAT'S FINE, AND WE HOPE THAT THE COURT WILL CUT OUT THE CPIW PART.

WE THINK THEY'LL THROW OUT THE WHOLE THING, BUT IF THESE GROUPS WANT TO COME BACK WITH A MINIMUM WAGE THAT DOES NOT UNCONTS UNCONSTITUTIONALLY TIE IT TO CPIW, WE WOULD BE OPEN TO THAT.

>> I WORKED IN A POWER PLANT 29 YEARS OUT OF CPI, COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, AND IN MY COMPANY FOR OUR WORK, THAT KIND OF TOOK THE PLACE OF WAGE INCREASES ACTUALLY, BUT WE CAME OUT A LOT MORE AHEAD OF THE GAME THAT IF WE HADN'T HAVE HAD THAT.

IF THEY HAD HAD A CPI ATTACHED TO THE ORIGINAL MINIMUM WAGE, W, WHO KNOWS WHAT IT WOULD BE RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT WOULD BE A HECK OF A LOT HIGHER THAN 7.25 AN HOUR, PROBABLY CLOSER TO 20, $25 AN HOUR IF WE HAD THAT FROM THE BEGINNING.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED FOR OKLAHOMA.

WE'VE NEEDED IT.

AND UNTIL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CHOOSES TO DO SOMETHING TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE, I THINK IT'S UP TO STATES AND PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA TO TAKE THAT ISSUE ON.

YOU KNOW, WE DID A -- WE TRIED TO DO A PETITION ON JUST A MUNICIPAL MINIMUM WAGE, I THINK, 10 YEARS AGO OR SO, AND THE QUICK ACTION OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE TO SHUT THAT DOWN BEFORE WE COULD EVEN GET OUR SIGNATURES FOR A PETITION JUST SHOWS YOU THE KIND OF RESISTANCE THERE IS TO THAT.

>> AND AGAIN, I THINK MAYBE THIS IS KIND OF WHERE WE AGREE IT'S A WELL.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD RELY ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO THIS AS WELL, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS THERE FOR, AND THAT'S AGAIN EXACTLY WHERE AN ISSUE LIKE THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE, WHERE YOU GET INPUT FROM BUSINESS, INPUT FROM LABOR, INPUT FROM CITIZENS, AND YOU MAKE THE DECISION ON WHAT'S THE BEST MINIMUM WAGE FOR OKLAHOMA, NOT DONE BY A STATE QUESTION THAT THEN TIES IT TO A FEDERAL INDEX THAT HAS NO INPUT FROM LEGISLATURES OR OKLAHOMAIAN CITIZENS, AND THAT GIVES US AN ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE INDEX IT'S TIED TO.

THOSE DECISIONS ARE BEST LEFT WITH THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE, WHICH IS THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> GENTLEMEN, WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

ANY QUICK FINAL THOUGHTS?

TIM, LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE THIS PETITION -- OR PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE ON INCREASING MINIMUM WAGE, BECAUSE THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS NOT GOING TO ACT WITH THE WAY IT'S MADE UP RIGHT NOW.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO TAKE ACTION BECAUSE OF THE MAKEUP OF THAT, AND SO THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE FINAL SAY.

THEY DIDN'T MIND DOING THAT WHEN THEY PROPOSED A RIGHT TO WORK LAW FOR OKLAHOMA, AND I DON'T SEE WHY THEY WOULD MIND THAT.

>> CHAD, FINAL THOUGHTS.

>> JUST BE BE REALLY CLEAR, THE STATE HAS NO INTEREST AND NEITHER DO OUR MEMBERS IN ARTIFICIALLY DEPRESSING WAGES N TODAY'S LABOR MARKET, YOU ACTUALLY CAN'T DO THAT.

THERE ARE FAR MORE JOB OPENINGS THAN THERE ARE PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE JOBS, SO YOU ARE REQUIRED TO BE REALLY COMPETITIVE ON YOUR WAGE THAT'S BEING PAID.

SO WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN JUST ARTIFICIALLY HOLDING THEM DOWN.

WHAT WE WANT THEM TO BE IS WAGES TO BE MARKET DRIVEN, AND WE DON'T WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND AN INDEX TO BE SETTING A WAGE FOR OKLAHOMA THAT'S NOT BASED ON INFLATIONARY DATA.

AGAIN, OPEN TO CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD BE ON THE TABLE, BUT IT SHOULDN'T CERTAINLY BE ON THE TABLE WHEN IT'S TIED TO A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INDEX.

>> ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR COMING HERE AND SPEAKING TO US TODAY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> YOU BET.

>> VERY INTERESTS.

OKAY.

>> IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE TRAVEL TO COLORADO SPRINGS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PIKE RIDE, A PROGRAM THAT LEASES E-BIKES TO RESIDENTS LIVING IN LOW-INCOME AREAS.

JUST $25 A MONTH, AND AWAY YOU GO.

THE STORY, COURTESY OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS.

>> BICYCLES ARE A REALLY SIMPLE TOOL IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION FOR FOLKS, AND THAT'S WHETHER YOU LIVE DOWNTOWN OR IN SOME AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT HAVE HAD LESS RESOURCES DIRECTED TO THAT AREA.

A BIKE CAN REALLY -- IT CAN TAKE YOU MILES.

IT CAN TAKE YOU A SHORT DISTANCE.

THERE'S NO NEED TO PURCHASE A CAR.

AND WITH OUR LEASED BIKES AND THEN OUR PUBLIC E-BIKE SHARE SYSTEM, IT REALLY ALLOWS FOLKS TO MOVE AROUND TOWN WITH INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM AT A REALLY LOW COST.

>> WITH OUR BIKES BEING CLASS 1'S, THEY ARE NOT MOTORCYCLES.

THEY ARE ALLOWED ON ALL OF OUR REGIONAL PATHS DUE TO CITY ORDINANCE.

SOME BIKES DO HAVE THAT MOTORCYCLE OPTION WITH A THROTTLE.

BUT WE'VE CHOSEN TO STAY WITH CLASS 1 SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY IN TERMS OF SAFETY WITH THAT SPEED AND THEY ARE ALLOWED ON ALL THE PATHS HERE.

>> I'M VANESSA CASTILE, I WORK AT MITCHELL HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS IS HOW I GOT TO HEAR ABOUT THE PIKE PLUS PROGRAM.

THE BIKE THAT I LEASE COMES WITH TWO -- I CAN TRANSPORT MY LAPTOP, EVERYTHING I NEED FOR WORK, OR WHEN I USE IT FOR GROCERY SHOPPING AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAN JUST PUT EVERYTHING THERE.

IT'S VERY FUN, YOU KNOW, TO GO ABOUT.

IT IS VERY SAFE AS WELL.

>> OUR EQUITY PROGRAMS ARE LOW COST.

THERE STILL IS A COST, AND SO WE HAVE TWO PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE WE RIDE, WHICH IS A 20-DOLLAR A YEAR PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE TO USE ANY OF THE BIKES IN THE PUBLIC BIKE SYSTEM.

AND THEN WE HAVE PIKE RIDE PLUS, WHICH IS A MONTHLY LEASING PROGRAM FOR $25.

AND THOSE PARTICIPANTS ACTUALLY GET TO TAKE THE BIKE HOME, AND IT IS PERSONALIZED TRANSPORTATION, RATHER THAN HAVING TO RELY ON THE PUBLIC BIKE SHARE SYSTEM.

>> HIT YOUR LOCATION, AND THEN ALL OF THE BALLOONS WITH NUMBERS ARE A HUB WITH THE NUMBER OF BIKES AT IT.

>> OUR BIKES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE WHO HAS A MART PHONE AND A CARD IN WHICH THEY CAN PAY FOR THE RENTAL.

WE HAVE 50 THAT WE'VE PURCHASED FROM THAT GRANT BY THE COLORADO ENERGY OFFICE, AND SO THERE'S ABOUT 15 OR SO OUT IN THE WILD, AS WE CALL IT.

SO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING THEM FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF WEEKS NOW.

AND THEN OUR GENERAL BIKE SHARE SYSTEM, WE HAVE ABOUT 300 BIKES IN THE SWEET.

IT'S A REALLY POWERFUL PROGRAM, THE LEEING PROGRAM.

WE HEARD YESTERDAY THAT IT IS A LIFESAVER FROM ONE OF OUR PARTICIPANTS.

THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE, WHICH CAR PURCHASES, INTEREST RATES, IT'S REALLY KIND OF CRAZY RIGHT NOW, AND SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE TRANSPORTATION FOR $25 A MONTH, THAT LITERALLY IS AT YOUR HOME, AT YOUR APARTMENT, IS AN AMAZING RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES MEMBERS.

>> IT HAS IMPROVED MY MENTAL HEALTH A LOT.

IT MAKES ME MORE ACTIVE.

IT MAKES ME GO OUT.

I HAVE MORE ENERGY.

I HAVE A DESK JOB, SO I CAN FOCUS BETTER FROM ALL THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

I LOVE IT.

>> THEY OUGHT TO TRY THAT HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> THE OKLAHOMA HISTORY CENTER IS COMMEMORATING THE UPCOMING ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR BY DISPLAYING PART OF THE SILVER SERVICE FROM THE USS OKLAHOMA.

IT'S A 55-PIECE SET WITH A SELECT FEW PIECES ON DISPLAY AT THE MUSEUM.

IT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE IN 1913.

THE SILVER SERVICE WAS NOT ON THE USS OKLAHOMA ON THAT DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY, DECEMBER 7TH, 1941.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS RELEASES A PLAN THAT COULD GREATLY ALTER HOW OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVE ACCREDITATION.

EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON EXAMINES THE DETAILS.

>> RICH: AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE SAFARI LIGHTS EXHIBIT AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND EDITED BY O.E.T.A.

'S BRANDON DOWNEY.

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.

GOODNIGHT.

GOODNIGHT.

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