>>> ON THIS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVE EDITION OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," WE'LL LOOK BACK AT THE STORIES THAT RESONATED WITH VIEWERS IN 2021.

>> GOOD MORNING.

HOW YOU ALL DOING TODAY?

>> CHAMPIONSHIP BARBEQUE TO CHAMPIONSHIP BOWL RIDERS REOPENING THE PAYCOM CENTER.

>> COMING TO OKLAHOMA IS LIKE COMING HOME, AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, LOOKING FORWARD TO OKLAHOMA CITY, SAYING HEY, GUYS, WE'RE BACK, LET'S GET THIS THING GOING.

>> FOR FIRST TIME EVER A MEMBER OF THE CHEROKEE TRIBE WILL BE FEATURED.

>> HE SAID YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT?

SHE SAID YOU BETTER CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING BECAUSE YEAR GOING TO DO IT.

>> THE GILCREASE MUSEUM READY FOR DEMOLITION.

>> WE OBVIOUSLY ARE CONCERNED ALWAYS WITH FIRST AND FOREMOST WITH THE SAFETY AND STEWARDSHIP OF THIS COLLECTION.

>> THOSE STORIES PLUS MUCH MORE NEXT ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL HOLE HE DAY EDITION OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

I'M RICH LENDS.

OUR GIFT YOU TO A LOOK BACK AT BEST REPORTING OUR STAFF HAS PRODUCED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.

SINCE THIS WAS A TIME WE SHARE GRADE FOOD WITH OUR LOVED ONE WE BEGIN WITH A STORY ON BARBEQUE.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US TO EXPLAIN HOW OUR STATE EARNED THE TITLE OF BARBEQUE CHAMPION OF AMERICA.

>> FOR DECADES OKLAHOMA QUIETLY AND POLITELY TOOK A BACK SEAT TO BARBEQUE HOTSPOTS IN TEXAS, KANSAS CITY, NORTH CAROLINA AND TENNESSEE.

THOSE DAYS ARE OVER.

LEO'S BARBEQUE WAS AN OKLAHOMA CITY INSTITUTION FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS WHEN PROPRIETOR CHARLES SCHMID CLOSED IT DOWN.

EARLIER THIS YEAR LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> MY DAD MADE ME PROVE MYSELF THAT I WAS WORRY OF BEING LEO AND SONS BACK IN '89, 1989.

>> THAT SPIRIT SCHMID SAYS IS WHY HE TOOK THE LEAD WHEN HOMELAND OFFERED HIM HIS OWN SPOT IN THEIR NEW STORE, TO PRODUCE AND SELL SOME OF LEO'S FAVORITES.

>> THEY BELIEVED IN ME HERE AT HOMELAND SO I WAS LIKE WOW.

AND THEY HAD THAT ENERGY THAT I NEEDED TO GET THAT PUSH SO I CAN KEEP GOING AGAIN.

>> WE GOT A FULL SMOKEHOUSE, DROVE CONSTRUCTION GUYS CRAZY.

WHY WE HAVING THIS BIG ROLL UP DOOR?

WE GOT TO BRING IN WOOD.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE SMOKING WITH CHIPS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME GOOD WOOD.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TO BRING IT IN.

HE WILL SHOW YOU THE SMOKER HE'S GOT AND THE SETUP HE'S GOT.

>> YES, FOLK, LEO'S FAMOUS STRAWBERRY CAKE IS ABOUT TO MAKE A TRIUMPHANT RETURN.

>> RIBS, BASIC INCOME LONA, BEAN, AND MACARONI, WE GOING TO DO ALL OF THAT, AND THE SAUCE COMES ON THE SIDE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE.

AND EVERYBODY GETS A DINNER WE WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE A WINNER SO WE GIVE THEM A SLICE OF THE CAKE.

>> LEO IS THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO AND GET AWAY WITH IT.

LIMITED, BOYS AND GIRLS.

>> WHILE LEO'S EMBRACES A NEW BEGINNING THERE IS A LEGEND IN THE MAKING 33 MILES TO THE NORTHEAST IN LINCOLN COUNTY.

>> GOOD MORNING KARN A SAWS!

HOW YOU DOING TODAY?

>> THE TINY TOWN OF WELL SON OFF ROUTE 26 IS WHERE YOU'LL FIND THE BEST BARBEQUE ANYWHERE.

CALLED BUTCHER BARBEQUE.

PEOPLE WAIT IN LINE HOURS TO GET THEIR GRUB ON HERE.

>> WE KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING HERE AND I CAN HEAR THE TUMBLING TUMMIES.

>> PUT YOUR BARBEQUE IS NOW OPEN.

>> LAST SATURDAY LARRY WAS FIRST IN LINE.

HE DROVE 15 HOURS TO GET HERE.

>> I LEFT TROY, ALABAMA AT 2:00 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AND DROVE STRAIGHT HERE.

I WAS THE FIRST ONE HERE AT 8:3.

>> KENNETH WAS SECOND IN LINE.

>> ONCE I TASED THE SLICED BRISKET I DON'T ORDER ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S THE BEST BRISKET I'VE EVERY EAT 19 MY WHOLE LIFE.

>> I'M FROM GEORGIA.

BARBEQUE IS A STAPLE.

MOVED HERE 13, 14 YEARS AGO, AND TOOK PLEA FOREVER TO FIND GOOD BARBEQUE.

THIS PLACE IS A BOMB.

>> IS THE FOOD THAT GOOD?

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

MY SON AND I ARE REALLY INTO BARBEQUE.

WE'RE PRETTY GOOD AT IT.

BUT THESE GUYS ARE CHAMPIONS.

>> YES.

YES.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.

>> LITTLE BUTCHER BARBEQUE IS ACTUALLY A GRAND CHAMPION.

THREE YEARS AGO A MAN NAMED CHARLIE DAVID BOUSKA WON THE JACK DANIELS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP INVITATIONAL COMPETITION, WHICH EXPERTS CONSIDER THE GRANDDADDY OF THEM ALL.

CHARLIE DAVID'S SON LEVI BOUSKA OPENED BUTCHER BARBEQUE OUT OF A SHIPPING CONTAINER IN 2015.

>> I'M A SECOND GENERATION BUTCHER, AND SO I KIND OF -- I DON'T KNOW, I JUST FELT LIKE WE COULD DO IT.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> I THINK IT WAS A CARL CULMINATION OF EVERYTHING, HAVING GOOD FOOD HERE, ALONG WITH ALL THE WINS THAT HE'S DOING ON THE ROAD, AND DEFINITELY WHEN HE WON THE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP PUT A BIGGER SPOTLIGHT ON OKLAHOMA.

>> BUTCHER BARBEQUE IS OPEN THREE DAYS A WEEK, FROM 11:00 A.M., FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY UNTIL THE MEAT RUNS OUT.

>> WHICH IS USUALLY AROUND 3:00 P.M. >> IT'S VERY HUMBLING.

IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST HUMBLING THING I DO EVERY MORNING.

I WAKE UP AND LOOK AT 155, 200 BRAND-NEW FRIENDS.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO COME HERE.

IT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> I LOVE THE STORY BEHIND THIS PLACE.

JUST WANT TO SUPPORT THEM AND I'M FROM ALABAMA, GO THROUGH MEMPHIS, THIS PLACE TOPS THEM ALL.

>> IN EDMUND, THE PORK AND DREAMS IS STILL GOING STRONG.

NEXT WEEK BIG O'S WILL OPEN A SECOND LOCATION IN MIDWEST CITY.

>> ALL ABOUT GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND GOOD FOOD.

PEOPLE COME NO MATTER WHAT.

LIKE YOU SAY IF YOU GOT THOSE TWO YOU CONCUR ANYTHING.

>> OVER IN ENID, HAYDEN AND PHILLIP KIRK ARE MEMBERS OF A STATEWIDE GROUP CALLED THE OKLAHOMA BARBEQUE SOCIETY.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF BACKYARD COMPETITION, TOO.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE BACKYARD COMPETITIONS FOR PEOPLE THAT AREN'T ON THE THRESHOLD CIRCUIT.

>> I THINK IT'S 15,000.

>> WITH OKLAHOMA CITY CLARK CREW BARBEQUE WINNING THE JACK DANIELS COMPETITION IN 2019, THAT MEANS THE LAST TWO WINNERS OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CAME FROM OKLAHOMA.

COVID-19 KNOCKED OUT THE COMPETITION LAST YEAR.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK IT'S REALLY EASY, THE WAY THAT YOU ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT TEXAS BARBEQUE, KANSAS CITY, CAROLINA, BUT I THINK WE'RE REALLY MAKING A STAMP ON THE BARBEQUE WORLD.

>> THE KANSAS CITY BARBEQUE SOCIETY HELD ITS ANNUAL WORLD INVITATIONAL AT FIRE LAKE ARENA IN SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA, NOVEMBER 11th THROUGH THE 14th.

THAT EVENT DREW PITMASTERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

OKLAHOMA CITY CLARK CREW TOOK THIRD PLACE.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> ONE HOLIDAY TRADITION YOU CAN'T ENJOY THIS YEAR A VISIT TO TULSA GILCREASE MUSEUM, HOME OF THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF WESTERN AND NATIVE-AMERICAN ART IN THE WORLD.

IT'S BEEN DEMOLISHED.

NO WORRIES, CONSTRUCTION ON A NEW FACILITY TO HOUSES 20 MATED $2 BILLION COLLECTION WILL BEGIN IN THE NEW YEAR.

BACK IN JUNE, I REPORTED ON THE PROCESS OF PACKING UP.

TAKE A GOOD LOOK, BECAUSE SOON THE MUSEUM AS YOU KNOW IT WILL NO LONGER EXIST.

>> YOU KNOW, SO MANY OF US HAVE HAPPY MEMORIES HERE, ME, FOR ONE.

I WAS MARRIED IN THE VISTA ROOM 40 YEARS AGO, 40 IN AUGUST.

SO I AM EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO THIS PLACE.

>> SUSAN NEAL IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

THE INITIAL PLAN INVOLVED A $65 MILLION RENOVATION OF THE EXISTING FACILITY.

BUT ONCE THE ENGINEERS DID A DEEP DIVE, THAT PLAN PROVED UNFEASIBLE.

>> WE HAVE STRUGGLED FOR THE LAST DECADE REALLY, AND MANAGING HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE IN THIS BUILDING BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT ADDITIONS, NONE OF THE ORIGINAL BUILDINGS WERE BUILT TO TODAY'S MUSEUM STANDARDS.

>> AND THAT WAS HAVING A DETRIMENTAL AFFECT ON THE ARTWORK ITSELF.

AND HINDERING ABILITY TO ATTRACT TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS ON LOAN FROM OTHER MUSEUMS.

>> WE BASICALLY JUST WORKED THE HVAC AND THE CHILLERS AND ALL OF THE MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL PLUMBING TO DEATH, AND WHEN WE WANTED TO RENOVATE, WE LEARNED THAT YOU CAN, BUT YOU WILL SPEND ALL YOUR MONEY, ALL OF THE CITIZENS MONEY, ALL THE PUBLIC MONEY ON JUST FIXING THAT PROBLEM.

>> AND SO THE DECISION WAS MADE TO DEMOLISH THE CURRENT FACILITY, WHICH FIRST OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1949, AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEWER, SMALLER BUILDING WITH ADDITIONAL AMENITIES.

>> THIS BUILDING IS 134,000 SQUARE FEET.

THE NEW BUILDING WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY 89 TO 90,000 SQUARE FEET, BUT IT WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL GALLERY SPACE, AND WE WILL ALSO INVITE AN ENTIRELY NEW EXPERIENCE FOR I THINK A YOUNGER GENERATION WHICH IS TAKING IT THROUGH DIGITAL EXPERIENCES.

>> Reporter: RENDERING BUDGETING AT $83.6 MILLION WILL BE UNVEILED BY MAYOR G.T.

BYNUM ON JUNE 24th.

MEANWHILE -- >> HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO PASS THAT CAREFULLY.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 200,000 ITEMS, ART AND ARTIFACTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING, THEY RANGE FROM 13,000 YEARS AGO TO CONTEMPORARY PIECES, AND ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AND TYPES FROM POTTERY, TO STONE, TO PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURES.

>> SUSAN IS THE DIRECTOR OF COLLECTIONS AND SHE HAS EXPERIENCE DOING THIS, HAVING OVERSEEN THREE MUSEUM MOVES BEFORE.

>> WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED IT WOULD BE A FULL DEMO AFTER THE INITIAL SHOCK, WE KIND OF JUST WENT INTO PLANNING MODE AND WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING PRETTY MUCH EVER SINCE FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW.

>> ABOUT 20 EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING FULL TIME ON THIS PROJECT.

LEAD BY KURT SELBY.

>> ANY NERVOUSNESS I MIGHT HAVE HAD, YOU'RE -- THAT'S A 10 MILLION -- NO KIDDING.

I'LL BE CAREFUL.

BUT AFTER A WHILE, YOU JUST KNOW THAT YOU DON'T RUSH, YOU TAKE YOUR TIME, YOU THINK YOUR WAY THROUGH IT, AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

>> WE START WITH EMPTY WOODEN BOX, THE CRATE THAT IS BEING BUILT IN OFF SITE LOCATION, AND THEN WE BRING IT IN AND WE PAD THE CRATE OUT WITH FOAM TO BEGIN THE PROTECTING PROCESS.

AND THEN WE WRAP INDIVIDUAL PAINTINGS IN PLASTIC, AND EACH PAINTING HAS A TRAY THAT IT SITS IN SO THAT IT DOESN'T BOUNCE AROUND IN THE CRATE.

>> KIT KURT ESTIMATES IT WILL TAKE 235 CRATES TO COMPLETE THE MOVE.

WITH ONE EXCEPTION.

THERE IS NO CRATE BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD THIS.

>> THE BIGGEST PIECE OF ART AND IT'S NOT PART OF OUR PERMANENT COLLECTION THE BATTLE OF CHAPULATEPEC.

THE PAINTING COMES OUT OF THE FRAME, THE FRAME DISASSEMBLES.

WHEN IT WAS SHIPPED HERE IT CAME IN FOUR DIFFERENT CRATES.

>> TO HAVE IT CONTAINED IN ONE UNIT.

>> KURT KURT EASE TEAM IS ASSISTED, LEADERS TRANSPORTING THE COLLECTION IN CLIMATE CONTROLLED TRUCKS ONCE THE PACKING UP PROCESS IS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER.

>> WE WORRY ABOUT VIBRATION AND TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY, THINGS THAT COULD ADVERSELY EFFECTS THE COLLECTION.

>> THE TARGET DATE TO BE GONE, DECEMBER 1st.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BUILDING, AND THAT IS NOT ONLY THE COLLECTION BUT EVERYTHING ELSE INSIDE THE BUILDING.

>> THAT'S A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION.

200,000 PIECES OF ART ALL OUT OF HERE NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1st.

BUT THERE'S ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU AND THAT IS WHERE ALL THIS ART IS GOING AND WILL BE STORED DURING THE NEW CONSTRUCTION.

THAT PIECE OF INFORMATION IS VERY HUSH, HUSH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> YOU CAN'T TELL ME.

>> I CAN'T TELL YOU.

THERE'S A GOOD REASON FOR THAT.

WE OBVIOUSLY ARE CONCERNED ALWAYS WITH FIRST AND FOREMOST WITH THE SAFETY AND THE STEWARDSHIP OF THIS COLLECTION.

WE DON'T OWN IT.

THE CITIZENS OF TULSA OWN IT.

>> REST ASSURED IT WILL BE A SAFE PLACE.

IT HAS TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONTROL, SECURITY, STAFF AND OPERATIONS GOING ON, CAMERAS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP EVERYTHING TO THE SAME STANDARD OR HIGHER THAN WE ARE HERE AT GILCREASE MUSEUM.

>> THE MUSEUM WILL CLOSE ON JULY FOURTH.

DEMOLITION WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER AND THE NEW BUILDING IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN NOVEMBER OF 2024.

RICH LENZ, THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> THE FRACTURED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STITT ADMINISTRATION AND THE FIVE MAJOR TRIBES.

IT BEGAN WITH DISAGREEMENT ABOUT GAMING COMPACTS AND ESCALATED IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE McGIRT DECISION IN JULY OF 2020.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US WITH TWO REPORTS HE PRODUCED IN JULY OF 2021.

JASON.

>> WHEN GOVERNOR STITT CONVENED THE PUBLIC FORUM TO DISCUSS RAMIFICATIONS OF THE McGIRT DECISION HE MIGHT HAVE NOT BEEN PREPARED FOR THE RECEPTION HE RECEIVED.

>> THANK YOU PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU.

AND FOR ALL THE VICTIMS, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> THAT'S HOW TUESDAY EVENING McGIRT COMMUNITY IMPACT FORUM ENDED FOR GOVERNOR STITT, THE PROSECUTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ON THE PANEL.

THE SPEAKERS GOT THE SAME TREATMENT.

>> McGIRT WAS A SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT WAS THRUST ON THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IMPACTING BOTH THE TRIBAL AND STATE CITIZENS.

THERE WAS NO -- McGIRT HAS SO MANY ISSUES WITH IT.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT.

YELLING AT EACH OTHER WILL NOT SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.

WE GOT TO SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER.

THANK YOU.

>> EVEN WHEN STITT ACKNOWLEDGED THE ATTENDANCE OF TRIBAL LEADER THE CROWD PUSHED BACK.

>> WELCOME CHIEF.

I THINK HE'S IN THE AUDIENCE.

I WANT TO WELCOME THE CHIEF.

>> THE LACK OF TRIBAL REPRESENTATION ON THE FORUM PANEL BROUGHT OUT PROTESTORS BEFORE AND DURING THE PRESENTATION.

>> THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTOR PEOPLE, THE TRIBE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTE AND WE CAN HANDLE OUR OWN.

>> MY FIRST AND FOREMOST PRIORITY IS THE SAFETY OF OKLAHOMANS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.

>> THE STATED INTENT OF THE FORUM WAS TO REACH OUT TO CRIME VICTIMS AND FAMILIES, WHICH COULD SEE THEIR CASES IMPACTED BY THE McGIRT DECISION.

PROSECUTORS LIKE DISTRICT 27 DA JACK THORP TRIED TO EXPLAIN U.S. SUPREME COURT'S DECISION TIED THE HANDS OF THE STATE.

>> THERE IS A CLASS OF CASES WHERE A NONMEMBER OF A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE IF THEY COMMIT A CRIME AGAINST A MEMBER OF A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE THE ONLY JURISDICTIONAL PROSECUTION ENTITY THAT CAN HANDLE THAT CASE IS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THOSE CASES ARE NOT BEING PROSECUTED.

>> KNOWING EXACTLY WHICH GOVERNMENT BODY WILL HANDLE CRIMINAL CASE WITHIN RESERVATION TERRITORY LED TO CONFUSION FOR CRIME VICTIMS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO THOUGHT THEIR CASE WAS CLOSED.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEIR CASE MAY BE ADJUDICATED TEN YEARS AGO, 15 YEAR AGO, COULD BE UP FOR REVIEW UNDER THE SUPREME COURT RULING.

>> KIM MOYER IS THE DIRECTOR OF MARSY'S LAW, AN ORGANIZATION WHICH SUPPORTS VICTIM'S RIGHTS.

>> IT'S SHOCKING TO BE NOTIFIED ONE DAY THAT YOU KNOW MAYBE THE PERSON WHO WAS SERVING TIME IN PRISON FOR COMMITTING A CRIME AGAINST YOU NOW SUDDENLY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW INVESTIGATION AND A NEW TRIAL DUE TO THE RULING BY THE SUPREME COURT.

AND SO IT IS VERY CONFUSING.

>> THE GOVERNOR SPECIAL COUNCIL FOR McGIRT ISSUES BELIEVES APPEALS WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE STATE AND FEDERAL SYSTEMS WILL DECIDE HOW THE McGIRT DECISION SHOULD BE APPLIED GOING FORWARD.

>> ONE CASE PENDING THAT WOULD INVOLVE RETROACTIVITY OF McGIRT, IN OTHER WORDS McGIRT RETROACTIVE, ABOUT 100,000 CASES LOOKING BACK OVER A PERIOD OF 15 YEAR, ABOUT 30,000 FELONIES.

>> RETROACTIVITY MEANS THAT A LEGAL PRINCIPLE COULD BE APPLIED TO THE PAST, AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL IN TERMS OF CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.

>> ATTORNEY MIKE McBRIDE SAYS THE IMPACT WILL BECOME MORE DRASTIC IF McGIRT IS APPLIED TO PAST CASES.

>> YOU CAN APPLY THE McGIRT CASE TO PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS, THEN YOU KNOW THAT COULD REALLY CREATE A LOT OF MOVEMENT AT THE PRISONS.

>> RECENT CASES ALSO HAVE EXPANDED McGIRT BEYOND THE FIVE TRIBE RESERVATIONS AS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA VERSUS BRESTER.

>> IT'S A CRIMINAL CASE AND THE COURT THREW OUT THE JURISDICTION ON THE BASIS OF McGIRT, AND FOUND THAT THE TRIBE THAT THE RESERVATION WAS STILL INTACT UNDER THE 1867 TREATY.

>> THE FORUM WAS ENDED EARLIER THAN EXPECTED AND DEMONSTRATES THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND TRIBAL LEADERS IS REAL.

MUSKOGEE CHIEF ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART, THE McGIRT DECISION HAS CREATED SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVED SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR ALL CITIZENS OF OKLAHOMA.

WE HAVE CONTINUALLY SOUGHT COLLABORATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS TO REALIZE THIS NEW PROMISE.

BUT RATHER THAN WORK TOGETHER SOME POLITICIANS SEEM DETERMINED TO RETURN TO THE BROKEN SYSTEMS OF THE PAST AND ARE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS, EVEN PREY UPON THE PAIN OF VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> IT LACKS THE FULL COMMUNITY EXCEPT THOSE WHO CAME IN TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE GAPS IN THE FORUM FROM, THE PANEL.

AND IF WE WANT TO HAVE A DIALOGUE ABOUT McGIRT, WE NEED TO DO THAT IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY.

THAT MEANS INCLUDING ALL VOICES.

>> THE TURMOIL DOESN'T MEAN THE TRIBES THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS AREN'T TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING.

>> THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS EVERY SERIOUS LEADER IN THE STATE THAT IS WORKING ON McGIRT, THAT INCLUDES EVERY TRIBAL LEADER, IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAME THING, AND IT MAKES -- THAT IS MAKING SURE WE HAVE A BLANKET OF PROTECTION ACROSS OUR JURISDICTION, WHETHER IT'S OUR RESERVATION, WHETHER IT'S THE STATE.

>> THE CHEROKEE NATION IS INVESTING IN ITS OWN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO HANDLE THE SURGE OF CASES.

>> THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE OVER 1200 CASES TRANSFERRED FROM THE WRONG JURISDICTION THE STATE, TO CHEROKEE NATION JURISDICTION.

WE'RE DOING OUR JOB.

WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING VICTIMS.

WE'RE PUTTING MORE RESOURCES INTO VICTIM SERVICE, DOUBLING FOR EXAMPLE THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE.

>> WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW THE CHEROKEES ARE ACCOMPLISHING THAT NEXT WEEK.

JASON DOYLE, THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> THE TRIBES INSIST THEY'RE MORE THAN CATCHABLE OF CREATING OWN JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

AND THE DAY AFTER THAT FORUM I TRAVELED TO TAHLEQUAH TO GET A LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN BUILT.

>> PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT THAT IS TAKING THIS ON IS THE GREAT CHEROKEE NATION.

WE'RE DOING IT.

WE CAN DO IT.

WE'RE GOING TO DO IT WELL.

>> CHERRY KEY NATION SAYS EVEN BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HANDED DOWN ITS McGIRT VERSUS OKLAHOMA DECISION MORE AND THE A YEAR AGO THE TRIBE BEGAN EXAMINING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO HANDLE AN INCREASED CASELOAD.

>> WE DID THE STUDY EARLY ON ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST THE CHEROKEE NATION TO MEET THE VERY BASIC OBLIGATIONS UNDER McGIRT.

ABOUT 35 MILLION IN NEW DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.

>> ONCE McGIRT WAS APPLIED HOGNER VERSUS STATE OF OKLAHOMA DECISION IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR THE TRIBES JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS READY TO ENGAGE.

>> SINCE McGIRT APPLIED TO RESERVATION JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY PUTTING A LOT OF EFFORT INTO HOLDING LAWBREAKERS ACCOUNTABLE, SO THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE OVER 1200 CASES TRANSFERRED FROM THE WRONG JURISDICTION THE STATE, TO CHEROKEE NATION JURISDICTION.

WE'RE DOING OUR JOB.

WE'VE HAD CRIMINAL CASES BEFORE, BUT WE AVERAGED AROUND 25 A YEAR, AND OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BLOWN WAY PAST THAT.

>> JUDGE BARTEL IS THE PRESIDING DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOR THE CHEROKEE NATION.

>> WE HIRED NEW JUDGE, SET UP NEW DOCKETS, VERY SIMILAR TO THE STATE COURT SYSTEM, AND STRUCTURE, AND JUST PROCEEDING ALONG LIKE NORMAL, LIKE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG.

>> THE CHEROKEE NATION HOLDS McGIRT DOCKET ON TUESDAYS.

>> WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM PETTY THEFT, FROM WALMART, TO MURDER.

>> JUST LIKE IN STATE DISTRICT COURTS NOT ALL CASES HAVE TO GO TO TRIAL.

>> ONES THAT DON'T NEED TRIALS AND THEIR ATTORNEYS WANT TO REACH A PLEA AGREEMENT WE'VE AROUND 30, 30 TO 40 PER WEEK ON THOSE.

>> ANYONE VISITING THE CHEROKEE NATION COURT WILL FIND IT'S SIMILAR TO ANY STATE COURT.

>> COME ON DOWN ANY TUESDAY.

IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

YOU CAN SIT IN THE BACK, WATCH IT.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND IT LOOKS LIKE ANY COUNTY COURT.

>> THE COURT IS ONLY PART OF THE CHEROKEE NATION CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THE TRIBE HAS AN ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO DECIDES WHICH CASES TO PROSECUTE.

AG SARAH HILL SAYS THERE ARE TWO BASIC PATHWAYS CRIMINAL CASES COME TO THE CHEROKEE NATION COURT SYSTEM.

THE FIRST IS POST CONVICTION OR DIRECT APPEAL CASES.

THOSE ARE THE CASES THE STATE HAS ALREADY PROSECUTED BUT ARE UNDER REVIEW BECAUSE OF McGIRT.

>> THESE ARE OLDER CASES, CRIMES COMMITTED SOMETIMES YEARS AGO AND THEY REQUESTED POST CONVICTION RELIEF AND WE HAVE TO TAKE CASES SOMETIMES TO JURY TRIAL, COMPLICATED CASES AND REVIEW THEM AND SEE YOU KNOW ARE THERE ISSUES HERE WITH EVIDENCE, WITNESSES TODAY, GETTING THOSE CASES REFILED.

THAT'S ONE REVIEW PROCESS.

>> THE OTHER TYPE OF CASES NEW CRIMES, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED BY THE STATE PROSECUTORS BEFORE THE McGIRT DECISION.

>> NEW OFFENSES THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, TRAFFIC TICKET, AND ASSAULTS, DRUG CRIMES, ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN EVERY DAY, THOSE NEW CASES ARE COMING IN.

>> IT DID WHAT IT COULD TO PREPARE FOR THE FLOOD OF NEW CASES IT STILL TOOK AN ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH.

>> EVEN STILL IT WAS QUITE A SHOCK TO SEE THE WAY IT'S COMING, AND ANOTHER THING WHEN IT HITS YOU.

SO WE WERE VERY BUSY.

WE REMAIN BUSY.

>> LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHERE THE MARSHALS COME INTO PLAY.

>> THE CRIME IS STILL THE CRIME.

THE BAD GUYS IN LET'S SAY CLAREMORE ARE STILL THE BAD GUYS IN CLAREMORE.

ALL IT CHANGED IS NOW WHO GETS TO PROSECUTE THAT CRIME.

>> THE CHEROKEE MARSHALS HAVE DEPUTY AGREEMENTS WITH CITIES AND COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY ALREADY IN PLACE.

MARSHALL SHANNON BUHL SAYS HIS DEPARTMENT BUILT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WITH US THAN OTHER AREAS, IS WE HAD THAT PRE-RELATIONSHIP BUILT, OUR OFFICERS ARE WORKING CASES TODAY LIKE THEY WERE WORKING TWO YEARS AGO BEFORE McGIRT.

>> HOWEVER THE INCREASED CASELOAD LED TO MORE WORK FOR THE MARSHALS.

>> ONLY THING THAT CHANGED WITH US IS TRANSPORTS OF PRISONERS.

SO WE HAVE 13 JAIL CONTRACTS THROUGHOUT THE RESERVATIONS, SO WE HAVE TAHLEQUAH FOR INDIAN COUNTRY CRIME.

WHEN THEY BOOK THAT INDIVIDUAL IN CHEROKEE COUNTY JAIL THEY PUT AT THE TOP THIS IS FOR CHEROKEE NATION.

SO WE GOT TWO NEW COURTHOUSES ON THE HORIZON, HOPEFULLY GET INTO ONE WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, DOWN IN MUSKOGEE, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE ON THE HORIZON.

>> WHICH CREATES A NEED FOR MORE STAFFING.

>> I EXPECT WE'RE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL STILL NEED ADDITIONAL PROSECUTORS AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT STAFF.

THAT WILL CONTINUE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHICH IS NOT JUST AG OFFICE ISSUE, BUT REALLY A CHEROKEE NATION JUSTICE ISSUE, IS TRYING TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF COURTHOUSES WE HAVE AVAILABLE.

>> JUST HIRED 13 NEW OFFICERS, SIX OF THEM GOING TO THE FEDERAL ACADEMY.

THEY LEAVE SUNDAY FOR THE FEDERAL ACADEMY.

THEY'LL BE THERE THREE MONTHS, COME BACK AND DO FOUR MONTHS IN FIELD TRAINING AND THEN THEY'LL BE MARSHALS.

>> MARSHALL BUHL IS LOOKING TO HIRE ANOTHER 25 OFFICERS.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE BEING ADDED FOR VICTIMS, AS WELL.

>> WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE PROTECTING VICTIMS, PUTTING MORE RESOURCES INTO VICTIM SERVICES, DOUBLING FOR EXAMPLE THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE THAT CARE FOR VICTIMS.

>> BUT FOR THE CHEROKEE NATION AND THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA TO COME TO A CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGREEMENT, IT WILL LITERALLY TAKE AN ACT OF CONGRESS.

>> ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT THAT BARRIER BE LIFTED SO THAT WE CAN EVEN EXPLORE THE IDEA OF HOW TO GET AN INNER GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF JURISDICTION.

>> HOSKIN NOTES THE BILL MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH CONGRESS TO GIVE THE CHEROKEES AND GOVERNOR STITT THE AUTHORIZATION TO COMPACT IS IN ITS VERY EARLY STAGES.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN O'CONNOR FILED BRIEFS WITH THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN McGIRT DECISION.

TULSA AND OWASSO RECENTLY ADDED SUPPORT.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HIRE TAELYR JACKSON BACK IN AUGUST, AND IN OCTOBER SHE PRODUCED AN EXCELLENT PIECE ON THE WOMAN WHO INSPIRED THE U.S. MINT TO PRODUCE A SPECIAL QUARTER TO HONOR HER LEGACY.

>> WILMA MANKILLER REMAINS AN INSPIRATION FOR WOMEN EVERYWHERE.

IT WAS MY PRIVILEGE TO DISCUSS HER IMPACT WITH ONE MAN WHO PROBABLY KNEW HER BEST.

>> I NEVER MET ANYBODY THAT WAS ALSO -- >> HE DESCRIBES THE WOMAN HE WAS MARRIED TO FOR 24 YEARS, WILMA MANKILLER.

>> SO SHE FIT RIGHT IN THERE AS FAR AS SHE AND I WORKING TOGETHER.

>> SOAP SAYS SHE ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT I LIKED ABOUT HER WAS SHE WAS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE, AND I THINK BECAUSE THE WAY SHE GREW UP SHE KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE POOR AND TO BE SHE BEEN INVOLVED WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT AND BLACK PANTHERS AND JUST ALWAYS HELPING PEOPLE.

>> MANKILLER AND HER FAMILY RELOCATED TO CALIFORNIA DUE TO THE INDIAN RELOCATION ACT, WHICH CAUSED NATIVE-AMERICAN FAMILIES TO MOVE OUT OF INDIAN COUNTRY IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY.

HISTORIAN SAYS THIS RELOCATION HELPED SHAPE WILL PLANNED PARENTHOOD INTO AN ACTIVIST.

>> SHE LEARNED THE CULTURE AND LOOKING BEYOND YOUR OWN CLAN RELATIONSHIPS, AND THEN SAN FRANCISCO IN THE 1960s WAS THIS CALL DRONE OF SOCIAL UNREST.

>> WILMA MANKILLER MADE HISTORY IN 1985 WHEN SHE BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN ELECTED PRINCIPLE CHIEF OF THE CHEROKEE NATION.

PRINCIPLE CHIEF SAYS THE NATION CHERISHES HER NATION.

>> CHEROKEE NATION HAS NOT HAD A FEMALE PRINCIPLE CHIEF AND SHE IS THRUST INTO THAT POSITION AND DOES THINGS THAT NO PREVIOUS CHIEF HAD DONE AND REALLY SET A STANDARD ACROSS INDIAN COUNTRY FOR LEADERSHIP AND REALLY PUSHING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO LIVE UP TO COMMITMENTS.

>> TODAY WILMA MANKILLER IS SEEN AS ONE OF OUR PIONEERS AMERICANS.

NOT JUST OKLAHOMA, BUT IN AMERICA.

>> WILMA MANKILLER WAS INVOLVED IN MANY PROJECTS THAT HELPED IMPROVE THE WAY OF LIFE OF THE CHEROKEE NATION.

ONE POPULAR PROJECT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT TODAY WAS THE BELL PROJECT.

IT HELPS BRING RUNNING WATER TO THE BELL COMMUNITY.

>> SHE SAW THERE WASN'T RUNNING WATER FOR PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

SHE KNEW THAT WAS WRONG.

SHE WANTED TO TAKE ACTION.

>> MANKILLER ALONG WITH OTHER LEADERS PUT TOGETHER A PLAN TO BUILD A 16-MILE WATER PIPELINE THROUGH SELF HELP.

>> ONCE WE GOT THE WATER LINE IN, WE BUILT NEW HOMES, REMODELED HOMES.

>> IT LED TO MANKILLER PEACHING HER FUTURE HUSBAND.

>> IT TOOK TIME TO REALLY GET THEM TO BELIEVE IN US, OR TRUST US TO SEE THAT WE WERE REALLY MEANING WHAT WE SAID ABOUT BRINGING WATER TO THE COMMUNITY.

SAID YOU THINK WE CAN DO IT?

I SAID IT'S GOING TO BE HARD.

SHE SAID YOU BETTER CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

I THOUGHT WHO IN THE HECK IS THIS.

>> SOAP SAYS THE BELL PROJECT WAS A STARTING POINT OF HER CAREER.

>> IT WAS THROUGH WILMA'S LEADERSHIP THAT REALLY CAME OUT, AND JUST INSPIRED HER TO DO MORE IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO MOTIVATED PEOPLE AND ALSO I THINK IT ENCOURAGED HER PEOPLE TO KEEP ENCOURAGING HER TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

>> EVEN THOUGH THE COMMUNITY RESPECTED MANKILLER, HER TRANSITION INTO OFFICE WAS NOT EASY.

SOAP DESCRIBES HER FIRST MEETING WITH THE TRIBAL LEADERS FROM OTHER NATIONS.

>> SO THEY WERE ALL MEN, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHAIR FOR HER, AND SHE WAS THE CHIEF, ONE OF THE FIRST TRIPS SHE WENT ON, AND SO SHE JUST SAID WELL I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO SIT WITH THEM AND I'M GOING TO SIT WITH THEM AND I'M GOING TO GO GET MY OWN CHAIR.

SHE GOT HER OWN CLARE AND MOVED IN ON THEM, AND SAT THERE WITH THEM, AND -- >> SHE EARNED A LOT OF RESPECT AND AS A WOMAN IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION IN THE 1980s SHE HAD TO CLIMB A PRETTY STEEP HILL TO EARN THAT RESPECT.

BUT EARN IT SHE DID.

>> WILMA IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING THE CHEROKEE NATION DEVELOP WHAT IS NOW ONE OF THE LARGEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IN INDIAN COUNTRY.

>> HER GOING TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ESSENTIALLY TELLING THE GOVERNMENT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES, YOU NEED TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES AND GET OUT OF THE WAY, BECAUSE THE CHEROKEE PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF RUNNING THEIR OWN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

SHE WAS AROUND I THINK SHE WOULD BE VERY PROUD BECAUSE SHE WOULD SEE A HEALTH CAMPUS IN TAHLEQUAH THAT WAS GROWING, HAS A MEDICAL SCHOOL, HAS THE LARGEST OUTPATIENT FACILITY IN THE COUNTRY FOR NATIVE-AMERICANS.

>> SHE IS PART OF THAT LONG LINE OF CHEROKEE LEADERS WHO SAY WE CAN DO BETTER IF WE WORK TOGETHER, IF WE SHARE RESOURCES.

>> CHIEF HOSKIN SAYS MANY CHEROKEE WOMEN WERE INSPIRED BY HER STORY.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF WOMEN THAT ARE IN GREAT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE CHEROKEE NATION.

HALF OF MY CABINET IS FEMALE.

WE HAVE FEMALE IN LEADERSHIP ON OUR BUSINESS SIDE.

BUT I THINK CHEROKEE NATION WE ARE REALLY GETTING BACK TO OUR ROOTS IN THAT WE REVERE WOMEN, WOMEN HAD A PROMINENT LEADERSHIP ROLE GENERATIONS AGO.

>> SOAP SAYS HE'S GRATEFUL THE U.S. MINT CHOSE MANKILLER TO BE ONE OF THE FIVE AMERICAN WOMEN TO BE FEATURED ON A NEW SERIES OF QUARTERS.

>> GETTING RECOGNITION FOR HER WORK, SHE SAID I REPRESENT PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE, BUT ALSO I REPRESENT WOMEN, AND I HAVE TO WORK TWICE AS HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT I LEAVE A GOOD MARK FOR A WOMAN LEADER.

>> TAELYR JACKSON, THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> THE OTHER AMERICAN WOMAN FEATURED ON THE NEW COINS ARE MAYA ANGELO, SALLY RIDE, NINA OTERO-WARREN AND FLOWN IN A MAY WONG.

>>> ON MARCH 11th, 2020, AN NBA BASKETBALL GAME BETWEEN THE THUNDER AND UTAH JAZZ WAS POSTPONED MARKING THE UNOFFICIAL START OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.

RORY -- >> RICH, A LOT HAS CHANGED, BEGINNING WITH THE NAME OF THE ARENA.

IT'S NOW THE PAYCOM CENTER.

BUT ON APRIL 17th, THE THEN CHESAPEAKE ARENA WELCOMED BACK FANS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 13 MONTHS.

♪ >> COMING HERE TO OKLAHOMA IS LIKE COMING HOME.

AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, LOOKING FORWARD TO OKLAHOMA CITY SAYING HEY, GUYS, WE'RE BACK.

LET'S GET THIS THING GOING.

LET'S GET STARTED, AND LET'S GET OUR INDUSTRY BACK RUNNING.

>> JIM WHITE PRODUCTION MANAGER FOR THE PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS UNLEAST THE BEAST TOUR SAYS THAT BEGINS WITH THE CONVERSION OF CHESAPEAKE ARENA.

>> 300 TONS, SO THERE IS GOING TO BE 30 TO 35 OF THESE TRUCKS DUMPING OVER THE NEXT FIVE HOURS.

>> ADDING EIGHT TO TEN INCHES OF DIFFERENT FILLING TO AN ARENA THAT HAS BEEN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC SINCE LAST MARCH.

>> THE GAME HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

>> BASICALLY SINCE DAY ONE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON REOPENING.

SO WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING INTO MOTION ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN THE BUILDING NOW TO ALLOW GUESTS BACK.

WE HAVE SEAT BARRIERS TO DO POD SEATING.

WE ARE CASHLESS.

WE UPDATED OUR MOBILE TICKETING SERVICES.

WE'VE DONE TONS OF UPGRADES.

>> PRECAUTIONS INCLUDE ENFORCEMENT OF A MASK MANDATE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING PROTOCOLS.

>> WALKING DOWN THE HALL SEEING PEOPLE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IN MONTHS, THE EXCITEMENT HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE.

THE BUZZ THAT WE HAVE IN BUILDING IS SO GREAT TO BE ABLE TO BRING FANS BACK.

>> THE PVR IS MORE THAN HAPPY.

>> WE REOPENED ABOUT FIVE ARENAS ALREADY, BECAUSE A LOT OF THEIR PROTOCOLS THAT THEY HAVE NOW WERE DEVELOPED BY US LAST YEAR, FIVE WEEKS AFTER PANDEMIC HIT WE WERE DEVELOPING PROTOCOLS, BUCKING BULLS IN SEQUESTERED ARENA, DEVELOPING OUR PROTOCOLS.

>> AS SOON AS THE ARENA IS READY FOR THEM THE LIVE STROKE ARRIVES FROM ACROSS THE NATION, INCLUDING LUCKEL BOYS.

>> OKLAHOMA IS KNOWN FOR CATTLE, YOU KNOW, RAISING AND BREEDING CATTLE.

OKLAHOMA WOULD BE SPLIT AND IN THE COUNTRY BETWEEN OIL AND GAS AND CATTLE, SO YOU KNOW MY FAMILY HAS BEEN RAISING I GUESS YOU COULD SAY BEEF FOR A LONG TIME, FEEDING THE COUNTRY.

I GUESS I KIND OF TOOK THE OTHER TURN A LITTLE BIT.

>> AFTER GROWING UP RAISING BEEF CATTLE AND DOING RODEO HE SWITCHED TO RAISING THE ANIMALS.

THE 15 TO 2,000 BULLS ARE AS THREAT I CAN AS THE MEN WHO RIDE THEM.

>> THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO MAKE A BULL BUCK.

THEY GOT TO LOVE TO DO IT AND WANT TO DO IT.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALLY REALIZE THE RIDERS HAVE TO QUALIFY TO UNLEASH THE BEAST.

THE BULLS HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING.

THEY HAVE TO EARN THEIR WAY TO GET HERE.

>> THE GREETING BULLS IS FAR DIFFERENT THAN RAISING CATTLE FOR BEEF.

>> WE RAISE BEEF CATTLE YOU KNOW YOU'RE RAISING CATTLE TO FEED THE WORLD.

SO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THEY WEIGH, THAT IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S HOW THEY PERFORM IN THE ARENA.

THE ONES THAT LOVE IT CONTINUE TO GET BETTER AT IT AND THRIVE, AND AS FAR AS THE BREEDING PROGRAM YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE SAME THING.

I THINK YOU KNOW ALL BULLS CAN BUCK, IT'S LIKE IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A RACE HORSE ALL HORSES CAN RUN BUT DID ONES YOU SEE RUNNING AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY ARE JUST FASTER AND TRAINED AND THEY'RE FED AND YOU KNOW THEY'RE GEARED UP TO DO THAT.

AND THE BULLS THAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY ARE THE SAME.

>> HUMAN COMPONENT IN THE EIGHT SECOND EQUATION COMES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

KYLER OLIVER IS FROM ROY, UTAH.

HE SAYS RIDING BULLS IS A MATTER OF FAMILY HERITAGE.

>> WHEN I WAS A KID MY UNCLE IS A COWBOY, AND SO I THOUGHT THEY WERE PRETTY COOL.

THEY WERE MY OLDER BROTHER, SO I FOLLOWED THEM AROUND, GOT PICKED ON BY THEM, AND THEY TAUGHT ME A FEW THINGS, AND BULL RIDING WAS ONE OF THEM.

>> BULL RIDERS LIKE KYLE CAN COUNT ON WELL TRAINED HELP ONCE THE GATE FLIES OPEN.

>> WE WORK IN THE SAME DIRECTION, SO IF A BULL TURNING TO THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, WE WANT TO BE GOING THE SAME WAY AS THE BULL.

SO THAT WE'RE NOT RUNNING INTO EACH OTHER.

PLUS PART OF OUR JOB IS GETTING THE BULLS TO GO WHERE WE WANT HIM TO GO, BY USING HIS NATURAL MOVEMENT.

>> THE REAL THRILL ISN'T IN DODGING THE BULL, IT'S PROTECTING THE RIDER.

>> I WANTED TO FIGHT BULLS SINCE I WAS FOUR, 5-YEARS-OLD, BUT I THINK IF IT WASN'T BULL FIGHTING IT WOULD BE SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, MILITARY, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I LIKE HELPING PEOPLE, AND THERE'S NO FEELING LIKE WALKING OUT OF THE ARENA KNOWING THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING HOME TO THEIR FAMILY THAT PROBABLY WOULDN'T IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU.

DESPITE THE PAIN HE LEFT THIS COMPETITION KNOWING HE HAD RIDDEN THE BEST BULLS IN THE WORLD.

>> I KNEW COMING IN IT WAS GOING TO BE THE GREATEST BULLS IN THE WORLD.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKED PLEA ABOUT THAT.

I WAS RIGHT, THERE WAS SO MANY 45 AND -- WHICH ARE EXCEPTION.

>> IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE BEST BUCKING BULLS YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT STATE.

>> OKLAHOMA IS THE MECCA OF THE BUCKING BULL WORLD.

WE THINK THAT THE BEST BULLS IN THE WORLD LIVE IN OKLAHOMA, OR EVEN RAISED IN OKLAHOMA.

>> RORY TAELYR, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> THE PBR UNLEASH THE BEAST RETURNS TO OKLAHOMA CITY AND THE PAYCOM CENTER FOR TWO-DAY EVENT ON FEBRUARY 11th AND 12th, 2022.

RICH.

>>> IN MID JULY THE 2021 KIDS COUNT REPORT WAS RELEASED.

THE NUMBERS WERE NOT GOOD.

THAT WEEK OUR IN-DEPTH SEGMENT FOCUSED ON OKLAHOMA RANKING, 42nd IN THE NATION.

MODERATOR SUSAN CADOT AND HER GUEST DISCUSS TOLT ARES AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THEM I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEM.

WE HAVE JOE DORMAN, THE CEO OF THE INSTITUTE FOR CHILD ADVOCACY AND GABRIEL IS THE COORDINATOR FOR THE OKLAHOMA POLICY INSTITUTE.

THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> GABRIELLE, SINCE THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME ON INDEPTH, I'M JUST GOING TO INITIATE YOU BY FIRE AND THROW THE FIRST QUESTION YOUR WAY.

WHAT IS THE KIDS COUNT COLLECTION OF DATA AND WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS FOR OKLAHOMA?

>> YES.

SO, THE KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL REPORT ON CHILD WELL-BEING IN THE U.S.

IT'S PRODUCED BY THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION AND RANKS EACH STATE IN FOUR CATEGORIES OF EDUCATION, ECONOMIC WELLBEING, HEALTH, AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

SO, THIS YEAR, OKLAHOMA WAS UNFORTUNATELY, ONCE AGAIN IN THE BOTTOM 10 WITH AN OVERALL RANKING OF 42ND, OUR INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS, OUR BEST ONE WAS ECONOMIC WELLBEING AT 33RD, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY IS 41ST, HEALTH THIS 42ND, AND EDUCATION IS 45TH.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU LOOK BACK OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL INDICATORS HAVE SLIGHTLY IMPROVED, BUT THE RANKINGS HAVE CONTINUED TO DECLINE BECAUSE OTHER STATES ARE DOING MORE AND INVESTING MORE IN THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND WE CAN'T COMPETE.

>> JOE, WHAT DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN FOR OKLAHOMA'S CHILDREN?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY IT'S NOT A GOOD INDICATOR AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, THESE ARE NUMBERS ARE ABOUT TWO TO THREE YEARS OLD BECAUSE IT TAKES TIME TO COLLECT AND THEN TIME TO CRUNCH THE DATA.

SO, WE'RE LOOKING AT PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS.

WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AS FAR AS THE NUMBERS AND WHAT WE SEE FOR EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES AFTER THE, THE RESULTS ARE CALCULATED FROM THE 2020 TIMEFRAME.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING BACK AT THESE NUMBERS, IT IS A GLOOMY INDICATOR ABOUT WHERE OKLAHOMA'S CHILDREN RANK COMPARED TO KIDS IN OTHERS STATES ACROSS THE NATION OR IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

>> JOE, I KNOW YOUR GROUP ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN IN OKLAHOMA, GABRIELLE THE OKLAHOMA POLICY INSTITUTE, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THESE NUMBERS ONCE YOU GET THEM?

DO YOU JUST SHARE THEM OR IS THERE ANY ACTION TAKEN?

WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS DATA?

>> WE LIKE TO SHARE THEM WITH OUR PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE, AS WELL AS, WE HOPE THAT THEY CAN HELP INFLUENCE ANY INVESTMENTS IN OUR CHILDREN THAT WE CAN DO THEM STRATEGICALLY.

WE CAN TARGET THEM TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THEM MOST.

AND THEN WE CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, JUST HOW ALL THESE SYSTEMS PLAY INTO EACH OTHER, HOW OUR HEALTH AFFECTS OUR EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, OUR ECONOMIC WELLBEING AFFECTS OUR HEALTH OUTCOMES AND SO ON AND SO ON.

SO IT REALLY SHOWS HOW ALL OF THESE PLAY INTO EACH OTHER AND YOU CAN'T FIX JUST ONE PROBLEM.

IT HAS TO BE ALL OF IT.

>> THEY DO PLAY INTO EACH OTHER.

JOE, HOW DID WE GET HERE?

HOW DID WE GET SO LOW?

>> IT'S A GENERATIONAL ISSUE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PREVALENCE OF ACES, ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES IN OKLAHOMA, THOSE ARE THE INDICATORS THAT OFTEN POINT TO WHAT WE'RE FACING, BECAUSE THIS IS GENERATIONAL TRAUMA.

OFTENTIMES PARENTS ARE RAISING THE KIDS THE WAY THEY WERE RAISED, AND DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY'RE RAISING THEIR KIDS THE WRONG WAY.

THAT SMOKING IN THE HOUSEHOLD IMPACTS KIDS.

DIVORCE IMPACTS KIDS.

NOT TREATING AND DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WILL IMPACT KIDS.

ABUSE AND NEGLECT, WHICH WE TRACK THOSE NUMBERS.

ANNIE E. CASEY DOES A GREAT JOB PUTTING OUT THIS INFORMATION.

AND IT CERTAINLY HELPS WITH OUR LOBBYING AND WORK AT THE CAPITOL TO TRY AND DRIVE SOME OF THOSE BILLS.

FROM OUR REPORT CARD THIS YEAR, WE HAD 15 REALLY GOOD BILLS THAT WENT THROUGH THE CAPITOL WE TRACKED AND THREE THAT WE FELT WERE NOT GOOD PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

AND WE DO A SCORECARD ON OUR LAWMAKERS AND WE USE A LOT OF THIS DATA TO TRY AND DRIVE THAT LEGISLATION AND IN TURN, RANK THE LAWMAKERS AND REMIND THEM THAT THEY NEED TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS.

>> WELL, I WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT, TO THAT SCORECARD IN A MINUTE, BUT, BUT YOU GUYS TOUCHED ON IT.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE OF YOU TOUCHED ON THE IMPACT OF COVID ON THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN OKLAHOMA.

IS THAT PLAYING A ROLE IN THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN OR THE WELLBEING OF OUR CHILDREN?

>> I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY PLAYING A ROLE IN THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF US WOULD CONSIDER OKLAHOMA A RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE STATE TO LIVE IN, BUT THE DATA, THIS REPORT SHOWS PROVES THAT FOR TOO MANY WORKING FAMILIES, BEING ABLE TO CONSISTENTLY AFFORD AND PROVIDE ALL THE ESSENTIALS IS STILL OUT OF REACH.

SO, LIKE JOE MENTIONED, THIS DATA IS FROM 2019 AND IT SHOWS THAT ONE IN FIVE OKLAHOMA CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.

IT'S SHOWING US THAT ONE IN FOUR FAMILIES ARE SPENDING 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING.

WE KNOW THE PANDEMIC CREATED A GREAT DEAL OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP ON WORKING FAMILIES IN OUR STATE THROUGH LOST WAGES, LACK OF CHILDCARE, SCHOOL CLOSURES, AND THROUGH CENSUS DATA, WE'RE ABLE TO SEE HOW THAT HAS IMPACTED OKLAHOMA.

AND SO, WE KNOW THEY WERE MORE LIKELY TO NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD USUAL EXPENSES FOR THEIR CHILDREN OVER THE PAST YEAR, THEY FACED A HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF EVICTION AND FORECLOSURE AND MUCH HIGHER RATES OF FOOD INSECURITY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, CHILDREN OF COLOR EXPERIENCED THESE HARDSHIPS AT DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHER RATES IN THE STATE.

SO I THINK WHILE THE MOST RECENT DATA CAN OFFER A GLIMPSE INTO THE BEGINNING OF OUR RECOVERY TOO MANY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WERE STRUGGLING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND MANY ARE CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE TO AFFORD FOOD, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, CHILDCARE, ALL OF IT.

SO FORTUNATELY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE THE POWER TO INVEST IN OUR STATE'S CHILDREN.

AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS THEY CAN DO THAT IS BY INVESTING IN THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED ANTIPOVERTY SOLUTIONS LIKE AN EXPANDED AND REFUNDABLE EARNED, EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, AS WELL AS THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

>> ALRIGHT, JOE, DOES THE SCORECARD FROM OICA BEAR THAT OUT?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.

AND GABRIELLE TALKED ABOUT EITC.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THROUGH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS ADVOCATING AT THE CAPITOL, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT RESTORED THIS YEAR, AND THAT'S THE 5% REFUNDABILITY THAT GOES INTO EITC.

THAT'S SOMETHING THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR, FOR YEARS AND WE WERE THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF THAT EFFORT TO GET THAT IN THE BUDGET AGREEMENT WITH LAWMAKERS.

AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WORK OF WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH THE RECOVERY ACT FUNDS COMING TO STATES, THE EFFORT TO INCREASE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT AND I WANT TO REMIND YOUR VIEWERS, IF YOU'RE A NON-FILER ON YOUR TAXES, IF YOU MAKE LESS THAN $12,200 OR $24,400, AND YOU DON'T FILE YOUR TAXES, YOU NEED TO TURN IN A NON-FILER REPORT AT CHILDTAXCREDIT.GOV, AND THAT WILL QUALIFY YOU FOR A $3,000 OR $3,600 CHILD TAX CREDIT THIS YEAR.

THAT WAS EXPANDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THERE ARE THINGS OUT THERE THAT CAN CERTAINLY HELP FAMILIES, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS KNOW THAT.

OF COURSE, WE JUST RECENTLY SAW MEDICAID EXPANSION KICK IN, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A SAVING GRACE FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES, UP TO 200,000 OKLAHOMANS OR MORE WILL QUALIFY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE FIRST TIME, IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER OR CAN'T AFFORD IT.

SO, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK THAT'S HAPPENED, IN CITIZEN INITIATIVES, WORK AT THE CAPITOL WITH OUR LAWMAKERS, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE, AND WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING COME ABOUT WITH THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C. >> AND THERE WAS EVEN A TUSSLE OVER THE MEDICAID EXPANSION PROGRAM IN OKLAHOMA.

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO PUSH THESE THINGS THROUGH THAT ARE GOING TO HELP FOLKS?

>> WE, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH MEDICAID AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND CERTAINLY THE EXPANSION AND INSURANCE AS A WHOLE TIED TO A FORMER PRESIDENT WHOSE NAME WAS TIED TO THAT.

THE MONIKER ON THAT CERTAINLY MADE IT A POLITICAL ORDEAL, AND UNFORTUNATELY, DREW THE BATTLE LINES.

SIMPLY PUT, THIS IS GOING TO HELP A LOT OF AMERICANS OUT THERE WHO DON'T GET INSURANCE THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER, MULTIPLE EMPLOYERS.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE ADULTS, WHEN THEY GET INSURANCE, THE STATISTICS ARE THERE TO SHOW THAT KIDS RECEIVE MORE WELL-CHILD VISITS BECAUSE UNDER SOONERCARE MORE KIDS QUALIFIED, A DIFFERENT INCOME LEVEL THAT'S A DIFFERENT CAPACITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE KIDS DO HAVE INSURANCE.

SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ANNIE E. CASEY NUMBERS, ABOUT 7% OF KIDS IN OKLAHOMA AREN'T RECEIVING INSURANCE AND SO THEY QUALIFY, IT'S JUST THE PARENTS HAVEN'T SIGNED THEM UP AND WE NEED TO GET THEM REGISTERED NOW SO THEY CAN GET THAT HEALTH INSURANCE, GET MORE DOCTOR'S VISITS AND WE'LL SEE A HEALTHIER OUTCOME.

AND JUST ALONG THOSE LINES, WE'RE STILL IN A PANDEMIC.

WE'RE SEEING THE NUMBERS FOR THE DELTA VARIANT GO UP.

OICA IS RUNNING A MASK COALITION AT MASCKOK.ORG.

AND SOME OF THE RESPONSES WE GET FROM INDIVIDUALS ON THERE IT JUST MAKES YOU SHAKE YOUR HEAD.

WE HAD ONE PERSON RESPOND A FEW WEEKS AGO, BASICALLY COMPARING WEARING MASK TO SATANISM.

AND THIS WAS A PERSON THAT PROCLAIMED TO BE A CHRISTIAN.

SO, PEOPLE CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS AND PEOPLE ACTING LIKE THAT, BUT I WANT TO SAY, THE VIEWERS OF YOUR SHOW NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE VIEWERS OF OTHER CABLE SHOWS >> YEAH, GABRIELLE, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS SEEING ON THAT FRONT?

>> AS FAR AS MEDICAID EXPANSION, WE ARE OBVIOUSLY SUPER HAPPY IT PASSED.

THIS REPORT SHOWS THAT ONLY FIVE OTHER STATES HAVE A GREATER SHARE OF UNINSURED CHILDREN THAN OKLAHOMA.

WE HAVE ABOUT 86,000 CHILDREN WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.

THAT'S ROUGHLY THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF EDMOND, OKLAHOMA.

AND WHEN CHILDREN CAN'T SEE A DOCTOR OR FULFILL PRESCRIPTION, A CHILD'S HEALTH CAN BE IMPACTED, WHICH CAN LEAD TO MISSED DAYS OF SCHOOL AND LOWER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND IT CAN ALSO TRIGGER FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND OTHER FAMILY STRESSORS.

AS OUR TIME RUNS, GABRIEL, I WANT TO STICK WITH YOU ON THIS.

WILL, THE NEW $3.2 BILLION EDUCATION BUDGET HELP MOVE OKLAHOMA UP?

>> I'M DEFINITELY HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL.

WE SAW AN INCREASED EDUCATION FUNDING OR APPROPRIATIONS THIS THE SESSION IN OUR BUDGET.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S WHEN YOU ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE ARE SERVING, IT STILL ISN'T COMPETING WITH OUR PRE-2008, PRE-GREAT RECESSION LEVELS.

AND SO, I'M HOPING THAT THIS FUNDING CANNOT ONLY YOU KNOW, HELP SUPPORT THESE CRITICAL PUBLIC SERVICES IN OUR FUND OR IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, BUT ALSO SHOW LAWMAKERS THAT THESE INVESTMENTS CAN HAVE IMMEDIATE IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR OUR CHILDREN.

IT ALSO IS ALLOWING US TO FUND THE OKLAHOMA SCHOOL COUNSELOR CORPS, WHICH WILL LOWER OUR STUDENT TO COUNSELOR RATIOS AND ALSO PROVIDE MANY SCHOOL DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY RURAL SCHOOLS WITH SCHOOL COUNSELORS, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PREVIOUSLY ACCESS THEM.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR CHILDREN, ISSUES ACROSS THE STATE THAT AFFECT OUR CHILDREN.

DOES IT SEEM LIKE SOMETIMES NOTHING IS GETTING DONE OR YOU TAKE TWO STEPS FORWARD AND ONE STEP BACK?

THERE'S DEDICATION THAT KEEPS MOVING THINGS FORWARD PAST EACH AND EVERY ROADBLOCK.

JOE, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE ROADBLOCKS, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT THE CHILDREN IN OKLAHOMA TO DO WELL.

THEY HAVE REASONS AS WELL, CORRECT?

>> THEY DO.

AND WE DO.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE RURAL AND URBAN DIVIDE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DOLLARS THAT ARE ALLOCATED, OFTENTIMES IT FEELS LIKE MOST OF THE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO THE LARGER COMMUNITIES LIKE OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA.

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH DELIVERING SERVICES.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT HEALTHCARE AS A WHOLE, IT'S HARDER TO GET DOCTORS TO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS.

IT'S CERTAINLY HARDER TO GET COUNSELORS THROUGH THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING IN, SUPERINTENDENT HOFMEISTER HAS ALLOCATED A LARGE PORTION OF THAT TO GO TO ENHANCE COUNSELORS SERVICES, JUST LIKE GABRIELLE SAID.

THAT'S GOING TO GO A LONG WAYS TOWARD TREATING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND WHAT SENATOR THOMPSON AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE LEADERS CHAMPION TO GET A MILLION DOLLARS INTO MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA TO THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF TRYING TO COME OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC AND MAKE SURE THAT KIDSS' MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE TREATED.

AND WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

MENTAL HEALTH IS TREATED DIFFERENTLY NOW AS LESS OF A STIGMA, PEOPLE REALIZE IT IS CERTAINLY JUST A HEALTH CONDITION AND THERE ARE TREATMENTS AND WAYS TO HELP OVERCOME THAT.

AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AND THEIR FEELINGS.

SO, A COUNSELOR GOES A LONG WAY TO HELPING, AND CERTAINLY IN THE LONG RUN, IT'S GOING TO REDUCE OUR SUSPENSION NUMBERS IN SCHOOLS AND IN TURN, REDUCE THAT SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE THAT WE'VE FACED IN OKLAHOMA FOR SO MANY YEARS.

WE'RE WORKING CONSTANTLY WITH LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND ALL DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE STATE TO SHAPE IDEAS FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

INTERIM STUDIES WERE FILED RECENTLY, THE PRO TEMP OF THE SENATE GREG TREAT HAS APPROVED THOSE STUDIES THAT HE WANTED TO SEE HAPPEN.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WERE A LOT DEALING WITH CHILDREN'S ISSUES.

WE HAVE A JOINT REQUEST IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE THAT KAY FLOYD AND ROGER THOMPSON ARE WORKING ON IN THE SENATE.

KEVIN WALLIS, EMILY VIRGIN, AND MARK LAWSON ARE WORKING ON THE HOUSE, AND IF YOU RECOGNIZE THOSE NAMES, POLITICALLY, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE HEAVY HITTERS IN BOTH PARTIES.

AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT A CHILDREN'S BUDGET PERSPECTIVE, LONG-TERM ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

AND THEN KAY IS ALSO WORKING ON LOOKING AT ISSUES WITH CHILDREN'S SUICIDE AND THE DEATHS OF CHILDREN.

WE'RE PARTNERING WITH ANOTHER JACOBI ON IT, THE OKLAHOMA COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO LOOK AT THE REASONS WHY WE SEE LEVELS OF DEATH WITH KIDS AND THE WAY TO MAKE THEM PREVENTABLE.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

ANY FINAL WORDS FROM YOU, JOE AND GABRIELLE, AS WE WIND UP OUR TIME HERE?

>> I'LL JUST ADD, JUST TO END, YOU KNOW, ON A KIND OF A HAPPIER NOTE.

I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THAT OKLAHOMA'S RANKINGS HAVE CONTINUED TO DECLINE AND REMAIN IN THE BOTTOM 10, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IT DIDN'T ALWAYS USED TO BE THIS WAY.

WE HAVE A RECORD OF INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN.

WE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST STATES TO PIONEER, FULLY FUNDED, FOUR-YEAR-OLD PRE-K.

I THINK THAT WAS IN 1998.

WE ALSO INSTITUTED A QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM FOR OUR CHILDCARE CENTERS AND HOMES THAT SAME YEAR.

SO I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF ROOM TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE.

WE JUST NEED TO CONTINUE MAKING THOSE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS INVESTING IN OUR WORKING FAMILIES AND REALLY INVESTING IN, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN'S PARENTS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE HAPPY, HEALTHY, STABLE HOMES TO COME HOME TO AND BE SUPPORTED.

>> JOE?

>> I WANTED TO GO LAST BECAUSE I WANTED TO BRAG ABOUT GABRIELLE AND THE WORK THAT SHE'S DOING.

SHE'S RECENT TO THIS JOB, AND IT'S CLEAR, SHE'S GOING TO MAKE A TREMENDOUS MARK ON CHILD ADVOCACY THROUGH HER WORK FOR YEARS TO COME.

AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SOLID, STRONG ADVOCATES WHO ARE OUT THERE WORKING.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD.

WE'RE ONLY AS STRONG AS THOSE INDIVIDUAL OKLAHOMANS WHO REACH OUT TO THEIR LAWMAKERS, DEVELOP THOSE CONNECTIONS, AND SPEAK THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

JUST LIKE I POINTED OUT WITH THAT ONE PERSON EMAILING US, THERE IS A LOUD MINORITY OUT THERE THAT IS PROMOTING IDEAS THAT ARE NOT HEALTHY FOR OKLAHOMA'S CHILDREN.

AND THE ONLY WAY WE COMBAT THAT IS TO BE A LOUDER, STRONGER VOICE, BECAUSE COMMON SENSE IS THE MAJORITY VIEW IN OKLAHOMA, BUT WE DON'T OFTEN HEAR THAT AND I CAN SPEAK TO THAT AS A FORMER LAWMAKER.

CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES, MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD, AND SPEAK UP FOR CHILDREN.

THAT'S HOW WE OVERCOME THIS AND MOVE INTO THE THIRTIES, THE TWENTIES, AND THEN HOPEFULLY THE TOP 10.

>> WONDERFUL.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME AND JOINING US IN THIS GREAT INFORMATION.

HOPEFULLY IT INSPIRES SOME FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING TO GET INVOLVED AND HELP.

THANK YOU BOTH AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> WE'LL LEAVE YOU WITH ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SHOW CLOSING PHOTO ESSAYS OF 2021.

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I AM RICH LENZ.

HOPE YOUR HOLIDAYS ARE EVERYTHING YOU HOPED THEY WOULD BE.

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