>>> OKLAHOMA RACES FOR THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW VARIANT.

>> WE'RE COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT IF THIS PARTICULAR VARIANT WERE TO COME INTO OKLAHOMA WE WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY.

>> TO SHARE THEIR HISTORY, THEIR WAY.

>> THE TRIBE REALLY TRIES TO PLACE NATIVE ACTORS IN NATIVE ROLES BECAUSE YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THAT.

>> A TRIBE VEST 20 MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO CLEANUP GAS WELLS.

>> WE THINK WE'RE GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, AND WE'RE PRETTY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE.

>>> BIG GAME BOB RETURNS FOR ONE MORE GAME AS THE SOONERS ADDRESS UNEXPECTED COACHING CHALLENGE.

>> THIS JOB IS GOING TO ATTRACT THE VERY BEST IN THE COACHING WORLD, AND THEY'RE ALREADY LINED UP.

>>> AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION OF THE TRINITY PROJECT, AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR MINORITY HEALTH DISPARITIES, NEXT ON "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

I'M RICH LENZ.

THE EMERGING OMICRON VIRUS RESULTED IN TRAVEL VANS AND NEW LOCKDOWNS AND WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY APPEAR IN OKLAHOMA IF IT ISN'T HERE RIGHT NOW.

MORE ON WHAT PRECAUTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN WE'RE JOINED BY JASON DOYLE ON.

>> DOCTORS ARE SAYING THE DISEASE DOESN'T SEEM AS SEVERE BUT IT'S EASIER TO SPREAD.

OFFICIALS CAUTION WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION YET.

>> JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO GO BACK IN THE WATER, HERE WE ARE WITH AN OMICRON VARIANT.

>> SOME OF THE CONCERN ABOUT THE COVID-19 OMICRON VARIANT IS CENTERED ON TRANSMISSIONABILITY, IN JUST A WEEK NUMBER OF COVID CASES IN SOUTH AFRICA, ONE OF FIRST COUNTRIES TO DETECT THE VARIANT, HAVE TRIPLED.

>> HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE VACCINATION RATE IN SOUTH AFRICA IS 32, 35%.

SO WE'RE NOT SURE?

THAT IS TRULY INCREASED TRANSMISSIONABILITY OR SLIGHT INCREASE IN TRANSMISSIONABILITY ON TOP OF RELATIVELY LOW VACCINATION RATE AS A CONFOUNDING FACTOR.

>> Reporter: THURSDAY PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS WHICH REQUIRE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS TO TEST 24 HOURS WITHIN DEPARTURE.

EARLIER THIS WEEK BIDEN BANNED TRAVEL FROM SEVERAL SOUTH AFRICAN COUNTRIES.

>> I HONESTLY VERY MUCH BELIEVE THAT SHUTTING BORDERS DOWN PROBABLY IT'S TOO LATE AT THIS POINT.

IT'S ALREADY LIKE CLOSING THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSES HAVE ALREADY LEFT.

>> THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEGUN LOOKING FOR THE OMICRON VARIANT IN OUR STATE.

>> OUR PUBLIC HEALTH LAB HAS WORKED TREMENDOUSLY HARD AND VERY, VERY PROFICIENT IN MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY NOT ONLY THE DELTA VARIANT BUT POTENTIALLY OMICRON VARIANT OR ANY OTHER VARIANT THAT MAY OCCUR HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OR OKLAHOMA.

>> THE KEY TO CATCHING THIS VARIANT IS FOR PEOPLE TO GET TESTED FOR COVID USING PCR TEST.

>> WE ENCOURAGE ANYBODY THAT HAS SYMPTOMS OF COVID TO GO GET TESTED.

>> THE DISCOVERY OF THE OMICRON VARIANT IS SO NEW, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH DATA TO KNOW HOW THIS VERSION OF COVID WILL IMPACT THE POPULATION.

>> ANYTIME YOU SEE THE VIRUS SPREADING A LOT IN A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING INFECTED YOU INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF MUTATION.

>> THE MUTATION ON THE OMICRON ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE'S AT LEAST 30 MUTATIONS FOR THIS NEW VARIANT, WHICH IS QUITE HIGH IN NUMBER.

>> VIRUSES MUTATE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MECHANISM TO DUPLICATE DNA OR RNA.

>> WHEN THEY GET INSIDE OF OUR CELL, THEY USE OUR MECHANISM TO DUPLICATE THEIR DNA OR RNA, AND THEN THEY USE OUR MACHINEY TO MAKE PROTEINS.

>> WHILE THE VIRUS USES OUR MECHANISM TO MAKE PROTEINS THEY DO NOT USE THEM TO ELIMINATE MUTATIONS.

>> SO THE VIRUSES ARE REPLICATING THEIR OWN GENETIC CODE, VERY SLOPPILY, AND THESE MUTATIONS THE ARE HAPPENING.

AND THE MUTATIONS LEAD.

>> MANY MUTATIONS LEAD TO DEAD ENDS FOR THE VIRUS BUT OCCASIONALLY MUTATIONS WILL GIVE THE VIRUS AN EVOLUTION ADVANTAGE FOR SURVIVAL.

>> JUST LIKE WE SAW IN DELTA, ITS MUTATIONS MADE IT MORE INFECTIOUS AND THEREFORE IT HAS SURVIVAL ADVANTAGE OVER ORIGINAL VARIANT AND NOW ALMOST ALL INFECTIONS HERE AND MOST OF THE WORLD ARE DELTA.

>> WE JUST SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THE OMICRON VARIANT WILL YOU KNOW DISPLACE THE DELTA VARIANT.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.

IT'S TOO EARLY TO PREDICT WHAT MAY HAPPEN.

>> THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT OMICRON COULD BE RESISTANT TO CURRENT COVID VACCINES.

>> THE VACCINES THAT WE HAVE IN UNITED STATES WE'RE STILL THINKING IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE OKAY, YET AGAIN WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION YET.

>> MOST OF THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THE VACCINES NOW ARE DOING TESTS WITH THE GENETIC STRAIN CAUSING THIS PARTICULAR OUTBREAK.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW.

>> THE VARIANT ALSO IS BEING TESTED AGAINST PROVEN MEDICAL TREATMENTS.

>> IF THE VIRUS ITSELF AND NEW VARIANT IS DIFFERENT ENOUGH TO TRICK THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY WE USED PRIOR BUT NOT GOING TO WORK, WE CAN USE THEM -- THE INFUSION BUT IF IT'S NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE NEW SPIKE PROTEIN WE MAY HAVE A PROBLEM.

>> I THINK THE TREATMENTS ARE GOING TO END UP BEING VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR REDUCING THE BURDEN OF THIS PARTICULAR DISEASE.

>> HOWEVER, OKLAHOMA'S MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY IT'S NOT TIME TO PANIC JUST BE VIGILANT.

>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO BE GLOOM AND DOOM YET.

I THINK WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE CAN BE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP KEEP THE REST OF US SAFE.

>> COMING UP LATER IN THE NEWSCAST SUSAN CADOT WILL MODERATE A DISCUSSION ON THE IMPACT ON MINORITY COMMUNITIES AND HOW PROJECT TRINITY IS PROVIDING SOME VALUABLE INFORMATION TO HELP ADDRESS IT.

RICH.

>>> THANK YOU.

WELL, DID THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY RESULT IN A SPIKE OF COVID INFECTIONS?

THE ROLLING SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE OF NEW CASES HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, UP FROM 679 TO 1,036.

HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE RISEN TO 552, MORE ICU BEDS ARE IN USE 171.

AND WE ARE JUST ONE DEATH SHY OF THE GRIM TOTAL OF 12,000 OKLAHOMANS LOST TO THE VIRUS.

ALSO, AS OF TUESDAY, 55% OF ELIGIBLE POPULATION HAS BEEN FULLY VACCINATED AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE RECEIVING BOOSTER SHOTS JUMPED BY 10% THIS WEEK TO TOTAL OF JUST OVER 376,000.

>>> LAST WEEKEND WAS NOT A GOOD ONE FOR OU FOOTBALL FANS.

HOURS AFTER LOSING BEDLAM THEY LOST THEIR HEAD COACH.

LINCOLN RILEY IS OFF TO COACH THE USC TROJANS.

AND THAT HAS EVERYONE ASKING WHO IS GOING TO REPLACE HIM.

>> AT LEASE IN THE THE SHORT-TERM WE KNOW THE ANSWER.

BIG GAME BOB IS RETURNING TO THE SOONER SIDELINE FOR AT LEAST ONE MORE BOWL GAME.

>> LET'S GO.

GET IT GOING.

>> WOULD YOU TAKE OVER AS INTERIM COACH, INTERIM HEAD COACH?

BEFORE WE COULD COMPLETE THE QUESTION HIS EXACT ANSWER AND YOU CAN HEAR IT FROM HIS LIPS WAS, OF COURSE, I WILL.

OF COURSE, I WILL.

ANYTHING I CAN DO I'LL DO.

>> IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME ANSWER STOOPS GAVE WHEN HE WAS HIRED IN 1998 TO TAKE OVER A PROGRAM THAT HADN'T PRODUCED A WINNING RECORD IN 40 YEARS.

>> THIS PLACE IS IN A HELL OF A LOT BETTER SHAPE THAN IT WAS DECEMBER 1, 1998.

I WORK -- WE'RE PERENNIAL TOP FIVE, TEN, 15 TIME EVERY SINGLE YEAR, WE'RE PLAYING THAT KIND OF FOOTBALL.

THIS JOB IS GOING TO ATTRACT THE VERY BEST IN THE COACHING WORLD, AND THEY'RE ALREADY LINED UP AND CALLING JOE.

>> JOE CONSTIGLIONE IS ALREADY BEGUN A SEARCH THAT MANY EXPECT TO BE COMPLETED BY THE TIME THE SOONERS COME EAT IN YET TO BE DETERMINED BOWL GAME.

>> IN SPITE OF HOW INQUISITIVE YOU ARE, AND HOW MANY RUMORS YOU'RE GOING TO WANT ME TO CORE RAN RATE I DON'T DO IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE STEALTH, BUT WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF TIME AND TIMING, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH EVERYTHING IS GOING ON IN THIS VERY DIFFERENT AND NEW WORLD.

AND SO WE'LL MOVE IT QUICKLY.

>> THE NEW COACH WHOEVER IT IS WILL REPLACE A MAN WHO WON 55 GAMES IN FIVE SEASONS INCLUDING FOUR BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS, HOWEVER LINCOLN RILEY WAS 0-3 IN THE PLAYOFFS.

>> I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING COUPLE OF GUYS HERE THIS MORNING THAT ARE INCREDIBLY VALUABLE TO ME, CLARK STROUD WILL BE OUR DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS, DENNIS SIMMONS WILL BE OUR WIDE RECEIVERS COACH AND BENNY BILY HEAD STRENGTH COACH.

>> THOUGH NOT CONFIRMED THEY'RE STAGGERING.

MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN SALARY, ACCESS TO SCHOOL JET 24/7, AND NEW HOUSE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND HE BROUGHT FOUR COACHES WITH HIM.

>> I THINK IT WOULD NOT BE FITTING TO RECOGNIZE THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, THE IMPACT IT HAD ON ME, THE PEOPLE THERE, THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY -- I TOLD THE TEAM EARLIER TOUGHEST DECISION OF MY LIFE TO COME HERE, AND IT'S -- THOSE PEOPLE WERE TREMENDOUS TO ME.

>> IT'S THE KIND OF DEAL COACHES LIKE BARRY SWITZER WHO ATTENDED THE NEWS CONFERENCE COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED.

OU NEXT COACH WILL ALMOST SHIRT NOT COMMAND THAT TYPE OF SALARY.

BUT THE ADMINISTRATION IS WILLING TO STEP UP BY FAN NATIONAL SHE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE WITH MOVE TO THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE SCHEDULED IN THE FUTURE.

>> LIKE WE ALWAYS SAY, THIS JOB IS ONE OF THE BEST EVER IN SPORTS.

AND IT'S BEEN MADE THAT WAY BECAUSE OF INCREDIBLE PLAYERS THAT CHOSE TO COME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, THAT EXCEPTIONAL THINGS, WHILE THEY WERE HERE.

>> ON CAMPUS, CONCERN THOSE TYPE OF ATHLETES WILL DECOMMIT.

>> HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE COMING IN THAT WILL CARE ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY AND HOPEFULLY PLAY REGARDLESS.

>> INDEED IT DOES BECAUSE AFTER ALL, THERE IS NOT ONE GUY, ONE PERSON, IN THE HISTORY OF THIS PROGRAM THAT IS BIGGER THAN THE PROGRAM.

COACH SWITZER, MYSELF OR LINCOLN RYELY.

WHAT I TOLD THE PLAYERS IS THEY ARE THE PROGRAM.

>> HOWLY WOOD CRANKED OUT THOUSANDS OF WESTERNS OVER THE YEARS.

THAT'S CHANGING, AND SOME OF THE BEST WORK IS BEING SHOT AND PRODUCED RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US TO EXPLAIN.

STEVE.

>> RICH, JUST LAST MONTH, NETFLIX MADE TWO RECENT NATIVE-AMERICAN MOVIES FILMED IN OKLAHOMA AVAILABLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THE OETA WAS THERE BEHIND THE SCENES IN GUTHRIE IN 2014 WHEN CHICKASAW NATION PRODUCTIONS FILMED AN EPIC STORY ABOUT A WOMAN BY THE NAME OF MARY FRANCIS THOMPSON FISHER, AMERICAN MUSIC CULTURE AND FILM ELITES KNEW AS TE ATA.

>> DAUGHTER HAD THE GIFT, SHE CAN OPEN UP THE EYES OF THE WORLD TO THE CHICKASAW PEOPLE.

>> TE ATA WAS AN ENTERTAINER, DURING A TIME WHEN THE TYPE OF SUBJECT MATTER THAT SHE USED FOR ENTERTAINMENT, WHICH WAS NATIVE-AMERICAN CULTURE, HISTORY, SONGS, DANCE, LANGUAGE, WAS BEING DISCOURAGED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> JEANNIE BARBOUR IS CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNICATIONS FOR CHICKASAW NATION, WHICH BOASTS 70,000 CITIZENS NATIONWIDE.

BARBOUR SPENT YEARS RESEARCHING THE MOVIE TE ATA WHICH WAS RELEASED AND WON AWARDS IN 2017.

>> WHAT WILL DO YOU NEXT?

>> MAYBE NEW YORK.

>> HE WANTED TO SEE THE WORLD AND SHE WANTED TO BE AN ENTERTAINER, AND IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HER TO TRY AND BECOME BROADWAY ACTRESS.

SHE WAS VERY TALENTED, AND SHE, YOU KNOW, WAS ABLE TO EARN HER OWN WAY.

HER FATHER HAD HOPED THAT SHE WOULD STAY AT HOME THOUGH, SO THROUGHOUT HER LIFE HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HER WELL-BEING.

>> SPEAKING OF HER FATHER -- >> THEY'RE ALL ONE BIRD.

>> FANS OF THE MOST POPULAR TV SHOW ON THE PLANET RIGHT NOW YELLOWSTONE, SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE ACTOR WHO PLAYED TE ATA'S FATHER IN THIS FILM.

>> GILL BIRMINGHAM, WHAT A TALENT.

AND JUST A FUN, FUN GUY TO BE AROUND.

GILL DID A WONDERFUL JOB ON TE ATA, AND REALLY HE'S A VETERAN ACTOR WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE THAT WE CALLED UPON.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THE TRIBE REALLY TRIES TO PLACE NATIVE ACTORS IN NATIVE ROLES BECAUSE YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THAT.

>> HE IS TODAY MAN THEY.

SHE WAS BORN IN INDIAN TERRITORY IN THE LATE 1890s AND LIVED FOR JUST SHY OF 100 YEARS.

HER CAREER AS A BROADWAY ENTERTAINER AND NATIVE-AMERICAN STORY TELLER TOOK HER ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND SPANNED 60 YEARS.

>> TE ATA NEVER HAD CHILDREN.

SHE OFTEN SAID YOU KNOW HER NIECES AND NEPHEWS WERE HER CHILDREN, AND SHE MADE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY WERE TRULY, TRULY SPECIAL PEOPLE.

>> ONE OF TE ATA'S NEPHEWS HAS HAD QUITE A CAREER OF HIS OWN.

>> SHE IS AN AUNT OF CONGRESSMAN TOM COLE IN OKLAHOMA, AND HE HAS A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION ABOUT TE ATA FROM THE FAMILY SIDE OF THINGS.

>> AFTER HER HUSBAND DIED MARRY FRANCIS THOMSON FISHER RETURNED TO OKLAHOMA CITY, WHERE SHE PASSED AWAY IN 1995.

ALSO WHERE SHE WAS INDUCTED INTO OKLAHOMA'S HALL OF FAME, 38 YEARS EARLIER.

A GENERATION BEFORE TE ATA -- >> WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

>> MONTFORD JOHNSON.

>> ANOTHER CHICKASAW LEGEND NAMED MONTFORD JOHNSON ROSE FROM NOTHING TO BUILD A RANCHING EMPIRE AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.

>> EVENTUALLY AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS CAREER, OVER 35,000 HEAD OF CATTLE ON 1.3 MILLION ACRES OF LAND.

ALL OF IT IN THE WESTERN PART OF WHAT WE KNOW IS THE CHICKASAW NATION, PARTS OF THE UNASSIGNED LANDS AND PART OF OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, SO HE HAD THIS VAST RANCHING INTEREST THAT HE WAS ABLE TO BUILD OVER A LIFETIME.

>> JEANNIE BARBOUR RESEARCHED THE MOVIE MONTFORD.

>> HE OVERCAME A GREAT MANY OBSTACLES, NOT ONLY IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE WAS WEATHER, THERE WAS DISEASE THAT WAS COMMON DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, NO DOCTORS AROUND.

HE HAD TO LEARN HOW TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, OPERATE ON YOUR OWN DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.

>> MONTFORD JOHNSON ONLY LIVED TO BE 52-YEARS-OLD.

BUT WHAT A LIFE.

BECAUSE OF DELAYS RELATED TO COVID-19, MONTFORD THE CHICKASAW RANCHER WASN'T RELEASED UNTIL NETFLIX RELEASED IT NOVEMBER 1st.

>> IN FACT, MONTFORD THE CHICKASAW RANCHER IS ACTUALLY TRENDING.

IT WAS IN THE TOP TEN MOVIES ON NETFLIX A WEEK OR TWO ACCOMPANY.

>> KALE LAMPKIN GREW UP IN DAVIS WHICH IS WHERE MUCH OF MONTFORD WAS FILMED.

>> I DON'T EVEN THINK PRIDE REALLY SUMS UP, BECAUSE IT'S A -- IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT REALLY IS A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT BUT ALSO A MIRACLE IN ITSELF, BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT WENT AGAINST NATIVE-AMERICANS THROUGHOUT HISTORY, HOW WE ARE ABLE TO NOT JUST SURVIVE BUT ALSO BUILD UP AND BECOME BACK STRONGER TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE OUR OWN INDUSTRY, AND WE'RE OUR OWN PEOPLE AGAIN IN A MODERN SETTING.

>> AND IT'S WORTH NOTING THE ACTRESS WHO PLAYED THE LEAD ROLE IN TE ATA PLAYS THE ROLE OF AN ATTORNEY WHO WAS QUITE THE VILLAIN IN YELLOWSTONE.

RICH.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

THANK YOU STEVE.

>>> AN INVESTIGATION BY OUR CONTENT PARTNERS AT THE FRONTIER REVEALED PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERED INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL ARE WAITING MONTHS IN COUNTY JAILS BEFORE RECEIVING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FROM THE STATE.

TAELYR JACKSON SPOKE WITH BRIANNA BAYLOR ABOUT ONE LAWMAKER AS PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THAT.

>> MICHAEL BERGSTROM IS PROPOSING SENATE BILL 1113.

WHAT WOULD IT DO FOR THOSE IN CUSTODY?

>> SO WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO IS IT WOULD TRY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND THAT'S GETTING TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FOUND INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL.

AND RIGHT NOW, PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS THEY SEND YOU TO A STATE HOSPITAL IN BENITA TO TRY TO GET YOU WELL ENOUGH THAT YOU'RE FUNCTIONING ENOUGH THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN COURT PROCEEDINGS.

RIGHT NOW THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS A LENGTHY WAITING LIST FOR TREATMENT, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JUST WAITING FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AT A TIME IN JAILS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WHAT CAN THE FORENSIC CENTER PROVIDE FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEEMED INCOMPETENT THAT JAILS AREN'T CURRENTLY PROVIDING?

>> WELL, A LOT OF TIME WHAT THESE PEOPLE NEED IS PRETTY HEAVY DUTY MEDICATION, AND JAILS ARE PRETTY LIMITED IN WHAT THEY CAN PROVIDE AND THE TYPES OF MEDICATION THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE.

THEY DO A LOT OF STUFF AT THE FORENSIC CENTER.

THEY -- YOU WILL BE IN GROUP THERAPY, LIKE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND IF TREATMENT INSTEAD OF IN JAIL A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS THEY'RE KEPT IN ISOLATION, BECAUSE THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY, SAFETY, AND JAILS ARE JUST NOT EQUIPPED.

>> HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CASES OF INMATES IN NEED OF TREATMENT HEARD HURTING THEMSELVES OR OTHERS INCLUDING GUARDS?

>> THERE IS A WOMAN IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY WHO DIED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

SHE WAS ON THE WAITING LIST TO GO TO THE STATE HOSPITAL IN BENITA.

TO RECEIVE TREATMENT.

AND YOU KNOW THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL WHERE SHE WAS BEING HELD JUST WASN'T REALLY EQUIPPED TO HANDLER AND HER HEALTH RAPIDLY DETERIORATED IN THE JAIL.

>> WHAT ARE THE LATEST EFFORTS TO PROPERLY TRAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HANDLE SITUATIONS WITH THOSE WHO ARE MENTALLY ILL, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT OF THE JAIL?

>> WELL, THEY'RE TRYING TO DO MORE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND AN ISSUE THAT LOT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE IS THEY HAVE TO TAKE SOMEBODY IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND TAKE THEM TO A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM, AND WAIT FOR PROBABLY HOURS FOR THEM TO BE SEEN AND EVALUATED.

THERE HAS BEEN FUNDING IN THE LAST YEAR TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH iPAD, SO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL CAN MEET REMOTELY WITH THE PERSON IN THE MENTAL HEALTH -- >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THOUSANDS OF ABANDONED OIL AND NATURAL GAS WELLS HAVE BEEN CLEANED UP AND PLUGGED IN OKLAHOMA BUT NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN PROPERLY.

THOUSANDS MORE ARE WAITING TO BE PLUGGED.

KENNEDY JOINS US NOW WITH DETAILS ON THIS EXPENSIVE WORK AND WHO IS DOING IT.

KENNEDY.

>> RICH, THE REASON WHY THESE ABANDONED WELLS NEED TO BE IDENTIFIED AND PLUGGED IS DUE TO LEAKING METHANE, SALT WATER AND HYDROCARBONS.

THE CONCERN CREATED BY ABANDONED WELLS REACHED THE U.S. CAPITOL THIS YEAR, AS PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT OF 2021, SIGNED INTO EFFECT NOVEMBER 15th, $3.7 BILLION WILL GO TO ORPHAN WELL SITE PLUGGING AND RESTORATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND OKLAHOMA IS HIGH ON THE LIST OF STATES WITH ABANDONED AND ORPHANED WELLS.

>> ACCORDING TO NATIONAL OFFICIALS THAT WE'RE CERTAINLY VERY CLOSE TO THE TOP OF THE LIST.

THE MAJORITY IN TERMS OF ABANDONED OLD WELLS WOULD CERTAINLY BE THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE.

NOW, THE GREATEST CONCENTRATION WOULD PROBABLY BE IN NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA.

>> THE OSAGE RESERVATION THIS NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA WHERE THE TRIBE TAKES OVER RESPONSIBILITY FOR ABANDONED WELLS IN ITS TERRITORY.

>> IN 1906 WHEN THEY DIVIDED UP OUR RESERVATION TO INDIVIDUAL PARCELS THEY KEPT MINERALS SEPARATE AND WE HELD IT COMMUNALLY AT THE 1906 ACT CREATED A GOVERNMENT OF ACHIEVE ASSISTANT TO APPROVE OIL AND GAS LEAK.

>> Reporter: THE COUNCIL CREATED ITS OWN ABANDONED WELL LIST USING DATA FROM THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

>> THE LIST THAT THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS GAVE US, WHAT THEY THOUGHT WE HAD AND THE WAY OF ORPHANED ABANDONED WELLS, THE LIST CONTAINED LITTLE OVER 1600 WELLS.

WE THINK THERE IS QUITE A FEW MORE THAN THAT.

GOING OUT THERE WORKING ON THE WELLS, WE GO OUT THERE AND WE LEARN AND FIND OTHER WELLS THAT WEREN'T ON THE LIST.

SO THIS LIST KEEPS GROWING.

>> WHILE THE NUMBER OF KNOWN ABANDONED WELLS FLUCTUATES IT'S STILL AN EXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR.

>> THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WELL IS MAYBE SOMEWHERE AROUND $2,500.

WE'VE HAD ONE THAT COST US ALMOST QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS.

IF WE WERE TO PLUG, TRY TO PLUG, EVERY WELL ON OUR ORPHANED WELL LIST OUR CURRENT ESTIMATE AND REALLY IS A GUESSTIMATE, IS ABOUT $238 MILLION.

>> THE HIGH PRICE STATE AND TRIBAL PROGRAMS OPERATED LONG BEFORE THE POSSIBILITY FOR MONEYS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE ACT.

>> TECHNICALLY THE STATE PAYS FOR IT.

BUT WHO REALLY PAYS FOR IT ARE THE CURRENT OPERATORS, BECAUSE THE FUND, THE STATE FUND WE USE, IS FUNDED SOLELY BY CURRENT OIL AND GAS OPERATOR.

>> AS FOR THE OSAGE MINERAL COUNCIL FUNDING HAS COME FROM CONGRESS WITH THE HELP OF OKLAHOMA REPRESENTATIVE TOM COLE AND FRANK LUCAS AND SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD.

>> THIS IS ONGOING PROCESS.

WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE FUNDING.

WE'RE PUTTING IT TO GOOD USE.

WE THINK WE'RE GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

AND WE'RE PRETTY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE.

>> AS WORK CONTINUES TO PLUG ABANDONED WELLS, SOME PREVIOUSLY PLUGGED WELLS NEED ATTENTION, TOO.

>> BACK IN THE DAY, HUNDRED YEARS AGO, WE HAD FOUND WELLS PLUGGED WITH EVERYTHING FROM OLD SOCKS TO LOGS, YOU NAME IT, WHATEVER WOULD FIT DOWN THE HOLE AND THEN YOU POUR DRILLING MUD ON TOP OF THAT AND YOU CALL IT GOOD.

>> SOME ABANDONED WELLS ARE CONSIDERED ORPHANED BECAUSE THEY CAN HAVE NEW LIFE.

FOR FUTURE OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION, OR RESEARCH.

>> SO COMPANIES ARE GOING IN AND EITHER ARE DON'TING THESE WELLS OR BUYING THESE WELLS.

THEY'RE SETTING THE PLUG RIGHT HERE.

RIGHT?

SO THEY'RE BASICALLY ABANDONING THIS PART OF THE WELL.

AND THEY'RE GOING IN HERE AND UP HERE, AND NOW THEY'RE PRODUCING THIS ZONE.

WHICH IS NEVER BEEN PRODUCED FROM THAT WELL.

>> RESEARCHERS FOUND WAYS TO REUSE ORPHANED WELLS TO HELP FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> IT'S CONTRIBUTING A LOT TO -- AND REALLY THE -- >> YOU BASICALLY ARE TRYING TO REUSE YOU KNOW THE OIL AND GASES FOR THE APPLICATION.

>> FEDERAL FUNDING WILL START FLOWING TO ELIGIBLE TRIBES AND STATE PROGRAMS DEALING WITH ABANDONED WELLS IN MID JANUARY.

RICH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> YOU KNOW HOW THE SONG GOES, OKLAHOMA CITY IS MIGHTY PRETTY ALONG THE FAMOUS ROUTE 66.

AND NOW OUR STATE'S CAPITAL CITY IS SHOWING PRIDE WITH 200 NEW SIGNS NOTING THE HIGHWAY'S PATH THROUGH TOWN.

ON TUESDAY OKLAHOMA CITY MAYOR DAVID HOLT ERECTED THE LAST OF THE NEW SIGNS.

AS ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL APPROACHES IT'S PROPER TO CELEBRATE OKLAHOMA'S COMPLETION TO AMERICA'S MOTHER ROAD.

>> THE CHIEF PROPONENT, THE STRONG OKLAHOMA TIES, AND YOU KNOW I THINK TULSA AND OKLAHOMA CITY ARE THE ONLY TWO CITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE MARATHONS THAT RUN UNDER 66.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TIE ROUTE 66 FOR US, I THINK, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAD THE HEAD HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A GROWING ASPECT OF OUR CITY AND ROUTE 66 CAN BE A BIG WINNER FOR US THERE.

>> THE 200 NEW SIGNS MARK ALL FIVE HISTORICAL ALIGNMENTS OF ROUTE 66 THROUGH OKLAHOMA CITY.

JUST TEN YEARS AGO, OKLAHOMA CITY ONLY HAD A HANDFUL OF MARKERS DESIGNATING THE HIGHWAY.

>>> WITH THE LATEST ON OKLAHOMA ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THIS WEEK HERE IS JASON DOYLE WITH THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE CREWS SEEN A MAJOR DROP IN PRICE.

IT WAS HIGH POINT FOR 2021, ON OCTOBER 26th.

PRICE AT $84.65 A BARREL.

THE PRICES DROPPED TO $68.15 BY NOVEMBER 26th, THE DAY AFTER THANKS GIVE, WHEN PRICES TOOK A MAJOR DIVE BECAUSE OF THE NEW COVID VARIANT.

AS OF DECEMBER THIS, WTI CLOSED TRADE AT $65.57, MORE THAN 20% DROP FROM THE OCTOBER 26th HIGH POINT.

WEST TEXAS SPOT PRICED.

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WHICH WILL RAISE RESIDENTIAL NATURAL GAS BILLS HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE OKLAHOMA CORPORATION COMMISSION.

THE AGREEMENT WOULD INCREASE THE MONTHLY BILL FOR AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER BY 34 CENTS CENTS.

THEY ORIGINALLY REQUESTED INCREASE THAT WOULD BRING IN NEARLY $29 MILLION.

THE AMOUNT APPROVED SHOULD TOTAL 15 AND A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS.

CHEST PEEK ENERGY SET UP.

IT WILL PROVIDE UPDATES ON HOW FAR THE COMPANY HAS UNTIL IT REACHES ITS GOAL OF NET ZERO DIRECT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 2035.

CHESAPEAKE NOTED ON ITS NEW WEBSITE IT HAD STOPPED ROUTINE FLARING ON WELLS COMPLETED THIS YEAR AND WANTS TO STOP THE PRACTICE SYSTEM WIDE BY 2025.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED PHX MINERALS SOLD 193 NONOPERATED LEGACY WORKING INTEREST WELL BORES.

TWO UNDISCLOSED BUYERS PURCHASED THE PACKAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY $2.5 MILLION.

THE BUYERS ASSUME HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF PHX.

COMBINED WITH ANOTHER AS SIT SELL IN ARKANSAS, PHX GENERATED NET PROCEEDS OF ABOUT $4.6 MILLION.

THE COMPANY PURCHASED MORE THAN 170 NET ROYALTY ACRES FOR NEARLY $1.4 MILLION.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>>> THE FIRST TIME EVER THE MISS SAW PAGEANT WAS HELD IN OKLAHOMA.

>> MISS U.S.A., 2021, IS -- >> MISS KENTUCKY WILL NOW GO ON TO REPRESENT THE UNITED STATES IN THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT IN STREEL.

THIS NORTH DAKOTA WAS THE RUNNER UP.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL CONTESTANTS INCLUDING MISS OKLAHOMA, WHO FINISHED THIRD IN THE COSTUME CATEGORY WITH A GOWN THAT DEPICTED BLACK WALL STREET.

>>> IT'S WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THE RATE OF COVID INFECTION IS HIGHER FOR MINORITIES, AND THAT PRE-EXISTING HEALTH DISPARITIES MADE THE THE IMPACT MORE SEVERE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

NOW THE TRINITY PROJECT IS PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED INFORMATION THAT CAN BE USED TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND HELP SOLVE THEM.

WITH MORE ON THAT LET'S GO IN-DEPTH WITH SUSAN CADOT AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

YES, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TOPIC.

IT'S STILL AN IMPORTANT TOPIC AND WE HAVE TWO SPECIAL GUESTS TO HELP US GET US UP TO DATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO REPRESENTATIVE JASON LOWE, FROM OKLAHOMA CITY, AND CHAIRS THE LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS IN OUR STATE.

AND WE HAVE DR. ADAM ALEXANDER FROM THE OU HEALTH CENTER, THE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.

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

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TO START I'M GOING TO REFRESH, IT'S BEEN SO LONG IT'S HARDLY REFRESHER, BUT BACK IN FEBRUARY DR. ALEXANDER WE HAD YOU ON TO EXPLAIN PROJECT TRINITY AS IT WAS JUST LAUNCHING.

I WANT TO HAVE YOU QUICKLY REFRESH OUR MEMORY, WHAT IS PROJECT TRINITY?

>> YES, SO PROJECT TRINITY IS COHORT STUDY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS LIVING IN OKLAHOMA, WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, AND ALSO THE PERIOD OF UNREST.

WE ALL EXPERIENCED IN 2020.

THE IDEA IS THAT YOU KNOW IN THAT YEAR YOU KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO STUDY THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF IT, LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WHEN EVERYTHING SET DOWN, CHURCHES ARE SHUT DOWNERS STORES ARE SHUT DOWN.

WHAT DID PEOPLE GO THROUGH?

DOES THEIR HEALTH BEHAVIOR CHANGE?

YOU KNOW, PROJECT TRINITY LOOKS AT THAT VERY EQUALLY.

I'M LEARNING THAT WHEN AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE INJURED OR KILLED BY A POLICE OFFICER, THAT PSYCHOLOGICALLY IMPACTS AFRICAN-AMERICANS MORE SO THAN ANY OTHER POPULATION HERE IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND SO WHEN I DESIGN PRIVATE PROJECT TRINITY I WANTED TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM WHERE I THOUGHT IT WOULD MATTER THE MOST.

AND THAT'S WHAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

ONCE I SAW THERE IS SOMETHING THERE THAT IS SIGNIFICANT, THEN I WILL TRY TO INVITE OTHER POPULATIONS, TO SEE IF WE OBSERVE THOSE SAME RELATIONSHIPS, SAME ASSOCIATIONS IN THOSE POPULATIONS, AS WELL.

>> REPRESENTATIVE LOWE I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS?

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED HERE IN OKLAHOMA?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

AS LEADER OF THE LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS I HEAR EVERY DAY THE MISTRUST THAT WE HAVE IN MEDICAL FIELD, THE MISTRUST THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE IN JUDICIAL SYSTEM.

WE NEED TO RESEARCH THESE ISSUES.

THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES.

WE HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF INCARCERATION IN THE NATION.

I THINK WE'RE SECOND NOW, WHICH IS STILL NOT ACCEPTABLE.

EVERY DAY I GO TO THE -- I SEE OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN PRIMARILY AFRICAN-AMERICAN BEING INCARCERATED FOR NONVIOLENT OFFENSES.

THESE THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE AND PROJECTS LIKE PROJECT TRINITY WE NEED TO PROMOTE, WE NEED TO SUPPORT, BECAUSE WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE THE CAUSES AND HOW WE CAN CORRECT THESE MEASURES.

>> SO REPRESENTATIVE I WANT TO STAY WITH YOU FOR A MINUTE.

ONE THING YOU SAID RIGHT OFF THE BAT WAS MISTRUST OF THE MEDICAL SYSTEM.

WHY IS THAT?

>> IT'S JUST BASED ON HISTORY.

TUSKEGEE, BASED ON RACISM, SYSTEMIC RACISM, THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS GETTING THE SHORT HAND OF THE STICK.

I KNOW FOR FACT YOU KNOW MY PARENTS WHO ARE ELDERLY THEY -- IT TOOK THEM A WHILE TO GET VACCINATED BECAUSE OF THE MISTRUST OF THE MEDICAL SYSTEM.

AND I'M A PERSON THAT ACTUALLY HAD COVID, AND SUFFERED FROM COVID, AND BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

BUT THEY MISTRUST -- THEY HAD MISTRUST OF THE SYSTEM.

AND THAT GOES ALONG WITH PLENTY OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION, WHERE THEY JUST DO NOT TRUST THE SYSTEM.

>> SO WHY DO YOU CALL THIS PROJECT TRINITY AND EXPLAIN WHAT DID YOU IN THE STUDY.

>> YES.

SO THE REASON WHY I CALL IT PROJECT TRINITY BECAUSE THE GUIDELINE FOR THE STUDY IS HEALTH, HOPE AND HEALING.

AND SO I THINK IN ORDER TO REALLY COME UP WITH A SOLUTION YOU MUST FIRST REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I -- AS I SAID I INVITED SAMPLE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO TAKE PART IN THIS TWO YEAR COHORT STUDY.

AND YOU KNOW SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED WAS ABOUT HOW OFTEN THEY WATCHED TELEVISION COVERAGE OR SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS BEING HARMED OR KILLED BY POLICE OFFICERS SINCE THE GEORGE FLOYD INCIDENT.

AND WE ALSO ASKED THEM HOW OFTEN THEY WATCHED FOOTAGE OF PROTESTS OR EVEN RIOTS, SINCE THE GEORGE FLOYD INCIDENT.

AND FROM THERE WE ASKED TO FOLLOW UP QUESTION THAT REALLY GOT HOW EMOTIONALLY IMPACTED YOU KNOW THEY WERE BY WATCHING THAT FOOTAGE.

FROM AND FROM THERE WE COLLECTED INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR CURRENT MENTAL HEALTH STATUS, THEIR ATTITUDES ABOUT POLICING, THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARDS CIVIL DISOBESENESS AND UNLAWFUL BEHAVIOR AND ABOUT YOU KNOW HOW SOCIALLY INVOLVED THEY'VE BEEN.

AND THEN FROM THERE WE CAN DO REALLY COOL ANALYSIS TO SEE WOULD THAT BE SO SLATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR PERCEPTION ABOUT POLICING OR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, AS WELL AS YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL CAUCUS.

AND SO JUST COOL STUFF YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU ASK GOOD QUESTIONS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WE HAVE STUDIES AND IT'S THE FIRST STUDY THAT HAS BEEN DONE, WHAT HAS TO BE DONE BEYOND THIS STUDY?

AND WHAT DID YOU SAY, SEVEN MEMBERS IN THE BLACK LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS FOR OKLAHOMA?

IS THAT ENOUGH TO AFFECT CHANGE?

>> YES, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE MOST MEMBERS UNFORTUNATELY THAT OKLAHOMA HAS EVER HAD.

BUT YEAH, WE NEED MORE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ELECTED, THAT BELIEVE IN REHABILITATION INSTEAD OF INCARCERATION, BELIEVE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, BELIEVE THAT A PERSON THAT COMMITS NONVIOLENT OFFENSE IS BEING ADDICTED TO DRUGS, THAT HURTS THEMSELVES, DON'T BELONG IN PRISON WHERE TAXPAYERS ARE SPENDING 20, $30,000 A YEAR HOUSING THEM, WHEN THEY COULD BE OUT BEING A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN AS FAR AS TAXPAYER SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILY, AND NOT HAVING THE SYSTEM SUPPORT THEM.

SO YES, SO I THINK ON THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TALK TO OUR LEGISLATORS IN RURAL OKLAHOMA WHO ARE REPUBLICANS, WHO ARE DEMOCRATS, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US.

AS A POLITICIAN, I AM HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE VOTER AND WEMAKE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE POLITICIANS ARE AWARE AND THE GOATERS OUT THERE, PEOPLE LISTENING TO THIS, HOLD YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.

LET THEM KNOW THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU, AND THAT YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT THESE ISSUES.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THINGS ARE GOING TO BE CHANGED IN THIS STATE.

THAT'S IT.

I MEAN WE JUST HAVE TO HOLD OUR ELECTED ACCOUNTABLE.

>> DR. ALEXANDER WHAT WERE SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS YOU FOUND IF ANY AT THIS POINT?

>> OKAY.

SO LET'S -- FIRST LET'S TALK ABOUT THE -- SO LET'S FIRST TALK ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH RISK.

WHEN YOU START DOING FOOTAGE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS BEING KILLED, OR YOU FIND THAT WHEN YOU VIEW FOOTAGE, ESPECIALLY VERY FREQUENTLY, OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS BEING HARMED OR SOCIAL UNREST, YOU HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

NOW LET'S LOOK AT ATTITUDES.

WE FIND THAT WHEN YOU VIEW FOOTAGE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN BEING HARMED OR KILLED OR FOOTAGE OF SOCIAL UNREST YOU HAVE MORE NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS POLICING AND YOU ALSO HAVE MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS CIVIL DICE OBESENESS AND UNLAWFUL BEHAVIOR.

FINALLY WHAT ABOUT POLITICAL ACTION?

THE PEOPLE GET ENGAGED WHEN THEY SEIZE THE VIDEO.

IN FACT THEY GET VERY ENGAGED WHEN THEY SEE THE VIDEOS.

WE HAD HIGH LEVELS OF POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT OF ALL PARTICIPANTS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO KNOW, ARE THESE NOT DOING US ANY FAVOR.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY -- THEY'RE PUBLIC OPINION AMONG AFRICAN IS GOING DOWN EVERY TIME PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THESE INCIDENTS, THEY KEEP HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY.

I THINK THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ANY SOLUTIONS WERE TO COME FROM REPRESENTATIVES OR PEOPLE WITHIN OUR INSTITUTIONS, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEND OUT POSITIVE MESSAGES AS IT RELATES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> WHAT I'VE SEEN IS AS FAR AS TALKING TO YOUNG ADULTS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, THEIR OPINION OF POLICE OFFICERS IS NOT GREAT.

THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE POLICE OFFICERS, AND MY GOAL IS DIVERSIFY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, MAKE SURE MORE AFRICAN-AMERICANS AREE APPLYING FOR THE JOBS BECAUSE I THINK IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

WHEN AFRICAN-AMERICANS SEE OTHER AFRICAN-AMERICANS POLICE OFFICERS, I THINK IT HELPS.

SO WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THAT AND DID YOU ASK THAT QUESTION IN YOUR STUDY OR WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL TAKE.

>> I CAN ACTUALLY SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

BECAUSE I ACTUALLY COME FROM A FAMILY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

MY FATHER IS A DIRECTOR OF A PRISON.

MY OLDER BROTHER IS A POLICE OFFICER.

AND SO MY OLDER BROTHER HE DIDN'T ALWAYS WALK THE STRAIGHT-LINE IN LIFE.

AND WHEN YOU'RE APPLYING FOR DIFFERENT POLICE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE NATION, THEY'RE USUALLY LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SQUEAKY CLEAN IN TERMS OF RECORDS.

MY BROTHER DIDN'T HAVE A SQUEAKY CLEAN RECORD.

BUT BECAUSE THE LAW EPPS FORCEMENT COMMUNITY GAVE HIM A CHANCE HE WAS INVITED TO JOIN THEIR RANKS AND HE SUCCEEDED, AND NOT IN WAYS ONE MIGHT EXPECT.

WE NEED TO DO MORE TO GET TO DIVERSIFY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN DO THAT IS JUST BY REALLY SEEING -- GIVING PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE, YOU KNOW.

ALLOW POLICE OFFICERS WHO MAY HAVE NOT HAD THE BEST PAST TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE, AND BRING THEM ON THE FORCE.

I THINK THEY CAN DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK, ESPECIALLY WHEN COATS TO WORKING WITHIN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEY CAN UNDERSTAND SOME OF LANGUAGE AND BEHAVIOR BETTER THAN OTHER PEOPLE FROM OTHER BACKGROUNDS.

>> WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE MORE THAN MEDICAL END OF THIS.

AND I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYTHING OUT, DOCTOR, IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ADD THAT'S IMPORTANT.

REPRESENTATIVE TALKED ABOUT HIS PARENTS BEING RELUCTANT.

YOU KNOW IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THERE MAY BE A SPECIAL MISTRUST WHICH YOU ADDRESSED EARLIER.

WHAT PART OF YOUR STUDY, WHAT DID YOU FIND IN THAT PART OF THE STUDY?

>> THAT'S THE GREAT POINT TO TALK ABOUT, THE MISTRUST IN THE SYSTEM.

AND LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SIMILAR, THERE IS ALSO VERY FEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN DOCTORS WHO ARE PRACTICING TODAY.

AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN PATIENT THEY'RE PRIMARILY GOING TO BE SEEN BY DOCTORS OF OTHER RACES, WHICH IS FINE.

WE WANT TO RECEIVE THE BEST MEDICAL CARE BUT I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN DOCTOR, WHETHER FEMALE OR MALE, THEY'RE BETTER ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND REALLY TALK ABOUT THE NEED OF THE PATIENT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN PATIENTS IN A BETTER WAY.

I THINK THAT MAY IMPROVE CARE IN WAYS THAT YOU WOULD NOT SEE IF YOU WERE TO HAVE DOCTOR FROM ANOTHER BACKGROUND.

I THINK THAT ALSO MAY HELP REBUILD SOME TRUST THERE, AS WELL.

AND SO INSTITUTIONS THAT I WORKED FOR ARE REALLY TRYING HARD TO FIND AND RECRUIT DOCTORS WHO ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN BECAUSE THEY ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR PATIENTS REALLY BENEFIT WHEN THEY'RE TREATED BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN NURSES AND DOCTORS.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON.

>> SO THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT COMES DOWN TO ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND ACCESS TO MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE JOB FIELD, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE JOBS THAT INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH ALL COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE.

IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

AND AS I SAID THE INSTITUTION I WORK FOR, THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, THEY'RE LAUNCHING A LOT OF INITIATIVES, BUILD PIPELINES SO WE CAN FIND THOSE BRIGHT STUDENTS AND LEAD THEM INTO THOSE CAREERS SO THEY CAN BE THE FUTURE DOCTORS AND RESEARCHERS SO WHEN PEOPLE LOOK UP THEY'LL SEE MORE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, SO THEY CAN ALSO BE INSPIRED TO TAKE -- TO GO DOWN THE SAME ROAD.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

REPRESENTATIVE I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.

AS YOU LOOKED DOWN THE BARREL OF ALL THE THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN AND ALL THE POSSIBILITY THAT LIES AT THE END OF THAT ROAD, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO IN THE NEXT ONE TO MAYBE FIVE YEARS IN OKLAHOMA TO HELP BRING THESE CHANGES TO LIGHT?

>> EDUCATION IS THE GATEWAY TO SUCCESS, AND I THINK THAT IS WHERE IT STARTS.

WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE ARE EQUAL.

YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT, MOST OF THEM ARE FAMILY.

THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

WE HAVE A WHOLE GENERATION OF KIDS THAT ARE NOT GETTING QUALITY EDUCATION.

SO THOSE HAVE TO CHANGE.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON HEALTH DISPARITIES, AS WELL.

THAT'S WHY AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE SO SUSCEPTIBLE TO COVID-19 BASED ON DIABETES AND ALL OTHER DISEASES OUT THERE THAT ARE -- THAT COVID-19 SEEMS TO LOVE.

SO THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT I PLAN ON FOCUSING ON IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE BLACK CAUCUS, LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO BE THE LEAD ON THOSE ISSUE, AND WE PLAN TO BE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR BEING WITH ME.

REPRESENTATIVE LOWE AND DR. ALL DR. ALEXANDER THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INSIGHT.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN.

>>> THANK YOU.

MANY REFUGEES FORCED TO FLEE THEIR OWN COUNTRIES EXPERIENCED THEIR FIRST THANKS GIVING IN AMERICA THIS YEAR.

THAT INCLUDED MUCH NEEDED COMPANIONSHIP COUPLED WITH EXERCISE.

IN THIGHS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU TO THE MILE HIGH CITY FOR THIS REPORT FROM OUR PBS PARTNERS IN DENVER.

>> WE SHARE REFUGEES, IT'S VERY CHALLENGING EXPERIENCE, VERY DIFFICULT TO GO THROUGH, BUT ALSO OTHER SIDE OF THIS STORY HOW STRONG, HOW RESILIENT, HOW CREATIVE, HOW WHOLE THOSE REFUGEES THAT WE ARE BRINGING TO THE U.S. ARE.

WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THE BIKING WE'RE GOING TO EAT TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING TOGETHER.

>> I AM THE SPECIALIST AT THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMUNITY IN DENVER.

WE HELP PEOPLE THAT HAD TO FLEE THEIR COUNTRIES DUE TO WAR OR DISASTERS OR PERSECUTION TO RESTART LIVES.

TODAY WE'RE MEETING AGAIN, UNDER THE WE CAN DO IT PROGRAM.

THE WE CAN DO IT PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM THAT STARTED IN 2018.

IT IS A WOMAN SUPPORT GROUP THAT HELPS WOMEN TO GET ADAPTED TO THEIR NEW LIFE IN THE U.S., AND GIVES THEM TOOLS TO PROCESS THE TRAUMAS, AND START FOSTERING.

THIS YEAR THE PROGRAM IS OUTDOORS, SO WE'RE DOING BIKING, WE'RE DOING HIKING.

SNOW SHOWING, ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT COULD BE DONE OUTDOORS.

WILDERNESS IS HUGE AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON PEOPLE AND THEIR WELL-BEING.

TODAY IS A LAST DAY OF BIKING.

THE WOMEN ARE TAKING BIKES HOME WHICH IS GREAT, BECAUSE WE'RE HOPING THAT THE BIKES WILL BRING JOY, OF COURSE, BUT ALSO INDEPENDENCE SO YOU DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE YOU TO THE GROCERY STORE, YOU CAN JUST BIKE THERE.

YOU HAVE ALL THE GOOD HORMONES, THE PROGRAM SERVES AROUND 55 WOMEN, FROM 12 COUNTRIES, TO NOW.

AND WE ALWAYS HAVE INTERPRETERS WITH US BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT LANGUAGE TO BE A BARRIER OF THIS EXPERIENCE THAT THEY'RE LIVING.

SO WE CREATE THIS WOMAN'S GROUP WHERE WE ALL COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND HAVE DIFFERENT STORIES BUT WE SHARE STORIES TO FEEL LESS LONELY IN THEM.

I LIKE IT BECAUSE IT SUPPORTS WOMEN.

I CAN TALK WITH ANOTHER WOMAN, AND SO I CAN LISTEN AND DIFFERENT LANGUAGE.

I LIKE IT.

>> WE HAVE FUN AND PLAY, AND JUST LIKE HANGING OUT.

THE PROGRAM LIKE WE CAN DO IT.

>> GIVES US BACK AND GIVES US YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST SIT AND HAVE FUN, AND WALK TOGETHER, AND SHARE FOOD LIKE WE'RE DOING TODAY.

WE'RE DOING AN EARLY THANKSGIVING POTLUCK, WHAT TO BE THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING WE HAVE, FOR YOU ALL AND FOR ALL THAT WE'RE GOING TO LIVE TOGETHER.

WHEN YOU SIT AND LISTEN AND YOU JUST OPEN YOUR HEART AND YOUR MIND, YOU FEEL LIKE HOW A LOT IS COMMON BETWEEN WOMEN AND THE WORLD, AND HOW EMPOWERING AND HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS TO LIKE HELP ANOTHER WOMAN.

AND TO ALSO RECEIVE HELP FROM ANOTHER WOMAN AND CREATE THIS FEMALE ENERGY I CALL IT, SEEING PEOPLE, SHOWING UP EVERY WEEK FOR FIVE AND SIX MONTHS, YEAR AFTER YEAR.

IT SHOWS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

THAT IT IS ADDING TO THEIR LIFE.

AND THREE HOURS EVERY WEEK, BUT THOSE THREE HOURS MIGHT GIVE THEM ENERGY AND JOY FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE DAY-TO-DAY EXPERIENCES MIGHT BE SOMETIMES VERY CHALLENGING FOR MANY OF THE FAMILIES WE'RE SERVING.

>>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT" THEY ARE BIG BUSINESS FOR COMMUNITIES LARGE AND SMALL IN OKLAHOMA.

HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOWS, WHAT DO THEY COST, WHO PAYS FOR THEM AND DOES IT PAY OFF IN THE END?

TAELYR JACKSON REPORTS.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH A LOOK AT THE ROTATING EXHIBIT IN OKLAHOMA CITY'S DISTRICT.

FOR ALL OF US, I'M RICH LENZ.

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY AND STAY TUNED TO OETA.

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