>>> GOVERNOR STITT OPENS THE 58th LEGISLATURE WITH CALL TO UNITY AND PROGRESS.

>> I'M CALLING ON EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL TO CONTINUE TO SERVE WITH SELF SACRIFICE.

ALWAYS PUTTING THE NEEDS OF 4 MILLION AMONGS AHEAD OF THE FEW AND THE POWERFUL.

>> WE'LL EXAMINE HOW THAT MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED BY LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> WHILE WE HEARD A ROSIE PICTURE PAINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TODAY, THE REALITY IS THAT HIS ACTIONS OR MORE OFTEN HIS FAILURE TOO ACT.

>> Reporter: THE CHICK SAW NATION THINKS SLAW TO TACKLE A BIG PROBLEM FOR ITS CITIZENS.

>> WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE BUT THE ELDERS ARE AT HIGH RISK, AND WE NEEDED A PLACE TO AT LEAST FOR A COUPLE WEEKS THAT FOLKS COULD STAY THAT WERE COVID POSITIVE.

>> THE NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY BESTOWS THE HIGHEST HONOR ON AN OKLAHOMA ARTIST.

>> I'M BLOWN AWAY TO BE PART OF IT.

IT'S THE GREATEST HONOR ANY SCULPTURE COULD HAVE.

>> THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE ON THE ONE HOUR OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF THE 58th LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS NOW COMPLETE.

LAWMAKERS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN ACTION ON AN OPEN MEETINGS ACT THAT WILL HAVE STATEWIDE IMPLICATIONS.

WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE FOR YOU.

BEGINNING WITH RECAP OF GOVERNOR STITT'S THIRD STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH WHICH RECOUNTED HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PRIORITIES FOR 2021 AND BEYOND.

OF COURSE, DEMOCRATS AND EVEN SOME MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY HAD THEIR OWN IDEAS.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS.

>>> WE SUCCESSFULLY OPENED OUR ECONOMY ON JUNE 1ST AND SAFELY RESTARTED MOST SCHOOLS IN AUGUST.

IT APPEARS NOW OTHER STATES ARE WAKING UP TO THE STARK REALITY OF DOUBLE-DIGIT UNEMPLOYMENT, HUGE BUDGET DEFICITS AND THE FACT THAT OUR KIDS ARE SAFER AT SCHOOL THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

THEY'RE REALIZING WE TOOK THE SMART APPROACH IN OKLAHOMA.

OUR 7-DAY AVERAGE OF NEW CASES IS DOWN 45% FROM ITS PEAK.

OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN 35% AS WELL.

WE CAN SEE THE FINISH LINE IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST THIS VIRUS.

RATHER THAN COAST OUR WAY IN, LET'S CONTINUE TOGETHER WITH A FINAL SPRINT.

CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING A FIRST GRADER AND TRYING TO LEARN TO READ ON ZOOM?

DISTANCE LEARNING IS PERFECTLY FINE FOR SOME STUDENTS, BUT WHEN WE FORCE IT ON EVERYONE, IT WIDENS ACHIEVEMENT GAPS AND JEOPARDIZES OUR FUTURE AS A TOP TEN STATE.

OUR KIDS DESERVE THE OPTION TO BE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS.

BY NOT GIVING OUR PARENTS AND CHILDREN AN OPTION FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING, SCHOOLS HAVE TIED THEIR HANDS.

WITH MEDICAID EXPANSION NOW IN OUR CONSTITUTION, THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO REIMAGINE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY IN OKLAHOMA.

IT'S TIME TO FOCUS ON OUTCOMES AND NOT JUST PAYING INVOICES.

40 STATES HAVE FOUND MANAGED CARE IS THE BEST WAY FORWARD.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT'S RULING IN MCGIRT V. OKLAHOMA QUESTIONS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE STATE AS WE'VE KNOWN IT SINCE 1907.

WE NEED TO RESOLVE THE MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM THIS RULING.

I'VE INVITED THE LEADERS OF OKLAHOMA'S SOVEREIGN TRIBES TO JOIN TOGETHER AND WORK WITH THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

IT IS CRITICAL, WHILE EMBRACING THE TRIBAL HERITAGE OF MANY OKLAHOMANS, THAT WE DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALL OKLAHOMANS.

WHAT WE NEED IS MORE TAXPAYERS, NOT MORE TAXES.

I'M PROUD TO SAY OKLAHOMA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, AND WE'RE SEEING RESULTS.

MORE COMPANIES ARE LOOKING TO RELOCATE TO OUR STATE THAN EVER BEFORE.

WE'VE BEEN AGGRESSIVE.

WE'RE REACHING OUT TO COMPANIES IN STATES THAT ARE KEEPING BUSINESSES LOCKED DOWN AND DICTATING THEIR CITIZENS' PERSONAL FREEDOMS.

I ENCOURAGE US ALL TODAY TO RENEW OUR PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR GREAT STATE.

OUR DECISIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, AND AS WE GO, SOCIETY FOLLOWS.

LET'S LEAD OKLAHOMA TO BECOMING A TOP TEN STATE, AND LET'S DELIVER ON THE PEOPLE'S AGENDA, TOGETHER.

THE TURNAROUND OKLAHOMANS DEMANDED IS WELL UNDERWAY.

GOD BLESS YOU, AND GOD BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF OKLAHOMA!

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THEY SHARED THEIR THOUGHTS TO THE MEDIA LATER THAT AFTERNOON.

JASON DOYLE CONTINUES OUR TEAM COVERAGE WITH MORE ON WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.

>> THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS SAY THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH AND ACTIONS ON COVID-19 HAVE FALLEN SHORT OF THE MARK, AND THEY EXPLAINED WHY AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN FRONT OF ST.{ }ANTHONY HOSPITAL, A FIVE MINUTE DRIVE FROM THE CAPITOL.

>> WE ALSO WANT TO BRING THE FOCUS FROM TODAY'S POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WE SAW AT THE CAPITOL BACK TO THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE AT HAND.

AND THAT IS OUR STATE'S PANDEMIC RESPONSE, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THAT MANY, MANY OKLAHOMANS ARE STILL SUFFERING.

>> THIS SESSION THERE ARE 82 REPUBLICANS AND 19 DEMOCRATS IN THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE, WITH 38 REPUBLICANS, NINE DEMOCRATS AND ONE OPEN SEAT CURRENTLY IN THE OKLAHOMA SENATE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE A VETO-PROOF SUPER MAJORITY IN BOTH CHAMBERS, BUT THAT WON'T DETER DEMOCRATS FROM STAKING OUT THEIR POSITIONS ON PANDEMIC POLICY.

>> I'VE KEPT MY PROMISE TO FOLLOW THE DATA AND MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR OKLAHOMA AT THE RIGHT TIME.

AND NOW WE ARE MONTHS AND MONTHS AHEAD OF OTHER STATES.

OUR JUNE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS FIFTH LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY, 40% LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, AND ALMOST 60% LOWER THAN NEW YORK.

BECAUSE OF THAT, ALMOST 100,000 MORE OKLAHOMANS WERE BACK TO WORK COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

>> THE GOVERNOR USED THE SPEECH TO OUTLINE HIS ADMINISTRATION'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC, HOWEVER, THE DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE.

>> WE WOULD HAVE ENACTED A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE.

WE'VE BEEN CALLING FOR THAT FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS.

WE'VE CALLED FOR A BIPARTISAN EXPERT-LED PANEL TO LEAD THE STATE'S RESPONSE, INSTEAD OF POLITICIANS.

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS ALSO TAKE ISSUE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S APPROACH TO COVID AND GETTING KIDS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

STITT FEELS OKLAHOMA'S SCHOOLS ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

>> BECAUSE I AM COMMITTED TO GETTING ALL KIDS BACK IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, I MADE SURE WE PRIORITIZED TEACHERS TO GET THIS VACCINE.

MANY TEACHERS OVER 65 HAVE BEEN VACCINATED ALREADY, AND MANY MORE TEACHERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE THIS MONTH.

>> TWO OF TULSA'S STATE REPRESENTATIVES DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE ENOUGH TO MAKE SCHOOLS SAFE FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF.

>> IF THE TEACHERS AND KIDS AND FAMILIES AND TULSA HAD A GOVERNOR THAT TRULY CARED ABOUT THEIR HEALTH CARE AND THEIR EDUCATION, THEIR SAFETY, UH, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SCHOOL MONTHS AGO, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THAT.

SO LEADERS IN TULSA ARE BEING RESPONSIBLE, UH, BECAUSE OUR HOSPITAL CAPACITY DOESN'T EXIST BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNOR'S POLICIES.

>> I'VE RECEIVED TWO OF THE CALLS WHERE THERE WERE TWO SISTERS THAT WERE TEACHERS IN TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ONE OF THE TEACHERS DIED.

I HAD TO TAKE THAT CALL.

I HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT GRIEF THAT THAT FAMILY, UH, HAS TO ENDURE.

>> STITT CALLED OUT THE TULSA SCHOOL DISTRICT, SPECIFICALLY HOPING THE STATE'S SECOND LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF TULSA'S SUBURBS.

>> IT'S NOW BEEN 325 DAYS SINCE TULSA STUDENTS IN 4TH THROUGH 12TH GRADES HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO BE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS.

325 DAYS.

MEANWHILE, JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY, THE REST OF THE TULSA METRO HAS BEEN SAFELY IN SESSION MOST OF THE YEAR.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MELISSA PROVENZANO SAYS, NOT SO FAST.

>> AND JUST DAYS AFTER THE GOVERNOR COMPARED THE URBAN AREA TO SURROUNDING DISTRICTS, THOSE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS SHUT DOWN AND WENT BACK TO VIRTUAL.

>> BECAUSE SCHOOLS HAVE HAD TO INNOVATE TO KEEP INSTRUCTION GOING DURING THE PANDEMIC, STITT BELIEVES NOW IS A GOOD TIME FOR EDUCATIONAL REFORMS, INCLUDING THE STATE'S FUNDING FORMULA.

HIS ISSUE WITH THE FORMULA IS HOW IT IS BASED ON A SCHOOL'S HIGHEST ENROLLMENT IN A THREE YEAR PERIOD.

STITT SAYS IT CREATES GHOST STUDENTS IN DISTRICTS WHERE STUDENTS HAVE LEFT AND ENROLLED IN A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.

>> THERE ARE MORE THAN 55,000 GHOST STUDENTS IN OUR FUNDING FORMULA RIGHT NOW.

THAT MEANS WE'RE ALLOCATING CLOSE TO 200 MILLION OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS TO STUDENTS WHO DON'T EXIST.

>> PROVENZANO BELIEVES THE GOVERNOR MISUNDERSTANDS HOW THE FUNDING FORMULA WORKS.

>> TO THROW IT ON THIS GAUNTLET OF MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT A GHOST STUDENT IS WAS EMBARRASSING.

AND AS STATE LEADERS, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FUNDING FORMULA DOES, WHY IT DOES IT THAT WAY, AND TO BE ABLE TO APPLY IT CORRECTLY.

SHE ADDS•OTHER STATES ACTUALLY LOOK TO OKLAHOMA WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION.

>> WE'RE KNOWN ACROSS THE NATION FOR OUR FUNDING FORMULA AND IT HOLDS UP OVER TIME.

SO, UH, WE'LL BE WORKING TO EDUCATE AND HOPEFULLY LIFT UP, UH, THE TRUTH OF THE SITUATION.

>> THE GOVERNOR CAN EXPECT THE DEMOCRATS TO RESIST HIS FUNDING FORMULA REFORM AS IT MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

JASON DOYLE, THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> THE TWO BIG Ms UP FOR DEBATE, MEDICAID EXPANSION AND THE McGIRT DECISION.

THE MAJOR STAKE HOLDERS HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH EACH.

HERE IS ONR RORY TAYLOR.

>>> IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATURE ON MONDAY, GOVERNOR STITT REITERATED HIS CALL TO SIT DOWN WITH TRIBAL LEADERS TO RESOLVE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS POSED BY THE SUPREME COURT'S MCGIRT DECISON.

>> DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN ONGOING FOR MONTHS, BUT THE PURPOSE IS, IS OBVIOUSLY THE MCGIRT IS A VERY IMPORTANT RULING, HAS A LARGE IMPACT, UH, ON EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

UH, THE MCGIRT DECISION, AS YOU KNOW, WAS LIMITED TO CRIMINAL ISSUES ONLY, AND SPECIFICALLY THE MAJOR CRIMES ACT.

>> GOVERNOR STITT, UH, CERTAINLY WANTS TO NEGOTIATE, UH, CRIMINAL AND CIVIL, CIVIL JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES.

AND I KNOW THAT THE CHEROKEE NATION AND THE CHOCTAW NATION IN PARTICULAR ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING CONGRESS, UH, PASS SOME LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ENABLE THEM TO NEGOTIATE CRIMINAL JURISDICTION WITH THE STATE.

>> THE MCGIRT DECISION ADDRESSES CRIMINAL ISSUES, BUT THE GOVERNOR BELIEVES THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE RULING COULD EXTEND FAR BEYOND THAT.

>> HUNDREDS OF CRIMINAL CASES ARE BEING DISMISSED.

THIS RULING ALSO RAISES MANY OTHER UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

DO TRIBAL MEMBERS LIVING IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA PAY INCOME TAX AND SALES TAX?

>> SOME HAVE SUGGESTED THAT MCGIRT COULD BE EXPANDED INTO CIVIL AREAS, TAXATION, REGULATION, ZONING.

SO REALLY ALL OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE GOING TO BE HAD, OBVIOUSLY THE CRIMINAL, UH, ISSUES, WHICH WERE THE FOCUS OF MCGIRT ARE GOING TO BE THE PRINCIPAL AREAS OF DISCUSSION, BUT REALLY EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE.

>> AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY A SEPARATE GAMING-RELATED OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT DECISION, TREAT VERSUS STITT, LIMITING THE GOVERNOR'S ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE COMPACTS WITH TRIBES.

>> NOT JUST GAINING COMPACTS, WHICH THAT CASE DEALT WITH, BUT ALSO ANY COMPACTS.

AND IT SAYS THAT,THEY HAVE TO BE STATUTORILY GRANTED FROM THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO,HAVE THEM APPROVED.

THE GOVERNOR CAN NEGOTIATE, BUT HE STILL HAS TO HAVE THEM APPROVED BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON TRIBAL STATE RELATIONS.

THAT RULING WILL AFFECT ANNUAL COMPACT NEGOTIATIONS, LIKE THOSE FOR STATE AND TRIBAL HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES, REQUIRING LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL AFTER THE STATE AND TRIBES NEGOTIATE.

>> TOGETHER, WE MUST CREATE THE CERTAINTY, FAIRNESS AND THE UNITY WE'VE ENJOYED SINCE 1907.

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS CRITICIZED THE GOVERNOR'S LANGUAGE REGARDING THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.

>> I FOUND IT VERY TELLING THAT THE ONLY TIME WE ACTUALLY HEARD THE WORD "SOVEREIGN" WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, NOT IN TERMS OF OUR SOVEREIGN TRIBAL NATIONS.

>> THE LEGISLATURE MUST ALSO ADDRESS FUNDING FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION AND THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO PARTIALLY PRIVATIZE THE PROGRAM.

FOUR HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE SIGNED CONTRACTS WORTH $2.2 BILLION WITH THE STATE TO PROVIDE MANAGED CARE.

THAT PLAN HAS BEEN MET WITH HEAVY SKEPTICISM.

>> I'VE FOUND THIS PROCESS, ESPECIALLY THE RFP TO BE VERY OPAQUE, UH, THE MOST OPAQUE, TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT I'VE EVER SEEN, UH, AND YET THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND, YOU, MR. SECRETARY WOULD -- WOULD LOVE FOR US TO GET ONBOARD WITH THAT WHEN WE HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO INPUT IN IT.

>> SUPPORTERS FOR THE PROGRAM, CALLED "SOONER SELECT" ARGUE THAT IT WILL PROTECT THE STATE FROM FINANCIAL RISK.

>> 40 STATES HAVE FOUND MANAGED CARE IS THE BEST WAY FORWARD, TEXAS, KANSAS, IOWA, TENNESSEE, FLORIDA, EVEN CALIFORNIA AND ILLINOIS.

IT'S NOT A RED STATE THING OR A BLUE STATE THING.

IT'S THE SMART THING TO DO.

>> OPPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM SAY IT IS SIMILAR TO ONE THAT FAILED PREVIOUSLY, AND THAT IT COULD REDUCE, NOT EXPAND, ACCESS TO CARE FOR LOW-INCOME OKLAHOMANS.

IN A STATEMENT ON JANUARY 21ST, STATE SENATOR GEORGE BURNS OF POLLARD SAID, "MY DISTRICT IS ON THE BORDER BETWEEN OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS, SO I HAVE CONSTITUENTS WITH EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH MANAGED CARE IN TEXAS.

AND NONE OF THE PEOPLE I'VE SPOKEN TO WHO'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH MANAGED CARE SYSTEMS BELIEVE IT'S GOOD FOR PATIENTS OR THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

BASED ON MY CONVERSATIONS, THEY AREN'T SURE WHO IT'S GOOD FOR, OTHER THAN THE OUT-OF-STATE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND THEIR STOCKHOLDERS.

RORY TAYLOR, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE CONTINUE TEAM COVERAGE WITH RECAP OF WHAT LAWMAKERS ACCOMPLISHED SINCE THE GAVEL CAME DOWN ON MONDAY.

HERE IS JASON DOYLE.

>> SEAN, THE SENATE TOOK QUICK ACTION ON VIRTUAL OPEN MEETINGS THIS WEEK.

TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> THE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED PASSED SENATE BILL 1031, WHICH REINSTATES THE TEMPORARY AMENDMENTS TO THE OPEN MEETING ACT THAT ALLOW FOR FULLY VIRTUAL MEETINGS.

NOW, THIS BILL ALSO INCLUDES SOME NEW LANGUAGE, UH, AFTER EXTENDING THOSE TEMPORARY AMENDMENTS TO FEBRUARY 15TH, 2022 OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY EXPIRES, IT ALSO REQUIRES GROUPS TO MEET AS THEY POST.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY CAN'T POST A VIRTUAL MEETING AND THEN ALL MEET IN PERSON.

AND IT ALSO REQUIRES THEM TO MAKE ANY DOCUMENTS THAT THEY SHARE DURING THE MEETING AVAILABLE.

THIS WILL BE TAKEN UP, UH, PERHAPS AS EARLY AS MONDAY BY THE HOUSE AND SENT ON TO GOVERNOR STITT FOR HIS APPROVAL.

>> IN JANUARY, THE STATE SAW A DOWNTURN IN REVENUES.

WHAT DID THE STATE TREASURER SAY ABOUT IT?

>> STATE TREASURER RANDY MCDANIEL POINTED TO PROBLEMS RESULT IN REALLY FROM THE PANDEMIC AS CONTINUING TO HAVE A NEGATIVE INFLUENCE ON STATE REVENUES.

FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, THEY WERE DOWN $72.1 MILLION OR NEARLY 6%.

AND OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN TRAILING THE PRIOR 12 MONTHS.

>> THE SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE HAD THEIR HANDS FULL WITH PRO-LIFE BILLS.

WHAT MADE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE?

>> WELL, SEVERAL MEASURES THAT IMPOSE ADDITIONAL LIMITS ON PERFORMING ABORTIONS IN OKLAHOMA, SUCH AS WHEN A WOMAN CAN OBTAIN AN ABORTION, LIMITS ON ABORTION-INDUCING DRUGS AND REGULATION OF THOSE DRUGS, AS WELL AS A BILL THAT WOULD OUTLAW ABORTION IN OKLAHOMA.

IF CERTAIN COURT DECISIONS WERE OVERTURNED, INCLUDING ROE VS. WADE, AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT DID NOT MAKE IT OUT WAS THE BILL THAT WOULD ABOLISH ABORTION IMMEDIATELY.

>> A HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSED PROTECTIONS FOR PLACES OF WORSHIP FROM BEING CLOSED BY GOVERNMENTS.

WHAT DOES THAT BILL DO?

>> YES.

WHAT THIS DOES IS PREVENT PLACES OF WORSHIP FROM BEING CLOSED IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

THIS WOULD INCLUDE CHURCHES, MOSQUES, SYNAGOGUES, AND ANY OTHER PLACE OF WORSHIP.

NOW WHAT REPRESENTATIVE BRYAN HILL POINTED OUT, WHO PRESENTED THIS ON BEHALF OF HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN ECCLES, IS THAT IT DOES NOT PROHIBIT LOCAL ORDINANCES OR STATE, UH, ORDERS FROM LIMITING THE SIZE OF ATTENDANCE AT EVENTS IN THESE BUILDINGS.

IT WOULD SIMPLY PREVENT THEM FROM BEING CLOSED BY VIRTUE OF A GOVERNMENT ORDER.

>> SHAWN, AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>> GOVERNOR STITT DID OUTLINE THREE PROPOSALS TO STIMULATE BUSINESSES.

WHAT HASN'T BEEN DETERMINED YET IS HOW TO PAY FOR THEM.

THE GOVERNOR IS SEEKING $20 MILLION FOR HIS QUICK ACTION CLOSING FUND TO ATTRACT MORE COMPANIES TO RE-LOCATE TO OKLAHOMA.

>> GIVING HIM THE ABILITY TO HAVE SOME MONEY TO HELP POT SWEETEN THE DEAL, YOU KNOW, AS HE'S RECRUITING COMPANIES, WORKING WITH COMMERCE DEPARTMENT, I THINK IT'S A NO-BRAINER THAT WE OUGHT TO EMPOWER.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA EXPECT RESULTS OUT OF THEM, LET'S GIVE HIM SOME OF THE TOOLS TO GO DELIVER ON SOME OF THOSE RESULTS THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE.

>> CHAD WARMINGTON, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE STATE CHAMBER OF OKLAHOMA, ADDS THAT $20 MILLION ISN'T ENOUGH.

>> THE NUMBER'S TOO SMALL.

WE OUGHT TO AIM FOR A BIGGER AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT HEY, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TAKE WHAT WE CAN, WHAT WE CAN GET.

>> GOVERNOR STITT SAYS THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM IS WORKING- SPECIFICALLY IN CALIFORNIA.

>> IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE HAD MANY MEETINGS WITH COMPANIES IN CALIFORNIA.

THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING: "WE WANT OUT."

PAS MRO, AN AEROSPACE COMPANY BASED IN CALIFORNIA, ANNOUNCED LAST SUMMER IT WOULD BE MOVING ITS OPERATIONS TO BRISTOW, OKLAHOMA.

COMPANY PRESIDENT JIM AGEE SAID THE DECISION WAS EASY.

HE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF OKLAHOMA'S BUSINESS-FRIENDLY POLICIES, AVAILABILITY OF HIGHLY TRAINED WORKERS AND THE LOWER COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS IN OUR STATE.

>> DEMOCRATS ARGUE THAT MONEY WOULD BE BETTER SPENT ON OKLAHOMA WORKERS.

>> THE GOVERNORS'S FOCUSED ON INCREASING PROFITS FOR CORPORATIONS.

IF YOU TRULY WANT IT TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES, WE WOULD HAVE HEARD ABOUT A HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE, PAID FAMILY LEAVE, INCREASED ACCESS TO HIGHER LEARNING.

IT'S OUR INABILITY TO INVEST IN HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE, EDUCATION THAT'S COSTING US JOBS.

>> TO SPUR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND REWARD PROMISING OKLAHOMA START-UP COMPANIES, THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING $15 MILLION IN ACCELERATOR FUNDING, WITH $5 MILLION APIECE ALLOCATED TO OKLAHOMA CITY, TULSA AND RURAL AREAS.

>> EVEN IF YOU CAN GET COMPANIES THAT JUST NEED THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE GOOD, GOOD BONES, LET'S SAY GOT A GOOD PLAN, A GOOD STRUCTURE IN PLACE, HAVE A GOOD FINANCE MODEL AND WE CAN HELP THEM REALLY TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL QUICKER, OKLAHOMA BENEFITS FROM THAT.

YOU CAN BE IN RURAL OKLAHOMA, IS AS ATTRACTIVE AS ANYTHING.

AND IF WE COULD PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE TAX AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT, THERE'S NO REASON WE CAN'T ATTRACT SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES THERE.

>> THE GOVERNOR WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ATTRACT THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST TO COME AND LIVE AND WORK IN OKLAHOMA, BASED ON A PROGRAM ALREADY THRIVING IN TULSA, CALLED TULSA REMOTE.

>> THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE IS $10,000 THAT'S PAID THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IT'S UH, $2500 IN THE BEGINNING TO HELP WITH RE-LOCATION COSTS, $500 DOLLARS A MONTH, AND THEN $1500 AT THE END OF THE PROCESS.

>> PRIVATELY FUNDED BY THE GEORGE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION, 325 PEOPLE APPLIED AND WERE ACCEPTED IN 2020, AND THEY EXPECT THAT NUMBER TO INCREASE IN 2021.

>> I WAS REALLY LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO CALL HOME THAT HAD A STRONG COMMUNITY, IT HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF EVENTS GOING ON, AND JUST PEOPLE WHO WERE COMPASSIONATE AND CARED ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO WHEN I FOUND THE TULSA REMOTE PROGRAM, I JUST -- I HONESTLY FELL IN LOVE IMMEDIATELY WHEN I READ THE FIRST ARTICLE.

I WAS LIKE, I NEED TO APPLY, I NEED TO GO.

>> THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T SPECIFY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY HE WOULD SEEK TO PAY FOR A STATE-WIDE VERSION OF TULSA REMOTE.

>> FOR US, HE TOUCHED ON MODERNIZING AND RESTRUCTURING THE STATE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM, WHICH IS A PRIORITY FOR US.

>> STITT WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIRING AND PERFORMANCE PRINCIPLES COMMON IN PRIVATE BUSINESS, ADOPTED FOR THE STATE'S ROUGHLY 32,000 EMPLOYEES.

>> AGENCY LEADERS HAVE THEIR HANDS TIED IN WHO THEY CAN HIRE AND PROMOTE BECAUSE OF OUTDATED RESTRICTIONS.

THOUSANDS OF OUR STATE EMPLOYEES ARE STUCK IN A SYSTEM WHERE QUALIFIED, DEDICATED AND HUNGRY EMPLOYEES ARE OFTEN WAITING YEARS TO BE PROMOTED, ALL BECAUSE THEY'RE STUCK BEHIND SOMEONE IN LINE.

>> THAT REQUIRES PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO BE VACCINATED.

THE LATEST NUMBER, MORE THAN 383,000 OKLAHOMAMANS HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST SHOT.

AND ALMOST 11,000 HAVE COMPLETED THE VACCINATION PROCESS.

IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP FOR AN APPOINTMENT, OR LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS, LOG ON TO VACCINATE.OKLAHOMA.GOV.

HERE IS GOOD NEWS.

LOWER COVID INFECTION NUMBERS ACROSS THE BOARD.

AVERAGE CASES PER DAY THIS WEEK 2,216.

LAST WEEK MORE THAN 2600 PER DAY.

HOSPITALIZATIONS THROUGHOUT.

AND WHILE OUR SEVEN-DAY DEATH TOLL IS 239, WHICH IS STILL WAY TOO HIGH, IT HAS DROPPED FROM LAST WEEK'S TOLL OF 284 OKLAHOMAMANS CLAIMED BY COVID.

ALL IN ALL, CLEARLY THE NUMBERS ARE TRENDING IN A BETTER DIRECTION.

>> CHICK SAW NATION LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR SAYS AS OF THIS PAST MONDAY, THE NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES IN THE CHICK SAW NATION'S 13 COUNTY TERRITORY STOOD AT 39,424, AND CLIMBING.

THE NUMBER OF DEATHS, 361.

>> IT'S BEEN PRETTY DEVASTATING TO WATCH.

WE JUST COMMITTED EARLY ON THE TRIBE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN WITHIN OUR WORKPLACES AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO DO OUR VERY BEST TO CONTROL THE SPREAD.

>> WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, CHICKASAW NATION APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED FEDERAL CARES ACT DOLLARS TO PAY FOR A HANDFUL OF PROJETS, INCLUDING NINE OF THESE TINY HOMES.

THEY'RE CALLED CARING COTTAGES.

THEY'RE EACH 399 SQUARE FEET, AND THEY EACH HAVE A UNIQUE DESIGN.

ONE OF THEM ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE HOUSE BOAT.

AND THEY'RE ALL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO THE CHICKASAW NATION HEALTH SYSTEM.

STARTING THIS MONDAY, SOME CITIZENS WHO TEST POSITIVE WILL BE REFERRED HERE AND RECOVER FOR AROUND TWO WEEKS.

>> YOU KNOW WE WANT TO KEEP THOSE ELDERS, WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE, BUT THOSE ELDERS ARE ESPECIALLY AT RISK, AND WE NEEDED A PLACE AT LEAST FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS WHERE PEOPLE COULD STAY WHO WERE COVID POSITIVE.

THEY COULDN'T STAY AT THEIR HOME, DIDN'T WANT TO INFECT THEIR LOVED ONES.

AND SO IT TOOK US WELL IN A VERY SHORT TIME FRAME, WE PURCHASED FIVE UNITS FIRST, AND THEN PURCHASED FOUR MORE.

>> LT.

GOVERNOR ANOUTUBBY SAYS CHICKASAW NATION BOUGHT THESE CARING COTTAGES FROM A VENDOR IN TEXAS.

THEY COST $70,000 EACH.

>> THEY HAVE ALL OF THE AMENITIES YOU WOULD NEED TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

WE HAVE PHONE, INTERNET, TELEVISION.

CERTAINLY MOST OF THEM ARE ONE BEDROOM UNITS, BUT THEY'RE VERY COMFORTABLE.

IT'S CERTAINLY NICER THAN A DORM THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ENCOUNTERED OR SOMETHING.

BUT IT'S A NICE LITTLE TINY HOME.

>> ANOUTUBBY SAYS AS OF MONDAY 7,319 VACCINATIONS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO CITIZENS.

AND MORE THAN 1,700 CHICKASAW NATION ELDERS HAVE ALSO GOTTEN AT LEAST THE FIRST DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

THAT'S THE CHICKASAW NATION MEDICAL CENTER.

A PORTION OF THAT CARES ACT MONEY ALLOWED CHICKASAW NATION TO BUILD THIS ALTERNATIVE CARE SITE.

IT WILL ALLOW CHICKASAW NATION TO CARE FOR AS MANY AS 40 OVERFLOW PATIENTS.

THE ALTERNATIVE CARE SITE IS ALSO BEING USED AS A MEDICAL TRAINING FACILITY AND A VACCINATION SITE.

DR. CHARLES GRIM IS SECRETARY OF HEALTH FOR CHICKASAW NATION.

HE SAYS MASS TESTING IS WHY CHICKASAW NATION EMPLOYEES TEST POSITVE FOR COVID ONLY ABOUT HALF THE RATE OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

>> HAVE WE SEEN THE WORST OF IT?

>> WELL, I READ A LOT OF ARTICLES EVERY DAY, STEVE, I GET UP AND INSTEAD OF READING ANYTHING LIGHTHEARTED, I READ COVID, COVID, COVID, WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND EVENINGS.

AND PEOPLE SAY WE'RE IN A LITTLE BIT OF A TAIL OFF RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY THINK IT'S GONNA GO UP AGAIN.

>> IN MARCH THIS 40,000 SQUARE FOOT NEW EMERGENCY OPERATIONS FACILITY IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN.

IT'S WHERE THE OLD KMART BUILDING AT 1300 CRADDOCK ROAD IN ADA USED TO SIT.

IT WILL SERVE AS CHICKASAW NATION'S COVID-19 INCIDENT COMMAND CENTER.

>> BY THEN, WE ALSO HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE MORE VACCINE AVAILABLE.

RIGHT NOW, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS LIMITING US FROM DOING ANY LARGE MASS VACCINATION TYPES OF EVENTS ARE THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE YOU CAN GET.

THE FIRST TWO THAT CAME OUT OF PHIZER AND MODERNA BOTH REQUIRE TWO SHOTS IN THE SERIES, TOO.

WHICH MAKES IT LOGISTICALLY DIFFICULT TO JUST START GIVING OUT SHOTS.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN IS GOING TO HAVE A SECOND ONE TO PUT IN TIME, OR YOU'LL HAVE TO SET ASIDE THAT SECOND ONE AND RESERVE IT AND WAIT FOR THAT PERSON TO COME BACK AGAIN.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE NEW SHOT THAT ONLY TAKES ONE?

ARE YOU FOLKS GONNA GET ANY OF THAT?

>> WE HAVEN'T HEARD YET.

IT'S NOT BEEN APPROVED YET IN THE U.S.

THROUGH THE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION.

>> IN ADA, STEVE SHAW THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> THE NEW CHICK SAW NATION EMERGENCY OPERATION FACILITY WILL BE USED AS THE LOCAL COMMAND CENTER.

COVID BLACK CLOUD MAY HAVE A SILVER LINING FOR AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS.

THE PRICE OF GRAINS IS UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

OSU ECONOMICS PROFESSOR DR. ANDERSON SAYS NOW IS THE TIME FOR OKLAHOMA PRODUCERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT TREND.

>> YOU HAD A BIG CHANGE IN GLAND.

>> ANDERSON BELIEVES THE HIGHER PRICES WHICH COULD BE PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS COULD LAST A COUPLE YEARS AND THEN BEGIN DROPPING WHEN THE PANDEMIC IS UNDER CONTROL.

>>> ONE OF OKLAHOMA AND THE COUNTRY'S GREATEST ARTISTS IS RECEIVING THE HIGHEST AWARD.

THEY GET DIRTIEST, SOMETIMES THEY GET HURT, THEIR BUILDINGS MATERIALS ARE SO EXPENSIVE THEY BARELY BREAK EVEN.

AND EVEN WHEN ON OF THEIR WORKS GETS FAMOUS, MOST OF US DON'T KNOW THEIR NAMES.

YOU KNOW THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL IN DC, RIGHT?

BUT DO YOU KNOW THE ARTIST'S NAME?

IT'S DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH.

AND YES, I HAD TO LOOK UP.

BUT FAME MAY COME TO NORMAN SCULPTOR PAUL MOORE.

OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD, HE WORKED WITH HIS SONS TO BUILD THE LAND RUN MONUMENT IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

AND NOW THE NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY IS GIVING HIM THE GREATEST SHOUTOUT AWARD AN AMERICAN SCULPTOR CAN EVER HOPE TO HAVE >> IT WAS PROBABLY TO ME THE MOST HUMBLING THING I COULD HAVE EVER RECEIVED COMING FROM MY PEERS.

THE NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY IN NEW YORK HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 127 YEAR OVER THE YEARS HAVE GIVEN OUT 45 SCULPTORS READING ABOUT ALL THESE GREAT AMERICAN SCULPTORS I'M JUST BLOWN AWAY TO BE PART OF IT.

>> PAUL'S MEMORIAL IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BIGGEST SCULPTURES IN THE WORLD.

IT FEATURES 45 OVERSIZED BRONZE FIGURES THAT ARE CHARGING PAST TALL GRASS AND OVER A MEANDERING CANAL.

AND, IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, THERE ARE SOME EASTER EGG SURPRISES TO FIND.

>> PAUL, TO KEEP THE PROJECT INTERESTING FOR US.

WE HAD A LOT OF FAMILY JOKES IN THERE.

MY YOUNGEST SON IS ON THE FALLING HORSE.

AND HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE 'CAUSE HE'S ALWAYS TRIPPING OVER ALL THE DEBRIS FROM HIS OLDER BROTHER.

SO, ANYWAY, IT WAS A LITTLE JOKE, AND HIS WIFE IS BEHIND HIM ON HORSEBACK.

>> INTERESTINGLY, THE MEDAL PAUL WILL RECEIVE WAS CREATED INS 1929 BY SCULPTOR LAURA GARDIN FRASER, WHO IS PART OF AN ONGOING EXHIBIT AT OKLAHOMA CITY'S NATIONAL COWBOY MUSEUM AND SHE DABBLED IN LAND RUN ART HERSELF.

>> PAUL, LAURA WAS A HARD WORKER THAT DID INCREDIBLE MONUMENTS.

SHE WAS GOING TO DO A LARGE RELIEF.

THAT'S AT THE COWBOY HALL OF FAME.

YOU SEE THE PLASTER, I THINK IT'S 12 FOOT PLASTER, THIS THERE OF A LAND RUN.

AND SHE IS SUPPOSED TO DO IT FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY FOR THE STATE AT A 50 FOOT LENGTH.

AND, UH, THE STATE CANCELED ON HER AT THE LAST SECOND.

>> PAUL ADMITS THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN A REAL TOIL.

HE AND HIS SONS HAD MULTIPLE SURGERIES FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED WHILE WORKING ON THE PROJECT.

BUT HE IS PROUD OF HIS WORK AS HE EXPLAINED ON THIS GALLERY AMERICA EPISODE A FEW YEARS AGO >> I'M ALMOST 60.

AND I THINK BACK ON WHAT I WOULD HAVE MISSED OUT ON, IF I WOULDN'T HAVE TRIED ALL THESE THINGS AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE LIFE, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST NOW I LOOK AT IT AND I THINK MY GOSH, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'VE HAD SOME WONDERFUL LIFE EXPERIENCES AND YOU AND I'VE ONLY TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF SMALL ONES AND, UH, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S BEEN A LIFETIME OF 40 YEARS OF FUN, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE HAD A GOOD TIME DOING IT.

>> YOU CAN WATCH THE GALLERY AMERICA EPISODE ON PAUL MOORE BY GOING TO OETA.TV.

AND FOR MORE ART FEATURES LIKE THIS FOLLOW GALLERY AMERICA ONLINE AT INSTAGRAM AT @OETAGALLERY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, STAY ARTY ASK OKLAHOMA.

>> EACH WEEK WE BRING AN EXTENDED CONVERSATION ON THE ISSUES ANN AND CHARGE CHALLENGES.

LAST FRIDAY WE GATHERED LOCAL LEADER OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER ORGANIZATION, A CHIEF OF POLICE, AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORIAN TO DISCUSS RACE RELATIONS.

THE CONVERSATION WAS FRANK, BUT NOT CONTENTIOUS.

NOT EVERYONE AGREED ON EVERYTHING, BUT THEY DID SO WITH RESPECT AND THEY LISTENED TO ONE ANOTHER, AND SO TONIGHT MODERATOR SUSAN CADOT PRESENTS PART TWO OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, RICH.

WE ARE BACK FOR, THE SECOND PART OF OUR DISCUSSION ON COMMUNITY POLICING AND RACISM WITH OUR WONDERFUL PANEL OF GUESTS.

WE HAVE REVEREND SHERI DICKERSON, WHO IS THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BLACK LIVES MATTERS IN OKLAHOMA.

ONE OF MANY HATS SHE WEARS IN HER WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, IN THE STATE AND IN THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

WE ALSO HAVE HANNIBAL JOHNSON WHO IS AN ATTORNEY, AUTHOR, AND INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT WHO SPECIALIZES IN DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, CULTURAL COMPETENCE ISSUES, AND NONPROFIT GOVERNANCE.

AND FINALLY, WE HAVE CHIEF BRANDAN CLABES WITH THE MIDWEST CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO COMES TO US WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN POLICING.

TWENTY YEARS AS A CHIEF, 20 PLUS YEARS AS A CHIEF, UH, FBI TRAINING, SECRET SERVICE TRAINING, ALL QUALIFY TO, TO TAKE US FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD IN OUR DISCUSSION ON RACISM AND COMMUNITY POLICING AND HOW WE BRIDGE THE GAP.

SO, UH, HANNIBAL WILL, IS THERE SOME RESPONSIBILITY ON THE OTHER SIDE, ON THE COMMUNITY SIDE TO ALSO WORK WITH POLICE DEPARTMENTS?

UM, I KNOW MANY, UH, BLACK PARENTS ARE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEIR KIDDOS RIGHT.

OF HOW TO INTERACT, BUT IS THERE SOMETHING THAT IS INHERENT, THAT'S NOT BEING DONE ON THE COMMUNITY SIDE TO ALSO UNDERSTAND AND RELATE TO POLICE OFFICERS.

>> THERE ABSOLUTELY IS.

I MEAN, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE FOR THE LAST DOZEN YEARS OR SO IS BUILDING TRUST.

THEY'RE BUILDING THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND PART OF THE BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIPS HAS TO DO WITH DEMYSTIFYING POLICING.

WHAT DO POLICE DO AND, AND WHY?

UM, HOW CAN WE, HOW CAN WE RELATE TO POLICE IN A WAY, UH, THAT, THAT DIFFUSES RATHER THAN INTENSIFIES PARTICULAR SITUATIONS.

BUT, BUT, BUT THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT COIN IS IMPORTANT TO THE POLICE NEED TO UNDERSTAND.

AND THIS IS AGAIN, BEEN PROVEN BY SCHOLARLY STUDIES.

UH, BLACK MEN, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE PERCEIVED TO BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN WHITE MEN IN, IN THESE, THESE ACADEMIC STUDIES.

SO, WHAT DOES THAT SUGGEST?

THAT SUGGESTS THAT THE, THAT THE POLICE ABSENT TRAINING MIGHT REACT IN WAYS DIFFERENT AND MORE CONSEQUENTIAL WHEN THEY DEAL WITH A BLACK MAN THAN WHEN THEY DEAL WITH A WHITE MAN.

SO, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, THAT, THAT BOTH SIDES OF THE EQUATION APPRECIATE, UH, THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENTIALITY OF THESE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND POLICE AND DO WHAT THEY CAN TO DIFFUSE ANY POSSIBLE CONFLICT.

THAT HAS TO DO WITH SHARING INFORMATION.

THAT HAS TO DO WITH ACKNOWLEDGING IMPLICIT BIASES AND WORKING ON THOSE IMPLICIT BIASES.

AND IT HAS TO DO WITH CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT.

>> CHIEF, DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT?

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, I THINK HANNIBAL HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

YOU KNOW, RECRUITING IS PROBABLY THE KEY FOR US RECRUITING QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO BE A POLICE OFFICER'S, TRAINING IS THE ULTIMATE REQUIREMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.

DIVERSITY IS SO IMPORTANT.

MY BEST RECRUITERS ARE OFFICERS.

WE TELL THEM EVERY SIX MONTHS IDENTIFY SOMEBODY THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO BE A POLICE OFFICER YOU WOULD SERVE WITH, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER NOW.

VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO RECRUIT.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE 28% MINORITY POPULATION IN MIDWEST CITY.

WE DON'T REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE AND WE TRY ACTIVELY TO DO THAT, BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

BUT HANNIBAL'S CORRECT, RECRUITING'S A KEY AND TRAINING IS AN ABSOLUTE AND YES, I AGREE.

WE ADMIT THERE ARE IMPLICIT BIASES.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

AND WE ADMIT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A BETTER TRUST AMONG OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TOWARDS THAT.

I THINK SHERI CAN TESTIFY THAT SHE KNOWS ME PERSONALLY.

I HAVEN'T MET HANNIBAL BEFORE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE DO THINGS IN MIDWEST CITY I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM.

AND ONE OF THAT IS, IS I THINK WE DO LISTEN TO LEARN FROM OUR PUBLIC.

>> SO, SO REVEREND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, THIS TERM IMPLICIT BIAS, WILL YOU EXPLAIN FOR OUR VIEWERS AND FOR ME WHO MAY NOT HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT IS?

>> SO, WE ARE USING THE TERM IMPLICIT BIAS.

IT MEANS THAT IT IS INHERENT FOR SOMEONE TO ACTUALLY HAVE A BIAS OR A PREJUDICE, BASED ON THE ETHNICITY OR RACE OF A PERSON IN THIS PARTICULAR CONVERSATION.

ASK BUT WE'RE USING VERY, CORDIAL ON LANGUAGE, IMPLICIT BIAS, TAKES THE STING OUT OF THE SYSTEMS OF RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY AND THE VIOLENCE THAT HAPPENS WITHIN THESE TYPES OF SYSTEMS.

AND SO, I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE LANGUAGE IS IMPORTANT IN HOW WE IDENTIFY IT.

AND YES, HAVE THOSE CALL IT WHAT IT IS, AND JUST NOT AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ARE NOT A MONOLITH,NOR ARE THE SYSTEMS THAT WORK AGAINST US.

>> SO, IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE.

AND I'M JUST GOING TO CHIME IN WITH MY OWN THING HERE.

IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE SOMETIMES FOR WHITE FOLKS TO HAVE THOSE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO OFFEND.

YOU, YOU THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOT RACIST, BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IMPLICIT BIAS AT, ENGENDERS, SELF-EXAMINATION AND YOU WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS AND, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO OFFEND ANYONE.

SO, IT'S REALLY HARD TO BEGIN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, RIGHT.

AND HANNIBAL I'LL LET YOU TAKE THAT ONE.

HOW DO YOU START?

>> YEAH, SO, SO MY FIRST THOUGHT IS IF IT'S DIFFICULT TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR BLACK FRIENDS, THEN YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE BLACK FRIENDS.

YOU HAVE BLACK ACQUAINTANCES.

SO, YOU NEED TO, YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT EXPANDING YOUR CIRCLE AND BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS THAT INVOLVES SOME INTIMACY, WHERE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THESE UNCOMFORTABLE THINGS IN A WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY FIRST.

>> WELL, I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT YOU HERE BECAUSE NOT ALL, UH, BLACK FOLKS THINK ALIKE.

THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT VARIATIONS OF HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BY GAINING THE PERSPECTIVE OF AT LEAST ONE BLACK PERSON WOULD BE HELPFUL TO YOU.

IF YOU HAVE A BROADER CIRCLE AND YOU CAN TALK TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY THE BEST THING TO DO.

UM, BUT YOU GOTTA HAVE AT LEAST A FEW PEOPLE, UNLIKE YOU, IN TERMS OF RACE THAT ARE INTIMATE, THAT ARE IN YOUR CIRCLE, THAT YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE HARD THINGS WITH.

WE WILL NEVER MAKE ANY PROGRESS, IF WE DON'T, IF WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE STUFF THAT'S DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT, THAT MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> SO REVEREND, I JUST HAD AN IMAGE OF SOMEONE GOING, OKAY, LOOK, I NEED A BLACK FRIEND.

WILL YOU BE MY FRIEND?

I DON'T KNOW.

SO MAYBE YOU NEED TO GET INVOLVED IN THINGS, I DON'T KNOW.

>> RIGHT.

IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE BLACK FRIEND, YOU ARE UPHOLDING THE SYSTEMS OF RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMACY, BECAUSE AS HANNIBAL SAID, WE'RE NOT A MONOLITH.

UM, AND SO YOU DO NOT HAVE THE ACTUAL SCOPE.

UM, IF THAT IS, IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE, THEN YOU NEED TO HONOR THEIR EXPERIENCE.

A LOT OF MY WHITE FRIENDS, OVER THE YEARS, AND WE'VE HAD TO HAVE THESE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, HAVE SAID, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT I WAS RACIST, OR I HAD SYSTEMS OF THAT.

AND THEY STIGMATIZED WHAT RACISM OR BEING RACIST IS.

AND IT'S SIMPLY ABOUT THE POWER STRUCTURE.

THOSE IN BLACK AND BROWN SKIN DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY.

IT IS INTENTIONAL AND DELIBERATE TO OPPRESS AND SUPPRESS OUR PROGRESS AS A PEOPLE.

>> SO, CHIEF, LET ME TURN TO YOU IN THIS.

DOES IT BECOME SOMETHING OF A PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT?

NOT ONLY ON ANY LEADER'S PART, BUT ON THE TEAM'S PART IN YOUR POLICE ORGANIZATION, IS THAT NOT JUST SOMETHING THEY DO AT WORK, BUT THEY NEED TO INTEGRATE INTO THEIR PERSONAL LIVES?

UM, THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTANDING?

>> OH, I BELIEVE SO.

I MEAN, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M A, I'M A GOOD SOUTHERN BAPTIST AT MY CHURCH THEY PREACH ABOUT HOW YOU SHOULD SIT DOWN AT YOUR DINNER TABLE, WITH SOMEONE WHO'S DIFFERENT THAN YOU ARE TO LEARN ABOUT THOSE DIFFERENT CULTURES.

YOU KNOW, I'M VERY PROUD BY THE FACT THAT I WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE MARTIN LUTHER KING PRAYER BREAKFAST HERE IN MIDWEST CITY.

I RECEIVED THE CLARA LUPER COMMUNITY AWARD FOR MY WORK WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

SO, THESE THINGS, I'VE GOT A BUNCH OF AFRICAN AMERICAN BLACK FRIENDS.

I WORK WITH A BUNCH OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.

UH, I CAME FROM LAWTON, OKLAHOMA THAT WAS A RACIST TOWN AND EVEN MIDWEST CITY WAS CONSIDERED A SUNSET TOWN IN THE SIXTIES.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOUR VIEWERS KNOW WHAT THAT IS, BUT THAT WAS IF, IF, IF, IF AFTER DARK, IF YOU WERE AFRICAN AMERICAN, YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE INSIDE CITY LIMITS AND THAT'S CHANGED DRASTICALLY HERE A MIDWEST CITY.

AND SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO THESE CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS, AS HANNIBAL CALLS THEM, AND WHICH IS WHAT I CALL THEM TOO.

AND THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO WORK WITH US BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE, UH, POLICE CITIZENS, UH, ACADEMIES WHERE, WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND LEARN WHAT WE DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.

WE HAVE A SIMULATOR MACHINE THAT'S OPEN TO PEOPLE BEING PUT IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS AND LEARN HOW POLICE OFFICERS MAKE SPLIT SECOND DECISIONS TO NOT ONLY PROTECT THEMSELVES, BUT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC.

POLICE OFFICERS HAVE AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT JOB IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

PRESIDENT OBAMA CAME OUT WITH THE POLICING IN THE 21ST CENTURY IT HAD SIX PILLARS.

AND SINCE 2015, UH, AFRICAN AMERICANS KILLED BY POLICE OFFICERS HAS BEEN REDUCED BY 23%.

SO, WE'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

WE HAVE HIGH PROFILE CASES THAT HAPPEN ON A DAILY BASIS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

IT STEMS BACK TO TRAINING.

IT STEMS BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS AND HOW THEY REACT TO SITUATIONS.

UH, THE BOTTOM LINE IS BEING A POLICE OFFICER IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

NOBODY WANTS TO DO THE JOB.

WE DEAL WITH ALL OF THE SOCIETY'S ILL WILLS, ALL THE WAY FROM MENTAL HEALTH MESSAGING, VIOLENCE, SUICIDE HOMICIDES.

YOU KNOW, WE GO HOME, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH, MY POLICE OFFICERS.

AND SO, WE'VE, WE'VE GOT A VERY ROBUST, UH, PEER SUPPORT GROUP.

WE ALSO HAVE A VERY SUPERIOR, UH, ROBUST EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BECAUSE SUICIDE IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF POLICE OFFICERS, NOT THE PUBLIC.

AND IT'S BECAUSE WE DEAL WITH THE ISSUES WE DEAL WITH.

>> HANNIBAL, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

IS IT TOUGH TO BE A POLICE OFFICER?

SHOULD THEY ALL JUST STEP AWAY?

BECAUSE IT'S STRESSFUL?

I MEAN -- >> YES, IT'S TOUGH TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, BUT IT'S ALSO, IT'S TOUGH TO BE A NURSE AND IT'S TOUGH TO BE A LOT OF THINGS.

I THINK NOW TO TALK AT LEAST BRIEFLY ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING, THIS MOVEMENT TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN EXPLOITED AND MISINTERPRETED, FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DEFUND THE POLICE IN THE SENSE OF TAKING AWAY ALL THEIR MONEY.

WHEN, WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE PHRASE, I THOUGHT IT RELATED TO LOOKING AT WHAT THE POLICE DO AND SEEING IF THERE ARE ASPECTS OF WHAT THEY DO, THAT COULD BE BETTER DONE BY SOMEBODY ELSE.

LIKE THE TEA PARTY, FOR EXAMPLE MENTIONED ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH THINGS THAT THE POLICE HAVE TO DO IN TERMS OF ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

IS IT THE CASE THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY BETTER TO DO THAT THAN THE POLICE, SO THAT, THAT FREES UP THE POLICE OFFICER'S TIME TO DO OTHER THINGS THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF THEIR MISSION.

THAT'S WHAT THAT CONVERSATION, AT LEAST INITIALLY, IN TERMS OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE WAS ABOUT.

UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE HAVE USED THAT TO SUGGEST THAT THERE ARE LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ELIMINATE THE POLICE SO WE DON'T HAVE POLICE.

THAT'S ABSURD.

I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DO THAT.

>> CHIEF, YOUR OFFICERS UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH, UH, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES DAILY I'M SURE.

WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE EXPERTS DEALING WITH THAT INSTEAD OF POLICE OFFICERS?

>> WELL, THE FIRST ANSWER IS, IS YOU NEED TO GET A HUNDRED PERCENT OR MAJORITY OF YOUR OFFICERS TRAINED IN CRISIS INTERVENTION.

AND WE'VE DONE THAT HERE AT MIDWEST CITY.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE DONE, I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT WAS WHEN TERRI WHITE WAS A COMMISSIONER OVER OKLAHOMA MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, WE CREATED A PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE AN EMBEDDED MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN HERE AT MIDWEST CITY WHO IS AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH OUR CLIENTELE THAT COME THROUGH OUR MUNICIPAL JAIL.

IN MIDWEST CITY, WE RESPOND TO 71,000 CALLS A YEAR, OVER A HUNDRED MENTAL HEALTH CALLS A MONTH.

SO THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF THREE OR FOUR.

AND SOME OF THOSE MENTAL HEALTH CALLS CAN LAST UP TO EIGHT HOURS.

I'VE TRANSPORTED, MY AGENCY'S, TRANSPORTED PEOPLE TO WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, CAUSE THERE'S NO BEDS AVAILABLE.

BUT YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE HANNIBAL AND SHERI'S COMMENTS THAT IT IS A PROFESSION, IT'S A CAREER CHOICE, BUT THERE IS NO CAREER LIKE BEING A POLICE OFFICER.

WE HAVE TO MAKE A SPLIT-SECOND DECISION, WHETHER WE HAVE TO TAKE A LIFE OR NOT.

AND NOBODY WANTS TO DO THAT.

IF ANYBODY SAYS THEY WANT TO GET LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TAKE A LIFE, THEY SHOULDN'T BE INVOLVED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I'VE NEVER HEARD A POLICE OFFICER SAY THAT.

UH, WE, WE, AS I SAID, ARE THE GATEWAY FOR ALL THE SOCIETY'S ILL WILLS.

WE'RE THE FIRST ONES CALLED.

WE RESPOND TO EVERYTHING.

WE SEE THE BAD, THE UGLY, THINGS NOBODY ELSE WANTS TO DEAL WITH.

AND I TELL YOU, IT IS DIFFERENT FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

AND I'VE BEEN ONE FOR 42 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER AND GONE THROUGH THE RANKS AND NOW I'M POLICE CHIEF.

AND I FEEL FOR THESE, THESE YOUNG POLICEMEN COMING INTO THE FIELD AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

AND WHAT'S HE GOING TO BE LIKE IN FIVE TO 10 YEARS FROM NOW ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS SHERI AND HANNIBAL HAVE SAID IS BUILD THAT TRUST WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD.

I KNOW MY COUNTERPART IS THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING TULSA, WHERE HANNIBAL'S FROM, ARE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN.

BUT WE NEED RECIPROCAL BEHAVIOR ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WE CAN'T DO IT BY OURSELVES.

IT'S GOTTA BE A TWO-WAY CONVERSATION.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I ENCOURAGE GO RIDE WITH THE POLICE OFFICER, COME SEE WHAT WE DO SO YOU'LL UNDERSTAND US SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND YOU.

>> REVEREND, WE TALKED ABOUT THE BLACK COMMUNITY NOT BEING A MONOLITH.

DO YOU GET PUSHBACK FROM WITHIN YOUR OWN ORGANIZATION FOR TRYING TO REACH OUT AND CREATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES?

>> UM, I DON'T LOOK AT AS PUSHBACK.

DO WE HAVE ROBUST CONVERSATIONS AND ARE THERE THOSE WITHIN MY COMMUNITIES THAT,DON'T HAVE THE SAME PERSPECTIVES, OR WOULD LIKE TO SEE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES USED?

OF COURSE, AND WE ENCOURAGE EACH PERSON TO STAND IN THEIR OWN AUTONOMY IN DOING THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS VERY DIFFERENT FOR EACH PERSON.

UM, AND IT'S NOT THE SAME JUST BECAUSE WE'RE IN BLACK SKIN.

UM, THEY ALWAYS ASK ME TO REMEMBER THAT THE INSTITUTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED TO CONTINUE THE ENSLAVEMENT OF PEOPLE IN BLACK SKIN.

UM, AND THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THE DISTRUST AND THE PAIN AND THE TRAUMA COMES FROM.

AND SO, THEY PUSHED ME TO ASK FOR A DIFFERENT TYPE OF EVOLUTION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

AND, AND I TOTALLY HONOR AND RESPECT THAT.

AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION, TO TRY TO, WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR US TO STOP LOSING OUR LIVES WITH INTERACTIONS, WITH STOP KILLING US.

UM, AND SO THEY ASK ABOUT TRAINING AND THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TRAINING YOU IMPLEMENT TO TEACH ANY PERSON TO HONOR THE HUMANITY OF ANOTHER.

>> I THINK IT HAS TO HAPPEN ON A PERSONAL LEVEL.

IT'S NOT JUST A WORK THING.

IT'S PART BECOMES PART OF WHO YOU ARE AND WE ALL CAN EVOLVE, YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY.

UM, SO I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT, REVEREND YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN KEEPING THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS IN OKLAHOMA PEACEFUL LAST YEAR.

AND YOU EVEN HAD YOUR GROUP PICK UP THE TRASH.

SO, WHAT WE SEE ON NATIONAL NEWS, I THINK OKLAHOMA IS A LITTLE MORE RESPECTFUL IN THEIR, IN THEIR, EVEN IN THEIR PROTESTS, EVEN IN THE DISRUPTION.

I THINK WE'RE MORE RESPECTFUL WITH EVERYONE HERE, AT LEAST SO FAR.

IT'S WHAT I'VE SEEN.

ALL RIGHT.

FINAL COMMENTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE CHIEF, ANY, ANY FINAL COMMENTS FOR FOLKS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO BE THE MAIN TAKEAWAY FOR THEM FROM THIS CONVERSATION?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY I HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I'M SPEAKING FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WORLD, BUT I -- I WOULD, I WOULD PLEDGE TO YOUR VIEWERS AND THE PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES IS WHEN THEY HAVE INTERACTION WITH POLICE, COMPLY.

IF YOU COMPLY, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY 99.9% OF THESE INTERACTIONS WOULD END UP PEACEFULLY, I WOULD HOPE.

UM, I ALSO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, VIOLENCE AND HATE AND A RESPONSE TO, TO ISSUES IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE NOT HEALTH, HEALTHY IN ANY WAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN IT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

WE SAW IT AT THE CAPITOL.

UH, WE'VE SEEN IT IN DIFFERENT CITIES, BUT I'M PROUD OF OKLAHOMA.

WE HAVE HAD SOME ISSUES HERE, BUT I'M PROUD FOR THE MOST PART THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE A DIFFERENCE, WE TRY TO DO IT PEACEFULLY AND WE TRY TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

I KNOW AT MIDWEST CITY, WE TRY, I KNOW MY, MY OTHER POLICE CHIEFS ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA ARE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING.

UM, AND SO I APPRECIATE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS TO GIVE A BETTER INSIGHT AS TO WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE.

AND I APPRECIATE THE HANNIBAL'S COMMENTS AND CERTAINLY SHARI'S COMMENTS TOO.

>> HANNIBAL, FINAL WORDS, FINAL THOUGHTS, WHAT'S THE TAKEAWAY?

>> SO JUST A PHRASE THAT COMES TO MIND IMMEDIATELY IS CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGE.

IF WE'RE GONNA MAKE PROGRESS, IF WE'RE GONNA MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE AND SECURE, THERE HAS TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT ON BOTH SIDES.

RECIPROCITY, RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE PART OF THE POLICE, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND WORK TOWARD THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO BE BETTER POISED TO CREATE THOSE KINDS OF COMMUNITIES THAT WE REALLY WANT.

>> REVEREND, WHAT'S THE TAKEAWAY FOR YOU?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE FOLKS TO REMEMBER FROM THIS DIALOGUE?

>> UM, I WOULD HOPE THAT, THREE VERY IMPORTANT POINTS, WHAT YOU DO, UH, FOR US, WITHOUT US, YOU DO TO US.

UM, ALSO WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT COMPLIANCE, MAYBE WE ALSO NEED TO BE LOOKING AT A CHANGE IN POLICY AND PROCEDURE.

UM, BECAUSE MANY TIMES, EVEN WHEN A PERSON IN BLACK AND BROWN SKIN HAS BEEN SEEN AS -- HAS BEEN COMPLYING, THEIR LIFE WAS STILL LOST IN THAT INTERACTION.

UM, AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS INDICATIVE OF IT BEING JUST AN ISSUE OF COMPLIANCE AND EXPECTING CIVILITY FROM A DEMOGRAPHIC OR GROUP OR COMMUNITY THAT HAS CONSTANT VIOLENCE THRUST UP ON THEM FROM THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT SEEMS LIKE A VERY UNFAIR AND UNREALISTIC EXPECTATION.

>> ALRIGHT, I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE.

CLEARLY MORE CONVERSATIONS WILL BE HAD IN THE FUTURE.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THREE OF YOU FOR GIVING US YOUR TIME AND YOUR INSIGHT TO SHARE NOT ONLY WITH US, BUT WITH OUR VIEWERS.

AND I WISH ALL OF YOU WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IN THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS GOVERNOR STATE PRESSED HIS ADMINISTRATION FOR FULLY REOPENING OKLAHOMA BY JUNE 1st, SAYING IT SAVED THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND BUSINESSES.

IN CALIFORNIA, LOCKED DOWNS REMAINED IN EFFECT MUCH LONGER HE AND THEIR GOVERNOR IS FACING A SERIOUS RECALL EFFORT BECAUSE OF IT.

NOW CALIFORNIA IS BEGINNING TO ALLOW OUTSIDE DINING IN THE RESTAURANTS.

AND THAT IS THE SUBJECT WITH PBS PARTNER IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

>> NOW WE START OVER AGAIN.

>> JEFF KACHA OWNS RUDFORD'S RESTAURANT IN NORTH PARK.

HE CAN NOW RETURN TO SERVING CUSTOMERS OUTDOORS, BUT HE'S NOT AS HAPPY AS YOU MIGHT THINK.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED THAT'S LED UP TO THIS POINT.

>> WHEN YOU OWN A RESTAURANT, YOU KNOW, AND THEY SHUT YOU DOWN, YOUR INVENTORY GOES DOWN AND YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES, GIVE IT AWAY OR THROW IT AWAY.

SO, THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

SEVEN TIMES.

>> KACHA WOULD HAVE BEEN READY TO GO WITH A TENT ON WHAT WAS PART OF HIS PARKING LOT.

BUT MOTHER NATURE DEALT A CRUEL BLOW ON MONDAY.

THE TENT IS NOW A CRUMPLED PILE OF TARP.

>> THERE'S WATER, THERE'S, THERE'S POLES.

YOU KNOW, THANK GOD NOBODY WAS IN THERE.

THANK GOD IT WAS AT, YOU KNOW, FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

>> KACHA IS FORTUNATE IN THAT RUDFORD'S HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME WITH A LOT OF LOYAL CUSTOMERS.

>> WE MISS SEEING OUR GUESTS DINE ON PREMISES.

>> STEVEN TORRES CO-OWNS POP PIE COMPANY IN UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, THOUGH HE'S HAPPY THAT CUSTOMERS WILL SOON BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THIS STREET DINING SPACE.

HE HAS BEEN LUCKIER THAN MOST BECAUSE OF HIS BUSINESS MODEL.

>> TAKEOUT WAS -- WAS BIG FOR US FROM, FROM THE GET-GO TAKEOUT, DELIVERY.

>> TORRES DIDN'T HAVE TO LAY OFF ANY OF HIS EMPLOYEES, EVEN SO, HE SAYS THE LAST 10 MONTHS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT.

>> IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR, FOR ALL OF US, UH, PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY.

>> THEN THERE ARE THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED COMPLETELY SINCE THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER WAS ISSUED IN LATE NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

HERE AT LONDON NAIL SPA IN POINT LOMA, THE LAST TIME THEY WERE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, THEY WERE DOING IT IN A TENT HERE, OUTSIDE, BUT NOW WITH THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER LIFTED AND THE REQUIRED SAFETY MODIFICATIONS IN PLACE, THEY ARE READY TO WELCOME BACK CUSTOMERS.

>> SO HAPPY.

I FEEL RELIEF >> BUT FOR SPA OWNER, CINDY PHAN OPERATING LIKE THIS ISN'T ANYTHING LIKE IT WAS PRE-PANDEMIC.

SHE HAS TO SPACE APPOINTMENTS OUT FURTHER APART, MEANING LESS CUSTOMERS OVERALL.

AND HER HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IS TEMPERED BY WHAT SHE'S BEEN THROUGH.

>> WE'RE STILL IN A BUBBLE, BUT WE TRY HARD.

WE, LIKE EVERYBODY, I THINK.

>> FOR THESE SAN DIEGO BUSINESS OWNERS AND SO MANY THOUSANDS MORE LIKE THEM, THINGS ARE NOW A LITTLE BETTER, EVEN AS THE COVID ROLLERCOASTER RIDE ROLLS ON.

JOHN CARROLL, KPBS NEWS.

>> YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT A FOOTBALL GAME THAT IS GOING TO BE PLAYED IN TAMPA.

WE TACKLED A LOT OF SERIOUS ISSUES.

LET'S HAVE FUN.

WHO IS GOING TO WIN SUPER BOWL LV?

EVERYONE INCLUDING MANY HAVE AN OPINION.

>>> DON'T EVER BET AGAINST THE GOAT.

TOM BRADY IS THE GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYER THAT MAYBE HAS EVER LIVED, AND HE PLAYED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, WHICH IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

>> AND I HAVE A PREDICTION FOR THIS WEEKEND'S SUPERBOWL.

I'M CALLING KANSAS CITY OVER TAMPA BAY, 35 TO 32.

GO CHIEFS.

>> MY HEAD SAYS DON'T BET AGAINST TOM BRADY IN HIS QUEST FOR ANOTHER SUPERBOWL TO PROVE THAT IN NEW ENGLAND IT WAS ABOUT HIM, NOT BILL BELICHECK.

>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO WITH KANSAS CITY.

I THINK IT'LL BE A CLOSE GAME, BUT I THINK KANSAS CITY WILL PULL IT OFF.

>> FROM KC ORIGINALLY, SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SIDE WITH THE CHIEFS WITH MY SUPERBOWL PREDICTION.

I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO COME AWAY WITH A 35 TO 31 WIN.

>> PATRICK MAHOMES IS THE MOST EXCITING PLAYER IN A LONG TIME, BUT I THINK TOM BRADY IS THE GOAT.

AND I THINK ANOTHER WIN FOR TOM BRADY, SO SEVEN RINGS.

>> MY PICK FOR THIS YEAR'S SUPERBOWL CHAMPION IS GOING TO BE THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS.

A LOT OF BIG 12 REPRESENTATION IN THIS GAME.

GO RED NATION.

>> I HAVE TO GIVE THE BUCCANEERS, MY BIGGEST FAN FOR TOM BRADY, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO WIN IT ALL.

>> I'M TOTALLY IN ON KANSAS CITY.

I HAVE PLAYED MANY CONCERTS THERE.

HAVE CLOSE FRIEND, CLOSE RELATIVES.

BEAUTIFUL CITY.

I'M ALL IN ON KANSAS CITY.

>> I THINK I LIKE THE BUCS IN THIS ONE.

COMING UP ON THE NEXT ONE HOUR EDITION OF "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," THIS MASSIVE FACILITY BEING BUILT IN OKLAHOMA WILL SOON HOUSE A NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS FOR INCREASINGLY POPULAR OLYMPIC EVENT.

>> FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND WE LEAVE YOU WITH PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC WALTMAN'S TOUR.

FOR ALL OF US, I'M RICH LENZ.

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, AND ENJOY SUPER BOWL LV.

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