>>> OUR LEGISLATORS CONSIDERING BIG CHANGES FOR OKLAHOMA'S BOOMING MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY.

>> THERE ARE THOSE OUT THERE THAT MAY HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE INDUSTRY OPERATES.

>>> LAW ENFORCEMENT TRYING A NEW APPROACH IN DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CALLS IN THE FIELD.

>> REALISTICALLY, IT'S THE FUTURE OF POLICING.

FOR TOO MANY YEARS, POLICE OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES HAVE BEEN THRUST INTO A POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE TO BE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS.

>>> A MISUSE OF $900 MILLION IN FEDERAL AID.

>> THIS COULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THOSE IN THE STATE.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET IS THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT.

>>> GOVERNOR STITT ENDORSES THE SIGNS OF HOPE.

>> HOPE IS THE BELIEF THAT THE FUTURE WILL BE BETTER THAN TODAY, AND WE HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE IT SO.

>> I WANT TO EMPOWER OKLAHOMANS WITH THE SCIENCE OF HOPE, CAN CHANGE THE LIVES OF 9 NEXT GENERATION.

>>> THOSE STORIES, AND THE GROWING SUCCESS OF BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN OKLAHOMA.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

WHEN OKLAHOMA BECAME THE 30th STATE TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN 2018, FEW COULD HAVE ENVISIONED HOW QUICKLY AND LUCRATIVELY THE INDUSTRY WOULD GROW.

AND WHEREVER THAT HAPPENS, THE CALLS FOR MORE OVERSIGHT AND REGULATION ARE SURE TO FOLLOW.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US FROM OUR NEW STUDIO IN THE CAPITOL.

HE'S TRACKING THE NEARLY 100 PIECES OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION DEALING WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

JASON?

>> OKLAHOMA'S GREEN RUSH HAS SPAWNED AROUND 12,000 KANNY BUS BUSINESSES IN OKLAHOMA IN THREE YEARS.

>> OKLAHOMA HAS MORE GROWERS THAN CALIFORNIA, OREGON AND COLORADO COMBINED.

>> Reporter: A NEW REPORT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY FINDS THAT OKLAHOMA'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESS IS OUTPACING THE ABILITY TO REGULATE THE STATE.

>> APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

BUT THE MANGE FINDING WAS THAT THE REGULATORY SYSTEM HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH THE EXTREME GROWTH OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY.

>> THERE'S NO CAP ON CANNABIS LICENSES IN OKLAHOMA.

>> AS A POINT OF COMPARISON, MICHIGAN, WHICH IS THE NEXT CLOSEST MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENNSYLVANIARIES HAS 446.

OKLAHOMA HAS 5 TIMES MORE THAN EVEN THE NEXT CLOSEST.

>> THAT WORKS OUT TO 56 DISPENSARIES FOR EVERY 100,000 PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> YOU COMBINE SONIC, STARBUCKS AND McDONALD'S, THE NUMBER PER 100,000 FOR STORE LOCATIONS IS 20.

SO IT'S ABOUT -- THERE ARE THREE TONS MORE DISPENSARIES THAN THOSE FIVE BUSINESSES COMBINED.

>> ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE REPORT IS THAT THE OKLAHOMA MEDICAL AUTHORITY, CURRENTLY CALLED OMMA SHOULD PUT A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM IN PLACE ON LICENSES, UNTIL A PERMANENT SOLUTION IS FOUND.

THAT'S AN IDEA THAT JOSH WEST SUPPORTS.

HE'S INTRODUCED A BILL TO HELP OMMA CATCH UP WITH THE INDUSTRY.

>> I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THE VOLUME OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILLS THAT WERE FILED, MOSTLY FROM RURAL REPRESENTATIVES.

WE'RE ALL FACING THE SAME THING, I MADE THE COMMENT LAST YEAR, TO THE SENATE CHAIR, IF WE DON'T DO THIS NOW, WE TRY TO DO THIS NEXT YEAR, EVERY YEAR WE WAIT, IT'S GOING TO GET HARDER TO DO.

>> WEST ALSO PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO PUT CAPS ON MARIJUANA LICENSES.

>> IT'S A STRAIGHT CAP, AND I MADE IT -- NOT GENERIC, BUT I LEFT A LOT OF ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION, AND I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH GROUPS.

IT'S A CAP.

>> Reporter: SCOTT FIGTTER HAS WORKED ON THIS SINCE MARIJUANA LICENSES BEGAN.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPIKE IN MARIJUANA LICENSES.

AND IT'S GOING TO CREATE AN OVERFLOW OF WORK ON OMMA.

IT'S GOING TO STRESS THEM TO GET COMPLIANCE UP AND RUNNING, GET INSPECTIONS GOING AND THOSE THINGS.

>> WITH SO MUCH LEGISLATION ON THE TABLE, IT COULD CAUSE MORE ISSUES FOR THE STATE.

>> MY FEAR IS, IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF BILLS OUT THERE THAT MAY HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE INDUSTRY OPERATES COULD HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

THAT CAUSE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT OF WHAT THE INTENT WAS.

>> HE POINTS TO A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE LICENSING FEES FOR CANNABIS BUSINESSES.

SOME BELIEVE IT WOULD SLOW THE INDUSTRY IN OKLAHOMA.

HE CONTENDS IT WOULD MAKE THINGS MORE DIFFICULT FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

>> TRIADS AND CARTELS AND MAFIAS, CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS, THEY DON'T CARE IF YOU RAISE THE FEE TO $200,000 THEY'RE GOING TO BRING YOU A BAG FULL OF CASH AND PAY THE FEE, CONTINUE GOING ON MARKETING BLACK MARKET MARIJUANA.

>> FOCUS ON ENFORCEMENT OF CURRENT LAW.

>> YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON VISITATION.

AND ENFORING THE LAWS WE HAVE ON THE BOOKS.

BY WRITING MORE LAWS, ALL WE'RE DOING IS HURTING POTENTIAL LEGAL BUSINESSES.

OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A LIVING.

>> Reporter: HE'S ALSO PROPOSING AN ADULT USE PROGRAM, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

SAYING IF THE LEGISLATURE PASSES THE BILL, IT GIVES THEM MORE REGULATORY ALCOHOL, THAN IF VOTERS APPROVE A STATE QUESTION.

>> THERE ARE THREE PETITIONS ON THE BOARDS RIGHT NOW GETTING READY TO START GATHERING SIGNATURES IT AND PROBABLY GOING TO GET ONE OR TWO MORE.

I THINK THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD -- AND MANAGE IT.

>> LAWMAKERS WILL BE DEALING WITH MARIJUANA POLICY FOR A WHILE.

>> IT'S A NEW PROGRAM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THIS, AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO CONTROL THE CRIME SIDE.

YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO TOTALLY GET RID OF IT, THAT'S REALITY.

WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET RAID OF THE BLACK MARKET AND THE EXPORTING OF MARIJUANA OUT OF THE STATE.

WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO SLOW IT DOWN.

>> THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT MARIJUANA FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

WE NEED TO FACE IT, AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT.

>> LAWMAKERS HAVE ABOUT TWO WEEKS LEFT TO GET BILLS TO THE HOUSE OR SENATE FLOORS.

THIS WEEK ALONE, DOZENS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILLS WERE HURT IN COMMITTEE.

RICH?

>> THANK YOU, COMING UP IN A FEW MINUTES, WE WILL CONTINUE OUR INDEPTH DISCUSSION OF OKLAHOMA'S CANNABIS INDUSTRY.

>>> CONTINUING OUR TEAM COVERAGE OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION, HERE'S TAELYR JACKSON AND THE MAN WHO MANS THE CAPITOL 24/7.

SEAN ASHLEY.

>> SEAN, THIS WEEK, THE SENATE RAISED BILLS FOR CHILD TRAFFICKING.

>> THIS PROVIDES PRIVACY PROTECTIONS FOR THEM.

OFTEN TIMES THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE PURSUED AFTER THE CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO RELIVE THEIR LIVES.

THIS PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR THEIR ADDRESSES, SO THAT SOMEONE WHO IS SEEKING THESE INDIVIDUALS AGAIN WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIND THEM ON GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS.

WE HAVE A SIMILAR PROCEDURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND THIS BILL MIRRORS SOME OF THAT LANGUAGE.

>> THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE PAST GREG TREAT'S SCHOOL VOUCHER BILL.

WHAT KIND OF RECEPTION IS THAT BILL GETTING?

>> THE BILL HAS GOTTEN A MIXED RECEPTION SO FAR.

GOVERNOR STITT OF COURSE SAYS IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION FOR LAWMAKERS TO CONSIDER AND PASS.

HOWEVER, A NUMBER OF GROUPS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO THE MEASURE.

WHEN THE BILL WAS CONSIDERED IN THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

IT ACTUALLY NEEDED THE VOTE OF SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GREG McCOURTNY IN ORDER TO PASS.

THE BILL NARROWLY PASSED IN THAT COMMITTEE.

AND NOW GOES TO THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

IF IT PASSES THERE TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

OF COURSE, HOUSE SPEAKER CHARLES McCALL HAS INDICATED HE DOES NOT HAVE AN INTEREST IN HAVING THE BILL HEARD IN THE HOUSE, SO THERE MAY BE A STUMBLING BLOCK FOR IT TO OVERCOME THERE IF IT MAKES IT THAT FAR.

>> A BIPARTISAN DIGITAL INFORMATION PROTECTION BILL IS MOVING FORWARD.

HOW WOULD IT PROTECT OKLAHOMA'S PRIVATE DATA?

>> WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF THE PRIVACY ISSUES IN THE DIGITAL WORLD.

WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS REQUIRE BUSINESSES THAT COLLECT OUR DATA TO MAKE US AWARE OF THE FACT OF WHAT THEY ARE COLLECTING, AND HOW THEY INTEND TO USE IT, IN MANY CASES IT WOULD GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPT OUT OF THAT COLLECTION, AND OUT OF THAT USAGE.

IN THE PAST, THIS BILL HAS BEEN PASSED IN THE HOUSE.

BUT WHEN IT MADE IT TO THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IT DID NOT GET HEARD.

THEY'RE HOPEFUL THIS YEAR THE BILL WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD IN BOTH CHAMBERS AND PERHAPS MAKE IT INTO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK TO SIGN INTO LAW.

>> GOVERNOR STITT HAS MADE AN APPOINTMENT THIS TIME TO THE BOARD OF OKLAHOMA HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY.

WHO IS THE APPOINTEE >> THE APPOINTEE IS DR. CORY FINCH.

HE REPLACES STAN HOPEFULD WHO RESIGNED FROM THE BOARD BECAUSE HE WAS MOVING OUT OF STATE.

DR. FINCH BECOMES THE ONLY DOCTOR TO JOIN THE BOARD.

BACK IN THE FALL, GOVERNOR STITT REMOVED TWO PHYSICIANS SERVING ON THE BOARD.

NOW, FINCH WILL BE THE SOLE PHYSICIAN ON THE BOARD.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>>> ON THURSDAY MORNING GILBERT POSTELLE BECAME THE 199th PERSON EXECUTED BY THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

POSTELLE WAS CONVICTED IN 2005 FOR MURDERING FOUR PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

HE WAS ADMINISTERED A LETHAL INJECTION OF DRUGS AT THE STATE PENITENTIARY IN McALLISTER ON THURSDAY MORNING AND PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 10:14 A.M. POSTELLE IS THE FOURTH PERSON TO BE PUT TO DEATH BY THE STATE SINCE EXECUTIONS RESUMED LAST FALL.

>>> THE CHAD RICISON HOPE LODGE CELEBRATED ITS TOPPING OFF CEREMONY THIS WEEK IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

WHEN COMPLETED, THE $16 1/2 MILLION DOLLAR FACILITY WILL FEATURE 34 PRIVATE GUEST SUITES THAT WILL ALLOW PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO REMAIN TOGETHER DURING TREATMENT.

EACH YEAR ALMOST 3700 PEOPLE TRAVEL 40 MILES OR MORE TO ACCESS THE LIFE SAVING CARE THEY NEED.

>> WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT FOR OKLAHOMA?

38% OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OKLAHOMA LIVE IN FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED RURAL LOCALITIES.

THE AVERAGE IS 14%.

WE'RE A VERY RURAL STATE.

THE RURAL POPULATION HAS A CANCER MORTALITY THAT'S 15% HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

>> ALL PARTS OF THE STATE NO LONGER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT LODGING.

WHAT A BLESSING THAT IS.

BECAUSE THE COST, BUT NOT ONLY THE COST, WHEN YOU'RE -- IN HOPE LODGE, YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY OTHERS WHO HAVE SIMILAR CONCERNS WHO CARE AND ARE KIND OF ENGAGING WITH YOU IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER.

>> THE HOPE LODGE IS EXPECTED TO SAVE CANCER PATIENTS $2 MILLION PER YEAR IN LODGING COSTS.

>>> TIME TO CHECK OUR WEEKLY COVID NUMBERS.

WE'RE AVERAGING 650 FEWER NEW COVID CASES PER DAY FROM A WEEK AGO.

DOWN FROM ROUGHLY 1800 TO 1100.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ALSO DROPPING, 588 FEWER PEOPLE ARE UTILIZING BEDS AND 128 FEWER PATIENTS ARE IN ICU.

HOWEVER, ALWAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT NUMBER, 393 PEOPLE DIED FROM COVID OVER THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

AND THAT IS A STEEP INCREASE FROM A WEEK AGO.

OKLAHOMA DEATH TOLL STANDS AT 14,223 SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

>>> GIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT THE PROPER TOOLS AND TRAINING WHEN DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CALLS IS A BIG PART OF THE NATIONAL POLICE REFORM DISCUSSION.

THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS FINDING THAT COMBINING TECHNOLOGY WITH A HUMAN TOUCH IS PAYING DIVIDENDS IN THE FIELD REPORTER STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN HOW.

STEVE?

>> Reporter: RICH, COMMUNITY POLICING IS A CONCEPT THAT'S BEEN TRIED BY U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS.

THIS UTILIZES TECHNOLOGY THAT MANY SHARP LAW ENFORCEMENT MINDS BELIEVE IS THE FUTURE.

>> JUST KIND OF FOLLOW THEM INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD.

>> LIEUTENANT GENE BRADLEY HOLDS A MASTERS DEGREE IN MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLING.

BEFORE HE STARTED WITH OKLAHOMA COUNTY 20 YEARS AGO, HE SPENT 17 YEARS WORKING AT PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

IN SHORT, HE KNOWS FROM WHICH HE SPEAKS.

>> IN APRIL, WE HAD A YOUNG LADY IN HARRAH THAT WAS AVERAGING ABOUT 100 911 CALLS A MONTH.

IT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF CRISIS.

SO I GOT INVOLVED WITH HER ABOUT MAY, END OF MAY.

AND SINCE MAY TO DATE, WE'VE HAD ONE 911 CALL FROM HER.

>> Reporter: LAST APRIL, OKLAHOMA COUNTY SHERIFF TOMMY JOHNSON PUT BRADLEY IN CHARGE OF A NEW MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE.

BRADLEY ANALYZED THE DEPARTMENTS 911 CALL LOGS AND IDENTIFIED PEOPLE HE FELT NEEDED HELP.

PROACTIVELY, BRADLEY REACHED OUT TO THOSE FOLKS.

SINCE LAST APRIL, THOSE KINDS OF 911 CALLS HE SAYS HAVE DECREASED NEARLY 60% >> GIVE US OUR THREE PROVIDERS.

>> THEN THREE WEEKS AGO, THROUGH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES.

BRADLEY DISTRIBUTED 53 OF THESE TABLETS OR iPADS TO PATROL OFFICERS.

IT ENABLES DEPUTIES TO CONTACT A PERSON THEY'VE COME IN CONTACT WITH WITH A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

>> FOR TOO MANY YEARS, POLICE OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES HAVE BEEN THIS RUST INTO A POSITION WHERE THEY HAVE TO BE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS.

AND IT'S BORN FOR THEM TO HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE 234 MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

BUT THIS GIVES THEM IMMEDIATE ACCESS.

>> BETH COMBS IS ONE OF THREE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PARTNERS WITH.

>> YES, 24/7.

SOMEONE IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THE iPAD.

AFTER HOURS FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 IN THE MORNING, WE HAVE A CASE MANAGER THAT HAS THEiPAD WITH THEM CONSTANTLY AND THEY HAVE A FIRST RESPONDER, A THERAPIST WHO IS AVAILABLE IF WE NEED TO ASSESS FOR A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE, OR CHECK INTO BED PLACEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY IF SOMEONE NEEDS A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE.

WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS FOOD RESOURCES TO A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

>> YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, WITH MY EXPERIENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, I SAW IN THE 80s AND '90s WORKING IN PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES, WHAT WAS CALLED MANAGED CARE, AND MANAGED CARE CAME IN AND SAID, WE WANT TO CLOSE DOWN PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES, WE WANT TO KEEP MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHICH ON PAPER IS A GREAT PHILOSOPHY, HOWEVER, THE MONEY NEVER FOLLOWED.

>> Reporter: IN ADDITION TO THE TABLETS OR iPADS, MOST OF THE DEPUTIES CARRYING THEM HAVE UNDERGONE FOUR WEEKS OF CRISIS INTERVENTION, OR CIT TRAINING.

>> IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS SO BIG.

EVERYWHERE IN AMERICA, EVERYBODY IS HAVING ISSUES WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW WE DEAL WITH IT.

WE'RE FORCING OURSELVES TO GET EXERCISE INGENUITY.

HOW CAN WE GIVE OUR COMMUNITIES WHAT THEY NEED TO HELP THEM OUT.

THAT'S WHAT THESE RESOURCES DO PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE THE RESOURCE TO THEM.

>> SINCE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ROLLED OUT THOSE iPADS THREE WEEKS AGO, LIEUTENANT BRADLEY SAYS, THEY HELP PREVENT TWO POTENTIAL SUICIDES.

ONE OF THEM WAS A WOMAN, BRADLEY HAD DEALT WITH BEFORE.

>> VERY DELUSIONAL, WAS SUICIDAL.

WAS SAYING SHE DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE ANY LONGER, SO I ACTUALLY -- THAT ONE, I WAS ABLE TO GO OVER THERE, TALK TO HER.

AGAIN, I WASN'T ABLE TO DE-ESCALATE IT TO WHERE I FELT SAFE TO LEAVE HER ALONE.

WE GOT HER ON THE TABLET WITH A THERAPIST, SHE WAS ABLE TO DE-ESCALATE THE SITUATION, AND WHILE WE WERE ON THE TABLET, SHE WAS ABLE TO CALL HER PSYCHIATRIST AND DO A MEDICATION ADJUSTMENT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT I SAW HER YESTERDAY, AND SHE'S DOING WONDERFUL.

>> THE TABLETS ARE NOW BEING USED BY OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE, AND BRADLEY SAYS SEVERAL RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES STATEWIDE.

>> THE GOAL IS, EVERY DEPUTY WILL HAVE ONE.

AND IF WE NEED MORE, THEY'VE ALREADY TOLD US, WHATEVER WE NEED THEY'LL GET FOR US.

>> WHAT DOES THE TICKET SAY?

>> FOR US, ZERO.

THERE'S NO COST TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

>> Reporter: IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE TABLETS AND iPADS ARE JUST ONE TOOL.

IF DEPUTIES ENCOUNTER SOMEONE WHO IS A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, THEY ARE TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL CRISIS CENTER.

RICH?

>> STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> A RECENT STORY PUBLISHED BY OUR CONTENT PARTNER OKLAHOMA WATCH REPORTS THAT THE DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT OKLAHOMA COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT MISSPENT NEARLY $900,000 IN TAXPAYER MONEY OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS.

THIS WEEK I SPOKE WITH REPORTER WHITNEY BRYEN ABOUT THE EXPLOSIVE ALLEGATIONS REVEALED IN A FEDERAL AUDIT.

>> TELL US ABOUT CANDIDA MANION AND WHAT SHE'S ACCUSED OF DOING.

>> SHE WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE COALITION FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT FOR A SIX YEAR PERIOD.

DURING THAT TIME, FEDERAL AUDITORS FOUND SHE WAS MISSPENDING MOST OF THE MONEY SHE HAD RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THERE'S ABOUT $886,000 IN QUESTION AT THIS POINT.

SOME OF THAT MONEY WAS BEING SPENT ON EMPLOYEE AND BOARD MEMBER VACATIONS, INSTEAD OF HELPING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE.

AND THEN SOME OF THE MONEY, YOU KNOW, WAS BEING SPENT IN WAYS THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

BUT WAS NOT BEING PROPERLY DOCUMENTED.

>> IN YOUR REPORT, YOU SAY 98% OF THE MONEY WAS MISSPENT?

>> YES, IT WAS 98% OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS RECEIVED DURING THAT TIME THAT ARE BEING QUESTIONED NOW BY THE FEDS.

>> WOW!

OKAY, TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, THIS OKLAHOMA NONPROFIT WAS RECEIVING A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, CORRECT?

>> YES.

MOST OF THEIR MONEY CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY DO MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY EVERY YEAR OFF OF MEMBERSHIP FEES FROM CRISIS CENTERS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND OTHER PROGRAMS THEY SUPPORT, BUT IT'S MINIMAL.

>> HERE'S THE KEY QUESTION.

HOW WILL THE FINDINGS IMPACT THE VITAL HELP THAT ABUSE VICTIMS NEED HERE IN OKLAHOMA?

>> THIS COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON VICTIMS HERE IN THE STATE.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET IS WHAT THE RESULTS OF THIS AUDIT WILL BE.

IT'S UP TO THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TO DECIDE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY COULD FORCE THE COALITION TO REPAY THE $886,000 A PORTION OF THAT MONEY OR THEY COULD FORGIVE THE ENTIRE THING.

THEY COULD SHUT DOWN THE COALITION, DISBAND IT IF THEY DECIDE THERE WAS ENOUGH MALFEASANCE THERE.

AND CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE A POSSIBILITY AS WELL.

ALL OF THAT IS YET TO BE SEEN, AND ULTIMATELY, THAT COULD JEOPARDIZE FEDERAL FUNDING AND SUPPORT FOR OKLAHOMA VICTIMS OF ABUSE.

>> ISN'T THE NEED ESPECIALLY GREAT HERE IN OKLAHOMA, ESPECIALLY AFTER TWO YEARS OF A PANDEMIC, THAT AT ONE POINT INVOLVED LOCKDOWNS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, THE NEED HERE IS HIGH.

WE HAVE HIGH RATES OF CHILD ABUSE COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE NATION HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

WE ARE PEAKING IN TERMS OF RECORD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS IN OKLAHOMA AS WELL.

AND, OF COURSE, THE PANDEMIC AS YOU SUGGESTED SKPAS PER ATED ALL OF THAT.

THAT ISOLATION MEANT VICTIMS WERE STUCK AT HOME WITH THEIR ABUSERS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, AND IT BECAME MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO RECEIVE HELP.

WE ALSO SAW LESS REPORTING OF ABUSE DURING THE PANDEMIC, BECAUSE NEIGHBORS AND TEACHERS, CO-WORKERS WERE LESS LIKELY TO SEE THE SIGNS OF THAT ABUSE.

>> WHERE IS MANION NOW, HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO HER, AND HOW MUCH TROUBLE COULD SHE BE IF ALL OF THIS IS TRUE?

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHERE CANDIDA MANION IS AT THE MOMENT.

I CALLED AND TEXTED HER CELL PHONE.

AND TO HER ATTORNEY AS WELL.

AND NEVER HEARD BACK FROM EITHER OF THEM.

WE HAVE NO TIME LINE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR THE OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AS TO WHEN WE MAY SEE SOME OF THESE CONSEQUENCES BUYING HANDED DOWN.

SO IT'S REALLY JUST A WAITING GAME AT THIS POINT.

>> IF THEY WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR GREAT REPORTING ON OKLAHOMA WATCH, WHERE CAN FOLKS GO?

>> WELL, RICH, THEY CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, OKLAHOMAWATCH.ORG AND FIND THE STORY THERE WITH MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE AUDIT AND WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN WITH OKLAHOMA VICTIMS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON TO TALK ABOUT THIS STORY.

>>> A KEY COMPONENT IN ADDRESSING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH IS HOPE.

SIMPLY BELIEVING THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER, BUT IS IT REALLY THAT SIMPLE?

WE'RE JOINED BY REPORTER KENNEDY SEPULVADO WHO HAS MORE ON A CONCEPT GAINING TRACTION IN HEALTH CARE.

KENNEDY?

>> Reporter: RICH, THE SCIENCE OF HOPE WAS EMBRACED BY GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS LAST WEEK.

IT'S A CONCEPT THAT PROPONENTS SAY CAN BE MEASURED AND HELP LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF DESPAIR AND POVERTY.

>> IS IT AN EMOTION THAT IS WITHIN US, OR IS IT A WAY OF THINKING?

>> DR. CHAN IS BUILDING ON THE PROGRAM STARTED IN 1991.

>> HOPE IS THE BELIEF THAT THE FUTURE WILL BE BETTER THAN TODAY.

AND WE HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE IT SO.

HOPE IS ABOUT TAKING ACTION TO PURSUE OUR GOALS.

I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.

>> HELMUND IS THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE HOPE RESEARCH CENTER LOCATED ON THE OU/TULSA CAMPUS.

THE 5B89 TO SET DESIRABLE GOALS, TO FIND AND NAVIGATE PATHWAYS, AND THE WILL POWER TO PURSUE THOSE PATHWAYS.

DR. HELMUNG WROTE HOPE RISING, HOW THE SCIENCE OF HOPE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE >> I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE SCIENCE OF HOPE, AND A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE GAVE ME DR. HELMUND'S BOOK.

I HAD BEEN TOURING THE STATE TALKING ABOUT ACES AND RESILIENCE.

WHICH IS A POWERFUL CONVERSATION.

I WOULD HAVE THESE COMMUNITIES SAY, OKAY, WE LOVE THIS, THANK YOU FOR OPENING THIS CONVERSATION, WHAT DO WE DO NOW.

>> AS I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE SCIENCE OF HOPE, I KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT WAS THE ANSWER FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> DR. HELMUNG CO FOUNDED HOPE RISING OKLAHOMA TO SPREAD HOPE TO EKE OAK COMMUNITIES.

THEY STARTED IMPLEMENTING HOPE TRAINING TO STATE AGENCIES, STARTING WITH DHS.

>> THEY DEAL WITH THE MOST HURTING OKLAHOMANS ON A DAILY BASIS.

DIRECTOR BROWN SAID, WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH DR. HELMUND AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUR AGENCY A HELMUND STATE AGENCY.

>> Reporter: THE PLAN IS TO ROLL OUT TRAINING TO ALL STATE AGENCIES WITHIN THREE YEARS.

AT THE SAME TIME, HOPE RISING OKLAHOMA WILL CONDUCT SEMINARS IN VARIOUS OKLAHOMA COMMUNITIES TO SPREAD THE WORD.

>> OFTEN TIMES IN A COMMUNITY WHERE WE HAVE DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE BUSINESS.

HEALTH CARE, NONPROFITS, EDUCATION, ET CETERA.

THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.

WHAT WE FIND IS THAT WHEN WE BEGIN TO TRAIN ALL OF THESE SECTORS, IT DEVELOPS A COMMON LANGUAGE FOR COLLECTIVE IMPACT.

>> THEN WE ALSO IMPLANT FROM THE COMMUNITY, SOMEONE WE DO HOPE TRAINING WITH THEM, AND THEY ARE IN THAT COMMUNITY TO HELP NAVIGATE THE SCIENCE OF HOPE FOR ALL THESE DIFFERENT ASPECTS, AND THERE'S A CONNECTION BACK TO DR. HELMUND.

HE WILL TRACK THE DATA, AND SHOW WHERE THE HOPE SCORES ARE RAISED IN A COMMUNITY.

>> THE DATA IS CREATED BY PROFESSOR SNYDER BACK IN THE '90s.

>> THERE'S A CHILDREN'S SCALE, AN ADULT SCALE.

BOTH ARE SELF-REPORT, THEY TAKE BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN MINUTES TO ADMINISTER, IF WE CAN NURTURE A CHILD'S HOPE SCORE BY TWO SIMPLE POINTS ON THE WAY WE MEASURE IT, IT ACTUALLY VERY CONSISTENTLY PREDICTS A LETTER GRADE CHANGE IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> THAT REALLY ATTRACTED ME TO IT, BECAUSE IT'S MEASURABLE.

YOU CAN LOOK BACK AT THAT COMMUNITY AND 3, 6, 9, 12 MONTHS AND MEASURE THE HOPE SCORE IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE COMMERCE COMMUNITY.

>> AT THE HEART OF CHANGE IS OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE WAY THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW IN OUR LIVES.

>> MANY CONDITIONS SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS AND EXTREME TRAUMA AND ADVERSITY, THE WAY IN WHICH WE'RE ROBBED OF HOPE IS THE PERSPECTIVE THAT THE FUTURE WILL BE BETTER.

>> IF YOU'RE NOT RAISED IN A HOME OR IN A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE THAT HELP YOU KNOW HOW TO SET GOALS AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE, NOT ALWAYS BE FOCUSING ON TRAUMA IN THE PAST, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.

>> ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO NURTURE IMAGINATION.

>> WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS CAST THAT VISION THAT IMAGERY OF SUCCESS.

AND HELP THE INDIVIDUAL SEE THEMSELVES IN THAT FUTURE.

THAT IS WHEN HOPE IS ACTIVATED.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO SAYS, WELL, PISH-POSH, THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN IT.

>> YEAH, I TOTALLY RESPECT THAT ACTUALLY.

I ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE THAT SKEPTICISM.

I FEEL LIKE AS A PROFESSOR, AS A RESEARCHER, I'M A TRAINED SKEPTIC.

>> ONE PERSON WHO IS NOT SKEPTICAL IS THE FIRST LADY'S HUSBAND.

>> LET'S START WITH DRIVING HOPE FOR ALL OKLAHOMANS.

HOPE IS NOT A WISH OR A FEELING.

IT'S A PROVEN SCIENCE THAT CAN BE MEASURED AND APPLIED >> I WANT TO EMPOWER OKLAHOMANS WITH THE SCIENCE OF HOPE TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> IT REALLY ALLOWS THE CITIZENS OF OKLAHOMA TO COME TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY FOR A COMMON PURPOSE.

TO ME, THAT'S THE ULTIMATE VISION.

>> HOPE RISING HELD COMMUNITY HOPE SUMMITS IN ENID AND DUNCAN.

THE GROUP IS PLANNING ANOTHER SUMMIT IN CLAIRE MORE, OKLAHOMA.

THOSE DATES HAVE NOT YET BEEN SET.

RICH?

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AMERICA'S HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO STOP A SERIES OF BOMB THREATS THAT HAVE TARGETED NEARLY 20 HBCU'S AROUND THE NATION.

INCLUDING LANGSTON UNIVERSITY HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> MOST OF THE THREATS WERE MADE BETWEEN JANUARY 31 AND FEBRUARY 1st, AND THEY DID RESULT IN TEMPORARY LOCKDOWNS ON SEVERAL CAMPUSES.

RECENTLY, THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER HOSTED A ROUNDTABLE WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO PUT A STOP TO THE THREATS.

>> THE FBI JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE, FORCES ARE LEADING THE INVESTIGATION INTO THESE NATIONWIDE BOMB THREATS.

AND THESE INVESTIGATIONS ARE BEING GIVEN THE HIGHEST OF PRIORITY.

>> THE REPORTS REVEAL THAT SIX JUVENILES WERE INVOLVED IN THESE BOMB THREATS.

AND IT'S BEEN REPORTED THAT ONE OF THEM HAS A REPORTED CONNECTION TO A VERY VIOLENT NEO-NAZI GROUP THAT THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER HAS BEEN TRACKING FOR NEARLY HALF A DECADE.

>> THEY'RE TRAUMATIZED BUT THEY ARE RESILIENT.

AND THEIR RESOLVED TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT WE WON'T BE THREATENED, WE WON'T BE SCARED AWAY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY IN A GREATER SENSE.

>> THUS FAR, THESE HAVE ONLY BEEN THREATS, NO BOMBS HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED AT ANY OF THE AFFECTED SCHOOLS.

>>> FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND THIS WEEK WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE SUCCESS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURS IN OKLAHOMA.

REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON PROFILES LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE FINDING NEW WAYS TO CREATE GENERATIONAL WEALTH.

>> GRAMMY AWARD WINNER J.B. WILLIAMS RECENTLY OPENED THIS EAST SIDE PIZZA SHOP ON NORTHEAST 23rd STREET.

>> THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A FOOD DESERT FOR YEARS, AND WE NEED MORE FOOD OPTIONS.

>> Reporter: WILLIAMS GREW UP IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND MADE SURE TO INCORPORATE THE COMMUNITY'S CULTURE THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.

>> THE IDEA OF THE MURALS AND THE FACES AND THE PEOPLE, IT'S JUST TO CONTINUE TEACHING THE HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: OKLAHOMA NATIVE HAS BEEN A GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A HOME FOR HER FAMILY, CARUTHERS REALIZED SHE HAD A PASSION FOR BUILDING.

>> AS I INSERT THAT PROCESS OF BUILDING OUR HOME AND THE PASSION I HAVE FOR IT, I HAVE A RETIRED BUILDER COME AND TEACH ME EVERYTHING HE KNEW, AS I BUILT MY OWN HOME.

>> FINDING THE RIGHT BUILDER PROVED TO BE DIFFICULT FOR CARUTHERS.

>> AFTER INTERVIEWING SO MANY OTHER BUILDERS, WHETHER IT WAS COST RELATED, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE INTERFERING WITH ME CHOOSING THEM, AND ONE OF THEM LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, MA'AM, YOU ARE SO ORGANIZED.

YOU MAY AS WELL BUILD THIS HOME YOURSELF.

>> SHE DID JUST THAT, SHE WENT ON TO BUILD 79 HOMES IN ARKANSAS BEFORE MOVING BACK TO OKLAHOMA TO CONTINUE HER BUSINESS IN HER HOME STATE.

>> I BEGAN TO GO THROUGH MY LIFE IN OKLAHOMA, IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND FOREST PARK, SO FAR.

AND SO MANY OTHER VENTURES TO COME, BECAUSE I AM CONTRACTED NOW WITH A DEVELOPMENT GROUP TO BUILD HOMES IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA CITY.

I'M READY TO GIVE BACK TO THAT COMMUNITY NOW HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> Reporter: JERRY SHEPPARD DECIDED TO BECOME A REALTOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO, AT A TIME WHEN THERE WERE FEW PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE INDUSTRY.

>> I BEGIN MY CAREER IN REAL ESTATE.

IT IS BECAUSE OF WHAT MY HUSBAND SAID TO ME ONCE.

I DIDN'T SEE US ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE.

AND I WAS AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS.

>> Reporter: DURING THE PROCESS OF BUYING HER FIRST HOME, SHEPPARD AND HER HUSBAND FACED DISCRIMINATION.

>> WHEN WE STARTED TO BUY A HOME, THE REALTOR CAME TO US AND TOLD US TO COME BACK IN 20 YEARS.

NOW, I FOUND OUT LATER THAT SHE HAD NOT EVEN PULLED OUR CREDIT.

>> Reporter: THE EXPERIENCE WAS ALL THE INSPIRATION SHEPPARD NEEDED TO JOIN THE OKLAHOMA REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY.

>> ONE THING I HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WAS, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THIS BUSINESS.

AND THERE ARE QUESTIONS WE WANT TO ASK THAT WE ARE TOO EMBARRASSED TO ASK.

>> THIS IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE.

>> THE MODEL OF WISE MOVES ACADEMY IN TULSA HAS BECOME YOUR BEST SELF THROUGH DANCE.

>> WE HAVE DANCE PRACTICE ABOUT -- AT LEAST 12 HOURS A WEEK.

WE TRY TO FIT IN LIKE A BONDING EXPERIENCE ONCE A MONTH, TO WHERE WE GO TO A PERFORMING ARTS SHOW >> WISE ALSO ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO PURSUE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

>> EVERY SEMESTER, THE GIRLS WHO EARN GOOD GRADES WE HAVE AN OUTING FOR THEM AS WELL.

I WOULD CALL IT GIRL SCOUTS BUT FOR DANCE.

>> Reporter: GIVING BACK TO HER COMMUNITY WAS ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

AND HER BUSINESS ALLOWS HER TO DO JUST THAT WHILE DOING WHAT SHE LOVES.

>> I REALLY CATER TO BLACK ADOLESCENT CHILDREN ON PURPOSE.

BECAUSE THE KIDS THAT I SERVE COME FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT I COME FROM.

>> Reporter: BACK IN OKLAHOMA CITY, TABITHA CARR IS OWNER OF BLACK GIRL CHOCOLATE.

SHE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THE PAST.

INSPIRING HER TO CREATE A GUILT FREE KIND OF CHOCOLATE.

>> IT'S DAIRY FREE, GLUTEN FREE, SOY FREE, IT'S NONGMO, IT'S MADE WITH ORGANIC INGREDIENTS.

IT'S THE BEST CHOCOLATE, AND IT TASTES SO GOOD.

>> CARR'S COMPANY WAS THE RECIPIENT OF BEYONCE'S BE GOOD GRANT IN 2020.

ABOUT 28.5 OF THE BUSINESSES ARE IN HEALTH CARE OR SOCIAL ASSISTANT RELATED SECTORS, WHILE OTHER LIKE J.B.'S PIZZA AND CARR'S CHOCOLATE EXIST TO BE ENJOYED SOMETIMES BY THE BIGGEST STARS OF MUSIC AND FILM.

>> BEING A PART OF THE GRAMMY'S.

IT'S LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE, RIGHT?

AND THEN WE WERE IN DISTINCTIVE ASPECTS OF GIFT BAGS.

>> ONE COMMON THINGS AMONG ALL OF THESE BUSINESS OWNERS IS GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS ENCOURAGING OTHERS LIKE THEM TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS.

TAYLOR JACKSON, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> WE'VE CHRONICLED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BMX NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS SINCE THE FIRST STEEL BEAMS WERE ERECTED TWO YEARS AGO.

ON TUESDAY, THEY FINALLY CUT THE RIBBON ON THE $23 MILLION FACILITY IN NORTH TULSA.

THAT STORY BEGINS THE "OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW" WITH JASON DOYLE.

>> THE NEWLY MINTED USA BMX HEADQUARTERS INCLUDES A TRACK NEARBY.

THE FACILITY WILL PLAY HOST TO A NATIONAL RACE EACH YEAR AND PROVIDE A TRAINING SITE FOR OLYMPIANS.

CONTINENTAL RESOURCES HIT RECORD PROFITS IN 2021.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD WAS $1.6 BILLION.

THEY PRODUCED MORE THAN ONE BILLION CUBIC FEET OF NATURAL GAS.

HIGHER OIL PRICES AT THE END OF 2021 PUSHED DEVIN ENERGIES FOURTH QUARTER PROFIT TO $1.5 BILLION.

THEY AVERAGED 661,000 OIL EQUIVALENT BARRELS A DAY, DURING THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

DEVIN ESTIMATES IT WILL INVEST 1.9 TO 2.2 BILLION IN OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION THIS YEAR.

>>> KROGER IS OPENING UP A DELIVERY FULFILLMENT CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE 50,000 SQUARE FOOD FACILITY WILL PROCESS ONLINE GROCERY ORDERS TO BE DELIVERED HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM THE HUB.

IT'S PART OF THE COMPANY'S PLAN TO EXPAND THEIR ONLINE GROCERY BUSINESS.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>>> EARLIER IN THE NEWSCAST WE REPORTED ON THE POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE LICENSING PROCESS FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY IN OKLAHOMA.

OUR IN DEPTH SEGMENT THIS WEEK IS DEVOTED TO FURTHERING THAT DISCUSSION.

MODERATOR SUSAN CADOT IS JOINED BY A PANEL THAT INCLUDES THOSE IN FAVOR AND OPPOSED TO THE EXPANSION OF MERCHANDISE MARIJUANA IN OUR STATE.

>> THANK YOU, RICH WEAPON WE HAVE A WELL ROUNDED PAN ILFOR THIS DISCUSSION.

FIRST, WE HAVE ADRIA BARRY.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA MEDICAL MARIJUANA AUTHORITY, THE MAIN REGULATORY BODY FOR THE STATE'S MARIJUANA PROGRAM.

WE HAVE TIM WHO WILL DISCUSS ISSUES SURROUNDING MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LIST, CHRIS "UNCLE GRUMPY" MOE WHO IS JOINING US, HE'S A CANNABIS PATIENT ACTIVIST.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>> I'M ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA CANNABIS LIBERTY ALLIANCE.

>> WHAT DOES THAT DO?

>> WE WORK ON LEGISLATION AT THE CAPITAL.

OUR WEBSITE IS OKCLA.ORG.

>> THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO JUMP IN, A ZREE YA, WE HEARD EARLIER ON THE SHOW, THAT THE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT REPORT RECOMMENDS TEMPORARILY HALTING OF THE ISSUE BETWEEN MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSES.

WE WERE SPEAKING EARLIER, YOU'VE BEEN AT YOUR POST SINCE AUGUST.

WHAT YOU CAN TELL THUS FAR, IS THERE A NEED TO GET ALL THE DUCKS IN A ROW, TO SUSPEND THINGS FOR A MINUTE TO GET ALL THE DUCKS IN A ROW AT THE AGENCY?

>> YOU KNOW, I CAN SEE PROS AND CONS TO IT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEMS IN OKLAHOMA.

I THINK THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO.

WE'RE HIRING, MAKING SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH COMPLIANCE INSPECTORS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING OUR SEED TO SALE TRAFFIC SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING, SO WE CAN MONITOR THE TRUCKS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE HAVE AN ANALYTICS SYSTEM THAT WILL BE ANALYZING THE PRODUCTS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND IT.

>> CHRIS, I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THE ISSUES, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS OF THE BUSINESSES HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

ONE OF THE THINGS I SPOKE TO ADRIA ABOUT, SUSPENDING NEW LICENSES UNTIL REGULATIONS ARE FIGURED OUT.

>> I'M NOT SURE IF A PAUSE IS THE SOLUTION.

WE'RE SO FAR DOWN THE ROAD NOW.

WE NEEDED THE CANOPY LIMITS THAT WE TRIED TO PUT IN THE UNITY BILL, AND -- >> WHAT ARE CANOPY LIMITS?

>> CANOPY LIMITS WOULD BE THE SIZE OF A GROW.

SAY YOU HAVE 10,000 SQUARE FEET.

YOU CAN FIT THIS MANY PLANTS IN THAT MANY THOUSAND SQUARE FEET.

IT'S SOMETHING WE WANTED AT THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS SOME FIGHT FOR THAT, IN MY OPINION, THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION.

WE DIDN'T SET CANOPY LIMITS, ALONG WITH A LIMIT OF A NUMBER OF GROW LICENSES A PERSON COULD OWN.

AND -- SO THAT'S HOW WE ENDED UP WITH WHERE WE ARE.

HAD WE NOT GONE EIGHT MONTHS WITH NO RULES, WE WOULD SET THE CANOPY LIMITS AND BEFORE THIS GOT STARTED, EVERYBODY WON THE HAVE ALREADY BUILT OUT.

>> FOLKS CAME FROM OUT OF STATE TO SET UP SHOP, RIGHT?

SO NOW YOU'RE SEEING THAT A FRONT ROW SEAT, TO SOME OF THE FALLOUT OR CONSEQUENCES OF NOT HAVING EVERYTHING IN PLACE BEFORE EVERYONE WAS ALLOWED TO COME IN AND SET UP SHOP, CORRECT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S VERY TRUE.

WHAT WE SEE, ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL SIDE OF OKLAHOMA, IS THAT WE HAVE RULES THAT ARE SET OUT BY OMMA, BUT THOSE RULES DON'T FOLLOW STATE STATUTE, AND WE HAVE FOLKS COMING FROM COLORADO, OREGON, WASHINGTON, CALIFORNIA.

ALL PURCHASING LAND, BUILDING GROWS, AND THOSE LICENSES ARE IN A STRONG PERSON'S NAME BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE TWO-YEAR RESIDENCY TO START THEIR GROW.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUSPENDING THE LICENSES, DOES THAT FIX THE PROBLEM?

I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IS THE RULES TO MEET STATUTES.

>> YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THE SHERIFF SAID, I UNDERSTAND A GREAT DEAL, THIS IS ABOUT THE BUSINESSES AND THE ILLEGAL GROWS.

BUT WE HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE OVER 4500 PEOPLE WERE PUT IN HANDCUFFS AND ARRESTED FOR SIMPLE POSSESSION LAST YEAR, WHILE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A FINE.

THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, WE HAD 6500, AND THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, 8500.

>> CHRIS, THAT'S A JUSTICE REFORM ISSUE, AND NOT SOMETHING THAT OMMA HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH, IS THAT RIGHT, DIRECTOR?

>> RIGHT.

THAT IS THE CRIMINAL SIDE OF THE LAW.

>> SHE'S RIGHT, I'M SORRY, I BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE SPEAKING WITH THE SHERIFF.

I UNDERSTAND.

>> JUST LETTING YOU KNOW.

>> I CAN SEE THE OVERLAP OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, LANGUAGE THAT WAS PUT IN THE STATE QUESTION 788 HAS CAUSED SHERIFFS ACROSS THE STATE TO BASICALLY HAVE CONFLICTING LAWS ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY CAN ENFORCE REGARDING MARIJUANA.

WHEN THEY FIND MARIJUANA.

>> I'M SAYING THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE PATIENT'S SIDE AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS SIDE.

>> OKAY.

>> AND TWO FOLD ON THAT, IF I CAN ADDRESS IT.

FIRST, CHRIS, THE 788 CLEARLY STATES -- AND THE RULES STATE THAT A PATIENT CONSUMES AT HOME BUT NOT IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF PATIENTS CONSUME DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IN PARKING LOTS, OUTDOORS IN APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

WE'RE SEEING PATIENTS NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST SIGN.

BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT -- WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND WHY IT WAS PASSED.

IT WAS PASSED WITH THE PRINCIPAL FACTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO STOP OPIOD ADDICTION, AND WE'RE GOING TO USE MARIJUANA INSTEAD OF OPIODS.

FACTS ARE FACTS.

OVERDOSES ARE HIGHER TODAY THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.

AND WHAT WE HAVE PATIENTS DOING, WE HAVE PATIENTS WHO HAVE MEDICAL PRESCRIPTIONS.

THEY'RE STILL SEEKING OPIODS, SO REALLY, WHAT DO WE DO?

WE CREATED A MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL.

WHICH I SUPPORT THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE IF IT'S DONE PROPERLY.

WE'RE STILL SEEING OVERDOSES, WE'RE NOT SEEING A REDUCTION ON THE WAR ON DRUGS.

>> THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT.

ONE IS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THIS PROGRAM ROLLED OUT.

THE MAJORITY OF THE MEDICAL FIELD DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A MEDICAL PROGRAM.

I'LL GIVE YOU FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE HERE, I'VE HAD EIGHT SPINAL SURGERIES, AFTER THREE, THE DOCTORS HAD ME ON 9,855 PILLS A YEAR.

I WORKED WITH MY DR.

USING CANNABIS BEFORE BILL 788.

I HAVE HAD FIVE SURGERIES SINCE THEN, MY PILL COUNT HAS NOT GONE UP.

MY DOCTOR DROPPED ME THE WEEK I GOT MY CARD, ALONG WITH 40,000 OTHER PEOPLE IN THE STATE WHO WERE DENIED ACCESS, WHO CONTACTED ME, WHO HAVE OVERDOSED ON STREET FENTANYL OR HEROIN OR THE THINGS YOU'RE SEEING, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I'M ALSO SEEING THOSE SAME THINGS.

I HAD 20,000 PEOPLE WATCHING MY VIDEO.

MOST PEOPLE END UP TURNING TO STREET DRUGS OR THEY JUST STAY OUT OF THE PROGRAM.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT IT'S NOT MONEY, IT'S BEING DENIED ACCESS.

>> I'M GOING TO BREAK IN HERE GENTLEMEN, REALLY QUICKLY.

I WANT TO GO TO THE DIRECTOR.

MEDICAL USE, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE CURRENTLY HOLD MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSES?

>> YES, ABOUT 385,000 OKLAHOMANS AS OF JANUARY.

>> DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT COMPARES WITH OTHER STATES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED MARIJUANA USE?

>> OTHER STATES HAVE VERY SPECIFIC NARROWLY RUN PROGRAMS REQUIRE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS TO GET THAT CARD.

OUR STATE DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT.

YOU CAN FIND A DOCTOR THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO APPLY FOR A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD IF YOU ASK FOR ONE.

SO -- NOT AN EVERY DAY DOCTOR.

THESE ARE SPECIFIC DOCTORS THAT SET UP AFTER 788 TO GIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MARIJUANA.

MOST STATES HAVE A MUCH SMALLER POPULATION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARDHOLDERS.

>> ARE WE HIGHER THAN COLORADO?

>> YES, BECAUSE -- THEY HAVE REC, THOUGH, THEY HAVE RECREATIONAL USE, THEIR MEDICAL PROGRAM IS MORE NARROW.

THEY HAVE AN ADULT USE PROGRAM >> WHILE WE HAVE A MUCH HIGHER PERCENTAGE THAT HAVE A CARD, IT'S FOR THE EXACT REASON I JUST SAID, LEGAL PROTECTION, MOST PEOPLE THINK IF THEY GET THE CARD, THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SHERIFF TURNER BOTHERING THEM ANY MORE, THAT'S WHY THEY GET THE CARD.

I WOULD SAY 40% OF THE CARDHOLDERS BELONG IN MY OPINION IN A TRUE MEDICAL PROGRAM, AND THE REST BELONG IN A FULL ACCESS PROGRAM.

>> DIRECTOR, IS THAT TRUE?

>> THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY -- >> WHAT'S ALREADY OUT THERE -- >> THEY'RE NOT INVOLVED WITH OUR MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM.

SO I THINK THAT SAYS EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE SAYING.

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE.

>> SHERIFF, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT, AND WHAT DO YOU DO -- IF SOMEONE HAS A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD, DO YOU DO ANYTHING?

>> MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD, IF THEY HAVE A CARD, THEY'RE VIOLATING THE RULES OF WHAT 788, THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT WE HAVE PASSED.

WE SEIZE THEIR CANNABIS AND PARAPHERNALIA, THEY'RE ISSUED A CITATION, WHICH IS A FINE.

IF YOU ARE VIOLATING STATE STATUTE AND YOU DON'T HAVE A MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD AND STILL USING MARIJUANA, IT'S OFFICER DISCRETION.

THEY EITHER GET A CITATION OR THEY GO TO JAIL.

WE ALSO FALL IN A WEIRD SITUATION IN THE COUNTY, WE FALL IN THE CHOKTAW NATION.

WEAR WANT TO IS STILL ILLEGAL ON A RESERVATION AND FEDERALLY.

WE FALL WITHIN THOSE GUIDELINES AS WELL.

>> DIRECTOR, I WANT TO STICK WITH YOU FOR A SECOND AND ASK YOU, ARE YOU ABLE TO COORDINATE WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES THAT DEAL WITH ISSUES SURROUNDING MARIJUANA USE?

>> YES, THAT WAS ONE OF MY FIRST PRIORITIES TO CONNECT WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY, SO THE EPU AND THE WATERBOARD, AND RURAL WATER, WE'RE WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE STATE, THE STATE LEVEL, COUNTY AND CITY, CITIES AND COUNTIES INDIVIDUALLY.

WE STARTED BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR FOLKS WHY WATER ISSUES WOULD BE AT PLAY HERE?

>> YES, I THINK THAT SOME OF THE GROWS THAT HAVE POPPED UP IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

SOME PEOPLE MAYBE DIDN'T KNOW, MAYBE THEY IGNORED THE LAW OR THE RULES, THEY DIDN'T APPLY FOR THEIR RURAL WATER PERMIT, THEY STARTED USING MORE WATER THAN THE RURAL COMMUNITY HAD ACCESS TO.

OR WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE THEM ACCESS TO.

THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE DRILLING THEIR OWN WELLS THAT ARE COMPLETELY UNLICENSED.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE RIGHT WORD, THEY'RE NOT DRILLING WELLS WITHIN THE NORMAL REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT.

THAT'S NOT BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

ESPECIALLY IN RURAL OKLAHOMA, WHERE THE KEY IS TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND HELP EACH OTHER OUT, AND WHEN YOUR NEIGHBOR FEELS LIKE YOU'RE TAKING ALL THEIR WATER, THAT STARTS A -- YOU KNOW, A CONVERSATION IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

>> WHEN I COME TO YOU, I WANT TO ASK YOU.

I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS YOU WANTED TO MAKE.

WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST TO HELP IMPROVE THE REGULATION OF THIS NEW CROP IN OKLAHOMA.

>> YOU KNOW, I STILL SAY CANOPY LIMITS OF SOME KIND.

I REALIZE THAT MIGHT PUT US IN SOME LEGAL ARGUMENTS WITH SOME COMPANIES.

BUT THIS IS ALL TIED TOGETHER.

I KNOW WE BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH FROM PATIENT ISSUES TO BUSINESS ISSUES.

THIS ALL HAPPENED TOGETHER.

WE PASSED THIS, AND I WANT TO ADDRESS WHAT WAS IN 788.

AS SOMEONE WHO GOT INVOLVED TRYING TO GET IT PASSED, I DIDN'T WRITE IT, I THOUGHT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY WOULD WORK WITH US MORE.

I THOUGHT SOME OF THE RULES WE PUT IN THE UNITY BILL THAT WOULD GIVE PATIENT PROTECTIONS AND WORK PROTECTIONS AND DRIVING PROTECTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND CANOPY LIMITS WOULD HELP SET GUARDRAILS ON THIS PROGRAM.

>> SHERIFF, IEN WITH A THE TO ASK YOU, WHAT CAN STATE LEADERS DO TO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER IN THIS ARENA.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE -- I THINK I HAVE TO GO BACK TO DIRECTOR BARRY AND CHRIS, AND SAY, WE'RE KIND OF STUCK.

WE'RE STUCK THAT WE HAVE A STATE LAW THAT'S BEEN PASSED.

WE HAVE TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER AND SAY, WE HAVE TO TIGHTEN THIS DOWN.

IT STARTS WITH THE NUMBER OF PLANTS, AND THEN WE START REDUCING IT DOWN.

BUT SEED TO SALE, THAT'S GOING TO HELP.

I ALSO THINK IF WE CAN PUT A PROGRAM IN FROM A GROW TO A DISPENSARY.

YOU'RE SELLING THIS AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA, FROM THIS GROW TO THIS DISPENSARY.

IT'S REPORTED ON THE BACKSIDE HOW MUCH THEY SOLD OUT.

THOSE TWO PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO HELP.

THE INDUSTRY DOESN'T LIKE THAT, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE TRAPPED.

AND UNTIL WE FIND A WAY TO TRACK IT, WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE IN A LOSING BATTLE.

>> OUR TIME IS WINDING DOWN, I'M GOING TO LET YOU HAVE THE FINAL WORD.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE BEEN IN YOUR POSITION FOR SIX MONTHS NOW, AND YOU HAVE A TIGER BY THE TOE I THINK, WHAT'S YOUR NEXT MOVE?

>> DEFINITELY WANT TO GET FEE TO SALE UP AND RUNNING, IT WILL TRACK THE GROW, THE PROCESSOR TO THE DISPENSARY.

WE HAVE AN ANALYTICS PROGRAM, THAT WE ARE HOPING THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL HELP US GET SOME ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT THE INDUSTRY LIKE WATER USAGE.

SO WE CAN IDENTIFY WHEN THINGS ARE NOT LINING UP.

YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE TELLS US THEY GREW 100 PLANTS IN THEIR REPORT, THEY USED ENOUGH WATER FOR 1,000 PLANTS IT WILL THROW UP A RED FLAG FOR US.

WE HAVE THAT PROGRAM IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO GET OUR HANDS ON THAT DATA SO WE CAN START ANALYZING AND HELPING LAW ENFORCEMENT NARROW DOWN THEIR SCOPE, AND UNDERSTAND WHICH ONES ARE THE GOOD ACTORS AND WHICH ONES CAME TO OKLAHOMA BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD GET AWAY WITH CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

>> I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THREE OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

SUCH AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION THAT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE STATE.

AND APPARENTLY MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE NATION RIGHT NOW.

THANKS ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR WISDOM TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD CONVERSATION THERE.

>>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT A HELLBENDER IS?

IT'S A SALAMANDER, A BIG ONE.

SOMETHING I LEARNED BY WATCHING THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW SEGMENT PRODUCED BY OUR PBS PARTNERS IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

REPORTER JIM KIRSCHNER HAS THE TALE OF A REPTILIAN SUCCESS STORY IN THE MAKING.

>> THE ST. LOUIS ZOO HAS REASON TO BRAG, THE HELLBENDER JUST LAID MORE EGGS, IT'S TAKEN YEARS TO GET TO THIS POINT.

THE REAL SUCCESS IS NOT TO BE FOUND IN TANKS IN THE ZOO, BUT HERE IN RIVERS AND STREAMS IN THIS ONE PART OF THE OZARKS.

IT'S THE ONLY PLACE THIS SPECIES OF HELLBENDER CAN BE FOUND.

THE OZARK HELLBENDER WHICH CAN GROW UP TO TWO FEET LONG MAY NOT BE THE MOST LOVABLE OF CREATURES.

ONE OF ITS NICKNAMES IS SNOT OTTER.

WHEN IT WAS PUT ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST, IT BEGAN TO GET A LOT OF TENNER LOVING CARE.

THE ST. LOUIS ZOO HAS BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS TO BRING THEM BACK BY RAISING HELLBENDERS IN CAPTIITY AND PLACING ADULTS BACK IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT.

>> THESE ARE ANIMALS WE ARE BREEDING TO SEND BACK INTO THE WILD, IN THE SIX DIFFERENT RIVER SYSTEMS IN MISSOURI.

>> ALL OF THIS WAS BUILT TO MAKE THEM HAPPY AND HEALTHY ENOUGH TO MAKE BABIES.

WHICH SOUNDS EASY, BUT IT WAS ANYTHING BUT.

THE MISSOURI CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

>> 10, 15 YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE FUTURE WAS NOT VERY GOOD FOR THIS SPECIES.

>> THIS YEAR, WE HAVE SIX BUNCHES OF EGGS, WE'RE CONTINUING TO SUCCESSFULLY REPRODUCE THE SPECIES AND WE'RE GETTING BETTER AT IT EACH YEAR.

>> THESE ARE THE CLUTCHES FROM YOUR HELLBENDER?

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT PPD.

>> THIS YEAR'S BABIES WILL JOIN THOUSANDS OF OTHERS OF DIFFERENT AGES AND GENERATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED AT THE ZOO.

THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL HATCHINGS CAME FROM HELLBENDERS THAT HAD BEEN CAUGHT IN THE WILD.

IT'S NOW THE ZOO RAISED HELLBENDERS THAT ARE MAKING BABIES.

>> IT'S REALLY GREAT NEWS FOR ANIMALS HERE, KNOWING THAT WE'RE REARING ANIMALS THAT CAN REPRODUCE, IT'S ALSO GREAT NEWS FOR THE ANIMALS WE'RE PUTTING BACK INTO THE WILD.

>> IT'S EASY TO KEEP TRACK OF THE HELLBENDER POPULATION IN THE ZOO.

MUCH HARDER ONCE THEY'RE IN THE OZARK WILDERNESS.

>> EACH HELLBENDER HAS A TAG, SO WE CAN IDENTIFY THE ANIMAL IN THE WILD ONCE WE REENCOUNTER IT.

>> IS IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP TRACK OF WHERE THEY ARE?

>> IT IS.

THEY'RE NOT THE EASIEST TO FIND.

>> THE ONES THEY KEEP TABS ON, SEEM TO BE THRIVING UP TO A POINT.

THEY DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE ZOO BORN HELLBENDERS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REPRODUCED IN THE WILD.

>> THAT'S ONE OF OUR NEXT BIG MILE STONES.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET IN THE WILD.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY IT'S NOT OCCURRING.

>> WE CALL THEM INDICATOR SPECIES, IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST SPECIES THAT WILL NOTICE DECLINES IN POPULATIONS IF THERE IS PROBLEMS IN THE HABITAT.

THAT'S BECAUSE OF THEIR SENSITIVE SKIN.

WE CAN USE THEM TO INDICATE LARGER PROBLEMS.

THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT.

BUT THEY ALSO PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE FOOD CHAIN.

BOTH PREDATOR AND PREY >> CAN WE SAY AT THIS POINT THAT WE'VE SAVED THE HELLBENDER?

>> I DON'T THINK WE CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT YET, WE ARE BOLSTERING POPULATIONS, AND WE'RE ON THE WAY.

>>> AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH A TRIP TO OKLAHOMA CITY'S PASEO DISTRICT FOR AN ART SHOW ENTITLED PERCEPTION, PHOTOGRAPHED AND EDITED BY OETA'S ERIC WALTMAN.

FOR ALL OF US HERE ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," I'M RICH LENZ.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪♪ ♪ SAY WHAT'S WRONG MY LONG TIME FRIEND ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪