>> WILL THE THIRD TIME BE THE CHARM FOR A STATE INCOME TAX CUT SOUGHT BY GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT?

>> THIS ISSUE IS NOT DISPOSED OF.

THIS ISSUE IS NOT -- DOES NOT HAVE CLOSURE.

WE HAVE FOR A LONG TIME TOLD THEM WE WANT TO KNOW THE REAL NUMBERS BEFORE WE GO INTO ANYTHING.

>> FEDERAL GRANT MONEY HELPING IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN RURAL OKLAHOMA.

>> THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS THAT WE ARE IN SUCH A RURAL AREA.

AND WE STRUGGLE TO FIND RESOURCES TO HELP US.

>> A SPECIAL REPORT ON THE HISTORIC BLACK TOWN OF LIMA, OKLAHOMA.

>> I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO COME DOWN THROUGH HERE, CHECK IT OUT, SEE WHAT YOU LIKE.

IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY.

>> AN EFFORT TO CLAW BACK TEACHER SIGNING BONUSES IS MET WITH OPPOSITION FROM LAWMAKERS.

>> I WAS CONCERNED THAT ANYTHING OF THAT SIZE, GIVING AWAY $50,000 AT ONE TIME, THAT IT WOULD ULTIMATELY CAUSE A PROBLEM IN CLAWING BACK.

>> OKLAHOMA HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST INSURANCE RATES IN THE NATION.

AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON WHAT CAN BE DONE TO LOWER THEM.

>> THEY LOOK AT HIGHER DEDUCTIBLES, THINGS LIKE THAT, TRYING TO GET THINGS THAT THEY NEED FOR RATES.

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

>> HELLO, EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M RICH LENZ.

THE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE HAS MOVED THE BALL FORWARD ON A STATE INCOME TAX CUT SOUGHT BY GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE HOUSE VOTED 71 TO 20 ON A QUARTER OF ONE PERCENT CUT.

THE SENATE HAS TAKEN NO ACTION AT THIS POINT.

HOWEVER, SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG TREAT IS KEEPING THE SESSION OPEN WHILE INSISTING HIS CAUCUS WANTS FINAL REVENUE NUMBERS TO BE CERTIFIED BEFORE TAKING UP ANY POSSIBLE TAX CUTS.

>> WE HAVE FOR A LONG TIME TOLD THEM WE WANT TO KNOW THE REAL NUMBERS BEFORE WE GO INTO ANYTHING.

FEBRUARY 15TH, WE WILL GET THE REAL NUMBERS.

LAST YEAR BETWEEN THE DECEMBER ESTIMATE AND THE CERTIFICATION OF FEBRUARY, THERE WAS A $611 MILLION SWING TO THE NEGATIVE.

WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT BIG A SWING THIS TIME, BUT WE DO ANTICIPATE SOME SWING.

WE WANT TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION ON HOW WE ADVANCE AS A STATE.

PART OF THE REASON WE HAVE SUCH GOOD SURPLUS, NOT QUITE AS GOOD AS HE ALLUDES TO, IS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN VERY GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND WE'RE GOING CONTINUE THAT.

>> WE ARE HERE AGAIN ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE OTHER LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, THE OTHER LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER THAT MAKES UP THIS STATE'S LEGISLATURE, HAS REFUSED TO TAKE UP THIS ISSUE AND MAKE A SIMPLE VOTE ON IT.

AND I AM HERE TO TELL YOU, UNTIL THAT DAY HAPPENS, THIS ISSUE IS NOT DISPOSED OF.

THIS ISSUE IS NOT -- DOES NOT HAVE CLOSURE.

>> ON MONDAY, STITT WILL DELIVER HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS WHERE HE'LL TALK ABOUT THE TAX CUT ISSUE AND HIS OTHER LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE REGULAR SESSION.

>> THERE IS DISAGREEMENT AMONG LAWMAKERS AND STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS ON WHETHER OR NOT TEACHERS WHO RECEIVED LARGE SIGNING BONUSES THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR SHOULD NOW HAVE TO RETURN THE MONEY.

WITH MORE ON THAT STORY, WE'RE JOINED BY EDUCATION REPORTER, TAELYR JACKSON.

TAELYR?

>> RICH, THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED AT LEAST 4 TEACHERS WHO RECEIVED A PAY BONUS THAT THEY WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR.

I SPOKE WITH ONE OF THOSE TEACHERS THIS WEEK.

>> K-4 TEACHER KRISTINA STADELMAN WAS RELIVED WHEN SHE RECEIVED HER PAY BONUS.

>> IT WAS KIND OF, LIKE, SURREAL, AND SURREAL BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT OF MONEY, AND WE HAD STUFF THAT WE NEEDED TO GET DONE AROUND THE HOUSE AND DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND SO IT JUST LIFTED THAT BURDEN OF BEING ABLE TO GET THOSE THINGS THAT WE WERE WORKING ON.

>> BUT IN JANUARY SHE RECEIVED A LETTER DEMANDING REPAYMENT OF THE 50,000 DOLLAR BONUS.

I WAS 36 WEEKS PREGNANT, A LITTLE OVER 36 WEEKS, AND THE DAY BEFORE THAT, I HAD FOUND OUT THAT I DIDN'T GET ACCEPTED FOR PAID MATERNITY LEAVE BY THE STATE BECAUSE I MOVED DISTRICTS.

AND THE NEXT DAY I FOUND -- I GOT THIS EMAIL, AND I REMEMBER JUST TEXTING MY FIANCE BEING LIKE, THE HITS JUST KEEP COMING.

JUST AFTER FIGURING OUT LIKE, OKAY, I'M NOT GOING TO GET THIS SIX-WEEK MATERNITY LEAVE, HOW ARE WE GONNA PAY FOR THINGS, AND THEN I GET THIS NOTIFICATION THAT I HAVE TO PAY $50,000 BACK BY FEBRUARY 29TH.

I ENDED UP COMING HOME FOR MY LUNCH.

I DIDN'T EVEN EAT LUNCH.

I JUST SAT IN MY CHAIR, AND I JUST CRIED.

WALTERS WHO SITS ON THE BOARD BY VIRTUE OF HIS POSITION SAYS CLAWBACKS -- WE DO THIS WITHIN DISTRICTS AND DO THIS ALL THE TIME.

THERE'S MISINFORMATION ON AN APPLICATION.

YOU ARE LIABLE FOR THIS FUNDS.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE TEACHERS, THE TEACHERS WHO HAVE RESPONDED TO OUR CALLS, E-MAILS TO, NAVIGATE THIS WITH THEM.

WALTERS ALSO CALLED BACK SOME MEDIA FOR PUTTING OUT FALSE INFORMATION.

SO I WANTED TO COME HERE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO OKLAHOMANS AGAIN AND LAY OUT LIES AND MISINFORMATION AND BAD REPORTING WE'VE SEEN ON A TERRIFIC PROGRAM THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT.

>> IT BROKE LAST WEEK WHEN STORIES WERE RELEASED ABOUT 9 OKLAHOMA STEVENNERS WERE BEING ASKED TO PAY THEIR BONUS.

BOTH NONPROFIT NEWS ORGANIZATIONS STAND BY THEIR REPORTING AND PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION IN A STATEMENT THEY RELEASED IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

WE'VE ASKED THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REPEATEDLY TO SPECIFY WHAT ERRONEOUS INFORMATION THEY BELIEVE IT CONTAINED.

THEY HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED ANY INACCURACIES EXCEPT TO SAY THERE WERE 4 TEACHERS INVOLVED RATHER THAN 9.

THAT CONFLICTS WITH THE WRITTEN INFORMATION THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED.

REPRESENTATIVE MARK MCBRIDE, WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE PREVIOUSLY RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT POSSIBLE CLAWBACKS IN THE PROGRAM.

>> I WAS CONCERNED ANYTHING OF THAT SIZE, THAT IT WOULD ULTIMATELY CAUSE A PROBLEM IN CLAWING BACK ANY MONEY THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE ON.

>> REPRESENTATIVE NICKY DALENS TAKES IT ONE STEP FURTHER SAYING THOSE TEACHERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY BACK THE FUNDS.

>> BASED ON THE PATTERN OF INCOMPETENT FROM SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS AND HIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

AND IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, I THINK THEY SHOULD ABSORB THOSE COSTS.

>> HE SAYS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARDED ONLY AFTER IT HAD BEEN VERIFIED TEACHERS QUALIFIED TO RECEIVE IT.

>> ANY TIME YOU ASK SOMEONE TO FILL OUT AN OPP INDICATION, THEY WILL -- APPLICATION, THEY WILL TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.

>> THE TEACHER SHORTAGE HAS PLAGUED OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

IN 2023, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED 4,437 REQUESTS FOR TEACHER EMERGENCY CERTIFICATIONS.

THE ONGOING SHORTAGE LED TO THE BONUSES TO HELP BRING RETIRED TEACHERS AND NEW EDUCATORS TO THE CLASSROOM.

THROUGH THE SIGNING BONUS PROGRAM, ELIGIBLE TEACHERS COULD RECEIVE 15,000 AND 15,000 BASED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: CERTIFIED TEACHERS NEW TO THE PROFESSION; CERTIFIED TEACHERS RETURNING TO THE PROFESSION; CERTIFIED TEACHERS MOVING TO OKLAHOMA FROM OUT OF STATE TO BE CONSIDERED NEW TO THE PROFESSION.

A CERTIFIED TEACHER NEEDED LESS THAN 3 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

>> ON JANUARY 29TH, A LAWSUIT WAS FILED BY ONE OF THE TEACHERS WHO WERE AWARDED 50,000 AFTER APPLYING FOR THE BONUS PROGRAM.

ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT, WALTERS CLAIMED THAT THE TEACHER LIED ON HER APPLICATIONS.

STADELMAN HAS SINCE BEEN ADDED TO THE LAWSUIT AS PLAINTIFF.

>> I DON'T THINK I MADE THE MISTAKE.

I PUT EVERYTHING IN THERE, AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THE $50,000 BACK.

AND THEN ALSO JUST THE EMOTIONAL DAMAGE THAT THIS HAS DONE FOR MY FAMILY.

>> STADELMAN SAYS THE STRESS FROM THE CLAWBACKS HAS MADE IT HARD TO ENJOY THE EXPERINCE OF HAVING HER FIRST CHILD.

>> IT WAS HARD: >> I ENDED UP HAVING HYPERTENSION.

I GOT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE A COUPLE DAYS AFTER ALL THIS HAPPENED.

AND I ENDED UP HAVING TO GET MY WATER BROKEN AND HAVE HIM.

HE WAS TERM LUCKILY, BUT I STILL THINK I GAVE BIRTH EARLIER THAN I SHOULD HAVE.

>> WE ARE VERY HAPPY OF THE MOST -- WALTERS SAYS HIS TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND VERIFY THAT TEACHERS UPHOLD THEIR END OF THE CONTRACT.

>> SO THE PROGRAM IS A FIVE-YEAR COMMITMENT.

A FIVE-YEAR COMMITMENT REQUIRES ACCOUNTABILITY AROUND THESE TEACHERS ON WHAT THEY'VE SAID IN THE CONTRACT AND THAT INFORMATION MOVING FORWARD.

>> SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS SAYS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY TEACHERS MAY NOT HAVE TO PAY BACK THE BONUSES.

HE SAYS OSDE'S LEGAL TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE TEACHERS.

RICH.

>> LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO CONSIDER A WIDE VARIETY OF POSSIBLE LEGISLATION, IN ADDITION TO TAX CUTS, BEGINNING FEBRUARY 5TH, INCLUDING THE IDEA OF DRUG TESTING FOLKS LIKE ME, JOURNALISTS.

FOR MORE ON THAT AND OTHER TOPICS, I SPOKE WITH FELLOW JOURNALIST, PAUL MONIES, WITH OUR CONTENT PARTNERS AT OKLAHOMA WATCH.

>> PAUL MONIES, TELL ME ABOUT THE COMMON SENSE FREEDOM OF PRESS CONTROL ACT.

>> IT'S BASICALLY BY SENATOR NATHAN DAHM, WHO'S BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT HE WAS ALSO ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE STATEWIDE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SO YOU CAN'T DISMISS IT OUT OF HAND, BUT BASICALLY IT BASICALLY ALLOWS THE REGISTRATION OF JOURNALISTS AND JOURNALIS ORGANIZATIONS AND SUBMITS THEM TO REGULAR DRUG TESTS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IN ITS NAME, COMMON SENSE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS CONTROL ACT, IS A LITTLE ODD, BECAUSE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND CONTROL IN THE SAME TITLE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE, BUT THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CHANCE THAT THIS IS GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.

>> I GUESS SEGUEING OFF THAT, CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS BE AMENDED OR CHANGED ONCE AGAIN IN THIS SESSION?

>> I THINK WE'VE SEEN THE PENDULUM KIND OF SWINGING BACK TOWARDS THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE, BUT ALSO THERE'S A LOT OF PATIENT SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE COMING UP AS WELL.

THERE'S ESPECIALLY A TYPE OF THC, WHICH IS THE KIND OF INTOXICATING CHEMICAL IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA, WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNREGULATED IN THE CONSUMER MARKET RIGHT NOW.

AND SO WE'RE ALSO SEEING A COUPLE MORE BILLS SURVIVE FROM LAST YEAR THAT KIND OF PUT SOME LIMITS ON THE THC CHEMICALS INSIDE THE GUMMIES, THE EDIBLES THAT YOU CAN GET FROM MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES.

>> PAUL BREAK DOWN THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED AND FROM WHICH CHAMBER THEY'RE COMING FROM.

>> THERE WAS JUST OVER 2000 NEWLY FILED BILLS FOR THE 2024 SESSION.

ABOUT 1200 OR SO OF THOSE CAME FROM THE HOUSE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS MORE MEMBERS, AND THEN ABOUT ANOTHER 800 OR SO CAME FROM THE SENATE.

AND SO THAT IS IN ADDITION TO HUNDREDS, ALMOST ABOUT A THOUSAND BILLS THAT ARE STILL ALIVE FROM THE FIRST SESSION OF THIS LEGISLATURE.

BUT ALL TOLD, THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 3000 OR SO BILLS READY FOR CONSIDERATION AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THE GAME RIGHT NOW.

>> SO WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE BILLS TYPICALLY WOULD PASS DURING A REGULAR SESSION?

>> YEAH, GOING BY KIND OF HISTORICAL TALLIES THE LAST FEW YEARS, IT'S AROUND ABOUT 20%.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN EXPECT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 250 SURVIVING TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AND GETTING SIGNED INTO LAW MAYBE THIS YEAR BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENED LAST YEAR AND IN RECENT YEARS.

>> IT APPEARS OMES, THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND ENTERPRISE SERVICES, IS ALSO ON THE RADAR OF LAWMAKERS?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND SOME OF THIS IS FRUSTRATION BUILDING OVER SEVERAL YEARS AMONG OTHER STATE AGENCIES WHO USE THE SERVICES FROM OMES, WHICH IS KIND OF A BIG SUPER AGENCY.

>> AND WE, IN FACT, SAW ONE OF THE LEGISLATIVE WATCHDOG AGENCIES CALLED LOFT COME OUT WITH A FAIRLY CRITICAL REPORT IN THE FALL.

AND THAT HAS NOW LED TO SOME LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED THIS SESSION.

ONE OF THE ONES I'M LOOKING AT WOULD KIND OF SPLIT OFF THE PURCHASING PART OF OMES INTO ITS OWN MINI-AGENCY, WHICH USED TO BE THE WAY, PROBABLY 15 YEARS AGO, IT WAS SET UP THAT WOULD HAVE ITS OWN DIRECTOR DIRECTLY APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR WITH A CONFIRMATION BY THE SENATE.

>> WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE BE KEEPING AN EYE ON DURING THIS SESSION?

>> YEAH, SO I SEE THE BIG ISSUES -- OBVIOUSLY EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT TAX CUTS.

THAT WILL STILL BE ON THE TABLE IN WHATEVER FORM.

THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME COALESCING AROUND THAT QUARTER POINT INCOME TAX CUT.

AND I'M SURE WE'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF BILLS HAVING TO DO WITH EDUCATION POLICY, SOME LIMITING THE NEW STATE SUPERINTENDENT, SOME KIND OF CHANGING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CAN BE TAUGHT OR DISPLAYED IN SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY THE 10 COMMANDMENTS POSTERS THAT THERE'S A BILL OUT THERE ON THAT.

SO WE'LL BE WATCHING FOR THAT.

AND OF COURSE, IN THE BACKGROUND, THERE IS STILL A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF THE PROPER STATE RESPONSE TO THE SUPREME COURT'S MCGIRT DECISION AND HOW STATE AND TRIBAL ENTITIES SHOULD WORK TOGETHER IN SOME OF THESE CRIMINAL ELEMENT CASES.

>> PAUL MONIES, THE STATE GOVERNMENT REPORTER FOR OKLAHOMA WATCH, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> DID YOU KNOW THAT OKLAHOMA HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST, IF NOT THE HIGHEST, HOME INSURANCE RATES IN THE NATION?

IT'S TRUE.

AND CAR INSURANCE RATES ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE AS WELL.

ANYTHING WE OR THE LEGISLATURE CAN DO TO BRING THOSE RATES DOWN?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF OUR UPCOMING IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE LEGISLATURE IS WE'VE GOT HOUSE BILL 3089, WHICH IS THE STRENGTHEN OUR HOME PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES GRANTS FOR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES TO HOUSING WITH MORE WIND RESISTANT MATERIALS AND THOSE TYPE THINGS, SO THAT AS, WE AS A STATE, WE'RE BUYING BETTER MATERIALS THAT ARE WIND RESISTANT, IT'LL HELP ALLEVIATE PRICES OVER TIME.

> SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE INSURANCE AFFORDABLE, WHETHER IT BE WITH DEDUCTIBLES, RISK MANAGEMENT, LIKE REPRESENTATIVE TEDFORD SAID, WITH MAINTENANCE OF YOUR HOME, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE MAY BE LOOKING AT LARGER DEDUCTIBLES, KNOWING THAT YOUR MAINTENANCE COSTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME THINGS THAT YOU DEVELOP WITH THE YEARS THAT YOU HAVE YOUR HOME.

>> THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

>> THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS USING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS TO GIVE STRUGGLING RURAL COMMUNITIES IN OKLAHOMA BETTER ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

THIS PAST MONDAY, STATE USDA LEADERS DISTRIBUTED HELP TO A HANDFUL OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN BROKEN BOW AND IDABEL.

STEVE SHAW MADE THE TRIP TO SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA AND JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

STEVE?

>> RICH, THIS ISN'T LEFTOVER FEDERAL COVID 19 MONEY.

IT'S FUNDING THAT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAYS IS AVAILABLE EACH YEAR.

AND THEY WANT MORE RURAL OKLAHOMA COMMUNITIES TO KNOW IT'S THERE AND APPLY FOR IT.

>> BRANDY BLALOCK IS PRINCIPAL AND SUPERINTENDENT OF GLOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BROKEN BOW IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA.

BRANDY ALSO DRIVES THE SCHOOL BUS, JUST ONE OF THE HATS SHE HAS TO WEAR.

GLOVER ONLY HAS 68 STUDENTS, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, FUNDING IS TIGHT.

>> THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS THAT WE ARE IN SUCH A RURAL AREA.

WE HAVE LOW SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS IN MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, AND WE STRUGGLE TO FIND RESOURCES TO HELP US.

>> WE SEE ALMOST THE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.

WE SEE A LOT OF STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH THINGS AT HOME.

BUT WE AS A SCHOOL FAMILY HAVE TO COME TOGETHER, AND WE'RE ABLE TO HELP THESE STUDENTS.

I MEAN, I SEE STUDENTS GET ANGEL TREE BAGS WITH CHRISTMAS GIFTS THAT THEY NORMALLY WOULDN'T HAVE CHRISTMAS.

I SEE PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER TO GIVE STUDENTS WINTER COATS DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE HAVE TWO STUDENTS THAT MY HUSBAND AND I ARE ABOUT TO ADOPT THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN SO CLOSE TO HERE.

>> ON THREE: ONE, TWO, THREE.

GREAT!

>> THIS PAST MONDAY, BLALOCK AND AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THREE OTHER RURAL OKLAHOMA SCHOOL DISTRICTS FORMALLY RECEIVED 50-THOUSAND-DOLLAR GRANTS FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, THEY'RE WHAT ARE CALLED COMMUNITY FACILITY GRANTS THROUGH USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

FORMER ANADARKO CITY MANAGER, KENNETH CORN, IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OKLAHOMA USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

HIS MESSAGE MONDAY WAS THERE'S MORE FROM WHERE THIS CAME FROM.

>> SO, LIKE, IF YOU GUYS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING, IF YOU WANTED TO NETWORK THE SCHOOLS TOGETHER WITH, LIKE, CAREER TECH OR A COLLEGE, OR IF YOU GUYS WANTED TO SHARE CLASSES THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING, IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR THAT GRANT, IF YOU CAN EVEN DO TELEMEDICINE, LIKE IF YOU WANTED TO PARTNER WITH A HOSPITAL OR A HEALTH CLINIC AND LET THEM BE YOUR SCHOOL NURSE PROGRAM THROUGH TELEMEDICINE, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY DO THAT.

SO THERE'S OPTIONS THERE.

SO THE THING I LIKE TO TELL FOLKS IS THAT WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WE HAVE WITH RURAL DEVELOPMENT, DON'T ASSUME YOU DON'T QUALIFY FOR THINGS.

>> I SHOULD TURN SOME AIR ON.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HAD TO USE AIR.

>> BLALOCK SAYS THIS BUS REPLACES ONE THAT DIDN'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING.

>> IT GETS HOT, YES.

WE HAD TO BRING BOTTLES OF WATER BEFORE WE GOT THIS BUS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS FOR THE KIDS.

>> YES, AND FOR YOU.

>> YES.

>> CASSY GARRETT REPRESENTS HAWORTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THEY'RE USING THAT FIFTY GRAND TO BUY SOME WHEELS TOO.

>> THIS MONEY WILL ALLOW US TO PURCHASE A NEW AG TRAILER TO HELP WITH OUR AG DEPARTMENT.

AG IS A VERY BIG THING IN HAWORTH.

WE HAVE MANY STUDENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH THE FFA PROGRAM.

>> I KNOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TOP OF THE LINE, DECKED OUT TO WHERE THEY CAN MOVE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ANIMALS AND MULTIPLE ANIMALS AT THE SAME TIME.

>> AND IT'S PULLED BY WHAT, A PICKUP TRUCK?

>> IT'S PULLED BY ONE OUR AG TRUCKS, YES, SIR.

>> SO THIS COULD BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR YOUR AG PROGRAM.

>> IT CAN, AND IT HELPS KIDS IN OUR DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, EACH SCHOOL HAS TO TRY TO FIND ITS NICH THAT THE KIDS WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN, AND WITH OUR AG PROGRAM, THAT'S ONE OF THE NICHES TO GET KIDS TO COME TO OUR DISTRICT AND TO KEEP THEM AT OUR DISTRICT.

>> RANDALL ERWIN IS SUPERINTENDENT OF CLAYTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH IS 40 MILES NORTHEAST OF ANTLERS IN PUSHMATAHA COUNTY.

256 STUDENTS ATTEND THEIR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY'RE USING THEIR MONEY TO PURCHASE HIGH-END COMPUTER EQUIPMENT.

>> THIS WILL ALLOW US TO OFFER THE TOP-NOTCH TECHNOLOGY COURSES THAT OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NEED TO COMPETE.

THERE ARE STUDENTS IN RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT CAN EXCEL AS WELL.

YOU JUST GOT TO GIVE THEM A SHOT.

>> THE YEAR BEFORE LAST, WE HAD THE NO.

1 CHEMISTRY STUDENT IN THE STATE.

THIS LAST YEAR, WE HAD THE NO.

1 CHEMISTRY STUDENT IN OUR REGION.

WE JUST HAVEN'T GONE TO STATE YET.

WE HAVE THE NO.

1 AND NO.

2 MATH STUDENT.

WE GOT A NUMBER OF STUDENTS GOING TO STATE COMPETITION.

WE CAN COMPETE IF WE GET THE RESOURCESS TO HELP OUR STUDENTS.

>> ALSO HERE IN IDABEL ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, CORN PRESENTED A 24.7 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO ADDRESS BROADBAND NEEDS.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM IN CHOCTAW AND BRYAN COUNTIES.

>> ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> CORN ALSO PRESENTED IDABEL MAYOR CRAIG YOUNG A 45-THOUSAND-DOLLAR GRANT SO IDABEL CAN PURCHASE THIS TEN-WHEEL HEAVY DUTY DUMP TRUCK.

MAYOR YOUNG SAYS SUCH A MONSTER TRUCK WILL ALLOW IDABE TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WHEN PAVING THEIR ROADS.

>> SOMEONE CAME AND VISITED WITH US AND SAID, HEY, THERE IS SOME MONEY THERE.

AND OF COURSE, MONEY?

WE ARE ALWAYS EXCITED FOR MONEY.

AND SO HE HELPED US APPLY FOR THE GRANT, AND WE WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ONE OF THE ONES TO RECEIVE THE GRANT.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT -- YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE IT COULD HELP IDABEL AGAIN.

>> OH, YEAH, ANYTIME YOU CAN GET A GRANT, IT HELPS YOU, SO YOU CAN USE THE MONEY IN OTHER PLACES.

>> EVERY COMMUNITY IN OKLAHOMA IS IN NEED, AND THE THING THAT I KEEP REMINDING PEOPLE IS THAT IN RURAL PARTS OF OUR STATE, A LOT OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S THERE IN THESE COMMUNITIES, ALL OF THEM ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD.

THEY ARE CRUMBLING.

THEY'VE OUTLIVED THEIR USEFULLNESS, AND SO THEY DESPERATELY NEED HELP TO DO THESE UPGRADES.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE THING THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN REAL CLEAR ABOUT, IS RURAL COMMUNITIES.

THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE HAD BEEN LEFT BEHIND THE LAST 30 AND 40 YEARS.

>> SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS, IF THESE RURAL SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE TOP-END TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE, THEIR GIFTED STUDENTS HAVE TO DRIVE 50 OR 60 MILES TO NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO GET THAT WORK DONE.

THAT CAN BE UNTENABLE FOR MANY OF THESE STUDENTS.

RICH.

>> STEVE, THANK YOU.

>> A YEAR AGO, WE BEGAN A SPECIAL PROJECT TO CHRONICLE THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF OKLAHOMA'S 13 REMAINING HISTORIC BLACK TOWNS.

THIS WEEK, WE PRESENT OUR FINAL INSTALLMENT ON LIMA, LOCATED JUST OFF US HIGHWAY 270 BETWEEN SEMINOLE AND WEWOKA.

LIKE MOST OF THESE TOWNS, LIMA HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS, BUT HOPES FOR BETTER TOMORROWS AS WELL.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW WITH HIS REPORT.

JASON?

>> RICH, LIMA'S MAYOR IS LEADING EFFORTS TO BRING THE OLD TOWN SOME NEW LIFE.

JUST LIKE MANY OF OUR OTHER BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS, LIMA HAS SOME HISTORY BEHIND IT TOO.

>> GIMME A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON ON THIS MAP YOU GOT HERE.

>> WELL, BACK WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, IT WAS HOUSING ALL UP IN HERE AND SOME DOWN AND THROUGH HERE, DOWN BROADWAY.

>> MAYOR SHAWN LOUIE AND HIS COUSIN, LIMA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEMBER MYRON LOUIS, LOOKING AT THE PAST TO MOVE THEIR TOWN FORWARD.

LIMA WAS INCORPORATED IN 1913, BUT THE TOWN GOT IT'S START A FEW YEARS BEFORE THAT, ALONG THE CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND, AND PACIFIC RAILROAD LINE.

>> THEY HAD LOTS OF DIFFERENT BUSINESSES HERE.

THEY HAD A POST OFFICE FROM, I THINK, 1907 TO '57.

THEY HAD THE ROSENWALD BUILDING THEY BUILT IN 1921.

THAT ROSENWALD BUILDING IS JUST OUTSIDE THE TOWN'S COMMUNITY CENTER.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPETE ROSENWALD SCHOOLS REMAINING IN OKLAHOMA.

THEY WERE BUILT ACROSS THE SOUTH FOR BLACK STUDENTS BY THE JULIUS ROSENWALD FUND.

SEARS ROEBUCK AND COMPANY PRESIDENT, JULIUS ROSENWALD, BEGAN THE EFFORT IN ALABAMA AFTER FORMALLY ESTABLISHING THE FUND IN 1917.

IT SPREAD TO OTHER STATES WHICH KEPT ITS BLACK STUDENTS SEGREGATED FROM WHITE STUDENTS.

IN OKLAHOMA ALONE, THE ROSENWALD FUND HELPED BUILD NEARLY 200 EDUCATION-RELATED BUILDINGS BETWEEN 1920 AND 1932.

NOW THE TOWN'S LEADERS ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE ROSENWALD BUILDING INTO SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY CAN BE PROUD OF.

>> WHAT ARE THE PLANS ONCE YOU GET THE MONEY RAISED?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO TO ROSENWALD HALL?

>> MAKE IT A COMMUNITY CENTER AND A TOURISM SPOT.

>> ME AND THE MAYOR AND A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE CLEANING OUT, TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF IT, YOU KNOW, JUST SO WE CAN GET A REAL GOOD LOOK AT IT, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON IT.

BUT SO FAR, WE DO A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME, BUT WE MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF PROGRESS.

AND YOU KNOW, IT RAINS AND THIS AND THAT, BUT WE'RE DOING ALL RIGHT WITH IT.

>> CAROLYN JONES ATTENDED SCHOOL IN THE ROSENWALD BUILDING WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL.

>> THAT BUILDING RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER, THE FIRST AND SECOND GRADE WAS IN THAT CLASS.

AND THEN YOU HAD THE CAFETERIA.

THAT'S WHERE YOU WENT.

ALL THE CLASSES WENT THERE TO EAT.

>> LIMA WAS NAMED AFTER THE LIMESTONE QUARRIES THAT ARE ALL AROUND THE TOWN.

IN FACT, A SHORT DRIVE, YOU CAN STILL FIND AN ACTIVE SITE LIKE THIS ONE.

AND REMEMBER IT'S LIMA, NOT LIMA, LIKE LIMA, PERU.

AND IF YOU BUMP INTO A LIMA RESIDENT, THEY'RE GONNA TELL YOU SO.

>> THAT'S A LIMA.

THAT'S A BEAN, LIMA BEAN.

(LAUGHTER).

>> GROWING UP, JONES SAYS LIFE WAS GOOD IN LIMA.

LONGTIME RESIDENT HERMAN HILL AGREES.

>> I WAS BORN HERE.

I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL, GRADE SCHOOL HERE.

AND WHEN I GOT OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS DRAFTED, SERVED IN VIETNAM, WOUNDED, MOVED TO THE CITY, GOT MARRIED, MOVED BACK TO LIMA.

>> HILL REMEMBERS A TIME WHEN THE OLD RAIL LINE WAS A VITAL LINK TO LIMA.

>> IN 1950, '53, I WAS ABOUT SEVEN YEARS OLD.

I USED TO GO TAKE THE MAIL WITH HIM, ME AND A BUNCH OF BOYS, DOWN TO THE TRAIN TRACKS.

THEY HAD AN APPARATUS.

YOU PUT THE BAG UP THERE, AND THE TRAIN COME BY, AND REACH OUT AND GRAB THE BAG.

YOU SEE.

OKAY.

OLD MAIL BAG, YEAH.

>> AND THEN WE HAD -- RIGHT ON THE RAILROAD WAS A MOVIE THEATER.

DOWN IN HERE WAS THE JAIL AND POST OFFICE AND STUFF.

THAT RAIL STATION IS LONG GONE NOW, AND THE TRACKS ARE OVERGROWN WHERE THEY WEREN'T TAKEN UP.

>> CAN YOU GUYS IMAGINE WHAT THAT -- WHAT IT WOULD'VE BEEN LIKE IN THE HEYDAY?

I WISH I COULD'VE SEEN IT.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, WE NEVER -- I'VE NEVER SEEN PICTURES OF IT OR ANYTHING.

>> BUT A CENTURY AGO, THOSE TRACKS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN BRINGING WORKERS TO THE LIMA AREA WHEN OIL STARTED FLOWING FROM THE SEMINOLE OIL FIELDS IN MARCH OF 1923.

AS THE NEED FOR WORKERS GREW, THE ROADS FROM THE TOWN OF SEMINOLE WERE IN NO SHAPE FOR THE TRAFFIC.

MANY OF THE WORKERS TOOK THE TRAIN TO NEARBY LIMA AND OTHER POINTS IN THE HISTORIC OIL DISCOVERY.

THE BLACK GOLD BROUGHT IN NEW WHITE NEIGHBORS WHO BUILT THEIR OWN SCHOOL DISTRICT CALLED NEW LIMA.

BLACK STUDENTS WOULD ATTEND THE ROSENWALD SCHOOL JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM THE NEW LIMA DISTRICT.

>> WENT FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE, AND AFTER THAT THEY WENT TO DOUGLAS AND WEWOKA, AND THEN THEIR INTEGRATION CAME AND WE STARTED GOING TO NEW LIMA.

IT WAS 1957 WHEN THE LIMA AND NEW LIMA STUDENTS WERE INTEGRATED.

>> JUST LIKE OIL IS IMPORTANT TO OKLAHOMA AND ITS TOWNS, SO IS AGRICULTURE.

>> GROWING UP OUT HERE, DOING A LOT OF FARMING WITH MY DAD AND OTHER COUSINS AND STUFF.

I CAN REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN WE WERE DOING FARMWORK, AND YOU CAN HEAR ALL THE KIDS PLAYING IN THE STREETS.

>> FARMING HISTORY WAS MADE IN LIMA WITH THE FORMATION OF THE FIRST BLACK FARMER'S UNION IN THE 1920S.

>> IT WAS THE FIRST ONE IN THE NATIONAL FARMERS UNION, AND THE FIRST ONE ANYWHERE THAT WE KNOW OF, ALL AROUND THE WORLD WHERE THE FARMERS ORGANIZED.

>> THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FARMERS' UNION AND HIS VISION OF INCLUDING PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE UNION.

>> IN THE 1920S, WE HAD A PRESIDENT BY THE NAME OF JOHN SIMPSON.

JOHN SIMPSON WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE.

HE WANTED TO EXPAND THE COOPERATIVE MODEL OF THE FARMER'S UNION.

AND SO -- AND ALSO WANTED TO EXPAND TO OTHER LOCALS, CREATE OTHER LOCALS, OTHER COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS.

AND SO HE DID THAT.

HE ALSO LOOKED TO -- IN TERMS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR, WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE REPRESENTED AS WELL.

>> AT THE SAME TIME, THE OTHER FARMERS OF COLOR AROUND SEMINOLE COUNTY FORMED THEIR OWN FARMER'S UNION LOCALS IN AUGUST OF 1921, WHICH WAS CELEBRATED BY JOHN SIMPSON IN A NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL A MONTH LATER.

>> AUGUST 5TH, WE WERE INVITED BY THOSE LOCALS OF SEMINOLE COUNTY TO COME TO A BASKET DINNER PICNIC AT THE JOHNSON SCHOOLHOUSE FIVE MILES NORTH OF WEWOKA FOR THE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZING A COLORED COUNTY UNION.

WE WERE THERE, AND THE COLORED FOLKS WERE THERE AS WELL.

IT WAS A GREAT MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALL THE WORLD.

A COUNTY OF ORGANIZED FARMERS LIKE THIS MET AND FORMED A COUNTY UNION.

THESE FOLKS HAD LABORED HARD TO MAKE THIS MEETING A SUCCESS.

A SPLENDID DINNER HAD BEEN PREPARED BY THE GOOD WOMEN OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THE MEN HAD BARBECUED A BEEF, WHICH FURNISHED AS AS GOOD A DINNER AS WE EVER SAW ON OCCASION OF THIS KIND.

>> DESPITE THE HISTORY OF LIMA, THE TOWN IS ON THE VERGE ACCORDING TO THOSE WHO REMAIN.

>> SO PEOPLE MOVING AWAY BECAUSE OF THE POINT IS THERE'S NO JOBS AROUND HERE.

AND AS THE KIDS GREW UP AND WENT TO SCHOOL AT DIFFERENT PLACES AND STUFF, ONCE THEY MOVE AWAY AND GET A JOB, THEY DIDN'T COME BACK.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

IF YOU DON'T GET SOME TYPE OF INDUSTRY, A JOB MARKET OR SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO SEMINOLE OR WEWOKA AND MAKE A LIVING, THE TOWN IS GOING TO LITERALLY DIE, SLOWLY DIE.

>> I'D LIKE TO SEE IT GROW, YOU KNOW, GET BACK.

BUT IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO DO, 'CAUSE I SAID ALL THE OLDER PEOPLE ARE GONE, AND EVEN YOUNGER PEOPLE DON'T MOVE OUT, 'CAUSE THERE NOTHING TO DO.

THERE NO JOBS OR NOTHING.

SO THEY HAVE TO MOVE ON.

CENSUS NUMBERS SHOW THAT IN 1920 NEARLY 150 PEOPLE LIVED IN THE LIMA AREA.

THE TOWN POPULATION GREW THROUGH THE DECADES UNTIL IT REACHED ITS PEAK IN THE 1980S AT AROUND 250 PEOPLE.

IN THE 2020 CENSUS, LIMA RECORDED 68 RESIDENTS.

MAYOR LOUIE IS LOOKING TO CHANGE THAT FOR LIMA.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GROWTH.

YOU KNOW, PUT SOME HOUSING IN HERE AND GET SOME SPIRITED PEOPLE HERE.

>> SO, MAYOR, YOU GUYS ARE KIND OF TRYING TO BRING BACK AN OLD TRADITION, RIGHT?

>> YES.

FOUNDER'S DAY, WHICH WE CALL LIMA DAY.

SO APRIL 8TH IS THE DAY, BUT WE KIND OF WORK AROUND THE WEEKENDS OR WHATEVER THAT SO WE CAN PUT THE DAY ON.

MAYOR LOUIE WORKED WITH OTHER TO KICK OFF LIMA DAY IN 2023.

THE EVENT WAS ONE WAY THE MAYOR IS TRYING TO RAISE FUNDS TO HELP WITH THE TOWN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> WE HAVE A LIMA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND SET UP.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, WHAT THE LIME A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND IS SET UP TO HELP SPECIFICALLY FOR THE ROSENWALD AND THE WHOLE TOWN.

>> OH, FOR THE WHOLE TOWN.

>> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD MEMBER MYRON LOUIE BELIEVES, WITH ENOUGH INVESTMENT, LIMA CAN ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND A QUIET, RURAL PLACE TO LIVE.

>> WE'RE TAKING ON A LOT OF STUFF.

LIKE, WE ARE TRYING TO GET ON, LIKE, A SMALL FIRE DEPARTMENT OUT HERE YOU KNOW, FOR THE RURAL AREA.

WE TRYING TO COME UP WITH PLANS OR, LIKE, HAVE A SMALL STORE HERE.

>> I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO COME DOWN THROUGH HERE, CHECK IT OUT, SEE WHAT YOU LIKE.

IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW.

IT'S A LOT OF ROOM AROUND HERE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAR UP AND GET THINGS GOING SO THAT WE CAN BRING MORE PEOPLE IN HERE.

>> AND WE WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT ALL OF OUR REPORTS ON THE BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE.

JUST GO TO OETA.TV, AND LOOK FOR THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT ICON.

RICH.

JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT WELCOMED SOME OF OUR STATE'S MOST CREATIVE PEOPLE TO THE CAPITOL ON TUESDAY FOR THE 45TH ANNUAL GOVERNOR'S ARTS AWARDS CEREMONY.

14 INDIVIDUALS AND 4 ORGANIZATIONS WERE HONORED FOR THEIR WORK, INCLUDING MUSKOGEE'S ANN BARKER ONG AND HOLBROOK LAWSON OF TULSA, WHO RECEIVED THE GOVERNOR'S AWARD.

>> SELBY MINNER, THE CO-CREATO OF THE DUSK TILL DAWN BLUES FESTIVAL WHO WE MET WHEN WE VISITED AS PART OF OUR SERIES ON OKLAHOMA'S HISTORIC BLACK TOWNS, RECEIVED A COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE HONOREES.

AN OIL SPILL ON THE TRIBAL LAND RESULTED IN A MULTI-MILLION DOLLARS.

JASON DOYLE.

>> SETTLEMENT REACHED FOR AN OIL SPILL IN A PART OF SKULL CREEK OWNED BY MEMBERS OF THE ZACK AND FOX NATION.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ANNOUNCED THE SETTLEMENT WHICH ALSO REQUIRES THE COMPANIES TO COMPLETE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP AND RESTORATION N JULY OF 2022, IT WAS ESTIMATED THE PIPELINE RUPTURE SPILLED NEARLY $300,000 GALLONS OF CRUDE OIL INTO THE CREEK.

OREGON BASED AVANGRID IS BUILDING A 33 TURBINE WIND FARM IN PONTOTOC COUNTY.

DUBBED PONTOTOC WIND, THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN THIS YEAR AND WHEN FINISHED GENERATE ABOUT 500-HUNDRED THOUSAND MEGA WAT HOURS, WHICH IS ENOUGH TO POWER 40,000 HOMES.

ONCE COMPLETE THE WIND FORM WILL MAKE AVANGRID THE THIRD LARGEST RENEWABLE ENERGY OPERATOR IN THE U.S.

THE CITY OF ENID, SPARQ RENEWABLES AND NEXTERA ENERGY RESOURCES BROKE GROUND LAST WEEK ON A PROJECT TO CAPTURE METHANE FROM THE CITY'S LANDFILL AND USE IT AS NATURAL GAS.

THIS IS THE FIRST MUNICIPAL OWNED LANDFILL TO CAPTURE GAS AND TURN IT INTO A SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR ITS RESIDENTS.

OKALHOMA CITY BASED BANK7 CORPORATION REPORTS IT BROUGHT IN NET INCOME TOTALLING 28.3 MILLION DOLLARS IN 2023.

THAT'S A 4.6 PERCENT DECREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S NET INCOME OF 29.6 MILLION.

FOR THE YEAR, THE BANKING COMPANY MADE 121.5 MILLION IN TOTAL INTEREST INCOME •AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 54 PERCENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

MORE THAN FOUR POINT FOUR MILLION AIRLINE PASSENGERS TRAVELED THROUGH WILL ROGERS WORLD AIRPORT IN OKLAHOMA CITY LAST YEAR.

THAT'S AN INCREASE OF 11 PERCENT OVER 2022'S LEVELS.

HOWEVER, IT CAME IN JUST SHORT OF THE RECORD OF 4,419,000 IN 2019.

AN INCREASED NUMBER OF FLIGHTS TO FLORIDA CITIES HELPED DRIVE THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> WHILE OKLAHOMA TAXES ARE LOW COMPARED TO MANY OTHER STATES, OUR INSURANCE RATES ARE VERY HIGH.

JUST ASK ANYONE WHO IS TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR HOME OR AUTO.

CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO IMPROVE THAT?

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

WE'RE JOINED BY MIKE TED FORD AND -- LET'S START WITH YOU.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED IN INSURANCE.

>> I GREW UP IN INSURANCE.

MY DAD STARTED THE AGENCY THROUGH OUR SECOND GENERATION AGENCY.

I STARTED IN '92, SO I'VE BEEN 32 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS.

INSURANCE TENDS TO BE FAMILY-OWNED AGENCIES, VERY COMMON, SO THAT'S HOW I GOT IN THE BUSINESS.

>> DENISE, WHAT ABOUT YOU, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING AT INSURANCE DATA?

>> MY STORY IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE REPRESENTATIVE.

I ALSO STARTED IN A FAMILY AGENCY, BUT I STARTED IN 1996, AND THEN SERVED ACTUALLY ON OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND I WAS FIRST FEMALE CHAIRMAN OF THE INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS OF OKLAHOMA IN 2010.

AND THEN IN 2014, I WAS THEN THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ORGANIZATION.

I'VE BEEN IN INSURANCE SINCE 1996 AND HAVE A BACKGROUND IN SALES, PRODUCTION, MANAGEMENT.

AND THEN WHEN I CAME TO THE ASSOCIATION SIDE, THEN I GET TO WORK A LOT WITH LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND THINGS THAT OUR MEMBERS, WHO ARE ALL INDEPENDENT AGENTS, GET TO BE PART OF.

>> I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION THERE.

DENISE, HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE PRICE OF INSURANCE CHANGE FROM 1996 TO NOW?

>> DRAMATICALLY, DRAMATICALLY.

I WILL PROBABLY SAY OVER THE YEARS, AND I THINK REPRESENTATIVE TED FORD WILL FEEL THE SAME, THIS IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST HARD MARKET THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN, EVER.

AND SO I STARTED OUT ACTUALLY IN A LITTLE BIT OF A HARD MARKET, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND ESPECIALLY THE LAST 6 MONTHS, THE MARKET HAS GOTTEN HARDER, AND THAT'S NOT JUST IN OKLAHOMA.

THAT IS ACTUALLY NATIONWIDE.

SO IN OKLAHOMA, WE'RE ACTUALLY THE THIRD HIGHEST PREMIUM STATE.

WE ARE BEHIND FLORIDA AND LOUISIANA, AND SO WE HAVE THE THIRD HIGHEST PREMIUMS ACCORDING TO THAT.

SO FLORIDA ALSO DOESN'T HAVE A MARKET.

THEY HAVE ONE MARKET THEY CAN USE FOR PROPERTY INSURANCE.

LOUISIANA HAS SOME REGULATORY ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH, SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO WRITE.

IN OKLAHOMA, THE COMMISSIONER LIKES TO SAY, WE HAVE ABOUT 125 MARKETS FOR PROPERTY INSURANCE, AND THEY ALL CAN WRITE IN OKLAHOMA, BUT SOME HAVE PULLED BACK A LOT OF THEIR UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES BECAUSE OF PRICING, BECAUSE OF A LOT OF -- IT'S NOT JUST WEATHER.

IT'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN IT.

>> WHAT IS A HARD MARKET?

>> A HARD MARKET IS WHERE -- A SOFT MARKET IS ACTUALLY WHERE YOU HAVE A VARIETY OF COMPANIES THAT CAN WRITE A LOT OF THINGS, SO IT TENDS TO LOWER THE PRICE.

A HARD MARKET MEANS THEY'VE TIGHTENED UP THEIR UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES, AND THE PRICE OBVIOUSLY GOES UP AND THE UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES GET A LITTLE BIT STRICTER.

>> AS YOU KNOW, OKLAHOMA HAS THE HIGHEST COST OF HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE AT ABOUT $5,000.

REPRESENTATIVE TED FORD, CAN YOU BREAK DOWN THAT NUMBER FOR US?

>> YES.

THAT NUMBER, I BELIEVE, IS FROM INSURANCE DOT COM, WHICH JUST RELEASED THAT.

THE INSURANCE PREMIUMS STATE BY STATE, LISTED EARLIER IN JANUARY.

THAT IS FOR A 300,000-DOLLAR VALUED HOME.

OKLAHOMA'S AVERAGE INSURANCE PREMIUM IS $5,317.

YOU COMPARE IT FOR THE CHEAPEST STATE, WHICH IS HAWAII, AT 582, SO THERE IS A BIG DISPARITY STATE TO STATE FOR WHAT HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE WILL COST.

IN FACT, YOU WOULD ASK THE QUESTION HOW WE'VE SEEN SUPREME US CHANGE.

I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT MY OWN PERSONAL HOMEOWNER INSURANCE RATES, AND FROM 10 YEARS AGO, IT HAD TRIPLED FROM THEN TO NOW.

SO I THINK THAT'S MOST EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCE IN THE STATE, THAT AT LEAST DOUBLED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND THAT'S TRULY FOR TWO REASONS.

ONE IS BECAUSE OF AN INCREASE IN STORM ACTIVITY IN THE STATE FOR THE LAST 10 OR 15 YEARS.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CATASTROPHIC CONVECTIVE STORMS, TORNADOES AND HAILSTORMS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH THE STATE.

AND THE SECOND REASON IS, INFLATION.

THERE HAS BEEN JUST AN INCREASE IN RECONSTRUCTION COSTS THAT THE CARRIERS FACE WHEN REBUILDING HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, AND THAT COMES IN EITHER JUST PURE INFLATION OR SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS, WHICH CAUSE THE CLAIMS TO TAKE MUCH LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD OR NORMALLY HAVE TAKEN.

>> YOU MENTIONED WEATHER EARLIER.

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT CAN AFFECT THE PRICE OF INSURANCE?

>> CLAIMS IS GOING TO BE THE NO.

1 DRIVER OF THE PREMIUM, AND SO IT'S MAYBE NOT JUST -- NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WIND AND HAIL AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

I THINK THAT IT'S WHAT PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT.

IF A PROPERTY HAS NOT BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY, THEN, LIKE, THE ROOF, FOR EXAMPLE, MAY BE MORE -- IT CAN BE DAMAGED MUCH MORE EASIER TO A LESSER HAILSTORM THAN A ROOF THAT'S NEW OR BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY.

SO I THINK THE AVERAGE REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE OF A HOME CAN IMPACT ITS DAMAGEABILITY AND THE AMOUNT OF CLAIM IT HAS FOR JUST STORM TO STORM.

TWO HOUSES SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER, ONE IN GOOD STATE OF REPAIR, THE OTHER NEEDING MAINTENANCE, ONE COULD MAYBE NOT SUSTAIN ANY DAMAGE AT ALL, AND THE OTHER COULD BE DAMAGED VERY SEVERELY.

I THINK THAT DOES PLAY INTO IT A LITTLE BIT.

>> DENISE, WHY ARE WE SEEING DIFFERENT PRICES FROM DIFFERENT AGENCIES?

>> WELL, BECAUSE THE COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR WHAT THEY CALL RATE ADEQUACY.

SO WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT LOSSES ACROSS -- YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER, IT'S NOT JUST OKLAHOMA.

THEY'VE LOOKING AT NATIONWIDE COSTS AND LOSSES.

THE COST OF THIS YEAR IN INSURANCE IN 2017 WHERE THERE WERE THREE MAJOR HURRICANES AND DEADLY WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA, TOTALING OVER $135 BILLION.

SO WHEN THEY LOOK AT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE -- I THINK WE HAVE EVERY KIND OF WEATHER YOU CAN IMAGINE.

SO I GUESS IF THAT'S LUCKY OR IT'S NOT LUCKY, SO WE HAVE A VARIETY OF LOSSES THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT, BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT NATIONWIDE, WE KIND OF THING IT'S HIT US NOW.

2022 WAS THE 8th YEAR IN A ROW WITH AT LEAST 10 10 CATASTROPHS CAUSING OVER $1 BILLION IN DAMAGE.

WHEN COMPANIES ARE LOOKING AT ADEQUACY IN RATE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE COSTS GOING TO BE TO REBUILD THAT PROJECT AND HOW MUCH DO THEY CHARGE ACCORDINGLY.

SO IN OKLAHOMA, WE MAY NOT HAVE HAD TORNADOES.

I MEAN, WE HAD ONE IN SHAWNEE A YEAR AGO, BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT -- WE HAVE CONVECTIVE STORMS.

ICE IS A BIG ISSUE, WATER BREAK, WATER FREEZING, SO MANY OTHERS THINGS THAT -- WIND IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO REPLACE ROOFS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT -- THEY LOOK AT HIGHER DEDUCTIBLES, THINGS LIKE THAT, TRYING TO GET WHAT THEY NEED FOR RATE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE COVERAGE DURING THESE SEVERE STORMS?

HAVE WE SEEN THE DO.

GOVERNMENT STEP IN TO HELP?

>> I THINK A LITTLE BIT, BUT REALLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY IF WE OWN A HOME IS TO HAVE INSURANCE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN ACCURATELY BE ABLE TO STEP IN FOR, YOU KNOW, 2 OR 300,000-DOLLAR HOME AND PROVIDE WHAT THEY NEED FOR THAT HOME.

I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT INSURANCE PROVIDES US THE ABILITY TO OWN REALLY NICE HOMES AND REALLY NICE CARS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IT.

SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE INSURANCE AFFORDABLE, WHETHER IT BE WITH THE DEDUCTIBLES, RISK MANAGEMENT, LIKE THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID, WITH MAINTENANCE OF YOUR HOME, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE MAY BE LOOKING AT LARGER DEDUCTIBLES KNOWING THAT YOUR MAINTENANCE COSTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME THINGS THAT YOU DEVELOP WITH THE YEARS YOU HAVE YOUR HOME.

>> REPRESENTATIVE TED FORD, WHERE DO YOU SEE THE PRICES OF INSURANCE IN OKLAHOMA GOING OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY IMMEDIATE RELIEF ON THE PROPERTY SIDE, BUT I THINK THE INCREASES WILL MODERATE SO SOMEWHAT.

IN TIME, I THINK THE PRICING WILL COME DOWN.

THIS IS A NATIONAL, REALLY INTERNATIONAL ISSUE WITH RE-INSURANCE MARKETS AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

I THINK THAT WHERE THE TERMS ARE NOW, THE COMPANIES SHOULD BE MAKING MONEY IN THE STATE, AND AS TIME GOES ON, THE RATE SHOULD MODERATE AND THEN DROP, BUT I DON'T SEE THAT REALLY HAPPENING FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

WHAT I'M HEARING NOW IS THAT IT'S STILL GOING TO BE PRETTY TOUGH FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, AND MAYBE YOU'LL SEE THE MARKET, THE TREND DOWNWARD AFTER THAT.

AND OF COURSE, THE INFLATION, THAT WILL DEPEND ON INFLATION, TOO.

IF HOUSES CONTINUE TO BE IN REPAIR, IT'S GOING TO COST MORE AND MORE, AND THAT WILL DRIVE THE MARKET AS WELL.

>> YOU KNOW, CASSIDY, THE THING WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN ABOUT IS RE-INSURANCE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THAT ON YOUR LIST, BUT THE REPRESENTATIVE WOULD MORE THAN AGREE WITH THIS, I THINK, THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE TO HAVE THEIR OWN INSURANCE.

SO RE-INSURANCE IS WHAT THAT IS.

WE'RE SEEING THE COST OF RE-INSURANCE GO UP HIGHER, SO INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE FINDING INCREASES IN THEIR OWN INSURANCE BECAUSE OF ALL OF THESE SITUATIONS.

SO YOU ADD THAT.

IT'S ANOTHER LAYER THAT SOMETIMES WE DON'T TALK ABOUT, BUT IT IS A VERY BIG ISSUE.

AND IF YOU HAVE A COMPANY THAT HAS HAD A LOT OF LOSSES AND MAYBE THEIR FINANCIALS ARE NOT VERY GOOD, A LOT OF TIMES RE-INSURANCE COMPANIES MAY OR MAY NOT WANT TO INSURE THEM.

SO THERE'S LAYERS OF INSURANCE IN HERE THAT DRIVE THE COSTS, WHICH EVENTUALLY JUST GOES DOWN TO THE CONSUMER.

>> DO WE EVER SEE THESE INSURANCE COMPANIES PRICING THEMSELVES OUT OF THE MARKET?

>> I MEAN, I THINK THAT COULD HAPPEN.

IT'S ACCORDING TO WHAT'S AFFORDABLE.

I THINK WHAT WE TEND TO HOPE FOR IS THAT THEY CAN STAY IN THE MARKET AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE WE WOULD RATHER AT LEAST HAVE A HIGH COMPETITION -- WE DO HAVE COMPETITION ON INSURANCE COMPANIES IN OKLAHOMA.

IT MAY NOT BE THE PRICE THAT YOU LIKE, BUT WE DO HAVE COMPETITION.

YOU LOOK AT STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA THAT STATE FARM COMPLETELY PULLED OUT OF CALIFORNIA.

YOU CANNOT GET INSURANCE FROM STATE FARM IN CALIFORNIA.

RIGHT NOW, THE FLORIDA MARKET HAS ONE PROPERTY MARKET YOU CAN GET.

WE DON'T WANT THAT.

THAT'S AN UNHEALTHY MARKET.

THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

IN OKLAHOMA, WE HAVE ABOUT 120 MARKETS.

THEY MAY BE HIGH AND THEY MAY BE VERY TIGHT ON UNDERWRITING, HIGH ON THEIR PRICE, BUT IT IS COVERAGE.

SO INSTEAD WHICH YOU HAVING TO SELF-INSURE YOURSELF ON YOUR HOME, YOU CAN AT LEAST GET INSURANCE, AND YOU KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE THE COST YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INCUR UNTIL THE MARKET LEVELS OUT JUST A LITTLE BIT.

>> AND BECAUSE OF THAT REASON, WE WANT A COMPETITIVE MARKET.

>> WE DO.

>> TO FIND BETTER PRICES.

>> WE DO.

WE DO WANT A COMPETITIVE MARKET.

I KNOW YOU CAN SHOP IT AROUND, BUT YOU'LL STILL PROBABLY FIND HIGHER THAN YOU DID 3 YEARS AGO, NO MATTER WHAT THE MARKET IS, BUT AT LEAST YOU HAVE A MARKET.

>> YEAH.

LET ME ADD IN THAT, AS COMPANIES HAVE MORE TOMORROW TIME BUYING RE-INSURANCE, WHICH BASICALLY PROTECTS THEM FROM LARGE CATASTROPHIC LOSSES, THE WAY THEY'RE, I THINK, DEALING WITH THE EXTRA EXPOSURE FROM LARGE LOSS IS TRYING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WRITINGS IN THE STATE.

SO THAT'S THEIR WAY OF -- THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO PULL OUT OF THE STATE, BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO PRICE THEMSELVES TO WRITE LESS SO THAT THEY'RE LESS EXPOSED TO THESE CATASTROPHIC STORMS.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE WITH SOME OF THE PRICING FROM SOME OF THE COMPANIES.

FROM MY PART, I THINK, AS WE SEE IN SOME STATES, AS DENISE SAID, THAT HAVE SEEN COMPANIES PULL OUT COMPLETELY, AND YOU CAN'T GET THE COVERAGE, AND I THINK IT'S -- WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS MARKET, IT'S BETTER TO AT LEAST HAVE CARRIERS IN YOUR STATE WRITING BUSINESS SO YOU CAN BUY THE COVERAGE RATHER THAN SOME OF THESE STATES WHERE THERE IS NO PRIVATE MARKET AND WE HAVE TO HAVE DIFFERENT OUTLETS, GOVERNMENT OUTLETS TO PROVIDE INSURANCE.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LET THE FREE MARKET KIND OF RUN ITS COURSE HERE EVEN THOUGH, LIKE I SAID, YOU'LL SEE THIS PHENOMENON OF COMPANIES REALLY NOT PRICING THEMSELVES OUT BUT TRYING TO WRITE LESS IN THE STATE.

>> AND I WILL SAY OUR OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPARTMENT AND COMMISSIONER REALLY WORK HARD AT TRYING TO KEEP THAT MARKET VIABLE.

SO WE'RE REALLY LUCKY.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT HOW DO YOU PROTECT THE CONSUMER AND MARKET, AND THEY HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT IN TRYING TO BALANCE THAT OUT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT THE PRICE OF INSURANCE?

>> I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON WHY IT'S HAPPENED, WHY THE INCREASES ARE HAPPENS, AND THEN WHAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT, AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT -- THE UNFORTUNATE MESSAGE BACK IS THAT THERE'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT OF IMMEDIATE FUTURE THAT CAN BE DONE.

I DO NOT SUPPORT PRICING CAPS.

THAT'S WHAT CALIFORNIA DID AND REALLY CAUSED ALL THE CARRIERS TO LEAVE THERE.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE'VE GOT HOUSE BILL 3089, WHICH IS THE STRENGTHEN OUR HOME PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES GRANTS FOR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES TO HOUSING, MORE WIND RESISTANT MATERIALS AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

AS A STATE, WE'RE BUYING BETTER MATERIALS THAT ARE WIND RESISTANT, AND IT WILL HELP ALLEVIATE PRICES OVER TIME.

ALSO, HOUSE BILL 3092, WHICH IS MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT FOR CARRIERS TO USE PAST WINDSTORM CLAIMS IN UNDERWRITING AND PENALIZING HOMEOWNERS FOR WIND STORMS, WHICH ARE A GRATUITOUS ACT OF GOD TYPE OF CLAIM.

THAT'S SOME THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP HOMEOWNERS IN OKLAHOMA, BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A TOUGH GO FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS IN THAT MARKET.

>> THAT'S JUST ABOUT ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE PRICE OF INSURANCE IN OKLAHOMA.

DENISE, LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> I THINK AS THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID, I DO THINK WE HAVE TO BE PATIENT WITH IT.

WE HAVE TO LET THE FREE MARKET DO WHAT THE FREE MARKET NEEDS TO DO AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS PART OF WHAT THE CONSUMER AT LEAST HAVING THE MARKETS THAT THEY CAN, THEY CAN GET THE COVERAGE THEY HAVE.

IF YOU SPEND MORE AT THE GROCERY STORE, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BUDGET MORE AT THE GROCERY STORE.

I THINK WE CAN RIDE IT OUT.

OVERALL, I THINK OKLAHOMA REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A MARKET HERE.

THE COMPANIES ARE STILL HERE, SO THEY'RE NOT PULLING OUT.

SO IN REALITY, WE'RE ACTUALLY IN GOOD SHAPE.

WE JUST HAVE TO BE PATIENT WITH IT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE TEDFORD, ANY FIND THOUGHTS?

>> SURE.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE'RE IN INFLATIONARY TREND ON A LOT OF THE COMMODITIES WE BUY, AND INSURANCE HAS NOT BEEN IMMUNED FROM THAT INFLATION.

SO THE ULTIMATE REASON WHY WE'RE SEEING THESE INCREASES IS BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND THE AMOUNT OF CLAIMS WE'VE HAD.

AGAIN, BE PATIENT WITH THE PROCESS.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO WORK ON THE MAINTENANCE AND MATERIALS THEY HAVE ON THEIR HOUSE.

THAT'S ONE THING YOU CAN DO TO HELP MITIGATE STORMS WHEN THEY DO COME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT WAS A BUNCH OF GREAT INFORMATION.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPERTISE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CASSIDY, THANKS.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL TO THE HIGH PLAINS OF COLORADO, WHERE OUR FRIENDS AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS REPORT ON THE COFFEE BREAK PROJECT CREATED TO HELP FARMERS, RANCHERS AND MEMBERS OF THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY DEAL WITH THEIR WORK-RELATED STRESS BY PROVIDING A SAFE PLACE TO REST AND TALK THROUGH THEIR CHALLENGES.

>> MOST OF THE COMMUNITIES OUT HERE ARE ALL AG BASED, SO EVERYBODY IN A SENSE IS PART OF THE AG COMMUNITY.

>> OH, THE AG COMMUNITY IS SUPER CLOSE-KNIT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF SHARED HISTORY, AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, SO THERE'S GENERATIONS OF CONNECTIONS.

>> SO I HAVE BEEN A RODEO COWGIRL FOR MY WHOLE LIFE, AND I STILL RODEO AND STAY REALLY ACTIVE WITH FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

LIKE I SAID, THAT'S THE ENTIRE AREA, SO THOSE ARE MY FRIENDS AND MY NEIGHBORS.

>> PEOPLE IN THE AG COMMUNITY ARE VERY STRONG PEOPLE.

THEY KEEP THEIR EMOTIONS INSIDE.

SO IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR FARM OR SOMETHING THAT THEIR FAMILY HAS DONE, THEY'RE VERY PROUD AND WILLING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT, BUT THE STRUGGLES, THEY JUST KEEP THAT TO THEMSELVES.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS, SO I WORRY ABOUT ECONOMIC THINGS.

I WORRY ABOUT IS THERE GOING TO BE ENOUGH WATER?

WHAT'S THE WEATHER GOING TO DO.

>> LIKE, THIS SUMMER, THERE WAS A LOT OF THE VETERAN PROBLEMS GETTING THEIR CROP ALMOST TO MARKET, AND GET A HAILSTORM.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S A LOT OF PROBABLY ALCOHOL ABUSE OR DRUGS, JUST KEEP IT BOTTLED UP AND TRYING TO GET THROUGH DAY BY DAY.

I GUESS THE REASON WE STARTED THE COFFEE BREAK PROJECT WAS THERE WAS FOUR IN A SMALL AREA THAT I KNEW.

EVERY ONE OF THEM WAS AN AGRICULTURE RELATED, INVOLVED IN AG ECONOMY OR SOMETHING.

IT WAS JUST A GOOD TIME TO GET INVOLVED WITH IT.

>> DOING ANY TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH?

>> GOOD.

>> I SHOULD SAY WHOLE HEALTH, INCLUDING DENTAL, PHYSICAL THERAPY, PRIMARY CARE.

>> DEPRESSION, ANXIETY?

>> YES.

>> VERY SIMILAR THINGS, RIGHT.

DIFFERENT VALLEY, BUT SAME SITUATIONS.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COFFEE BREAK REALLY STRESSES IS TO BE WATCHING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND WE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL LOGO.

>> DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR LIKE YOU DO YOUR LAND?

>> AND IT REALLY SAYS A LOT, BECAUSE WE CAN GET WRAPPED UP IN THINGS, BUT IT'S REALLY THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF US AND LIVING AROUND US AND THAT WE'RE INTERCONNECTED TO THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT.

>> IT'S A GREAT HUB TO ACTUALLY HAVE A PHYSICAL LOCATION NOW FOR THE COFFEE BREAK PROJECT.

IT GIVES ONE-STOP SHOP.

PEOPLE CAN COME IN HERE FOR RESOURCES.

THE PROGRAM WE USE IS COMET.

COMET IS CHANGING OUR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL TRAJECTORY.

THEY HAVE ACADEMIC AVENUES, WHICH HELPED US GET INTO A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS.

>> WE MET WITH WEST TEXAS LAST WEEK, HANNAH AND I DID.

THEY'RE INTERESTED IN NOT ONLY COMET TRAINING BUT MAYBE STARTING THE COFFEE BREAK RANCH AT WEST TEXAS.

>> AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY ASPECT.

IT TRULY IS A COMMUNITY THAT WANTS TO LOOK OUT AFTER EACH OTHER AND SUPPORTIVE.

JUST KNOWING THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, IT MAKES US WANT TO LOOK AFTER THEM.

IF THERE ARE ANY HARDSHIPS, WE WANT TO DO ANYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THEM OUT.

>> IF YOU CAN SAVE ONE PERSON, THAT'S MY MAIN GOAL.

IF YOU CAN TOUCH ONE PERSON AND TURN THEM AROUND FROM WHERE THEY'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT IT ANYMORE, SOMETIMES THAT'S ALL IT TAKES.

>> I THINK THE COFFEE BREAK PROJECT HELPS ME AS A FARMER TO GO, LIKE, THIS ISN'T JUST MY ISSUE.

I JUST DIDN'T DO SOMETHING WRONG OR DIDN'T DO ENOUGH.

I CAN SEE HOW MY CHALLENGE IS SIMILAR TO OTHER FARMERS' CHALLENGES, AND SO I THINK THAT IS ALWAYS THE REMINDER THE COFFEE BREAK GIVES ME, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, I CAN DO MY BEST AND I MIGHT STILL HAVE CHALLENGES, BUT I'M NOT ALONE.

>> NOTICE STORY.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, IS IT JUST PIE IN THE SKY, WISHFUL THINKING, OR COULD IT BE REALITY?

>> STEVE SHAW REPORTS ON PLANS TO CONSTRUCT ONE OF THE TALLEST BUILDINGS IN THE WORLD IN OKLAHOMA.

>> WE'LL SAY SO LONG THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT SOME OF SOLOMON SIR JONES HISTORIC MOVIES OF OKLAHOMA'S BLACK TOWNS BACK IN THE 1920S NOW ON DISPLAY AT THE OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA'S JASON STEWART.

FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE IN PUTTING THIS NEWSCAST ON THE AIR EACH WEEK, I'M RICH LENZ.

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

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