>> OKLAHOMA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLS FOR A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITIES IN OKLAHOMA.

>> THE COALITION OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE WORKING IN STEP TO BRING MORE FUNDING, INCREASED PUNISHMENT, AND GREATER AWARENESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

>> LANGSTON UNIVERSITY VOWS TO INCREASE BLACK PARTICIPATION IN A.I.

TECHNOLOGY.

>> WE'RE FAR BEHIND.

IN MOST TECH -- MOST LARGE TECH COMPANIES, WE'RE ABOUT 1% OF THE TOTAL ENROLLMENT AND TOTAL EMPLOYMENT IN TECH.

>> A MUCH-NEEDED NEW 42-MILLION-DOLLAR ANIMAL SHELTER PLANNED FOR OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> WE ARE READY.

IT CAN'T HAPPEN FAST ENOUGH FOR US, BECAUSE IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT LIVES.

>> WE'LL RECAP THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> THERE WILL BE NO SALES TAX ON GROCERIES BEGINNING SOMETIME IN AUGUST.

THE BILL NOW GOES TO GOVERNOR STITT'S DESK FOR HIS SIGNATURE.

>> CONTROVERSY CONTINUES TO SWIRL AROUND THE PROPOSED SITE FOR A NEW OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL.

>> THERE WASN'T HAPPINESS NO MATTER WHERE WE WENT.

>> THAT IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, AND MUCH MORE, NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

OKLAHOMA RANKS SECOND IN THE NATION IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDES, AND THAT'S GARNERED THE ATTENTION OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL AND LAWMAKERS WHO ARE NOW CONSIDERING A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FATALITY REVIEW BOARD.

WITH MORE ON THAT, WE'RE JOINED BY CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT JASON DOYLE AT OUR OETA STUDIOS IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

JASON.

>> RICH, THE ANNUAL REVIEW SHOWS NOT MUCH IMPROVEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE ENDING IN DEATH.

IT RECOMMENDS LAWMAKERS SHOULD BETTER FUND VICTIM SERVICES WHILE MAKING PUNISHMENT FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MORE SEVERE TO HOLD PERPETRATORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

>> THE SHORT VERSION IS THAT IT'S GETTING WORSE.

>> BRANDON IS THE CHAIR OF THE OKLAHOMA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITY REVIEW BOARD AND SAYS WHILE THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES DUE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAS DROPPED SLIGHTLY IN 2022, THE OVER ALL TREND AS CONTINUED TO MOVE UPWARD.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1998, WE'VE HAD A FEW PERIODS OF META ANALYSIS, ONE OF THOSE GOING FROM 2013 TO 2022, AND WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE, A SMALL ONE, BUT IT IS INCREASING, THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDES.

>> ACCORDING TO THE REVIEW BOARD FINDINGS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED HOMICIDES TOTALED 125 IN 2022, WHILE IT'S DOWN THAN PREVIOUS YEARS, IT STILL PLACES OKLAHOMA AS ONE OF THE STOP STATES FOR DEADLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

IN 2018, THE REVIEW BOARD FOUND 88 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED KILLINGS.

2019 WAS THE FIRST YEAR HOMICIDES REACHED OVER 100, AND 2020 WAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER AT 119.

THE 2022 REPORT MAKES THREE RECOMMENDATIONS, INCREASED FUNDING FROM THE STATE, INCREASED PUNISHMENT FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PERPETRATORS AND INCREASED TRAINING FOR THOSE WHO ENCOUNTER VICTIMS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> THE TOP RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BOARD HAS MADE THIS YEAR IS AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, THE FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCE TO HELP STATES ADDRESS THEIR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES HAS TURNED TO A SLOW TRICKLE OUT OF WASHINGTON D.C. >> THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA HAS ABSORBED SOME OF THOSE CUTS THROUGH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S COUNSEL'S VERY CAREFUL MANAGEMENT OF THOSE FUNDS AS THE GRANTEE FROM THE STATE.

BUT A REALITY IS WE'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER 40% CUT THIS YEAR.

>> THAT WHERE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL COMES IN.

HE'S WORKED WITH OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL AND WITH A COALITION OF OKLAHOMA TRIBE ASKING CONGRESS TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GRANT PROGRAMS.

>> THE COALITION OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE WORKING IN STEP TO BRING MORE FUNDING, INCREASED PUNISHMENT AND GREATER AWARENESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

>> A SLOWDOWN IN THE PROSECUTION OF FEDERAL WHITE COLLAR CRIME HAS CAUSED THE FEDERAL FUNDS TO HAVE FALLEN SHORT.

>> THE FEDERAL VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT IS NOT A TAX, BUT IT'S FUNDED THROUGH FEDERAL CRIMES, SO A PORTION OF THE CRIME THAT'S CHARGED TO THE DEFENDANT FUNDS THIS, A FUND THAT'S ALLOCATED THROUGHOUT THE 50 STATES.

IT IS DOWN 40% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

>> DRUMMOND SAYS THIS IS WHY THE REVIEW BOARD IS ASKING FOR MORE FUNDING FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

>> SO THAT LEAVES A REMARKABLE GAP IN FUNDING FOR OKLAHOMA, AND WE'VE ASKED THE LEGISLATURE TO FUND $16.1 MILLION TOWARDS VICTIMS OF CRIME.

>> ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION FOR THE LEGISLATURE IS TO PASS LAWS MAKING MOST ALL FORMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A FELONY AND INCREASING PUNISHMENT FOR SOME OFFENSES.

>> IT WAS A FELONY TO ASSAULT YOUR DOG BEFORE IT WAS A FELONY TO ASSAULT YOUR WIFE OR YOUR PARTNER.

>> HE SAYS THE STATE STRANGULATION LAWS NEED UPDATED.

>> STRANGULATION IS A BRAIN INJURY.

IT SURPRISES ME FREQUENTLY THAT WE DON'T HAVE MORE CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE WITH STRANGULATION, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY ALL IT TAKES.

IT TAKES 5.5 POUNDS OF PRESSURE TO STOP THE BLOOD FLOW TO AND FROM THE BRAIN, RIGHT?

IT'S A BRAIN INJURY.

>> ONE HOMICIDES ONE TOO MANY.

>> SENATOR DARRELL WEAVER IS WORKING ON A MEASURE TO MAKE PERPETRATORS SERVE MORE OF THEIR TIME FOR TRYING TO STRANGLE THEIR PARTNER.

>> IT RISES TO THE LEVEL THAT REALLY SAYS YOU NEED TO BE IN JAIL, YOU'RE SOMEONE THAT WE DO NOT WANT YOU AT ANY TIME SOON -- OUT ANY TIME SOON.

WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE IT TO THAT 85% LEVEL.

AND I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT STRANGULATION IS ONE OF THOSE CRIMES THAT NEEDS TO BE IN THAT FIELD OF CRIMES.

>> WEAVER SAYS THE DATA SHOWS WHEN DOMESTIC ABUSE ESCALATES TO STRANGULATION, THE RELATIONSHIP BECOMES MORE LIKELY TO END IN DEATH.

>> SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN STRANGLED, A STRANGULATION IN A RELATIONSHIP, THEY'RE 750 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM THE SAME OFFENDER BY GUNSHOT.

SO IT'S JUST REALLY STARTLING WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE.

>> WHAT ABOUT SELF-DEFENSE IN YOUR OWN HOME FROM AN INTIMATE PARTNER DURING AN ASSAULT?

THIS REPRESENTATIVE SAYS THERE ARE WOMEN WHO WERE DEFENDING THEMSELVES NOW SERVING PRISON TERMS.

>> I'VE HAD SEVERAL WOMEN, INCARCERATED WOMEN CONTACT ME AND TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES AND HOW THIS ALL HAPPENED, AND THEY'RE STILL IN JAIL.

>> SHE RECENTLY HAD A BILL PASS FROM A HOUSE COMMITTEE WHICH WOULD INSTRUCT JUDGES TO CONSIDER IF A PERSON EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC ABUSE OR VIOLENCE WHEN SENTENCING SOMEONE IN AN ASSAULT OR HOMICIDE CASE.

SHE ALSO WANTS TO TAKE A LOOK THE A PAST SENTENCES.

>> IN MY OPINION, IF YOU WERE PUT IN JAIL FOR THE HOMICIDE OF YOUR DOMESTIC PARTNER BEFORE SOME OF THESE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATUTES CAME INTO PLAY THAT MADE BEING STRANGLED IN YOUR OWN HOME BY YOUR DOMESTIC PARTNER A VIOLENT CRIME, THOSE CASES DESERVE A LOOK BACK.

>> WE MADE PART OF THE BILL BE THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THESE WOMEN, YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME TRAINING IN HOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORKS AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BRAIN AFTER YOU GET CHOKED OUT 2 OR 3 TIMES BY SOMEONE THAT YOU LOVE.

>> SHE SAYS THAT TRAINING IS IMPORTANT TO THOSE TRYING TO ESCAPE THE VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOME BUT FIND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO LEAVE.

>> TRY TO BE COMPASSIONATE TO PEOPLE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE REASON THAT THEY STAY IN THESE SITUATIONS, IT'S BIOLOGICAL, IT'S FINANCIAL, IT'S EMOTIONAL, IT'S THE SAFETY OF THEIR CHILDREN, IT'S THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR CHILDREN.

>> HASLY SAYS THAT TRAINING WILL INCLUDE 911 OPERATORS AND AGREES IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS TO KNOW HOW TO HANDLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE-RELATED SITUATIONS.

>> IT'S VITAL FOR THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS TO UNDERSTAND LETHALITY RISK.

IT'S VITAL FOR THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THOSE RED FLAGS, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE HEARING ON THOSE CALLS.

>> IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN NEED OF HELP WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE OR VIOLENCE, THE STATEWIDE HOTLINE IS 1-800-522-SAFE.

>> JASON, THANK YOU.

WITH MORE ON THE "WEEK THAT WAS" AT 23RD AND LINCOLN, LET'S BRING IN OUR LONGTIME CONTENT PARTNER, QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER, SHAWN ASHLEY.

SHAWN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE $13.9 BILLION THE EQUALIZATION BOARD HAS DETERMINED LAWMAKERS CAN BASE THE NEXT STATE BUDGET ON.

HOW MUCH OF AN INCREASE IS THAT FROM LAST YEAR, AND WHAT ARE THE EARLY INDICATIONS ON HOW THEY MIGHT CHOOSE TO SPEND IT?

>> WELL, THAT'S ABOUT 1.4 BILL WHY NOT DOLLARS MORE THAN WAS APPROPRIATED FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 2024.

IF YOU LOOK AT RECURRING REVENUE, REVENUE EXPECTED TO COME IN YEAR OVER YEAR, THAT'S AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY $830 MILLION FROM WHAT WAS SEEN DURING THE 2024 BUDGET PERIOD.

HOW THEY'LL SPEND THAT, THERE ARE A LOT OF PRIORITIES ON THE TABLE AND A LOT OF REQUESTS.

AGENCIES HAVE REQUESTED MORE THAN $1.2 BILLION OF ADDITIONAL SPENDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, AND THE SAME TIME, LAWMAKERS ARE HAGGLING OVER HOW THEY WILL DEAL WITH TAX CUT PROPOSALS.

>> FIRST A HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE PASSING A BILL WHICH COULD END FOREIGN OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN OKLAHOMA.

IS THAT A RESPONSE TO CHINESE INTEREST BUYING UP LAND IN THE UNITED STATES?

>> THAT WAS THE CONCERN OF REPRESENTATIVE DANNY WILLIAMS WHO PRESENTED THE BILL TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE.

HOWEVER, DURING THE COURSE OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE, IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT CHINA IS NOT THE LARGEST PURCHASER, FOREIGN PURCHASER OF LAND IN OKLAHOMA, THAT THAT TITLE ACTUALLY BELONGS TO CANADA.

AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, WE OFTEN SEE OTHER COUNTRIES, SUCH AS MEXICO, BEING INDICATED TO BE LARGE PURCHASES OF LAND IN OKLAHOMA.

THAT BILL PASSED THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND MOVES TO THE FULL HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION.

>> I ALSO FOUND THIS INTERESTING.

LAWMAKERS LOOKING TO SET AN AGE LIMIT ON JUDGES.

TELL US ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA JUDICIAL RETIREMENT ACT OF 2024.

>> THIS IS A PROPOSAL BY SENATOR JULIE DANIELS, A REPUBLICAN FROM BARTLESVILLE, AND IT WOULD REQUIRE JUDGES AND JUSTICES TO RETIRE AT THE AGE OF 75, REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG THEY HAD SERVED IN THE OFFICE.

SENATOR DANIELS SAID SHE BELIEVES THIS WAS AN APPROPRIATE AGE AT WHICH MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY SHOULD RETIRE FROM THEIR POSITIONS.

IT WAS NOTED DURING THE COURSE OF THAT DISCUSSION THAT IF THE SAME THING WERE APPLIED TO LEGISLATORS, AT LEAST 4 LEGISLATORS WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE LEGISLATURE.

THE BILL DID PASS THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND MOVES ONTO THE FULL SENATE FOR ITS CONSIDERATION.

>> YEAH, VERY INTERESTING.

THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN SENATOR ADAM PUGH HAS CREATED A 200 MILLION-DOLLAR INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO INCENTIVIZE WHAT EXACTLY?

>> WELL, WHAT HE'S LOOKING TO DO IS TO TIE THOSE DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES FROM CAREER TECH, FOR EXAMPLE, TO SPECIFIC WORKFORCE NEEDS IN THE STATE.

THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THAT COMMITTEE MEETING, MEMBERS INDICATED THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, CAREER TECH AND THE WORKFORCE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

BY OFFERING THIS $200 MILLION OF INCENTIVES TO THE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND CAREER TECHS ACROSS THE STATE, THEY HOPE THAT THE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND CAREER TECHS WILL BEGIN PROVIDING THE SPECIFIC GRADUATES NEEDED TO FILL THOSE WORKPLACE HOLES.

>> FINALLY, YOU MENTIONED IT EARLIER, WHERE DO WE STAND ON THE TAX CUTS, INCOME TAX IN THE HOUSE, GROCERY TAX IN THE SENATE?

WILL TAXPAYERS GET BOTH, ONE OR THE OTHER?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING?

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING.

>> ON THURSDAY, SENATE BILL PASSED A BILL REDUCING THE STATE SALES TAX TO ZERO.

IN OTHER WORDS, THERE WOULD BE NO STATE SALES TAX ON GROCERIES BEGINNING SOMETIME IN AUGUST.

THE BILL NOW GOES TO GOVERNOR STITT FOR HIS SIGNATURE.

AS FOR OTHER TAX CUTS, US SUCH AS INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX CUTS, THOSE THINGS ARE STILL UP IN THE AIR.

BUT SENATOR PRO-TEM GREG TREAT INDICATED ON WEDNESDAY THAT IF THE STATE WERE TO CUT THE GROCERY TAX, THAT WOULD LEAVE NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AVAILABLE TO REDUCE OTHER TAXES, SUCH AS THE INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX.

>> YEAH, THAT'S GOOD NEWS, THOUGH, FOR FOLKS THAT BUY GROCERIES.

THAT'S ALL OF US.

I THINK.

SHAWN ASHLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>> ON THURSDAY MORNING, BRONZE BUSTS OF CLARA LUPER AND HANNAH ATKINS WERE UNVEILED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE CAPITOL.

COMMISSIONED BY THE OKLAHOMA ARTS COUNCIL AND FASHIONED BY ARTIST LAQUINCEY REED, THE BUSTS ARE 2 OF 21 NEW WORKS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE ON DISPLAY FOLLOWING THE BUILDING'S RESTORATION.

LUPER IS AN ICONIC CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, AND ATKINS, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN ELECTED TO THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SERVING FROM 1968 UNTIL 1980.

>> I'D LIKE TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE AND HEARTFELT APPRECIATION FOR THIS DEDICATION AND HONOR.

I TOO WAS A MEMBER OF MS. LUPER'S SIT-IN MOVEMENT.

>> IT IS TRULY AN HONOR FOR A BUST OF MY MOM TO BE PRESENTED AND CELEBRATED AT THIS EVENT TODAY.

MY MOM WAS A STRICT BUT WARM AND LOVING MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER.

SHE LOVED OKLAHOMA AND OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD THAT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE HERE IN OKLAHOMA IS ACTUALLY BEING DONE BY THE HANDS OF OKLAHOMANS, BECAUSE NOBODY CAN TELL THE STORY OF OKLAHOMA LIKE OKLAHOMA ARTISTS.

>> MEMBERS OF THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THURSDAY'S CEREMONY.

>> THE DEATH OF AN OWASSO STUDENT IS RECEIVING NATIONAL ATTENTION, EVEN AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, AND IMPORTANT QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED.

16-YEAR OLD NEX BENEDICT, A NON-BINARY STUDENT, DIED A DAY AFTER AN ALTERCATION IN A BATHROOM AT OWASSO HIGH SCHOOL ON FEBRUARY 7TH.

ON THURSDAY, OWASSO POLICE SAID AN INITIAL REPORT FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER INDICATED THA , QUOTE, BENEDICT DID NOT DIE AS A RESULT OF TRAUMA.

AT THEIR MONTHLY MEETING LATER THAT DAY, STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS, WHO SERVES ON THE OETA BOARD BY VIRTUE OF HIS ELECTED POSITION, OFFERED CONDOLENCES TO BENEDICT'S FAMILY AND THEN LISTENED TO HARSH CRITICISM IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THAT FOLLOWED.

>> LOSING A STUDENT IS ALWAYS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, AND WE SHOULD BE KEEPING THE OWASSO FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES IN OUR PRAYERS.

IT'S A HEARTBREAKING TRAGEDY, AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO SO MANY FOLKS OVER THERE, AND WE WANT TO BE THERE TO COMFORT THEM AS BEST WE CAN.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS THAT HAVE RUSHED TO HAVE AN OPINION AND JUDGMENT THERE IN THE WAKE OF A TRAGEDY.

WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT WE WAIT WHILE THERE'S LITTLE INFORMATION AVAILABLE, AND THERE WILL BE MORE THAT COMES OUT HERE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AS LAW ENFORCEMENT IS DOING THEIR INVESTIGATIONS.

>> SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS, BOARD MEMBERS, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS MIKE HOWE.

YOU ALL KNOW WHO THAT IS.

WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE FACTS YET, BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT STUDENTS AT NEX BENEDICT'S SCHOOL TARGETED HER BECAUSE SHE WAS DIFFERENT AND IDENTIFIED AS NON-BINARY.

THESE CHILDREN WHO ATTACKED NEX HAD TO BE TAUGHT TO HATE.

>> BENEDICT'S FAMILY HAS RELEASED A STATEMENT ASKING FOR PRIVACY AT THIS TIME.

>> ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY THE KINSEY INSTITUTE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COULD ELIMINATE 4 AND A HALF MILLION JOBS CURRENTLY HELD BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

AND MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN THE A.I.

WORKPLACE IS ALSO LAGGING BEHIND.

WITH MORE ON WHAT LANGSTON UNIVERSITY IS DOING TO COMBAT THAT, WE'RE JOINED BY EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON.

TAELYR?

>> RICH, LANGSTON UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF BUSINESS IS WORKING TO INCREASE THAT MINORITY PARTICIPATION BY PREPARING ITS STUDENT TO ENTER THE STEM WORKFORCE AFTER GRADUATION.

ACCORDING TO A 2021 PEW RESEARCH CENTER REPORT, BLACK AND HISPANIC WORKERS REMAIN UNDERREPRESENTED IN THE STEM WORKFORCE.

>> WE'RE FAR BEHIND.

IN MOST LARGE TECH COMPANIES, WE'RE ABOUT 1% OF THE TITLE ENROLLMENT OR TOTAL EMPLOYMENT IN TECH, AND THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 35% OF THE WORKFORCE, AND YOU'RE ONLY 1% IN AN AREA THAT IS IMPACTING BILLIONS OF PEOPLES' LIVES, THAT'S A REAL ISSUE.

>> LANGSTON UNIVERSITY COMPUTER SCIENCE CHAIR RALPH GRAYSON SAYS THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE OF COLOR TO STEM.

>> WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO IT EARLY AND THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO LEVERAGE IT, MUCH HOW WE USE OFFICE PRODUCTS NOW, RIGHT?

WE USE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOFTWARE EVERY DAY TO BROWSE THE INTERNET, RIGHT, TO CREATE DOCUMENTS.

WE DO THAT.

NOW WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT, HEY, LEVERAGE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND TAKE YOUR THINKING TO A HIGHER LEVEL.

>> GRAYSON SAYS THIS UNDERREPRESENTATION HAS CAUSED A LACK OF DIVERSITY IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OR A.I.

A.I.

REFERS TO A COMPUTER OR ROBOT'S ABILITY TO MIMIC HUMAN COGNITION THROUGH HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE.

>> SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE ARE THAT THE BIASES WE HAVE AS HUMANS, SINCE WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO CLONE HUMAN BEHAVIOR OR EMULATE HUMAN BE BEHAVIOR, THEN OUR BIASES ARE BAKED INTO IT ALSO.

SO WE AS AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE BEEN FACED WITH A LOT OF THOSE BIASES.

>> HE'S CONCERNED THOSE BIASES CAN BE PROGRAMMED INTO A.I.

64% OF BLACK ADULTS SAY THAT BIAS IN APPLICATIONS, RACE IS AN ISSUE.

>> EVEN IF IT'S UNCONSCIOUS BIAS, YOU HAVE THAT BIAS THAT AFFECTS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

SO OUR COMPUTERS, THEY ARE FORCE MULTIPLIERS.

WHAT WE DO IS MULTIPLY MILLIONS, SOMETIMES BILLIONS OF TIMES PER DAY, RIGHT, NOT JUST PER YEAR, BUT PER DAY.

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO THAT BIAS TO AFFECT PEOPLE NEGATIVELY.

WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS, FROM FACIAL RECOGNITION, SECURITY SYSTEMS, PAYROLL SYSTEMS, HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO VERIFY.

>> THE UNIVERSITY IS ADDRESSING THE ISSUE BY MAINTAINING A 98% GRADUATION RATE FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE MEASURES AND INCREASING VISIBILITY OF ITS STUDENTS IN TECH EVENTS LIKE HACK-A-THONS AND CODE-A-THONS.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT TRAINING OUR STUDENTS.

WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND COMPUTER SCIENCE IS IMPORTANT AND THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS THE FUTURE, RIGHT?

AND NOT ONLY IN COMPUTER SCIENCE, BUT IN THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS OVERALL.

WE'RE BAKING IT INTO ALL OF OUR CLASSES, MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE IT AND LEVERAGE IT INTO A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

SO OUR TASK, ESPECIALLY IN THE COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT.

>> ONE COMPETITION WE PARTICIPATED IN WAS THE KANSAS CITY FEDERAL RESERVE BANK ANNUAL CODE-A-THON.

IN THAT, WE CREATED AN APPLICATION THAT TEACHES PEOPLE HOW TO CODE USING A.I., SO WE USED THE OPEN AI.API TO EMPOWER THE END USER ON THEIR CODING JOURNEY.

SO IT TEACHES THEM FUNDAMENTALS OF CODING, SIN TAX ERRORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO THEY CAN FIND THEM IN THEIR CODE AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM.

>> STUDENTS ARE ALSO LEARNING HOW TO USE A.I.

TO HELP SOLVE ISSUES IN THE REAL WORD.

>> GRAYSON HAS GOTTEN US A CONTRACT WITH THE USDA IN WHICH WE'RE DEVELOPING A HEALTHY EATING OR DIETARY APP FOR THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE ASKING QUESTIONS LIKE, WHAT ARE BETTER DIETARY REPLACEMENTS FOR THESE FOODS THAT I HAVE IN MY EVERY DAY LIFE.

OR I LIVE IN THIS AREA, WHAT ARE OTHER THINGS I CAN USE TO HAVE A BETTER EATING STYLE OR CERTAIN DIETARY RESTRICTIONS THAT I HAVE THAT I CAN'T REALLY FIND ON MY OWN.

SO IT WILL THEN RESPOND TO YOU WITH ALTERNATIVES THAT YOU CAN USE.

>> STUDENTS SAY THEY REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE TRAINED IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> WE'VE KIND OF BEEN GROWING WITH IT, BECAUSE IT LEARNS FROM US AS WELL AS THE INFORMATION IT'S TRAINED ON, WHICH IS EVER GROWING IN SIZE, SO IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN EYE-OPENING.

THE BETTER I LEARN HOW TO USE IT, IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER TOOL.

YOU HAND SOMEBODY A CALCULATOR, AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY MIGHT NOT GO AS FAR AS COULD IF THEY HAD BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPTS.

>> SHE SPENT HER SUMMER AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY FOR AI RESEARCH.

>> WAY MORE EXPOSURE TO AI THAN I DID IN THE PAST.

I WAS ABLE TO CREATE A ALGORITHM THAT TEACHES PEOPLE HOW TO LEARN MATH PROBLEMS AND IT PROVIDES DIFFERENT INTERVENTIONS FOR THEM IN THE GIVEN CONTEXT OF WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING.

>> SHE SAYS THE UNIVERSITY'S COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM HAS PREPARED HER FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE.

>> THIS HAS PREPARED ME A LOT.

BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY BEEN TO CORPORATE AMERICA.

I WENT INTO THE ACADEMIA SETTING.

I WOULD SAY AT LANGSTON, I'VE GAINED SO MUCH DIFFERENT LIFE LESSONS, LIKE NOT NECESSARILY SPECIFICALLY ABOUT CLASS AND CLASS WORK, BUT I ALSO LEARNED ABOUT, JUST, LIKE, THINGS IN LIFE, LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKING.

THAT'S SOMETHING REALLY BIG THAT HAS HELPED ME WHEN I WENT ON TO CORPORATE AMERICA AS WELL AS WHEN I WAS AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY.

>> THIS WEEK THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE GOVERNMENT MODERNIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE PASSED NUMEROUS AI REGULATION BILLS.

THE COMMITTEE CHAIR SAYS IN THE AGE OF A.I., TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

THANK YOU, TAELYR.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE NEW LOCATION OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY COUNTY JAIL.

EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING, A GROUP LED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE JASON LOW MARCHED INTO DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY TO VOICE OPPOSITION TO BUILDING THE NEW FACILITY IN THAT LOCATION.

AFTERWARDS, LOWE SAID COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAD REMOVED THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FROM CONSIDERATION.

HERE'S A PREVIEW OF OUR IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ON THE FUTURE SITE FOR THE NEW JAIL.

>> EVERYWHERE WE WENT, WHETHER THEY CAME AS VOCAL INTO THE MEETINGS, THEY CERTAINLY WERE ORGANIZED TO SEND US EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS.

AND SO WE LITERALLY HEARD FROM EVERY SINGLE SITE THAT WAS CONSIDERED, AND IT HAD, I WOULD CALL, SIGNIFICANT PROTEST IN EVERY PLACE WE WERE GOING TO GO.

SO, FOR ME, IT ALWAYS HAD TO BE ABOUT FINDING A FUNCTIONAL SITE.

>> THE INTENTION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY IS TO THROW THIS DOWN HERE, AND THEY'RE GONNA CAUSE OUR CITY TO DECLINE.

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE A DETROIT TYPE OF SITUATION WHERE THAT THERE IS BAD NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT UP AGAINST THERE.

YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CITY, A BEAUTIFUL THRIVING CITY OF DELL CITY RIGHT NEXT AND THE CLOSEST CITY TO DOWNTOWN.

AND WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GO AND MAKE THAT DECLINE?

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

>> MAPS-4 FUNDING HAS ALLOCATED $42 MILLION TO BUILD A NEW OKLAHOMA CITY ANIMAL SHELTER TO REPLACE THE CURRENT FACILITY.

WITH A LOOK AT THE PLANS AND WHY THE SHELTER IS BADLY NEEDED, WE'RE JOINED BY STEVE SHAW.

STEVE?

>> RICH, A BIG REASON WAS ON FULL DISPLAY LAST WEEK WHEN OKLAHOMA CITY ANIMAL WELFARE MISTAKENLY EUTHANIZED A DOG THAT WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE NEUTERED.

IT WAS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE.

BUT MISTAKES LIKE THAT HAPPEN WHEN A FACILITY IS TERRIBLY OVERCROWDED.

>> YOU LET FURBEE OUT AND YOU GOT TO STAY.

COME ON, FURBEE.

LET'S GO!

>> GAYLE LEICHNER WORKED IN THE LAB AT SAINT ANTHONY'S HOSPITAL FOR MORE THAN FORTY YEARS.

FOR THE PAST 26 YEARS, GAYLE HAS VOLUNTEERED HERE AT OKLAHOMA CITY ANIMAL WELFARE ON THE SOUTH END OF TOWN.

>> BEING A GOOD DOG TODAY?

ON TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND SOME SATURDAYS, HUMANS CAN COME TOGETHER AND HELP THIS POPULATION THAT REALLY NEEDS HELP.

>> LAST MONTH, OKLAHOMA CITY CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A MAPS-4 PRELIMINARY REPORT, WHICH AUTHORIZES AN ARCHITECT TO WORK ON FINAL PLANS FOR A NEW, LARGER ANIMAL SHELTER.

THESE ARE SOME ARTIST RENDERINGS OF WHAT THE CITY SAYS IT WILL LOOK LIKE.

JON GARY HAS BEEN SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PRESENT ANIMAL WELFARE FACILITY FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS.

HE'S WORKED HERE 24 YEARS.

>> WE ARE READY.

IT CAN'T HAPPEN FAST ENOUGH FOR US, BECAUSE IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT LIVES.

SO WE ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS, AND IT CAN'T HAPPEN SOON ENOUGH.

>> EXPERTS SAY THE CURRENT FACILITY HAS BEEN OVERCROWDED FOR TWO DECADES.

JUST LAST WEEK, AN ANIMAL WELFARE STAFF MEMBER MISTAKENLY EUTHANIZED A DOG THAT HAD GOTTEN AWAY FROM ITS OWNER.

THE DOG WAS SUPPOSED TO BE NEUTERED HERE AT ANIMAL WELFARE BEFORE THE OWNER CAME TO GET IT.

BUT, AGAIN, THE DOG WAS MISTAKENLY EUTHANIZED INSTEAD.

>> IT WAS A VERY, YOU KNOW, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE MISTAKE, VERY UNFORTUNATE, VERY SAD.

AND BEING OVERCROWDED DOESN'T HELP THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IF WE WERE IN A BETTER SITUATION WHERE ANIMALS WERE ABLE TO HOUSE INDIVIDUALLY, I REALLY -- OR AT LEAST KENNELS THAT WERE APPROPRIATE SIZE FOR TWO DOGS, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO AVOID THOSE KINDS OF MISTAKES THAT HAPPEN.

>> GARY SAYS THE FACILITY, WHICH WAS BUILT IN THE LATE '90S, HAS A CAPACITY OF JUST OVER 300 DOGS.

AS OF THIS PAST TUESDAY, IT WAS HOLDING 408.

IT HAS HELD AS MANY AS 500 DOGS BEFORE, WHICH IS NOT GOOD.

GARY SAYS THE CURRENT FACILITY WAS BUILT TO HOUSE DOGS AND CATS FOR JUST A MATTER OF 3 TO 5 DAYS UNTIL THEY WERE EUTHANIZED, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THESE SHELTERS WERE RUN BACK IN THE DAY.

>> IT ABSOLUTELY WAS.

WE DIDN'T -- LIFE SAVING REALLY WASN'T A MAJOR FOCUS.

WE, AGAIN, WERE SAVING ABOUT 10 TO 15 PERCENT OF THE ANIMALS THAT CAME IN AT THAT TIME.

SO THIS NEW FACILITY IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO BETTER SAVE LIVES AND ALLOW US TO HANDLE MORE OF THE VOLUME OF ANIMALS WE SEE THAT COME IN, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, BUT KEEPING ANIMALS MENTALLY WELL WHILE THEY ARE HERE IS IMPORTANT.

AND THIS FACILITY IS BUILT MUCH LIKE A PRISON.

THERE ARE NO WINDOWS IN THE KENNELS.

IT'S COLD AND DAMP.

IT'S DARK.

IT'S CINDER BLOCK WALLS.

IT'S ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH A PRISON.

>> GARY SAYS THE NEW FACILITY WILL BE 21,000 SQUARE FEET BIGGER THAN THE PRESENT FACILITY.

IT WILL BE BUILT ON 17 ACRES JUST NORTH OF THE CURRENT STRUCTURE.

IT WILL ACTUALLY HAVE WINDOWS.

KENNEL SIZES FOR DOGS AND CATS WILL BE BIGGER, ALSO WITH MULTI-LEVEL INDIVIDUAL HOUSING FOR CATS, WHICH GARY SAYS CUTS DOWN ON DISEASE.

HE SAYS MAKING THE ANIMALS MORE COMFORTABLE IS NECESSARY, BECAUSE NOW 80 PERCENT OF THE ANIMALS THAT COME THROUGH THE DOORS HERE STICK AROUND MUCH LONGER THAN 3 TO 5 DAYS.

>> AND ALL OF THIS AREA IS ALL CRAMPED IN WHERE THE NEW FACILITY WILL BE OPEN.

>> GARY SAYS THE VETERINARY SERVICES AREA IN THE NEW SHELTER WILL BE LARGER AND MORE EFFICIENT.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE HERE IS OUR X-RAY MACHINE, AND WE TEMPORARILY SET IT UP IN HERE.

IN THE NEW FACILITY, IT WILL ACTUALLY HAVE ITS OWN X RAY ROOM.

>> STANLEY IS A PIT BULL MIX.

HE'S BEEN HERE AT OKLAHOMA CITY ANIMAL WELFARE LONGER THAN ANY OTHER DOG.

HE'S BEEN HERE SINCE DECEMBER 6TH.

YOU CAN ADOPT STANLEY RIGHT NOW, OR ANY OTHER DOG 40 POUNDS OR OVER, FOR FREE.

THEY'RE RUNNING A DEAL.

>> SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS LONG AS WE STAY OVER CAPACITY.

THE MOST AS RISK ANIMALS IN OUR FACILITY ARE DOGS POUNDS AND OVER, AND THOSE MEDIUM TO LARGE MIXED BREED TYPE DOGS ARE THE MOST AT RISK RIGHT NOW.

40 RIGHT NOW, ALL OF THEIR ADOPTION FEES ARE WAIVED, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT UNTIL OUR CAPACITY IS NO LONGER A CONCERN, WHICH FOR US IS ALWAYS A CONCERN.

>> GAYLE LEICHNER SAYS SHE PLANS TO HANG AROUND AND VOLUNTEER AT LEAST UNTIL THE NEW FACILITY IS FINISHED IN PROBABLY TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

>> I GOT TO WATCH THIS SHELTER BEING BUILT.

ABOUT A HALF OF IT WAS BUILT WHEN I STARTED IN 1998, SO I HAVE ACTUALLY GOT TO WATCH IT DETERIORATE, AND ANIMAL SHELTERING HAS COME SO FAR IN ALL OF THESE YEARS.

AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ONE OF THE BEST SHELTERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> HE'S MY BUDDY, YEAH.

>> WILLIAM DOYLE SAYS HE HAD TO SURRENDER HIS DOG, TINY BOY, LAST WEEK AFTER GETTING PULLED OVER DURING A TRAFFIC STOP.

HE GOT TINY BOY BACK THIS PAST TUESDAY.

>> THESE PEOPLE ARE SO NICE, THESE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE.

THE TEAM AND ESPECIALLY THE SUPERVISOR ARE OUTSTANDING.

THEY ARE.

THEY'RE GETTING A NEW FACILITY.

AND I AM VERY PROUD TO SAY I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THAT FACT TO LEARN IT.

WE NEED IT HERE, AND IT'S A GOOD THING THAT PEOPLE STAND UP FOR DOGS.

THEY ARE IMPORTANT, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

YOU CAN LOOK ON MY FACE AND SEE THAT.

>> BY THE WAY, THE FAMILY THAT OWNED THAT DOG THAT WAS MISTAKENLY PUT TO SLEEP IS FORGIVING.

THEY ACTUALLY HAVE ADOPTED THE OTHER DOG THAT LAST WEEK WAS IN THAT KENNEL WITH THEIR DOG.

THE DOG THEY ADOPTED WAS SCHEDULED TO BE EUTHANIZED.

RICH.

>> NOW THAT'S A NICE ENDING TO THE STORY.

THANK YOU, STEVE.

>> CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CLEARED 2 BILLION IN PROFITS LAST YEAR.

THAT STORY TOPS OUR WEEKLY STATE-WIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW WITH JASON DOYLE.

>> OKLAHOMA CITY-BASED CHESAPEAKE ENERGY REPORTS FULL YEAR NET INCOME IN 2023 TOTALED 2.4 BILLION DOLLARS.

BECAUSE OF A SUCCESSFUL FOURTH QUARTER, CHESAPEAKE WILL PAY ITS INVESTORS A BASE DIVIDEND NEXT MONTH.

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE COMPANY HAS BOUGHT BACK 16 MILLION SHARES OF ITS COMMON SHARES.

CHESAPEAKE DRILLED 193 WELLS AND PLANED 166 OF THEM INTO PRODUCTION.

THE COMPANY IS STILL AWAITING APPROVAL OF ITS MERGER WITH SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY.

OKLAHOMA GAS AND ELECTRIC PARENT COMPANY OGE CORP REPORTS 2023 PROFITS DROPPED FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR DUE TO MILDER WEATHER.

THE COMPANY REPORTS FULL YEAR NET INCOME OF 416.8 MILLION DOLLARS COMPARED TO NET INCOME OF 665.7 MILLION IN 2022.

>> THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA IS NOW OFFERING A MASTER OF ENGINEERING DEGREE IN ENERGY TRANSITION.

THE PROGRAM WILL FOCUS ON THE TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE AND CLEANER ENERGY SOLUTIONS.

THE PROGRAM WILL BE THROUGH TU'S MCDOUGALL SCHOOL OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING, WHICH HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE TOP PETROLEUM ENGINEERING SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THE RENT FOR AN AVERAGE TWO-BEDROOM IN OKLAHOMA CITY IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR INCREASED BY 2.2 PERCENT OVER THE JANUARY 2023 AVERAGE.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE LATEST MONTHLY RENTAL REPORT BY REALTOR.COM.

IT SAYS TO EXPECT TO PAY AROUND 988 A MONTH.

MUCH OF THE COUNTRY SAW DECREASES IN RENTAL RATES, ESPECIALLY IN LARGE METRO AREAS IN THE WEST.

DESPITE THE INCREASE, OKLAHOMA CITY STILL HAS SOME OF THE LOWEST COST RENTALS AMONG THE 50 LARGEST U.S. CITIES.

>> THE DEVELOPERS OF THE AMERICAN HEARTLAND THEME PART IN VINITA HAS STRUCK UP A DEAL WITH PEPSICO TO BE THE EXCLUSIVE SOFT DRINK PROVIDER FOR THE 2 BILLION DOLLAR AMUSEMENT PARK.

THOSE BRANDS INCLUDE PEPSI, MOUNTAIN DEW, GATORADE AND AQUAFINA.

THE AMUSEMENT PARK IS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN 2026.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> THANKS, JASON.

>> OKLAHOMA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE DECIDED ON A LOCATION FOR THE NEW COUNTY JAIL, BUT COMMUNITY LEADERS IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA CITY ARE MAKING IT CLEAR: THEY DON'T WANT IT BUILT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WITH MORE ON THE REASONS WHY AND WHERE THE NEW FACILITY WILL EVENTUALLY WIND UP, HERE'S MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD WITH THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

JOINING ME NOW IS OKLAHOMA COUNTY COMMISSIONER BRIAN WHO WAS PART OF THAT PROCESS ON WEDNESDAY AND DELL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MICHAEL DEAN.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> COMMISSIONER MON, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON WEDNESDAY DURING THE VOTE FOR THE NEW JAIL LOCATION?

>> THEY FINALLY MADE A DECISION.

AGAIN, THIS IS OUR SECOND CHOICE.

YOU'LL RECALL WE WENT TO THE AIRPORT FIRST AND ASKED FOR THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY LAND THAT WAS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE AIRPORT, AND WE WANTED THAT.

THAT WAS OUR FIRST CHOICE, AND THEN THE FAA WEIGHED IN ON IT AND DECIDED THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS WITHIN THE SCOPE, AND THEY DENIED BLESSING IT, SO THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY DIDN'T WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH WITH THE SALE, SO THAT STARTED WITH A SCRAMBLE FOR ANOTHER LOCATION.

WE PICKED THE 1901 GRAND BOULEVARD SITE.

>> COUNCILMAN DEAN, WHAT DID YOU SEE WHILE YOU WERE THERE?

>> WE SAW THAT WE WERE CHOSEN RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS IS THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY, THEY DID NOT GET A LETTER FROM THE FAA SAYING DON'T PUT THEIR JAIL THERE.

THE FAA WOULD NOT GO AND INTERFERE WITH SUCH A THING.

THE FAA WOULD SAY AND DEFER TO THE AIRPORT TRUST.

THE ONLY THING THE FAA WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS IF THE JAIL TRUST TRIED TO PUT THE JAIL IN THE LANDING PATH.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND, THEY CHOSE OTHER LOCATIONS.

WE KNEW FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE CHOOSING 1901 GRAND.

>> COMMISSIONER MOND, DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE TO THAT?

>> I WENT THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT SITES AND TRIED TO PICK SEVERAL ONES.

THERE WERE DIFFERENT REASONS WHY IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

I WAS EVEN TRYING AS LATE AS YESTERDAY.

AS A BACKUP, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DRILL ON OTHER ALTERNATIVE SITES JUST IN THE EVENT OKLAHOMA CITY COUNCIL, BECAUSE THIS ACTUALLY ISN'T IN DELL CITY, IT'S CLOSE TO IT, SO IT WILL GO TO THEIR PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL FOR ZONING, AND THEY MAY OR MAY NOTT APPROVE IT.

IF THEY DON'T, WE'LL HAVE TO BE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AGAIN.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE STARTED LOOKING AT ALTERNATE SITES JUST IN THE EVENT THAT OCCURS.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER DEAN, TELL ME ABOUT THE 10-DOLLAR BILL?

>> SO THE 10-DOLLAR BILL WAS AN ILLUSTRATION JUST TO SHOW THAT THE FINANCIAL ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE TO BUILD DOWNTOWN IS NOT INSURMOUNTABLE.

THE MAIN CONCERN WE'VE BEEN GIVEN ABOUT BUILDING DOWNTOWN IS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO BUILD A HIGH RISE AND A HIGH RISE WOULD REQUIRE FOUNDATIONS, AND SO THE FOUNDATION MAY HAVE TO BE DRILLED DEEPER.

AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE DEVIN BUILDING, THE FUTURE BUILDINGS, BUILDING A HIGH RISE DOWNTOWN IS NOT INSURMOUNTABLE.

SO THE EXTRA MONEY THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR FOUNDATIONS COULD JUST BE WHERE YOU COULD JUST GO AND DO A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF WHAT I SAID -- LET'S JUST SAY $100 MILLION.

WITH THE MILLION PEOPLE IN THE DOUBT, THAT WOULD ONLY BE $100 PER PERSON OR $10 A YEAR FOR 10 YEARS AFTER BOND.

SO THAT WAS THE MONEY DEMONSTRATION.

>> THE LAST MEMBER OF THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL TRUST QUIT ON MONDAY OVER THE FRUSTRATION WITH FUNDING SAYING SHE HAS, QUOTE, LITTLE HOPE ADEQUATE FUNDS WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE FUTURE.

COUNCILMAN DEAN, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT'S MY CONCERN ABOUT PUTTING IT AT 1901 GRAND.

THEY PROMISED WHEN THE JAIL WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE OUT AT THE AIRPORT OR DOWNTOWN.

THAT'S WHAT THE BOND PEOPLE WANTED.

NOW THEY MADE ADDITIONAL PROMISES TO CROOKED OAK SCHOOL DISTRICT AS WELL AS TO DELL CITY ABOUT PLACING A SHERIFF'S SUBSTATION OR ADDITIONAL OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE STATIONS.

BOTH OF THOSE TAKE MONEY, AND THEN THE FINAL THING THAT THEY TRIED TO DO IS SAYING THAT, OH, WE'RE GOING TO TRANSPORT AND DO TRANSPORTATION.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT EVEN -- THEY'RE NOT EVEN PROMISING RIGHT NOW AROUND THE CLOCK TRANSPORTATION.

IT'S NOW FROM 7 TO MIDNIGHT.

BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE FUNDED.

THESE ARE ALL GOING TO BE COMING OUT OF TAXPAYER FUNDS, WHICH THE JAIL TRUST ACCOMPLISH ME SAID CE DID NOT SEE ENOUGH FUNDS AS IT IS.

>> DO YOU HAVE A RESPONSE?

>> WE JUST DON'T SEE A DOWNTOWN SITE AS VIABLE.

ONLY ONE WILLING PROPERTY OWNER SO FAR WANTING TO SELL, SO THEN YOU'RE BACK TO LOOKING AT EMINENT DOMAIN, WHICH I PERSONALLY OPPOSE, UNLESS IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY UNAVOIDABLE.

AND THEN THEY SAID, CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS, THAT IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST A FIVE STORY BUILDING IN ORDER TO GET THE ADEQUATE BEDS WE NEED.

WE ARE IN ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH A VERTICAL TOWER NOW.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUT OF.

THEY ARE ONLY DOING IT IN PLACES WHERE THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE ANY LAND, AND IN CASES WHERE THEY DO, DOJ'S RULE INTO NOT SANCTIONING ABOVE 6 STORIES.

THAT LEAVES US FIVE STORIES, NO ROOM FOR GROWTH.

WE HAVE ALL INDICATIONS OUR POPULATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND.

IT ALSO WAS GOING TO BE $90 MILLION MORE TO BUILD DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS WHAT THE COUNCILMAN IS ALLUDING TO WITH THE $10 A PERSON FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO COVER THE DIFFERENCE.

SO JUST TRYING TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYERS AND ALSO BEST FUNCTIONALITY OF THE SITE AND LOOKING WHERE THE BEST FOOTPRINT WAS WHERE THAT WAS POSSIBLE.

>> WE HEARD FROM SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SAYING, WOULDN'T IT COST LESS TO RESTORE THE LOCATION WHERE IT IS NOW RATHER THAN FIND A LOCATION, BUY THE PROPERTY AND THEN BUILD A NEW JAIL?

>> THIS JAIL WAS REALLY BUILT BY FOLKLORE STANDARDS OF ALL THE HISTORY I COULD GATHER FOR IT TO BE BASICALLY A 25-YEAR.

ESSENTIALLY, OUR COMMUNITY 30 YEARS AGO WENT AHEAD AND JUST DID A KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

THEY SAID WE'RE GOING TO DO ONE PENNY FOR ONE YEAR, AND WHATEVER THAT BUILDS, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AND JUST SEE IF IT LASTS US ABOUT 25 YEARS, AND THEN WE'LL GET IN AND STEP BACK AND DO A LONG-RANGE PLAN.

AND SADLY, MAYBE THERE WAS JUST NEVER REALLY THAT LONG RANGE PLAN THAT SHOULD HAVE STARTED SOON THEREAFTER.

THE FACILITY IS NOW 33 YEARS OLD.

EVEN IF IT HADN'T BEEN OVER CROWDED AND ABUSED AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NEARING THE END OF ITS SHELF LIFE YEARS AGO.

SO THE COMMUNITY HAD A CONVERSATION TO REPLACE IT.

THERE ARE SO MANY STRUCTURAL ISSUES IN TERMS OF BOTH THE PLUMBING AND THE ELECTRICITY.

THERE'S JUST A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE EXISTING SITE THAT WOULD BE VERY COST PROHIBITIVE TO REFURBISH.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER DEAN, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE NEW JAIL LOCATION WILL ONLY BE A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM DELL CITY CITY LIMITS?

>> YES.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN OKLAHOMA CITY, IT IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM DELL CITY.

SO WITHIN 300 FEET IS DELL CITY'S SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS WIDE OPEN TO THIS LOCATION.

THE OTHER PARTS THAT WE HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT IS THAT WE HAVE A NURSING HOME FOR VERY DISABLED CITIZENS OF OUR METROPOLITAN.

IT'S CLOSER THAN THOSE DISTANCES AS WELL AS A FEW DAYCARES.

AND THE MOST ATROCIOUS PART IS RELEASING OUR INMATES INTO ONE OF THE NICEST PARTS IN OKLAHOMA CITY, WHICH IS THE PARK.

SO WE'RE NOT UNDERSTANDING WHERD WHYYOU WOULD WANT TO CHOOSE A LOCATION WHERE YOU RELEASE INMATES INTO A PLAYGROUND.

>> CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LAWSUIT?

>> THE PRIMARY PART OF THE LAWSUIT IS IT GETS BACK TO THEY'RE RELEASING INMATES AND POTENTIALLY SEXUAL PREDATORS INTO PLAYGROUND AND INTO THE PARK WITH NO RECOURSE TO -- OR FEW RESOURCES TO GET THEM TO THE PROPER PLACES.

AND THIS HOPE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR A BUS OR WAIT OVERNIGHT UNTIL THE NEXT ONE, THAT'S A FAIRY-TALE.

WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH THE JAIL, YOU'RE READY TO LEAVE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE STATE STATUTES ABOUT SEXUAL PREDATORS, THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE A SCHOOL 2,000 FEET AWAY, YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR DAYCARES 2,000 FEET AWAY.

YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR PARKS 2,00.

WHY WOULD YOU GO AND RELEASE SEXUAL PREDATORS JUST LIKE WE WERE REMINDED LAST NIGHT ABOUT THE MURDERS OUT EAST.

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO RELEASE THOSE PEOPLE ON TO THE PLAYGROUNDS FOR THE POTENTIAL TO DO THE SAME THINGS, WHENEVER THEY'VE JUST BEEN INCARCERATED AND LOCKED UP FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME.

>> COMMISSIONER MOND, AS YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY OF OPPOSITION TO THE JAIL.

HAVE YOU HEARD OF ANY PLANS TO SUPPLEMENT THOSE SERVICES?

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL.

THEY HAVE DEVISED A PLAN FOR TRANSPORTATION.

IT HAD BEEN SOMETHING WE HAD BEEN DISCUSSING.

CERTAINLY IF YOU WENT TO THE AIRPORT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A SHUTTLE SYSTEM.

THAT'S ENTIRELY TOO FAR AS A WALK WOULD BE FOR ANYBODY RELEASED.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DO GET RELEASED AND DON'T HAVE A RIDE.

BUT THE VAST MAJORITY HAVE SOMEBODY WHO COMES AND PICKS THEM UP, A LOVED ONE OR WHATEVER.

SO IT'S REALLY BEING DESIGNED FOR THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE A RIDE AND WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONNECT THEM WITH SERVICES: WE'VE GOT DIVERSION HUB WORKING AT A PARTNER, HOMELESS ALLIANCE AND OTHERS WE'RE TALKING TO.

>> COMMISSIONER MOND, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT COMMISSIONERS FACED WHEN MAKING THIS DECISION?

>> WELL, IN TERMS OF THE PRICE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL, THE STRUCTURAL, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO BUY A PIECE OF LAND THAT HAS ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE THAT'S TOO COST PROHIBITIVE TO ABATE OR DOESN'T HAVE THE BEDROCK TO SUPPORT THIS KIND OF STRUCTURE.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT HAS GOT ACCESSIBILITY TO THE COURTHOUSE, GOING OUT TOO FAR EXTERIOR PARTS OF THE COUNTY GETS DIFFICULT.

IT'S SEEDED IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE QUADRANT OF THE COUNTY.

SO YOU CAN LOOK AT THE EDGES BY THE AIRPORT, BUT BEYOND THAT, YOU CAN'T REALLY GO TO THE OTHER THREE CORNERS OF THE COUNTY REALISTICALLY FOR TRANSPORT BACK AND FORTH FOR COURT APPEARANCES.

>> COMMISSIONER, MANY PROTEST, INCLUDING A 6-MILE MARCH WEDNESDAY MORNING BEFORE THE VOTE.

DID ANY OF THOSE DEMONSTRATIONS SWAY YOUR DECISION-MAKING?

>> NO.

IT'S EMOTIONAL WHEREVER IT GOES.

I TRULY UNDERSTAND THAT.

I'VE TRIED TO TALK TO AS MANY OF THE PEOPLE AS I CAN, HAVE CONCERNED READ ALL THE E-MAILS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH AND THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK THAT TIME TO COME DOWN, AS THE COUNCILMAN DID, TO COMMISSIONER MEETINGS.

BUT IT WAS TRUE OF EVERY SINGLE SITE.

EVERYWHERE THEY WENT, WHETHER THEY CAME AS VOCAL INTO THE MEETINGS, THEY CERTAINLY WERE ORGANIZED TO SEND US E-MAILS AND PHONE CALLS.

SO WE LITERALLY HEARD FROM EVERY SINGLE SITE THAT WAS CONSIDERED, AND IT HAD, WHAT I WOULD CALL, SIGNIFICANT PROTESTS IN EVERY PLACE WE WERE GOING TO GO.

SO FOR ME, IT ALWAYS HAD TO BE ABOUT FINDING A FUNCTIONAL SITE.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER DEAN, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS YOU'RE HEARING FROM YOUR COMMUNITY?

>> SO I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND BACK TO THIS LAST ONE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THE BOND AND REPLACEMENT OF THE JAIL WAS ALWAYS IN THE MIND OF EVERY CITIZEN OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY, WAS EITHER GOING TO BE OUT AT WHERE ITS CURRENT SITE IS OR OUT AT THE AIRPORT.

AND THE REASON WHY IT WAS GOING TO BE OUT AT THE AIRPORT AND EVERYBODY HAPPY ABOUT IT, WE KNOW THE AIRPORT HAS THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF LAND THAT'S NOT POPULATED.

SO WHEN WE'RE NOT LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY, WE'RE LISTENING TO THE COUNTY ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS, IT WAS ALWAYS FOCUSED ON IT'S NEXT TO MY SCHOOL, MY KIDS ARE WALKING, IT'S NEXT TO MY PARK, MY KIDS ARE PLAYING.

YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE CONCERNS, AND THAT'S WHY THE AIRPORT WAS RIGHT.

NO ONE IN THIS COUNTY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO GO AND VOTE FOR THE 300 MILLION-DOLLAR BOND WITH THE THOUGHT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE PUT INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AGAIN, WE WOULD LIKE IT TO GO WHERE THE COUNTY HAD ALREADY TOLD YOU, AND SO EVERY CITIZEN WHO HAS BEEN UP THERE TO GO AND DO THIS, YOUR DEMONSTRATIONS, THE MARCHES, IT'S ALL ABOUT PROTECTING OUR KIDS, AND IT ALL GETS BACK TO THAT SAME LAW THAT I FOUND, WHICH IS WE'VE ALREADY EMBLAZONED THAT INTO A LAW, KEEP IT AT LEAST 2,000 FEET FROM ALL OF THOSE PLACES.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT KIDS EVERYWHERE.

HE JUST CARES ABOUT HIS KIDS.

BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THE POOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, MARK TWAIN ELEMENTARY.

I HAVEN'T HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT IT ONE TIME.

THAT'S WHERE YOU WANT TO PUT THE JAIL.

YOU WANT TO PUT IT NEXT TO JOHN REX ELEMENTARY.

YOU WANT TO PUT IT NEXT TO AMERSON HIGH SCHOOL, IN FACT, WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE HOW FAR NORTH WE CAN GO AND BE LEGAL TO PUT IT NEXT TO EMERSON HIGH SCHOOL.

IF YOU DRIVE ANYWHERE AROUND THE EXISTING FACILITY, YOU DON'T HAVE HIGH INCOME HOUSING.

YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES.

YOU HAVE A HOSPITAL.

I HAVEN'T HEARD YOU CARE ONE IOTA ABOUT ANYBODY WHO HAS TO GO TO ST. ANTHONY HOSPITAL OR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO GO THERE FOR THE MEDICAL COMPLEX, WHICH INCLUDES A LARGE SEGMENT OF OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.

YOU HAVEN'T CARED ABOUT ANY OF THEM.

YOU CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN YOUR AREA, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE ELECTED TO CARE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT TO DO IT AS A BLANKET STATEMENT ABOUT IT ISN'T ANYWHERE ELSE.

IT'S EVERYWHERE ELSE, COUNCILMAN.

IT'S EVERY SINGLE SITE, INCLUDING DOWNTOWN.

>> EXCEPT FOR THE AIRPORT.

>> AND SO AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT THE COUNTY SAID.

THE COUNTY SAID WE WANT TO PUT IT AT THE AIRPORT, AND FOR THEM TO BE THINKING AND HAVING THE AIRPORT TRUST SAY NO BECAUSE OF BASICALLY MONEY BEING ABLE TO BE GENERATED THERE, THAT'S ATROCIOUS.

WE HAVE THE AIRPORT SITE.

THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO THE AIRPORT SITE.

AS FAR AS FOR EMERSON HIGH SCHOOL -- JUST A SECOND, EXCUSE ME.

AS FAR AS FOR THE EMERSON SITE, EMERSON, ST. ANTHONY'S, THE DIFFERENT HOSPITALS, THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERY DEVELOPER THAT'S DOWN THERE, THEY ALL KNEW THAT THAT'S WHERE THE JAIL HAS BEEN SINCE STATEHOOD, NOT SINCE THE LAST 10 YEARS, NOT SINCE THE LAST 30 YEARS.

IT'S BEEN SINCE STATEHOOD.

>> BUT IT'S OKAY FOR THEM TO BE EXPOSED?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR COMMISSIONER MOND'S RESPONSE.

>> YOU'RE JUST SAYING IT'S OKAY FOR THEM TO BE EXPOSED THERE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE STATEHOOD.

PEOPLE DOWN THERE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE CHOICE, FOR INSTANCE WHEN GOING TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S WHY I COULDN'T LET THOSE EMOTIONAL ISSUES AFFECT.

THEY ARE TRUE EVERYWHERE.

THE AIRPORT IS OWNED BY OKLAHOMA CITY, AND THEY REFUSED TO SELL IT TO US.

WHEN IT WAS DOWN, THEY WITHDREW THEIR PROPOSAL TO OFFER TO SELL.

YOU CANNOT DO EMINENT DOMAIN ON DELL CITY, OKLAHOMA CITY.

THEY ARE EACH SOVEREIGN IN TERMS OF BEING PROTECTED FROM THAT, SO IT WAS NO LONGER AN OPTION.

BUT WESTERN HEIGHTS SCHOOL WASN'T HAPPY ABOUT IT GOING ON.

THE AIRPORT LAND, THERE IS A NEIGHBORHOOD JUST ON THE NORTH SIDE THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AT THE AIRPORT.

SO EVEN THEY WEREN'T HAPPY WITH THE AIRPORT.

THERE WEREN'T MAYBE AS MANY IN POPULATION AS THERE ARE ON THESE OTHER SITES, BUT THERE WASN'T HAPPINESS NO MATTER WHERE WE WENT.

>> LRPT.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

I DO WANT TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY LAST FINAL THOUGHTS ON THIS.

COMMISSIONER.

>> WE JUST FEEL FOR DELL CITY THAT WE WERE CHOSEN OVER CATTLE AND STOCKYARDS.

THERE'S ANOTHER SITE THAT WAS OVER THERE THAT WAS A REASONABLE SITE, BUT THE CATTLE AND THE BUSINESSMEN THERE TRUMPED, TRUMPED US.

THEY PUT THE JAIL RIGHT INTO OUR CITY WHERE THE ONLY ROUTE FOR A MILE AND A HALF FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO IS RIGHT INTO THE HEART OF OUR CITY AND INTO THE HEART OF OUR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOTS.

WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE LIKE OKLAHOMA CITY OR ANY OF THE OTHER CITIES.

WE ARE LANDLOCKED, AND WE ARE FULLY DEVELOPED, AND WE HAVE A THRIVING CITY, AND WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT PEOPLE LOVE EACH OTHER, AND SO THE INTENTION FOR OKLAHOMA CITY IS TO THROW THIS DOWN HERE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO CAUSE OUR CITY TO DECLINE.

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE A DETROIT TYPE OF SITUATION WHERE THAT THERE IS BAD NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT UP AGAINST THERE?

YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CITY, A BEAUTIFUL THRIVING CITY OF DELL CITY RIGHT NEXT -- AND THE CLOSEST CITY TO DOWNTOWN, AND WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GO AND MAKE THAT DECLINE?

>> COMMISSIONER MOND, ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> WELL, I GUESS THE COUNCILMAN IS FOR EMINENT DOMAIN WHERE YOU TAKE PEOPLE'S BUSINESSES AND PROPERTIES AWAY FROM THEM WITHOUT INFORMATION AND COMPLIANCE TO DO SO.

NOT ONE OF THE 8 SINGLE PROPERTY OWNERS WAS WILLING TO SELL.

WE OFFERED THEM OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND WAITED FOR A PERIOD OF WEEKS FOR THEM TO DO SO, AND THEY WERE UNITED IN THAT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN SELLING.

SO AT THAT POINT, IT BECAME A NO OPTION FOR ME, BECAUSE I DON'T SUPPORT EMINENT DOMAIN UNLESS IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY SITUATION.

>> THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY HAS OVER 30 ACRES NEXT TO THEIR EMBARK STATION THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT SPOT WITH MORE THAN 2,000 FEET FROM ANY OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE OF SCHOOLS, OF DAYCARES, AND SO AGAIN, THERE'S SPOTS FOR THIS JAIL TO GO.

DO TAKE THE EASY ONE.

>> THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TO DISCUSS THIS TOPIC.

>> THANK YOU,.

>> THANK YOU.

>> VERY GOOD CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU, CASSIDY.

>> IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WERE GOING TO HEAD BACK IN TIME TO STRASBURG, COLORADO, WHERE A DEDICATED GROUP OF WELDERS AND MACHINISTS ARE KEEPING STEAM ENGINES ON THE TRACKS.

THEIR MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES HARKEN BACK TO A BY-GONE ERA.

THEIR STORY COURTESY OF OUR FRIENDS AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN P.B.S.

>> THE SECOND WORLD WAR COME ALONG, AND THEY NEEDED PEOPLE TO WORK ON THE RAILROADS, BECAUSE THE MEN WERE ALL BEING -- GOING OFF IN THE SERVICE.

WELL, MY FATHER WENT TO WORK FOR THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD, AND HE WAS A MECHANIC AND A WELDER FOR THEM.

AND HE COME DOWN TO THIS COUNTRY HERE, AND HE DECIDED TO BUILD HIS FIRST STEAM LOCOMOTIVE.

HE STARTED BUILDING IT, DRAFTED IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR, FINISHED BUILDING IT IN 1948 AND THEN STARTED THE URICH LOCOMOTIVE.

>> IT WAS A 10,000-POUND LOCOMOTIVE.

WELL, THIS ONE IS SMALLER, BUT THIS HERE WEIGHS 8620 POUNDS.

>> MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER SAID, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THIS KID ANYWAY?

HE WOULD TAKE ME TO WORK WITH HIM.

SO I WAS MAKING MOLDS WHEN I WAS 7 YEARS OLD OUT IN THE FOUNDRY.

WE HAD A SMALL FOUNDRY AT THAT TIME WHICH WAS OVER IN ANOTHER BUILDING, AND THEN FROM THERE, I JOINED THE FIRM 1967.

THIS HERE HAS FOUNDRY CAPABILITY.

IT MAKES IRON, BRONZE, BRASS AND ALUMINUM HERE AT THIS FOUNDRY.

WE GOT A LOCAL WELL D WE GOT A LOCAL WELL DRILLING COMPANY HERE FOR WATER.

HE CAN'T GET PARTS.

WE CAN MAKE THOSE PARTS.

SO WE TURN AROUND, AND WE GO AND MAKE THE PARTS FOR HIM.

HE CAN'T GOOD OVER THERE TO THE HARDWARE STORE AND STUFF LIKE THAT TO FIND THOSE PARTS.

BUT WE MADE ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS BESIDES THAT.

FOR YEARS AND YEARS, WE'VE HAD APPRENTICE PROGRAMS HERE.

WE'VE TAKEN YOUNG PEOPLE, GIRLS AS WELL AS BOYS, TEACH THEM DIFFERENT CRAFTS, LEARNING DIFFERENT SKILLS, AND THEY BECOME MORE VERSATILE.

YEAH, THEY WON'T BE BUILDING LOCOMOTIVES BUT THEY LEARN HOW TO GO AND THINK AND HOW TO APPLY THEIR THINKING TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

>> OKAY.

WHOEVER WANTS THEIR BOWL, HAND ME A BOWL.

>> I ENJOY TRAINING PEOPLE ON DOING SOME OF THIS STUFF.

NOW, WE'VE GOT OLDER GUYS THAT COME HERE TO WORK.

KEEP THEM ACTIVE DOING THINGS.

I DON'T CARE WHAT, JUST SO THAT THEY CAN USE THEIR HANDS AND THEIR MINDS.

TOM HERE, HE RETIRED FROM THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, BUT HE'S BECOMING ONE OF THE BEST FABRICATORS I'VE SEEN AROUND.

FABRICATORS ARE FIGURING HOW TO SHAPE METAL THROUGH DOING SOMETHING WITH IT.

MIKE WHO IS -- MIKE IS 77, I THINK, NOW.

HE'S BEEN COMING HERE WORKING FOR US 12 TO 15 YEARS, AND THE CREATIVENESS, IT'S LIKE A FORM OF ART THAT WE'RE WORKING AS WELL.

AND THIS ART, YOU GO ALONG AND YOU SAY, THIS LOCOMOTIVE PUTTERS AROUND SO IT'S FUNCTIONABLE AND SO IT HAS THE LOOK AND DESIRES AND RUNS AND IT LASTS FOR 40 YEARS.

YOU SEE IT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

YOU CONTINUE, AND THIS BUSINESS TEACHES YOU PATIENCE, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PATIENCE TO DO IT, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET IT DONE.

THE WHOLE POINT IS YOU KEEP WORKING ON IT AND GET IT COMPLETE.

BUT THIS IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, IS GETTING SOMETHING, AND IT'S LIKE A FORM OF ART FOR US AS WELL.

EVERY ONE OF THESE GUYS ARE ENJOYING WHAT THEY ARE DOING, BECAUSE THEY DEDICATED, LOOKING AND DOING SOMETHING.

IT'S A FORM OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND SATISFACTION.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, OU HEALTH STEPS UP TO TRAIN AND ASSIST UKRAINIAN DOCTORS IN SURGERY TECHNIQUES THEY'LL PERFORM IN THEIR WAR-TORN COUNTRY.

TAELYR JACKSON HAS OUR REPORT.

>> WE'LL SAY "SO LONG" THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE PRAIRIE CLASSIC SHOW AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY FAIRGROUNDS.

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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