>>> OKLAHOMA'S ENERGY GRID, IS IT STURDY?

IS IT SECURE?

AND WHAT WILL CONSUMER'S UTILITY BILLS LOOK LIKE FOLLOWING AN HISTORIC ARCTIC BLAST?

>> I KNOW MANY OKLAHOMANS ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD MEAN FOR THEIR UTILITY BILLS, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES GET THROUGH THIS.

>> FEDERAL GRANT MONEY FUNDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY ON THE POULTRY INDUSTRY IN OKLAHOMA.

>> WE ARE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT SOME AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS.

WHAT MICROBES MIGHT BE CARRIED ON THE DUST.

>> A CALL TO CHANGE THE WAY WE COMBAT DOMESTIC TERRORISM TAKING CENTER STAGE IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND IN OKLAHOMA.

>> IT IS THE ONLY CRIMINAL PROGRAM IN THE FBI WHERE THEY CAN INVESTIGATE YOU FOR IT, BUT THEY CAN NEVER CHARGE YOU WITH IT.

>> THE OKLAHOMA WOMAN WHO DIRECTED THE FIRST MARS ROVER PROGRAM REFLECTS ON THE SPECTACULAR LANDING OF PERSEVERANCE.

>> ONE THING THAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WOMEN NOW AND IN THE OLDEN DAYS, I WAS THE ONLY ONE.

>> THOSE STORIES, PLUS ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE FIRST SESSION OF THE 58TH LEGISLATURE, NEXT ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

WHILE MANY OKLAHOMANS ARE PAYING TO RECOVER AND REPAIR FROM LAST WEEK'S HISTORIC ARCTIC BLAST, ANOTHER BILL WILL SOON COME DUE FOR ALL OF US.

OUR ENERGY BILLS.

DOWN IN TEXAS, SOME HOMEOWNERS ARE RECEIVING NOTICES THAT THEY OWE AS MUCH AS $17,000.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN HERE, BUT GET READY TO PAY MORE.

JASON DOYLE REPORTS ON WHAT'S BEING DONE TO AVOID STICKER SHOCK WHEN THAT BILL ARRIVES IN THE MAIL.

>> ONCE AGAIN, OKLAHOMA'S WEATHER TESTS THE RESOLVE OF THE STATE'S PEOPLE AND ITS INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> WELL, WE DID LOSE ELECTRICITY BUT ONLY FOR A BRIEF, BRIEF TIME.

BUT WE DID LOSE WATER FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE DAYS.

>> PAMELA RODRIGUEZ, HER HUSBAND AND THEIR 20-YEAR OLD AUTISTIC GRANDSON STUCK OUT THE STORM TOGETHER IN THEIR LITTLE AXE HOME.

>> MY HUSBAND AND I ARE BOTH RETIRED.

HE'S RETIRED MILITARY.

I WAS IN THE MILITARY, SO WE LEARNED HOW TO MAKE DUE.

ALL OF OUR KIDS WERE IN THE MILITARY.

SO, WE ARE PRETTY MUCH SELF-SUFFICIENT WHEN WE HAVE TO BE.

>> PAMELA EXPECTS TO SEE HIGHER UTILITY BILLS BECAUSE OF THE WINTER BLAST.

>> LAST MONTH, OUR BILL WAS OVER $300 FOR THAT MONTH.

FOR THIS MONTH, THE ONE COMING UP, I THINK IT COMES DUE NEXT WEEK, THAT ONE IS OVER 300.

THE ONE AFTER THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE JUST AS HIGH.

>> I KNOW MANY OKLAHOMANS ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD MEAN FOR THEIR UTILITY BILLS.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES GET THROUGH THIS.

>> GOVERNOR STITT, MEMBERS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE OUR UTILITY BILLS DON'T GET OUT OF HAND.

>> WE HAVE TWO MAIN GOALS.

NUMBER ONE, TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP OKLAHOMANS GET FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR UPCOMING BILLS, ENERGY BILLS.

AND NUMBER TWO, TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS AND LEARN WHAT WE NEED TO DO SO THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OKLAHOMANS DON'T HAVE TO DECLARE BANKRUPTCY JUST TO DO THEIR BILLS.

AND I DON'T WANT TO PANIC ANYONE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OPTIONS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH.

>> WE'VE HEARD RUMORS OF RATES MAYBE MULTIPLYING BY A FACTOR OF 20 OR 40 TIMES.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER CHARLES MCCALL AND SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG TREAT HAVE TASKED COMMITTEES TO EXPLORE WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT OKLAHOMANS.

MCCALL SAYS THE LEGISLATURE WILL FIND A WAY TO HELP OKLAHOMANS WHO STRUGGLE TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM.

>> I THINK THE RECENT BOARD OF EQUALIZATION NUMBERS THAT WERE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, GIVE US THE CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO A CRISIS LIKE THIS.

>> OG&E REVEALED LATE THIS WEEK, ITS FUEL COSTS TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WILL BE ABOUT $1 BILLION, MORE THAN THE UTILTY SPENT ON FUEL COSTS FOR THE ENTIRITY OF 2020.

>> THE HISTORIC COLD CAUSED MAJOR CHALLENGES TO OUR ENERGY SUPPLY.

THAT LEFT UTILITY COMPANIES REALLY SCRAMBLING TO BUY EXTRA ENERGY ON THE SPOT MARKET AT SKYROCKETING PRICES.

>> THE SUDDEN RISE IN NATURAL GAS PRICES ON THE SPOT MARKET JUST AHEAD OF THE STORM CAUGHT THE INVESTIGATIVE EYE OF OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE HUNTER.

HIS OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING A POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF THE PRICE STABILIZATION ACT.

>> SO WHEN THE GOVERNOR ISSUED HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER ON FRIDAY, UH, THERE WAS, UH, SOME PRICING, UH, ACTIVITY ALREADY THAT HAD HAD GAS AT $300 IN MCF.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING CAREFULLY AT, UH, THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PRICE STABILIZATION HAS BEEN VIOLATED.

>> HUNTER ALSO MADE A REQUEST OF UTILITY COMPANIES TO BE PROACTIVE IN HELPING THEIR RATE PAYERS.

>> LET ME JUST MAKE ONE PLEA HERE TO THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO BE BILLING CONSUMERS.

UM, IT IS IN EVERYBODY'S INTEREST, IT'S IN YOUR INTEREST TO SUSPEND, UH, AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS, UM, THAT ARE IN PLACE AND GO AHEAD AND BILL PEOPLE MANUALLY.

>> CUSTOMERS WILL PAY FOR THE INCREASED ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS THEY USED DURING THE HISTORIC EVENT.

>> YOUR BILL AT THE SAME GAS COSTS AND FUEL COSTS WILL REFLECT PROPORTIONALLY THE AMOUNT OF INCREASED USAGE THAT YOU DID, AS A RESULT OF THIS HISTORIC STORM, AS IT RELATES TO THE PASS ALONG OF GAS COSTS.

>> SO YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE A STRUGGLE, BUT WE'LL MANAGE SOMEHOW.

>> PAMELA RODRIGUEZ IS CONFIDENT SHE AND HER FAMILY WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK, EVEN IF THE ELECTRIC BILL GOES UP.

>> WE'RE WITH OEC, WHICH IS A CO-OP.

AND IF WE HAVE TO, WE CAN MAKE -- THEY'LL LET US MAKE PAYMENTS, I THINK.

BUT IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A WAIT AND SEE THING.

>> GOVERNOR STITT HAS BEEN IN TALKS WITH THE WHITE HOUSE AND OKLAHOMA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO FIND WAYS TO GET HELP TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.

JASON DOYLE, THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> COMING UP A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST, IS OUR ENERGY GRID SAFE AND SECURE?

ONE OF THE MANY TOPICS WE'LL DISCUSS IN AN IN-DEPTH ROUNDTABLE WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM OKLAHOMA'S MAJOR UTILITY PROVIDERS.

AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS.

>> THE 7-DAY ROLLING AVERAGE FOR NEW COVID CASES CONTINUES TO DROP.

LAST WEEK, IT WAS 932 PER DAY.

NOW IT'S DOWN TO 811.

157 FEWER PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID THIS WEEK, NOW JUST 571.

AND DEATHS IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS DID RISE, FROM 173 TO 188, FOR A TOTAL OF 4,320 A PRODUCTIVE WEEK OF VACCINATIONS IN OKLAHOMA.

NEARLY 67,000 FIRST DOSES WERE ADMINISTERED THIS WEEK FOR A TOTAL OF 546,000.

MORE THAN 89,000 OKLAHOMANS COMPLETED THEIR VACCINATIONS, BRINGING THAT TOTAL TO MORE THAN 293,000.

>> ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL POULTRY FEDERATION, THERE ARE ROUGHLY 3,800 FARMS IN OKLAHOMA PRODUCING SOME TYPE OF POULTRY, MAKING IT THE THIRD MOST VALUABLE LIVESTOCK COMMODITY IN OUR STATE.

BUT IS ALL THAT FOWL CREATING A FOUL SMELL IN THE AIR AND POLLUTING THE WATER AROUND THESE FARMS?

A FEDERALLY-FUNDED STUDY AIMED AT ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS WILL SOON BEGIN.

STEVE SHAW BEGINS OUR REPORT IN IDABEL, OKLAHOMA.

>> BRENT BOWLEN LEARNED CHICKEN FARMING FROM HIS DAD 52 YEARS AGO, THREE MILES SOUTH OF IDABEL, IN THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE STATE.

>> SO THE INDUSTRY HAS JUST GROWN.

THE FIRST TWO HOUSES DAD BUILT IN 1969 WERE 40 FOOT BY 300, AND PUT ABOUT 12,000 BIRDS IN THERE, JUST SO IT'S EVOLVED OVER TIME.

>> THE BOWLENS HAVE EIGHT CHICKEN HOUSES, FORTY FEET WIDE AND 500 FEET LONG, CAPABLE OF HOUSING 160,000 BIRDS AT A TIME.

THEY GET THE CHICKS WHEN THEY'RE A DAY OLD.

IT'S BOWLEN'S JOB TO WATCH OVER THEM FOR AROUND 60 DAYS, UNTIL THEY'RE PICKED UP AND PROCESSED.

HE SAYS THEY RAISE FOUR LITTERS A YEAR HERE.

>> I HAVE ONE FULL TIME EMPLOYEE, AND I HAVE A WIFE AND THREE DAUGHTERS WHO KNOW HOW TO WORK.

>> BOWLEN SAYS HIS OPERATION GROWS SIX TO 7500 CHICKENS A YEAR.

THEIR NET PROFIT HE SAYS RANGES FROM A FEW PENNIES TO TEN CENTS PER BIRD.

>> IT'S A TOUGH BUSINESS, LIKE ANY OTHER THING IN AGRICULTURE, BUT IT'S JUST REAL CONSISTENT AND IT'S GOOD FOR RURAL OKLAHOMA.

AND THERE MAY BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN RURAL OKLAHOMA, AND BACK TO THE SAD PART OF BEING A VILLAIN SOMETIMES.

I MEAN IT GETS FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR WHAT YOU THINK WAS YOUR CALLING TO FEED PEOPLE.

>> BOWLEN CALLS HIMSELF A MID-SIZE CHICKEN FARMER AND KNOWS THERE ARE MUCH BIGGER.

>> SOMETHING THAT JUST AMAZES ME IS THAT ON ANY GIVEN SUPER BOWL SUNDAY, THERE'S OVER A BILLION WINGS CONSUMED, AND THAT'S JUST AMAZING TO ME THAT AN INDUSTRY IS ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.

BUT WE'RE CONSTANTLY UNDER SCRUTINY OF PEOPLE SAYING IT'S BAD, IT'S BAD WHEN THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW.

AND SOME OF THAT'S OUR FAULT AS AN INDUSTRY OF BEING SO BUSY AND NOT EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON WHAT WE DO, AND THAT THE PUBLIC'S BEING REMOVED FROM GRANDPA AND GRANDMA'S AGRICULTURE.

IF YOU THOUGHT WE CAN GO BACK TO THE 1940'S AND 50'S AND PROVIDE FOOD LIKE WE DO TODAY, THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

>> WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN IS AN AIR QUALITY STUDY AT O.U.

>> WE'RE LOOKING FOR RESIDENTS FROM VARIOUS DISTANCES FROM 500 FEET TO HALF A MILE AWAY.

>> DR. MARGARET LEVIN PHILLIPS CHAIR'S THE DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

SHE SAYS AFTER GETTING SEVERAL AIR QUALITY COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA ABOUT MUCH LARGER RELATIVELY NEW CHICKEN FARMS, O.U.

SECURED A $399,000 FEDERAL GRANT TO STUDY IT.

>> THIS IS POTENTIALLY A LARGE ISSUE WITH MANY DIFFERENT RAMIFICATIONS.

SO WE ARE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT SOME AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS.

WHAT MICROBES MIGHT BE CARRIED ON THE DUSTY, AND HOW THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEARBY.

AND THE AMMONIA AS A MARKER FOR THE ODOR, WHICH IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE TELL US IS QUITE AN IMPACT.

>> WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW.

>> IS PARTICPATING IN THE STUDY.

SHE SAYS 42 MEGA SIZE CHICKEN FARMS HAVE MOVED INTO DELAWARE AND ADAIR COUNTIES SINCE 2018.

STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TELLS ME THAT NUMBER IS REALLY 23.

KINGFISHER CLAIMS THOSE FARMS ARE CHURNING OUT 300,000 CHICKENS EVERY SEVEN WEEKS AND DROPPING 1.2 MILLION TONS OF MANURE A YEAR.

>> THE NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 100 YEARS OR WHATEVER JUST FEEL INVADED.

THEY SUDDENLY FIND THEMSELVES LIVING NEXT TO AN INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.

>> AGAIN WE ARE NOT PRE-JUDGING THINGS.

THIS WAS PROMPTED BY A CONCERN IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WERE SUBJECTIVELY CONCERNED ABOUT ODORS AND DUST AND RUNOFF, AND WE'RE COMING IN WITH SCIENCE TO MEASURE OBJECTIVELY WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> PHILLIPS SAYS THE AIR STUDY WILL TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS.

THEY'LL SAMPLE THE AIR ON PROPERTIES WITHIN A HALF MILE OF THESE MEGA FARMS THIS SPRING, THIS SUMMER, AND WHEN IT COOLS DOWN AGAIN IN THE FALL, THEN FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.

>> AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY THAT O.U.

IS SITTING UP AND TAKING NOTICE, AND THEY SEE THE PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECT OF THIS.

AND THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

AGAIN I'M A FARMER, MY NEIGHBORS ARE FARMERS.

I HAVE 160 ACRES.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT CITY KIDS OUT HERE YELLING AT THE NEIGHBORS.

WE ARE VERY INVESTED IN THIS LAND AND IN OUR HOME.

I'VE HAD THIS LAND IN MY FAMILY SINCE 1906.

>> BACK IN IDABEL, BRENT BOWLEN KNOWS THE O.U.

AIR QUALITY STUDY IS ABOUT 300 MILES AWAY FROM HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM, BUT CHICKEN FARMERS SHOULDN'T BE PUNCHING BAGS.

WE HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE TOO.

YOU CAN'T MAKE REALLY REALLY STRINGENT LAWS IN OKLAHOMA AND THEN ARKANSAS NOT HAVE THOSE SAME STRINGENT LAWS, OR ALABAMA OR NORTH CAROLINA OR WHOEVER WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST, OR EVEN A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY FOR THAT MATTER.

EVERYTHING'S GOT TO BE REASONABLE.

STEVE SHAW, THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> DR. PHILLIPS SAYS IF THE AIR QUALITY RESULTS WARRANT FURTHER INVESTIGATION IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA, HER DEPARTMENT WILL LOOK TO PARTNER WITH OTHER SCIENTISTS TO STUDY THE WATER QUALITY IN THE AREA, AS WELL.

>> THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE HAS APPROVED A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW OKLAHOMANS WITH A CARRY LICENSE TO PURCHASE GUNS WITHOUT WAITING ON A BACKGROUND CHECK FROM THE FBI.

IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW, IT WOULD ALSO NEED APPROVAL FROM THE ATF.

REPRESENTATIVE DAVID HARDIN ARGUES HOUSE BILL 1630 WOULD HELP THE OSBI ATTRACT MORE FUNDING WHILE ENCOURAGING OKLAHOMANS TO GET A GUN CARRY PERMIT.

>> DOES THIS BILL ATTEMPT TO INCENTIVIZE MORE FOLKS TO GET A PERMIT?

>> YES, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

YES, THAT WOULD BE MY LOOK AND MY INTENT ON IT, THAT PEOPLE WOULD LOOK AT THIS AND THINK THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE BACKGROUND CHECK.

IF THEY HAD THEIR PERMIT, THEN THEY'LL BE MORE LIKELY TO SPEND THE $100 TO $200, WHATEVER IT TAKES NOW, TO GET THEIR PERMIT.

WHICH, IN MY OPINION, THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE TRAINING AND THE BACKGROUND CHECKS VERSUS CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY.

SO YES, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.

>> HOUSE BILL 1630 WAS APPROVED BY A VOTE OF 78 TO 18 AND NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE.

>>> THE DEADLINE TO MOVE HOUSE AND SENATE BILLS OUT OF COMMITTEE WAS THURSDAY THE 25TH.

NEARLY A THOUSAND PIECES OF POTENTIAL LEGISLATION ARE STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.

E-CAPITOL NEWS DIRECTOR SHAWN ASHLEY JOINS US TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE NOTABLE BILLS, SEAN, LET'S BEGIN WITH THE SENATE BILL 821.

OPPONENTS ARE CLAIMING IT WOULD MAKE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS SKYROCKET.

WHAT'S THEIR ARGUMENT?

>> WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN THIS SPILL IS THAT THE CONTRACT BETWEEN PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS AND PHARMACIES WOULD BE ALTERED.

THERE WOULD BE LIMITS PLACED ON WHAT PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS COULD REQUIRE A PHARMACIST.

AND THE CONCERN IS THAT WOULD DRIVE UP COSTS BECAUSE IT WOULD ALLOW PHARMACISTS TO OFFER ALTERNATIVES OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL PROCESS THAT UTILIZED UNDER THOSE CONTRACTS.

>> A HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVED A BILL WHICH PUTS A CAP ON CO-PAYS FOR INSULIN.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OKLAHOMANS WITH TYPE-ONE DIABETES?

>> THE BILL STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH THE HOUSE FLOOR AND ACROSS THE ROTUNDA AND BE CONSIDERED BY THE SENATE, BUT THERE'S BEEN MUCH INTEREST IN THE LEGISLATURE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AT DOING SOMETHING TO LIMIT THE COST OF INSULIN.

IN PARTICULAR, A NUMBER OF INTERIM STUDIES HAVE TACKLED THE ISSUE.

THIS BILL WOULD POSE WOULD IMPOSE A $100 LIMIT FOR A 30 DAY SUPPLY OF INSULIN.

AND AS I SAID, IT'S ONE OF SEVERAL BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED OVER THE YEARS, SEVERAL THIS YEAR.

AND THIS SEEMS TO BE THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> IT HAS BEEN A BUSY WEEK FOR THE GOVERNOR.

HE'S ADDED THREE PEOPLE TO HIS CABINET.

WHO ARE THEY?

AND WHAT WILL THEY BE DOING?

>> YEAH, IT'S RATHER INTERESTING.

THE GOVERNOR HAS SORT OF RECREATED HIS CABINET.

HE GOT RID OF TWO POSITIONS THAT WERE VACANT AND CREATED TWO NEW ONES.

SO THEN WE SEE SOMEONE LEAVING THE ADMINISTRATION IN SOMEONE NEW COMING IN FORMER REPRESENTATIVE, SUSAN WINCHESTER IS TAKING ONE OF THOSE NEW POSITIONS.

SHE'LL BE SECRETARY OF LICENSING AND REGULATION OVERSEEING APPROXIMATELY 80 AGENCIES THAT RANGE FROM THE ALARM LOCK SMITH AND FIRE SPRINKLER FIRE SPRINKLER INDUSTRY COMMITTEE, UH, TO THE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE.

UH, WE SEE JENNIFER GRIGSBY TAKING THE SECOND NEW POSITION, THE SECRETARY OF ECONOMIC ADMINISTRATION, OVERSEEING AGENCIES LIKE THE OKLAHOMA TAX COMMISSION AND THE AUDITOR AND INSPECTOR'S OFFICE AS WELL AS PENSION SYSTEMS.

AND THEN FINALLY, SCOTT MUELLER WILL SUCCEED SEAN COPELAND AS SECRETARY OF COMMERCE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOUSE BILL 1580, WHICH PROPOSES CHANGES TO A LAW THAT COULD IMPACT DOG OWNERS AND BREEDERS.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> REALLY WHAT THIS DOES IS ATTEMPT TO LIMIT THE TETHERING OF DOGS IN PARTICULAR, PLACING LIMITS ON THAT SUCH AS THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EVEN THE SIZE OF THE TETHER, AND THAT IT HAS TO BE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO -- TO TETHER AN ANIMAL.

UH, IT ALSO PLACES WEIGHT LIMITS ON THE SIZE OF THOSE TETHERS AND IT LIMITS CONFINEMENT WITH WEATHER.

WE HAD RECENTLY, WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO BE LEFT OUTDOORS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>>> LAST NOVEMBER, A STATE QUESTION THAT WOULD HAVE REDUCED LENGTHY PRISON SENTENCES FOR SOME VIOLENT CRIMES, SUFFERED A LANDSLIDE DEFEAT AT THE POLLS.

NOW LAWMAKERS ARE ATTEMPTING TO REVISIT SOME OF THOSE PROPOSALS THROUGH ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM LEGISLATION.

JOINING US TO COVER THE CAPITOL THIS WEEK IS REPORTER QUINTON CHANDLER WITH OUR CONTENT PARTNER "STATE IMPACT" OKLAHOMA.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IS A VERY TOUCHY SUBJECT.

IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY DEBATED ISSUES IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR YEARS.

THE REFORM ADVOCATES AND LAWMAKERS WHO ARE PROMOTING THIS BILL ARE MAKING SOME CHANGES.

THEY ARE NOT PROPOSING TO CHANGE THE STATE CONSTITUTION, AND THEY ARE ALSO NOT ALLOWING THESE, UM, THESE BENEFITS TO EXTEND TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRIMES OR ANIMAL CRUELTY OR DUI WITH, UM, GREAT, UH, GREAT BODILY INJURY.

AND THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO CLOSE ANY LOOPHOLES THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF SOME KIND OF A SEX CRIME FROM GETTING THE BENEFITS OF THIS BILL.

>> THEY WANT TO BRING A COMPLIMENTARY BILL TO STATE QUESTION 781, WHICH PASSED IN 2016.

SO 781 BASICALLY, UH, WAS A COMPANION STATE QUESTION FOR STATE QUESTION 780.

IT REQUIRED THAT ANY, UM, SAVINGS TO THE STATE OR, UH, AFTER IMPLEMENTING THE POLICY OF STATE QUESTION 780, THE REFORMS OF STATE QUESTION 780 WOULD BE PASSED DOWN TO COUNTIES IN THE FORM OF, UM, UM, EXTRA FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH, UH, TREATMENT AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.

THAT MONEY HAS AS OF YET NOT BEEN GIVEN TO COUNTIES.

THERE'VE BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THAT FORMULA THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE STATE IS ACCURATE.

AND SO THE MONEY, WHATEVER SAVINGS TOOK THEM, THERE ARE HAVE BEEN HELD UP.

THE BILL THAT OKLAHOMANS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ARE SPONSORING OR ENDORSING THIS SESSION ESSENTIALLY JUST REQUIRES THAT A STATE AGENCY, UM, GIVES THE LEGISLATURE A NUMBER ON HOW MUCH MONEY IS SAVED BY STATE QUESTION 780'S REFORMS THIS EACH YEAR.

THEY ARE HOPING TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE REGARDING, UH, MEDICAL, PAROLE, ELIGIBILITY.

THEY WANT TO CREATE A FUND TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED VIOLENCE AND ACTUALLY PREVENT VIOLENCE IN THE FUTURE.

AND THEY ARE ALSO HOPING TO, UH, BASICALLY CREATE LIKE A HOSPICE CARE PROGRAM INSIDE OF STATE PRISONS.

LEGISLATORS ARE ALSO SAYING THAT THEY SEE A CHANCE THAT SOME OF THESE BILLS COULD MOVE FORWARD.

FOR EXAMPLE, UH, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE BIG, ARE SPONSORING MOST OF THESE BILLS AND, UM, REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE KIND OF MENTIONED THAT THEY WANT TO BE SMART ON CRIME MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST.

>>> RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU FELT LAST FRIDAY MORNING'S EARTHQUAKE.

IT DEFINITELY RATTLED WINDOWS ACROSS OUR STATE AND INTO KANSAS... WITH A MAGNITUDE OF 4.2 AND CENTERED NORTH OF ENID, IT WAS ONE OF THE STRONGER EARTHQUAKES WE'VE EXPERIENCED RECENTLY.

IN FACT, STRONG EARTHQUAKES HAVE BEEN ON THE DECLINE SINCE THEY PEAKED IN 2015 WITH MORE THAN 900 QUAKES MEASURING MAGNITUDE 3 OR GREATER, IN 2020, OKLAHOMA HAD JUST 38 STRONG EARTHQUAKES.

SO FAR THIS YEAR, OKLAHOMA HAS REGISTERED 5 STRONG QUAKES.

EXPERTS SAY THE REGULATION OF WASTEWATER INJECTION WELLS HAS HELPED DECREASE THE FREQUENCY OF EARTHQUAKES IN OKLAHOMA, >>> THE CHEROKEE NATION SUPREME COURT HAS HANDED DOWN AN HISTORIC RULING THAT SAYS CITIZENSHIP IN THE TRIBE IS NOT DETERMINED BY BLOOD.

THAT IS ALREADY TRIBAL POLICY, BUT THE UNANIMOUS RULING RESOLVES A LONG-STANDING DEBATE ON WHETHER OR NOT THE DESCENDANTS OF CHEROKEE FREEDMEN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TRIBAL MEMBERS.

THE COURT'S DECISION WILL STRIKE ALL REFERENCES OF "BY BLOOD" FROM THE CHEROKEE CONSTITUTION.

>> OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER GENERAL MANAGER SAM PRESTI AND HIS WIFE, SHANNON, CUT THE RIBBON ON A NEW PRESTI CLUBHOUSE AND PLAY AREA AT O.U.

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ON MONDAY.

THE COUPLE DONATED $600,000 TOWARDS RENOVATIONS AND UPGRADES IN TWO PROCEDURE ROOMS USED FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER OR BLOOD DISORDERS.

THE INTERACTIVE PLAY AREA IS LOCATED IN THE EAST LOBBY OF THE CHILDREN'S CENTER AND WILL BE USED FOR FUTURE PUBLIC EVENTS.

>> NASA IS JUSTIFIABLY THRILLED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF IT'S LATEST ROVER TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE ON THE RED PLANET.

PERSEVERANCE LANDED ON MARS LAST WEEK.

AND WHAT A SPECTACULAR SIGHT IT WAS.

HIGH-DEFINTION CAMERAS CAPTURING THE MOMENT AND BEAMING IT 132 MILLION MILES BACK TO EARTH.

THIS IS THE 5TH ROVER TO SUCCESSFULLY MAKE THE TRIP AND THE 1ST TO INCLUDE A 4-POUND HELICOPTER NAMED INGENUITY THAT ISN'T EXPECTED TO TAKE OFF FOR A COUPLE OF MORE WEEKS.

THE VERY FIRST ROVER, CALLED SOJOURNER, LANDED ON MARS IN 1997.

THAT PROGRAM WAS MANAGED BY OKLAHOMA NATIVE DONNA SHIRLEY, >> IT'S AMAZING WHAT THESE GUYS AND GIRLS HAVE DONE, UH, WITH, UH, GETTING THESE BIG ROVERS TO WORK.

I MEAN, THE -- THE ROVER THAT I ORIGINALLY STARTED WAS THE SIZE OF A MICROWAVE OVEN.

LINE HER UP AGAINST THE MODERN ROVERS, I MEAN, THE MODERN ROVERS IS THE SIZE OF A CAR, ARE BIGGER.

AND PERSEVERANCE HAS THIS LONG EXTENSION WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF INSTRUMENTS ON IT.

AND SO, UH, IT'S -- IT'S FUN TO WATCH, BUT THEY HAVE THE SAME SEVEN MINUTES OF TERROR THAT, UH, THAT CURIOSITY HAD.

EVERYBODY'S CHEWING THEIR NAILS AND EVERYTHING.

AND WHEN IT -- WHEN THEY GET A SIGNAL BACK, EVERYBODY CHEERS JUST LIKE THEY HAVE BEFORE.

AND, UH, ONE THING THAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WOMEN NOW, AND IN THE OLDEN DAYS I WAS THE ONLY ONE.

UH, BUT THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

AND NOW THEY'VE GOT WOMEN ALL OVER THE PLACE AND, YOU KNOW, AND DOING ALL SORTS OF JOBS AND, AND, UM, IT'S REALLY GRATIFYING TO SEE.

PERSEVERANCE HAS ALREADY SENT BACK MORE THAN 5,000 PICTURES FROM MARS.

>> THE RIOT IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6TH HAS LED TO A RENEWED EMPHASIS ON DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND HOW BEST TO DEFEAT IT.

BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY NO FEDERAL LAW MAKING DOMESTIC TERRORISM A SPECIFIC CRIME?

THAT WAS THE TOPIC OF A DISCUSSION THIS WEEK SPONSORED BY THE OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM.

RORY TAYLOR HAS OUR REPORT.

>> SINCE 2002, THE FBI HAS BEEN REPORTING TO CONGRESS THAT THE GREATEST THREAT TO AMERICA COMES FROM WITHIN.

THIS WEEK, FRANK FIGLIUZZI, THE FBI'S FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR COUNTER INTELLIGENCE, SAID OKLAHOMA CITY HAS A VITAL AND HISTORIC ROLE TO PLAY IN ELIMINATING HATE-BASED DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

>> THAT IS OUR DISCUSSION TODAY, IS TO WHAT EXTENT DOES THIS PLACE AND WHAT IT'S EXPERIENCED IN OKLAHOMA CITY, TO WHAT EXTENT DO THEY PLAY A ROLE IN HELPING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE THREATS WE FACE AND THE STEPS WE CAN TAKE COLLECTIVELY AS A NATION TO PREVENT THE NEXT ACT OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

>> CURRENTLY, DOMESTIC TERRORISM HAS A LEGAL DEFINITION, BUT NO LAW AGAINST IT.

FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT DEFINITION, I SPOKE WITH FORMER FBI COUNSEL AND CURRENT OCU ADJUCT PROFESSOR OF LAW, HOMER POINTER.

>> BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING IS TALKING ABOUT IS A VIOLENCE THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW THAT IS INTENDED TO INTIMIDATE OR COERCE EITHER A POPULATION OR A GOVERNMENT AND TO INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT CONDUCT.

BUT WITHOUT A SPECIFIC LAW AGAINST IT, YOU CANNOT BE ARRESTED OR TRIED FOR ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

>> CERTAINLY TIMOTHY MCVEIGH WAS ARRESTED FOR SERIOUS CRIMES.

DYLAN ROOF, A YOUNG WHITE SUPREMACIST WHO MURDERED BLACK MEMBERS OF MOTHER EMANUEL AME CHURCH IN CHARLESTON WAS ARRESTED FOR SERIOUS CRIMES.

BUT THE CRIMES OF PEOPLE LIKE MCVEIGH AND ROOF WERE SO MUCH MORE THAN THE SUM OF JUST THEIR INDIVIDUAL VIOLATIONS BECAUSE OF WHAT MOTIVATED THEM.

THIS WEEK, CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS BEGAN TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6TH AND HOW TO KEEP IT FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

>> YOU HAD TO SEND QUITE A FEW AND THAT'S MY MISSION NOW.

I WAS GOING TO RETIRE, BUT I'M NOT FINISHED YET.

I NEVER HAD A TATTOO IN MY LIFE.

AND I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT GETTING ONE.

BUT THEN MY SON TOLD ME THAT HE'S DOING IT.

SO, I FIGURED, HEY, WHAT A BETTER WAY TO BOND WITH MY SON AND DO SOMETHING TOGETHER THAN TO DO SOMETHING THAT AFFECTED BOTH OF US THAT DAY AND GET TATTOOS TOGETHER.

GROWING UP, SEEING HIM LEAVE TO GO TO WORK AND COME HOME, AND KNOWING HE'S JUST OUT THERE HELPING PEOPLE ALWAYS INSPIRED ME TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OFF DUTY, YES.

I WAS ACTUALLY HANGING UP THE POLICE CAR KEYS SO I COULD GO HOME.

AND THEN ONE OF MY PARTNERS RAN UP TO ME.

HE WAS LIKE, YOU HEAR THIS CALL GOING ON?

WHEN WE GOT THERE, IT WAS STILL AN ACTIVE INCIDENT.

SO, WE GEARED UP AND WE RAN INTO THE BUILDING.

IT COMES BACK TO ME EVERY NOW AND THEN, BUT I FIND, HONESTLY, JUST TALKING ABOUT IT HELPS OUT, BUT I THINK THIS TATTOO IS A GOOD REMINDER OF WHAT CAN HELP YOU.

I GOT MY PERSONAL BADGE ON ME AS WELL AS HALF OF A SPARTAN HELMET.

THE BADGE ITSELF, I'M SO PROUD TO BE A POLICE OFFICER HERE, THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH.

AND THEN I PUT THE VERSE JOHN 15:13 UNDERNEATH IT.

AND BASICALLY IT SAYS, THERE'S NO GREATER LOVE THAT SOMEONE LAYS DOWN THE LIGHT FROM THEIR FRIENDS.

>> I'M SO PROUD OF MY SON.

SO, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO IT TO BE WITH HIM TOGETHER, I'M GOING TO DO IT.

AND, UH, SO, WHEN HE TOLD ME ABOUT IT, HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO IT.

I WAS LIKE, WELL, I'LL DO IT TOO.

ARTISTS FOR ISRAEL'S HEALING INK PROJECT BRINGS THE WORLD'S MOST TALENTED TATTOO ARTISTS TO ISRAEL TO COVER THE SCARS OF TERRORISTS, SURVIVORS AND ISRAELI SOLDIERS INJURED IN COMBAT.

WE SAW WHAT AN AMAZING IMPACT IT HAD AND WE DECIDED TO BRING IT TO THE STATES AS WELL.

SO, EACH YEAR WE DO A DIFFERENT AMERICAN CITY THAT WAS AFFECTED BY SOME SORT OF TRAGEDY.

>> JUST AFTER THE SHOOTING, AS THE COMMUNITY WAS STARTING TO PLAN MEMORIALS AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE GET THROUGH ALL OF THIS, MY MIND WENT BACK TO HEALING INK.

SO, I REACHED OUT TO CRAIG AND HERE WE ARE TODAY.

WE KNEW THAT THERE WERE MANY WHO WERE IMPACTED BY THIS.

NOTABLY, OUR OWN OFFICERS WHO WERE THERE.

SO, WE WORK TO BRING THE KIND HEARTS OF HEALING INK TOGETHER WITH FOLKS WHO PROBABLY WOULD APPRECIATE THIS AND, UH, FIND SOME, UH, RELIEF.

WE BROUGHT THE LOCAL ARTISTS, ARTISTS FROM OTHER PARTS OF VIRGINIA, FREDERICKSBURG AND RICHMOND WHO WANTED TO PARTICIPATE, WHO SAID, HEY, THIS IS OUR STATE.

WE'RE ALL ONE.

AND THEN WE HAD ISRAELI ARTISTS WHO SAID, LISTEN, YOU GUYS GIVE SO, MUCH TO US.

WE WANT TO COME HERE AND GIVE SOMETHING TO YOU.

SO, THEY FLEW IN FROM ISRAEL.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, WHEN OTHER ARTISTS WHO'VE WORKED WITH US IN THE PAST WHO HEARD WHAT WE WERE DOING, THEY SAID, HEY, WE'RE COMING.

AND I SAID, NO, NO, NO, NO, IT'S ONLY FOR LOCAL ARTISTS.

THEY'RE LIKE, WE'RE COMING.

I SAID, NO, BUT YOU WERE NOT TAKING CARE OF YOUR HOTEL.

THEY'RE LIKE, YEAH, YEAH, WE'RE COMING.

SO, THEY'RE LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE.

SO, EITHER YOU CAN GIVE US PEOPLE TO TATTOO OR WE'RE JUST GOING TO ANNOY YOU AND BE THERE.

SO, I SAID, ALL RIGHT, LET'S TATTOO MORE PEOPLE.

>> THIS PROGRAM DE MONETIZES EVERYTHING.

WE VOLUNTEER OUR TIME.

UM, THERE'S NO MONEY BEING EXCHANGED.

ALL THAT'S BEING EXCHANGED IS YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE AND A REALLY COOL TATTOO.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO START PROBABLY IN >> THE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES PRIMARILY SERVE THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE, COOPERATIVES.

WHAT WE HAVE ARE 27 LOCAL DISTRIBUTION COOP A STIFFS THAT SERVE THE CONSUMER.

WE ALSO HAVE THREE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION COOPERATIVES WHO WORK ON THEIR BEHALF.

THOSE THREE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION COOPERATIVES ARE APPLYING THE POWER TO THE SOUTHWEST POWER POOL ON THEIR BEHALF.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE JUST LIKE EVERY UTILITY ENOUGH GENERATION TO SERVE THEIR OWN HOOD AND MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO THE SOUTHWEST POWER POOL, WHO THEN DECIDES WHAT UNITS NEED TO RUN BASED ON ECONOMICS AND LIABILITY, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE -- WORK ON AN HOURLY BASIS, CONTINUOUS BASIS, 24/7 WITH SOUTHWEST POWER TO ENSURE THAT BALANCE IS MET.

>> AND STAN, I SAVED YOU FOR LAST BECAUSE WIND ENERGY IS SO INTERESTING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHERE DOES WIND ENERGY COME INTO PLAY HERE AND HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR IS IT WHEN ENERGY IS NEEDED IN A CLIMATE CRISIS.

>> WE'RE SET UP THE SAME WAY AS BRIAN DESCRIBED.

WE GENERATE POWER FROM POWER PLANTS AND THEN WE PUT THAT ENERGY ONTO OUR GRID AND DELIVER IT TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

SO LONG WITH THE WIND ENERGY YOU MENTIONED WE ALSO HAVE SIGNIFICANT TRADITIONAL RESOURCES.

WE HAVE SEVEN OTHER POWER PLANTS.

WE HAVE -- MOSTLY FUELED BY NATURAL GAS, ONE COAL UNIT, BUT WE HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT POWER PLANTS AND THEN WE HAVE THOSE WIND RESOURCES, AS WELL.

WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN WIND ENERGY SINCE BACK IN 2005 AND WE DISTRIBUTED IT OVER 1100 MEGAWATTS OF ENERGY OF WIND ENERGY ON OUR SYSTEM, AS WELL.

SO WIND ENERGY IS ONE FACTOR OF ALL THE ENERGIES.

>> WE GOT INTRODUCED TO ROLLING BLACKOUTS IN OKLAHOMA OVER THE WINTER STORM THAT HAPPENED.

WE'RE NOT USED TO THOSE.

I THINK I HEAR ABOUT THEM IN THE SUMMER.

SO I'LL LET ANY OF YOU TAKE UP TO EXPLAIN WHAT A ROLLING BLACK OUT IS, WHAT IT IS AND WHY DO WE DO IT.

>> IT'S USED TO DESCRIBE AN OCCURRENCE ON THE SYSTEM WHERE THE RELIABILITY SITUATION HAS GOT TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE GRID FROM REALLY TAKING OVER AND DOING SOMETHING THAT NONE OF US WANT TO SEE, WHICH IS TO CASCADE IN AND YOU CONTROLLED FASHION, WHICH ULTIMATELY HAS A MUCH LONGER, MUCH DEEPER IMPACT TO MANY, MANY MORE CUSTOMERS THAN IF WE CAN DO