>> SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS DELIVERS HIS UPCOMING BUDGET PROPOSAL TO LAWMAKERS.

>> IT INCENTIVIZES TOWARDS -- >> I WAS TOLD TO COME PHOTO BOMB YOU.

(LAUGHTER).

>> HEY, HEY, LOOK, I APPRECIATE IT.

WE CAN STAY HERE AND DO THE WHOLE THING.

>> PUTTING OUT THE "HELP WANTED" SIGN FOR MINORITY AND MALE NURSES.

>> WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS FOR OKLAHOMA IS THAT FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS WE NEED 2500 NEW NURSES COMING OUT OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS.

>> THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA DECLINES TO PARTICIPATE IN A LONG-RUNNING FEDERAL SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM.

>> WE'VE GOT A HIGH FOOD INSECURITY RATE IN OUR STATE FOR A REASON.

AND SO CLEARLY WHAT WE ARE DOING IS NOT ENOUGH.

>> A PROGRESS REPORT ON THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SURGEON GENERAL'S FINDING THAT SMOKING CAUSES LUNG CANCER.

>> AMONG ADULTS, WE'VE SEEN A 73% DECLINE IN TOBACCO CIGARETTE SMOKING.

AND AMONG CHILDREN, WE'VE SEEN A 90% DECLINE.

>> PLUS, AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION WITH WEATHER EXPERTS ON WHAT TO EXPECT AS WINTER RAMPS UP.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS DELIVERED HIS UPCOMING BUDGET PROPOSAL TO A HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, A COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY A REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS BEEN A VOCAL CRITIC OF WALTERS IN THE PAST AND LED EFFORTS TO SUBPOENA HIM SEEKING INFORMATION.

SO HOW DID IT GO THIS WEEK BETWEEN THE SUPERINTENDENT AND REPRESENTATIVE MARK MCBRIDE?

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW WITH THE ANSWER.

JASON.

>> RICH, IT WAS SURPRISINGLY CORDIAL BETWEEN CHAIRMAN MCBRIDE AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AS WALTERS PRESENTED A BUDGET AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WHO SIT ON THE COMMITTEE AND ASKED FOR LESS MONEY IN THE NEXT PUBLIC EDUCATION BUDGET.

>> I DO EXPECT FOR EVERYBODY TO BE ON THEIR BEST BEHAVIOR.

>> HOUSE EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS AND BUDGET COMMITTEE MARK MCBRIDE PRETTY MUCH GOT HIS WISH ON THE HEARING FOCUSED ON PUBLIC EDUCATION BY STATE SUPERENT WALT -- SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS.

>> $3,970,000,000.

THE REQUEST THIS YEAR WILL COME IN SHY OF THAT AT $3,922,000,000.

>> AFTER THE HEARING, WALTERS STARTED TO EXPLAIN WHY HE WAS ASKING FOR LESS MONEY FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR WHEN AN UNEXPECTED BUT JOVIAL VISITOR INTERRUPTED.

>> IT'S NOT ABOUT ADDING A LOT MORE MONEY IN EDUCATION.

IT'S MAKING SURE MONEY IS GETTING WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.

THIS IS A PLAN THAT PRIORITIZES TEACHERS.

IT PRIORITIZES STUDENTS.

IT MAKES SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS INCENTIVIZED -- >> I WAS TOLD TO COME PHOTO BOMB YOU.

>> (LAUGHTER).

WE CAN SIT HERE AND DO THE WHOLE THING.

SO YOU KNOW, DOES IT GET ANY BETTER WITH A PHOTO BOMB WITH REPRESENTATIVE MCBRIDE THERE?

>> MCBRIDE COMPLIMENTED WALTERS AND SAID HE'S READY TO WORK WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT.

>> THERE MIGHT BE ONE OR TWO THINGS ON THE PROPOSAL I MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS ON, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT.

I ACTUALLY WAS TEXTING STAFF WHILE I WAS SITTING THERE, MAKING SURE I HAD A SHELL BUILT FOR HIS TEACHER RECRUITMENT IDEA.

>> WE WANT TO RECRUIT AND REWARD THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST TEACHERS.

>> WALTERS LAUNCHED A TEACHER RECRUITMENT INITIATIVE WHICH HE SAID BROUGHT AROUND 500 TEACHERS TO THE CLASSROOM.

THIS TIME, WALTERS WANTS TO FOCUS ON ANOTHER CATEGORY OF NEED FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS.

HE'S ASKING 10 MILLION FOR THAT EFFORT.

>> WE WANT TO DO A TEACHER SIGNING BONUS FOR MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS.

THIS IS SOME OF THE HARDEST TO FILL AREAS.

WE HAD TREMENDOUS SUCCESS WITH YOU'RE READING AND SPECIAL ED TEACHER SIGNING BONUS, SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE TEACHER SHORTAGE WITH THAT.

>> CHAIRMAN MCBRIDE IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE TEACHER RERECRUITMENT PROGRAM BUT WITH A CHANGE.

>> ESPECIALLY THE HOUSE NOT TO GIVE ALL THE MONEY UPFRONT.

THE CLAWBACK IS TOO GREAT.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT, IF THEY'RE COMING FROM OUT OF STATE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF EXPENSES BUT LET'S FIGURE OUT A FIVE-YEAR DISBURSEMENT OF THE MONEY, AND I THINK THAT IDEA WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE BY THE HOUSE.

I THINK.

>> WALTERS IS READY TO COLLABORATE WITH MCBRIDE EVEN AFTER THE SUBPOENA AND OTHER PUBLIC DISAGREEMENTS.

>> I THOUGHT WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION TODAY WITH HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SIGNING BONUS.

WE SAW TREMENDOUS SUCCESS FROM THE LAST ONE.

>> DURING THE HEARING, LAWMAKERS WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW THOSE NEWLY RECRUITED TEACHERS ARE SUPPORTED.

>> RESEARCH SHOWS IF WE GET THEM SIGNED THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN EDUCATOR FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR CAREER.

WE HAVE CHOSEN THIS BONUS SYSTEM TO GET PEOPLE HERE.

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE THAT A TENOUS THING.

CAN YOU HIGHLIGHT TO US, IF WE ARE GOING TO PONY UP ON THIS MONEY AGAIN AND ADD TO IT, HOW CAN YOU ASSURE US THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN THE QUALITY OF TEACHERS AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THEM HERE AND SUPPORT THEM SO THAT THEY WILL SIGN THAT FIFTH AND SIXTH CONTRACT.

>> I AM GOING TO RECOMMEND US IN THIS BUDGET US TO PRODUCE PROGRAMS ALLOWING TEACHERS TO BE PAID FOR TUTORING, GROWTH BONUSES.

>> WHEN TEACHERS DO A GREAT JOB IN THE CLASSROOM, WE THINK THEY SHOULD BE SUPPORTED FOR THAT.

>> WALTERS IS ALSO SUPPORTING A NEW TUTORING PROGRAM IN WHICH TEACHERS CAN EARN EXTRA MONEY WHILE HELPING STUDENTS TO IMPROVE THEIR GRADES.

>> JUST TO SHOW YOU JUST WITH THIS PROGRAM AND $5 MILLION, WE ANTICIPATE 2800 STUDENTS RECEIVING 45 HOURS OF TUTORING EACH.

>> WE HAVE A NEW TUTORING PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE ROLLED OUT THAT WE WANT TO SEE THE STUDENTS THAT NEED HELP GET IT THE MOST, AND WE WANT TO SEE TEACHERS AND RETIRED TEACHERS THAT ARE TRAINED IN SCIENCE AND READING TO HOST THOSE PROGRAMS.

IT'S A GREAT WAY TO TARGET INVESTMENT TO STUDENT IMPROVEMENT.

>> TO HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS TRACK HOW STUDENTS ARE PERFORMING IN REAL TIME, WALTERS WANTS 4 AND A HALF MILLION TO SET UP A STATEWIDE SCREENER PROGRAM TO ASSIST SCHOOLS.

>> IT WOULD GIVE US THE ABILITY TO START SEEING IN REAL TIME RATHER THAN KINDS OF WAITING FOR THE OKLAHOMA STATE TEST TO COME BACK IN THE SUMMER AND FIND OUT WHERE EVERYONE WAS.

WE COULD ACTUALLY PULL DATA FOR YOU THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON WHERE THE KIDS ARE PERFORMING.

>> WALTERS ALSO SEEMED HAPPY TO PUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM AND CHAIRMAN MCBRIDE ASIDE WHEN ASKED BY THE CAPITAL MEDIA.

>> SEEMS MORE CIVIL, FRIENDLY JUST NOW.

HAS SOMETHING CHANGED?

>> YOU'RE ACTING LIKE REPRESENTATIVE MCBRIDE AND I HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE.

LOOK, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GREAT DISCUSSION.

I APPRECIATED HIS FEEDBACK IN THE HEARING TODAY.

I APPRECIATED HIS COMMENTARY THERE, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT SESSION, REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE OKLAHOMA EDUCATION.

>> MCBRIDE ALSO SEEMS READY TO WORK WITH WALTERS ON THE NEXT EDUCATION BUDGET.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK GOING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND I CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AS LONG AS WE STICK TO WHAT'S BEST FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN OUR STATE.

ON POLICY ISSUES, WE ARE GOING TO DISAGREE, BUT I -- YOU KNOW, WE ALL DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER ON SOME THINGS >> THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING FOR THE EDUCATION BUDGET.

LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROTUNDA WILL HASH OUT THEIR EDUCATION FUNDING PROPOSALS DURING THE UPCOMING SESSION.

BY THE WAY, THE EDUCATION BUDGET IS THE LARGEST SINGLE APPROPRIATION MADE BY THE LEGISLATURE IN THE OVERALL STATE BUDGET.

RICH.

>> JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS ALSO IS CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION OF A TEACHER IN THE WESTERN HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE TEACHER IS ACCUSED OF HAVING INAPPROPRIATE CONVERSATIONS WITH A 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT.

THE WESTERN HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACED THE INSTRUCTOR ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE IN DECEMBER WHEN IT LEARNED ABOUT THE INCIDENT.

WALTERS WILL SEEK AN EMERGENCY SUSPENSION OF HIS TEACHING CERTIFICATE AT THE NEXT STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING ON JANUARY 25TH AND RELEASED THIS STATEMENT.

>> I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS CLEAR DANGER TO OUR STUDENTS TO CONTINUE HAVING UNFETTERED ACCESS TO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM OR THE STUDENTS IT SERVES.

THIS HORRIFIC BEHAVIOR HAS NO PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE MUST ACT SWIFTLY, AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROTECT OUR KIDS.

>> THERE IS A NATION-WIDE SHORTAGE FOR ALL NURSES, BUT IN PARTICULAR, MORE MINORITY AND MALE NURSES ARE NEEDED.

AND THERE ARE PROGRAMS NOW AVAILABLE IN OKLAHOMA TO TRAIN PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THOSE HIGH-PAYING, IN-DEMAND JOBS.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH THAT STORY.

STEVE.

>> RICH, THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC WAS BRUTAL IN ALL AREAS FOR NURSES.

ALL OVER THE U.S., A LARGE NUMBER QUIT.

COUPLE THAT WITH THE FACT THAT THE DEAN OF OU'S COLLEGE OF NURSING RECENTLY TOLD ME THE AVERAGE AGE OF A NURSE RIGHT NOW IS OVER 50.

THAT MEANS TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH NEEDS OF A RAPIDLY AGING POPULATION.

>> 28-YEAR-OLD TYLER SHANNON IS A 2013 GRADUATE OF KARL ALBERT HIGH SCHOOL IN MIDWEST CITY.

HE SPENT SIX YEARS IN THE NATIONAL GUARD BEFORE TRANSITIONS INTO A JOB AS AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN FOR OKLAHOMA'S EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AUTHORITY, OR EMSA.

TYLER CURRENTLY IS AN EMT IN OKLAHOMA CITY BUT ALSO STUDYING TO BECOME A REGISTERED NURSE AT ROSE STATE COLLEGE IN MIDWEST CITY.

SHANNON IS ALSO THE MARRIED FATHER OF A 6-YEAR-OLD.

>> BEING AN EMT, I COULDN'T -- IT'S A GOOD LIVING, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO -- THERE'S FINANCIAL RESTRICTIONS THAT COME ALONG WITH IT.

>> SHANNON BELIEVES MEDICAL SCHOOL IS EVENTUALLY A POSSIBILITY.

AT ROSE STATE, HE JUST FINISHED THE FIRST OF FOUR SEMESTERS IT WILL TAKE TO BECOME A REGISTERED NURSE.

HE'S BEING HELPED BY A 10,000-DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP ROSE STATE NOW OFFERS TO 30 NURSING STUDENTS EACH YEAR.

ROSE STATE IS USING A NEW $9.4 MILLION FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN GRANT TO DO IT.

>> I GOT $2,500 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER.

THAT WENT TOWARDS MY TUITION, AND THEN ANYTHING LEFT OVER AFTER MY TUITION WAS PAID, I WAS ABLE TO USE TOWARDS MATERIALS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, PENS AND PAPER AND JUST GENERAL SCHOOL SUPPLIES THAT I MIGHT NEED.

I WAS ABLE TO USE THAT IN THE BOOKSTORE.

>> IT'S HELPING YOU GAIN MOMENTUM.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

IT TAKES THE BURDEN FINANCIALLY AWAY.

>> ROSE STATE COLLEGE PRESIDENT JEANNE WEBB SAYS RIGHT NOW ROSE STATE GRADUATES AROUND 100 NURSES EACH YEAR.

THEY WANT THAT NUMBER UP TO AT LEAST 150, SOONER, NOT LATER.

>> SO WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPANDING OUR NURSING FACILITY.

WE'RE GOING TO BE INCREASING OUR PROGRAM BY 50%.

>> 50?

>> 50%, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING, BECAUSE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW -- THERE WILL BE 1,000 PEOPLE THAT PUT THEIR MAJOR DOWN TO BE NURSING, AND WE CAN ONLY TAKE 100.

SO THIS WILL HELP US SOME.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA RIGHT NOW FOR NOT JUST OKLAHOMA BUT FOR THE UNITED STATES, THERE'S ONE-THIRD -- THINK ABOUT THIS, ONE-THIRD OF OUR NURSES ARE OVER THE AGE OF 50, AND THEY'RE SAYING WE NEED A 6% INCREASE.

AND SO WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS FOR OKLAHOMA IS THAT FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS WE NOW 2,500 NEW NURSES COMING OUT OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

>> CURRENTLY, OF THE 141 NURSING STUDENTS AT ROSE STATE, 57% ARE WHITE.

8.5% ARE BLACK.

JUST UNDER 8% ARE NATIVE AMERICAN.

5.6% ARE MIXED RACE.

4% ARE HISPANIC.

AND 87% ARE FEMALE.

TYLER SHANNON SAYS HE'S VERY AWARE HE'S EMBARKING ON A FEMALE DOMINATED CAREER, BUT DOES IT HAVE TO BE?

>> I THINK JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT, LIKE, AT ST. ANTHONY'S THEY HAVE PART OF THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY KIND OF SHOW ALL OF THE HISTORY OF THE HOSPITAL, AND IT'S ALL WOMEN NURSES, AND THAT'S GREAT, AND THAT'S AWESOME, AND I THINK THAT JUST MEDIA PORTRAYS NURSES AS MOSTLY WOMEN, AND SO I THINK A LOT OF GUYS KIND OF HAVE A PRECONCEIVED NOTION THAT IT'S JUST FOR FEMALES AND WOMEN.

I DON'T THINK THEY THINK ABOUT IT AS, LIKE, A VIABLE CAREER, AND SO I THINK IT'S JUST THE STIGMA AROUND IT.

>> TIME TO WAKE UP.

>> YEAH, IT'S A GOOD CAREER.

I DON'T KNOW WHY MORE MEN AREN'T PURSUING IT AS A CAREER.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY.

>> PRESIDENT WEBB, WHO ALSO SITS ON THE OETA BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SAYS THEY'RE AIMING FOR MORE DIVERSITY.

>> IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A VARIETY OF PEOPLE IN AND PEOPLE ALSO THAT CAN SPEAK SPANISH WELL.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN WORK IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.

>> OU'S COLLEGE OF NURSING IS THE LARGEST NURSING SCHOOL IN THE STATE.

THREE MONTHS AGO, CNN REPORTED THAT NURSING SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE TURNING AWAY THOUSANDS OF APPLICANTS BECAUSE THERE'S A MASSIVE SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO CAN TEACH NURSING IN NURSING SCHOOLS.

JULIE HOFF IS DEAN OF OU'S COLLEGE OF NURSING.

SHE SAYS DESPITE THE NATIONAL TREND, IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, SHE SAYS, ENROLLMENT HERE IS ACTUALLY UP BY 300 STUDENTS.

SHE SAYS MORE AVAILABLE GRANT AND SCHOLARSHIP MONEY HAS HELPED ATTRACT MORE MINORITIES AND MALES.

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THE FACT THAT WE ADMIT ALL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS, SO LONG AS YOU MEET ALL THE PREREQUISITE CRITERIA AND THE GPA REQUIREMENTS, WE ADMIT YOU TO OU, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT HAS DRIVEN OUR ENROLLMENT EXPANSION.

AND IN DOING THAT, YOU KNOW, ANY TIME KIND OF YOU OPEN THE DOORS, YOU END UP WITH A MORE DIVERSE COHORT.

>> FROM WHERE YOU'RE SITTING, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO HIRING MORE EDUCATORS TO TEACH NURSING?

>> THE BIGGEST, I WOULD SAY, NO.

1 IS JUST SHEER NUMBERS, THE NUMBER OF NURSES THAT ARE PREPARED TO TEACH NURSING.

>> HOFF SAYS OU NOW OFFERS AN AN ACCELERATED NURSING PROGRAM AS WELL THAT'S BECOMING POPULAR.

FOLKS WHO HOLD A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN A DIFFERENT FIELD CAN GET CERTIFIED AS A REGISTERED NURSE IN AS LITTLE AS 16 MONTHS, WHICH RIGHT NOW IS HUGE FOR A FIELD STARVING FOR TALENT.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF LITERATURE THAT SAYS THE FACE OF THE PROVIDER, WHEN IT MATCHES THE FACE OF THE PATIENT AND THEIR FAMILY, THE OUTCOMES ARE DIFFERENT.

>> SHANNON SAYS HE'S PREPARED TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME A NURSE.

HE SAYS HE OWES IT TO HIS FAMILY, AND ESPECIALLY HIS GRANDFATHER.

>> HE'S HELPED ME SO MUCH.

I WAS RAISED BY MY GRANDPARENTS, SO HE'S LIKE MY FATHER.

SORRY, I'M GOING TO GET KIND OF EMOTIONAL.

WITHOUT HIM, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO ANY OF THIS, AND SO I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE HIM.

>> THAT'S IMPORTANT.

HE'S PROBABLY VERY PROUD THAT YOU'RE DOING THIS.

>> I HOPE SO.

>> TYLER SHANNON'S WIFE, PAIGE, IS A PARAMEDIC FOR BAPTIST INTERGRIS IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> GREAT REPORT.

THANK YOU.

>> WITH LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS EXPECTED EARLY NEXT WEEK, WE THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO DISCUSS WINTER STORM PREPARATIONS.

AND SOME OF THE THE WEATHER MODELS SUGGEST SEVERE SNOW OR ICE STORMS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

WITH THAT IN MIND, WE GATHERED A PANEL OF EXPERTS TOGETHER FOR THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

>> WHAT'S REALLY GONNA BE DANGEROUS ACTUALLY IS THE WINDCHILL FACTOR.

WHEN YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE WINDS THAT ARE GONNA BE BLOWING VERY STRONG, NORTH NORTHWEST WINDS, WE'RE GONNA SEE WINDCHILLS WELL BELOW ZERO.

AND WHEN WE GET TO ABOUT FIVE BELOW ZERO, OR LOWER THAN THAT, THAT'S WHEN WE REALLY START TO WORRY ABOUT HYPOTHERMIA, AND REALLY PEOPLE SUCCUMBING QUICKLY TO THE EFFECTS OF THAT VERY COLD.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BUNDLE UP ONLY SO MUCH, BUT THIS IS -- THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

THIS IS A BIG COLD SNAP THAT'S COMING AND COULD EVEN BE DANGEROUS.

>> ARE THE STORM SYSTEMS GONNA BE HELD IN PLACE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME AND THAT COLD AIR GONNA BE TRAPPED HERE LIKE WE SAW FEBRUARY 2021, OR IS IT GONNA MOVE OUT A LITTLE BIT FASTER?

NOW, LUCKILY THIS TIME IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA MOVE OUT A LITTLE BIT FASTER.

IT'S CERTAINLY GONNA BE HERE A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG AS WELL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE SORT OF THING WE LOOK FOR IS THE OVERALL FLOW PATTERN ACROSS THE ENTIRE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, NOT JUST WHAT'S GOING ON LOCALLY.

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

>> WITH BLOOD DONATIONS AT THEIR LOWEST LEVELS IN 20 YEARS, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS URGING DONORS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL SHORTAGE.

HERE IN OKLAHOMA THE RED CROSS IS SETTING UP MOBILE DRIVES THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID A WORST-CASE SCENARIO; LIFESAVING MEDICAL PROCEDURES BEING PUT ON HOLD BECAUSE OF AN INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF BLOOD.

>> THIS IS MORE THAN A SEASONAL DECLINE IN DONORS, AND WE ALWAYS -- WE ALWAYS DO SEE A SEASONAL DECLINE IN THE WINTER MONTHS, BUT THIS IS MORE CRITICAL.

THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE DONATING BLOOD IN THE UNITED STATES NOW THAN ANY TIME IN THE PAST 20 YEARS.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT SOME 8 MILLION BLOOD DONORS GAVE ANNUALLY.

IN THE LAST SURVEY THAT CAME OUT, IT'S DOWN TO 6 MILLION.

>> WE DON'T KNOW FOR CERTAIN WHETHER ANY SURGERIES HAVE BEEN POSTPONED OR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DENIED THE NEEDED MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE OF A BLOOD SHORTAGE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO GET TO THAT POINT.

WE KNOW THAT THE BLOOD PRODUCT ISN'T SHELF STABLE.

IT DOESN'T LAST FOREVER.

IT DOES EXPIRE.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE UP TO FIVE DAYS SUPPLY, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE REALLY RUNNING SHORT RIGHT NOW.

TO SIGN UP TO MAKE A BLOOD DONATION, YOU CAN GO TO REDCROSSBLOOD.ORG OR DOWNLOAD THE RED CROSS APP TO YOUR PHONE.

>> THURSDAY MARKED THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LANDMARK SURGEON GENERAL'S REPORT DECLARING CIGARETTE SMOKING CAUSED LUNG CANCER AND ITS LINK TO OTHER SERIOUS DISEASES.

THIS WEEK, WE SPOKE TO THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE SINCE 1964.

>> YOLANDA RICHARDSON, LET'S BEGIN WITH SOME PRETTY REMARKABLE NUMBERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE QUIT SMOKING OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS.

SHARE SOME OF THAT DATA WITH US.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE'RE 60 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST SURGEON GENERAL'S REPORT IN 1964 AND WITH A REAL SUCCESS STORY TO SHARE.

SMOKING RATES HAVE DECLINED.

AMONG ADULTS, A 73% DECLINE IN TOBACCO CIGARETTE SMOKING.

AND AMONG CHILDREN, WE'VE SEEN A 90% DECLINE.

THOSE ARE JUST INCREDIBLE NUMBERS, AND THEY WERE ALSO THE RESULT OF THE SEMINOLE REPORT THAT CAME OUT IN 1964 WHICH DOCUMENTED AND PULLED ALL THE SCIENCE TOGETHER, AND SINCE THAT TIME WE PUT IN PLACE THE RIGHT KIND OF POLICIES TO BEGIN TO SEE THOSE KIND OF CONSUMPTION DECLINES.

>> GIVE ME ONE OF THOSE POLICIES.

HOW HAS THIS BECOME ACCOMPLISHED?

>> SMOKING IS NOT JUST BAD FOR SMOKERS.

IT'S ALSO BAD FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AROUND SMOKE.

AND SO THAT ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND UNDERSTAND WHY PUBLIC SMOKING BANDS WERE PUT IN PLACE.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE DID WAS TO REALLY ENGAGE AND INFORM THE PUBLIC, LOTS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION DOLLARS WERE PUT OUT THERE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THE RISK WITH RESPECT TO SMOKING.

ADDITIONALLY, WE BEGAN TO TAX THOSE PRODUCTS.

THERE'S NO UPSIDE TO SMOKING.

THERE IS NO UPSIDE TO CIGARETTES.

TO TAXING THEM HEAVILY RESULTED IN THEM BEING UNAFFORDABLE AND OUT OF REACH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR.

THOSE WERE CRITICAL IN DRIVING DOWN CONSUMPTION RATES.

>> STILL 480,000, HUNDRED 500,00 AMERICANS DIE EACH YEAR AND SMOKING STILL REMAINS A CAUSE OF DISEASE.

SO A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

>> A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

WE'RE DEALING WITH AN ADDICTIVE PRODUCT.

WHILE WE KNOW 70% OF SMOKERS WANT TO QUIT, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SO.

WE HAVE TO KEEP SUPPORTING THEM THROUGH SECESSION PROGRAMS AND ALSO CONTINUE TO MAKE IT INCONVENIENT AND COSTLY TO ENGAGE IN THE HABIT.

WE ALSO HAVE A REALLY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY THAT I DON'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ILLUMINATE WITH YOU AND YOUR AUDIENCE.

WHEN THE NATIONAL TOBACCO CONTROL LAW WAS PASSED IN 2009, IT BANNED ALL FLAVORED CIGARETTES.

THE ONE EXCEPTION WAS MENTHOL.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO CLOSE THAT GAP FOR 14 YEARS.

AND FINALLY NOW, WE HAVE AMASSED THE SCIENCE AND PUT IT TOGETHER SO THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THE SCIENCE SUPPORTS BANNING MENTHOL CIGARETTES.

WE HAVE A RULE THAT WOULD BAN FLAVORED CIGARS.

THAT MEANS, WITH THESE TWO RULES, YOU WOULD REMOVE ALL FLAVORED CIGARETTES, ALL FLAVORED CIGARS FROM THE MARKET.

THAT WILL HAVE INCREDIBLE IMPACT ON FORCING INCREASE DECLINES IN CONSUMPTION.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT BAN ON MENTHOL HAS NOT ALREADY TAKEN PLACE?

>>> THINK WE ARE ANGERED BY IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SCIENCE THERE, AND THERE IS REALLY NO REASON TO DELAY, AND CYNICALLY, I THINK MANY OF US THINK IT'S POLITICS.

THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PASSED ITS OWN DEADLINE, AND THEN WE'RE DEEP INTO POLITICAL SEASON BY THE TIME WE'RE IN MARCH.

SO IT'S HARDER TO DO ANYTHING NEW OR CONTROVERSIAL ONCE POLITICAL SEASON HAS STARTED.

WE'RE INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINT.

>> DAVE: YOLANDA, ARE YOU ALSO INVOLVED IN REDUCING THE USES OF VAPING PRODUCTS?

>> WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE WE WERE SO CLOSE ON YOUTH SMOKING RIGHTS, WE'RE AT 2%, BUT THEN COMES VAPING, AND WE HAVE A YOUTH VAPING EPIDEMIC.

AND SO WE WANT TO ALSO CALL ON THE ADMINISTRATION TO REMOVE ILLEGAL VAPE PRODUCTS FROM THE MARKET.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO REDUCING TOBACCO CONSUMPTION, SO THAT INCLUDES SMOKING, AND IT INCLUDES VAPING AND ANY OTHER FORMS OF TOBACCO CONSUMPTION THAT ARE ON THE MARKETPLACE, SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE EVEN PRODUCTS THAT ARE -- ORAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS, BECAUSE THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH ON THESE PRODUCTS.

>> YOLANDA ANDERSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> CITING A "LACK OF CLARITY," THE STITT ADMINISTRATION IS DECLINING TO PARTICIPATE IN A FEDERAL SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM UTILIZED BY THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMA CHILDREN.

EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THE REASONS WHY AND THE IMPACT THE DECISION MIGHT HAVE.

TAELYR.

>> OKLAHOMA CHILDREN IN SOME COUNTIES WILL STILL GET THE SUMMER EBT PROGRAM BENEFITS, THANKS TO THE CHICKASAW, CHOCTAW, CHEROKEE AND OSAGE NATIONS.

ADVOCATES HOPE THE STATE WILL RECONSIDER AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM NEXT SUMMER.

>> HUNGER FREE OKLAHOMA PRESIDENT CHRIS BENARD IS TALKING ABOUT HIS REACTION TO THE STATE OPTING OUT OF THE SUMMER EBT PROGRAM.

>> WE KNEW THEY WERE HESITANT, , AND HONESTLY WE WERE HOPING EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T SUBMIT THE LETTER, MAYBE WE WOULD GET THEM IN A MONTH OR SO.

OBVIOUSLY THEY CAN BE SOFT AND LET STATES IN.

OVER THE PAST WEEK, IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT INTEND TO CHANGE HIS MIND.

>> WITH CHILDREN ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS, MANY OKLAHOMANS WONDER WHY THE STATE WOULD TURN DOWN THE PROGRAM.

>> GOVERNOR STITT'S COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR SAID ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS WAS THAT STATES HAD TO EXPRESS THEIR INTENT TO OPT INTO THE PROGRAM BEFORE THE RULES WERE EVEN FINALIZED.

>> BENARD SAYS THEY WILL ADVOCATE FOR THE STATE TO OPT IN TO NEXT YEAR'S PROGRAM.

>> ALSO HAVE TO PIVOT AND THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE WAYS WE CAN MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE THAT WILL COME FROM -- IT'S NOT JUST TAKING -- IT'S TAKING AWAY A PROGRAM.

SO IT'S NOT A NEW RESOURCE THAT WOULD HAVE COME IN.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS PROGRAM SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED, RIGHT?

SO I KNOW IT'S BEEN FRAMED A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT IN REALITY, THESE ARE FAMILIES WHO ARE LOSING THE BENEFIT THEY HAVE RELIED ON OVER THE LAST FEW SUMMERS.

>> THE PROGRAM PROVIDES GROCERY BENEFITS TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.

>> THIS PROGRAM BRINGS A HUGE NUMBER OF DOLLARS BACK INTO THE STATE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND DOES IT AT A TIME IN PARTICULAR WHERE OTHER RESOURCES ARE STRAINED DURING THE SUMMER WHEN KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL.

>> GOVERNOR STITT SAYS HE WANTS EVERY CHILD IN THE STATE FED IN A STATEMENT THAT READ IN PART, MY ADMINISTRATION PROUDLY FUNDS NUMEROUS FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMS TO THE TUNE OF 2 BILLION PER YEAR, AND EVERY OKLAHOMAIAN ELIGIBLE FOR THE NEW BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM IS ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR AN EXISTING FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM.

I DON'T WANT A SINGLE OKLAHOMA CHILD TO GO HUNGRY, BUT LARGE DUPLICATIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS DO NOT ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.

BUT SOME SAY THE STATE PROGRAMS OFFERED ARE NOT HIGH ENOUGH.

>> WE'VE GOT A HIGH FOOD INSECURITY PROBLEM FOR A REASON.

>> ANGELA LITTLE SAW FIRSTHAND HOW IMPORTANT SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAMS ARE AFTER HELPING A NEIGHBOR.

>> MY BOYS, WHEN THEY WERE IN ELEMENTARY, HAD A FRIEND THAT LIVED AROUND THE CORNER, SINGLE MOM OF FOUR LITTLE BOYS, AND THEY WERE IN EDMOND, THAT'S WHERE WE LIVED.

THEY WENT TO EDMOND IN ELEMENTARY.

AND EVERY DAY, SHE WOULD GO TO WORK.

SHE WORKED TWO JOBS.

AND THEY WOULD COME -- I WOULD TELL THE BOYS, RIDE YOUR BIKES OVER THERE AND GET THEM.

HAVE THEM COME OVER.

AND I WOULD FEED THEM EVERY DAY.

AND THEY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE OTHERWISE ALL DAY LONG WHEN THEY'RE AT HOME.

I MEAN, NOT FOR ANY FAULT OF HERS.

SHE JUST COULDN'T AFFORD IT.

>> 14% OF OKLAHOMA HOUSEHOLDS ARE FOOD INSECURE ACCORDING TO AMERICA'S HEALTH RANKING.

LITTLE SAYS HER GROUP IS COLLABORATING WITH OKLAHOMA RURAL SCHOOLS COALITION TO HELP ALLEVIATE SCHOOL LUNCH DEBT.

SHE BELIEVES THE AMOUNT OF UNPAID LUNCH CHARGES AT SCHOOLS SHOULD SERVE AS AN INDICATOR OF HOW MUCH THE STATE'S FOOD INSECURITY RATE IS IMPACTING FAMILIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND OUTSTANDING SCHOOL LUNCH DEBT AND HOW MUCH IT WAS PLAGUING DISTRICTS.

I HAD NO IDEA ACTUALLY THAT IT WAS SO SUBSTANTIAL, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, SOME DISTRICTS THAT HAD TO SEND THESE FAMILIES TO COLLECTIONS, YOU KNOW, IF THEY DIDN'T GET THE DEBT PAID OFF IN TIME.

>> DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, SCHOOL LUNCH WAIVERS COVERED THE COST OF LAUNCHES FOR ALL STUDENTS.

BUT IN 2022, THE WAIVER ENDED, LEAVING MANY FAMILIES SCRAMBLING TO FIND FUNDS.

>> WE REALLY STARTED TO SEE THIS BEING A PROBLEM FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

FOR ME MYSELF PERSONALLY AND MY HOME DISTRICT, WE SAW THIS ISSUED AS EARLY AS LAST YEAR.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT -- THERE'S SEVERAL REASONS WHY THIS IS HAPPENING, BUT THE DISTRICTS ARE NOT GETTING AS MUCH FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE MEALS AS THEY DID DOWN THE ROAD.

>> SCHOOL LUNCH PRICES VARY BY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> MY KIDS EAT BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AT SCHOOL ON MOST DAYS, AND I THINK THEIRS IS AROUND $5 A DAY FOR BOTH.

SO YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY MULTIPLE KIDS, AND IT CAN BE A PRETTY HEFTY BILL FOR SOME FAMILIES, FOR SURE.

>> AT THE END OF THE 2023, RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS REACHED OUT TO LITTLE FOR DEBT ASSISTANCE.

ONE SCHOOL HAD MORE THAN $30,000 OF SCHOOL LUNCH DEBT.

>> IT BLOWS MY MIND THAT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

IT MAKES ME VERY SAD THAT WE'RE NOT PRIORITIZING THE HEALTH AND NUTRITION OF OUR CHILDREN EVEN THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS, AND FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE, THE SUMMER MONTHS ARE THE HARDEST ONES TO DEAL WITH, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEING SEND HOME WITH BACKPACKS OVER THE WEEKEND WITH EXTRA FOOD.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING THAT EXTRA NUTRITION AND SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

>> ADVOCATES ARE NOW LOOKING TO LAWMAKERS TO HELP EASE THE BURDEN OF PARENTS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SUMMER MONTHS.

>> THERE ARE MULTIPLE BILLS OUT THERE ALREADY ON CHILD FOOD SECURITY, MOSTLY FOCUSED ON THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THERE'S BILLS THAT SAY LET'S RAISE THE INCOME THRESHOLD FOR FREE MEALS AND THE STATE WILL COVER THE DIFFERENCE.

THERE IS A BILL THAT INCENTIVIZES SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ADOPT A UNIVERSAL FEEDING MODEL.

IT'S A FEDERAL WAIVER YOU CAN APPLY FOR CALLED THE COMMUNITIES ELIGIBILITY PROVISION.

>> WE DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE STATE WILL STILL PARTICIPATE IN THE USDA SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM THAT SERVES LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.

THE EBT SUMMER PROGRAM THAT THE STATE HAS OPTED OUT OF IS A SEPARATE PROGRAM.

RICH.

>> VERY GOOD INFORMATION.

THANK YOU, TAELYR.

THE OKLAHOMA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MET FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR ON MONDAY AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A 57-THOUSAND-DOLLAR RAISE FOR ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TIM GATZ.

ACCORDING TO 2022 FIGURES, GATZ MADE MORE THAN $188,000, AND THE COMMISSION VOTED TO RAISE THAT TO $245,000.

GATZ ALSO TOLD THE COMMISSION THAT O-DOT WILL IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A MARKET PAY STUDY, WHICH WILL LEAD TO OTHER EMPLOYEES RECEIVING PAY RAISES IN THE FUTURE.

>> IT'S NOT JUST THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY AND O-DOT THAT YOU'VE LED, BUT REALLY THE STATE AS A WHOLE, AND YOU REALLY ENCOMPASS THE TRUE NOTION OF A -- OF A PUBLIC SERVANT.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT TIM HAS ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF, BUT I THINK EVERYONE ON THIS COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THAT YOU NEED AN INCREASE IN YOUR SALARY.

WE DON'T WANT TO RISK LOSING YOU.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MARKET, THERE'S THE MINIMUM IN A JOB CLASS, MINIMUM PAY SCALE.

THERE'S THE MAXIMUM PAY SCALE, AND THERE'S THE MIDPOINT.

WELL, IN STATE GOVERNMENT, OUR TARGET IS 95% OF THE MIDPOINT, NOT OF THE MAXIMUM, BUT 95%, SO 5% BELOW THE MIDPOINT OF THE MARKET FOR THAT JOB CLASS.

STILL NOT EXCEPTIONAL PAY, BUT THIS IS NECESSARY AND VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

THE O-DOT SALARY INCREASE FOR EMPLOYEES WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 10 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

>> CHESAPEAKE ENERGY IS COMBINING FORCES WITH THE TEXAS-BASED SOUTHWEST ENERGY COMPANY TO CREATE ONE OF THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT NATURAL GAS PRODUCERS IN THE U.S.

THE DEAL IS ESTIMATED AT $7.4 BILLION DOLLARS WITH SOUTHWEST ENERGY COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS RECEIVING A PORTION OF CHESAPEAKE SHARES WHEN THE TRANSACTION CLOSES LATER THIS YEAR.

THE MERGER WOULD INCREASE INVESTOR DIVIDENDS BY APPROXIMATELY 20 PERCENT OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS.

BEFORE THE SALE CAN BE CLOSED, IT MUST BE APPROVED BY SHAREHOLDERS OF BOTH COMPANIES AND REGULATORS.

THE NEWLY FORMED COMPANY WILL OPERATE UNDER A NEW NAME ONCE THE DEAL CLOSES.

>> OKLAHOMA DRIVERS ARE FILLING UP FOR LESS.

JASON DOYLE HAS THE DETAILS IN THIS WEEK'S OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> NOW THAT THE HOLIDAYS ARE THROUGH, GAS PRICES HAVE DROPPED TO AN AVERAGE OF 2.61 A GALLON.

THAT'S DOWN EIGHT CENTS FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK AND 32 CENTS LOWER THAN PRICES A YEAR AGO.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE ALSO DROPPED FOUR CENTS LAST WEEK TO AVERAGE 3.08 A GALLON.

THAT'S 20 CENTS LESS THAN A YEAR AGO.

THE DROP IN GAS PRICES WAS DRIVEN BY A DECREASE IN DEMAND FOR GASOLINE BY MORE THAN A MILLION BARRELS A DAY.

THIS COMES AT THE SAME TIME WHEN CRUDE OIL PRICES ARE CREEPING BACK UPWARD.

IN DECEMBER, THE AVERAGE HOME LISTING IN OKLAHOMA CITY WAS 320,000 DOLLARS.

THAT'S DOWN BY 1.5 PERCENT FROM THE PREVIOUS DECEMBER, ACCORDING TO REALTOR.COM'S DECEMBER MONTHLY HOUSING TRENDS REPORT.

THERE WERE ALSO 15 PERCENT MORE HOMES ON THE MARKET IN DECEMBER 2023 THAN A YEAR EARLIER.

HOWEVER, THEY ARE SPENDING TWO LESS DAYS ON THE MARKET THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, THERE WERE 9.1 PERCENT MORE NEWLY-LISTED HOMES ON THE MARKET IN DECEMBER.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED MID-FIRST BANK IS OPENING NEW BRANCHES IN SOUTHERN NEVADA.

TO HELP RUN THOSE LOCATIONS, THE BANK HAS HIRED MICHAEL PIZZI AS ITS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND NEVADA MARKET EXECUTIVE.

MID-FIRST HAS BEEN FOCUSING ON EXPANDING OUT WEST AND HAS ALREADY OPENED BRANCHES IN SANTA BARBARA, SAN DIEGO, AND SOUTH BAY, CALIFORNIA.

MID-FIRST BANK IS THE LARGEST PRIVATELY-OWNED BANK IN THE NATION.

OKLAHOMA ARGI-TOURISM HAS LAUNCHED ITS OKLAHOMA WINE TRAILS PASSPORT PROGRAM, WHICH FEATURES NINE REGIONAL WINE TRAILS.

ITS REGION HAS THREE TO SIX STOPS FEATURING OKLAHOMA VINEYARDS.

A VISITOR CAN GET THEIR PASSPORT AT THE VINEYARD AND WINERY LOCATIONS.

EACH OF THE WINE TRAILS HAS ITS OWN KNICKNAME, LIKE "GET YOUR SIPS" AND "VINE AND DANDY," VISITOR COLLECT STAMPS AND PRIZES FOR VISITING THE STOPS.

THERE ARE 43 VINEYARDS AND WINERIES ON THE OKLAHOMA WINE TRAIL PASSPORT PROGRAM.

JASON DOYLE.

THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> JASON, THANK YOU.

>> THIS WEEK OKLAHOMA DODGED THE SNOW STORMS THAT SLAMMED MAN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY SO FAR, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL SOON BE OUR TURN TO BREAK OUT THE SALT AND SHOVEL.

TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PREPARED FOR WHATEVER MOTHER NATURE THROWS OUR WAY, HERE'S THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

CASSIDY.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

I WANT TO START OFF BY INTRODUCING OUR GUEST.

JOINING US TODAY IS RICK SMITH, THE WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST, AND VIA ZOOM, WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY GARY MCMANUS WHO IS THE STATE CLIMATETOLOGIST.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AS WE RECORD THIS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, WE MADE IT THROUGH THE FIRST ROUND OF WINTER WEATHER, BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WE'RE NOT SEEING THE COLDER TEMPERATURES YET.

>> RIGHT.

IT GOT COLD THERE BRIEFLY, BUT THAT'S NOT IT.

THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE COLDEST WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO MORE WAVES OF COLD WEATHER.

AT THIS POINT, WE STILL HAVE TWO COMING.

THE BIG ONE IS COMING OVER THE WEEKEND, SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY, SO YEAH, WE'RE -- I GUESS THEY SAY YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET, BECAUSE THE REAL COLD IS STILL ON THE WAY.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE TEMPERATURES THAT WE CAN BE EXPECTING BY THAT STORM.

>> BY THE TIME WE GET TO MONDAY MORNING, WE'RE GOING TO SEE LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS.

MONDAY, MUCH OF THE STATE MAY NOT GET OUT OF THE TEENS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURES.

SOME PARTS OF THE STATE, ESPECIALLY NORTH OF I 40, MAY NOT GET TO 10 DEGREES FOR A HIGH TEMPERATURE ON MONDAY, AND PROBABLY CLOSE TO THAT ON TUESDAY.

MORNING LOWS MONDAY NIGHT, TUESDAY MORNING, ARE GOING TO BE BELOW ZERO IN SOME PLACES.

WHAT'S REALLY GOING TO BE DANGEROUS ACTUALLY IS THE WINDCHILL FACTOR.

WHEN YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE WINDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BLOWING, VERY STRONG NORTH, NORTHWEST WINDS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE WINDCHILLS WELL BELOW ZERO.

WHEN WE GET TO ABOUT 5 BELOW ZERO OR WARMER THAN THAT, THAT'S WHEN WE REALLY START TO WORRY ABOUT HYPOTHERMIA AND REALLY PEOPLE SUCCUMBING QUICKLY TO THE EFFECTS OF THAT VERY COLD.

YOU CAN BUNDLE UP ONLY SO MUCH.

BUT THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

THIS IS A BIG COLD SNAP THAT'S COMING AND COULD EVEN BE DANGEROUS WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE, PIPES AND PETS.

WE'VE SEEN IT BEFORE.

>> I WANT TO PUT A PIN IN THAT.

WE'LL DEFINITELY COME BACK TO THAT.

GARY, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE THE STORM IS DEVELOPING AND WHERE IT'S COMING FROM?

>> WELL, OF COURSE, THE COLD AIR IS COMING DOWN FROM THE ARCTIC REGION.

WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED -- SOME PEOPLE COULD CALL IT CROSS POLAR FLOW.

WHATEVER IT IS, IT'S JUST THIS BIG MASS OF COLD WEATHER COMING DOWN FROM THE NORTH, AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE HAD A VERY ACTIVE JET STREAM RECENTLY, SO WE'LL HAVE SOME OF THESE STORM SYSTEMS COMING IN FROM THE PACIFIC.

AND WHEN YOU COMBINE THOSE, YOU MIGHT GET SOME PRETTY BIG WINTER STORMS, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK OUT THIS FAR, WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT THE EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER IS COMING.

AT LEAST A LOT MORE SURE ABOUT THAT THAN ANY TYPE OF WINTER PRECIPITATION.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE, LIKE, SNOW, ICE, THAT SORT OF THING, WE HAVE TO GET A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.

>> ALONG WITH THOSE FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND THE WINDCHILL DROPPING DOWN THAT LOW, WHAT ARE SOME OTHER WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THIS STORM?

>> WELL, AS GARY MENTIONED, THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM.

SO THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME SNOW, ALL TOGETHER WINTERY PRECIPITATION THAT WE GET.

THIS FAR OUT, IT'S REALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY FOR SURE IF THAT WILL HAPPEN OR WHERE THAT WILL HAPPEN.

THE TRACK OF THESE STORM SYSTEMS, AS THEY HAVE BEEN COMING ACROSS, IT TYPICALLY FAVORS NORTHERN OKLAHOMA, BUT SOME OF THE EARLY DATA THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY SHOWS WE COULD BE GETTING MORE OF THE STATE INVOLVED WITH WINTER PRECIPITATION, SNOW, PROBABLY MAINLY IN THE FORM OF SNOW.

>> SO YOU MENTIONED THE EFFECT IT HAS ON NORTHERN OKLAHOMA.

HOW IS THIS STORM GOING TO AFFECT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE, AND HOW HAVE WE SEEN IT ALREADY AFFECT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY?

>> WELL, THE FIRST WAVE WE HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, WE SAW SOME SNOW IN FAR NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA WHERE WE HAD 2 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW AND VERY, VERY STRONG WINDS AS WELL.

AND WE SAW SOME SNOW FLURRIES FURTHER SOUTH, AS FAR SOUTH AS OKLAHOMA CITY.

JUST THE OTHER MORNING, WE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH SOME ACCIDENTS IN THE MORNING RUSH HOUR.

THAT WAS JUST VERY, VERY LIGHT SNOW FLURRIES.

THE TRACK THAT THESE STORM SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN TAKING AS THEY MOVE OUT OF THE DESERT SOUTHWEST AND ACROSS OKLAHOMA, VERY OFTEN WHEN THEY'RE DOING THAT, THEY'RE STILL DEVELOPING AND INTENSIFYING, AND THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING TO PREDICT THE ACT TRACK OF THOSE AND THE PRECIPITATION WITH THEM.

BUT THE WEATHER DATA THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS OF THIS TAPING IS IT DOES LOOK LIKE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY HAS A HIGHER POTENTIAL FOR SNOW ACROSS MUCH OF THE STATE.

>> I DID WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PREDICTING THESE STORMS.

WE'VE GOTTEN REALLY GOOD AT PREDICTING TORNADOES, THUNDERSTORMS.

WHAT MAKES WINTER WEATHER SO DIFFICULT TO PREDICT?

GARY, CAN YOU START US OFF.

>> YEAH, OF COURSE, WITH WINTER WEATHER, WITH ANY SORT OF STORM SYSTEM, WHEN WE ARE THIS FAR OUT FROM POSSIBLE PRECIPITATION, 3 TO 5 DAYS, A LOT OF TIMES THOSE STORM SYSTEMS ARE STILL OFF THE WEST COAST OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT.

SO THEY'RE NOT BEING WELL SAMPLED BY OUR GROUND INSTRUMENTS WHERE WE CAN REALLY GET A GOOD FEED OF DATA TO PUT INTO THOSE FORECAST MODELS.

IT'S NOT HOPELESS, OF COURSE, BUT IT JUST GETS BETTER ONCE IT GETS OVER LAND.

AND THEN WHEN THOSE STORM SYSTEMS MOVE OVER THE ROCKIES, THEY TEND TO CHANGE CHARACTERISTICS.

THAT ALSO CAN PUT A WRENCH INTO THINGS.

BUT WE HAVE GOTTEN BETTER.

ANOTHER ONE OF THE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS, THOUGH, IS WHEN IT COMES TO WINTERY PRECIPITATION, WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO GET JUST A COLD RAIN VERSUS FREEZING RAIN OR SLEET OR SNOW, YOU REALLY HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON THE VERTICAL PROFILE OF THE TEMPERATURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE, BECAUSE THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

OF COURSE, WITH THIS AMOUNT OF COLD AIR, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE ALL SNOW, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER COMPLICATING FACTOR, WHAT THE VERTICAL PROFILE OF THE AS ATMOSPHERE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS TEMPERATURES.

>> CAN WE TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE VERTICAL PROFILE OF THE ATMOSPHERE.

WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IF YOU HAVE A MELTING LAYER OR AN AREA ABOVE -- A LAYER ABOVE FREEZING UP ABOVE THE GROUND LAYER, IF YOU DO HAVE THAT SNOW FORMATION ABOVE THAT LAYER, WHEN IT FALLS THROUGH, IT COULD TURN TO ICE, WHICH WOULD BE SLEET, OR IT COULD FALL AS LIQUID, AND THEN IF THE GROUND TEMPERATURES ARE COLD ENOUGH, IT COULD BE FREEZING RAIN.

OR IF THE ATMOSPHERE IS FROZEN ALL THE WAY UP TO WHERE THAT SNOW IS FORMING, THEN IT WOULD FALL AS SNOW.

SO THAT TYPE OF VERTICAL PROFILE IN THE ATMOSPHERE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

>> AND CASSIDY, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS, IT'S -- LIKE GARY SAID, IT'S NOT JUST WHAT THE TEMPERATURE IS.

YOU THING IT'S 30 DEGREES AT THE GROUND LEVEL, AND THERE IS PRECIPITATION FALLING, WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE SNOW.

IT MATTERS WHAT THE TEMPERATURE IS 100 FEET, 1,000 FEET, 5,000 FEET OFF THE GROUND, LIKE GARY WAS DESCRIBING.

OUR CHALLENGE IS WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A WAY TO DIRECTLY MEASURE THOSE TEMPERATURES, SO WE'RE FORECASTING THINGS MANY, MANY HOURS OR DAYS IN ADVANCE THAT WE REALLY CAN'T EVEN MESH NEWER REAL TIME.

WE SEND UP WEATHER BALLOONS TWICE A DAY, AND THAT'S THE ONLY TIME WE REALLY GET A DIRECT MEASUREMENT OF THOSE TEMPERATURES, SO IT'S EXTREMELY CHALLENGING.

A ONE DEGREE DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURE NOT JUST AT THE SURFACE, BUT LIKE GARY SAID, 1,000 FEET OFF THE GROUND, THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLD RAIN OR HEAVY SNOW OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN.

>> IT'S JUST -- IT'S WAITING FOR THE DAY OF, OR HOW CLOSELY CAN WE PREDICT THIS WINTER WEATHER?

>> TYPICALLY, THE CLOSER WE GET TO THE EVENT, THE MORE DETAILED AND ACCURATE THAT FORECAST IS GOING TO BE.

WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE THIS TIME OF YEAR TO CHECK THE FORECAST FREQUENTLY, BECAUSE THE FORECAST THAT YOU SEE ON WEDNESDAY MAY CHANGE DRAMATICALLY BY THURSDAY, FRIDAY.

SO EVERY DAY AS WE GET CLOSER TO AN EVENT ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU NEED TO BE CHECKING THAT FORECAST FREQUENTLY, BECAUSE WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT NEW INFORMATION, GETTING MORE DETAILED MEASUREMENTS OF THE STORM SYSTEM, LIKE GARY REFERRED TO, AND IF THINGS WORK LIKE THEY USUALLY WORK, THE FORECASTS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER AS WE GET CLOSER.

>> RICK, YOU MADE A REALLY GOOD POINT.

AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE MOVING AWAY FROM BROADCAST NEWS AND CABLE, WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN STAY ALERT DURING THESE WINTER WEATHER STORMS OR EVEN THE STORMS IN THE SPRING?

>> YEAH, IT'S -- THERE'S MORE WEATHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE NOW THAN EVER.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MAY NOT BE WATCHING TELEVISION QUITE AS MUCH ROUTINELY, SO THEY TURN TO SOCIAL MEDIA, AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE A CURSE OR A BLESSING WHEN IT COMES TO WEATHER INFORMATION.

FOR US, WE REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO FIND A RELIABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION.

THIS TIME OF YEAR, SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST LOOKING FOR CLICKS AND LIKES AND VIEWS WILL POST THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS FORECAST THAT A COMPUTER MODEL SPITS OUT SOMETIMES MORE THAN A WEEK IN ADVANCE.

PEOPLE WHO LIKE SNOW ARE LIKE, OH, MY GOSH, IT'S GOING TO SNOW 10 INCHES, SHARE, SHARE, SHARE, RETWEET.

THAT HAPPENS A LOT.

WE REALLY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO FIND A RELIABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION, LOCAL TELEVISION, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, WHOEVER YOU TRUST WHEN IT COMES TO WEATHER AND PAY ATTENTION TO THAT, AND PAY ATTENTION TO IT, LIKE I SAID, CLOSELY BECAUSE IT WILL CHANGE.

THE FORECAST WILL CHANGE.

>> I WANTED TO GO BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT.

WE TALKED ABOUT TERMS LIKE CROSS POLAR FLOW.

I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF METEOROLOGIST MENTION THINGS LIKE POLAR VORTEX AND ARCTIC OUTBREAK.

GARY, COULD YOU BREAK DOWN WHAT SOME OF THOSE HEADLINES MEAN AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR WINTER WEATHER?

>> RIGHT.

OCCASIONALLY, THROUGHOUT TIME, WE'LL SEE THAT WHAT'S CALLED THE POLAR VORTEX SORT OF GET DISPLACED.

IT DOESN'T BREAK DOWN.

IT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, DISAPPEAR.

IT JUST SORT OF MOVES AND GETS DISPLACED.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, WE GET THESE BIG KINKS IN THE JET STREAM, AND THEN WE CAN GET THESE SORT OF LARGE SCALE MOVEMENTS OF COLD AIR INTO THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OVER THE UNITED STATES.

IT COULD BE OVER EUROPE, OVER ASIA, OVER OTHER PARTS OF THE GLOBE IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.

WHEN THAT DOES HAPPEN, AND IT'S NOT INCREDIBLY OFTEN, THAT'S WHEN WE SORT OF SEE THESE LONG-LIVED COLD WEATHER EVENTS DURING THE WINTER.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE SORT OF THINGS LIKE WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, 1983, DECEMBE, FEBRUARY 2021, YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE OTHER CHARACTERISTICS IN THE ATMOSPHERE OCCURRING, LIKE A BIG BLOCKING HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES TO SORT OF KEEP THAT COLD AIR IN PLACE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE TERMS THAT GET THROWN AROUND.

IN THE END, IT'S A COMBINATION OF ALL THE WEATHER ACROSS THE GLOBE THAT WE FORMULATE INTO THESE TYPES OF EVENTS.

>> GARY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS AND DATA THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU'RE TRACKING THESE POTENTIAL STORMS?

>> WELL, LIKE I SAID, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL FLOW ACROSS THE ENTIRE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE AND HOW -- LET'S SAY HOW PROGRESSIVE THAT FLOW IS.

ARE THE STORM SYSTEMS GOING TO BE HELD IN PLACE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME?

IS THAT COLD AIR GOING TO BE TRAPPED HERE LIKE WE SAW FEBRUARY 2021, OR IS IT GOING TO MOVE OUT A LITTLE BIT FASTER.

LUCKILY, THIS TIME IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO MOVE OUT A LITTLE BIT FASTER.

IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE HERE A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG AS WELL.

BUT THAT'S THE SORT OF THING WE LOOK FOR, THE OVERALL FLOW PATTERN ACROSS THE ENTIRE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, NOT JUST WHAT'S GOING ON LOCALLY.

>> I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE 2021 STORM.

SOME METEOROLOGISTS ARE COMPARING THE INCOMING ARCTIC BLAST TO THAT WINTER STORM.

FROM WHERE YOU ARE SITTING RIGHT NOW, ARE WE SEEING THE SAME POTENTIAL FOR THAT TYPE OF WEATHER?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S -- PEOPLE LIKE TO COMPARE WEATHER EVENTS TO PAST WEATHER EVENTS.

NO TWO WEATHER EVENTS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.

WHILE THERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES WITH THIS ONE, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES TOO.

WE'RE GOING TO GET COLD TEMPERATURES.

WE'RE GOING TO GET VERY LOW WINDCHILLS.

THIS ONE DOES NOT LOOK TO PERSIST QUITE AS LONG AS THAT FEBRUARY 2021 SITUATION DID, FORTUNATELY.

THERE'S LITTLE SUIT HE THINGS WE LOOK AT -- SUBTLE THINGS WE LOOK AT TOO.

FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE FEBRUARY 2021 STORM SYSTEM, WE HAD COUPLE OF BIG WAVES OF SNOW AND ICE THAT CAME THROUGH.

BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE SECOND REALLY BIG WAVE OF COLD WEATHER, PARTS OF THE STATE HAD SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW.

ANY TIME YOU HAVE SNOW COVER, IMPACTS THE TEMPERATURES, OBVIOUSLY.

THAT MAKES IT EASIER TO GET THOSE VERY COLD TEMPERATURES.

EVEN SNOW OVER KANSAS IS GOING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO GET COLDER TEMPERATURES HERE AS THE NORTH WINDS COME DOWN.

SO THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS OF VARIABLES TO LOOK AT.

>> WE'RE HEARING PUBLIC OFFICIALS, METEOROLOGISTS, OF COURSE, SAYING, DON'T GO OUT.

STAY HOME.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR PEOPLE TO REALLY TAKE THIS ADVICE?

>> IT REALLY IS.

I MEAN, ANY TIME WE'RE DEALING WITH WINTER WEATHER, IT CAN BE DANGEROUS.

WINTER WEATHER KILLS PEOPLE EVERY YEAR.

IT DOESN'T GET THE PUBLICITY THAT TORNADOES OR HURRICANES DO, BUT HYPOTHERMIA IS A KILLER.

IT CAN BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS SOMEONE GOING OUT TO THEIR MAILBOX AND FALLING.

OF COURSE, IF WE'VE GOT WINTER PRECIPITATION OCCURRING, THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY.

IT'S HARD FOR A LOT OF US TO DEAL WITH THAT ON THE ROADS.

IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO STAY IN FROM THAT.

JUST THE MORE YOU CAN STAY INSIDE AND STAY WARM, THE SAFER YOU'RE GOING TO BE.

BECAUSE ONCE YOU'RE OUTSIDE, IF WE GET THOSE WINDCHILLS THAT ARE 10 TO 20 DEGREES BELOW ZERO, IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES BEFORE YOU'RE IN REAL TROUBLE.

>> GARY, I WANT TO MOVE ONTO THE FUTURE A LITTLE BIT.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THE WEATHER PATTERN MIGHT LOOK LIKE AS WE GO OVER THE NEXT FOR MONTHS.

>> OF COURSE, WE'RE STILL EXPERIENCING AN EL NINO IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.

AS WE GET FARTHER INTO JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH, THAT EL NINO IS EXPECTED TO PERSIST, AND THAT TEND TO TILT THE ODDS TOWARDS WEATHER AND COOLER THAN NORMAL WEATHER FOR THE SOUTHERN TIER UNITED STATES, AND TO SOME DEGREE OKLAHOMA AS WELL.

IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING TO BE THAT WAY.

IT'S JUST ON AVERAGE IT'S MORE THAT TYPE OF PATTERN AS WE GO FORWARD THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WE ARE EXPECTING IT TO SWITCH OVER TO WHAT'S CALLED NEUTRAL CONDITIONS AS WE GET LATER INTO THE SPRING, AND THAT DOES TEND TO DIE OFF AS WE GET INTO SPRING NORMALLY ANYWAY, THOUGH.

I THINK AS WE LOOK OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE CAN LOOK FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE ACTIVE WEATHER POSSIBLY.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE ACTIVE WEATHER AS WE'VE GOTTEN INTO DECEMBER VERSUS OCTOBER, NOVEMBER.

AND THAT'S IMPACTING DECEMBER.

WE JUST CAME OFF THE FOURTH WARMEST DECEMBER ON RECORD IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1895.

WE'VE HAD SOME TREMENDOUSLY WARM DECEMBERS OVER THE LAST DECADE.

REMEMBER DECEMBER 2021 WAS ABOUT THE MOST EXTREME MONTH I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED HERE IN OKLAHOMA, AND I'VE LIVED HERE IS A LONG TIME WHERE DECEMBER 2021 WAS 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL, AND IT BEAT THE PREVIOUS RECORD WARM DECEMBER IN 1933 BY MORE THAN 5 DEGREES, WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY UNHEARD OF IN OUR CLIMATE RECORDS, TO BEAT A PREVIOUSLY MONTHLY TEMPERATURE RECORD BY THAT AMOUNT ACROSS THE STAY AS A AS -- STATE AS A WHOLE.

WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, I WOULD CALL IT MORE OF A SHRINKING OF THE REALLY COLD WEATHER THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

SPRING STARTS TO ARRIVE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, BUT FALL TENDS TO STICK AROUND A LITTLE BIT LONGER, AND SO YOU GET THIS LITTLE BIT MORE COMPACT WINTER WEATHER PATTERN HERE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> THAT WAS A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION, BUT SADLY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE WITH US, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS.

OKAY.

BUNDLE UP, EVERYBODY.

>> HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF APPALACHIAN FLATFOOT DANCING?

IN KENTUCKY, ONE WOMAN HAS CREATED A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS TO KEEP THE TRADITION ALIVE.

AND THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, COURTESY OF KENTUCKY EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION.

♪♪ >> I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY VALUABLE TO SHARE MY STORY OF BEING SOMEBODY WHO IS FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY WHO GREW UP WITH A BUNCH OF BEAUTIFUL TRADITIONS, AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT ARTS ARE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO INVITE PEOPLE INTO OUR WORLD TO SHARE OUR LIVES AND TO BREAK DOWN THOSE MISUNDERSTANDINGS.

I AM A KENTUCKY MUSICIAN, DANCER AND CULTURAL EDUCATOR.

THE STYLE I PERFORM IS CALLED APPALACHIAN FLAT FOOTING OR CLOGGING.

IT'S A STYLE THAT EVOLVED FROM A MIXTURE OF THE EUROPEAN ROOTS OF SOME OF OUR KENTUCKY ANCESTORS FROM IRELAND, SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, ALSO WITH INFLUENCES OF INDIGENOUS NATIVE AMERICAN DANCING AND AFRICAN AMERICAN DANCING, AND SO THOSE STYLES OBVIOUSLY MIX TOGETHER IN A LOT OF WAYS.

CAME UP WITH TAP DANCE, CLOGGING CLOGGINGAND FLAT FOOTING.

CLOGGING IS OFTEN DONE IN TEAMS WITH SYNCHRONIZED CHOREOGRAPHY, AND FLAT FOOTING IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK OF AS A VERY SIMILAR STYLE BUT USUALLY JUST PERFORMED AS IMPROVISATION WITH LIVE FIDDLE MUSIC.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL TELL ME, I'M TOO OLD OR TOO OUT OF SHAPE OR TOO HEAVY, AND I JUST INVITE PEOPLE TO TRY IT ANYWAY, BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT FUN WAY TO EXERCISE, AND IT'S ALSO NOT -- IT'S NOT SO HARD THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN'T ACCESS IT BECAUSE THIS DANCE STYLE IS NOT MADE TO BE DANCED, YOU KNOW, ON THE BIG STAGE.

THIS IS MADE FOR PORCHES AND BARN DANCES AND LIVING ROOMS AND JAM SESSIONS, AND SO I THINK THIS DANCE STYLE IS FOR EVERYBODY.

I LOVE TEACHING THAT FLAT FOOTING BASIC.

IT'S STEP, LIFT, PULL.

STEP LIFT PULL.

STEP, LIFT, PULL.

STEP, LIFT, PULL.

SO IF I ADD THE TOES, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT.

YOU CAN ALSO ADD A SOUND ON THAT STEP WITH THE HEEL LIKE A LITTLE SCUFF, SO IF I ADD THE -- JUST PLAYING, WITH THE TOES AND THE HEELS, AND THEN YOU CAN ADD BEATS AND LEAVE THEM OUT.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE STEPS THAT HELPS YOU UNLOCK HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE FIDDLE MIMICKING THE FIDDLE TUNE LINES, AND THAT'S JUST ONE STEP, AND THERE'S LOTS OF STEPS YOU CAN LEARN.

I LOVE TEACHING PEOPLE TO DO THAT.

DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN THINGS SHUT DOWN, LIKE EVERY MUSICIAN, I WAS SHUT OFF FROM EVERY SINGLE SOURCE OF INCOME THAT I HAD, AND SO I JUST STARTED OFFERING ZOOM CLASSES.

I DID BANJO TUNES AND FLAT FOOT DANCING.

WHEN I STARTED TO OFFER THE DANCE CLASSES, WHICH I PREVIOUSLY HAD DONE AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR FEST CALL,, ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD PEOPLE SIGNING UP.

IT HAS BLOWN ME AWAY.

I HAVE STUDENTS IN SWEET LAND, GERMANY, IRELAND, SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, CANADA, ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES.

I'VE HAD ABOUT 150 STUDENTS COME THROUGH MY ACADEMY NOW.

NOW THAT THINGS ARE OPENING UP AND I'M TOURING AGAIN, I'M NEVER GOING TO STOP DOING THE ACADEMY, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE, AND I DON'T WANT THIS ART FORM TO DIE OUT.

I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME COLLECTING THIS KNOWLEDGE, AND I WANT TO PASS IT ALONG AND PRESERVE IT.

WHEN YOU LEARN A TRADITIONAL STYLE FROM SOMEONE THAT GREW UP WITH IT AND CAN TELL YOU THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE AND PLACES AND SITUATIONS WHERE THEY LEARNED IT, IT ADDS A WHOLE OTHER DIMENSION, AND I THINK THAT'S SPECIAL, SO I'M PROUD TO PASS THAT ON.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT: IS THERE TOO MUCH VIOLENCE OCCURRING INSIDE OF OKLAHOMA PRISONS?

IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU TALK TO.

AND NEXT WEEK, STEVE SHAW IS TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT TO SAY.

>> MONDAY IS THE MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY.

WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK BACK AT HIS MOST ICONIC SPEECH PUT TOGETHER BY OETA'S KACI FERGUSON.

PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE, OETA.TV.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER BY SEARCHING "OETA ONR."

AND ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE, JUST SEARCH, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

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

ENJOY THAT COLD WEEKEND!

>> I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY THIS NATION WILL RISE UP, LIVE OUT THE TRUE MEANING OF ITS CREED.

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.

(APPLAUSE).

I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY SONS OF SLAVES AND SONS OF SLAVE OWNERS WILL BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER AT THE TABLE OF BROTHERHOOD.

I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY EVEN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, A STATE SWELTERING WITH THE HEAP OF INJUSTICE, SWELTERING WITH THE HEAT OF OPPRESSION, BE TRANSFORMED INTO AN OASIS OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.

I HAVE A DREAM OF MY FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.

I HAVE A DREAM.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE).

I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY DOWN IN ALABAMA WITH ITS RACISTS WITH ITS GOVERNOR HAVING -- ONE DAY RIGHT DOWN IN ALABAMA LITTLE BLACK BOYS AND BLACK GIRLS WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS WITH LITTLE WHITE BOYS AND LITTLE WHITE GIRLS AS SISTERS AND BROTHERS.

I HAVE A DREAM TODAY.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)