>> THE GOVERNOR CALLS FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO RENEW HIS PUSH TO CUT STATE INCOME TAXES.

>> MAKE SURE THAT THOSE IDEAS GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO RAM IT THROUGH AND RUSH IT THROUGH A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> ARE ACTS OF VIOLENCE OUT OF CONTROL IN OKLAHOMA PRISONS?

>> BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WHAT THEY DONE TO MY SON, THE LORD WILL TAKE CARE OF IT EVENTUALLY.

>> A PROGRESS REPORT ON REFORMS UNDERWAY AT THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL.

>> THEY SAID THAT, OF THE SIX ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATIONS, WE MADE PROGRESS ON ABOUT FOUR OF THEM, AND TWO OF THEM STILL HAVE MORE TO GO.

>> AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON CHESAPEAKE ENERGY'S BLOCKBUSTER DECISION TO JOIN FORCES WITH A TEXAS COMPANY.

>> IT'S WIN-WIN FOR OKLAHOMA CITY AND FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

>> KEEPING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE DURING THE PEAK SEASON FOR HOME FIRES.

>> WHEN TEMPERATURES GET COLD, OUT COMES THE SPACE HEATERS, PEOPLE USE THEIR FURNACES, MORE PEOPLE USE CANDLES TO WARM UP AT THEIR HOUSE.

THERE'S JUST SO MANY MORE HEAT SOUCES.

>> PLUS, A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR FOR STATE TOURISM.

THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT!

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

CONCERNED FAMILIES ARE JOINING WITH LAWMAKERS TO DEMAND A REDUCTION IN VIOLENCE IN OUR STATE PRISONS.

THEY CLAIM IT'S OUT OF CONTROL WHILE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SAYS IT'S UNDER CONTROL.

JARRING VIDEO WE'VE OBTAINED IS PRETTY TOUGH TO WATCH.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH HIS REPORT.

STEVE?

>> RICH, TWO WEEKS AGO, WE HEARD ABOUT A VICIOUS INMATE ATTACK AT DICK CONNER CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN HOMINY.

NEXT, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE TOLD US STABBINGS AND ATTACKS ARE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE STATE'S PRISON SYSTEM AT AN ALARMING RATE.

THEN WE GOT VIDEO OF THE ATTACK AT DICK CONNER.

AND I JUST TALKED TO THE ALLEGED VICTIM AND HIS FAMILY.

I NEED TO WARN YOU, SOME OF THE VIDEO YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE IS DISTURBING.

>> GET HIM.

>> IMAGINE BEING ON THE RECEIVING END OF A CELL PHONE VIDEO SHOWING A BRUTAL PRISON CELL ATTACK OF A LOVED ONE.

THAT'S THE REALITY.

SHALL CHI A ROSS AND HER FATHER HAVE BEEN LIVING JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

>> HIS NOSE WAS BROKEN.

HIS WRIST WAS BROKEN.

THEY HAVE TO PERFORM SURGERY ON HIS EYE SOCKETS.

THEY HAD TO REMOVE HIS EYEBALLS FROM HIS SKULL TO DO THE SURGERY.

>> HER BROTHER, CARLOS ROSS JUNIOR, ABSORBED A TERRIFIC LENGTHSY BEATING FROM SEVERAL OTHER INMATES AT THE DICK CONNER CORRECTIONAL CENTER.

THE ONSLAUGHT WAS CAPTURED ON A CELL PHONE, THE FAMILY SAYS, THAT HAD BEEN SMUGGLED INTO THE FACILITY.

THEY SHARED THE VIDEO WITH US.

SHAKIA SAYS THE BEATING HAPPENED DECEMBER 20th, ONE DAY AFTER HER BROTHER, SHE SAYS, WAS STABBED TWICE IN THE LEG.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, SHAKIA SAYS, HER BROTHER, WHO CLEARLY WAS BADLY INJURED, WAS LEFT ALONE FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER THE ATTACK.

SHE SAYS GUARDS WERE SUMMONED ONLY AFTER SHE CALLED THE PRISON AND DEMANDED A WELFARE CHECK.

>> I -- I WAS JUST CRYING.

I WAS PRAYING.

MY MIND WAS JUST EVERYWHERE.

>> CARLOS ROSS SENIOR SAYS CARLOS JUNIOR IS AN ELECTRICIAN BY TRADE, AND HIS FIRST BORN SON.

>> WHAT HE DONE TO GET THERE, HE DIDN'T DESERVE TO GET BEAT LIKE HE DID, BECAUSE THAT RIGHT THERE IS UNCALLED FOR.

THAT WAS FROM A BUNCH OF COWARD KIDS.

>> I TALKED TO THE ROSS FAMILY TUESDAY AT THEIR HOME IN GARFIELD COUNTY.

THEY PUT ME ON THE PHONE WITH CARLOS ROSS JUNIOR, WHO TOLD ME HE'S RECOVERING IN A HOLDING CELL STILL AT DICK CONNER.

HE TOLD ME HE GOT IN TROUBLE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING 10 YEARS AGO.

HE GOT PAROLED, BUT WENT BACK TO PRISON AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP THREE YEARS AGO TURNED UP A GUN.

ROSS ALSO CONFIRMED THE REASON HE WAS STABBED AND TOOK THIS SAVAGE BEATING WAS BECAUSE HE WANTED OUT OF A GANG.

>> THIS -- OH, MAN, THESE YOUNGER GENERATIONS NOWADAYS, YOUNGER THAN I AM, EACH GENERATION IS DIFFERENT AS FAR AS SOME OF THEM GET IT, AND SOME OF THEM DON'T GET IT.

SOME OF THEM THINK THEY REALLY BAD ASSES AND THINK THEE THEY INVINCIBLE.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WHAT THEY DONE TO MY SON, THE LORD IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF EVENTUALLY.

>> THE INMATES, THEY'RE RUNNING THE PRISON.

THE GUARDS, THE CASE MANAGERS, THEY'RE ALL SCARED OF THEM.

THEY DO WHAT'S ACCORDING TO WHAT THE INMATES SAY.

I KNOW SOME OF THE GUARDS ARE GETTING PAID TO DO WHATEVER THE INMATES SAY.

>> LOOK THE OTHER WAY?

>> YES.

>> A LOT OF EXTORTING IS GOING ON.

A LOT OF THE GUARDS ARE ALLOWING DRUGS TO ENTER INTO THE FACILITIES.

>> DOC SPOKESPERSON KAY THOMPSON SAYS THAT'S NOT TRUE.

FACILITY STAFF IS NOT AFRAID OF INMATES, AND THE INMATES DO NOT RUN THE FACILITY.

CONCERNING THE INCIDENT AT DICK CONNER CORRECTIONAL CENTER, THEY DID A TREMENDOUS JOB.

WITHIN 45 MINUTES OF THE GANG-RELATED ASSAULT, ALL SUSPECTS WERE IDENTIFIED AND RELOCATED.

REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN HUMPHREY IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE.

HE'S BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA'S PRISON SYSTEM SINCE THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC BEGAN.

HE SAYS HE'S BEEN LARGELY IGNORED, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE TRIED TO INVESTIGATE A SERIES OF ALLEGED RAPES AT EDDIE WARRIOR WOMEN'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN TAFT.

>> IT'S NOT ME IMAGINING THINGS.

I'VE BEEN CORRECTIONS FOR 30 PLUS YEARS.

YOU HAVE THE DEPARTMENT SAYING, NO, YOU CAN'T GAUGE THIS.

THIS IS PRISON.

YOU CAN'T GAUGE BY ONE INCIDENT.

I CAN GO ON ALL DAY, INCIDENT AFTER INCIDENTS.

>> DOC SPOKESPERSON THOMPSON TOLD US LAST WEEK HUMPHREY'S ALLEGATIONS ARE INACCURATE.

ODOC STAFF WORK DILIGENTLY TO INSURE THE SAFETY OF INMATES AND FELLOW STAFF MEMBERS.

WE RESPOND SWIFTLY TO INCIDENTS AND PROVIDE ANY NECESSARY MEDICAL TREATMENT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, VIOLENT ACTS DO OCCUR WITHIN PRISON.

HOWEVER, LOOKING AT ONE OR TWO INCIDENTS IS NOT INDICATIVE OF THE OVERALL EMBODIMENT OF HOW ODOC IS OPERATING AND PROTECTING STAFF AND THOSE INCARCERATED.

OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN INMATE ON INMATE ASSAULTS.

DURING THAT SAME TIME FRAME, THERE HAS BEEN A REDUCTION OF INMATE ON STAFF ASSAULTS.

FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR BOB CLEVELAND NOW REPRESENTS CORRECTIONS WORKERS.

>> WHAT'S WRONG?

WHAT'S WRONG HERE?

>> WELL, THE PROBLEM THAT'S WRONG HERE IS PEOPLE DON'T CARE.

PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT PRISONS, AND IT'S SAD, BECAUSE 97% OF THE PEOPLE INCARCERATED ARE GOING TO GET OUT.

THEY'RE ALL NOT CHILD MOLESTERS AND MURDERERS.

>> JULIE THOMPSON IS A LICENSED DIETITIAN WHO SAYS SHE DIRECTED THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FROM 2020 UNTIL SHE LEFT LAST JULY.

SHE SAYS HER PROBLEMS STARTED LAST APRIL WHEN SHE WAS GIVEN TWO WEEKS TO HAVE A KITCHEN UP AND RUNNING AT ODOC'S GREAT PLAINS CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN HINTON, WHICH OPENED IN MAY.

>> I ASKED LOTS OF QUESTIONS.

DO WE HAVE POTS, PANS, EQUIPMENT?

WHAT DO WE HAVE?

AND THEIR RESPONSE IS, WE DON'T KNOW.

WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'VE GOT, BUT YOU NEED TO GO START IT UP.

YOU ARE TASKED WITH OPENING AND STANDING THAT KITCHEN UP.

>> SO IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ASKED YOU TO BECOME A MAGICIAN?

>> 100%, WORK A MIRACLE, 100%.

AND MY TEAM AND I, AND ALONG WITH THE AWED AND IT COMPLIANCE TEAMS, THEY PRODUCED MIRACLES.

>> THOMPSON, WHO SAYS SHE WORKED FOR DOC 10 YEARS SAYS SHE STILL SOUGHT ANSWERS FROM HER BOSSES ABOUT HOW SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE NEW GREAT PLAINS FOOD OPERATION GOING, KNOWING SHE WAS STILL EXPECTED TO RUN DOC'S ENTIRE FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM.

SHE SAYS THERE WERE MAJOR ISSUES AT GREAT PLAINS, INCLUDING FAULTY KITCHEN EQUIPMENT, AND A COMPLETE LACK OF A TRASH SERVICE.

SHE SAYS THE WHOLE THING MADE HER FEAR FOR HER JOB.

>> AND SO YOU'RE LEFT WITH THAT FEAR OF, OH, MY GOSH, AM I GOING TO BE NEXT?

WE'RE OVER HERE KILLING OURSELVES TRYING TO MAKE THIS MIRACLE HAPPEN, BUT YET AM I GOING TO BE NEXT?

AM I GIVING IT MY ALL?

>> JULIE, WOULD YOU SAY THEY MANAGED THROUGH A CULTURE OF FEAR?

>> MY EXPERIENCE WAS A CULTURE OF FEAR, MY EXPERIENCE, AND I SAW THAT PUSHED ON TO A LOT OF EMPLOYEES.

>> DID YOU SEE PEOPLE GET FIRED?

>> NOT THE ONES IN MY CIRCLE, BUT ONES THAT WERE ABOVE ME, YES, ABSOLUTELY, THEY DID.

>> THOMPSON SAYS SHE RESIGNED IN JULY BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

>> JULY 4th, I AM IN THE KITCHEN AT HINTON.

I AM DOWN UNDERNEATH A DESK TRYING TO HIDE FROM THE WINDOW SO INMATES CAN'T SEE ME, BECAUSE I AM HAVING A FULL-ON PANIC ATTACK.

IT FELT SO IMPOSSIBLE.

IT FELT TOTAL DESPERATION.

>> DOC SPOKESPERSON THOMPSON TOLD ME THURSDAY ODOC DOES NOT OPERATE ON A CULTURE OF FEAR.

IF SHE WAS MADE TO FEEL THAT WAY, WE WERE UNAWARE OF ANYONE IN HER CHAIN OF COMMAND.

THE ONLY ONES WITH TERMINATION AUTHORITY WHO DID SO.

>> I WANT TO MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR.

>> YOU CAN READ THE ENTIRE WORD-FOR-WORD DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS' RESPONSE TO ALL OF THIS BY GOING TO OETA.TV, THEN CLICKING ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

RICH.

>> STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT IS ONCE AGAIN CALLING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE TO CUT THE STATE PERSONAL INCOME TAX BY A QUARTER OF A PERCENT.

THE SESSION IS SET TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 29TH.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS A STRONG ECONOMIC OUTLOOK AND $5.4 BILLION IN SAVINGS ARE REASONS ENOUGH TO PASS A TAX CUT NOW.

BUT LEADERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ARE ALREADY CALLING THE SPECIAL SESSION A WASTE OF TIME.

>> WE ARE GOING TO BE A WEEK AWAY FROM STARTING THE REGULAR SESSION, WHICH IS THE TIME THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE FOUR MONTHS TO SIT DOWN AND DELIBERATE ON ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S POLICY ISSUES OR FISCAL ISSUES, WHICH IS REALLY THE BEST PLACE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

ANYTIME WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CONCERNS A DRASTIC CUT TO THE BUDGET AND TO OUR REVENUE SOURCES, WE SHOULD HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE IDEAS GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO RAM IT THROUGH AND RUSH IT THROUGH IN A SPECIAL SESSION.

THE REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON FEBRUARY 5TH.

>> A NEW STUDY HAS BEEN RELEASED ON THE IMPACT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS ARE HAVING ON IMPROVING CONDITIONS AT THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL UNTIL A NEW FACILITY IS BUILT.

THAT STUDY WAS DISCUSSED AT A FORUM SPONSORED BY THE GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THIS WEEK, AND JASON DOYLE ATTENDED.

JASON?

>> WHILE COUNTY LEADERS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING WHERE TO BUILD THE NEW OKLAHOMA COUNTY THE PROCESS OF DECIDING WHERE TO BUILD THE NEW OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL, IT APPEARS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS, TAKEN UP MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AGO, ARE HAVING A POSITIVE EFFECT.

>> OKLAHOMA COUNTY CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS GATHERED TO HEAR ABOUT PROGRESS ON HOW THE COUNTY IS PERFORMING IN LIGHT OF A 2016 REPORT AND SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COUNTY'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM TASK FORCE.

THOSE LEADERS BROUGHT IN THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, THE CRIME AND JUSTICE INSTITUTE, TO REVIEW THE PROGRESS SIX YEARS INTO THE EFFORT.

>> BETWEEN 2015 AND 2022, THERE WAS A 37% REDUCTION IN THE JAIL POPULATION.

>> THEY SAID OF THE 6 ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATIONS, WE MADE PROGRESS ON ABOUT 4 OF THEM, AND 2 OF THEM STILL HAVE MORE TO GO, AND THEN THEY CAME BACK AND SAID YOU'VE GOT A FEW OTHER THINGS YOU CAN WORK ON IN THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS >> THOSE SIX RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE 2016 REPORT INCLUDE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE LOCAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, REDUCING JAIL ADMISSIONS FOR LOW LEVEL VIOLATIONS, REDUCTION OF PRE-TRAIL INCARCERATION, ADDRESS COURT DELAYS, EXPAND DIVERSION PROGRAMS, AND REDUCE THE IMPACT OF FINES AND FEES ON JAIL POPULATION AND RECIDIVISM.

ONE OF THE BRIGHT SPOTS, ACCORDING TO THE CRIME AND JUSTICE INSTITUTE'S REVIEW, IS THE DIVERSION PROGRAMS TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE FROM GOING TO PRISON WHILE GETTING SOCIAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS THEY NEED TO GET ON THE RIGHT PATH.

>> HERE IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY, THE COUNTY AND THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE REALLY BEEN DEDICATED TO TAKING A LOOK AT THE DATA, BEING TRANSPARENT AND HAVIN >> HERE IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY, THE COUNTY AND THE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE REALLY BEEN DEDICATED TO TAKING A LOOK AT THE DATA, BEING TRANSPARENT AND HAVING SUSTAINABLE EFFORTS.

>> AND THAT STANDS OUT COMPARED TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE ALSO TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR LOCAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS.

OKLAHOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY VICKI BEHENNA SAYS THERE HAS BEEN A CONCERTED EFFORT TO IMPROVE AND SUSTAIN THE COUNTY'S DIVERSION PROGRAMS, LIKE DRUG OR MENTAL HEALTH COURTS.

>> OKLAHOMA COUNTY WAS ALWAYS ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF HAVING DIVERSION PROGRAMS.

WE HAD DIVERSION PROGRAMS LONG BEFORE IT WAS POPULAR, AND SO RECENTLY WE'RE GONNA GET SOME BEFORE IT WAS POPULAR, AND SO RECENTLY WE'RE GONNA GET SOME MONEY FROM THE -- FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

WE'RE GONNA MAKE THOSE PROGRAMS A LOT MORE ROBUST.

SO THERE'S, WE'RE -- WE'RE BUYING INTO THAT.

BEHENNA SAYS AN INCREASED AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES IN OUR STATE HAS LED TO MORE PROGRAMS COMING ONLINE TO KEEP PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP FROM ENTERING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

>> OKLAHOMA COUNTY LAUNCHED A BRAND NEW PROGRAM LAST YEAR CALLED THE CO-OP PROGRAM.

IT'S COURT ORDERED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

SO, YES, THERE'S A REALLY HIGH RECOGNITION THAT THOSE PEOPLE DON'T NEED TO CONTINUOUSLY BE INCARCERATED OR CHARGED, RIGHT, IF THEY CAN GO INTO A DIVERSION OR A TREATMENT PROGRAM.

TARDIBONO BELIEVES THE COUNTY'S DIVERSION PROGRAMS HAVE CERTAINLY HELPED ALLEVIATE PROBLEMS WITH THE JAIL.

BY REDUCING THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL POPULATION, IT HAS A REAL IMPACT ON THE STATE.

>> OUR JAIL POPULATION HAS GONE DOWN.

AND ALSO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING TO PRISON FROM OKLAHOMA >> OUR JAIL POPULATION HAS GONE DOWN.

AND ALSO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING TO PRISON FROM OKLAHOMA COUNTY HAS GONE DOWN.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE LARGER STATE JAIL POPULATION, THE STATE PRISON POPULATION, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS WHEN OKLAHOMA COUNTY BEING THE LARGEST COUNTY IN THE STATE, WHEN OUR PRISON POPULATION STARTS GOING DOWN, THAT OVERALL STATE PRISON POPULATION STARTS GOING DOWN AS WELL.

HE SAYS THAT WILL HAVE A LASTING EFFECT.

>> THAT'LL BE FELT FOR YEARS TO COME, BECAUSE WE'RE DIVERTING PEOPLE.

THE RECIDIVISM RATE IS REALLY LOW, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEIR NEEDS ARE BEING MET, AND THEY'RE BECOMING POSITIVE TAXPAYERS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

ANOTHER ISSUE THE CRIME AND JUSTICE INSTITUTE NOTED THAT NEEDS MORE WORK IS THE TIME PEOPLE SPEND IN JAIL BEFORE THEIR TRIAL.

>> THAT HAS REMAINED STAGNANT OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE STUDIED IN OUR ANALYSIS.

SO IT REMAINED AT 84%, AND SO THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT YET CONVICTED OF CRIMES AND ARE SITTING IN THE JAIL WAITING FOR TRIAL.

THAT PORTION HAS REMAINED THE SAME OVER TIME, WHICH JUST DEMONSTRATES THAT WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, POSITIVE CHANGES TO ADDRESS THAT POPULATION, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE JAIL THAT ARE BEING HELD PRETRIAL.

>> WE'VE GOTTA LOOK AT WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE PRE-TRIAL IN THE JAIL, AND THAT NUMBER'S HIGHER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE.

AND SO WE'VE GOT A GOAL TO SHOOT AT ABOUT 13% THAT WE NEED TO REDUCE.

TARDIBONO SAYS THE INSTITUTE ALSO FOUND THAT A RACIAL DISPARITY CONTINUES TO EXIST DESPITE THE REDUCTION OF THE JAIL'S POPULATION.

THE CJI GROUP DID NOT GIVE US CLEAR GUIDANCE ON HOW TO FIX THAT, BUT WHAT THEY SAID IS YOU'VE GOTTA START TRACKING THAT.

AND WE ARE ALREADY PUTTING PIECES IN PLACE TO START TRACKING THAT.

OKLAHOMANS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAMION SHADE SAYS, FROM WHAT HE HAS OBSERVED, IT COULD BE THE COSTS OF UNPAID FINES AND FEES WHICH ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE RACIAL DIVIDE.

>> WELL, WE KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITIES IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY AND TULSA COUNTY WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF FAILURE TO PAY WARRANTS ARE THOSE COMMUNITIES WITH HIGH PERCENTAGES OF PEOPLE OF BLACK AND BROWN DESCENT.

THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE PRECLUDED WITHOUT RACIAL BIAS.

THOSE COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE PRECLUDED WITHOUT RACIAL BIAS.

SHADE SAYS, BY HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, OKLAHOMA COUNTY IS HELPING TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS.

>> REALLY THINKING ABOUT WAYS THAT WE CAN USE DATA TO BOTH REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STAYING IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL PRETRIAL, BUT ALSO TO REDUCE CRIME, TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND REALLY START TO DEAL WITH OKLAHOMA'S MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES.

>> AS FAR AS THE BELEAGUERED JAIL, THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY COMMISSION IS WORKING ON A NEW LOCATION AND OTHER ASPECTS TO BUILDING A NEW DETENTION CENTER.

TARDIBONO SAYS THAT THE REVIEW FROM THE CRIMINAL AND JUSTICE INSTITUTE WILL HELP INFLUENCE THEIR DECISIONS.

>> IT PARTICULARLY HELPS RELATED TO THE SIZE THAT YOU NEED.

>> IT PARTICULARLY HELPS RELATED TO THE SIZE THAT YOU NEED.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW YOU DON'T NEED A 2000-BED JAIL WHEN OUR POPULATION'S BEEN 1200 FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO.

YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS, DO WE MAKE THAT SUSTAINABLE OVER TIME?

BUT THOSE DO INFORM HOW YOU BUILD THE JAIL.

>> THIS WEEK OKLAHOMA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED A FIRM TO HELP DECIDE WHICH OF SIX POSSIBLE SITES TO LOCATE THE NEW JAIL.

RICH.

>> THE OKLAHOMA CITY COUNCIL HAS SELECTED ITS PARTNERS ON TWO NEW JAIL.

RICH.

>> THE OKLAHOMA CITY COUNCIL HAS SELECTED ITS PARTNERS ON TWO NEW MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION CENTERS.

THE NEW FACILITIES ARE BEING PAID FOR WITH $44.6 MILLION IN MAPS-4 FUNDING.

ONE OF THE CENTERS WILL ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, WHILE THE OTHER WILL FOCUS ON RESTORING A PERSON'S MENTAL HEALTH.

>> WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD TO YOU TODAY AN MOU WITH THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES AS THE OPERATOR FOR CRISIS CENTER NO.

1.

AND THEN ON THE RIGHT IS RESTORATION CENTER, AND WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD IN A SECOND ACTION A MOU WITH NORTH CARE.

THEY HAVE WITH THEM ON THEIR TEAM ALSO THE DOC, THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND VARIETY CARE FOR SOME OF THAT CLINIC SPACE.

>> MOVING INTO THE SUMMER OF THIS YEAR, WE HOPE TO START DESIGN ON BOTH PROJECTS.

AND THEN THAT WOULD TAKE ABOUT A YEAR SO THAT WE COULD BE IN THE SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR, 2025.

STARTING CONSTRUCTION CRISIS CENTER IS A LITTLE SMALLER, SO WE EXPECT THAT IT'LL BE FINISHED SOONER, SO THAT WOULD TAKE US ABOUT A YEAR INTO SUMMER OF 2026 FOR IT.

THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY WILL SOON HIRE ARCHITECTS TO DESIGN THE BUILDINGS.

>> THE PENDING MERGER OF CHESAPEAKE ENERGY AND THE TEXAS-BASED SOUTHWEST ENERGY COMPANY WILL CREATE ONE OF THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT NATURAL GAS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD.

THE PLAN IS TO KEEP THE NEW COMPANY HEADQUARTERED IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

WHAT OTHER IMPACTS WILL THE MERGER HAVE ON OUR STATE'S ECONOMY?

WHAT OTHER IMPACTS WILL THE MERGER HAVE ON OUR STATE'S ECONOMY?

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

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

LARGEST INDEPENDENT NATURAL GAS THAT'S THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> IT IS EXCELLENT NEWS BECAUSE CHESAPEAKE, OR WHATEVER THE NEW COMPANY'S GOING TO BE CALLED, WILL REMAIN IN OKLAHOMA CITY, AND THAT'S A BOON FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AS WELL.

AND THAT MEANS THAT THE ECONOMY OF OKLAHOMA CITY OBVIOUSLY WON'T SUFFER BY THIS.

>> CHESAPEAKE MANEUVERING IN THIS WAY TO BECOME, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE LARGEST NATURAL GAS PRODUCERS IN THE U.S., WHATEVER THE NEW -- WHATEVER THE NEW COMPANY WILL BE CALLED, WHICH WILL BE INTERESTING IN ITS OWN RIGHT, AND I THINK FURTHER REINFORCES OKLAHOMA'S POSITION AS AN ENERGY STATE.

I THINK IT FURTHER REINFORCES OKLAHOMA CITY AS A CITY OF ENERGY HEADQUARTER.

MORE OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

>> WHEN THE WEATHER GETS AS COLD AS IT WAS THIS WEEK, PEOPLE TEND TO BREAK OUT THE SPACE HEATERS, AND THAT CAN LEAD TO DANGEROUS FIRES.

IN FACT, THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION SAYS HEATING EQUIPMENT IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF FIRES IN THE MONTHS OF DECEMBER AND JANUARY.

HEATING EQUIPMENT IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF FIRES IN THE MONTHS OF DECEMBER AND JANUARY.

TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH SOME GOOD INFORMATION TO HELP KEEP YOU SAFE.

TAELYR?

RICH.

>> FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE HAVE BEEN ACTIVE THIS MONTH DUE TO MULTIPLE HOUSE FIRES BREAKING OUT.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 44,000 HEATING EQUIPMENT RELATED FIRES BETWEEN 2016 AND 2020.

>> THE OKC FIRE DEPARTMENT ALSO ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO CHECK THEIR SMOKE ALARMS REGULARLY.

>> WITH THE FIRST ROUND OF WINTER STORMS UNDER OUR BELT AND ANOTHER ROUND OF WINTER WEATHER EXPECTED SOON, LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THE RED CROSS WANT TO HELP OKLAHOMANS PUT A FREEZE ON FIRES.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, ALSO KNOWN AT NFPA, U.S. FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPOND TO AN AVERAGE OF 790 HOME STRUCTURE FIRES PER YEAR.

THE DRAMATIC VIDEO YOU SEE HERE WAS SHOT BY THE OKLAHOMA CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT WHILE ON CALL.

>> OUR WINTER MONTHS ARE ALWAYS OUR BUSIEST FOR STRUCTURE FIRES, JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY HEAT SOURCES PEOPLE USE.

WHEN TEMPERATURES GET COLD, OUT COME THE SPACE HEATERS.

PEOPLE USE THEIR FURNACES MORE.

PEOPLE USE CANDLES TO WARM UP THEIR HOUSE.

JUST SO MANY MORE HEAT SOURCES.

THAT'S WHY WE TYPICALLY HAVE MORE HOUSE FIRES IN THE WINTERTIME.

>> HIS TEAM HATS RESPONDED TO 25 STRUCTURE FIRES BETWEEN LAST FRIDAY AND THIS WEDNESDAY.

>> SOME OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE CHIMNEY FIRES, SPACE HEATERS HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE CAUSE OF THOSE FIRES AS WELL.

SINCE FRIDAY, WE RESPONDED TO OVER 2,000 INCIDENCES ALL TOGETHER, 25 STRUCTURE FIRES.

WE RESPONDED TO OVER 250 WATER SHUT-OFFS AS WELL.

>> SPACE HEATERS ARE ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF HOUSE FIRES DURING THE WINTER.

ONE IN EVERY FIVE HOME FIRES INVOLVE HEATING EQUIPMENT.

>> IF YOU MUST USE A SPACE HEATER, EXPERTS SHOULD JUST PLACE IT ON A NON-FLAMMABLE SURFACE LEVEL FLOOR, LIKE SER CERAMIC TILE.

>> AVOID PLUGGING YOUR SPACE HEATER INTO EXTENSION CORDS AND TURN THE HEATER OFF WHEN YOU LEAVE THE ROOM OR GO SLEEP.

IT'S ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT YOU KEEP ANYTHING FLAMMABLE AT LEAST 3 FEET AWAY FROM ANY HEAT SOURCES LIKE FIREPLACE, SPACE HEATERS AND RADIATORS.

AMERICAN RED CROSS NATURAL DISASTER MANAGER SAYS PREPARING CAN HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF A FIRE.

>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU PLAN TO USE THAT YOU REALLY HAVE TAKEN A LOOK AND CHECKED ON SAFETY.

SO IF YOU'VE GOT A WOOD FIREPLACE, HAVE YOU CLEANED IT OUT?

HAVE YOU CLEARED IT?

IF YOU'RE USING A REGULAR FIREPLACE, IF YOU'RE USING SPACE HEATERS, MAKE SURE AND TRY TO HAVE THE ONES THAT IF THEY TIP, THEY GO OFF AUTOMATICALLY, JUST THOSE SAFETY THINGS AND THAT PREPAREDNESS YOU CAN DO.

PERHAPS YOU USED IT LAST YEAR, BUT YOU'VE STACKED UP THINGS AROUND YOUR HEAT SOURCES, AND YOU NEED TO CLEAR IT OUT.

>> KAUFFMAN SAYS THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HAS OPENED MORE THAN 100 HOUSE FIRE CASES OVER THE LAST 30 DAYS.

HOUSE FIRES ARE THE NO.

1 DISASTER THAT RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS RESPOND TO.

>> OUR FOCUS REALLY IS THOSE IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY NEEDS THAT MAY BE CAUSED BY A FIRE THAT SOMEONE HAS IN THEIR HOME, AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO CONNECT WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT NEEDS THEY MIGHT HAVE AND HAVE THEY IDENTIFIED A SAFE PLACE THEY CAN STAY.

HAVE THEY LOST MEDICATIONS OR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, EVEN CHECKING ON HOW THEIR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING IS.

>> KAUFFMAN ALSO WANTS OKLAHOMANS TO ME AWARE OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING, WHICH DEVELOPS IN CARBON MONOXIDE OR CO IS CAUSED FROM FUMES.

>> ANY KIND YOU'RE USING ANY KIND OF OPEN FLAME OR DIFFERENT RESOURCES LIKE THAT, IT REALLY CAN INCREASE.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT LIKE WITH FIRE, THE SMOKE CAN BE JUST AS DANGEROUS.

THAT CARBON MONOXIDE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HARD TO DETECT, OR IMPOSSIBLE TO DETECT UNLESS YOU'VE GOT A DETECTOR IN YOUR HOME.

>> TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING, HAVE YOUR HEATING SYSTEMS CHECKED YEARLY.

ALWAYS KEEP YOUR CHIMNEY CLEAR OF DEBRIS, AND NEVER USE A GENERATOR INSIDE.

>> WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT, IF YOU DO USE A GENERATOR, WE HAVE SEEN IN TIMES WHERE PEOPLE WILL BRING THEIR GENERATOR INSIDE THE HOUSE.

IT NEEDS TO BE WELL VENTILATED.

IT NEEDS TO BE OUTSIDE YOUR HOSS AND WELL VENTILATED.

NO NOT WINDOWS OR DOORS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> HAVING A CO DETECTOR IN YOUR HOME COULD HELP SAVE A LIFE.

>> IF YOU HAVE A FIRE BREAK OUT OR YOUR DETECTOR GOES OFF FOR CARBON MONOXIDE, THAT IS THE TIME TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, GET EVERYBODY SAFELY OUT TO YOUR MEETING PLACE.

>> SINCE FRIDAY, WE HAVE RESPONDED TO 45 CO DETECTORS.

THAT'S -- BASICALLY MOST OF THEM WERE JUST CHIRPING THAT WE NEEDED TO CHECK.

THERE HASN'T BEEN NO REAL EMERGENCY, BUT OFTENTIMES IN THE WINTERTIME PEOPLE USE FIREPLACE, GAS, SOME EVEN USES OVENS TO HEAT UP THE HOUSE.

>> HE ENCOURAGED OKLAHOMANS TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN IN PLACE, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN DISASTER COULD STRIKE.

>> AND THEN JUST HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE BEFORE AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS.

HAVE BLANKETS.

HAVE FOOD, HAVE YOUR CELL PHONES CHARGED UP ALL THE WAY JUST IN CASE YOU DO LOSE POWER AND JUST LET -- WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY MEMBERS, JUST KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT AT ALL TIMES TOO.

CHECK ON YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, CHECK ON THE ELDERLY AND YOUNG, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T REGULATE TEMPERATURES AS WELL AS ADULTS CAN.

>> THE OKC FIRE DEPARTMENT AO ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO CHECK THEIR SMOKE ALARMS REGULARLY.

RICH.

>> GOOD INFORMATION, THANK YOU.

TAELYR.

>> GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT HAS NAMED SHELLEY ZUMWALT TO REPLACE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MATT PINNELL AS THE OKLAHOMA SECRETARY OF TOURISM.

ZUMWALT WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM AND RECREATION.

PINNELL WAS NAMED SECRETARY OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN 2023.

ZUMWALT TOOK OVER TOURISM IN 2022 AND, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST AVAILABLE ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT, PRODUCED RECORD-BREAKING NUMBERS THAT YEAR.

>> TRAVEL SPENDING INCREASED TO ALMOST $12 BILLION, A 12.3 PERCENT INCREASE FROM 2021.

MORE THAN 18 MILLION TOURISTS VISITED OUR STATE, A 3.3 PERCENT INCREASE.

AND THAT PRODUCED $833-MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAX REVENUE.

FINALLY, MORE THAN 5,200 JOBS WERE ADDED IN 2022, BRINGING DIRECT TRAVEL-RELATED EMPLOYMENT UP TO 103,000 PEOPLE.

HARD ROCK INTERNATIONAL IS EXPANDING TO THE OKLAHOMA-TEXAS BORDER.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S STATE-WIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND RESIDENCES AT LAKE TEXOMA IS SCHEDULED TO COMPLETE BY 2026.

THE 2700-ACRE RESORT COMMUNITY WILL INCLUDE A CASINO, GOLF COURSE, ENCLOSED WATER PARK, AMPHITHEATER AND MORE THAN 19 MILES OF SHORELINE.

THERE WILL BE 214 ROOMS AND SUITES AND 168 RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

LAKE TEXOMA ATTRACTS NEARLY 7 MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR AND IS THE NATION'S 14th LARGEST RESERVOIR.

OKLAHOMA HAS THE DUBIOUS HONOR OF LEADING THE NATION IN ROBO TAX PER CAPITA.

OFTEN USED BY SCAMMER, ROBO TEXTS INCREASED BY 37% IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WHEN CONSUMERS ARE EXPECTING DELIVERY INFORMATION BASED ON HOLIDAY SHOPPING.

SCAMMERS TRICK PEOPLE INTO CLICKING ON FRAUDULENT LINKS THAT OFTEN LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE COME FROM REPUTABLE COMPANIES.

THE TOTAL NUMBER TOPPED 19 BILLION IN 2023.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED SAND RICH IS INCREASING QUARTERLY DIVIDEND BY A PENNY PER SHARE.

CONNECTICUT BASED STAR DUST POWER INCORPORATED HAS CHOSEN THE SOUTH SIDE INDUSTRIAL PARK IN MUSCOGEE OKLAHOMA.

IT'S EXPECTED THE COMPANY WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE UP TO $257 MILLION IN STATE AND FEDERAL INCENTIVES.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN, OKLAHOMA CITY-BASED CHESAPEAKE ENERGY AND TEXAS-BASED SOUTHWEST ENERGY PARTNERS WILL SOON JOIN FORCES TO BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST PRODUCERS OF NATURAL GAS IN THE NATION.

WHAT WILL THAT MEAN FOR CONSUMERS AND OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMY IN GENERAL?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION, WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

CASSIDY?

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

JOINING US TODAY IS DR. RUSSELL EVANS WHO IS A PARTNER AND CHIEF ECONOMIST AND OWEN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> WE'RE A SMALL PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, ALSO DO FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONSULTING.

I HAVE A NUMBER OF CLIENTS HERE IN THE LOCAL MARKET, AND ONE OF MY CLIENTS FOR, I DON'T KNOW, GOING FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW DOES A MONTHLY ENERGY INDEX.

I HAVE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP TABS.

>> JERRY, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

>> LONG TIME JOURNALIST, 50 PLUS YEARS IN RADIO NEWS.

WHEN I STARTED OK ENERGY TODAY ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS AGO, AND TODAY WE HAVE ABOUT 6,000 CUSTOMERS THAT WE SERVE THROUGHOUT THE U.S., NOT JUST IN OKLAHOMA, BUT TEXAS, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO.

WE LIKE TO FOCUS ON A VARIETY OF ENERGY ASPECTS, NOT JUST OIL AND GAS, BUT WIND, SOLAR, ELECTRICITY RATES.

LIKE TO COVER WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE CORPORATION COMMISSION, JUST TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW ENERGY IS AFFECTING THE CONSUMERS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

>> RUSSELL, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE MERGER BETWEEN CHESAPEAKE ENERGY AND SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW, BUT WHEN DID THIS WHOLE PLAN COME INTO THE WORKS?

>> YEAH.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY -- THESE TRANSACTIONS OF THIS SIZE ARE COMPLICATED AND DO PROGRESS SLOWLY, BUT THEY ALSO PROGRESS IN A WAY THAT OFTEN THERE ARE RUMORS THAT SWIRL.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WE DID A PERIOD OF MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS, A PERIOD OF CONSOLIDATION INSIDE THE INDUSTRY, AND I THINK THAT'S A PATTERN THAT WILL CONTINUE.

CERTAINLY, AS YOU SEE SOME OF THE LARGE INTEGRATED COMPANIES MOVE FROM -- INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY THEIR ON-SHORE ASSETS AND HOLDINGS, I THINK IT CREATES A NECESSITY AMONG SOME OF THE WHAT WE MIGHT THINK OF AS SMALLER INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS, EVEN THOUGH CHESAPEAKE AND SOUTHWESTERN ARE PRETTY LARGE COMPANIES.

I THINK IT DOES CREATE KIND OF AN INTENSITY AND NEED TO THINK ABOUT CONSOLIDATION, AND SO I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ADDITIONAL MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS IN THE ENERGY SPACE.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE DONE WITH THIS WAVE YET, BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY A BIG ONE THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON OKLAHOMA.

>> SO THIS COULD BE THE FUTURE OF OTHER COMPANIES COMING FORWARD TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IF YOU WERE WATCHING THE ENERGY MARKET RIGHT NOW IN OKLAHOMA CITY, WOULD YOU ALMOST HAVE TO EXPECT THERE WERE OTHER MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS, CONSOLIDATIONS STILL COMING THAT OKLAHOMA COMPANIES WILL BE A PART OF.

>> HAVE WE HEARD OF ANY OF THOSE POTENTIAL MURGERS YET?

>> YOU ALWAYS HEAR RUMORS, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY I WOULD SHARE ON A NEWS PROGRAM.

YOU HEAR RUMBLINGS.

>> JERRY, I WANT TO COME TO YOU NEXT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS MERGER?

>> WELL, IT IS EXCELLENT NEWS, BECAUSE CHESAPEAKE, OR WHATEVER THE NEW COMPANY IS GOING TO BE CALLED, WILL REMAIN IN OKLAHOMA CITY, AND THAT'S A BOON FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AS WELL.

THAT MEANS THAT THE ECONOMY OF OKLAHOMA CITY, OBVIOUSLY, WON'T SUFFER BY THIS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SPECULATION THAT MAYBE SUCH A MERGER MIGHT RESULT IN CHESAPEAKE PULLING UP STAKES AND PERHAPS MOVES TO HOUSTON WHERE SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY HAS ITS HEADQUARTERS.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO NOW WE'RE JUST SIMPLY WAITING TO SEE, OF COURSE, WHAT THE NEW NAME IS GOING TO BE, HOW IT WILL BE TRADED ON THE STOCK MARKETS, AND WHERE THEY GO FROM HERE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY ONE ASPECT IS THAT CHESAPEAKE WILL DEVOTE MUCH MORE OF THEIR EFFORTS INTO THE HAINESVILLE PLAY, WHICH IS IN EAST TEXAS AND LOUISIANA, AND THAT'S CLOSE TO THE HENRY HUB, WHICH DETERMINES NATURAL GAS PRICING.

ALSO, THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL DEVOTE EVEN MORE EFFORTS INTO THE APPALACHIA PLAY IN NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.

SO ALL IN ALL, IT'S REALLY A GOOD MOVE FOR CHESAPEAKE AND FOR OKLAHOMA.

>> JERRY, COULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY, HAINESVILLE PLAY AND APPALACHIAN PLAY?

>> THEY'RE BOTH HEAVY NATURALLY -- NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION AREAS.

THE HAINESVILLE IN EAST TEXAS AND LOUISIANA IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST NATURAL GAS PLAYS.

THEN YOU HAVE OTHERS, SUCH AS THE APPALACHIA, WHICH IS IN THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, THAT PARTICULAR REGION.

AND SO JUST WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, CHESAPEAKE STARTED DIVESTING ITS OIL DRILLING AND EXPLORATION EFFORTS.

SOME YEARS AGO, CHESAPEAKE STARTED VENTURING MORE INTO OIL RATHER THAN JUST NATURAL GAS, BUT NOW THEY'VE DECIDED AT THIS POINT, AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS THE ICING ON THE CAKE, I WOULD ASSUME FOR CHESAPEAKE TO GET THE COMBINATION WITH SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY TO BE ABLE TO EVEN FOCUS DEEPER ON NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION, AND THUS, IT WILL BECOME THE LARGEST SUCH EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION COMPANY FOR NATURAL GAS IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> I WANT TO BUMP BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT.

RUSSELL, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT EFFECT THIS MERGER IS GOING TO HAVE ON THE STATE ECONOMY?

>> YEAH.

SO JERRY ALLUDED TO IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE SOUTHWESTERN WILL KEEP SOME OFFICES IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND IN HOUSTON, BUT THEY ARE IN THE SAME -- THEY'RE IN THE SAME PLACE, RIGHT?

THEY OPERATE IN THE SAME ASSETS.

SO WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT IS THERE WOULD BE SOME CONSOLIDATION BETWEEN THE TWO COMPANIES, MAYBE SOME STAFF MOVEMENT.

THIS HASN'T BEEN ANNOUNCED, BUT WHAT YOU WOULD SPECULATE IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS IS THERE WOULD BE SOME CONSOLIDATION AND MAYBE SOME MOVEMENT OF STAFF INTO OKLAHOMA CITY, WHICH I THINK IS GOOD FOR THE OKLAHOMA MARKET.

BEYOND THAT, OKLAHOMA IS REALLY, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT OUR GEOLOGY AND OUR ENERGY RESERVES, WE'RE REALLY MORE OF A NATURAL GAS STATE THAN WE ARE AN OIL STATE.

AND SO IN THE SHELL REVOLUTION, AND YOU LOOK THROUGH THE LAST 15 YEARS, THERE'S GOING TO BE THAT OIL EMPHASIS THAT JERRY JUST ALLUDED TO, AND CHESAPEAKE PIVOTED TO THAT OUT OF NECESSITY.

BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE NEXT 50 YEARS, 100 YEARS, AND WHERE ENERGY TRANSITIONS ARE HEADING, I THINK NATURAL GAS WILL HAVE AN INCREASINGLY PROMINENT ROLE TO PLAY IN THAT ENERGY TRANSITION, AND SO CHESAPEAKE MANEUVERING IN THIS WAY TO BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST NATURAL GAS PRODUCERS IN THE U.S., WHATEVER THE NEW COMPANY WILL BE CALLED, WHICH WILL BE INTERESTING IN HIS OWN RIGHT, I THINK FURTHER RE-ENFORCES OKLAHOMA'S POSSESSION AS AN ENERGY STATE, ENERGY HEADQUARTERS, BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A NET POSITIVE FOR BOTH OUR ENERGY MARKETS AND LOCAL ECONOMY.

>> SO FROM WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND, THIS MERGER WILL NOT BE TAKING JOBS AWAY?

>> SO YOU NEVER KNOW, BUT YOU WOULD SPECULATE THAT BETWEEN THE HOUSTON OFFICE AND OKLAHOMA CITY OFFICE, BECAUSE THE TWO COMPANIES PRODUCE, OPERATE INSIDE THE SAME BASIN AND CHESAPEAKE DOES A LITTLE MORE EFFICIENCY AT A SLIGHTLY LOWER COST, YOU WOULD EXPECT THERE WOULD BE SOME REDUNDANCY ACROSS THOSE TWO COMPANIES, ACROSS THOSE TWO PLAYS, SO YOU WOULD EXPECT THERE COULD BE SOME SYNERGIES AND POTENTIALLY SOME CONSOLIDATIONS, SOME STAFF CUTS.

YOU DON'T KNOW THAT.

BUT I THINK THE POINT IS, IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT HEAD COUNTS MOVE FROM HOUSTON TO OKLAHOMA CITY IN THE OTHER DIRECTION JUST GIVEN WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE MERGER SO FAR.

IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE SHIFTING HEAD COUNTS, IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT THEY'RE FLOWING FROM HOUSTON TO US INSTEAD OF THE OTHER WAY.

>> JERRY, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO THE CONSUMER'S POINT OF VIEW.

IS THERE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT HERE WHEN IT COMES TO PRICES?

>> I WOULD NOT THINK SO, NOT AT ALL.

IF ANYTHING, IT MIGHT MEAN MORE PRODUCTION OF NATURAL GAS, AND AS DR. EVANS SUGGESTED THERE, THAT YOU'RE SEEING NATURAL GAS, IT'S GOING TO BECOME MORE OF A DOMINANT ENERGY FORM THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS DON'T LIKE IT.

OF COURSE, THEY DON'T LIKE OIL EITHER, BUT NATURAL GAS SEEMS TO BE MORE ACCEPTED -- ACCEPTABLE IN TERMS OF THE CONSUMERS AND HOW IT'S USED IN HOME HEATING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO I WOULDN'T THINK THAT -- IF ANYTHING, PRICES MIGHT DROP A LITTLE WITH INCREASED ENERGY PRODUCTION, AND AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THAT PERHAPS EVEN THE U.S.

BECOMING MORE OF A DOMINANT FACTOR IN LIQUID NATURAL GAS, WHICH IS BEING SENT TO EUROPE WHERE IT'S USED TO HOME HEATING OVER THERE.

>> JERRY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REACTIONS YOU'RE HEARING BOTH FROM PEOPLE OPPOSED AND FOR THIS NEW MERGER?

>> WELL, I'VE NOT HEARD ANYONE OPPOSED NECESSARILY TO THE MERGER.

OF COURSE, THAT'S UP TO THE SHAREHOLDERS.

AS I REPORTED THIS WEEK, THE SHAREHOLDERS OF BOTH COMPANIES HAVE YET TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO APPROVE IT OR NOT.

AND SO THEY'RE WAITING FOR THOSE ELECTION DATES TO BE SET.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IT WAS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT IN THE FIRST DAYS AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT LAST WEEK THE VALUE OF SHARES OF BOTH COMPANIES WENT UP 4 AND 5%.

BUT THEN AS OF TUESDAY, BOTH DROPPED MORE THAN 5% IN TERMS OF THE VALUE OF THEIR SHARES.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO.

IT COULD BE JUST SIMPLY THE FLUCTUATIONS IN, YOU KNOW, THE WORLD ENERGY TRADE.

SO I'M NOT SURE.

>> SO THIS ISN'T A DONE DEAL?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

YOU KNOW, THE SHAREHOLDERS HAVE TO HAVE THEIR SAY, AND ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT THAT I'VE READ, YOU KNOW, THE COMPANIES, BOTH COMPANIES ARE EXPECTED TO OBVIOUSLY, ENCOURAGE THEIR SHAREHOLDERS TO APPROVE IT.

SO THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE WAITING ON NEXT.

>> RUSSELL, CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW THIS NEW COMPANY WILL FUNCTION DIFFERENTLY THAN IT HAS BEFORE?

>> YEAH.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY.

IT WILL CERTAINLY BE A -- IT WILL BE A, BY ALL STANDARDS, A HUGE INDEPENDENT NATURAL GAS PRODUCER, ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES, PROBABLY FINDS ITS WAY INTO STOCK MARKET INDICES ONCE THESE TWO COMPANIES CONSOLIDATE, REBRAND AND RENAME.

SO IT WILL JUST OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY ACROSS THE TWO BASINS WHERE THE TWO COMPANIES ALREADY OPERATE.

AND I THINK THAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST THING.

AND THE OTHER ONE THAT JERRY ALLUDED TO THAT I THINK WILL BE A BIG ONE IS THAT THE COMPANY WILL BE LARGE ENOUGH AND ITS PROTECTION LARGE ENOUGH AND ITS LOCATION PARTICULARLY IN HAINESVILLE, IT WILL BE A LARGE ENOUGH PLAYER THAT IT WILL INFLUENCE GLOBAL MARKETS.

HAVE YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE OIL MARKET AS BEING A GLOBAL MARKET, AND YOU SEE WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE AND CRUDE PRICES AND OIL PRICES ARE KIND OF SET ON A GLOBAL STAGE.

NATURAL GAS PRICES REALLY AREN'T, BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT TO MOVE ACROSS THE SEA.

BECAUSE NATURAL GAS IS DIFFICULTY TO TRANSPORT, NATURAL GAS HAS DIFFERENT PRICES IN DIFFERENT REGIONS AROUND THE WORLD.

THE MARKETS WILL BECOME MUCH MORE GLOBAL..

THIS NEW COMPANY POTENTIALLY WILL BE AN IMPORTANT PLAYER IN THAT HAVING THE NATURAL GAS AND EXPORT TERMINALS CLOSE TO THEM TO GET THE PRODUCT THERE AND EXPORT IT OVERSEAS.

>> SO AS YOU SAID, THIS COMPANY WILL BE COMPETING IN THE GLOBAL MARKET.

HOW WILL THAT CHANGE COMPARED TO HOW IT WAS FUNCTIONING BEFOREHAND?

>> WELL, I THINK IT WILL JUST OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMODITY, RIGHT?

IT WILL OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMODITY DOMESTICALLY AND OTHER USES HERE, BUT ALSO OPENS UP THE DOOR FOR THEM TO HAVE AN EXPORT OUTLET FOR SOME OF THEIR PRODUCT.

SO IT WILL JUST GIVE THEM TWO MARKETS IN WHICH THEY CAN PARTICIPATE, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE COMPANY JUST TO FUNCTION A LITTLE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND HAVE HOPEFULLY A LITTLE MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR BALANCE SHEET AND SOME OF THEIR PERFORMANCE.

>> JERRY, WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SHAREHOLDERS DISAGREE ON THIS NEW DEAL?

>> I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT AT ALL, BECAUSE OF THE VALUE OF THE STOCK.

IT'S LIKELY TO INCREASE, JUST AS DR. EVANS SUGGESTED EARLIER IN THE INTERVIEW, YOU KNOW, THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A CONSOLIDATION OF INCREASE COMPANIES, SO IT WILL INCREASE THE VALUE OF WHATEVER THIS NEW COMPANY IS GOING TO BE CALLED, A MUCH STRONGER AND BIGGER COMPANY, FLEX ITS MUSCLES ECONOMICALLY, SO TO SPEAK.

YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T THINK THE SHAREHOLDERS WILL SAY NO TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND I'VE NOT READ OF ANY FILINGS IN WHICH, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL SHAREHOLDER SPEAKING OUT AGAINST IT, BUT I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY COMMUNICATION LIKE THAT.

>> IS THIS BIG ENOUGH FOR AMERICAN POLICY TO POSSIBLY BE CHANGED ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS DRILLING?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I JUST DON'T, BECAUSE WITHIN THE PAST YEAR OR TWO, WE'VE SEEN SOME REALLY MUCH LARGER DEALS IN THE ACQUISITION OR THE MERGERS OF SOME OF THESE COMPANIES.

AND IN FACT, THERE WAS JUST A SMALLER MERGER OF CONSEQUENCE, I THINK A BILLION DOLLARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, INVOLVING A DENVER COMPANY, YOU KNOW, JUST THIS WEEK.

SO WE'RE SEEING THESE CONSOLIDATION EFFORTS JUST HAPPENING ALL THE TIME.

I JUST DON'T THINK IT WILL CHANGE ANY KIND OF POLICY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, IF ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, IT WILL ALLOW THIS NEW COMPANY TO HONE IN AND PERFECT THEIR COLORATION EFFORTS AND PRODUCTION EFFORTS.

>> WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME HERE.

I DID WANT TO SEE, HOW ARE WE SEEING WALL STREET REACT TO THIS MERGER, AND WHY ARE THERE SO MANY EYES ON THIS DEAL?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE REACTION, AS JERRY SAYS, IS PRETTY FAVORABLE.

I THINK THE REACTION IS THAT IT'S GOOD FOR BOTH COMPANIES.

I THINK SOUTHWESTERN -- THE NAME OF THE GAME RIGHT NOW IS REALLY RETURNING DIVIDENDS, RETURNING CAPITAL TO SHAREHOLDERS, AND SOUTHWESTERN, THE DEBT ON THEIR BALANCE SHEET, I THINK, MADE THAT DIFFICULT.

AND SO THIS MERGER WITH CHEESE CHESAPEAKE, IT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR SHAREHOLDERS, CREATES A LARGER, MORE POWERFUL COMPANY.

I THINK BOTH SIDES HERE ARE GOING TO ENDORSE THIS DEAL.

IT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH, DOESN'T REALLY CREATE ANY REGULATORY ISSUES.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE WILL BE ANY REGULATORY CHALLENGES.

I THINK THE EYES ON IT ARE JUST BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF A HEADLINE DEAL, DOES MAKE A LARGE INDEPENDENT U.S. NATURAL GAS PRODUCER, PROBABLY GOOD FOR BOTH AS SHAREHOLDERS, PROBABLY GETS APPROVED IS DOESN'T TRIGGER REGULATORY ALARMS, SO IT IS GETTING SOME ATTENTION RIGHT NOW, FOR SURE.

>> JERRY, DO YOU HAVE ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ON THIS TOPIC?

>> IT'S WIN-WIN FOR OKLAHOMA CITY AND FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, AND IF ANYTHING, I WONDER IF WE MIGHT EVEN SEE A FURTHER EXPANSION.

I DON'T MEAN MORE BUILDINGS OF THE CHESAPEAKE CAMPUS, BECAUSE THEY'VE LEASED OUT SOME OF THOSE BUILDINGS THEY HAVE UP THERE.

I KIND OF THINK THAT WITH THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE TWO COMPANIES THAT PERHAPS WE MIGHT SEE MORE OF A DEVOTED EFFORT TO EXPAND THEIR OPERATIONS AT THAT PARTICULAR CAMPUS, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD NEWS FOR OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> GENTLEMEN, THAT'S ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> CASSIDY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

>> IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE HEADING TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TO SHOW YOU THE UNIQUE WAY IN WHICH SCIENCE AND ART ARE INTERSECTING.

AT THE OREGON ZOO, RADIOGRAPHS OF THE ANIMALS CREATE FASCINATING IMAGES.

THE STORY, COURTESY OF OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, THE 8TH THE STORY, COURTESY OF OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> MY NAME IS CARLOS SANCHEZ.

I AM THE HEAD VETERINARIAN AT THE OREGON SOON.

MOVE THE LEGS BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH.

I MANAGE A TEAM OF 3 VETERINARIANS, FIVE TECHNICIANS, AND WE TAKE CARE OF ALL THE MEDICAL NEEDS OF THE ZOO COLLECTION FOR ALL ANIMALS, FROM THE LITTLE FROGS TO THE BIG ELEPHANTS.

>> WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 2,000 ANIMALS OF ALL KINDS.

THEY FLY.

THEY SWIM.

WE TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THEM.

ONE DAY WE'RE CHECKING ON A TIGER.

THE NEXT DAY WE HAVE TO CHECK ON BUTTERFLY.

SO IT'S ALWAYS DIFFERENT, AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT.

SO WE USE RADIOGRAPHS VERY OFTEN TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT ORGANS AND SYSTEMS IN THE BODY OF ALL ANIMALS.

FROM THE RADIOGRAPHS, WE ARE ABLE TO TELL IF THERE IS ANYTHING ABNORMAL WITHIN THE JOINT, IF THE ANNUAL MALL IS DEVELOPING ARTHRITIS.

SOMETIMES WE ARE ABLE TO DETECT CANCER AT AN EARLY STAGE WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT.

SOMETIMES WE JUST DO ROUTINE EXAMS.

>> THIS ANIMAL, FOR HER AGE, SHE LOOKS PRETTY HEALTHY.

WE CAN SEE, FOR EXAMPLE, HERE, THIS IS ACTUALLY AN OLD FRACTURE THAT HEELS.

THESE BONES ARE VERY, VERY THIN, VERY SMALL, SO SOMETIMES JUST BY FLOPPING IN SOMETHING HARD, THEY CAN BREAK THE BONES, BUT ALSO THEY HAVE A GREAT REGENERATIVE CAPABILITY, AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S ALMOST AS STRAIGHT.

WE LOVE SEEING THE RADIOGRAPHS, NOT JUST FROM THE DIAGNOSTIC POINT OF VIEW.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY ARGUE THAT THESE ARE PICTURES OF ART, VERY UNIQUE FOR THAT ANIMAL.

>> SO SOMETHING THAT I DO ENJOY IF PURELY THE ARTISTIC POINT OF VIEW IS THE DIVERSITY OF THINGS THAT WE CAN SEE.

YOU CAN SEE THE FINGERS ARE SO THIN AND SPREAD OUT.

AND THEN YOU LOOK AND COMPARE IT WITH A BEAR, AND YOU SEE THIS MASSIVE DIGIT.

SO FOR ME, THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE SPECIES IS SOMETHING THAT FASCINATES ME.

I LOVE IT.

SOMETIMES ABLE TO PRINT THEM IN A BIG SIZE AND HANG IT ON THE WALLS BECAUSE THEY ARE SO UNIQUE AND SO MAJESTIC, THAT MAKES ME HAPPY TO LOOK AT THEM.

IF I WALK IN THE BUILDING AND SEE A RADIOGRAPH OF AN ANIMAL, TO ME, IT'S JUST LIKE LOOKING AT A NICE PAINTING.

>> REALLY COOL.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, THE 8TH ANNUAL SCHOOL CHOICE EXPO.

NEW OPTIONS FOR PARENTS TO CONSIDER AND NEW FUNDING TO HELP PAY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLING.

EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON CHECKS IT OUT NEXT FRIDAY AT 7.

>> WE'LL SAY "SO LONG" THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT OKLAHOMA CITY'S DEVON ICE RINK PUT TOGETHER BY OETA'S JASON STEWART.

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 YOUR WEEKEND!

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