CHALLENGES IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

>> I FELT PASSIONATELY THAT WE SHOULD BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE TRIBES AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT, BEGINNING WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

PROPOSALS TO MAKE LAND RUN MONUMENT MORE INCLUSIVE.

>> THEY UNDERSTAND THE PRIOR STORY AND UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF NATIVE AMERICANS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

>> HOMELESS STUDENTS IN MOORE WILL SOON HAVE A NEW PLACE TO LIVE.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE GOOD KIZ.

SO OFTEN, THE PERCEPTION IS THAT THEY'RE BAD KIDS AND THAT'S WHY THEY FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT A PLACE TO LIVE.

AS PRICES SOAR, OKLAHOMA CONSUMERS SCRAMBLE TO AFFORD EGGS.

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE PANIC BUYING, THEY'RE BUYING 15 DOZEN AT A TIME.

>> AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE ENDURING AND EVOLVING LEGACY OF Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING.

>> THERE'S A FRUSTRATION THAT BUILDS UP WHEN WE FEEL LIKE WE AREN'T HEARD, WHEN THERE'S A LACK OF RESOURCES.

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

DRUMMOND, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ON JANUARY 9TH, GENTNER DRUMMOND WAS SWORN IN REPLACE JOHN O'CONNOR, WHO REPLACED MIKE HUNTER IN 2021.

DRUMMOND TAKES OVER A DEPARTMENT WITH PLENTY ON IT'S PLATE, AND THIS WEEK, CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT JASON DOYLE SAT DOWN WITH THE NEW "A.G." TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS PLANS AND PRIORITES >> ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE NEWS YOU MADE THIS WEEK.

YOU'VE ASKED THE OKLAHOMA COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME BETWEEN SEVEN SCHEDULED EXECUTIONS.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> SO, I -- I THINK THE WHOLE ISSUE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS -- IS A SENSITIVE ISSUE.

IT'S THE MOST SOLEMN ACT THAT THE STATE CAN DO, TAKING THE LIFE OF ANOTHER PERSON.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE VICTIM FAMILIES WHO HAVE SUFFERED IMMENSELY AND ARE LOOKING FOR THAT TIME OF CLOSURE.

SO, I -- I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT AS A CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO BE PRESENT AND PARTICIPATE IN THESE EXECUTIONS AS AN OBSERVER.

AND LAST WEEK, I OBSERVED THAT EXECUTION.

I WAS THERE WITH THE STAFF, WHO, BY THE WAY, I HAVE TO JUST MAKE A -- A GENERAL AND STRONG STATEMENT.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS STAFF, THE H UNIT THAT HANDLES THE EXECUTIONS, ARE A REMARKABLE GATHERING OF PROFESSIONAL MEN AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE STATE PENAL SYSTEM.

THEY VOLUNTEER FOR THIS JOB.

IT TAKES A LOT.

IT'S A 35-DAY PROTOCOL.

SO, ON OUR CURRENT SCHEDULE OF AN EXECUTION EVERY 30 DAYS, THEY ARE ALMOST, THEY'RE DOVETAILING BETWEEN EXECUTION AND THE PROTOCOL FOR THE NEXT EXECUTION.

I OBSERVED THIS, BECAME AWARE OF THIS, INTERVIEWED SEVERAL OF THE PROFESSIONALS, AND THE -- THE LARGE CONSENSUS WAS THIS IS VERY HARD, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY HONEST.

AND -- BUT THEY'RE -- THEY'RE SO, THEY -- THEY MADE A POINT THAT WE'RE SOLDIERS, YOU KNOW.

WE'RE GONNA DO WHATEVER THE STATE WANTS.

AND SO, I ASKED DIRECTOR HARP, WOULD IT BE -- WOULD YOU OBJECT IF I ASKED THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF BREATHING ROOM IN BETWEEN EXECUTIONS?

AND HE AND I ASKED SPECIFICALLY WHAT WOULD WORK?

AND HE GOES, IF WE COULD HAVE 60 DAYS, THAT'D BE IDEAL.

AND SO THAT'S MY REQUEST.

I'M ASKING FOR 60 DAYS IN BETWEEN EXECUTIONS, MAINLY FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH AND THE THE -- THE PHYSICAL DEMAND ON OUR PROFESSIONALS.

>> YOU'VE BROUGHT THE EPIC CHARTER SCHOOLS CASE BACK TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT MOVE.

>> THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST EPIC AND ITS FOUNDERS ARE A STATEWIDE IMPACT, SO, SO, AS OPPOSED TO A CRIME THAT OCCURS IN NOWATA COUNTY THAT SHOULD BE PROSECUTED IN NOWATA COUNTY.

BUT IN THIS CASE, TO THE EXTENT A CRIME HAS OCCURRED, IT'S OCCURRED STATEWIDE IMPACT IN 77 COUNTIES THAT BELONGS AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FOR WHATEVER REASON, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST OR THE, LIKE, IT WAS REFERRED DOWN TO THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BUT I FEEL PASSIONATELY THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD DO THE JOB OF THE PEOPLE.

SO, I'VE ASKED DISTRICT ATTORNEY VICKI BENA, IF SHE WOULD OBJECT, IF I WOULD TAKE THAT BACK.

AND SHE SAID, NO, IT -- IT BELONGS WITH YOU.

AND YOU ASK AND I'LL GIVE.

AND SO SHE DID.

>> MOVING ON TO TRIBAL RELATIONS.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE TRIBAL RELATIONS APPROVED BETWEEN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND OUR 39 FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES?

>> I THINK THAT THAT IS, AS OUR STANDARD IS VERY LOW RIGHT NOW.

SO, ANY IMPROVEMENT WILL BE WELCOMED BY ALL CITIZENS OF OKLAHOMA.

I GREW UP IN INDIAN TERRITORY IN OSAGE COUNTY ON A CATTLE RANCH.

MY DNA RECOGNIZES WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS OF OKLAHOMA.

DON'T PRETEND TO BE A NATIVE AMERICAN, DON'T PRETEND TO KNOW WHAT NATIVE AMERICANS WANT.

BUT I FEEL PASSIONATELY THAT WE SHOULD BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE -- THE DISCONNECT OF THE TRIBES AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND THAT BEGINS WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

PRESENTLY, WE HAVE SOME DEGREE OF DYSFUNCTION IN CACOPHONY IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE.

I TALKED TO MY FEDERAL COLLEAGUES, AND THEY'RE, THEY, THEY CAN'T GIVE US A CIVIL JURY TRIAL FOR THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF YEARS BECAUSE THEY'RE BACKLOGGED WITH THE PROSECUTION OF NATIVE AMERICAN CRIMINALS.

AND SO IT, IT IS PROBABLY THE HIGHEST PRIORITY OF MY ADMINISTRATION TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE MCGIRT DILEMMA.

AND I'VE WORKED STEADFASTLY AND DILIGENTLY WITH EXCELLENT PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIVE TRIBES TOWARD A SOLUTION THAT I THINK THAT WE WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE.

>> AS MANY ALREADY KNOW, OKLAHOMA IS FILLED WITH ILLEGAL MARIJUANA GROWS.

WHAT CAN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE DO TO ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT TO >> ON SEVERAL FRONTS.

ONE, JUST AN AWARENESS.

WE'VE ELEVATED THIS DISCUSSION SO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR URBAN CENTERS DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND OR SEE OR APPRECIATE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN RURAL OKLAHOMA.

SO WHAT WE HAVE ARE, YOU KNOW, ALMOST 10,000 GROW OPERATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE CONSUMING ELECTRICITY, WATER, PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WASTE.

THAT'S FINE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT AS A STATE.

BUT WHAT'S MORE PROFOUNDLY IMPACTFUL IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN INVADED EFFECTIVELY FROM, YOU KNOW, ILLEGAL OPERATORS, PRINCIPALLY OF CHINESE NATIONALITY, THE VANDORT STATE ILLEGALLY THAT ARE GROWING ILLEGALLY.

AND WHAT WAS ONCE A LOCALIZED ISSUE HAS NOW BECOME A NATIONAL ISSUE.

AND WE'VE NOW GOT THE ATTENTION OF OUR NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES BECAUSE OKLAHOMA IS A HUGE NET PRODUCER OF MARIJUANA PRODUCTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

WE NEED TO STOP THAT.

IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT TO OUR STATE >> I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT THAT OKLAHOMA BUREAU OF NARCOTICS HAS HAD.

>> WE'VE HAD GREAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT ARE MAKING AN IMPACT.

WE NEED THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO OWN IT AND COALESCE ALL AGENCIES TOWARD A SOLUTION.

>> A COUPLE -- FEW YEARS BACK, WE STARTED LOOKING AT THE RAPE KIT BACKLOG HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

YOU AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT LANDS BACK INTO YOUR LAP.

WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING ON DOING WITH THE REMAINING RAPE KITS IN -- IN GETTING THEM TESTED?

>> THE RAPE KIT IS A SENSITIVE ISSUE TO ME BECAUSE IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH WE CAN CAPTURE DNA DATA, PUT IT INTO NATIONWIDE DATABASE, AND THE RAPIST THAT RAPED ONCE MORE LIKELY THAN NOT WILL RAPE AGAIN.

AND I WANT HIM CAUGHT.

AND SO IF YOU'RE A RAPIST, DON'T DO IT IN OKLAHOMA 'CUZ WE'RE GONNA TEST OUR BACKLOG OF RAPE KITS, PUT THE DATA INTO THE SYSTEM, FIND AND SNUFF OUT THESE BAD ACTORS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING YOUR TIME OUT FOR US TODAY.

ATTORNEY GENERAL, GENTNER DRUMMOND."

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> WHILE INFLATION HAS BEEN FALLING IN MANY AREAS, THE PRICE OF FOOD, IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

OVERALL, INFLATION DROPPED TO 6.5% IN DECEMBER, BUT FOOD PRICES ARE AT 10.5% , AND MUCH MORE FOR CERTAIN ITEMS, LIKE EGGS.

IF YOU LIKE TWO EGGS SUNNY SIDE UP OR A 3-EGG OMELET, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER DOWNSIZING.

TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH THE UNAPPETIZING DETAILS.

TAELYR?

RICH, EGGS ARE A CLASSIC BREAKFAST STAPPLE FOR MANY, AND THEY'RE TYPICAL CHEAP TO BUY.

HOWEVER, DUE INFLATION AND THE AVIAN FLU, EGG PRICES HAVE INCREASED DRASTICALLY.

AS GROCERY PRICES INCREASED LAST YEAR, MANY CONSUMERS HOPED THEY WOULD RETURN BACK TO NORMAL WITHIN A FEW SHORT MONTHS.

HOWEVER, PRICES HAVE YET TO DROP.

>> FIRST, ACROSS ALL FOOD, WE'VE SEEN DOUBLE-DIGIT INFLATION.

EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP AND BECAUSE OF FUEL PRICES, BECAUSE OF FEED PRICES, WE'VE SEEN THAT DEFINITELY IN ALL THE ANIMAL >> EGGS HAVE SEEN THE LARGEST INCREASE IN PRICE.

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, IN AUGUST OF 2020, THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A DOZEN LARGE "GRADE A" EGGS WAS $1.33.

AND BY THE END OF DECEMBER 2022 THE AVIAN FLU.

AGRICULTURE ECONOMIST RODNEY HOLCOMB SAYS ONE OF THE MAIN CAUSES OF INCREASED PRICES IS THE AVIAN FLU.

>> WHICH TOOK OUT OVER 40 MILLION LAYING HENS.

THAT'S A BIG HIT FOR THE IT HIT BROILERS, IT HIT TURKEYS, BUT IT ALSO DEFINITELY HIT LAYING HENS VERY HEAVILY.

DUE TO THE AVIAN FLU, FARMERS HAD TO KILL INFECTED BIRDS IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE ILLNESS FROM SPREADING.

THAT MEANS ABOUT 10% OF THE COUNTRIES LAYING HENS WERE LOST.

>> NOW, CHICKENS, THE BROILERS THAT WE HAVE, WHEN YOU GO TO THE STORE AND BUY CHICKEN BREASTS OR WHATEVER YOU MAY BUY, LOSING A PRODUCTION CYCLE OF THOSE, YOU CAN REBOUND PRETTY QUICKLY.

IT ONLY TAKES LESS THAN TWO MONTHS TO GO FROM HATCHING AN EGG TO HAVING THAT FULL GROWN READY TO PROCESS BOILER CHICKEN.

>> HOWEVER, HOLCOMB SAYS IT TAKES LAYING HENS LONGER TO PREPARE FOR PRODUCING EGGS.

>> IT TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE YOU GET A -- A CHICKEN, A HEN UP TO THAT POINT WHERE SHE IS PRODUCING EGGS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

SO, ONCE WE HIT THAT, HIT 40 MILLION BIRDS, THAT'S BASICALLY THINK 40 MILLION EGGS A DAY THAT ARE TOTALLY TAKEN OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

>> NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT GAP BECAUSE IT TAKES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME FOR CHICKENS TO START LAYING EGGS.

SO THE CHICKENS THAT SHOULD HAVE STARTED LAYING EGGS RIGHT NOW WERE THE ONES THAT WERE KILLED, SO WERE KIND OF IN THAT IN-BETWEEN.

>> MANY OKLAHOMA EGG FARMERS HAVEN'T EXPERINCED THE AVIATION FLU THIS YEAR.

BUT PRAIRIE CREEK FARMS LIVESTOCK MANAGER, MORGAN LONG, SAYS THEY ARE STILL BEING IMPACTED.

>> PEOPLE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, GET 'EM IN STORES AND THEY SEE EMPTY SHELVES AND SO THEY'RE TRYING TO SCRAMBLE AROUND AND FIND WHERE THEY CAN GET EGGS.

AND WE SEE THE IMPACT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE PANIC BUYING, WE HAVE THEM BUYING 15 DOZEN AT A TIME AND SO THAT LEAVES US IN SHORT SUPPLY AND WINTERTIME, THINGS SLOW DOWN AS FAR AS EGGS ARE CONCERNED ANYWAY NATURALLY.

AND SO WE'RE IN LOW SUPPLY TOO TO TRY TO MEET THAT DEMAND.

123450 THERE YOU GO.

>> FOUNDED IN 2016, THE 80-ACRE FARM WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE BETTER QUALITY MEAT TO FAMILES.

>> THEY STARTED FARMING AFTER, YOU KNOW, SEEING HOW MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WERE SICK AND IN HOSPITALS.

THEY WORKED IN HEALTHCARE OR ONE OF THEM DID.

AND SO HE SAW THAT SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WERE UNHEALTHY AND KIND OF SAW THAT THEIR DIETS WERE THE MAIN CAUSE OF IT.

AND SO IT LED HIM TO START A FARM.

>> PRAIRIE CREEK FARM PRODUCES GRASS-FED BEEF, PASTURED EGGS, AND CHICKENS.

>> SO, WE ARE AT PASTURE RAISED, NON-GMO WITH SUPPLEMENTAL FEED.

SO, IT'S THE WAY WE MANAGE OUR LIVESTOCK THAT MAKES THEM HEALTHIER FOR PEOPLE.

>> LONG SAYS THEIR MANAGMENT PRACTICES HELP KEEP HEALTHIER BIRDS AND PREVENT UNWANTED DUE TO INFLATION, CHICKEN FEED PRICES HAVE INCREASED COSTING FARMERS MORE MONEY TO PRODUCE EGGS.

>> THE PRICE OF OPERATION IS WAY UP.

SO, OUR FEED COSTS ARE WAY UP.

OUR FUEL COSTS ARE WAY UP, WHICH MAKES US HAVE TO INCREASE EGG THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS THAT WE SEE THE INCREASE IN EGG PRICES AND KIND OF A LOW SUPPLY OF EGGS RIGHT NOW.

>> LONG SAYS PRARIE CREEK FARMS HAS MADE THE THOUGH DESCION TO INCREASE THEIR PRICES THIS YEAR.

>> FOR THE LONGEST TIME, I THINK WE STAYED STEADY ON OUR EGG PRICES, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD TO RAISE OUR EGG PRICES, AND THEY'VE RISEN JUST THIS YEAR BY 30%."

>> HOLCOMB SAYS THAT SUPPLY DEMAND ALSO PLAYS A ROLE IN THE MUCH-DREADED PRICE INCREASE.

>> WE'RE COMING OFF A VERY HIGH DEMAND PERIOD, THE HOLIDAY SEASON, EGGS ARE IN EVERYTHING.

SO THAT PUSHED UP DEMAND EVEN MORE.

WE HAD LIMITS ON SUPPLY PRICES OF EVERYTHING WE'RE ALREADY GOING UP.

IT'S LIKE THE PERFECTLY BAD STORM WHERE EVERYTHING WENT WRONG ALL AT ONCE, AND THEN EGG PRICES WENT DOUBLE, TRIPLE, SOME PLACES QUADRUPLE WHAT THEY HAD BEEN ONE YEAR BEFORE.

>> PRAIRIE CREEK FARMS SUPPLIES PRODUCTS FOR LOCAL RESTURANTS IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA CITY, AND EDMOND.

THE HIGH DEMAND FOR EGG AND MEAT PRODUCTS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.

>> IT'S MAKING OUR OUTPUT TO ALL OF THESE RESTAURANTS A LITTLE LOW.

SO EVERYONE'S A LITTLE LOW RIGHT NOW.

AND WE HAVE HAD TO RAISE OUR WHOLESALE EGG PRICES TOO, JUST TO MEET THAT INFLATION OFFSET IT, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO MEET THE DEMAND OF THE RESTAURANTS WHILE STILL MEETING OUR RETAIL DEMANDS.

>> BUT EGG PRICES AREN'T THE ONLY ONE INCREASING.

>> WE'VE SEEN SOME DECLINES IN CERTAIN FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CATEGORIES, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROTEINS, WE'RE STILL FIGHTING A LOT OF THE INFLATION ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO, BEEF PRICES HAVE BEEN HIGH, PORK PRICES HAVE BEEN HIGH >> WHILE CONSUMERS ARE FEELING RELEIF AT THE PUMP, TRIPS TO THE GROCERY STORE WILL CONTINUE TO COST A LITTLE MORE.

RICH?

>> TAELYR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WITH THE CELEBRATION OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MARTIN LUTHER KING'S 94TH BIRTHDAY ON MONDAY, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A PERFECT TIME TO DEVOTE OUR "IN-DEPTH" SEGMENT TO THE LEGACY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER.

WHAT'S CHANGED?

AND HAS ENOUGH CHANGED SINCE HIS ASSASSINATION IN MEMPHIS IN 1968?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF OUR CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> WHEN HE MOVED INTO MORE ECONOMIC JUSTICE INTO REPARATIONS FOR BLACK FOLKS, WHICH HE WAS ALWAYS ABOUT, BUT ALSO ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR BLACK FOLKS, FOR FOLKS OF COLOR IN THE UNITED STATES IS WHEN HE, BECAME REALLY MORE OF A THREAT TO THE STATUS QUO THAN THE CIVIL RIGHTS WORK.

>> WELL, TO ME IT'S -- IT'S -- IT'S ABOUT MAN'S HUMANITY TO ME.

AND, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP WITH ELDER SIBLINGS WHO PARTICIPATED IN MARCHES AND SIT-INS AS A, AS A RESULT OF THE CONVICTION AND COMMITMENT THAT DR. KING HAD TO JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

EVERYTHING HE DID, HE DID OUT OF LOVE AND BEGINNING WITH WHEN HE , YOU KNOW, AND JUST USING LOVE IS SO PAR, SO POWERFUL.

AND IT'S -- THAT PHILOSOPHY HAS TAUGHT ME A WHOLE LOT JUST IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, THREE TO THREE TO FOUR YEARS.

>> THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION, COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES!

>>> THE MOORE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LAUNCHING A UNIQUE PLAN TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT A PLACE TO LIVE.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH THE DETAILS.

STEVE.

>> WHAT MOORE IS DOING IS AN EXTENSION OF A PROGRAM CALLED "BRIDGES OF NORMAN," WHO HAVE BEEN SERVING HOMELESS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THERE SINCE OF THE 25,000 KIDS THAT ATTEND MOORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AROUND 180 ARE HOMELESS.

THE SUPERINTENDENT REALIZED THE EXTENT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAD A SENIOR THAT FELL ON DIFFICULT TIMES.

HIS MOTHER HAD BEEN BATTLING CANCER FOR A YEAR, AND SHE PASSED HIS SENIOR YEAR.

WHEN SHE PASSED, HE LITERALLY HAD NO ONE.

DAD WASN'T IN THE PICTURE.

HE STARTED WHAT I NOW KNOW AS COUCH SURFING, WHERE HE WAS TRYING TO PLAN WHERE HE WOULD LAY HIS HEAD ON A PILLOW EACH NIGHT.

LONG STORY SHORT, WE WERE ABLE TO UTILIZE BRIDGES OF NORMAN.

>> Reporter: BRIDGES OF NORMAN OPERATES OUT OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX BUILT BACK IN THE 1970s.

20 KIDS LIVE IN 20, ONE-BEDROOM UNITS HERE.

THEY'RE ALL AROUND 400 SQUARE FEET.

IN ORDER TO BECOME A CLIENT IN THE BRIDGES PROGRAM, A STUDENT HAS TO, NUMBER ONE, ENROLL IN CLASS, ATTEND CLASS, PASS YOUR CLASSES, GET A PART-TIME JOB, OR HAVE A VERIFIABLE SOURCE OF INCOME AND NO OVERNIGHT VISITORS.

>> STUDENTS WITH INCARCERATED PARENTS, DECEASED PARENTS, PARENTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

THERE MIGHT BE DRUG OR ALCOHOL DIRECTIONS IN THE HOME.

THERE COULD BE FAMILY HOMELESSNESS AS WELL.

>> Reporter: BRIDGES OF NORMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STACY BRUCE SAYS THE HOMELESS ISSUE CONTINUES TO EXPAND.

>> WE OFTEN HAVE WHAT WE CALL NON-RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS AS WELL.

IF A STUDENT CAN STAY WITH A FAMILY MEMBER OR A FRIEND AND BE SAFELY HOUSED, WE THINK THAT'S A BETTER OPTION FOR A STUDENT.

SO, WE'LL ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THAT.

AND THEN WE WILL SERVE THEM IN A NON-RESIDENTIAL CAPACITY WHERE THAT MEANS THAT THEY DO ALL THE THINGS OF OUR PROGRAM EXCEPT GET AN APARTMENT HERE.

SO, WE'LL SEE UP TO 06 STUDENTS A YEAR.

THIS IS A COMPUTER ANIMATION OF WHAT BRIDGES NOW HAS COOKING ON THE UNUSED WESTERN TAIL OF SKY RANCH ELEMENTARY'S BACK PROPERTY IN MOORE.

OKLAHOMA CITY AND NORMAN DEVELOPER AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS ARE DESIGNING A TINY HOME COMMUNITY OF 10 DUPLEXES, EACH UNIT WILL HAVE TWO 400-SQUARE-FOOT APARTMENT HOMES.

>> YOU KNOW, THESE ARE GOOD KIDS.

SO OFTEN, THE PERCEPTION IS THAT THEY'RE BAD KIDS, AND THAT'S WHY THEY FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT A PLACE TO LIVE.

IT'S JUST NOT THE CASE.

>> THEY NEED SUPPORT.

>> WELL, YEAH.

THEY'RE GOOD KIDS.

THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, WHETHER IT'S A PARENT HAS DIED OR HAD TO MOVE AWAY AND THE KID WANTS TO STAY AND GRADUATE OR -- >> OR THE PARENTS ARE UNREASONABLE.

>> OR THE PARENTS ARE UNREASONABLE.

I PERSONALLY KNEW A KID THAT WAS LIVING OUT OF HIS CAR FOR A WHILE, AND THEN HE HAD AN AUNT WHO WAS CHARGING HIM RENT TO SLEEP ON HER SOFA.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS GETTING NO SUPPORT.

AND HE WAS A REALLY GOOD KID.

HE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BE SENT OFF TO PRIVATE WRESTLING HIGH SCHOOL ON THE EAST COAST.

HE WANTED TO LIVE IN OKLAHOMA AND GO TO SCHOOL IN MOORE.

HIS PARENTS KICKED HIM OUT OF THE HOUSE OVER WRESTLING.

>> STACY BRUCE REACHED OUT TO HOMELESS TEENS IN MOORE BEFORE, BUT MOST DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE TO NORMAN.

THEY WANTED TO STAY IN MOORE.

SHE SAYS THE TINY HOME DEVELOPMENT IN MOORE THEY'RE WORKING ON WILL SERVE THOSE KIDS.

AN OUTPOURING OF LOVE THAT WAS HOMEGROWN.

>> THESE STUDENTS THAT HAVE HOME INSECURITIES, HOUSING INSECURITIES, THEY WALK THE HALLS WITH THEIR PEERS, AND THE PEERS KNOW WHAT THESE KIDS ARE GOING THROUGH.

AND SO, THEY ADOPTED BRIDGES AND RAISED OVER $300,000 FOR THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO GET THIS STARTED.

>> MOORE STUDENTS?

>> MOORE STUDENTS DID ALL OF THAT.

SO, THIS IS NOT ANYTHING THAT FALLS ON THE TAXPAYERS.

SO, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT THAT THAT GETS OUT THERE.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS MOORE EVENTUALLY WILL BE A $3 MILLION PROJECT.

MORE FUNDRAISE WILLING BE NEEDED, BUT THE FIRST 10 DUPLEXES SHOULD BE READY NEXT SPRING.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT A KID THAT HAS GOT, YOU KNOW, NO CHOICE -- NO PLACE -- NO PLACE TO LIVE AND THEY'RE TRYING TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND GRADUATE -- >> Reporter: TRYING TO STAY ALIVE.

>> YEAH, BUILD A PLAN FOR THEIR LIFE.

THE -- THE -- SPIRIT OF GIVING JUST COMES POURING OUT OF PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THOSE INTERESTED IN DONATING CAN EMAIL HIM.

AND, BY THE WAY, THAT HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WHOSE MOTHER DIED OF CANCER, WELL, HE MADE IT AND GRADUATED.

>> I ASKED HIM ONE QUESTION.

I SAID, TALK TO ME ABOUT WHERE YOU WOULD BE IF BRIDGES WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN FRONT OF YOU AND YOU BE ABLE TO TAKE ON.

HE SAID ONE OF TWO THINGS, LIVING UNDER A BRIDGE OR DEAD.

>> Reporter: I HEARD THAT.

BRIDGES OF NORMAN'S STACY BRUCE TOLD ME 100% OF THE ELIGIBLE SENIORS IN THEIR PROGRAM WENT ON TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

RICH?

>> STEVE, GREAT WORK, THANK YOU.

>> ON WEDNESDAY, SENATOR ADAM PUGH LAID OUT A $541MILLION PLAN TO RECRUIT, RETAIN, AND REWARD OKLAHOMA TEACHERS.

THE EDMOND REPUBLICAN CHAIRS BOTH THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE.

PUGH SAYS HE ALSO SEEKS TO REFORM EDUCATION IN OKLAHOMA, WHILE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF QUALIFIED TEACHERS BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES AND INCENTIVES FOR TEACHERS TO IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> THIS PLAN WAS THE STARTING POINT, AND IT WAS MY STARTING POINT.

A STARTING POINT FOR WHERE I AS SENATE EDUCATION CHAIR WOULD LIKE TO GO.

AND WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS AND WHERE THE TARGETED RESOURCES NEED TO BE.

AND THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BEGIN A CONVERSATION THAT'S BUILDING.

AND OVER THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, WE'LL WORK THROUGH THIS PLAN.

AND I'LL GET INPUT FROM MY COLLEAGUES, WHETHER IT BE MY SENATE COLLEAGUES, COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE, OR IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE."

>> PUGH HAS INTRODUCED MORE THAN A DOZEN BILLS FOR HIS EDUCATION PLAN.

THEY INCLUDE A $40,000 STARTING SALARY FOR TEACHERS, PROVIDING PAID MATERNITY LEAVE, AND INCREASING SPENDING ON SCHOOL SECURITY.

A NEARLY $100 MILLION PROJECT TO BUILD A LOW-WATER DAM ACROSS THE ARKANSAS RIVER IN SOUTH TULSA IS MOVING FORWARD.

THE DAM WOULD CREATE A LAKE IN WHAT IS CURRENTLY A NEARLY-DRY SECTION OF THE RIVER.

THE AMBITIOUS PROJECT REPRESENTS A PARTNERNSHIP BETWEEN CITY AND TRIBAL LEADERS IN TULSA AND JENKS.

THE CITY OF TULSA WILL CONTRIBUTE $64 MILLION, WITH THE CITY OF JENKS, MUSCOGEE NATION, AND OTHER ENTITIES PICKING UP THE REMAINING $33 MILLION.

THE PLAN WOULD CREATE A 10-FOOT DEEP LAKE BETWEEN 71ST AND 101ST STREETS AND WOULD INCLUDE A MARINA AND TRAIL SYSTEM.

ONCE IT BEGINS, CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 5 YEARS TO COMPLETE.

>> NO ONE CAN DENY THAT THE "LAND RUN MONUMENT" IN OKLAHOMA CITY IS AN IMPRESSIVE PIECE OF ARTWORK.

THE QUESTION IS: DOES IT TELL THE WHOLE STORY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF BOTH THE "SOONERS" AND THE INDIANS WHO WERE LIVING THERE BEFORE THEM?

OUR NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS REPORTER, KENNEDY SEPULVADO HAS MORE ON THE EFFORTS TO ADD TO THE MOMUMENT TO REFLECT THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE LAND RUNS.

>> IT'S A TALE OLDER THAN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA ITSELF, THE MAD DASH IN 1889 TO CLAIM FREE LANDS IN A NEW TERRITORY.

BUT THE LAND RUNS MEANT "INDIAN TERRITORY" HAD TO BE ALTERED.

>> NOW THEY CREATED THE DAWES ACT AND SOME SEVERAL OTHER ACTS WHERE THEY TOOK THE LAND FROM THE TRIBE AND ALLOTTED THEM INDIVIDUAL LAND.

AND ONCE THEY GAVE EACH INDIVIDUAL A NEW PARCEL OF LAND, THERE WAS PLENTY OF LAND LEFT TO OPEN UP TO NON-INDIAN SETTLEMENT.

THE LAND RUNS IS EVEN THOUGH THEY AMERICAN INDIANS DID PARTICIPATE, THEY WERE NOT LEGALLY ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> THERE WERE FIVE LAND RUNS BETWEEN 1889 AND 1895, PLUS LAND LOTTERIES AND AUCTIONS IN THE EARLY 1900S.

THE MOST FAMOUS LAND RUN IS THE FIRST THAT WENT THROUGH PRESENT-DAY CENTRAL OKLAHOMA >> THE CITY WAS FOUNDED ON APRIL 22ND, 1889.

THAT IS THE HISTORY.

NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE THAT.

AND IT -- IT WAS FOUNDED IN A VERY UNIQUE WAY.

I MEAN, MOST CITIES DON'T KNOW THEIR BIRTHDATE.

THEY DIDN'T GO FROM ZERO TO 10,000 IN A DAY.

>> THE CENTENNIAL LAND RUN MONUMENT WAS ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE THE 1889 LAND RUN AND THE FOUNDING OF THE STATE'S CAPITOL CITY.

THIS 6.2 MILLION DOLLAR MONUMENT CONSISTS OF 45 STATUES PIECED TOGETHER TO TELL THE STORY OF THE LAND RUN, BUT IT FALLS SHORT OF TELLING THE FULL STORY.

>> THE LAND WHERE WE NOW SIT WAS NOT BORN ON APRIL 22ND, 1889, AND THERE'S A LOT TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT HOW WE CAME TO THAT MOMENT.

AND, OBVIOUSLY, MANY THINGS WE'RE, WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING AS A COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS.

CONVERSATION IS -- IS -- IS GEARED TOWARDS ENSURING THAT PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE LAND RUN MONUMENT HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY DO UNDERSTAND THAT PRIOR STORY AND DO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF NATIVE AMERICANS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE LONG TERM HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE LAND WHERE WE NOW SIT.

>> THE SOCIETY TO PRESERVE INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND INDIGENOUS TREATIES, KNOWN AS SPIRIT, HAS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO ENSURE THE FULL AND ACCURATE HISTORY OF THE OKLAHOMA LANDS IS TOLD.

>> WE HAD MET WITH MAYOR HOLT RIGHT AFTER THE PROTEST, THE, WHAT WE CALL THE INDIGENOUS SIT-IN, THAT HAPPENED IN JULY, 2020 THAT HE PUT US IN CONTACT WITH SOME VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY TO WORK WITH US ON THIS PROJECT TO TELL OUR SIDE OF THE HISTORY OF THE LAND RUN AND HOW THEY CAME TO BE.

>> AFTER TWO YEARS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT, OKC ARTS COUNCIL, HUMAN ARTS AND HUMANITIES COUNCIL, AND THE CITY PLANNER, A REPORT WAS PRESENTED TO THE OKC ARTS COMMISSION THAT CONCLUDED THE MONUMENT IS HURTFUL AND ONE-SIDED.

>> WE JUST FINISHED PHASE ONE, BUT IN THE LONG RUN, THE LONG TERM PROJECT IS TO, TO DEVELOP THE OTHER SIDE ACROSS THAT RIVER TO SHOW SOME OF OUR, OUR, OUR HISTORY FOR ALL, WHICH WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A MOMENTOUS THING FOR THE ALL 39 TRIBES.

BUT THAT'S A LONG WAY AWAY.

>> THE LAND RUN MONUMENT TOOK NEARLY 25 YEARS TO COMPLETE, AND WHILE CHANGING THE TEXT AT THE MONUMENT TO REFLECT THE FULL HISTORY CAN BE COMPLETED EASILY, IT WILL TAKE MORE TIME TO ADD ARTWORK FOLLOWING AN APPROVAL PROCESS.

>> I DO THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT JUST A MILE, YOU KNOW, TO THE EAST, WE HAVE A $200 MILLION FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM.

SO, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THAT WE, WE DO IN THIS COMMUNITY NOW DEEPLY HONOR THE, THE NATIVE AND INDIGENOUS STORY.

BUT HAVING IT IN PROXIMITY, CLOSE, CLOSE PROXIMITY, WALKABLE PROXIMITY TO THE LAND RUN MONUMENT SEEMS APPROPRIATE AS WELL.

AND CERTAINLY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE REVISITED THE TEXT THAT, THAT ACCOMPANIES THE MONUMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT RESPECTS THE, THE TRUE STORY AS WELL.

>> THE UPDATED TEXT WOULD TELL THE TRUE STORY OF THE UNASSIGNED LANDS AVAILABLE IN 1889, LAND THAT WAS ONCE GIVEN TO THE MUSCOGEE AND SEMINOLE NATIONS.

>> AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, ALL THE FIVE, THEY SIGNED TREATIES WITH THE SOUTH.

ALL THEIR MEMBERS DIDN'T FIGHT FOR THE SOUTH, BUT THEY HAD SIGNED THESE TREATIES WITH THE SOUTH TO FIGHT, YOU KNOW, AND AFTER THE WAR, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT USED THEIR PARTICIPATION, SUPPOSED PARTICIPATION AS A REASON TO REDO THEIR TREATIES.

>> ALTHOUGH, TRIBAL MEMBERS DID FIGHT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WAR.

>> IT CAUSED A BIG DIVISION IN SOME OF OUR TRIBAL NATIONS FOR THOSE THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, ON BOTH SIDES ESSENTIALLY.

THE UNION AND THE CONFEDERATE WERE BOTH MAKING PROMISES TO THE TRIBES TO, TO JOIN THEM.

>> SO, ALL OF OKLAHOMA PRESENT DAY, OKLAHOMA, EXCEPT FOR THE PANHANDLE, WAS PART OF THE FIVE TRIBES.

IT STARTED IN THE EAST AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE WEST, AND THEY TOOK HALF OF IT AWAY BY THESE 1866 RECONSTRUCTION TREATIES WITH THE TRIBES.

>> PLUS, OTHER TRIBES ROAMED THESE GREAT PLAINS WELL BEFORE PRESENT-DAY OKLAHOMA WAS MADE INDIAN TERRITORY.

THEY TOO SAW THEIR LAND CLAIMED BY SETTLERS OR AUCTIONED OFF.

THE SECOND LAND RUN WAS ON IOWA, SAC AND FOX, POTTAWATOMI, AND SHAWNEE TRIBES' LAND.

THE THIRD LAND RUN WAS FOR CHEYENNE AND ARAPAHO LAND.

THE NEXT TOOK PLACE IN THE CHEROKEE OUTLET.

THE FIFTH AND SMALLEST LAND RUN WAS ON KICKAPOO LAND.

LATER, THE LAND LOTTERY IN 1901 DIVIDED THE LAND OF THE WITCHITA, CADDO, COMANCHE, KIOWA, AND APACHE TRIBES.

>> AND SO THAT REALLY BROKE A LOT OF PEOPLE'S HEARTS TO SEE WHERE ONCE THEY HAD A COMMUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, OR EVEN A, THEIR FAMILY HAD LIVED NOW BEING GIVEN TO SOMEONE AS FREE LAND.

WE ARE SEEKING TO TELL THE TRUE STORY OF ALL THE LAND RUNS AND HOW THEY CAME TO BE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNANIMOUS AMONG ALMOST ALL OKLAHOMA CITY HAD THE SECOND LARGEST DECLINE IN HOME AND APARTMENT RENTAL COSTS AMONG MAJOR U.S. CITIES ACCORDING TO THE LATEST REPORT BY REAL ESTATE COMPANY REDFIN.

RENTS DROPPED BY 6.4 PERCENT IN DECEMBER.

THE BIGGEST DROP IN RENT WAS FOUND IN MINNEAPOLIS.

THE LARGEST RENT INCREASE IN DECEMBER WAS FOUND IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR RENT INCREASED BY 4.8% LAST MONTH.

THE CITY OF MOORE IS AMONG THE TOP TEN BEST MARKETS IN THE U.S. FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS IN 2023.

IT RANKS FIFTH ON THE LIST GENERATED BY REALTOR.COM.

AMONG THE TRAITS WHICH MAKE MOORE ATTRACTIVE FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS IS A LARGE YOUNG ADULT POPULATION, MORE HOMES TO CHOOSE FROM, SHORTER COMMUTES TO WORK, AFFORDABILITY, AND SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR DRINKS AND DINING.

THE TOP CITY IN THE U.S. ON THE LIST?

PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

>>> NEW RESEARCH COMMISSIONED BY THE OKLAHOMA TOURISM AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT SHOWS OKLAHOMA TOURISM GENERATED A RECORD $10.1 BILLION DOLLARS IN 2021.

THAT BEAT 2019'S FIGURES BY 3.2%.

BREAKING THE FIGURES FURTHER DOWN, 55-PERCENT OF VISITS WERE GENERATED BY OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS.

THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA TOOK IN $748 MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES.

>>> IN A MOVE THAT COULD INCREASE 2023 REVENUES, OKLAHOMA CITY BASED MAMMOTH ENERGY SERVICES IS EXPANDING ITS FRAC SPREAD UNIT, WHICH HELPS TO EXPLORE FOR OIL AND NATURAL GAS.

ADDITIONALLY, THE COMPANY HAS SEEN GROWTH IN ITS INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES DIVISION, WHICH HELPS TO SET UP FIBER OPTIC NETWORKS.

MAMMOTH ALSO INCREASED HIRING BY EXPANDING ITS ENGINEERING UNIT TO 50 EMPLOYEES.

>>> PAYCOM SOFTWARE AND ITS EMPLOYEES DONATED $1.3 MILLION TO NON-PROFITS AND CHARITIES IN 2022.

THE DONATIONS BENEFITTED 380 LOCAL AND NATIONAL NONPROFITS IN 33 STATES AND WASHINGTON, D.C. PAYCOM HELD ITS FIRST "PHILANTHROPY FAIR" FOR ITS EMPLOYEES TO INTERACT WITH COMMUNITY NONPROFITS.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY COMPANY IS LOOKING TO INCREASE HOW MUCH IT AND ITS EMPLOYEES RAISE FOR NONPROFITS THIS YEAR.

>> JASON DOYLE, THE “OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

” >> JASON, THANKS.

>> OUR CONTENT PARTNERS AT "SUN-UP" TV RECENTLY PAID A VISIT TO LEFLORE COUNTY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THE OKLAHOMA QUALITY BEEF NETWORK.

AS LYNDALL STOUT REPORTS, IT'S PAYING DIVIDENDS AT AUCTION TIME.

>> IF THE PARKING LOT CRAMMED WITH TRUCKS AND TRAILERS IS ANY INDICATION, THEN THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE HECK OF A LIVESTOCK AUCTION IN THE SMALL TOWN OF WISTER, LEFLORE COUNTY.

>> BROUGHT 115.

I THINK IT WAS 56 STEERS AND 59 HEIFERS AND CALVES I'VE RAISED THERE ON THE FARM.

>> MIKE ANDREWS HAS RAISED CATTLE HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

MIKE'S NEW TO THE OQBN PROGRAM - HIS CALVES JUST WENT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDERS.

>> THERE WERE PROBABLY 4-5 DIFFERENT BUYERS TODAY THAN THERE WERE TWO WEEKS AGO HERE.

THAT WAS THE TYPE OF CATTLE THEY CAME TO BUY.

>> HE LEARNED THE INS AND OUTS OF THE PROGRAM FROM OSU EXTENSION LIVESTOCK EXPERT BRIAN FREKING.

>> HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

BRIAN HAD A MEETING HERE IN WISTER AND I ATTENDED THAT AND FELT LIKE IT WAS A GOOD DEAL AND TRIED IT.

AND BEEN REAL PLEASED WITH IT TODAY.

>> OQBN IS A HEALTH PROGRAM THAT OSU IS PART OF.

SO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE PRODUCERS HAVE GIVEN THE VACCINES WHEN THEY SHOULD.

THEY NEED TO BE WEANED 45 DAYS MINIMUM.

AND HAD THOSE ROUNDS OF SHOTS AND THEN THEY COME TO TOWN.

AND GET SOLD AT A CERTAIN TIME OF THE DAY COMPARED TO OTHER CATTLE THE OTHER CATTLE SOLD AT THAT SAME TIME.

SOME OF THEM MAY SAY THEY'VE HAD ROUNDS OF SHOTS, BUT WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE HAD THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS THAT WE WANT TO SEE FOR A GOOD HEALTH OUTCOME FOR THE BUYERS.

>> AND IT'S WORKING >> WE'VE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT TODAY.

WE'VE GOT SOMEWHERE AROUND 900 HEAD THAT WERE ENROLLED IN OQBN AND THERE'S SOMEWHERE AROUND CLOSE TO 4000 TOTAL HEAD HERE TODAY.

SO THE WORD GOT OUT TO BRING YOUR CALVES TO THE SALE TODAY.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE FIELD OF DREAMS, IF THEY BUILD IT THEY WILL COME, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE GOT TODAY.

>> WE HAVE HAD AN OVERWHELMING TURNOUT.

>> RICKY CRANE AND HIS FAMILY OWN THE LEFLORE COUNTY LIVESTOCK AUCTION.

FROM THE SALE RING TO THE FRONT OFFICE, THINGS ARE HOPPING TODAY.

>> WE'LL WORK INTO THE NIGHT TONIGHT.

>> THIS IS ONE OF A HALF-DOZEN OQBN SALES SO FAR THIS FALL.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR PAUL VINING IS PLEASED WITH THE NUMBERS, ESPECIALLY DURING DROUGHT.

>> IT'S GONE WELL SO FAR, REALLY HAPPY, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO THE SAME AMOUNT OF CALVES ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.

I THINK THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO GO WELL.

HAPPY WITH THE PRICES SO FAR.

THEY'VE BEEN COMPETITIVE.

HAD A LOT OF QUALITY CATTLE.

BEEN REALLY HAPPY WITH THE QUALITY OF THE CALVES.

>> BUT THE PERSON MOST HAPPY OF ALL - MIKE ANDREWS - CANNOT STOP SMILING.

>> I COULD SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE PRICE WHEN WE GOT TO THE AND THAT'S WHY I RAISE CATTLE, FOR THE MONEY OF IT.

I ENJOY IT, DON'T MISUNDERSTAND, BUT THAT'S HOW I MAKE MY LIVING.

SO, I ENDED UP WITH A BIGGER CHECK TODAY THAN I EXPECTED AND THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

THAT'S THE END GOAL - TO BRING MORE VALUE BACK TO THE HOME PRODUCERS.

>> THE OKLAHOMA QUALITY BEEF NETWORK IS A JOINT PROJECT OF OSU EXTENSION AND THE OKLAHOMA CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION.

>> MANY PEOPLE MARK THE OCCASION VETERINARIANS ALSO PLAY A BIG ROLE, AND THE CATTLE ARE BQA CERTIFIED.

TO LEARN MORE, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL COUNTY OSU EXTENSION OFFICE.

FOR SUN-UP, I'M LYNDALL STOUT.

>> MANY PEOPLE MARK THE OCCASION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY, WHICH WAS LAST SUNDAY BUT CELEBRATED AS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY ON MONDAY, TO REFLECT ON THE GOALS HE LAID OUT IN HIS ICONIC "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH ON AUGUST 28TH, 1963.

HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE >> IN THIS WEEK'S "NATIONAL VIEW," WE HEAD TO SOUTHERN A COUNTRY TO REALIZE HIS VISION?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK'S "IN-DEPTH" CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR SUSAN CADOT AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS.

(IN DEPTH) >> FIRST WE HAVE REUBEN GANT, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

WE HAVE J.B. WILLIAMS, WHO IS AN ACTIVIST AND A KNOWN MUSICIAN IN OKLAHOMA CITY, AND WE HAVE -- WHO IS A POET AND AUTHOR OF 20 BOOKS.

HE'S ON THE FACULTY AT OSU TULSA.

WE HAVE WON AN EMMY TOGETHER.

WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> REUBEN, I WANT BEGIN WITH YOU.

LET EVERYONE KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN CENTER AND WHAT YOU DO.

>> WELL, THE JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, AND OUR MAIN FOCUS WAS TO UNEARTH AND REVEAL UNTOLD STORIES ABOUT.

AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE GREENWOOD DISTRICT.

WE CREATED A PARK CALLED RECONCILIATION PARK TO EMPHASIZE THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WITH NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INDIAN TERRITORY LEADING TO STATEHOOD AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF GREENWOOD.

SO, WE FOCUS ON ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT INTRINSICALLY, WE ARE ALL THE SAME.

WE HAVE DIFFERENCES, BUT THOSE DIFFERENCES CAN BE OVERCOME IF WE'RE COMMITTED TO DO THAT; IF WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO HUMANITY, AND THAT'S WHAT THE JOHN HOP FRANKLIN CENTER FOCUSES ON.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> WELL, I AM BASED IN TULSA AS WELL.

I'M THE FACULTY AT OSU TULSA AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA AND I'M ALSO A FOUNDING MEMBER OF TRI-CITY COLLECTIVE AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF FOCUS BLACK.

IT'S A BIT ABOUT WHAT I DO.

I'M AN EDUCATOR.

I BELIEVE THAT -- THAT THE MOMENT THAT WE STOP LEARNING, WE ARE DEAD; AND THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE WALKING AROUND WHO ARE BREATHING BUT NOT ALIVE.

>> J.B., I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT YOU.

THERE'S SO MUCH THAT YOU ARE DOING TO HELP DEVELOP YOUR COMMUNITY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW.

>> SO, I'M ACTUALLY SITTING IN MY RESTAURANT, EASTSIDE PIZZA HOUSE, AND WE OPENED IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR.

AND I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A PLACE THAT, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP COMBAT THE FOOD APARTHEID WE'RE DEALING WITH ON THE EAST SIDE OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

SO, I DO THAT.

I ALSO DO A MUSIC PROGRAM AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

I TEACH AT ACM HIP TOP STUDIES CLASS.

AND, YOU KNOW, MUSIC AND -- I WORK WITH THE JULIUS JONES COALITION.

I'M STARTING A NEW PROJECT CALLED A BRANCH OF A NATIONAL GROUP CALLED LIVE FREE AND WE'RE STARTING A NEW PROJECT CALLED LIVE FREE OKC.

>> WOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN ANY OF YOU SLEEP.

I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A GENERATIONAL GROUP HERE THAT CAN REALLY GIVE US PERSPECTIVE AND CONTEXT.

LET'S JUMP IN.

WE JUST CELEBRATED PLUK, MLK DAY TO HONDURAN Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr. FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS THE LEGACY OF Dr. KING?

>> WELL, TO ME, IT'S -- IT'S -- IT'S ABOUT MAN'S HUMANITY TO MAN.

AND, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP WITH ELDER SIBLINGS WHO PARTICIPATED IN MARCHES AND SIT-INS AS A RESULT OF THE CONVICTION AND COMMITMENT THAT Dr. KING HAD TO JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

I BEGAN TO LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMANITY AND RESPECT, AND TREATING PEOPLE LIKE YOU WANT THEM TO TREAT YOU.

THAT'S CARRIED ME THROUGH MY ADULT YEARS.

AND I'M FOCUSED ON THAT TO THIS DAY.

>> DOES IT HAVE THE SAME MEANING FOR YOU AS WELL.

>> IS IT PERSONAL?

>> I THINK IT'S PERSONAL.

I THINK IT DEPENDS ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO HIS FULL AND COMPLETE LEGACY AND HISTORY AND ACTIVISM.

AND I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU WANT TO ENGAGE FROM HIS LEGACY.

I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN HE WAS KILED, HE WAS IN MEMBER -- MEMPHIS FOR A STRIKE.

HE WANTED REPARATIONS.

HE WAS MORE OF A THREAT TO THE STATUS QUO THAN THE CIVIL RIGHTS WERE.

FOR ME, WHAT J.B. IS DOING IN OKLAHOMA CITY IS WHAT SOME OF US ARE DOING IN GREENWOOD AND NORTH TULSA IS ABOUT THAT ECONOMIC JUSTICE, THOSE ECONOMIC INEQUITYS.

KING WAS ABOUT THAT.

THAT PART OF HIS LEGACY OFTEN GETS LOST OR FORGOTTEN CONVENIENTLY IN THE "I HAVE A DREAM" RHETORIC, WHICH IS IMPORTANT AND REAL, RIGHT, BUT THE ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND REPARATIONS OR THE BLACK FOLKS, AS WELL AS HIS ISSUES ABOUT THE VIETNAM, WITH THE VIETNAM WAR BEING POPULATED BY MOSTLY BLACK MEN ON THE FRONT LINES.

HE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THOSE INJUSTICES AS WELL.

TO ME, THOSE ARE THE MOST LASTING AND SIGNIFICANT PARTS OF HIS LEGACY IN TERMS OF WHAT I DO.

>> YOU'RE THE YOUNGEST ONE HERE.

DOES IT REVERBERATE FOR YOU LIKE IT DOES FOR OTHERS?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

YOU KNOW, UM, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH WHAT BOTH OF THEM SAID, YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY, LIKE, I WAS JUST IN D.C. FOR MLK DAY THIS YEAR.

WE WERE READING SOME OF THE QUOTES AT THE MEMORIAL, AT THE MONUMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE JUST THINKING AND TALKING.

ONE OF THE REASONS THAT, YOU KNOW, Dr. KING IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME, ESPECIALLY AS I THINK BACK TO 2020, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS AND, YOU KNOW, ON TO MY WORK WITH THE JULIUS JONES COALITION.

WHY HE WAS SO UNIQUE IS BECAUSE HE WAS ABE -- ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING HE DID AND BRING PEOPLE OUT AND TOGETHER AROUND LOVE.

AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT, UM, ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AROUND LOVE, I THINK ABOUT ALL THE -- THE RALLIES AND THE PROTESTS AND THE MARCHES WE DID, WHETHER IT WAS FOR, YOU KNOW, BLACK LIVES OR WHETHER IT WAS FOR JULIUS JONES.

IF I POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO GO AND PROTEST AND TEAR UP THE -- THE -- THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WOULD COME OUT.

IT'S ALMOSTLIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF MY MESSAGING WAS OUT OF ANGER, EVERYBODY WOULD COME OUT.

SO, I THINK ABOUT HOW HE DID THAT, EVERYTHING HE DID, HE DID WITH LOVE AND USING LOVE.

IT'S SO POWERFUL.

THAT PHILOSOPHY HAS TAUGHT ME A WHOLE LOT, UM, JUST IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, THREE -- THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

>> SO, REUBEN, I WANT TO COME BACK TO YOU.

YOU KNOW, HATE SEEMS TO ANGER -- SEEMS TO DRAW PEOPLE OUT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ANGER, MORE THAN LOVE.

WHY IS THAT?

MY NEXT QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE, ARE WE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SINCE Dr. KING SPOKE TO US HERE ON THIS EARTH.

>> OR WITH EVERYTHING THAT J.B. JUST TALKED ABOUT, IS IT STILL THE SAME?

>> WE'VE CERTAINLY MADE PROGRESS, NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT TO DO.

I THINK IT STEMS FROM OUR INABILITY TO -- TO HAVE OPEN ARMS AND HAVE AN OPEN HEART TO CULTURES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE US.

NOT REALIZING THAT WE'RE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD, AND WE'RE ALL HUMANS IN NATURE.

IF WE CANNOT OBSERVE THE EXTERIOR AND HAVE CONSIDERATIONS FROM WITHIN, WE'D REALIZE THAT WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN NOT.

SO THIS EXTERIOR FACADE OF DIFFERENCE AND DISAGREEMENT CAN GO BEYOND THE EXPERIENCE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THAT REGARD, AND WE CAN'T FORGET THE SACRIFICES THAT WERE MADE BY INDIVIDUALS LIKE Dr. KING AND MEDGER EVERS AND, YOU KNOW, ADVOCATING FOR AND PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR JUSTICE AND EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NEGATIVE MOTION OF ANGER AND FRUSTRATION IS STRONGER -- DO YOU THINK IT'S STRONGER THAN LOVE?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY THAT IT'S STRONGER THAN LOVE, BUT I WOULD SAY IT'S THE RESULT OF THE TEACHINGS THAT OCCURRED AT THE KITCHEN TABLE.

YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE INVOLVEMENT OF THIS YOUNGER GENERATION THAT IS IN ANGER MODE, AND YOU WONDER, WHERE DID THEY GET IT FROM?

THEY DIDN'T GROW UP WITH IT.

THEY DIDN'T LEARN IT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IT STEMS FROM CONVERSATION AT THE KITCHEN TABLE, WHAT IS TALKED ABOUT AT HOME BY PARENTS.

AND IT HAS BLED OVER INTO A GENERATION.

AND SO .

>> THE ANGRY AND THE HURT OF MANY BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN THIS DAY AND TIME WHERE NONE OF THESE THINGS SHOULD BE HAPPENING.

AND SO, WE LOOK AT -- WE LOOK AT HISTORY, AND WE SAY, OKAY, WELL, UM, WE'RE IN 2023.

WHY -- WHY SHOULD I FEEL LIKE IN 2023 I HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF MY CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN WHENEVER MY GRANDPARENTS AND THEIR GRANDPARENTS ALREADY FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHTS AND THE EQUALITY FOR ME.

REALLY, THAT -- THERE WERE TIMES WHERE WE WERE FRUSTRATED, WE WERE ANGER, WE WERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL, IN FRONT OF THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION, BUT IT WAS THE -- THE -- THE CENTERING OF GOD AND THE CENTERING OF MAMA JONES AND ANTOINETTE JONES THAT HELPED BRING THAT FRUSTRATION TO, YOU KNOW -- I GUESS BRING IT DOWN AND REMIND US WHY WE WERE THERE.

YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH WE ALL CAME OUT TO SUPPORT OUT OF OUR FRUSTRATION THAT OUR STATE WAS GONNA KILL AN INNOCENT MAN, AND IT WAS THE CENTERING OF GOD THAT HELPED, YOU KNOW, REMIND US OF WHY WE WERE THERE.

SO -- HOWEVER, UM -- HOWEVER IT HAPPENS, MY POINT WAS TO SAY THAT -- THAT I JUST ADMIRE THE WAY KING DID IT BECAUSE IT HELPED -- IT HELPED REMIND ME OF WHAT WAS IMPORTANT.

>> THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

J.B., EVEN JESUS GOT ANGER, I'M JUST SAYING.

OUR TIME IS WINDING DOWN.

I AM GOING TO ASK YOU TO GIVE US THE LAST WORD, THE LAST THOUGHTS, NOT ONLY ON THIS DISCUSSION BUT WHAT MIGHT NEED TO BE DONE IN THIS FIGHT FOR EQUALITY.

DOES THE FIGHT EVER END?

>> I DON'T FORESEE IT ENDING, AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE TO BE MORE OPTIMISTIC AND DREAM THAT IT MIGHT, AS KING DID, BUT I DON'T SEE IT ENDING ANYTIME SOON.

THERE'S TOO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED, IN MY OPINION, IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, IN MANY WAYS IS A DISMANTLING.

THERE ARE MORE BLACK AUTHORS ON THE BANNED BOOK LIST IN THIS STATE THAN AUTHORS OF ANY OTHER ETHNICITY.

THE HOUSE BILL IS A LAW THAT TELLS US THAT WE CANNOT TEACH ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO ESSENTIALLY WITH MARGINALIZED PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND PARTICULARLY AND SPECIFICALLY BLACK FOLKS, RIGHT?

THERE'S SO MANY, MANY MORE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S ON TAP REGARDING -- I MEAN, THE FACT THAT A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO IS A BLACK MAN WHO WAS MARRIED TO A WHITE WOMAN HAS SUGGESTED, RIGHT, THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD RECONSIDER INTERRACIAL AS A ILLEGAL, UM, YOU KNOW, ASEN ILLEGAL ACT IS -- SPEAKS TO, I THINK, THE AMOUNT OF HOW LOST ANYONE CAN BECOME IN A NARRATIVE THAT'S PRESENTED TO THEM, UM, THAT IS PERVASIVE TO THEIR OWN DEMISE, RIGHT, TO HIS OWN SELF-DETRIMENT, REGARDLESS WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT HIS POLITICS OR ANYTHING ELSE, RIGHTS; THAT HE WOULD ACTUALLY SUPPORT THE DESTRUCTION OF LAWS THAT -- THAT SAFEGUARD INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE WHEN HE'S MARRIED TO A WHITE WOMAN HIMSELF.

THAT -- THAT -- THAT'S DEEP, YOU KNOW.

UM, AND SO, THERE'S MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.

THERE'S -- THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF WORK TO BE DONE, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR REUBEN AND J.B. AND SO MANY OTHERS IN THIS STATE THAT ARE ENGAGED IN THIS WORK ALL OVER THE STATE, AND WE NEED TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS WORK ALL OVER THE STATE, BECAUSE THERE ARE POWER THAT BE THAT DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS CHANGED, STILL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

IF YOU'RE WONDERING HOW YOU CAN HELP, I KNOW YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH THESE GENTLEMEN AT THE JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN CENTER.

THEY'RE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

JUST CHECK 'EM OUT.

YOU CAN SEE THEIR NAMES AT THE BOTTOM OF SCREEN.

FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE UP TO AND JUMP IN AND GET INVOLVED.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU, SUSAN.

>> IN THIS WEEK'S "NATIONAL VIEW," WE HEAD TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHERE OUR PARTNERS AT KPBS REPORT ON THE SAN DIEGO CAR SHOW AND THE CONTINUING GROWTH OF EV SALES, NOT SURPRISING IN A STATE THAT WILL BAN THE SALE OF NEW >> AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK >> SAN DIEGO'S ANNUAL CAR SHOW WAS PACKED WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, NEW CAR RELEASES, AND LOTS OF VIBRANT COLORS.

THE ONE NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE WAS THE UNVOIR DIRABLE PRESENCE OF HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THAT'S A WELCOME CHANGE FOR AUTO SHOW ATTENDEE AND ELECTRIC CAR OWNER STEVE BEYER.

>> WE HAVE SOLAR.

IT'S A NATURAL.

EVERY NIGHT WE PLUG IT IN AND HAVE A FULL TANK IN THE MORNING.

>> Reporter: HE HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR A NEW, FULLY ELECTRIC CAR ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE.

HE SAYS THE VOLATILE AND HIGH PRICE OF GAS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS IS FACTORING INTO THEIR DECISION TO MAKE THE SWITCH.

>> WELL, WE KNOW THE EVs ARE THE WAY TO GO WITH GAS PRICES AS THEY ARE, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO JUST UPGRADE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A VEHICLE THAT'S GONNA LAST UT FOR A FEW YEARS.

>> Reporter: BUT OTHERS LIKE JOE PLAN TO STICK WITH THE TRADITIONAL GAS VEHICLE.

I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS AN ALL-ELECTRIC.

THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM.

>> Reporter: HE DIDN'T SEEMED BOTHER THAT ALL NEW CARS IN CALIFORNIA WILL HAVE TO BE ELECTRIC OR HYDROGEN BY 2035.

>> I MEAN, IT SOUNDS GOOD.

BUT THEN WHEN YOU DO RESEARCH, IT DOESN'T SOUND AS COST EFFECTIVE AS THEY MAKE IT OUT TO BE.

I DON'T KNOW, I THINK IT'S A NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT I'M MORE OLD-SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: SOME PEOPLE WERE MORE IN THE MIDDLE, LOOKING FOR A PLUG-IN HYBRID.

HE SAYS THAT'S THE BEST OPTION AT THE MOMENT.

WHILE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUES TO BE BUILT OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> THE 40-MILE RANGE IS ALL ELECTRIC.

BRING IT HOME, CHARGE IT UP THAT NIGHT.

WHEN WE DO TAKE A LONG TRIP, THERE'S NO WAITING AT A CHARGING STATION FOR THAT DRIVING STATION ANGST BECAUSE IT'S GOT A REGULAR GASOLINE ENGINE IT AND WILL TAKE YOU THE REST OF THE DISTANCE.

>> Reporter: BEYERS SAYS HE WON'T GO BACK TO GAS-POWERED VEHICLES.

HE DOES CAUTION THAT SOME ELECTRIC VEHICLES WON'T DRIVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF MILES THEY CLAIM THEY WILL RUN ON A FULL CHARGE.

KPBS NEWS.

>> AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A UNIQUE LOOK AT DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY, EDITED BY O.E.T.A.

'S BRANDON DOWNEY.

FOR ALL OF US HERE ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," I'M RICH LENZ.

STAY WELL AND STAY TUNED TO O.E.T.A.!!!

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