>>> THEY INSPIRE TO BE DOCTORS, SURGEONS AND MORE.

MEET SOME OF THE FAMILIES BUILDING A NEW LIFE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> I FINALLY MADE IT AND WE ARE GRATEFUL PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED US, OUR TEACHERS, SOLDIERS, EVERYONE, AND IT WAS A MIRACLE.

>> SENATOR JIM INHOFE SOUNDS OFF.

>> THE BEST WAY THE UNITED STATES CAN SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS IN UKRAINE IS TO QUICKLY DELIVER ADDITIONAL AID AND BOLSTER UKRAINE'S DEFENSES.

>> ABUNDANCE OF OMICRON LEADS TO SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

>> HERE IS THE HARD TRUTH.

DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORT, WE PLAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CARE AS WE NORMALLY WOULD.

>> OKLAHOMA LISTEN UP, NEW WAY TO LEARN SCIENCE IS TO STAY AWAY FROM OPENING IN TULSA.

>> WHEN WE DROVE BY AND SAW THE BIGGER LOCATION I WAS REALLY EXCITED.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT.

>> AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION AS OKLAHOMA STRUGGLES TO FIND ENOUGH TRANSPLANT DOE FLOORS TO SATISFY THE GROWING NEED HERE AND ELSEWHERE.

>> AND WHAT THAT MEANS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL IS THAT EVERY DAY 20 PEOPLE DIE WAITING FOR A TRANSPLANT THAT DOESN'T COME.

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

>> WELCOME TO THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

I'M RICH LENZ.

OKLAHOMA EXPECTED TO TRAIL ONLY TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA IN THE NUMBER OF AFGHAN REFUGEES WHO ARE BEING RELOCATED FOLLOWING THE TALIBAN TAKE OVER LAST NOVEMBER.

IN PART TWO OF OUR REPORT ON REMARKABLE EFFORT THAT ALL OKLAHOMANS CAN BE PROUD OF WE'RE JOINED BY STEVE SHAW.

STEVE.

>> RICH, BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, CATHOLIC CHARITIES IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA TOGETHER WILL HAVE TAKEN IN 1800 AFGHAN REFUGEES.

LAST WEEK, WE TOLD YOU HOW THE TRANSITION WORKS.

TODAY WE HEAR FROM REFUGEES WHO ARE GRATEFUL FIRST JUST TO AND LIFE.

>> I AM SO HAPPY I AM IN AMERICA.

>> 14-YEAR-OLD SAMAYA KHALILBEAK AND HER FAMILY HAVE BEEN IN THE U.S. FOUR MONTHS, THE LAST TWO IN A TULSA HOTEL.

>> SO I AM SO HAPPY IN TULSA BECAUSE THEY ARE SO NICE PEOPLE AND KIND PEOPLE.

LIKE WHEN IN OUR SCHOOL OR IN OUR -- EVERYWHERE I GO THEY DON'T THINK YOU ARE MUSLIM OR REFUGEES.

THEY ARE SO NICE TO YOU.

>> SO YOU HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE?

>> NO, THEY DOING NICE IN OUR SCHOOL, LIKE A WEAR MY HIJAB, AND STUDENTS SAY YOU LOOK SO CUTE, AND THAT MAKES ME HAPPY.

>> SHE'S EXCITED ABOUT HER FUTURE IN AMERICA.

>> I WANT TO BE A SURGERY DOCTOR.

YEAH, A HEART SURGERY.

SO I LIKE TO BE A DOCTOR.

>> TODD SLEZAK IS CASE MANAGER SUPERVISOR FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

HE SAYS THEY'RE TRANSITIONING THREE TO FOUR AFGHAN FAMILIES TO NEW LIVES IN TULSA EACH WEEK.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM A LOT OF TULSA.

JUST ON AN OCCASION I'LL GET A COMMENT, SO WHY ARE YOU HELPING THE REFUGEES WHEN WE HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE AND VETERANS.

WELL, WE ARE ALSO HELPING HOMELESS AND VETERANS BEFORE THE REFUGEES CAME, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO HELP THEM.

>> WE SHOULD BE UNITED.

WE SHOULD REACH HANDS TOGETHER AND TO FOCUS ON SOLVING PROBLEMS.

>> 14-YEAR -OLD RAHIMA SADAAT SHOWS WISDOM BEYOND HER YEARS.

SHE AND HER FATHER FLEW OUT OF KABUL, AFGHANISTAN JUST DAYS BEFORE A TERRORIST SUICIDE BOMBER KILLED 183 PEOPLE INCLUDING 13 U.S. MILITARY AT THE KABUL AIRPORT.

>> I DO REMEMBER VERY WELL AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT, BECAUSE IT WAS SO HARSH CONDITION, CROWD DENSE, AND WE WERE JUST TRYING TO GET CLOSER TO AMERICAN SOLDIERS, TO THE MARINES, TO LOOK AT OUR DOCUMENTS AND TO HELP US OUT.

IT WE WERE SO CLOSE TO FAINT, NO WATER, NO FOOD.

WE SLEPT ON THE TRASH AT THE AIRPORT.

WE WENT SO MANY TIMES TO THE AIRPORT.

MIGHT BE 10 TIMES, EVENING, NIGHT, MORNING, ALL OF THE TIME AND FINALLY WE MADE IT.

AND WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO OUR TEACHERS AND SOLDIERS AND EVERYONE.

IT WAS JUST A MIRACLE.

>> RAHIMA'S FATHER SAYAD WAS AN ARCHITECT FOR THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT AND THE UNITED NATIONS FOR 26 YEARS.

HIS WIFE WAS A DOCTOR.

CANCER TOOK HER 5 YEARS AGO.

>> WHY HAVE THINGS GONE SO FAR OFF THE RAILS IN AFGHANISTAN, I MEAN THE TALIBAN, IS THEIR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE TO DISRUPT EVERYTHING?

>> YES.

>> SAYAD AND RAHIMA LIVED ON U.S. MILITARY INSTALLATIONS FIRST IN KUWAIT, THEN WASHNGTON D.C., THEN NEW JERSEY BEFORE THEY GOT TO TULSA TWO WEEKS AGO.

>> WHEN I CAME TO WASHINGTON D.C., WHEN I WAS IN THE HOTEL, I WAS CRYING A LOT.

I WAS REMEMBERING AIRPORT.

PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, THE AIRPORT, KIDS, WOMEN, THEY WERE SHOT AND I CAN REMEMBER IT WELL.

THE BLOOD THAT WAS RUNNING IN THE STREET AND EVERYTHING.

IT JUST MADE ME CRY AND MADE ME SAD.

>> RAHIMA WANTS TO FOLLOW IN HER MOTHER'S FOOTSTEPS, WANTS TO BE A DOCTOR.

>> LIKE MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME TO GIVE VALUE TO EDUCATION, TO FOCUS ON YOUR DREAMS, AND THEY REALLY SUPPORTED ME.

MY DAD ESPECIALLY.

AND THEY SENT US TO THE BEST SCHOOLS IN AFGHANISTAN.

AND OUR SCHOOL WAS SUPPORTED BY AMERICAN TEACHERS, THAT THEY REALLY TAUGHT US ABOUT HOW TO ACCOMPLISH OUR FREEDOM.

WHAT IS REALLY FREEDOM MEAN TO YOU.

THEY TAUGHT US PERSONALITIES ABOUT CHARACTERS, ABOUT LOVE, JOY, PEACE EVERYTHING.

>> SO LAST WEEK, CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA CEO KEVIN SARTORIUS SPOKE ABOUT HOW FORTUNATE THESE FAMILIES ARE.

>> RIGHT NOW AFGHANISTAN IS REALLY FACING ITS LARGEST CHALLENGE THEY HAVEN'T SEEN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS OF WAR.

WITH THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE AND THE COLLAPSE OF THEIR AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM.

THERE IS GOING TO BE MASS STARVATION IN AFGHANISTAN THIS WINTER.

PROBABLY MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE THERE IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS THAN DIED THERE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

>> WE LEFT EVERYTHING IN AFGHANISTAN.

RIGHT HERE IS GOING TO BE A NEW CHAPTER FOR US.

>> SHAHRUKH KHALILBEAK IS SAMAYA'S OLDER BROTHER.

BEFORE THEIR FAMILY GOT OUT OF KABUL FOUR MONTHS AGO, HE SURVIVED A BRUTAL BEATING BY THE TALIBAN, WHO SUSPECTED HIS FAMILY WAS HELPING THE AMERICANS.

>> IT WAS MAKE ME ANGRY.

BUT I DON'T HAVE LIKE I CAN'T DEFEND MYSELF, BECAUSE THEY HAVE GUN.

>> KHUSHHIL ZALAND WAS A TELEVISION NEWS ANCHORMAN IN AFGHANISTAN FOR A DECADE.

HE DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH.

FELLOW REFUGEE AND TRANSLATOR ZAKI AMIRI RELAYS WHAT HE SAYS.

>> WE'RE STILL HERE, BUT OUR MIND AND SOUL IS STILL IN AFGHANISTAN.

BUT HE STILL WANTS TO DO THAT HERE AND CONTINUE LIKE THIS IS WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING FOR SO MANY YEARS AND THIS IS WHAT HE LOVES TO DO.

>> RETIRED ACCOUNTANT DON SCHENDT IS ONE OF A THOUSAND TULSA CATHOLIC CHARITIES VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE HELPING THE AFGHAN REFUGEES.

>> IT'S A LOT OF WORK BUT WE GET A LOT OF SATISFACTION.

IT'S A WAY OF GIVING BACK TO THOSE WHO HELPED US IN THE AFGHAN WAR.

YOU KNOW, I GET A LOT OF SATISFACTION.

THESE PEOPLE SEEM TO REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THEY ARE LOVELY PEOPLE, AND I JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY JUST MEETING THEM.

>> WHAT WE SEE ARE REFUGEES WHO COME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, THEY GET JOBS, THEY PAY TAXES, THEY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SOCIETY.

AND THEY ARE KIND OF THE FABRIC OF WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS.

WE CAN'T LOOK BACK AT THE PAST AND SEE A SITUATION WHERE REFUGEES HAVEN'T BEEN CONTRIBUTORS, SO I KNOW THESE AFGHANS THEY ARE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR US.

>> THOSE KIDS ARE AMAZING.

>> A POSSIBLE INVASION THAT COULD COME AT ANY TIME.

THE KREMLIN IS DEMANDING UKRAINE NOT BE ALLOWED TO JOIN NATO AND NATO NOT BECOME INVOLVED IN MILITARY ACTIVITIES IN AND AROUND UKRAINE.

RUSSIA IS DEMANDING THE U.S. STOP SUPPLYING UKRAINE WITH MILITARY EQUIPMENT.

SENATOR INHOFE SAYS AMERICA SHOULD DO JUST THE OPPOSITE.

>> THE BEST WAY THE UNITED STATES CAN SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS IN UKRAINE IS TO QUICKLY DELIVER ADDITIONAL AID AND BOLSTER DEFENSES.

ADMINISTRATION IS ABOUT THREE MONTHS BEHIND WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.

ADMINISTRATION IS FINALLY STARTED TAKING THE SITUATION MORE SERIOUSLY, BUT THERE MOSTLY FOCUSING ON WHAT THE U.S. WOULD DO AFTER RUSSIA INVADES, NOT WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO TO SON RUSSIA FROM INVADING.

>> WEDNESDAY NEWS CONFERENCE PRESIDENT BIDEN PREDICTED RUSSIA WOULD INVADE.

THE ADMINISTRATION CLARIFIED THE COMMENTS AND MAINTAINED THERE WILL BE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES IF THEY DO.

>>> WHILE THE REMAIN NO SIR SHORTAGE OF OMICRON THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE WORK HERS AND THERE ARE REASONS WHY SOME OF OUR VERY BEST FRONT LINE WORKERS ARE WALKING AWAY.

>> HOSPITALS ARE WARNING THE DEMAND ON SERVICES HAS BECOME EXTREME DURING THE LATEST COVID SURGE.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO ADAPT AS BEST WE CAN AND HERE'S THE HARD TRUTH.

DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CARE AS WE NORMALLY WOULD.

>> THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE HEALTH CARE WORKERS, FOR MANY REASONS.

>> BETWEEN OUR FOUR HEALTH SYSTEMS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND WE ESTIMATE OVER 1000 CO-WORKERS IN QUARANTINE OR UNABLE TO COME TO WORK DUE TO KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL AND NO AVAILABLE CHILDCARE.

>> OUR NURSES ARE TIRED.

THEY'RE DISCOURAGED.

THEY'RE OVERWORKED.

THEY'RE UNDERPAID.

THERE'S BEEN A WHOLE CONGLOMERATE OF THINGS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SHAPE WE'RE IN NOW.

>> ATTRITION WITHIN OKLAHOMA'S HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE ACCELERATED AS OKLAHOMA ENTERED ITS SECOND YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE KNOW WE HAVE EVEN LESS STAFF THAN WE HAD LAST SUMMER.

WHEN OUR PEAK HIT AT 1500, IMPORTANT TO NOTE, WE ARE RIGHT THERE WITH HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS RIGHT NOW.

>> BECAUSE OUR WORKFORCE IS ALSO AGING, RETIREMENTS HAVE INCREASED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THAT RETIREMENT.

WE PREDICTED THIS RETIREMENT BACK IN 2018 AND -- BUT THE TIMES WEREN'T LIKE THEY WERE NOW, AND PAY WAS ACTUALLY FAIRLY DECENT.

SO FOLKS STUCK AROUND A LITTLE LONGER THAN THEY HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

>> ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS MORE THAN 52,000 HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE WORKERS QUIT THEIR JOBS IN NOVEMBER 2021 ALONE.

TO HELP ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE, LONG-TERM PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS TO EXPAND NURSING AND OTHER HEALTH CARE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, BUT THAT HAS HIT A LIMIT, TOO.

>> WE DID SEE EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF DIFFERENT STATE AGENCIES AND THE EDUCATION SYSTEM TO BEEF UP OUR NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

WE'RE CHALLENGED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH NURSING FACULTY.

>> OUR STATE IS NOW COMPETING AGAINST THE REST OF THE COUNTRY TO GET THE NURSES NEEDED TO STAFF BEDS AND TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS.

>> SO WE'VE SEEN AN EXPORT OF OUR NURSES TO TEXAS WHERE THEY WERE PAYING $175 AN HOUR PLUS A SIGN-ON BONUS FOR TRAVELING NURSES.

WE'VE SEEN, UH, NURSES LEAVE AND GO EVERYWHERE.

THE WEST COAST, THE EAST COAST EVERYWHERE BUT OKLAHOMA.

>> STAFFING AGENCIES HAVE COME IN AND MADE VERY, VERY LUCRATIVE OFFERS TO OUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO SAY QUIT YOUR JOB AND COME BE A TRAVELER.

AND WE WILL REDEPLOY YOU TO OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY FOR REALLY, REALLY HIGH DOLLARS.

>> OKLAHOMA HOSPITALS ARE COMPETING FOR STAFF BY OFFERING INCREASED INCENTIVES.

>> WE'VE GOT HOSPITALS ALL OVER THE STATE OFFERING SIGN-ON BONUSES, NOT JUST FOR NURSES, BUT OTHER KEY HEALTHCARE POSITIONS.

AND LET ME JUST ADD, IN COVID, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST NURSES, IT'S RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS, A WHOLE LAUNDRY LIST OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE -- THAT ARE IN SHORTAGE.

>> LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES ARE COMPETING FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS, AS WELL.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO REMAIN, YOU KNOW, EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE WITH OUR WAGES.

WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS, AND THEN WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO HAVE A WORKFORCE CULTURE THAT REALLY WANTS THEM TO, YOU KNOW -- THEY WANT TO COME TO WORK FOR US.

>> TODD BEESLEY IS THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR FOR LONG TERM CARE COMPANY DIKONOS GROUP.

THE COMPANY HAS 20 LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE EMPLOYING ABOUT 1200 STAFFERS.

BEESLEY NOTES THAT THOSE WHO ARE ACCEPTING JOBS WITH HIS COMPANY SEEM TO BE MORE PREPARED FOR WHAT IS AT STAKE.

>> I WOULD JUST SAY THE PEOPLE THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, COMING TO WORK FOR US NOW, I WOULD SAY ARE A HIGHER QUALITY BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT NO MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO.

SUBSEQUENT >> RETAINING LONG-TERM CARE HEALTH CARE WORKERS IS AN IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS AT THOSE FACILITIES.

>> THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN LONGEVITY OF AN EMPLOYEE OR A CAREGIVER AND THE TYPE OF QUALITY OF CARE THAT THE RESIDENT RECEIVES.

SO WE'RE COMMITTED TO RETAINING OUR BEST EMPLOYEES.

>> WHAT'S UNIQUE IN LONG TERM IS THAT IT IS EXTREMELY RELATIONAL.

OUR SENIORS WHOM WE HONOR AND RESPECT DESERVE THE UTMOST IN EXCELLENT CARE.

THE RELATIONSHIP IS HAVING THAT SAME PERSON CARING FOR THEM DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

THAT IS IMPORTANT THEIR DAILY RHYTHM.

>> OKLAHOMA'S HEALTH CARE WORKER SHORTAGE DID NOT BEGIN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS PREDICTED BEFORE ANYONE HAD HEARD OF COVID-19.

>> FOR THE LAST DECADE, HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTH PROVIDERS ACROSS OKLAHOMA HAVE BEEN DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE ALREADY IN A NURSING SHORTAGE.

>> OKLAHOMA IS RATED NUMBER 46 IN THE NATION FOR THE NUMBERS OF REGISTERED NURSES TO 100,000 POPULATION.

WE REGISTER ABOUT 700 NURSES TO 100,000 CITIZENS.

AND THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS 1100 TO 100,000.

SO WE'RE WELL BENEATH THAT, EVEN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

>> ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY CASER, A TRAVELING NURSE MAKES 200 TO 300% MORE THAN A STAFF NURSE MAKES.

RICH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> HEALTHCARE EXPERTS ARE SAYING IT MIGHT BE TIME TO DE-EMPHASIZE THE NUMBER OF NEW DAILY COVID CASES AND CONCENTRATE INSTEAD ON HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS.

BUT MY GOODNESS, THE RISE IN CASES IS EXTRAORDINARY LAST WEEK 8500 PER DAY, BUT THIS WEEK 11,908, A 40% INCREASE IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE VERY WORRISOME, 416 MORE PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED AS OF FRIDAY.

360 ICU BEDS FILLED WITH COVID PATIENTS.

193 PEOPLE DIED THIS WEEK, AS WE NEAR 13,000 DEATHS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

>>> THE SURGE IS ALL SOIL PACING THE AVAILABILITY OF TEACHERS AND OKLAHOMA WAS ALREADY LOSING EDUCATORS AT ALARMING RATE.

THERE WILL BE LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO ADDRESS THAT.

AND EARLIER THIS WEEK GOVERNOR STITT WEIGHED IN WITH AN IDEA OF HIS OWN.

WITH MORE WE'RE JOINED BY TAELYR JACKSON.

>> SCHOOLS ARE FACING MAJOR CHALLENGINGS, AND GOVERNOR STITT ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER WITH HOPES TO BRING IN MORE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN.

THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, WHICH TOOK EFFECT IMMEDIATELY, WILL ALLOW STATE EMPLOYEES TO VOLUNTEER THEIR WORKDAY IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> I'M AUTHORIZING THE STATE AGENCIES TO ALLOW THEIR VOICE, TO HELP KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL BY SUBSTITUTE TEACHING ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

MANY SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE THE STAFF, OR THE SUBSTITUTES ACTUALLY FILL EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM.

>> 123 STATE WORKERS HAVE TAKEN THE GOVERNOR UP ON HIS OFFER.

>> I'VE HEARD FROM CONCERNED OKLAHOMANS WHO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PAST FEW WEEKS HAVE REALLY CREATED SOME NEW CHALLENGES.

>> INCREASED NUMBER OF COVID CASES IN THE STATE AND STAFFING SHORTAGES HAVE CAUSED SOME OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS TO RETURN TO REMOTE LEARNING OR CANCELED CLASSES ALL TOGETHER.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF OKLAHOMA'S SCHOOLS REMAIN OPEN AND THAT REMAINS A PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR'S SECRETARY OF EDUCATION.

>> FROM THE DAY THAT THE GOVERNOR APPOINTED ME AS SECRETARY OF EDUCATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC, I BEGAN HEARING FROM PARENTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND STUDENTS THAT WERE ASKING FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING.

>> RYAN WALTERS SAYS VIRTUAL LEARNING IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION BETWEEN TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND THEIR CLASSMATES.

WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC THE NEGATIVE IMPACT, HEALTH IMPACTS, WHEN IT COME TO THE MENTAL HEALTH OF A YOUNG PERSON AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE ACADEMICS OF A YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE IN PERSON SCHOOL.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, ANOTHER PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE WAS ANNOUNCED BY STATE CHAMBER OF OKLAHOMA PRESIDENT AND CEO CHAD WARMINGTON.

>> WE BELIEVE THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE VALUABLE SKILLS THAT CAN BE BROUGHT TO THE CLASSROOM TO SUPPORT STUDENTS.

>> THE GUEST EDUCATOR PROGRAM INITIATIVE ENCOURAGES PRIVATE BUSINESS AND THEIR QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES TO GET INVOLVED, TOO.

>> OUR IMMEDIATE GOAL WITH A GUEST EDUCATOR PROGRAM IS TO MAKE BUSINESSES AWARE OF THE ROLE THAT THEY CAN PLAY IN ENSURING THAT STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE LEARNING IN THEIR CLASSROOMS.

>> WARMINGTON SAYS HE ALSO PLANS TO WORK WITH SENATOR JESSICA GARVIN, WHO RECENTLY PROPOSED TWO BILLS TO ADRESS THE TEACHER SHORTAGE >> WHAT WE REALLY HOPE IS THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP BUILD THE LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS COULD BE AVAILABLE TO WORK IN CLASSROOMS THAT WOULD PAY DIVIDENDS TO EDUCATING STUDENTS ON THE FUTURE WORKFORCE NEEDS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

>> ONE OF GARVIN'S PROPOSED BILLS WOULD ALLOW LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN CRITERA FOR TEACHER SUBSTITUTES.

AND WHILE BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS AGREE THE TEACHER SHORTAGE IS SEVERE, STATE SUPERINTENDENT JOY HOFMEISTER, WHO HAS ANNOUNCED HER CANDIDANCY FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION TO OPPOSE STITT IN THE UPCOMING GOVERNOR'S RACE, SAYS STITT'S ACTIONS FALL FAR SHORT OF THE MARK.

HOFMEISTER, RELEASED A STATEMENT THAT READ IN PART: WE ALL AGREE IT IS BEST FOR SCHOOLS TO BE OPEN, AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS FINALLY RECOGNIZED THIS CRISIS.

BUT WE NEED CARING, EQUIPPED TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS AND FOR THE FOCUS TO BE ON LEARNING.

THIS GESTURE IS A CUP OF WATER ON A RAGING FIRE.

HOFMEISTER, WHO SITS ON THE O.E.T.A.

BOARD, SAYS THE GOVERNOR SHOULD USE AVAILABLE FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS TO IMMEDIATELY DEPLOY THE NATIONAL GUARD TO ASSIST WITH SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD SERVICES, AND DO MORE TO HELP SCHOOLS MITIGATE SPREAD WHILE ALLOWING HOSPITALS TO INCREASE CAPACITY.

>> I ALREADY APPRECIATE TEACHERS.

WHEN I THINK BACK ON MY LIFE, MY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS WERE THE ONES WHO LIFTED ME UP AND ENCOURAGED ME.

>> DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE CYNDI MUNSON STEPPED UP AND FILLED IN AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AT SANTA FE SOUTH CHARTER SCHOOLS IN OKLAHOMA CITY LAST WEEK.

>> I HAD ACTIVITIES THAT I NEEDED TO DO WITH THEM, AND CONTINUE THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON WITH THEIR TEACHER.

BUT IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY HUMBLING EXPERIENCE.

>> HOWEVER, MUNSON DOESN'T FEEL THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN IS FAIR TO STUDENTS OR STATE WORKERS.

>> YOU KNOW, ASKING STATE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ALREADY UNDERPAID AND OVERWORKED, WHO HAVE -- WHO ARE ALSO LIVING THROUGH A PANDEMIC AND HELPING, YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA WITH THE SERVICES THAT ARE SO VITAL TO EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS STATE.

IT'S A LOT TO ASK OF SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY SERVING THE PUBLIC, WHO ARE ALREADY WORKING HARD TO SERVE OUR STATE WHILE WE LIVE THROUGH THIS CONTINUED CRISIS.

>> MUNSON SAYS SHE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THE GOVERNOR EMPHASIZED PUBLIC SAFETY AND MITIGATION TO HELP SLOW DOWN THE SPREAD OF OMICRON.

>> THE VACCINE IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, AND IT'S HELPING COMMUNITIES SLOW DOWN THE SPREAD.

THAT'S THE ACTUAL ISSUE.

THAT'S WHY SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE TEACHERS JUST DON'T WANNA SHOW UP.

>> KATHERINE BISHOP, PRESIDENT OF THE OKLAHOMA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, SAYS THE PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON EVERYONE INVOLVED.

>> THIS IS WHAT I SEE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ADULTS DOING EVERY SINGLE THING THEY CAN TO GIVE OUR CHILDREN THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE, PRINCIPALS WORKING AS SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS, COACHES.

WE ARE STILL IN A PANDEMIC.

STUDENTS ARE STILL GETTING SICK.

EDUCATORS ARE STILL GETTING SICK.

>> THANK YOU.

THE GOVERNOR'S ATTORNEY GENERAL IS SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT MOST OBSERVERS AGREE IS A STRAINED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEEDERS OF THE MAJOR TRIBES AND THE STITT ADMINISTRATION.

OF COURSE, IT CAN DIFFER FROM WHAT THEY MAY SAY PRIVATELY.

HE ADMITS DIALOGUE IS HAPPENING, BUT MAYBE NOT AS OFTEN AS HE WOULD LIKE.

>> YEAH, I'M NOT AWARE OF EFFORTS BY THE TRIBES TO REACH OUT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OR ME, BUT I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEM AND I'VE HAD PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS WITH THREE OF THE CHIEFS, BUT THERE ARE STILL THREE THAT HAVE NOT MET WITH ME.

AND SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE ABLE TO TALK.

THEIR TRIBAL LEADERSHIP CARES AS MUCH ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND GOOD JOBS AND EDUCATION AS WE DO AT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, SO WE'RE NOT DEMONIZING THEM AT ALL.

THEY DIDN'T GO LOOKING FOR THE MCGIRT DECISION.

WE DIDN'T GO LOOKING FOR THE MCGIRT DECISION, BUT THEY DID RECEIVE A VERY STRONG RULING AND MCGIRT.

AND I THINK THEY'RE DECIDING TO TRY TO SIT ON THAT, AS OPPOSED TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE STATE.

>> O'CONNOR HAS PETITIONED THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO EITHER SCALE BACK THE MCGIRT DECISION, OR OVERTURN IT COMPLETELY.

THIS WEEK I HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THAT WITH PUBLISHER OF QUORUM CALL.

>>> SHAWN, YOUR EXCELLENT ORGANIZATION BEGINS THE NEW YEAR WITH A NEW NAME AND A NEW PUBLISHER.

TELL US ALL ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, IN NOVEMBER, MY BOSS, LINDA MAXEY, WHO CO-FOUNDED ECAPITAL, DECIDED TO RETIRE AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TAKING OVER THE COMPANY, RENAMING IT AND LEADING INTO THE FUTURE.

IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY I CERTAINLY COULDN'T RESIST AFTER A NUMBER OF YEARS WITH THE COMPANY.

AND SO WE RENAMED IT QUORUM CALL, TO REPRESENT THE FACT THAT IT'S SOMETHING YOU NEED, THE MINIMUM YOU NEED IN ORDER TO DO BUSINESS AT THE OKLAHOMA STATE CAPITOL.

WE'RE NOW QUORUM CALLED ONLINE AND CAN BE FOUND THERE.

>> CONGRATULATONS ON THAT.

AND AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO THE SESSION, ALREADY ONE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER STATE REPRESENTATIVE HAS STEPPED DOWN.

WHO IS THAT AND WHY?

>> REPRESENTATIVE JOSE CRUZ ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS RESIGNING FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND HE CITED AN INCIDENT WHICH TOOK PLACE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE INVOLVING INAPPROPRIATE ACTIONS TOWARDS A WOMAN.

NOW, WHAT'S RATHER INTERESTING IN THIS RESIGNATION, IS THIS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, THAT HOUSE DISTRICT 89, SORT OF A SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA CITY DISTRICT, WE'LL GO INTO THAT SECOND SESSION WITHOUT A REPRESENTATIVE.

IN 2019, REPRESENTATIVE SHANE STONE LEFT TO PURSUE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, LEAVING THE SEAT VACANT DURING 2020.

>> DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ARE GOING TO BE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE FOR MORE FUNDING.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY ARE THEY ASKING FOR?

>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S COUNCIL HAS SPOKEN ABOUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN THEIR BUDGET HEARINGS BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE IS THE NEED TO INCREASE THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS SALARIES.

THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE LOSING ATTORNEYS TO OTHER STATE AGENCIES, AS WELL AS THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THOSE SALARIES HAVE BEEN HELD RATHER FLAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND EACH YEAR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS SAY THEY BRING IN NEW PEOPLE BUT NEARLY LOSE MORE THAN THE NUMBER THAT THEY'RE BRINGING INTO THEIR OFFICES, BECAUSE OF THOSE SALARIES.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE AT THE PAROLE AND PARDON MORTON.

NOW ANOTHER CHANGE IS COMING UP AND STILL HAS ACTUALLY ASKED ONE OF HIS APPOINTEES TO STEP DOWN.

>> GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT ASKED ADAM LUCK WHO HAD BEEN SERVING AS CHAIR OF THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD TO RESIGN.

ACCORDING TO LUCK'S RESIGNATION LETTER, CHAIRMAN LUCK POINTED OUT THAT HE AND THE GOVERNOR HAD DIFFERENT VIEWS REGARDING THE DEATH PENALTY.

IN EACH OF THE FIVE CLEMENCY CASES THAT CAME BEFORE THE BOARD, ADAM LUCK HAD VOTED IN FAVOR OF CLEMENCY WHILE GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE DEATH PENALTY, ALTHOUGH HE DID GRANT CLEMENCY TO JULIUS JONES.

>> JUST A FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU EXPANDING RURAL BROADBAND.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, AND IT'S GOING TO COME UP IN THIS SESSION, AS WELL.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO COME OUT OF THAT?

>> WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF LEGISLATION RELATED RURAL BROADBAND, AND THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE A LOT OF MONEY RELATED TO FUNDING RURAL BROADBAND IN THE COMING YEAR IN VARIOUS FEDERAL LEGISLATION.

MONEY HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR RURAL BROADBAND EXPANSION.

SOME IS FLOWING DIRECTLY TO VARIOUS STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES WITHIN THE STATES IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THAT EFFORT.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN INCLUDED MONEY THAT COULD BE SET ASIDE FOR THAT.

AND WE SEE THE JOINT COMMITTEE WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE LOOKING AT THOSE ISSUES.

OKLAHOMA CREATED THE RURAL BROADBAND EXPANSION COUNCIL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO FURTHER FACILITATE THIS EFFORT, AND THEY'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARD THAT, DEVELOPING MAPS, LOOKING AT WHO THE VARIOUS PROVIDERS ARE AND AREAS THAT ARE NOT SERVED AND UNDERSERVED, INCLUDING SOME NEAR OUR METRO AREAS IN WHICH WE COULD SEE BROADBAND EXPANDED IN THE COMING YEARS.

>> SHAWN ASHLEY OWNER, AND PUBLISHER OF QUORUM CALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>>> THE PANDEMIC HASN'T SLOWED OKLAHOMA'S TOURISM TOO MUCH.

IN FACT, DURING 2020 TOURISM GENERATED $7.1 BILLION IN DIRECT SPENDING BY VISITORS.

THE AVERAGE VISITOR SPENT MORE THAN $430 PER NIGHT IN THE SOONER STATE.

IT'S ESTIMATED 17 MILLION PEOPLE VISITED OKLAHOMA IN 2020, WHICH WAS A 17% DROP FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

NATIONWIDE, THAT FIGURE DROPPED BY 34%.

DUE TO THE IMPENDING LATE SPRING RETIREMENT OF ITS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER CONTINENTIAL RESOURCES IS MAKING SOME MANAGEMENT CHANGES.

ONCE JACK STARK RETIRES, BILL BERRY WILL BECOME PRESIDENT AS WELL AS REMAINING IN HIS CURRENT JOB AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

STARK HAS BEEN WITH CONTINENTAL SINCE 1992.

THE COMPANY ALSO IS BRINGING FORMER CHESAPEAKE ENERGY PRESIDENT AND CEO DOUG LAWLER ON BOARD TO BECOME ITS NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT STARTING ON FEBRUARY 1ST.

>> BOK FINANCIAL, THE PARENT COMPANY OF BANK OF OKLAHOMA, REPORTS 2021 EARNINGS OF $618 MILLION, BEATING 2020'S EARNINGS OF $435 MILLION.

IMPROVING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STIMULUS HELPED DRIVE THE PROFITABLE RESULTS LAST YEAR.

NEARLY EVERY DIVISION OF BOK FINANCIAL EXPERIENCED REVENUE GROWTH IN 2021.

>> INVESTORS HOLDING ONE GAS SHARES WILL SEE A LITTLE EXTRA IN THEIR DIVIDEND PAYMENT LATER THIS QUARTER.

THE PARENT COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA NATURAL GAS IS RAISING ITS FIRST QUARTER DIVIDEND BY FOUR CENTS TO 62 CENTS A SHARE.

SHAREHOLDERS WHO HAVE THE STOCK IN THEIR PORTFOLIO AS OF FEBRUARY 25TH WILL RECEIVE THE INCREASED DIVIDEND ON MARCH 11TH.

>> THE OKLAHOMA MEDICAL MARIJUANA AUTHORITY IS DELAYING THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEW LICENSING PORTAL WHICH WILL IMPACT SOME CANNABIS BUSINESSES LOOKING TO RENEW THEIR LICENSES.

A DATA MIGRATION PROBLEM WAS FOUND WHICH CAUSED THE DELAY.

THE OMMA SAYS THAT ANY PATIENT OR BUSINESS WITH A LICENSE THAT EXPIRES JANUARY 10 THROUGH THE 24TH WILL BE CONSIDERED VALID THROUGH JANUARY 31ST.

THE PORTAL IS EXPECTED TO BE LAUNCHED ON MONDAY.

>> GREAT JOB.

>> THE NEXT PHASE OF THE RAPIDLY-EXPANDING GATHERING PLACE IN TULSA WILL OPEN TO ALL OKLAHOMANS THIS COMING MONDAY.

>> THE DISCOVERY LAB IS ADJACENT TO THE PARK AND IS EXPECTED TO WELCOME 250,000 VISITORS ANNUALLY, MANY OF THEM YOUNG, TALENTED STEM STUDENTS.

KENNEDY SEPULVADO GOT A TOUR THIS WEEK AND SHE JOINS US NOW.

KENNEDY?

>> A LUCK EYE FEW HAVE SEEN WHAT THE DISCOVERY LAB FLEW LOCATION OFFERS.

THE MOVE TO THE GATHERING PLACE MEANS MORE SPACE FOR FAMILIES TO HAVE A GOOD TIME WHILE LEARNING ABOUT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WHEN IT OPENS TO THE PUBLIC.

TULSA'S NEWEST 50,000 SQUARE FOOT ATTRACTION IS DRAWING PLENTY OF ATTENTION.

>> WHEN WE DROVE BY AND SAW THE BIGGER LOCATION, I WAS REALLY EXCITED.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT.

>> ANGELA JOHNSON AND HER KIDS HAVE JUST A FEW MORE DAYS TO WAIT BEFORE THEY CAN GO INSIDE THE NEW DISCOVERY LAB• >> WE WENT TO THE DISCOVERY LAB WHEN IT WAS DOWNTOWN.

WE LOVED IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, AND THEY CHANGE UP THEIR STATION EVERY FEW MONTHS.

SO, IT'S REALLY NEAT BECAUSE YOU CAN KEEP COMING BACK AND THEY REFRESH IT.

SO IT NEVER GETS OLD.

>> THE CHANGING EXHIBITS ARE PART OF DISCOVERY LAB'S IDENTITY AND SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE AT THE NEW LOCATION.

>> THE HIGH FACILITATION AREAS WILL CHANGE OUT EVERY MONTH.

SO THAT'S A QUICK CHANGE OUT, THEN THE FEATURED HALL WILL CHANGE OUT EVERY 15 TO 18 MONTHS.

AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUM WE'LL HAVE CHANGES.

THAT'LL CONSTANTLY BE HAPPENING, BUT THE IDEA IS THAT EVERY TIME YOU COME, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO PARTICIPATE IN.

>> SOME OF THE INTERACTIVE SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS ARE AS SIMPLE AS FANS AND FABRIC, WHERE KIDS GET TO LEARN ABOUT WIND AND VORTICES.

>> SOMETIMES IT'S THE MOST ORDINARY THINGS THAT YOU LOOK AT THEM IN A DIFFERENT WAY, IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY AND USE THEM.

I THINK KIDS HAVE THAT GIFT.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO JUST KIND OF CAPITALIZE ON THAT ABILITY FOR KIDS TO REALLY PLAY WITH ANYTHING, AT THE SAME TIME THEY'RE DISCOVERING SCIENCE.

>> NOT ONLY ARE KIDS DISCOVERING SCIENCE, SOME ARE EVEN HELPING TO IMPROVE THE INTERACTIVE EXPERIMENTS.

>> THE OTHER DAY, WE SAW THIS STUDENT, A YOUNG GUY WHO SAID, WHY PARACHUTES, FANS, AND FABRIC.

AND SO HE TOOK THE PARACHUTES OVER TO FANS, THAT FABRIC AND CREATED A NEW EXHIBIT.

HAD WE THOUGHT OF THAT?

NO.

>> DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION CHIP LINDSEY SAYS THE WHOLE POINT OF DISCOVERY LAB IS THAT KIDS GET TO BE A PART OF THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS.

>> MAKING YOUR OWN WONDERING ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE, AND FOR US, THAT'S LIKE THE BEST PART OF THIS IS THAT YOU GET A CHANCE TO REALLY DO SCIENCE, RATHER THAN JUST HEAR ABOUT SCIENCE OR LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE OR YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE IT.

>> TULSA'S DISCOVERY LAB IS FULL OF INTERACTIVE SCIENCE, BUT THE BEST PART IS IT'S FUN FOR ALL AGES.

>> SO WE'RE GOING TO BE STARTING AN ADULT NIGHT SERIES, AND IT'S ALL ON THE ART OF SCIENCE.

AND SO THERE'LL BE FOUR DIFFERENT NIGHTS THAT WE'LL BE PUTTING TOGETHER.

>> FROM ADULT NIGHTS TO ACCESSIBLE DISCOVERY PROGRAMS FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AND TO THE LITTLE LAB FOR AGES FOUR AND UNDER, DISCOVERY LAB HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY AND FOR ANYONE TO CREATE.

>> AND SO EACH YEAR WE BRING IN STUDENTS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HELPED US DREAM BIG.

ONE OF THEM A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THOUGHT, WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF YOU HAD A ROLLERCOASTER THAT WAS POWERED BY THE SUN?

SO IT'D BE A SOLAR ROLLERCOASTER.

WOW.

HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

>> THE ANSWER TO THAT IS SHINING A LIGHT AT THE BACK OF THE COASTER, POWERING IT TO THE TOP AND LETTING GRAVITY DO THE REST.

>> WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT WAY TO PARTNER IN MEANINGFUL WAYS WITH STUDENTS, WITH TEACHERS, WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE THESE WALLS IS GREAT, BUT IT REALLY GETS PHENOMENAL WHEN WE GO OUTSIDE OF OUR SKIN AND START WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

>> THE MUSEUM'S NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, THE GATHERING PLACE IS ONE OF THOSE PARTNERS.

>> SINCE DISCOVERY LAB IS OUR NEIGHBOR AND HERE AT GATHERING PLACES, OUR TEAMS WORK COLLABORATIVELY.

OUR HORTICULTURE TEAM WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM, AS DOES OUR SECURITY TEAM.

AND PARKING OBVIOUSLY IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL SHARE.

>> THE NEW ADDITION BRINGS EXCITEMENT TO THE ALREADY BELOVED GATHERING PLACE.

>> WE'RE JUST REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING FAMILIES GOING INTO THEIR MUSEUM AND THEN WELCOMING ALL THE FAMILIES WHO VISIT THE MUSEUM HERE AT THE PARK.

>> THE MASTER PLAN FOR GATHERING PLACE, WHICH COST CLOSE $465-MILLION TO CREATE AND WAS LARGELY PAID FOR BY THE GEORGE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION, INCLUDED PLANS FOR A BRAND NEW CHILDREN'S SCIENCE MUSEUM.

>> THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS PARK THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE BUILDING AND THAT WE WERE A GREAT FIT FOR THE PARK.

>> THE KAISER FOUNDATION DONATED THE LAND DISCOVERY LAB SITS ON, AND OTHER TULSA COMMUNITY MEMBERS PITCHED IN TO MAKE THE $51 MILLION INTERACTIVE SCIENCE MUSEUM COME TO LIFE.

>> A LOT OF PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS.

AND THEN WE ALSO GOT $8 MILLION THROUGH THE CITY OF TULSA VISION SALES TAX INITIATIVE.

>> ON TUESDAY, A GOOGLE GRANT TO SUPPORT AN AFTER SCHOOL PILOT PROGRAM CALLED DISCOVERY LAB RIVER WALKERS WAS ANNOUNCED.

IT WILL LINK STUDENTS WITIH OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN STEM-RELATED CAREER PATHS.

THE PROGRAM WILL START IN MAYES COUNTY AND THEN EXTEND TO TULSA COUNTY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO BE IN TULSA, AND TULSA IS SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS INSTITUTION HERE RIGHT NOW.

OH, MY GOSH.

COME AND SEE US.

>> IF YOU PLAN TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY REMEMBER TO MASK UP.

ALL GUESTS OVER 5-YEARS-OLD ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK.

EACH YEAR 7,000 DIE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET HELP IN TIME.

ONE OF THE NUMBERS LIKE IN OKLAHOMA?

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

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO TWO FOLKS WHO KNOW EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS.

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THEM NOW AND INTRODUCE YOU TO THEM.

WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF LIFE SHARE OKLAHOMA.

THEY ALSO CONDUCT.

ABDOMINAL TRANSPLANT SURGEON, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH YOU, DOCTOR.

THE DOCTOR WAS SIGNIFICANT,' SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE TRANSPLANT FIELD HERE IN OKLAHOMA, THAT IS CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SHE WAS THE KEY INDIVIDUAL WHO STARTED TRANSPLANTS IN OKLAHOMA, ESTABLISHED TRANSPLANT CENTER HERE AT INTUGY BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER AND STARTED WITH HEART TRANSPLANTS OF PRIMARILY HEART TRANSPLANT SURGEON AND STARTED WITH HEART TRANSPLANTS WAY BACK IN 1985, WHEN THE FIRST HEART TRANSPLANT WAS DONE IN OKLAHOMA.

THERE IS A VERY RICH HISTORY THAT IS VERY NICELY DISPLAYED AT THE HISTORY CENTER.

THE ACHIEVEMENTS NOT ONLY IN THE HEART TRANSPLANT PART BUT OTHER THINGS THAT HE CONTRIBUTED, TOO.

SO THAT'S WHERE IT ALL STARTED WITH HIM.

AND THEN LUNG TRANSPLANTS A FEW YEARS LATER.

IN 1993 OR SO, LIVER TRANSPLANTS.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TALK ABOUT, WHAT CAN YOU ADD TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ORGAN TRANSPLANTS IN OKLAHOMA?

ARE WE PRETTY ON THE CUTTING EDGE?

HAVE WE BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE IN YEARS PAST AND ARE WE NOW?

>> YEAH, WE'RE REALLY BLESSED IN OKLAHOMA BY THE TRANSPLANT COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE, AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR ORGAN DONATION.

WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THE EVOLUTION OF TRANSPLANT TAGS SINCE THE MID-1980s AS MODERN MEDICATIONS BECAME AVAILABLE AND MADE TRANSPLANT TAGS MORE THERAPEUTIC, OKLAHOMA HAS BEEN ON THE FRONT EDGE OF DONATION AND TRANSPLANTS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THAT TIME, AND TODAY WE ARE ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE WORLD IN ORGAN RECOVERY, ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF A NUMBER OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND ORGAN PRESERVATION THAT WILL ALLOW ORGANS TO BE PRESERVED LONGER AND BETTER AND OUR TRANSPLANT PROGRAMS ARE DOING TREMENDOUS WORK AND IN MANY CASES MORE TRANSPLANTS THAN THEY'VE EVER DONE.

SO IT'S VERY EXCITING TIME AND IT'S VERY EXCITING PLACE TO BE PART OF.

>> DR. JEFF MENTIONED SOME OF THE ADVANCES, AS WELL.

WHAT IS MOST EXCITING FOR YOU IN YOUR FIELD TODAY?

>> WELL, LOOKING AT THE ABDOMINAL TRANSPLANTS, WE LOOK AT LIVER, KIDNEY AND PANCREAS TRANSPLANTS THE THING THAT IS BROUGHT ABOUT FOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANT HAS BEEN SOMETHING THE ORGANS ON MACHINES OUTSIDE, AND THAT IS ENABLED TRANSPLANTS TO BE DONE, ORGANS TRANSPORTED FAR DISTANCE PLACES AND DONE IN MORE SCHEDULED FASHION FOR KIDNEY.

THE LIVER TRANSPLANTS WHAT IS IMPORTANT, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, IN THE NEXT SOME YEARS, IS SIMILAR ADVANCEMENT ON MACHINE PUMPING ORGANS AND UTILIZING ORGANS THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED RIGHT NOW CONSIDERED MARGINAL, BUT MAKING THOSE ORGANS BETTER FUNCTIONAL IN PATIENTS, SO IMPROVING THE UTILIZATION OF THE DONOR POOL IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING AT THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

>> I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE DOE FLOOR PROGRAM, BUT I WANT TO GET THE INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS NEEDED WHEN THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S NEEDED WHY IT'S NEEDED.

THERE IS A VERY SHORT WINDOW OF VIABILITY FOR AN ORGAN, THAT IS CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT, YES.

>> AND DOES IT VARY DEPENDING ON THE ORGAN AND WHAT'S THE RANGE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO LITERALLY FOR HEART TRANSPLANTS YOU WANT THEM IN IN MATTER OF SOME HOURS, SO THE ORGANS REMOVED FROM THE DONOR AND TRANSPORTED RIGHT TO THE TRANSPLANT CENTER, AND MAJORITY OF THE TIMES THE TRANSPLANT CENTER IS ALREADY PREPARED WITH THE DONOR, THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO RECEIVE THE HEART, TO BE PUT IN.

SO LITERALLY NO TIME GETS WASTED THERE, WHERE THE HEART TRANSPLANT IS DONE.

WITH OTHER ORGANS THERE IS BETTER RANGE OF TIME FOR PRESERVING THEM.

FOR LIVERS MOST OF THE LIVERS THAT GET TRANSPLANTED ARE IN A MATTER OF FIVE HOURS.

YOU CAN EXTEND THE TIME ALL THE WAY UP TO TEN TO 12 HOURS, IF NECESSARY.

WHAT WE DON'T TEND TO DO THAT, WE TRY AND DO THAT AS QUICKLY AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> SUSAN, RIGHT NOW FROM LIFE SHARE PERSPECTIVE WHEN WE'RE COORDINATING TRANSPLANTS, WE SEE FROM CENTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY IS THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE THE HEART TRANSPLANTED IN ROUGHLY FOUR HOURS FROM THE TIME THAT IT'S RECOVERED FROM THE DONOR UNTIL IT'S BEATING IN THE CHEST OF THE RECIPIENT AND ALLOWS FOR TRANSPORTATION TIME, AND TIME TO ACTUALLY PUT THE ORGAN IN THE RECIPIENT.

IT'S VERY TIGHT TIME LIMIT.

>> WE'RE TALKING, I'M GOING TO START THIS QUESTION OFF WITH YOU, BUT I'LL ASK ABOUT IT, THE NEED IN OKLAHOMA BEFORE WE BEGAN THE DOCTOR WAS SAYING HE IS KEPT QUITE BUSY.

JEFF, HOW BAD IS THE NEED VERSUS THE SUPPLY IN OKLAHOMA?

>> SO ON ANY GIVEN DAY IN OKLAHOMA, THE WAITING LIST IS BETWEEN 620 AND 650 PATIENTS WAITING FOR ORGAN TRANSPLANTS OF ALL TYPES.

THE FREEDOM NANS OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE PATIENTS WAITING FOR KIDNEYS, FOLLOWED BY LIVERS, HEARTS AND LUNGS.

WE ANNUALLY RECOVER IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND PROVIDE FOR TRANSPLANT LAST YEAR IT WAS 584 ORGANS, BUT NOT ALL THOSE ORGANS STAY IN OKLAHOMA.

NOT ALL THE ORGANS TRANSPLANTED IN OKLAHOMA ORIGINATED FROM A DONOR IN OKLAHOMA.

WE SHARE MORE BROADLY THAN THAT.

AND SO I THINK PUTTING IT IN PERSPECTIVE, IN OKLAHOMA THE LIST IS AROUND 625, LET'S SAY, AND IT VARIES FROM DAY TO DAY.

SO AROUND 625 AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NATIONAL WAITING LIST IT'S 106,000.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL IS THAT EVERY DAY 20 PEOPLE DIE WAITING FOR TRANSPLANT THAT DOESN'T COME, AND EVERY TEN MINUTES SOMEBODY'S NAME IS ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST NATIONALLY.

OKLAHOMA WE'RE FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL DONATION PROGRAM AND WE HAVE SUCCESSFUL TRANSPLANT PROGRAMS, AND SO OUR WAITING LIST IS ACTUALLY DECREASED OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST DECADE, WHILE THE NATIONAL LIST HAS BEEN PRETTY STATIC AT THE LEVEL THAT IT'S AT.

>> FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC, HOW HAS THAT AFFECTED THE PROGRAM AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITH PATIENTS?

HAS IT CAUSED THINGS TO SLOW DOWN?

ARE PEOPLE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED?

>> YEAH, SO IT HAS OBVIOUSLY AFFECTED THE TRANSPLANT CENTERS IN VARIETY OF WAYS, ALL THROUGH THE NATION AND EVEN AT OUR TRANSPLANT CENTER THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED DIFFERENTLY.

FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE HEART, AND THE LUNG SIDE WE SLOW DOWN A BIT BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC.

LUNG TRANSPLANT DEFINITELY SLOWED DOWN ALL OVER THE NATION BECAUSE OF THE COVID BEING PRIMARILY RESPIRATORY VIRAL INFECTION.

FORTUNATELY ON THE LIVER TRANSPLANT SIDE WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH OUR EFFORTS AND ACTUALLY ENDED UP DOING MORE TRANSPLANTS THROUGH THE COVID PANDEMIC AND IT'S GOT NOT 20 DO WITH BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME ORGAN ALL LOCATIONS THAT WERE CHANGED FOR LIVER IN THAT YEAR IN 2020.

SO THAT BROUGHT MORE ORGANS TO PATIENTS IN OKLAHOMA IN THAT SENSE.

>> INTERESTINGLY, THOUGH, IN 2021, WE HAD RECORD LEVELS OF DONORS, ORGANS PROVIDED FOR TRANSPLANT, AND SIMILARLY ON A NATIONAL LEVEL THE UNITED STATES TRANSPLANT SYSTEM ACHIEVED AN ALL-TIME RECORD FOR DONORS AND FOR ORGANS TRANSPLANTED, AS WELL.

SO I THINK DESPITE THE CHALLENGES THE PANDEMIC HAS PRESENTED FOR US, WE'VE BEEN ABLE THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR 145 DONOR HOSPITALS IN OKLAHOMA AND WITH THE TRANSPLANT CENTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND CERTAINLY WITH TRANSPLANT CENTERS IN OKLAHOMA, WHO HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE TO WORK WITH THROUGH THIS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO NOT ONLY WEATHER THE IMPACT OF COVID BUT CONTINUE TO GROW THE BENEFIT OF DONATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> WHAT -- AS FAR AS THE PERCENTAGE OF CITIZENS WHO ARE ORGAN DONORS IN OKLAHOMA?

>> SO IN OKLAHOMA, OUR STATE REGISTRY NOW 60 -- ALMOST 66% OF THE ADULT POPULATION IS REGISTERED TO BE AN ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DONOR AND THAT COMPARES FAVORABLY TO NATIONAL NUMBER THAT IS AROUND 54% FOR OTHER STATES, ON AVERAGE FOR OTHER STATES.

IN TERMS OF DONATION PER CAP TAKE, WE PRETTY REGULARLY ARE RANKED IN THE TOP FIVE DONOR STATES IN THE COUNTRY, AND PRODUCE YOU KNOW -- HAVE INCREDIBLY GENEROUS NUMBER OF DONATIONS FROM OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

SO WE'RE VERY BLESSED IN THAT.

WE WORKED VERY HARD TO BE GOOD STEWARTS OF THOSE GIVES AND MAXIMIZE HOW THEY'RE UTILIZED, BUT OKLAHOMA STACKS UP NOT SURPRISINGLY VERY WELL.

I THINK THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY HERE AND THE SPIRIT OF OKLAHOMA STRONG THAT WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH COMES THROUGH LOUD AND CLEAR WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE AN ORGAN AND SAVE SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE.

>> SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ASK SOMETHING.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NUMBER OF TRANSPLANTS, WHAT ABOUT THE SURVIVAL RATE OF TRANSPLANTS, THE NUMBER OF TRANSPLANTS ARE UP.

IS THE SURVIVAL RATE STILL OKAY?

>> YES, THE SURVIVAL RATE HAS BEEN GOOD FOR THE TRANSPLANT, AND AT OUR CENTER WE'VE DONE WELL WITH THE OUTCOMES OF LIVER STRAND PLANTS AND KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR IN THE PANDEMIC, THE NUMBER OF HEART AND LUNG TRANSPLANTS SLOWED DOWN AS I MENTIONED BEFORE.

AND THOSE PATIENTS WOULD HAVE DONE WELL.

WE HAVE BEEN VERY SELECTIVE.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT CAME UP PARTICULARLY FOR US IN OKLAHOMA WAS THAT A LARGE SECTION OF POPULATION WAS NOT VACCINATED, AND IT DID TAKE A HUGE EFFORT FROM THE TRANSPLANT CENTERS, ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS AND VARIOUS TRANSPLANT UNITS TO ENSURE THEY WORKED VERY HARD TO GET OUR PATIENT WHOSE ARE WAITING FOR ORGAN TRANSPLANTS TO GET VACCINATED.

AND THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE DONATION, AS WELL IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON TRANSPLANT WAIT LISTS AS WELL HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT GOING THROUGH THE VACCINATION PROCESS.

AND DID BRING UP SEVERAL ETHICAL QUESTIONS, CONSIDERATIONS BUT WE KEPT UP WITH TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS IN ALL FORMS.

GIVEN PERSONAL CHOICES WHETHER MEDICAL OR OTHER REASONS NOT TO KEEP UP WITH VACCINATIONS.

>> THE LAST THING I'LL GET FROM EACH OF YOU, YOU HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE A LITTLE AFRAID TO BECOME ORGAN DONORS.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

ADDRESS THAT FOR US.

>> SO THAT'S KIND OF IN OUR DAILY ACTIVITY IS TALKING TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT DONATION AND PROBABLY THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION WE HEAR ABOUT DONATION IS THAT PEOPLE ARE BECAUSE OF THEIR AGE, THEIR HEALTH, THEIR CONDITION, NOT A SUITABLE DONOR.

AND THE REALITY OF IT IS IS ALMOST EVERYBODY CAN DONATE SOMETHING.

IT MAY BE CORE KNEE AS, MAY BE THE ISSUES, IT MAY BE THEIR LIVER, MAY BE THEIR KIDNEYS, MAY BE MANY THINGS THAT THEY CAN DONATE.

BUT MOST PEOPLE CAN DONATE SOMETHING.

AND SO WHAT WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO IS DON'T SCREEN YOURSELF OUT FOR DONATION BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE TOO OLD, YOU'RE TOO SICK OR WHATEVER.

REGISTER TO BE THE A DONOR.

TELL YOUR FAMILY TO BE A DONOR, THAT YOU'RE A DONOR, AND LET US FIGURE THAT OUT AT THE TIME.

THE OLDEST ORGAN DONOR I'VE EVER PERSONALLY BEEN INVOLVED WITH WAS 93-YEARS-OLD.

AND THEY DONATED THEIR LIVER.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH A 82-YEAR-OLD WHO DONATED LUNGS AND KIDNEYS THAT WERE TRANSPLANTED.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.

ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY TO FOLKS IF THEY'RE CONSIDERING ORGAN DONATIONS?

>> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT OKLAHOMA AND PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA ARE ONE OF THE MOST GENEROUS PEOPLE THAT I'VE KNOWN.

I'VE BEEN IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY.

I LIVED IN DIFFERENT PARTS, AND I'VE SEEN THIS IS A REALLY VERY GENEROUS COMMUNITY AND GIVING COMMUNITY.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO.

AND I FEEL PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA ARE ONE OF THE MOST GIVING PEOPLE AND I CAN ONLY APPRECIATE THAT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT THEY DO FOR EVERYBODY ELSE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND FOR SHARING THEIR LIVES AND THEIR LOVED ONES WITH ANYBODY ELSE.

>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU NOT ONLY FOUR TIME BUT FOR YOUR WORK IN SAVING LIVES IN OKLAHOMA AND AROUND NATION.

THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

>> GREAT CONVERSATION.

>> THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION'S STARS AND STRIPES PROJECT OFFERS HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES TO MILITARY VETERANS OR THEIR NEXT OF KIN.

IT'S A DONOR-FUNDED PROJECT THAT CAN HAVE A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW WE TRAVEL TO SOUTH FLORIDA FOR A REPORT ON A SIMILIAR OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS LIVING IN THE SUNSHINE STATE.

♪ >> HOW WAS THE FISHING THE OTHER DAY?

>> IT WAS GOOD.

>> WE HAD THREE.

>> OKAY.

>> MY NAME IS KEVIN, I'M WITH WOUNDED WARRIORS, THE FOUNDER OF A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO HELP VETERANS.

LAST YEAR ALONE WE TOOK OUT 94 VETS AND FIRST RESPONDERS ON THIS YEAR GET OVER 100 MARK.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO GROW AND KEEP DOING THINGS.

WE'RE ALWAYS LEARNING FROM ALL THE VETS THAT COME OUT WITH US, AND WE FOUND OUT THAT HEY A LOT OF VETS DON'T WANT TO GO WAY OFFSHORE AND GO FISHING, SO WE DO RIVER CRUISES WHERE WE GET PEOPLE ON A BOAT AND HANG OUT, SNORKELING TRIPS, DIVING TRIPS.

>> NICE DOLPHIN.

>> WE DO ANY TYPE OF FISHING WE CAN FIND.

IT ALL STARTED ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

I USED TO TAKE MY SOLDIERS ON A WEEKEND FISHING, GET THEM OUT OF THE BARACKS, AFTER ONE TRIP A SOLDIER TOLD ME THANK YOU AND I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT.

AND HE STOPPED ME AND SAID NO REALLY THANK YOU.

AND I SAID WHAT'S GOING ON?

HE SAID HEY, I WAS GOING TO GO HOME AND KILL MYSELF TONIGHT.

THIS WAS A SOLDIER I KNEW FOR YEARS, GREAT KID, NEVER WOULD KNOW IT, BUT JUST DEMONS INSIDE OF ALL OF US THAT THEY START GETTING SO EMOTIONAL YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT.

HE SAID BEING OUT THERE, BEING ABLE TO BE WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY JUST BEING ABLE TO CONNECT AND TALK TO THEM REALLY HELPED HIM OUT.

>> I AM U.S. ARMY, I SERVED FROM '75 TO '78, SO I'M OLD SCHOOL, OLD GUY.

I HANG AROUND TO KEEP THE YOUNG GUYS IN LINE AND THEY LOOK AFTER ME JUST AS MUCH.

I WORK IN AND THE GEM WITH KEVIN.

WE HAVE VETERANS THAT WE BRING IN ON A WEEKLY BASIS, AND WE TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THE DAY, WHAT OUR TRIGGERS ARE, HOW TO LIVE GOING FORWARD.

WE DON'T GO BACKWARDS.

WE DON'T GO BACK TO THE SANDBOX.

WE GO FORWARD WITH OUR LIVES TRYING TO BRING EVERYBODY IN AND GET THEM GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE.

>> WHAT KEVIN DOES IS HE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE VETERANS OUT.

THE HARDEST THING IS TO GET A VETERAN OUT OF THE DEN, OUT OF THE HOUSE.

ONCE YOU BREAK THAT, THEN YOU'RE ABOUT 50% THERE.

IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO COME OUT, GET OUT IN NATURE, HANG OUT WITH OTHER VETERANS AND DO STUFF THAT HAS TAKEN YOUR MIND OFF OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU MAY BE HAVING.

ONCE IT BRINGS THAT BIT OF NORMALITY BACK TO THE VETERAN, THEN THEY CAN VENTURE OUT AND DO OTHER THINGS, AS WELL.

WE'LL SEE THEM GO OUT ON A FISHING TRIP AND NEXT THING THEY'RE OUT DATING.

THEY'RE BRINGING BACK THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

IT'S AMAZING WHAT ONE LITTLE FISHING TRIP CAN DO.

>> I SERVE WITH THE 53rd SUPPORT BATTALION, PRIOR TOE THAT I WAS IN NORTH CAROLINA UNDER AVIATION AND LOGISTICS, AND CURRENTLY HOLD THE RANK OF SERGEANT.

AND IN 14 DAYS I'LL START MY 12th YEAR.

MILITARY IN GENERAL TEACHES YOU HOW TO GO ABOUT BATTLE, HOW TO FIGHT IT BUT THEY DON'T TEACH YOU THE RESOURCES YOU NEED FOR THE FIGHT THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE WHEN YOU COME HOME.

I WAS MOSTLY IN DEPLOYMENT STUFF, MOSTLY ANGER OUTBURSTS, AND I STILL BATTLE THAT.

I SEE IT IN MY KIDS, HELP COPE AND HELP THEM MITIGATE IT AS A YOUNGER AGE BECAUSE THEY'RE FIVE, SEVEN AND TEN, VERSUS GETTING AT MY AGE.

FOR THE MOST PART FOR ME BEING OUTDOORS HELPS A LOT.

FISHING, HUNTING, ALL OF THAT.

THAT IS REALLY THE REASON.

>> I'M RECEIVING THERAPY AS MUCH AS THE PEOPLE I TAKE OUT THE TRIPS.

IT HELPS ME OUT.

I LOVE DOING IT.

I LOVE HELPING OUT OTHER PEOPLE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WHENEVER WE COME BACK FROM A TRIP, WHETHER IT'S FROM A RIVER CRUISE OR OFFSHORE FISHING, LIKE JUST SEEING THE SMILES ON THE FACES THAT IS THE BEST TO ME.

>> ON THE NEXT "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT" IT WAS ONCE A DILAPIDATED SPOT, NOT ANYMORE.

STEVE SHAW REPORTS ON ECONOMIC REBOUND IN MIDWEST CITY.

>>> WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH A LOOK AT MONDAY'S SILENT MARCH IN OKLAHOMA CITY TO HELP CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.

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

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY AND AS ALWAYS STAY TUNED TO OETA.

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