>> Rich: SEEKING THE ANSWER TO WHY OKLAHOMA NATIVE AMERICANS ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM CANCER THAN THE REST OF THE POPULATION.

>> Eddie: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO BE SCREENED FOR ANY TYPE OF CANCER, DO IT, BECAUSE THAT'S A LIFESAVER.

>> Rich: OKLAHOMANS FLOCK TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TO ATTEND INAUGURAL EVENTS.

>> Cindy: HELLO.

CINDY LANKFORD.

WE ARE IN JAMES' OFFICE RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE ALL SET UP FOR OUR OWN WATCH PARTY.

>> Rich: ON MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, REFLECTIONS ON HIS ENDURING LEGACY.

>> Jones: ALL PEOPLE, ALL RACES, ALL HEIGHTS, ALL AGES.

AND IT'S NOT AN END THING, IT'S A BEGINNING THING.

>> Rich: THE DEBATE ON HOW BEST TO CARE FOR THE HOMELESS IN OKLAHOMA.

>> Heikkila: HER BILL, I THINK, IS TO STOP THE IDEA THAT IT'S THE CITY'S JOB TO TAKE CARE OF HOMELESSNESS.

>> Rich: REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS LAY OUT THEIR EDUCATION PROPOSALS FOR THE UPCOMING SESSION.

>> Iowe: WE GET THOSE GOOD TEACHERS.

I DON'T WANT THEM TO LEAVE.

I WANT THEM TO STAY AS LONG AS THEY FEEL THEY ARE -- THEY WANT TO BE THERE.

>> Rich: PLUS, AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE ONGOING BIRD FLU OUTBREAK.

NEXT ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

Captioning Provided By AV Captioning www.avcaptioning.com >> Rich: HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M RICH LENZ.

OU HEALTH IS PARTNERING WITH TRIBAL LEADERS TO TRY AND ANSWER A VEXING QUESTION: WHY DO NATIVE AMERICANS DIE FROM CANCER AT FAR HIGHER RATES THAN THE REST OF THE OKLAHOMA POPULATION?

REPORTER STEVE SHAW TRAVELED TO TAHLEQUAH THIS WEEK TO LEARN MORE AND HE JOINS US NOW.

STEVE?

>> Steve: RICH, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH IN BETHESDA, MARYLAND, RECENTLY GAVE OU HEALTH $17 MILLION.

THEY WILL USE IT TO RESEARCH WHY NATIVE AMERICANS IN OKLAHOMA ARE A STAGGERING 73% MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM CANCER THAN OTHER POPULATIONS.

>> I LIKE TO PAINT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PLAINS PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I KNOW BEST, ABOUT THE CUSTOMS AND CEREMONIES.

>> I'M ARE A RAP POE, TRIBAL MEMBERS.

>> Steve: 83 YEARLY HARVEY PRATT IS AN AMERICAN TREASURE.

HE'S A FORMER U.S. MARINE WHO VOLUNTEERED TO FLY ON RECOVERY MISSIONS FOR DOWNED PILOTS WHEN HE SERVED IN VIETNAM.

THEN, AS A DETECTIVE WITH THE MIDWEST CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE LATE 1960s, HE SKETCHED A PHOTO OF A VIOLENT CRIMINAL WHO HAD BEEN RANDOMLY SHOOTING PEOPLE ON THE STREET.

>> AND THEY CAUGHT THE GUY OFF OF MY DRAWING.

>> Steve: WHAT KIND OF A RUSH IS THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, HE WAS -- I THINK THEY CHARGED HIM WITH KILLING THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE AND SHOOTING ANOTHER HALF A DOZEN.

>> Steve: BUT TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM CATCH PEOPLE, THAT'S JUST GOT TO BE A -- >> YEAH, I THOUGHT PROBABLY IF I HAD NEVER DONE -- IF I HADN'T CAUGHT THAT GUY, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE DONE ONE.

>> Steve: ANOTHER ONE?

>> PROBABLY WOULD NOT BECAUSE I HAVE TO WATCH DO THIS.

>> Steve: WHAT PRATT DID SET OFF A TIDAL WAVE OF REQUESTS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT ALL OVER THE U.S. PRATT COMPOSED MORE THAN 5,000 POLICE SKREMPS DURING HIS 51-YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER.

IN THE MID 1970s, HARVEY'S SKETCH HELPED IDENTIFY ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS KILLERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY, TED BUNDY.

>> THEY WORE ME OUT.

>> Steve: 25 YEARS AGO IN 2000, MAR VI LEARNED HE HAD -- HARVEY LEARNED HE HAD CANCER.

>> THEY RAN TESTS ON MY KIDNEYS TODAY, RIGHT, AND THEN CT SCANNED ME TO MY BLOOD AND TOLD ME IT'S JUST -- EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND, IT'S SOMETHING NEW.

BUT WE'RE ABOUT TO GET THROUGH IT.

>> Steve: PRATT SAYS HE'S FOUGHT SEVERAL CANCERS SINCE A MEMO SHOWED UP ON THE -- A MOLE SHOWED UP ON THE BOTTOM OF HIS LEFT FOOT.

>> THEY CUT MY NOSE OFF IN 2018 OR 2020.

2020, I THINK.

>> Steve: AND RECONSTRUCTED IT.

>> YES, THEY CUT THE WHOLE TIP OFF.

>> Steve: BECAUSE OF SKIN CANCER.

>> YES.

>> Steve: YOU'VE HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF CANCERS.

>> I'VE HAD, I'VE HAD MELANOMAS, CARCINOMAS, PROSTATE CANCER AND A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, CANCER SHOWED UP AGAIN WHERE MY PROSTATE WAS.

>> Steve: FRAT WAS PAYING ATTENTION -- FRAT WAS TAKING ATTENTION WHEN OU RECENTLY ANNOUNCED IT HAD SECURED THAT $17 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT.

>> I SAW THAT AND I THOUGHT, OH MY GOD, THAT IS SO GREAT THAT THEY CAN BE LOOKING AT PEOPLE RIGHT HERE FOR SAMPLES.

I THOUGHT, I'M GOING TO DONATE MYSELF TO THEM IF THEY WANT TO TALK TO ME, THAT I CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME, AND THE DOCTOR THAT FOUND MY FIRST CANCER IS AT THE OU MEDICAL.

HE'S ALSO AT THE V.A.

>> Steve: OU HEALTH SAYS IT WILL USE THAT FEDERAL MONEY TO MAKE LUNG CANCER SCREENINGS MORE AVAILABLE, ASSESS ARE A SEND NICK AND URANIUM LEVELS IN DRINKING WATER, AND BETTER COORDINATE CARE WITH TRIBAL HEALTH SYSTEMS.

DOCTOR DOROTHY RHODES IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN CENTER FOR CANCER HEALTH EQUITY AT OU HEALTH.

THAT'S A STUNNING NUMBER.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

>> THAT COMES FROM A VARIETY OF FACTORS.

WE THINK WE GO INTO THAT WITH MORTALITY RATE.

>> Steve: SHE SAYS, FOR INSTANCE, HER TEAM IS STUDIES WHY CIGARETTE SMOKING IS ESPECIALLY HARD ON NATIVE AMERICANS.

>> OUR PROJECTS ARE VERY AMBITIOUS.

THEY ARE GEARED TO HAVING AN IMPACT ON A PUBLIC HEALTH LEVEL.

WE'RE NOT IDENTIFYING, YOU KNOW, SUPER FINE GENES, FOR EXAMPLE.

WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS ARE A SEND NICK AND URANIUM IN DRINKING WATER.

WE WANT TO EVALUATE THOSE LEVELS THAT ARE THERE AND WITH THE TRIBE TO FIND OUT WHETHER THEY WANT TO INITIATE NEW STANDARDS AND MEDIATION FOR THOSE LEVELS, AND DOING LUNG CANCER SCREENING WITH A MAJOR TRIBE.

>> Steve: DR. MARK DOSHER IS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH AT OU'S STEVENSON CANCER CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> A LOT OF THIS IS LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND CARE COORDINATION.

THIS PROJECT WILL HELP PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP CANCER HAVE BETTER COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THEIR HOME COMMUNITIES AND THEIR CARE TEAMS AND THE CANCER SPECIALISTS.

>> Steve: CHUCK HOSS SKIN JR. IS PRINCIPAL CHIEF OF CHEROKEE NATION, WHICH WITH 458,000 CITIZENS, MAKES THEM THE LARGEST NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE IN AMERICA.

HE SAYS 30,000 OF HIS PEOPLE LIVE IN THE TULSA METRO.

CHEROKEE NATION GAVE OU $8 MILLION TO BUILD A STEVENSON CANCER CENTER IN TULSA, WHICH WILL AUGMENT THEIR FACILITY IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> CUTTING EDGE, LEADING CANCER TREATMENT WILL BE WITHIN REACH OF A LOT OF OKLAHOMANS.

THE RELATIONSHIP, THOUGH, WE HAVE THROUGH OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY IS WE WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE ACCESS TO THAT CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS OUT OF WHAT IS THE LARGEST NATIVE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY, SO THAT'S GOOD FOR OUR PATIENTS.

WE'VE GOT A SIMILAR PARTNERSHIP WITH MERCY HEALTH SYSTEMS JUST ACROSS THE BORDER IN ARKANSAS.

THEY'RE CREATING A CANCER TREATMENT CENTER, SO WE'RE COMMITTING $8 MILLION FOR THAT PROJECT.

WHAT WE HOPE IS WHEN ALL THIS IS DONE IN THIS REGION, IT WILL BE SOME OF THE BEST CANCER TREATMENT AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE.

>> GOING TO BE HOLDING THAT BOOK RIGHT THERE.

>> Steve: EDDIE MORRISON IS A 1964 GRADUATE OF TAHLEQUAH HIGH SCHOOL AND A NATIONALLY KNOWN WOOD AND ROCK SCULPTURE ARTIST WHOSE WORKS SELL ALL OVER THE U.S. AND OVERSEAS.

>> I'M PRETTY BLESSED.

>> Steve: WHEN DID YOU START HAVING ISSUES?

>> IT WAS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF, THREE -- ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO.

>> Steve: THREE YEARS AGO, A UROLOGIST DISCOVERED EDDIE'S PROSTATE WAS INFLAMED.

FURTHER TESTS SHOWED EDDIE HAD PROSTATE CANCER.

>> I HIGHLY RECOMMEND, YOU GET A CHANCE TO BE SCREENED FOR THAT HE TYPE OF CANCER, DO IT, BECAUSE THAT'S A LIFESAVER.

I KIND OF DENIED I EVEN HAD IT.

I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE ANYTHING.

YOU HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE.

>> Steve: IF YOU WANT TO LIVE.

>> YEAH.

>> Steve: THE OU DOCTORS TOLD ME THAT OBESITY AND ALCOHOL USE ARE ALSO FACTORS IN THAT SKY HIGH 73%.

THEY ALSO TOLD ME ALCOHOL USE AMONGST NATIVE AMERICANS ISN'T AS HIGH AS STEREOTYPES WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE.

THEY SAY THAT'S BECAUSE MANY NATIVE AMERICANS ABSTAIN FROM ALCOHOL.

RICH.

>> Rich: STEVE, GREAT WORK.

THANK YOU.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, IT APPEARS THAT FIRST AMERICANS MAY ALSO BE MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM GLAUCOMA, ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF IRREVERSIBLE BLINDNESS.

NOW RESEARCHERS AT THE DEAN McGEE EYE INSTITUTE ARE DEVOTING THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVING EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF THE DISEASE AMONG THE NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATION SO THAT IT CAN BE TREATED MORE EFFECTIVELY.

>> Harvey: THERE CAN BE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GLAUCOMAS IN DIFFERENT POPULATIONS.

AND SO THE TREATMENT APPROACH FOR THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GLAUCOMAS WILL VARY.

THE PLAN IS TO IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC TREATMENT ALGORITHM, SO TO SPEAK, FOR THESE PATIENTS, BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT UNLESS WE KNOW THE PREVALENCE OF THIS DISEASE WITHIN THESE PEOPLE.

THE TREATMENT CAN BE TAILORED TO SORT TO -- SORT OF ADJUSTED TO EACH PATIENT AND THEIR DISEASE SEVERITY, THEIR DISEASE TYPE, AND THEIR LIFESTYLE.

BUT GETTING THE PATIENTS IDENTIFIED AND IN OUR CHAIRS, SEEN BY OUR PHYSICIANS, AND TREATED IS THE KEY.

>> Rich: BECAUSE OF ITS LARGE NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATION, OKLAHOMA IS WELL-SUITED FOR THIS TYPE OF RESEARCH.

>> A FEW WEEKS BACK, WE REPORTED ON AN OUTBREAK OF THE BIRD FLU IN AMERICA.

WELL, IT ISN'T GOING AWAY.

MILLIONS OF CHICKENS HAVE DIED, AN EGG SHORTAGE IS POSSIBLE, AND AT LEAST ONE HUMAN DEATH HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO AVIAN INFLUENZA.

KEEPING THE OUTBREAK IN CHECK IS THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> Hall: IT'S THE MIGRATORY WATERFOWL ARE THE MAIN CARRIERS OF THIS, BUT THEY -- THE DISEASE SPILLS OVER FROM THEM INTO OUR DOMESTIC POULTRY POPULATIONS AND IT'S AFFECTED WORLDWIDE.

>> Bratzler: WHAT THE REAL CONCERN IS, IS AS THE VIRUS SPREADS, PARTICULARLY WHEN HUMANS ARE INFECTED FROM ANIMALS, THAT IT MAY MUTATE AND THAT MIGHT ALLOW IT THEN TO GO TO HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO DOCUMENTED HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION CASES YET.

>> Stone: ANYTIME WE DO HAVE A POSITIVE FLOCK, A POSITIVE DAIRY HERD, WE ARE -- OR EVEN A PERSON THAT MIGHT BE MONITORED, WE'RE IN VERY, VERY CLOSE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION TO ENSURE THAT ALL OKLAHOMANS ARE SAFE.

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

>> MONDAY WAS AN EVENTFUL DAY WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION COINCIDING WITH THE OBSERVANCE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY.

WE HAVE REPORTS ON BOTH, BEGINNING IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WHERE HUNDREDS OF OKLAHOMANS TRAVELED EAST TO WITNESS THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER AND AS A BONUS, GOT TO HEAR AN UNEXPECTED, BUT WONDERFUL A CAPELLA VERSION OF "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" BY CHECOTAH NATIVE CARRIE UNDERWOOD.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW WITH REACTION FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

JASON.

>> Jason: RICH, SINCE THE INAUGURATION WAS MOVED INSIDE, OKLAHOMANS WERE TUCKED AWAY AT WATCH PARTIES, KEEPING WARM WHILE THE PRESIDENT TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE .

AT THE SAME TIME, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE GEARING UP FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE HONORABLE DONALD JOHN TRUMP.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> Jason: OKLAHOMANS AT A WATCH PARTY HOSTED BY U.S.

SENATOR MARKWAYNE MULLIN CHEERING AS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TOOK THE STAGE TO TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE, BECOMING THE 47th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

MANY OF THOSE AT THIS WATCH PARTY HAD TICKETS TO ATTEND THE INAUGURAL, BUT BECAUSE OF THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES, THE CEREMONY WAS HELD INSIDE THE U.S. CAPITOL'S ROTUNDA.

MEMBERS OF OKLAHOMA'S DELEGATION EITHER SET UP WATCH PARTIES LIKE THIS ONE AT A WASHINGTON, D.C., RESTAURANT, OR IN THEIR OFFICES, LIKE SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD.

>> Cindy: HELLO.

CINDY LANKFORD.

WE ARE IN JAMES' OFFICE RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE ALL SET UP FOR OUR OWN WATCH PARTY TO WATCH THE 47th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BE INAUGURATED.

SAY HELLO, EVERYONE.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> Jason: WHILE THOSE OKLAHOMANS WERE SAFE AND WARM, OKLAHOMA'S SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR SHOWED WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE AS THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA BEGAN TO FILL AHEAD OF THE INAUGURATION.

>> Lankford: ONE HOUR OUT FROM THE ACTUAL INAUGURATION AT THIS POINT.

AND THIS IS A BRIEF GATHERING HERE, TRYING TO BE ABLE TO GET SET UP.

THAT'S THE PODIUM WHERE THE PRESIDENT WILL BE.

>> Jason: EVEN GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT WAS ON HAND, MEETING THE WASHINGTON ELITE.

ANOTHER MEMBER OF CONGRESS TAKING IN THE CEREMONIES WAS CONGRESSMAN JOSH BRECHEEN WHO USED SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHOW HOW SECURE THINGS WERE IN WASHINGTON.

>> Brecheen: SO I'M STANDING OUTSIDE THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL JUST SHOWCASING THE AMOUNT OF SECURITY, TSA, SECRET SERVICE AGENTS.

TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SECURITY.

THE PRESIDENT HAS IN THE LAST NUMBER OF MINUTES ARRIVED, AND SO JUST WANT YOU TO SEE ALL THE PREPARATIONS AND PEOPLE IN EXTREME COLD, SERVING THEIR COUNTRY.

>> Jason: MOVING THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY INDOORS HASN'T BEEN DONE SINCE RONALD REAGAN'S IN 1985.

CONGRESSMAN TOM COLE SAYS IT WAS THE RIGHT MOVE.

>> Cole: IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING AND UNUSUAL, HISTORIC.

OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST ONE IN 40 YEARS THAT HAD TO BE DONE INSIDE.

I VERY MUCH REGRET ALL THE PEOPLE THAT TRAVELED UP AND COULDN'T PARTICIPATE, YOU KNOW, HAD TO WATCH IT AS OPPOSED TO BE PART OF IT.

BUT BOY, THE WEATHER REALLY WAS BRUTAL AND I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE, QUITE FRANKLY.

>> Jason: NOT ALL OKLAHOMANS WERE HAPPY ABOUT THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD IN D.C. >> Andrews: I SAW A LOT OF PERFORMANCE AND PERHAPS THE FOLKS WHO VOTED FOR OUR 47th PRESIDENT WANT THE PERFORMANCE, BUT I SAW A LOT OF DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE.

>> Jason: THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION SWEPT THE REPUBLICANS INTO POWER, LEAVING DEMOCRATS AS THE MINORITY PARTY IN BOTH CONGRESSIONAL CHAMBERS.

ANDREWS SAYS THE WORK STARTS NOW, EVEN HERE IN ONE OF THE REDDEST STATES IN THE COUNTRY, TO RECRUIT CANDIDATES FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF ELECTIONS.

>> Andrews: THE HUNT IS ON.

WE ARE FULL SWING RECRUITING FOR ALL OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL SEATS BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT BASED ON THIS, YOU KNOW, 48-HOUR, 72-HOUR START, THAT THERE ARE GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHAPPY, AND WE INTEND TO FILL THAT SPACE AND GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY REALLY WANT AND MAKE BIG CHANGES IN 2026.

>> Underwood: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PERFORMING "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL," PLEASE WELCOME THE ARMED FORCES CHORUS AND CARRIE UNDERWOOD.

>> Jason: OKLAHOMAN CARRIE UNDERWOOD WAS INVITED TO PERFORM AT THE INAUGURAL CEREMONY AND AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, SHE FACED A TECHNICAL GLITCH.

THE TENSION IN THE SILENT ROOM BEGAN BUILDING, AND THEN CARRIE TOOK THE WHEEL.

>> Underwood: IF YOU KNOW THE WORDS, HELP ME OUT HERE.

♪ OH BEAUTIFUL FOR SPACIOUS SKIES ♪ ♪ FOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN ♪ ♪ FOR PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTIES ♪ ♪ ABOVE THE FRUITED PLAIN ♪ >> Bice: CARRIE JUST DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF TAKING SORT OF AN UNCOMFORTABLE MOMENT AND RUNNING WITH IT.

AND WHEN THE MUSIC DID NOT PLAY, SHE DECIDED TO A CAPELLA IT AND ASK EVERYONE TO JOIN IN.

AND IT WAS REALLY AN INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL MOMENT TO BE SINGING SUCH A PATRIOTIC SONG IN THE ROTUNDA OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL.

>> Jason: AS THE PATRIOTIC POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE PLAYED OUT ON MONDAY, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION WAS NOT LOST ON OKLAHOMA'S DELEGATION MEMBERS.

THE NEWLY SWORN-IN TRUMP TOOK PEN TO PAPER, SIGNING SEVERAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS, CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY BETWEEN APPEARANCES AND LATE INTO THE EVENING.

>> THE FIRST IS THE RESCISSIONS OF THE 78 BIDEN ERA EOs AND PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDA.

>> Bice: HE HAD INDICATED THAT HE WAS GOING TO START SIGNING EXECUTIVE ORDERS AS SOON AS HE TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE, AND THAT REALLY, HE MEANT IT.

SO YOU'VE SEEN QUITE A FEW THAT HAVE ALREADY COME THROUGH.

WE'RE STILL REVIEWING EVERYTHING AND GETTING CAUGHT UP.

>> Jason: AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, CONGRESSMAN COLE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE SENATE BUDGET NEGOTIATORS AND THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE TO FUND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR AS THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION CURRENTLY KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT GOING EXPIRES IN MARCH.

>> Cole: THIS IS GONNA BE COMPLICATED.

YOU HAVE AN INCOMING ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS A LOT OF AUTHORITY, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE ITS POSITION -- ITS PEOPLE IN PLACE YET.

THEY'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS.

AND TO BE FAIR TO THE PRESIDENT, THIS IS A BUSINESS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE LAST YEAR.

HE SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE BUDGET.

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN DECEMBER AND THAT WASN'T COMPLETED.

THE SAME THING WILL BE TRUE AT THE DEBT CEILING WHEN WE APPROACH THAT SOMETIME LATER THIS YEAR.

>> Jason: WHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING FOR HIS SECOND ADMINISTRATION, AS CONGRESSMAN COLE POINTED OUT, SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS CONTINUE FOR CABINET AND AGENCY LEADER APPOINTEES WITH FLOOR VOTES IN THE COMING DAYS.

RICH.

>> Rich: JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AS WE SAID, MONDAY WAS ALSO A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.

THERE WAS A PARADE IN TULSA, BUT THE PARADE IN OKLAHOMA CITY WAS POSTPONED DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER.

HOWEVER, IT'S BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1st, BEGINNING AT 2:00 P.M.

IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING ALLIANCE SAYS THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S PARADE WILL BE "SHOW LOVE."

>> Jones: SHOWING LOVE, MEANING BEING THERE FOR EACH OTHER, TREATING EACH OTHER LIKE WE WANT TO TREAT OURSELF.

INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIND OUT THE WORST IN THAT PERSON, TRY TO FIND OUT THE BEST IN THAT PERSON AND DON'T LOOK AT A PERSON FOR HOW THEY LOOK ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT LOOK AT A PERSON FOR WHO THEY ARE ON THE INSIDE.

WE TRY TO SEE THAT LOVE IS COMPOUND.

ALL PEOPLE, ALL RACES, ALL HEIGHTS, ALL AGES.

AND IT'S NOT AN END THING, IT'S A BEGINNING THING.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SHOW LOVE AND GROW, AND THAT'S OUR DESIRE TO HAVE DIVERSITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Rich: JONES SAYS THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL JOB FAIR ON MONDAY THAT INCLUDED 20 OR 30 ORGANIZATIONS LOOKING TO HIRE.

>>> WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO TREAT AND HOUSE THE HOMELESS WHILE STILL TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEEDS AND DESIRES OF THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY?

THAT'S A QUESTION BEING DEBATED IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, RIGHT NOW.

REPORTER NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

NOAH?

>> Noah: RICH, NORMAN REMAINS A HOTBED FOR DISCUSSION SURROUNDING HOMELESSNESS, AND A RECENT BILL FILED BY NORMAN'S NEWEST STATE SENATOR, LISA STANDRIDGE, HAS SPARKED CONTROVERSY.

PLUS, WITH NORMAN'S MAYORAL ELECTION COMING UP IN FEBRUARY, HOMELESSNESS HAS BECOME A CENTRAL ISSUE.

SENATE BILL 484 INTRODUCED BY NARM'S NEWLY LENGTHED SENATOR LISA STANDRIDGE WOULD GAN EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN THE STATE, ASIDE FROM OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA, PR PROVIDING HOMELESS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

THIS DOESN'T MEAN ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES WOULD GO AWAY, BUT IT DOES RESTRICT CITY GOVERNMENT FROM BEING FINANCIALLY INVOLVED.

>> HER BILL, I THINK, IS TO STOP THE IDEA THAT IT'S THE CITY'S JOB TO TAKE CARE OF HOMELESSNESS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Noah: INCUMBENT MAYOR LARRY HIKE KILL LASS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION IN NORMAN IN FEBRUARY.

I'LL STANDRIDGE'S BIM HAS A LONG WAY TO GHO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, HIKE KILL LA STILL WANTS TO HELP CITY FUNDING FOR HOMELESS SHELTERS IN NORMAN.

>> WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT.

WHEN THEY COME IN AND DISRUPT BUSINESS, THEY'RE DISRUPTING SALES.

WHEN THEY'RE DISRUPTING SALES, THAT HURTS THE CITY.

WE GET ALL OUR MONEY FROM SALES TAX AND THAT'S IT PRETTY MUCH.

>> Noah: HE BELIEVES THIS IS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR OTHER ENTITIES LIKE NONPROFITS.

ONE OF THOSE NONPROFITS IS NORMAN FOOD AND SHELTER.

APRIL DOSHER IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT FOOD AND SHELTER AND SAYS IF THE CITY PULLS BACK, THEIR JOB WILL BECOME EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.

>> THERE ARE NOT AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF PLACES YOU CAN GO AND ASK FOR HELP IN NORMAN OR ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, SO A REDUCTION OF EVEN ONE OF THOSE MEANS THAT PLACES LIKE FOOD AND SHELTER, OUR PARTNERS AT SALVATION ARMY, WOULD SEE THAT BURDEN THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE ON OURSELVES WITH NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN SIGHT.

>> Noah: THIS CITY SPONSORED SHELTER YOU SEE BEHIND ME LASS THE POINT OF ATTENTION RECENTLY IN NORMAN.

THEY PARTNER WITH FOOD AND SHELTER TO RUN THE PLACE, BUT THEY JUST RECENTLY SWITCHED TO CITY CARE AFTER DISAGREEMENTS IN THE CONTRACT.

THE MAYOR SAYS SHUT DOWN THE SHELTER WHEN THE NEW CONTRACT EXPIRES IN MARCH.

AND CITY CARE'S CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER BELIEVES CLOSING THE SHELTER WOULD BE A SUBSTANTIAL HINDRANCE TO THEIR POLITICIAN.

>> OUR GOAL IS TO MOVE THEM INTO PERMANENT HOUSE, BUT TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THEM OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHWAYS AND RESOURCES FOR PERMANENT HOUSING, ENGAGING IN THE SHELTER IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS FOR THEM TO GO TO THE COMMUNITY PARTNER AND GET ASSESSED AND FIND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MOVE TOWARDS PERMANENT STABLE HOUSING.

>> Noah: ACCORDING TO THE 2023 POINT IN TIME COUNT, THERE ARE 213 PEOPLE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN CLEVELAND COUNTY.

CLOSING THE DOWNTOWN SHELTER WOULD MEAN OVER 50 OF THOSE PEOPLE WOULD BE OUT ON THE STREETS.

THIS IS CHRISTY MAYO.

SHE WAS ONCE UNHOUSED AND LIVING ON THE STREETS IN NORMAN.

>> YOU EITHER GO THRIT OR BECOME COMPLACENT.

>> Noah: SHE HAS UNHOUSED PEOPLE HAVE LITTLE HELP OF COMING OUT OF HOMELESS.

>> YOU NEED TO SURVIVE.

YOU HAVE TO TAKE A SHOWER BY A CERTAIN TIME.

GET A WASH DONE INTERVIEW.

JOB INTERVIEWS, HARD TO PLAN BECAUSE IT'S A CERTAIN TIME, CERTAIN LIVING.

ONCE YOU GET USED TO THAT AND THAT'S THE WAY YOU LIVE AND SURVIVE EVERY DAY, THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL DA.

>> Noah: CHRISTY IS NOW HOUSED AND SEVEN SUFFICIENT THANKS TO FOOD AND SHELTER.

>> I WANT TO HELP THEM.

>> Noah: SHE STILL ENCOURAGES ORGANIZATIONS LIKE UNDERSTOOD AND SHE WILL TOER TO OPERATE IN NORMAN.

>> SAY YOU WENT OUT ON OF A JOHN, YOU'RE STUCK HERE, DOING WHATEVER, YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

YOU'RE DOWN AN ALL YOUR RESOURCES, NOT TO YOUR OWN FAULT OR MAYBE YOU MADE A MISTAKE AND DIDN'T PAY A BILL AND SOMETHING CAME BAM.

WE WANT TO HELP YOU OUT OF THAT, BUT IF YOU WANT TO PERSIST IN THAT HOMELESSNESS, THAT LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY TO SOCIETY, I DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THAT.

>> Noah: HE PINT POINTS TO DRUG ADDICTION AMONG THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY AS A MAJOR OBSTACLE, SOMETHING APRIL IS ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH.

>> MY DAD WAS ONE OF THESE PEOPLE, HE WAS HOMELESS IN NORMAN, LITERALLY ON THE STREETS OF NORMAN WHEN I WAS A KID.

HE WAS AN ADDICT, BUT HIS ADDICTION CAME FROM TRAUMA.

HE WATCHED HIS MOTHER DIE AS A 6-YEAR-OLD AND HE NEVER GOT OVER IT BECAUSE AT HIS AGE AND AT THAT TIME, NOBODY TOOK YOU TO COUNSELING.

WHEN SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED TO YOU.

HE LIVED HOMELESS FOR A LONG TIME, AND HE EXPERIENCED EVERY KIND OF BAD THING YOU CAN THINK OF, BUT IT TOOK ONE PERSON WHO SAW HIM AND SAID, YOU ARE A LEGITIMATE HUMAN BEING AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT YOU AND YOU NEED TO DO BETTER THAN THIS.

SHE JUST STUCK WITH HIM AND HELPED HIM BELIEVE IN HIMSELF AND HE WAS ABLE TO FINALLY GET HOUSING AND LIVED HOUSED FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS OF HIS LIFE.

>> Noah: APRIL ALSO ADDS THAT THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY IS MUCH WIDER THAN THE STEREOTYPICAL DRUG ADDICT.

THEY SAYS THE NUMBER ONE PERSON THEY SEE BECOME UNHOUSED MORE RECENTLY ARE SENIOR CITIZENS.

>> WHEN EVERY DAY I WALK THROUGH THE DOOR HERE AND I SEE SOMEBODY'S MOM, SOMEBODY'S DAD, SOMEBODY'S CHILD, YOU KNOW, IT'S SAD.

>> I HAVE EMPATHY FOR THOSE PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CITY'S PURVIEW TO BE WORKING WITH THOSE PEOPLE.

>> Noah: AND CHRISTY EMPHASIZES HOMELESSNESS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT WILL JUST DISAPPEAR.

>> THERE'S NO MOUNTAINS WE CAN GO TO, NO BEACH WEEK GO TO AND HANG OUT.

WE'RE LANDLOCKED OKLAHOMA.

>> Noah: ONE OF MAYOR HEIKKILA'S EXPONENTS IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION, COUNCILMEMBER STEPHEN HOLMAN, IS AGAINST STANDRIDGE'S BILL AND THINKS THE DOWNTOWN SHELTER SHOULD REMAIN OPEN.

THE ELECTION IS SLATED FOR FEBRUARY 11.

RICH.

>> Rich: NOAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> BASED ON THE NUMBER OF BILLS FILED, THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO CONSIDER IN THE UPCOMING SESSION.

LAST YEAR, LAWMAKERS FILED JUST OVER 1200 BILLS AND 13 RESOLUTIONS.

BUT THIS YEAR, 718 MORE BILLS WERE FILED PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE.

IT BREAKS DOWN LIKE THIS: A TOTAL OF 1,928 BILLS WERE FILED, ALONG WITH 34 RESOLUTIONS IN THE HOUSE.

OVER IN THE SENATE, 1,024 BILLS HAVE BEEN FILED, ALONG WITH 17 RESOLUTIONS.

THE SESSION BEGINS WITH GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS ON FEBRUARY 3rd.

>>> LAST WEEK, WE REPORTED ON THE DEMOCRATS' LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR EDUCATION IN 2025.

THIS WEEK, IT'S THE REPUBLICANS' TURN.

WITH MORE ON THEIR PLANS WITH THE SESSION SET TO START IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, WE'RE JOINED BY EDUCATION REPORTER, TAELYR JACKSON.

TAELYR.

>> Taelyr: RICH, IT IS OFFICIALLY THE WEEK AFTER THE FILING DEADLINE FOR OKLAHOMA LEGISLATORS, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING BILLS BEFORE THE SESSION STARTS ON FEBRUARY 3rd.

>> I CAN SMILE.

>> Taelyr: REPRESENTATIVE DICK LOWE IS PREPARING FOR HIS FIRST SESSION AS THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR AFTER REPLACING FORMER REPRESENTATIVE RHONDA BAKER.

>> SHE'S DONE A GOOD JOB HELPING PREPARE, I GUESS, BUT AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE -- WHERE THE FOCUS, I THINK IT'S ONE THING MAYBE THE HOUSE HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF THIS YEAR, WE DECIDED WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE FOCUS ON EACH AREA, AND SO THE FOCUS OF EDUCATION, WE HAVE A TASK FORCE WORK ON THAT AND WE BASICALLY HAVE ONE THING AND I THINK THAT ONE THING IS VERY SIMPLE AND VERY EASY.

IT'S FOR OUR CHILDREN AND MAKE THEM BETTER STUDENTS AND TEACH THEM MORE.

>> Taelyr: LOWE SAYS ONCE AGAIN TEACHER RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT WILL BE A PRIORITIES.

>> THERE'S NOTHING THAT BEATS HAVING A GOOD TEACHER IN A CLASSROOM.

I'VE GOT SOME BILLS THAT I'M ACTUALLY RUNNING THAT ARE DEALING WITH BOTH -- NOT ONLY RECRUITMENT, BUT ALSO RETENTION.

WE GET THOSE GOOD TEACHERS, I DON'T WANT THEM TO LEAVE.

I WANT THEM TO STAY AS LONG AS THEY FEEL THEY WANT TO BE THERE.

I WAS RAISED BY TWO TEACHERS.

MY MOM WAS A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND SHE GOT TO THE POINT SHE COULD RETIRE AND I KEPT ASKING HER, WHY DON'T YOU RETIRE?

I SAID, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

SHE SAYS, I'D TEACH FOR FREE AS LONG AS I KEY KIDS IMPROVING AND I GET SUPPORT.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF TEACHERS OUT THERE LIKE THAT, BUT THEY NEED THE SUPPORT >> Taelyr: HE FILED A COUPLE OF EDUCATION-RELATED BILLS HIMSELF.

>> I'VE GOT SOME CARRYOVER BILLS WHICH IS A GENERAL REVENUE CARRYOVER.

IT'S BEEN TYPED FOR SOME OF OUR SKILLS AND OBVIOUSLY, THEY SAY WE GOT ALL THERE MONEY, BUT A LOT OF IT WAS ARPA MONEY THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO CARRY OVER WORKING ON PROJECTS.

THAT MONEY WILL HAVE TO BE SPENT BY '25, SO ALL OF US ARE GOING LIKE, OOH, IF WE CARRY THIS OVER, WE GET TAGGED AND IT COSTS US FUNDS AND WE DON'T WANT THAT.

WE WANT THAT MONEY SPENT AND THEY DO, AND SO THE CARRYOVER WILL RAISE SCHOOL 10%.

>> Taelyr: OTHER LEGISLATION FILED BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS INCLUDE HOUSE BILL 1006 AUTHORED BY REPRESENTATIVE JIM OLSON.

IT WILL REQUIRE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TO BE ON DISPLAY IN OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

REPRESENTATIVE GABE WOOLLY OFFERED A BILL THAT WILL REQUIRE CERTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OBTAIN CITIZENSHIP STATUS OF ENROLLING STUDENTS.

OVER IN THE SENATE, THEY ARE GEARING UP FOR THE THIRD YEAR AS THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE VICE CLAIRE.

>> I REALLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO LEARN IF AND UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN INCREASE OUR OUTCOMES, SO PEOPLE EXCITED >> Taelyr: SHE FILED SENATE BILL 139 THAT WILL REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO ADOPT A CELL PHONE POLICY.

>> WE'VE SEEN OTHER STATES ADOPT SIMILAR POLICIES, BUT FOR ME, THIS REAL STARTED WHEN I WAS WORKING ON A TEACHER PIPELINE AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE OUR SHORTAGE, WHAT TEACHERS ARE GOING THROUGH DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND SO MANY TIMES, THE TEACHERS I WAS SPEAKING WITH WOULD TALK ABOUT THE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES AND THE STRUGGLES THAT THEY HAVE FACING THEM IN THEIR CLASSROOMS, TRYING TO TEACH, AND ALSO MANAGE THE CELL PHONES.

SO ACTUALLY ONE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MY DISTRICT WAS INNOVATIVE IN THIS, BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT IT AT THAT POINT AT A STATE LEVEL >> Taelyr: LAST YEAR, SHE FILED A SIMILAR BILL.

>> THIS ONE IS DIFFER THAN LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR WAS A PILOT PROGRAM AND THERE IS A BILL TO MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT AND THEN ALLOWING STUDENTS -- OR AL LOUL SCHOOL DISTRICTS THE FLEXIBILITY OF HOW THEY WANT TO IMPLEMENT IT AND OFFER THOSE EXCEPTIONS.

>> Taelyr: SHE ALSO FILED A BILL THAT WOULD ADDRESS OKLAHOMA'S LOW MATH SCORES.

>> LAST YEAR, WE PASSED GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, SO I THINK THAT WILL HELP HIGH SCHOOLERS.

WE ALSO ADJUSTED OUR STRONG LEADERS ACT OR OUR READING SUFFICIENCY ACT TO STRONG READERS SO WE CAPTURE THAT K-3 STUDENT GROUP, AND I REALIZED THERE WAS A VOID IN OUR MATH EFFORT.

I LOOKED AT WHAT OTHER STATES WERE DOING AND SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS WERE TACKLING AND FOR ONE TAS TALKING ABOUT MATH LAST YEAR >> Taelyr: SHE SAYS THE BILL IS SIMILAR TO THE STRONGER READERS ACCESS.

>> THIS IS A DIFFERENT GROUP, FOURTH THROUGH SEVENTH GREAT STUDENTS AND AGAIN IN MATH.

I THINK FROM FLY CONVERSATIONS, EVERYONE SEES NEED FOR US.

IT IS A BIG SWING, SO PAIN WE GET SOME THIS YEAR AND WE COME BACK, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING ON LITERACY EFFORTS K-3 AND THIS WOULD HELP BUILD A SOLID MATH FOUNDATION FOR 4-7 AND WE HAVE OUR NEW GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING THE JOB OF GETTING THE PIECES IN PLACE OF MAKING A GOOD SYSTEM FOR OUR KIDS TO BE READY FOR ENTERING THE WORKFORCE.

>> Taelyr: THE FILING DEADLINE PASSED LAST WEEK AND NOW LAWMAKERS ARE REVIEWING LEGISLATION FILED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO GET READY FOR COMMITTEE WORK.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM ALL.

I'LL BE READING THEM OVER THE NEXT WEEK, BUT I THINK YOU'LL GET A PREVIEW SOON WHATEVER WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH.

WE WANT TO INCREASE TEACHER RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND WE WANT TO GET QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM, GIVE THEM THE SUPPORT.

WE ALWAYS LEAD WITH OUR TEACHERS ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

>> Taelyr: LOWE SAYS HE'S WILLING TO WORK WITH DEMOCRATS ON BILLS THAT BENEFIT OKLAHOMA STUDENT.

>> BUT YOU ALWAYS END UP WITH A LOT IN THE MIDDLE.

THERE'S PIECES OF A BILL THAT ARE VERY GOOD, BUT THERE'S PIECES THAT NEED WORK.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR COMMITTEES, AS WE LOOK THROUGH THEM, DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GOING -- THE BILLS THAT NEED THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THOSE AUTHORS AND HAVE ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WORK WITH THEM AND SAY HERE'S THE THINGS WE REALLY LIKE, HERE'S THE THINGS WE DON'T.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND GET THIS THING WHERE IT'S A GOOD BILL, NOT ONE WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE AN UP AND DOWN HARD FIGHT ON LETTING IT MOVE FORWARD.

>> Taelyr: ALONG WITH TEACHER PAY RAISES, WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE MORE EDUCATION-RELATED LEGISLATION THAT IMPACTS OKLAHOMA'S WORKFORCE.

RICH?

>> Rich: TAELYR, THANKS.

>>> AN OUTBREAK OF THE BIRD FLU IN THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT HAD A WIDESPREAD EFFECT ON THE HEALTH OF HUMANS SO FAR, BUT IT IS KILLING MILLIONS OF CHICKENS INFECTS OTHER LIVESTOCK AS WELL.

KEEPING THE OUTBREAK IN CHECK IS THE GOAL OF SOME OKLAHOMA EXPERTS.

AND THEY JOINED MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD IN OUR OETA STUDIOS THIS WEEK FOR AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION OF THE PROBLEM.

CASSIDY?

>> Cassidy: RICH, AFTER A SERIES OF OUTBREAKS OF THE AVIAN INFLUENZA ACROSS THE GLOERK THE VIRUS LASS BECOME A GROWING CONCERN RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

JOINING US TO EXAM THE RISK AND DISCUSS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IS JOANNE STONE, THE STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST FOR THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY DR. ROD HALL, THE STATE VETERINARIAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD, AND FORESTRY AND WE'RE JOINED BY DR. DALE BRATZLER, THE DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME HERE ON IN-DEPTH TODAY.

DR. HALL, CAN YOU GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THE BIRD FLU OUTBREAK IS AFFECTING BIRD FOOP LAITIONS GLOBALLY AND WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER OUTBREEX WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST?

>> IT IS AFFECTING THE GLOBAL WILD BIRDS AND WHEN I SAY WILD BIRDS, MAINLY IT'S THE MIGRATORY WATERFOWL ARE THE MAIN CARRIERS OF THIS.

BUT THEY -- THE DISEASE SPILLS OVER FROM THEM INTO OUR DOMESTIC POULTRY POPULATIONS, AND IT'S AFFECTED WORLDWIDE.

I KNOW IN EUROPE, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, THIS OUTBREAK, FOR CLOSE TO FIVE YEARS NOW AND GOING ON THREE YEARS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO IT HAS CAUSED A LOT OF POULTRY FLOCKS, COMMERCIAL FOAL TRI FLOCKS TO HAVE TO BE DEPOPULATED TO KEEP THE INFECTION TO A MINIMUM.

IT'S DEFINITELY AFFECTING THE POULTRY INDUSTRY AS WELL AS OUR FOOD PRICES.

YOU KNOW, EGG PRICES ARE GOING UP AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF EGGS.

A LOT OF LAYING HENS HAVE LAD TO BE DEPOPULATED.

>> Cassidy: THIS IS GOING ON FOR THEE YEARS, WHY IS IT COMING BACK TO THE PUBLIC EYE NOW?

>> THERE IS KIND OF CYCLIC BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, IT IS CARRIED BY THE MIGRATORY WATERFOWL, SO WE'LL SEE DURING THE MIGRATION SEASONS IN THE SPRING AND THE FALL, WE SEE AN UPTICK OF THE NUMBER OF CASES.

THIS FALL HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY BAD.

SO IT KIND OF -- KIND OF LEVELS OUT DURING THE SUMMER AND, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS WINTER, BUT THEN AS THE MIGRATION CONTINUES, IT GETS WORSE AGAIN.

>> Cassidy: JOANNE, WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF BIRD FLU CASES IN OKLAHOMA AND HOW CONCERNED DO YOU BELIEVE THE PUBLIC SHRUB AT THIS POINT?

>> AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONFIRMED AVIAN INFLUENZA CASES HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

CERTAINLY WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE A FARMER WORKER, IF YOU'RE A WORKER THAT MAY WORK AROUND POULTRY OR DAIRY KALG OR EVEN HAVE BACKYARD FLOCKS, JUST BE AWARE.

>> Cassidy: AND DR. BRATZLER, PUT THIS INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR US.

WE'RE WATCHING THE NEWS, SEEING THESE STORIES COME OUT OF PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA, ONE PERSON HAS DIED.

HOW CONCERNING IS THE IDEA OF THE VIRUS JUMPING FROM HUMAN TO HUMAN, AND DO YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECOMING THE NEXT PANDEMIC?

>> YEAH, SO BACK IN 2020, WE SAW THE IMPACT OF A NEW VIRUS TO WHICH NO ONE HAD IMMUNITY AND IT SPREAD ACROSS THE GLOBE.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY WITH AVIAN INFLUENZA AT THIS POINT, BUT WE NOW HAVE 67 CONFIRMED CASES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE ONE DEATH THAT YOU MENTIONED IN LOUISIANA, AND WHAT THE REAL CONCERN IS AS THE VIRUS SPREADS, PARTICULARLY WHEN HUMANS ARE INFECTED FROM ANIMALS, THAT IT MAY MUTATE AND THAT MIGHT ALLOW IT THEN TO GO TO HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO DOCUMENTED HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION CASES CASE.

>> Cassidy: AND DR. HALL, CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW THE BIRD FLU SPREADS AMONG POULTRY POPULATIONS AND EVEN MORE CONCERNING, FROM BIRD POPULATIONS TO NAM ANALYSIS AND THEN ON -- MAMMALS AND THEN ON TO HUMANS?

>> IN POULTRY, IT SPREADS FROM AIR MOVEMENT.

IT'S A RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN POULTRY FOR THE MOST PART, SO ESPECIALLY OUR COMMERCIAL FLOCKS WHERE THE POULTRY ARE HOUSED FAIRLY CLOSELY TOGETHER, IT'S VERY EASY FOR IT TO SPREAD THROUGH THE AIR.

IT ALSO CAN SPREAD THROUGH FECAL TRANSMISSION, NASAL DISCHARGES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AS FAR AS TRANSMISSION TO MAMMALS, THAT'S FOR THE MOST PART JUST AN OPPORTUNISTIC THING.

THE MAJORITY OF THE MAMMALS THAT HAVE BEEN INFECTED ARE WILD MAMMALS THAT ARE EATING, AGAIN, THESE WILD WATERFOWL THAT ARE EITHER DYING OR THEY'RE HUNTING THEM.

SO WE HAVE HAD A FEW CASES OF DOMESTIC CATS BEING INFECTED BY CONSUMING RAW FOOD THAT -- AND THEORETICALLY, INFECTED POULTRY MEAT SHOULD NOT GET INTO THESE PRODUCTS, BUT OCCASIONALLY IT DOES SLIP THROUGH.

SO THAT'S A WAY THAT OUR DOMESTIC CATS HAVE GOT IT FOR THE MOST PART.

>> Cassidy: AND DR. BRATZLER, VERY QUICKLY HERE, IF SOMEONE DOES CONTRACT THE AVIAN FLU, WHAT WOULD TREATMENT LOOK LIKE FOR THAT PERSON?

>> RIGHT NOW, IT'S SIMILAR TO ANYONE ELSE WITH INFLUENZA.

THE ANTIVIRAL DRUGS THAT WE HAVE FOR INFLUENZA ACTUALLY DO APPEAR TO BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST AVIAN INFLUENZA, BUT REMEMBER, YOU HAVE TO START THOSE DRUGS AS SOON AS YOU GET SICK BECAUSE THE LATER YOU START THEM, THE LET EFFECTIVE THEY ARE.

>> Cassidy: AND JOANNE, IF AN ALM CASE WAS DETECTED HERE IN -- HUMAN CASE WAS DETECTED HERE IN OKLAHOMA, HOW WOULD THAT BE REPORTED TO THE CDC?

>> CERTAINLY WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CDC, THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND OTHER STATES.

IF WE WERE TO HAVE A PERSON THAT WAS SUSPECTED FOR AVIAN INFLUENZA, WE WOULD CERTAINLY WORK WITH THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, WORK WITH THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THEM TESTED AND MONITORED MOVING FORWARD.

>> Cassidy: AND CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH SOME OF THE BIOSECURITY PLEASURES GOING ON ON OKLAHOMA FARMS -- MEASURES GOING ON ON OKLAHOMA FARMS RIGHT NOW?

>> OUR COMMERCIAL FARMS HAVE GOOD BIOSECURITY.

THEY RESTRICT THE ACCESS FROM VISITORS AND IF A VISITOR COMES ON TO THE FARM AND THEY WANT TO ALLOW IT INTO THE BARNS, THEY HAVE TO, IN SOME CASES, EVEN AS MUCH AS SHOWER IN, SHOWER OUTS OUR VERY EXPENSIVE POULTRY FARMS.

BUT ROUTINELY, THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT ON, YOU KNOW, BOOT PROTECTION TO KEEP FROM CARRYING SOMETHING IN FROM OUTSIDE.

AS I SAID, THEY DO RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF VISITORS THAT CAN COME TO THOSE.

THEY HAVE THOSE BUILDINGS AS TIGHT AS THEY CAN BE TO PREVENT THE WILD BIRDS FROM GETTING IN THERE.

FILTERS ON THEIR AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS TO, AGAIN, PREVENT ANY WILD WATERFOWL VIRUS FROM GETTING INTO THE HOUSES.

THOSE ARE THE -- THAT'S JUST THE TYPICAL BIOSECURITY.

>> Cassidy: JOANNE, HOW IS THE STATE TRACKING AND MANAGING REPORTS OF THESE DEAD BIRDS?

HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT SITUATION?

>> WE WORK WITH THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

IF THERE IS A POSITIVE FLOCK FOR AVIAN INFLUENZA, AND WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AG DOES IS THEY IDENTIFY SOMEBODY ON THE FARM THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN WORK WITH, TYPICALLY AN OCCUPATIONAL NURSE OR SOMETHING OF THAT ASPECT.

AND THEY PROVIDE US WITH NAMES AND INFORMATION, AND THEN WE CAN MONITOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO DETERMINE IF THEY DEVELOP SYMPTOMS AND AT THAT TIME, WE CAN WORK WITH THEM FOR TESTING AND TREATMENT.

>> Cassidy: AND DR. BRATZLER, WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT CATS FINDING DEBT BIRDS, BUT -- DEAD BIRDS, BUT WHAT IF SOMEBODY WERE TO STUMBLE ACROSS A DEAD BIRD, COULD THAT POSE A RISK FOR THAT PERSON?

>> POTENTIALLY COULD.

WE KNOW THAT AVIAN INFLUENZA AFFECTS WILD BIRDS, SO IF YOU HAVE A DEAD BIRD ON THE PROPERTY, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE ASSUMPTION IT COULD BE INFECTED.

WE DON'T KNOW.

WE JUST RECOMMEND IF YOU'RE GOING TO REMOVE IT, USE A SLOFL OR SOMETHING, WEAR GLOVES.

JUST PROTECT YOURS.

>> Cassidy: AND IF THOSE BIRDS ARE FOUND, WHERE DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF AG COME IN AND HOW ARE WE TESTING THESE BIRDS AND DISPOSE OF THEM TO MAKE SURE THE SPREAD DOES NOT GO ANY FURTHER?

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF AG ONLY DEALS WITH DOMESTIC POULTRY, SO THE WILD BIRDS ARE -- THEY WOULD BE HANDLED THROUGH USDA WILDLIFE SERVICES, WHICH IS AN AGENCY WITHIN USDA AND THEY'RE HOUSED IN OUR BUILDING.

IF WE SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF BIRDS, LIKE BLACK BIRDS, THEY ROUTINELY TEST WATERFOWL AND HARVEST AND DIE OFF THE WATER FOUL, BUT IF WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF BLACK BIRDS OR CROWS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY WOULD TEST THOSE FOR AVIAN INFLUENZA.

I'D JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT KILL BIRDS, SO JUST BECAUSE YOU SEE A DEAD BIRD DOES NOT MEAN IT'S AVIAN INFLUENCE AT ALL.

>> Cassidy: AND DR. BRATZLER, FOR THOSE WHO EAT POULTRY PRODUCTS, LIKE EGGS, CHICKEN, EVEN THE BROTHS WE'VE SEEN BEING RECALLED, IS THERE ANYTHING THEY NEED TO BE DOING DIFFERENTLY WHEN BUYING THESE PRODUCTS OR COOKING THESE PRODUCTS?

>> I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO DO MUCH DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF BUYING THE PRODUCTS, BUT CERTAINLY WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO APPROPRIATELY PREPARE THE FOOD, COOK IT THOROUGHLY BEFORE YOU EAT IT.

I THINK THAT'S PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

ONE THING WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IS DAIRY CATTLE WHICH HAVE BEEN INFECTED AND THERE'S UNPASTEURIZED MILK -- I KNOW I GREW UP ON A FARM EARLY -- WHERE THEY OFTEN DRANK RAW MILK AFTER MILKING THE CATTLE, THE DAIRY CATTLE, SO AGAIN, IF YOU'RE DOING THINGS LIKE THAT, EATING RAW MEAT, EATING UN-PASTEURIZED MILK, YOU PUT YOURSELF AS SOME GREATER RISK.

>> Cassidy: TRY NOT TO DO THAT.

AND JOANNE, HOW ARE LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL AGENCIES -- WE TALK ABOUT EARLIER, BUT HOW ARE WE ALL WORKING TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY TO MAKE SURE WE GET A HANDLE ON THIS SITUATION?

>> WE HAVE REALLY GREAT PARTNERSHIPS HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

MYSELF AND OUR STATE PUBLIC HEALTH VETERINARIAN, WE MEET VERY FREQUENTLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND SO ANYTIME WE DO HAVE A POSITIVE FLOCK, A POSITIVE DAIRY HERD, EVEN A PERSON THAT MIGHT BE MONITORED, WE'RE IN VERY, VERY CLOSE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION TO ENSURE THAT ALL OKLAHOMANS ARE SAFE.

>> Cassidy: AND DR. HALL, ILLEGAL KOCH FIGHTING HAS COME UP AS A POTENTIAL RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF AVIAN INFLUENZA.

IS THAT A PROBLEM HERE IN OKLAHOMA?

>> AS FAR AS WE KNOW, WE'VE NOT HAD ANY SPREAD BECAUSE OF COCK FIGHTING.

ANYTIME YOU COMMINGLE BIRDS THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE INFECTED, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SPREADING ANY DISEASE, NOT JUST AVIAN INFLUENZA.

YOU KNOW, BUT TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY SPREAD THROUGH COCK FIGHTING OR POULTRY SHOWS.

WE GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT POULTRY SHOWS AND SHOULD THEY HAVE THOSE, AND THERE'S JUST BEEN NO EVIDENCE OF ANY SPREAD.

AS LONG AS THEY BRING HEALTHY BIRDS THERE, WE THINK THAT'S PRETTY SAFE AS FAR AS -- >> Cassidy: IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

>> RIGHT.

>> Cassidy: AND DR. BRATZLER, THE CDC RECENTLY UPDATED GUIDELINES FOR TESTING HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS FOR BIRD FLU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK PROMPTED THIS CHANGE AND IS OKLAHOMA READY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

>> I THINK EACH INDIVIDUAL HOSPITAL IN THE STATE HAS TO THINK ABOUT THIS, BUT THE CDC ISSUED GUIDANCE THIS PAST WEEK THAT BASICALLY SAID IF YOU HAVE A HOSPITALIZED PATIENT WHO TESTS POSITIVE FOR INFLUENZA A, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER TESTING THEM FOR AVIAN INFLUENZA H5N1, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE CRITICALLY ILL, PARTICULARLY SICK IN THE ICU.

OU HEALTH HAS IMPLEMENTED THAT.

I TALKED WITH OUR DIRECTOR OF CRITICAL CARE THIS MORNING ABOUT IT AND WE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO FIGURE OUT WAYS IF WE HAVE SOMEBODY WITH INFLUENZA A, PARTICULARLY THOSE REALLY SICK PATIENT, THAT WE TEST THEM.

>> Cassidy: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NUNEZ A AND H5N1?

>> THAT IS BIRD KNEW.

IT IS A TYPE A INFLUENZA.

>> Cassidy: AND ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A VACCINATION PROGRAM FEW OUR POULTRY IN THE STATE AND IS THAT FEASIBLE?

>> NOT REALLY, NOT FOR THE POULTRY.

IT WAS ATTEMPTED IN FRANCE WHERE THEY HAVE A LARGE DUCK POPULATION.

IT WAS NOT REALLY SUCCESSFUL IN PREVENTING THE DISEASE THERE.

THE LOGISTICS OF PRODUCING THAT MUCH VACCINE AND STORING IT PROPERLY WOULD BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO DO, AND THERE'S ALSO TRADE IMPLICATIONS IF WE STARTED VACCINATING.

THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT I.

WE HAVE -- USDA HAS ALLOWED VACCINATING SOME ENDANGERED SPECIES LIKE THE CALIFORNIA CONDORS, SOME ZOOS' VERY VALUABLE COLLECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES OF BIRD, THEY'VE ALLOWED TO VACCINATE, BUT OUR POULTRY POPULATION, HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT WE WOULD DO THAT.

>> Cassidy: NOT LIKELY.

DR. BRATZLER, MOVING BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT TO THE PRODUCE AND OUR CHICKEN AND EGGS, HOW DID THE AVIAN INFLUENZA ACTUALLY AFFECT WHAT WE'RE EATING?

>> I THINK, AGAIN, IF YOU'RE EATING RAW MEET -- RAW MEAT OR EGGS THAT ARE UNCOOKED -- >> Cassidy: YOU'RE GOING TO GET SICK.

>> AND THAT BIRD WRITTEN FECTED, YOU -- WERE INFECTED, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY EXPOSE YOURSELF.

I LOOKED AT ALL THE OUTBREAKS IN THE U.S., MOST ARE ASSOCIATED EITHER WITH DAIRY CATTLE OR POULTRY FARMS AND AGAIN, IT'S WHEN YOU GET INFECTED POPULATIONS AND YOU'RE CLOSE TO THEM, BECAUSE IT DOES SPREAD THROUGH THE AIR ALSO, BUT IF YOU'RE EATING MEAT THAT'S UNCOOKED OR MILK THAT IS UNPASTEURIZED, YOU COULD PUT YOURSELF AT RISK.

>> Cassidy: SO THERE'S NO MAIN CONCERNS OF PEOPLE GOING GROCERY SHOPPING OTHER THAN THE PRICE.

VERY GOOD.

AND MOVING BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC REALLY SHOOK UP WHAT WE THOUGHT WE KNEW ABOUT BEING PREPARED FOR A HEALTH CRISIS.

ARE WE WORRIED THAT THERE'S ANY SIGNS OF THAT HAPPENING AGAIN WITH THE BIRD FLU AND EVEN FURTHER, ARE WE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT SITUATION IF IT DOES TAKE A TURN FOR THE WORSE?

>> SO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, I THINK A LOT OF US HAVE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY VERY FRESH OFF OF THE COVID PANDEMIC THAT KILL MORE THAN A MILLION AMERICANS, AND WE JUST -- IT FILLED UP OUR HOSPITALS.

THERE WERE POINTS IN TIME IN TIME WHERE WE HAD 2,000 PEOPLE A DAY IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID.

WE DON'T ANYMORE, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF CAPACITY THAT WE BUILT UP DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT WOULD HELP US BE PREPARED FOR AVIAN INFLUENZA.

I KNOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RELEASED A CONTRACT TO MODERNA THIS WEEK TO START PRODUCING A AVIAN INFLUENZA VACCINE JUST IN CASE WE DID SEE HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION START OR AN OUTBREAK BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF PREVENTING ONGOING SPREAD OF THE DISEASE.

>> Cassidy: BUT AT THIS TIME, NO HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION, JUST TRYING TO GET LADY -- HAEFTZ SITUATION.

>> TRYING TO BE LADY AND PREPARED.

>> Cassidy: I WANTED TO SEE YOU HAVE ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> NO, JUST BE AWARE, KEEP TRACK OF IT.

THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL CERTAINLY LET YOU KNOW IF WE HAVE OUTBREAKS IN THE STATE?

>> JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE RISK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS VERY LOW AT THIS FOR IT AND WE'RE CERTAINLY WATCHING THE SITUATION AND WE'RE CERTAINLY MONITORING.

>> DR. HALL, FINISH US OFF.

>> JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT AS DR. BRATZLER SAID, PROPERLY PREPARED POULTRY AND DAIRY PRODUCTS ARE PERFECTLY SAFE TO CONTINUE CONSUMING.

WE JUST DON'T WANT TO CAUSE ANY UNDUE ALARM.

>> Cassidy: OKAY.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT HERE AND JOINING US FOR THIS PROTECTION.

>> Rich: A LOT OF REALLY GREAT INFORMATION THERE.

>>> TIME HAS RUN OUT FOR EV MANUFACTURER CANOO.

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

>> Jason: THE STARTUP ELECTRIC COMPANY CANOO HAS FILED CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY IN A DELAWARE FEDERAL COURT.

THE TEXAS-BASED COMPANY HAS HALTED OPERATIONS AT ITS TWO OKLAHOMA FACILITIES AND ANNOUNCED LATE LAST YEAR TWO ROUNDS OF LAYOFFS.

THE COMPANY HAD BEEN TRYING TO RAISE MONEY TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS AND WAS EVEN TURNED DOWN FOR A LOAN FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S LOAN PROGRAM.

A BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEE WILL OVERSEE THE LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY.

>>> OKLAHOMA CITY-BASED BANCFIRST CORPORATION IS REPORTING YEARLY NET INCOME FOR 2024 TOTALING $216.4 MILLION.

THAT'S COMPARED TO 2023'S PROFIT OF $212.5 MILLION.

DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2024, THE BANKING COMPANY BROUGHT IN NET INCOME OF 56.5 MILLION, UP OVER THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2023, WHICH CAME IN AT 48.9 MILLION.

OVER LAST YEAR, BANCFIRST INCREASED ITS TOTAL ASSETS BY $1.2 BILLION TO 13.6 BILLION.

>>> THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR ONEOK HAS RAISED THE COMPANY'S QUARTERLY STOCK DIVIDEND BY 4%.

THAT MEANS INVESTORS WILL RECEIVE A $1.03 PER SHARE DIVIDEND.

THE TULSA COMPANIES STOCK MUST BE IN AN INVESTOR'S PORTFOLIO BEFORE THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON FEBRUARY 3rd.

IF THAT HAPPENS, THEY WILL RECEIVE THE INCREASED DIVIDEND PAYMENT ON FEBRUARY 14th.

A HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY INDEED FOR ONEOK INVESTORS.

>>> THE PARENT COMPANY OF PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA, AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER, WILL ALSO BE PAYING OUT A STOCK DIVIDEND IN MARCH.

INVESTORS CAN EXPECT A 93-CENT-A-SHARE PAYMENT IF THEY OWN STOCK AS OF FEBRUARY 10th.

>>> DURING THIS YEAR'S LODGING SUMMIT IN OKLAHOMA CITY FOR THE OKLAHOMA HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION, THREE "HEART FOR THE HOSPITALITY AWARDS" WERE GIVEN.

MACKENZIE PLANK WITH THE SKIRVIN HILTON HOTEL WAS HONORED WITH THE OUTSTANDING LODGING EMPLOYEE AWARD.

BLANE THOMPSON OF ELLISON HOTEL RECEIVED THE EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD.

THE OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARD WENT TO MICHA KRODEL OF CORY'S A/V.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> Rich: JASON, THANK YOU.

>>> SOME FOLKS ARE JUST CRAZY ABOUT THEIR CATS, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT PETS, BUT JUST LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT'S THE STORY DOWN IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, WHERE ONE MAN LIVES WITH A PURPOSE INHERITED FROM HIS LATE WIFE.

THAT STORY COURTESY OF OUR PBS PARTNERS AT WUFT IN FLORIDA.

GO THROUGH ABOUT 25 CANS A DAY.

THAT'S 500 CANS, SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO THAT.

I NEED TO PUT THESE IN MY POCKET.

I NEED MORE HANDS.

I TOLD YOU WHAT I NEED AND I HAVEN'T GOT ANYMORE HANDS.

ALL RIGHT.

TODAY WE'RE GOING OUTSIDE.

I DO IT TWICE A DAY, EVERY DAY.

I DON'T CARE WHAT THE WEATHER IS, HOW COLD, RAIN.

IF I CAN NOT GET THE FOOD WET, I'M GOING OUT THERE, AND THAT'S WHAT -- THAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.

OKAY.

I'VE LEARNED THIS FROM RIDING A BIKE FROM THERE TO OVER THERE, I IT WILL ALL THESE BUMPS AND THESE PLATES TURN OVER, SO -- [ LAUGHTER ] YOU ALREADY ATE, BABY.

YOU ALREADY ATE.

I DON'T WANT -- HI.

THAT'S CURL AND FRAIDY.

LOOK WHAT WE GOT HERE.

LISTEN, I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I'M 75, I HAVE NO ACHES OR PAINS.

I FEEL LIKE I'M 40.

LIBIDO OF 20, WE'LL LEAVE THAT ALONE, BUT FULL OF ENERGY.

FULL OF PISS AND VINEGAR AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT'S BECAUSE I STAY ACTIVE.

I ALWAYS WAS A DOG PERSON AND THE CATS ARE NUSH BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL -- UNUSUAL BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

>> HOLD ON, GUYS.

HANG TIGHT.

I NEED MORE HANDS.

I AIN'T GOT MORE HANDS.

THE PROBLEM I HAVE THAT REALLY BOTHERS ME IS SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL DROP ME OFF A PREGNANT FEMALE BECAUSE THEY'RE IRRESPONSIBLE.

THEY DIDN'T GET THEM FIXED, DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THEM, OR FEED THEM.

SO THEY'LL DROP THEM OFF AND THEY'RE GOING TO THE HOUSE AND EVENTUALLY START SEEING NEW CAPITAL COMING UP.

YOU NEED ONE, THEY TELL THE OTHERS, THERE'S A MAN DOWN THERE FEEDING THEM.

IT'S A LOT EASIER TO HAVE A CAT NEUTERED AND SPAYED THAN TO SEE A BABY KITTEN THAT'S BORN AND GOES THROUGH A HORRENDOUS LIFE.

END OF STORY, YOU GOT TO DO IT.

MY WIFE STARTED IT YEARS AGO AND SHE PASSED IN 2015.

THAT'S HOW LONG I'VE BEEN DOING IT.

IT'S A TRIBUTE TO HER ALWAYS BECAUSE SHE DID IT HERE.

BUT YEAH, I ALWAYS THINK OF HER.

I WAS MARRIED TO HER ALMOST 50 YEARS, BUT THE CATS ARE FOR ME.

THEY WEREN'T ASKED TO BE BORN IN THE WORLD AND THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A HORRENDOUS SITUATION AT A YOUNG, YOUNG, YOUNG AGE.

I GET SUCH GREAT FEELINGS OF SEEING CATS EAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE HUNGRY.

TO I DON'T LIVE LIKE A RICH MAN, BUT I EAT THREE TIMES A DAY, HAVE A ROOF OVER MY HEAD.

BUT IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CATS, I'D HAVE NO PURPOSE.

THEY GIVE ME PURPOSE, THEY GIVE ME A MEANING OF LIFE.

>> Rich: ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT: THE OKLAHOMA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND HOSTS FIVE SCHOOLS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN A COMPETITION THAT INCLUDES WRESTLING, CHEERLEADING, AND PERFORMING ARTS.

A STORY YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS, NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:00.

>>> WE'LL SAY SO LONG THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT A SPECIAL SCREENING OF OETA'S LATEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURING NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIST HARVEY PRATT, SHOT AND EDITED FOR US BY DIRECTOR BRANDON DOWNEY.

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

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AND X BY SEARCHING "OETA O.N.R."

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

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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