>>> GOVERNOR STITT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SHOUTED DOWN BY PROTESTORS AT A PUBLIC FORUM TO DISCUSS THE IMPACTS OF THE McBEGINNING DECISION.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND FOR ALL THE VICTIMS, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> THE STATE EDUCATION BOARD PASSES EMERGENCY RULES TO IMPLEMENT HOUSE BILL 1775.

WHAT THEY ARE AND WHAT THE REACTION HAS BEEN.

>>> IN TEACHING ABOUT PAST INJUST THIS OUR COUNTRY THE ANSWER SHOULD NOT BE TO TEACH INJUSTICE TOWARDS THE CURRENT STUDENTS.

>> WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DISCUSS NO MATTER HOW UGLY THEY MAY BE.

>> THE BRICKTOWN WATER TACO SERVICE TURNS 22.

WHAT'S BEING DONE TO CELEBRATION AND PREPARE FOR POST PANDEMIC LIVE.

>> I THINK THE CANAL CONTINUES TO ACTIVITY FOR MANY YEARS.

BUT WE'RE TRYING TO ADD TO THAT.

WE'RE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PEOPLE WANT TO VISIT.

>> AND THE SAME GOES FOR TULSA GROWING MOTHER MARKET.

>> HAVING MY BUSINESS ON ROUTE 66 IS REALLY A DREAM COME TRUE.

>> PLUS, THE LATEST OKLAHOMA BUSINESS NEWS NEXT ON "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

I'M RICH LENZ.

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HOUSE BILL 1775 PROHIBITS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES FROM TEACHING IN PART THE "ONE RACE OR SEX IS INHERENTLY SUPERIOR TO OATH."

MONDAY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TOOK UP THAT MATTER AS PROPONENTS OF THE NEW LAW PUSHED TODD IT ENACTED AND READY FOR IF UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

RORY TAYLOR REPORTS THOSE OPPOSED TO THE LAW ARE PUSHING BACK.

>> EVERYONE ELSE EXPERIENCE MATTERS, EXCEPT FOR MY LIFE.

WHY IS MY LIFE POLITICAL?

>> WHEN GOVERNOR STITT SIGNED HOUSE BILL 1775 INTO LAW, IT BECAME THE JOB OF THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD TO DECIDE HOW THAT LAW WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AND ENFORCED.

>> EMERGENCY RULES ARE IMMEDIATELY IN EFFECT ONCE THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THOSE.

THEY ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE TRADITIONAL REGULAR RULE PROMULGATION, WHICH REQUIRES PUBLIC COMMENT.

IN THIS CASE, SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS THAT WERE PART OF WRITING THAT BILL MADE THEIR DESIRE KNOWN.

>> RATHER THAN SPECIFIC FLAMING AND BANNING CRITICAL RACE THEORY THE LAW FORBIDS A NUMBER OF SPECIFIED TENENTS.

>> EVERYONE AT THIS TABLE, EVERYONE THAT IS IN THIS ROOM HAS A WORLD VIEW.

SO WHOSE LENZ DO WE TEACH IS?

>> IN PUBLIC COMMENTS SAPPHIRA LLOYD AN OKLAHOMA CITY STUDENT CAUTIONED THE TEACHINGS BEING PROHIBITED REPRESENT MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY ENTAILS.

>> MAY I ASK YOU WHAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS TO YOU?

>> I FELL AS THOUGH WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DISCUSS CRITICAL TOPICS OF HISTORY NO MATTER HOW UGLY THEY MAY BE AND TEACH KIDS HOW TO HANDLE HARD CONVERSATIONS.

IF WE ARE TO MOVE ON OR ELEVATE TO SUCCESS WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO TEACH OUR DARK HISTORY SO WE WOULDN'T REPEAT THOSE MISTAKES AND ACTUALLY HEAL AS A COUNTRY?

>> LLOYD SAYS CRT IS LOOKING AT HISTORY AND EXAMINING AT WHAT SYSTEMS WERE IMPACTED, RATHER THAN THE BANNED IDEA AN INDIVIDUAL IS INHERENTLY RACIST.

THIS ARGUMENT IS ACTUALLY BACKED BY THE ONE VOTE AGAINST THE NEW RULES FROM THE STATE BOARD.

>> THE CORRELATION BETWEEN CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE BILL IS CONTRADICTORY.

IT SPEAKS ABOUT THE EXAMINATION OF LAWS, AND THE WAYS IN WHICH LAWS ARE IMPLEMENTED TO UP HOLD SYSTEMS OF RACISM AND SO WHEN WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION I FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS, AND B TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A RUSHED PROCESS.

>> WHILE BOARD MEMBER BRADLEY ARGUE NO SIR ONE IS TEACHING INHERENT INDIVIDUAL RACISM IN THE FIRST PLACE, THE EMERGENCY RULES WERE SUPPORTED BY MOST IN ATTENDANCE.

>> SUPERINTENDENT HOFMEISTER, YOU HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION AND PROFESSIONAL DUTY TO SUPPORT ENDORSE AND ENFORCE HOUSE BILL 1775 AND TO DISA PLOW DENYING ANY SEMBLANCE OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

>> IN TEACHING ABOUT PAST INJUSTICE IN OUR COUNTRY, THE ANSWER SHOULD NOT BE TO TEACH INJUSTICE TOWARDS CURRENT STUDENTS.

PLEASE ADOPT EMERGENCY RULE THAT PROTECTS STUDENT, FAMILIES AND TAXPAYERS FROM TEACHERS AND DISTRICTS WHO HAVE ADOPTED THE MISGUIDED APPROACH OF TEACHING THE TENENTS OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

>> THE RULE LAYS OUT THE PROCESS FOR ENFORCEMENT, AS WELL.

PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO INSPECT CURRICULUM AND STUDENT, PARENTS OR SCHOOL STARVE CAN FILE COMPLAINTS TO THE SCHOOL IN QUESTION OR DIRECTLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR INVESTIGATION.

PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS CAN INCLUDE REDUCING OR REMOVING ACCREDITATION FOR SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS AND SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF A TEACHER'S LICENSE.

ALL THAT FALLING IN LINE WITH DEMANDS FROM THOSE WHO WANT MORE PARENTAL OVERSIGHT.

>> PARENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GO TO COURT TO GET JUDICIAL PROTECTION FOR THEIR CHILDREN WHO JUST WANT TO LEARN ACADEMIC SUBJECTS TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR SUCCESSFUL LIVES.

>> WE AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS URGE YOU TO ALLOW ACCESS TO ALL MATERIALS USED IN THE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTIONS AND THOSE MATERIALS USED TO TRAIN TEACHERS, AS WELL.

OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR MOST PRECIOUS COMMODITY AND WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED TO THEM IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION UNANIMOUSLY DISAVOWED THE NEW LAW WITH BOARD MEMBER RUTH SAYING THE LAW FUNCTIONS IN ORDER THE PROTECT WHITE FRAGILITY.

THEY ISSUED THE STATEMENT THAT THE CURRENT CURRICULUM IS NOT IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAWS.

THE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING, WE BELIEVE THIS SHOULD CLEAR UP SOME CONFUSION AND GIVES OKLAHOMA EDUCATORS THE CONFIDENCE TO CONTINUE TEACHING AS THEY HAVE BEEN SINCE THE STANDARDS WERE ADOPTED.

STATE SUPERINTENDENT JOE HOFF MICESTER WHO CHAIRS THE OETA BOARD VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE RULES.

BUT WARNED THAT THE PROCESS LACKS TRANSPARENCY, WITH THE EMERGENCY POLICY BEING MADE PUBLIC ONLY MINUTES BEFORE IT WAS DISCUSSED AND VOTED ON.

>> THESE AREN'T EMERGENCY RULES.

THEY ARE TEMPORARY.

AND THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT I -- ARE FEELING A LOT OF FEAR.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS BACK ON THIS.

>> NEW RULES FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW WILL BE DRAFTED WITH MORE PUBLIC INPUT AND APPROVED IN THE FALL.

RORY TAYLOR, THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> AS RORY REPORTED PROPONENTS SAY THE BILL BANS THE TEACHING OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY WHILE OPPONENTS ARGUE IT'S A NONISSUE.

STAY WITH US.

COMING UP, IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION FEATURING VOICES FROM BOTH SIDES THISH ZOO THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTE TODD INTERVENE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TAKING OVER FOR SUPERINTENDENT MANNIX BARNES.

HE'S BEEN REPLACED ON AN INTERIM BASIS BY MONTY GUTHRIE.

THE SOUTHWEST OBJECT CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ON PROBATION DUE TO ALLEGED MISMANAGEMENT BY BARNES, WHO ALSO HAD HIS CERTIFICATION SUSPENDED BY THE BOARD RECENTLY.

THE WESTERN HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT IS SUING THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD FOR SUSPENDING BARNES AND PUTTING THE DISTRICT ON PROBATION.

>>> ON JUNE 10th DAILY AVERAGE OF NEW CASES DROP TODD 106 IN THE ENTIRE STATE.

THIS THURSDAY IT WAS 532.

A DAY LATER THE ROLLING SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE OF NEW CASES PER DAY JUMPED TODD 561.

THAT IS AN INCREASE OF 429% IN ROUGHLY FIVE WEEKS.

A 65% INCREASE FROM ONE WEEK AGO.

323 OKLAHOMAMANS ARE HOSPITALIZED.

111 OF THEM ARE IN ICU BEDS.

THE DEATH TOLL STANDS AT 8,666.

26 MORE OKLAHOMANS DIED OF COMPANY VIS IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

ABOUT 39% OF OKLAHOMA CITIZENS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

>>> THE OTHER BIG STORY IN OKLAHOMA THIS WEEK, A PUBLIC FORUM ON THE IMPACT OF THE McGIRT DECISION IN TULSA WAS DISRUPTED BY PROTESTORS WHO BOOED GOVERNOR STITT AND OTHERS AS THEY TOOK THE PODIUM TO SPEAK.

JASON DOYLE WAS THERE AND HAS MORE ON WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A WILD EVENT AND THE REACTION TO IT FROM LEADERS AND THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE LANDMARK SUPREME COURT RULING.

>> THANK YOU PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU AND FOR ALL THE VICTIMS PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> THAT IS HOW TUESDAY EVENING'S McGIRT COMMUNITY IMPACT FORUM ENDED FOR GOVERNOR STITT, THE PROSECUTES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ON THE PANEL.

THE SPEAKERS GOT THE SAME TREATMENT.

>> McGIRT WAS A SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT WAS THRUST ON THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA ATTACKING BOTH OUR TRIBAL AND STATE CITIZENS.

THERE WAS NO -- McGIRT HAS SO MANY ISSUES WITH IT.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT.

YELLING AT EACH OTHER WILL NOT SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.

WE GOT TO SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER.

THANK YOU.

>> ENWHEN STITT ACKNOWLEDGED THE ATTENDANCE THE CROW PUSHED BACK.

>> WELCOME CHIEF.

I THINK HE'S IN THE AUDIENCE.

>> THE LACK OF TRIBAL REPRESENTATION ON FORUM PANELEL BUT OUT PROTESTORS BEFORE AND DURING THE PRESENTATION.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTOR PEOPLE, THE TRIBE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO PROSECUTE AND WE CAN HANDLE OUR OWN.

>> MY FIRST AND FOREMOST PRIORITY IS THE SAFETY OF OKLAHOMANS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.

>> THE STATED INTENT OF FORUM WAS THE REACH OUT TO CRIME VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHICH COULD SEE THEIR CASES IMPACTED BY THE McGIRT DECISION.

PROSECUTORS LIKE DISTRICT 27 DA TRY TODD EXPLAIN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION TIED THE HANDS OF THE STATE.

>> THERE IS A CLASS OF CASES WHERE A NONMEMBER OF A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE IF THEY COMMIT A CRIME AGAINST A MEMBER OF A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBE THE ONLY JURISDICTIONAL PROSECUTION ENTITY THAT CAN HANDLE THAT CASE IS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THOSE CASES ARE NOT BEING PROSECUTED.

>> KNOWING EXACTLY WHICH GOVERNMENT BODY WILL HANDLE CRIMINAL CASE WITHIN RESERVATION TERRITORY LED TO CONFUSION FOR CRIME VICTIMS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO THOUGHT THEIR CASE WAS CLOSED.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEIR CASE THAT MAYBE ADJUDICATED TEN YEARS AGO, 15, 20 YEARS AGO, COULD BE UP FOR REVIEW UNDER THIS SUPREME COURT RULING.

>> KIM MANNIX IS THE STATE DIRECTOR OF MARSY'S LAW FOR OKLAHOMA, WHICH SUPPORTS VICTIM'S RIGHTS.

>> IT'S SHOCKING TO BE NOTIFIED ONE DAY THAT YOU KNOW MAYBE THE PERSON WHO IS SERVING TIME IN PRISON FOR COMMITTING A CRIME AGAINST YOU NOW SUDDENLY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW INVESTIGATION AND NEW TRIAL DUE TO THE RULING BY THE SUPREME COURT.

AND SO IT IS VERY CONFUSING.

>> THE GOVERNOR'S SPECIAL COUNCIL FOR McGIRT ISSUES BELIEVES APPEALS WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE STATE AND FEDERAL SYSTEMS WILL DECIDE HOW THE McGIRT DECISION SHOULD BE APPLIED GOING FORWARD.

>> ONE CASE PENDING THAT WOULD INVOLVE RETROACTIVITY OF McGIRT, ANOTHER McGIRT RETROACTIVE, ABOUT 100,000 CASES LOOKING BACK OVER 30 YEARS.

>> RETROACTIVITY MEANS THAT A LEGAL PRINCIPLE COULD BE APPLIED TO THE PAST.

AND THAT IS A BIG DEAL IN TERMS OF CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.

>> ATTORNEY MIKE McBRIDE SAYS THE IMPACT WILL BECOME MORE DRASTIC IF McGIRT IS APPLIED TO PAST CASES.

>> YOU CAN APPLY THE McGIRT CASE TO PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS, THEN YOU KNOW THAT COULD REALLY CREATE A LOT OF MOVEMENT AT THE PRISONS.

>> RECENT CASES HAVE EXPANDED McGIRT BEYOND THE FIVE TRIBES RESERVATION AS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA VERSUS BREASTER.

>> IT'S A CRIMINAL CASE, AND THE COURT THREW OUT THE JURISDICTION, ON THE BASIS OF McGIRT, AND FOUND THAT THE TRIBE ONE OF THE NON-FIVE TRIBES THAT THEIR RESERVATION WAS STILL INTACT.

>> THE FORUM WAS ENDED EARLIER THAN EXPECTED, AND DEMONSTRATES THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND TRIBAL LEADERS IS REAL.

DAVID HILL ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART, THE McGIRT DECISION HAS CREATED SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVED SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR ALL CITIZENS OF OKLAHOMA.

WE HAVE CONTINUALLY SOUGHT COLLABORATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS TO REALIZE THIS NEW PROMISE.

BUT RATHER THAN WORK TOGETHER SOME POLITICIANS SEEM DETERMINED TO RETURN TO THE BROKEN SYSTEMS OF THE PAST AND ARE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS, EVEN PREY UPON THE PAIN OF VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> IT LACKS THE FULL COMMUNITY, EXCEPT THOSE WHO CAME IN TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE GAPS IN THE FORUM, IN THE PANEL.

IF WE WANT TO HAVE A DIALOGUE ABOUT McGIRT, WHICH WE SURE, WE NEED TO DID THAT IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY, INCLUDING ALL VOICES.

>> THE TURMOIL DOESN'T MEAN THE TRIBES, STATE AND GET FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AREN'T TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING.

>> EVERY SERIOUS LEADER IN THE STATE THAT IS WORKING ON McGIRT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAME THING, AND IT MAKES -- IT IS MAKING SURE WE HAVE A BLANKETED PROTECTION ACROSS OUR JURISDICTION, WHETHER IT'S OUR RESERVATION, OR THE STATE.

>> THE NATION IS INVESTING INTO ITS OWN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO HANDLE THE SURGE OF CASES.

>> THAT'S THE REASON WE HAVE OVER 1200 CASES TRANSFERRED FROM THE WRONG JURISDICTION, THE STATE, TO CHEROKEE NATION JURISDICTION.

WE'RE DOING OUR JOB.

WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE PROTECTING VICTIMS.

WE'RE PUTTING MORE RESOURCES INTO VICTIM SERVICES DOUBLING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE.

>> WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE HOW THE CHEROKEES ARE ACCOMPLISHING THAT NEXT WEEK.

JASON DOYLE, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REVISIT JASON'S REPORT OR ANY OF THE CONTENT SEEN HERE ON "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," IT'S EASY TO DO.

JUST VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT OETA.TV/ONR/ONR, OR FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWISTER AT OETAONR.

>>> IF HOUSE BILL 1775 IS THE HOT BUTTON ISSUE, WHAT WILL THE HEATED LEGISLATIVE DEBATES BE NEXT FEBRUARY?

THE OKLAHOMA SENATE RELEASED THE LIST OF INTERIM STUDIES AND THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO FOLLOW SUIT.

STEVE SHAW SPOKE WITH SHAWN ASHLEY ABOUT THE KEY ISSUES ON THE MINDS OF LAWMAKERS.

>> Reporter: SHAWN, FOR OUR VIEWERS NOT SURE, TELL US EXACTLY WHAT AN INTERIM STUDY IS.

>> INTERIM STUDIES GIVE LAWMAKERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE ISSUES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE SESSION ITSELF USUALLY FOCUSES ON THE BILLS AND THE LANGUAGE INVOLVED IN THOSE BILLS.

THIS LETS THEM LOOK AT THE ISSUES BEFORE THEY BECOME PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

OFTENTIMES THEY'LL HAVE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD COME IN, SOMETIMES HEAR FROM CITIZENS ABOUT THE VARIOUS ISSUES INVOLVED IN THE STUDIES.

GREG TREAT APPROVED 71 STUDY REQUESTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE SENATE.

HOUSE SPEAKER CHARLES McCALL IS EXPECTED TO ACT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS ON THE MORE THAN 130 REQUESTS THAT HIS MEMBERS SUBMITTED.

THOSE MEMBERS WHO GET THEIR STUDIES APPROVED WORK WITH COMMITTEE CHAIRS TO SET UP FINAL HEARING DATES.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE INTERIM STUDY ON HOW THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS DECIDES WHICH PRISONS IT WILL CLOSE.

>> THIS STUDY WAS REQUESTED BY SENATOR APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR ROGER THOMSON.

AND SENATOR MURDOCK.

YOU MAY RECALL SENATOR THOMSON HELD A COMMITTEE HEARING IN JUNE REGARDING THE PENDING CLOSURE OF THE WILLIAM CORRECTIONAL CENTER WHICH THIS MURDOCK'S DISTRICT.

THOMSON TOLD ME AFTER THAT MEETING HE WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE OUTCOME BECAUSE HE REALLY DIDN'T HEAR FROM CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS HOW MUCH SAVINGS THERE WOULD BE INVOLVED, AND THE PROCESS USED TO DETERMINE THAT THE PRISON WOULD BE CLOSED.

THAT IS WHAT THEY HOPE TO EXAMINE IN THE STUDY SOMETIME.

>> SHAWN IT LOOKS LIKE THE SENATE WILL TAKE UP A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON HOW WELL OUR SCHOOLS BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ARE PERFORMING.

>> YOU KNOW, COMMON EDUCATION HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER THE YEARS, AND WHAT WAS ONCE THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLHOUSE NOW MAY BE ONLINE OR IT MAY BE A PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT RECEIVES PUBLIC FUNDING FROM A VARIETY OF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS.

SENATOR GARVIN REQUESTED THIS STUDY TO LOOK AT GRADUATION RATES, ATTENDANCE RATES, SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT AND STUDENT SUCCESS, BETWEEN TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THOSE CHARTER AND ONLINE AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

>> SHAWN, THE SENATE INTENDS TO EXAMINE NOT FOR PROFIT HOSPITALS.

HOW SO?

>> THIS STUDY AROSE FROM THE PRESENTATION OF SENATE BILL 930, A BILL BY SENATE MAJORITY LEADER KIM DIVVIED THAT WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION.

DAVID SAID SEVEN OF THE NATION'S LARGEST HOSPITALS AND ROUGHLY ONE HALF OF THE LARGEST HOSPITALS IN OKLAHOMA WERE NOT FOR PROFIT HOSPITALS.

BUT IN MANY CASES, SHE SAID, THOSE SAME HOSPITALS WERE OWNED BY LARGE CORPORATIONS, SOME OF WHICH WERE LOCATED OUT OF STATE.

DAVID TOLD THE COMMITTEE I DON'T SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOR PROFIT NONPROFIT HOSPITALS EXCEPT SHE NOTED NONPROFIT HOSPITALS ENJOY A TAX FREE STATUS THAT FOR PROFIT HOSPITALS DO NOT.

>> SHAWN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> HONORING MESH'S WARRIORS IS A NONPROFIT OKLAHOMA BASED GROUP CREATED IN 2015 TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND PLACEMENT OF SERVICE DOGS TO ASSIST DISABLED VETERANS.

WE PROFILED THE AMAZING WORK THIS GROUP DOES ON "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

AND NOW THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO EVEN MORE OF IT.

THEY HAVE BEEN AWARDED A PORTION OF A $10 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT TO HELP PROVIDE THESE DOGS AT NO COST TO THE VETERANS WHO NEED THEM.

>> IT'S BEEN LIFE-CHANGING AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY IN EVERY AVENUE IT'S CHANGED IT, SAVED MY LIFE.

A LOT OF OTHER GUYS FEEL THE SAME WAY HERE, BUT IT -- I WENT FROM BEING BROKEN AND MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY AND THIS IS WHAT SHE DOES FOR ME MOBILITY IS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE.

>> VETERANS WISHING TO APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN 405-948-4376 OR LOG ON TO HONORING AMERICA'S WARRIORS.ORG.

>>> THERE ARE MORE THAN 25,000 INMATES CURRENTLY SERVING TIME IN OKLAHOMA PRISONS.

AND EACH OF THEM COSTS ABOUT $90 PER DAY TO INCARCERATE.

CLEARLY KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF PRISON AND MAKING SURE THOSE WHO HAVE DONE THEIR TIME DON'T RETURN IS A GOOD THING FOR THEM AND OKLAHOMA TAXPAYERS.

ALISA HINES REPORTS ON A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AVAILABLE AT THE FRANCIS TUTTLE CENTER THAT AIMS TO DO THAT.

>> MEASURE IT, CUT IT, AND PUT IT TOGETHER.

STUDENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES PROGRAM ARE LEARNING NEW SKILLS TO BETTER THEIR LIVES.

DEVIN IS THE INSTRUCTOR AND SAYS THIS PROGRAM SERVES A DIFFERENT KIND OF STUDENT.

>> SO WE HELP OUT CLEARWATER'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IS OUR MORNING CLASS, AND OUR AFTERNOON CLASS IS PROBATION AND PAROLE.

SO WE GIVE REFERRALS FROM JUDGES, PROBATION OFFICERS, AND ANYBODY THAT IS IN HIGH RISK SITUATION.

>> LIKE JAMES KINGSBURY, AN INMATE AT CLEARWATER, WHO SAYS THE PROGRAM IS CHANGING HIS LIFE.

>> IT GIVES US A FIGHTING CHANCE AT A NEW BEGINNING, WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE AND DO SOMETHING SUCCESSFUL WITH OURSELVES.

WE CAN START OVER, ERASE THE PAST, GET OUT THIS AND WE QUALIFY TO HAVE GOOD JOB.

>> ACCORDING TO SHAWN SCHMID, WHO WORKED WITH THE PROGRAM SINCE IT STARTED 15 YEARS AGO, SHE SEES A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE WHO GO THROUGH THE CLASS.

>> I HAVE SEEN STUDENTS THAT COME IN AND THEY HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES.

THEY NEED THEIR GED OR THEY DON'T, BUT THEY JUST BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH IN THEIR LIFE, THAT WHEN THEY COME THROUGH HERE IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT TO BUY IN, AND THEN WHEN THEY LEAVE THEY ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSON.

AND I'VE HAD THEM COME BACK AFTER YEARS AND SAY I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT THIS PROGRAM HAS DONE FOR ME.

>> IT'S A SIX-MONTH PROGRAM THAT GIVES BASIC INSTRUCTION SKILLS TO THE STUDENTS.

LIKE HOW TO USE HAND TOOLS, FRAMING, SHEETROCKING, HOW TO USE A TAPE MEASURE, AND EVEN MASKS.

THAT LAST ONE IS A BIT OF A CHALLENGE FOR KINGSBURY.

>> IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE HAD TO USE MY MATH SKILLS, SO THEY HAVE THE CLASSROOM IN THERE, AND IT KIND OF BROUGHT EVERYTHING BACK FROM HIGH SCHOOL, AND IT JUST TOOK A WHILE TO GET USED TO EVERYTHING.

YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THOSE NUMBERS IN SO MANY YEARS, THAT IT TAKES A WHILE TO KIND OF READAPT TO EVERYTHING.

>> FOR STUDENTS LIKE TABREIS WILSON, THERE IS EVEN HELP OBTAINING A GED.

>> I JUST GOT MY SCIENCE GED.

I PASSED IT AND I HAVE TWO MORE TESTS TO PASS AFTER THAT.

I'M HERE TO FURTHER MY EDUCATION, AND TAKE SOME SKILLS WITH ME OUT IN THE REAL WORLD THAT I CAN HAVE FOREVER.

>> AND STUDENTS EARN THE SKILLS THROUGH HANDS ON LEARNING.

>> THE REASON WE DO A LOT OF SMALL PROJECTS, SOME OF THE BIGGER PROJECTS FRAMING SHEETROCK THE TOOL THEY USE IS VERY NARROW, SO THEY DON'T GET A LOT OF EXPERIENCE OUTSIDE OF JUST A FEW TOOLS.

ON SMALL PROJECTS THEY USE ROUTER, SANDERS, NAIL GUN, DIFFERENT TYPES OF NAIL GUNS, DRILLS, IMPACT DRILLS, WHERE THEY'RE JUST FRAMING THEY PRETTY MUCH USE CIRCULAR SAW AND NAIL GUN.

SO THEY GET A BROAD RANGE OF A LOT OF THINGS IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

>> SCHMID SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PASSION TO WORK WITH INMATE STUDENTS.

>> YOU HAVE TO LOOK PAST THE BARRIERS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ALL THEY SEE IS WHAT THIS PERSON HAS DONE, AND I'LL BE HONEST YOU HAVE TO LOOK PAST THAT.

YOU HAVE TO SEE THE PERSON FOR WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY WANT TO BECOME AND NOT WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.

WE ALL NEED SECOND CHANCES.

WE ALL MADE MISTAKES IN LIFE, AND SOMETIMES IT JUST TAKES A LITTLE MORE FOR SOME TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK ON TRACK.

>> THE PROGRAM HAS A HIGH COMPLETION SUCCESS RATE AND ACCORDING TO WEAVER 88% OF THOSE WHO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM DO NOT REOFFEND WITHIN THREE YEARS.

AND WITH OKLAHOMA'S LISA VIS IM RATE AT 25%, HE SAYS THE THREE YEAR MARK IS IMPORTANT.

>> AFTER THREE YEARS IF THEY HAVEN'T REOH FUNDED PRIOR TO THAT, THEY PROBABLY WON'T REOFFEND.

SO THERE IS A REAL CRUCIAL WINDOW AS LONG AS THEY STAY OUT THEY'LL PROBABLY STAY OUT.

AS SOON AS THEY'RE ABLE TO GO OUT AND MAKE MORE MONEY, PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO OFFEND.

SO IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GET WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF LIFE WITHOUT DOING ILLEGAL THINGS, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO STAY OUT OF PRISON.

>> AND KINGS BURY CAN'T WAIT FOR HIS RELEASE AND SAYS HE HAS ONE WISH.

>> I WISH I WOULD HAVE STARTED DOING THIS A LONG TIME AGO BECAUSE I WOULD BE A LOT BETTER AT IT BY NOW.

PROBABLY MAKING REALLY GOOD MONEY.

>> LEARNING NEW SKILLS TO CONSTRUCT A BETTER LIFE AND TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND.

ALISA HINES, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> THANKS.

>>> IN OKLAHOMA MEDIA COMPANY IS MAKING MOVES AND THAT'S MAKING NEWS THIS WEEK.

HERE IS JASON DOYLE WITH THE BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> THE OWNER OF KWTV CHANNEL NINE AND KOTV CHANNEL SIX IN TULSA GRIFFIN COMMUNICATIONS IS MOVING ITS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TO DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE MEDIA COMPANY IS INVESTING INTO THE BUILDING AND WILL PERFORM AT $10 MILLION RENOVATION BEFORE MOVING TO HEADQUARTERS.

GRIFFIN ALSO PLANS TO CREATE A MEDIA INNOVATION COLLECTIVE WHICH WOULD BE A HUB FOR NONPROFIT AND FOR PROFIT MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO SHARE RESOURCES.

THE PROJECT WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.

SANDRIDGE CEO CARL GUISE HERE IS LEAVING FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.

GIESLER HAS BEEN THE TOP EXECUTIVE SINCE APRIL 2020.

HE IS LEAVING ON GOOD TERMS AND THERE WERE NO DISAGREEMENTS THAT LED TO GIESLER'S RESIGNATION.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPOINTED GRAYSON PRANIN THE COMPANY'S SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AS THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO.

THE SECOND QUARTER WAS GOOD FOR OKLAHOMA'S BE BANCFIRST CORPORATION.

STIMULUS DRIVEN ECONOMIC GROWTH IS BEING CONSIDERED ONE OF THE REASONS WHY BANCFIRST SEEN AN INCREASE IN QUARTERLY INCOME.

THE COMPANY STILL CAUTIONS COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO SURGE, IT COULD CAUSE A DISRUPTION TO THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

>>> CAR MD.COM RANKS OKLAHOMA AS THE STATE WITH THE 28th HIGHEST COST FOR CAR REPAIRS.

THE ANNUAL RANKING SHOWS THAT VEHICLE OWNERS IN THE SOONER STATE ON AVERAGE PAY $372 IN 2020 TO FIX THEIR CAR.

THE STATE WITH THE HIGHEST REPAIR COST IN 2020 WAS CALIFORNIA, THE LOWEST WAS OHIO.

NOT ALL INFORMATION BREACHES ARE DIGITAL.

DONATION OF HANDWRITTEN NOTES BY THE OKLAHOMA HEART HOSPITAL TO A CHARITY HAD PATIENT INFORMATION WRITTEN BY A FORMER EMPLOYEE.

NO MEDICAL RECORDS WERE INVOLVED AND WHILE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT INFORMATION WAS MISUSED THE OKLAHOMA HEART HOSPITAL IS NOTIFYING PATIENTS WHOSE INFORMATION MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>>> THANKS.

THE BRICKTOWN WATER TAXI SERVICE TURNED 22-YEARS-OLD AND THE MARK THAT MOMENT AND GET RAMPED UP FOR RETURN TO PREPANDEMIC LIFE THE TAXIS ARE GETTING A MAKE OVER.

STEVE SHAW TAKES US ALONG FOR A RIDE ON ONE OF THE BOATS THAT PROVIDE A LIFT FOR 100,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.

>> OH, LOVELY.

>> Reporter: CHAD WAS AN ORIGINAL CREW MEMBER OF BRICKTOWN WATER TAXI WHEN SIX BOATS ORIGINALLY SET SAIL BACK IN JULY 1999.

>> TODAY IS THE BIRTHDAY.

TODAY IS THE 22nd BIRTHDAY OF THE OPENING OF THE BRICKTOWN CANAL.

>> A LOT HAS CHANGED ALONG THE WAY.

LET'S START WITH DEVELOPMENT.

SINCE THE CANAL OPENED MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWED.

>> I THINK THAT THERE'S MORE ON THE WAY THAT I'VE -- ACTUALLY BEEN TALKING TO SEVERAL OF OUR PARTNERS DOWN HERE WHO HAVE SOME PLANS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON IN MULTIPLE PLACES.

SO I THINK THE CANAL CONTINUES TO HAVE ACTIVITY AND VIBE RANCY FOR MANY YEARS, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO ADD TO THAT.

WE'RE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PEOPLE WANT TO VISIT AND WITH THE ARTISTIC INTERVENTIONS WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PEOPLE SEE SOMETHING NEW.

A LOT OF TIMES -- SORRY ABOUT THAT -- BUSHWACKED.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE HAVE A THOUGHT OF BRICKTOWN AS BEING PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON TOURISTS AND I LIKE TO FREELY ADMIT WATER TAXI WE'RE THE MOST TOURISTY THING IN THE MOST TOURISTY PART OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

BUT BRICKTOWN STILL HAS TO SPEAK TO LOCALS.

>> ABOUT A MONTH AGO, BRICKTOWN KICKED OFF ITS ART OF FLOAT OKC SHOW BOAT CONCERT SERIES.

THAT'S RIGHT, A LITTLE MUSIC ON THE WATER.

>> EVERY THURSDAY AT 7:00 P.M., 8:00 P.M., AND 9:00 P.M.

IT IS A 40 MINUTE SET.

AND WE'VE HAD ARTISTS LIKE CARTER SAMPSON, SOME REALLY WELL-KNOWN LOCAL MUSICIANS WHO ARE TYPICALLY PLAYING IN MUCH LARGER VENUES.

THIS VENUE ONLY SEATS 20 SO IT'S INTIMATE.

WE'RE GOING TO BUMP AS I GO THROUGH HERE.

>> ON THIS THURSDAY NIGHT IT WAS KIRSTEN WHITE.

♪ >> AND NOW TWO OF THE WATER TAXI BOATS HAVE BEEN REDONE AND REPAINTED.

>> WE HAD TO CHANGE THE WAY THE BOAT WAS SHAPED IN FACT TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT ART.

AND BY THAT I MEAN WE CLOSED IN THE SIDES, THE SIDES HAVE LITTLE WINDOWS ON THE ORIGINAL BOATS.

WE CLOSED THOSE IN TO CREATE MORE VERTICAL SPACE.

AND THE VERTICAL SPACE WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR PAINT TO BE APPLIED ARTISTICALLY.

PEOPLE ARE READY FOR THIS.

>> ARTIST KRIS KANALY FINISHED PAINTING THE FIRST BOAT WITH A NAUTICAL THEME.

>> APPARENTLY RUMOR IS THERE IS OCTOPUS ROOMING AROUND IN BRICKTOWN.

SO THAT'S THE RUMOR.

>> THE SECOND BOAT WILL BE SOMEWHAT OF A SURPRISE.

>> AND I LIKE BOTH OF THEM, BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE IS CLEARLY SPEAKING TO OKLAHOMA, AND THAT'S KIND OF ALL I'LL SAY AT THIS POINT.

BUT I'LL GO A LITTLE FURTHER.

IT WAS DUSTY, AND HE CREATED A BIT OF AN OKLAHOMA SUNSET, AND WE THINK THAT THAT'S FANTASTIC.

>> THAT'S THE IDEA, IS TO CREATE WHOLE FLEET OF AWESOME PAINTED BOATS RIGHT HERE IN THE BRICKTOWN CANAL.

>> KEVIN MCCRACKEN OWNS WHISKEY CHICKS PUB.

>> TO SEE THEM REVITALIZE AND GIVE THEM MORE OF AN INTERESTING LOOK AND LITTLE MORE FUN YOU KNOW FOR FAMILIES ALSO, AND FOR ADULTS, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REAL 50 FOR BRICKTOWN.

>> IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR, TWO DAYS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN, BRICKTOWN WATER TAXI CHANGED THE WAY THEY OPERATE.

>> WE MOVED TO A TIME DEPARTURE MODEL, WHICH WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT BUT NEVER DONE, WHICH MEANT THAT YOU CAN BUY TICKETS AT A CERTAIN TIME AND BE GUARANTEED TO GET ONBOARD THAT BOAT.

WE DID THAT TO CONTROL NUMBER OF PEOPLE ONBOARD, AND TURNS OUT IT MAKES IT LUNCH MORE SMOOTHLY AS AN ORGANIZATION AND ALSO CREATES MUCH MORE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.

OUR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IS SHOT THROUGH THE ROOF THIS YEAR.

>> WITH ANOTHER OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER SEASON JUST AROUND THE BEND, 2221 COULD BE A BREAK OUT YEAR FOR BRICKTOWN WATER TAXI.

>> THE THING THAT IS MOST BENEFICIAL ABOUT THE THUNDER IS JUST THAT THEY PUT OUR NAMES, PUT OKLAHOMA CITY NAME ON THE LIST OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CONSIDER OKLAHOMA CITY WHO MAYBE WEREN'T CONSIDERING IT BEFORE, WHETHER THAT IS AS A PLACE TO VISIT OR PLACE TO LIVE, OR PLACE TO LOCATE A BUSINESS.

SO THE THUNDER HAS HAD A MASSIVE IMPACT I BELIEVE ON OUR BUSINESS SURE, BUT ON OKLAHOMA CITY AS A WHOLE.

♪ >> STEVE SHAW, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> STEVE, THANK YOU.

THE EXPANSION OF STATE TOURISM TAKING PLACE, AS WELL.

WITH THE UNVEILING OF PLANS FOR SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TULSA MARKET DISTRICT ALONG ROUTE 66.

IT WILL BE FUNDED BY THE CITY WITH THE LOEBECK-TAYLOR FAMILY FOUNDATION.

THE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE NEW TRAFFIC LIGHT, WATER LINES, SEWER SYSTEM, ROADWAY, THE INSTALLATION OF 77 NEW TREES AND BENCHES PLUS ADDITIONAL NEON SIGNAGE AND LIGHTING.

>> HAVING MY BUSINESS RIGHT ON ROUTE 66 IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS REVITALIZATION IS REALLY A DREAM COME TRUE.

ALL OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THIS AREA JUST SINCE I MOVED MY STUDIO HERE HAVE BEEN REALLY EXCITING TO WATCH.

>> WHAT WE HAVE IN OKLAHOMA WHEN IT COMES TO ROUTE 66 MORE MILES OF THE MOST FAMOUS ROAD IN THE ENTIRE WORLD THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

IF WE DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, WE'RE LOSING OUT.

AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO PARTNER WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO DEVELOP THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THIS CITY AND FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

>> CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULE TODD BEGIN LATER THIS MONTH AND TAKE ROUGHLY A YEAR TO COMPLETE.

>>> EARLIER WE TOLD YOU THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION PASSED EMERGENCY RULES TO IMPLEMENT HOUSE BILL 1775.

WITH MORE ON WHAT THAT MEANS AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY IN OR NOT IN NEW LAW, MODERATOR SUSAN CADOT WELCOMES TWO LEGISLATORS WHO DEBATED THE MERITS OF THE BILL.

TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY THINK THE NEW LAW MEANS FOR TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS GOING FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

YES, WE HAVE TWO VOICES IN THIS MATTER JOINING US TODAY FOR AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION.

AND JOINING US IS REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN WEST, WHO IS FROM OKLAHOMA CITY, AND DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE OF VIRGINIA.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

REPRESENTATIVE WEST, I WANT TO START WITH YOU TO GET THE LATEST ON HOUSE BILL 1775.

WHAT IS THE STATUS NOW?

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> ON THIS PAST MONDAY, THE STATE EDUCATION BOARD PASSED RULES TO IMPLEMENT THIS BECAUSE TWO THINGS THAT ARE IN THE BILL, ONE THAT NONE OF THIS BILL WILL CONTRADICT THE OKLAHOMA ACADEMIC STANDARDS.

AND THEN THE SECOND PART WAS THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WOULD MAKE THE RULES TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE THIS.

SO ON MONDAY THEY PASS THE RULES TO DO THAT.

SO NOW, NOW THOSE RULES WILL GO DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND THERE'S A FEW SLIGHT THINGS THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN DO TO WORK WITHIN THAT FRAMEWORK.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE RULES THAT THE STATE BOARD PASS WILL BE WHAT GOVERN FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

>> FIRST OF ALL THIS, THEY PUT THIS AN EMERGENCY ON SOMETHING THAT'S IMAGINARY.

IT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

AGAIN, AS HE SAID, NO ONE IS TEACHING THIS IN THE CURRICULUM IN TERMS OF OKLAHOMA ACADEMIC STANDARDS, TITLE 6, 7, 8, 9, AND 10 OF FEDERAL LAW, ALL RECOVERED AT THE FACT THAT YOU CANNOT DISCRIMINATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TEACH ANYBODY THAT ONE RACE IS SUPERIOR TO ANOTHER.

WE ALREADY KNOW THAT.

SO LET'S UNDERSTAND IT WAS THE TOTALLY BASELESS LAW, IT'S WRONG.

AND THIS WHOLE IDEA ABOUT HE'S GETTING COMMENTS FROM CERTAIN FOLKS.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH OKLAHOMA ACADEMIC STANDARDS, NOTHING AT ALL.

AGAIN, WHAT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT HAS NOW BEEN FORCED TO DO BECAUSE THEY PUT AN EMERGENCY ON IT.

IT'S COME UP WITH THESE PUNITIVE CONSEQUENCES, WHICH ARE RIDICULOUS.

AGAIN, HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ASK THE QUESTION, HOW DO YOU LEGISLATE FILLINGS, SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF LAWSUITS COME INTO ME.

IT'S POORLY WRITTEN.

YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND IT.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS.

REPUBLICANS BY AND LARGE ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS.

THIS DIVISIVENESS, REPUBLICANS BY AND LARGE ARE VERY SMART AND THEY KNOW RACISM EXISTS.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF RACISM EXISTS, AND GOOD FOLKS ALL ACROSS OKLAHOMA SHOULD KNOW.

WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN IN THE PROPER WAY.

AND THAT MEANS TALKING ABOUT THE UNCOMFORTABLE HISTORY THAT TALKS ABOUT RACISM AND THE PRESENT DAY CONSEQUENCES OF THAT.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS RACISM.

ISN'T EMBEDDED IN THE FABRIC OF AMERICA AND THE FABRIC OF OKLAHOMA.

LET'S DEAL WITH IT.

LET'S MOVE ON.

LET'S BECOME BETTER PEOPLE.

THIS BLOG DOES NOT HELP US DO THAT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WEST.

YOU ARE A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS MEASURE.

WHAT IS 1775?

>> HOUSE BILL 1775 ADDRESSES TWO CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION IN THE LEGISLATURE.

FIRST ON THE HIGHER ED SIDE, IT ADDRESSES THE MANDATORY GENDER AND SEXUAL DIVERSITY TRAINING THAT MANY OF THE SCHOOLS ARE DOING.

AND THEN THE MAIN PART OF THE BILL, WHICH IS WHAT'S GOTTEN MOST OF THE ATTENTION IS IT BANNED CERTAIN CONCEPTS.

WE LISTED EIGHT SPECIFIC CONCEPTS THAT WE DID NOT WANT TO BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL AT ITS HEART.

>> WHEN YOU SAY EDUCATION, DO YOU MEAN HIGHER ED?

>> IN COMMON ED, THE MANDATORY SEXUAL AND GENDER DIVERSITY, THAT'S ON THE HIGHER ED SIDE AND THEN IN COMMON ED, AS IT DEALS WITH THESE EIGHT SPECIFIC CONCEPTS.

AND REALLY IN MY OPINION AT ITS CORE, HOUSE BILL 1775 IS AN ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL.

AND SO BASICALLY WHAT WE DID, WE HAD -- I SAY WAY, MAN THE OTHER AUTHORS OF THE BILL HAD GOTTEN REPORTS FROM PARENTS THAT MANY OF THESE EIGHT CONCEPTS WERE BEING TAUGHT IN OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS.

AND ONCE WE STARTED DIGGING INTO IT, WE FOUND THAT ALL EIGHT HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS BEING TAUGHT SOMEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO WE FIGURED WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THEM BECAUSE IF IT'S BEING DONE SOMEWHERE ELSE, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT COMES HERE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE GOODWIN, WHAT IS YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THIS MEASURE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IF NOT ON ITS FACE, AS IT READS, AS REPRESENTATIVE WEST HAS SAID HE'S GOT SOME LANE WAS THERE.

FIRST OF ALL, IS HE KNOWS THESE CONCEPTS ARE NOT BEING TAUGHT IN ANY CURRICULUM IN ANY CLASSROOM.

IN ANY COURSE IN OKLAHOMA ASKED HIM THAT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, HE WASN'T ABLE TO SHOW ME WHERE THAT WAS AND TO DATE, NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE THAT.

SO THAT IS NOT REALLY WHAT'S AT ISSUE HERE.

AND I THINK REPRESENT WEST, I -- IF HE KNOWS TODAY WHERE THIS CURRICULUM IS BEING TAUGHT, HE CAN SHARE THAT WITH US TODAY.

SO IT IS A FAKE PROBLEM WITH A FAKE SOLUTION AND ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO PUT THIS UNDER THE CLOAK OF ITS ANTI-DISCRIMINATION, HOW DO YOU LEGISLATE A FEELING?

AND I'D LIKE HIM TO ADDRESS A 0.7 AND EIGHT, THE LANGUAGE AND HIS OWN ALL.

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

HOW CAN YOU -- IT SAY, AS A TEACHER CANNOT TEACH TO MAKE A STUDENT DISCOMFORTED BY THE FACTOR OF THEIR OWN RACE, WHO'S DOING THAT.

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

AND THAT'S -- THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO ASK, AS HE'S DESCRIBING THIS, THIS, THIS WALL.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WEST, WOULD YOU CARE TO RESPOND?

>> SURE.

POINT NUMBER SEVEN SAYS, I'M GOING TO LOOK DOWN AND READ THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL SHOULD FEEL DISCOMFORT, GUILT, ANGUISH, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS ON ACCOUNT OF HIS OR HER RACE OR SEX.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT YOU DON'T GO INTO THAT ASSIGNMENT WITH THE -- TO GET THAT REACTION FROM CERTAIN STUDENTS KIND OF LIKE WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID EARLIER WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE PRESENTED WITH YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE HAD SLAVERY HERE IN AMERICA, WE FOUGHT A WAR TO END IT.

WE'VE HAD RACIAL TENSIONS.

THERE'S BEEN THE TRAIL OF TEARS, MANY THINGS IN OUR HISTORY WHEN -- WHEN YOU'RE PRESENTED WITH THOSE EVERY INDIVIDUAL WILL FEEL SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

AND THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE.

AND IT'S PERFECTLY FINE TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE ADDRESSING WITH THESE IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING INTO IT TO TO GET CERTAIN STUDENTS TO FEEL A CERTAIN WAY.

>> HOW -- HOW -- HOW DOES IT HAPPEN THOUGH?

BECAUSE THE -- THE -- THE EVENTS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, THE TRAGIC EVENTS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED IN AMERICA'S HISTORY, MAKE ALL OF US FEEL HORRIBLE, OR THEY SHOULD.

I PRAY THEY DO.

SO HOW DO YOU KEEP, WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE MEASURE THAT -- IS IT SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT KEEPING WHITE STUDENTS FROM FEELING BADLY ABOUT BEING WHITE AND WHAT WOULD I FELT BAD WHEN I LEARNED THESE THINGS, BUT NOT BECAUSE I'M WHITE BECAUSE I WAS A HUMAN BEING.

SO DOES THIS SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS WHITE GUILT, WHITE SHAME?

>> NO.

NO.

IT DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THAT, ALTHOUGH THAT IS A PART OF IT, BECAUSE SOME OF WHAT THE, WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT IS TO MAKE WHITE KIDS FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD FEEL THE CERTAIN WAYS.

IN FACT, ONE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS IN -- IN MY AREA RIGHT AFTER THE BILL WAS SIGNED, ACTUALLY SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE WHITE KIDS SHOULD FEEL GUILT FOR THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT.

AND IF YOU TEACH THE STANDARDS, THEN EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE GOODWIN.

YOU MENTIONED ARTICLE SEVEN AND EIGHT OF THIS MEASURE THAT -- TO THE DESIRE TO NOT MAKE ANYONE UNCOMFORTABLE.

WOULD YOU ARGUE THAT FOLKS SHOULD BE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH SOME THINGS.

>> I WOULD ARGUE THAT YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE FEELINGS.

YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE THE EMOTION.

IT'S A STUPID LINE.

IT'S POORLY WRITTEN.

AND AND I -- AND I MEAN THAT WITH ALL SINCERITY, IT'S POORLY WRITTEN AND -- AND AGAIN, YOU CANNOT ENACT AN EMOTION AND REPRESENT OUR WEST NOSES.

SO THE TRICK OF ALL OF THIS IS TO HAVE US DISCUSSING THIS DISTRACTION.

THE TRICK OF IT ALL IS TO HAVE US TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF NONSENSE, REPRESENT WEST KNOWS YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE EMOTIONS.

PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL DIFFERENT WAYS ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE CANNOT DETERMINE HOW A CHILD IS AFFECTED.

I KNOW HOW I FELT WHEN I SAW BLACK FOLKS WITH COLORS AROUND THEIR NECKS AND SLAVERY, I WAS DISCOMFORTED, BUT I LEARNED THAT'S A PART OF OUR ACCURATE HISTORY.

AND I LEARNED OUT OF THAT DISCOMFORT THAT WE CAN BE BETTER AS AMERICANS >> OKLAHOMA HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION NATIONWIDE.

AND IT'S FOR THIS MEASURE, RIGHT, REPRESENTATIVE WEST?

IS -- IS THIS THE MEASURE THAT THEY'RE REFERRING TO WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT OKLAHOMA BANNING THE TEACHING OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN STATE SCHOOLS, EVEN THOUGH THIS MEASURE NEVER MENTIONS CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

>> YEAH.

THE STATE OF IDAHO WAS THE FIRST STATE TO PASS THIS.

SEVERAL STATES HAVE TAKEN THIS MEASURE UP TO IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.

I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MANY REPRESENTATIVES FROM OTHER STATES THAT ARE LOOKING AT DOING THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE HEARING THE SAME THING THAT I WAS HEARING, AND THAT MANY OF THE OTHER COAUTHORS WERE HEARING THAT THIS IS IN FACT HAPPENING THAT YOU KNOW, IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THEY'RE -- THEY'RE HAVING KIDS TAKE A WHITE PRIVILEGE TEST AND DETERMINING WHO WHO'S THE MOST PRIVILEGED IN THE CLASS OR THE LEAST PRIVILEGED AT HERE IN OKLAHOMA, IDAHO, MANY OTHER STATES.

>> SO, WHERE WOULD THAT BE?

WHERE WAS THAT HAPPENING?

>> WELL, HERE IN OKLAHOMA, IT WAS -- THERE WAS A CURRICULUM IN EDMOND THAT -- THAT WAS DOING THAT.

I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF CONTACT FROM PEOPLE IN THE NORMAN AREA AND MANY OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS HERE IN THE STATE.

I WOULD NOT SAY THAT IT'S WIDESPREAD THROUGHOUT THE STATE, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE SEVERAL OF YOUR LARGER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE ENGAGING IN THIS AND, YOU KNOW, TO REPRESENTATIVE GOODWIN'S POINT ON THE CURRICULUM, SHE'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A CURRICULUM.

IT'S WHAT THE TEACHERS ARE INSERTING INTO THE CURRICULUM THAT'S BEING USED AND INSERTING MANY OF THESE CONCEPTS INTO THE EVERYDAY ASSIGNMENTS.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO ADDRESS WITH THIS BILL WAS YOU KNOW, JUST REMOVING THAT, BUT TO GO INTO IT WITH THAT NOTION THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE WHITE OR BECAUSE YOU'RE BLACK, YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY THIS, OR BECAUSE YOU'RE MALE, YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY AN OPPRESSOR OR BECAUSE YOU'RE A FEMALE YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY OPPRESSED IS -- IS JUST COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.

AND -- AND I WOULD ADD, AND I SAID THIS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, IF THIS IS NOT BEING DONE IN YOUR SCHOOL, THAT IS GREAT THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT ANYTHING WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT >> WELL, IT'S NOT IN THE CURRICULUM, IT'S NOT IN THE COURSE.

THIS IS WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING.

THAT'S CALLED FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

AND FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING THAT, YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM ON THAT ISSUE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

I CHALLENGE YOU TO GO FIND THAT TEACHER THAT MADE THOSE COMMENTS AND CHALLENGE THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE COME UP WITH A RIDICULOUS BILL THAT BASICALLY TRIES TO PARALYZE THE PROPER EDUCATION OF OKLAHOMANS.

IT IS NOT HAPPENING IN OKLAHOMA.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN OKLAHOMA LEADERSHIP AT THE HOUSE.

AND THE SENATE HAVE SAID, IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN OKLAHOMA.

SO WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS, AGAIN, THIS IS A POLITICAL AGENDA.

THIS IS SWEEPING ACROSS THE NATION.

AND WE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT REAL ISSUES ABOUT HOW WAS THE PAST CONNECTED TO THE PRESENT.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

WE WANT PROPER EDUCATION TAUGHT IN OKLAHOMA, AND THIS BILL IS DIVISIVE.

THIS BILL IS STOKING FIRE, AND THIS BILL IS GOING TO GET A LOT OF PEOPLE ELECTED BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT FOLKS RUNNING AROUND SCARED AND TERRIFIED TALKING ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN AND BEING ON INDOCTRINATED.

AND IT'S NOT BEING TAUGHT IN ANY COURSE OR CURRICULUM.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

THAT'S WHY YOU DID NOT PUT THE WORD CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND END THE BILL BECAUSE YOU KNEW THAT WOULD CREATE EVEN MORE OF A FIGHT.

>> THIS HAS BEEN, NO DOUBT, A ROBUST CONVERSATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR COMING AND DISCUSSING THIS I'M ON OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

AND ON AM DEPTH.

I KNOW YOU'VE DONE IT TOGETHER ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT BOTH SIDES OF THIS INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER, GET OUT TO OKLAHOMANS.

IT AFFECTS THEIR CHILDREN.

SO, THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>>> THANK YOU.

TWO WEEKS AGO WE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE SHIFT TAKING PLACE IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS BENEFITS.

TO CALL IT A GAME CHANGER IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

BUT WILL ALLOWING ATHLETES TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF THEIR NIL WHILE STYLE IN SCHOOL BE A GOOD CHANGE?

THE PLAYERS, PARENTS AND AGENTS ARE ALL FOR IT SAYING IT IS LONG OVERDUE BUT EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION INCLUDING THESE TWO LEGENDARY OKLAHOMA FOOTBALL COACHES.

>> OH, MY GOSH, THAT'S THE PANDORA'S BOX BEEN OPENED THERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO.

IN MY ERA, AND I THINK THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, YOU HAVE THE COORDINATOR, THE HEAD COACH AND SEVEN IDENTIFIED ASSISTANT COACHES BE ABLE TO CONTACT THE PROSPECTIVE STUDENT ATHLETE.

NOW THE DOOR SWUNG OPEN FOR THIRD PARTY PEOPLE.

THIRD PARTY AGENTS, BE CONTACTING THESE KIDS ABOUT SIGNING THEM UP AND DO MORE FOR YOU.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS OUT THERE WE DON'T KNOW YET, THAT WE'LL FIND THAT REALLY MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO POLICE.

>> ATHLETES SHOULD HAVE THE SAME POSSIBILITIES AS THE YOUNGSTER AT THE KAPPA SIG HOUSE, IF YOU WANT TO HOLD UP A BOTTLE OF HIGH TODAY RATEY AND SAY I USE THIS.

THEY'RE GOING TO SAY THE RIGHT STUFF, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T RICH, IT'S THAT OLD DEAL OF WHY GO THERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T YOUR BACK.

SO IF I'M A COACH OUT THIS I GOT TO SAY HEY, THIS IS THE GREATEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD.

WE'RE GOING TO PREPARE OUR PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S PART OF RECRUITING.

IF YOU DON'T YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT USED AGAINST YOU.

THEY KNOW IT'S A -- MOST OF THEM KNOW IT'S A CAN OF WORMS.

COME MOM EYE ANSWER PEOPLE WANT TO JUMP OFF THE BUILDING.

THEY DON'T ANY IDEA HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS.

>> THE HOST HAS NAMED THE 2021 OKLAHOMA SPORTS BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR BY THE NATIONAL SPORTS MEDIA ASSOCIATION.

AND AMONG HIS MANY INDEFENSE OTHERS THE COACH IS HELPING TRAIN SEARCH AND RESCUE DOGS WITH HIS WIFE.

>>> MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE BASEBALL THE MOST DIFFICULT SPORT TO MASTER, REQUIRING A SKILL SET THAT DEMANDS YOU PLAYOFF FENCE AND DEFENSE.

WHAT IF YOU COULDN'T SEE?

CAN THE BLIND ENJOY AMERICA'S NATIONAL PASS TIME, TOO?

THEY CAN AND DO.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE TAKE YOU TO ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, WHERE PRODUCER KARA VANINGER -- >> SO THIS IS A BEAT BASEBALL.

IT'S A ONE-POUND CHICAGO-STYLE SOFTBALL.

SO IN IT, IT HAS A PIN THAT'S KIND OF SUPPRESSING THE SPEAKER.

AND AT THE BOTTOM, YOU HAVE YOUR SPEAKER HERE, BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE.

>> EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT ABOUT THE GAME OF BASEBALL HAS BEEN, SEE THE BALL, HIT THE BALL, LOOK THE BALL INTO YOUR GLOVE.

I'M DOING THIS NOW.

COACHING MYSELF FOR T-BALL.

SO WHEN I HEARD ABOUT BEEP BALL, I WAS FASCINATED.

>> BEEP BALL IS AN ADAPTIVE VERSION OF BASEBALL FOR PLAYERS WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED SINCE OUR VARYING DEGREES OF VISUAL ABILITY, ALMOST EVERYONE IS REQUIRED TO WEAR A BLINDFOLD.

ALTHOUGH THE SPORT WAS DESIGNED TO BE PLAYED WITHOUT RELYING ON SITE, A FEW POSITIONS LIKE THE PITCHER REQUIRE IT.

>> THE PITCHER DOES NOT WANT TO STRIKE ANYBODY ON THIS.

THE OPPOSITE >> BECAUSE IN BEAT BALL WITH PITCHER AND BATTER ARE ON THE SAME TEAM.

>> THE MOST CHALLENGING PART IS GETTING RIGHT TO WHERE THEIR BAT IS, AND THEN GETTING DOWN MY CADENCE.

>> THE BATTERS HAVE TO KEEP THEIR SWINGS CONSISTENT.

BUT IT'S THE PITCHER'S JOB TO GET THE BALL WHERE THAT BATS TANK.

>> WHEN THE BALL IS PUT INTO PLAY, THEY'LL RUN TO A PADDED FIRST OR THIRD BASE, WHICH MAKES A BUZZING SOUND.

>> THEY'RE KIND OF THESE TALL FOAM.

I CALL THEM LIKE TACKLING DUMMY LOOKING THINGS.

>> SO IT'S COMPLETELY RANDOM.

YOU NEED TO GO TO FIRST BASE OR THIRD BASE.

THERE'S A SPECIALIZED UMPIRE.

THAT'S FLIPPING THAT SWITCH >> BUT THEY NEED TO MAKE IT TO THAT BASE.

BEFORE THE BLINDFOLDED FIELDERS ARE ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE BALL.

>> NOW, AT THIS POINT, THOSE WHO HAVEN'T PLAYED, PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THE GAME IS STARTING TO SOUND A LITTLE DANGEROUS.

AFTER ALL FIELDERS ARE RUNNING SLIDING AND DIVING TO CATCH A BALL, THEY CANNOT SEE BEFORE THE RUNNER MAKES IT TO A BASE.

THEY CAN'T SEE.

>> WELL, WE WERE PADS.

CAN'T SEE HIM, BUT I HAVE PADS ON HIDE IS CONTACT SPORT.

SOMETIMES >> I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY GET HURT PLAYING THE GAME.

I'LL PUT THAT ONE OUT THERE >> WORKING TOGETHER THROUGH VERBAL COMMUNICATION AND THE GUIDANCE OF TWO-SIDED SPOTTERS.

THE PLAYERS DEFENDING THE FIELD, STICK TO THEIR ZONES TO AVOID COLLISIONS.

BUT THOSE PADS STILL COME IN HANDY.

WHEN DIVING FOR THE BALL OR BASE.

>> LOT OF TEAMWORK INVOLVED COMMUNICATION IS A BIG PART OF IT, BUT PLAYING A SPORT WITH YOUR EARS, IT'S NOT EASY, WHICH >> WHICH MEANS THE AUDIENCE HAS TO ADAPT TOO.

>> WE KIND OF HAVE TO TEACH PEOPLE WHEN THE BALLS HIT INTO PLAY AND THE CROWD IS SUPPOSED TO BE SILENT.

YOUR TEAMMATES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SILENT WHILE THE PLAY IS GOING ON.

SO THE FIELDERS CAN FIELD, THE BALL, THE RUNNERS COME HEAR, THE BASES AFTER THE PLAYS OVER CHEER YOUR HEAD OFF.

>> THOUGH THE RULES MIGHT BE DIFFERENT.

BEEP BALL INSPIRES JUST AS MUCH DEVOTION TRASH-TALK AND SATISFACTION.

AS THE GAME IT WAS ADAPTED FROM.

>> ONE OF MY FRIENDS ASKED ME TO COME OUT AND SOBBING.

I SUBBED IN AND I NEVER LEFT.

I BECAME PITCHER, STARTED MY OWN TEAM.

I'VE BEEN DOING IT EVERY YEAR.

SINCE THEN.

>> IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN LIKE LAYING OUT FOR A BALL AND STOPPING IT AND GETTING SOMEBODY OUT.

THINK THAT'S THE BEST FEELING.

>> IT'S INTIMIDATING TO BE IN THE FIELD, COMPLETELY BLINDFOLDED, NOT KNOWING WHAT SURROUNDS YOU.

IT'S SO MUCH FUN AFTER AN INNING OR TWO, THAT FEAR GOES AWAY.

AND NOW YOU'RE JUST LIKE, ALL RIGHT, I WANT TO GET THE BALL.

>> ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU MAKE CONTACT.

THIS IS THE RUSH OF ADRENALINE AND YOU HEAR THE BASE BUZZING OR YOU JUST RUN FOR IT.

PUT EVERYTHING INTO IS NOTHING LIKE IT.

>> AND UNTIL 1964, THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE IT.

THE FIRST BEEPING SOFTBALL WAS INVENTED BY TELEPHONE ENGINEER CHARLIE FAIRBANK'S IN AN EFFORT TO INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS IN RECREATIONAL SPORTS.

THE FIRST BEEP BASEBALL WORLD SERIES TOURNAMENT WAS HELD IN 1975.

AND IN 1976, THE NATIONAL BEEP BASEBALL ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED IN CHICAGO.

IN ST. LOUIS MINE'S EYE RADIO HAS BEEN HOSTING RECREATIONAL BEEP BALL TOURNAMENTS AS A FUNDRAISER FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS.

>> MINE'S EYE, THEY'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE MID SEVENTIES, WHEN THEY WERE CALLED THE RADIO READERS NETWORK.

AND THEY HAD A BODY OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WOULD READ LOCAL PUBLICATIONS, SOME NATIONAL AND PRODUCE A RADIO STATION FOR A PRINT IMPAIRED AUDIENCE.

>> SO WE WOULD READ NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, BOOKS, GROCERY STORE ADS.

>> THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF TEAM SPORTS THAT SOMEBODY WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS PLAY AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IT MINDS EYE CAN GIVE BACK TO PEOPLE.

>> MINE'S EYE CREATES AWARENESS AROUND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND THE SPORT BY PROVIDING BEAT BALL DEMOS AT SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES TO PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES.

>> I THINK IT'S BRINGING NOTORIETY TO THE HARD WORK THAT THE PEOPLE WITHOUT SIGHT DO.

AND IT'S ALSO ALLOWING THE PEOPLE WITH SIGHT TO KNOW WHAT THEY GO THROUGH >> DUE TO THE GROWING NUMBER OF PLAYERS WHO WANTED TO COMPETE NATIONALLY.

MINE'S EYE LAUNCHED THE GATEWAY ARCHERS IN 2020.

>> MY GOAL IS KEEP THIS TEAM COMPLETELY HOMEGROWN, WHERE IT'S ST. LOUIS PLAYERS, PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS REGION PLAYING FOR THE GATEWAY ARCHERS AGAINST TEAM FROM INDIANAPOLIS, BOSTON, ALWAYS FAR AS ARGENTINA, TAIWAN.

GROW AND ST. LOUIS PLAYERS OF ALL ABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO GIVE IT A TRY WITH ONE DISCLAIMER, ONCE YOU START PLAYING, YOU MIGHT NEVER WANT TO STOP.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," THE FIVE TRIBE MEANT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BOLSTERING THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS TO PREPARE FOR THE EXTRA CASELOAD IN THE WAKE OF THE McGIRT DECISION.

>> WE'LL SAY SO LONG FOR NOW BY SAYING EN GUARD, PHOTOGRAPHER JONATHON THOMPSON PHOTO ESSAY.

YOU GET THE POINT.

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

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, STAY COOL, AND STAY TUNED TO OETA.

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