>>> WHAT WAS ONCE AN UPTICK IS NOW A FULL-BLOWN SURGE, OF NEW COVID-19 CASES IN OKLAHOMA.

>> OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN RECENTLY HOSPITALIZED HERE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT WE RECOGNIZE THAT 90% REPRESENT OKLAHOMANS WHO HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THEIR VACCINES.

>> TRIBAL LEADERS INVESTING TO PREPARE FOR A LARGER McGIRT DECISION CASELOAD.

>> WE CAN DO IT.

WE'RE GOING TO DO IT WELL.

>>> A STATE OF THE ART TREATMENT AND RESEARCH CENTER TO TREAT A PANDEMIC FUELED RISE IN OPIOID ADDICTION OPENED.

>> THE STATISTICS JUST BLOWING ME AWAY ARE THE OVERDOSES ARE HIGHER THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN.

>> THIS TULSA ARTIST IS ONE OF NINE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY TO BE UNABLE NAMED A NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOW BY THE NEA.

>> IT RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY ARTISTS WHO ARE REPRESENTING THEIR CULTURE.

IT VALUES THE WORK THAT YOU DO DURING YOUR CAREER.

>> REACTION FROM GOVERNOR STITT AS HE APPOINTS A NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL TO REPLACE MIKE HUNTER NEXT ON "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

JOHN O'CONNOR SWORN IN FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS THE NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL, TWO MONTHS AFTER THE RESIGNATION OF MIKE HUNTER, O'CONNOR HAS BEEN IN PRIVATE PRACTICE IN OKLAHOMA.

AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN TULSA THE GOVERNOR EXPLAINED HIS CHOICE AND OH CORE NOR WASTED NO TIME WEIGHING IN ON THE SUPREME COURT McGIRT DECISION.

>> THE STATE'S TOP LAW ENFORCER WE NEEDED SOMEONE WILLING TO FIGHT AND DEFEND WHAT'S BEST FOR ALL 4 MILLION OKLAHOMANS.

>> THE QUESTION IS WILL WE OPPOSE McGIRT, THE ANSWER IS YES.

IF THE QUESTION IS, WILL WE SEEK THE OVERTURNING BY THE SUPREME COURT OF McGIRT, THE ANSWER IS YES.

WILL WE TRY TO WORK WITH THE TRIBES, ABSOLUTE?

>> O'CONNOR WILL SERVE THE REMAINING 18 MONTHS AND WILL RUN FOR ELECTION IN 2022.

>>> EARLIER IN THE WEEK, THE STITT ADMINISTRATION SUING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR APPLYING THE U.S. SUPREME COURT McGIRT DECISION TO THE REGULATION OF COLE MINING OPERATIONS.

THE STITT ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WHICH TARGETS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND SECRETARY.

WHO SAYS THE STATE NO LONGER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE COAL MINES.

STITT CONTENDS McGIRT ONLY APPLIES TO CRIMINAL CASES, NOT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.

>>> WHAT BEGAN IN JUNE IS A SLIGHT UPTICK BECAME A FULL-BLOWN CIRCLE OF NEW COVID-19 CASES.

THE CDC CALLS IT A PANDEMIC OF THE UNVACCINATED.

THE SITUATION IS MOST ACUTE IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE STATE.

RORY TAYLOR EXPLAINS WHY AND WHAT OKLAHOMA CAN DO TO STOP THE SURGE FROM MIGRATING ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE.

>> DOCTOR JUSTIN MITCHELL IS THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT INTEGRIS BAPTIST HOSPITAL IN MIAMI OKLAHOMA.

OTTAWA COUNTY IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE HIGHEST RATE OF NEW COVID INFECTIONS IN THE STATE, WITH NUMBERS DOUBLING AND SOMETIMES TRIPLING IN NEIGHBORING RURAL COUNTIES.

>> WE WENT A COUPLE MONTHS THERE WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WOULD BARELY HAVE ANY COVID YOU KNOW.

SOME DAYS WE'D HAVE NO COVID PATIENTS OR WE'D HAVE ONE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE JUST STARTED SEEING ONE OR TWO COMING IN, SLOWLY NUMBER STARTING TO BUILD BACK UP, AND THAT SORT OF CORRESPONDED WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON IN MISSOURI.

>> OVER THE LAST MONTH, THE DELTA VARIANT HAS SPREAD RAPIDLY THROUGH MISSOURI AND IS REACHING OUT TO OTHER STATES, FUELED BY IT'S INCREASED RATE OF SPREAD.

>> CURRENTLY I'M MODELING A TRANSMISSION RATE TO BE ABOUT 2.9, WHICH MEANS ON AVERAGE EACH INFECTED PERSON WITH COVID IS TRANSMITTING IT TO 2.9 OTHER PEOPLE.

>> THAT INCREASE IN TRANSMISSION RATE IS DRIVING THE RESURGENCE IN CASES, FOLLOWING ROUTES OF TRAVEL.

DOCTOR BRUCE DART IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TULSA HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

>> WE HAVE A VERY CRITICAL HOTSPOT IN SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI AND JOPLIN, MISSOURI.

AND JUST FOLLOWING THAT I-44 CORRIDOR, THE VIRUS IS MOVING WESTWARD JUST ALONG THAT CORRIDOR.

BUT WHAT WAS A HOT SPOT FROM IMPORTED CASES A FEW WEEKS AGO IN THAT CORNER OF THE STATE IS TAKING ROOT AS INFECTION SPREADS BETWEEN OKLAHOMANS.

>> WE KNOW THAT ONCE IT'S ENDEMIC HERE IN OKLAHOMA, IT'S GONNA SPREAD WHERE PEOPLE ARE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S HIT TULSA, NOW OKLAHOMA CITY AS WELL.

SO THE METROS ARE BEING IMPACTED.

OF COURSE, RURAL OKLAHOMA WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE NEXT.

>> THE HIGHEST ONE-DAY TOTAL OF NEW CASES WAS 6,511 IN JANUARY.

AND WHILE WE ARE NOT SEEING ANYWHERE NEAR THOSE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW, AS OF THURSDAY, THERE WERE 5,992 ACTIVE CASES IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

>> FROM OUR SMALL TOWN PERSPECTIVE HERE, IN OUR HOSPITAL'S PERSPECTIVE, IT'S LOOKING A LOT MORE LIKE IT DID IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY SO FAR.

>> TOTAL HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE STATE HAVE TRIPLED IN TWO WEEKS, WITH THE DELTA VARIANT TARGETING THE UNVACCINATED.

MANY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE NOW ENCOURAGING A RETURN TO WEARING MASKS IN PUBLIC.

>> IF YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED, WE WOULD PLEAD, WOULD YOU PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING OTHER MITIGATION EFFORTS, LIKE FOLLOWING THE THREE W'S, WEARING A MASK, WASHING YOUR HANDS AND WATCHING YOUR DISTANCE.

>> NATIONWIDE BREAKTHROUGH CASES IN VACCINATED PEOPLE MAKE UP JUST 1% OF HOSPITALIZATIONS, ONLY .08% OF THE NATIONS' DEATHS ARE VACCINATED PERSONS.

BEING UNVACCINATED HAS BECOME THE NATION'S BIGGEST COMORBIDITY.

>> EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC, THOSE YOUNGER ADULTS AND YOUNGER KIDS, WE'RE REALLY SEEING -- CONSIDERED TO BE A LOW RISK FOR ILLNESS, BUT NOW SEEING WITH DELTA VARIANT THAT OUR VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE IN THE HOSPITAL ARE THAT YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC THAT PREVIOUSLY WE WEREN'T CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> WHILE VACCINATED OKLAHOMANS HAVE BEEN INFECTED WITH THE DELTA VARIANT, THEIR SYMPTOMS ARE LESS SEVERE THAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED A VACCINE.

>> THE VAST, VAST MAJORITY OF THE PATIENTS WE'RE SEEING ARE UNVACCINATED, YOU KNOW.

WE HAVE SEEN A HANDFUL, AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN THE CASE ELSEWHERE WITH DELTA VARIANT.

YOU'RE STILL SEEING YOUR HANDFUL OF PATIENTS THAT ARE VACCINATED.

GENERALLY, THEY'RE DOING MUCH BETTER.

>> AND ALSO, OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN RECENTLY HOSPITALIZED HERE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, WE RECOGNIZE THAT 90% REPRESENT OKLAHOMANS THAT HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED THEIR VACCINE.

>> DOCTOR DONNA TYUNGU IS A PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AND CAUTIONS THAT PRELIMINARY REPORTS ON THE DELTA VARIANT POINT TO AN INCREASED RISK FOR CHILDREN.

>> I DID REACH OUT TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES IN ARKANSAS JUST YESTERDAY.

THEY ARE SEEING MUCH HIGHER NUMBERS OF COVID-19 HOSPITALIZATIONS THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR AMONG CHILDREN.

THEY CURRENTLY HAVE SEVEN CHILDREN IN THE ICU SECONDARY TO THEIR COVID-19 INFECTION.

AND SO WE HOPE THAT THE DELTA VARIANT WILL STAY A LOW MORTALITY ILLNESS FOR CHILDREN, BUT THESE RISING HOSPITALIZATION RATES REALLY POINT TO EVIDENCE THAT THIS NEW VARIANT WILL POTENTIALLY BE A PROBLEM FOR CHILDREN.

>> HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THIS LATEST COVID SURGE MAY BE HARDER TO CONTROL BECAUSE OF NEW LAWS ENACTED BY THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE.

>> THE LEGISLATURE IN OKLAHOMA PASSED AT THE END OF THE SESSION A LAW THAT BASICALLY FORBID ANY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN OKLAHOMA TO REQUIRE A VACCINE FOR COVID OR A MASS MANDATE.

>> BECAUSE OF THIS NEW LAW, A LOT OF OUR SUPERINTENDENTS AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP'S HANDS ARE TIED.

LIKE THEY CANNOT BREAK THE LAW AND MANDATE MASKS.

SO WE REALLY NEED THE MESSAGE TO GET OUT TO PARENTS AND FAMILIES THAT THIS VIRUS IS DIFFERENT.

PEOPLE HAVE DESCRIBED IT AS COVID ON STEROIDS.

>> DOCTORS ADVISE THAT WHETHER SCHOOLS REQUIRE IT OR NOT, PARENTS TAKE ELIGIBLE CHILDREN TO THEIR FAMILY DOCTOR TO DISCUSS VACCINATION, AND ENCOURAGE MASK USAGE BY STUDENTS.

RORY TAYLOR, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

OF ALL THE COVID NUMBERS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NEW DEATHS, THEY'RE WAY UP AGAIN.

ROLLING SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE IS 938, A 67% INCREASE FROM LAST FRIDAY.

ALMOST 500 PEOPLE ARE HOSPITALIZED.

BUT 149 OF THEM OCCUPYING ICU BEDS.

THE GOOD NEWS THE SEVEN-DAY TOTAL OF DEATHS DROPPED A BIT FROM 26 TO 23.

MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION OKLAHOMAMANS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

39% OF THE POPULATION.

>>> TO BUILDING COURTROOMS, THE CHEROKEE NATION HAS BEEN EXPANDING ITS JUDICIAL SYSTEM SINCE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCED LANDMARK RULING ON McGIRT LAST JULY.

REPORTER JASON DOYLE TRAVELS TO TAHLEQUAH TO GET A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN BUILD.

>> PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING THIS ON, IS THE GREAT CHEROKEE NATION WE'RE DOING IT.

WE CAN DO IT.

WE'RE GOING TO DO IT WELL.

>> CHEROKEE NATION PRINICPAL CHIEF CHUCK HOSKIN, JUNIOR, SAYS EVEN BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HANDED DOWN ITS MCGIRT VERSUS OKLAHOMA DECISION MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, THE TRIBE BEGAN EXAMINING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO HANDLE AN INCREASED CASE LOAD.

>> WE DID A STUDY EARLY ON ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST THE CHEROKEE NATION TO MEET THE VERY BASIC OBLIGATIONS UNDER MCGIRT.

IT'S ABOUT $35 MILLION IN NEW DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.

>> ONCE MCGIRT WAS APPLIED THROUGH THE OKLAHOMA COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, HOGNER VERSUS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA DECISION IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, THE TRIBE'S JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS READY TO ENGAGE.

>> SINCE MCGIRT APPLIED TO OUR RESERVATION JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE HAD BEEN VERY BUSY AND PUTTING A LOT OF EFFORT INTO HOLDING LAW BREAKERS ACCOUNTABLE.

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

SO WE'RE DOING OUR JOB.

>> WE'VE HAD CRIMINAL CASES BEFORE, BUT WE AVERAGED AROUND 25 A YEAR, AND OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BLOWN WAY PAST THAT.

>> JUDGE LUKE BARTEAUX IS THE PRESIDING DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOR THE CHEROKEE NATION.

>> WE'VE HIRED NEW JUDGES, SET UP NEW DOCKETS VERY SIMILAR TO THE STATE COURT SYSTEM IN STRUCTURE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, PROCEEDING ALONG LIKE NORMAL, LIKE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG.

>> THE CHEROKEE NATION HOLDS A MCGIRT DOCKET ON TUESDAYS.

>> WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM PETTY THEFT FROM WALMART TO MURDER.

>> JUST LIKE IN STATE DISTRICT COURTS, NOT ALL CASES HAVE TO GO TO TRIAL.

>> THE ONES THAT DON'T NEED TRIALS AND THEIR ATTORNEYS WANT TO SETTLE IT AND REACH A PLEA AGREEMENT WITH AG, I BELIEVE WE'RE RUNNING AROUND 30, 30 TO 40 PER WEEK ON THOSE.

>> BARTEAUX SAYS ANYONE VISITING THE CHEROKEE NATION'S COURT WILL FIND IT'S SIMILAR TO ANY STATE COURT.

>> COME ON DOWN ANY TUESDAY, I MEAN, IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

HE CAN SIT IN THE BACK, WATCH IT, BUT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT IT LOOKS PRETTY MUCH LIKE ANY COUNTY COURT.

>> THE COURT IS ONLY A PART OF THE CHEROKEE NATION'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THE TRIBE HAS AN ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO DECIDES WHICH CASES TO PROSECUTE.

A.G. SARA HILL SAYS THERE ARE TWO BASIC PATHWAYS CRIMINAL CASES COME TO THE CHEROKEE NATION'S COURT SYSTEM.

THE FIRST IS POST-CONVICTION OR DIRECT APPEAL CASES.

THOSE ARE THE CASES THE STATE HAS ALREADY PROSECUTED, BUT ARE UNDER REVIEW BECAUSE OF MCGIRT.

>> SO THESE ARE OLDER CASES, CRIMES THAT WERE COMMITTED SOMETIMES YEARS AGO, AND THEY HAVE REQUESTED POST-CONVICTION RELIEF.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE CASES SOMETIMES THAT WENT TO JURY TRIAL, COMPLICATED CASES, AND REVIEW THEM AND SEE, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE ISSUES HERE WITH EVIDENCE WITNESSES TODAY, GETTING THOSE CASES, REFILED, THAT'S ONE REVIEW PROCESS.

>> THE OTHER TYPES OF CASES, NEW CRIMES WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED BY STATE PROSECUTORS BEFORE THE MCGIRT DECISION.

>> NEW OFFENSES THAT JUST HAPPENED YESTERDAY, TRAFFIC TICKETS AND ASSAULTS, DRUG CRIMES, ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN OKLAHOMA EVERY DAY, THOSE NEW CASES ARE COMING IN.

>> WHILE THE CHEROKEE NATION DID WHAT IT COULD TO PREPARE FOR THE FLOOD OF NEW CASES, IT STILL TOOK AN ALL HANDS ON DECK APPROACH.

>> EVEN STILL, IT WAS QUITE -- IT WAS -- IT WAS QUITE A SHOCK.

IT'S ONE THING TO SEE THE WAVE COMING.

AND IT'S ANOTHER THING TO STAND THERE WHEN IT HITS YOU.

SO WE HAD TO -- WE WERE VERY BUSY AND WE -- WE REMAIN VERY BUSY.

>> LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THE CHEROKEE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHERE THE MARSHALS COME INTO PLAY.

>> THE CRIME IS STILL THE CRIME, THE BAD GUYS IN, LET'S SAY CLAREMORE, STILL THE BAD GUYS IN CLAREMORE, MCGIRT DIDN'T MAKE A BUNCH OF NEW BAD MEN AND WOMEN.

ALL IT CHANGED IS NOW WHO GETS TO PROSECUTE THAT CRIME.

>> THE CHEOKEE MARSHALS HAVE CROSS DEPUTIZATION AGREEMENTS WITH CITIES AND COUNTIES THROUGHOUT THE RESERVATION TERRITORY ALREADY IN PLACE.

MARSHAL SHANNON BUHL SAYS HIS DEPARTMENT BUILT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WITH US THAN OTHER OTHER AREAS IS WE'VE HAD THAT PRE RELATIONSHIP BUILT THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE JUST WORKING CASES TODAY, LIKE THEY WERE WORKING TWO YEARS AGO BEFORE MCGIRT.

>> HOWEVER, THE INCREASED CASE LOAD HAS LED TO MORE WORK FOR THE MARSHALS.

>> QUITE FRANKLY, ONLY THING HAS CHANGED WITH US IS TRANSPORTS OF PRISONERS.

SO WE HAVE 13 JAIL CONTRACTS THROUGHOUT THE RESERVATION.

SO IF A TAHLEQUAH CITY OFFICER ARRESTS, A NATIVE AMERICAN FOR INDIAN COUNTRY CRIME, WHEN THEY BOOK THAT INDIVIDUAL IN THE CHEROKEE COUNTY JAIL, THEY JUST PUT AT THE TOP, THIS IS FOR CHEROKEE NATION.

>> MORE COURTROOMS ARE PLANNED TO MAKE ACCESS TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM EASIER.

>> WE'VE GOT TWO NEW COURTHOUSES ON THE KIND OF HORIZON.

HOPEFULLY I'M GETTING INTO ONE WITHIN, SAY, THE NEXT MONTH DOWN IN MUSKOGEE AND THEN ANOTHER ONE ON THE HORIZON AND COMING IN JAY, OKLAHOMA, WHICH CREATES A NEED FOR MORE STAFFING.

>> I EXPECT WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY NEED ADDITIONAL, STILL NEED ADDITIONAL PROSECUTORS AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT STAFF.

SO THAT WILL CONTINUE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE, WHICH IS NOT JUST A AG'S OFFICE ISSUE, BUT REALLY A CHEROKEE NATION JUSTICE ISSUE IS TRYING TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF COURTHOUSES WE HAVE AVAILABLE.

>> JUST HIRED 13 NEW OFFICERS.

SIX OF THEM ARE GOING THROUGH THE FEDERAL ACADEMY.

THEY LEAVE SUNDAY FOR THE FEDERAL ACADEMY.

SO THEY'LL BE THERE FOR THREE MONTHS, COME BACK AND DO FOUR MONTHS IN THE FIELD TRAINING SCENARIO.

AND THEN THERE'LL BE MARSHALS.

>> MARSHAL BUHL IS LOOKING TO HIRE ANOTHER 25 OFFICERS.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE BEING ADDED FOR VICTIMS, AS WELL.

>> WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTING VICTIMS.

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

>> BUT FOR THE CHEROKEE NATION AND THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA TO COME TO A CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGREEMENT, IT WILL LITERALLY TAKE AN ACT OF CONGRESS.

>> ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT THAT BARRIER BE LIFTED SO THAT WE CAN EVEN EXPLORE THE IDEA OF HOW TO GET AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT ON CERTAIN ASPECTS OF JURISDICTION.

>> HOSKIN NOTES THE BILL MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH CONGRESS TO GIVE THE CHEROKEES AND GOVERNOR STITT THE AUTHORIZATION TO COMPACT IS IN ITS VERY EARLY STAGES.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> THE TEACHER'S UNION IS JOINING WITH THE OCTOBER CITY SCHOOL BOARD IN DENOUNCING NEW RULES ADOPTED TO IMPLEMENT HOUSE BILL 1775 IN PUBLIC CLASS ROOMS.

UNION PRESIDENT TORIE SHOECRAFT SAID IN A STATEMENT THESE LAWS IN COMPLIANCE RULES ARE NOTHING MORE THAN GAG ORDERS, EFFORTS TO LIMIT TEACHER'S ABILITY TO EDUCATE CHILDREN AND TEACH HONEST HISTORY.

THE IRONY IS SO-CALLED CRITICAL RACE THEORY TAUGHT IN LAW SCHOOLS, NOT K-12 SCHOOLS INCLUDING HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

>>> THE WORDS CRITICAL RACE THEORY DO NOT APPEAR IN HOUSE BILL 1775.

HOWEVER CRT WAS DISCUSSED WHILE THE LEGISLATION WAS DEBATED IN MAY.

WE ASKED DR. PAULA IOANIDE A PROFESSOR WHO ACTUALLY TEACHES CRITICAL RACE THEORY AT ITHACA COLLEGE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

>> Reporter: IT'S A LARGE BOTHY OF SCHOLARSHIPS, PRY MAYOR IN LEGAL STUDIES THAT ESSENTIALLY EXAMINES THE ROLE OF THE LAW, AS WELL AS PRACTICES, SOCIAL PRACTICES, AND THE WAY THAT THESE IN THE PAST HAVE SHAPED GROUP ADVANTAGES ON THE BASIS OF RACE.

I THINK CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS STANDING AS A PROXY FOR DEBATE ON HOW MUCH THE -- OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM SHOULD ACTUALLY ACCURATELY TEACH THE HISTORY OF RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> THE PROFESSOR HAS READ OKLAHOMA NEW LAW AND SAYS WHILE SHE DOESN'T DISAGREE IN PRINCIPLE WITH HOW THE LAW IS WRITTEN, SHE ISN'T SURE HOW FEELINGS OR EMOTIONS CAN BE LEGISLATED OR ENFORCED.

>>> A SMALL TOWN IN CADDO COUNTY IS FACING AN UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC FUTURE.

BUILT IN 1989 THE GREAT PLAINS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY GENERATED HUNDREDS OF NEW JOBS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE.

NO MORE.

REPORTER KEATON ROSS WITH "OKLAHOMA WATCH" EXPLAINS WHAT'S NEXT FOR HINTON, OKLAHOMA.

>> KEATON, A LITTLE HISTORY TO START WITH.

WHY DID HINTON DECIDE TO GET INTO THE PRISON BUSINESS MORE THAN THREE DECADES AGO?

>> THIS CAME IN THE LATE 1980S AFTER THE OIL BUST IN OKLAHOMA AFFECTED A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, AND HINTON WAS NO EXCEPTION.

>> SO LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR BRINGING JOBS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BACK TO HINTON CITY LEADERS, LEADERS SETTLED ON A PRISON AS A GOOD IDEA, YOU KNOW, STABLE GOVERNMENT JOBS.

AT THAT POINT, PRISON POPULATIONS WERE RISING AND IT REALLY SEEMED LIKE LIKE A DECENT BET.

>> FAST FORWARD TO 2021.

WHY IS THE PRISON CLOSING AND WHAT HAVE OKLAHOMA LAWMAKERS DONE TO TRY AND STOP IT FROM HAPPENING?

>> THE PRISON IS CLOSING BECAUSE OF A BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WAS ISSUED BACK IN JANUARY DIRECTING THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS TO NOT RENEW CONTRACTS WITH PRIVATE PRISON COMPANIES THAT APPLIES ONLY TO BUREAU OF PRISON FACILITIES, NOT I.C.E.

OR ANY OF THOSE FACILITIES.

JIM INHOFE, JAMES LANKFORD, AND FRANK LUCAS WROTE A LETTER TO BIDEN ASKING HIM TO RECONSIDER THE ORDER, MENTIONING THAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IN HINTON WOULD BE GREAT.

BUT THAT ORDER, OR THAT LETTER, FELL ON DEAF EARS AND THE PRISON CLOSED IN LATE MAY.

>> HOW MUCH REVENUE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT AND HOW WILL THE CITY'S BUDGET BE EFFECTED BY IT?

>> THE GEO GROUP, WHICH OWNS OR LEASES THE PRISON FROM THE CITY, PAID THE CITY OF HINTON $1.25 PER DAY, PER PRISONER, WHICH IF THE PRISON WAS FULL WITH 1900 PRISONERS AMOUNTED TO GREATER THAN $700,000 A YEAR.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE PRISON USED LOTS OF UTILITIES, WHICH IS MORE REVENUE FOR THE CITY.

SO THE TOTAL ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE CITY WITHOUT THE PRISON IS AMOUNTS TO ABOUT $1.5 MILLION.

ABOUT A THIRD OF THE CITY BUDGET.

>> KEATON, EXACTLY HOW MANY JOBS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE?

>> APPROXIMATELY 250 TO 300 JOBS AT THE PRISON.

AND THEN THERE'S THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BUSINESSES IN TOWN, MAYBE NOT HAVING AS MUCH REVENUE COMING IN WITH THOSE PRISON WORKERS MOVING OUT OR DINING OR SHOPPING ELSEWHERE.

>> COULD THERE BE NEW OR DIFFERENT USES FOR THIS FACILITY?

>> THEY COULD PITCH THE PRISON TO SAY THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, IF THEY WANTED TO CLOSE AN OLDER FACILITY AND MOVE PRISONERS IN THERE, THE PRISON COULD BE OPERATED AS A PRIVATE PRISON, OR THE STATE COULD LEASE THE FACILITY AND RUN IT AS A STATE FACILITY WITH STATE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS.

>> BUT THEN AGAIN, WE LOOK AT A PRISON, A PRIVATE PRISON, IN WATONGA THAT CLOSED IN 2010 AND IT'S BASICALLY SET VACANT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

>> DID THE PRISON HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD IN TERMS OF HOW IT WAS RUN AND HOW IT TREATED INMATES?

THE CITY LEADERS AND PEOPLE, I TALK TO IT AND SAY YES, IT DID HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD.

THEY MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY RECENT PROBLEMS WITH ESCAPES OR VIOLENCE OR RIOTS.

>> ARE PRISON CLOSES BECOMING MORE COMMON IN OKLAHOMA?

>> A STATE PRISON, THE WILLIAM S. KEY CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN FORT SUPPLY IS BEING VACATED RIGHT NOW.

AND A LOT OF THESE CLOSURES ARE A RESULT OF JUST THE DECLINING PRISON POPULATION.

WE'VE SEEN WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND SOME JUSTICE REFORMS TAKING PLACE THAT THERE JUST ISN'T THE DEMAND FOR PRISON BEDS, THAT THERE WAS SAY MAYBE FIVE OR 10 YEARS AGO.

>> KEATON ROSS, GREAT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THE HARDESTY CENTER IS NOW OPEN IN TULSA.

FUNDED IN PART BY $270 MILLION SETTLEMENT AFTER THE STATE SUED PURDUE PHARMA FOR IT'S ROLE IN THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, THE STATE OF THE ART FACILITY WILL HELP DEVELOP NEW WAYS TO TREAT PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

A PROBLEM MAGNIFIED BY THE PANDEMIC.

STEVE SHAW HAS OUR REPORT.

>> I WAS A 13-YEAR THREE TIME NFL PRO BOWL PLAYER.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHO I WAS.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOD'S GIFT TO THIS WORLD.

I WAS VERY SELF CENTERED, VERY PRIDEFUL.

I HAD A LOT OF EGO.

THAT WAS THE CORE OF MY DISEASE.

AS A RESULT OF THAT, I GOT INTO SMOKING CRACK COCAINE, LOST MY FREEDOM SEVERAL TIMES.

I HAVE BEEN SHOT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

>> AS A FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK OF THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS IN 1982, LUIS SHARPE WENT FROM TRADING SHOTS WITH FELLOW GREATS LIKE LAWRENCE TAYLOR TO LITERALLY FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE IN PRISON.

25 YEARS LATER, SHARPE'S BEEN SOBER FOR NEARLY A DECADE.

>> WE TALK ABOUT IN THE PROGRAM HOW WE GET A DAILY REPRIEVE.

YOU SAID ONE DAY AT A TIME, WE GET A DAILY REPRIEVE BASED ON OUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION.

SO I HAVE TO DO THINGS INTENTLY TO FEED MY SPIRIT MAN ON A DAILY BASIS SO I WON'T RETURN TO ACTIVE ADDICTION.

BUT ABSOLUTELY WHEN THE PANDEMIC HAPPENED, THE COUNTRY CLOSED DOWN, THE MEETINGS SHUT DOWN, WE KNEW THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO WOULDN'T MAKE IT AND FALL OFF.

>> THINGS ARE GETTING WORSE.

>> DR. JULIE CROFF IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL AND POPULATION RESEARCH AT OKLAHOMA STATE'S NATIONAL CENTER FOR WELLNESS AND RECOVERY IN TULSA.

>> AND ONE OF THE FIRST INDICATORS OF WHAT WAS GOING ON IN 2020 WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE TAX REVENUE CHANGES.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT OKLAHOMA'S TAX REVENUE REPORTING, THAT GROUP, ALCOHOL, MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE SAME CATEGORY, AND YOU SAW 15% INCREASES IN 2020 MONTH AFTER MONTH WERE STILL UP.

>> SHE SAYS THOSE SALES TAX REVENUES LAST MONTH WERE UP 22%.

>> THE STATISTICS THAT ARE JUST BLOWING ME AWAY ARE THE OVERDOSES ARE HIGHER THAN THEY'VE EVER BEEN.

>> NATIONALLY, OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE UP A STAGGERING 30% SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

>> LARGELY THE OVERDOSES ARE BEING DRIVEN BY METHAMPHETAMINE AND OPIODS, AND FENTANYL IS HUGE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S COMING IN THE COUNTRY MORE THAN BEFORE.

SO WE'RE SEEING MORE DEATHS RELATED TO FENTANYL BEING THE DRUG SUPPLY IN GENERAL.

>> WHAT ABOUT ALCOHOL?

>> YEAH, ALCOHOL IS ACCESSIBLE.

>> DR. KELLY DUNN IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL TREATMENT AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR WELLNESS AND RECOVERY.

SHE SAYS THROUGH ZOOM THEY'RE PARTNERING WITH LOCAL CLINICS IN TOWNS ALL ACROSS THE SOONER STATE.

SHE SAYS THE OPENING OF THE 49,000 SQUARE FOOT HARDESTY CENTER WILL HELP PROVIDE ADDICTION SOLUTIONS FOR GENERATIONS.

>> IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH TRYING TO STOP A HABIT THAT IS NOT HELPING YOU, NOT SERVING YOU, THE PANDEMIC'S OVER.

YOU'RE READY TO RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE.

BUT YOU PICK UP SOMETHING THAT IS CAUSING YOU A LOT OF TROUBLE NOW.

THERE IS TREATMENT AVAILABLE.

THERE'S MEDICATION THAT IS FDA APPROVED TO TREAT OPIOD ABUSE DISORDER AND ALCOHOL ABUSE DISORDER.

AND QUITE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION.

>> U.S.

CONGRESSMAN MARKWAYNE MULLIN CO-SPONSORED FEDERAL LEGISLATION EIGHT YEARS AGO THAT PUTS ALLEGED DRUG OFFENDERS ON 24-HOUR OR LONGER HOLD INSTEAD OF JAIL.

HE SAYS IT'S BEEN A SUCCESSFUL DETERRENT, BUT THE PANDEMIC HAS EXACTED A TERRIBLE COST.

>> WE SAW A TREMENDOUS SPIKE.

I MEAN, WE SAW AN INCREASE OF OVER 90,000 ACCIDENTAL OPIOD DEATHS AROUND THE UNITED STATES JUST DURING THE PANDEMIC PERIOD.

AND THAT TRICKLES DOWN TO AFFECT A LOT OF HEALTH ISSUES WITH THE LIVER AND KIDNEY DISEASE.

AND WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT ALCOHOL THERE.

>> YES, WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT ALCOHOL THERE.

>> CHUCK ROBINSON IS A LICENSED ALCOHOL AND DRUG COUNSELOR WHO IS SPONSORING A GOLF TOURNAMENT AUGUST 23RD AT ROSE CREEK IN EDMOND.

THE GOAL IS TO RAISE MONEY FOR PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY COULDN'T AFFORD TREATMENT.

>> I THINK WE AS HUMANS ARE INTENDED TO BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER.

AND WHEN WE WERE SEPARATED AND ISOLATED, IT BROUGHT OUT THE WORST IN US.

SO MANY PASS THE TIME WITH SUBSTANCES, AND IF THEY HAD THE PROPENSITY TO BE ADDICTED, IT SKYROCKETED.

ISLOATION BROUGHT ABOUT A LOT OF THOSE PROBLEMS.

>> SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, INTEGRIS HOSPITAL SYSTEMS REPORT SEVERE ALCOHOL RELATED ADMISSIONS ARE UP 38%.

ARCADIA TRAILS CENTER FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY IN EDMOND MEDICAL DIRECTOR JED PERDUE SAYS CDC STATISTICS SHOW THREE OUT OF TEN PEOPLE STILL REPORT SIGNIFICANT DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THAT NUMBER WAS JUST ONE IN TEN.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE ANSWER TO START WITH PEOPLE ARE FINDING IT HARD TO STOP A SUBSTANCE OR CONTROLLING THE USE IS TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> HE SAYS IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO ASK FOR HELP.

>> ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH SUBSTANCES HIJACK OUR BRAIN IS BY IMPAIRING OUT DECISION MAKING ABILITY.

SO BY TALKING TO SOMEONE YOU TRUST, IT ADDS A LAYER OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT MAKES IT EASIER TO GET THE HELP YOU NEED.

>> LUIS SHARPE NOW SPENDS HIS DAYS ON BEHALF OF THE NFL ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.

>> TODAY, BECAUSE MY NEGATIVE SENSE OF SELF HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A POSITIVE CONCERN FOR OTHERS, MAN, I AM A MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY.

I AM AT PEACE.

I'M ON VACATION.

LET ME SHOW YOU MY GIRL AND I ARE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

SAW HELLO TO TAMIKA.

WE'RE ON VACATION HERE IN MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE, STEVE, IF I WAS STILL USING DRUGS.

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

>> THE LATEST UNEMPLOYMENT REPORT SHOWS OKLAHOMA WORKERS ARE HANDING JOBS.

HERE IS JASON DOYLE WITH THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> OKLAHOMA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED FROM 3.9% IN MAY TO 3.7% IN JUNE.

LAST MONTH MORE THAN SKIN THOUSAND 500 WORKERS WERE CONTINUING TO RECEIVE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS JUST SINCE THE STATE HALTED ADDITIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT HELP.

THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR ADDED THE MOST LAST MONTH.

THE PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS SECTOR.

ONLINE LOAN MARKETPLACE LENDING TREE CONSIDERS OKLAHOMA CITY ONE OF THE THREE BEST METRO AREAS FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS IN THE ANNUAL RANKING OF THE 50 LARGEST METRO AREAS.

THE FACTORS GIVING OKC A HIGH-RANKING ARE DOWN PAYMENT CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE, AND ONE OF THE LOWEST DOWN PAYMENT PERCENTAGES IN THE COUNTRY.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI AND LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ARE THE OTHER TWO TOP MARKETS.

THE PARENT COMPANY AT THE BANK OF OKLAHOMA BROUGHT IN A SECOND QUARTER NET INCOME OF $166 MILLION.

IT'S FIRST TIME THE COMPANY HAS CROSS STD $160 MILLION QUARTERLY PROFIT MARK.

BOK SAYS THE RECORD NET INCOME WAS GROWTH IN THE COMPANY'S HEALTHCARE PORTFOLIO AND STEADY COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL LOAN ACTIVITY.

OKLAHOMA CITY WILL PLAY HOME TO- WHEELER BIO, A MANUFACTURING COMPANY FOCUSED ON ANTIBODY THERAPEUTICS.

THE 35,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IS EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL BY THE END OF 2022 WITH ACCESS TO EXPAND FURTHER MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES INSIDE OF OKLAHOMA CITY.

TULSA CASINO CASH TRAC IS PROVIDING ITS OPERATIONS IN REVENUE AUDIT SOFTWARE CALLED CASINO INSIGHT TO LATEST CLIENTS RESORTS WORLD LAS VEGAS, THE FIRST LUXURY RESORT TO OPEN ON THE STRIP IN MORE THAN TEN YEARS.

THE SOFTWARE MANAGES CASINO OPERATIONS AND ALLOWS COMPANIES TO KEEP AN EYE ON CASH TRANSACTIONS.

CASINO INSIGHT IS USED BY MORE THAN 180 CASINOS.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>>> THANKS.

THIS IS THE LAST WEEKEND DRIVERS WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO PAY CASH ON THE KILPATRICK TURNPIKE.

THE OKLAHOMA TURNPIKE AUTHORITY IS CONVERTING TO A CASHLESS TOLLING SYSTEM THROUGH NORTHERN AND WESTERN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE PLAN IS TO MAKE TURNPIKE SAFER WHILE MOVING FORWARD WITH CURRENT TECHNOLOGY.

THE NEW CASHLESS PROGRAM IS CALLED -- >> SUNDAY NIGHT, ONLY AFFECTS THE JOHN KILPATRICK TURNPIKE, SO NOTHING ELSE.

THE REST OF NETWORK WILL REMAIN THE SAME.

AND ALSO IT HAS NO AFFECT WHATSOEVER ON OUR PASS SYSTEM.

EVERYTHING REMAINS THE SAME.

PIKE PASS REMAINS THE PREFERRED WAY TO PAY YOUR TOLL WHEN YOU'RE USING THE TURNPIKE NETWORK.

SO NOTHING CHANGES THERE.

>> THE CONVERSION TO CASHLESS TOLLS FOR ALL THE TURNPIKES IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE YEAR 2025.

>>> NEGOTIATIONS ARE ONGOING FOR BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL EVEN AS THE SENATE REJECTED DEBATING THE ISSUE ON WEDNESDAY.

THE STICKING POINTS BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CONCERN PUBLIC TRANSIT AND BROADBAND.

ALSO STILL IN PLAY A MASSIVE $3.5 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE DEMOCRATS HAVE THREATENED TO PUSH THROUGH VIA THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS IF THE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT CANNOT BE REACHED.

HOWEVER, BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC NEGOTIATORS SAY THEY ARE STILL ON TRACK TO REACH A DEAL THAT COULD BE VOTED ON NEXT WEEK.

>>> A BIG PART OF THE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW EXACTLY WHAT IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

IS IT JUST ROADS AND BRIDGES OR SOMETHING MORE?

THE TWO PARTIES ARE FAR APART ON DEFINITION AND HOW TO PAY FOR WHATEVER VERSION OF THE BILL PASSES.

AND WHAT ARE OKLAHOMA'S PRIORITIES?

SUSAN CADOT TACKLES THOSE QUESTIONS AND MORE WITH REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE AVERY 46 AND DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR KEVIN MATTHEW.

>> THANK YOU RICH.

I'M JOINED BY TWO STATE LEGISLATORS, WHO WORK ON THESE ISSUES FOR OKLAHOMA.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE KEVIN MATTHEWS A DEMOCRAT FROM TULSA, AND HE IS ON THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

AND THEN WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE AVERY FRIX, WHO IS THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR, REPUBLICAN FROM MUG COMPANY GEE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> SENATOR, I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN WITH YOU.

LET'S GET A DEFINITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

HOW IS THAT FOR A START?

>> WELL, MY DEFINITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE IS ROADS, BRIDGES, PLUMBING, SEWER SYSTEMS, ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY AND I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE WIFI AND INTERNET.

THAT'S MY BASIC DEFINITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

THOSE THINGS NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO RUN A HOME, A BUSINESS, I'D KATE A CHILD.

>> REPRESENTATIVE FRIX WHAT ABOUT YOU?

>> I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH SENATOR MATTHEWS.

I THINK THOSE BASIC THINGS ROADS AND BRIDGES WE HEAR THAT ALL TIME, DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I LIKE BEING ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND WORKING THAT FIELD IS BECAUSE IT TRULY IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.

DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN YOU WANT GOOD ROADS BRIDGES, GOOD SEWERS AND WATERWAYS, GOOD RAIL SYSTEMS, OKLAHOMA LUCKY TO HAVE TWO INLAND PORTS.

RURAL BROADBAND I WOULD AGREE IS PART OF THAT, AS WELL.

>> INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE HOT TOPIC IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW, AND I KNOW ALL EYES ARE ON THE OUTCOME OF WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO BROADEN THE SCOPE OF WHAT INFRASTRUCTURE MEANS, BY INCLUDING STATE OF LIVING, HOUSING, AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE PROPOSALS BY DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON?

>> I THINK THAT MY DEFINITION WAS THE BASIC DEFINITION, BUT I LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, AS WE LOOK AT OUR STATE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO REDUCE THE INCARCERATION LEVEL, AND AS WE IMPLEMENT REFORMS THEN THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE FORMER JUSTICE INVOLVED THEY NEED HOUSING.

THEY NEED THOSE BASIC THINGS TO REESTABLISH THEIR LIVES, AND BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.

SO THE EXPANDED VERSION BENEFITS PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT, SO ALTHOUGH THAT WAS NOT MY ORIGINAL BASIC DEFINITION, I THINK IT ADDRESSES THE BASIC NEEDS WHICH ARE SO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO BE A PRO DUCK TOUGH CITIZEN.

>> AND THOSE ARE IMPORTANT, BUT IS IT A CASE OF ROADS BY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD SMELL AS SWEET OR JUST SEMANTICS?

>> I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE SEMANTICS.

I JUST BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO INDIVIDUALS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE BROADER DEFINITION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES INFRASTRUCTURE BEING PUT FORTH BY DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON?

>> IT'S CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A LOT OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THAT BASIC DEFINITION THAT SENATOR MATTHEWS AND I JUST AGREED TO.

AND I WISH WE WOULD FOCUS BACK ON THAT.

FIX THE ROADS AND BRIDGES, GET THAT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE BEFORE WE START EXPANDING IT FURTHER.

>> REPRESENTATIVE LET'S STAY WITH YOU.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED AS FAR AS INFRASTRUCTURE GOES IN OKLAHOMA.

>> OKLAHOMA HAS DONE GOOD JOB OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS OF ADDRESSING OUR DEFICIENT BRIDGES BUT WE STILL HAVE QUITE A FEW LEFT.

THE LATEST NUMBER I SAW TO FIX EVERY STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT BRIDGE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IS ABOUT $11.6 BILLION.

AND SO THERE IS -- >> WITH A B?

>> WITH A B.

SO OKLAHOMA HAS A LOT OF NEEDS HERE.

I THINK WE GOT TO FOCUS ON OUR BRIDGES, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO.

BUT ON OUR ROADWAYS, ESPECIALLY OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES, ACROSS THE STATE, YOU KNOW, THOSE COUNTIES ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW, AND WE DEFINITELY NEED FOCUS ON RURAL ROADS AND BRIDGES, AS WELL.

>> SAINT MATTHEWS WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE FOR THE NEED OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND IMPROVEMENT IN OKLAHOMA WITH THAT BASE DEFINITION YOU GAVE US AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR DISCUSSION?

IS THERE A GREAT NEED IN OKLAHOMA?

>> THERE IS A GREAT NEED.

I WANT TO JUST THANK THE CHAIRMAN FOR HIS WORK AS CHAIRMAN OF TRANSPORTATION, BUT YEAH, I'M CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OUR APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR.

AS WE HAVE JUST COMPLETED GREENWOOD WITH THE CENTENNIAL AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS CENTER BEING BUILT IN OKLAHOMA CITY, AND WE HAVE THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING MEMORIAL, THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING TO OUR STATE AND THOSE THAT WANT TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO BRING NATIONAL CITY RIGHTS HERE AND WE WANT THEM TO GO TO THE 13 ORIGINAL BLACK TOWNS WHICH ARE IN RURAL OKLAHOMA.

AND SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE GOOD ROADS BRIDGES.

THAT'S GOING TO TAKE INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THESE VISITOR CENTERS AND THESE PLACES OF COMMERCE CAN RE-ESTABLISH.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO THEIR LOCAL ECONOMY AND OUR STATE ECONOMY, AS WELL.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS SOMETHING I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT LATER WAS THAT PROJECT WITH THE 13 HISTORICALLY BLACK COMMUNITIES.

YOU DESCRIBED OR DID YOU KNOW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF REMEMBERING THEM AND HAVING A WAY FOR FOLKS TO REVISIT SO THEY DON'T FORGET IN THE FUTURE, DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS BEFORE YOU WERE WITH THE TULSA 2021 COMMITTEE, OR BEFORE YOU ESTABLISHED THAT, OR DURING?

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THE PEOPLE THAT FORMED THE COMMISSION, WE HAD HANNIBAL JOHNSON, AND WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE IN TULSA THAT HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT AND TALKED ABOUT HISTORY, INCLUDING FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE DON RALSTON, THE LATE SENATOR MAXINE HORNER, THIS WORK HAD STARTED AND AS I READ THOSE THINGS AND AS WE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS I THOUGHT WE COULD LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY IN OUR STATE, AND THEN THAT MADE ME CURIOUS.

AND SO I STARTED MEETING WITH BLACK TOWN MAYORS SOME TWO YEARS AGO AND LEARNING THEIR HISTORY AND FINDING OUT THESE ARE STORIES THAT NEED TO BE TOLD ABOUT OUR STATE.

IT'S LIKE THE NATIVE-AMERICAN CULTURE, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE, THE CULTURE OF THE -- THOSE ARE THINGS THAT MANY OKLAHOMAMANS DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT ACROSS THE NATION.

AND THESE ARE JEWELS OF OUR ECONOMY.

SO THESE RURAL TOWNS THAT MAKE UP OUR STATE IF WE WOULD SUPPORT THEM IT WILL MAKE ALL FOLKS RISE WHEN WE RISE.

>> IT TIES US TOGETHER.

WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS REPORT FOR 2021, INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN OKLAHOMA ON, I CAN SHOW THIS BUT ANYONE CAN LOOK IT UP ONLINE, THERE ARE SEVERAL, YOU KNOW, AND UNDER ROADS THERE ARE 112,865 MILES OF PUBLIC ROADS WITH 33% OF THEM IN POOR CONDITION.

A THIRD OF THEM ARE IN POOR CONDITION.

AND EACH MOTORIST PAYS $900 PER YEAR IN COST.

AND OVER A DECADE AGO, MAYBE 15 YEARS AGO, I DID A STORY WITH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR REPAIR AND WE WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE COUNTRY ROADS WITH NO SHOULDER, NARROW LANE, NO SHOULDER, YOU'RE GOING TO GO RIGHT IN THE DIRT IF YOU WAIVER OFF THE ROAD TWO INCHES.

AND THAT'S STILL AN ISSUE.

SO I WANT TO ASK YOU IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN GET DONE?

DO YOU KNOW OF ANY MONEY THAT IS EARMARKED CURRENTLY IN THE NATIONAL MEASURE TO HELP OKLAHOMA?

>> YOU KNOW MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE ENTIRE BILL IS NOT BEEN FINALIZED YET.

I THINK THERE IS SOME VOTES BUT WITHOUT THE BILL EVEN BEING WRITTEN, I'M NOT SURE WHAT WILL BE IN THE BILL OR WON'T BE IN THE BILL IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

BUT I DO KNOW OKLAHOMA HAS A SLEW OF PROJECTS LINED UP.

AND I ALSO MENTIONED OUR WATER WAY SYSTEM, YOU KNOW THERE IS A BACKLOG OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND CRITICAL MAINTENANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THOSE WATERWAYS SO WE DON'T HAVE A FAILURE.

AND THAT'S A HUGE DRIVER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

AND SO I'M HOPEFUL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL INVEST IN THAT AS WELL AS OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES HERE IN OKLAHOMA AND WE CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS READY TO GO WHEN THEY DECIDE TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT.

>> TELL US ABOUT THE -- OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND, ABOUT THE DAMSS IN OKLAHOMA.

>> WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC PORT, ONE IN MUSKOGEE, AND THOSE MINOR -- MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS LACE OF CRITICAL MAINTENANCE, AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THERE IS 50% CHANCE OR GREATER THAT THOSE MAY FAIL.

SO WE CERTAINLY NEED TO MAKE THOSE INVESTMENTS.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CORP OF ENGINEERS, WHICH IS A FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS OKLAHOMA IS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST FOR THE CORP. WE HAD SOME SEVERE FLOODING IN MUSKOGEE COUNTY, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND THAT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIVER SYSTEM AND WITH THE DAMS, AND SO I REALLY HOPE THAT SENATOR INHOFF AND I KNOW HE'S BEEN WORKING -- HE'S BEEN A GREAT CHAMPION FOR THAT IN DC.

I REALLY HOPE HE'LL BE SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING FUNDING FOR THOSE WATERWAYS, AS WELL AS OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES.

BUT THE WATERWAYS ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I REALLY DO THINK IT SETS US APART IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ATTRACTING THOSE INDUSTRIES TO OKLAHOMA.

>> I SEE THAT NOTE FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AND IT SAYS WE ARE NUMBER 28 NATIONALLY IN RANKING OF LANE WATER, AND THERE ARE 4,986 DAMS IN OKLAHOMA, WHO KNEW, 449 OF WHICH ARE HIGH HAZARD POTENTIAL.

OF THE HIGH HAZARD POTENTIAL DAMS, 90% HAVE AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN.

SO THAT'S NOT BIG NEWS, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO LIVE AROUND THOSE DAMS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

AND I THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY HOW THE PORTS WERE SET UP AND HOW THE RIVER SYSTEM WAS SET UP WAS IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CORP OF ENGINEERS, VERY CLEAR THAT THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NOT OF THE STATE.

>> THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WATERWAYS, BARGE TRAFFIC, IT GETS TRUCKS OFF THE HIGHWAY, WHICH SAVES WEAR AND TEAR ON HIGHWAY.

>> ANYTIME WE HAVE GOODS AND SERVICES BEING SHIPPED THROUGH THE BARGES, THAT MEANS LESS ON OUR HIGHWAY SYSTEM, SO THAT IS -- IT'S A REALLY GREAT THING FOR OKLAHOMA.

>> CERTAINLY OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND FOR MOST.

EVERYONE DRIVES ON THE ROADS, BUT THEY DON'T SEE THE BARGES GOING DOWN THE OKLAHOMA RIVER OR EVEN THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE DAMS WE HAVE, RIGHT, SENATOR?

>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO AGAIN SAY THROUGH LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSE CHAIRMAN AND OUR CHAIRMAN IN THE SENATE, AND LEADERSHIP IN GENERAL, WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS WE WERE SEVERELY, SEVERELY BEHIND WITH OUR BRIDGES.

AND WE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS BECAUSE WE HAVE A EIGHT YEAR PLAN SPECIFICALLY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES IN OUR STATE.

AND ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE, WE'RE FURTHER THAN WE WERE THROUGH OUR CURRENT LEADERSHIP AND WE WANT TO CONNECT OUR NEEDS TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND I HAVE READ AND WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN BRING SOME OF THOSE -- SOME OF THOSE DO APPLY.

SOME OF THOSE THINGS IN CONGRESS THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT APPLY TO OUR RURAL AREAS.

HERE IN TULSA.

PARTICULARLY THE GREENWOOD, WHERE IT DESTROYED OUR COMMUNITY, AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THAT.

AND THE NEEDS OF SOME OF OUR RURAL TOWNS AND FOR ME SPECIFICALLY THOSE BLACK TOWNS THAT I'M WORKING WITH, AS WELL.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE 244 MOVED IN THE GREENWOOD RAGE NONE TULSA?

>> THAT IS A DEFINITE YES.

YES, YES.

IT'S A EYESORE FOR US.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT AS PEOPLE REBUILT WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF INSURANCE, THAT CAME AND TORTIOUS APART FROM THE REST OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

YES, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT REMOVED ALTOGETHER OR MOVED IN ANOTHER WAY AWAY FROM THE GREENWOOD AREA.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, WE WANT TO -- I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU SINCE YOU CHAIR THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

TALK ABOUT IF YOU HAD THE PRIORITIZE THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OF OKLAHOMA, THE TOP THREE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TOKE OWE WHAT SENATOR MATTHEWS SAID.

OUR CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN THE EIGHT YEAR PLAN IT WAS A VERY POLITICAL PROCESS AS TO WHAT PROJECTS WERE FUNDED, WHAT PROJECTS WEREN'T FUNDED.

WE'VE DONE AWAY WITH THAT THROUGH THE EIGHT YEAR PLAN AND WE USE THE ENGINEERING AND SEE WHERE NEEDS ARE THE MOST ACROSS THE STATE.

AND SO WE'RE NOT DOING PROJECTS IN THE MAJORITY PARTY DISTRICT ONLY, WE'RE DOING PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE WHERE THEY NEED TO HAPPEN.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THAT EIGHT YEAR PLAN, WE CAN SPEED UP A LOT OF THE PROJECTS.

WE HAVE THEM ON THE SHELF READY TO GEARS AND I'M VERY EXCITED FOR FUTURE OF OKLAHOMA AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND I WILL ECHO WHAT SENATOR MATTHEWS SAID, WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS AND I THANK HIM FOR HIS PARTNERSHIP IN BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT WE STILL DO HAVE WORK AHEAD OF US.

>> AND WHAT -- FOR YOU IF YOU HAD -- IF YOU HAD THE MONEY, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WOULD -- ARE YOU STICKING TO EIGHT YEAR PLAN?

THERE WOULD NOT BE A REPRIORITIZATION?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO DEFINITELY STICK TO THE EIGHT YEAR PLAN AND CONTINUE THAT.

I THINK THAT WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT PROJECTS ON THE SHELF READY TO GO WITH THAT EIGHT YEAR PLAN.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US INVEST IN OUR WAYER WAYS BECAUSE THOSE ARE CRITICAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THAT SETS OKLAHOMA APART.

FOR TOO LONG THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEGLECTED THAT CRITICAL MAINTENANCE ON THOSE WATERWAYS.

WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT, THAT INVESTED IN FINALLY.

>> WELL, HOPEFULLY REPRESENTATIVE YOU SAID SOMETHING INTERESTING, YOU HOPE THIS WHOLE THING DOESN'T GET MESSED UP IN WASHINGTON, WE WERE COUNTING ON THIS MONEY FOR WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT BOTH OF YOU PUT FORTH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DISCUSSION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE'LL CROSS OUR FINGERS AND KEEP WATCH.

I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING ME TODAY, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS IN THE FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN AND THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THE STORY.

>> OF COURSE.

>> THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS HERITAGE AND FOLK AWARD ARE THE NATION'S HIGHEST AWARD, RECOGNIZING PEOPLE IN THOSE FIELDS.

IT RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY ARTISTS AND MAKERS WHO ARE REPRESENTING THEIR CULTURES.

IT VALUES THE WORK THAT YOU DO DURING YOUR CAREER.

>> ANITA FIELDS CALLS THE CLAY AND TEXTILE MEDIUMS SHE USES, THE THREAD THAT CONNECTS THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

IT IS A CONTINUUM OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL THAT HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO HER.

>> I WAS BORN IN HOMINY, OKLAHOMA, IN OSAGE COUNTY.

THERE WAS A TIME PERIOD WHERE MY DAD BUILT A HOUSE FOR US IN OSAGE COUNTY, NORTHWEST OF HOMINY.

AND THAT WAS ON MY GREAT GRANDFATHER'S ALLOTMENT, ORIGINAL ALLOTMENT.

I HAVE REALLY VIVID MEMORIES OF MAKING MUD PIES AND PUTTING THEM ON A BOARD AND PUSHING THEM INTO THE HOT OKLAHOMA SUN.

PT THE SAME THING, YOU KNOW, WITH PICKING UP A NEEDLE AND THREAD.

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A GREAT SEAMSTRESS.

SHE HAD THIS GREAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE A BASKET AND A BAG FULL OF REMNANTS AND LEFTOVER MATERIAL THAT SHE WASN'T USING.

AND SO I ASKED HER TO TEACH ME HOW TO SEW.

I WAS REALLY YOUNG, AND SO I KNOW AS AN ADULT THAT THOSE WERE MY FIRST INSTANCES OF UNDERSTANDING COLOR, PATTERN, DESIGN.

YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENED BEFORE I EVER WENT TO ART SCHOOL.

>> FIELDS IS A MEMBER OF THE OSAGE AND MUSCOGEE NATION AND HAS BEEN WITH THE TULSA ARTISTS FELLOWSHIP FOR FIVE YEARS.

>> I'M A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTIST.

MY WORK PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON CLAY SCULPTURE, CONTEMPORARY CLAY SCULPTURE.

AND I ALSO AM A TEXTILE ARTIST.

MY TEXTILES RUN FROM TRADITIONAL OSAGE RIBBON WORK.

THAT IS WHAT WE USE TO ADORN OUR CLOTHING FOR OUR CEREMONIALS AND OUR SOCIAL DANCES WITHIN THE OSAGE CULTURE.

BUT I ALSO MAKE TEXTILES THAT ARE CONTEMPORARY, AS MY CLAY WORK THAT I DO.

>> ANITA'S WORK WAS PART OF A RECENT EXHIBIT AT TULSA'S PHILBROOK MUSEUM CALLED, "HEARTS OF OUR PEOPLE", WHICH ORIGINATED AT THE MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS.

SHE WAS COMMISSIONED TO MAKE A CONTEMPORARY OSAGE WEDDING COAT THAT WAS FEATURED IN THAT SHOW.

FIELDS WAS ALSO ONE OF THREE NATIVE WOMEN SELECTED TO BE A PART OF AN EXHIBIT AT THE GILCREASE MUSEUM CALLED "WEAVING HISTORY INTO ART: THE ENDURING LEGACY OF SHAN GOSHORN", A TALENTED BASKET WEAVER WHO DIED OF CANCER IN 2018.

>> AND SO I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE COME FROM A VERY COMPLEX CULTURE THAT OUR WORLDVIEW IS VERY COMPLEX AND HAS MANY LAYERS TO IT.

THAT IS BASED ON OBSERVATION OF NATURE EONS AND EONS AGO.

IT'S BASED ON HOW NATURE -- HOW THINGS RELATE AND INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WHAT OUR PLACE IS IN THAT INTERACTION, HOW DEPENDENT WE ARE ON THAT SCOPE OF LIFE, BUT ALSO ONE ANOTHER.

AND I REALLY HOPE TO DISPEL STEREOTYPES ABOUT OUR -- OUR NATIVE PEOPLE THAT EACH TRIBE IS UNIQUE IN ITSELF, EACH TRIBE HAS ITS OWN LANGUAGE, ITS OWN WAYS OF BEING, ITS OWN WAY OF THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD.

>> THE NEA AWARD INCLUDES A MEDAL AND CASH AWARD OF $25,000 WITH NO STIPULATIONS.

EACH RECIPIENT WILL BE FEATURED IN A SIX-MINUTE FILM THAT WILL DEBUT NOVEMBER 17TH ON THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS WEBSITE.

>> A LOT OF TIMES THE WORK THAT WE DO AS ARTISTS CAN BE DEVALUED OR NOT LOOKED UPON AS SOMETHING THAT IS -- THAT IS EXTREMELY WORTHY.

AND AS MAKERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ARTISTS, WE KNOW THAT IT'S -- IT'S THE WORK THAT WE DO THAT'S THE SOUL OF A SOCIETY AND A CULTURE.

>> IT'S HARVEST TIME FOR MANY WORKERS.

IT'S BEEN THAT WAY HERE AND NEIGHBORING STATES FOR MANY DECADES.

IN THE MIDWEST WORKERS START IN TEXAS AND HEAD UP NORTH ALL THE WAY INTO CANADA.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW WE TAKE YOU TO FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA WHERE MATT OLIEN REPORTS ON THE DISCOVERY WITH PHOTOGRAPHS THAT CHRONICLE THE ENDURING AMERICAN TRADITION.

♪ >> I NEVER KNEW WHAT WORKING IN THE FIELDS WERE LIKE.

THE BEST EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE OF WHAT I KNOW IS FROM THESE PICTURES FROM 1938 THROUGH RUSSELL LEE, THAT I WAS ABLE TO JUST HAPHAZARDLY STUMBLE UPON.

BUT THEN IT WAS LIKE, OH MY GOODNESS.

IT WAS A GOLDMINE.

>> KEN IS ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME.

HE CAME TO ME AND SAID, I HAVE COME ACROSS LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WERE TAKEN DURING THE SUGAR BEET HARVEST BACK IN THE THIRTIES AND '40S.

HE SAID, I THINK WE CAN GET THEM FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

I'VE ALREADY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM.

AND I SAID, OKAY, LET'S CHECK AND SEE.

>> THE CHANCELLOR BOUGHT INTO IT.

>> HE WORKED WITH ANOTHER ONE OF OUR STUDENTS AND THEY CAME UP WITH AN AMAZING IDEA TO HAVE A GALLERY, TO HAVE PEOPLE COME AND SEE THE STORY OF THE SUGAR BEET HARVEST AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MIGRATION OF PEOPLE WHO CAME TO HELP OUT OUR LOCAL FARMERS.

KEN OBVIOUSLY HAD AN INTEREST IN THIS BECAUSE THAT ALSO IS A REFLECTION OF HIS OWN HERITAGE.

SO FAST-FORWARD, KEN HAD FIGURED IT OUT, HOW TO GET ACCESS TO THE PRINTS, HAD THEM ALL BLOWN UP.

AND HE CAME ONE DAY AND HE SAID CAN I BRING A FEW OVER?

I WANT TO SHOW THEM TO YOU.

HE PUT THEM DOWN.

AND I WAS LIKE, OH, MY GOSH.

THESE REALLY TELL THROUGH THE STORIES OF FACES.

THE ONE OF THEM HAS A BACKDROP OF A FAMILY SITTING AROUND A TABLE.

THEY REALLY COMMUNICATED THE MIGRANT STORY.

>> THESE PICTURES ARE AMAZING CLARITY.

IT'S ASTOUNDING.

AND SO WE BROUGHT THEM TO LIFE.

>> THE PART THAT ALWAYS HITS ME WHEN I LOOKED AT THE PHOTOS, IS JUST THE HARD WORK.

WE HAVE BECOME TO THE SITUATION NOW WHERE THINGS ARE DONE MECHANICAL.

THE BENDING OVER, THE CUTTING OF THE SUGAR BEETS, THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT THAT THAT HAD ON BODIES.

AND THAT WAS TRUE THROUGHOUT ALL OF AGRICULTURE DURING THE '30S AND '40S.

IT WASN'T JUST A JOB.

PEOPLE BROUGHT THEIR LIVES WITH THEM, THEIR CHILDREN.

THE MIGRATION STORY IS ONE OF THE LATINO POPULATION.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR K THROUGH SIXTH GRADE RIGHT NOW IN THE CROOKSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, APPROXIMATELY 40% OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE A LATINO ORIGIN.

SO NOT ONLY DID PEOPLE COME TO HELP AND BEGIN IN THE HARVEST, BUT THEY'VE STAYED AND THEY'VE CREATED WONDERFUL FAMILIES AND CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO THE COMMUNITY.

HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS LIKE AND SHARING THE FAMILY STORY IS A VERY IMPORTANT OUTCOME THAT CAME FROM THIS.

>> THESE PICTURES ARE, LIKE THE CHANCELLOR SAID, THE TOILS ON THESE BODIES IS AMAZING.

THE PHYSICALITY, I HAVE NOT SEEN REPEATED.

SOMEHOW THEY SURVIVED AND SOMEHOW THEY DID THIS.

>> WE'LL SAY GOODBYE WITH A STROLL THROUGH NATURE.

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

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