>>> COVID CASES ON THE RISE AGAIN IN OKLAHOMA.

WHO IS THE VIRUS TARGETING NOW AND HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE?

>> SEEMS TO BE PREYING ON UNVACCINATED PEOPLE AS WE GET MORE AND MORE CASES, THAT SPILLS OVER TO THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAYBE WERE VACCINATED OR DIDN'T HAVE THE VACCINE.

>> TWO COACHES TRANSITION TO TRAINING FOUR-LEGGED ATHLETES AND THEIR EFFORTSER ARE HELPING SAVE LIVES.

>> WE HAVE 54, WE HAVE DEPLOYED 74 OF THE 295, AND THAT'S WHY I SAID WE'RE EIGHT OR NINE STATES, BUT THEY LIKE OUR DOGS, OUR DOGS ARE DOING WELL.

>>> MEDICAID EXPANSION IS PROVING TO BE VERY POPULAR IN OKLAHOMA.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM.

>> PROVIDERS THAT I TALKED TODD SAID ONCE THEY TOLD A PATIENT THEY NOW HAVE MEDICAID IN TIERS THEY'RE SAYING THIS WAS SUCH A BIG DEAL THEM FOR.

>> 31 CHILDREN FROM 12 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES BECOME U.S. CITIZENS.

>> THE FREEDOM AND JUST THE PEOPLE, AND I MET LOTS OF GREAT PEOPLE THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM ME, AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND IT'S BEEN REALLY SPECIAL.

>> PLUS AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ON THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF OKLAHOMA CHILDREN.

NEXT ON "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND BROUGHT THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMA FAMILY HAS TOGETHER FOR BARBEQUES AND THOUSANDS MORE GATHERED FOR LARGE OUTDOOR FIREWORKS SHOWS AND CONCERTS.

ALL THIS HAPPENING AS OKLAHOMA NOW RANKS IN THE TOP TEN NATIONALLY IN NEW COVID-19 CASES PER DAY, PER CAPITA, WITH HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS THE HIGHEST SINCE MARCH.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING NOW AND HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE?

RORY TAYLOR REPORTING ON THE NEW VARIANTS GAINING A FOOTHOLD IN OKLAHOMA.

>> Reporter: TOWARDS THE BEGINNING OF JUNE OKLAHOMA BEGAN A STEADY CLIMB IN THE PERCENT OF COVID TESTS THAT WERE COMING BACK POSITIVE.

ACCORDING TO THE MAYO CHIN THANK RATE HAS TRIPLED FROM JUST 5% OF OKLAHOMA TESTS COMING BACK POSITIVE TO 15.

BUT TEST POSITIVITY DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.

>> WE'RE FACING RELATIVELY LOW TESTING RATES, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS TO ME AT LEAST AS A CLINICIAN PATIENTS ARE NOT PRESENTING UNTIL THEY GOT SYMPTOMS.

AND HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THEM ARE POSITIVE.

>> Reporter: AND HE'S RIGHT.

THERE HAS BEEN NO SPIKE IN ACTIVE CASES LIKE WE SAW AT THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER OR JANUARY.

INSTEAD OUR SEVEN-DAY ROLLING AVERAGE HAS BEEN GRADUALLY CLIMBING AGAIN, MORE LIKE THE SLOW CURVE UPWARD FROM LAST JUNE.

>> JUNE 18th, YOU CAN SEE HOW PROGRESSION HAS OCCURRED IN WHAT WE THINK IS LIKELY INVOLVEMENT OF DELTA VARIANT HERE.

YOU CAN SEE NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA REALLY CONTINUES TO BE THE SITE THAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS LEAST GREEN.

>> Reporter: THAT IS BELIEVED TODD BEING AFFECTED BY HIGH RATES OF SPREAD IN NEIGHBORING STATES LIKE ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI.

DR. RATERMANN WORKS AT THE GROVE HOSPITAL IN THE CORNER OF THE STATE AND SPOKE ON WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IN THAT HOT SPOT.

>> THE OVERALL SYMPTOMS AND CASE TRAJECTORY OF ALL OF OUR COVID PATIENTS ARE DIFFERENT THAN WE SAW IN FEBRUARY.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING HYPOXIC QUICKER.

THEY'RE COMING AND PRESENTING INITIALLY WITH MORE MUNDANE SYMPTOMS, SORE THROAT, HEADACHE, NOT FEELING WELL, BUT THE ONES THAT GET SICK TEND TO PROGRESS MUCH QUICKER INTO THE RESPIRATORY ISSUES.

>> Reporter: RATERMANN SAYS THE VACCINATION RATE IN DELAWARE COUNTY AROUND 28% IS LARGELY REPRESENTATIVE OF OLDER POPULATIONS.

AND WITH MUCH OF THE POPULATION UNVACCINATED, THE DELTA VARIANT HAS BEEN ABLE TO SPREAD.

>> AND THE NORTHEAST REGION WE HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE VACCINATION AT ALL, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S FUELING THE DELTA VARIANT COMING IN, SEEMS TO BE PREYING ON THOSE UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, AS WE GET MORE AND MORE CASES THEN THAT SPILLS OVER TO THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAYBE WERE VACCINATED.

>> Reporter: WHAT IS THE DELTA VARIANT?

DR. BRATZLER IS THE CHIEF COVID OFFICER AND IS RELEASED TWO REPORTS IN THE LAST WEEK ON THE DELTA MUTATION OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

>> DELTA VARIANT HAS BEEN FOUND IN MORE THAN 80 COUNTRIES NOW, AND IN THE UNITED STATES IT NOW TODAY REPRESENTS MORE THAN 50% OF ALL OF THE NEW CASES THAT ARE DIAGNOSED IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS MORE CONTAGIOUS.

IT SEEMS TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE, THE MUTATIONS MADE IT VERY EFFECTIVE AT ATTACHING TO HUMAN RECEPTOR CELLS, AND SO IT SPREADS EASILY FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

>> Reporter: DR. BRATZLER CAUTIONS THE DELTA STRAIN IS MUCH MORE EASILY PASSED ON.

SOME PRELIMINARY DATA SUGGESTED IT MIGHT BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN ILLNESS, BUT THAT IS NOT YET CONFIRMED BY STUDIES OR CONSENSUS.

>> IT MAKES YOU AT LEAST AS SICK AS PREVIOUS STRAINS OF THE VIRUS.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW YET WHETHER PEOPLE ARE GETTING SICKER, MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED WITH THE DELTA VARIANT.

>> Reporter: SYMPTOMS SEEM TO VARY IN CASES WITH THE DELTA VARIANT.

RUNNY NOSES AND HEADACHES ARE MORE COMMON, AND FEVERS ARE LESS FREQUENT IN LESS SEVERE CASES.

>> TWO WEEKS AGO WE PUT OUT A NETWORK TO ALL FACILITIES, LABS, HOSPITALS, ASKING THEM TO SEND NOT ONLY POSITIVES THAT MIGHT MEET A CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT MIGHT MAKE THEM MORE LIKELY TO BE A VARIANT BUT ANY POSITIVE LAB RESULTS THAT THEY HAVE TO THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR SEQUENCING.

>> Reporter: THE SEQUENCING PROCESS TAKES FOUR TO GAVE DAYS TO COMPLETE, BETWEEN GATHERING SAMPLES AND VERIFYING REPORTS.

WHICH IS ACTUALLY PRETTY FAST.

COME PAIRED TODD THE CDC DATA THAT RUNS ON AVERAGE TWO WEEKS BEHIND.

>> OF ALL THE VARIANTS OF CONCERN THAT WE'VE SEEN IN OKLAHOMA, ABOUT 17% NOW IS THE DELTA VARIANT, AND THAT IS CONSISTENT TO WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IN MISSOURI, AND ARKANSAS.

>> Reporter: WITH HIGHER RATE OF CONTAIN GENERAL THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TODD MULTIPLY AS IT DID IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND INDIA.

UNLESS IT IS STOPPED BY PREVENTATIVE MEASURES.

LIKE VACCINES.

>> THE BIGGEST RISK FOR GETTING INFECTED WITH THE DELTA VARIANT IS TO NOT BE VACCINATED.

CLEARLY IS THE BIGGEST RISK.

BUT WE KNOW THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE AGAINST THE DELTA VARIANT.

>> Reporter: OKLAHOMA'S VACCINATION RATE SEEM TO BE LEVELING OFF.

38% OF THE STATE IS FULLY VACCINATED.

>> THERE ARE SOME COUNTIES LIKELY LOWER THAN OTHER COUNTIES, AND WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINATION, AND THOSE COUNTIES ARE PROBABLY HIGHER RISK FOR HAVING TRANSMISSION DUE TO OTHER VARIANTS OR DUE TO COVID IN GENERAL.

>> Reporter: A CONCERN THAT IS BACKED BY AN INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATION RATE OF COVID PATIENTS.

MORE THAN A FOURTH OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST IN THE LAST 14 DAYS ARE GETTING ADMITTED.

>> THE BIGGEST CONCERN THERE IS IN THE TWO OLDER CATEGORIES WHERE THE ADMISSION RATES ARE APPROACHING 40 TO 50% IN THE 65 AND UP GROUP, AND I DID DOUBLE CHECK WITH A FEW FACILITIES AND 100% OF THOSE ADMISSIONS WERE REPORTED TO ME WERE UNVACCINATED.

>> Reporter: RORY TAYLOR, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> RORY MENTIONED TOTAL NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF OKLAHOMAMANs WHO RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

OUR ROLLING SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE OF NEW CASES PER DAY JUMPED FROM 225 LAST WEEK TO 314 THIS WEEK.

ACTIVE CASES NOW TOTALING 2,680.

729 MORE THAN A WEEK AGO.

ONE BRIGHT SPOT THE DEATH RATE DROPS A BIT, 24 DEATHS OVER SEVEN DAYS THIS WEEK.

WE HAD 26 LAST FRIDAY.

>>> OKLAHOMA IS THE 37th STATE TO ACCEPT MEDICAID EXPANSION.

THE PROGRAM IS PROVING TO BE VERY POPULAR WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNING UP FOR IT.

BUT THERE IS A LEARNING CURVE FOR THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.

AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO BRING IN TREVOR BROWN WITH OUR CONTENT PARTNER TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GAIN ACCESS TO SOONER CARE BENEFITS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP FOR EXPANDED MEDICAID AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DO STATE OFFICIALS THINK WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR IT IN ALL?

>> SO FAR ABOUT 120,000 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP, THAT WAS THROUGH JULY 1st.

THE STATE STARTED TO PROCESS THE APPLICATIONS BEGINNING JUNE 1st, SO WE HAVE ABOUT A MONTH OF PEOPLE APPLYING AT THIS POINT.

STATE HOWEVER PROJECTS ABOUT 200,000 PEOPLE WILL EVENTUALLY SIGN UP.

>> GIVE ME SOME OF THE CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY.

WHO QUALIFIES?

>> THEY HAVE TO MAKE UP TO 138% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL.

FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS ABOUT $18,000 A YEAR.

FOR FAMILY OF FOUR IT'S ABOUT $36,500.

THESE ARE WHAT WE WOULD CALL THE WORKING POOR, PEOPLE THAT WERE -- THEY MADE TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY FOR SUBSIDIZED INSURANCE BEFORE BUT NOW WITH EXPANSION THEY CAN GET TOTALLY FREE ALMOST TOTALLY FREE HEALTH COVERAGE.

>> ARE THE ENROLLEES PRIMARILY COMING FROM URBAN OR RURAL AREAS AT THIS POINT?

>> A LOT EASIER FOR PEOPLE IN URBAN AREAS TO GET SIGNED UP BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE ACCESS TO INTERNET, MORE ACCESS TO HEALTH CLINICS, THAT'S A BIGGER CONCERN BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE APPLYING ONLINE, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE INTERNET IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

>> GETTING THE WORD OUT SEEMS TO BE THE KEY.

IS THERE MONEY AVAILABLE FOR ADVERTISING TO DO THAT?

>> THE STATE HAS AWARDED $500,000 CONTRACT TO THE ADVERTISING FIRM HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY BEGINNING JULY THIS, THEY STARTED TO GET THE WORD OUT.

THEY ARE SETTING UP BILLBOARDS.

THEY HAVE A AD BUY CAMPAIGN.

THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT ENOUGH.

WE'LL BE WATCHING AND SEE HOW FAR REACHING THIS CAMPAIGN THAT THE STATE IS LEADING ACTUALLY GOES.

>> ARE THERE PLANS FOR MASS SIGN UP EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE COULD GO TO ONE LOCATION AND GET ALL THE NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF AT ONE TIME?

>> I TALKED TODD THE STATE, AND THEY'RE NOT PLANNING ANY STATE SPONSORED EVENTS BUT I TALKED TO CLINICS AND SOME OF THEM ARE DOING IT THEMSELVES.

SOME COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES ARE DOING IT.

>> WHERE DOES OKLAHOMA RATE IN TERMS OF CITIZENS LACKING HEALTH INSURANCE NATIONALLY?

>> GOING INTO THE YEAR WE'RE SECOND TO LAST IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE OUTSIDE OF TEXAS WE HAVE THE HIGHEST UNINSURED RATE IN THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR THE STATE, BIG PROBLEM FOR RURAL HOSPITALS.

THEY ARE DOING A LOT OF UNCOMPENSATED CARE BECAUSE PEOPLE COME IN AND NOT TURNED DOWN.

>> HOW IS OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT DECISION TO BLOCK THE PLAN TO PRIVATE TIES THE EXPANSION CHANGES IMPLEMENTATION OR FUTURE IF AT ALL?

>> SO TO BE CLEAR, MEDICAID EXPANSION WAS GOING TO HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH MANAGED CARE.

BUT NOW WITH MANAGED CARE ON THE SIDELINES, MEDICAID EXPANSION IS GOING QUICKER BUT JUST AS PLANNED.

THERE IS NO COMPLICATIONS.

SO IF YOU'RE WATCHING THAT AND YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AFFECTING YOUR EXPANSION ELIGIBILITY, THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT THERE.

>> FINAL QUESTION, IS THIS JUST A GAME CHANGING MOMENT FOR OKLAHOMA'S POOR IN TERMS OF HEALTHCARE NEEDS?

>> I TALKED TO SOME PROVIDERS AND THEY SAID ONCE THEY TOLD A PATIENT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID THEY BROKE DOWN IN TEARS.

THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET EMERGENCY CARE BEFORE, BUT THEY HAD TO PUT OFF THE LONG-TERM CARE THAT SURGERIES, BIG PROCEDURES, THAT JUST CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY CAPABILITY OF PAYING FOR.

NOW YOU KNOW THEY CAN GET THAT PRETTY MUCH RIGHT AWAY AND GET TREATED AND GET THEIR PROBLEM SOLVES AND HOPEFULLY BECOME HEALTHIER.

>> TREVOR BROWN WITH OKLAHOMA WATCH REPORTING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, RICH.

>>> OKLAHOMA ANNUAL FFA CONVENTION IS MOVING FROM OKLAHOMA CITY TO TULSA BEGINNING NEXT YEAR.

THE EVENT WHICH HAS ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ABOUT $3.5 MILLION WILL BE HELD AT BOK CENTER AND THE COX CONVENTION CENTER FROM 2022 UNTIL AT LEAST 2026.

AFTER 15 YEARS IN OKLAHOMA CITY, THE FUTURE FARMER'S OF AMERICA MAKING THE MOVE BRUISE THE CITY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE CHESAPEAKE ARENA WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN LATE APRIL OF EACH YEAR BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH THE THUNDER MAKING THE NBA PLAYOFFS.

>>> 11 RURAL OKLAHOMA SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO SHARE ALMOST $6 MILLION IN GRANT MONEY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO BOLSTER ART PROGRAMS.

THE OKLAHOMA ART TECH FUNDING WILL EXPAND AN ACCESS TO VISUAL ARTS, DANCE, DRAMA AND MUSIC COURSES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE AVAILABLE.

THE MONEY PAYS FOR VISITING ART INSTRUCTORS AND SUPPLIES.

SOME DISTRICTS INCLUDE WYNONA, DUKE, UNION CITY, KETCHUM AND OTHERS.

>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SEEKING A BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT WILL FUND NONTRADITION ITEMS LIKE SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND INTERNET EXPANSION.

WHILE THAT IS DEBATED IN WASHINGTON CONGRESS IS WORKING ON SEPARATE FUNDING BILLS FOR JUST HIGHWAYS AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.

OKLAHOMA TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY TIM GATZ TOLD THE OKLAHOMA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TUESDAY THAT SOME CONFUSION HAS ARISEN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

HE SAYS THE CURRENT BILLS MEANT TO REAUTHORIZE THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

>> THERE IS A LITTLE HE BIT OF CONFUSION, BECAUSE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ADVANCING AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AT THE SAME TIME THAT SEEKS TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT THAT HIGHWAYS ARE A COMPONENT PIECE OF, BUT THAT IS A MUCH BROADER LOOK AT INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION, LITTLE BIT OF MIX UP, BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL OF THIS HAPPENING AT ONCE, AND IT HAS ONE WORD IN IT AND THAT IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> THE WHITE HOUSE RELEASED A STATE BY STATE LIST OF NEEDS.

OKLAHOMA HAS MORE THAN 2300 BRIDGES AND A THOUSAND MILES IN HIGHWAY IN POOR CONDITION.

>>> YOU PROBABLY SEEN VIDEO OF THE RESCUE WORKERS AND K-9 SEARCH TEAMS SEEKING SURVIVORS IN THE CONDO COLLAPSE IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

THAT MISSION IS SHIFTED FROM RESCUE TO RECOVERY OF REMAINS.

IT'S GRIM, VITAL WORK AND TRAINING THE DOGS IS INTENSIVE AND DEMANDING.

A GROUP THAT DOES IT IN OKLAHOMA, LED BY A COUPLE COACHES WHO KNOW A LOT.

>> Reporter: IT'S NEVER A DULL MOMENT AT GROUND ZERO, K-9 EMERGENCY TRAINING CENTER IN TUTTLE.

THESE PUPS JUST TURNED FIVE WEEKS OLD, BUT HEAD TRAINER TODD FRAZIER AND HIS STAFF BEGINS TEACHING THE BABY VIBRATIONS AND DIFFERENT TEXTURES AT THREE DAYS.

WHEN THEY'RE EYES OPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THREE WEEKS GROUND ZERO STAFF HELPS THEM IDENTIFY SIGHTS AND SOUNDS.

>> WE'VE DISCOVERED IT'S EASY TO RAISE THEM FROM PUPPIES AND TRAIN THEM TO GET THEM USED TO THAT LITTLE BIT -- WE ADD EVERY DAY, A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FOOTING IN THE -- WE CALL IT PUPPY GAUNTLET, AND TO GET THEM USED TODD THAT ONCE THEY GET OLDER, IT DOESN'T -- NOT A BIG DEAL WHEN THEY HIT RUBBLE PILE VERSUS PURCHASING A DOG OR GETTING A DOG FROM THE SHELTER, YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF HISTORY, SO WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE FROM BIRTH.

>> THIS WHAT GROUND ZERO CALLS ITS PUPPY GAUNTLET.

THE LEARNING HAPPENS FAST, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS FOOD AT THE OTHER END OF THE LINE.

>> MY WIFE KEEPS ME INFORMED.

>> Reporter: BARRY SWITZER AND HIS WIFE BECKY WHO IS OU LONG TIME BIG EIGHT CHAMPION GYMNASTICS COACH ESTABLISHED GROUND ZERO ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TUTTLE FOUR YEARS AGO.

THEY SAY THE MORE TORNADO IN 2013 SHOWED WHY OKLAHOMA HAD THE NEED.

>> FEMA TO CALL OUT A TEAM IS A MILLION DOLLARS.

WHEN YOU CALL OUT A TEAM AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE FOUR CERTIFIED DOGS, HUMAN REMAINS TO BE ABLE TO BE DEPLOYED, WE'RE A TASK FORCE ONE OF OKLAHOMA.

WE HAVE 10-K NINE DOGS IN TULSA.

WE HAVE SIX IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

SO WE ARE -- WORK TOGETHER.

THEY HANDLE EAST SIDE OF THE STATE, WE HANDLE WEST SIDE, BUT WE WORK TOGETHER.

>> IT TAKES 18 MONTHS TO TRAIN A DOG TO DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING AT THAT DISMAL SITE ON NORTH MIAMI BEACH RIGHT NOW.

>> ISRAEL HAS 900 OF THEM.

WE ONLY HAVE 295 IN THE UNITED STATES.

HUMAN FIND, SURVIVAL DOGS, URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE DOGS, 295 IN UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE 54.

WE HAVE DEPLOYED 54 OF THAT 295, AND THAT'S WHY I SAID WE'RE EIGHT OR NINE STATES, BUT THEY LIKE OUR DOGS.

OUR DOGS ARE DOING WELL AND WE HAVE BEEN TO A LOT OF COLLAPSE SITES AND HURRICANES AND MANY TORNADOES.

SO WE -- OUR DOGS GROUND ZERO DOGS GOING AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> ANY EXPERT TENT OF THE DOGS BREED AND TRAIN ARE LABRADORS.

TEMPERAMENT, INTELLIGENCE AND INCREDIBLE SENSE OF SMELL ARE REASONS WHY.

>> IT IS UNBELIEVABLE.

WE SMELL A CAKE, THEY SMELL ALL THE INGREDIENTS OF THE CAKE.

IT'S -- PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE SNIFFING BUT THEY SMELL MINUTE MOLECULAR LEVEL.

THE HARDEST PART IS FINDING THE DOG THAT IS SUITABLE FOR THE JOB.

NOT EVERY DOG CAN RUN RUBBLE AND HUNT.

LOTS OF DOGS CAN LOOK FOR MISSING PEOPLE, THEIR JOB IS TO HUNT ODOR, BOMB OR DRUGS, BUT TO DO THE SAME TYPE OF HUNT WORK BUT ON YOU KNOW GLASS, YOU KNOW, DEBRIS, NAILS, ROCKS, STUFF LIKE THAT, IT'S HARD FOR THE DOGS.

>> AMAZING WHAT THEY CAN DO AT THAT EARLY AGE, BUT WE BRING THEM ALONG, AND THE TIME THEY'RE A YEAR AND A HALF, 2-YEARS-OLD THEY'RE READY TO BE CERTIFIED.

AND FIRST RESPONDER, AND THAT'S REALLY NEED TO WATCH THE CERTIFICATION TRIALS.

DOGS GO ON THE RUBBLE PILES, FIND PEOPLE THAT ARE BURIED UNDER ROCKS AND SIT DOWN, START BARKING AND SURE ENOUGH THEY'RE THERE.

WE GOT PEOPLE THAT -- IT'S HARD TO DO IT IN THE SUMMERTIME, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT AND OUR DOGS DO A GREAT JOB OF FINDING PEOPLE.

>> EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING TASK FORCE ONE DOGS TRAIN IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

ON THE SAME KIND OF TERRAIN THOSE FEMA CERTIFIED K-9 TEAMS HAVE BEEN SEARCHING THROUGH IN NORTH MIAMI FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

>> HERE ON THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY WE HAVE THIS PILE HERE, AND WE HAVE ANOTHER LARGE PILE TO THE SOUTH OF US.

SO WE WORK ON DIFFERENT AREAS AS MUCH AS WE CAN SO THE DOGS ARE FRESH EVERY TIME THAT WE COME OUT HERE.

BUT WE LITERALLY MAKE THIS AS TRUE TO LIFE AS WE CAN.

AS YOU SAW TODAY, WE WILL PHYSICALLY PUT ONE OF THE HANDLERS DOWN IN THE CONCRETE, IN THE RUBBLE, COVER THEM UP TO WHERE THEY'RE COMPLETELY COVERED TO WHERE THEY'RE NOT VISIBLE, AND THEN WE RUN THE DOGS.

>> ALL SIX CERTIFIED WESTERN DISTRICT TASK FORCE ONE DOGS WERE TRAINED BY THE SWITZERS AT GROUND ZERO.

COORDINATOR ANDREW McCANN SAYS THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY TO RESPOND TO WHAT HAPPENED IN MIAMI, VERY CAREFULLY.

>> IT'S A PAINSTAKING TASK OF LITERALLY TAKING THE CONCRETE OUT PIECE BY PIECE.

AND I MEAN SMALL PIECE BY SMALL PIECE.

WE CAN'T GO IN THERE WITH DOZERS AND HEAVY MACHINERY BECAUSE WE MAY INJURE A SURVIVOR THAT IS BURIED LOWER.

WE MAY CAUSE THAT COLLAPSE TO SHIFT SOME, AND WHAT WE'RE HOPING IS THERE IS VOIDS DOWN THERE.

>> AND, OF COURSE, TASK FORCE ONE DOGS WILL GO IF CALLED.

>> AND WE OF ANY COMMUNITY OKLAHOMA CITY WE ARE AWARE, WE KNOW THAT IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE, MAN MADE OR NATURAL DISASTERS CAN HAPPEN.

>> STEVE SHAW, "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> THANK YOU.

>>> GROUND ZERO JUST ONE OF MANY BUSINESSES ON THE MOVE OR MAKING MOVES THIS WEEK.

JASON DOYLE HAS THE DETAILS IN OUR OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> Reporter: OBJECT CITY BASED PAYCOM IS LAUNCHING A SOFTWARE SERVICE MEANT TO REDUCE PAYROLL ERRORS.

THE NEW SOFTWARE SERVICE IS CALLED BETI OR BETTER EMPLOYEE TRANSACTION INTERFACE.

AND ALLOWS EMPLOYEES TO MAKE SURE THEIR PAYROLL INFORMATION IS CORRECT BEFORE IT'S PROCESSED AHEAD OF A PAYDAY.

PAYCOM SPECIALIZES IN CLOUD BASED HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.

ARISTOCRAT GAMING IS BUILDING A 137,000 FACILITY IN TULSA.

MOST OF THE SPACE WILL BE USED FOR WAREHOUSING AND PRODUCTION.

THE WAREHOUSE IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE LATE THIS YEAR WITH THE OFFICE SPACE EXPECTED ON TO BE OPEN IN SPRING OF 2022.

TULSA BASED WILLIAM IS TEAMING UP WITH CROW HEART ENERGY TO EXPAND THE COMPANY'S REACH IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST REGION.

THE DEAL CROW HEART WILL MANAGE EXPIRATION OF NATURAL GAS ASSETS WHILE WILLIAMS WILL OFFER A FIXED FEE TO TRANSPORT PRODUCTS THROUGH THE PIPELINE SYSTEM.

PONCA CITY BASED BARBEQUE SAUCE COMPANY HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY OLD WORLD SPICES AND SEASONINGS.

OLD WORLD SPICES HAS BEEN LOOKING TO EXPAND BARBEQUE AND GRILLING CATEGORY.

HEAD COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED IN 1977 WITH SIGNATURE BARBEQUE SAUCE BASED ON A RECIPE DEVELOPED BY DONAVAN BUD HEAD.

THE TERMS OF THE DEAL WERE NOT DISCLOSED.

>>> FINDING AN APARTMENT THAT ALLOWS DOGS AS PETS IS EASIER IN OKLAHOMA CITY THAN MOST MAJOR CITIES.

APARTMENT ADVISER RANKS OKLAHOMA CITY AS THE SIXTH BEST METRO AREA WITH HIGHEST DOG FRIENDLY APARTMENT AVAILABILITY, WITH 61% OF RENTALS LISTED AS ALLOWING FOUR-LEGGED ROOMMATES.

THE TOP CITY WAS AUSTIN, TEXAS, WITH 83% OF RENTALS OPEN FOR DOGS.

>>> THANK YOU.

AN EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AT TULSA GATHERING PLACE PARK ON THURSDAY MORNING.

25 CHILDREN FROM 11 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES BECOMING U.S. CITIZENS.

PHOTOGRAPHER ETHAN PIERCE PROFILES THE FIRST OF ITS KIND NATURALIZATION CEREMONY IN GREEN COUNTRY.

>> PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

>> I WANT TO APPLAUD EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

>> EGYPT.

>> MOST OF US CAME HERE FOR NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR BETTER LIFE AND AMERICA IS JUST THAT.

>> MEXICO.

>> ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND GONE THROUGH DIFFERENT STRUGGLES SUCCESSFUL IS WHAT UNITES US.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> MAY NOT BE AS EASY AS ONE, TWO, THREE BUT WE CAN ACHIEVE OUR DREAMS DUE TO OPPORTUNITIES THIS COUNTRY HANDS TO US.

>> YOU'RE HISTORIC PEOPLE.

I GET TO MEET LOTS OF FAMOUS PEOPLE.

I'VE MET TWO PRESIDENTS IN THIS JOB.

A VICE PRESIDENT, FIRST LADY, ROCK N' ROLL STARS.

I'VE NEVER MET HISTORICAL FIGURES WHO ARE SO YOUNG.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN KNOW FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES, YOU'RE HISTORIC PEOPLE IN YOUR FAMILIES, AND IN THIS CITY.

>> JEFFREY McDONALD.

>> I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS NOW, AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, AND I'M JUST BLESSED TO BE HERE.

>> WE'RE FROM MYANMAR, AND IT MEANS A LOT TO ME, AND I'M PROUD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS, AND THAT I'M ABLE TO BE A CITIZEN OF UNITED STATES AND HAVE A PLACE TO BE AND DOING THE THINGS THAT I WANT.

>> I FELT LIKE IT WAS GREAT FOR US ALL TO COME TOGETHER TODAY, TO RECEIVE THIS GREAT PROMOTION FOR US BEING HERE, AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, REST OF MY LIFE HERE.

>> JUST A WONDERFUL CEREMONY.

>>> THE 2021 KIDS COUNT REPORT PRODUCED BY THE ANNIE E. KACI FOUNDATION HAS BEEN RELEASED.

THE ANNUAL REPORT MEASURES THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING EDUCATION AND HEALTH OF OKLAHOMA CHILDREN AND THIS YEAR OKLAHOMA RANKS 42nd IN THE NATION.

THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION MODERATOR SUSAN CADOT AND HER GUESTS DISCUSS THE RESULTS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THEM.

>> YES.

THANK YOU, RICH.

THE NUMBERS ARE IN FOR KIDS COUNT AND, WELL, I'LL JUST LET OUR GUESTS SHARE THOSE NUMBERS WITH YOU.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEM NOW.

WE HAVE JOE DORMAN, WHO IS THE CEO OF THE OKLAHOMA INSTITUTE FOR CHILD ADVOCACY.

AND WE HAVE GABRIELLE JACOBI WHO IS WITH KIDS COUNT.

SHE'S THE COORDINATOR FOR THE OKLAHOMA POLICY INSTITUTE.

THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> GABRIELLE, SINCE THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME ON INDEPTH, I'M JUST GOING TO INITIATE YOU BY FIRE AND THROW THE FIRST QUESTION YOUR WAY.

WHAT IS THE KIDS COUNT COLLECTION OF DATA AND WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS FOR OKLAHOMA?

>> YES.

SO, THE KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL REPORT ON CHILD WELL-BEING IN THE U.S.

IT'S PRODUCED BY THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION AND RANKS EACH STATE IN FOUR CATEGORIES OF EDUCATION, ECONOMIC WELLBEING, HEALTH, AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

SO, THIS YEAR, OKLAHOMA WAS UNFORTUNATELY, ONCE AGAIN IN THE BOTTOM 10 WITH AN OVERALL RANKING OF 42ND, OUR INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS, OUR BEST ONE WAS ECONOMIC WELLBEING AT 33RD, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY IS 41ST, HEALTH THIS 42ND, AND EDUCATION IS 45TH.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

IF YOU LOOK BACK OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL INDICATORS HAVE SLIGHTLY IMPROVED, BUT THE RANKINGS HAVE CONTINUED TO DECLINE BECAUSE OTHER STATES ARE DOING MORE AND INVESTING MORE IN THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND WE CAN'T COMPETE.

>> JOE, WHAT DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN FOR OKLAHOMA'S CHILDREN?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY IT'S NOT A GOOD INDICATOR AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, THESE ARE NUMBERS ARE ABOUT TWO TO THREE YEARS OLD BECAUSE IT TAKES TIME TO COLLECT AND THEN TIME TO CRUNCH THE DATA.

SO, WE'RE LOOKING AT PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS.

WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AS FAR AS THE NUMBERS AND WHAT WE SEE FOR EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES AFTER THE, THE RESULTS ARE CALCULATED FROM THE 2020 TIMEFRAME.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING BACK AT THESE NUMBERS, IT IS A GLOOMY INDICATOR ABOUT WHERE OKLAHOMA'S CHILDREN RANK COMPARED TO KIDS IN OTHERS STATES ACROSS THE NATION OR IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

>> JOE, I KNOW YOUR GROUP ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN IN OKLAHOMA, GABRIELLE THE OKLAHOMA POLICY INSTITUTE, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THESE NUMBERS ONCE YOU GET THEM?

DO YOU JUST SHARE THEM OR IS THERE ANY ACTION TAKEN?

WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS DATA?

>> WE LIKE TO SHARE THEM WITH OUR PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE, AS WELL AS WE HOPE THAT THEY CAN HELP INFLUENCE ANY INVESTMENTS IN OUR CHILDREN THAT WE CAN DO THEM STRATEGICALLY.

WE CAN TARGET THEM TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THEM MOST.

AND THEN WE CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, JUST HOW ALL THESE SYSTEMS PLAY INTO EACH OTHER, HOW OUR HEALTH AFFECTS OUR EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, OUR ECONOMIC WELLBEING AFFECTS OUR HEALTH OUTCOMES AND SO ON AND SO ON.

SO IT REALLY SHOWS HOW ALL OF THESE PLAY INTO EACH OTHER AND YOU CAN'T FIX JUST ONE PROBLEM.

IT HAS TO BE ALL OF IT.

>> THEY DO PLAY INTO EACH OTHER.

JOE, HOW DID WE GET HERE?

HOW DID WE GET SO LOW?

>> IT'S A GENERATIONAL ISSUE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PREVALENCE OF ACES, ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES IN OKLAHOMA, THOSE ARE THE INDICATORS THAT OFTEN POINT TO WHAT WE'RE FACING, BECAUSE THIS IS GENERATIONAL TRAUMA.

OFTENTIMES PARENTS ARE RAISING THE KIDS THE WAY THEY WERE RAISED, AND DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY'RE RAISING THEIR KIDS THE WRONG WAY.

THAT SMOKING IN THE HOUSEHOLD IMPACTS KIDS.

DIVORCE IMPACTS KIDS.

NOT TREATING AND DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WILL IMPACT KIDS.

ABUSE AND NEGLECT, WHICH WE TRACK THOSE NUMBERS.

ANNIE E. CASEY DOES A GREAT JOB PUTTING OUT THIS INFORMATION.

AND IT CERTAINLY HELPS WITH OUR LOBBYING AND WORK AT THE CAPITOL TO TRY AND DRIVE SOME OF THOSE BILLS.

FROM OUR REPORT CARD THIS YEAR, WE HAD 15 REALLY GOOD BILLS THAT WENT THROUGH THE CAPITOL WE TRACKED AND THREE THAT WE FELT WERE NOT GOOD PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

AND WE DO A SCORECARD ON OUR LAWMAKERS AND WE USE A LOT OF THIS DATA TO TRY AND DRIVE THAT LEGISLATION AND IN TURN RANK THE LAWMAKERS AND REMIND THEM THAT THEY NEED TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS.

>> WELL, I WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT, TO THAT SCORECARD IN A MINUTE, BUT YOU GUYS TOUCHED ON IT.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE OF YOU TOUCHED ON THE IMPACT OF COVID ON THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IN OKLAHOMA.

IS THAT PLAYING A ROLE IN THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN OR THE WELLBEING OF OUR CHILDREN?

>> I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY PLAYING A ROLE IN THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF US WOULD CONSIDER OKLAHOMA A RELATIVELY AFFORDABLE STATE TO LIVE IN, BUT THE DATA, THIS REPORT SHOWS PROVES THAT FOR TOO MANY WORKING FAMILIES, BEING ABLE TO CONSISTENTLY AFFORD AND PROVIDE ALL THE ESSENTIALS IS STILL OUT OF REACH.

SO, LIKE JOE MENTIONED, THIS DATA IS FROM 2019 AND IT SHOWS THAT ONE IN FIVE OKLAHOMA CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.

IT'S SHOWING US THAT ONE IN FOUR FAMILIES ARE SPENDING 30% OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING.

WE KNOW THE PANDEMIC CREATED A GREAT DEAL OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP ON WORKING FAMILIES IN OUR STATE THROUGH LOST WAGES, LACK OF CHILDCARE, SCHOOL CLOSURES, AND THROUGH CENSUS DATA, WE'RE ABLE TO SEE HOW THAT HAS IMPACTED OKLAHOMA.

AND SO, WE KNOW THEY WERE MORE LIKELY TO NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD USUAL EXPENSES FOR THEIR CHILDREN OVER THE PAST YEAR, THEY FACED A HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF EVICTION AND FORECLOSURE AND MUCH HIGHER RATES OF FOOD INSECURITY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, CHILDREN OF COLOR EXPERIENCED THESE HARDSHIPS AT DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHER RATES IN THE STATE.

SO I THINK WHILE THE MOST RECENT DATA CAN OFFER A GLIMPSE INTO THE BEGINNING OF OUR RECOVERY TOO MANY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WERE STRUGGLING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND MANY ARE CONTINUING TO STRUGGLE TO AFFORD FOOD, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, CHILDCARE, ALL OF IT.

SO FORTUNATELY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE THE POWER TO INVEST IN OUR STATE'S CHILDREN.

AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS THEY CAN DO THAT IS BY INVESTING IN THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED ANTIPOVERTY SOLUTIONS LIKE AN EXPANDED AND REFUNDABLE EARNED, EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, AS WELL AS THE CHILD TAX CREDIT.

>> ALRIGHT, JOE, DOES THE SCORECARD FROM OICA BEAR THAT OUT?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.

AND GABRIELLE TALKED ABOUT EITC.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THROUGH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS ADVOCATING AT THE CAPITOL, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT RESTORED THIS YEAR, AND THAT'S THE 5% REFUNDABILITY THAT GOES INTO EITC.

THAT'S SOMETHING THE ANNIE E. CASEY FOUNDATION HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR FOR YEARS AND WE WERE THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF THAT EFFORT TO GET THAT IN THE BUDGET AGREEMENT WITH LAWMAKERS.

AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE WORK OF WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH THE RECOVERY ACT FUNDS COMING TO STATES, THE EFFORT TO INCREASE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT AND I WANT TO REMIND YOUR VIEWERS, IF YOU'RE A NON-FILER ON YOUR TAXES, IF YOU MAKE LESS THAN $12,200 OR $24,400, AND YOU DON'T FILE YOUR TAXES, YOU NEED TO TURN IN A NON-FILER REPORT AT CHILDTAXCREDIT.GOV, AND THAT WILL QUALIFY YOU FOR A $3,000 OR $3,600 CHILD TAX CREDIT THIS YEAR.

THAT WAS EXPANDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THERE ARE THINGS OUT THERE THAT CAN CERTAINLY HELP FAMILIES, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS KNOW THAT.

OF COURSE, WE JUST RECENTLY SAW MEDICAID EXPANSION KICK IN, AND THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A SAVING GRACE FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES UP TO 200,000 OKLAHOMANS OR MORE WILL QUALIFY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE FIRST TIME, IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER OR CAN'T AFFORD IT.

SO, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK THAT'S HAPPENED, IN CITIZEN INITIATIVES, WORK AT THE CAPITOL WITH OUR LAWMAKERS, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE, AND WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING COME ABOUT WITH THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C. >> AND THERE WAS EVEN A TUSSLE OVER THE MEDICAID EXPANSION PROGRAM IN OKLAHOMA.

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO PUSH THESE THINGS THROUGH THAT ARE GOING TO HELP FOLKS?

>> WE'VE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH MEDICAID AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND CERTAINLY THE EXPANSION AND INSURANCE AS A WHOLE TIED TO A FORMER PRESIDENT WHOSE NAME WAS TIED TO THAT.

THE MONIKER ON THAT CERTAINLY MADE IT A POLITICAL ORDEAL, AND UNFORTUNATELY, DREW THE BATTLE LINES.

SIMPLY PUT, THIS IS GOING TO HELP A LOT OF AMERICANS OUT THERE WHO DON'T GET INSURANCE THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER, MULTIPLE EMPLOYERS.

WE HAVE AN ISSUE IN OKLAHOMA WITH UNDEREMPLOYMENT, WITH PEOPLE WORKING LOW-WAGE JOBS, MULTIPLE JOBS TO TRY AND MAKE ENDS MEET, AND THEREFORE, YOU DON'T HIT THE HOURS REQUIRED TO HAVE INSURANCE THROUGH THE EMPLOYER.

SO, THIS IS GOING TO HELP A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE ADULTS, WHEN THEY GET INSURANCE, THE STATISTICS ARE THERE TO SHOW THAT KIDS RECEIVE MORE WELL-CHILD VISITS BECAUSE UNDER SOONERCARE MORE KIDS QUALIFIED, A DIFFERENT INCOME LEVEL THAT'S THAT'S A DIFFERENT CAPACITY TO SURE THAT THOSE KIDS DO HAVE INSURANCE.

SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ANNIE E. CASEY NUMBERS, ABOUT 7% OF KIDS IN OKLAHOMA AREN'T RECEIVING INSURANCE AND SO, THEY QUALIFY, IT'S JUST THE PARENTS HAVEN'T SIGNED THEM UP AND WE NEED TO GET THEM REGISTERED NOW SO THEY CAN GET THAT HEALTH INSURANCE, GET MORE DOCTOR'S VISITS AND WE'LL SEE A HEALTHIER OUTCOME.

AND JUST ALONG THOSE LINES, WE'RE STILL IN A PANDEMIC.

WE'RE SEEING THE NUMBERS FOR THE DELTA VARIANT GO UP.

WE ARE NOT VACCINATING KIDS YET.

SO, PARENTS STILL NEED TO BE CAREFUL.

OICA IS RUNNING A MASK COALITION AT MASCKOK.ORG.

AND SOME OF THE RESPONSES WE GET FROM INDIVIDUALS ON THERE, UH, IT JUST MAKES YOU SHAKE YOUR HEAD.

WE HAD ONE PERSON RESPOND A FEW WEEKS AGO, BASICALLY COMPARING WEARING MASK TO SATANISM.

AND THIS WAS A PERSON THAT PROCLAIMED TO BE A CHRISTIAN.

SO, PEOPLE CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS AND PEOPLE ACTING LIKE THAT, BUT I WANT TO SAY, THE VIEWERS OF YOUR SHOW NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE VIEWERS OF OTHER CABLE SHOWS THAT BELIEVE EVERYTHING THEY'RE TOLD, AND WE HAVE TO STAY STRONG AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO PROTECT PEOPLE UNTIL THIS PANDEMIC HAS PASSED.

>> YEAH, GABRIELLE, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS SEEING ON THAT FRONT?

>> AS FAR AS MEDICAID EXPANSION, WE ARE OBVIOUSLY SUPER HAPPY IT PASSED.

THIS REPORT SHOWS THAT ONLY FIVE OTHER STATES HAVE A GREATER SHARE OF UNINSURED CHILDREN THAN OKLAHOMA.

WE HAVE ABOUT 86,000 CHILDREN WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.

THAT'S ROUGHLY THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF EDMOND, OKLAHOMA.

AND WHEN CHILDREN CAN'T SEE A DOCTOR OR FULFILL PRESCRIPTION, A CHILD'S HEALTH CAN BE IMPACTED, WHICH CAN LEAD TO MISSED DAYS OF SCHOOL AND LOWER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND IT CAN ALSO TRIGGER FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND OTHER FAMILY STRESSORS.

>> RIGHT, AND IF THEIR PARENTS CAN'T ACCESS THAT AS WELL, IT AFFECTS THEIR ABILITY TO PARENT.

IF THEY CAN'T GET THE MEDICINE, THEY NEED IT FOR CHOOSING BETWEEN FOOD AND MEDICINE.

AS OUR TIME RUNS, GABRIEL, I WANT TO STICK WITH YOU ON THIS.

WILL THE NEW 3.2 BILLION EDUCATION BUDGET HELP MOVE OKLAHOMA UP?

>> I'M DEFINITELY HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL.

WE SAW AN INCREASED EDUCATION FUNDING OR APPROPRIATIONS THIS THE SESSION IN OUR BUDGET.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S WHEN YOU ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE ARE SERVING, IT STILL ISN'T COMPETING WITH OUR PRE-2008, PRE-GREAT RECESSION LEVELS.

AND SO, I'M HOPING THAT THIS FUNDING CANNOT ONLY YOU KNOW, HELP SUPPORT THE, THESE CRITICAL PUBLIC SERVICES IN OUR FUND OR IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, BUT ALSO SHOW LAWMAKERS THAT THESE INVESTMENTS CAN HAVE IMMEDIATE IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR OUR CHILDREN.

IT ALSO IS ALLOWING US TO FUND THE OKLAHOMA SCHOOL COUNSELOR CORPS, WHICH WILL LOWER OUR STUDENT TO COUNSELOR RATIOS AND ALSO PROVIDE MANY SCHOOL DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY RURAL SCHOOLS WITH SCHOOL COUNSELORS, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PREVIOUSLY ACCESS THEM.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT ISSUES THAT AFFECT OUR CHILDREN, ISSUES ACROSS THE STATE THAT AFFECT OUR CHILDREN.

DOES IT SEEM LIKE SOMETIMES NOTHING IS GETTING DONE OR YOU TAKE TWO STEPS FORWARD AND ONE STEP BACK?

THERE'S DEDICATION THAT KEEPS MOVING THINGS FORWARD PAST EACH AND EVERY ROADBLOCK.

JOE, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE ROADBLOCKS, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT THE CHILDREN IN OKLAHOMA TO DO WELL.

THEY HAVE REASONS AS WELL, CORRECT?

>> THEY DO.

AND WE DO.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE RURAL AND URBAN DIVIDE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DOLLARS THAT ARE ALLOCATED, OFTENTIMES IT FEELS LIKE MOST OF THE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO THE LARGER COMMUNITIES LIKE OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA.

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH DELIVERING SERVICES.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT HEALTHCARE AS A WHOLE, IT'S HARDER TO GET DOCTORS TO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS.

IT'S CERTAINLY HARDER TO GET COUNSELORS THROUGH THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING IN.

SUPERINTENDENT HOFMEISTER HAS ALLOCATED A LARGE PORTION OF THAT TO GO TO ENHANCE COUNSELORS SERVICES, JUST LIKE GABRIELLE SAID.

THAT'S GOING TO GO A LONG WAYS TOWARD TREATING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND WHAT SENATOR THOMPSON AND OTHER LEGISLATIVE LEADERS CHAMPION TO GET A MILLION DOLLARS INTO MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA TO THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF TRYING TO COME OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC AND MAKE SURE THAT KIDS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE TREATED.

AND WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

MENTAL HEALTH IS TREATED DIFFERENTLY NOW AS LESS OF A STIGMA, PEOPLE REALIZE IT IS CERTAINLY JUST A HEALTH CONDITION AND THERE ARE TREATMENTS AND WAYS TO HELP OVERCOME THAT.

AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AND THEIR FEELINGS.

SO, A COUNSELOR GOES A LONG WAY TO HELPING, AND CERTAINLY IN THE LONG RUN, IT'S GOING TO REDUCE OUR SUSPENSION NUMBERS IN SCHOOLS AND IN TURN, REDUCE THAT SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE THAT WE'VE FACED IN OKLAHOMA FOR SO MANY YEARS.

>> WHAT DO AGENCIES, LIKE THE TWO OF YOU BELONG TO GABRIEL, POLICY INSTITUTE, WHAT DO YOU DO DURING THE SUMMER TO TRY TO KEEP THINGS MOVING FORWARD FOR WHEN THE LEGISLATURE GOES BACK INTO SESSION NEXT YEAR?

OR IS IT A SUMMER VACATION RIGHT NOW?

>> IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A SUMMER VACATION.

SO, OBVIOUSLY RIGHT NOW THIS REPORT JUST CAME OUT.

SO, I'VE BEEN SPENDING THE PAST FEW WEEKS JUST REACHING OUT TO PARTNERING AGENCIES AND PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE THIS DATA IN THEIR HANDS TO MAKE SOME STRATEGIC INFORMED DECISIONS.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

I'M SURE JOE HAS A WHOLE LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS HE WANTS TO GET DONE BEFORE SESSION GETS BACK IN FEBRUARY.

SO, I'LL LET HIM ANSWER ALL THAT.

>> YEAH, JOE, YOUR EXPERIENCE IN OKLAHOMA POLITICS, YOU CARRY A LOT OF WEIGHT WHEN YOU GO IN WITH THESE IDEAS.

AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER ADVOCATE FOR THE CHILDREN OF OKLAHOMA.

WHAT OBSTACLES DO YOU FACE AND ARE YOU WORKING ON IT NOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ADVOCACY NEVER SLEEPS, TO COIN THAT TERM AND APPLY IT TOWARDS THE WORK THAT WE DO.

WE'RE WORKING CONSTANTLY WITH LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND ALL DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE STATE TO SHAPE IDEAS FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

INTERIM STUDIES WERE FILED RECENTLY.

THE PRO TEMP OF THE SENATE GREG TREAT HAS APPROVED THOSE STUDIES THAT HE WANTED TO SEE HAPPEN.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WERE A LOT DEALING WITH CHILDREN'S ISSUES.

WE HAVE A JOINT REQUEST IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE THAT KAY FLOYD AND ROGER THOMPSON ARE WORKING ON IN THE SENATE.

KEVIN WALLIS, EMILY VIRGIN, AND MARK LAWSON ARE WORKING ON THE HOUSE.

AND IF YOU RECOGNIZE THOSE NAMES, POLITICALLY, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE HEAVY HITTERS IN BOTH PARTIES.

AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT A CHILDREN'S BUDGET PERSPECTIVE, LONG-TERM ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

AND THEN KAY IS ALSO WORKING ON LOOKING AT ISSUES WITH CHILDREN'S SUICIDE AND THE DEATHS OF CHILDREN.

WE'RE PARTNERING WITH ANOTHER JACOBI ON IT, THE OKLAHOMA COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO LOOK AT THE REASONS WHY WE SEE LEVELS OF DEATH WITH KIDS AND THE WAY TO MAKE THEM PREVENTABLE.

AND SO, WE'VE GOT THAT GOING ON AS WELL AS A BIG BANQUET AT THE END OF JULY, THAT WE'LL RECOGNIZE THOSE CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO STEP RIGHT INTO THE FALL BEGINNING WITH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FIRST LADY OF THE STATE TO HELP COLLECT BACKPACK BACK TO SCHOOL FOR FOSTER KIDS, AND THEN PLANNING FOR OUR FALL FORUM, WHERE WE WILL SHARE OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

ANY FINAL WORDS FROM YOU, JOE AND GABRIELLE, AS WE WIND UP OUR TIME HERE?

>> I'LL JUST ADD, JUST TO END, YOU KNOW, ON A KIND OF A HAPPIER NOTE.

I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THAT OKLAHOMA'S RANKINGS HAVE CONTINUED TO DECLINE AND REMAIN IN THE BOTTOM 10, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IT DIDN'T ALWAYS USED TO BE THIS WAY.

WE HAVE A RECORD OF INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN.

WE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST STATES TO PIONEER FULLY FUNDED, FOUR-YEAR-OLD PRE-K.

I THINK THAT WAS IN 1998.

WE ALSO INSTITUTED A QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM FOR OUR CHILDCARE CENTERS AND HOMES THAT SAME YEAR.

SO I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF ROOM TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE.

WE JUST NEED TO CONTINUE MAKING THOSE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS INVESTING IN OUR WORKING FAMILIES AND REALLY INVESTING IN, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN'S PARENTS, MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE HAPPY, HEALTHY, STABLE HOMES TO COME HOME TO AND BE SUPPORTED.

>> JOE?

>> I WANTED TO GO LAST BECAUSE I WANTED TO BRAG ABOUT GABRIELLE AND THE WORK THAT SHE'S DOING.

SHE'S RECENT TO THIS JOB, AND IT'S CLEAR SHE'S GOING TO MAKE A TREMENDOUS MARK ON CHILD ADVOCACY THROUGH HER WORK FOR YEARS TO COME.

AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SOLID, STRONG ADVOCATES WHO ARE OUT THERE WORKING.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD.

WE'RE ONLY AS STRONG AS THOSE INDIVIDUAL OKLAHOMANS WHO REACH OUT TO THEIR LAWMAKERS, DEVELOP THOSE CONNECTIONS, AND SPEAK THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

JUST LIKE I POINTED OUT WITH THAT ONE PERSON EMAILING US, THERE IS A LOUD MINORITY OUT THERE THAT IS PROMOTING IDEAS THAT ARE NOT HEALTHY FOR OKLAHOMA'S CHILDREN.

AND THE ONLY WAY WE COMBAT THAT IS TO BE A LOUDER, STRONGER VOICE, BECAUSE COMMON SENSE IS THE MAJORITY VIEW IN OKLAHOMA, BUT WE DON'T OFTEN HEAR THAT AND I CAN SPEAK TO THAT AS A FORMER LAWMAKER.

CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES, MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD, AND SPEAK UP FOR CHILDREN.

THAT'S HOW WE OVERCOME THIS AND MOVE INTO THE THIRTIES, THE TWENTIES, AND THEN HOPEFULLY THE TOP 10.

>> WONDERFUL.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TIME AND JOINING US IN THIS GREAT INFORMATION.

HOPEFULLY IT INSPIRES SOME FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING TO GET INVOLVED AND HELP.

THANK YOU BOTH AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

A NEW EXHIBIT AT OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART IS THE LONE STOP FOR 70 OF THE ICONIC WORKS.

GALLERY AMERICA HOST ROBERT REED HAS THE STORY.

WARNING, THE FOLLOWING SEGMENT FEATURES A CYCLOPS.

>> LET'S SET THE SCENE.

IT'S 1942 YEARS AGO IN A SMALL BEACH TOWN IN ANCIENT ROME.

PEOPLE ARE KICKING BACK, EATING FIGS, BATHING IN FRESH COLD WATER AND COMPLAINING ABOUT THOSE SENATORS BACK IN ROME.

BUT THEN SUDDENLY THE SKY FILLS WITH SMOKE.

ASH AND FIRE FROM MT.

VESUVIUS DESCENDS OVER TOWNS LIKE POMPEII, KILLING TENS OF THOUSANDS IN MERE MOMENTS.

IT WAS A DISASTER.

ONE THING IT DID DO BY ACCIDENT WAS PRESERVE PAINTINGS AND FRESCOES OF A VERY KEY MOMENT IN ART HISTORY.

AND THIS SUMMER, THERE'S ONLY PLACE IN THE USA THAT YOU CAN SEE THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE CONTINENT: OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF ANCIENT ROMAN ART, THEY TYPICALLY THINK OF SCULPTURE OR ARCHITECTURE BECAUSE VERY LITTLE ROMAN PAINTING ACTUALLY SURVIVES.

BUT WE DO HAVE A TREASURE TROVE OF PAINTINGS THAT ARE PRESERVED AS A RESULT OF THE LARGEST NATURAL DISASTER IN HUMAN HISTORY.

THEY HAD BEEN HELD AT THE NATIONAL ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM IN NAPLES, AND THEY ARE TRAVELING TO THE U.S.

IN SOME CASES WITH SOME OF THE FRESCOES, THE VERY FIRST TIME THEY'VE EVER BEEN OUT OF ITALY.

>> ONE OF THE EXHIBITS MAIN GOALS IS TO OFFER VIEWERS A GLIMPSE OF WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE IN AN ANCIENT ROMAN HOME.

>> YOUR HOME WAS A PLACE WHERE YOU LIVED, BUT IT WAS ALSO A PLACE WHERE YOU WORKED.

AND SO THAT ROOM WAS THE MOST RICHLY DECORATED BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO IMPRESS YOUR VISITORS.

YOU WANTED TO SHOW YOUR TASTE, YOUR WEALTH, THAT SORT OF THING.

ROMAN HOMES ARE VERY, VERY HIGHLY DECORATED.

THEY WOULD HAVE FLOORS COVERED WITH MOSAICS.

THE WALLS COMPLETELY COVERED WITH PAINTINGS, ALMOST LIKE WE HAVE WALLPAPER TODAY, AND VERY BRIGHTLY COLORED, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'VE TRIED TO EVOKE WITH THE CHOICE OF PAINT COLORS IN THE EXHIBITION.

>> 2000 YEARS AGO MARKED AN ERA IN POMPEII WHEN PEOPLE STARTED APPRECIATING ART FOR ART'S SAKE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND THE EXHIBIT SHOWS THAT IN A RANGE OF TOPICS, LIKE PORTRAITS OF A DRUNK HERCULES, A RATHER DOCILE CYCLOPS, AND A POOR GUY BEING COMFORTED WHILE LITERALLY LOSING HIS LUNCH.

BUT WHAT ARE THE CURATORS FAVORITE PIECES?

>> FOR ME, THE REAL REVOLUTIONARY WORK IS THE FRESCO OF THE PAINTER.

AND IT'S SO SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY A FEMALE PAINTER.

TO HAVE A PAINTING OF A WOMAN ARTIST SO FAR BACK IN HISTORY SEEMS TO ME REALLY EXCITING AND SIGNIFICANT.

>> ONE THAT REALLY STANDS OUT TO ME, IT'S IN THE LAST SECTION OF THE EXHIBITION AND IT'S AN ARCHITECTURAL LANDSCAPE FROM THE VILLA OF THE PAPIRI.

AND WHAT'S REALLY COOL ABOUT THIS ONE IS THAT ORIGINALLY IT WAS MOSTLY YELLOW, BUT THEN THE HEAT FROM THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION ACTUALLY TURNED MUCH OF THE YELLOW TO RED.

AND SO THIS FRESCO, WE CAN BOTH SEE THE DESTRUCTION OF VESUVIUS AND THE FACT THAT IT SURVIVED BECAUSE THE TOWN WAS BURIED.

I LIKED THAT ONE.

THE COLORS ARE JUST BEAUTIFUL AND THE DETAILS AND THE ARCHITECTURE ARE REALLY STUNNING.

>> "THE PAINTERS OF POMPEII" IS ON AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART THROUGH OCTOBER 17.

AND IT REALLY IS A LANDMARK OPPORTUNITY, STRAIGHT FROM NAPLES TO OKLAHOMA, AND BACK AGAIN.

SO TRY TO GO BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE CYCLOPS ANGRY.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING GALLERY AMERICA ONLINE.

YOU CAN SEE MORE FEATURES LIKE THIS ON OUR INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT @OETAGALLERY.

>>> THANKS.

MUCH NEWER PIECE OF ART WAS UNVEILED AT THE TULSA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON WEDNESDAY.

OKLAHOMA WELCOMES YOU IS LOCATED IN CONCOURSE B.

IT'S 23 FEET WIDE AND EIGHT FEET TALL.

CREATED BY ALEXANDER TAMAHN, THE MURAL IS INTERPRETATION OF THE NEW STATE OF OKLAHOMA BRAND.

TAMAHN WAS CHOSEN THROUGH THE OKLAHOMA CARTS COUNCIL ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM.

IT'S EXPECTED 2500 TRAVELERS WILL PASS BY THE MURAL EVERY DAY.

>>> A KEY COMPONENT OF RESTORING ROUTE 66 TO FORMER GLORY INVOLVES A GRANT PROGRAM THAT REWARDS BUSINESS OWNERS ON THE ROAD FOR CREATING NEON SIGNS.

THERE IS ALSO FUNDING FROM A 2003 SALES TAX THAT HELPED CREATE THE AVERY PLAZA SOUTHWEST.

THAT FEATURES THREE, 20-FOOT TALL SIGNS.

MATT PINNELL HAS BEEN PROMOTING THE REBIRTH OF ROUTE 66 SINCE TAKING OFFICE AND SAYS GREAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

>> WE'VE HAD OVER 20 TO 30 COMPANIES, BUSINESSES PUT UP NEW NEON SIGNS AND WE ARE -- WE WILL HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE MOVING INTO THE FUTURE, AND WE HOPE EVENTUALLY THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA WILL BE HELPFUL IN THE EFFORT, NOT JUST THE CITY OF TULSA BUT OKLAHOMA ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL COMMISSION REALLY HELPS FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.

>> A GREAT NEON SIGN IS A WORK OF ART.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW THEY'RE CREATED, MAINTAINED OR FIXED WHEN NEEDED?

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW PRODUCER ANTHONY STING INTRODUCES US TO A WOMAN IN CASPER, WYOMING, WHO CAN BEND GLASS WITH THE BEST OF THEM.

>> MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH NEON WAS CALLING A GUY IN MONTANA.

I CALLED HIM, TOLD HIM WHO I WAS, WHAT I WAS INTERESTED IN, AND ASKED IF HE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HAVING AN APPRENTICE.

AND HE SAID WOMEN CAN'T BEND GLASS AND HE HUNG UP.

AND I WAS LIKE OH, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A MAN'S WORLD.

IT'S JUST UP TO WOMEN I THINK TO JUST LET THEM KNOW WE'RE HERE AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

FOR FEW THAT HAVE DONE STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACCEPTING AND COULD CARE LESS IF I'M A MAN OR WOMAN OR ALIEN, THEY DON'T CARE, THEY JUST WANT SOMEBODY TO KEEP NEON ALIVE, TOO.

MY NAME IS CONNIE MORGAN.

I'M A HUMAN.

I'M A WOMAN.

I'M A MOM AND I'M A TUBE BENDER.

AND I LIVE IN CASPER, WYOMING.

WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO CASPER, I GOT A JOB AT A FINE SHOP, AND WAS SO GRATEFUL THAT THEY HAD A NEON PLANT ALREADY IN PLACE AND SET UP AND READY TO GO.

THE OWNER OF THE SIGN COMPANY STATED HE'S LIKE YOU KNOW, WE PROBABLY WON'T DO A LOT OF NEON, IT'S MOSTLY JUST REPAIRS, PEOPLE AREN'T BUYING ANYTHING LIKE THAT ANYMORE, JUST DEAD.

AS MY KIDS GOT OLDER, I NEEDED A SIDE HUSTLE, AND I WAS LIKE YOU KNOW, I CAN UTILIZE THIS NEON PLANT THAT IS HERE, AND I HAD TO TALK TO MYSELF AND SAY IT'S NOT DYING.

I CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP BRING IT BACK.

EVEN IF IT'S JUST OCCASIONALLY MAKING A FINE HERE OR THIS AND REPAIRING ONE, I JUST TOLD MYSELF YOU DON'T NEED TO BELIEVE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE TELL YOU ABOUT IT.

EVEN IN WYOMING, IT CAN BE DONE WHERE YOU CAN MAKE PEOPLE SEE THE VALUE OF IT.

TUBE BENDING IS BASICALLY GET LONG STICKS OF GLASS, FOUR FEET TO FIVE FEET LONG, HOLLOW TUBE, AND THAT IS WHERE THE TERM TUBE BENDER CAME FROM BECAUSE YOU'RE BENDING IT IN HOT FLAME.

A FIRE AND HAND TORCH, AND I HEAT THE GLASS UP JUST -- YOU GET A FEEL FOR IT.

NOT EASY.

IT'S A LOT OF EYE HAND COORDINATION.

THE GOAL IS TO KEEP THE INTEGRITY OF THE GLASS SO YOU'RE WANTING TO KEEP THE WALL THICKNESS THE SAME, TRYING NOT TO STRETCH OUT THE GLASS.

AS YOU HEAT IT UP IN A FIRE, YOU KIND OF -- I WAS TAUGHT THAT YOU USE A TECHNIQUE CALLED GATHERING, AND IT'S WHERE YOU GENTLY AS IT'S HEATING YOU SERGEANTLY ROLLING IT AND KIND OF PUSHING IT TOGETHER.

AS GRAVITY TAKES OVER IT MAKES IT STRETCH.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE ME ROLL IT IN FEVER, LOOKS ONABLY AND I'M TRYING TO KEEP IT TOGETHER AND GET IT HOT ENOUGH WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WHEN YOU COME TO THE TABLE WITH THE GLASS IT'S HOT ENOUGH THAT IT LAYS FLAT.

YOU USE THE DIFFERENT FIRES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF BENDING.

SMALLER BEND, DOUBLE BACK, YOU CAN DO.

AND YOUR KNIFE FIRE LONG SECTIONS ARE DONE IN THE RIBBON BURNER.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING IT GRAVITY WOULD COMPLETELY TAKE OVER AND MY GLASS WOULD JUST SINK AND STRETCH OUT, AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO -- GOING THROUGH A LOT OF GLASS JUST TRYING TO GET THE FEEL FOR IT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BEND GLASS IF IT'S TOO COLD.

IT WILL BE STRESSED.

IT WILL BREAK.

I BLOW INTO THE TUBE TO KEEP THE INTEGRITY OF THE GLASS THE SAME.

IF I DON'T BLOW INTO THE TUBE, THE GLASS WILL COLLAPSE ON ITSELF AS SOON AS IT COOLS DOWN IT WILL BREAK.

YOU NEED TO KEEP THE HOLLOWNESS OF THE TUBE THE SAME ALL THE WAY AROUND NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF BEND YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.

LIKE SOME BENDS GET NARROWER AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT THE WHOLE OBJECT IS TO KEEP THE INTEGRITY OF THE TUBE THE SAME.

SO THERE IS LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON WHEN YOU'RE BENDING GLASS.

IT'S A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.

THE BOMBARDING PROCESS IS TO CLEAN OUT THE TUBE, TO GET ALL THE IMPURITIES OUT OF IT, SUCK ALL THE AIR OUT OF IT, PUT IT UNDER COMPLETE VAC YOU'LL AND PUT THE GAS INTO IT, AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET IT.

YOU GET IT THROUGH ARGON GAS, NEON GAS.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE USE HELIUM, CRIP TON TO ACHIEVE DIFFERENT LOOKS AND EFFECTS WITH THE GAS.

AS MUCH AS I LOVE THE BRIGHTNESS AND I LOVE TO LIGHT UP MY SIGNS, FOR ME THE BEST PART IS BENDING IT.

AND IT'S REALLY HARD.

IT'S NOT AN EASY CRAFT, AN EASY TRADE TO LEARN.

YOU KNOW, TO BE THE ONLY PERSON DOING IT JUST SHOWS YOU HOW THE DYING ART.

IT'S DYING BECAUSE OF TECHNOLOGY.

THERE IS MORE ADVANCEMENT THAN LED SIGNS CAN GET THINGS MADE CHEAPER.

THE NEON ART FORM CRAFT HAS NOT CHANGED A LOT SINCE IT WAS INVENTED.

THERE IS ADVANCEMENTS IN NEON AS WELL, BUT IT'S PRETTY MUCH KIND OF MADE THE SAME WAY AS IT WAS WHEN IT WAS FIRST INVENTED AND I THINK THAT IS THE COOL PART OF IT, THAT IT HASN'T CHANGED A LOT.

YOU CAN BUY YOU KNOW THERE IS LED SIGNS YOU CAN BUY THAT LOOK LIKE NEON.

THEY MAKE IT LOOK LIKE NEON.

THEY ADVERTISE IT AS NEON.

IT'S NOT NEON.

WHEN I SEE AN OLD SIGN THAT IS IN RUINS OR PAINT IS MISSING OR THE NEON IS BROKEN, IT'S JUST LIKE PART OF ME THAT JUST WANTS TO FIX IT UP AND MAKE IT SHINE AGAIN.

I LIKE THE OLD SIGNS BECAUSE I THINK IT REMINDS ME AND OTHER PEOPLE OF A DIFFERENT TIME.

HEYDAY OF NEON I GUESS I WANT TO KEEP THAT ALIVE AND REDOING THOSE OLD FINDS DOES THAT FOR ME.

IT'S WHAT I'M TRIED TO DO.

IT'S WHAT I KNOW HOW TO DO.

IF SOMETHING CALLS YOU AND YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR IT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE A LIVING AT IT.

IF IT NEVER FEELS LIKE A JOB, IT NEVER FEELS LIKE A JOB TO ME, ESPECIALLY WORKING FOR MYSELF.

EVEN THOUGH IT IS AND THERE IS MORE PRESSURE NOW, IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A JOB.

I FEEL BLESSED TO COME IN HERE EVERYDAY AND BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I DO.

SOMEONE OUT THERE HAS A PASSION FOR IT, THEN GO FOR IT.

DON'T LET ANYBODY TELL YOU NO.

>>> ON NEXT EDITION OF "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," THE BRICKTOWN WATER TAXI CELEBRATED A BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT WILL BUILD ON THEIR OKLAHOMA ROOTS.

YOU MIGHT LIKE THE UNDERSTAND SO OF IT.

WHAT'S NEW NEXT ON "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> WE'RE GOING TO EVER LOAF YOU NIGHT WITH LOOK BACK AT FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS SEEN BY NOT HEARD.

COURTESY OF OETA PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC WALTMAN.

FOR ALL OF US, I'M RICH LENZ.

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

♪ CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION SOLUTIONS, LLC.

WWW.CAPTIONSOLUTIONS.COM