>> Rich: A FEDERAL JUDGE STEPS IN TO POSTPONE THE CLOSING OF THREE JOB CORPS TRAINING CENTERS IN OKLAHOMA.

>> Richardson: THERE'S 20,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTIVELY USING JOB CORPS RESOURCES, AND THE PROGRAM, IT OFFERS SO MUCH GUIDANCE TOWARDS THE UP AND COMING YOUTH.

>> Rich: THUNDER FEVER IS SWEEPING THE STATE AS THE NBA FINALS TIP OFF IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> Olivia: THEY'RE PUTTING US ON THE MAP AND OUR ORGANIZATION IS WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH THE THUNDER TO REALLY ACTIVATE ALL OUR SPACES AND MAKE THIS REALLY HISTORIC TIME FOR OUR CITY EVEN BETTER.

>> Rich: AN OKLAHOMA TRIBE HAS FOUND A WAY TO MITIGATE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SWEEPING TARIFFS.

>> Collard: THE WAY A FOREIGN TRADE ZONE WORKS IS THIS: IT ALLOWS YOU TO MANAGE THE TARIFF PROCESS.

IT'S NOT A WAY TO DUCK TARIFFS.

>> Rich: MEET THE YOUNG OU GRADUATES BEHIND THIS CUTTING-EDGE WEATHER DRONE.

>> Elizabeth: I'M A METEOROLOGIST, TONY'S AN ENGINEER.

WE'RE OUT THERE, WE'RE FLYING, AND WE LEARN WHAT DOES AND DOESN'T WORK.

>> Rich: AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON MASSIVE STAFFING CUTS ANNOUNCED BY THE EPIC CHARTER SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> Humphrey: THOSE PEOPLE, THEY ARE SCRAMBLING.

WHAT CUE DO HERE?

THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR STARTS IN A FEW MONTHS.

>> Rich: THOSE STORIES, PLUS THE DEADCENTER FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ITS 25th ANNIVERSARY, NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

THE JOB CORPS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1964 AS PART OF PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON'S SWEEPING "GREAT SOCIETY" INITIATIVES.

ON TUESDAY, IT PAUSED OPERATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THREE LOCATIONS HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

BUT LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, A FEDERAL JUDGE ISSUED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER TO KEEP THE CENTERS OPEN.

SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, AND WHY DOES THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAY THE JOB CORPS IS NO LONGER EFFECTIVE?

WE'RE NOW JOINED BY EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON.

TAELYR?

>> Taelyr: RICH, THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AS A SURPRISE TO MORE THAN 20,000 STUDENTS ACROSS THE NATION.

NOW COMMUNITY LEADERS ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP DISPLACED STUDENTS IF THE JUDGE'S RULING IS OVERTURNED.

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LAST RESORT.

>> Taelyr: LAST WEEKEND, STUDENTS AND STAFF AT ALL THREE OKLAHOMA JOB CORPS LOCATIONS SCRAMBLED TO FIND NEW RESOURCES FOR THE DISPLACED STUDENTS.

>> IT WAS JUST TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM WITHOUT AN EXPLANATION.

IT WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM WITHOUT ANY TIME OR RESOURCES GIVEN TO THEM.

>> Taelyr: KAREN RICHARDSON, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE GUTHRIE JOB CORPS STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION, SAYS STUDENTS ARE FEELING DISCOURAGED.

>> THERE WAS A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO WERE 70%, 80%, OR EVEN 90% COMPLETED WITH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR THEIR CREDITS OR ANYTHING, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER PROGRAM UNTIL WE CAN GET THIS SITUATION FIGURED OUT.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER PROGRAM TO FINISH OR EVEN TO RESTART THIS PROCESS FOR EVERYTHING.

>> Taelyr: RICHARDSON SAYS ABOUT 40% THE GUTHRIE STUDENTS WERE PREVIOUSLY UNHOUSED.

>> THERE'S SO MANY THOUGHTS THAT WENT THROUGH MY HEAD, WHICH I'M SURE IT WAS THROUGH MOST ALL OF US, BUT THE FIRST THOUGHT WAS THE EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA OF IT.

YOU KNOW, JUST BEING DISPLACED WAS MY FIRST THOUGHT.

JUST THE WHOLE IDEA AND CONCEPT WAS VERY HARD, YOU KNOW, TO FATHOM.

>> Taelyr: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STAR FOUNDATION, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH YOUTH.

SCOTT'S ORGANIZATION IS NOW LOOKING FOR WAYS TO ASSIST JOB CORPS DISPLACED YOUTH.

>> WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO TRY TO SEE HOW WE CAN WORK INTERDEPENDENTLY TO COME TOGETHER, TO MEET -- MITIGATE SOME OF THE ISSUES THERE ARE GOING ON BY MAYBE EVEN APPLYING FOR WORKFORCE INNOVATION STATUS SO THAT WE CAN ABSORB -- OF COURSE, THERE WAS 350, FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, NOT ABLE TO HELP THAT MANY, BUT WE WANT TO ACTIVELY LOOK AT HOW WE CAN BRING THEM INTO OUR UMBRELLA AND WORK WITH THEM ONE-ON-ONE.

>> Taelyr: HE SAYS HE NEEDS PRIVATE DONORS TO HELP MAKE IT POSSIBLE.

>> LOOK INTO ORGANIZATIONS AND LOOK INTO HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT SO THAT WE DON'T GO INTO SITUATIONS WHERE WE'RE LEANING ALL OF OUR EFFORTS FROM FEDERAL FUNDING AND WE'RE STARTING TO DIVERSIFY FUNDS AND GET TOGETHER WITH PRIVATE DONORS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE THAT ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND GETTING THEM IN A BETTER CAREER PATH.

>> Taelyr: ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE JOB CORPS PROGRAM HAS FINANCED SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.

ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT, IN 2024, THE PROGRAM OPERATED AT A $140 MILLION DEFICIT.

BUT RICHARDSON SAYS THAT DATA ISN'T ACCURATE.

>> THE STATISTICS THAT THEY'RE USING IS FROM OUR COVID NUMBERS, NOT THE NUMBERS THAT ARE RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE PUSHBACK IS COMING FROM BECAUSE A LOT OF REPRESENTATIVES ARE SEEING THAT IT'S MISINFORMATION.

THE JOB CORPS, WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 60 YEARS, SO IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF FINANCIAL STRUGGLES THAT WAS HAPPENING, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED WITHIN 60 YEARS OF US BEING HERE.

>> Taelyr: THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ALSO RELEASED STATISTICS REPORTING LESS THAN 39% OF JOB CORPS STUDENTS GRADUATE AT A COST OF $80,000 PER STUDENT, AND THAT ONCE STUDENTS LEAVE THE PROGRAM, THEY AVERAGE JUST UNDER $17,000 ANNUALLY IN SALARY.

THE NATIONAL JOB CORPS ASSOCIATION ALSO SPOKE OUT ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S TRANSPARENCY REPORT, STATING ALTHOUGH CONGRESS HAS INCREASED FUNDING TO FIX AGING JOB CORPS FACILITIES AND STAFFING AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, FUNDING FOR JOB CORPS CENTER OPERATIONS HAS DECREASED WHEN TAKING INTO ACCOUNT INFLATION.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BUILDING TRADES UNION OF OKLAHOMA CURTIS CHAMBERS HAD PLANS TO COLLABORATE WITH THE GUTHRIE JOB CORPS.

>> I HAD JUST DONE A TOUR AND INTERVIEW WITH THEM TWO WEEKS PRIOR.

>> Taelyr: CHAMBERS SAYS THE GUTHRIE CAMPUS HAD MUCH TO OFFER STUDENTS.

>> THESE GUYS HAVE EXCELLENT PRE-APPRENTICE PROGRAMS TO GET THESE GUYS CLEANED UP TO WHERE THEY CAN GO RIGHT INTO A UNION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND SUCCEED AND, YOU KNOW, BECOME REALLY GOOD CITIZENS AND WORKERS AND DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT WE THINK THAT THE MIDDLE CLASS IS JUST HANDED TO MOST OF US, BUT THE MIDDLE CLASS ISN'T HANDED TO THEM.

>> Taelyr: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF YOUTH SERVICES OF TULSA SAYS ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES FOR AT-RISK YOUTH ARE MUCH NEEDED ACROSS THE NATION.

>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF REASONS THAT THESE ARE CRITICAL SERVICES.

ONE IS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE NEED SAFE AND STABLE PLACES TO LIVE, AND SOME OF THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE, WHETHER IN JOB CORPS, IN OUR HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES, JUST DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

IT MAY BE THAT THEY GREW UP IN THE SYSTEM AND RAN AWAY AFTER A CERTAIN POINT.

IT MAY BE THAT THEY COME FROM A HOME THAT HAS VIOLENCE AND OTHER ISSUES OR CHALLENGES.

IT MAY BE THAT THEY CAME TO THE BIG CITY LIKE TULSA LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITY AND ACCEPTANCE AND FOUND THEMSELVES HOMELESS.

>> THERE'S 20,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTIVELY USING JOB CORPS RESOURCES AND THE PROGRAM.

IT OFFERS SO MUCH GUIDANCE TOWARDS THE UP AND COMING YOUTH AND IT OFFERS SO MUCH -- SO MUCH JUST EVERYTHING TO THE OVERALL WORLD, THE ECONOMY OF AMERICA.

>> Taelyr: AGAIN, RIGHT NOW THE CLOSURES ARE ON HOLD AS THE MATTER IS LITIGATED IN THE COURTS.

RICH.

>> Rich: TAELYR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT HAS NAMED GREG SLAVONIC AS THE INTERIM COMMISSIONER OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES.

ADMIRAL SLAVONIC HAD PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS UNDER STITT.

HE REPLACES ALLIE FRIESEN WHO WAS FIRED BY THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE LAST WEEK.

>>> THE UNDERDOG INDIANA PACERS STUNNING A SOLD-OUT PAYCOM CENTER CROWD ON THURSDAY NIGHT, BUZZER-BEATING THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 110-109 IN GAME ONE OF THE NBA FINALS.

NOT THE OUTCOME THAT THOUSANDS OF FOLKS EXPECTED JUST ABOUT 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THAT AS PEOPLE FILLED UP KERR PARK IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN TO CELEBRATE DOWNTOWN OKC DAY.

IT'S MEANT TO RECOGNIZE ANY AND EVERYONE WHO WORKS OR PLAYS DOWNTOWN AND, OF COURSE, THE THUNDER ARE A HUGE PART OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> Olivia: THE EVENT USED TO BE CALLED DOWNTOWN EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY, BUT WE REALIZED THAT WE WANTED TO EXPAND TO A BROADER AUDIENCE.

THERE ARE SO MANY EMPLOYEES THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE DOWNTOWN, BUT DOWNTOWN IS ALSO MADE UP OF MANY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS AND PEOPLE THAT JUST LOVE TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL AND IN THE MIDST OF OUR GROWING CITY.

AND OUR ORGANIZATION IS WORKING SO CLOSELY WITH THE THUNDER TO REALLY ACTIVATE ALL OF OUR SPACES AND MAKE THIS REALLY HISTORIC TIME FOR OUR CITY EVEN BETTER.

SO THE THUNDER HAS A MERCH VAN HERE.

YOU CAN GET YOUR FINALS MERCH.

WE'VE GOT THE BOLT BUS AND WE'VE GOT THUNDER DRUMMERS COMING IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

SO WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE THUNDER AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO BE THEIR HOST CITY.

>> Rich: GAME TWO OF THE FINALS TIPS OFF AT 7:00 ON SUNDAY NIGHT.

>>> THE EPIC CHARTER SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE THIRD LARGEST IN OKLAHOMA BEHIND OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA, HAS ANNOUNCED MASSIVE LAYOFFS THIS WEEK.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD, COMING UP A LITTLE BIT LATER ON THIS NEWSCAST.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> Humphrey: KIND OF CAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE BY SURPRISE.

THEY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY HAVE LAID OFF, I BELIEVE IT'S 357 STAFF MEMBERS, MOST OF THEM ADMINISTRATORS.

I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND 40% OF THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, INCLUDING ALL THEIR PRINCIPALS THERE IN THIS DISTRICT, AND THEN THEY LAID OFF ABOUT 5%, I BELIEVE, OF THEIR TEACHERS.

SO JUST, I MEAN, REAL SAD WEEK FOR THOSE FOLKS.

OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS PRETTY OUT OF THE BLUE FOR THEM.

>> Wallis: THE GENERAL TONE IS, THEY'RE SCARED, THEY FEEL BETRAYED.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY HAD THEIR CONTRACTS RENEWED OR NOT, IT STILL FEELS LIKE A VERY UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM.

AND SO I THINK THAT THOSE TEACHERS ARE REALLY GRAPPLING, ESPECIALLY IF THEY DID GET THEIR CONTRACTS RENEWED, WHETHER OR NOT TO STAY OR IF THERE'S MORE OF THIS ON THE HORIZON.

>> Rich: THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

>>> BUT FIRST: WEATHER SIRENS HAVE GONE OFF TWICE IN THE LAST FOUR DAYS IN NORMAN, A CITY THAT IS CURRENTLY THE SITE OF CUTTING-EDGE WEATHER DRONE TECHNOLOGY.

USED BY THE MILITARY SINCE THE '70s, WEATHER DRONES ARE NOW AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SEVERE WEATHER OBSERVATION AND CONSTANTLY BEING IMPROVED.

NOAH MACK JOINS US NOW WITH A REPORT ON A GROUP OF OU GRADUATES IN NORMAN WHO ARE DOING JUST THAT.

NOAH?

>> Noah: RICH, THIS NOVEL DEVICE IS CALLED THE COPTER SONDE, ENGINEERED AND PATENTED BY DR. TONY SEGALES.

A DRONE NEARLY TEN YEARS IN THE MAKING AND A PASSION DATING BACK EVEN FURTHER.

>> AND TAKEOFF.

>> Noah: SAY HELLO TO THE COPTER SONDE, A WEATHER DRONE MOLDED BY MOTHER NATURE HERSELF.

HER MORTEM PERMENT TAL SIDE.

>> WEATHER IS BASICALLY SHAPING THE DRONE.

>> EVERY TIME WE WERE SENDING THIS DRONE OUT, WE WERE COMING BACK TO THE LAB WITH LESSONS LEARNED.

>> Noah: WITH EVERY NEW ENVIRONMENT COMES A NEW MODIFICATION.

>> WE'VE HAD THIS ALL THE WAY UP IN THE HIGH ALTITUDE IN THE MOUNTAINS, WE'VE HAD IT IN THE COAST IN HOUSTON, HAD IT HERE IN OKLAHOMA DURING WINTER WEATHER SOIRKT WAS FLYING IN ICING CONDITIONS.

>> Noah: THIS EARLIER ITERATION HAS BEEN DUBBED THE TONY SHARK, INSPIRED BY A TEST FLIGHT IN FINLAND.

>> WE WERE FLYING OVER THE ICE AND HITTING CRACKS BELOW US AND WE SAW THERE WERE SHARKS HIDDEN IN THE ICE.

>> Noah: AND IN KEEPING WITH THE MARINE MAMMAL THEME, THE SHARK EVOLVED INTO THE WALRUS.

>> IT HAS THAT MIDDLE FANG.

>> Noah: THESE UNMANNED VEHICLES WERE CRAFTED BY REERNER DR. TONY SEGALES ALONGSIDE A TEAM OF METEOROLOGIST LIKE ELIZABETH SMITH.

>> I'M A METEOROLOGIST, TONY IS AN ENGINEER.

WE'RE OUT THERE FLYING AND WE'RE LEARNING WHAT WORKS AND DOESN'T WORK.

WE GET TO WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE FOR THE COPTER SONDE TO WORK.

>> Noah: THE COPTER SONDE GATHERS WEATHER DATA MUCH LIKE A WEATHER BALLOON, EXCEPT IT'S MANEUVERABLE.

MORE TARGETED AND CAPABLE OF A SAFE RETURN FOR FURTHER USE.

>> FOR ME, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD FEEL.

>> WE'RE OUT HERE IN THE FIELD WITH THE COPTER SONDE AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A DEMO FLIGHT.

SO THE DRONE BASICALLY IS GOING TO TAKE OFF AND GO UP TO 120 METERS UP AND DOWN JUST TO SIMULATE A VERY LOW PROFILE OF THE ATMOSPHERE, AND LIZ IS GOING TO SHOW US HOW IT MOVES -- HOW THE DATA MOVES ON THE COMPUTER.

>> SO THIS IS TELLING US THE TEMPERATURE AND THE DEWPOINT IN PROFILE.

SO AS IT ASCENDED BOFT GROUND, WE GET THAT INFORMATION IN REALTIME BACK TO US HERE ON THE GROUND.

>> Noah: THEY MONITOR THESE METRICS AHEAD OF STORMS SO THEY CAN GET THE DATA TO FORECASTERS AND TOUT TO FOLKS AT HOME.

>> METEOROLOGISTS HAVE MANY TOOLS AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO MEASURE SEVERE WEATHER, LIKE SOME OF THE WEATHER WE'VE BEEN HAVING THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK.

IT'S HELPFUL TO THINK OF IT LIKE A PUZZLE, EACH ADDING TO THE OVERALL ATMOSPHERIC PICTURE.

>> WE'LL GO OUT IN THE SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE STORMS ARRIVE AND DO THAT 5,000-FOOT PROFILE, MANY TIMES, UP UNTIL THE STORMS GET TOO CLOSE TO US TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY DO THAT AND THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS DOING AND HOW IT'S CHANGING UP AHEAD OF THE STORM, WHICH REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW STORMS FIT THE FUEL THAT MAY OR MAY NOT MAKE THEM SEVERE, HOW THEY CONTINUE TO MAIN THEMSELVES, WHAT ALL THAT ENVIRONMENT IS IN FRONT OF SEVERE WEATHER, SO WE USE THE COPTER SONDE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN VERY SPECIFIC PLACES.

>> Noah: WHAT ULTIMATELY SETS THE COPTER SONDE APART IS ITS DESIGN.

>> THERE'S A STAND HERE ON THE BOTTOM THAT IS ACTIVATING AREA FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM AND THERE ARE SENSORS INSIDE THIS.

THERE ARE TEMPERATURE SENSORS, HUMIDITY SEND TORS.

WE ALSO HAVE A PRESSURE SENSOR.

YOU KNOW, LIKE TAKES AIR FROM HERE, CLEAN AIR, AND IT GOES ACROSS THE SENSORS.

>> Noah: AND LAST YEAR WITH THE HELP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, TONY AND HIS TEAM ACQUIRED A PATENT FOR THE COPTER SONDE.

>> IT'S A TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS REVIEWED AND VERY THOROUGHLY BY SCIENTISTS, BY RESEARCHERS, BY ENGINEERS, AND THAT ADDS A LOT OF VALUE TO THAT TECHNOLOGY AND HAVING A PATENT IS BASICALLY A DOCUMENT THAT SAYS WE WENT THROUGH ALL THIS.

>> Noah: A COMPANY CALLED INTERMET HAS MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTE ADD HANDFUL OF THESE DRONES AND ARE LOOKING TO DO FURTHER BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE AS THE TEAM LOOKS TOWARDS AUTOMATION, A CONCEPT METEOROLOGIST TYLER BELL CAUSE THE 3D MEASUREMENT.

>> WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE IN THEIR OWN LITTLE LAUNCH BOX SO THAT, SAY, SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED ON A GIVEN DAY, A FORECASTER MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAY I NEED MORE OBSERVATIONS IN THIS AREA OF THE STATE OR ANYWHERE, AND THEY CAN SEARCH ONE AREA AND SAY I NEED TO FLY MY DRONES HERE AND THEY WOULD AUTOMATICALLY TAKE OFF, GET THE OBSERVATIONS THEY NEED, AND THEY CAN IMPROVE THEIR FORECAST FROM THERE.

>> Noah: SO TONY'S COPTERS HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO IN THE WORLD OF METEOROLOGY AND TONY HAS A LONG STORY TO TELL OF HOW HE GOT TO WHERE HE IS NOW, ALTHOUGH IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT REAPING THE SKY.

>> EVERYTHING STARTED WHEN I WAS A KID.

MY DAD WAS VERY INTO THE RC HOBBY, FLYING LITTLE PLANES AND HELICOPTERS.

>> Noah: AND HIS DAD WHO CHEERS HIS SON ON COULD NOT BE MORE PROUDS WHERE TONY TOOK THAT HOBBY.

>> MY DAD HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE FAN BEHIND ALL THIS AND EVERY TIME HE COMES HERE AND VISITS ME, HE'S AMAZED EVERY TIME.

HE SEES ALL THESE PROJECTS.

>> I STARTED IN THE VERY SIMPLE AIRFIELD, WE WERE FLYING CLEAR SKY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I'M HERE SENDING DRONES INTO STORMS, YOU KNOW.

>> Noah: A DRONE MOLDED BY NATURE, BUILT BY A MAN MOLDED BY THAT UNQUENCHABLE CHILD-LIKE FASCINATION.

TONY SAYS COPTER SONDE WILL CONTINUE TO BE TWEAKED AS IT GAINS MORE WIDESPREAD USE IN THE FIELD.

RICH.

>> Rich: NOAH, VERY INTERESTING, THANK YOU.

>>> WHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TARIFFS SOMETIMES SEEM ALL-ENCOMPASSING, THERE ARE WAYS BUSINESSES CAN MITIGATE THE TARIFFS THEY PAY, AND ONE OF THOSE SOLUTIONS IS BEING UTILIZED BY A TRIBE RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN.

JASON?

>> Jason: RICH, THE CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION IS DEVELOPING AN INDUSTRIAL PARK THAT HAS RECEIVED A FOREIGN TRADE ZONE DESIGNATION, AND THAT HELPS OKLAHOMA BUSINESSES SAVE MONEY ON TARIFFS WHILE IMPORTING THE RAW MATERIALS NEEDED TO MANUFACTURE PRODUCTS IN OUR STATE.

[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING ] THIS TRAIN IS ONE OF THE BIG TOOLS USED TO HELP COMPANIES MOVE MATERIALS AROUND THE 700-ACRE IRON HORSE INDUSTRIAL PARK.

THE CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION HAS BEEN DEVELOPING THIS PARK FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, TAKING A CORNFIELD IN POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY AND TRANSFORMING IT INTO A GENERAL USE MANUFACTURING HUB.

THE PARK IS ALSO AN EXTENSION OF THE FOREIGN TRADE ZONE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> Collard: WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR ABOUT 17 YEARS THIS AUGUST, AND SO IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING JOURNEY, INTERESTING PROCESS.

IT'S OCCURRED TO US AS WE DEVELOPED AN INDUSTRIAL PARK THAT WE REALLY NEEDED A UNIQUE IDENTIFIER.

AND SO THE IDEA CAME ABOUT THAT WE WOULD APPLY FOR A FOREIGN TRADE ZONE.

>> Jason: THERE ARE ABOUT 200 FOREIGN TRADE ZONES ACROSS THE NATION, MOSTLY LOCATED ON THE COASTS.

>> Collard: THE WAY A FOREIGN TRADE ZONE WORKS IS THIS.

IT ALLOWS YOU TO MANAGE THE TARIFF PROCESS.

IT'S NOT A WAY TO DUCK TARIFFS.

THAT'S A MISCONCEPTION, ACTUALLY.

IT'S A WAY TO ENSURE THE TARIFFS THAT ARE BEING REQUIRED ARE ACTUALLY PAID.

>> Jason: BUT SOME COMPANIES ARE PAYING LESS.

HERE'S HOW: THERE ARE THREE PRIMARY WAYS FOREIGN TRADE ZONES HELP WITH TARIFFS BUSINESSES MUST PAY TO BRING IN THEIR RAW MATERIALS FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY.

DUTY EXEMPTION IS WHEN A COMPANY WON'T BE CHARGED A TARIFF IF THEY SHIP RAW MATERIALS INTO THE FOREIGN TRADE ZONE, MANUFACTURE THE PRODUCT THERE, AND SHIP IT BACK OUT OF THE U.S. DUTY DEFERRAL IS WHERE A COMPANY WILL HAVE ITS RAW MATERIALS BROUGHT INTO A FOREIGN TRADE ZONE, STORE THEM THERE UNTIL THEY NEED THEM TO MANUFACTURE A PRODUCT.

THEY WILL ONLY PAY THE TARIFFS ON WHAT THEY BRING OUT OF THE ZONE.

INVERTED TARIFFS REDUCE THE RATE IF THE FINISHED PRODUCT TO BE SOLD IN THE U.S. HAS A LOWER RATE THAN ALL OF THE RAW MATERIALS IMPORTED TO THE U.S. TO MAKE THAT PRODUCT.

ONE OF THE CLIENTS OF THE IRON HORSE INDUSTRIAL PARK USES THE FOREIGN TRADE ZONE AS A WAY TO PAY TARIFFS ON ONLY WHAT THEY NEED AND STORE THE REST AT THE PARK.

THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS M3T SOLUTIONS BENEFITS FROM USING THE FOREIGN TRADE ZONE.

>> Tytanic: THE BENEFITS THAT WE RECEIVE ARE HERE AT IRON HORSE AND THEY'RE 50 MILES AWAY FROM OUR WAREHOUSE.

M3T IS HEADQUARTERED IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND SO IT ALLOWS US TO RESPOND TO THE MARKETS MORE QUICKLY BECAUSE IF WE NEED SOME COMPONENTS, WE CAN SEND A SHIP, A TRUCK OVER THERE.

WE CALL VIVI, AND WE CALL HER TODAY, AND TOMORROW THEY'RE AVAILABLE.

>> Jason: TO RELEASE THE COMPONENTS, M3T PAYS THE TARIFFS ON WHAT THEY'RE TAKING OUT OF THE FOREIGN TRADE ZONE.

THE COMPANY BUILDS KIOSKS FOR PLACES LIKE THE PAYCOM ARENA, WHICH EXCHANGES CASH FOR A CARD WHICH THEN CAN BE USED WITH THE VENDORS.

THAT MEANS THE COMPANY HAS TO IMPORT A LOT OF MATERIALS.

CHRIS TYTANIC WITH M3T SAYS THE COMPANY RELIES ON THE EXPERTISE OF THE STAFF AT IRON HORSE TO HELP FIGURE THE WAY FORWARD ON TARIFFS.

>> Tytanic: THEY'RE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, THEY'RE VERY RESPONSIVE.

AND ANYTIME WE HAVE A QUESTION, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S TIMES REGARDING TARIFFS, WE GIVE THEM A CALL AND IF THEY DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, THEY'LL FIND THE ANSWER FOR YOU VERY QUICKLY.

>> Jason: CURRENTLY FOUR COMPANIES ARE USING THE PARK, INCLUDING THE CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION'S SOVEREIGN PIPE TECHNOLOGIES.

IT MANUFACTURES HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE PIPING FOR VARIOUS INDUSTRIES.

THE IRON HORSE INDUSTRIAL PARK IS GETTING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION FROM PERSPECTIVE CLIENTS.

>> Collard: WE CURRENTLY ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH TWO WOMEN-OWNED AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS COMPANIES, AND WE'RE IN DISCUSSIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH TWO CANADIAN FIRST NATIONS AS WELL.

>> Jason: DR. COLLARD SAYS THAT IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT TRIBAL NATIONS ARE SEEKING OUT INTERNATIONAL DEALS WITH OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

>> Collard: THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA.

I MEAN, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRADING LONG DISTANCES LONG BEFORE THE CREATION OF NATION STATES.

ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS RECREATE SOME OF THOSE MECHANISMS TO ALLOW TO TAKE PLACE.

>> Jason: AS THE TRIBE WORKS ON ATTRACTING NEW CLIENTS, IT IS BUILDING OUT THE FOREIGN TRADE ZONE PARK WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION.

IT HELPS PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THINGS LIKE INSTALLING AN INDUSTRIAL GRADE SCALE TO GET ACCURATE READINGS ONSITE.

CPN ALSO IS WORKING ON A RAIL LINE EXTENSION AND LOOP TO MOVE PRODUCTS AROUND SO THAT CLIENTS LOCATING THEIR FACTORIES AND WAREHOUSES THERE HAVE READY ACCESS.

THE PARK SITS NEXT TO A MAJOR UNION PACIFIC RAIL LINE CONNECTING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

MY 165,000-POUND FRIEND ALBERT HERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO IRON HORSE INDUSTRIAL PARK.

IT HELPS TO TAKE BIG CONTAINERS FROM THE RAILWAY AND GET THEM TO THE WAREHOUSES WHERE THEY CAN OFFLOAD AND BE MADE INTO NEW MATERIALS.

THE PARK HAS A TRAIN ENGINE NAMED LINDA.

IT'S USED TO PULL RAILCARS TO THE WAREHOUSE LOCATIONS TO OFFLOAD PRODUCTS AS WELL.

THAT ENGINE WAS BUILT IN THE 1950s AND IS STILL GOING STRONG.

COLLARD SAYS THE TIMING FOR THE PARK'S DEVELOPMENT WILL BENEFIT BOTH THE CITIZEN POTAWATOMI NATION AND THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

>> Collard: OKLAHOMA'S COMING INTO ITS OWN RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, WE ARE PART OF THE GREAT OKLAHOMA CITY PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS A TERRIFIC ORGANIZATION, AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A PURE ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, WE'RE MORE COMPETITIVE THAN OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH.

OKAY?

OUR COST OF PRODUCTION IS A LOT LESS AND WE STILL HAVE MAJOR CLASS ONE RAILROADS AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS.

>> Jason: DR. COLLARD SAYS ONE OF THE MISSIONS OF IRON HORSE INDUSTRIAL PARK IS PROVIDING THE MEANS TO BE PROFITABLE AND MAKING IT SUSTAINABLE IN THE FUTURE FOR BOTH THE TRIBE AND ITS CLIENTS.

RICH.

>> Rich: JASON, THANKS A LOT.

>>> OKLAHOMA CITY'S DEADCENTER FILM FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATING ITS 25th ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR WITH WHAT MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE IS ONE OF ITS STRONGEST COLLECTION OF FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES TO DATE, INCLUDING ONE THAT TELLS THE FASCINATING AND LITTLE-KNOWN CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AND ENID, OKLAHOMA.

ADAM KEMP JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THAT.

ADAM?

>> Adam: THANKS, RICH.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT NUCLEAR TESTING, YOU MIGHT PICTURE REMOTE DESERTS AND OLD COLD WAR FOOTAGE, BUT A NEW DOCUMENTARY FROM THREE OKLAHOMA FILMMAKERS TRACES THAT FALLOUT TO A VERY UNEXPECTED PLACE: THE CITY OF ENID.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS -- MAYBE AROUND SIX, SEVEN YEARS OLD.

WE PLAYED FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET.

I SAW THAT TESTING, VERY, VERY BRIGHT.

I SAW THE -- SOME KIND OF LIGHT, BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT.

AND AFTER THAT TESTING, IT ABSOLUTELY CHANGED THE LIFE OF PEOPLE.

>> Adam: IN THE DOCUMENTARY "67 BOMBS TO ENID," THREE OKLAHOMA FILMMAKERS TRACE A TRAIL FROM ATOMIC FALLOUT FROM THE MARSHALL ISLAND DON'T HEART OF RURAL AMERICA.

BETWEEN 1946 AND 1948, THE U.S. DES TON NATED 67 NUCLEAR BOMBS CROOK THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, WITH GENERATIONS OF RADIATION EXPOSURE.

>> WE THINK ABOUT AN ISLAND PARADISE.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THE LIFE THEY LIVE WITH TRULY WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN ISLAND PARADISE.

THE REALITY IS THAT THAT ISLAND IS RADIATED.

THE FISH IN THAT WATER ARE RADIATED.

THE COCONUTS ON THE TREES ARE RADIATED, SO IT'S A REALLY DANGEROUS PLACE TO LIVE.

>> Adam: THE FILM COMBINES FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS, ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE AND 40 YEARS OF COMMUNITY STORY TELLING TO REVEAL HIDDEN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN AMERICA'S NUCLEAR PAST AND GROWING COMMUNITY IN ENID.

>> YOU SEE THE PEOPLE ALL OVER TOWN.

YOU CAN'T MISS THE FACT THAT THEY'RE ALL OVER THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

YOU SEE THEM ALL OVER TOWN.

THEY WORK IN THE STORES, YOU KNOW, AND SO IT'S BEEN A BIG SURPRISE TO US HOW FEW PEOPLE IN ENID KNOW ABOUT THIS.

>> Adam: TODAY, ENID IS HOME TO THOUSANDS OF MARSHALLESE, ONE OF THE LARGEST SUCH COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. >> THIS MOVIE IS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO LIVED THROUGH ATOMIC TESTING, SAW IT WITH THEIR OWN EYES, AND THE GENERATIONS THAT CAME AFTER THEM AND WHAT DID THAT DO TO THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE.

>> Adam: THE ANSWER, THE FILMMAKERS FOUND, IS PHYSICAL AND GENERATIONAL TRAUMA IN A VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT STRUGGLES WITH RADIATION LINKED ILLNESSES SUCH AS CANCER, DIABETES, BIRTH DEFECTS AND A LACK OF HEALTHCARE ACCESS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY MOTIVATED ME WAS REALIZING HOW SICK THESE PEOPLE ARE, REALIZING THAT THE REASON THEY ARE SICK IS BECAUSE WE DROPPED ATOMIC WEAPONS ON THEIR ISLAND.

>> Adam: IN ENID, OVER A THOUSAND MARSHALLESE STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MANY FAMILIES LIVE IN MULTIGENERATIONAL HOMES.

TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS SAY KIDS ARE REGULARLY PULLED FROM SCHOOL TO TAKEN FUNERALS.

>> THERE'S SUCH AN IGNORANCE ABOUT THESE PEOPLE, WHO THEY ARE, WHY THEY'RE HERE, YOU KNOW, AND SO WE HOPE THAT THE FILM SHOWS THAT THEY ARE THERE AND THEY HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB ASSIMILATING TO THE AMERICAN CULTURE AND THAT THERE'S MORE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO OPEN UP THEIR HEARTS AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE HERE AND REALLY GRIP WITH THE FACT THAT WE DID THIS TO THEM.

>> Adam: ISLAND NIGHT WAS ONE OF THE MOMENTS FOR EACH OF THE FILMMAKERS WHERE THEY SAID THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE THE MARSHALLESE PEOPLE'S CULTURE IN ACTION, A GATHERING OF MUSIC, DANCE, ENJOY.

>> THEY LOVE THEIR CULTURE, THEY LOVE THEIR TRADITIONS, FOOD, LANGUAGE, MUSIC, AND THEY KEEP IT ALIVE, AND IT MATTERS TO THEM.

AND DESPITE WHAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH, THIS -- THIS COMMUNITY EXUDES KIND OF A POSITIVITY OR A JOY THAT IS ACTUALLY REALLY CONTAGIOUS.

>> TO SEE THAT COLLECTIVE, I WOULD ALMOST DARESAY THERE WAS PROBABLY NOT A SINGLE MARSHALLESE PERSON IN ENID THAT WASN'T IN THE GYM AND WE DID THAT THREE OR FOUR MORE TIMES YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THEY ARE SO PUMPED ABOUT IT.

THE KIDS COMPETE WITH DANCES AND THEY'RE SO COMPETITIVE, AND IT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST HARD NOT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THESE PEOPLE.

>> Adam: TOGETHER, THE TRIO SHOT FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS AND THE PROJECT DREW THE ATTENTION OF A LEGENDARY DOCUMENT TAIRN WHO SIGNED ON AS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER.

THE FILM PREMIERS AT THE DEADCENTER FILM FESTIVAL IN OKLAHOMA CITY, A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT.

>> I'M REALLY PROUD WE'VE MADE A FILM 100% RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA AND WE'RE ABLE TO LAUNCH IT HERE.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S KIND OF A SPECIAL THING.

>> WE HAVE TO START IT HERE BECAUSE IT'S AN OKLAHOMA STORY, AND MADE BY OKLAHOMA FILMMAKERS AT THE 25th YEAR OF DEADCENTER.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO US, AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT IS ALLOWING THE MARSHALLESE PEOPLE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME DOWN AND SEE IT.

>> Adam: EACH HOPE THE DOCUMENTARY DRAWS MORE ATTENTION TO THE MARSHALLESE PEOPLE AND THEIR CONTINUED FIGHT TO BE RECOGNIZED.

A MOMENT EACH FILMMAKER SAID HIT HOME MOST FOR THEM WAS WHEN THEY WERE ABLE TO HEAR FROM THE MARSHALLESE CHOIR SINGING ABOUT THEIR OWN LEGACY.

♪ [ SINGING ] ♪ ♪ WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE ♪ ♪ ALL OF THE CHILDREN ♪ ♪ ALL OF THE ELDERS ♪ ♪ ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN MARSHALL ISLANDS ♪ ♪ WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE ♪ >> Adam: "67 BOMBS TO ENID" PREMIERES THURSDAY, JUNE 12th, AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART WITH FOLLOWING SCREENINGS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT DEADCENTERFILM.ORG.

>> Rich: ADAM, I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THAT.

THANK YOU.

>>> THE TULSA ZOO WILL SOON WELCOME TWO MORE ASIAN ELEPHANTS TO JOIN ITS OXLEY FAMILY ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE.

40-YEAR-OLD BILLY AND 59-YEAR-OLD TINA ARE RELOCATING FROM THE LOS ANGELES ZOO.

RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE BEING KEPT APART TO ACCLIMATE, BUT SOON THEY'LL BE JOINING A HERD THAT INCLUDES TWO MALES AND THREE FEMALES.

THE SEVEN PACHYDERMS WILL HAVE 17 ACRES TO ROAM, THANKS TO THE EXPANSION OF THEIR AREA LAST YEAR.

>> WELL, THEY'RE DOING GREAT SO FAR, SO THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE AND HEAR AND SMELL THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HERD.

THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM, VOCALIZE WITH THEM, SO IT'S ALL POSITIVE SIGNS.

NOW, THE MALES, IT WOULD NOT BE TYPICAL FOR THEM TO GO TOGETHER, SO WE'VE GOT THREE BULLS HERE, BUT THE FEMALES, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO INTEGRATE IN, MOVE IN AND OUT WITH THE OTHER FEMALES, WITH THE OTHER MALES, AND THAT'S REALLY A PART OF OUR STRATEGY HERE IS WE HAVE A REALLY COMPLEX FACILITY.

WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT HABITATS.

WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT BARNS.

WE'VE GOT THE ADDITIONAL 10-ACRE WOODED AREA FOR THEM TO EXPLORE, AND SO IT'S ALL ABOUT COMPLEXITY OF HABITAT HERE AND CHANGES FROM DAY TO DAY.

>> Rich: THE TULSA ZOO HAS CARED FOR ELEPHANTS FOR 70 YEARS, BEGINNING WITH GUNDA BACK IN 1954.

>>> OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND ARTS IN CHICKASHA HAVE SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, OR MOU, TO CREATE AN ALLIANCE THAT WILL ALLOW STUDENTS AT EITHER SCHOOL TO EASILY TRANSFER THEIR ACCUMULATED CREDITS TO THE OTHER SCHOOL WITHOUT LOSING THEM AND HAVING TO RETAKE COURSES THEY'VE ALREADY COMPLETED.

IN THE WORLD OF EDUCATION, THAT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

>>> AS THE SUMMERTIME SURGE FOR GASOLINE RISES, OIL PRODUCTION IN OKLAHOMA HAS BEEN SLOWING OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S STATEWIDE "OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW" WITH JASON DOYLE.

>> Jason: OIL PRODUCTION SLOWED DOWN DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR IN OKLAHOMA AND OTHER REGIONS OF THE ENERGY SECTOR.

THE LATEST U.S. ENERGY DATABOOK PRODUCED BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF KANSAS CITY SHOWS OKLAHOMA PRODUCED 382,000 BARRELS OF OIL PER DAY IN FEBRUARY.

IN JANUARY, THAT TOTAL WAS 400,000 BARRELS A DAY, AND IN DECEMBER, IT WAS 411,000 PER DAY.

OKLAHOMA'S OIL PRODUCTION ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 2.9% OF THE TOTAL OIL PRODUCED BY THE UNITED STATES.

>>> THE FEDERAL CONTRACTING DIVISION OF CHEROKEE NATION BUSINESSES HAS LANDED A NEW $69.4 MILLION GRANT TO EXPAND SUPPORT FOR THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION'S WEATHER SENSOR TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE.

CHEROKEE STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS WILL MANUFACTURE AND INSTALL THE WEATHER TECHNOLOGY AT MORE THAN 500 AIRPORTS ACROSS THE U.S.

THE NEW WEATHER MONITORING SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO ENHANCE AIR TRAFFIC SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

>>> SPEAKING OF FEDERAL CONTRACTS, OKLAHOMA CITY-BASED VIGILANT AEROSPACE SYSTEMS WAS AWARDED A U.S. AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR ITS FLIGHT HORIZON DETECT AND AVOID AND AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.

THE DEAL IS PART OF THE AIR FORCE'S EFFORT TO ACQUIRE AND DEVELOP NOVEL WEAPONS SYSTEMS.

THE FLIGHT HORIZON SYSTEM USES NASA-PATENTED TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE DETECT AND AVOID ALERTS FOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT AND TO PROVIDE AIRCRAFT TRACKING.

>>> OKLAHOMA IS THE STATE WITH THE HIGHEST VACANCY RATE FOR RESIDENTIAL HOMES IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO ATTOM'S SECOND QUARTER 2025 VACANT PROPERTY AND ZOMBIE FORECLOSURE REPORT.

OUR STATE'S VACANCY RATE IS 2.4%.

THE NEXT HIGHEST STATES ARE KANSAS AT 2.3% AND ALABAMA AT 2.2%.

THE REPORT ALSO SHOWS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, MORE THAN 1.4 MILLION RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ARE UNOCCUPIED, WHICH WORKS OUT TO A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 1.3%.

THAT FIGURE HAS HELD FAIRLY STEADY OVER THE PAST 13 QUARTERS.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> Rich: JASON, THANK YOU.

>>> THE EPIC CHARTER SCHOOL SYSTEM ANNOUNCED LARGE CUTS TO STAFF AND CURRICULUM ON MONDAY, A MOVE ITS BOARD SAYS WILL HELP KEEP OKLAHOMA'S THIRD-LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT SOLVENT FOR YEARS TO COME.

IS THAT TRUE, AND WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICS ON WHO LOST THEIR JOBS AND WHAT CLASSES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH CASSIDY MUDD AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS.

CASSIDY?

>> Cassidy: RICH, JOINING US FOR THAT CONVERSATION IS SPENCER THUMB FRI, A ORPTER AT KFOR NEWS CHANNEL 4.

WE'LL BE SPEAKING WITH STATE IMPACT REPORTER BETH WALLIS LATER ON IN THE DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON IN-DEPTH.

>> Humphrey: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cassidy: GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE PEP TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT EPIC CHARTER SCHOOL.

>> Humphrey: QUITE A WEEK FOR THE STAFF THERE.

IT CAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE BY SURPRISE.

THEY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY HAVE LAID OFF, I BELIEVE IT'S 357 STAFF MEMBERS, MOST OF THEM ADMINISTRATORS.

I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND 40% OF THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, INCLUDING ALL OF THEIR PRINCIPAL PALS THERE IN THIS DISTRICT, AND THEN THEY LAID OFF ABOUT 5%, I BELIEVE, OF THEIR TEACHERS.

SO JUST, I MEAN, REAL SAD WEEK FOR THOSE FOLKS OBVIOUSLY.

THIS IS PRETTY OUT OF THE BLUE FOR THEM.

>> Cassidy: SO THEY HAD NO PRIOR WARNING TO THIS AT ALL.

>> Humphrey: NO, THEY JUST SHOWED UP TO START THEIR WORKDAY ON TUESDAY AND OPENED UP THEIR COMPUTERS TO AN EMAIL THAT SAYS, HEY, YOUR CONTRACTS WILL NOT BE RENEWED FOR THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR.

YOU WILL BE DONE WHENEVER YOUR CURRENT CONTRACT ENDS.

>> Cassidy: WHAT WAS THE REASONING THEY WERE GIVEN?

WAS IT ANYTHING LIKE YOU DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB THIS YEAR, OR WE'RE HAVING FUNDING CUTS?

WHAT WAS THE REASONING?

>> Humphrey: THE LETTER THEY GOT, WE GOT AHOLD OF ONE OF THE LETTERS THE STAFF RECEIVED AND IT DIDN'T REALLY SAY WHY OTHER THAN, HEY, WE'RE AN AT-WILL EMPLOYER, THIS IS AN AT-WILL STATE, SO WE DON'T REALLY NEED A REASON, BUT WE ARE JUST NOT RENEWING YOU FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

SO A LOT OF THESE FOLKS ARE JUST PRETTY MUCH LEFT IN THE DARK.

>> Cassidy: SO WHAT ABOUT -- WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY HEARING FROM SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE ACTUALLY LAID OFF?

>> Humphrey: YEAH, I MEAN, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S JUST A SAD SITUATION FOR THESE FOLKS.

OBVIOUSLY NOBODY WANTS TO FIND THEMSELVES OUT OF A JOB, BUT ESPECIALLY HERE JUST AS THEY'RE WRAPPING UP THE SCHOOL YEAR, THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY MADE IT THROUGH THE INITIAL ROUND OF LAYOFFS THAT HAPPENED BACK IN OCTOBER AT THAT TIME THAT THEY WERE SAYING WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD MISJUDGED THEIR ENROLLMENT NUMBERS THAT TIME OF YEAR, AND SO THEY WERE KIND OF FEELING A LITTLE BIT RELIEVED THAT THEY MADE IT THROUGH THAT ROUND, ONLY FOR THIS.

BUT THEY, AGAIN, I MEAN, THIS WAS JUST TOTALLY OUT OF THE BLUE FOR THEM, SO NOW, FOR THOSE PEOPLE, THEY ARE SCRAMBLING.

I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU DO HERE?

THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR IS GOING TO START IN A FEW MONTHS.

HOPEFULLY THEY CAN FIND ANOTHER JOB QUICKLY, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY A SCARY TIME FOR THEM.

>> Cassidy: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT RESOURCES AND HOW WE'RE SEEING THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER FOR THEM, BUT ONE LAYOFF SESSION IS CRAZY.

TWO IN ONE YEAR IS WILD.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> Humphrey: YEAH, IT IS.

FROM COVERING EDUCATION AS LONG AS I HAVE AND I KNOW BOTH OF US, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN EDUCATION FROM KIND OF ALL ANGLES OF THIS OVERNIGHT -- OVER THE YEAR, IT'S REALLY RARE IF YOU LOOK AT A TRADITIONAL OKLAHOMA SCHOOL DISTRICT, LIKE OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YOU NEVER SEE LAYOFFS LIKE THIS IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IF YOU DO, IT'S REALLY A LAST RESORT TYPE OF THING AND IT'S USUALLY TALKED ABOUT AMONG THE COMMUNITY.

YOU USUALLY SEE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ABOUT THIS, SO TO HAVE A -- AND AGAIN, EPIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN A WAY.

I MEAN, IT'S A CHARTER DISTRICT, BUT IT IS PUBLIC.

IT'S PUBLICLY FUNDED.

THEY HAVE HAD TWO ROUNDS OF LAYOFFS IN A SINGLE SCHOOL YEAR NOW, AND THIS IS JUST REALLY UNHEARD OF FOR THESE PEOPLE.

I KNOW TALKING TO -- I TALKED TO ONE TEACHER WHO WAS -- SHE SAYS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS ROUND OF LAYOFFS, BUT CUT HER SALARY FROM 60 GRAND A YEAR TO 40, THE STARTING SALARY FOR TEACHERS, SO YOU CAN'T QUITE CALL HER LUCKY, BUT SHE WAS TELLING US THAT JUST FROM WORKING BEFORE IN A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE SHE WORKED, FOR I THINK, EIGHT YEARS BEFORE SHE JOINED EPIC, SHE SAID THAT THIS JUST FEELS LIKE GOING FROM A -- SHE ZRIEKD IT AS WORKING -- DESCRIBED IT AS WORKING FOR A CHARITY TO WORKING FOR A FOR-PROFIT COMPANY IS THE WAY SHE DESCRIBE THE FEEL.

>>.

>> Cassidy: AND THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FOR THE CHILDREN AND IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE SOMES A LITTLE BIT FOR PROFIT.

>> Humphrey: AND I KNOW EPIC, THEY ARE CLASSIFIED AS A NONPROFIT, BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY OPERATE DIFFERENTLY THAN A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THEY ARE, I GUESS, A COMPANY AND WHEREAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A GOVERNMENT.

IT'S A GOVERNMENT BODY, AND WHILE YES, THERE'S A BOARD THAT OVERSEES THIS, IT IS GOVERNED AND OPERATED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

AND I MEAN, FOR INSTANCE, EPIC HAS A NEW CFO THAT THEY JUST HIRED AND I KNOW THEY -- THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PREVIOUS CFO AND WHAT EXACTLY WENT ON THERE, AND THE FOLKS I KNOW I WAS TALKING TO DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY HAD A CHANGE IN CFO, WHEREAS IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT N A TRADITIONAL ONE, YOU HEAR ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

IF SOMEBODY LEAVES A DISTRICT, USUALLY THAT'S TALKED ABOUT AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

>> Cassidy: DO WE THINK WHAT'S GOING ON IN EPIC AS A LARGER TREND FOR VIRTUAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS, OR SIT JUST AN ISOLATED CASE?

>> Humphrey: IT'S HARD TO TELL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO EXACTLY WHAT WENT ON HERE BECAUSE WE WEREN'T TOLD.

THEIR PRESS RELEASE DID NOT SAY, OH, HERE IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY WE'RE HAVING TO DO THIS.

BUT LIKE I SAID, THE FOLKS WHO ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, TEACHERS WHO ARE STILL THERE TRYING TO GET THROUGH THIS, THEY ARE CONCERNED.

THEY ARE WORRIED, AND WHAT THE TEACHER I TALKED TO WHO IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY MOVE FORWARD NEXT SCHOOL YEAR IS, ONE, HOW DO I MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT A PRINCIPAL?

THAT'S THEIR BOSS.

WHO IS THEIR BOSS NOW?

THEY DON'T KNOW, NOBODY'S TOLD THEM, BUT ALSO, SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT THE TRICKLE-DOWN EFFECT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A TEACHER MORALE AND DOWN ON STUDENTS BECAUSE SHE SAID IT'S LIKE IF YOU ARE WORKING EVERY DAY HAVING TO LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND WORRY IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE FIRED, THAT WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON YOUR MOOD, ON YOUR ATTITUDE, HOW YOU GO ABOUT YOUR JOB, AND THEN HOW YOU TEACH THE STUDENTS.

>> Cassidy: AND IT WILL.

IT ABSOLUTELY WILL, AND I'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS FOR PLENTY OF GREAT REASONS, THEY'RE WORRIED FOR THIS NEXT EDUCATIONAL SEASON, ABSOLUTELY.

LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT INDICATORS AND WHAT KIND OF MONITORS ARE WE GOING TO WATCH TO MORN THE SITUATION?

>> Humphrey: I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE CALLS FROM LAWMAKERS TO -- AND WE HAVE ALREADY ACTUALLY, TO PUT MORE GUARDRAILS ON THIS, WHETHER IT'S A STATEWIDE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD OR HAVE A CLOSER EYE ON IT OR SOME SORT OF AUDIT.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN EPIC PREVIOUSLY HAVE FINANCIAL ISSUES THAT ACTUALLY LED TO THEIR THREE FOUNDERS BEING INDICTED CRIMINALLY AND THAT CASE IS STILL ONGOING.

OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THERE ARE LAWMAKERS WHO ARE CONCERNED AND IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY ARE -- WHAT POWER THE LEGISLATORS ARE GIVEN TO GIVE OVERSIGHT TO THIS, AND IF SOMEBODY IS WILLING TO DO AN AUDIT OR TO PUT SOME SORT OF FINANCIAL GUARDRAILS THERE OR IF THEY THINK EVERYTHING IS FINE AS IT IS.

>> Cassidy: WE'LL BE KEEPING UP WITH YOU ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT COVERAGE.

SPENCER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> Humphrey: THANK YOU.

>> Cassidy: JOINING US FOR THE REST OF THAT DISCUSSION IS BETH WALLIS, THE EDUCATION REPORTER FOR STATE IMPACT OKLAHOMA.

BETH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE ON IN-DEPTH.

>> Wallis: THANK YOU.

>> Cassidy: THANK YOU.

WELL, TO START HERE, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT EPIC?

WE'VE HEARD THERE'S BEEN 357 TEACHERS OR EDUCATORS WHO HAVE BEEN LAID OFF.

>> Wallis: YES, SO THE DISTRICT CALLS THESE SIGNIFICANT STREAMLINING MEASURES.

EPIC HAS DECIDED TO NOT RENEW CONTRACTS FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR FOR 83 TEACHERS AND 274 ADMINISTRATORS.

TO GIVE YOU A BIT OF A SCOPE, THAT'S ABOUT 6% OF TEACHERS AND ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF ADMINISTRATORS.

IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE CLOSING ITS IN-PERSON LEARNING CENTERS.

THERE'S ONE IN TULSA AND TWO IN OKLAHOMA CITY, AND IT WILL BE DISCONTINUING BREAKFAST AND LUNCH SERVICES THERE AS WELL.

>> Cassidy: WHAT'S TO BE SAID FOR STUDENTS GOING TO THOSE CENTERS?

>> Wallis: WELL, EPIC HAS SAID THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO SOME ONE-ON-ONE KIND OF PEETION WITH STUDENTS FOR IN-PERSON, BUT AS FAR AS THE FULL DAY IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION, THAT'S NO LONGER GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND OBVIOUSLY THOSE KIDS WHO DEPENDED ON MEAL SERVICES, THAT WON'T HAPPEN FOR THEM EITHER.

SO THOSE STUDENTS WILL EITHER HAVE TO FIND A NEW PLACE TO GO OR GET USED TO BEING VIRTUAL ALL DAY.

>> Cassidy: AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COVERING THIS SITUATION AND IS THERE ANYTHING THAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW VERSUS WHAT WE SAW BACK IN OCTOBER?

>> Wallis: WELL, BACK IN OCTOBER, THEY LAID OFF ABOUT 144 EMPLOYEES.

THAT INCLUDED 42 TEACHERS AND IMPLEMENTED PAY CUTS AS WELL.

AND BACK THEN, THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO.

AND SO WE'VE KNOWN THAT EPIC HAS BEEN IN SOME FINANCIAL TROUBLE FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND THAT'S WHAT THE DISTRICT SAID WAS KIND OF THE ISSUE HERE WAS THAT FOR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY, THIS IS WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN AFTER A REVIEW.

AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN COVERING IT, WHICH IS ABOUT A YEAR OFF AND O WE'VE SEEN JUST KIND OF POPPING IN AND OUT OF HEADLINES DOWNSIZING MEASURES, AND SO THAT'S THE -- KIND OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN AGAIN THIS WEEK.

>> Cassidy: AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, TEACHERS, STUDENTS, HOW ARE THEY BEING AFFECTED?

>> Wallis: WELL, THE TEACHERS THAT I'VE SPOKEN WITH DO NOT WANT TO BE ON RECORD, AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND AS JOURNALISTS IS TO PROTECT THEIR SOURCES BECAUSE -- BUT I THINK THAT THE GENERAL TONE IS THEY'RE SCARED.

THEY FEEL BETRAYED.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER THEY WHETHER -- HAD THEIR CONTRACTS RENEWED OR NOT, IT STILL FEELS LIKE A VERY UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM, AND SO I THINK THAT THOSE TEACHERS ARE REALLY GRAPPLING, ESPECIALLY IF THEY DID GET THEIR CONTRACTS RENEWED, WHETHER OR NOT TO STAY OR IF THERE'S MORE OF THIS ON THE HORIZON.

>> Cassidy: WE'VE HEARD FROM THOSE TEACHERS WHO WERE NOT LET GO THAT THEY DID RECEIVE A PAY DECREASE.

WHAT ARE WE HEARING ABOUT THAT?

>> Wallis: THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY INDEPENDENTLY.

>> Cassidy: GOTCHA, GOTCHA.

AND STUDENTS WILL LONGER, AGAIN, HAVE FREE ACCESS TO ONE CONCURRENT COLLEGE COURSE.

WHAT WILL STUDENTS NEED TO DO NOW?

>> Wallis: THEY HAVE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF THEIR LEARNING FUND.

THE LEARNING FUND IS AN ACCOUNT THAT EPIC SETS UP FOR STUDENTS.

IT'S A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR PER STUDENT AND STUDENTS HAVE TO PAY FOR DIFFERENT THINGS OUT OF THE LEARNING FUND, WHETHER IT'S THE LAPTOP, WHETHER IT'S OTHER CLASSES.

WE ALSO SAW IN ADDITION TO CONCURRENT COURSES, STUDENTS ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE TO PAY QUITE A BIT IF THEN TO TAKE GERMAN AND FRENCH.

$275 FOR THE CLASSES LIKE THAT.

AND SO THOSE COURSES ARE GOING TO BE CHARGED TO THEIR LEARNING FUND.

SO CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT WILL BE $100 PER CLASS.

>> Cassidy: AND AS YOU REPORTED, ENGLISH, LANGUAGE ARTS, ALSO KNOWN AS ELA, AND MATH ARE ALSO AFFECTED.

HOW SO?

>> Wallis: ITS EPIC'S ELA-PLUS AND MATH-PLUS PROGRAMS, AND THOSE PROVIDED VIRTUAL LIVE INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS WHEREAS OTHER INSTRUCTION MIGHT BE ASYNCHRONOUS.

AND SO THIS HAPPENED TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK DEPENDING ON THE GRADE, AND NOW WITH ELA, ELA-PLUS WILL BE DISCONTINUED AND MATH IS GOING TO BE MOVED TO GRADES 6-12 INSTEAD OF 3-12.

>> Cassidy: HOW WILL YOU BE FOLLOWING THIS SITUATION GOING FORWARD?

>> Wallis: I THINK THE BIGGEST QUESTION ON EVERYONE'S MIND IS, IS THIS ENOUGH?

IS THIS GOING TO BE THE END OF THESE CUTS?

LIKE I SAID, WE SAW CUTS IN OCTOBER.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE HEARING DIFFERENT REPORTS OF PAY CUTS COMING IN NOW.

WHETHER OR NOT I CAN VERIFY THOSE, BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW EVERYONE IS PRETTY ON EDGE WHO'S IN THE EPIC COMMUNITY ABOUT -- THIS IS A PRETTY BIG CUT, BUT WILL IT ULTIMATELY MATTER LONG TERM.

WE SAW, FOR INSTANCE, A STATEMENT FROM SENATOR CARRIE HICKS FROM OKLAHOMA CITY, AND SHE -- TO QUOTE HER, SHE SAID WHEN WE TREAT EDUCATION LIKE A BUSINESS, WE GET BUSINESS OUTCOMES.

SO I THINK NOW IT'S ALSO A BIT OF A TEST CASE ON WHAT DOES EPIC PROVE, YOU KNOW, A PRIVATE KIND OF BUSINESS-RUN SCHOOL LOOKS LIKE WHENEVER WE HAVE THESE FINANCIAL ISSUES.

AND NOW WE'RE SEEING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

SO GOING FORWARD, WE'LL SEE HOW SUSTAINABLE EPIC CAN BE.

>> Cassidy: AND DO WE SEE OTHER LAWMAKERS, REGULATORS, DO WE SEE THEM GETTING INVOLVED AS WELL?

>> Wallis: NOT YET TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

I THINK SO FAR, JUST SENATOR HICKS HAS PUT OUT A STATEMENT, BUT IT'S ONLY TWO-DAY-OLD NEWS, SO WE COULD SEE SOME INVOLVEMENT SOON.

>> Cassidy: ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY -- OF COURSE, THIS IS A TERRIBLE SITUATION, BUT SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY NICE THAT CAME OUT OF THIS SITUATION IS THE AMOUNT OF TEACHERS, EDUCATORS, OTHER PEOPLE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFERING RESOURCES TO THESE TEACHERS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOB.

THESE PEOPLE.

HAVE YOU SEEN THAT AS WELL?

>> Wallis: ABSOLUTELY.

I'M ON TEACHER SOCIAL MEDIA A LOT.

I USED TO BE A TEACHER, SO STILL VERY INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND, YOU KNOW, THE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR OKLAHOMA EDUCATORS HAS JUST EXPLODED WITH JOB POSTINGS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST DOZENS OF JOB POSTINGS THAT YOU SEE AND THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF JOBS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED BEFORE THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND LOTS OF SUPPORT GOING OUT TO THESE TEACHERS.

THEY'RE HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY OF EDUCATORS AROUND THEM WHO ARE OBVIOUSLY WILLING TO STEP UP AND HELP.

>> Cassidy: DO WE SEE THE TEACHER SHORTAGE IN OKLAHOMA BEING AFFECTED BY THIS?

DO YOU THINK MORE TEACHERS WILL BE ABLE TO COME IN, AND LIKE YOU SAID, FILL IN THOSE EMPTY JOBS?

>> Wallis: THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE EPIC -- YOU KNOW, CHARTER SCHOOLS DON'T REQUIRE CERTIFICATION FOR THEIR TEACHERS, AND SO I THINK THERE'S -- IT'S KIND OF A DIFFERENT ANIMAL WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS.

BECAUSE WHENEVER WE LOOK AT TEACHER SHORTAGES, USUALLY WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE EMERGENCY CERTIFICATIONS, AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED AN EMERGENCY CERTIFICATION SPRING OF 2025, WE'RE HOPING THIS FIRST SET OF BUSINESSES ARE UP AND RUNNING INCLUSIVELY.

WHEN WE START DEVELOPING OUR VILLAGES AND TOWNS THROUGH A LENS OF INCLUSION, WE'RE RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS INCREDIBLE SPENDING POWER BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, $4.9 BILLION IN DISCRETION INCOME AND WE CAN TAP INTO THAT IF AND ONLY IF THEY ARE PLACES THAT ARE DESIGN INCLUSIVELY.

WITH 80% OF UPSTATE NEW YORKERS LIVING WITHIN 25 MILES OF THE CANAL, AND KNOWING THAT THERE ARE 3.9 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING WITH A DISABILITY IN NEW YORK STATE, THESE BUSINESSES STAND TO WIN.

THE VILLAGES, THE TOWNS, THE CITIES STAND TO WIN WHEN THEY ARE DESIGNING THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND PLANS FROM A LENS OF INCLUSION.

BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GET ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE, NOT JUST PART OF THOSE PEOPLE COMING TO PLAY.

>> Rich: ON THE NEXT EDITION OF OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT: FROM THE FASHION RUNWAYS OF PARIS, THE DIRT PASTURES OF SPENCER, THE OKLAHOMA COWBOYS FOUNDATION IS BACK IN THE SADDLE, TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG COWPOKES THE WAYS OF THE WEST.

NEXT FRIDAY AT 7:00.

>>> WE'LL SAY SO LONG THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE WORK OF OKLAHOMA CITY-BASED ARTIST EDGAR HEAP AT THE OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY, PUT TOGETHER BY OETA'S JASON STEWART.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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