>> OKLAHOMA'S CRIMINAL CODE IS CHANGING IN SETTLE WAYS.

>> IT'S BEEN A LONG-TIME COMING FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA FOR SURE.

>> THE DIRECTOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION VISITINGS SULFUR, OKLAHOMA.

>> WE'RE HERE FOR THE LONG-TERM AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN REBUILD AND REIMAGINE ITSELF.

>> THEY GATHER IN EDMOND.

>> THIS IS A HUGE HONOR TO BE AN ATHLETE.

I'VE BEEN COMPETING OVER TEN YEARS AND EVERY YEAR, IT JUST BRINGS ME SO MUCH JOY.

>> REPORTER ROUNDTABLE ON THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> IT WAS FASCINATING TO WATCH THE DEAL-MAKING.

>> THE VIBE WAS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR THAN THE LAST TWO WHERE IT WAS VERY CONTENTIOUS.

>> THOSE STORIES AND RECORD-BREAKING SEVERE WEATHER STAT AS WE BREAK INTO JUNE ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

WELCOME TO THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

FIVE YEARS AFTER A FLOOD DAMAGED HOMES AND PROPERTIES ALONG THE ARKANSAS RIVER, THE GOVERNOR PROVIDED $55 MILLION TO FIX THE LEVEE SYSTEM THE ARMY CORPS DESCRIBES AS A RISK.

THEY CONSIDER THIS TO BE LONG OVERDUE.

>> RICH, ACCORDING TO STATE SENATOR ROGER THOMPSON, YOU CAN GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF OKLAHOMA'S STATEHOOD, 1908, SPELL, WHEN A GIANT FLOOD IN TULSA DID A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS DAMAGE, WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT TO OVER 8.5 MILLION TODAY.

BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHE ALONG THE ARKANSAS RIVER ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE STATE, EXPERTS SAY IS NOW EXPONENTIALLY MORE DANGEROUS THAN THAT.

>> THIS STATE REPRESENTATIVE, LONI SIMMI REPRESENTS DISTRICT 68 WHICH INCLUDES JINX, TULSA, BERRY HILL AND GLENN POOL.

TUESDAY, WE STOOD ON ONE OF TWO MASSIVE LEVEES THAT KEEPS TULSA RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES DRY.

>> SO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS LEVEE PROTECTING TWO BILLION IN ASSETS AND OVER TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE THAT LIVE BEHIND THIS LEVEE.

SO IF THAT LEVEE BREACHES AND YOU INNONE DATE TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE, WE HAVE KATRINA.

>> YOU LOOK AT IT AND IT'S EMPTY, BUT THE GATES OPEN UPSTREAM AND THERE'S A LOT OF WATER IN THERE.

>> THAT WAS SOMETHING WE LEARNED, TOO, IN THE REVIEW WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, SOMETHING FRUSTRATING TO THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE AT RISK, WAS JUST THE COMMUNICATION FROM THE CORPS OF ENGINEERING AND WHEN DO WE NEED TO EVACUATE.

>> TULSA GETS ITS WATER UPSTREAM.

FROM THE KEYSTONE DAM, THAT WATER IS RELEASED EACH DAY AND TRAVELS DOWN TO TULSA AND CREATES THE ILLUSION THAT THE ARKANSAS RIVER IS FULL.

WHEN MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S NOT AND NOT EVEN CLOSE.

WHEN EXTENDED PERIODS OF TORRENTIAL RAINS COME, THE ARKANSAS RIVER FILLS UP AND THAT HAS CREATED PROBLEMS.

40 YEARS AGO KNOWN AS THE "MEMORIAL DAY FLOOD" AS MUCH AS 15 INCHES OF RAIN FELL DURING AN EIGHT-HOUR SPAN AND 14 PEOPLE DIED AND NEARLY 300 PEOPLE WERE INJURED.

5500 BUILDINGS INCLUDING 20 SCHOOLS WERE EITHER DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

IT WAS THE WORST FLOODING INCIDENT IN TULSA HISTORY.

>> I MEAN, IT WAS KIND OF THIS CATASTROPHE.

>> IT WAS A WAKE-UP CALL.

>> IT WAS A WAKE-UP CALL, BUT THEN PEOPLE FORGOT.

>> KAREN KEITH IS A TULSA COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND STUDIED THE LEVEE SYSTEM AND SHE WATCHED FIVE YEARS AGO IN 2019 WHEN PARTS OF THE TULSA METRO AREA WERE INUNDATED WITH WATER AND THE LEVEE WERE PUSHED TO THE BRINK.

FIVE YEARS AGO DURING THE HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODS, THE ARKANSAS RIVER CAME UP TO HERE.

>> HERE IS A QUESTION, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T SPEND 50 MILLION?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US THAT WERE AROUND IN 2019 HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE THAT THE LEVEE WOULD HOLD UP AGAIN, IF IT WAS A HIGH WATER EVENT LIKE WE EXPERIENCED IN 2019.

IT TOOK THE NATIONAL GUARDS, THESE HUGE HELICOPTERS DROPPING BAGS OF SAND.

>> KEITH IS GRATEFULFUL THEY DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> LAST FRIDAY, THE GOVERNOR AND STATE LAWMAKERS ANNOUNCED THEY AGREED TO SPEND $50 MILLION TO UPGRADE THE LEVEES ALONG THE ARKANSAS RIVER AND OTHER FEEDERWAYS IN NORTHEAST CLAIM.

OKLAHOMA.

THAT ACTIVATES $137 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO MAKE SURE WHAT HAPPENED IN 1984 AND 2019 AND ALL OF CLOSE CALLS IN BETWEEN WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> ALL OF THE REGIONAL PLAYERS MAY KNOW.

REGIONAL CHAMBER, THE CITY OF TULSA JUMPED IN.

THE MAYOR WAS, I THINK WANT CITY COUNCILOR WHEN THEY INVESTED MONEY INTO THE LEVEES AND THAT CONTINUED.

AND OF COURSE, TULSA COUNTY AND EVERYBODY IS PAYING ATTENTION.

SO IT'S TAKEN EVERYBODY TO GET US WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

I'M GRATEFUL TO THE STATE FOR THIS $50 MILLION INFUSION.

IT SAVES US.

>> IF YOU GREW UP IN OKLAHOMA, WE HAVE DISASTERS EVERY YEAR.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'RE NUMBER THREE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY FOR FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GETTING WORSE.

>> WE'RE NOT ON THE COAST AND SO, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT WE ALMOST HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CAPTURE DOLLARS.

WE CAN TAKE THOSE AND INVEST THEM INTO INFRASTRUCTURE, MITIGATION, RESILIENCE AND MINIMIZE THE IMPACT IN THE FUTURE.

>> THE STATE SENATOR ROGER THOMPSON SAY THE 2019 DELUGE FLOODED SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES IN WEBER FALLS.

SITTING ON THEIR HANDS AND HOPING IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN WASN'T GOING DO IT.

>> WE WILL SEE THE EFFECTS OF SOMETHING BAD NOT HAPPENING, BUT WE MAY NEVER SEE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE LEVEES IN PLACE.

SOMETIMES WE SPEND $50 MILLION AND BUILD A GREAT HOSPITAL AND PUT SOMEBODY'S NAME ON IT.

THIS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE, BUT WE MAY NEVER SEE IT.

>> COMMISSIONER KEITH, WHO ALSO THIS YEAR IS RUNNING FOR TULSA MAYOR, SAYS UPGRADING THE LEVEE SYSTEM FROM HERE WILL TAKE FOUR AND A HALF YEARS OF PLANNING AND ANOTHER FIVE YEARS TO BUILD IT OUT AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE GIANT PUMPS EXPAND DRAINAGE CAPABILITIES.

>> WHEN YOU GO FURTHER DOWN, YOU'LL SEE A CHEMICAL COMPANY THAT'S DOWN THERE AND THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT AND THOSE COULD CREATE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS THAT PACK EVERYBODY ALL THE WAY DOWN.

>> IF YOU GO UP TO CHARLES PAGE.

>> JIM RAY'S DISTRICT IS MOST OF DOWNTOWN.

>> THE LEVEE COOL WHEN YOU LEARN THE ENGINEERING OF IT, BUT THERE ARE NEW TECHNIQUES TO SLEPT THET THE LEVEES.

>> BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW IT'S COMING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S NOT IF BUT WHEN.

>> THOMPSON SAID OKLAHOMA NEEDED TO BE PRO-ACTIVE TO THIS.

>> YOU REMEMBER THE SONG, "GIVE THE CHEVY TO THE LEVEE BUT THE LEVEE IS DRY."

>> THOMPSON AND OTHER STATE LAWMAKERS SAY A HUGE FACTOR IN THIS IS WHOLESALE COOPERATION FROM THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WHO REGULATE THE KEYSTONE DAM AND ARKANSAS RIVER.

RICH.

>> CITY VERY MUCH.

WE'RE AT 100 CONFIRMED TORNADOES AND COUNTYING BEGINNING THE MONTH OF JUNE MAKING THIS AN ACTIVE SEVERE WEATHER SEASON.

LET'S BREAK DOWN THE NUMBERS BY THE CLIMATE SOCIETY.

THERE WERE 55 IN APRIL AND 43 MORE IN MAY.

TRAGICALLY, THOSE STORMS RESULTED IN EIGHT FATALITIES IN OKLAHOMA AND TWO EF2 TORNADOES REPORTED.

IN ADDITION, MAY WAS WETTER AND WARMER THAN IN MOST YEARS.

THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS ALMOST TWO DEGREES HOTTER THAN NORMAL AND AVERAGE RAINFALL WAS ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF INCHES.

THAT'S BEEN A GOOD THING FOR DROUGHT, DECREASING FROM 28% OF THE STATE EXPERIENCING SOME DROUGHT CONDITIONS AT THE ENDS END OFAPRIL TO JUST 50% AT THE F MAY.

>>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS SENDING THE HEAD TO OKLAHOMA TO TOUR THE STORM DAMAGE AND OFFER ADVICE AND SUPPORT.

THEY WALKED THROUGH DOCUMENT SULFUR BEFORE SPEAKING TO TORNADO SURVIVORS OF THE APRIL 27th STORM AND THEN VISITED A VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS THAT HAS BENEFITED FROM THE RURAL AMERICA INITIATIVE.

>> WE ARE SEEING A SMALL BUSINESS BOOM RIGHT NOW WITH 17.5 MILLION NEW BUSINESS APPLICATIONS FILED.

PEOPLE ARE SEEKING OPPORTUNITY AND WAYS TO BETTER THEIR COMMUNITIES, BUT WE ARE FOCUSING ON RURAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SO ARCH WE SEE GREAT MANUFACTURERS AND GREAT SMALL BUSINESSES CRATING JOBS LOCALLY AND DRIVING RURAL ECONOMIES.

THE PARTNERSHIP WITH USCA HAS BEEN DIGGING IN TO BETTER SERVE OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE SUPPORTED WITH REVENUE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES.

SBA NOT ONLY HELPS THE BUSINESSES, BUT WE KNOW SMALL BUSINESSES DEPEND ON THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE AND SO, THOSE RESIDENTS AND HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS THAT WE SUPPORT WITH DISASTER ASSISTANCE WERE IN NEED.

AND SO I PLANNED ANY TRIP TO BE SURE I COULD COME.

AS A REMINDER, WE'RE STILL HERE AND HERE FOR THE LONG-TERM TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY OF SULFUR CAN RECOVER AND REBUILD AND REIMAGINE ITSELF INTO THE FUTURE.

>> THE SBA SAYS THERE ARE CURRENTLY 33 MILLION SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE UNITED STATES.

BEFORE THE SESSION ENDED, LAWMAKERS ADDRESSED THE CRIMINAL CODE MAKING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO SENTENCING GUIDELINES THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES.

JASON.

>> RICH, HOUSE BILL 1792 CREATES A FRAMEWORK FOR A FELONY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, WHICH UNTIL NOW, THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA WAS ONE OF THE FEW STATES WHICH DID NOT USE SUCH A CRIMINAL JUSTICE TOOL.

>> OKLAHOMA HAS NOT HAD A CATEGORIZATION SYSTEM UNTIL NOW.

AND SO, OUR CRIMINAL CODE IS HODGE-PODGE.

SO WE PUT ALL THOSE INTO BUCKETS, IS WHAT WE CALL IT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MIKE OSBORNE IS THE AUTHOR OF THE NEW SONY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WHICH HE SAYS WAS YEARS IN THE MAKING.

>> IT'S BEEN A LONG-TIME COMING FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA FOR SURE.

>> AS WE GOT INTO THE CRIME SCENE AND THE FELONY SYSTEM, BOB RAVITZ, THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER THAT PASSED, BOB AND I AND LAURIE CARTER SAT DOWN LOOKING AT THE FILMINGS AND PUT THEM IN CLASSIFICATIONS.

>> DISTRICT 21 ATTORNEY'S OFFICE COVERS McCLAIN COUNTIES AND PART OF THE TEAM TO CRAFT A SENTENCING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WITH OKLAHOMA'S HUNDREDS OF FELONY CRIMES INTO HUNDREDS OF CATEGORIES.

>> WE PUT THEM INTO CLASS Y FELONIES, WHICH ARE HOMICIDES, CLASS A, B, C AND D AND CHANGES THE RANGES OF PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE LOWER-LEVEL FELONIES.

>> THE CLEVELAND COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS THE REFORM BILLS ALLOW PROSECUTORS TO TELL CRIME VICTIMS HOW LONG PERPETRATORS WILL STAY BEHIND BARS.

>> WHAT IT DOES, REALLY, IT HELPS TO TELL VICTIMS WHAT A SENTENCE MEANS.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE GET FRUSTRATED IN WHEN WE SIT DOWN AND SAY, WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY'LL SERVE.

>> UNDER THE CURE SYSTEM, THERE WAS NO CERTAINTY HOW LONG AN OFFENDER WOULD SERVE THEIR SENTENCE.

>> IF I GIVE THEM TEN OR LESS, THEY CAN BE OUT WITH AN ANKLE MONITOR AND INTO THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT ME KNOWING ABOUT IT.

THEY COULD SERVE EIGHT OF THOSE TEN.

THEY COULD BE PAROLED.

THEY COULD GET GOOD TIME CREDIT OUT THE DOOR.

WE JUST WOULDN'T KNOW.

>> REPRESENTATIVE OSBORNE BY BELIEVING TO A SENTENCING STRUCTURE, IT WILL SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.

>> ONE WRONG WAY IS TO SPEND TAX DOLLARS ON PEOPLE WHO DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE IN PRISON.

MAYBE THERE'S ANOTHER FORM OF CORRECTION THEY NEED.

>> OSBORNE IS REFERRING TO DRUG AND MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION COURTS WHERE THEY CAN FOLLOW THE PROGRAM.

JUSTICE REFORM SUPPORTS THE NEW LAW AND SEES HOW IT WILL LESSEN CERTAIN DISPARITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> IN TULSA COUNTY, SOMEBODY MIGHT GET THREE YEARS AND IN CURTAIN COUNTY, IT'S TEN YEARS AND THEY COMMITTED THE EXACT SAME CRIME.

OUR CURRENT SYSTEM, BEFORE THIS BILL, DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED RURAL AREAS.

>> PART OF THAT IS DUE TO FEWER LEGAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN RURAL AREAS.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF STUDIES THAT SHOW, FOR INSTANCE, THAT WHEN YOU HAVE MORE AVAILABILITY RESOURCES THAN SENTENCING DECREASES, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS.

BECAUSE, FOR INSTANCE, IN TULSA, THEY MIGHT HAVE A DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ADDICTED TO SUBSTANCES.

BUT IN ANOTHER COUNTY, THAT MIGHT NOT EXIST.

>> OLSEN SAYS THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THIS COULD PUSH THE STATE'S PRISON POPULATION DOWN OVER TIME.

>> THERE'S AN ANALYSIS THAT SHOWS THIS BILL WILL BASICALLY BE FLAT, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT GETTING RID OF THE GENERAL ENHANCEMENT, WHICH THIS BILL DOES FOR A LOT OF LOW-LEVEL CRIMES WILL AFFECT PLEA BARGAINING, WHICH IS AN UNDERSTUDIED AREA.

>> THIS WILL GIVE PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES SOME LEEWAY.

>> THERE'S SOME SENTENCE RANGES RATHER THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, THIS IS HOW MUCH THIS PERSON GETS.

ALSO, TOO, SOMETHING THAT THIS BILL DOES, THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THE PROSECUTORIAL SIDE, IT PROVIDES FOR MINIMUM TIME SERVE PERCENTAGES.

>> IT CAN INFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT OF WHAT CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES ARE MORE COMMON AND COME UP WITH WAYS TO COMBAT THOSE CRIMES.

WITH VIOLENT VERSUS NONVIOLENT, WE'LL HAVE CLASSES AND SAY, WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE COMMITTING THESE CLASSES OF CRIMES AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT THE CRIME, A, AND TWEAK THE PUNISHMENT SO THAT WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE FROM COMMITTING THOSE TYPES OF CRIMES?

>> OLSEN BELIEVES THIS IS A GOOD START, BUT THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF THE NEW LAW WHICH MIGHT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> SOME CRIMES, THE NEW MANDATORY MINIMUMS IN THIS BILL CONFLICT WITH CURRENT PATROL ELIGIBILITY.

THAT MEANS THIS BILL LESSENS THE GOVERNOR'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PARDON'S COMMUTATIONS AND PAROLES.

>> ANYTIME JUST A NEW SWEEPING FRAME, IT MEANS PROSECUTORS AND OTHERS INVOLVED.

>> ANYTIME, YOU HAVE BIG, SWEEPING CHANGES, REFORMS, YOU HAVE TO EXPECT THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME ON-BOARDING THAT WILL HAVE TO HAPPEN.

AND THIS IS NO DIFFERENT.

>> HELP WITH THAT, THE EFFECTIVE DATE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO JANUARY 2026 AND IT GIVES THE LEGISLATURE TIME TO MAKE CHANGES IF NEEDED.

>> WE HAVE TIME IN ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO COME BACK IF AND SAY, OK, THIS PART, WE NEED TO TWEAK THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE I'S ARE DOTTED AND T'S ARE CROSSED.

>> THERE'S FOR WORK TO BE DONE IN THE LESSER CATEGORY AND OFFICIALS WILL WORK ON THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS WITH FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW LAW.

RICH.

>> JASON, GREAT JOB.

>>> IN WHAT HAS BECOME A TRADITION HERE ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, EACH YEAR AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE INVITE OR CONTENT PARTNERS WHO COVER THE STATE CAPITOL ON A REGULAR BASIS TO SIT DOWN WITH US FOR A REPORTER ROUNDTABLE.

HERE IS A PREVIEW COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

>> YOU KNOW, IT FELT LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT VIBE AND NOT QUITE AS CONTROVERSIAL IN THE EDUCATION ARENA, BUT THAT'S OK. WE HAD SEVERAL OTHER EDUCATION STORIES KEEPING US BUSY.

WE'LL STILL BE WATCHING THROUGHOUT UNTIL THE NEXT SESSION.

>> THE BUDGET PROCESS AND HOW BILLS ARE INTRODUCED AND GO BACK AND FORTH AND ALL OF THAT.

CERTAINLY IT'S A LEARNING PROCESS.

IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO LOOK AT MORE AND GET ACCUSTOMED WITH.

>> IT WAS FASCINATING TO WATCH THE DEAL-MAKING.

SOMETIMES IT WAS A SIMPLE AGREEMENT.

SOMETIMES PARTICULARLY MERE THE NEAR THEEND, WE SAW DOCUMENTS TY WE'LL DO THIS AND THAT AND WE'LL DO THIS OTHER THING IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT AND VERY FASCINATING.

>> AGAIN, THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION IS COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

>>> ON JUNE 6th, 1944, 160,000 TROOPS FROM THE U.S. AND CANADA STORM THE NORMANDY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN MARKED THE 80th ANNIVERSARY ALONG WITH THE GREATEST GENERATION AND WE OWE THEM ALL A HUGE DEBT OF GRATITUDE.

>>> KEVIN STITT IS URGING HIM TO REDUCE POLICIES.

HE WAS JOINED IN AN OIL REFINERY WHO SAY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES ARE HURRYING C HURTING CONSUMERS.

>> LET'S STOP PICKING LOSERS AND LET THE INNOVATION FLOW.

OKLAHOMA HAS SOME OF THE MOST RELIABLE ENERGY IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

AND THAT SPEAKS TO OKLAHOMA'S ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH.

OKLAHOMA IS THE SIXTH LARGEST PRODUCER OF CRUDE OIL.

THE SIXTH LARGEST PRODUCER OF NATURAL GAS AND THE THIRD LARGEST PRODUCER OF WIND GENERATED ELECTRICITY.

WHEN YOU TRY TO SHUT DOWN THAT INDUSTRY WHERE INNOVATION IS THRIVING, YOU'RE SHOVING THE RESULT OF THAT DEMAND ON TO PLACES LIKE RUSSIA AND IRAN AND VENEZUELA, PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE AN EPA.

WE SHOULD BE DOING 15, 16, 18, 20 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL A DAY AND NOT JUST ENERGY INDEPENDENCE BUT ENERGY DOMINANCE.

>> THE LETTER SENT TO PRESIDENT BIDEN URGES HIM WITH THIS ON AND OFFSHORE AND EXPEDIATE FEDERAL DRILLING PERMITS.

>>> THE FIRST ENDEAVOR GAMES WAS HELD ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA IN 2000.

THE 24th EDITION SUPPORTS CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE ATHLETIC SKILLS IS UNDERWAY ON THE UCLA CAMPUS.

TEN SPORTS AND 300 ATHLETES COMPETING.

>> THIS IS A SPORT'S COMPETITION FOR ATHLETES TO COMPETE.

>> THIS IS A HUGE HONOR TO BE AN ATHLETE.

I'VE BEEN COMPETING IN ENDEAVOR GAMES FOR OVER TEN YEARS AND EVERY YEAR, IT JUST BRINGS ME SO MUCH JOY JUST TO SEE THE OTHER ATHLETES AND SMILES ON THEIR FACES, ESPECIALLY THE LITTLE KIDS THAT COME OUT AND COMPETE.

>> ATHLETES COME TO PARTICIPATE AND GET SCORES TO USE THEM IN FUTURE COMPETITIONS LIKE NATIONAL COMPETITIONS.

>> I PICKED UP JAVELIN AND DOING TECHNIQUES MORE THAN THROWS AND HOW MANY TIMES I'VE THROWN OVER THE YEARS.

>> IT'S TECHNIQUE MORE THAN REPETITION OF THROWS.

WITH THAT BIG GAP WE HAD, INSTEAD OF SITTING AROUND AND DOING NOTHING, IT MOTIVATED ME TO KEEP MY BRAIN GOING AND WORKING TOWARDS.

>> THIS IS A WAY TO QUALIFY FOR THE PARALYMPIC TRIALS, I CAN SUBMIT THAT DISTANCE SINCE IT'S A SANCTIONED EVENT AND BE ABLE TO GO TO MIRAMAR, FLORIDA, WHICH I THINK IS WHERE THEY ARE IN JULY.

>> ATHLETES SHOW THEY CAN PERFORM AT OLYMPIC-LEVEL STATUS AND WORK TO REACH THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE PLANTING THAT SEED AND WATCHING IT GROW.

>> WITH ENDEAVOR GAMES, THEY GET E X-ATHLETES OR BRING IN TRACK-AND-ATHLETES THAT WORK WITH PARALYMPIANS SO THIS CAN FIND THEIR COACH OVER HELP THEMSELVES TO DEVELOP AND REALIZE, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.

I'VE BEEN BLESSED ENOUGH TO HAVE DIFFERENT AMPUTEES FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES TO COME AND BE ABLE TO COACH THEM.

JOHNNY WILLIAMS THEN.

♪♪♪ >> THE ENDEAVOR GAMES IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ATHLETES TO COME OUT WHETHER THEY'RE NEW TO THE SPORT OR WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING THEY'VE BEEN PRACTICING FOR A LONG TIME.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND MIX WITH THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY AND SHARE SOME OF KNOWLEDGE OR JUST GIVE A HELPFUL WORD OF ADVICE TO SOMEBODY THAT NEEDS IT.

>> THE KIDS, THAT MAKES IT WORTHWHILE, WATCHING THE KIDS WHEN THEY SET A NEW RECORD OR SEASON'S BEST AND THEIR FACES LIGHT UP AND THEIR PARENTS, YOU KNOW, THEY GET CONGRATULATED BY EVERYBODY AND GET THEIR MEDALS, IT MAKES MY DAY.

>> ANDREW HEARTSHORN, THE NEWS REPORT.

>> A QUICK CONSTRUCTION UPDATE ON THE INDOOR WATER PARKS, OPENING IN THE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR.

THE SIGNAGE IS NOW FINISHED AND THESE LETTERS HAVE 17 FEET TALL AND LIT WITH 1500 WATTS OF LED LIGHTS.

THEY SAY THE INDOOR WATER PARK IS 75% COMPLETE AND THE 11-STORY, 404 ROOM HOTEL IS THE SAME.

>>> FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THREE OKLAHOMA COLLEGES ARE OFFERING UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S STATE-WIDE BUSINESS REVIEW WITH JASON DOYLE.

>> Reporter: THE NEWLY MINUTED DEGREE PROGRAMS ARE AT SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA.

A.I.

PROGRAMS HAS BEEN AVAILABLE IN THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES, BUT THE GROWTH SPURRED THE REGION TO APPROVE THE DEGREE PROGRAMS.

ROSE STATE WILL OFFER AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.

MORE THAN 19,000 JOBS REQUIRE A.I.

SKILLS BRINGING IN AN AVERAGE SALARY OF 106 NOW.

106,000 A YEAR.

OKLAHOMA STATE IS ONE TO BE AWARDED A RESEARCH GRANT FROM NASA AND PART OF THE SPACE ADMINISTRATION'S ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH.

EACH GRAN IS WORTH ABOUT $100,000.

OSU IS WORKING ON DETECTING POSSIBLE LIFE WITHIN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM ON MOONS WHICH ARE ICY OR HAVE BODIES OF WATER.

>>> IN THE FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS, DOLLAR TREE TOOK APPROXIMATELY $117 MILLION IN DAMAGES DUE TO THE MARIETTA TORNADO DESTROYING THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN THAT TOWN.

THE DAMAGE TO INVENTORY COST $70 BILLION AND THE COMPANY BELIEVES ITS INSURANCE POLICIES SHOULD COVER DAMAGE COSTS, BUT IT'S STILL AWAITING A FINAL ASSESSMENT.

>>> TULSA BASED SPARTAN COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS AND TECHNOLOGY EXPANDED ITS TRAINING FLEET BY ACQUIRING FOUR PIPER AIRCRAFT.

THE COMPANY IS MAKING THE MOVE TO MEET INCREASING DEMAND FOR QUALIFYING PILOTS.

YOU CAN TAKE YOUR EXAMS IN AS FEW AS 19 MONTHS.

THE SPARTON COLLEGE TRAINED MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND PILOTS.

>> THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATION THAT CONVENES NEXT FEBRUARY WILL LOOK DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE THAT JUST WRAPPED UP THE REGULAR SESSION.

THERE WILL BE NEW LEADERSHIP IN CHAMBERS AND NEW LAWMAKERS FOLLOWING THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

THIS WEEK, WE INVITED REPORTERS WHO RARELY COVER THE STATE CAPITOL.

JOIN CASSIDY MUDD.

>> THIS WEEK, WE'VE GATHERED SOME OF OKLAHOMA'S BEST JOURNALISTS ON WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE 59th OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THOSE GUESTS TO YOU NOW.

WE HAVE SEAN ASHLEY, THE PUBLISHER AND KEITH ROSS WHO COVERS ISSUES AT THE OKLAHOMA WATCH AND JENNIFER PALMER, THE EDUCATION REPORTER FOR THE OKLAHOMA WATCH.

THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR ALL JOINING US ON "IN-DEPTH."

THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE THAT MEETS NEXT FEBRUARY WILL LOOK QUITE A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE THIS YEAR.

SEAN, TELL US ABOUT THE NEW LEADERSHIP ROLES?

>> THIS YEAR, WE SAW THE SENATE PRESIDENT PRO-TEM TERM OUT AND WE SAW SENATE MINORITY LEADER, KAY FLOYD TERM OUT AND SENATE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER, JOHN ECLES, WHOSE TERM ENDED.

WE SAW ELECTIONED FOR SEVERAL POSITIONS AND WE'LL HAVE NEW FACES IN EACH LEADERSHIP ROLE.

>> THIS IS A QUESTION FOR EVERYONE, BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, NOW THAT HOUSE SPEAKER AND PRO-TEM, DO WE SEE THEM MAKING A RUN FOR GOVERNOR?

>> THE RUMOR IS THAT CHARLES MCCALL MAY CHOOSE TO DO THAT AND THAT'S TWO YEARS AWAY.

THAT WOULD BE A DIFFICULT LIFT TO COME BACK INTO THE POLITICAL ARENA, REESTABLISH YOUR NAME AND THEN RUN FOR A HIGHER OFFICE LIKE THAT.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT SENATOR TREE PLANS TO DO, BUT HE'S NEVER INDICATED HE MIGHT SEEK A HIGHER OFFICE LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

>> JENNIFER, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I'M FOLLOWING THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT RACE AND HAVEN'T HEARD TOO MANY NAMES FOR GOVERNOR AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE WATCHING IN THE COMING YEARS.

>> WELL, NOW THAT REPRESENTATIVE McBRIDE HAS TERMED OUT, DO WE THINK THAT SUPERINTENDENT SUPERINTENDENT WALLERS WILL HAVE AN EASIER TIME?

>> SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, PROPOSALS LIKE THE SPENDING LIMIT'S BILL, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'RE CLOSELY WATCHING, WAS PASSED OVERWHELMLY.

I DON'T THINK IT WOULD JUST BE ON McBRIDE'S SHOULDERS TO PUT THE LIMITS ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> LOOKING AT THE LEGACY, THIS IS YOUR SECOND YEAR COVERING THE LEGISLATURE.

AS YOU'VE BEEN GETTING INTO IT, WHAT LEGACY WOULD YOU SAY BOTH HOUSE SPEAKER MCCALL AND TREE ARE LEAVING BEHIND?

>> I THINK ONE THE BIG THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THIS SESSION WAS THAT GROCERY SALES TAX AND THAT WAS A BIG PUSH AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION TO GET THAT THROUGH AND TO SORT OF FULFILL A CAMPAIGN PROMISE THAT THEY'VE HAD FOR AWHILE ON, WE'LL FINALLY GET RID OF THAT.

AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT COMING OUT OF THIS SESSION IS A BIG ONE FOR SURE.

>> ABSOLUTELY!

WHOEVER IS REPLACING THESE TWO POSITIONS SPECIFICALLY, THEY'VE GOT BIG SHOES TO FILL.

WHO ARE WE THINKING, YOU KNOW, ARE THE RISING STARS FOR THESE POSITIONS?

>> SEAN?

>> IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO TRY TO FIGURE THAT OUT AND I DON'T HAVE NAMES THAT I CAN TELL YOU.

BUT AS WE MOVE INTO NOVEMBER AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION, WHEN WE WILL SEE THE 60th LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS MEET AND HAVE CAUCUS MEETINGS, WE'LL SEE WHO FILLS THOSE ROLES.

GREG MCCOURTNEY IS THE SENATE PRO-TEM DESIGNATE AND HE'LL NEED TO BE REPLACED AS SENATE FLOOR LEADER.

WE SEE THE SAME THING IN THE HOUSE WITH REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN ECKLES LEAVING.

SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO TAKE THAT ROLE FOR KYLE HILL BERT.

HILBERT.

THERE WILL BE MOVEMENT AND EACH WILL PUT TOGETHER THEIR OWN TEAMS FOR INSPECTION REASONS.

IT'S INTERESTING.

WENT TREAT CAME IN, BEFORE THE END OF THAT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, HE WENT AHEAD AND NAMED HIS TEAM.

WE HAVE YET TO SEE THAT IN THE SENATE OR HILBERT IN THE HOUSE.

SO IT'S SOMETHING WE MAY SEE BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER.

>> EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS TOPICS.

JENNIFER, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE VIBE WAS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR THAN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WHERE IT WAS VERY CONTENTIOUS AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT FUNDING FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, OF COURSE, THEY PASSED THIS TAX CREDIT.

THERE WAS ONE BILL THAT KIND OF CLEANED UP SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN THAT.

WE DIDN'T SEE THE REALLY CONTROVERSIAL TYPES OF DEBATES OVER THAT KIND OF FUNDING THIS YEAR.

BUT THERE WERE A COUPLE OF CONTROVERSIAL, YOU KNOW, RELIGION IN SCHOOLS TYPE OF PROPOSALS THAT KIND OF CAME IN AT THE VERY END OF THE SESSION.

>> WE SEE THOSE TOPICS BROUGHT BACK UP NEXT SESSION?

>> IT SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING THEME, SO PROBABLY, YEAH.

>> SEAN, ANYTHING TO ADD?

>> I THINK IT WAS INTERESTING AS JENNIFER POINTED OUT THAT THE SENATE BILL 1425, THE BILL THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO TAKE TIME AWAY FROM SCHOOL, TO ATTEND RELIGIOUS AND MORAL EDUCATION, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT POPPED UP NEAR THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH THAT REPEATED DEBATE PROCESS THAT WE OFTEN SEE WITH MEASURES LIKE THAT, WHICH WAS RATHER INTERESTING TO SEE HAPPEN.

AND I THINK JENNIFER IS CORRECT.

THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES WOULD CONTINUE TO BE ISSUES THAT LAWMAKERS HAVE TO DECIDE IN THE YEARS TO COME.

>> MOVING ON TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE KEATON, TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

IS.

>> IT WAS THE PASSAGE OF AFELONT CATEGORIZING SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT FELONIES INTO CLASSES LIKE A CLASS B, CLASS C. THE GOAL OF THAT BILL, WHICH HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

THERE WAS A TASK FORCE MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE FOR A FEW YEARS IN DIFFERENT VERSIONS.

FINALLY, IT REACHED A CONSENSUS THIS SESSION.

THE GOAL OF THAT IS TWO-FOLD.

ONE, YOU HAVE PROSECUTORS IN THE STATE WHO ARE WANTING TO HAVE A BETTER IDEA IF SOMEONE GETS A TEN-YEAR SENTENCE, HOW LONG THEY'LL BE SERVING THAT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AS WELL CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ADVOCATES WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT CERTAIN CRIMES, HAVING TWO BROAD OF A SENTENCING RANGE.

ONE EXAMPLE IS, I BELIEVE, SECOND-DEGREE BURGLARY CARRIES TWO YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON.

SO THAT'S A VERY BROAD RANGE.

AND THE HOPE WITH THIS BILL IS THAT THAT WILL BRING THAT IN LINE AND SET TO TAKE EFFECT IN 2016.

2026.

>> SO EXPUNGEMENT, IS THE COMMITTEE LOOKING AT THAT, AS AS WELL?

>> EXPUNGEMENT, IT A CLEAN BILL AND THAT'S TO AUTOMATICALLY EXPUNGE CERTAIN LOWER-LEVEL MISDEMEANORS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

I BELIEVE THE TIMELINE IS 2025.

SO THAT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS STILL.

>> SO THEY'LL BE TALKING ABOUT NEXT SESSION, MOST LIKELY, AS WEAPON.

>> AS WELL.

>> WE COULD SEE MORE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT BILL, AS WELL.

>> JENNIFER GOING BACK, HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY CALLING FOR AN AUDIT OF SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS AND STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

DO WE SEE THAT INVESTIGATION ACTUALLY HAPPENING?

>> I MEAN, SO FAR, IT'S KIND OF FALLEN ON DEAF EARS.

I HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH MOVEMENT, EXCEPT FOR THESE SPENDING LIMITS.

AND THAT'S THE BILL THAT WE ARE REALLY CLOSELY WATCHING STILL.

IT HAS BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR, PASSED WITH AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY IN BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE.

AND IT WOULD RESTRICT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FROM SPENDING MONEY ON THESE OUTSIDE PUBLIC RELATIONS OR PROMOTIONAL CONTRACTS.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE FIRST WROTE ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS CONTRACTED WITH THIS D.C. FIRM TO KIND OF BOOK NATIONAL MEDIA INTERVIEWS FOR SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS.

THE REACTION TO THE STORIES IS THAT THIS SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED.

THAT'S WHY THEY PUT THAT IN THE SPENDING LIMIT'S BILL.

SO WE'RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR WILL DO WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER HE WILL VETO THE BILL OR SIGN THE BILL.

AND THERE'S TALK THAT HE MIGHT EVEN DO AN EXECUTIVE ORDER.

YOU KNOW, BANNING THIS PRACTICE FOR ALL STATE AGENCIES.

THERE WERE BIG ONES THAT FLEW UNDER THE RADAR.

ONE WAS THE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN, I THINK, OVER A DECADE OR SEVERAL DECADES THAT WE HAVE ADJUSTED OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIRES.

REQUIREMENTS.

NOT EVERYBODY LIKES IT.

IT ADS A FOURTH YEAR OF MATH AND STUDENTS WILL NEED FOUR YEARS OF MATH TO GRADUATE.

IT ELIMINATES THE FINE ARTS AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE WHICH I KNOW THAT PORTION OF IT HAS BEEN NOT WELL-LIKED BY CERTAINLY SOME EDUCATORS.

SCHOOLS CAN, OF COURSE, STILL OFFER THOSE.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE WOULD BE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED FOR ANY STUDENT PURSUING COLLEGE.

IT RESTRUCTURES THE WHOLE WAY GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS ARE DECIDED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

WELL, IT STARTS WITH THE CLASS OF 2030 AND THEY'LL PHASE IT IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE OTHER BILL WE CLOSELY WATCHED WAS "THE STRONG READER'S ACT."

THIS WAS A SENATE BILL THAT CHANGES THE WAY WE IDENTIFY STRUGGLING READERS IN SCHOOLS AND THE MAIN THING IS THAT IT DOES AWAY WITH THE AUTOMATIC RETENTION OF THIRD GRADERS WHICH WE'VE HAD IN PLACE FOR MANY YEARS.

YOU KNOW, NOT A VERY WELL-LIKED AMONG EDUCATORS.

AND SO, DOING AWAY WITH THAT AND ADDS A LOT MORE SUPPORTS FOR READERS STRUGGLING THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND EARLY ELEMENTARY.

>> A LOT GOING ON IN EDUCATION.

ANYTHING THAT WE'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I ASKED, MOVING OVER TO THE 60th LEGISLATURE, DO YOU THINK?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAD SOME GOOD MOMENTUM AT THE BEGINNING LIKE THE BANDS IN SCHOOLS AND I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT FIZZLE OUT.

BECAUSE I FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE SENATE WAS REALLY JAZZED ABOUT THAT AT THE BEGINNING.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> AND IT JUST DIED.

SO MAYBE WE'LL SEE THAT COME BACK.

>> SEAN, WE TALKED EARLY AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME BUDGET TALKS WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND US MEDIA FOLKS.

WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> IT WAS A FASCINATING PROCESS.

THAT BEGAN IN THE SENATE ANNOUNCING THAT PLAN IN DECEMBER.

THE FIRST PART WAS NOT UNLIKE WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, WITH SUBCOMMITTEES HEARING AGENCY REQUESTS AND IT CHANGED IN LATE FEBRUARY, EARLY MARCH, WHERE THE SENATE APPROPRIATION'S COMMITTEE DEVELOPED A RESOLUTION BASED ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THAT WAS THE SENATE STARTING POINT FOR NEGOTIATIONS.

AND ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE SAW IN THE BEGINNING OF MAY WAS THE TWO SIDES SIT DOWN TOGETHER AND TAKE THE SENATE'S STARTING POINT.

ANDWE WHAT GOT FROM THE HOUSE IN APRIL AND COMPARE BACK AND FORTH.

FOR YEARS, MANY OF US HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE THE DOOR WHILE THEY WERE DOING THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> AND WE DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

AND SO, IT WAS FASCINATING TO WATCH THE DEAL-MAKING.

SOMETIMES IT WAS A SIMPLE AGREEMENT AND SOMETIMES PARTICULARLY NEAR THE END, WE SAW TWO AND THREE-PAGE DOCUMENTS DEVELOPED THAT SAID WE'LL DO THIS IF YOU DO THAT AND WE'LL DO THIS OTHER THING IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS.

VERY FASCINATING.

ULTIMATELY, THEY PULLED TOGETHER A $12.47 BILLION BUDGET OUT OF THESE TALKS.

>> ARE THERE ANY BACK-DOOR DEALINGS STILL GOING ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS?

>> THAT WAS THE PROBLEM TOWARDS THE END OF APRIL, WHERE IT APPEARED THE SENATE APPROPRIATION'S CHAIR ROGER THOMPSON WAS TALKING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH THE HOUSE NEGOTIATORS AND HAD ARRIVED AT SOME INITIAL DEALS THAT WERE THEN THROWN OUT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FINAL BUDGET, AS I READ THROUGH IT, EVERYTHING I SEE FOR THE MOST PART -- OR 99% OF IT -- WERE THINGS WHERE WE HEARD VERY SPECIFIC DISCUSSIONS ABOUT.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER LEGISLATION, TAX CREDITED RELATED, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WASN'T A PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE SAW PASS THAT, PERHAPS, SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THAT.

>> INTERESTING.

AND HOPEFULLY THOSE CONVERSATIONS WILL COME TO LIGHT AND WE'LL SIT RIGHT IN ON THOSE MEETINGS.

WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME AND I JUST WANTED TO SEE, SECOND YEAR COVERING, WAS WHAT IT LIKE COVERING LEGISLATURES DURING THIS SESSION?

>> IT WAS, I GUESS, CERTAINLY AN ADJUSTMENT THE FIRST FEW YEARS COVERING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW, STUFF HAPPENING IN PRISONS AND JAILS AND PROBABLY SPENT MORE TIME AT THE CAPITOL LAST YEAR THAN THIS YEAR.

IT WAS THE BUDGET PROCESS AND HOW BILLS ARE INTRODUCED AND GO BACK AND FORTH AND ALL OF THAT.

CERTAINLY, IT'S A LEARNING PROCESS, BUT IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING THING TO SORT OF LOOK AT MORE AND GET ACCUSTOMED WITH.

>> I THINK THAT'S JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE TIME WE HAVE.

SEAN AND JENNIFER, ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ON THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> NO.

LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, IT FELT LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT VIBE AND NOT AS CONTROVERSIAL IN THE EDUCATION ARENA.

BUT THAT'S OK, BECAUSE WE HAD SEVERAL OTHER EDUCATION STORIES KEEPING US BUSY.

WE'LL STILL BE WATCHING THROUGHOUT UNTIL THE NEXT SESSION.

>> ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> IT WAS EXCITING, AS ALWAYS AND LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

>> WE'LL BE CONTINUING WITH THE COVERAGE FOR THE NEXT SESSION.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>> GOOD, THANK YOU, CASSIDY.

THERE ARE GIVE OR TAKE ROUGHLY 500,000 HUNTERS IN OKLAHOMA AND MANY OF THEM USE BULLETS THAT CONTAIN LEAD WHICH CAN MAKE SCAVAGING ANIMALS SICK.

>> ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS ABOUT EDUCATING HUNTERS ABOUT ALTERNATIVES TO LEAD, IT'S ONE OF THESE CONSERVATION PROBLEMS WE CAN SOLVE.

>> I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SPORTING ADVOCATES FOR THE WILDLIFE.

WE EDUCATE THE PUB ON LEAD.

>> ANY ANIMAL SHOT WITH LEAD-BASED AMMUNITION, THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR EXPOSURE.

AND WE ALWAYS SAY THAT THERE'S THE POTENTIAL FOR EXPOSURE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ANY ANIMAL THAT EATS THAT CARCASS WILL BE EXPOSED.

IT MATTERS FROM WHERE THE FRAGMENTS ARE AND HOW LONG THE ANIMAL FEEDS.

THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS IN THERE.

>> BECAUSE RAP TORS ACIDIC SYSTEMS, THEY SUCCUMB TO SOMETIMES DEATH.

>> WE WOULD X-RAY THESE AND DOWN THEM AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE FRAGMENTS DON'T JUST STAY AROUND THAT TARGET AREA.

THE FRAGMENTS, WE FOUND THEY TRAVELED AS FAR AS 15 INCHES FROM THE PATH OF THE BULLET.

>> I'VE DEALT WITH MULTIPLE BALD EAGLES SHOULD HAVE DIED FROM LEAD BULLETS.

THIS HAS BEEN A FULL CIRCLE FOR ME WHERE I DIDN'T WANT TO JUST BE REACTIVE TO THE CONSERVATION.

I WANTED TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AND THAT SENT ME ON A JOURNEY TO BE A HUNTER.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE A CONSUMPTIV PART.

>> WE PUT INTO THE LEFT BARREL AND RIGHT WITH THE COPPER BULLET AND WE HEAD DOWN AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ALL.

>> IT'S HARD TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR AND WHEN YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING THE SAME WAY FOR GENERATIONS, SOMETIMES THERE'S THE THOUGHT WE DON'T NEED TO CHANGE AND ALWAYS DID THINGS THIS WAY.

IT CAN'T COME FROM BANS BUT THOSE USING THE TOOL.

>> HUNTERS LEARN THIS STUFF AND HEAR FROM CREDIBLE FOLKS AND KNOW THE BALLISTICS AND MOST DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, MY KID INCLUDED, AS HE'S COME UP AS A HUNTER AND WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY I CHOSE TO USE NONLEAD AMMUNITIONS, HE LOOKED AT ME AND WELL, NO KIDDING, OF COURSE.

WHY WOULD YOU USE ANYTHING WITH LEAD WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

>> THIS IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, WHEN YOU HAVE A BULLET THAT COMPLETELY COMES APART ON A PERFECT BROADSIDE SHOT, IT MAY BE FINE.

BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PERFECT BROADSIDE AND NEED TO DRIVE THROUGH MORE TISSUE AND GET THROUGH A BUNCH OF TISSUE TO GET INTO THE VITALS, THEN THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE SOMETHING HOLD TOGETHER ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY ACCESS AND CREATE DAMAGE IN THOSE VITAL TISSUES IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> THE HUNTERS AND ANIMAL VOLKS ADVOCATES HAVE MORE IN COMMON AND NO ONE ORGANIZATION WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ON THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS ALONE.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARD THE GREATER BENEFITS FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES AND INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS AND FOR HUMAN HEALTH, AS WELL.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," WE BREAK DOWN THE UPCOMING PRIMARY LEX ELECTION.

EXAM CORRESPONDENT REPORTS.

>> WE'LL HEAD OUT AND TAKE AN OKLAHOMA RIVER CRUISE, AND FOR ALL OF US WHO PLAY A ROLE EACH WEEK, I'M RICH LENZ.

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.

♪ IN THE SUMMERTIME.

♪ WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT.

♪ YOU CAN STRETCH RIGHT UP AND TOUCH THE SKY.

♪ WHEN THE WEATHER IS FINE.

♪ YOU'VE GOT WOMEN, YOU'VE GOT WOMEN ON YOUR MIND.

♪ HAVE A DRINK, HAVE A DRIVE.

♪ GO OUT AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN FIND.

♪ IF THAT IS POOR, JUST DO WHAT YOU FEEL ♪ WE GO FISHING OR SAILING IN THE SEA.

♪ WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY.

♪ LIVING IN LIFE'S PHILOSOPHY.

>> I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT OETA.

WE WANT TO