>> SHOULD THE PUNISHMENTS FOR FIGHTING OR RAISING GAME COCKS BE REDUCED?

ONE OKLAHOMA LAWMAKER SAYS YES.

>> IF I CAN GET IT ON THE FLOOR I'LL GET IT PASSED.

I HAVE THE NUMBERS TO PASS IT.

>> RAISE THE PENALTIES AND GIVE A CHUNK OF IT TO THE INVESTIGATING DEPARTMENT, WHATEVER IT IS INSTEAD OF LOWERING THE PENALTIES.

>> LAWMAKERS ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THE WAY THE PAROLE AND PARDON BOARD OPERATES.

>> REALITY IS IT LIMITS THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR AND ULTIMATELY DETERMINING WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE.

>> BREAST IMPLANT ILLNESSES IMPACT THE HEALTH OF THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMA WOMEN.

>> IT LOOKED LIKE I HAD A STROKE, THE WHOLE LEFT SIDE, I COULD HARDLY WALK AND I STARTED HAVING SEIZURES.

>> INSIDE THE CLASSROOM TO MEET THE 2022 OKLAHOMA TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

>> I SAW WHAT POWER TEACHERS HELD, THE POWER TO TURN THAT BAD DAY INTO A GOOD ONE OR TURN ENEMIES INTO FRIENDS.

>> PLUS, A ROBUST IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON WHO WILL SUCCEED JAMES INHOFE IN THE U.S. SENATE.

NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> HELLO, EVERYONE, WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

COCKFIGHTING IS ILLEGAL IN OKLAHOMA, ONE LAWMAKER IS PUSHING TO REDUCE PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

STEVE SHAW'S REPORT ON THE RESURGENCE OF COCKFIGHTING IN THE STATE WENT VIRAL.

NEW SEEN ONLINE HALF A MILLION TIMES.

I GUESS WE WILL CALL IT PART THREE.

STEVE.

>> RICH, EMOTIONS ARE STRONG ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS DEBATE.

JASON HUMPHREY INTRODUCED HOUSE BILL 3283.

HE SAYS THE BILL'S INTENT HAS ALREADY BEEN MISINTERPRETED.

I WILL WARN YOU, SOME OF WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE IS GRAPHIC.

>> WE HAVE DECRIMINALIZED A LOT OF THINGS.

>> STATE REPRESENT JUSTIN HUMPHREY IS A RETIRED PAROLE AND PROBATION OFFICER.

HE REPRESENTS FOUR COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA, WHERE THE LUCRATIVE COCKFIGHTING INDUSTRY STILL FLOURISHES, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN OUT-LAWED 20 YEARS AGO.

>> LOWERED THE PENALTY FOR HEROIN AND OTHER THINGS, IS A MISDEMEANOR, I THINK RAISING A CHICKEN SHOULD BE A MISDEMEANOR.

>> HE SAYS HIS BILL WOULD LOWER THE PENALTY FOR THOSE CAUGHT RAISING FIGHTING BIRDS FROM A FELONY TO A MISDEMEANOR.

HE SAYS THE PENALTY FOR ENGAGING IN A COCKFIGHT WOULD REMAIN A FELONY.

>> I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA HAVE PRACTICAL THINKING AND SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MAN FOR STEALING $1,000 WORTH OF STUFF, A MISDEMEANOR FOR DRUGS THAT KILL AND ADDICT PEOPLE AND CAUSE CRIME, SURELY WE CAN DROP THE CHARGE OF RAISING A CHICKEN TO A MISDEMEANOR.

>> PRESIDENT OF ANIMAL WELLNESS ACTION, THAT ORGANIZATION CALLED OKLAHOMA THE COCKFIGHTING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD WHEN IT SHOWED OETA PAGES OF DOCUMENTATION LAST AUGUST, SHIPPING RECORDS, ALLEGING THAT THOUSANDS OF FIGHTING BIRDS ARE BEING RAISED IN THE SOONER STATE, THEN SHIPPED OVERSEAS TO PLACES LIKE GUAM, THE PHILIPPINES, AND MEXICO FOR COCKFIGHTING.

>> COCKFIGHTING IS A BARBARIC AND INHUMANE PRACTICE.

KNIVES ARE PUT ON THE BIRD'S LEGS, THEY HACK EACH OTHER TO DEATH IN A PIT TO KILL EACH OTHER FOR HUMAN AMUSEMENT.

>> HE IS ALSO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

>> STATE OFFICIALS SHOULD BE TURNING THE SCREWS ON COCKFIGHTERS, NOT GIVING THEM AN OPEN DOOR.

OUR INVESTIGATION SHOWED RAMPANT ILLEGAL COCKFIGHTING, OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, INCLUDING GAMBLING, NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING, EVEN HUMAN-TO-HUMAN VIOLENCE.

THE STATE LAW IS A GOOD STRONG LAW, BUT IT'S NOT BEING ADEQUATELY ENFORCED.

WE HAD VERY SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT A REGULAR COCKFIGHTING VENUE, AND THE LOCAL SHERIFF DID NOT TAKE ACTION.

NOW SOME MONTHS LATER WE SEE THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM ATOKA OPPORTUNITIES ATTEMPTING TO DECRIMINALIZE COCKFIGHTING IN CERTAIN RESUSPECTS AND MAKE THE PENALTY SO ANEMIC THAT IT WOULD BE JUST THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE VERY RARE CASES WHEN THERE WAS AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

SO, THIS IS AN OUTRAGEOUS BILL, THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO DECRIMINALIZE COCKFIGHTING TO PROTECT IT, TO MAKE COCKFIGHTING BASICALLY AN EXPENSIVE SPEEDING TICKET.

>> AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT HARMING ANYONE, AS LONG AS THEY ARE JUST RAISING THEIR BIRDS, I'M OK WITH THAT.

THEY ARE MAKING MONEY, AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SAY WELL, THEY ARE GOING TO FIGHT THOSE, WELL, THE BIRDS RAISED FOR KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN ARE GOING TO BE SLAUGHTERED TOO, SO THEY ARE GOING TO GET THEIR NECKS RUNG AND YET YOU ARE GOING TO GO DOWN THERE AND EAT THOSE NO PROBLEM.

IF I MAY, IF I'M A BIRD, GIVE ME A 50/50 SHOT, LET ME FIGHT IT OUT AND SEE IF I CAN GO ON LIVING, YOU KNOW.

SO I WOULD SAY IT'S BETTER FOR THEM.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE CRUEL TO ANIMALS BUT I DON'T NEED ANIMAL ACTIVISTS WHO TRY TO BLOW UP EVERYTHING BIGGER, WHO LIE ABOUT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, COMING INTO OKLAHOMA, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, PETA AND THOSE GROUPS CAN GO TO NEW YORK OR CALIFORNIA AND STAY THE HECK OUT OF OKLAHOMA AND THAT WOULD JUST MAKE ME HAPPY.

>> REMEMBER B.L.

KOSAD?

A DISABLED VIETNAM VETERAN WHOSE GRANDFATHER PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION BY FIGHTING HIS PRIZE ROOSTER.

HE MET US AT THE STATE CAPITOL AND SAYS THE ORIGINAL 2002 COCKFIGHTING BAN SHOULD BE REPEALED.

>> YOU GO TO THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE, GENESIS 1:26, GOD GAVE DOMINION OVER THE EARTH, FISH AND FOUL.

EXERCISING THE DOMINION GOT GAVE ME OVER THE ANIMALS I OWN.

NO OTHER ANIMAL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SUPERSEDE GOD AND TAKE THAT DOMINION AWAY FROM ME, SAYING THE CHICKENS I OWN TAKE PRIORITY ABOVE MY RIGHTS.

20 YEARS AGO, THEN ATTORNEY GENERAL DREW EDMUNDSON WAS A DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE COCKFIGHTING BAN.

HE PREDICTS IT WILL FAIL.

>> IT TAKES AWAY WHAT WAS PASSED BY THE PEOPLE IN 2002, REDUCES THE PUNISHMENT TO SIMPLE FINES THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY INVOLVED IN THIS TRADE IS JUST, WOULD BE JUST A COST OF DOING BUSINESS.

$500 FINE IS NOT GOING TO PHASE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THIS ACTIVITY.

THEY MAKE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OFF COCKFIGHTING, EITHER BY THE FIGHTS THEMSELVES OR BY SHIPPING BIRDS OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

WE OUGHT TO RAISE THE PENALTIES AND GIVE A CHUNK OF IT TO THE INVESTIGATING DEPARTMENT, WHATEVER IT IS INSTEAD OF LOWERING THE PENALTIES.

WE NEED TO DO MORE, NOT LESS.

>> IF I CAN GET IT ON THE FLOOR, I'LL GET IT PASSED.

I'VE GOT THE NUMBERS TO PASS IT, IT'S JUST CAN I GET IT HEARD ON THE FLOOR.

>> WHAT WOULD THAT HAPPEN?

>> THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO THREE WEEKS.

>> IF HUMPHREY'S BILL PASSES OUT OF THE HOUSE, IT GOES TO THE SENATE AND THEN TO THE GOVERNOR.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IN 2002, VOTERS PASSED THE COCKFIGHTING BAN WITH 53% OF THE VOTE.

HOWEVER, IT ONLY PASSED IN 20 OF THE SOONER STATE'S 77 COUNTIES.

RICH.

>> STEVE, THANK YOU.

CONTINUING OUR TEAM COVERAGE OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE 58TH LEGISLATURE, TWO BILLS UNDER CONSIDERATION WOULD CHANGE HOW OFFENDERS ARE SENTENCED AND HOW THEY ARE PAROLED.

THIS COMES FOLLOWING EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE PRISON SYSTEM POPULATION WHILE STILL PROTECTING VICTIM'S RIGHTS.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US FROM THE CAPITOL TO EXPLAIN.

JASON.

>> RICH, ONE OF THE BILLS IS AIMED AT RESTRICTING THE PARDON PAROLE BOARD OF COMMUTATION FOR DEATH ROW INMATES, AND ANOTHER THE EFFORT TO REFORM THE STATE'S LAWS.

HOUSE BILL 3903 TO CONSIDER COMMUTATION TO OTHER LENIENCY, NOT INNOCENCE, LIKE JULIUS JONES.

IT HAS REFORM ADVOCATES CONCERNED.

>> THE REALITY, TAKING AWAY THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS VERY CONCERNING AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INNOCENT PEOPLE SPENDING TIME, OR EVEN DYING IN PRISON.

>> CHRIS STEELE IS THE SENIOR ADVISOR TO OKLAHOMANS FOR CRIMINAL REFORM.

>> THE REALITY, IT LIMITS THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR AND ULTIMATELY DETERMINING WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE AND IT ALSO LIMITS THE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST WITHIN THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND THE JUDICIARY BRANCH.

>> DURING A RECENT HOUSE COMMITTEE HEARING, THE BILL'S AUTHOR CONTENDED HIS BILL REINFORCES CHECKS AND BALANCES BETWEEN BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

>> WHEN WE FAILED TO SEPARATE THE POWERS OUT FROM THE EXECUTIVE AGENCY TO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, IT UNDERMINES THE SEPARATION OF POWERS.

>> DEATH ROW INMATES PLEAS OF INNOCENCE SHOULD BE IN THE COURT SYSTEM, NOT THE PAROLE BOARD.

>> GUILT OR INNOCENCE IN FRONT OF THE PAROLE BOARD.

THEY COULD PETITION THE COURT AND PRESENT EVIDENCE OF GUILT OR INNOCENCE IN FRONT OF THE COURT.

>> THAT'S CONCERNING BECAUSE IN OKLAHOMA WE HAVE EXONERATED OVER TEN PEOPLE WHO WERE SENTENCED TO DEATH.

FOUND OUT THEY WERE INNOCENT AND FORTUNATELY, BEFORE WE PUT TO DEATH AN INNOCENT PERSON.

>> CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM SUPPORTERS WORRY, CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATES BELIEVE LIMITING COMMUTATIONS TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE IS A GOOD PATH FORWARD FOR THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD.

>> LIKE IN MY CASE, IT WAS A HOMICIDE.

SO IF THE FAMILY MEMBER DOESN'T WANT TO SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY, BUT THEY ARE OK WITH LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE, THAT WAY THEY CAN ASSURE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO STAY MOST LIKELY IN JAIL INSTEAD OF BEING LET OUT.

>> WARREN LAYMAN, THE OKLAHOMA HOMICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP.

>> ENSURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING THEM WITH WHAT OUR LAW REQUIRES.

AN LAYMAN SUPPORTS 3903, SHE HAS CONCERNS ABOUT 1746, REFORM SENTENCING GUIDELINES AND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR CRIMES.

>> SENTENCING IS HARD BECAUSE A LOT OF CRIME, A LOT OF PEOPLE GO TO JAIL FOR NOT THE CRIME THEY ACTUALLY SHOULD BE CREATED FOR AND PLEA BARGAIN OUT.

>> 1646, THE AUTHOR.

>> IT LOOKS LARGE BUT MAINLY THE, ABOUT THIS MUCH OF THE BILL IS SENTENCING REFORM.

AND THE REST OF THE BILL IS CLASSIFICATION.

>> THE CONCEPT BEHIND SENATE BILL 1646 IS YEARS IN THE MAKING, PROPOSED BY PRO-TEM, LEGISLATURE EXAMINED THE CRIMINAL SENTENCING CODES TO HELP ADDRESS PRISON OVERCROWDING.

FOUR OBJECTIVES WERE TO LAID OUT.

>> ONE TO CLASSIFY THE CRIMES TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF ORDER AND TALK ABOUT THE CRIMES IN THE STATE, LOOK AT THE ENHANCEMENT PHASING OF THE SENTENCING ITSELF, AND LOOK AT THE DOLLARS IT WAS COSTING TO KEEP THE NUMBER OF INCARCERATED AT THE LEVEL IT WAS IN OR START REDUCING IT.

>> RAIDER SAYS THE SENTENCING REFORM ONLY EFFECTS NONVIOLENT CRIMES.

IT DOES NOT CHANGE SENTENCES FOR VIOLENT CRIMES OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

HE ADDS OKLAHOMA SENTENCES FOR NONVIOLENT CRIME ARE LONGER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

>> WE HAVE SEEN HERE IN THE LAST DECADE THAT THE AVERAGE SENTENCE LENGTH HANDED OUT IN OKLAHOMA HAS GROWN BY 1.2 YEARS, AND IF YOU CONTINUE TO EXTEND THE LENGTH OF THE SENTENCES, WE'LL HAVE MORE PRISONERS.

>> OKLAHOMA IS NUMBER THREE IN THE COUNTRY FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE INCARCERATED PER CAPITA, DOWN FROM THE TOP SPOT FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> WE CAN PUT AN LASSO AROUND IT, REMEMBER THE VICTIM, KEEP THE PEOPLE SAFE AND SOMEHOW REDUCE THE NUMBER, IT WOULD BE A WIN-WIN.

1646 ALLOWS THAT.

>> I THINK SENATE BILL 1646 IS A POSITIVE PIECE OF LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT TAKES STEPS TOWARDS SAFELY REDUCING OUR PRISON POPULATION.

>> STEELE BELIEVES RECLASSIFICATION AND REFORM OF SENTENCES WILL HAVE OTHER BENEFITS.

>> IT ULTIMATELY BRINGS OKLAHOMA'S SENTENCING GUIDELINE MORE IN LINE WITH BEST PRACTICES AND NATIONAL AVERAGES AND ULTIMATELY ELIMINATES THE POSSIBILITY FOR MOST NONVIOLENT OFFENSES TO BE ENHANCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.

>> HOUSE BILL 3903 AND SENATE BILL 1646 BOTH HAVE PASSED COMMITTEE, BUT STILL FACE A HURDLE.

BOTH NEED AN AUTHOR FROM THE OPPOSING CHAMBER BEFORE THEY CAN BE HEARD ON THE FLOOR.

THEY HAVE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN BEFORE A CUTOFF DEADLINE OF MARCH 24.

RICH.

>> JASON, THANK YOU.

AND SEAN ASHLEY, PUBLISHER OF QUORUM CALL.

I ASKED ABOUT THE HIGH PROFILE MARIJUANA LEGISLATION CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION.

>> SEAN, LEGISLATION PROPOSED IN BOTH HOUSES.

WHAT ARE LAWMAKERS TARGETING THIS SESSION?

>> A LOT OF THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILLS FOCUS ON THE ILLEGAL SIDE OF THE INDUSTRY WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAID TO BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OKLAHOMA'S REGULATORY SCHEME IN ORDER TO PRODUCE PRODUCT, MUCH OF WHICH IS SHIPPED OUT OF STATE.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS UNVEILED A 12 POINT PLAN THEY PLAN TO PURSUE IN LEGISLATION OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

THAT LOOKS TO TIGHTEN THE REIGNS ON THIS.

ONE THING IT DOES WOULD BE TO MOVE THE OKLAHOMA MEDICAL MARIJUANA AUTHORITY OUT FROM UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, MAKING IT STAND ON ITS OWN AND ESSENTIALLY GIVING IT MORE AUTHORITY.

OTHER PIECES OF THE LEGISLATION LOOK AT LICENSING AND TESTING, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

MUCH OF IT FOCUSSED ON ELIMINATING THE BLACK MARKET, THE ILLEGAL MARKET, AND ALLOWING THE LEGAL MARKET TO WORK PROPERLY.

>> SEAN, AROUND THE COUNTRY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT RESTRICTING VOTING RIGHTS IN PLACES LIKE FLORIDA AND TEXAS AND NOW OKLAHOMA IS CONSIDERING SOME CHANGES TO THEIR ELECTION LAWS AS WELL.

WHAT ARE THEY?

>> WE ARE NOT SEEING ANYTHING QUITE AS RESTRICTIVE AS WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN FLORIDA AND TEXAS, BUT AS YOU SAID, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS CONSIDERED HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

ONE OF THOSE WHICH PASSED THE HOUSE THIS PAST WEEK WOULD HAVE COUNTY ELECTION BOARDS SEARCH THEIR RECORDS FOR RESIDENCES THERE ARE TEN OR MORE VOTERS REGISTERED.

THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE TURNED OVER TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR POSSIBLE INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE IF SOME WRONGDOING MAY BE INVOLVED THERE.

ANOTHER WOULD PROHIBIT COUNTY ELECTION BOARDS AND THE STATE ELECTION BOARDS FROM RECEIVING GRANTS IN ORDER TO FUND THEIR OFFICES.

THE CONCERN WAS SOME OF THIS MONEY MIGHT BE DIRECTED THAT IT WOULD BE USED TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTION IN SOME FORMAT.

>> A COUPLE OF EDUCATION BILLS.

>> ONE WOULD GIVE PARENTS A $1,000 TAX CREDIT IF THEY MADE A DONATION TO THE STUDENTS' TEACHER.

SOME MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE WERE CONCERNED IT COULD CREATE AN INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS WHO GIVE MONEY TO A TEACHER AND THE TEACHER AND CREATE CERTAIN EXPECTATIONS.

BUT HOUSE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE THE CASE BECAUSE THE DONATIONS WOULD BE MADE ANONYMOUSLY.

ANOTHER CREATES A FREE SPEECH COMMITTEE TO ADVISE THE STATE REGENTS ON FREE SPEECH POLICIES AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS SWORN IN THE NEWEST MEMBER.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> SHE IS FROM TULSA, SHE WORKS FOR QUIK TRIP.

SHE WAS KNOWN BY THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE SHE WAS AN ATTORNEY FOR FIVE YEARS FOR THE COMPANY HE FOUNDED, GATEWAY MORTGAGE COMPANY.

SHE IS ALSO THE DAUGHTER OF REPRESENTATIVE MARK LAPACK, AS WELL AS HIS WIFE LINDA WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMITTEE AND SHE ACTUALLY HAD TO RECUSE HERSELF WHEN SARAH WAS A CANDIDATE FOR THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT.

SHE ATTENDED HER FIRST MEETING ON THURSDAY.

>> ONE MORE EDUCATION REQUEST HE FOR YOU.

EXPLAIN SENATE BILL 0615, PARENTAL ACCESS TO SEX EDUCATION CURRICULUM AND MATERIALS.

>> RIGHT.

THAT IS ALREADY A REQUIREMENT IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

TEACHERS HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT MATERIAL IN ADVANCE TO PARENTS AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS REQUIRE THAT COUNSELORS ALSO PROVIDE MATERIAL TO PARENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE OFTEN TEACHING THE COURSES AND LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AND MAKING SURE ALL THE MATERIAL WAS GETTING TO PARENTS AND GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT.

SOME MEMBERS, HOWEVER, WERE CONCERNED THIS MIGHT LEAD COUNSELORS TO HAVE TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED BY STUDENTS IN COUNSELING SESSIONS.

THE AUTHOR OF THE LEGISLATION SAID THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

>> SEAN ASHLEY, THANK YOU AS ALWAYS.

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HAS ANNOUNCED A MAJOR INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS THE STATE'S CHRONIC NURSING SHORTAGE.

FIRST TIME IN THE O.U.

NURSING PROGRAM HISTORY, ALL 555 QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THE FALL SEMESTER.

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESIDENT JOSEPH HARRIS, JR. SAYS INCREASING THE NUMBER OF NURSING STUDENTS WILL ADDRESS A DESPERATE NEED AND RESULT IN HIGH PAYING JOBS FOR THE PROGRAM'S GRADUATES.

>> STILL A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF NURSES IN THIS NATION.

AS WE LOOK AT THE ROAD MAP AHEAD FOR THE NEXT DECADE, THE REALITY IS BY EVERY INDICATOR ONE OF THE TOP TEN MOST NEEDED JOBS IN OKLAHOMA OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

>> THIS APPLIES TO BOTH THE TRADITIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE ACCEL BRATED BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM.

THE IMMEDIATE RESULT IS ABOUT 200 MORE APPLICANTS FOR FALL OF 22, ENTERING THE CLASS, AND AT LEAST THAT MANY IF NOT MORE WILL BE ADMITTED IN FALL OF 2023.

>> THE EXPANSION OF O.U.

NURSING PROGRAM IS BEING FUNDED BY A SALES TAX EXEMPTION AND PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR.

IN ADDITION TO INCREASE FUNDING, A SPECIAL DONATION TO THE COLLEGE.

NOW, THAT SAME AFTERNOON AT THE OKLAHOMA HISTORY CENTER ACROSS FROM THE CAPITOL ADVOCATES HELD THE ANNUAL DISABILITY AWARENESS DAY, CELEBRATING OKLAHOMANS WITH DISABILITIES.

TO HELP ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS OF INDEPENDENT LIVING AND BECOMING PART OF THE WORKFORCE.

THIS IS THE 27TH YEAR THE EVENT HAS BEEN HELD.

AN ORGANIZATION CALLED TRUST FOR AMERICA'S HELP HAS RELEASED THE ANNUAL REPORT ON HOW STATES RANK WHEN IT COMES TO BEING PREPARED FOR EMERGENCY, HEALTH OR WEATHER-RELATED.

AND ACCORDING TO THE LATEST FINDINGS, OKLAHOMA FALLS FROM A HIGH TIER TO A MIDDLE TIER STATE TO A YEAR AGO, AND TEN FACTORS ARE EXAMINED, INCLUDING INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND ADDRESSING HEALTH INEQUITY.

CITES TWO AREAS OKLAHOMA NEEDS TO IMPROVE.

>> ONE, FOR YOUR STATE RESIDENTS WHO ARE ACCESSING THEIR WATER FROM A COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM, NOT FROM A PRIVATE WELL, BUT A COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM, 15% OF THOSE FOLKS WERE ACCESSING WATER THAT HAD SOME KIND OF A VIOLATION, A WATER SAFETY VIOLATION OR WATER SAFETY ISSUE.

THAT'S HIGH.

ANOTHER AREA AND ALL STATES NEED TO WORK ON IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERY STATE RESIDENT HAS ACCESS AND IS COVERED BY A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

YOUR STATE POPULATION, 39% OF THE POPULATION IS COVERED BY A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM.

LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

>> OKLAHOMA RECEIVED HIGH MARKS FOR CHANGING PANDEMIC CONDITIONS.

THE FIRST BREAST RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY WAS PERFORMED IN GERMANY IN 1895.

TODAY BREAST AUGMENTATION IS THE MOST POPULAR COSMETIC PROCEDURE IN AMERICA, MORE THAN 300,000 TIMES A YEAR ACCORDING TO THE SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS.

WHILE IT IS A SAFE AND RELATIVELY SIMPLE PROCEDURE, IT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS LATER ON.

KENNEDY HAS OUR REPORT.

>> AND THEY ARE HELPING EACH OTHER FIND THE RIGHT GROUP.

>> PAULA WILSON RUNS THE BREAST IMPLANT ILLNESS OKLAHOMA Facebook PAGE, FOR THE MEMBERS TO FIND SUPPORT WITHOUT THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH COMPLICATIONS THAT EMERGE AFTER RECEIVING BREAST IMPLANTS.

PAULA HAD HER BREAST AUGMENTATION SURGERY AFTER BEATING THYROID CANCER.

>> I WANTED TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT MYSELF.

>> TWO WEEKS AFTER THE PROCEDURE, HER HEALTH BEGAN SLOW DECLINE.

>> I LITERALLY TWO WEEKS AFTER HAVING THEM, HAD DIFFICULTY AND DID NOT REALIZE IT UNTIL A YEAR AGO GOING THROUGH SOME JOURNALS AND FOUND OUT I WAS COMPLAINING OF MY HORMONES AND MY VOICE, LOSING MY VOICE, NOT BEING ABLE TO SWALLOW, AFFECTED MY ESOPHAGUS.

>> HER HEALTH WORSENED THE 16 YEARS SHE HAD THE IMPLANTS.

>> LOOKED LIKE I HAD A STROKE, THE WHOLE LEFT SIDE, I COULD HARDLY WALK AND THEN STARTED HAVING SEIZURES.

>> SHE SEARCHED FOR HELP FROM DIFFERENT SPECIALISTS, SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FIBROMYALGIA BUT NO ANSWER WHY SHE DEVELOPED THE MEDICAL PROBLEMS.

>> I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY DOCTORS I WENT THROUGH OVER THE YEARS, AND NOT THE THING THAT HAPPENS WITH US IS WE GO TO DOCTOR TO DOCTOR TO DOCTOR AND THESE DOCTORS ARE NOT EDUCATED IN THIS ILLNESS, AND IT IS A TRUE ILLNESS.

I MEAN, IT IS REALLY THERE.

THE F.D.A.

HAS SHOWN IT HAPPENS.

>> IT'S A TRICKY CONVERSATION BECAUSE THERE'S NO DEFINITIVE STUDY THAT SHOWS AN ABSOLUTE CORRELATION BETWEEN BREAST IMPLANTS AND SYMPTOMS THAT A LOT OF WOMEN ARE EXPERIENCING WHICH IS WHY IT'S NOT CURRENTLY CONSIDERED AN ESTABLISHED MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS WITH A C.P.T.

CODE BY MEDICARE AND INSURANCE COMPANIES.

>> IN RECENT YEARS, THE F.D.A.

TOOK SEVERAL ACTIONS TO STRENGTHEN ITS COMMUNICATION OF BREAST IMPLANT RISKS AFTER HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF BREAST IMPLANT ASSOCIATED LARGE CELL LYMPHOMA, A CANCER OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, AND THOUSANDS OF REPORTS OF SYSTEMIC SYSTEMS KNOWN AS BREAST IMPLANT ILLNESS.

WHILE SYMPTOMS VARY, THE MOST COMMON ONES ARE BRAIN FOG, JOINT PAIN, RASH, INFLAMMATION, WEIGHT PROBLEMS, FATIGUE, ANXIETY, AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES, HAIR LOSS, AND DEPRESSION.

THE F.D.A.

STATED IN AUGUST 2020 WHILE THE F.D.A.

DOESN'T HAVE DEFINITIVE EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATING BREAST IMPLANTS CAUSED THESE SYSTEMS, THE CURRENT EVIDENCE SUPPORTS SOME PATIENT EXPERIENCE SYSTEMIC SYSTEM THAT MAY RESOLVE WHEN THEIR BREAST IMPLANTS ARE REMOVED, EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN PAULA'S CASE.

>> WHEN I MADE THE DECISION AND THEN TOOK THEM OUT, I GRADUALLY SAW HOW I GOT BETTER.

THREE YEARS TO THE POINT I AM.

>> PAULA IS JUST ONE OF THOUSANDS OKLAHOMA WOMEN WHO HAVE GONE BACK UNDER THE KNIFE.

>> THIS TIME THEY ARE WANTING THEM TO BE REMOVED.

SOME PLASTIC SURGEONS ARE BOOKED WITH PATIENTS WANTING EX-PLANT SURGERY.

SOME OF THE FOLLOWING IMAGES MAY BE GRAPHIC TO SOME VIEWERS.

IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, PERFORMED OVER 400 EX-PLANTATIONS.

>> ALMOST ALL THE WOMEN HAVE THE SAME STORY, THEY HAVE FROM THEIR PHYSICIAN, THEY HAVE HAD ALL THEIR LAB WORK CHECKED AND IT'S NORMAL, AND THE WOMAN WHO THE LAB WORK IS NORMAL WHO DOES NOT HAVE A DIAGNOSIS, 80 TO 90% RESPONSE RATE SOME DEGREE THEY COME BACK IN MONTHS AND SAY MY ENERGY LEVEL IS BETTER, JOINT PAIN HAS DECREASED.

>> THE F.D.A.

PLACED THE STRONGEST WARNING FOR MEDICAL DEVICES IMPLANTED INTO THE HUMAN BODY, A BLACK BOX WARNING FOR BREAST IMPLANTS.

DR. SHADID SAYS THE WARNING LABEL IS HISTORIC.

>> PHYSICIANS ARE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER REQUIRED TO TALK TO THE PATIENTS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY NO MATTER HOW SMALL IT MAY BE.

I THINK IT IS VALIDATION FOR THOSE PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVING IMPLANTS AND TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS IT'S A REAL PHENOMENON.

>> THAT'S WHY I'M WORKED REALLY HARD TO WORK WELL AND TEACH WOMEN TO WORK WELL TOGETHER BECAUSE THE MORE WE CAN DO TOGETHER IT SPEAKS VOLUMES.

IT'S HARD TO SCREAM ABOUT THIS BEING ONE PERSON.

>> SINCE BREAST IMPLANT ILLNESS IS A DIAGNOSIS OF EXCLUSION, DR. SHADID ADVISES WOMEN TO TALK TO THEIR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN FIRST TO EXHAUST ALL OTHER POSSIBILITIES BEFORE COMING TO THE CONCLUSION TO REMOVE BREAST IMPLANTS.

OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> KENNEDY, THANK YOU.

WITH A LOOK AT THIS WEEK'S BUSINESS NEWS, HERE IS JASON DOYLE WITH THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> MID AMERICA INDUSTRIAL PARK WILL PLAY HOME TO NORTHERN DATA NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS.

THE COMPANY WILL INVEST AT LEAST $270 MILLION IN THE FACILITY AND HIRE AT LEAST 150 OKLAHOMANS IN TWO YEARS.

THEY MANAGE DATA CENTERS AROUND THE WORLD, GRAND RIVER DAM AUTHORITY AS THE PRIMARY POWER SOURCE.

MID AMERICA INDUSTRIAL PARK HAS A GOOGLE DATA CENTER LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY.

AND SAND RIDGE ENERGY TURNED A PROFIT OF $116.7 MILLION LAST YEAR, AFTER A LOSS OF 277 MILLION IN 2020.

PRODUCTION FOR THE ENERGY EXPLORATION COMPANY TOLD NEARLY 1.7 MILLION BARREL EQUIVALENT, THEY HAVE PLANS TO DRILL AND COMPLETE NINE WELLS, AND SPEND BETWEEN 34 AND $42 MILLION ON WELL COMPLETION.

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY HAS COMPLETED ACCUSATION OF DALLAS E AND D HOLDINGS.

NATURAL GAS PIPELINE OPERATOR.

TERMS WERE NOT DISCLOSED, IT DOES INCLUDE NONOPERATED INTERESTS HELD BY AFFILIATES OF TUG HILL.

CHESAPEAKE BELIEVES THE TRANSACTION WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE CASH FLOW.

BREEZE AIRWAYS IS ADDING A NEW NONSTOP FLIGHT FROM WILL ROGERS WORLD AIRPORT IN OKLAHOMA CITY TO NASHVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

FLIGHTS WILL BEGIN ON JUNE 3RD.

THEY HAVE STARTED BOOKING FLIGHTS THIS WAY.

PAYCON HAS A NEW ACCOLADE, THE SOFTWARE FIRM HAS MADE BEST COMPANIES WORLD'S MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANY LIST FOR 2022.

THE MAGAZINE SAYS THEY ARE THE ONLY OKLAHOMA-BASED COMPANY TO MAKE THE LIST IN THE ENTERPRISE CATEGORY.

THE APP ALLOWS EMPLOYEES TO DO THEIR OWN PAYROLL, HELPING TO RELIEVE HUMAN RESOURCE ISSUES.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> JASON, THANK YOU.

WE WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE JUST ANNOUNCED 2022 OKLAHOMA TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

HER NAME IS REBECCA PETERSON, AND SHE TEACHES ADVANCED MATH AT UNION HIGH SCHOOL.

TAYLOR JACKSON VISITED HER CLASSROOM IN TULSA AND TAYLOR JOINS US WITH MORE ON THAT.

>> REBECCA IS EXCITED AS OKLAHOMA TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND HOW PASSIONATE SHE IS HELPING HER STUDENTS.

>> MADE A GOAL, MADE A GOAL.

>> REBECCA PETERSON SAYS HER PASSION FOR EDUCATION STARTED WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD.

>> I THINK I WANTED TO BE A TEACHER MY WHOLE LIFE.

MY TEACHERS INSPIRED ME.

I SAW WHAT POWER TEACHERS HELD AND THE POWER TO TURN THAT BAD DAY INTO A GOOD ONE, OR TURN ENEMIES INTO FRIENDS.

>> THOUGH SHE ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO BECOME A COLLEGE PROFESSOR, SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH TEACHING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

>> TWO DEGREES IN MATHEMATICS, I TAUGHT FOR A YEAR AT TULSA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, PART OF MY ASSIGNMENT WAS TEACHING THE CONCURRENT ALGEBRA CLASSES HERE UNION HIGH SCHOOL.

>> MY JOB IS JUST SO FUN, AND THEY TRULY JUST GIVE ME SO MUCH HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, THEY ARE INCREDIBLY INCLUSIVE AND KINDS AND WELCOMING.

>> THEY DROP BY TO CONGRATULATE HER AS WE SPEND TIME IN HER CLASSROOM.

AS A DAUGHTER OF MEDICAL MISSIONARIES, REBECCA HAD LIVED IN FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES BY THE TIME SHE WAS 16.

SHE SAYS BEING AN IMMIGRANT TO THE U.S.

HELPED PREPARE HER FOR WORKING IN SUCH A DIVERSE SCHOOL.

>> I DON'T WANT MY STUDENTS TO EVER FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO WORK TO FIT IN, BUT THEY BELONG AS THEY ARE, AND THAT THEY ARE IN, THEY ARE WORTHY, THEY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, AND I THINK THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT PUBLIC EDUCATION IS ALL ABOUT.

>> PETERSON WAS JOINED BY 11 OTHER FINALISTS AT THE NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM LAST THURSDAY FOR THE 2022 OKLAHOMA TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD CEREMONY.

>> YOUR 2022 OKLAHOMA TEACHER OF THE YEAR IS -- REBECCA PETERSON.

UNION PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED.

I THOUGHT I HEARD MY NAME AND THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT.

I LOOKED AT CINDY, DID SHE JUST CALL MY NAME, SURREAL, FEELS LIKE A DREAM.

>> TEACHER OF THE YEAR DUTIES APPEAR AT SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND ADVOCATING FOR TEACHERS AROUND THE STATE.

>> I HOPE THAT I CAN BE AN ENCOURAGER TO OTHER TEACHERS AND PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS.

I HOPE THIS YEAR IS A YEAR OF JOY FOR TEACHERS.

>> EDUCATING OKLAHOMA'S NEXT GENERATION.

>> 11 OTHER FINALISTS ARE INCREDIBLE EDUCATORS, SO TO BE NAMED ALONGSIDE THEM IS TRULY THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME.

>> I WAS THERE WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST IN OKLAHOMA, AND TO EVEN MAKE IT THIS FAR IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE HONOR, AND TREMENDOUS BLESSING.

>> I REALLY WHICH THAT EVERY TEACHER IN OKLAHOMA COULD HAVE A YEAR LIKE THIS, TO JUST FEEL RECOGNIZED AND VALUED.

>> DONNA ROSS, WHO TEACHES MATH AND SCIENCE AT McKINLEY ELEMENTARY AND CINDY JOHNSON, A MATH TEACHER AT COLLINSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SAYS THEIR FORMER TEACHERS INSPIRED THEM TO PURSUE THIS PROFESSION.

>> THEY -- IT WAS JUST LIGHT, IT WAS JUST A LIGHT INTO US AND I WANTED TO GIVE THAT SAME, THAT SAME LOVE BACK, THAT SAME JOY BACK, THAT SAME COMMITMENT BACK TO SOMEBODY TO MAKE IT COUNT.

>> WHEN I HIT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND FIGURED OUT I COULD TEACH MATH ALL DAY LONG, I WAS SOLD.

I HAVE KNOWN SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL I WANTED TO BE A MATH TEACHER.

>> AND THEN WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO IF IT LOOKS GOOD.

>> CALCULUS CAN BE AN INTIMIDATING SUBJECT TO SOME.

HOWEVER, PETERSON FOUND A WAY TO MAKE THE SUBJECT MORE APPROACHABLE.

>> TRY TO SHOW CALCULUS, WHEN YOU SEE A RATE OR ACCUMULATION, THAT'S CALCULUS.

>> ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS IS TO CULTIVATE A MATH CITIZEN.

>> CITIZENS WHO REASON-BASED ON INFORMATION AND NOT JUST EMOTION, CITIZENS WHO KNOW HOW TO READ CHARTS AND GRAPHS AND CAN SPOT.

>> PETERSON SUCCEEDS 2021 TEACHER OF THE YEAR WHO WILL RETURN TO TEACHING FOR NORMAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VISIT SO MANY PLACES IN OKLAHOMA I NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO TO NOT IN THIS POSITION AND SUCH A BETTER VIEW OF OKLAHOMA EDUCATION.

>> WISHES REBECCA NOTHING BUT THE BEST.

>> BUT THE BEST IS YET TO COME, AND KEEP TALKING TO TEACHERS AND ADVOCATING FOR THE PROFESSION.

>> PETERSON WAS AWARDED $10,000 IN CASH AND PRIZES FROM LOCAL SPONSORS AND A NEW VEHICLE TO USE DURING HER TIME AS OKLAHOMA TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

>> TAYLOR, THANK YOU, GREAT STORY.

NOVEMBER'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS GOT MORE INTERESTING WITH THE NEWS THAT SENATOR JAMES INHOFE IS RESIGNING HIS SEAT EARLY.

WE WILL DISCUSS THE TOPIC AT LENGTH.

SUSAN IS JOINED BY EVA AND SCOTT.

>> WE HAVE TWO FOLKS WHO ARE SAVVY, KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF POLITICS, NEVA HILL, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND SCOTT MITCHELL, OKLAHOMA POLITICAL OBSERVER AND COMMENTATOR.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

FULL DISCLOSURE, YOU ARE WORKING ON SENATOR LANGEFORD'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN, WE WILL CLEAR STEER OF THAT TOPIC ENTIRELY BUT WE WANTED TO LET THE VIEWERS KNOW ABOUT THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON SENATOR JIM INHOFE'S ANNOUNCEMENT.

WERE YOU SURPRISED WHEN THE SENATOR ANNOUNCED HE WAS STEPPING DOWN, RETIRING?

>> I WASN'T SURPRISED AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

I MEAN, THERE WAS ALWAYS A QUESTION WHAT THE TIMING WOULD WOULD BE.

I THINK EVERYONE HAD AN EXPECTATION THAT SENATOR INHOFE MIGHT NOT GO THE FULL DISTANCE OF ANOTHER SIX-YEAR TERM, BUT THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE I THINK WAS WHEN THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND CERTAINLY ABOUT WHAT OCCURRED TWO WEEKS AGO, THE DOMINOES HAVE STARTED TO REALLY FALL AND A COMPLETELY NEW TWIST IN TERMS OF WHAT OKLAHOMA WILL BE LIKE IN THIS 2022 ELECTION CYCLE.

>> WELL, SCOTT, I'M GOING TO LET YOU JUMP OFF RIGHT THERE WHAT NEVA SAID.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SURPRISED.

I THINK PEOPLE IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY WERE SURPRISED, WHO WORK ON BASES WERE SURPRISED.

I THINK TOM AND JAMES, THEY HAVE A BIG ROLE TO FILL, THEY'LL PICK UP THE SLACK.

AND THE DOMINOES START TO FALL.

I'M THINKING SOME MORE WILL.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DOMINOES AND EITHER ONE OF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS.

INHOFE BEING IN HIS OFFICE FOR SO LONG HELD A LOT OF POWER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SCOTT, CAN YOU OUTLINE KIND OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT HE HELD?

>> WELL, AS THE RANKING MEMBER ON DEFENSE, I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY A POWERFUL COMMITTEE AND REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, TOO.

I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT THE BASES, WE HAVE SURVIVED EVERY BRICK AND I THINK THE SENATOR WAS THERE THROUGH ALL THAT, JAMES MOUNTAIN INHOFE.

NOT JUST REVERBERATIONS, BUT WE HAVE A NEW DEFENSE INDUSTRY, NEW ASSOCIATION, SO YOU KNOW THE 49 OTHER STATES ARE LOOKING AT OKLAHOMA GOING I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME OF THAT, RIGHT.

SO, THE DOMINOES GO FAR BEYOND THE ELECTIONS.

>> EXPLAIN WHAT A BRACK IS.

>> BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSING.

FOR DECADES SHUTTING DOWN MILITARY BASES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

IT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN OKLAHOMA AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE DELEGATION OVER THE YEARS AND YOU HAVE TO SAY, YOU HAVE TO GIVE THE AWARDS TO SENATOR INHOFE.

OUR BASES ARE STILL OPERATING.

>> ONE THING I WILL ADD TO THAT, NOT ONLY HAS THE SENATOR BEEN IN THAT ROLE AND A VERY MAJOR WAY SINCE 1994, I MEAN, THREE DECADES IN CONGRESS, 50 PLUS YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND ELECTIVE OFFICE, THAT'S A CAREER THAT WILL NOT BE MATCHED ANY TIME SOON AND I THINK THAT YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT LEAVES A TREMENDOUS VOID IN TERMS OF SENIORITY AND THAT IS WHAT WE ALL TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INFLUENCE AND THE ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS.

SO CERTAINLY I THINK AS THE SENATOR MOVES THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR, AS HE SAID, COMPLETES HIS WORK AND STAYS ON THE JOB, WE WILL SEE HIM FIGHTING THE FIGHT OVER MANY THINGS, THE DEFENSE BILL, OTHER THINGS THAT HE HAS A PASSION AND A TRACK RECORD FOR, BEING ABLE TO WORK EVEN AS A MINORITY MEMBER NOW OF THESE SIGNIFICANT COMMITTEES AND STILL GET THINGS DONE.

>> NEVA, A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE SCENE.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN ANNOUNCEMENT LIKE THIS COMES DOWN.

BACK STAGE, POLITICALLY SPEAKING.

>> ANYONE INTERESTED IN MAKING THE LEAP FROM THAT SEAT, FROM ANOTHER POLITICAL OFFICE OR SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT RUN FOR OFFICE, YOU HAVE A VERY SHORT WINDOW TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

I THINK WE SAW ALREADY, I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL WE HAD THE ROLL-OUT OF THE SENATOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF WHO STEPPED DOWN FROM THAT ROLE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD RUN, TRY TO BE THE SUCCESSOR TO HIS BOSS.

IMMEDIATELY A CONGRESSMAN JUMPED IN AND SAID HE'S IN IT TO WIN IT, PUT TOGETHER A TEAM QUICKLY, SOME OF THEM TRUMP OPERATIVES, SOME YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS HIS LONG TIME FOLKS HERE IN OKLAHOMA, AND I'VE ALREADY SEEN A GUY THAT HAS JUMPED IN QUICKLY ON THE AIRWAVES, HAS DIRECT MAIL IN THE MAILBOXES TO HIGH PROPENSITY OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS, A QUICK TURN AROUND AND CLEAR THE FIELD A BIT, BUT STILL MANY OTHERS.

A STATE SENATOR FROM BROKEN ARROW, HE WAS IN THE OTHER SENATE RACE AND DECIDED TO PIVOT TO THIS RACE, THE OPEN SEAT AND A LOT OF NAMES, QUESTION MARKS, OF FOLKS STILL THAT WE WONDER WILL THEY GET IN OR NOT, PROBABLY THE TWO MOST PROMINENT NAMES, FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN KEVIN HEARN AND FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER IN OKLAHOMA, T.W.

SHANNON.

>> I HAVE A SNEAKING SUSPICION, HE HAS ANOTHER YEAR LEFT AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE POND, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS OVER THE LAST YEAR DECIDED THEY ARE GOING TO BE DEFICIT HOGS, THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE.

IF YOU DON'T THINK DEFENSE SPENDING IS GOING TO GO UP YOU ARE ON ANOTHER PLANET.

PEOPLE WILL WANT TO MODERNIZE, MAKE OURSELF SAFER FROM THE GUY ACROSS THE POND, THIS MAY BE THE MOST INTERESTING YEAR HE'S EVER HAD AS UNITED STATES SENATOR, NEVA SAID HE'S WORKING IN THE MINORITY, BASICALLY IN THE SENATE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE -- THERE'S GOING TO BE INCREASED DEFENSE SPENDING IN THE THICK OF THAT.

IT COULD BE, AGAIN, ONE OF THE MOST -- IT COULD BE THE CHERRY ON TOP OF THE CAKE FOR HIS CAREER IN TERMS OF WHAT HE COULD DO FOR OKLAHOMA AND THE WORLD.

>> AND WE SAW THAT EVEN LAST YEAR WHEN SENATOR INHOFE WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER AND GET MORE MONEY IN THE DEFENSE BILL THAN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTED.

SO SUCCESSFUL NOT ONLY ON THE SENATE SIDE, BUT ABLE TO NAVIGATE THAT AND THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT ON THE HOUSE SIDE AS WELL.

SO, I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, SCOTT.

THIS IS -- WE ARE INTERNATIONALLY AT A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE, ALL EYES ARE ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD.

>> I WAS GOING TO SLIP INTO TERM LIMITS BEFORE WE GOT INTO THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT LATER.

AND MAYBE THESE THINGS GO TOGETHER.

SOME PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOR OF TERM LIMITS.

WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE GETS SENIORITY LIKE INHOFE DOES, IT PLACE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN GUIDING THE NATION.

TERM LIMITS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A SENATOR OR A CONGRESSPERSON'S ROLE IN D.C. >> I'M AMBIVALENT ABOUT TERM LIMITS, I HATE THEM.

MAYBE MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IN 2004 WOULD GO NO, WE REALLY LIKE THAT.

IS THAT THE YEAR THAT REPUBLICANS TOOK OVER WAS 2004?

>> YES.

>> THE YEAR WHERE ALL OF THOSE RURAL OKLAHOMA DEMOCRATS AND YOU CAN SEE THEIR FACES, THEY LOOK THE SAME COLOR AS MINE, RIGHT.

WHEN THEY ALL TERMED OUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE DEAD AND THOSE GUYS ARE TERMING OUT, PEOPLE AT THE TIME WENT OK, IT HAPPENS, RIGHT?

SO, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LOOK AND SEE SENIORITY, YOU GET YOURSELF SOME SENIORITY, I'VE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF THEM.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU SCOTT, INTERESTINGLY WHEN OKLAHOMANS VOTED, THEY VOTED IN TERM LIMITS AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL AND CHANGED FROM SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE 50 PLUS YEARS TO SOMEONE, TO A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME.

I THINK MANY PEOPLE SEE AT THE STATE LEVEL WHAT MANY PEOPLE SEE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL WHERE THERE IS NOT TERM LIMITS AND THAT IS TO BUILD SENIORITY ALSO MEANS YOU BUILD EXPERTISE, YOU BUILD THE FRAMEWORK TO BE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE BIG DEBATES, AND DEAL WITH THE QUESTIONS THAT TAKE YEARS AND SOMETIMES DECADES TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS, PARTICULARLY IN CONGRESS.

SO, THESE ARE NOT ONE AND DONE OPPORTUNITIES.

THESE ARE LONG, YOU KNOW, LONG ROADS THAT THESE FOLKS GO DOWN.

NOW, AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHERE YOU HAVE TERM LIMITS AND FOLKS, BY THE TIME THEY GET TO THAT LAST TERM BEFORE THEY ARE GOING TO TERM OUT, MANY OF THEM WILL TELL YOU I'M AT THE PLACE WHERE I KIND OF AM FULLY ENGAGED AND UNDERSTAND AND HAVE A PASSION FOR AN AREA OF WORK OR A PARTICULAR COMMITTEE THAT I HAVE BECOME SOMEWHAT EXPERT IN, AND WOULD LIKE TO -- WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IN THAT ROLE.

>> WE COULD GO ON, THERE IS SO MUCH I WOULD LIKE TO TACKLE HAVING BOTH OF YOU HERE, I THINK WE WANT TO HAVE YOU BACK BUT I WANT TO WRAP UP.

TOO EARLY FOR PREDICTIONS, WHO DO YOU THINK MIGHT SNAG THE SEAT?

>> I THINK IT'S -- I THINK IT IS A WIDE OPEN BALL GAME ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE TO GET THE NOMINATION.

I THINK -- I THINK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT 15 WEEKS FROM TUESDAY BEING THE PRIMARY ON JUNE 28TH, IT'S A MAD DASH, AND SO MONEY IS GOING TO BE A BIG, BIG FACTOR IN THIS, A LOT OF TIMES FOLKS, YOU KNOW, WANT TO KIND OF PUSH THAT OFF AND NOT BE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT CONVERSATION BUT THE REALITY IS TO BE A CREDIBLE CANDIDATE THAT CAN COMMUNICATE TO OKLAHOMA VOTERS, 77 COUNTIES, AND DO IT IN A QUICK WAY AND GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT, IT'S GOING TO TAKE MONEY AND IN MANY CASES BE THE PERSON WHO STARTS WITH SOME NAME I.D.

OR A JUMP INTO THE RACE THAT GETS THEM SOME MOMENTUM THAT YOU JUST CAN'T GET FROM THE STARTING BLOCKS AND 0 NAME I.D.

>> SCOTT, QUICKLY, HAVE YOU HEARD ANY NAMES ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE?

>> I THINK KENDRA HORN IS ODDS ON IF SHE JUMPS IN, THE DEMOCRAT THAT DOES IT.

AND EARLIER QUESTION, IF YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT T.W.

SHANNON, CONGRESSMAN HEARN AND ANOTHER NAME, CORENET, IF YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO, WE CAN HANDICAP IT.

IF HEARN JUMPS INTO THE SENATE RACE, HE CAN BE ON THE A AND B CHAIR, OR A AND B SENIOR NEXT YEAR IF THE REPUBLICANS TAKE OVER.

SO, I THINK AS NEVA SAID, IT'S WIDE OPEN, WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO ENTER THE OPEN.

>> SOMETHING WE WILL ALL KEEP AN EYE ON AND LOVE TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU BACK TO TALK ABOUT IT AS THINGS EVOLVE ON DOWN THE ROAD.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> YES, SUSAN, SCOTT AND NEVA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IMAGINE BEING A UKRAINIAN FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT LIVING HERE IN OKLAHOMA AND THAT VLADIMIR PUTIN JUST LAUNCHED A BRUTAL ASSAULT ON YOUR HOME COUNTRY.

THAT'S THE TERROR BY A YOUNG WOMAN AT O.U.

RIGHT NOW.

>> SO I WAS THE PERSON WHO WOKE EVERYBODY UP, SO I CALLED THEM AND SAID LIKE RUSSIA INVADED.

>> KATE, A 17-YEAR-OLD EXCHANGE STUDENT MADE THE PHONE CALL HOME CHANGING EVERYTHING FOR HER FAMILY IN UKRAINE.

KATE SAYS HER MOTHER AND SISTER WERE VISITING FRIENDS IN BELGIUM AT THE TIME.

>> THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO COME BACK ON THURSDAY AT 10:00 A.M. AND RUSSIA INVADED ON THURSDAY AT 5:00 A.M., SO MY MOM GOT -- ALL FLIGHTS WERE CANCELED, AND THEY COULD NOT COME BACK TO UKRAINE.

>> AFTER CHECKING ON HER FAMILY, SHE CHECKED ON A FRIEND AND THAT'S WHEN THE INVASION BECAME EVEN MORE PERSONAL.

>> I CALL MY FRIEND, SHE WOKE UP, AND SHE WAS LIKE DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, EVERYTHING IS FINE, LIKE REALLY WE ARE FAR AWAY FROM EVERYTHING, IT'S QUIET IN OUR HOMETOWN, AND AFTER ONE SECOND WE HEARD EXPLOSIONS, LIKE BOMB EXPLOSIONS AND SHE'S LIKE DID YOU HEAR THAT, AND I SAID YES, AND ANOTHER EXPLOSION.

>> KATE'S FAMILY IS SAFE, THE POSSIBILITY OF HARM IS PREVALENT AND HER OKLAHOMA HOST FAMILY IS MAKING SURE KATE KNOWS SHE'S CARED FOR.

>> THEY HAVE MADE RIBBONS, PINS, BUTTONS, THEY DECORATED THE SCHOOL, THE HALLWAYS WITH BALLOONS AND HER FLAG COLORS AND OUR LITTLE AXE COLORS, IT'S AMAZING TO SEE HOW MUCH THE SCHOOL HAS SUPPORTED HER IN THIS.

>> OUTPOURING OF LOVE FROM THE SCHOOL AND TEACHERS ARE SUPPORTIVE TO KATE AND SHE SAYS SHE IS THANKFUL, BUT ALSO WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT MONETARY DONATIONS TO UKRAINE ARE ONE OF THE FEW WAYS AID IS BROUGHT DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTRY.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO UKRAINE IS DONATING MONEY FOR LIKE FIRST AID.

>> KATE RESEARCHED ORGANIZATIONS SHE WOULD LIKE FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND ANYONE LOOKING TO HELP TO SEND MONEY TO.

BUT HER MENTION OF AIDING THE MILITARY IN UKRAINE STRIKES A SPECIAL NERVE IN THIS HOUSEHOLD, HER HOST DAD, A MEMBER OF THE U.S. MILITARY.

>> SHE HAS TO GET THROUGH THIS.

>> NO MATTER HOW BAD THE INVASION GETS, MAX MAKES SURE SHE KNOWS SHE'S ALWAYS WELCOME.

>> SHE HAS A HOME HERE REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING.

SHE COULD STAY HER UNTIL SHE GRADUATES AND EVEN AFTER THAT, LIKE WE TREAT HER NO DIFFERENT THAN OUR OWN KIDS.

>> KATE IS GRATEFUL FOR HER HOST FAMILY PLACEMENT BUT CONTINUES TO HOPE THE FIGHTING STOPS SO SHE CAN BE REUNITED WITH HER FAMILY THERE.

>> SO BASICALLY MY DAD, MOM AND SISTER.

>> ONE PHOTO TAKEN IN EGYPT, THE OTHER ON HER GRANDMOTHER'S BIRTHDAY.

>> GRANDMOTHER'S BIRTHDAY.

>> SHE MISSES HER FAMILY DEARLY, SHE HAS A FOREIGN EXCHANGE SISTER SARAH FROM ESTONIA, AND HAVE NOT HESITATED TO CREATE A FAMILY BOND.

FOR THE MOST PART, THEY GET ALONG VERY WELL.

[LAUGHTER] >> AS KATE NAVIGATES A ROLLER COASTER OF EMOTIONS THROUGHOUT THE INVASION OF UKRAINE, SHE USES TIKTOK TO KEEP UP WITH HER FRIENDS BACK HOME.

>> SHARE LAUGHS WITH HER TEACHERS.

>> MY MATH TEACHER.

>> AND ENJOYS TIME WITH THE TEAMMATES ON THE CHEERLEADING TEAM.

PICKING UP A SPORT THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT THE SCHOOL IN UKRAINE.

KATE AND HER FAMILY ARE MAKING SURE SHE GETS THE MOST OUT OF HER FOREIGN EXCHANGE YEAR AND THAT SHE CAN STAY WITH THEM UNTIL THINGS ARE SAFER IN UKRAINE, EVEN IF IT MEANS EXTENDING THE EXCHANGE YEAR.

KATE IS DETERMINED TO HAVE A GREAT YEAR IN OKLAHOMA.

>> ON THE NEXT "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," ODOT AND THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY HAVE APPROVED A PRODUCT.

AND WE WILL LEAVE YOU NOW WITH A TOUR OF THE OKLAHOMA SCIENCE MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPHED BY CASEY FERGUSON.

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

STAY TUNED TO OETA.