>> A STATE COURT EXPANDING THE REACH OF THE MCGIRT DECISION.

WHAT THAT MEANS FOR TRIBAL LEADERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE HARD AT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGHOUT OUR BOUNDARIES.

>> OKLAHOMA RESTAURANT OWNERS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF PPP, AS MANY STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE THE ON-GOING PANDEMIC.

>> ONCE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GET IN AND GET THOSE APPLICATIONS PUT IN I WAS SHOCKED AND WE WERE HAPPY AND GRATEFUL FOR THAT AT THE SAME TIME.

>> LAWMAKERS DEBATING THE COST OF ENJOYING OKLAHOMA'S STATE PARKS.

>> WHAT ABOUT IF AN INDIVIDUAL CAN PICK ONE PARK IN THE STATE AND PAY $20 A YEAR AND HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THAT ONE PARK?

>> THE OKLAHOMA CONNECTION, THEN AND NOW, FOR ONE OF BASEBALL'S GREATEST PIONEERS.

>> WE JUST THINK JACKIE ROBINSON MURAL IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP MOTIVATE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND TO, TO HE'S A ROLE MODEL, AND WE, WE'RE REAL PROUD TO HAVE THAT THERE.

>> PLUS, AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE TOLL THE PANDEMIC IS TAKING ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OKLAHOMANS NEXT ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.” >> HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

I'M RICH LENZ.

THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT'S MCGIRT DECISION, CONTINUE TO REVERBERATE IN OUR STATE.

AND NOW, THE OKLAHOMA COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS HAS ISSUED A RULING THAT EXPANDS THE IMPACT OF MCGIRT TO INCLUDE CRIMES COMMITTED IN BOTH THE CHEROKEE AND CHICKASAW NATION TERRITORIES.

JASON DOYLE EXPLAINS WHAT THAT MEANS FOR STATE AND FEDERAL PROSECUTORS, AS WELL AS THE TRIBES THEMSELVES.

>> WHILE NO ONE WAS SURPRISED BY THE OKLAHOMA COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS DECISIONS IN THE BOSSE VERSUS THE STATE AND THE HOGNER VERSUS THE STATE CASES, IT DOES BRING THE CHICKASAW AND CHEROKEE NATIONS ON PAR WITH MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION CONCERNING CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

IT TOLD US WHAT WE REALLY ALREADY KNEW, BUT IT HAS A GREAT IMPACT, UH, IMMEDIATELY ON CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.

AND THE THING WE ALREADY KNEW IS THAT THE CHEROKEE NATION STILL EXISTS.

IT WAS NEVER DISESTABLISHED BY THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, EVEN BEFORE LAST SUMMER'S HISTORIC DECISION IN THE MCGIRT CASE.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE HUNTER SAYS THE RULING WILL REQUIRE THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, FEDERAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS AND THE TRIBAL NATIONS TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE CERTAIN JUSTICE IS SERVED IN THE STATE CRIMINAL CASES THAT ARE NOW HEADING TO FEDERAL AND TRIBAL COURTS.

>> THE BEST WAY FOR US IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WORK TOGETHER, UM, WHILE RESPECTING THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE FIVE, UH, THE FIVE TRIBES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY MCGIRT.

>> HUNTER ADDS THE COMMON GOAL FOR ALL SIDES IS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE.

>> AND THE GOAL THERE IS CROSS DEPUTIZATION MEANS THAT, UH, AN INDIVIDUAL, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT IN CHICKASAW CHEROKEE LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, THEY CAN, THEY CAN DETAIN AND THEY CAN ARREST AND DETAIN SOMEBODY WHILE THEY FIGURE OUT WHO'S GOT JURISDICTION.

>> TWENTY DAYS FROM THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS DECISIONS, THE BOSSE AND HOGNER CASES WILL BE MOVED TO THE FEDERAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BUT FOR THE CHICKASAW TRIBE PREPARATIONS WERE HAPPENING MUCH EARLIER.

>> WE HAVE BEEN PREPARING OURSELVES REALLY SINCE THE MURPHY DECISION CAME DOWN IN AUGUST, 2017, FOR WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR CHICKASAW TO HAVE ITS RESERVATION STATUS RECOGNIZED FOR PURPOSES OF FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW.

>> THE TRIBES ARE INVESTING IN THEIR OWN JUSTICE SYSTEM TO HANDLE THE CASES FLOWING OUT OF THE STATE SYSTEM.

>> SO PREPARING FOR THAT MEANS FOR THE CHEROKEE NATION BUILDING THE BIGGEST CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN OKLAHOMA, OTHER THAN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA'S AND WE'RE CHEROKEE NATION, WE WANT TO DO IT RIGHT.

WE WANT TO DO IT WELL.

>> 27 COUNTIES ARE IMPACTED BY THE BOSSE AND HOGNER DECISION, AS WELL AS THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICES WHICH SERVE THEM ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>> WE'RE STILL TRYING TO WRAP OUR HEAD AROUND THE EXACT NUMBERS, AND THAT'LL BE A WHILE BEFORE WE'RE ABLE TO DETERMINE EXACTLY THE NUMBERS, BUT, UM, IT'S GOING TO BE SAFE TO SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE, UH, INTO POTENTIALLY INTO A THOUSAND OR MORE.

>> WHAT KIND OF ASSETS DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO ADD TO YOUR OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE INCREASED WORKLOAD?

>> WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE ATTORNEYS WE'LL NEED MORE SUPPORT STAFF.

WE'LL NEED MORE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AS WELL.

>> TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE, WILSON SAYS THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA HAS HANDLED ABOUT TEN MURDER CASES IN 15 YEARS.

NOW HE'S LOOKING AT MORE THAN 100 IN A SINGLE YEAR.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE, UH, GOING FROM THE UNITED STATES FROM THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA BEING ONE OF THE SMALLEST DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY, UH, TO, UM, ONE OF THE LARGEST DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY.

WILSON HOPES THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP WITH THE INCREASED CRIMINAL CASE LOAD.

CHEROKEE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CHUCK HOSKIN JR FEELS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDE FUNDS TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE TRIBAL COURT SYSTEM.

BUT HE'S NOT EXPECTING IT.

>> LOOK, I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO NOT TO WEIGH THAN GIVING THE UNITED STATES TO COME THROUGH ON DOLLARS FOR INDIAN COUNTRY.

WE'RE GOING TO DO IT OURSELVES.

WE HAVE THE REVENUE TO DO IT, AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING IT.

>> THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA SHOULD EXPECT MORE TRIBES TO HAVE THE MCGIRT DECISION APPLIED TO THEM.

>> THERE ARE CASES THAT ARE PENDING THEIR WAY, UM, TO THE, UH, APPELLATE PROCESS FROM THE SEMINOLE NATION.

UH, AND ALSO FROM THE CHOCTAW NATION THAT I THINK WILL, WILL BE DECIDED SOON.

>> THAT INCLUDES TRIBES OUTSIDE OF THE FIVE TRIBES.

>> THE OTTAWA COUNTY DISTRICT COURT RULED THAT, UM, THE PEORIA TRIBES, UH, TREATY RESERVATION BOUNDARIES ARE STILL EXIST.

AND THAT IS A NON -- UH, FIVE TRIBES CASE.

>> THE TRIBES, THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGREE CONGRESS NEEDS TO STEP IN TO GIVE COMPACT AUTHORITY OVER CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES.

>> THEY OUGHT TO ACT CAREFULLY.

WHAT THEY DO NEEDS TO LEAVE MCGIRT COMPLETELY INTACT, AND THEN IT NEEDS TO ESSENTIALLY UNSHACKLE THE TRIBES AND THE STATE SO THAT WE CAN ENTER INTO SOME MEANINGFUL COMPACTS, IF WE WANT TO.

SO A LOT OF THESE THINGS, A LOT OF THE UNCERTAINTY CAN BE DEALT WITH BY COMPACTS.

>> UNTIL CONGRESS ACTS, THE TRIBES WILL WORK WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WHERE THEY CAN TO KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFE WITHIN EVERY JURISDICTION.

JASON DOYLE, THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> ON THURSDAY, FORMER TULSA POLICE OFFICER SHANNON KEPLER'S MANSLAUGHTER CONVICTION FOR THE 2014 KILLING OF 19-YEAR OLD JEREMEY LAKE WAS OVERTURNED BECAUSE OF THE MCGIRT RULING AND WILL NOW HAVE TO BE RE-TRIED IN FEDERAL COURT.

>> ALL POSITIVE NEWS REGARDING THE LATEST COVID-19 NUMBERS.

OUR PER-DAY AVERAGE OF NEW CASES HAS DROPPED BELOW 500, ALMOST A HUNDRED LESS THAN 7 DAYS AGO.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN, FROM 291 TO 254.

AND THE DEATH RATE IS SLOWING, AS WELL.

187 DEATHS THIS WEEK, FOR A TOTAL OF 7,673.

ALSO, AS OF WEDNESDAY, MORE THAN 811,288 OKLAHOMANS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE, AND A LITTLE OVER 448,289 HAVE COMPLETED THEIR VACCINATIONS.

>> OKLAHOMA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL RECEIVE $1.5 BILLION FROM THE RECENTLY SIGNED $2-TRILLION STIMULUS.

THAT IS IN ADDITION TO THE $810 MILLION OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS RECEIVED IN TWO PREVIOUS STIMULUS PACKAGES.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS MUST DEDICATE 80% OF THE AID TO COVID-RELATED USES AND THE REMAINING 20% TO ADDRESS DISRUPTION IN LEARNING.

THERE IS ALSO $25-BILLION IN THE STIMULUS FOR ADDITIONAL PAYROLL PROTECTION ASSISTANCE FOR U.S.

RESTAURANTS.

P.P.P.

HAS HELPED KEEP HUNDREDS OF OKLAHOMA EATERIES IN BUSINESS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

STEVE SHAW REPORTS ON ONE OF THEM IN EDMOND, WHOSE OWNER HAS QUITE A BACK STORY.

>> OWEN WILSON OPENED BIG O'S PORK AND DREAMS AT THE CORNER OF SECOND STREET AND EDMOND ROAD A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

WITH MENU ITEMS FEATURING NAMES LIKE FAT BUTT, AND BIG NASTY, IT GETS YOUR ATTENTION.

>> OH MAN, I LOVE THOSE NAMES, YOU KNOW.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE CREATIVE.

YOU WILL DRAW PEOPLE IN.

FAT BUTT, BIG NASTY, THE ROLEE OHLEE.

IT JUST BRINGS PEOPLE IN, WHAT IS THAT DUDE DOING OVER THERE.

>> OWEN WILSON WAS ONCE A TEACHER AND DEFENSIVE LINE COACH AT EDMOND SANTA FE HIGH SCHOOL FOR TWENTY YEARS.

HE STEPPED AWAY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018 TO CHASE HIS DREAM.

AND WE HAD HIM WORKING WITH AT-RISK STUDENTS HERE AND HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

>> HE WAS A DIFFUSER.

>> YES, AND HE HAD A LOT OF STREET CRED WITH THE KIDS.

>> LEA MCBRIDE HAS BEEN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AT SANTA FE SINCE IT OPENED IN 1993.

SHE SAYS BIG OWEN MADE A BIG IMPACT ON STUDENTS WHO NORMALLY WERE HARD TO REACH.

>> HERE'S MY THINKING ON OWEN.

AND YES, HE IS A FANTASTIC COOK AND DID A GREAT JOB HERE AS A TA 2, BUT HIS GREATEST THING IS HE IS A PEOPLE PERSON.

AND IF YOU WANT TO LAUGH OR WANT A GOOD LISTENER, OR IF YOU WANT TO HEAR A GOOD STORY, OWEN'S THE ONE TO GO TO.

>> OWEN'S EXPLOITS AROUND A SMOKE PIT HAVE BEEN WELL KNOWN FOR YEARS.

IN 2013 HE BOUGHT THIS LARGE FOOD TRAILER THAT'S SERVED MANY IN AND AROUND OU'S FOOTBALL PROGRAM INCLUDING PLAYERS, BOB STOOPS, LINCOLN RILEY AND EVEN THE KING.

>> YOU COOKED FOR THE KING?

>> THAT IT I COOKED FOR THE KING A WHOLE BUNCH OF TIMES!

THAT GUY'S GOT A SHARP MEMORY MAN!

>> WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO BIG O'S PORK AND DREAMS.

>> IT HAD BEEN OPEN JUST FOUR MONTHS WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

>> LIKE I SAY, WHEN WE MOVED IN HERE WE WERE THE FOURTH BARBECUE JOINT ON THIS STREET BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

AND I'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF BARBECUE PLACES FOLD HERE IN EDMOND AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WAS THINKING HE JUST OPENED UP IN DECEMBER 2019 IS HE GONNA BE ABLE TO HOLD ON.

>> YOU KNOW, I GOT A GOOD TEAMATE ON MY TEAM, MY WIFE, AND SHE DOES A LOT OF GOOD PRAYING FOR US MAN.

>> WE STILL DO IT THE TRADITIONAL WAY.

SO HIS FAMILY JUST COMES FROM A FAMILY OF COOKS.

WHEN I SAY COOKS, THEY COULD REALLY COOK.

>> THE WILSON'S WERE GRATEFUL WHEN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA GAVE THEM $8,800 OF FEDERAL GRANT MONEY TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEIR RESTAURANT WAS ONE OF MORE THAN 8,600 SMALL BUSINESSES IN 334 COMMUNTIES ACROSS OKLAHOMA'S 77 COUNTIES THAT HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN $143 MILLION THOUGH THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS RELIEF PROGRAM.

>> I WAS REALLY SHOCKED AT HOW MUCH HELP WAS REALLY AVAILABLE TO SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT IT WAS EASY TO GET IN TO GET THOSE LOANS, BUT ONCE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GET IN AND GET THOSE APPLICATIONS PUT IN.

I WAS SHOCKED AND WE WERE HAPPY AND GRATEFUL FOR THAT AT THE SAME TIME.

>> AND REALLY OUR FOCUS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND REALLY WITH THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND THE STITT ADMINISTRATION OVER THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS HAS BEEN TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN.

THEY ARE THE ONE'S THAT BROUGHT US TO THE DANCE AND WE WANT THEM TO CONTINUE TO STAY OPEN.

>> DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BRENT KISLING SAYS OKLAHOMA'S PROACTIVE APPROACH LED TO EMPLOYMENT NUMBERS RELEASED THIS WEEK THAT SHOW THE STATE IS TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS BETTER THAN THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT AVERAGE.

HE SAYS THE THIRD STIMULUS PACKAGE APPROVED BY CONGRESS AND SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT LAST WEEK WILL ONLY HELP.

RONNIE WATSON DRIVES OVER TO BIG O'S FROM OKLAHOMA CITY WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

>> THE FOOD IS REALLY GOOD AND THE PRICES ARE VERY AFFORDABLE.

AND THEY ARE VERY FRIENDLY THE STAFF HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY NICE HERE.

>> WHAT'S THE BEST THING AT BIG O'S?

>> OH, THAT'S HARD TO SAY.

I MEAN, OUR MEATS ARE ALL SMOKED SO YOU CAN'T GO WRONG THERE.

BUT THE RIBS THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE FLAVOR AND THE RIBS AND THEY'RE TENDER AND THEY JUST FALL OFF THE BONE.

>> ME BEING IN THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS REALLY HELPED.

I WASN'T JUST A GUY WHO SAID I'M GONNA OPEN UP.

YOU KNOW, ME BEING IN THE COMMUNITY COACHING, TEACHING HAVING A FOOD TRUCK A LOT OF PEOPLE ALREADY KNEW ME, SO I WAS PRETTY FORTUNATE THAT WAY.

>> OH, THAT IS VERY EXCITING TO HEAR.

I HAVE NOT TRIED HIS BARBECUE YET, BUT I ANTICIPATE IT'S ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I HAVE EVER EATEN IN MY LIFE.

BUT THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES WE WANT TO MAKE SURE CONTINUE TO GROW.

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

>> AND STEVE TELLS ME THAT OWEN AND TANAKA WILSON CELEBRATED THEIR 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ON TUESDAY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> WE ARE NOW A WEEK OUT FROM A STORY THAT MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.

RACIST COMMENTS MADE BY AN ANNOUNCER JUST PRIOR TO THE TIP-OFF OF A GIRL'S BASKETBALL GAME IN SAPULPA LAST THURSDAY.

OUR CONTENT PARTNERS AT THE FRONTIER BROKE THAT STORY AND THEIR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, DYLAN GOFORTH, JOINS US NOW TO DISCUSS THE FALLOUT SINCE THEN.

DYLAN, LET'S BEGIN WITH A RECAP OF EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW IT HAPPENED.

>> YEAH, SURE.

SO THURSDAY NIGHT THERE WAS A STATE TOURNAMENT GAME BETWEEN NORMAN HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS AND MIDWEST CITY.

THE ANNOUNCERS APPARENTLY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT THE MICROPHONES WERE STILL HOT.

THE NORMAN GIRLS HAD BEEN, UM, KNEELING DURING THE ANTHEM TO RAISE AWARENESS OF -- OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.

WHEN THEY REALIZED IT WAS NORMAN, ONE OF THE ANNOUNCERS SAID, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT HE -- HE HOPED THEY WOULD LOSE THE GAME.

AND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WENT BY, AND THEN HE, YOU KNOW, USED THE RACIAL SLUR TO DESCRIBE THEM.

>> AND THEN THIS GENTLEMAN CLAIMED IN HIS APOLOGY THAT HIS OUTBURSTS WAS THE RESULT OF HIS DIABETES.

>> BECAUSE YEAH, HE SAID THAT HE HAD A SPIKE IN HIS BLOOD SUGAR, AND SO THAT IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR HIM TO BE AGITATED I THINK IS HOW HE DESCRIBED IT, AND SAY THINGS THAT HE WOULDN'T NORMALLY SAY.

HERE HE IS USING THE SLUR ON THURSDAY NIGHT AND VICTIMIZING, YOU KNOW, A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THESE TEENAGE GIRLS IN THE BASKETBALL TEAM.

AND THEN IN HIS EXCUSE, THE NEXT DAY, IT LED TO, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF JOKES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HAVE A SNICKERS, THAT KIND OF THING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU KNOW, A SPIKE IN BLOOD SUGAR DOESN'T MAKE YOU SAY RACIST THINGS.

>> BOTH ANNOUNCERS, UH, HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.

UH, EVEN, YOU KNOW, THE -- ONE OF THE ANNOUNCERS WHO DIDN'T -- HE WAS A COACH AT HOLBERT.

HE DIDN'T MAKE THE STATEMENT, BUT THE SCHOOL SAID HE DIDN'T ALSO, YOU KNOW, CORRECT THAT STATEMENT AND SAY THAT THAT WAS WRONG.

>> DYLAN, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE HAD THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT AT AN ATHLETIC EVENT, HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC EVENT IN OKLAHOMA.

>> SO IN LATE FEBRUARY, THERE WERE TWO BOYS TEAMS THAT WERE PLAYING AND THERE WAS A FIGHT THAT BROKE OUT BETWEEN PLAYERS AND STUDENT FANS AFTER THE GAME.

AND, UM, THE SCHOOL SAID THAT THEY -- THE PLAYERS THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, PREDOMINANTLY BLACK PLAYERS ON THIS TEAM HAD BEEN TARGETED BY RACIAL TAUNTS BY THE STUDENTS.

AND SO THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY HAPPENED LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, UH, WITH GIRLS' TEAM.

>> SO GIVEN THAT, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

HOW DO WE MAKE PROGRESS?

>> THAT WAS A QUARTERFINALS GAME, AND THE GIRLS HAD TO GO BACK OUT THE NEXT DAY AND PLAY SEMI-FINAL GAME, WHICH THEY WON AND THEY HAD TO GO BACK OUT.

THEN THEY, AFTER THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH NOW MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE SORT OF EYES ON THEM, AND THEN THEY WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

AND SO HERE ARE THESE TEENAGE GIRLS WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY THIS TERRIBLE THING, AND THEY WERE STRONG ENOUGH TO GO AND KEEP WINNING.

>> AND ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU DO HAVE THIS TERRIBLE, UM, THING THAT WAS SAID.

AND SO HOPEFULLY THAT LEADS PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS PLAY OUT TO, UM, KIND OF LOOK THEMSELVES MAYBE, AND REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I DO HAVE THESE FEELINGS IN MY HEART TOO, AND I DON'T VIEW MYSELF AS A RACIST, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY SHOWED ME THAT I DO HAVE SOME THINGS TO WORK ON AND SOME THINGS TO CHANGE ABOUT MYSELF.

>> SPRING BREAK RESULTING IN A REDUCED SCHEDULE AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK BUT THERE WAS STILL SOME MOVEMENT ON MAJOR LEGISLATION.

JASON DOYLE DISCUSSES THAT WITH E-CAPITOL NEWS DIRECTOR, SHAWN ASHLEY.

>> SHAWN, AN APPROPRIATIONS BILL MADE IT OUT OF THE SENATE THIS WEEK, MEANING HELP IS A STEP CLOSER FOR DISTRICT COURTS IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

WHAT DOES HOUSE BILL 2889 DO?

>> THE BILL APPROPRIATE $7.5 MILLION TO THE DISTRICT COURT SYSTEM, WHICH, AS YOU MENTIONED, HAVE SEEN SOME OF THEIR REVENUES FALL AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THERE'S SIMPLY BEEN FEWER COURT FILINGS AND FEWER COURT CASES BEING HEARD.

THE COURTS RECEIVED MONEY FROM THREE FUNDS FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

ONE OF THOSE BEING COURT FEES, AND THIS WILL MAKE UP THAT FUNDING.

THE BILL NOW SITS ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, AWAITING HIS ACTION.

>> TWO HOUSE RESOLUTIONS ASSERTING THE STATE SOVEREIGNTY PASSED THIS WEEK.

WHAT MESSAGE ARE THEY SENDING?

>> WELL, THE HOUSE IS SAYING THAT UNDER THE 10TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY BE MEDDLING IN AFFAIRS THAT ARE REALLY DESIGNED FOR THE STATE TO DEAL WITH THESE DEAL.

WITH TWO MEASURES PENDING BEFORE THE U.S. CONGRESS ONE, A FEDERAL, A PIECE OF FEDERAL VOTING LEGISLATION THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SAYS THE VOTER REGISTRATION COMPONENT AND THE CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING COMPONENT VIOLATE THE US CONSTITUTION.

AND THE SECOND CASE IT HAS TO DO WITH A PIECE OF LEGISLATION RELATED TO BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR HANDGUN PURCHASES, WHICH THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE SAID VIOLATED THE SECOND, FOURTH AND FIFTH AMENDMENTS.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS YOU'RE PLAYING IN THE BALL FIELD WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PLAYING.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED OKLAHOMA TO USE MEDICAID TO HELP BATTLE OPIOID ADDICTION.

TELL US ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

>> YES.

THIS IS THE FIRST MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT PROGRAM PROVIDED BY A MEDICAID SERVICE TO BE APPROVED IN THE UNITED STATES, BY THE CENTER FOR MEDICAID AND MEDICAID, MEDICARE SERVICES.

WHAT THIS DOES IS COMBINE MEDICATION TREATMENT LIKE NICOTINE REPLACEMENT, SO TO SPEAK WITH COUNSELING AND BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, TO HELP THOSE WITH OPIOID ADDICTIONS.

>> GOVERNOR STITT NAMED A NEW NOMINEE TO THE STATE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD.

WHO IS HE?

>> THAT WOULD BE SCOTT WILLIAMS.

NOW HIS NAME MAY BE FAMILIAR TO SOME, HE'S A FORMER MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE AFFAIRS.

HE ACTUALLY CHAIRED THE BOARD FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

HE HAS ALSO SERVED ON THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN THE STATE.

HE IS ONE OF THE THREE GOVERNORS APPOINTEES TO THE BOARD AND HE SUCCEEDS ROBERT GILLILAN WHO RESIGNED AT THE END OF 2020, AND UNFORTUNATELY PASSED AWAY AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.

>> SEAN, ALWAYS THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>>> LAST JUNE, OKLAHOMA STATE PARKS IMPLEMENTED A NEW ADMISSION FEE SYSTEM, $10 A DAY PASSES WITH A DISCOUNT FOR IN-STATE RESIDENTS.

OR A $60 ANNUAL PASS FOR ALL PARKS.

PRETTY GOOD DEAL.

BUT NOT ALL OKLAHOMANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT LIVE NEAR THE PARKS, ARE HAPPY ABOUT IT.

AND AS RORY TAYLOR REPORTS, THEY'RE SHARING THEIR CONCERNS WITH LAWMAKERS.

>> 2020 WAS A HIGHLIGHT YEAR FOR OKLAHOMA'S STATE PARK SYSTEM.

PARKS SAW ROUGHLY 2.5 MILLION MORE VISITORS THAN THE YEAR PRIOR, AS FAMILIES, WEARY WITH COVID CABIN FEVER, SET OUT TO ENJOY OKLAHOMA'S GREAT OUTDOORS.

BUT FOR MANY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, THESE PARKS HAVE BEEN A SIGNIFICANT PART OF LIFE LONG BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

REPRESENTATIVE JIM GREGO REPRESENTS HOUSE DISTRICT 17, WHICH ENCOMPASSES ROBBERS CAVE STATE PARK AND THE ADJACENT TOWN OF WILBURTON >> THE CITY WILBURTON REALLY, THEY'VE GOT LIKE A BASEBALL PARK AND THEN THEY'VE GOT ONE CITY PARK AND IT'S VERY SMALL, IT'S BECAUSE THEY NEVER REALLY HAD A NEED FOR THAT BECAUSE EVERYBODY WOULD GO TO ROBBERS CAVE.

WHEN YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT IS IN A PARK SETTING, THEY HAD SWINGS AND THEY HAD AN AMPHITHEATER.

>> WHILE DRAWING VISITORS FROM FURTHER AWAY, THE PARK ITSELF HAS A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP TO THE LOCALE.

>> THERE IS A LOCAL TIE.

UH, THEY HAVE A FALL FESTIVAL OUT THERE EVERY FALL IN OCTOBER.

>> THEY BRING IN VENDORS AND, UH, RIDES FOOD VENDORS HAVE AN ANTIQUE CAR SHOW.

THEY ESTIMATE 60,000 PEOPLE STAND ON THAT PARK THAT WEEKEND.

>> YOU GOT A 10,000 -- 10,000 POPULATION COUNTY AND YOU BRING IN 60,000 PEOPLE.

SO, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE LOCAL OWNERSHIP.

>> THAT SENSE OF LOCAL OWNERSHIP IS DRIVING A PIECE OF COMPROMISE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD GIVE OKLAHOMANS CHEAPER ACCESS TO THEIR FAVORITE PARKS.

>> DURING BACK TO THE INTERIM STUDY, WE THREW THE IDEA OUT THERE.

WHAT ABOUT IF AN INDIVIDUAL CAN PICK ONE PARK IN THE STATE AND PAY $20 A YEAR AND HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THAT ONE PARK?

HE DOESN'T, YOU KNOW -- HE'S NOT EVER GOING TO GO TO BEAVERS, MAN.

HE'S NEVER GOING TO GO TO LITTLE SAHARA'S, BUT HE'S GOING TO GO TO ROBBERS CAVE.

>> A HOUSE BILL PASSED 77 TO 20 LAST MONDAY, AND HAS NOW MOVEED ON TO THE SENATE.

STATE SENATOR DAVID BULLARD SAYS PART OF THE BILLS INTENT IS EQUITY.

>> IN OUR AREA WHERE WE HAVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF POVERTY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, THAT'S THEIR VACATION AND THAT'S THEIR AIR CONDITIONING.

AND SO, UH, WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT WAS A WAY TO MAKE IT SO THAT A RESIDENT OF THE STATE COULD HAVE A CHEAPER WAY OF GETTING INTO THE PARKS, BUT -- BUT STILL NOT LOSE COMPLETELY LOSE THE REVENUE STREAMS THAT THE STATE PARKS ARE NEEDING TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.

>> THE LOCAL USE OF PARKS IS SOMETHING JESSICA BERGEN-ELLIOTT, OWNER OF CALYPSO COVE MARINA AT LAKE THUNDERBIRD STATE PARK, UNDERSTANDS AND WELCOMES.

>> MOST OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND, UM, VISIT THE LAKE, AND IT'S A DAY LIKE FOR MOST PEOPLE.

SO THEY COME FOR THE DAY, THEY ENJOY ALL OF THE AMENITIES THAT THE STATE PARK HAS TO OFFER.

AND THEN THEY GO HOME TYPICALLY BACK TO CLEVELAND COUNTY RESIDENTS.

>> SINCE THE EXISTING FEES WERE ESTABLISHED, WHAT SHE'S HEARD MORE THAN COMPLAINING OR COST CONCERNS, ARE SIMPLY QUESTIONS.

>> THERE'S JUST A LOT OF CONFUSION, YOU KNOW, WITH EVERY NEW FEE AND EVERY, UM, CHANGE IN REGULATION.

PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FEES ARE AND HOW IT IMPLEMENTS THEM.

>> CURRENTLY, OKLAHOMANS PAY $8 FOR A DAY PASS TO PARK AND OUT-OF-STATE VEHICHES ARE CHARGED $10.75.

BETWEEN THAT AND THE YEARLY $60 PASS FOR ALL PARKS, ADMISSION FEES GENERATED $940,000 OF REVENUE IN THEIR FIRST YEAR, BUT THAT'S LESS THAN A TENTH OF THE $10 MILLION ANNUALLY THAT WAS ESTIMATED AT THE FEES INSTILLATION, EVEN AS USAGE SOARS.

>> I KNOW THAT MISSION IS TO MAINTAIN ALL THE PARKS RESTROOMS, AND THAT'S A LOT OF WORK IN FINANCIAL OUTPUT.

SO, UM, I'M HAPPY TO PAY THE FEE PERSONALLY, IF THE RESTROOMS ARE CLEAN, BUT I'M APPREHENSIVE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE FUNDS.

>> WE DID SOME CHECKING ON ROBBERS CAVE, AND TODAY THEY'VE COLLECTED $42,000, BUT THEY'VE NOT SPENT ANY OF IT.

SO IF IT WAS -- IF THE NEED WAS SO GREAT AND IT HAD TO BE THERE, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE MONEY AND WE'VE GOT TO USE IT NOW, WHY AREN'T WE USING IT?

WE'RE JUST SITTING ON IT.

IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A -- ANOTHER BANK ACCOUNT SOMEWHERE.

UH, SO I DON'T -- ONE THING I DON'T SEE IS -- IS REALLY A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE STATE BUDGET.

>> RORY, THANKS.

AND ONE MORE IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

ENTRY FEES TO ALL OKLAHOMA STATE PARKS ARE WAIVED FOR ALL OKLAHOMAN SENIOR CITIZENS AND VETERANS.

>> LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE BEEN MAKING THE TRIP TO OUR SOUTHERN BORDER TO SEE A MASSIVE MIGRANT SURGE FOR THEMSELVES.

IS IT A CHALLENGE?

OR IS IT A CRISIS?

REPUBLICAN SENATOR JAMES LANKFORD OF OKLAHOMA VISITED ARIZONA ON SUNDAY TO FIND OUT.

ACCORDING TO ABC NEWS, MORE THAN 500 CHILDREN PER DAY ARE BEING DETAINED AT THE BORDER, AND MORE THAN 4,200 CHILDREN REMAIN IN CUSTODY.

ON WEDNESDAY, LANKFORD BLAMED THE SURGE ON THE ATTEMPTED MORATORIUM ON DEPORTATIONS AND THE HALT ON BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION.

>> THOSE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS TOGETHER THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANY MORE BORDER CONSTRUCTION, WE'RE GOING TO STOP THAT.

AND THEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MORATORIUM STARTED THE PROCESS OF A STIR IN CENTRAL AMERICA AMONG THE HUMAN SMUGGLERS, TO GET THE WORD OUT, TO SAY THIS PRESIDENT IS GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE IN.

>> WHEN QUESTIONED BY A HOUSE COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS SAID THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS THE BORDER IS APPROACHING A 20-YEAR HIGH, BUT STOPPED SHORT OF CALLING IT A CRISIS.

>> THE OKLAHOMA HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS LAUNCHING A NEW CAMPAIGN TO FIND MORE QUALIFIED FOSTER PARENTS, TO HELP KIDS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA AND NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.

THE CAMPAIGN IS CALLED "WHY NOT YOU?"

CHILDREN IN THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE NEED AND ARE PROVIDED WITH EXTRA SUPPORT, FROM BOTH STATE AND PRIVATE AGENCIES.

TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT THE WEBSITE BEANEIGHBOR.OK.GOV.

>> SHERRI COALE IS RETIRING AS THE OKLAHOMA SOONERS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH.

IN 25 YEARS, SHE WON 512 GAMES AND SIX CONFERENCE TITLES.

HER TEAMS MADE 19 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARENCES, INCLUDING THREE FINAL FOURS.

THE 56-YEAR OLD OKLAHOMA NATIVE WAS ALSO NAMED BIG-12 COACH OF THE YEAR FOUR TIMES AND WAS INDUCTED INTO THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HALL-OF-FAME IN 2016.

>> THE OKLAHOMA ARTS COUNCIL IS SEEKING SUBMISSIONS FOR THREE MAJOR ART INSTALLATIONS AT THE STATE CAPITOL IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR IDEAS IS APRIL 5TH, AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LOCATION OF EACH WORK AND WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT AN ENTRY BY LOGGING ONTO ARTS.OK.GOV.

TWO OF THE WORKS WILL BE LOCATED AT THE VISITOR'S ENTRANCE AND WILL FOCUS ON THE HERITAGE AND HISTORY OF INDIGEOUS PEOPLE.

$15,000 HAS BEEN ALLOCATED BY THE OKLAHOMA ART IN PUBLIC PLACES ACT FOR AN INSTALLATION ARTWORK.

AND $55,000 HAS BEEN ALLOTED FOR A PIECE OF CERAMIC ART.

TO APPLY, YOU MUST BE AN ARTIST LIVING IN OKLAHOMA OR AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF A RECOGNIZED TRIBE.

THE THEME OF THE THIRD PIECE WILL BE THE REMARKABLE IMPACT OF WOMEN IN OKLAHOMA.

AGAIN, $55,000 HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THIS ENTRY.

AND IT IS LIMITED TO WOMEN ARTISTS LIVING IN OR HAVING CONNECTIONS TO OKLAHOMA.

>> ANOTHER REMARKABLE PIECE OF ART IS NOW ON DISPLAY IN TULSA.

AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS, IT'S SUBJECT AND IT'S LOCATION GO TOGETHER LIKE PEANUTS AND CRACKER JACK.

>> A LARGER THAN LIFE MURAL FOR A LARGER THAN LIFE GENTLEMAN, JACKIE ROBINSON, 40 FEET BY 25 FEET, SWINGING FOR THE FENCES JUST OUTSIDE THE CENTERFIELD FENCE OF ONE FIELD, HOME OF THE TULSA DRILLERS, THE DODGER'S AA FARM TEAM.

>> WE JUST THINK JACKIE ROBINSON MURAL IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP MOTIVATE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND MOTIVATE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

HE'S A ROLE MODEL.

AND WE'RE RE PROUD TO HAVE THAT THERE.

>> FREEMAN CULVER, III, IS THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE HISTORIC GREENWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHICH OWNS THE BUILDING ADJACENT TO THE BALLPARK.

>> I THINK IT'S A WAY FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND HAVE SOME TYPE OF TALKS.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY TALKS AROUND WHAT JACKIE ROBINSON TRULY MEANS FOR ALL OF AMERICA.

AND I WAS JUST PROUD THAT, UH, MIKE, UH, CAME UP WITH THE IDEA AND WE PARTNERED WITH HIM.

>> MIKE MELEGA IS THE DRILLER'S TEAM PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER.

>> WE HOPE IT'LL JUST GENERATE SOME MORE TRAFFIC AND MORE INTEREST TO THE GREENWOOD DISTRICT, AND OUR FANS IN THE STADIUM ARE GONNA, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVE THIS REALLY GOOD EYE CANDY AND THE OUTFIELD TO SEE IT.

AND HOPEFULLY THAT'LL ENCOURAGE THEM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JACKIE AND WHAT HE DID FOR THE GAME OF BASEBALL AND FOR SOCIETY.

>> MELEGA SAYS ROBINSON'S HEROIC JOURNEY IN BREAKING BASEBALL'S COLOR BARRIER, INCLUDED A STOP IN TULSA.

>> HE WAS ON THE FIRST INTEGRATED TEAM TO COME AND PLAY IN THE CITY OF TULSA.

THE DODGERS PLAYED EXHIBITION GAMES BACK IN THE '40S AGAINST THE TULSA OILERS, I THINK IN '48 AND '49.

AND JACKIE WAS THAT -- THAT WAS THE FIRST FULLY INTEGRATED TEAM TO PLAY IN TULSA, TOO.

SO THERE'S A TULSA CONNECTION WITH JACKIE AS WELL.

>> THE MURAL WAS COMPLETED IN JUST FIVE DAYS.

FIVE LONG DAYS AND A LOT OF PAINT.

THERE'S ABOUT 15 COLORS OF LATEX AND MORE THAN 30 COLORS OF SPRAY PAINT GOING INTO THE FINAL PRODUCT.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE BRIGHT AND ABSTRACT AND COLORFUL AND A LOT OF MOVEMENT AND A LOT OF ENERGY TO THE IMAGE.

>> CHRIS SKER WAS THE PROJECT MANAGER ON THE NEARBY BLACK WALL STREET MURAL AND OTHER FAMILIAR STREET ART IN THE GREENWOOD DISTRICT.

AND HE KNEW JUST WHO TO CALL TO HELP HIM TRANSFORM THIS CONCEPT INTO REALITY.

>> DETOUR IS A PHENOMENAL ARTIST.

HE'S A FULL-TIME MURALIST.

UM, FULL-TIME FINE ARTIST, UH, REALLY AN IMPRESSIVE RESUME.

>> IT'S A BIG WALL.

IT'S A LOT FOR ONE PERSON TO DO, ANY ONE PERSON TO DO.

SO I STARTED THINKING, YOU KNOW, LET'S, UH, LET'S PARTNER.

AND I INCREASED THE SCOPE.

AND RIGHT AWAY, I THOUGHT OF DETOUR.

>> DETOUR IS DENVER ARTIST, THOMAS EVANS.

HE WORKED WITH CHRIS THREE YEARS AGO TO PRODUCE THE TULSA MUSIC SCENE MURAL FEATURING J.J. CALE AND ERIC CLAPTON ON THIRD STREET.

>> SO I TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT STATES, BASICALLY PAINTING ON WALLS AND PLACES AND SPACES THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST SEE IT AS LIKE OUTDOORS SORT OF ARCHITECTURE.

BUT FOR ME, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A CANVAS.

IT'S LIKE, YOU'RE GOING TO ENCOUNTER THAT PIECE OF ART EVERY DAY.

SO IT'S A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S WHY I REALLY LOVE DOING STREET ART.

>> THE VISIONAIRIES WHO CHOSE THIS LOCATION WHEN ONE OK FIELD WAS BUILT 11 YEARS AGO HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK, PUN INTENDED.

THEY SAW IT AS A CATALYST TO SPUR DEVELOPMENT AND HELP REVITALIZE AN ENTIRE AREA.

AS YOU CAN SEE, NEW OR RECENTLY COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION NOW SURROUNDS THIS EMERALD GEM.

>> THERE'S LOTS OF ENTREPRENEURS DOWN HERE, RESTAURANT OWNERS, BAR OWNERS, COFFEE, SHOP OWNERS, UM, THAT ARE GOING TO THRIVE AS ALL OF THESE EMPLOYEES AND -- AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE LIVING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD CAN SUPPORT THEM.

>> I FEEL GREAT ABOUT THE AREA.

THERE'S A LOT OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA, UH, ALL AROUND US.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THE GREENWOOD CHAMBER -- WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THIS BLACK WALL STREET IT HAS NOT -- IT HASN'T WENT ANYWHERE.

UH, IT MAY HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN FOR MANY YEARS, BUT WE'RE STILL HERE.

>> IT'S THE KIND OF PROGRESS, THE IMMORTAL JACKIE ROBINSON, WOULD SURELY APPRECIATE.

>> THE DRILLERS WANTED TO, UH, COMMEMORATE THIS ICONIC FIGURE AND PLACE IT HERE TO WHERE IT CAN GET THE MOST EXPOSURE, NOT ONLY FOR THE FANS AND DRILLERS STADIUM, BUT, UH, ALSO FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

>> ANOTHER PIECE OF ARTWORK HONORING AMERICA'S FIRST FEMALE, BIRACIAL VICE PRESIDENT IS NOW ON DISPLAY IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND AN OKLAHOMA CROCHET ARTIST HAD A HAND OR TWO IN ITS CREATION.

OUR CONTENT COLLEAGUE IN WASHINGTON D.C., JULIA BENBROOK, SPOKE WITH KRISTIAN KELLY, WHO LIVES IN OKLAHOMA CITY, ON THE INSPIRATION BEHIND LOVE ACROSS THE U.S.A.'S LATEST MURAL.

>> IT'S SUCH AN AMAZING WAY TO JOIN TOGETHER AND COME TOGETHER AND SHOW COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT PROVIDES WOMEN.

>> IT TOOK A LITTLE OVER A MONTH TO CREATE THE 20 BY 40-FOOT MURAL.

>> IT STARTED OFF BY DRAWING.

>> THEY TOOK IT FROM THERE.

WE WENT IN AND WENT BUY PERSON BY PERSON AND DESIGNED PATTERNS, AS WE WENT DOWN THE LIST, WHICH WAS CRAZY, BUT IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

>> THE MURAL WENT UP DURING WOMENS HISTORY MONTH, WITH A QUOTE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED.

>> AND I WANT TO -- MR. VICE PRESIDENT I'M SPEAKING.

I'M SPEAKING.

>> SOME SAID THAT QUOTE HELPED THEM LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE.

>> BRINGS IT BACK THAT SHE IS HERE NOW, AND WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER.

>> IT MEANS THE MOST TO ME AS A WOMAN TO HEAR THOSE WORDS KNOWING MY DAUGHTER CAN DO THAT.

AND THAT SHE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY MEANS A LOT TO ME.

I'M GOING TO CRY.

>> THIS IS THE LATEST OF LOVE ACROSS THE USA MURAL HIGHLIGHTING WOMEN WHO HAVE POWER.

IF YOU LIKE TO GET INVOLVED YOU CAN LEARN MORE AT LOVE ACROSS THE U.S.A..ORG.

>> THIS WILL REMAIN ON DISPLAY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY.

ON ASSIGNMENT FOR "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> GREAT JOB.

>> THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS KILLED AMERICANS IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

THE VIRUS ITSELF HAS CLAIMED MORE THAN 540,000 LIVES IN THE U.S.

BUT THERE IS ALSO THE INCREASE IN MENTAL ILLNESS AND ANXIETY AS A RESULT OF LOCKDOWNS, SHUTTERED SCHOOLS AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND THAT'S RESULTED IN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN SUICIDE.

ESPECIALLY AMONG CHILDREN.

IN THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, SUSAN CADOT MODERATES A PANEL ON WHAT CAN BE DONE BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU RICH.

YES, UH, PROJECTIONS ARE THAT, UH, THERE IS GOING TO BE, UH, A CRISIS OF MENTAL HEALTH IN REGARDS TO COVID AND OPIOID USE.

AND WE HAVE, UH, THREE PANELISTS HERE TO DISCUSS WHY THAT IS, HOW IT'S HAPPENING, AND HOPEFULLY WHAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR -- OUR PANEL.

NOW WE HAVE DR. PETER KOWALSKI, WHO IS THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR NORTHCARE.

ZACH STOYCOFF, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HEALTHY MINDS POLICY INITIATIVE, AND RODRIGO GARCIA, WHO IS THE CEO OF PARKDALE TREATMENT CENTER, WHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> SO, LET'S JUST JUMP RIGHT IN.

A RECENT REPORT RELEASE IN JANUARY TALKS ABOUT THE TOTALS OF COVID-19 AND THE FACT THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NEARING THE END OF THE PANDEMIC, THERE ARE STILL WORRIES.

RODRIGO, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WHAT IS THE -- THE LINK BETWEEN COVID AND OPIOID ADDICTION?

SO, YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO, WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE NOW, AND WE'RE REALLY JUST KIND OF ON THE -- ON THE FRONT END OF THE WAVE, WHEN WE'RE SEEING, UH, PEOPLE INTO THE TREATMENT CENTER OR CALLING TO ASK FOR HELP OR CONCERNED FAMILY MEMBERS OR ADMINISTRATORS AT THE HOSPITAL, CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR EMPLOYEES, THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN PARTICULAR AND THE CORRELATION THAT WE'RE SEEING IS VERY REMINISCENT OF THE NORMAL STRESS FACTORS THAT ARE PRECIPITATING FACTORS FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

AND THOSE ARE THINGS LIKE STRESS, ANXIETY, UH, AND EVERYTHING THAT IS UMBRELLAED AND UNDERNEATH THEIR FINANCIAL TURMOIL, WORRIED ABOUT THEIR JOB, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO PAY THEIR BILLS, UH, WITH THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

WE'RE SEEING SOMETHING EVEN A LITTLE -- LITTLE MORE ADDITIVE TO THAT.

AND, UH, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, GOING TO THE FRONT LINES AND FACING THIS, THIS REAL PANDEMIC, UH, DAY-TO-DAY WORRIED ABOUT BRINGING THIS, UH, DISEASE BACK HOME TO THEIR LOVED ONES.

SO, THIS UNTOLD -- THERE'S NO WAY TO PREPARE FOR IT IN TRAINING IN THE YEARS OF TRAINING THAT THESE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS HAVE HAD.

HOW DO YOU TRAIN FOR THIS AMOUNT OF STRESS, THIS AMOUNT OF MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW ACROSS THE SPECTRUM?

SO, WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW, A, THE WAVE IS STARTING TO CREST NOW, INCREASED ANXIETY, INCREASED STRESS, INCREASED DEPRESSION, INCREASED DRINKING, ALCOHOLISM, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, UH.

DIVORCE RATES ARE STARTING TO CREEP UP.

SO, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE KIND OF ANECDOTALLY NOW TIED TO, UH, THE COVID AND THE PANDEMIC AND THE STRESSORS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

>> ZACH, I WANT TO COME TO YOU.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT IN OKLAHOMA IN PARTICULAR?

>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, IT REALLY WILL TAKE YEARS FOR THE DATA TO CATCH UP AND GIVE US A CLEAR INDICATION OF WHAT COVID-19 HAS DONE TO OUR MENTAL HEALTH.

BUT WE KNOW ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT.

UH, IT WAS TOUCHED ON A MOMENT AGO, BUT FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.

WE KNOW THAT DISRUPTION OF LIFE ROUTINES AND GENERAL ANXIETY AND WORSEN MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION ISSUES ACROSS OUR STATE AND THOSE ISSUES WHERE YOU'RE WORKING HERE AND HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

SO, LAST SPRING, HEALTHY MINDS INITIATIVE RESOURCED THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF PAST NATURAL DISASTERS AND ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS LOOKING AND TAKING CUES FROM THE 2009, 2010 RECESSION AND HURRICANES AND EARTHQUAKES, AND REALLY SHOWED THAT THE IMPACTS OF THOSE THINGS, EVEN AFTER WE REBUILD, ARE IN MENTAL HEALTH LONG AFTER WE DO REBUILD.

SO, WE DID PREDICT THAT THOUSANDS MORE OKLAHOMANS WILL EXPERIENCE TOTALLY RELATED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES LEADING POSSIBLY TO HUNDREDS OF DEATHS BY SUICIDE AND THAT OVERDOSES INCLUDING OPIOIDS.

WE REALLY HOPED THOSE NUMBERS WERE WRONG, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE SEEN SOME EARLY CONFIRMATION THAT THEY PERHAPS WERE NOT AS WRONG AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED.

UH, THERE HAVE BEEN PRELIMINARY DATA FROM THE CDC SHOWING OKLAHOMA HAS SEEN MORE THAN A 50% INCREASE IN OVERDOSES FROM SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

WE KNOW THAT AS MANY AS 40% OF OKLAHOMANS MAY HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY AT THE HEIGHT OF THE VIRUS, UP FROM ABOUT 25% BASELINE.

AND THERE IS INDICATION THAT CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH HAS A PARTICULAR CONCERN THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, A RECENT U.S. CENSUS HOUSEHOLD SURVEY DATA WOULD SHOW THAT ABOUT 24% OR A QUARTER OF OKLAHOMA HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN ARE SEEING ANXIETY.

UH, LAST FALL THAT'S PEAKED ABOUT 69%.

SO, WE'VE SEEN -- WE'VE SEEN SOME EBBS AND FLOWS, BUT WE KNOW IT'S SIGNIFICANT >> DR. KOWALSKI, ON THE SUBJECT OF CHILDREN, WHAT KIND OF BEHAVIORS ARE YOU SEEING IN OKLAHOMA'S CHILDREN AS REGARDS TO, UH, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES DURING COVID?

>> THAT DEPENDS ON THE CHILD'S DEVELOPMENTAL AGE AND, UH, YOUNGER CHILDREN ARE SHOWING MORE CLINGINESS AND DISTURBED SLEEP, NIGHTMARES, POOR APPETITE, INATTENTIVENESS, AND SEPARATION DIFFICULTIES.

UH, AND IT STEMS FROM, UH, THE GENERAL DISRUPTION IN THEIR EDUCATION AND THEIR PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND SOCIALIZATION.

UH, MANY OF THE KIDS THAT I'VE SEEN ARE BORED AND THEY TEND TO HAVE LOWER LEVELS OF AFFECT.

IT'S LIKE THE LIFE HAS KIND OF BEEN SUCKED OUT OF THEM.

THEY SHOW MORE ATTENTION SEEKING AND THEY BECOME MORE DEPENDENT ON PARENTS, AND THEY DON'T, UH, ASSOCIATE WITH PEERS.

UH, THEY'RE NOT MEETING THEIR FRIENDS.

THEY'RE NOT PLAYING OUTSIDE.

UH, THEY'RE NOT PARTICIPATING IN, UM, UH, EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

AND, UH, THIS IS GOING TO HAVE, UH, PROBLEMS UPON THEIR RETURN TO SCHOOL WITH RE-ENGAGING WITH TEACHERS AND THEIR PEERS, AND PROBABLY HAS LONG-TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL, UH, EFFECTS FOR THEM.

NOW, THE OLDER CHILDREN BECOME ANXIOUS OVER THE CANCELLATION OF THEIR, UH, THEIR ACTIVITIES, THEIR ACADEMIC EVENTS, ATHLETIC EVENTS, AND ALSO, UH, THE IMPLICATIONS FOR COLLEGE, THE CANCELLATION OF EXAMINATIONS AND, UH, POST HIGH SCHOOL TRAINING AND JOB PROSPECTS.

THEY ALSO ARE SHOWING, UH, SIGNS OF PANIC BUYING AND HOARDING.

AND, UH, THEY ALSO ARE USING THE INTERNET EXCESSIVELY, WHICH, UH, LENDS THEM ACCESS TO OBJECTIONAL CONTENT AND BULLYING, CYBER BULLYING.

>> WHY IS SOCIALIZATION IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN?

>> WITHOUT SOCIALIZATION, YOU REALLY HAVE NO PATH IN LIFE.

YOU HAVE, UH -- YOU LEARN BY DOING.

YOU LEARN WHAT, UH -- WHAT MAKES OTHERS TICK, UH, AND YOU LEARN HOW TO CONTROL AND TO ALSO, TO, YOU KNOW, TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE APPROPRIATELY.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS LIKE AUTISM, THEY NEED TO HAVE THAT TRAINING.

AND, UH, BECAUSE THEY ARE LACKING THOSE RESOURCES, THE PARENTS ARE ON THEIR OWN, AND THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT JOB.

>> MR. GARCIA, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE AN OWN -- YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH OPIOID ADDICTION.

HOW DID THAT GET STARTED AND HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH IT?

>> I'VE BEEN A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER FOR 22 YEARS.

THE LAST 16 OR SO OF THOSE YEARS I'VE BEEN AN ANESTHESIA PROVIDER, AS A NURSE ANESTHETIST.

SO, I STARTED MY CAREER OFF IN NURSING AND, UM, YOU KNOW, REGRETFULLY SAW I WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE FENCE WHERE, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION WAS STILL KIND OF THOUGHT AND DESCRIBED AS, UH -- A MORAL DEFECT OR A CHARACTER FLAW, OR JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST DON'T USE THE DRUGS AND JUST ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED IT.

THEN IT HAPPENED TO ME.

I HAD A SPORTS INJURY, A TRAUMATIC SPORTS INJURY.

I HAD SURGERY.

I HAD MY FIRST PRESCRIPTION FOR AN OPIOID AND, UH, I BECAME PHYSICALLY DEPENDENT ON THAT.

FISCALLY DEPENDENT OPIOID ANESTHESIA PROVIDER IS NEVER A GOOD COMBINATION, IS NEVER A GOOD MIX.

I LIKE TO DESCRIBE IT LIKE AN ALCOHOLIC BARTENDER.

THOSE TWO THINGS DON'T MIX OUT VERY WELL.

SO MY JOURNEY AND MY PROGRESS THROUGH THAT ENDED ME UP IN A TREATMENT CENTER.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I REALIZED WHEN I WAS IN THE TREATMENT CENTER THAT SPECIALIZED IN TREATING PROFESSIONALS, HIGHLY ACCOUNTABLE PROFESSIONALS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT WE ENDED UP OPENING CALLED PARKDALE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICED IS THAT MY DECISIONS AND MY DRUG USE WAS NOT DIRECTLY CORRELATED TO THIS -- THIS SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT OR WANTING TO BECOME EUPHORIC OR EXPERIENCE THOSE PLEASURES.

IT WAS A MALADAPTIVE ATTEMPT REALLY TO -- TO, TO TREAT SOME UNDERLYING UNDERDIAGNOSED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT I HAD SUFFERED WITH MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO STRONGLY CORRELATED.

SO, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE LOOK AT THE MENTAL HEALTH, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE BREADCRUMBS THAT ARE GOING TO LEAD US DOWN THE PATH TO SEE SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE VERY SERIOUS AND VERY PRESSING.

NOT TO DIMINISHED MENTAL HEALTH, BUT THAT'S HOW YOU GET TO THE ADDICTIONS.

AND THAT'S HOW YOU GET TO THE SUICIDALITY IS, AND THE DIVORCES AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS.

SO, IT'S SO, IMPORTANT THAT WE CATCH THIS EARLY ON.

WHEN WE START TO SEE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL HEALTH, UH, EARLY ON IN, IN, IN CHILDHOOD, AS DR. KOWALSKI HAS STATED.

>> WHAT DO YOU ADVISE TO HELP STEM THE TIDE OF THIS INCREASE, UH, THAT IS PREDICTED TO BE COMING?

>> WELL, FORTUNATELY COVID-19 HAS NOT CHANGED THE SOLUTIONS TO OUR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

WE'VE KIND OF KNOWN WHAT TO DO ALL ALONG.

UH, WHAT IT HAS DONE IS IT'S CHANGED THE URGENCY AND IT'S CHANGED THE OPPORTUNITY.

AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITY IS, WE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IN OUR LIVES, MENTAL HEALTH COMING TO THE FOREFRONT IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, WHETHER IT'S JUST SIMPLE ANXIETY OR WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS.

SO, WE ALL HAVE AN INDICATION THAT THIS IS A REAL THING.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO THAT IT COULD BE SEEN AS A MORAL DEFECT, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE, AND THE SCIENCE WOULD BACK THAT UP.

IT'S NOW THE FOREFRONT OF ALL OF OUR LIVES AND WE CAN FINALLY HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN, WE CAN TELL PEOPLE IT'S OKAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

AND THEY KIND OF KNOW THAT THAT'S TRUE NOW.

SO, THERE'S A STIGMA ISSUE THAT IS BEING REDUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS, THAT HELPS US COME TO SOME CONCLUSIONS AROUND WHAT WE NEED TO DO FROM A COMMUNITY AND POLICY PERSPECTIVE.

NOW, FROM A COMMUNITY AND POLICY PERSPECTIVE, WE NEED TO BETTER CONNECT THE SILOS OF OUR SEPARATE HEALTHCARE AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS.

THIS MEANS ENSURING APPROPRIATE SCREENING REFERRALS AND RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE, WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK, AND SEEK HEALTH CARE, NOT ASKING PEOPLE TO GO TO A SEPARATE INSTITUTION, BUT GOING TO DOCTOR'S OFFICES, HOSPITAL SETTINGS, SCHOOLS, EMPLOYERS, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS TO BE INGRAINED AS PART OF THE FABRIC OF EVERYWHERE PEOPLE ARE.

THERE ARE SOME POLICY SOLUTIONS HERE I'M HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT, BUT THESE ARE NOT ALL POLICY SOLUTIONS.

THESE ARE COMMUNITY-WIDE SOLUTIONS.

IT WOULD REQUIRE WHOLE COMMUNITIES TO BAND TOGETHER, SHARING DATA, BEST PRACTICES, RESOURCES, SHARING RESPONSIBILITIES, SAYING MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT SOMEBODY ELSE'S RESPONSIBILITY.

WE ALL SHARE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR STATE.

>> DR. KOWALSKI, IN THAT VEIN, WHAT CAN HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS DO?

PHYSICIANS WHO ARE SEEING PATIENTS, DO THEY KIND OF SCREEN, OR DO THEY NOTICE, ARE THEY PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE HEALTHCARE OF THEIR PATIENTS RIGHT NOW?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

UH, WE'VE BEEN INUNDATED WITH, UH, INCREASED SYMPTOMATIC, UH, PATIENTS.

WE'VE HAD A WHOLE NUMBER OF STRESSORS AND, UH, THE FAMILIES THEMSELVES ARE, UH, MORE AT RISK BECAUSE OF THE STRESSES AND THAT PUTS THE CHILD AT MORE RISK OF BEING ABUSED.

SO, UH, IT DOESN'T JUST, UH, EXTEND TO MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS.

IT ALSO, EXTENDS TO PEDIATRICIANS AND TO TEACHERS AND, UH, THE NEED, I -- I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE NEED FOR COORDINATED CARE AND COMMUNICATION ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES.

UH, WHEN YOU HAVE A, UH, A TEACHER, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY CAN, UM, IDENTIFY AND REFER, UH, THEY CAN PROMOTE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS.

UH, THEY CAN ENHANCE PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIORS.

UM, THE PEDIATRICIAN, UH, THEY'RE ARE IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH, UH, THEIR, WITH THEIR PATIENTS AND THEY CAN EDUCATE AND IDENTIFY STRESSES IN THE CHILDREN AND MAKE APPROPRIATE REFERRALS.

AS FAR AS MENTAL HEALTH, UH, PROVIDING EDUCATION IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE PARAMOUNT THINGS AND BEING ABLE TO SCREEN FOR, UH, UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, UH, BEING CONSCIOUS OF THE CURRENT STATE OF, UH, STRESS THAT, UH, THEIR, UH, PATIENTS ARE UNDER.

UH, AND WE DO NEED TO CARRY ON ONGOING RESEARCH ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS ON, ON CHILDREN.

AND, UH, LATER ON IN LIFE.

>> IS THERE SURVIVOR'S GUILT GOING ON HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS DR. KOWALSKI?

>> OH, I BELIEVE SO.

UH, IN FACT, WHAT YOU HAVE ARE, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE, HAVE HAD, UH, FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE DIED FROM IT.

UH, YOU HAVE HEALTHCARE WORKERS WHO HAVE OBSERVED IT, UH, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD VICARIOUS, UH, EXPOSURE, UH, SUCH AS MENTAL OR MEDICAL EXAMINERS, JOURNALISTS THAT THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO THESE DIVERSIVE DETAILS.

AND SO, THERE'S DEFINITELY A -- UH, AN OVERLAY OF TRAUMA.

IN FACT, YOU COULD CONSIDER THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC AS A TRAUMATIC EVENT.

>> MR. GARCIA, AS WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE TRYING TO COPE, UM, WITH THE PRESSURES, THE FINANCIAL PRESSURES ALONE, NOT TO MENTION THE FEAR OF GETTING SICK, WHAT DO YOU THINK CAN BE DONE?

DO YOU THINK WE'RE SEEING A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL NOW WITH THE VACCINES, OR DO YOU THINK MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HELP EVERYONE COPE?

>> SO, I'LL, UH, TAKE OUT OF A PAGE OUT OF THE HISTORY BOOK HERE, AND THEN WE KIND OF SEE THIS PLAYING OUT OVER AGAIN.

IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO WHERE WE SAW THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF 9-11 AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT KIND OF UNFOLD ALMOST STEP-BY-STEP AND THIS, UH, ON THIS FORUM AND A STAGE NOW.

SO, THE -- THE TRAGIC EVENTS HAPPEN, AND THEN THE FIRST RESPONDERS WERE HAILED AND EXALTED AS HEAL, AND HEROES AS THEY WERE RUSHING INTO THE FRONT LINES.

WHEN WE START TO GET BACK TO NORMAL A YEAR AFTER 9-11, AND THE FOCUS WAS NOT ON THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS ANYMORE, THAT'S THE TIME THAT WE SAW, UM, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SUICIDALITY, DEPRESSION, ALCOHOLISM, ADDICTIONS, ALL COMPLETELY ON THE RISE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT AGAIN, IF WE DON'T LEARN FROM HISTORY AS WELL, WE'RE STARTING TO GET BACK INTO WHAT WE WOULD CLASSIFY AS A NORMAL WAY OF LIVING AGAIN.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE IMPERATIVE THAT AS A SOCIETY AND AS NEIGHBORS AND AS FAMILY MEMBERS, THAT WE DON'T TAKE THAT SPOTLIGHT OFF OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED THE MOST OVER THIS PAST YEAR AND A HALF.

THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN TREATING LOVED ONES, THOSE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE COVID, AND THOSE THAT HAVE LOST SOMEONE FROM THE PANDEMIC.

AND AS LONG AS WE DON'T TAKE THAT SPOTLIGHT OFF AND WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE, WE CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM A FORUM TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS, RAISE YOUR HAND, ASK FOR HELP, UH, UNBIASED AND NON-JUDGED, THEN WE CAN START TO TAKE ON AND TACKLE THIS PANDEMIC, THE SILENT PANDEMIC OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AS WELL.

>> AND THERE'S GOTTA BE, AS I WAS THINKING OF A MEMBER OF OUR NEWS TEAM HAD TO WATCH HIS MOTHER PASSED FROM COVID ON HIS PHONE IN THE HOSPITAL PARKING LOT, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BE WITH THEM.

AND MAN, THAT REALLY GOT MY ATTENTION.

SO, IT'S MORE THAN JUST GRIEF OF LOSING A LOVED ONE.

IT'S THE WAY WE'RE LOSING OUR LOVED ONES THAT ADDS AN EXTRA TRAUMA TO THAT EXPERIENCE.

IS THERE A SPOT OR A WEBSITE THAT PEOPLE, YOU THINK PEOPLE CAN GO TO?

WHERE CAN THEY GO TO LOOK FOR HELP TO BEGIN LOOKING?

>> SO, WE HAVE WORKED WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PARTNERS IN THE INDUSTRY, AND THERE'S A WEBSITE CALLED SUPPORTTHEFRONT.COM AND IT'S A RESOURCE ALLOCATION KIND OF HUB FOR AS MANY RESOURCES AS WE CAN PROVIDE, FREE SERVICES AND COUNSELING AND THERAPY AND ADVICE ON HOW TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS CRISIS.

>> DR. KOWALSKI, WOULD YOU ADVISE FOLKS TO LET THEIR DOCTORS KNOW IF THEY'RE DEALING WITH EXTRA STRESS?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THOSE, UH, WHO ARE, UH, RELATED, UH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS CHECK IN WITH YOUR LOVED ONES.

YOU KNOW, LOOK FOR INCREASED IRRITABILITY AND SUBSTANCE AND ALCOHOL ABUSE.

YOU KNOW, A DECREASE IN THEIR PERFORMANCE AT WORK OR SCHOOL OR POOR HYGIENE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY JUST COMPLAIN AND FEELING DOWN OR DEPRESSED, OR EVEN TALK ABOUT THAT LIFE'S NOT WORTH LIVING ANYMORE, OR THAT IF THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT DYING OR EVEN OF SUICIDE, THAT'S A RED FLAG THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.

>> WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU TO ALL THREE OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> AN AGING WORKFORCE IS A BIG CONCERN FOR MANY COMPANIES.

AND EVEN MORE SO IF YOUR INDUSTRY OPERATES IN THE WILDERNESS.

IN THIS WEEK'S "NATIONAL VIEW", WE'LL HEAD TO THE GREAT NORTHWEST TO LEARN HOW THE LOGGING INDUSTRY IS TRYING TO CUT THAT MAJOR CHALLENGE DOWN TO SIZE.

HERE'S PRODUCER ANDY LAWLESS WITH OUR P.B.S.

PARTNERS IN BOISE, IDAHO.

>> IDAHO FORESTS PROVIDE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE, A PLACE FOR RECREATION, AND A RENEWABLE RESOURCE FOR A TIMBER INDUSTRY THAT CONTRIBUTED NEARLY ONE AND A QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS TO OUR LABOR INCOME IN 2019, WITH MORE THAN 30,000 JOBS ASSOCIATED WITH IDAHO'S FOREST PRODUCTS INDUSTRY, MANAGEMENT OF THIS TREASURED RESOURCE PROVIDES ROBUST OPPORTUNITIES FOR IDAHO'S RURAL FAMILIES TO EARN A LIVABLE WAGE.

THAT'S WHY IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IDAHO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SPENT A DAY WITH MAHON LOGGING, EXPLORING A FOREST RECLAMATION SITE AS A PART OF OUR AMERICAN GRADUATE GETTING TO WORK INITIATIVE.

JOIN US AS WE LEARN ABOUT THE SKILLS AND MACHINERY REQUIRED TO KEEP IDAHO'S FORESTS HEALTHY AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR HARDY FOLKS TO PURSUE A REWARDING CAREER.

>> I'M MARK MAHON.

I'M A FOURTH GENERATION LOGGER, BORN AND RAISED IN COUNCIL.

IT'S MY JOB AS THE WOODS BOSS, TO WALK THE SITE ACREAGE AND FIGURE OUT A PLAN ON HOW I'M GOING TO LOG IT.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT -- OF, LOT OF MACHINES MOVING A LOT OF ACTIVITY.

EVERYBODY HAS TO UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTION, THE FLOW OF TIMBER, WHICH WAY IT'S ALL BEING MOVED.

>> WELL, MY NAME IS JOE MAHON.

MY BROTHER MARK AND I HAVE, UH, BEEN WORKING WITH OUR DAD EVER SINCE, UH, SINCE WE WERE IN DIAPERS.

WE BOTH HAVE COLLEGE DEGREES.