OKLAHOMA.

THE CHALLENGE NOW, FINDING AN AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT TO GET YOUR SHOT.

>> THIS IS SO MUCH EASIER TO HANDLE AND PEOPLE GET CLOSER TO HOME.

OKLAHOMA LAWMAKERS CONSIDER WAYS TO LIMIT THE POWER OF THE GOVERNOR AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND I POINT OUT I AM NOT RUNNING THIS BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR DID A TERRIBLE JOB.

CYBER SECURITY, A THRIVING NEW CAREER WITH HACKING AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

>> THE AVERAGE ENTRY LEVEL CYBER SECURITY SALARY IN OKLAHOMA IS $61,605.

OKLAHOMA'S U.S.

ATTORNEYS RESIGN THEIR POSTS AND MOVE ON TO NEW CHALLENGES.

>> ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

AND ONE OF THOSE CONSEQUENCES IS THAT THE PRESIDENT GETS TO PICK, HIS UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS, AND I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY APPROPRIATE.

PLUS, AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION WITH ADVOCATES FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, NEXT ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

MONDAY MARKED THE 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19 IN OKLAHOMA.

THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN SINCE THEN AND MORE THAN PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

AND WE BEGIN THIS NEWSCAST WITH A CLOSER EXAMINATION OF THAT NUMBER.

THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE DEATH TOLL REPORTED EACH DAY BY THE OKLAHOMA STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE NUMBER RELEASED BY THE CDC IN ATLANTA.

ALMOST MORE DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO THE VIRUS BY THE CDC.

STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE THIS WAY.

>> THEIR COUNT IS BASED ON AN INVESTIGATION AND CONFIRMATION OF EVERY DEATH ATTRIBUTED TO COVID.

WHILE THE C.D.C.

RELIES ONLY ON DEATH CERTIFICATES THAT LIST COVID AS THE CAUSE OF DEATH, THAT'S CREATED A LAG TIME.

AND THE STATE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT IS CHANGING ITS METHODOLOGY TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS AND EXPECTS THE NUMBERS TO BECOME MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED IN THE WEEKS TO COME.

>> WE CERTAINLY DESIRE FOR THAT PROCESS TO GET COMPLETED AND UP TO SPEED AND ALIGNED WITH THOSE NUMBERS FROM CDC NCHS.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT TAKING PLACE IN THE RELATIVELY NEAR FUTURE WHERE THOSE VALUES WILL ONCE AGAIN ALIGN MORE CLOSELY, AND THERE MAY, IN FACT, COME A TIME WHERE AGAIN OUR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM BECOMES AS TIMELY OR EVEN MORE TIMELY THAN THE DEATH CERTIFICATES.

FOR NOW, OKLAHOMA IS LISTING A DAILY PROVISIONAL DEATH COUNT THAT IS BASED ON THE CDC DATA.

7202.

THAT IS 160 SINCE THEY REPORTED.

HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUED A DOWNWARD TREND ON FRIDAY.

175 LESS THAN A WEEK AGO.

IT WAS 7036 LAST FRIDAY AND THIS FRIDAY THE AVERAGE IS 648.

HOW ABOUT THIS.

MORE THAN A MILLION DOSES OF VACCINATIONS DISTRIBUTED IN OKLAHOMA.

369,000 COMPLETED THE VACCINATION.

AND AS OF FRIDAY.

+++ THE GOOD NEWS, A THIRD APPROVED VACCINE, COURTESY OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON, HAS NOW ARRIVED IN OKLAHOMA.

THE BAD NEWS, AND REALLY IT'S NOT BAD, BECAUSE IT REVEALS A STRONG STATEWIDE DESIRE TO BE VACCINATED.

PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THEIR SHOTS.

REPORTER RORY TAYLOR HAS SOME INFORMATION THAT CAN HELP IF YOU ACCESS THE STATE'S VACCINE PORTAL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THIS.

APPOINTMENTS ALL BOOKED UP.

IF YOU DO GET AN APPOINTMENT, YOU MIGHT BE TRAVELING A FEW COUNTIES OVER TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

LONG-TIME OKLAHOMA CITY PASTOR RALPH RANNEY WAS ABLE TO FIND AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE HELP OF HIS DAUGHTER >> SHE KEPT LOOKING AND LOOKING UNTIL SHE FINALLY FOUND A PLACE FOR MY WIFE, SHIRLEY AND I HAD TO GO TO, TO HAVE OUR VACCINE.

SO THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

AND, WELL WE HAD TO GO ALL THE WAY TO DUCK DUNCAN, OKLAHOMA.

WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THE SECOND DOSE, THE DRIVE WASN'T MUCH BETTER >> THIS TIME, IT'S ANADARKO THAT CAME UP.

SO THERE AGAIN, WE'RE A LONG WAY TO GO.

>> DOCTOR DOUGLAS DREVETS, THE CHIEF OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT OU HEALTH, EXPECTS THINGS TO IMPROVE AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF VACCINE DEDICATED TO OKLAHOMA.

>> I THINK IT'S A MISMATCH BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND, AND IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO TRY TO GET THE VACCINE TO EVERY PLACE AT OKLAHOMA, EVEN THOUGH THAT MAY NOT COMPLETELY MATCH THE LOCAL POPULATION OR I SHOULD SAY, AND THE LOCAL DEMAND OF THE POPULATION.

PEOPLE ARE SIGNING UP FOR VACCINE JUST AS FAST AS THE STATE RECEIVES IT.

THERE ARE LIMITED APPOINTMENTS EACH WEEK.

THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS WILL GROW WITH THE ADDITION OF A NEW VACCINE APPROVED FOR EMERGNECY USE.

>> WE RECEIVED THE EXCITING NEWS THIS WEEKEND THAT JOHNSON AND JOHNSON'S COVID-19 VACCINE HAS RECEIVED FDA EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION.

YOU WILL ALSO HEAR THIS VACCINE REFERRED TO AS THE JANSSEN VACCINE.

THE JANSSEN VACCINE WAS DEVELOPED USING A DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGY THAN THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINES, BUT THAT DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGY MAKES IT EASIER TO STORE AND TRANSPORT >> IT IS SHIPPED FROZEN, BUT IT IS ALLOWED TO THAW, AND IT IS STABLE IN THE REFRIGERATOR FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

AND SO THAT MAKES IT MUCH MORE EASY TO DISTRIBUTE OUT TO STANDARD PHYSICIANS, OFFICES, HEALTH CLINICS, AND THAT YOU DON'T NEED ULTRA COLD OR DRY ICE.

THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE ALSO ONLY REQUIRES A SINGLE SHOT.

>> A ONE-SHOT VACCINE IS USEFUL TO REACH POPULATIONS IN MORE REMOTE, RURAL AREAS, GOING TO REACH PEOPLE IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAKE RETURNING FOR A SECOND DOSE DIFFICULT DUE TO LACK OF TRANSPORTATION, ACCESS OR HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT MIGHT LIMIT TRAVEL.

WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE 31,500 DOSES IN THE FIRST SHIPMENT OF THE JANSSEN VACCINE.

THIS SHIPMENT SHOULD ARRIVE SOMETIME LATER THIS WEEK.

WE EXPECT THE FIRST DOSES OF THIS NEW VACCINE TO BE ADMINISTERED SHORTLY THEREAFTER.

THIS IS ALL GREAT NEWS, AND MORE DOSES MEAN MORE APPOINTMENTS, BUT HOW DOES THE NEW VACCINE MEASURE UP TO THE CURRENT VACCINES HIGH PREVENTION RATES?

THE J AND J VACCINE WAS STUDIED IN THREE DIFFERENT CONTINENTS, NORTH AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA AND MEXICO, AND THEN SOUTH AFRICA.

AND AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENT VARIANTS OF VIRUSES CIRCULATING IN EACH OF THOSE AREAS.

SO IN NORTH AMERICA, THE VACCINE WAS ABOUT, I THINK, 72% TO 73% EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING ALL COVID INFECTIONS.

THE VACCINE WAS SLIGHTLY LESS EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING INFECTION FROM THE NEW VARIANTS OF THE COVID VIRUS ON OTHER CONTINENTS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT KEPT PEOPLE ALIVE.

>> EVERYBODY FOCUSES ON THIS 66% EFFECTIVE OVERALL, BUT FLIP IT AROUND, IT WAS ALMOST A HUNDRED PERCENT EFFECTIVE AGAINST DEATH.

>> THIS VACCINE IS, SHOWN TO BE 85% EFFECTIVE AGAINST SEVERE COVID-19.

NONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS, AMONG THE ONES THAT WERE IN THE STUDY HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

THERE WERE NO DEATHS IN THAT GROUP.

THAT GROUP WAS A LARGE -- IT WAS 44,000 PEOPLE WORLDWIDE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS.

OTHER VACCINES WERE TESTED BEFORE SOME VIRUS VARIANTS HAD EMERGED, MAKING THE VACCINES DIFFICULT TO COMPARE, BUT BRINGING DOWN HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS IS ESSENTIAL TO A RETURN TO NORMALCY, AND WITH THAT EXTRA 30,000 DOSES, VACCINATIONS SHOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE.

>> WHAT'S COMING IN NOW WAS A 144,740 DOSES.

YOU LOOK A WEEK AHEAD.

THEY TOLD US TO EXPECT 156,900 DOSES.

YOU LOOK ONE MORE WEEK AFTER THAT, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT 161,580 DOSES.

AND THAT'S JUST PFIZER AND MODERNA, WITH THE EXTRA JANSSEN DOSES ONLY BEING PREDICTED A WEEK OUT RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S ALSO A PROMISE OF MORE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINES.

THIS MONDAY, PFIZER'S CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER SPOKE AT A VIRTUAL EVENT HELD BY OSU.

>> OUR IMMEDIATE GOALS ARE, OF COURSE, TO CONTINUE RAMPING UP PRODUCTION.

WE'VE GONE FROM THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF 1.3 BILLION DOSES PRODUCED THIS YEAR TO 2 BILLION DOSES, AND THEN IN TIME NOW, BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NETWORK OF MANUFACTURING SITES ACROSS THE U.S.

IN EUROPE THAT ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO INCREASE PRODUCTION, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO GET HIGHER YIELDS PER BATCH, BE ABLE TO MAKE MORE BATCHES PER UNIT TIME AND EXCEEDING OUR ORIGINAL PRODUCTION TARGETS.

SO IF YOU HAVEN'T SUCCEEDED IN SECURING AN APPOINTMENT YET, STAY PATIENT.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THIS WEEK HE EXPECTS EVERY AMERICAN WHO WANTS THE VACCINE, TO HAVE IT BY MAY.

RORY, THANKS.

AND IF YOU'VE HAVEN'T REGISTERED YET, AND IT'S AN EASY PROCESS THAT DOESN'T TAKE LONG, JUST LOG ON TO VACCINATE.OKLAHOMA.GOV.

>>> AT LEAST SIX STATES ARE NOW TAKING STEPS TO CURB SOME OF THE EMERGENCY POWERS GRANTED TO THEIR GOVERNORS WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

OKLAHOMA IS ONE OF THEM.

JASON DOYLE REPORTS ON THAT, AND ON A BOLD MOVE BY SOME OKLAHOMA LAWMAKERS TO RESTRICT THE POWERS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AS WELL.

GOVERNOR STITT HAS BEEN GIVEN UNPRECENDENTED POWER THROUGH THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.

THE FIRST YEAR HE WAS GIVEN AUTHORITY OVER FIVE MAJOR STATE AGENCIES.

WHEN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC STRUCK A YEAR AGO, STITT EXERCISED EVEN MORE POWER UNDER THE CATASTROPHIC PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARATION.

SOME IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE READY TO PUT CHECKS BACK INTO THE STATE GOVERNMENT'S CHECKS AND BALANCE SYSTEM.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT I'M NOT RUNNING THIS BILL BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE A TERRIBLE JOB AT MANAGING THE COVID CRISIS.

UH, QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE JAY STEAGALL HAS THREE BILLS WHICH LIMIT GOVERNMENT ACTION AWAITING THEIR TURN ON THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR DEBATE.

TWO OF THEM ARE MEANT TO PLACE A CHECK TO THE GOVERNOR'S POWER DURING A TIME OF CRISIS.

WE HAVE A YEAR'S WORTH OF EXPERIENCE UNDER OUR BELT WITH THE COVID, WE'LL FIND HOW THE LEGISLATURE CAN PUT THAT IN LEGISLATION AND SHOULD THE NEED ARRIVE AGAIN, THE EXECUTIVE, NO MATTER WHO THAT IS CAN ACT PROPERLY.

THE OTHER MEASURE IS HOUSE BILL 2335.

IT KEEPS THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM REQUIRING A VACCINATION.

WHAT THAT BILL DOES IS PUT LEGISLATION ON GOVERNMENT ENTITIES FROM IMPOSING THE VACCINE MAN DATE.

HE ADDS THAT THE LEGISLATION WON'T CHANGE PRIVATE EMPLOYER REQUIREMENTS OR CURRENT SCHOOL LAW ON VACCINATIONS.

STEAGALL ISN'T THE ONLY ONE LOOKING TO KEEP A LEGISLATIVE CHECK ON THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

SENATOR NATHAN DAHM HAS PROPOSED SENATE BILL 541.

>> SENATE BILL 541 IS AN ATTEMPT TO CLARIFY, DURING AN EMERGENCY, THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE GOVERNOR, SPECIFICALLY IN REGARDS TO CLOSING BUSINESSES.

>> DAHM BELIEVES THE STATE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS BUSINESS OWNERS FROM HAVING TO CLOSE DOWN, EVEN IN AN EMERGENCY.

THIS LEGISLATION IS MEANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A CLEAR PURPOSE FOR CLOSING A BUSINESS DURING ANOTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

>> SO WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT DURING A PANDEMIC DECLARED BY THE GOVERNOR, UM, THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, THAT THAT SPECIFIC BUSINESS IS CONTRIBUTING, UM, TO THE SPREADING OF DISEASE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE DOWN THAT SPECIFIC BUSINESS.

SENATE BILL 541 WON COMMITTEE APPROVAL AND IS AWAITING A CHANCE ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

ANOTHER CHANGE TO HOW GOVERNMENT IS RUN IN OKLAHOMA IS FOCUSED ON THE INITIATIVE PETITION SYSTEM.

SEVERAL BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS ARE BEING CONSIDERED THIS SESSION TO CHANGE THE REQUIREMENTS TO GET AN ISSUE ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS TO DECIDE.

REPRESENTATIVE ERIC ROBERTS IS PROPOSING HOUSE BILL 1767 TO REQUIRE INITIATIVE PETITIONS TO EXPLAIN THEIR FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE STATE.

>> BASICALLY, ALL WE'RE CHANGING IS, THE -- IS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INITIATIVE PETITION AND EXTENSION FROM A, IF IT HAS A FISCAL IMPACT THAT IT GETS A 300 WORD LIMIT INSTEAD OF A 200 WORD LIMIT.

SO THEY CAN STILL, EXPLAIN THE INITIATIVE PETITION IN THAT 200 WORDS.

AND THE ONLY THING WOULD BE ADDED, A HUNDRED WORDS IF IT HAS A FISCAL IMPACT TO THE STATE.

>> SOME QUESTIONED THE INTENT OF HOUSE BILL 1767.

>> I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO RUN THIS LEGISLATION.

I KNOW WE ALL KNOW THAT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THERE'VE BEEN QUITE A FEW STATE QUESTIONS THAT A PATH THAT MAY NOT ALWAYS ALIGN WITH THIS BODY, BUT WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT.

AND SOME ARE WONDERING IS THAT THE MOTIVATION, IF NOT, WHAT WHAT MIGHT BE THE MOTIVATION TO RUN THIS BILL THIS YEAR?

>> MAKE SURE THAT THE VOTERS ARE FULLY INFORMED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL COST TO THE STATE FOR -- FOR NOT JUST ONE YEAR, BUT FOR ONGOING YEARS.

>> HOUSE BILL 1767 WON APPROVAL AND HEADS TO THE SENATE.

ANOTHER MEASURE APPROVED THIS WEEK ACTUALLY GIVES MORE AUTHORITY TO A MEMBER OF THE STATE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

REPRESENTATIVE GERRID KENDRIX'S HOUSE BILL 1090 GIVES THE STATE AUDITOR AND INSPECTOR MORE LEEWAY TO DO PERFORMANCE AUDITS.

>> THIS BILL MAKES A SINGLE CHANGE TO TITLE 74 OF THE OKLAHOMA STATUTES, ALLOWING THE STATE AUDITOR AND INSPECTOR TO DO PERFORMANCE AUDITS ON STATE AGENCIES AS QUESTIONS ARISE WITHOUT BEING REQUESTED TO DO SO BY THE GOVERNOR, BY A JOINT COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATURE, OR BY THE CEO OF THAT STATE AGENCY.

THE PASSAGE OF THAT BILL WON THE PRAISE OF STATE AUDITOR AND INSPECTOR CINDY BYRD WHO SAID IN A STATEMENT.

>> HOUSE BILL 1090 IS LANDMARK LEGISLATION THAT WILL CREATE A NEW LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY OF HOW STATE AGENCIES SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY.

I ADMIRE THE OKLAHOMA HOUSE MEMBERS, WHO VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PASS THIS BILL, FOR HAVING THE FORESIGHT AND COURAGE TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY OF STATE SPENDING.

PERFORMANCE AUDITS ARE THE BEST METHOD FOR FINDING WASTE AND ABUSE.

>> THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE DEADLINE LOOMS NEXT WEEK.

STEAGALL HOPES HIS SLATE OF BILLS GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL TO HELP KEEP POWERS IN CHECK AND GOVERNMENT RUNNING FOR THE PEOPLE.

OUR NEEDS CHANGE OVER TIME.

THE IMPORTANT PART IS THAT WE MAKE SURE WE ARE ADJUSTING THE FRAMEWORK WE ARE OPERATING IN AND NOT TIE THE GOVERNOR'S HAND TOO MUCH OR EXCLUDE THE LEGISLATURE IN THE PROCESS.

JASON DOYLE, THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

WITH THE DEADLINE TO PASS BILLS OUT OF COMMITTEE BEHIND US, ACTIVITY AT THE CAPITOL IS REALLY CRANKING UP AS LAWMAKERS AND LOBBYISTS PUSH TO TURN THEIR PROPOSED LEGISLATION INTO LAW.

JASON CONTINUES OUR COVERAGE OF THE 58TH LEGISLATURE WITH E-CAPITOL NEWS DIRECTOR SHAWN ASHLEY.

SEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE TAXES AND FEES.

THE STATE COLLECTED IN FEBRUARY ARE HOLDING FAIRLY STEADY.

WHAT DOES THE STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE HAVE TO SAY?

>> YEAH.

STATE TREASURER, RANDY MCDANIEL ISSUED HIS MONTHLY REPORT THIS WEEK.

AND WHAT IT SHOWS IS THAT FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY COLLECTIONS WERE DOWN, BUT LESS THAN 1%, THEY TOTAL $950.8 MILLION.

NOW, SINCE MARCH OF LAST YEAR, MONTHLY GROSS RECEIPTS HAVE BEEN BELOW THE PRIOR YEAR COLLECTIONS EVERY MONTH, EXCEPT ONE.

AND THAT WAS IN JULY WHEN WE WERE COMING OUT OF THE DELAYED INCOME TAX PERIOD.

IF YOU LOOK OVER THE LAST YEAR, OUR COLLECTIONS ARE DOWN, BUT OUR INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX COLLECTIONS ARE ONLY DOWN A LITTLE LESS THAN 1% WHILE GROSS PRODUCTION TAX ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS IS DOWN ABOUT 43%.

THE DIFFERENCE THERE ARE THOSE STIMULUS PAYMENTS THAT WE ALL RECEIVED.

AND WE WENT OUT AND SPENT SOME OF THAT MONEY, WHICH ALSO BOOSTED SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTIONS.

>> A BILL PROTECTING LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM THE PRACTICE OF DOXING PASSED THE SENATE, BUT NOT WITHOUT SOME RESISTANCE.

WHAT DOES THE BILL DO?

>> YEAH.

SO WHAT THIS DOES IS TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S PERSONAL INFORMATION, HIS ADDRESS FAMILY MEMBERS, FROM BEING POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES SO THAT THE INDIVIDUAL CAN BE HARASSED OR INTIMIDATED.

IT ALSO PROHIBITS THE USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO FROM BEING POSTED IN USED IN A SIMILAR WAY.

IT'S THAT LATTER PART, THE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS THAT HAVE SOME PEOPLE CONCERNED BECAUSE UNDER EXISTING OKLAHOMA LAW, IT IS LEGAL TO TAKE PICTURES AND VIDEO OF OFFICERS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.

SO THE QUESTION IS EXACTLY WHERE >> ANDS BILL SELL NAMED AFTER THE FALLEN POLICE OFFICER.

>> IT WAS NAMED FOR SERGEANT CRAIG JOHNSON WHO LOST HIS LIFE IN A SHOOTING IN TULSA.

HE HAD BEEN WORKING ON THE BILL WITH LAW MAKERS FOR A NUMBER OF YEAR AND BECAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION OF SCRAP METAL THEFT IN THE STATE.

IT IS MUCH LIKE PAWNSHOP LEGISLATION IN THE LAWS IN THE STATE.

REQUIRES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HOW TO TRADE WITH A PAWNSHOP, WILL ALSO BE NECESSARY FOR A SCRAPE METAL DEALER.

THE POINT IS SO THAT AN INDIVIDUAL CAN FOLLOW THE LAW.

JOHN, AS ALWAYS THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AND THANK YOU.

ONE OTHER NOTABLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION ADVANCED.

PARENTS CAN TRANSFER THEIR CHILDREN TO ANOTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL ANY TIME IN THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THEY CAN APPLY FOR A TRANSFER TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL YEAR ROUND.

THE SENATOR TOLD THE SENATE THAT THE BILL GIVES PARENTS MORE CONTROL OVER THE EDUCATION OF THE CHILDREN.

>> IT DOES ALLOW FOR THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO LIMIT CAPACITY.

IT IS IT TO THE EXISTING STATUTORY GUIDELINE AND INCLUDING DISCIPLINE ISSUES AND LEGAL MATTERS AND TRUANCY.

THE BIG CHANGE IS THAT IT DOES TAKE AWAY THE ABILITY OF SENDING BILL TO SAY NO.

>> IT WON BY 32- 15.

OETA TAKES PARTICULAR PRIDE IN BRINGING YOU THE OKLAHOMA TEACHER OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE CEREMONY WAS VIRTUAL AND HOSTED BY THE SENATOR.

>> AND 12 FINALIST WERE REVEALED.

THIS YEAR'S FINAL WILL ASSUME DUTY.

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO.

>> 2021 TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

JESSICA ASHBACK.

♪♪ TEACHERS IN THE STATE.

WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.

WE MAY BE ON DIFFERENT SIDE OF POLITICS AND DIFFERENT FOODS THAT WE LIKE AND DON'T LIKE.

BUT WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE FOR EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IN OKLAHOMA.

>> JESSICA IS AN INNOVATIVE LEARNING COACH IN NORMAN.

SHE WILL SUCCEED THE 2020 TEACHER OF THE YEAR JENNA NELSON THAT TEACHES IN EDMONDAY.

AND THE SUPERINTENDANT SURPRISED JESSICA WITH A GIFT OF 2000 BOXES OF COOKIES.

A SWEET SURPRISE.

>> SHE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT HER STUDENTS AND ALSO KNOWING ABOUT HER COLLEAGUES AND TEACHER AND MOVING HEAVEN AND EARTH TO CONNECT WITH OUR STUDENTS IN THIS YEAR.

>> SAMOANS ARE HER FAVORITE GIRL SCOUT COOKIE.

YOU MIGHT CONSIDER CYBER SECURITY.

THERE IS A NEED FOR CODING SKILLS.

THAT LED TO A PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA AND A NEW YORK CITY COMPANY.

THIS WILL ATTRACT CAND DAYS TO FILE 4000 JOBS AND THEY PAY VERY WELL.

>> FULL STACK ACADEMY IS ONLY NINE YEARS OLD AND CONSIDERED ONE OF THE OLDEST AND BEST BOOT CAMPS IN AMERICA.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING PHYSICAL AND THAT WOULD BE COLD -- CODE AND THAT YOU WRITE THE GROUP OF LINES TOGETHER.

FULL STACK STARTED WITH TWO STUDENTS IN NEW YORK THEY KEEP PRIVATE SENSITIVE INFORMATION AWAY FROM HACKERS.

EVEN OKLAHOMA ITSELF THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPANIES THAT ARE NOW TRYING TO MAKE A DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION.

IS THAT?

SO YOU CAN SEE WE ARE IN GOOD COMPANY.

THE SENIOR ASSOCIATE VICE-PRESIDENT FOR OUTREACH AT OU.

FULL STACK BOOT CAMP STARTS IN APRIL AND ENROLLEES WILL LEARN TWO NIGHTS A WEEK ON LINE AND SATURDAY MORNING.

IN THE 26 YEAR LONG GRIND, WHAT GRADUATES LEARN CAN BE AVAILABLE AS A COLLEGE DEGREE.

>> GROWING INDUSTRIES IN THE MIDWEST, SUCH AS ENERGY, BIOSCIENCE, AVIATION AND AEROSPACE NEEDS QUALIFIED CODING AND CYBER SECURITY PROFESSIONALS TO PROTECT THEIR COMPANIES OR ORGANIZATION'S DATA FROM ATTACK.

>> THE COST OF THE COURSE IS $12,000.

OU STUDENTS AND OLUMNI AND MILITARY VETERANS CAN GET $2,000 SCHOLARSHIP.

>> THE AVERAGE -- I PUT THE OPERATIVE WORD THERE IS ENTRY, THE AVERAGE ENTRY CYBER SECURITY SALARY IN OKLAHOMA IS 61,$605.

AND THAT WAS TWO MONTHS BEFORE GRADUATION.

>> FABBIANA GRADUATED FROM FULL STACK IN NEW YORK CITY FIVE MONTHS BEFORE THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC HIT.

SHE WAS IMMEDIATELY HIRED AS A TECH SUPPORT ANALYST FOR A $44 BILLION GLOBAL COMPANY WITH HALF MILLION EMPLOYEES.

>> THERE IS DIFFERENT WAYS TO LEARN ABOUT CYBER SECURITY.

YOU CAN DO THAT IN COLLEGE AND YOU CAN LEARN BY YOURSELF, BUT YOU CAN ALSO GO TO HERE.

THAT IS WHAT THEY GIVE YOU.

>> YOU MAY HAVE TALENT IN THIS AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IT.

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

THE VERY COOL THING THAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS IS FOCUSED ON THE ADULTS AND OUR PEOPLE ARE TRAINING PEOPLE IN THE 30s AND 40s AND COME FROM ALL TYPES OF BACKGROUND THE.

ANY NONTECHNOL BACKGROUND.

CHEFS AND TEACHERS AND MUSICIANS AND WE WILL SEE A AN ATTACK.

>> MATT SINGLETON IS A SECURITY OFFICER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA.

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS OFFER GOOD CYBER SECURITY PROGRAMS AS WELL.

>> AND ANYBODY WANTS TO GET OUT AND MAKING NEW OFFERS AROUND TRAINING FOR CYBER SECURITY AND CERTIFICATION FOR CYBER SECURITY THAT WILL HELP EVERYONE.

>> HI SALARIES.

THAT WILL GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION.

>> IT IS A NEW FRONTIER AND OKLAHOMA AS WE KNOW IS A FRONTIER STATE AND WE WANT TO BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF PUTTING THINGS OUT THERE THAT OUR CITIZENS CAN USE AND THAT WILL BENEFIT THEIR FAMILIES AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.

>> STEVE SHAW WITH THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> STEVE, THANK YOU.

THE ENTRY-LEVEL IS $61,000.

BUT THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE IS $95,000 A YEAR.

>> AND BUSINESS NEWS IN THE OKLAHOMA OIL PATCH.

EMPLOYEES ARE MOVING TO OKLAHOMA CITY AS PART OF THE MERGING WITH ENERGY.

THEY ARE EITHER RETIRING OR OFFERING A SEVERANCE PACKAGE.

IN TULSA THEY COMPLETE THE COMPANY HEADQUARTERS.

FINDING A TENANT.

DEATH ROW INMATE JULIUS JONES.

IS SCHEDULED FOR A CLEMENCY HEARING NEXT WEEK.

LAST WEEK, THEY DELIVERED 6 MILLION SIGNATURES FROM THE CHANGE OUT ORG.

THAT IS SET TO REVIEW THE APPLICATION.

JONES WAS CONVICTED IN 1999.

AS IS CUSTOMARY, ALL THREE U.S.

ATTORNEYS RESIGNED THEIR POST SUNDAY NIGHT.

TRENCH SHORES IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT WERE SUPPORTED BY DONALD TRUMP.

I HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO TRENT SHORES WHO WORKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SINCE 2003.

>> IT IS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR CERTAIN.

I HAVE BEEN WITH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR 18 YEARS AND WE HAVE THE BEST MISSION OF ANY FEDERAL AGENCY FOR SHOWING TRUTH AND SEEKING JUSTICE.

FOR ME, IT IS TOUGH TO WALK AWAY ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDST OF THE FIGHT.

HELP US IN THIS CYCLE OF VIOLENCE.

I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN HONORED TO CARRIED ON THE TRADITION.

>> IT IS A POLITICAL APPOINTMENT BUT NOT A POLITICAL POSITION.

BUT ELECTIONS HAS CONSEQUENCES.

ONE OF THOSE CONSEQUENCES THE PRESIDENT PICKS HIS OWN U.S.

ATTORNEYS.

THAT IS APPROPRIATE.

>> IT INCLUDES 13000 INDIAN TRIBES AND THEIR RESPONSIBLE CHANGED WHEN THE SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCED THE DECISION LAST SUMMER.

>> TELL ME HOW YOUR CASE LOAD INCREASED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

>> SINCE THAT DECISION CAME DOWN, WE RECEIVED 750 CASES FOR REVIEW OF PROSECUTION.

TO PUT THAT IN TO CONTEXT, THAT IS 300 PERCENT MORE THAN WE WOULD IN A NORMAL YEAR.

THE STAGGERING NUMBER OF CASE REFERIALS THAT WE SEE ON A DAILY BASIS IMPACTED OUR NORMAL DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS.

WHAT WE WOULD DO IN ANY OTHER YEAR.

SHORES WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE CHOCTAW NATION LED THE ATTORNEYS NOT ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE CASE LOAD.

>> WE HAVE PROSECUTORS HERE VOLUNTEERING.

THEN THE ATTORNEYS WHO CAME OUT AND ARE HELPING US IN THE COURTROOM THEY ARE GOD SEND ACTUALLY.

>> WOULD YOU AGREE IT IS A TOUGH TIME TO CHANGE U.S.

ATTORNEYS IN OKLAHOMA.

>> YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

YOU ARE CERTAINLY NOT WALKING IN THE EASIEST OF U.S.

ATTORNEYS JOBS GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND YOU LAYER ON THAT THE MAGET DECISION AND THE IMPACT AND THE CRISIS.

IMPACTS OKLAHOMA SIGNIFICANTLY GIVEN OUR LARGE ASIAN AMERICAN POPULATION.

THERE IS A LOT OF CHALLENGES, I THINK THAT WILL BE FITTING FOR SOMEONE ON DAY ONE.

>> IT IS A CHALLENGE AND CALLING THE OKLAHOMAN HEARD IN EDMOND, OKLAHOMA.

>> IT IS POSSIBLY A BOMB IN THE AREA.

>> I WILL NEVER FORGET THE DAY I FELT THE GROUND SHAKE UNDER MY FEET AND LEARNED THAT THE MERIT BUILDING WAS BLOWN UP BY DOMESTIC TERRORIST AND HEARING THE NAMES OF MY CLASSMATE READ OVER THE INTERCOM AND IF THEY WERE CALLED TO THE FRONT OFFICE THEY LOST A PARENT.

THEN WHEN I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL, THE TWIN TOWERS WENT DOWN AS A RESULT OF AN INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ATTACK AND THOSE THINGS DREW MY ATTENTION TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

>> SO WHAT IS TRENT SHORES DOING NEXT?

>> I WILL JOIN TULSA LAW FIRM.

THEY HAVE A GREAT CULTURE AND GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNERS NOT ONLY IN TULSA BUT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND I WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WORK IN NATIVE AMERICAN LAW AND PRACTICE AND HELPING OUT WITH CORPORATE INVESTIGATION AND CYBER SECURITY.

THINGS I HAVE DONE MY CAREER.

>> AND PUBLIC OFFICE IS AN INTRIGUING POSSIBILITY.

>> IF THAT OPPORTUNITY RISES AND MY WIFE SUPPORTS IT, AND GOD WILLING THAT COULD BE A PATH TO PURSUE.

>> AND ALL REPLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE NORTHERN DIFFERENCE.

JOHNSON STEPPING IN FOR SHORES.

HE SERVED AS A MILITARY JUDGE.

TIM DONNIE WILL JOIN MIKE HUNTER AND HIS REPLACEMENT IS BOB TRACER.

IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT FIRST ASSISTANT CHRISTOPHER WILSON REPLACES RYAN KEYSTER.

LAST WEEK WE ADDRESSED THE REFORM MEASURES.

THIS WEEK SUSAN MODERATES AN IN- DEPTH DISCUSSION FOR THOSE SERVING TIME IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

>> YES, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN OKLAHOMA.

I AM JOINED BY TWO GUESTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE NOW IN THE SOONER STATE.

REGINAL HINES WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE OKLAHOMA CHAPTER OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND RONALD SKIP KELLY WHO IS AN ATTORNEY AT LAW.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

YOU HAVE GONE FROM WORKING INSIDE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND WORKING WITH THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

I WANT TO ASK EACH OF YOU WHY THE SWITCH.

>> ACTUALLY, I WORKED FOR THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR 38 YEARS AND DURING THOSE 38 YEARS, I HELD VARIOUS PROCISIONS FROM WARDEN TO DIRECTOR.

DURING THAT TIME, I SAW A LOT OF INJUSTICE AND UNFAIRNESS IN THE SENTENCING OF PEOPLE THAT WAS SENTENCED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

I STARTED TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS AND SPENDING MORE TIME WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE INCARCERATED AND I FOUND A TREMENDOUS DISPARITY IN THAT AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THAT DISPARITY.

>> AND MR. KELLY, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> REGGIE AND I BOTH HAVE THE EXPERIENCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

WHILE I WAS ATTENDING LAW SCHOOL.

THAT MY SECOND YEAR IN LAW SCHOOL WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THAT WAS MY FIRST ENTRY IN TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ON THE ADULT LEVEL.

I HAD EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE JUVENILE AND BECAUSE OF MY CONCERN IS RELATED TO THE LIFE OF INDIVIDUALS AND I CONTINUED MY JOURNEY AS FAR AS WAITING AND NOW, SO I TRIED TO BE A PART OF THE SYSTEM REPRESENTING THESE INDIVIDUALS IN REFERENCE TO A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT REGGIE MENTIONED AND TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES BEFORE JUDGES AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS FOR THE CLIENTS.

>> OKLAHOMA HAS THE HIGHEST PERCAPITA INCARCERATION IN THE NATION.

SO, IN THE WORLD, MR. MIKE, A QUICK FOUNDATION, WHY IS THAT?

>> WE HAVE ANTIQUATED LAWS HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T GET GOOD REPRESENTATION WHEN THEY GET ARRESTED ON THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE IS A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF DIFFERENT THING AND PROGRAMS AND THINGS THAT OKLAHOMA HAS.

THAT INFORMATION DOESN'T GET TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED THAT PARTICULAR INFORMATION.

I THINK WE HAVE -- WE ARE NOT A VERY FORGIVING STATE EVEN THOUGH WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BIBLE BELT.

WE ARE NOT A FORGIVING STATE FOR CRIMES.

OURED WHYS ARE ANT QUATED.

>> I CAN REMEMBER THE GETTING TOUGH ON CRIME.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MR. HINES IS TALKING ABOUT, CORRECT?

>> YES.

HISTORICALLY YOU HAVE TO FACTOR IN THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD A DISPARITY IN THE RANKS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM THE INCEPTION.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS TODAY.

YOU HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT HOW DID THIS PATTERN EVER START?

SO, IT IS A VERY INDEPTH STUDY THAT NO ONE REALLY WANTED TO DO A DISSECTING OF THE HISTORICAL PATTERNS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

>> ACCORDING TO SENTENCING PROJECT.ORG, OKLAHOMA HAS THE HIGHEST BLACK INCARCERATION RATE.

ONE IN 18 BLACK MALES IS IN PRISON AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAKE UP EIGHT PERCENT OF THE OKLAHOMA POPULATION AND REPRESENT 25 TO 35% OF THE INCARCERATED POPULATION.

ARE BLACK OKLAHOMANS COMMITTING MORE CRIMES?

>> I DON'T THINK SO, I THINK IT IS A DISPARITY IN SENTENCING AND ONE NUMBER TO LOOK AT THE HIGH RATE OF INCARCERATION OF FEMALES.

NOT ONLY THE NUMBER ONE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD.

SO SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH OUR INCARCERATION AND HOW WE INCARCERATE SO MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THEN THE FEMALES IN THE STATE.

I DON'T THINK THEY COMMIT CRIMES AT A HIGHER RATE THAN OTHER RATES.

IF I WATCH YOU 24 HOURS, I WILL CATCH YOU DO THINGS THAT ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.

THEN I AM GOING TO ARREST YOU AND THEN WHEN I ARREST YOU.

NOT ONLY AM I GOING TO ARREST YOU, YOU GIVE YOU THE HIGHEST SENTENCE THAT I CAN GIVE TO YOU.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT COUNTIES AROUND OKLAHOMA.

SOME COUNTIES MIGHT HAVE 1 OR 2 PERCENT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.

BUT THEIR INCARCERATION RATE OF PEOPLE SENT TO PRISON IS 30.1%.

SO SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THAT.

>> AND MR. KELLY, IS THAT RACIAL PROFILING IN A COURTROOM?

IS IT INTENTIONAL AND IS IT HAPPENING?

>> THAT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S SEVERAL ISSUES THAT DEALT WITH IT PROPERLY.

THAT IS BASED ON A SENTENCE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN PER POPULATION.

I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO FACTOR IN THE CONSIDERATION THAT ADDICTION WAS NEVER SERIOUSLY FACTORED IN.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE POPULATION IN OKLAHOMA, YOU HAVE FOUR% INCARCERATION RATE.

70 PERCENT MENTALLY ILL PATIENTS.

THOSE FACTORS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO ARE CONSIDERED IN THE COURTS IN THE STATE AND THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

THEY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AND WE HAVE DRUG AND ALCOHOL REPORTS AND REPORTS FOR VETERANS WHO HAVE COME BACK FROM SEVERAL WARS AND YOU HAVE POST TRAUMATIC ISSUES AND THEY ARE PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY AND THEY NEVER GET THE PROPER TREATMENT THEY SERVE.

THOSE INDIVIDUALS INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF THE PRISON POPULATION, BUT A LOT OF IT IS NOT DRIVEN BY THE COMMITMENT OF CRIMES.

THERE AGAIN, IT IS NEVER ASSESSED AND TREATED.

>> MR. HINES, WILL YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS THAT YOU KNOW AND TOUCH ON STATE QUESTION 805.

THAT IS MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REVOKE.

THE VOTERS SHOT THAT DOWN.

MR. HINES, WHAT ARE SENTENCING ENHANCEMENTES?

>> IF YOU HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME, AND YOU ARE GETTING READY TO BE CONVICTED AND YOU HAVE PREVIOUS FELONY CONDITIONS IN YOUR BACKGROUND, THEY CAN GIVE YOU THOSE PREVIOUS TO ENHANCE YOUR SENTENCE.

YOU GET INTERESTED FOR MURDER.

SKIP KNOWS BETTER THAN I DO.

MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR BURGLARY IS EIGHT YEARS BUT TWO MORE FELONIES AND YOU HAVE SERVED THE TIME FOR THOSE FELONIES, THEY CAN TAKE THOSE FELONIES AND ALMOST IMPOSE A LIFE SENTENCE ON YOU.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF BILLS THAT ARE PROPOSED AND DISALLOWING USING THOSE ENHANCEMENTES.

>> MR. KELLY, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT.

IF THEY ARE A HABITUAL OFFENDERS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?

>> IT IS NOT IF THEY SERVED TIME FOR THE CRIME.

IF YOU ARE CONVICTED OF A CRIME AND 10 OR 15 YEARS HAVE PASSED AND YOU MAKE ANOTHER MISTAKE IN LIFE AND CHARGED WITH A CRIME, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO PUNISH THE INDIVIDUAL FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED 20 OR 15 YEARS AGO IF HE SUCCESSFULLY FINISHED THE SENTENCE.

IF IT WAS A PROBATION, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE THE PROSECUTION'S AUTHORITY TO REVOKE THAT SENTENCE.

SENATE BILL 704 MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

THEY HAVE EXCEPTIONS IN THE ENHANCEMENT AND RELATES TO SEX OFFENDERS OR REPEATED DUI'S AND AGGRAVATED DUI'S THAT IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO.

BUT THAT IS A MAJOR ISSUE OF POPULATION OF PEOPLE GOING BACK TO PRISON.

>> YEAH, 704 WAS AUTHORED BY A REPUBLICAN OUT OF TULSA, IS THIS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE IN OKLAHOMA?

>> YES, ONE THING THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR LEGISLATURE EVEN THOUGH IF IT IS DEMOCRAT CONTROL WOULD OR REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED.

OUR PRISON POPULATION, DURING MY 38 YEARS, THE PRISON POPULATION NEVER WENT DOWN IN ALL OF THAT TIME AT ONE TIME IT LEVERAGED OUT.

BUT IT HAS ALWAYS CONTINUED TO GO UP REGARDLESS WHO IS IN CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES AND I HAVE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH SKIP ABOUT WHERE PRISONS ARE LOCATED IN RURAL AREAS.

A LOT OF TIME, THAT IS THE ONLY SOCIAL ECONOMIC IN THAT AREA.

2 OR 300 PEOPLE WORKING IN YOUR PRISON FROM THAT COMMUNITY AND NOT ONLY WORKING THERE, BUT THE PRISON IS PAYING FOR UTILITIES FOR THAT GROUP.

THE RURAL AREAS, THERE IS NO REASON FOR THEM TO SUPPORT LAWS THAT DECREASE THE POPULATION AND THAT PRISON CLOSES IN THAT AREA, THEY LOSE THE BOOST.

>> IT IS A COMPLEX LAYERED ISSUE IN OKLAHOMA AND WE HAVE TRIED TO TACKLE IT FOR YEARS AND NO ONE HAS FOUND THE RIGHT ISSUE.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT STEP?

>> FRANKLY, BRING EVERYONE TO THE TABLE.

IN THE MEANTIME, YOU CAN'T HAVE A LOT OF KNEE JERK REACTIONS TO ISSUES THAT ARE NOT WELL VETTED OUT BY ALL PARTIES WHO ARE PART OF THIS WHOLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES, SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT WE TRY TO ADDRESS, WE TRY TO ADDRESS IT IN A WAY TO REWRITE THE WHOLE BOOK.

YOU CAN'T REWRITE THE WHOLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WITH ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THE CITIZENS WANT TO SUPPORT IT AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE A CHANGE WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT IN THAT DIRECTION.

YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS IT IN, IN PARCELS THAT IS MEANINGFUL AND AT FULL ENGAGING WITH EVERYBODY THAT IS PART OF THE SYSTEM.

>> MR. HINES, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN?

I KNOW YOU ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THIS AND TO ANSWER THE QUESTION AND PROBLEM OF A HIGH INCARCERATION RATE AND FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT.

>> WE HAVE THE INFORMATION IN THE DATA AND WE DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH THE DATA.

WE KNOW WHAT SCHOOLS THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE COMING FROM.

WE KNOW WHAT COMMUNITY THEY ARE COMING FROM.

SO, WHY DON'T WE JUST LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS, WE CAN PUT IN PLACE IN THOSE AREAS AND IT WOULD BE COST-EFFECTIVE TO DO IT THAT WAY.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A LOT CHEAPER TO DO IT THAT WAY THAN INCARCERATING SOMEONE.

WE HAVE THE DATA.

I AGREE WITH SKIP A HUNDRED PERCENT.

YOU HAVE TO BRING EVERYONE TO THE TABLE.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE AND THEIR HEART SOMETIME IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS COME FROM.

WE DON'T ALLOW PEOPLE FROM THOSE COMMUNITIES TO BE A PART OF THE DISCUSSION ON HOW TO SOLVE THE ISSUES.

THEY ARE LEFT COMPLETELY OUT OF IT.

A LOT OF TIMES, WE'LL HAVE THE UPPER MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE MAKING ALL OF THOSE DECISIONS AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE.

WE JUST DON'T BRING EVERYONE TO THE TABLE THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

>> GENTLEMEN, IT WAS AN I- OPENING DISCUSSION.

I DIDN'T GET TO ALL OF THE QUESTIONS TO ASK YOU.

THERE IS MORE TO BE SAID.

I LOOK AT EDUCATION FUND NOTHING THE COMMUNITIES AND THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTING TO THE END PRODUCT OF THE INCARCERATION RATES.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK TO CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION.

>> AS ALWAYS, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ON THE SOUTHERN BOARDER WALL.

WHAT PACT WILL THAT HAVE ON THE BORDER WITH MEXICO.

WE'LL HAVE A REPORT FROM REPORTER TONY WITH OUR PBS PARTNERS IN TUCSON, ARIZONA.

>> THE BORDER WALL IS DIVISIVE.

IN PLACES LIKE ARIZONA, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROCESS WAS BRINGING A WELCOME FINANCIAL BOOST.

>> IT HAS HELPED TREMENDOUSLY.

>> FROM RESTAURANTS AND LOCAL STORES TO RV PARK AND APARTMENT UNITS.

WORKERS NEED A PLACE TO EAT AND LIVE.

MIKE GUTIERREZ FOUNDED A REALTY COMPANY IN 2009 AND MANAGES THE PROPERTIES.

THIS IS HIDEN TREASURES RV PARK AND 110 SPACES HERE.

IT IS BEEN GREAT.

ALL.

PEOPLE HERE, MOST OF THEM ARE 80% PEOPLE WORKING ON THE WALL CURRENTLY.

SO WITH THE SHORTAGE OF HOMES IN DOUGLAS, IT IS BEEN A HELP THAT THIS PROPERTY OF THE HERE TO FILL THE NEED.

>> AND ROSEA IS A INTERIM MANAGER FROM DOUGLAS AND SAID HUNDREDS OF WORKERS BEGAN TO ARRIVE IN THE SUMMER OF 2019.

DEFINITELY THEY ARE A LARGE EMPLOYER HERE RIGHT NOW AND IN THE CITY TOP FIVE.

SO THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING A LARGE PART TO OUR ECONOMY RIGHT NOW.

>> IN A MEXICAN RESTAURANT THAT OPENED THREE WEEKS AGO, NORTH OF THE BORDER AND SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, BUSINESS HAS DROPPED DRAMATICALLY.

SO THE TEMPORARY WORKERS FROM THE WALL IS AN ASSET.

12 FAMILIES DEPEND ON THE RESTAURANT FOR AN INCOME.

SO EVERY MEAL SERVED IT IMPORTANT FOR THEIR LIFE.

>> WE HEAR THE CONSTRUCTION IS COMING TO AN END ZOON.

PEOPLE IN DOUGLAS STIM SUPPORT US.

I KNOW OF OTHER MERXHANTS THAT ARE NOT LUCKY AND FORCED TO SHUT DOWN.

WE HAD TO CUT EMPLOYEE HOURS AND HOPE TO AVOID THE LAY OFFS.

>> MOVING FORWARD.

WHAT WOULD HELP LOCALS THE POINT IS REOPEN THE FEDERAL POINTS OF ENTRY.

THEY ARE OFFICIALLY CLOSED TO NONESSENTIAL TRAVELLERS.

>> OUR SHOPPERS FROM MEXICO CONTRIBUTED 70% OF THE SALES TAX REVENUE IN THE RETAIL AND RESTAURANT SECTOR AND SO IT IS A HUGE DRIVER.

>> THE CITY MANAGER SAID MORE DOUGLAS RESIDENTS ARE STAY NOTHING TOWN AND SHOPPING LOCALLY.

ON LINE SALES AND FEDERAL CARES MONEY, THE CITY IS DOING BETTER THAN EXPECTED.

AS FOR THE WALL, THE PROJECT'S CONTRACTOR WAS SCHEDULED TO BUILD MORE THAN 40 MILES EAST AND WEST OF THE CITY.

WHETHER THEY WILL FINISH THE JOB IS UNCLEAR.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND SOUTHWEST VALLEY CONSTRUCTORS DID NOT RESPOND TO E-MAILS IN TIME FOR THE STORY.

THEY HAVE COMPLIANCE AND OFF OF THE PROJECT EXPIRED AND CONSTRUCTION HAS REPORTED TO HAVE STOPPED ON THE BORDER.

FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND LIKE MINDED POLITICIANS, THERE IS A WELCOME MIX.

THEY HAVE THE PLANTS AND WILD LIFE AND ENDANGERED AQUA FERS.

THEY WANT SOME SECTIONS OF THE WALL TO BE REMOVED.

FOR OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS DOUGLAS, THIS IS PART OF LIFE IN THE BORDER.

>> WE ARE HAPPY WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND JOBS IT BROUGHT.

I DON'T SEE IMPACT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS AND SO HERE, IT IS OUR FAMILY AND OUR -- OUR COUSINS AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND WIFE IS FROM THERE.

IS PART OF ALL OF THE SAME COMMUNITY.

WE ARE HOPING THEY WILL STAY AND KEEP IT DOWN AND KEEP THE JOBS A LITTLE LONGER.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

THE LARGEST MUSHROOM FARMS CAN BE FOUND IN OKLAHOMA.

BRINGING JOBS TO A FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS.

WE'LL SAY SO LONG FOR NOW WITH A VISIT TO THE GARDENS.

FOR ALL OF US HERE ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I OF RICH LUNZ AND STAY HEALTHY AND STAY TUNED TO OETA.

♪♪