>> OKLAHOMA FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THE LARGEST WILDFIRE IN TEXAS HISTORY.

>> OBVIOUSLY, ON A FIRE OF THIS MAGNITUDE, THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE FUEL CONDITIONS WERE SUCH THAT IT'S GOING TO GO BIG, AND IT'S GOING TO GO FAST.

>> WILL FUTURE OWNERSHIP OF THESE TYPES OF HIGH-POWER LINES IMPACT WHAT YOU PAY FOR ELECTRICITY?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS TO FIGURE OUT WHICH WAY WORKS BEST FOR OKLAHOMA FAMILIES AND BUSINESS OWNERS.

>> THE MUSIC PLAYS ON IN OKLAHOMA CITY'S HISTORIC DEEP DEUCE DISTRICT.

>> IT WAS REALLY THAT STRETCH OF SECOND STREET THAT BECAME REALLY THE COMMERCIAL CENTER FOR THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ON GETTING BULLYING UNDER CONTROL IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> CYBERBULLYING HAS BEEN ON A DRAMATIC INCREASE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE PANDEMIC.

>> PLUS, TWO-STEPPING TO THE MUSIC OF BOB WILLS AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

THE LARGEST WILDFIRE IN TEXAS HISTORY HAS NOW SCORCHED NEARLY 180,000 ACRES HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

THANKS TO COOLER TEMPERATURES AND LESS WIND, THE SMOKEHOUSE CREEK FIRE IS NOW ABOUT 45 PERCENT CONTAINED.

BUT IT IS CONTINUING TO HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON LAND AND IN THE AIR.

THIS WEEK, REPORTER STEVE SHAW TRAVELED TO CANADIAN, BLAINE AND ELLIS COUNTIES IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA, AND HE JOINS US NOW WITH HIS REPORT.

STEVE?

>> YEAH, RICH, WE'RE JUST A WEEK INTO PEAK WILDFIRE SEASON IN THE SOONER STATE.

WESTERN OKLAHOMA HAS ENDURED AT LEAST 172 WILDFIRES AND COUNTING IN THE LAST TEN DAYS.

>> THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY SATELLITE.

THE FIRST ALERT WENT OUT AT 1:20 P.M. LAST TUESDAY.

IT CAME FROM A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INFRARED SATELLITE 22,000 MILES UP IN SPACE.

IT NOTIFIED THE STATE FORESTRY SERVICE THAT A HOT SPOT CALLED "THE CATESBY" FIRE NEAR THE TOWNS IN ELLIS COUNTY COULD TURN INTO SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER.

IT DID.

>> HOW DID THIS THING START IN THE FIRST PLACE?

THAT'S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

STATE FORESTRY SERVICE DIRECTOR MARK GOELLER SAYS THEY SHOWE -- IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED AREA FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THREW AS MANY RESOURCES AS THEY COULD TO STOP THE ESCALATION.

>> HAVE YOU FIGURED OUT HOW MANY ACRES STATEWIDE?

>> STATEWIDE, AROUND 178,000.

AND THOSE ARE JUST STATE FORESTRY DEPARTMENT NUMBERS AND DON'T INCLUDE OTHER LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSES SO FAR FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

FORTUNATELY, OKLAHOMA IS A MEMBER OF SOMETHING CALLED THE SOUTHERN FOREST FIRE COMPACT.

>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE RESOURCES FROM NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND KENTUCKY THAT HAVE COME TO HELP US IN THESE TIMES WHEN WE GET STRETCHED REALLY THIN AND WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH A PROBLEM WHICH IS MORE THAN JUST AN ISOLATED FIRE IN ONE COUNTY.

>> TERRIBLE.

YOU KNOW, NOT SO BAD TODAY, BUT LAST WEEK, IT WAS DEFINITELY BAD.

>> GAGE FIRE CHIEF DARREN TOLLE SAYS IN HIS 26-YEAR CAREER THIS IS THE WORST.

>> HAVE YOU LOST CATTLE?

>> LOTS.

I DON'T EVEN HAVE A NUMBER ON THAT.

I JUST HEARD OF THE FARMERS GATHERING THEM UP AND GOING THROUGH THAT, SEEING WHAT THEY LOST.

>> HOW DO YOU DISPOSE OF THAT?

>> I'M NOT SURE ACTUALLY.

I KNOW WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OUT THERE TALKING TO US ABOUT IT, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD A TRUE ANSWER YET.

>> THESE ARE THE CHARRED REMAINS OF WHAT USED TO BE A LARGE MOBILE HOME A MILE NORTH OF THE TOWN OF GAGE.

IT BURNED LAST WEDNESDAY.

>> HANG ON!

>> OKLAHOMA BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF HAS BEEN IN GAGE HELPING TEN PROPERTY OWNERS SINCE MONDAY.

>> OUR MOTTO IS WE BRING HELP HOPE AND HEALING TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS.

AND WE ARE NOT -- IT'S A TOUGH THING, BECAUSE WE WANT TO COME OUT AND SERVE AND ARE EAGER TO COME AND SERVE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, A HOMEOWNER SUCH AS THIS JUST LOST THEIR HOME.

WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND HELP THEM PHYSICALLY CLEAN UP THEIR PROPERTY AND JUST VISIT WITH THEM AND MINISTER TO THEM, GIVE THEM SOME HOPE AT THAT TIME.

>> OBVIOUSLY, ON A FIRE OF THIS MAGNITUDE, THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE FUEL CONDITIONS WERE SUCH THAT IT'S GOING TO GO BIG, AND IT'S GOING TO GO FAST.

AS BAD AS IT IS IN THE SOONER STATE, WHERE NOW IT'S NEARLY CONTAINED, IT'S MUCH WORSE IN TEXAS.

AS OF FRIDAY ONLY 44 PERCENT OF WHAT'S BEING CALLED THE 1.2 MILLION ACRE SMOKEHOUSE WILDFIRE IS UNDER CONTROL.

MORE THAN 3600 CATTLE HAVE PERISHED THERE, AND THEY'RE STILL COUNTING.

>> OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SPOKESPERSON ERIN HATFIELD SAYS THE DEQ ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY HEALTH ADVISORY LAST TUESDAY IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA.

>> I JUST THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO BE MINDFUL OF AIR QUALITY.

I THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE TAKE FOR GRANTED.

YOU GO OUTSIDE.

YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU BREATHE IN THE AIR, BUT IT CAN REALLY IMPACT PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS.

SUCH AS CARDIOVASCULAR ISSUES OR RESPIRATORY ISSUES.

>> IT'S TUESDAY AFTERNOON, AND WE ARE IN CANTON, OKLAHOMA, WHERE SOME SERIOUS WILDFIRE PREVENTION HAS BEEN UNDERWAY.

>> LAST YEAR, THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL CALLED THE "TERRY PEACH NORTHERN CANADIAN WATERSHED RESTORATION ACT."

IT BOUGHT FOUR SKID STEERS LIKE THIS ONE AND OTHER ACCESSORIES.

STATE CONSERVATION WORKERS USE THAT HARDWARE TO TURN TO MULCH EASTERN RED CEDAR TREES THAT HAVE INFESTED THIS STATE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS.

THESE TREES NOT ONLY DRINK UP MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF LOCAL WATER SUPPLIES, THEY'RE EASY FUEL FOR WILDFIRES.

>> YOU GET A WILDFIRE ROLLING THROUGH HERE, AND IT GETS THESE CEDARS GOING.

YOU ARE GOING TO THROW EMBERS INTO TOWN.

YOU ARE GOING TO CREATE A BAD SITUATION.

YOU'RE GOING TO BURN SOME ROOFS.

YOU WILL BURN PEOPLES' YARDS.

IT WILL BE A BAD DEAL IF THAT EVER HAPPENS.

>> TUESDAY MORNING IN CANADIAN COUNTY, PIEDMONT FARMER KURT MAYABB AND ANOTHER VOLUNTEER LOADED SEVERAL THOUSAND POUNDS OF HAY.

THEIR DESTINATION?

GAGE, OKLAHOMA.

>> WE'RE GETTING DONATIONS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS JUST -- IT'S AMAZING.

IT IS BIGGER THAN WHAT I EVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

BUT HERE WE ARE, AND WE'RE GOING TO ROLL WITH IT.

>> MAYABB, WHO'S ALSO PIEDMONT'S MAYOR, SAYS THIS GRASSROOTS EFFORT, WHICH BEGAN A WEEK AGO, WILL TRANSPORT AS MUCH AS 30,000 POUNDS OF HAY TO GAGE AND OTHER FARMERS WHO NEED IT IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA EACH WEEK FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

>> IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY HAY THIS TIME OF YEAR, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CATTLE.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

MAYABB SAYS THEY'RE GETTING MONETARY DONATIONS FROM ALL OVER THE U.S., INCLUDING BOTH COASTS.

>> DOES IT BLOW YOU AWAY THAT PEOPLE ON THE EAST AND WEST COAST GET IT?

>>IT DOES.

>> AND BECAUSE THE WIND STILL BLOWS IN OKLAHOMA, WILDFIRES ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STATE ARE STILL A THREAT.

THAT MUSHROOM CLOUD IN ELLIS COUNTY IS PROOF.

>> IS IT HUMBLING TO KNOW YOU WERE NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS FROM 22,000 MILES IN SPACE?

>> IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE TECHNOLOGY, AND IT HAS PROVEN TO BE A GAME-CHANGER HERE FOR US IN OKLAHOMA, TEXAS AND KANSAS.

AND NOW IT'S BEEN SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

>> I TALKED TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE DOBRINSKI.

HE AUTHORED THE ORIGINAL "TERRY PEACH NORTHERN CANADIAN WATERSHED ACT" THAT PASSED LAST YEAR.

TUESDAY AT THE STATE CAPITAL, HE INTRODUCED ANOTHER BILL THAT WOULD TAKE THE TERRY PEACH ACT STATEWIDE.

HE'S ASKING FOR 10 MILLION DOLLARS TO DO IT.

RICH.

>> STEVE, VERY COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WOULD OPENING UP COMPETITION TO BUILD HIGH-POWER TRANSMISSION LINES RAISE OR LOWER THE COST OF YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL?

THAT QUESTION IS BEING DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW.

CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON HOUSE BILL 4097.

JASON?

>> RICH, YOU ARE RIGHT.

THAT DEBATE IS OVER WHETHER STATE REGULATION OF HIGH-VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINE CONSTRUCTION WILL LEAD TO SAVINGS.

THE MAJOR ELECTRIC UTILITIES ARE ON BOARD, BUT SOME CONSUMER ADVOCACY GROUPS ARE LEARY.

>> IT'S TRANSMISSION LINES LIKE THESE THAT BRING THE ELECTRICITY FROM GENERATING PLANTS TO SUBSTATIONS AND THEN ON TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

REPRESENTATIVE TREY CALDWELL IS LEADING THE EFFORT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ENTITIES WHICH CAN CONSTRUCT THOSE LINES IN OKLAHOMA.

>> AS I CONTINUE TO HEAR THAT COMPETITION IS A GOOD THING ON THE FRONT END WHEN IT COMES TO HIGH VOLTAGE LINE CONSTRUCTION, SO WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO INJECT MORE IN THE PROCESS.

>> THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW, BIDS ARE SUBMITTED TO THE SOUTHWESTERN POWER POOL ON HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECTS.

THOSE SUBMITTING THE BID MUST BE ABLE TO OPERATE AND MANAGE THE LINES AFTER THEY'RE BUILT.

CALDWELL'S BILL OPENS UP THE BIDDING PROCESS TO MORE ENTITIES.

>> AND WE'VE DONE THAT BY TAKING IT FROM SBP, STARTING AN INTERNAL RFP PROCESS AND BUY BIFURCATING THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS ISSUE.

NOW COMPANIES THAT BUILD THINGS FOR A LIVING, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BID ON THESE PROJECTS NOW, WHERE THE LAST DECADE THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO TURN IN BIDS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT IN THE OPERATING BUSINESS.

>> THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION WORKS FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> WE KNOW THIS WORKS FOR GENERATION ASSETS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

WE ALREADY HAVE THAT PROCESS ON THE BOOKS.

SO IT'S TRYING TO CHERRY PICK THINGS THAT WORK WELL WITHIN THAT INDUSTRY AND TRYING TO MAKE IT FIT THAT AS WELL, AND THAT WAY, WE CAN TRY TO KIND OF STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS.

>> THE MAJOR UTILITY COMPANIES IN OKLAHOMA ARE ON BOARD.

>> WE VERY MUCH SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 4097.

>> EMILY IS THE DIRECTOR OF FEDERAL REGIONAL TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS OR OG AND E. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY OPEN UP THAT COMPETITION.

BECAUSE IF IT'S CONDUCTED AT THE STATE LEVEL, ENTITIES THAT ARE INTERESTED SLOWLY IN CONSTRUCTING THOSE PROJECTS WILL BE ABLE TO BID IN, AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT WILL OPEN COMPETITIVE BIDDING UP TO MANY MORE ENTITIES.

>> SHE ADDS THAT AS MORE RENEWABLE AND TRADITIONAL ENERGY GENERATION IS DEVELOPED IN OKLAHOMA, THERE WILL BE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD TRANSMISSION LINES.

>> TRANSMISSION IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT TO ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE INCREASED NEED FOR GENERATION CAPACITY, WHETHER IT'S THEY AREL OR RENEWABLE, YOU NEED TRANSMISSION ASSETS TO DELIVER THAT POWER TO CONSUMERS.

>> GIVING THE OKLAHOMA CORPORATION COMMISSION THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE TRANSMISSION LINE CONSTRUCTION COULD LEAD TO INCREASED SAVINGS FOR RATE PAYERS BECAUSE OF INCREASED COMPETITION,.

>> WE BELIEVE WITH THAT ADDED LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT BY THE CORPORATION COMMISSION THAT THERE IS A STRONG OPPORTUNITY FOR CUSTOMER SAVINGS, AND CERTAINLY WE DO KNOW THERE WILL BE CONFIDENCE IN THOSE PROJECT COSTS THAT ARE ULTIMATELY ALLOCATED TO CUSTOMERS.

>> NOT EVERYONE AGREES THAT REFORMING THE HIGH POWER TRANSMISSION LINE PROCESS WILL LEAD TO SAVINGS ON OUR ELECTRIC BILL.

>> WE BELIEVE, PUT SIMPLY, HOUSE BILL 4097 CREATES A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY RAISE COSTS FOR OKLAHOMA FAMILIES AND BUSINESS OWNERS BY ELIMINATING THE BENEFITS OF FREE MARKET COMPETITION IN OKLAHOMA.

>> RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL GIVES INCUMBENT UTILITIES THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT PROJECTS FIRST BEFORE OTHERS CAN BID ON THEM.

DR. BRADLEY WARD WITH THE OKLAHOMA CHAPTER OF AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY SAYS THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THIS SAVES MONEY.

>> WE'VE SEEN ASSOCIATED IN OTHER STATES THAT THE COSTS NENL GENERALLY NEVER GO DOWN.

ALABAMA DID IT IN 2016, AND THEIR UTILITY PRICE HAS INCREASED BY CLOSE TO 30%.

IN NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTH DAKOTA, ALMOST 35% SINCE IT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

SO THERE'S REALLY NO DEMONSTRATION THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED PRICES WILL GO DOWN.

>> REPRESENTATIVE CALDWELL SAYS HOUSE BILL 4097 IS NOT EXACTLY A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL SYSTEM.

>> THIS BILL IS NOT A ROFR BILL, BUT WITH THE CONCEPT, INCUMBENT UTILITY WOULD BE THE ONLY PERSON THAT COULD CONSTRUCT OR OPERATE A UTILITY LINE IN THE STATE IN THAT THEY HAVE THE INCUMBENCY.

>> HE ADDS AS MORE RENEWABLE AND TRADITIONAL ENERGY GENERATION IS DEVELOPED IN OKLAHOMA, THOSE HIGH POWERED TRANSMISSION LINES BECOME MUCH MORE IMPORTANT.

>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN OKLAHOMA RIGHT NOW, ON A VERY WINDY DAY, WE PRODUCE MORE ELECTRICITY IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA THAN WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET TO THE MARKET.

THEY CALL A LINE CONGESTION.

>> OG AND E EMILY SAYS BY GIVING MORE OVERSIGHT OF TRAN MISSION LINE CONSTRUCTION -- TRANSMISSION LINE CONSTRUCTION, IT COULD LEAD TO RATE SAVINGS.

>> WE THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO BRING BACK OVERSIGHT TO COST RECOVERY BACK TO THE STATE.

>> DR. WARD SAYS THERE ISN'T A NEED TO CHANGE HOW THE CORPORATION COMMISSION REGULATES UTILITY.

>> WE BELIEVE THE OKLAHOMA CORPORATION COMMISSION ALREADY HAS A REGULATORY PROCESS THAT WORKS IN PLACE.

WE DON'T SEE THE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND CHANGE THE REGULATORY STRUCTURE AND PROCESS THE WAY IT WORKS RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S THE QUESTION WE'RE REALLY ASKING THE UTILITY COMPANIES, IS WHY NOW?

WHAT ISN'T WORKING THAT WE NEED TO FIX.

>> HE CAUTIONS LAWMAKERS MOVING FORWARD ON THE PROPOSED REFORM.

>> AND I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION TO FIGURE OUT WHICH WAY WORKS BEST FOR OKLAHOMA FAMILIES AND BUSINESS OWNERS.

>> HOUSE BILL 4097 WAS RECENTLY APPROVED BY THE FULL HOUSE.

THE LEGISLATION NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE FOR CONSIDERATION.

RICH.

>> JASON.

THANK YOU.

THERE WILL BE A NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WHEN THE 60th OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE CONVENES NEXT YEAR.

WITH MORE ON THAT, WE'RE JOINED BY SHAWN ASHLEY WHO JOINS US FROM OUR OETA STUDIO.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE REPRESENTATIVE WHO ARE REPLACE OUTGOING CHARLES MCCALL.

>> THE REPRESENTATIVE HILBERT IS A REPUBLICAN FROM BRISTOW.

HE HAS SERVED SINCE 2016, WHICH COINCIDENTALLY WAS THE SAME YEAR CHARLES MCCALL WAS ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

DURING HIS TENURE, HILBERT HAS SERVED AS VICE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS AND MORE RECENTLY AS HOUSE SPEAKER PRO-TEM, THAT MEANING HE WOULD PRECEDE MCCALL.

HILBERT HAS SEEN MORE THAN 30 OF HIS BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW AND HE WILL BE THE YOUNGEST SPEAKER IN STATE HISTORY, PERHAPS IN THE UNITED STATES.

IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, HE WILL TURN 30.

>> WOW, YOUNG GUY.

THANK YOU.

A BILL THAT WOULD PLACE A MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY HAS ADVANCED IN THE HOUSE.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> YES.

REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MCDOUGALL HAS PROPOSED THIS BILL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

IT FINALLY GOT A HEARING THIS YEAR IN THE HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE FROM WHICH IT WAS PASSED OUT AND WILL HEAD TO THE HOUSE FLOOR.

THIS BILL WOULD PLACE A MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA UNTIL 2029, WHICH DURING TIME A TASK FORCE OF 5 PEOPLE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT PRO-TEM, WOULD REVIEW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF A BIPARTISAN PANEL FROM 2017 REGARDING OKLAHOMA'S DEATH PENALTY AND EXECUTION PROCESS.

THIS BIPARTISAN PANEL FOUND A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS AND MADE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT THE LEGISLATURE HAS NEVER ACTED ON ANY OF THOSE.

MCDOUGALL HAS BEEN A BIG PROPONENT OF SEEING THOSE MEASURES TAKEN UP AND CONSIDERED BY LAWMAKERS.

>> SHAWN, ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU.

THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL THIS WEEK REQUIRING SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO INCLUDE PARENTS WHEN SENDING MESSAGES TO STUDENTS.

REPRESENTATIVE SHERRY CONNELLY SAYS THIS PROTECTS BOTH THE STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOL.

HOW SO?

>> WELL, THE IDEA IS THAT A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE SEEN INVOLVING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION HAVE INVOLVED COMMUNICATIONS VIA SOCIAL MEDIA AND TEXTS THAT WERE QUITE SIMPLY INAPPROPRIATE.

BY INCLUDING PARENTS IN THAT E-MAIL AND TEXT CHAIN, IF YOU WILL, IT WILL ELIMINATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INAPPROPRIATE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

>> HOUSE BILL 3694 CREATED SOME FRICTION THIS WEEK.

WHY DID THE OKLAHOMA LARCENY OF MERCHANDISE ACT OF 2024 CREATE A STIR?

>> WELL, WHAT THIS BILL SEEMS TO DO IS UNDO WHAT THE VOTERS DID IN 2016 WHEN THEY APPROVED STATE QUESTIONS 780.

STATE QUESTION 780 INCREASED THE THRESHOLD OF THEFT OF MERCHANDISE BEFORE IT IS CONSIDERED A FELONY FROM $500 TO $1,000.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS REVERSE THAT.

IT REDUCES IT FROM $1,000 BACK DOWN TO $500.

THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL, REPRESENTATIVE JOHN GEORGE, SAID HE WAS WILLING TO GO EVEN AS LOW AS $250, BECAUSE IN HIS VIEW, SINCE THE STATE QUESTION WAS APPROVED, THE NUMBER OF THEFTS HAD INCREASED.

THE BILL PASSED OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR AND NOW HEADS TO THE SENATE FOR ITS CONSIDERATION.

>> FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU.

A BILL TO EASE MEDICAL DEBT ON OKLAHOMANS IS NOW HEADED TO THE SENATE.

TELL US ABOUT HOUSE BILL 4148.

>> THIS BILL REQUIRES BEFORE A LAWSUIT CAN BE FILED BY A MEDICAL FACILITY OR A MEDICAL DEBT COLLECTOR THAT THEY VERIFY THAT THE PATIENT WAS AWARE OF THE VARIOUS CHARGES THEY WOULD BE FACING WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE MEDICAL CARE.

LAWMAKERS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE THE MEDICAL CARE PROCESS MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT, PASSING A LAW IN 2021 REQUIRING JUST THAT, THAT PRICES BE MADE AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS.

THIS JUST TAKES THAT A STEP FURTHER WHEN DEBT COLLECTORS ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT THOSE DEBTS.

>> AS ALWAYS, GREAT INFORMATION.

SHAWN ASHLEY, PUBLISHER OF QUOR QUORUM CALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>> THE CLASSIC SOUND OF WESTERN SWING WAS REVERBERATING THROUGH THE ROTUNDA OF THE STATE CAPITOL MONDAY MORNING, CELEBRATING THE KING OF THE CAIN'S BALLROOM, THE LEGENDARY BOB WILLS.

♪♪ AMONG THE PERFORMERS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE JAY STEAGALL AND THE PART-TIMERS.

>> WAY TO GO, JAY!

>> OTHER PERFORMERS INCLUDED KYLE DILLINGHAM AND THE BOB WILLS TEXAS PLAYBOYS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF JASON ROBERTS.

WILLS POPULARIZED WESTERN SWING BACK IN THE '30S, AND HIS SONG "FADED LOVE" HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED AS OKLAHOMA'S COUNTRY AND WESTERN STATE SONG.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CULTURE HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

IT'S TRADITIONAL FOR US, AND THIS TYPE OF MUSIC REALLY SPEAKS TO WHO WE ARE AS OKLAHOMANS.

AND I LIKE TO SAY THAT WE OWN WESTERN SWING.

>> OUR FRIENDS, OUR VERSION OF GOODBYE, ELIZA JANE.

>> AND REALLY, AS THE KING OF WESTERN SWING, HE BECAME THE ICON FOR THE ORDINARY PERSON, AND THE ORDINARY BLUE COLLAR WORKER WORKED HARD AND THEN DANCED ON THE WEEKENDS.

SO HE BROUGHT JAZZ AND GOSPEL AND FOLK AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT GENRES OF MUSIC AND PULLED THE TOGETHER, AND HE IS ONE OF THOSE ICONIC MUSICIANS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE NEXT GENERATION UNDERSTAND HIS ROLE AND HIS INFLUENCE EVEN ON ARTISTS SUCH AS MERLE HAGGARD AND WANDA JACKSON AND OTHER ARTISTS THAT HAVE REALLY CONTINUED TO BE PIVOTAL OKLAHOMANS THAT HAVE NOT ONLY BEEN IMPORTANT IN OKLAHOMA, BUT ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.

>> BOB WILLS DAY BEGAN IN THE 1980S.

IT WAS DISCONTINUED WHEN THE CAPITOL RESTORATION BEGAN IN 2014 AND RESUMED IN 2023.

GREAT TO HAVE IT BACK!

>> WITH SOCIAL MEDIA FUELING A RISE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN BEING BULLIED IN OKLAHOMA AND WITH THE DEATH OF OWASSO STUDENT NEX BENEDICT STILL VERY MUCH IN THE NEWS, WE'RE DEVOTING OUR IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION THIS WEEK TO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REDUCE BULLYING, BOTH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON.

HERE'S A PREVIEW OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST WITH MODERATOR SUSAN CADOT.

>> CYBER-BULLYING HAS BEEN ON A DRAMATIC INCREASE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ISSUES WE SAW WITH THE PANDEMIC.

WE BECAME SO RELIANT ON TECHNOLOGY THAT NOW WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ON SMARTPHONES, ON THEIR COMPUTERS MORE.

AND WITH THAT, WE'VE SEEN THE INCREASE IN BULLYING REPORTS.

WE'VE SEEN 46% OF CHILDREN HAVE REPORTED CYBER-BULLYING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT NUMBER'S DOUBLE FOR LGBTQ+ CHILDREN.

>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO SEE A REAL SHIFT IN POLICIES AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL THAT WE'VE SEEN ALL OF THESE POLICIES IMPLEMENTED THAT CREATE THE SENSE OF ISOLATION FOR QUEER AND TRANS YOUTH ESPECIALLY, BUT FOR MANY KIDS.

AND SO I THINK THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO SIT DOWN AS A STATE AND THINK ABOUT THE WAY WE'VE LET POLITICS DICTATE SITUATIONS FOR OUR YOUNGEST AND MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT KEEP THEM UNSAFE.

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

>> THE DEEP DEUCE DISTRICT IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAS A RICH HISTORICAL PAST, THRIVING PRESENT AND ENCOURAGING FUTURE.

JAZZ GIANTS CHARLIE CHRISTIAN AND JIMMY RUSHING GREW UP IN DEEP DEUCE AND IT WAS THE PLACE TO PLAY, IF YOU WERE GOOD ENOUGH.

TAELYR JACKSON HAS OUR REPORT.

>> DURING THE EARLY 20th CENTURY, NORTHEAST 2nd STREET WAS A CULTURAL HUB FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE STREET WAS FILLED WITH BLACK-OWNED BARBERSHOP, RESTAURANTS, DOCTOR OFFICES AND THEATERS.

>> YOU HAD ROOMING HOUSES, SUCH AS THE LION'S HOTEL, RUBY'S GRILL, THE OLD HICKORY LODGE, THE LITTLE PAGE BUILDING, HAYWOOD BUILDING, THOSE TYPE OF FACILITIES.

>> WE HAD THREE BLACK-OWNED THEATERS BUT THE ALDER'S THEATER, MY MOTHER WOULD DROP US OFF ON THE CORNER, SAID YOU GO IN THERE AND WATCH THAT MOVIE, BUT WHEN IT'S OVER, COME STAND RIGHT HERE, DON'T MOVE.

>> THE COMMUNITY HAD A NEWSPAPER CALLED THE BLACK DISPATCH.

HE WAS THE EDITOR AND PUBLISHED IT FROM 1915 TO 1954.

ANITA RECALLS WORKING WITH DUNGY.

>> SO MR. GUNGY'S OFFICE WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SODA FOUNTAIN.

LATER ON, I USED TO GO DOWN AND PUT ARTICLES IN MR. DUNGY'S PAPER, AND THAT'S HOW I GOT THE FIRST LITTLE TASTE OF POLITICS, BECAUSE MR. DUNGY LOVED POLITICS.

HE DID.

>> HISTORIAN MATTHEW PIERCE SAYS SECOND STREET BECAME A POPULAR AREA FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS DUE TO SEGREGATION.

>> AT THE TIME, NEARLY 20th CENTURY AFRICAN AMERICANS IN OKLAHOMA CITY WERE RESTRICTED TO LIVING IN A CERTAIN PART OF OKLAHOMA CITY, KIND OF SOUTH OF NORTHEAST 4th STREET AND EAST OF THE SANTA FE RAILROAD TRACKS.

THAT AREA WOULD CONTINUE TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT.

>> IT WAS JUST A ONE BLOCK AREA.

A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY THINK IT'S AN AREA.

WELL, NO, IT WAS THE 300 BLOCK OF NORTHEAST 2nd STREET, AND THOSE WERE THE LIMITS.

YOU COULDN'T GO UP TO THE 200 BLOCK.

IN FACT, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT BOUGHT SOME PROPERTY, AND HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO ENTER IT, BECAUSE IT WAS THE 200 BLOCK.

>> ARNOLD DESCRIBES 2nd STREET AS BUSINESS BY DAY AND ENTERTAINMENT BY NIGHT.

>> ONCE IN A WHILE SOMEBODY WOULD GET THE URGE TO HAVE A JAM SESSION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, AND YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WOULD FIND A FLATBED TRUCK.

THEY WOULD ERECT, YOU KNOW, A HOMEMADE STAGE ON THERE AND BRING THEIR INSTRUMENTS AND HAVE JAM SESSIONS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, AND EVERYBODY WOULD COME OUT OF THE BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, TO LISTEN TO THE GREAT MUSIC.

>> THE 1920'S WAS KNOWN AS THE JAZZ AGE, AND OKLAHOMA CITY PLAYED A ROLE IN PRODUCING JAZZ MUSICIANS.

>> JAZZ WAS THE SOUNDTRACK, AND SO DEEP DEUCE WAS VERY MUCH AN URBAN, VIBRANT PLACE THAT ALLOWED A GENRE LIKE JAZZ TO COME IN AND THRIVE AND PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS LIKE CHARLIE CHRISTIAN AND OTHERS TO INNOVATE, TEST THEIR SOUNDS.

>> CHARLIE CHRISTIAN, WHO PIONEERED THE USE OF ELECTRIC GUITAR IN JAZZ MUSIC, WAS DISCOVERED BY TALENT SCOUT JON JONHAMM MOND.

>> MARY LOU WILLIAMS, SHE TOLD DON HAMMOND THAT HE NEEDED TO TRAVEL TO OKLAHOMA CITY TO HEAR CHARLIE CHRISTIAN.

>> BUT CHRISTIAN WASN'T THE ONLY JAZZ MUSICIAN TO COME OUT OF OKC.

JIMMY RUSHING.

>> JIMMY RUSHING WHO WAS CONSIDERED THE WORLD'S GREATEST BLUES SHOUTER LATER ON, WAS BORN ON SECOND STREET.

IN FACT, HE LIVED RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE THEATER.

>> ARNOLD WROTE ABOUT OKLAHOMA CITY'S INFLUENCE IN MUSIC IN HER BOOK, OKLAHOMA CITY MUSIC, DEEP DEUCE AND BEYOND.

>> SO THERE WAS A BAND KNOWN AS THE BLUE DEVILS.

AND THEY WERE REALLY HOT.

THEY COULD WHIP ANY BAND IN THE COUNTRY ALONG THOSE VISIBLE TRAILS.

>> AFTER ITS PRIMES IN THE 20s AND 30s, THE AREA REMAINED A HUB FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS UNTIL THE LATE 1950'S.

>> AS DESEGGATION COMES TO THE FOLD, YOU START TO SEE AFRICAN AMERICANS SPEND THEIR MONEY OUTSIDE OF THE AREA, BECAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO EAT SOMEWHERE ELSE OR MOVE THEIR HOUSE.

AS A RESULT, THAT HISTORIC COMMERCIAL CORE, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE KIND OF AN OUT-MIGRATION OF THAT ECONOMIC VITALITY THAT ONCE SUSTAINED IT.

>> TODAY 2nd STREET IS ONE OF SIX DISTRICTS THAT MAKE UP DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY.

DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY PARTNERSHIP, A NONPROFIT THAT OVERSEES ALL OF THE DISTRICTS, SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO HONOR THE RICH HISTORY OF DEEP DEUCE, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT TO VISIT IN THE DISTRICT.

>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER THE OKC OR THE DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY PARTNERSHIP UMBRELLA, THAT THERE ARE DISTINCT PERSONALITIES AND THAT'S REALLY SPECIAL TO CONSERVE.

AND WITH THE RESOURCES THAT DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA PARTNERSHIP HAS, WE CAN LEVERAGE THAT TO BE ABLE TO, FOR INSTANCE, IN A DISTRICT LIKE DEEP DEUCE, TO DO SOMEPLACE MAKING AND PROGRAMMING THAT IS REALLY TIED TO WHAT IS SPECIAL FOR THE STAKEHOLDERS IN DEEP DEUCE AS OPPOSED TO WHAT IS THE PERSONALITY OF MIDTOWN OR BRICKTOWN.

>> TAELYR JACKSON, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> GREAT PIECE, TAELYR.

THANK YOU.

>> SIX OKLAHOMA STUDENT ARTISTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR BLACK HISTORY MONTH ARTWORK, THANKS TO A CONTEST HELD IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY AND THE TULSA METRO AREA.

THE STUDENTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO CREATE PIECES THAT CELEBRATED BLACK ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND LEADERSHIP.

THE TOP WINNERS WERE GIVEN $250 FOR THEIR EFFORTS.

U.S. CELLULAR PARTNERED WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY AND THE SALVATION ARMY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IN TULSA TO HOLD THE CONTEST.

>> HOW MUCH OIL DOES OKLAHOMA HOLD IN RESERVE, AND HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO OTHER STATES?

JASON DOYLE PROVIDES THE ANSWERS IN THIS WEEK'S OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> OUT OF THE 15 STATES WITH MAJOR OIL PRODUCTION, OKLAHOMA'S PROVEN OIL RESERVES RANK 6TH ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY "CONSTRUCTION COVERAGE."

IT'S ESTIMATED OKLAHOMA HAS NEARLY ONE AND A HALF BILLION BARRELS OF OIL IN THE GROUND.

THAT'S ACTUALLY DOWN BY 12.9 PERCENT FROM FIVE YEARS AGO.

OKLAHOMA HAS FIVE OPERATING REFINERIES TO HELP PROCESS CRUDE OIL.

THE STATE WITH THE LARGEST PROVEN OIL RESERVE IS OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE SOUTH, TEXAS.

HOME PRICES IN OKLAHOMA CITY IN FEBRUARY DROPPED 7.4 PERCENT COMPARED TO FEBRUARY 2023.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE LATEST REAL ESTATE REPORT FROM REALTOR.COM.

THE AVERAGE PRICE FOR A HOME IN OKLAHOMA CITY IS $323,000.

THE NUMBER OF HOMES FOR SALE HAS GROWN BY 14 PERCENT COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 55 DAYS ON THE MARKET.

IT IS COSTING A LITTLE MORE TO FILL UP THIS WEEK THAN IT DID LAST WEEK OR LAST MONTH IN OKLAHOMA.

TRIPLE A SAYS MOTORISTS ARE CURRENTLY PAYING AN AVERAGE OF JUST UNDER 3.10 A GALLON.

A WEEK AGO, THAT AVERAGE PRICE WAS 2.94, AND A MONTH AGO IT WAS 2.67 A GALLON.

TRIPLE A SAYS HIGHER CRUDE OIL PRICES ARE THE LIKELY REASON WHY GAS PRICES HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE.

THE COST OF A BARREL OF OIL IS GETTING CLOSE TO 80 BUCKS A BARREL.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR A GALLON OF GAS IS 3.40.

OKLAHOMA CITY-BASED BANK 7 CORPORATION'S INVESTORS WILL BE GETTING A DIVIDEND PAYMENT SOON.

THE BANKING COMPANY DECLARED A 21-CENT QUARTERLY DIVIDEND.

INVESTORS WILL NEED TO OWN THE BANK 7 STOCK BY MARCH 21ST TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENT ON APRIL 4TH.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED ANTHEM BREWING IS WORKING WITH THE OKLAHOMA MONARCH SOCIETY TO CREATE A SPECIAL BEER.

IT WILL BE CALLED "SAVE THE MONARCHS" POLLINATOR PILSNER.

75 POUNDS OF LOCAL HONEY IS BEING USED IN THIS FIRST BATCH WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE IN MID-APRIL.

A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE OKLAHOMA MONARCH SOCIETY.

OKLAHOMA CITY MUSIC ARTIST JABEE WILLIAMS HAS SIGNED A RECORD DEAL WITH MELLO MUSIC GROUP FROM TUCSON, ARIZONA.

WILLIAMS HAS BEEN PRODUCING RAP MUSIC SINCE HE WAS A TEENAGER.

IN CONJUNCTION, JABEE ALSO DROPPED A NEW SINGLE, "HEAR ME WHEN I PRAY."

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> JASON, THANK YOU.

>> BULLYING CAN TAKE MANY FORMS.

IT CAN BE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN CAN BE VICTIMS.

BUT WHEN IT INVOLVES KIDS, IT'S HEARTBREAKING AND DANGEROUS.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION WITH MODERATOR SUSAN CADOT.

SUSAN?

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

JOINING ME NOW IS NICOLE MACAFEE, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FREEDOM OKLAHOMA, AND JOE DORMAN, THE C.E.O.

OF THE OKLAHOMA INSTITUTE FOR CHILD ADVOCACY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR TAKING TIME TO BE WITH US.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE.

>> LET'S START WITH YOU.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WHAT YOU DO.

>> OICA WAS FORMED IN 1983 AS A RESULT OF A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, THE CONDITIONS KIDS FACE IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN THE VOICE FOR OKLAHOMA'S CHILDREN AT THE CAPITOL.

WE ESSENTIALLY DO LOBBYING WORK AND TRAIN ADVOCATES, INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THE SYSTEM, TO TEACH THEM HOW TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE.

>> NICOLE, TELL ME ABOUT FREEDOM.

>> THE FREEDOM OKLAHOMA REALLY CAME OUT IN ITS CURRENT FORM AROUND THE TIME OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY FIGHTS AS MANY LGBTQ ORGANIZATIONS DID.

THE ORGANIZATION WORKS FOR A FUTURE WHY ALL LGBTQ PLUS OKLAHOMANS CAN LIVE.

IT INVOLVES TRANSPARENCY, INVOLVES A LOT OF WORK FROM PARENTS AND YOUTH, EVERYTHING FROM WORKING WITH GENDER AND SEXUALITY ALLIANCES IN SCHOOLS, HELPING FOLKS LEARN HOW TO ADVOCATE AT LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS, AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND REALLY JUST TRYING TO CREATE COMMUNITY SPACE IN TIMES WHERE QUEER AND TRANS OKLAHOMANS FEEL ESPECIALLY UNSAFE.

>> WHAT PROMPTED THIS CONVERSATION IS THE INCIDENT IN OWE WAS OWE INVOLVING A NON-- OWASSO INVOLVING A STUDENT NAMED NEX BENEDICT.

HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN BULLYING?

>> THERE ABSOLUTELY HAS.

CYBERBULLYING HAS BEEN ON A DRAMATIC INCREASE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ISSUES WE SAW WITH THE PANDEMIC.

WE BECAME SO RELIANT ON TECHNOLOGY THAT NOW WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ON SMARTPHONES, ON THEIR COMPUTERS MORE.

AND WITH THAT, WE'VE SEEN THE INCREASE IN BULLYING.

REPORTS WE'VE SEEN ARE 46% OF CHILDREN HAVE REPORTED CYBERBULLYING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT NUMBER IS DOUBLE FOR LGBTQ PLUS CHILDREN.

>> SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS, NICOLE, AS I COME TO YOU.

WHEN IT COMES TO LGBTQ PLUS CHILDREN, THERE IS SOME VERBAL BULLYING, THE WRITTEN BULLYING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT IS THERE AN EXTRA COMPONENT THAT HAS BEEN SEEN IN THE STATS AND NUMBERS OF PHYSICAL BULLYING?

>> IN THE OLD DAY, IN MY DAY, IT WAS GIVE ME YOUR LUNCH MONEY OR I'M GOING TO BEAT YOU UP, AND THAT WAS KIND OF THE STEREOTYPE OF BULLYING, BUT IT'S SO MUCH MORE NOW.

>> YEAH, AND I THINK FOR OKLAHOMA STUDENTS ESPECIALLY, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED IN SCHOOLS IN JUST THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE FIRST SAW A SPORTS BAN FOR TRANS YOUTH SO THAT TRANS, GENDER NON-CONFORMING KIDS, CAN'T PLAY ON TEAMS THAT REFLECT THEIR GENDER.

WE SAW SINGLE SEX BATHROOMS IMPLEMENTED, SO KIDS NEED TO COME OUT AND USE BATHROOM FACILITIES THAT DON'T MATCH THEIR GENDER EXPRESSIONS OR TRIPS ACROSS CAMPUS TO TRY TO GET TO A SINGLE STALL AVAILABILITY.

>> THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

WE HAVEN'T FIXED IT YET, JOE.

WHY NOT?

IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE HUMAN NATURE THAT MAKING EVERYONE WAN?

IT'S SUCH A FRUSTRATING ISSUE FOR ME.

>> WE OFTEN HEAR PARENTS RIGHTS ISSUES AT THE CAPITOL.

IF YOU THINK BACK TO THE OLD DAYS, IT USED TO BE A CODE OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

WE'RE NOT SEEING THE RESPONSIBILITY SIDE REALLY HANDLE A LOT OF THESE ISSUES.

WE'RE SEEING ADULTS NOT ENGAGING THE WAY THEY SHOULD TO TRY AND CURB THIS BEHAVIOR.

THIS IS LEARNED BEHAVIOR.

KIDS DON'T START OUT AS BULLIES.

THEY'RE LEARNING THIS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

IT COULD BE FROM WATCHING A TV SHOW.

IT COULD BE FROM A MOVIE.

IT COULD BE WATCHING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TALKING ABOUT THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

THESE ARE LEARNED BEHAVIORS.

KIDS REALLY HAVEN'T CHANGED IN THE DYNAMIC, BUT THE WORLD HAS CHANGED AROUND THEM.

>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT THAT, IT'S SO EASY ONLINE TO STRIKE OUT, BUT I GENERALLY FIND AND I TEND TO BE AN OPTIMIST, WHEN YOU'RE FACE TO FACE WITH PEOPLE, YOU RELATE TO PEOPLE AS WHO THEY ARE AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

THAT HAS TO BE HARDER FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS CHILDREN, AND WE'RE HEARING MORE ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S MORE OF AN ISSUE, AND OUR CHILDREN ARE LETTING THEMSELVES BE KNOWN AND STANDING AS WHO THEY ARE AND WHO THEY IDENTIFY AS, AND SO WHEN WE GET A VOICE OF AN AUTHORITY FIGURE, ARE CHILDREN EVEN HEARING THAT?

I THOUGHT THEY DIDN'T LISTEN TO AUTHORITY FIGURES, NICOLE.

>> IF ONLY THAT WERE THE CASE.

I THINK IN THE INITIAL WEEK AFTER NEX'S DEATH SORT OF BECAME NEWS ACROSS OKLAHOMA AND NATIONWIDE, THE ONE SINGULAR CRISIS HOTLINE REPORTED A 300% INCREASE IN CALLS FROM OKLAHOMA YOUTH, MORE THAN 80% OF THOSE MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE WORRIED THAT THEY COULD BE THE NEXT NEX BENEDICT, THAT THEY FELT BULLIED AT THE SAME LEVEL.

AND SO THIS, UNFORTUNATELY, IS A REALITY EVERY DAY FOR SO MANY OF OUR LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH.

THERE JUST AREN'T ANY OF THE SUPPORTS TO HELP CREATE THAT SAFETY.

>> I THINK SCHOOLS, PARENTS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES, THEY'RE MORE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE THAN EVER BEFORE, BECAUSE IT IS IN THE NEWS SO MUCH.

DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE MAKING -- THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE MAKING A GOOD-FAITH EFFORT TO HELP CHILDREN WHO FEEL ALIENATED?

>> I THINK THERE ARE, AND I THINK THERE AREN'T ENOUGH OF >> I THINK THERE ARE, AND I THINK THERE AREN'T ENOUGH OF THOSE PEOPLE.

AS WE SEE THIS ANTI-TRANS RHETORIC ESPECIALLY PARROTED AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNANCE, THAT KIDS NOT ONLY EXPERIENCE BULLYING FROM FELLOW STUDENTS BUT ALSO IN INCREASING SITUATIONS FROM STAFF AND EDUCATORS IN SCHOOLS.

AND SO I THINK AS MUCH AS FOLKS ARE TRYING HARD TO CREATE THAT SENSE OF SAFETY AND COMMUNITY FOR YOUTH, WE'RE ALSO SEEING MORE AND MORE TEACHERS LEAVE THE PROFESSION OR LEAVE THE STATE BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN SAFELY CREATE THAT ENVIRONMENT FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

>> I WANT TO ASK BOTH OF YOU, AND I'LL START WITH JOE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE -- WHAT MORE CAN PEOPLE DO?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE TO PROTECT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN?

THERE ARE KIDDOS BULLIED, ASSAULTED FOR VARIOUS REASONS, AND WE DON'T WANT ANY OF THEM TO BE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IMPACTS ALL CHILDREN.

I WAS BULLIED IN SCHOOL MYSELF.

I WAS THE RUNT OF MY CLASS.

IF YOU LOOK BACK ON THOSE DAYS, IT WASN'T WHAT I CONSIDERED BULLYING.

IT WAS JUST A PART OF THE CULTURE.

BUT YOU LOOK BACK ON THOSE THINGS, AND SOME OF THE STUFF IS TRAUMATIC, THE NAMES THAT KIDS CALL OVER STUDENTS, THE HARASSMENT.

WE HAVE A MOVIE THAT'S OUT RIGHT NOW CALLED MEAN GIRLS, THE SECOND ITERATION OF IT.

IT TALKS ABOUT BULLIES IN SCHOOL.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOREVER.

IT'S TRYING TO CURB THAT BEHAVIOR.

I MENTIONED PARENTS' RESPONSIBILITIES BEFORE.

PARENTS NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH THEIR KIDS.

IF THEY SUSPECT THEIR CHILD IS A BULLY, THEY NEED TO TALK TO THEM AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

IF THEIR CHILD IS BEING BULLIED, THEY CERTAINLY NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION TO MAKE SURE THE CHILD IS GETTING THE MENTAL HEALTHCARE THAT THEY NEED, BECAUSE THIS IS TRAUMATIC.

>> THEN WE HAVE FAMILIES WHO PARENTS DON'T ENGAGE WITH THEIR CHILD, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T EVEN HELP THEM WITH THEIR SCHOOLWORK AND CHILDREN ARE JUST LEFT ON THEIR OWN AND NOT GETTING THAT GUIDANCE.

WHAT MORE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE, NICOLE, IN THE ABSENCE OF PARENTAL GUIDANCE?

>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO SEE A REAL SHIFT IN POLICIES AT THE SCHOOL LEVELS, THAT WE'VE SEEN ALL OF THESE POLICIES IMPLEMENTED THAT CREATE THE SENSE OF ISOLATION FOR QUEER AND TRANS YOUTH ESPECIALLY, BUT FOR MANY KIDS.

SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE MANDATED OUTING OF QUEER AND TRANS YOUTH, EVEN IF THEIR FAMILIES ARE NOT SAFE, IT MEANS THAT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A QUEER OR TRANS KID WHO IS BEING BULLIED TO REPORT WHY THEY'RE BEING BULLIED TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.

AND SO I THINK THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO SIT DOWN AS A STATE AND THINK ABOUT THE WAY WE'VE LET POLITICS DICTATE SITUATIONS FOR OUR YOUNGEST AND MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT KEEP THEM UNSAFE.

>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU FACE A TOUGHER ROAD IN A STATE LIKE OKLAHOMA?

AND I THINK OKLAHOMA IS A GREAT STATE, BUT IT IS A RED STATE, WHICH CAN BE A CHALLENGE FOR LGBTQ ISSUES.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT'S A TOUGHER ROAD?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, YES, AND AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THAT I OFTEN GROUND MY WORK IN THE FACT THAT TRUE SPIRIT PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED ON THIS LAND, THAT QUEER AND TRANS PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN UNDER ATTACK FOR JUST EXISTING HERE, AND YET WE'RE STILL HERE AND STILL GOING TO BE HERE.

SO I HOPE, AS WE GRAPPLE WITH THIS HARM IN REAL TIME, WE WILL HAVE POLITICIANS WHO REFLECT ON THE WAY THAT THEY BULLY YOUNG FOLKS IN THE STATE AND MAYBE CONSIDER SHIFTING THEIR POLITICS AROUND THIS ISSUE.

>> DO YOU THINK IT'S A SURPRISE TO OKLAHOMANS THAT THERE IS A CONTINGENT OF FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IN THE PAST FIVE, TEN YEARS, IT'S BECOME SOMETHING THERE'S MORE IN THE PUBLIC AWARENESS THAN EVER BEFORE, JOE?

>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS.

AND YOU'RE SEEING PEOPLE CHANGE.

YOU SEE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LGBTQ THAT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S THAT AWARENESS AND FAMILIARITY WHEN YOU GET TO KNOW PEOPLE AND REALIZE THEY'RE NOT THAT DIFFERENT.

THEY MAY JUST HAVE A DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE, A DIFFERENT WAY THAT THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES, BUT THESE INDIVIDUALS, THEY GO TO WORK, THEY HAVE FAMILIES.

THEY'RE THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE.

WE'VE GOT TO TRY AND GET AWAY FROM THIS SEPARATION.

TOO MANY IN OUR SOCIETY WANT TO CREATE CLICKS OR CREATE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS AND THEN HAVE AN ENEMY.

WE'VE GOT TO TRY AND GET AWAY FROM THAT MENTALITY.

WE TALK ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD A LOT.

OFTENTIMES WHEN IT COMES TO SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, THE WAY WE TREAT OUR NEIGHBORS, WE'RE NOT LIVING UP TO THAT THING THAT WE WANT TO CLAIM SO MUCH.

>> IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN BULLYING IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS?

NICOLE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE HEAR FROM ON THE GROUND ACROSS THE STATE FROM STUDENTS, FROM PARENTS, FROM EDUCATORS, TELLS US THAT QUEER AND TRANS KIDS ARE BEING BULLIED IN VERY MUCH THE SAME WAY WHETHER THEY LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN OR A LARGE CITY.

I THINK THAT THE KEY DIFFERENCE IS THE ABILITY TO SEE QUEER AND TRANS ADULTS OFTENTIMES.

AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN A REALLY SMALL TOWN, I GRADUATED WITH A CLASS OF 14 PEOPLE.

>> WOW.

>> THERE'S NO ONE ELSE FROM MY TOWN THAT I KNOW THAT IS OPENLY QUEER.

AND IT MAKES IT SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO BE THE TARGET OF BULLYING AND NOT HAVE THOSE EXAMPLES OF QUEER AND TRANS FOLKS OUT IN COMMUNITY, OUT LIVING THEIR LIVES WITH FAMILIES, AND SO THAT IS A THING THAT I THINK I REALLY WORRY ABOUT FOR OUR YOUTH IN RURAL AREAS ESPECIALLY.

>> SO AS WE WRAP UP, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE MY LAST QUESTION, SO IF YOU WANT TO THROW ANYTHING IN YOUR ANSWER, THREES FEEL FREE, BUT I -- PLEASE FEEL FREE.

BUT I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE, ADVICE FOR A CHILD WHO IS EXPERIENCING BULLYING AND FEELS LIKE THEY CAN'T GO ANYWHERE IF THEY'RE IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY WHICH ADDS AN TRADITIONAL ENERGY LAY -- AN EXTRA LAYER OF DIFFICULTY FOR THEM.

>> I THINK I WANT QUEER AND TRANS YOUTH IN OKLAHOMA TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE QUEER AND TRANS AND TRUE SPIRIT ADULTS HERE, THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 160,000 QUEER AND TRANS ADULTS IN OKLAHOMA, AND WE'RE OFTEN TREATED AS A SORT OF NONEXIST NONEXISTENTPOPULATION, BUT IF WD IN ONE PLACE, WE WOULD BE THE THIRD LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE.

I WANT THEM TO KNOW WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE HERE, AND AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF OKLAHOMA EACH YEAR, IN MARCH, AHEAD OF TRANS WEEK, VISIBILITY IN ACTION, WE HOST LOVE LETTERS TO TRANS OKLAHOMANS, WHERE FOLKS CAN CREATE ART, WRITE LETTERS TO SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THAT POSITIVITY TO YOUNG FOLKS.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SOME SORT OF ACTION AND SOME SORT OF WAY TO ENGAGE IN THAT POSITIVITY TO LOOK TO FREEDOM OKLAHOMA AND TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT LOVE WITH OUR TRANS YOUTH ACROSS THE STATE.

>> AND JOE, AS WE WRAP THIS UP, AN UMBRELLA FOR ALL CHILDREN WHO MAY BE SILENTLY SUFFERING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IF A CHILD IS BEING BULLYING OR SUFFERING FROM ANY FORM OF MENTAL TRAUMA, REACH OUT TO YOUR PARENTS.

IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE REACHING OUT TO YOUR PARENTS, REACH OUT TO A TRUSTED ADULT.

IT MAY BE A TEACHER, COUNSELOR, SOMEONE IN YOUR CHURCH, SCOUT LEADER.

WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE, TALK TO SOMEONE.

DON'T BOTTLE IT UP.

THAT MENTAL TRAUMA IS ONE OF THE WORST THINGS WE SEE.

THE ONE THING I WOULD DISAGREE ON, THE URBAN VERSUS RURAL, THERE ARE FEWER SUPPORTS IN THE RURAL AREAS.

FIND THAT TRUSTED ADULT.

DON'T BOTTLE UP.

THAT LEADS TO FURTHER ISSUES, AND WE ALREADY HAVE FAR TOO MANY SUICIDE NUMBERS IN OUR STATE, WHICH THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THAT IN A LOT OF THESE CASES.

SO FIND A TRUSTED -- AND HAVE THOSE TOUGH, HONEST CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR PARENTS, IF YOU CAN.

>> AS A MOTHER, IT'S HEARTBREAKING FOR ME TO SEE THAT.

I HOPE THAT THE HELP CONTINUES TO BUILD AND GROW IN OKLAHOMA.

I'D LIKE TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF OUR CHILDREN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE TAKE YOU TO CALIFORNIA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW SCIENTISTS AT THE SALK INSTITUTE ARE CREATING A BETTER BRAIN TO BE USED FOR RESEARCH.

THAT REPORT COURTESY OF OUR FRIENDS AT K-PBS IN SAN DIEGO.

>> IN THE TISSUE CULTURE LAND AT THE SAUK INSTITUTE, THEY'RE GROWING ORGANS MADE OF BRAIN CELLS.

THEY'RE VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE, AND WHEN DONE, ABOUT 5 MILLIMETERS ACROSS.

WHEN COMBINED WITH OTHER CELL CONSTRUCTIONS, THEY WILL BECOME LIKE A TINY HUMAN BRAIN.

OUR PROFESSOR RUSTY GATES SAYS THEY'RE CALLED ORGANOIDS.

>> THE INTERESTING THING IS I'M TALKING ABOUT THE BRAIN PART OF IT.

THERE ARE LIVER ORGANOIDS, GUT ORGANOIDS, ORGANOIDS OF ALMOST EVERY ORGAN OF THE BODY.

>> ORGAN CREATION BEGINS WITH A SKIN CELL THAT TURNS INTO A POTENT STEM CELL.

THROW IN A FEW MOLECULAR SWITCHES, AND IT BECOMES A BRAIN CELL OR ANY OTHER CELL IN THE BODY.

WONG WAS THE FIRST AUTHOR OF A PAPER ABOUT THE SALK BRAIN RESEARCH.

SHE SAYS STUDYING ORGANOIDS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP IN LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCH.

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE CAN GROW THEM AND EXPAND A LOT OF ORGANOIDS, A LOT OF SCREENINGS AND STUDIES IN VITRO SO WE CAN IDENTIFY A MOLECULAR PATHWAY, AND THEN WE CAN DO BACK TO THE ANIMAL MODELS TO TEST THIS SO THAT WE CAN ALREADY HAVE A THEORY BEFORE WE GO INTO ANIMALS TO DO THESE STUDIES.

>> THE RESEARCH PAPER PUBLISHED IN ONE OF THE NATURE JOURNALS SHOWS HOW THE SALK LAB DEVISED A WAY TO CREATE A VERY COMMON BRAIN CELL CALLED ASTROCYTES.

THEY ARE POORLY REPRESENTED IN EARLIER BRAIN ORGANOIDS.

THE STUDY FURTHER SHOWS HOW SOME ASTROCYTES WERE PROMOTING BRAIN INFLAMMATION, INVOLVED IN LOTS OF WELL KNOWN DISEASES.

>> SUCH AS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, PARKINSON'S DISEASE, ALS.

SO THESE ARE ALL THE NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES THAT WE CAN STUDY USING THIS MODEL.

>> AS THE USE OF ORGANOIDS BECOMES MORE COMMON, RUSTY GAGE SAYS THEIR CLINICAL USE COULD MEAN CREATING AN ORGANOID TO SERVE AN INDIVIDUAL PATIENT.

>> IT SORT OF EPITOMIZES WHAT PEOPLE ARE CALLING PERSONALIZED MEDICINE.

SO WE HAVE YOUR CELLS HERE, AND THEY CAN BE TESTED WITH TREATMENTS AND UNDERSTAND THE MECHANISM, BUT IT'S OF YOUR CELLS, NOT OF A MODEL OR ANIMAL SYSTEM.

>> COULD HUMAN ORGANOIDS REPLACE TEST ANIMALS IN THE LAB?

MAYBE NOT.

THERE IS VALUE TO USING AN ACTUAL LIVING CREATURE, BUT GAGE SAYS IT IS A SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION.

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY A DEBATE THAT'S BEING HAD RIGHT NOW IN THE FDA, FEDERAL DRUG ADMINISTRATION, HOW MUCH WORK DO WE NEED TO DO IN ANIMALS, AND HOW MUCH CAN WE DO IN HUMAN TISSUES ALONE?

>> HE ADDS IT'S A DEBATE THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN SETTLED, THOMAS FUDGE, K PBS NEWS.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER OKLAHOMA COMPETE IN THE ANNUAL REGIONAL BRAILLE CHALLENGE.

ON THE LINE, A POSSIBLE TRIP TO LOS ANGELES FOR A NATIONAL COMPETITION.

WE'LL LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT THE SUNSET OVER LAKE HEFNER IN OKLAHOMA CITY PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA'S KACI FERGUSON.

PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE, OETA.TV.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER BY SEARCHING "OETA ONR."

AND ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE, JUST SEARCH, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

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

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

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