>> THIS DOES NOT SOUND UNREASONABLE AT ALL, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT JUST HAVE -- GIVE MY MEMBERS AND THE HOUSE MEMBERS SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO ASK QUESTIONS ON SOME OF THOSE.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER CHARLES MCCALL AGREED WITH TREAT AND THE GOVERNOR TOOK QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS PROPOSALS.

AFTER STITT TOOK HIS LEAVE, NEGOTIATIONS GOT BACK UNDERWAY TO FIND A WAY TO FIT THEM INTO THE BUDGET.

>> THERE IS NO INTENT TO BE WALKING OUT TODAY.

THERE'S INTENT TO GET TOGETHER AND DISCUSS WHATEVER OPTIONS THE HOUSE AND US ARE DISCUSSING.

>> THE HOUSE AND SENATE TEAMS MANAGED TO FIND A WAY TO MEET THE PROPOSALS AND BUTTON UP THE FINAL STICKING POINTS TOWARDS REACHING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE OF A BALANCED BUDGET.

ONE OF THE MAJOR STICKING POINTS HAS BEEN OVER THE LEGACY CAPITAL FUND OR LCF USED FOR STATE PROJECTS LIKE BUILDINGS AND EQUIPTMENTS.

IT SEEMED PRO-TEM TREAT WAS READY TO FIND A COMP MICE.

>> COMPROMISE.

>> I THINK IF WE CAN GO THROUGH AND SEE IF WE HAVE AGREEMENT AND THEN TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE REASONABLE CASH DEPOSIT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT, WE KNOW THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU.

>> THE TWO SIDES GOT THROUGH THE LEST OF THOSE PROJECTS AND CAME TO THE POINT WHERE BOTH TEAMS NEEDED TO DISCUSS OUTSIDE OF THE TALKS THE NEW SPECIFICS BEING PROPOSED.

WHEN THE GROUP RETURNED, IT SEEMED FURTHER PROGRESS WAS MADE.

A FEW OTHER POINTS OF THE BUDGET WERE REFINED, AND THEN ANOTHER BREAK TO MAKE SURE THE HOUSE AND SENATE NUMBERS MATCHED BEFORE MAKING THE AGREEMENT OFFICIAL.

WHEN THEY RETURNED TO THE GOVERNOR'S LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM, THE AGREEMENT WAS ALL BUT SEALED.

>> THIS BUDGET THAT WE'VE AGREED TO IS A VERY GOOD BUDGET.

I THINK ALL OF US AT THE TABLE CAN AGREE.

IS EVERYTHING IN IT EVERY ONE OF US WANTED?

NO, BUT IT IS A GOOD BUDGET.

>> HOWEVER DEMOCRATS WHO THE AT THE TABLE FOR -- WHO WERE NOT AT THE TABLE FOR NEGOTIATIONS FEEL DIFFERENTLY.

>> WE REALLY NEED PUBLIC SCHOOLS FUNDED FOR SUCCESS.

WE'RE STILL FOCUSED ON ANY PRIVATE SCHOOL FUNDING BEING HELD TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE.

WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THE ETHICS COMMISSION TO MAKE SURE WE CAN ROOT OUT CORRUPTION, THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE WHO IS BREAKING THOSE ETHICS RULES AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> HOUSE MINORITY LEADER CINDY MUNSON SAID BY KEEPING THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS OUT OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OKLAHOMANS HAVE NOT BEEN PRIORITIZED, SUCH AS ADDRESSING HUNGER IN STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE AND ADDRESSING HEALTHCARE SO PEOPLE CAN ACCESS PHYSICIANS AND CARE THEY NEED.

INDEED, WE HAVE OBSERVED REPUBLICAN INFIGHTING WHICH PROLONGED THE PROCESS.

SPEAKER MCCALL ALSO RELEASED A STATEMENT CONGRATULATING THE BUDGET TEAMS FOR GETTING IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

THE TODAY'S AGREEMENT IS -- I WANT TO APPLAUD THE HARD WORK OF OUR HOUSE NEGOTIATING TEAM AND BUDGET STAFF FOR GETTING THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

THE HOUSE SHOWED OUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND GOOD FAITH THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, AND WE ARE THANKFUL THAT A DEAL WAS REACHED.

PRO-TEM TREAT ALSO THANKED THOSE WHO HELPED TO GET THE JOB DONE.

>> ALSO BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK THE GOVERNOR.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD EXPRESSED A CONCERN ABOUT HIS POTENTIAL VETO IN HERE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE HOUSE TO COMMIT TO AN OVERRIDE, BUT THE MUCH BETTER APPROACH WAS ACTUALLY WHAT WAS REACHED TODAY.

>> NOW THE PROCESS GOES BACK TO COMMITTEE ROOMS AND THE CHAMBER FLOORS, AND THE AGREEMENT IS PUT INTO BILLS ON WHICH THE MEMBERS WILL VOTE.

THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION MUST END BY THE ENDS OF NEXT WEEK.

RICH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THE BUDGET HASN'T BEEN THE ONLY ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK.

COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST, WE'LL SPEAK WITH QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER SHAWN ASHLEY TO FIND OUT WHAT ELSE HAS BEEN ON THE AGENDA, WITH THE SESSION SCHEDULED TO WRAP UP AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

>> WIDESPREAD DAMAGE FROM AT LEAST 5 CONFIRMED TORNADOES LAST SUNDAY NIGHT HAS LEFT SEVERAL OKLAHOMA COMMUNITIES IN CLEAN-UP MODE.

THIS LARGE WEDGE TORNADO RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO 10 TO 15 HOMES IN CUSTER CITY AND HYDRO.

AN EF-2 TORNADO ALSO TOUCHED DOWN IN YUKON, AND THERE WAS ALSO STORM DAMAGE REPORTED IN EL RENO AND AT THE WILL ROGERS WORLD AIRPORT.

THANKFULLY, THERE WERE NO FATALITIES AS A RESULT OF THIS LATEST ROUND OF SEVERE STORMS.

>> WE'VE REPORTED EXTENSIVELY ON WHAT HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED STORM DAMAGE SHOULD DO WHEN IT COMES TO TIME TO FILE CLAIMS WITH THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES, BUT WHAT ABOUT RANCHERS AND FARMERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED CROP AND LIVESTOCK LOSS AS RESULT OF SEVERE WEATHER OR WILDFIRES?

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.

STEVE?

>> RICH, ONE OF THE THREE PILLARS OF THE SOONER STATE'S ECONOMY ARE OUR FARMERS AND RANCHERS.

TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH TORNADOES DESTROYED NOT JUST PEOPLE'S HOMES, BUT FARMS TOOK HITS AS WELL.

AND IT'S NOT JUST TORNADOES WREAKING HAVOC.

I'M GOING TO WARN YOU AN IMAGE YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE IS UNSETTLING.

>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE CHARRED REMEANS -- REMAINS OF WHAT WAY BACK IN THE DAY WAS A ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE 9 AND A HALF MILES WEST OF THE TOWN OF LAVERNE IN HARPER COUNTY.

A FARM THAT'S BEEN IN RICHARD WELLS FAMILY SINCE 1893 N LATE FEBRUARY, A STRING OF WILDFIRES THAT RAVAGED NORTH TEXAS AND THE SOONER STATE ALSO TOOK A CHUNK OUT OF RICHARD WELLS' LIVELIHOOD.

>> WE LOST OVER 2,000 ACRES OF GRASS, 3 HAY SHEDS.

>> ANY CATTLE?

>> LOST OVER 50 HEAD OF CATTLE THAT DIED.

I'VE LIVED THROUGH AT LEAST FOUR RAGING WILDFIRES, AND THIS HAS BEEN THE FIRST ONE THAT I'VE EVER LOST ANY CATTLE IN, SO -- >> IT HURTS.

>> IT DOES.

I TOLD THE REPORTER OUT OF WACO, AND I HATE TO SAY THIS BECAUSE I'M NOT TRYING TO DOWNGRADE THE LOSS OF A CHILD, BUT I TOLD HER, I SAID, DRIVING DOWN THAT BAR DITCH AND SEEING ALL OF THOSE DEAD CATTLE LAYING ALONG THE FENCE OR IN THE DITCH, I WOULD ASSUME THAT SOMEBODY THAT LOST AN 18-YEAR-OLD SON IN A CAR WRECK, THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT HOW MY GUT FELT.

>> THOSE WILDFIRES SCORCHED 152,000 ACRES IN OKLAHOMA, AND SOME DISASTER RESPONSE EXPERTS ESTIMATE THE DAMAGE AT NEARLY $33 MILLION.

>> HOW DO YOU COME BACK FROM THAT?

>> LOTS OF GUTS.

I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT TO DIG DOWN AND PULL UP YOUR BOOTS.

EITHER THAT, OR YOU DECIDE YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO RETIRE.

>> IS IT TRUE THAT FARMERS ARE THE BIGGEST GAMBLERS OUT THERE?

>> NO DOUBT.

YOU KNOW, I KID MY FAMILY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER AND A LOT COOLER TO GO TO THE CASINO AND GAMBLE THAN TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> SCOTT BLUE BALL IS PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS MUTUAL INSURANCE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

HE WORKS ON BEHALF OF 61,000 FAMILIES, MOST INCLUDING BLUE BALL WHO LIVE IN RURAL OKLAHOMA.

HE SAYS YOU CAN BUY INSURANCE FOR ABOUT ANYTHING ON A FARM, INCLUDING BARNS AND CROPS.

>> IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE, AND -- WELL, I CARRY IT ON MY FARM, AND WE HAVE ABOUT, I BELIEVE, 65% COVERAGES FOR OUR CROPS, SO IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING, AND IT COVERS DROUGHT OR FLOOD, MANY DIFFERENTLY PERILS THAT YOU MIGHT RUN INTO, BUT IT'S EXPENSIVE, AND YOU STILL HAVE A HUGE DEDUCTIBLE THERE.

>> HOW MUCH?

>> WELL, 35% OF THE VALUE OF THE CROP.

>> THE WILDCARD IN ALL OF THIS IS OUR WEATHER PATTERNS.

THEY CHANGED OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS, AND MANY SAY THAT CHANGE HAS BEGUN TO ACCELERATE.

>> WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE STORMS AND THE FREQUENCY OF THOSE STORMS AND PROBABLY THE SEVERITY OF THOSE STORMS TOO.

AND THEN YOU HAVE ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, YOU HAVE -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD INFLATION AROUND HERE, AND SO THE COST OF REBUILDING AND REPAIRS, EVERYTHING, IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.

>> JORDAN SHEAR IS ALSO A FOURTH GENERATION FARMER.

HE ALSO WORKS AS A BANK LENDER TO HELP MAKE ENDS MEET IN A TOWN OF SLAPOUT AND BEAVER COUNTY.

HE SAYS HIS HOME WAS ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT WAS SPARED BY THOSE MERCILESS FEBRUARY WILDFIRES.

>> VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE DID NOT LOSE THE HOUSE, BUT IT BURNT ALL AROUND THE HOUSE.

I LOST TWO BARNS, A GRAIN BIN, LOTS OF HAY, SO OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT AND THEN WE ALSO LOST 13 HEAD OF CATTLE AND ABOUT 23 MILES OF FENCE.

>> SHEARS SAYS HIS BUILDINGS, HIS EQUIPMENT AND SOME OTHER THINGS WERE COVERED BY INSURANCE.

SOME WERE NOT.

MANY FARMERS WORK ON A RAZOR THIN MARGIN.

SHEARS' JUST GOT THINNER.

>> SOME YEARS THERE'S NO MARGIN, SO WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THE CATTLE MARKET WAS GOOD, AND THAT'S WHAT MADE THIS FIRE SO DEVASTATING, IS WE HAD MULTIPLE YEARS OF DROUGHT AND THEN LAST MAY THROUGH JULY, WE HAD RECORD RAINFALL, AND WE HAD THE BEST GRASS WE EVER HAD AND JUST WITH DYNAMICS IN THE CATTLE MARKET, THINGS WERE LOOKING REALLY GOOD, BUT ON OUR FARM, WE LOST ALL OF THAT GRASS IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

>> BLUE BALL SAYS THERE IS FEDERAL HELP FOR FARMERS WHO HAVE BEEN DELTA BAD HAND BY MOTHER NATURE.

THERE WERE SEVERAL TORNADOES AND BASEBALL SIZE HAIL ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE STATE JUST LAST SUNDAY.

>> NOW, WITH THAT, YOU DON'T PAY A PREMIUM, AND YOU DON'T BUY IT IN ADVANCE, BUT IT IS FOR WEATHER-RELATED DISASTERS THAT HAPPEN, AND IT IS A USDA PROGRAM THAT THE USDA ADMINISTRATE.

AND IT WILL COVER UP TO 75% OF THE LIVESTOCK THAT'S LOST.

>> SHEAR IS GRATEFUL FOR THAT HELP.

>> WE LIVE IN A GREAT COUNTRY, AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR ALL THE SUPPORT, BUT WITHOUT THESE PROGRAMS, IT WOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET HIT BY DISASTER.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING, WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL PROGRAMS, THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPROVED BESIDES RESPONSE TIMES?

>> OH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A HARD TIME.

I KIND OF LOOK AT IT AS -- SOMEWHAT AS A FREE HANDOUT, BUT YES, THE PAPERWORK AND THE RESPONSE TIME SOMETIMES IS -- YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST TOO LITTLE TOO LATE, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE COMPLAINING, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS ARE WHAT KEEPS US GOING.

>> WHAT ELSE KEEPS RICHARD WELLS GOING IS WHAT HE EXPERIENCED THAT WAS UNEXPECTED AFTER HE GOT HIT THREE MONTHS AGO.

>> THE BIGGEST THING IS YOU FIND OUT WHO ALL YOUR FRIENDS ARE.

I MEAN, I'VE NEVER SEEN A PART OF THE WORLD THAT CAN JUST STEP UP AND HELP YOU OUT.

BEFORE THE FLAMES WERE EVEN OUT, WE HAD FRIENDS, WHAT CAN WE DO?

WE'LL BE HERE IN THE MORNING WITH HAY.

WHERE DO YOU WANT IT?

>> RICHARD WELLS ALSO TOLD ME THAT IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF FARMING HE HAS NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH HEAVY TORNADO DAMAGE OR HAIL DAMAGE.

AND FOR THAT, HE FEELS LUCKY.

RICH.

>> STEVE, GREAT REPORT.

THANK YOU.

>> MAY IS NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, AND THAT IS THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST.

MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD WILL SPEAK WITH THREE OKLAHOMA-BASED MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS.

HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> WE'VE SEEN THE DIFFICULTY FOR A WHILE WITH THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT WE DON'T HAVE IN THE STATE, THE SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AND JUST THE AMOUNT OF NEED THAT WE HAVE.

>> WE'VE BEEN OPERATING IN SUCH SILOS ACROSS PRIVATE TO PRIVATE, PUBLIC TO PUBLIC, AND ESPECIALLY ACROSS SECTORS.

SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT OUR LEADERSHIP REALLY WANTS TO FOCUS ON, IS TRULY REFINING AND DEVELOPING THAT SYSTEM OF CARE INSTEAD OF HAVING THESE POCKETS OF ACCESS, THAT YOU'RE KIND OF ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES IF YOU CAN FIND IT.

>> THAT'S A REALLY -- KIND OF A MICROCOSM EXAMPLE OF THAT CROSS-CONNECTIVITY AND COMMUNICATION FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE OVERALL QUALITY OF CARE FOR THE MOST AT-RISK PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO BEST.

AND IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT, HEY, WE WILL BE EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL, AND WE WILL ADDRESS EFFECTIVELY THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS HERE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

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

>> THE CHAIRMEN OF THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS SAYS OKLAHOMA'S ONLY HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY IS BEING SHORTCHANGED WHEN IT COMES TO STATE FUNDING.

AND REPRESENTATIVE MONROE NICHOLS OF TULSA ADDS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGREES.

EDUCATION REPORTER TAELYR JACKSON JOINS US NOW WITH THE DETAILS.

TAELYR?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, RICH.

I SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLS THIS WEEK ABOUT WHAT HE FOUND AND HOW HE IS CALLING ON HIS COLLEAGUES TO CONTINUE PRIORITIZING LANGSTON'S FUNDING.

>> LAST SEPTEMBER, THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND AGRICULTURE SENT LETTERS TO GOVERNORS OF 16 COLLEGES ADDRESSING INADEQUATE FUNDING.

THE LETTERS STATED LANGSTON UNIVERSITY, THE 1890 LAND GRANT INSTITUTION IN YOUR STATE, WHILE PRODUCING EXTRAORDINARY GRADUATES THAT CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY AND FABRIC OF OUR NATION, HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ADVANCE IN WAYS THAT ARE ON PAR WITH OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.

THE ORIGINAL ACT OF 1862 LAND GRANT INSTITUTION IN YOUR STATE.

IN LARGE PART, DUE TO UNBALANCED FUNDING.

ACCORDING TO THE LETTER, HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES OR HBCU'S ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN UNDERFUNDED ABOUT $12 BILLION.

REPRESENTATIVE MONROE NICHOLS OF TULSA SAID THIS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO STUDENTS BEING AT A DISADVANTAGE.

>> IT'S IMPACTS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU THINK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR STUDENT SUPPORTS, HOW YOU'RE ABLE TO EXPAND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, HOW YOU'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY TAKE CARE OF THE CAMPUS ITSELF.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS PLAY INTO THE RESOURCES WE PUT INTO A UNIVERSITY.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, BUT IT IS ABOUT HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE MATRICULATE THEMSELVES FROM SHOWING UP ON CAMPUS ALL THE WAY TO GRADUATING AND THE IMPACT THAT THAT HAS, FRANKLY, ON PARTICULARLY YOUNG BLACK PROFESSIONALS IN THE STATE IS PRETTY PROFOUND.

>> FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAYOC OKAY'S ONLY HBCU HAS BEEN UNDERFUNDED SINCE 1987 BY NEARLY $419 MILLION.

>> AND THIS CAME AFTER YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS FROM HEARING FROM LANGSTON THAT SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING WAS UNDER THREAT BECAUSE THE STATE WASN'T MEETING ITS MATCH REQUIREMENT FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS FOR THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES.

>> REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLS SAYS THE LETTER MADE HIM TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT LANGSTON'S FUNDING.

>> WE START TO DIG IN.

WHAT WE FOUND BACK THEN IS THAT THERE WAS SOME UNCERTAINTY, IT WASN'T AS CLEAR WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOT THEIR NUMBERS FROM.

SO WE ASKED LANGSTON, SAY, OKAY, GIVE ME A PICTURE OF WHAT THINGS LOOK LIKE FROM A STUDENT EXPERIENCE, HOW MUCH WE'RE INVESTING IN THE STATE VERSUS HOW MUCH THE FEDS ARE INVESTING.

THAT'S REALLY HOW WE GOT HERE, THE REPORT THAT CAME OUT LAST SEPTEMBER.

>> NICHOLS COMPARED THE FEDERAL MATCH TO LANGSTON UNIVERSITY TO THE FEDERAL MATCH TO OSU.

>> WE JUST LOOKED BACK A DECADE.

FOR EVERY DOLLAR THE GOVERNMENT INVESTED IN LANGSTON, THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA INVESTED 47 CENTS ON AVERAGE OVER THOSE 10 YEARS, AND SO WE LOOKED AT THAT, AND THEN WE LOOKED AT, OKAY, OVER THAT SAME PERIOD, WHAT DID THE STATE INVEST IN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY BASED ON THE FEDERAL MATCH.

SO FOR EVERY DOLLAR THE FEDS PUT IN FOR OKLAHOMA STATE, THE STATE HAS INVESTED $3.14, SO IT CREATED A HUGE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO UNIVERSITIES.

NOW THE ONE THING WE WANT TO BE, AND I'VE BEEN CLEAR ON, I'M NOT HERE TO SAY THAT OSU DOESN'T NEED THAT $3.14 FOR EVERY STATE DOLLAR.

WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME PARITY IN HOW WE'RE INVESTING IN LANGSTON.

>> ACCORDING TO THE LANGSTON UNIVERSITY WEBSITE, THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA HAS SINCE THEN GIVEN AN ADDITIONAL 1.8 MILLION TO THE UNIVERSITY TOWARDS THE FEDERAL MATCH PROGRAM.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY SAYS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO FURTHER CLOSE THE GAP.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY IS ENCOURAGED BY THE SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS ON THE PART OF THE LEGISLATURE TOWARDS MEETING THE MANDATED MATCH FUNDING RESEARCH AND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, FURTHER CLOSING THE GAP OF THE REPORTED MORE THAN 400 MILLION DISCREPANCIES AND FUNDING SINCE 1987.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO COMMUNICATE ROUTINELY WITH THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE REGARDING THE VARIETY OF FUNDING NEEDS, INCLUDING SUPPORTIVE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, CAPITAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AND WORKFORCE INITIATIVES.

AS HIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION APPROACHES, REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLS HOPES HIS COLLEAGUES WILL CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING FOR LANGSTON.

>> SO I THINK WHAT I WOULD TELL MY COLLEAGUES IS, THAT YOU KNOW, LET'S NOT GET COME UP IN, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE NORTH STAR AROUND BUILDING AN EXCELLENT ECONOMY.

LET'S ALSO THINK ABOUT OUR OBLIGATIONS AS OKLAHOMA, WHICH IS HOME TO THE WESTERN MOST HBCU IN THE COUNTRY, AN HBCU WITH AN AMAZING HISTORY AND A GREAT LEGACY FOR EDUCATORS AND TRAILBLAZERS IN OKLAHOMA, MAKING SURE THAT WE INVEST IN THAT INSTITUTION SO IT STAYS STRONG AND CONTINUES TO BE SOMEWHERE WHERE KIDS ARE COMING TO EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

>> THE LEGISLATURE DID REACH AN AGREEMENT ON THE STATE BUDGET THIS WEEK, WHICH MEANS WE WILL SOON KNOW HOW MUCH LANGSTON AND OTHER OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITIES WILL RECEIVE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

RICH.

>> TAELYR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT WAS A BUSY DAY AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY.

THEY HAD TWO BIG ISSUES TO DECIDE BEGINNING WITH A CONSTRUCTION SITE OF THE NEW DOWNTOWN ARENA.

THE COUNCIL VOTED 7 TO 2 TO BUILD THE PROPOSED BILLION DOLLAR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITY ON THE CURRENT SIDE OF THE COX CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH CURRENTLY HOUSES THE PRAIRIE SURF STUDIOS.

THE THUNDER OWNERS WILL CONTRIBUTE $50 MILLION TOWARDS ITS COMPLETION >> NOW WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT PRAIRIE SURF WILL HAVE TO LEAVE.

ARE WE BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT ASSISTING THEM WITH FINDING A NEW PLACE TO LAND?

>> WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS.

I KNOW THE ALLIANCE AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM TO TRY TO FIND A LOCATION AND I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.

>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS TO ALL FOCUSED ON THE IDEA THAT IT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT DEALS IN FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES AS WELL AS IMMIGRATION ISSUES.

HOUSE SPEAKER CHARLES MCCALL, ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF THE BILL, CALLED THE THREAT OF THE LAWSUIT LAUGHABLE.

>> MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNORS JOINED OTHER GOVERNORS IN SIGNING A LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN DEMANDING WHAT?

>> YEAH, STITT AND 23 OTHER GOVERNORS SIGNED THE LETTER OPPOSING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS AND A NEW PANDEMIC TREATY.

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNORS, THESE PROPOSALS WOULD ELEVATE THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION FROM AN ADVISORY BODY TO A GLOBAL AUTHORITY IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND GIVE THE DIRECTOR GENERAL UNILATERAL POWER TO DECLARE A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN.

THEY SAID IT WOULD ALSO STRIP ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR AUTHORITY TO SET PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY IS A MATTER RESERVED FOR THE STATES, NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NOT AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION, LIKE THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.

>> NOW GETTING BACK TO THE CAPITOL, GOVERNOR STITT HAS SIGNED A BILL INTO LAW THAT SHOULD HELP PATIENTS KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH A MEDICAL PROCEDURE WILL COST THEM.

NOW, HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK?

>> WELL, THIS IS HOUSE BILL 4148.

IT'S A MEASURE WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND IT'S UNDERGONE ON NUMBER OF CHANGES SINCE WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT IT.

REALLY, THE BILL DOES TWO THINGS.

IT REQUIRES MEDICAL PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW ALL STATE AND FEDERAL TRANSPARENCY LAWS RELATED TO PUBLISHING THEIR PRICING.

THEY HAVE TO LET THEIR CONSUMERS, THEIR CUSTOMERS KNOW, WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST FOR A PARTICULAR PROCEDURE, AND IN ORDER TO ENFORCE THAT IS THE SECOND PART OF THE BILL, THAT IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A JUDGMENT FOR THE MEDICAL PROCEDURE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE MET THOSE REQUIREMENTS OF TRANSPARENCY.

THE BILL TAKES EFFECT IN NOVEMBER.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.

OKAY.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS' DECISION TO IMPLEMENT SOME CONTROVERSIAL CHANGES TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS.

>> WELL, WE'VE SEEN MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ATTENDING STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS SINCE SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS TOOK OFFICE.

IN HIS MOST RECENT CHANGES INVOLVES A LOTTERY SYSTEM WHERE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WERE SIGNING UP BEFORE TO SPEAK, AND IT WAS TAKING QUITE A BIT OF TIME IN ORDER FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO DO SO.

THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IS NOW LIMITED, AND THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY APPEAR WAS SELECTED THURSDAY FROM A LOTTERY, AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WERE THE ONES WHO WERE ALLOWED TO SPEAK DURING THE THURSDAY BOARD MEETING.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK OUT GOING FORWARD.

WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION.

SHAWN, EXPLAIN WHAT SENATE BILL 1677 WOULD DO IF PASSED.

>> WELL, SENATE BILL 1677 PROHIBITS THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST FOSTER OR ADOPTIVE FAMILIES BASED ON THEIR VIEWS CONCERNING SEXUAL IDENTITY OR GENDER IDENTIFICATION.

THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL SAID THIS IS VERY MUCH LIKE EXISTING BILLS RELATED TO RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION FOR FOSTER FAMILIES AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS.

SHE SAID SHE HOPED IT WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO JOIN THE RANKS IN KNOWING THEIR VIEWS WOULD BE PROTECTED.

>> SHAWN, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY BUSY WEEK, BUT THIS SESSION IS EXPECTED TO END SHORTLY, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT HAS TO END BY 5 P.M. ON MAY 31st.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THE APRIL UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED.

JASON DOYLE DIGS INTO THE DATA IN THIS WEEK'S STATE-WIDE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> OKLAHOMA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN APRIL WAS UNCHANGED FROM MARCH AT 3.5 PERCENT.

THIS COMES AS THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE TICKED UP ONE-TENTH OF A PERCENT TO 3.9 PERCENT LAST MONTH.

IN OKLAHOMA, THE LABOR FORCE GREW BY 2.1 PERCENT OVER APRIL OF LAST YEAR WITH NEARLY 41,000 NEW WORKERS.

THE MOST JOBS ADDED CAME FROM THE TRADE, TRANSPORTATION, AND UTILITIES SECTOR WITH 12 HUNDRED NEW JOBS, WITH EDUCATION AND HEALTH SERVICES ADDING 1,000 JOBS TO OKLAHOMA'S ECONOMY LAST MONTH.

THE LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY AND MANUFACTURING SECTORS DID POST JOB LOSSES IN APRIL.

ALSO IN APRIL, OKLAHOMA'S PRIVATE SECTOR AVERAGE HOURLY WAGE GREW TO 29.44 AN HOUR FROM 29.36 IN MARCH.

>> OKLAHOMA CITY-BASED CHESAPEAKE ENERGY COMPLETED ITS DIVESTITURE OF ITS OIL-RELATED ASSETS AND IS NOW LETTING GO 80 EMPLOYEES WHO WORKED FOR THAT DEPARTMENT.

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY SOLD ITS OIL ASSETS IN THE EAGLE FORD SHALE, AND IS NOW A PURE PLAY NATURAL GAS PRODUCER.

THE COMPANY HAS A PENDING MERGER WITH SOUTHWESTERN ENERGY, BUT THE LAYOFFS ARE SAID TO BE UNRELATED.

AVERAGE RENT INCREASED BY A HALF PERCENTAGE POINT TO $1,006 A MONTH FOR A TWO-BEDROOM.

IN OKLAHOMA CITY LAST MONTH.

THAT'S ACTUALLY DOWN FROM THE PEAK AT $1,023 A MONTH, ACCORDING TO REALTOR.COM'S APRIL RENTAL REPORT.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR A TWO-BEDROOM RENTAL IN APRIL IS $1,916.

TULSA BASED SOAAK TECHNOLOGIES HAS WON THE OKLAHOMA VENTURE FORUM'S 2024 MOST PROMISING NEW VENTURE AWARD.

THE HEALTH-TECH COMPANY HAS CREATED A HEALTH AND WELLNESS MOBILE APP CALLED SOAAK AND HAS ITS FLAGSHIP SOAAK CLINIC BASED IN TULSA.

SOAAK USES CLINICALLY PROVEN SOUND FREQUENCY COMPOSITION THERAPIES MEANT TO REDUCE STRESS, DECREASE ANXIETY, IMPROVE SLEEP AND BOOST ENERGY.

SOAAK ALSO WAS JUST AWARDED A U.S. AIR FORCE CONTRACT FOR THEIR PROPRIETARY SOUND FREQUENCY COMPOSITIONS WORTH 1.1 MILLION DOLLARS.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> JASON, THANK YOU.

>> BASED ON 2020 DATA FROM OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, OKLAHOMA RANKS 5TH IN THE NATION IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CASES OF MENTAL ILLNESS.

BRINGING THAT NUMBER DOWN IS THE GOAL OF THE THREE GUESTS INVITED TO JOIN US FOR THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION.

HERE'S MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

HERE TO DISCUSS THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OKLAHOMANS AND HOW THEY'RE WORKING TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS IS ALLIE FRIESEN, WHO IS THE NEW COMMISSIONER FOR THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, AND ZOOMING IN FROM TULSA IS MARK DAVIS, THE CHIEF PROGRAMS OFFICER FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF OKLAHOMA.

>> COMMISSIONER, FIRST, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POSITION.

HOW EXCITING.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT LED YOU TO THAT POSITION AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHANGES YOU'VE SEEN.

>> IT'S BEEN AN HONOR.

I'VE BEEN IN THE ROLE FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS, I THINK ACTUALLY 3 MONTHS TODAY.

SO I HAVE BEEN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.

I'M A CLINICIAN BY TRAINING AND NEVER EVEN WANTED TO GO INTO LEADERSHIP.

I'M TOO STUBBORN TO SEE A PROBLEM AND SEE OPPORTUNITY OR INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOT DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, SO I REALLY JUST TOOK GRADUAL STEPS INTO LEADERSHIP THE LAST FIVE YEARS APPROXIMATELY.

I WAS OVER THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE LINE, SO THAT'S FOR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH GOVERNOR STITT AND TALK TO HIM ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND THE CHALLENGES WE'RE HAVING ACROSS OUR GREAT STATE, AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A JOB OFFER, AND I'M A WOMAN OF FAITH, AND I FELT GOD PULLING ME TO TAKE THIS NEXT STEP.

SO IT'S A GIANT LEAP, KIND OF JUMPING OFF OF A KLIFF, BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND I'M READY TO SERVE OKLAHOMANS IN A WAY THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN I HAVE BEFORE.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT YOU'VE SEEN MORE CHANGES IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS THAN SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST -- >> IT'S REALLY AN ACCUMULATION OF THINGS.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES.

OF COURSE, COVID HAPPENED, WHICH ADDED COMPLEXITY TO AN ALREADY EVOLVING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT WE WERE HAVING, AND COVID KIND OF EXACERBATED WHERE WE WERE ALREADY HEADED.

SO WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF INCREASED CHALLENGES BECAUSE OF THE ACUITY THAT WE'RE SEEING, AND WE'RE SEEING YOUNGER AND YOUNGER ON OKLAHOMANS SUFFERING, AND THE NEW THING COMING FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE CHALLENGES WITH LAWSUITS AND THE LEGISLATORS AND KIND OF THE POLITICS.

I'M NOT A POLITICIAN BY BACKGROUND, SO REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT BARRIERS WE HAVE TO CROSS, THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISH TO REALLY HAVE THE STUNT TO GET THE WORK DONE.

SO IT'S SIMILAR TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THAT YOU HAVE BOXES YOU HAVE TO CHECK AND THINGS YOU NEED TO ACCOMPLISH TO GET THE FUNDING THAT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE CARE, BUT IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN I'M USED TO, SO CHALLENGES PROBABLY FOR SOMEONE COMING IN FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN IF WE HAD A COMMISSIONER INTERNALLY THAT WAS PROMOTED.

SO WE HAVEN'T HAD A COMMISSIONER FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR ANYBODY OUTSIDE OF THE ORGANIZATION SINCE 1999, SO IT'S A BIG DEAL, BUT PART OF GOVERNOR STITT'S PHILOSOPHY WAS LET'S TAKE PEOPLE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND SEE HOW THEY APPROACH THINGS.

>> MARK, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF OKLAHOMA AND WHAT GOT YOU STARTED?

>> SO I'VE BEEN WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION FOR 20 YEARS NOW AND IN THE FIELD FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, AND SO IT'S JUST BEEN A LIFELONG COMMITMENT, AGAIN SIMILAR TO THE COMMISSIONER HERE, JUST SEEING SOME OF THE STRUGGLES THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND NEED FOR UNBRIDLED QUICK AS SAYS TO TREATMENT AND CARE.

SO SEEING THOSE CHALLENGES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE STRUGGLED GAINING ACCESS IS ALWAYS SOMETHING I WANTED TO BE PART OF CREATING SOLUTIONS FOR.

SO MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION AND DMH HAS ALWAYS MADE A REALLY GREAT TEAM BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SHARED GOALS.

COMPLETELY ON BOARD TO MAKE THIS STATE TOP 10.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE NOTICED SPECIFICALLY?

>> SO I THINK FOR STARTERS -- THIS IS KIND OF A GLOBAL ISSUE THAT I THINK REALLY CAN HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT AT CREATING STABILITY, AND THAT IS HOUSING.

AS THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, WE ARE A HUGE PROPONENT IN CREATING SAFE, DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OKLAHOMANS.

WE OWN 22 APARTMENT COMPLEXES HERE IN THE CITY OF TULSA, AND WE OWN A COUPLE COMPLEXES IN OKLAHOMA CITY AS WELL AS SEVERAL HUNDRED SCATTERED SITE UNITS.

SO OUR PHILOSOPHY IS HOUSING IS HEALTHCARE, AND WHEN YOU GIVE SOMEONE A STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR WHICH TO LIVE IN, THEN THEY CAN WORK ON ESTABLISHING SOME LEVEL OF STABILITY IN TERMS OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, IN TERMS OF THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT, IN TERMS OF THEIR HEALTHCARE, IN TERMS OF REESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS, CREATING HEALTHY NATURAL SUPPORTS THROUGHOUT THEIR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S THE CHURCH THEY GO TO, WHETHER IT'S ESTABLISHING A LIBRARY SYSTEM AND BUS SYSTEMS, YOU KNOW.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FOUNDATION THAT IS SECURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A PLACE TO GO BACK TO EVERY SINGLE NIGHT AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE AM I GOING TO SLEEP, EAT AND WHETHER OR NOT I'M GOING TO BE SAFE OR WHETHER I'M GOING TO BE ASSAULTED AT NIGHT BY AS A RESULT OF NOT HAVING SAFE, DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO THAT, TO ME, AS MHAOK, WE ALWAYS GO BACK TO HOUSING, AND WE KNOW THAT ACROSS THE STATE IN ALL 77 COUNTIES, THERE'S A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES.

SO THAT'S A HUGE, HUGE FACTOR FOR US.

>> SO THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IS NOT JUST A LACK OF RESOURCES TO MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, IT'S HOUSING, MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT, MAKING SURE THEIR KIDS CAN GO TO SCHOOL.

HOW DO WE -- COMMISSIONER, HOW CAN WE WORK TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES SPECIFICALLY AS MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES?

>> MARK MAKE SOME FANTASTIC POINTS.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIMENSIONS TO THIS PROBLEM, AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM OVERNIGHT, BUT WHAT MIGHT BE SPRITESSING AND EVEN SURPRISING TO -- SURPRISING AND EVEN SURPRISING TO ME IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, DISCOVER THE PLETHORA OF RESOURCES WE DO HAVE.

THERE HAS BEEN AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF GROWTH AND SOME INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE THAT ARE TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON IS IDENTIFYING ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES THAT HAVE GROWN VERTICALLY AND REALLY START TO COORDINATE AND BUILD THE SYSTEM OR SON TALLY.

-- HORIZONTALLY.

SO HOW ARE WE BETTER CONNECTING AND REALLY THREADING THOSE PIECES OF THE SYSTEM TOGETHER SO THAT WE HAVE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX TO IDENTIFY THOSE THAT MIGHT NEED HOUSING ASSISTANCE OR MIGHT NEED HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR THERAPY APPOINTMENTS OR FOLLOW-UPS, AND HOW DO WE INSURE THERE IS A SEAMLESS PROCESS?

THIS SYSTEM IS DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE.

IT IS INCUMBENT ON US AS LEADERS IN THIS SPACE OF DOING A BETTER JOB KNITTING THIS TOGETHER.

SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT OUR LEADERSHIP REALLY WANTS TO FOCUS ON, IS TRULY REFINING AND DEVELOPING THAT SYSTEM OF CARE INSTEAD OF HAVING THESE POCKETS OF ACCESS THAT YOU'RE KIND OF ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES IF YOU CAN FIND.

>> WE MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU KNOW, RESOURCES.

I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THESE NEW FACILITIES THAT ARE BEING BUILT ACROSS THE STATE.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHEN CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE FINISHED?

>> SO WE HAVE ABOUT 3 CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE ADDING 80 BEDS TO OUR OKLAHOMA FORENSIC CENTER, AND THEN WE A PARTNERSHIP WITH OSU, OKC THAT WILL BE ON THEIR CAMPUS, THE DONAHUE BUILD.

THAT WILL BE MOVING OPERATIONS TO A CENTRALIZED LOCATION IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

SO THAT WILL BE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 100 BEDS, SO WE'LL HAVE APPROXIMATELY 275 ADULT BEDS AND THEN WE'LL ALSO BE MOVING OUR CHILD AND ADOLESCENT BEDS, JUST 55 BEDS, TO THE UNIT AS WELL.

SO WE HAVE THAT FACILITY THAT'S HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE COMPLETED AT THE END OF 2026, AND THEN WE HAVE TCBH, OUR TULSA CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND THAT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OSU TULSA, AND THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WE'RE AROUND THE SAME TIMELINE THERE, SO VERY EXCITING TIME.

>> AND WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME HERE, BUT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, AND AS WE'RE LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT RESOURCE, JUST HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, HOW TO IDENTIFY IT.

MARK, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> OH, IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW.

AGAIN, AS THE COMMISSIONER KIND OF ALLUDED TO, WE HAVE TO BREAK DOWN ANY SILOS.

WE HAVE TO WORK ACROSS LINES, ACROSS SECTORS.

WE HAVE TO BE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION.

WE KNOW THAT THERE IS LIMITED RESOURCES, LIMITED FUNDING, AND THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY EXTEND AND LEVERAGE THOSE RESOURCES IS FOR US TO EMBRACE ONE ANOTHER AND WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, HANDS DOWN.

AND SO IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT, WE'LL BE FINE.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

FOR EXAMPLE, INTENSIVE OUTREACH AND NAVIGATION PROGRAM THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH FUNDS, WELL, IT'S US KIND OF THE LEAD AGENCY, BUT WE BRING IN ALL THE OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS.

WE BRING IN RED ROCK.

WE BRING IN NORTH CARE.

WE BRING IN HOMELESS ALLIANCE.

THAT'S REALLY KIND OF A MICROCOSM EXAMPLE OF THAT CROSS-CONNECTIVITY AND COMMUNICATION FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OVERALL QUALITY OF CARE FOR THE MOST AT-RISK PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO BEST.

IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT, HEY, WE WILL BE EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL AND WE WILL ADDRESS EFFECTIVELY THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS HERE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

>> COLLABORATION IS KEY HERE.

WELL, COMMISSIONER, MARK, THANK YOU BOTH SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ONGOING CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME.

>> HERE TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION FROM A LEGISLATIVE STAINED POINT IS REPRESENTATIVE JEFF BOAT MAN.

REPRESENTATIVE, TAU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US -- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> IT'S MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE'VE SEEN THIS ACTIVE PUSH FOR CHANGE BETWEEN LEGISLATURE AND ADVOCACY GROUPS SAYING MENTAL HEALTH IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, AND WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY FINALLY SPURRED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THESE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND LAWMAKERS?

>> WELL, WE'VE SEEN THE DIFFICULTY FOR A WHILE WITH THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT WE DON'T HAVE IN THE STATE, THE SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, AND JUST THE AMOUNT OF NEED THAT WE HAVE.

I THINK IT WAS REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THIS LAST INTERIM SESSION WHEN THE HEALTHY MINDS POLICY INITIATIVE GROUP DID A STUDY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE IN OKLAHOMA.

WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO SHOW US, GOOD SOLID DATA COMPARED TO NATIONAL TRENDS, COMPARED TO NATIONAL NEEDS.

THEY SHOWED US IN OKLAHOMA WE HAVE ENOUGH PSYCHIATRISTS TO MEET ABOUT 39% OF THE NEED.

WE HAVE ENOUGH PSYCHOLOGISTS TO MEET ABOUT 37% OF THE NEED, AND WE'RE WOEFULLY SHORT ON SOCIAL WORKERS.

AND I THINK THAT JUST SEEING THAT QUANTIFIED WITH HARD DATA REALLY WAS EYE OPENING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WE'VE KIND OF KNOWN IT FOR A WHILE, BUT JUST SEEING HOW BAD THE NUMBERS ARE WAS VERY EYE OPENING.

>> AND HOUSE BILL 3449 WAS SIGNED TO CREATE PROGRAMS TO INVEST MORE FUNDS INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE IN OKLAHOMA.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHY LAWMAKERS FELT THAT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT MOVE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO 3449 FOCUSES -- IT ESTABLISHES REVOLVING FUNDS AT OUR TWO FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITIES FOR PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY EDUCATION, OU AND OSU.

THEY EDUCATE THE STUDENTS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESIDENCIES FOR THEM.

SO WE GRADUATE STUDENTS.

WE SPEND ALL THE MONEY AND TIME AND EFFORT TO GET THEM TRAINED, AND THEN THEY GO OUT OF STATE TO DO THEIR RESIDENCIES, AND IF YOU TRAIN AND DO YOUR RESIDENCY OUT OF STATE, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT COMING BACK.

THE NEED IS SO GREAT THAT IF YOU DO A RESIDENCY, IF YOU PERFORM AT ALL, YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAY THERE, AND WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO GET THOSE FOLKS BACK.

SO 3449 WAS AN ATTEMPT TO HELP THOSE UNIVERSITIES INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENCY SLOTS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR TRAINED STUDENTS HERE IN OKLAHOMA DOING THEIR RESIDENCIES HERE, AND THEN HOPEFULLY JUST STICK AROUND AND PRACTICE HERE.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS IN IT THAT ALLOW US TO UPSCALE EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO TRY TO RECRUIT SOME FOLKS INTO THE STATE, BUT THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THAT BILL IS TO GET THOSE RESIDENCY SLOTS FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS AND POSTGRADUATE SLOTS FOR PSYCHIATRISTS.

>> I WANT TO MOVE ON A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTHCARE DESERTS.

HOW IS THE LEGISLATURE WORKING TO ADDRESS THE NEED IN THOSE AREAS?

>> IN MENTAL HEALTH, WE HAVE A TIERED SYSTEM OF SERVICE DELIVERY JUST LIKE YOU SEE IN PHYSICAL HEALTH.

WE HAVE ADVANCED PRACTICE PSYCHOLOGICAL NURSE, MASTER'S LEVEL PROFESSIONALS, THE LM FT'S, LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS THAT COME IN, THE PH.D., THE DOCTORAL LEVEL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS, AND EACH OF THOSE HAS A FOCUS AREA THAT THEY NEED TO STAY IN, BUT WHAT YOU SEE IS THE ABILITY -- LIKE WE SEE ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES DOING A LOT OF PRIMARY CARE DELIVERY IN OUR MORE REMOTE AREAS, I THINK YOU WOULD SEE ADVANCED PRACTICE PSYCH NURSES BEING KIND OF THE GO-TO'S IN THOSE SAME AREAS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

IT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T NEED THE OTHERS.

THERE'S JUST SUCH A SHORTAGE OF THEM IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE OUT.

THE TELEMENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES WE'VE WORKED ON AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET BROADBAND OUT TO PEOPLE SO THAT THERE'S GOOD INTERNET ACTIVITY OUT TO PEOPLE SO THEY CAN GET THOSE REMOTE SERVICES IS ALSO GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THAT DELIVERY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE JEFF BOAT MAN, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND THANK YOU FOR WORKING SO DILIGENTLY ON THIS VERY SERIOUS TOPIC.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOU SHINING A LIGHT ON.

IT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> CASSIDY, GREAT JOB.

>> THE SECOND ANNUAL OKLAHOMA MEMORIAL TRAIL RUCK-OFF WAS HELD THIS PAST WEEKEND IN GUTHRIE.

CREATED BY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE VETERAN'S CAUCUS, IT'S A FUN AND, AT TIMES, DEMANDING WAY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF VETERANS ISSUES.

REPORTER ANDREW HARTSHORN HAS OUR REPORT.

THIS IS BOTH A RUCK MARCH AND A LAND COMPETITION.

>> IT THIS EVENT, KIND OF LIKE A MILITARY-STYLE FITNESS EVENT WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN COME AND WALK EITHER WITH OR WITHOUT A 35-POUND PACK, AND WHAT IT -- THE PURPOSE OF IT IS TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR VETERANS' ISSUES, AS WELL AS TO HONOR MILITARY HISTORY WITHIN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

♪♪.

>> I AM THE GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER OF OSCAR J. UPHAM, AND HE EARNED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR DURING THE BOXER REBELLION, AND THE RUN, THE RUCK, TODAY IS IN HONOR OF HIS SERVICE.

>> SO THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND IT IS TO PROMOTE THE MILITARY TRAIL AS FAR AS THE HISTORY AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE FOR VETERANS AND HEROES THAT HAVE SERVED IN DIFFERENT WARS THROUGHOUT TIME HERE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, AND THE IDEA IS TO TIE JUST, LIKE, THE FISHING TRAILS WITH THE MEMORIAL BRIDGES AND HIGHWAYS THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA SO ♪♪ >> AND SO IT'S NOT TOO HARD, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY EASY, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW -- AND THIS ONE HERE WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF HILLS OR SOME HILLS -- YOU KNOW, ON THE HILLS, YOUR HEART RATE GETS UP, AND ON THE DOWNHILL, YOU GET TO RECOVER.

>> IT'S ALL OUTDOORS, AND WE LEAVE FROM AN OLD WPA ARMORY IN GUTHRIE WHERE SOME FORMER NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS USED TO GO AND DRILL.

SO WE LEAVE FROM THAT AREA, AND WE WALK KIND OF THROUGH DOWNTOWN GUTHRIE, THROUGH A VETERAN'S MEMORIAL PARK AND THEN AROUND ANOTHER PARK, AND THEN WE KIND OF GO BACK TOWARDS THE ARMORY SO A RUCKOFF IS DIFFERENT THAN A RUN, OBVIOUSLY, WHERE THE WHOLE GOAL IS TO PUT ABOUT 35 POUNDS ON YOUR BACK AND DO A PACE THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE, BUT JUST GET OUT HERE AND HAVE FUN.

>> AS A FOOT SOLDIER IN THE INFANTRY, RIGHT, OBVIOUSLY OUR RUCK'S OUR LIFE.

IT'S OUR SHELTER.

IT'S OUR PILLOW.

IT'S -- IT HOLDS ALL OF OUR GEAR.

YOU'RE TALKING BATTERIES, YOU KNOW, AND MODERN WARFARE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY TONS OF BATTERIES, WHICH IS KIND OF SHOCKING WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH BATTERIES WE HAVE TO CARRY AND THE WEIGHT THAT IT TAKES.

SO THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEIGHT, HOW TO PACK THESE RUCKS, IT'S SIGNIFICANT WHEN WE START DOING MISSIONS IN MOUNTAINS AND DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO COME AND PARTICIPATE, AND LIKE I SAID, THERE'S TWO SEPARATE ROUTES.

YOU CAN WALK FOUR MILES OR WALK 12 MILES, AND YOU CAN CARRY A 35-POUND RUCK, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY JUST A PACK, A BACKPACK-STYLE THING, OR YOU DON'T HAVE TO CARRY ANY WEIGHT AT ALL.

IT'S -- WE TRY TO DESIGN IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT ENCOURAGES AS MUCH PARTICIPATION AS POSSIBLE.

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAD A GROUP HERE THAT WAS YOUNGER THAT HAS NO MILITARY BACKGROUND, WHICH IS ALWAYS AWESOME, AND THEN YOU HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MILITARY ARE ALWAYS GONNA STAY TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH.

AND SO YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF -- YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A JUDGE HERE THIS MORNING AND DIFFERENT ATTORNEYS AND SOME OKLAHOMA BUREAU OF NARCOTICS AGENTS THAT WERE HERE, AND WE WERE HOPING TO GET THE GOVERNOR.

I CHALLENGED THE GOVERNOR AT THE VETERANS CAU THE OTHER DAY TO GET A TEAM OUT, AND SO AGAIN, THIS IS JUST SOMETHING WE WANT TO GROW AND DO NEXT TIME.

>> IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME TO KENTUCKY AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BLACK PATCH TOBACCO WARS.

IT WAS A FIGHT OVER A FAIR PRICE FOR THE REGION'S DOMINANT CROP AS WE LEARN IN THIS REPORT FROM KENTUCKY EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION.

>> IN THE EARLY EVENING OF DECEMBER 2nd, 1906, CITY LEADERS OF PRINCETON, KENTUCKY, GATHERED TOGETHER AT THE HOME OF ROBERT GARRETT TO DISCUSS VIOLENCE THAT HAD OCCURRED IN THEIR TOWN THE NIGHT BEFORE, VIOLENCE THAT WOULD SPREAD TO OTHER CITIES IN THE REGION.

NOW KNOWN AS THE ADDS MOORE MUSEUM, GARRETT'S REFINED HOME SEEMS AN ODD SETTING TO DISCUSS ANGRY FARMERS WEARING HOODS AND COSTUMES RAMPAGING THROUGH THE TOWN AND BURNING BUILDINGS, STARTING WHAT WOULD BE KNOWN AS THE BLACK PATCH TOBACCO WARS.

THEY CALLED THESE RAIDERS THE NIGHT RIDERS.

>> THE NIGHT RIDERS HAD COME INTO TOWN, HAD BLOCKED THE ROADS INTO TOWN AND OUT OF TOWN, HAD TAKEN CONTROL OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

SO THE TOWN WAS SHUT DOWN WHILE THEY DID THEIR BUSINESS, AND THEIR BUSINESS WAS TO BURN THE TOBACCO WAREHOUSES THAT WERE LOADED WITH TOBACCO TO BE SOLD TO DUPE TOBACCO.

>> THE NIGHT RIDERS HAD GROWN FROM A COLLECTION OF FAMILIARERS IN WESTERN KENT COMPETENT AND TENNESSEE, A TOBACCO GROWING AREA KNOWN AS THE BLACK PATCH REGION.

>> THE LIMESTONE CONTENT IN THE SOIL IS ESPECIALLY CONDUCIVE TO GROWING CERTAIN TYPES OF TOBACCO, AND THE TOBACCO THAT IT WAS ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR WAS THE TOBACCO THAT YOU WOULD SEE HANGING IN BARNS BEING SMOKED, AND HENCE THIS AREA WAS KNOWN AS THE BLACK PATCH.

>> THE BLACK PATCH FARMERS OFFICIALLY HAD ORGANIZED AS THE PLANTERS PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION IN AN EFFORT TO CONTROL THE SUPPLY OF TOBACCO BEING SOLD TO TOBACCO COMPANIES.

>> BACK IN THE EARLY 1900S, TOBACCO WAS MAINLY CONTROLLED BY THE -- BY THE DUKE TOBACCO TRUST.

HIS COMPANY SET THE PRICE OF THE TOBACCO.

WELL, HE HAD A MONOPOLY ON THE TOBACCO, SO HE WAS PAYING LESS AND LESS FOR TOBACCO, AND IT GOT TO BE WHERE THE FARMER, WHEN HE SOLD HIS TOBACCO, DID NOT EVEN MAKE ENOUGH TO RECOOP HIS COSTS OF PRODUCING.

>> NOT ALL FARMERS JOINED IN, AND THE INITIAL ANGER OF PPA MEMBERS TOWARD TOBACCO COMPANIES TURNED TO THE NONPARTICIPATING FARMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, DESTROYING CROPS AND FIELDS TO PREVENT THEIR TOBACCO FROM GOING TO THE LARGE COMPANIES.

>> BUT THEN IT GOT TO BE WHERE THAT WASN'T WORKING, SO THEY SAID, OKAY, WE'VE ORGANIZED MILITIA-LIKE.

WE ARE GOING TO RAID VARIOUS TOWNS WHEN WE KNOW THEIR TOBACCO WAREHOUSES ARE FULL OF TOBACCO, AND WE'RE GOING TO BURN THEM.

WE ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, DIMINISH THE SUPPLY OF TOBACCO SO THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY US A REASONABLE PRICE, AND THEN WE CAN SELL OUR TOBACCO.

>> DR. THOMAS AMOS OF PRINCETON BECAME LEADER OF THE NIGHT RIDERS, AND HE LED THE MILITARY STYLE ATTACKS FIRST ON PRINCETON, THEN ON HOPKINSVILLE AND FINALLY RUSSELLVILLE, AND DURING THE ATTACKS, NIGHT RIDERS WOULD WEAR FACE COVERINGS TO KEEP THEIR IDENTITIES SECRET.

>> IT WAS NOT KU KLUX KLAN AT ALL, EVEN THOUGH THEY BOTH MAYBE WORE SOME TYPE OF A FACE COVERING.

THE FACE COVERING COULD HAVE BEEN A FEED SACK.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN A PILLOWCASE.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN SOME CLOTH WRAPPED AROUND THEIR HEAD.

IT WAS A VARIETY OF THINGS.

MOTHERS AND DADDIES, MEN AND WOMEN, WILL DO ALMOST ANYTHING IF THEIR FAMILY IS HURTING, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

FAMILIES WERE HURTING, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER.

THEY TRIED TO HANDLE IT THE BEST WAY THEY COULD.

>> EVENTUALLY KENTUCKY GOVERNOR AUGUSTUS WILSON WOULD SEND TROOPS INTO THE REGION FULFILLING A CAMPAIGN PLEDGE TO STOP THE VIOLENCE THAT HAD CAPTURED THE NATION'S ATTENTION.

THIS GOVERNMENT PRESENCE TO STOP THE VIOLENCE WOULD COMBINE WITH ANTIMONOPOLISTIC COURT RULINGS THAT WOULD END LARGE TOBACCO COMPANIES CONTROLLING THE PRICE OF TOBACCO, ALLOWING FARMERS TO SEE MORE MONEY FOR THEIR PRODUCT, REDUCING THEIR ANGER AND EVENTUALLY BRINGING ABOUT THE END OF THE BLACK PATCH TOBACCO WARS.

>> INTERESTING PIECE OF HISTORY.

WELL, THERE ARE NEW RULES FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS IN OKLAHOMA.

SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS EXPLAINS THE CHANGES AS SOME CITIZENS CLAIM HE IS TRYING TO SILENCE HIS CRITICS.

TAELYR JACKSON REPORTS.

>> WE'LL SAY SO LONG THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT WHEELER FERRIS WHEEL PARK, PUT TOGETHER FOR US BY OETA'S KACI FERGUSON.

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 THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

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