>> OKLAHOMANS RALLY TOGETHER TO REPAIR THEIR BROKEN COMMUNITIES.

>> IT'S BEEN NOTHING BUT HARD WORK AND JUST PUSHING THROUGH ADVERSITY.

SO THIS IS NOTHING NEW.

WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK, AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE BIGGER.

>> WHY DID GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT VETO THE OKLAHOMA SURVIVORS ACT?

>> WE ARE ABSOLUTELY FOR PROTECTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS BILL SAID.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED AND SAD.

>> ALMOST A THOUSAND STUDENTS VISIT EL RENO TO COMPETE IN A NATIONAL COMPETITION.

>> IT'S KIND OF AMAZING TO SEE A THOUSAND PEOPLE BE COMPLETELY SILENT, ESPECIALLY TEENAGERS, WHEN THEY ARE DOING THE CONTEST AND HOW SERIOUS THEY ARE.

>> A MARINE VETERAN, STEPPING FORWARD TO HELP OTHER VETS COPE WITH PTSD.

>> YOU ONLY FEEL LIKE YOU BELONG WHEN YOU'RE AROUND YOUR VETERAN BROTHERS, AND YOU'RE LIKE YOUR OWN LITTLE GROUP.

>> AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE STATE-WIDE IMPACT OF THIS WEEK'S SEVERE WEATHER.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MANY TORNADOES, THEY'RE GONNA HIT SOMETHING EVENTUALLY, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED.

>> THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT!

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD HAS BEEN ON FULL DISPLAY THIS WEEK AS COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE RALLY TO RECOVER FROM A HISTORIC NIGHT OF STORMS LAST WEEKEND.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUED A RECORD 59 TORNADO WARNINGS SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING WITH 25 CONFIRMED TORNADOES CLAIMING THE LIVES OF 4 PEOPLE.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PROPERTY HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND LIFE FOREVER CHANGED FOR THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMANS.

REPORTER JASON DOYLE AND PHOTOGRAPHER SCOTT CASSIDY BEGIN OUR TEAM COVERAGE IN MURRAY COUNTY, SCENE OF THE GREATEST DEVASTATION.

♪♪ >> COMMUNITIES ALL OVER OKLAHOMA ARE ASSESSING THE DAMAGE LEFT IN THE WAKE OF SATURDAY'S DEADLY TORNADO OUTBREAK, INCLUDING DOWNTOWN SULPHUR WHICH WAS DEVASTATED.

>> DEFINITELY THE MOST DAMAGE SINCE I'VE BEEN GOVERNOR THAT I'VE SEEN.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF DAMAGE.

I'VE BEEN AROUND THE STATE FOR -- IT'S MY SIXTH YEAR.

BUT WHAT I SAW DOWNTOWN SULFUR, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

>> GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT AND OTHER OFFICIALS REACTING SUNDAY MORNING TO WHAT THEY WITNESSED ON THEIR TOUR OF THE MURRAY COUNTY SEAT IN THE WAKE OF THE TORNADO HITTING THE TOWN AROUND 10:30 P.M. ON SATURDAY.

>> YOU JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THE DESTRUCTION.

LIKE, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN HAS BEEN DESTROYED NOW HERE IN SULFUR.

>> A WOMAN LOST HER LIFE DURING THE TORNADO WHICH STRUCK THIS DOWNTOWN BAR.

THE OTHER PEOPLE INSIDE MANAGED TO ESCAPE WITH A FEW INJURIES.

HOUSE SPEAKER CHARLES MCCALL ALSO ON HAND AND COMMITTING LEGISLATIVE HELP TO THE CITIES IMPACTED BY THE TWISTERS.

>> WE WILL RISE.

WE'LL CLEAN UP.

WE'LL REBUILD, AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD, AND WE'LL BE HERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WITH SULFUR AND THE OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

SO YOU MOVE FORWARD AND SEEK RESTORATION.

>> THESE SEVERE SPRING STORMS SHOW US, ONCE AGAIN, WHAT THEY CAN DO.

IN FACT, THE TORNADO HERE IN SULPHUR, LOOK BEHIND ME.

THOSE SHIRTS IN THAT SHOP ARE STILL FOLDED.

SHORTLY AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S GROUP LEFT THE WASTELAND THAT USED TO BE DOWNTOWN SULPHUR, BUSINESS OWNERS BEGAN FIGURING OUT A WAY FORWARD.

>> I JUST COULDN'T WAIT TO COME HERE TODAY AND JUST SEE IT, TOUCH IT, YOU KNOW, REALLY ACCEPT THAT IT'S REAL.

SO IT'S -- IT'S JUST A PROCESS, AND I'M HAVING TO TAKE IT MINUTE BY MINUTE REALLY.

>> GARY MENSCH AND HIS FAMILY STARTED THE JJ'S FURNITURE STORE MORE THAN TWO DECADES AGO.

>> WE'VE HAD THIS BUSINESS FOR 24 YEARS, AND WE STARTED THE BUSINESS WITH $30 IN A USED COUCH, AND WE BUILT OUR WAY UP TO THIS.

AND THE WHOLE TIME, FROM DAY ONE TO NOW, IT'S JUST BEEN MY FAMILY AND I WITH EMPLOYEES KIND OF COMING AND GOING.

>> MENSCH AND HIS FAMILY ARE PLANNING TO KEEP THINGS GOING IN SULPHUR.

>> IT'S BEEN NOTHING BUT HARD WORK AND JUST PUSHING THROUGH ADVERSITY.

SO THIS IS NOTHING NEW.

WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK, AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE BIGGER.

>> HE'S GLAD HIS FAMILY SURVIVED.

>> IT'S KIND OF A BITTERSWEET THING, MAN.

'CAUSE I LOOK ACROSS THE CELLAR, AND I SEE MY KIDS AND MY WIFE, AND I KNOW EVERYONE'S OKAY, BUT I KNOW THAT EVERYTHING I'VE EVER WORKED FOR, PUT TOGETHER -- MY FATHER, MY WIFE, MY MOM -- IS BEING TORN APART, AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.

>> POWER OUTAGES SPREAD ACROSS THE STATE, WITH 43,000 REPORTED WITHOUT POWER AFTER THE STORMS.

CREWS WERE BUSY RESTORING POWER TO THE HOLDENVILLE AREA ON SUNDAY, NEARBY A HOME DESTROYED, BUT EVERYONE GOT OUT SAFE.

>> STARTED HEARING A BUNCH OF WINDS, THE TRAIN SOUND THAT EVERYBODY SAYS.

IT'S NOT REAL.

>> 18-YEAR-OLD JAMES DAVIAS, HIS BROTHER AND THEIR DOG RODE OUT THE HOLDENVILLE TORNADO THAT STRUCK JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN ABOUT 10:45 P.M. SATURDAY.

>> I RAN TO THE LIVING ROOM, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHERE MY FRIDGE IS NOW.

AND THEN ME AND HIM MET IN THE LIVING ROOM, BOTH GOT ON THE FLOOR, AND WE GOT UNDERNEATH THE TABLE THAT WE HAD IN OUR LIVING ROOM, AND THAT'S WHEN IT HIT US.

AS SOON AS WE GOT UNDERNEATH THE TABLE, MAN, IT JUST COMPLETELY OBLITERATED THE HOUSE.

>> WHILE HE'S GLAD HE SURVIVED, UNFORTUNATELY THE HOLDENVILLE TORNADO DID NOT SPARE THE LIFE OF A MAN AND A FOUR-MONTH-OLD BABY.

ANOTHER DEATH HAPPENED ON I-35 IN MARIETTA.

A DRIVER WAS KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY AS THE EF-4 TORNADO TORE THROUGH THE SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA TOWN AT ABOUT 11 O'CLOCK SATURDAY NIGHT.

THE DAMAGE BROUGHT FEMA ADMINISTRATOR DEANNE CRISWELL TO THE LOVE COUNTY TOWN TO SEE FOR HERSELF ON TUESDAY.

>> FIRST OFF, JUST ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT, WE JUST, YOU KNOW, WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH OUR HEART ACHES FOR THE LOSS OF LIFE AND THE IMPACTS THAT THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE EXPERIENCED FROM THESE MULTIPLE TORNADOES THAT WENT ACROSS YOUR STATE.

>> CRISWELL NOTES THAT THERE WILL BE A LARGER RESPONSE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAN JUST FEMA ITSELF.

THE STUNNING DAMAGE TO THEIR LARGER EMPLOYER CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN FROM I-35.

OF COURSE, OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES WERE IMPACTED.

>> WE HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SMALL BUSINESS LOANS AT LOW INTEREST TO TRY TO REBUILD.

THAT'S EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY AND SEVERAL OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE, THE JOBS, THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME, BUT JUST THE FUNCTION OF THE ECONOMY OF THAT COMMUNITY.

>> MARIETTA MAYOR KERMIT MCKINNEY HAS BEEN REASSURED BY DOLLAR TREE THAT THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF, AND THEY WILL WORK TO GET THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER BACK UP AND RUNNING.

>> OH, YEAH.

ONE AND ONLY GROCERY STORE, WE'RE MISSING.

WE STILL HAVE FAMILY DOLLAR, BUT THERE'S NO PRODUCE IN THAT TYPE OF GROCERY STORE.

>> THE TOWN'S ONLY GROCERY STORE, A HOMELAND, WAS BLOWN AWAY RIGHT ALONG WITH A DOLLAR GENERAL ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

NOW, THE TOWNSPEOPLE STILL HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD BECAUSE OF AN EMERGENCY SHELTER THAT'S SET UP AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, BUT THE MAYOR OF MARIETTA SAYS THEY'RE PLANNING ON BUILDING BIGGER AND BETTER.

>> MARIETTA'S HOSPITAL, THE MERCY LOVE COUNTY HEALTH CENTER, ALSO STRUCK BY THE TWISTER WITH PATIENTS AND STAFF INSIDE.

>> RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TOTALLY CLOSED EXCEPT FOR OUR EMS, OUR AMBULANCES RUNNING.

IF YOU CALL 911, WE CAN RESPOND.

>> THE EIGHT PATIENTS STAYING IN THE HOSPITAL AND THE TWO OTHERS WHO WERE IN THE ER WERE TRANSFERRED SAFELY AFTER THE STORM.

AND MERCY IS WORKING TO SET UP TEMPORARY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN MARIETTA.

OF COURSE, ALL THE DAMAGE ACROSS THE STATE MEANS INSURANCE ADJUSTERS ARE OUT IN FULL FORCE.

OKLAHOMA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER GLENN MULREADY SAYS PROPERTY OWNERS CAN TAKE ACTION TO HELP THE PROCESS.

>> TRY TO SECURE YOUR PROPERTY AS BEST AS POSSIBLE, SO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S PUTTING TARPS ON THE ROOF OR WIND WINDOWS, BUT SECURING YOUR PROPERTY FROM FURTHER DAMAGE OR FURTHER LOSS.

>> HE ALSO SUGGESTS TO REPORT THE DAMAGE TO THE STATE.

>> WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO FILE A CLAIM OR NOT, REPORT THE DAMAGE TO THE STATE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS US TO, AS A STATE, TRIGGER POTENTIALLY SOME FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.

THE STATE WEBSITE TO REPORT STORM DAMAGE IS DAMAGE.OK.GOV, WHERE A PERSON WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE SOME BASIC INFORMATION.

>> JUST LIKE SEVERAL PAST STORMY SPRINGS HERE IN OKLAHOMA, THESE OKLAHOMANS ARE PROMISING THEY'RE GOING TO BE RESILIENT AND REBUILD.

FROM SULPHUR, JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> JASON AND SCOTT, THANK YOU.

AND THERE ARE MANY MORE OKLAHOMA TOWNS DEALING WITH STORM DAMAGE AS WE LEAVE BEHIND ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE SEVERE WEATHER APRILS IN MANY YEARS.

COMING UP LATER IN THIS NEWSCAST, WE'LL SPEAK WITH THE MAYOR OF MARIETTA AND A WEATHER EXPERT TO DISCUSS RECOVERY AND WHAT'S IN STORE FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.

HERE'S A PREVIEW WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

>> IT'S STRUNG FROM MARIETTA ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NORTHERN END OF OUR COUNTY WITH THE TORNADO, AND WE'VE GOT CREWS GOING OUT THIS MORNING IN THREE DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, I BELIEVE, SLOWLY PICKING UP ALL THAT DEBRIS.

>> WE SHOULD EXPECT TORNADOES DURING MAY, AND WE SHOULD EXPECT SOME STRONG TORNADOES, SIGNIFICANT TORNADOES, EF-2'S OR HIGHER, SOMEWHERE IN THE STATE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE WHAT THE REST OF THE SEASON IS GOING TO BE LIKE.

THERE IS SOME HINT, THOUGH, THAT, OF COURSE, IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SEVERE THAN WE PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.

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

>> THANKFULLY, THE BAD WEATHER STEERED CLEAR OF EL RENO, BECAUSE THIS WEEK MORE THAN A THOUSAND STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TRAVELED TO THE SOONER STATE TO TAKE PART IN A COMPETITION THAT'S HELD ANNUALLY HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH THE DETAILS ON THAT.

STEVE?

>> RICH, SINCE 1951, OKLAHOMA HAS HOSTED THE NATIONAL LAND AND RANGE JUDGING CONTEST.

HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS FROM AS FAR AWAY AS HAWAII HAVE BEEN IN TOWN SINCE MONDAY.

>> AGRICULTURE IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE EVEN IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

>> WE'RE CHECKING EROSION RIGHT NOW.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO SEE HOW MUCH IS LEFT OF THE TOPSOIL.

>> THIS GROUP CAME TO FLYER'S FIELD NEXT TO LAKE EL RENO ALL THE WAY FROM WISCONSIN.

SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SOIL HERE AND THE SOIL IN WISCONSIN?

>> A LOT MORE RED.

>> NOT HERE, BUT -- NOT MUCH ACTUALLY.

>> DO YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN ANYTHING?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

>> THE NATIONAL LAND AND RANGE JUDGING CONTEST IS HOSTED BY THE OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION AND THE USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE.

>> YOU TAKE YOUR KNIFE AND SEE HOW DEEP IT GOES UNTIL IT STARTS GETTING HARD, AND THEN YOU KNOW THAT'S HOW MUCH TOPSOIL YOU HAVE LEFT.

>> THESE STUDENTS CAME FROM 37 DIFFERENT STATES ACROSS THE U.S. WE'RE TALKING HAWAII, WASHINGTON STATE, THE DAKOTAS, WEST VIRGINIA.

A LOT OF KIDS ARE HERE.

>> TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, THE KIDS PRACTICED THEIR SKILLS IN THE AREAS OF LAND AND RANGE MANAGEMENT, SOIL SCIENCE AND BEING ABLE TO DETERMINE IF A PLOT OF LAND IS SAFE TO BUILD A HOUSE ON.

>> TEACHING THE STUDENTS ABOUT THAT THERE'S MORE THAN JUST SHOWING ANIMALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE'S A LOT TO SOIL AND A LOT TO THE RANGE LAND.

>> THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK, STUDENTS WERE TESTED BY INSTRUCTORS LIKE LARRY WRIGHT WHOSE PAST PRESIDENT OF OKLAHOMA'S ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

>> IT'S ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT, AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CULTURE, WITHIN OUR WORLD OR EVEN OUR SOCIETY, AGRICULTURE IS OUR FIRST CULTURE.

WE THINK ABOUT ARTS AND MUSIC, BUT AGRICULTURE IS WHAT CREATED CIVILIZATION.

IN ORDER FOR CIVILIZATION TO EXIST, WE NEED AGRICULTURE.

THAT'S WHERE OUR FOOD COMES FROM.

>> AGRICULTURE IS WHAT PUTS FOOD ON THE TABLE.

>> EXACTLY, AND I ENJOY GOING TO THE TABLE THREE TIMES A DAY.

>> ISABELLA MACK, ZOEY AND MCKENZIE CAME ALL THE WAY FROM TRI-VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL IN COLTON, SOUTH DAKOTA TO COMPETE.

>> I THINK THE HARDEST THING IS DEFINITELY MY CHALLENGE THIS YEAR HAS BEEN GETTING THE SLOPE RIGHT, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S BASICALLY ALL MEMORIZATION, SO THAT PART IS PRETTY EASY, BUT THE PART THAT I STRUGGLE WITH IS PROBABLY THE SLOPE THE MOST.

>> YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM CLIMBING DOWN IN THE TRENCHES AND GETTING DIRTY AND ALL OF THAT?

>> I CAN GET DIRTY ALL DAY LONG.

>> LAND AND SHINGLE IS PART OF TRI-VALLEY'S LAND JUDGING TEAM.

>> WHAT DO YOU THING OF THIS WEATHER, THIS OKLAHOMA WEATHER?

>> KIND OF USED TO IT.

I DO TRAVEL BASEBALL, SO IT'S NOT TOO BAD UP HERE.

IT'S A LOT BETTER THAN SOUTH DAKOTA, THAT'S FOR SURE.

BETTER THAN 50-DEGREE WEATHER IN SUMMER.

>> ALL TWO WEEKS OF IT?

>> OH, YEAH.

CONSTRUCTION AND ROAD WORK AND SNOW.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH OUR SEASONS IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

>> MCCOOK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AGO TEACHER FROM SALEM SOUTH DAKOTA HAS BEEN BRINGING STUDENTS TO THIS COMPETITION EVERY YEAR SINCE 1989.

>> I MEAN, FARMING IS NOT JUST -- AGRICULTURE NOW IS NOT JUST -- IT'S NOT A JOB.

IT'S A WAY OF LIFE, AND I THINK THAT'S AGRICULTURE.

IT IS A WAY OF LIFE.

>> IT AIN'T 9 TO 5.

>> IT IS NOT 9 TO 5.

IT'S FROM THE CRACK OF DAWN UNTIL YOU GO TO SLEEP, AND WHEN YOU WAKE UP THE NEXT DAY, YOU START ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> STELLOH, SOUTH DAKOTA AG TEACHER TANNER PETERSON IS REEK MAN'S GRANDSON.

>> WHERE DID YOU GO TO COLLEGE?

>> SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY.

>> JACKRABBITS.

>> JACKRABBITS, TWO TIME DEFENDING NCAA CHAMPIONS.

>> HOW COOL IS IT TO DO WHAT YOUR GRANDFATHER TAUGHT YOU TO DO?

>> IT IS HONESTLY THE BEST THING EVER.

THIS IS WHERE WE'VE ALWAYS CONNECTED THE BEST.

>> BLAZE AND COLLIN DROVE UP FROM LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA TO COMPETE.

>> WHAT IT'S LIKE TO COMPETE AGAINST KIDS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY?

>> IT'S VERY COMPETITIONAL, AND IT'S VERY FUN, REALLY AND TRULY, BUT ALL IN ALL, WE'RE TRYING TO LEARN AS MUCH AS WE CAN, AND THIS IS ALL FOR THE FUTURE BASICALLY TO, BETTER OURSELVES.

>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING, FUN, HARD WORK, A GOOD EXPERIENCE OVERALL, GOOD FOR US, GOOD FOR THE WORLD.

IT'S FUN.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A CERTAIN MINDSET TO WORK IN AGRICULTURE, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, YOU DO.

IT'S REALLY NOT THAT EASY.

IT'S HARD WORK.

GOOD WORK ETHIC, YOU CAN MAKE IT IN THE AGRICULTURE BUSINESS.

>> WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO HAVE, MATH SKILLS, PEOPLE SKILLS, OR ARE YOU JUST WILLING TO GET DIRTY?

>> WILLING TO GET DIRTY IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING.

>> SARAH BLANEY IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

>> IT'S KIND OF AMAZING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, A THOUSAND PEOPLE BE COMPLETELY SILENT, ESPECIALLY TEENAGERS, WHEN THEY'RE DOING THE CONTEST, AND HOW SERIOUS THEY ARE.

>> SHE SAYS IT'S NO COINCIDENCE OKLAHOMA HAS HOSTED THIS EVENT ALL THESE YEARS, CONSIDERING THE DUST BOWL RAVAGED THE LAND HERE NEARLY A CENTURY AGO.

>> I MEAN, OKLAHOMA IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN THE CONSERVATION MOVEMENT.

OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS THE EPICENTER OF THE DUST BOWL, SO SOIL CONSERVATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS STATE.

AS WE SEE WEATHER PATTERNS BECOMING MORE EXTREME AND HAVING MORE EXTREME DROUGHT AND FLOODING, THAT KNOWLEDGE DOES BECOME MORE IMPORTANT.

>> GENIE HAMILTON IS STATE CONSERVATIONIST FOR THE NATURAL RESOURCES STATE CONSERVATION SERVICE.

SHE RECRUITS KIDS LIKE THESE TO EMBARK ON CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE.

>> WE HAVE OFFICES IN JUST ABOUT EVERY COUNTY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, SO THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO COME ON WITH US NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE.

>> IS AGRICULTURE GETTING COOL AGAIN?

>> I THINK AGRICULTURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN COOL.

>> THIS EVENT IS PART OF AN AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM HERE IN OKLAHOMA THAT REALLY DATES BACK TO 1943.

RICH.

>> STEVE.

THANK YOU.

>> PROPONENTS, INCLUDING SENATE LEADER GREG TREAT, SAY THE OKLAHOMA SURVIVOR'S ACT IS MEANT TO POSSIBLY REDUCE THE SENTENCES OF PEOPLE WHO COMMIT CRIMES AFTER BEING THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, BUT GOVERNOR STITT DOESN'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

LAST WEEK, HE VETOED THE BILL, AND IN RESPONSE, THE OKLAHOMA SENATE OVERRODE THAT VETO.

WITH MORE ON TWO VERY DIFFERENT TAKES ON THE SAME LEGISLATION, WE'RE JOINED BY TAELYR JACKSON.

TAELYR?

>> RICH, OVER 40,000 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS WERE MADE IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY ALONE IN 2021.

ADVOCATORS SAY THAT SENTENCING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS IS OFTEN UNFAIR.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED AND SAD.

>> DOMESTIC SURVIVOR HOLLY AND OTHEREWN AFTER GOVERNOR STITT VETOED THE HOUSE BILL LAST WEEK.

>> I THINK IT MAKES AN IMPACT NOT ONLY TO OTHER SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS BUT JUST TO OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

THERE'S SUCH A BIG MISUNDERSTANDING AND LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, ENTRENCHED HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY'S UNDERSTANDING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

>> IT WOULD CREATE THE OKLAHOMA SURVIVORS ACT DIRECTING COURTS TO CONSIDER CERTAIN MITIGATING FACTORS IN SENTENCING, SUCH AS PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL ABUSE.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE LAST FRIDAY, GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT SAID THE BILL ISN'T AS IT APPEARS TO BE.

>> BASICALLY WHAT IT SAID THAT ANY CRIME, CERTAINLY SOMEBODY IN PRISON FOR BAD STUFF, RAPE, MURDER, WHATEVER, COULD GO BACK AND SAY THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUE THAT HAPPENED 20 YEARS AGO IN THEIR PAST AND SO THEY SHOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT SENTENCE TODAY.

IT WASN'T LIMITED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

IT HAD EVERYBODY.

AND SO THAT WAS THE REASON I VETOED THAT.

>> BUT ADVOCATE COLLEEN MCCARTHY SAID THAT ISN'T TRUE.

>> BASICALLY, THAT ISN'T HOW THE LAW WAS WRITTEN.

IT'S NOT THE INTENTION BEHIND THE LAW AND IT'S NOT HOW IT'S OPERATED IN OTHER PLACES WHERE IT'S GONE INTO EFFECT.

ESSENTIALLY IT REQUIRES THAT THE ABUSE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL RELATIONSHIP TO THE CRIME THAT WAS COMMITTED, AND THAT IS WHAT WE CALL IN THE LAW A NEXUS.

>> FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT IN OKLAHOMA WE ARE RANKED NUMBER ONE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE, HAVE EXPERIENCED OR CURRENTLY ARE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

>> WE'RE NUMBER THREE FOR THE NUMBER OF WOMEN KILLED BY MEN IN SINGLE PARTNER HOMICIDES.

SO IT'S A VERY PERVASIVE ISSUE FOR PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS EVERY DAY, AND NOT ONLY IS IT PERVASIVE ON THE FRONT END, BUT THEN WE GET TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO COMBAT OR TO GET AWAY OR ANYTHING, AND SO THEY END UP GETTING CHARGED WITH CRIMES IN THE SITUATIONS WHERE IT ESCALATES.

>> ACCORDING TO A REPORT DONE BY THE TURNING PAGE, OKLAHOMA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM STORY, 66% OF WOMEN HAVE EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL ABUSE BY A PARTNER WITHIN A YEAR BEFORE PRISON.

>> 1470, PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONFUSED.

THEY THINK THAT IS JUST A VICTIM'S PROTECTION, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY FOR PROTECTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS BILL SAYS.

THIS BILL SAID IT WAS AN ANTI-LAW ENFORCEMENT BILL THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS WERE AGAINST IT.

>> PRESIDENT PRO-TEM AND COAUTHOR OF THE BILL, GREG TREAT, SAYS HE'S NOT SURE IF THE HOUSE WILL OVERRIDE THE BILL AS WELL.

>> I HAVE NO GRAND ILLUSION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO OVERRIDE IT.

I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS SHOVE THE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL WE ALREADY AGREED TO RUN TRAILER TO LET THE GOVERNOR SAVE SOME FACE, BUT IT WILL BE JOHN ECHOLS, MYSELF, AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS HAD AN AGREEMENT THAT IF WE RAN A TRAILER BILL TO FIX AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CRIME WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND A COUPLE OTHER SMALL THINGS THAT THEY WOULD STAND DOWN.

>> IN A REPORT DONE BY THE ACLU, THE AVERAGE PRISON SENTENCE OF MEN WHO KILL THEIR FEMALE PARTNERS IS 2 TO 6 YEARS.

WOMEN WHO KILL THEIR PARTNER ARE SENTENCED ON AVERAGE TO 15 YEARS EVEN THOUGH MOST WOMEN WHO KILL THEIR PARTNERS DO SO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM VIOLENCE INITIATED BY THEIR PARTNER.

THIS STATISTIC HITS CLOSE TO HOME FOR WOMEN LIKE APP RIL APRL WILKINS.

>> HE WAS STALKING HER, KNOCKED ALL THE -- HAD HER INVOLUNTARY COMMITTED ACTUALLY TWO TIMES, T, AND ULTIMATELY IN THE FINAL ALTERCATION WITH HIM, HE WAS TRYING TO FORCE HER TO USE DRUGS.

HE HAD RAPED HER IN THE EVENING THAT THIS HAPPENED.

>> AND BRIANNA BOYD WHO IS SERVING TIME FOR THE DEATH OF HER ABUSER.

>> HE SHOWED UP LATE IN THE NIGHT TO HER HOUSE, AND SHE WAS ASLEEP.

SHE WAS ABLE TO GET HIM CALMED DOWN FOR A FEW HOURS, BUT THEN AROUND 4 OR 5 IN THE MORNING, HE STARTED GETTING AGITATED AT HER AGAIN.

THEY WENT OUT INTO THE DRIVEWAY.

THEY WERE PHYSICALLY FIGHTING.

SHE WAS DRAGGED ON THE DRIVEWAY AGAIN.

SHE'S 8 MONTHS PREGNANT.

SHE GETS THE KNIFE AWAY FROM HIM AND STARTS WILDLY SWINGING, IN THE MOMMA BEAR RAGE AND BASICALLY CUTS HIM IN ONE PLACE, RIGHT HERE IN THE NECK, AND HE DID PASS AWAY FROM THAT.

>> BOYD WENT INSIDE TO CALL 911 FOR HELP.

>> THEY SENT A SWAT TEAM TO DESCEND UPON HER HOUSE.

>> FOR SURVIVORS LIKE HOWARD, SENATE BILL 1470 GOES BEYOND JUST REFORM.

>> IT REALLY IS ABOUT A BELIEF IN EQUITY AND IN HUMAN VALUE, SPECIFICALLY THROUGH THE LENS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING AND LEARN ABOUT THE DYNAMIC WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT THEY REALLY COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S REALLY ABOUT POWER AND CONTROL ONE PERSON HAS OVER ANOTHER, AND LIKE IN THIS SITUATION, HOW THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS AND CORRELATES TO THE INCARCERATION RATES OF WOMEN.

>> ADVOCATES ENCOURAGE SUPPORTERS TO CONTACT THEIR REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE BILL.

THE FATE OF SENATE BILL 1470 NOW LIES IN THE HANDS OF THE HOUSE.

RICH?

>> TAELYR, THANK YOU.

JOINING US NOW FROM OUR OETA STUDIOS IN THE CAPITOL, QUORUM CALL PUBLISHER, SHAWN ASHLEY, WITH THE REST OF THE WEEK'S NEWS FROM 23RD AND LINCOLN.

NOW, SHAWN, THE GOVERNOR'S WITHDRAWN HIS NOMINATION TO SHELLY ZUMALT TO BE HIS SECRETARY OF TOURISM, WILDLIFE AND HERITAGE.

WHAT REASONS DID HE GIVE FOR DOING SO?

>> WELL, DURING AN APRIL 26TH PRESS CONFERENCE, GOVERNOR STITT INDICATED THAT DIRECTOR ZUMWALT HAD EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO HAVE HER NOMINATION WITHDRAWN, FOLLOWING AN AUDIT RELEASE BY THE STATE AUDITOR AND INSPECTOR THAT CALLED INTO QUESTION HER MANAGEMENT OF SOME CONTRACTS WHILE SHE WAS AT THE OKLAHOMA EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION.

NOW, GOVERNOR STITT AT THAT TIME DID NOT SAY THAT HE WAS WITHDRAWING HER NOMINATION, BUT LATER THAT DAY, HE INFORMED THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE AND THE STATE SENATE, WHICH WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSIDERING AND ADVISING AND CONSENTING ON HER NOMINATION, OF THE WITHDRAWAL.

>> SHAWN, THE GOVERNOR, HAS SIGNED INTO LAW A TOUGH ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BILL AFTER EXPRESSING SOME EARLIER RESERVATIONS ABOUT IT.

AND FOR SURE, DEMOCRATS DO NOT APPROVE OF HOUSE BILL 4156?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ONE OF THEIR MAIN CONCERNS IS THAT IT WILL RESULT IN RACIAL PROFILING, BECAUSE IT INVOLVES THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANTS COMING ACROSS THAT BORDER INTO THE UNITED STATES AND ULTIMATELY INTO OKLAHOMA.

ANOTHER CONCERN THEY HAD AND ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE FLOORS IS WHAT OKLAHOMA COULD BE DOING TO HELP UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRANTS BECOME AUTHORIZED IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

WHILE THAT ISSUE WAS NOT ADDRESSED IN THE BILL, THE GOVERNOR DID CREATE A TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT THOSE ISSUES, HELPING UNAUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS GET VISAS AND OTHER AUTHORIZATION IN ORDER TO REMAIN IN THE STATE.

THAT GROUP IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD THEN BECOME LEGISLATION OR POLICY CHANGES FOR THE STATE.

>> AS WE BEGIN THE MONTH OF MAY, IT APPEARS PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, IT MAY BE A QUESTION OF ONE STEP FORWARD AND TWO STEPS BACK, BECAUSE EARLIER IN THE WEEK, SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG TREAT REPLACED HIS SENATE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR, REMOVING ROGER THOMPSON AND REPLACING HIM WITH THE VICE CHAIR CHUCK HALL.

THIS UNLEASHED A NUMBER OF MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET, AND IT APPEARS THERE WERE SOME AGREEMENTS REACHED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS OUTSIDE OF THE SENATE'S TRANSPARENCY PROCESS THAT ARE NOW NOT GOING TO BE HONORED, AND THE SENATE IS ESSENTIALLY RESTARTING ITS BUDGET PROCESS.

IT'S UNCLEAR IF WE'VE TAKEN A STEP ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE STARTING POINT, BUT WE HAVE CERTAINLY TAKEN SOME STEPS BACKWARDS.

>> WOW, THAT IS AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT INDEED.

NOW, THE LEGISLATURE DID ACT TO TRY AND INCREASE TRADE WITH THE EMERALD ISLE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

LAWMAKERS PASSED AND GOVERNOR STITT SIGNED A BILL CREATING THE OKLAHOMA IRELAND TRADE COMMISSION.

THIS COMMISSION WILL LOOK AT VARIOUS POLICY CHANGES THAT COULD BENEFIT TRADE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

AND THIS WAS NOT SIMPLY AN OKLAHOMA IDEA.

IT WAS BROUGHT TO OKLAHOMA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE IRISH SENATE.

OKLAHOMA HAS TRADED WITH IRELAND IN THE PAST, AND THE IDEA IS TO BUILD UP ON THOSE PREVIOUS TRADE AGREEMENTS.

>> YEAH, THAT'D BE A NICE ROAD TRIP FOR LEGISLATORS AS WELL.

SHARE SOME DETAILS ON SENATE BILL 2035, WHICH HAS BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS SIGNATURE.

>> GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT SIGNED SENATE BILL 2035.

EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THE BILL WAS PROPOSED BY SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TIM GREG TREAT FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING HIS SON AFTER HE WAS PULLED OVER BY A COUNTY DEPUTY WHEN HIS MOTOR VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A TAG.

NOW UNDER CURRENT LAW, THAT WAS LEGAL.

THE SENATE BILL 2035 CREATES A PROCESS FOR ISSUING TEMPORARY TAGS FOR CERTAIN SALES.

SO MASON TREAT'S VEHICLE WOULD'VE HAD A TAG UNDER THE BILL.

>> OKAY.

SHAWN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THINK WE'VE GOT ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT DO WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT WEEK?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE LAWMAKERS WILL BE WORKING MORE ON THE BUDGET, AND THEN THOSE BILLS THAT ARE MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE FINAL PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEES SHOULD BEGIN APPEARING AND BE PUT TO FINAL VOTES BEFORE GOING TO GOVERNOR STITT FOR HIS CONSIDERATION.

>> AS ALWAYS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME VERY MUCH.

PUBLISHER OF THE QUORUM CALL SHAWN ASHLEY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHILE VOLUNTEERS HAVE DONE AMAZING WORK THIS WEEK, IT'S GOING TO TAKE LARGE DONATIONS TO HELP REBUILD TOWNS LIKE SULPHUR, HOLDENVILLE, MARIETTA, AND OTHERS.

AND NOW OKLAHOMA'S SECOND-LARGEST BANK IS STEPPING FORWARD TO HELP.

THAT STORY TOPS THIS WEEK'S OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

WITH JASON DOYLE.

>> BANK FIRST, HEAD QUARTERED IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAS DONATED $250,000 TO BENEFIT THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THE OKLAHOMA COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY THE APRIL 27th TORNADOES.

THE BANK HAS ALSO ESTABLISHED A RELIEF FUND ACCOUNT THAT IS ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR THE CITY OF SULFUR AT ALL OF ITS LOCATIONS STATEWIDE.

DOLLAR TREE INCORPORATED SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE TO DELIVER PRODUCTS TO ITS 600 STORES THAT WERE SLIGHTED BY ITS MARIETTA DISTRIBUTION CENTER BY LAST WEEKEND'S STORMS.

WHILE THE FACILITY SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE THE COMPANY SAYS NONE OF ITS 456 EMPLOYEES WERE INJURED AND EXPECTS INSURANCE WILL COVER MOST PROPERTY AND INVENTORY DAMAGES.

DOLLAR TREE, INC., OPERATES 16,477 STORES IN 48 STATES AND 5 CANADIAN PROVINCES.

OG AND E SAYS ELECTRICITY HAS BEEN RESTORED TO 99% OF ITS CUSTOMERS.

THE COMPANY SAYS EARLY ASSESSMENTS OF THE STORM DAMAGE INCLUDE 350 BROKEN POWER POLES AND MORE THAN 75 TRANSFORMERS AND 60,000 FEET OF OVERHEAD LINE HAVE BEEN REPLACED.

GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT HAS APPOINTED HEATHER TURNER AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.

TURNER WILL LEAVE HER POST AS PRESIDENT AND CEO AS THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

PRIOR TO THAT, TURNER OWNED AND OPERATED HER OWN MUSIC SCHOOL.

ROCKET LANE, A BUSINESS SERVICES PROVIDER, IS REPORTING THAT MORE THAN 36 MILLION AMERICANS WILL BE WORKING REMOTELY BY 2025, AN INCREASE OF 65%, UP FROM 22 MILLION IN 2023.

ROCKET LANE CLAIMS A WHOPPING 98% OF AMERICAN WORKERS HAVE EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO WORK REMOTELY.

ACCORDING TO A JUST RELEASED REPORT FROM TRACE ONE, GROCERY PRICES HAVE GONE UP AN AVERAGE OF 25% SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

BUT WE HAVE IT PRETTY GOOD HERE IN OKLAHOMA COMPARED TO OTHER STATES.

THE AVERAGE OKLAHOMA HOUSEHOLD SPENDS $279 PER MONTH ON GROCERIES OR 7.6% OF TOTAL CONSUMER SPENDING, THE 13th LOWEST PERCENTAGE IN THE U.S. JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> JASON, THANKS.

>> WHO BETTER TO HELP A VETERAN STRUGGLING WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER THAN HIS FELLOW VETS FACING AND COPING WITH THE SAME CHALLENGES?

ANDREW HARTSHORN REPORTS ON A PROGRAM THAT IS GIVING MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SACRIFIED FOR OUR COUNTRY A "HAND UP" WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST.

>> WE NEED YOU AWAKE, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO DRIVE THE BUS BACK.

BRENDAN O BRYANT IS ENJOYING AN OUTING FROM THE VETERANS HOME WHERE BRYANT WORKS.

LIKE 7% OF ALL MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES, HE HAS SUFFERED FROM PTSD, BUT THANKS TO THE OKLAHOMA EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION AND ITS COURT-RUN VETERANS DIVERSION PROGRAM, BRENDAN IS DOING VERY WELL TODAY.

>> SO THE BEST WAY I CAN EXPLAIN IT, AND A LOT OF VETERANS WILL TELL YOU THIS, WE CHASE DEPLOYMENTS, BECAUSE ON DEPLOYMENTS, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR JOB IS.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR MISSION IS.

YOU GO -- YOU GO OVER THERE.

YOU DO IT.

YOU COME BACK.

>> FOR MANY VETERANS, BEING DEPLOYED HELPS KEEP STRUCTURE IN THEIR LIVES, ALSO GIVING THEM A PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY FIT IN.

>> WHEN YOU GET OUT, THEN YOU DON'T EVER FEEL THAT LIKE YOU BELONG AGAIN.

YOU ONLY FEEL LIKE YOU BELONG WHEN YOU'RE AROUND YOUR VETERAN BROTHERS, AND YOU'RE LIKE YOUR OWN LITTLE GROUP.

>> AFTER SERVING 13 YEARS IN THE MARINES, BRENDAN WAS SUFFERING FROM PTSD AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES.

IT WAS HIS ARREST IN MARCH OF 2023 THAT LED HIM TO GETTING THE HELP HE NEEDED TO TURN THINGS AROUND.

>> GOT A PUBLIC DEFENDER.

>> THE PUBLIC DEFENDER BASICALLY SAID, HEY, THERE'S A PROGRAM WE'RE LOOKING TO GET YOU INTO.

IT'S A VETERAN'S PROGRAM.

IT'S RUN THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, BUT IT -- THEY ACTUALLY GO THROUGH FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

AND I SAID, OKAY, WHATEVER.

I GOTTA DO JUST TO GET SOMETHING ROLLING.

FROM THERE, EVERYTHING STARTED HAPPENING.

THAT PROGRAM WAS THE VETERAN DIVERSION PROGRAM, WHICH IS RUN THROUGH THE STATE'S DISTRICT COURTS.

IT'S A PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION MEANT TO HELP VETS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM PTSD OR INJURY AS A RESULT OF MILITARY SERVICE.

>> MOST OF THE TIME, THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH ARE MUCH MORE INTENSIVE.

THEY REQUIRE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, INTENSIVE TREATMENT.

MOST OF THE TIME, IF THEY'RE -- THEY'VE BEEN IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY FOR A LONG TIME, THEY'RE STARTING OFF AT ABSOLUTE ZERO.

>> SOMETIMES WHEN VETERANS COME OUT OF THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JAIL.

MANY OF THEM WILL HAVE NO ID.

THE PROGRAM HELPS THEM GET THE ID SO THEY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED.

>> SO WE HAVE TO HELP THEM REBUILD EVERYTHING.

SOMETIMES THAT'S A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, THOUGH, BECAUSE IT ALSO HELPS THEM SEVER THOSE TIES THAT THEY MAY HAVE HAD TO SOME PEOPLE THEY WERE DEALING WITH THAT PROBABLY WEREN'T TOO HEALTHY FOR THEM.

>> I STARTED GETTING BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE VA, GETTING SOME HELP ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FRONTS AS FAR AS FROM AA, ALSO WITH THE DIVERSION PROGRAM.

THEN I MET SHANE, I WOULD SAY, PROBABLY TWO MONTHS INTO THE PROGRAM.

>> SHANE BRAIG IS AN OKLAHOMA EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION DISABLED VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAM SPECIALIST AND A VET HIMSELF.

THANKS TO SHANE, BRENDAN WAS ABLE TO GET HIS JOB AT THE VETERANS HOME.

>> VETERANS EMPLOYMENT CONSULTANT BEST DESCRIBES IT.

THE TASKING THAT OR DESCRIPTION OF THE JOB IS TO ASSIST VETERANS THAT ARE FACING SERIOUS BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS AND ABSTAIN MEANINGFUL AND SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT.

>> SITTING DOWN AND GETTING TO KNOW BRENDAN ALLOWED SHANE TO HELP HIS FELLOW VETERAN FIND A PLACE WHERE HIS SKILLS HE LEARNED IN THE MILITARY COULD BE USEFUL.

WHAT MAKES THESE PROGRAMS SO SUCCESSFUL IS THAT VETERANS CAN FACE THEIR CHALLENGES WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS.

>> THE CAMARADERIE THAT YOU FEEL IN THE ROOM IS REALLY THE MAGIC OR THE SECRET SAUCE THAT WE HAVE IN THESE VETERANS PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE ALL WANT TO SEE EACH OTHER SUCCEED.

WE WANT TO SEE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ARMS DO WELL.

>> ANDREW, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> ANDREW, THANK YOU.

SO FAR, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY ACTIVE SPRING FOR SEVERE WEATHER, BOTH HERE IN OKLAHOMA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY N THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO WEATHER EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS DETERMINED TO RECOVER FROM LAST WEEK'S DEVASTATING STORMS.

HERE'S MODERATOR CASSIDY MUD.

>> THANK YOU, RICH, A STRING OF TORNADOES PAVED A PATH OF DESTRUCTION ACROSS SOUTHERN COUNTIES HERE IN OKLAHOMA LAST SATURDAY.

THE CONFIRMED DEATH TOLL HAS RISEN TO AT LEAST 4 PEOPLE WITH OVER 300 INJURED.

THE MARIETTA TORNADO WAS AN EF 4 AMONG THE 25 CONFIRMED TORNADOES THAT TOUCHED DOWN OVER THE WEEKEND.

HERE TO DISCUSS THE CITY OF MARIETTA'S RECOVERY EFFORTS AFTER THE TORNADO OUTBREAK IS MAYOR KERMIT MCKINNEY JOINING US VIA ZOOM.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

TO START THIS CONVERSATION, CAN WE GET A STATUS UPDATE ON THE SITUATION IN MARIETTA.

>> THE SITUATION IS IT HAS BEEN DECLARED IS DISASTER RELIEF BY FEMA, AND THEY SENT THEIR FIRST REPRESENTATIVES HERE OFFICIALLY AFTER THAT DECLARATION YESTERDAY MORNING, AND THEY STARTED SURVEYING THE DAMAGE.

IT STRUNG FROM MARIETTA ALL THE WAY UP TO THE NORTHERN END OF OUR COUNTY WITH THE TORNADO.

AND WE'VE GOT CREWS GOING OUT THIS MORNING IN THREE DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, I BELIEVE, SLOWLY PICKING UP ALL THAT DEBRIS, AND THEY ARE -- THEY HAVE TO SEPARATE THAT DEBRIS BY CONSTRUCTION, METALS, AND VEGETATION EVENTUALLY.

AND THEN SEND THAT TO THE APPROPRIATE LANDFILLS AND KEEPING TRACK OF EVERYTHING WHILE WE DO ALL THAT.

>> WELL, NOW, MAYOR, YOU'VE LIVED IN MARIETTA FOR THE MAJORITY OF YOUR LIFE.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING, ANY SEVERE STORMS THAT LEFT THIS LEVEL OF DAMAGE?

>> NO.

WE USED TO BRAG ABOUT HOW THE TORNADOES ALWAYS JUST KIND OF HOPPED OVER MARIETTA, BEING IN A BASIN LIKE WE ARE, BUT THIS -- THAT WASN'T THE CASE FOR THIS ONE.

>> AND HOW WOULD YOU SAY THIS HAS IMPACTED THE LOCAL ECONOMY?

MARIETTA'S TAX BASE HAS BEEN SEVERELY IMPACTED WITH THE HITTING OF DOLLAR GENERAL AND A LOT OF THE STORES THERE.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY THAT'S HAPPENING?

>> WELL, TO OUR BEST ESTIMATE, THROUGH OUR COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR, SHE HAS FOUND OUT THAT WE AND THE COUNTY WILL BOTH BE LOSING SALES TAX REVENUE FROM THOSE BUSINESSES DAMAGED, AND WE ESTIMATE OURS TO BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT -- MARIETTA'S TO BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 20% OF OUR NORMAL REVENUE.

>> ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO KIND OF MATCH THAT OR MAKE THAT REVENUE UP AT THIS POINT?

>> WELL, THERE IS A PLUS WITH RECONSTRUCTION, THAT ALL THAT MATERIAL, IF DELIVERED TO MARIETTA WITH OUR ZIP CODE, THAT FEMA -- I'M SORRY, THE TAXES ON THAT MATERIAL WILL BE GIVEN CREDIT TO THE CITY OF MARIETTA.

>> MAYOR, THE TORNADO THAT HIT MARIETTA ON SATURDAY DESTROYED THE CITY'S HOSPITAL AND ALSO FLATTENED THE DOLLAR TREE DISTRIBUTION CENTER.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOW CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE STATUS OF EMPLOYMENT BOTH AT THE HOSPITAL AND THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER?

>> I THINK DOLLAR TREE PUT OUT A MESSAGE ON THAT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AND THEY'VE INFORMED THEIR EMPLOYEES, FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO FIND JOBS AT THEIR OTHER DISTRIBUTION CENTERS, THOSE WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THEY HAVE SOME RELIEF THAT WAY.

THE OTHERS THAT JUST DON'T WANT TO MOVE, THEN THEY'LL -- I'M SURE THERE WILL BE SOME CLEANUP CREWS OF SOME SORT, BUT TOTAL DEVASTATION FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME.

THE HOSPITAL, I THINK IT PLANS ON DOING THE SAME THING WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES.

THEY HAVE -- THEY'RE PART OF THE MERCY HEALTH CENTER GROUP, AND THEY WILL BE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK AT THEIR OTHER HOSPITALS.

AS FAR AS HOMELAND IS CONCERNED, I'M SURE THAT WILL PROBABLY BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THOSE EMPLOYEES ALSO AND DOLLAR GENERAL ALSO.

SO THE COMPANIES ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THAT.

>> WELL, AND MAYOR, YOU'VE ONLY BEEN ON THIS JOB FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW.

HOW WOULD YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE HANDLING THE IMPACT OF THIS SEVERE STORM?

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND A LOT OF LEARNING FROM A RECORDS PERSPECTIVE IN RULES AND REGULATIONS.

JUST HAVE NO IDEA -- AS AN EXAMPLE, THE SEPARATION OF THE MATERIAL, AND JUST DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA OF ANY OF THIS.

OF COURSE, I'VE BEEN LEARNING THE LAST FOUR DAYS, JUST JOTTING DOWN AS MUCH INFORMATION AS I CAN AND REFERRING BACK TO IT CONTINUOUSLY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET ALL VOLUNTEERS' TIMES LOGGED IN AND LOGGED OUT, AND EVERYONE BRINGING US FOOD IS BEING LOGGED IN AND LOGGED OUT.

IT'S JUST BEEN UNBELIEVABLE, THE AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEER PEOPLE SHOWING UP TO HELP.

JUST AS OF THIS MORNING, I THINK HOME DEPOT SHOWED UP WITH ABOUT 40 TO 50 EMPLOYEES.

A LOCAL CONTRACTOR OUT OF GAINESVILLE, QUASAR ENERGY SERVICES SHOWED UP AND COOKED US LUNCH FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW AND PLANNING ON COMING BACK AND HAS DONATED EQUIPMENT.

IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE, THE OUTPOURING OF GOODWILL.

>> SO WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE STATE AND OUTSIDE OF THE STATE COMING IN TO HELP MARIETTA?

>> YEAH, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

WE HAVE SET UP OUR FAIRGROUNDS AS THE CENTER FOR ALL OF THESE GOODS THAT ARE COMING IN, AND PEOPLE AS THEY NEED -- NOT HAVING A GROCERY STORE ANY LONGER, ARE COMING THROUGH AND PICKING UP WHAT GROCERIES AND CANNED GOODS AND PAPER GOODS AND HYGIENE GOODS THAT THEY NEED.

>> MAYOR, WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME HERE.

TO FINISH, I WANT TO ASK, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BIGGEST RESOURCE THAT THE PEOPLE OF MARIETTA ARE NEEDING AND ARE ASKING FOR?

>> IT WOULD BE A NEW GROCERY STORE, AND HOPEFULLY THE REBUILDING OF OUR JOB CENTER THERE AT DOLLAR TREE.

IT WAS OUR LARGEST EMPLOYER HERE IN THE CITY OF MARIETTA.

>> KERMIT MCKINNEY, THE MAYOR OF MARIETTA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> WITH MORE ON THE DEVASTATION CAUSED BY THESE SEVERE STORMS AND A BRIEF LOOK INTO THE FUTURE OF OKLAHOMA'S TORNADO SEASON IS STATE CLIMATOLOGIST GARY MCMAHONOUS, GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK ON IN DEPTH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> CAN YOU GIVE US AN OVERVIEW AND WHERE EXACTLY THESE TORNADOES HIT?

>> BASICALLY WE HAD A VERY POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM APPROACHING THE STATE, LOTS OF LIFT, OF COURSE, AS YOU HEAR THE WEATHER PEOPLE SAY, SO THINGS TO GET THOSE STORMS STARTED.

WE HAD A DRY LINE OUT WEST THAT WE EXPECTED STORMS TO FIRE UP ON EARLY IN THE DAY, AND THEN CERTAINLY DID.

I BELIEVE OUR FIRST TORNADO WARNING OF THE DAY WAS OUT IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA RIGHT AFTER 10 A.M.

IN THE MORNING, WHICH IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR US, YOU KNOW.

WE'RE USUALLY AN AFTERNOON TORNADO STATE OR EARLY EVENING.

SO WE HAD THAT LINE FIRST, AND THEN WE HAD TWO LINES MOVE UP LATER IN THE EVENING FROM NORTH TEXAS.

WE HAD ONE JUST TO THE WEST OF I-35, AND THOSE TORNADOES TRAVELED UP THAT REGION JUST TO THE WEST AND EVENTUALLY THAT'S THE ONE THAT DROPPED THE TORNADO HERE IN NORMAN, THE EF-1 THAT DAMAGED PARTS OF THE AIRPORT AND PLACES UP IN THE NORTH PART OF TOWN.

BUT THEN WE HAD THE SECOND LINE MOVE UP FROM TEXAS AS WELL TO THE EAST OF I-35.

THAT'S THE LINE THAT GOT MARIETTA, SULFUR, HOLDENVILLE, THOSE AREAS, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE LINES MOVED OFF TO THE EAST AND ALSO STRUCK IN PARTS OF EAST NORTHERLY AND NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA AS WELL.

BASICALLY THREE LINES OF STORMS, THREE, UNFORTUNATE, CHANCES TO GET THAT REALLY BAD SEVERE WEATHER, INCLUDING THE SOFTBALL, BASEBALL SIZE HAIL, 70, 80 MILES PER HOUR WINDS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE TORNADOES THAT CAUSED SO MUCH DESTRUCTION AND DAMAGE.

>> AND SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE WERE 25 INDIVIDUAL TORNADOES THAT HIT DIFFERENT PARTS OF OKLAHOMA.

>> YEAH.

I THINK WE'RE STILL INVESTIGATING THOSE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FOLKS ARE GOING OUT AND DOING THOSE SURVEYS.

SOMEWHERE AROUND 25, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, AND YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAD TORNADOES THE NEXT DAY EARLY INTO THE NEXT MORNING ON THE 28th IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA, AND WE ALSO HAD SOME ON THE 26th IN EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

SO ALL IN ALL, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO 40 TORNADOES OVER THAT THREE-DAY PERIOD, BUT CERTAINLY THE WORST OF THE BUNCH WERE ON THAT SATURDAY, THE 27th.

BUT THAT'S A LOT OF TORNADOES EVEN FOR OKLAHOMA FOR ONE MONTH, ESPECIALLY APRIL.

IT'S VERY CLOSE TO ONE OF OUR TOP THREE OR FOUR APRILS ON RECORD FOR THE SHEER NUMBER OF TORNADOES.

>> AND LIKE YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THESE STORMS WAS NOT JUST HERE IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

IT WAS ACROSS DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE, BUT WHERE WOULD YOU SAY THE WORST DAMAGE WE'VE SEEN HAS BEEN?

>> I THINK IT'S MOST DEFINITELY SULPHUR AND ALSO MARIETTA.

THOSE TWO TOWNS TOOK THE BRUNT OF VERY POWERFUL TORNADOES.

NOW, OF COURSE THE MARIETTA TORNADO IS WHAT'S CALLED A VIOLENT TORNADO, EF-4, EF-5.

SO THAT EF-4 VIOLENT TORNADO WAS THE MOST POWERFUL OF THE BUNCH, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE DAMAGE THAT IT DID, BUT SULPHUR WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST HIT TOWN WHEN THAT EF-3 TORNADO, A HIGH END EF-3, ALMOST AN EF-4, TRAVELED DOWNTOWN, BASICALLY DISSECTING THE TOWN IN HALF, TRAVELED RIGHT THROUGH MAIN STREET SULPHUR, DID ALL THAT DAMAGE, KILLED ONE PERSON, INJURED OTHERS, BUT ALSO HOLDENVILLE WHERE TWO PEOPLE DIED, INCLUDING THE 4-MONTH-OLD INFANT.

USUALLY WE TALK ABOUT THE DAMAGE DONE TO STRUCTURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIVES, IT BECOMES A LITTLE BIT MORE SERIOUS.

SO YOU MIGHT LOOK AT HOLDENVILLE THAT HAD THE TWO PEOPLE DIE THAT SUFFERED THE WORST.

BUT CERTAINLY THERE WERE A SLEW OF EF-2 AND EF-1 TORNADOES THAT DID DAMAGE ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MANY TORNADOES, THEY'RE GOING TO HIT SOMETHING EVENTUALLY, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED.

>> WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT WARNING PEOPLE AHEAD OF THESE TORNADOES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY.

THE LOVE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR SAID THERE WAS LITTLE WARNING ABOUT THE STORM THAT QUICKLY DEVELOPED BEFORE HITTING MARIETTA.

CAN YOU SAY JUST EXACTLY HOW MUCH TIME PEOPLE HAD THERE BEFORE THE TORNADO TOUCHED THE GROUND?

>> I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW HOW MUCH TIME THEY HAD, YOU KNOW, PREVIOUSLY TO THE EXACT TORNADO TOUCHDOWN, BUT YOU KNOW, WE DID HAVE ALERTS ON THIS TYPE OF WEATHER COMING FOR ALMOST A WEEK IN ADVANCE.

NOW, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS, THEY GO OUT WITH THESE INDICATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE STORMS -- SEVERE THUNDERSTORM MIGHT BE ABLE TO PRODUCE A TORNADO, SO WHEN WE LOOK AT SORT OF WARNINGS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY WAITING FOR THE EXACT TORNADO ALERT ITSELF, BUT YOU KNOW, EVEN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO IT, WE HAD ALERTS FROM THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HERE IN NORMAN FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER CENTER THAT STRONG, INTENSE LONG TRACK TORNADOES WERE POSSIBLE.

SO THAT'S THE THING WE KIND OF LOOK AT.

IT'S NOT JUST WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT BEFORE THE STORM, BUT THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THAT STORM, AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY A DAY TO POINT AT WHERE THE ALERTS SHOULD HAVE GONE OUT AND BEEN HEEDED VERY CAREFULLY.

>> AFTER THE LAST WEEK AFTER THESE DEVASTATING STORMS, MUCH OF OKLAHOMA, LIKE YOU SAID, HAVE BEEN UNDER SEVERAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCHES, TORNADO WATCHES, WAS LAST SATURDAY'S TORNADO OUTBREAK JUST A PREVIEW OF WHAT'S TO COME FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY.

WE SHOULD EXPECT TORNADOES DURING MAY, AND WE SHOULD EXPECT SOME STRONG TORNADOES, SIGNIFICANT TORNADOES, EF-2'S OR HIGHER, SOMEWHERE IN THE STATE.

I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE WHAT THE REST OF THE SEASON IS GOING TO BE LIKE.

THERE IS SOME HINT, THOUGH, THAT, OF COURSE, IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SEVERE THAN WE PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO SO FAR OUT.

WE CAN JUST LOOK OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

WE'RE ALREADY GETTING THOSE ALERTS FROM THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER ABOUT MONDAY COULD BE A BIG DAY HERE IN OKLAHOMA, SO WE LOOK OUT A WEEK, FOUR OR FIVE DAYS DOWN THE ROAD, COULD BE BIG.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WHERE WE GO FROM THERE, IT'S TOO HARD TO SAY, BUT I WOULD JUST BE EXTRA ALERT AS WE GO THROUGH MAY, BECAUSE THE FIRST MONTH OF TORNADO SEASON, APRIL, HAS CERTAINLY BEEN MORE THAN ADVERTISED.

>> GARY, AS YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE IS THAT POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE STORMS ON MONDAY.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OKLAHOMANS GOING INTO NEXT WEEK?

>> SOME OF THE LESSONS WE LEARNED JUST LAST SATURDAY, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'VE KNOWN ALL ALONE.

HAVE MORE THAN ONE WAY TO GET A WARNING.

DON'T RELY ON ONE WAY.

DON'T RELY ON YOUR TV, BECAUSE YOUR POWER MIGHT GO OUT.

DON'T RELY ON JUST YOUR PHONE, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT LOSE CELL COVERAGE.

HAVE A WEATHER RADIO CHARGED AND READY TO GO.

KEEP TRACK OF THE WEATHER.

DON'T BE IN A FALSE SENSE OF CONFIDENCE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

CERTAINLY HAVE A PLAN OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IF SEVERE WEATHER STRIKES, ESPECIALLY TORNADOES, AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT PLAN.

EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW WANT TO DO.

DON'T SHUT YOUR LIFE DOWN.

YOU CAN STILL GO ABOUT YOUR LIFE, BUT BE EXTRA COGNIZANT OF WHERE YOU'RE AT AND HAVE WAYS TO GET THOSE WARNINGS.

THAT EXTENDS TO YOUR PETS AS WELL.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR PETS.

AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO WAS FLASH FLOODING.

WE LOSE LIVES TO FLASH FLOODING EVERY YEAR BECAUSE PEOPLE DRIVE INTO THAT WATER THAT'S RUSHING ACROSS THE ROAD.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S UNDERNEATH THAT WATER.

IT COULD BE A WASHED-OUT ROAD, WASHED-OUT BRIDGE, CULVERT, SO TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN IS THE FAMOUS SAYING.

THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF SEVERE WEATHER WE HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON, OF COURSE, THAT FLASH FLOODING.

>> GARY MCMANNOUS, THE STATE CLIMATOLOGIST, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

>> GREAT INFORMATION.

WE'RE GOING TO HOPE FOR THE BEST.

WE'RE GOING TO HEAD TO DENVER FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF THE NATIONAL VIEW.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS REPORTS ON THE BENEFITS OF SCUBA DIVING FOR PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM INJUREIED THAT HAVE LIMITED THEIR MOBILITY THANKS TO DAD, WHICH STANDS FOR DENVER ADAPTIVE DIVERS.

>> SO TODAY WE ARE GOING SCUBA DIVING.

IT'S MY FIRST TIME SCUBA DIVING.

I'VE BEEN SNORKELING IN MEXICO, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN SCUBA DIVING BEFORE, SO THIS WILL BE MY FIRST, AND I'M PRETTY EXCITED.

>> WHILE I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL, I HAD GOTTEN THE OFFER TO GO TO COLORADO.

I WOULD GO THROUGH AN INTERVIEWING PROCESS AND GET TALKED TO ABOUT WHETHER I WOULD LIKE TO GO OR NOT TO CRAIG REHABILITATION CENTER.

SO I ACTUALLY -- I HAD GOTTEN INTERVIEWED, GOTTEN APPROVED, AND THEN I TOOK MY SLIDES.

>> YOU HEAR VIBRATIONS.

THOSE ARE SITTING RIGHT THERE.

THEY'RE ALREADY WAITING.

>> ONCE I FIRST GOT INTO THE TRACK PROGRAM AT CRAIG HOSPITAL, THEY ASKED ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN.

SWIMMING WAS A HUGE THING FOR ME.

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED SWIMMING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU CAN MOVE THAT HAND.

(APPLAUSE).

>> GOOD JOB.

>> GO AHEAD AND MOVE YOURSELF.

DO THE BACK STROKE.

THERE YOU GO.

>> A LOT THROUGH REHAB WAS MOSTLY A MENTAL GAME, JUST KIND OF COMING TO TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, IF I'LL BE ABLE TO WALK AGAIN, HOW MUCH FUNCTION I'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE.

>> CRAIG HOSPITAL HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH ADAPTIVE DIVING SINCE THE '70s, BUT JUST RECENTLY, IT HAS BEEN A PARTNER WITH CRAIG HOSPITAL GETTING INVOLVED WITH ADAPTIVE DIVING.

IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

>> ALL INSTRUCTORS GET A REWARD IN WHEN WE TEACH PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME ANXIETY AROUND THE ACTIVITY.

GETTING THEM OVER THEIR ANXIETIES AND FEARS TO REALIZE THAT THIS IS AN ACTIVITY THEY CAN DO AND WHATEVER THEIR PERCEPTIONS WERE PRIOR TO STARTING IT, TO GET THEM KNOCKED OUT THAT THEY AREN'T TRUE.

THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF PLEASURE WHEN YOU DO THAT.

WHEN YOU'RE TEACHING SOMEBODY WHO IS LIVING WITH A DISABILITY TO SIT THERE AND THEN TAKE THEM TO THE OCEAN, IT'S THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE AND REWARD, BUT IT'S ON A MUCH HEIGHTENED LEVEL.

SO FOR THEM, IT'S JUST AWESOME TO BE AROUND THEM WHEN THEY GET THAT MUCH JOY.

>> BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THE FEELING.

I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT HOW IT MADE ME FEEL BEING IN THE WATER.

>> WHEN I, LIKE, WORKED WITH BELLA, SHE'S SUCH A POSITIVE PERSON TO BE AROUND.

LIKE RIGHT OFF THE BAT, SHE WAS VERY FRIENDLY AND WILLING TO TRY THINGS NEW.

I WAS ABLE TO GET HER ON AN ADAPTIVE PIECE OF RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT, AND SHE WAS VERY EXCITED AND WANTING TO TRY ANYTHING THAT'S NEW.

SO I THINK THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR SCUBA DIVING IS REALLY RIGHT UP HER ALLEY, AND THEN SHE'S JUST VERY RESILIENT AND WANTS TO, YOU KNOW, WORK HARD, AND BEING IN THE POOL WILL ALLOW HER TO WORK ON GOALS THAT SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON OUTSIDE OF THE POOL, SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR HER, AND I'M GLAD THAT SHE WAS DEFINITELY WILLING TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.

>> MOBILITY IS A BIG PART, AND THEY ARE DEALING WITH THAT EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIFE.

SO WHEN YOU TAKE THEM AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BREATHE UNDER WATER, THAT'S AN EXPERIENCE ALL ON ITS OWN.

PEOPLE THINK ABOUT FLOATING IN SPACE.

IT'S VERY SIMILAR, BUT YOU'RE FLOATING IN WATER.

THEIR EXPERIENCE IS, LIKE ALL DIVERS WOULD EXPERIENCE, EXCEPT ON A MUCH MORE HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF APPRECIATION FOR THAT.

>> IT'S SO NEW, LIKE, EVEN SCUBA DIVING WITHOUT AN INJURY, I THINK, FOR THE FIRST TIME IS JUST KIND OF THAT EXPERIENCE THAT YOU'VE NEVER FELT BEFORE, AND SO SEEING OUR PATIENTS COME OUT OF THE POOL, THEY HAVE, LIKE, A DIFFERENT LIGHT ABOUT THEM, LIKE JUST A SPARKLE IN THEIR EYE AND A SMILE ON THEIR FACE THAT SAYS IT ALL.

>> I WOULD DESCRIBE BEING IN THE WATER AS RELAXING, CALMING, AND EXHILARATING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, NATIONAL SURVIVE A STROKE WEEK IS NEXT WEEK.

STEVE SHAW WILL SPEAK WITH STROKE SURVIVORS AND EXPERTS ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND AVOID HAVING A STROKE.

THAT'S COMING UP NEXT FRIDAY AT 7 O'CLOCK.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A LOOK AT A RAINY NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY SHOT AND EDITED BY OETA'S BRANDON DOWNEY.

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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