>> WE HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE STEPPED FORWARD TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY.

>> YOU'RE A SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE AT THIS POINT IN OUR HISTORY LESS THAN 1% OF AMERICANS PUT THEIR HANDS UP AND SAY SEND ME, BUT YOU'VE DONE THAT.

>> SIX OKLAHOMA TEACHERS SUING TO GET THEIR JOBS BACK AFTER BEING FIRED FOR NOT WEARING MASKS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> HERE I AM, NOT.

IT HAS PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL EFFECTS, EVEN ON ME.

>> SO THERE'S HOPE FOR BETTER OUTCOMES IN FINDING MISSING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

>> SO WHAT THIS ALL DOES IS IT KIND OF SETS UP LIKE A ONE STOP SHOT FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED TO REPORT THEIR MISSING LOVED ONES.

>> GOVERNOR'S ARTS AWARDS ARE WE HAVE STOWED ON TWO WOMEN.

>> I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR WHAT YOU DO, FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT THE ARTS ARE.

>> I WILL CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THIS FIERCE BELIEF AND LOVE FOR OUR ARTS AND FOR OUR PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, MISS U.S.A. PAGEANT WILL BE CONTESTED RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE IN NUMBERS AND SCREAM HER NAME AND REPRESENT OKLAHOMA.

>> Reporter: PLUS, IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE UPCOMING SPECIAL SESSION, NEXT ON THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

HELLO, EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

ON THURSDAY, OUR COUNTRY CELEBRATED VETERANS DAY AND WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT TIME TO EXAMINE HOW OKLAHOMA'S ROUGHLY 296,000 VETERANS, NEARLY 8% OF OUR TOTAL POPULATION, ARE FEARING HEADING INTO THE NEW YEAR.

WE HAVE TWO REPORTS FOR YOU BEGINNING WITH THIS LOOK AT THE STATE OF OUR VETERANS AS WE NEAR THE END OF 2021.

>> WE'RE ABLE TO GET EYE LEVEL, CREATE THAT BOND WITH THAT PERSON, AND WE'RE ABLE TO THEN DISCOVER WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEN SIMPLY GET THEM MATCHED UP WITH THE THERAPY THAT THEY SPECIFICALLY NEED.

>> Reporter: ACTUALLY VETERAN BRIAN PAUL IS THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF VETERANS FOR LIFE U.S.A.. OKLAHOMA CITY NONPROFIT CONNECTING STRUGGLING VETERANS WHICH THIS FIREFIGHTER ONCE NEEDED HIMSELF.

>> IT TURNED INTO AID FULL-BLOWN ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL AND I HAD LOST MY JOB THERE IN THE FIRE SERVICE AND BECAME HOME THERE IS AND EVEN SUICIDAL.

>> Reporter: 90-DAY TREATMENT CENTER GOT HIM BACK ON TRACK.

HIS STORY IS NOT UNUSUAL.

THE PROBLEMS IS EXPANDING.

>> WE PROVIDE CARE TO 69,000 VETERANS AS OF THIS YEAR, FISCAL YEAR.

THAT'S ABOUT 4,000 MORE THAN WE DID LAST YEAR.

SO OUR VETERAN POPULATION IS GROWING RAPIDLY IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

>> Reporter: WAYNE IS THE MEDICAL CENTER DIRECTOR FOR THE OKLAHOMA V.A.

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

>> SO WE HAVE 17 SITES OF CARE ACROSS OKLAHOMA, A VARIETY OF THEM ARE BASICALLY COMMUNITY-BASED OUT-PATIENT CLINICS, WHERE WE PROVIDE PRIMARY CARE, MENTAL HEALTH AND SPECIALTY SERVICES IN SOME OF THEM.

>> Reporter: AND IF THE VETERANS CAN'T COME TO THE CLINICS, HE SAYS THE V.A.

WILL COME TO THEM.

>> WE ACTUALLY WILL -- WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST V.A.

'S IN THE NATION TO CREATE A HOMELESS CAMPUS.

WE HAVE A HOMELESS PRIMARY CARE CLINIC THAT PROVIDES BASIC MEDICAL CARE TO HOMELESS VETERANS THAT ARE UNDER BRIDGES AND THEY WILL ACTUALLY GO OUT TO THE HOMELESS CAMPS, THEY'LL GO TO HOMELESS SHELTERS AND THEY'LL PROVIDE YOUR MEDICAL CARE RIGHT THERE.

>> Reporter: AND THEN HELP THEM GET OFF THE STREETS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THEY PROVIDE HOUSING TO 184 VETERANS.

>> WE'VE ALSO EXTENDED OUR ABILITY TO PAY FOR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS AND URGENT CARE VISITS FOR VETERANS, AND SO BEFORE WE SPENT ABOUT AROUND $120 MILLION A YEAR IN COMMUNITY CARE AND NOW WE'RE SPENDING 207 AS OF LAST YEAR.

>> Reporter: AND THAT NUMBER IS ONLY EXPECTED TO INCREASE AS OKLAHOMA VETERANS RETURN HOME FROM AMERICA'S 20-YEAR WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.

>> WE'VE DEFINITELY GOTTEN SOME FEEDBACK THAT VETERANS FROM THAT WAR ARE STRUGGLING.

IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO WATCH HOW THAT DEVELOPED IN TERMS OF HOW WE PULLED OUT.

IT ALSO HAS HAD THE EFFECT OF TRIGGERING SOME OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS AND REMINDING THEM OF SOME EXPERIENCES THAT THEY HAD AT THE END OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

>> Reporter: THE GOOD NEWS, MANY OF VETERANS COME HOME EAGER TO CREATE NEW CAREERS AS CIVILIANS.

>> THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT VETERANS AS A GROUP, THEY TEND TO BE VERY PERENNIAL AND WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS LOCATE ALL OF THOSE COMPANIES AND INTERESTS IN OKLAHOMA AND TRY IT HELP THEM DEVELOP WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND BROADEN THEIR CUSTOMER BASE, MAYBE DO MORE BUSINESS WITH THE STATE, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> Reporter: TO ACHIEVE THAT, THERE'S AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES TO APPLY FOR STATE CONTRACTS.

>> A LOT OF VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES DON'T KNOW THAT AND SO WE WANT TO HELP THEM BECOME AWARE OF THAT AND HELP THEM GET PLUGGED INTO THAT.

>> Reporter: HE BELIEVES OKLAHOMA EXCELS IN PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS VETERAN POPULATION.

>> OKLAHOMA ACTUALLY IS ONE OF THE MOST VETERAN-FRIENDLY STATES OF THE 50 STATES.

ONE THING THAT WE'D LIKE TO WORK ON IS GETTING RID OF THE STATE INCOME TAX, THE REMAINING AMOUNT THAT'S ON MILITARY RETIREMENTS AND THEN ATTRACT MORE MILITARY RETIREES TO OKLAHOMA.

THEY TEND TO BE PEOPLE WITH HIGH DISPOSABLE INCOMES, THEY'RE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO COME LIVE HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> Reporter: THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS HELPS IN OTHER WAYS AS WELL.

THEY ALSO OVERSEE SEVEN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES AND ALL OF THEM OPERATED UNDER GREAT DURESS DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> OUR E.M.T.

CLINIC TURNED INTO A I.C.U.. OUR NURSING HOME HAD TO MOVE UP TO OUR SURGERY CLINIC AND SO WE REALLY DID STRUGGLE.

WE HAD ABOUT 3,000 VETERANS WHO CAME DOWN WITH COVID IN OUR CATCHMENT AREA AND OF THAT, WE HAD ABOUT 221 THAT DIED IN OUR HOSPITAL.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS IN CHARGE OF OKLAHOMA'S TWO V.A.

HOSPITALS LOCATED IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND MUSKOGEE AND NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN DOWNTOWN TULSA, A 58 SURGICAL BED HOSPITAL CAPABLE OF SERVICING 100,000 VETERANS THAT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN 2024.

>> I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OKLAHOMA VETERANS.

YOU'RE A SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE.

AT THIS POINT IN OUR HISTORY, LESS THAN 1% OF AMERICANS PUT THEIR HANDS UP AND SAY "SEND ME," BUT YOU'VE DONE THAT AND I'M PROUD TO BE ONE OF YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>>Reporter: AS DO WE ALL.

U.S. VETERANS SUFFER FROM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, OR P.T.S.D., AT ALMOST TWICE THE RATE OF THEIR CIVILIAN COUNTERPARTS.

A RECENT STUDY REPORTS 13% OF VETERANS SUFFER FROM P.T.S.D.

AS OPPOSED TO LESS THAN 7% IN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

JOINS US WITH A STORY OF TWO VETERANS WHO ARE HELPING GET THE FIGHT THEY NEED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST MENTAL HEALTH.

>> V.A.

STATISTICS SHOW AS MANY AS 30% OF VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM WAR HAVE STRUGGLED WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

DARWIN ENLISTED IN THE ARMY RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL IN 1961.

HE WENT TO VIETNAM FOR THE FIRST TIME FIVE YEARS LATER.

>> FIRST TOUR, THE COUNTRY WAS BEAUTIFUL.

THE PEOPLE WERE BEAUTIFUL.

IN MY OPINION.

SECONDS TOUR, IT WAS RAVAGED JUST LIKE EUROPE WAS IN WORLD WAR II.

>> Reporter: FOR THAT SECOND TOUR IN 1969, HORMANN FLEW CHINOOK HELICOPTERS KNOWN AS THE JOLLY GREEN GIANTS.

>> THE BIG ONE.

TANDEM ROTORS ON EACH LONG, 110 FEET LONG TIP TO TIP.

>> Reporter: HE WAS AWARDED A ALBERTO GONZALES SCAR WITH AN OAK LEAF CLUTTERSES, AMONG OTHERS, FOR WHAT HE EXPERIENCED THERE.

JUST 18 HOURS OUT OF COMBAT, THIS IS WHAT HE DEALT WITH AT SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, WHEN HE CAME HOME IN 1970.

>> I WAS IN DRESS UNIFORM WHEN I GOT OFF.

A YOUNG LADY COME RUNNING UP TO ME AND SPIT ON ME.

NOT A COOL THING TO DO SOMEONE THAT CLOSE TO COMBAT -- >> WHERE DID SHE HIT YOU?

>> HMM?

>> WHERE DID SHE HIT YOU?

>> IN THE FACE.

>> A SEATTLE COP GRABBED THAT PROTESTER AND HAULED HER AWAY, AN EXPERIENCE THAT STILL BURNS INSIDE THIS 78-YEAR OLD PROUD VETERAN.

>> WE WERE NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THE WAR.

WE ALWAYS HAD A POLITICIAN SOMEWHERE SAYING, YOU CAN'T DO THIS, YOU CAN'T DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO FIGHT A WAR.

>> Reporter: DAY WIN WOULD SOON MARRY.

HE AND HIS WIFE, JENNY, WOULD RAISE A LARGE FAMILY.

>> I MET HER ON A BLIND DATE IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, DURING THE CUBAN CRISIS.

SHE WAS GOING TO SCHOOL AT JOHNS HOPKINS.

SHE HAD OR HAD A Ph.D.

IN PHARMACOLOGY CHEMISTRY.

SHE TAUGHT CHEMISTRY AT CAMERON.

>> THAT'S WHERE HORMANN WOULD FINISH SERVING HIS 20 YEARS FOR UNCLE SAM BEFORE ANOTHER 10-YEAR CAREER AS A CHEMIST WITH THE OKLAHOMA STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.

HOWEVER, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, OR P.T.S.D., FROM THOSE TOURS IN VIETNAM FORCED HORMANN TO RETIRE IN 1998.

>> YOU GO BALLISTIC OVER NOTHING.

YOU HAVE NO CONTROL.

AND SOMEHOW JENNIE HELD US TOGETHER.

BUT SHE FINALLY SAID, YOU'VE GOT TO GET HELP.

>> Reporter: HORMANN GOT COUNSELING AND ACQUIRED HIS FIRST SERVICE DOG, NAMED M.J. >> BECAUSE THE SERVICE DOG SAVED MY MARRIAGE.

BECAUSE IF YOU'LL CHECK WITH A LOT OF VETS THAT WENT TO NAM, FIVE AND SEVEN WIVES WAS NOT UNCOMMON.

>> Reporter: DARWIN HORMANN LOST HIS BELOVED JENNIE TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE 18 MONTHS AGO.

HIS SERVICE DOG, M.J., DIED THIS PAST JULY.

HE LOOKED AROUND ON-LINE FOR A NEW SERVICE DOG BUT IT WAS GOING TO COST, HE SAYS, 24 TO $50,000.

THEN HE FOUND HONORING AMERICA'S WARRIORS IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> WHAT WE REQUIRE IS THAT THE BREED OF DOG BE EITHER A LABRADOR RETRIEVER, A GOLDEN RETRIEVER OR A GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG AND WE HOPE THE THOSE DOGS NO LATER THAN EIGHT WEEKS OF AGE.

>> HONORING AMERICA'S WARRIORS C.E.O.

SCOTTIE SAYS THEIR SERVICE DOG PROGRAM WILL EITHER PLACE A QUALIFIED VETERAN WITH A DOG FREE OF CHARGE OR THEY WILL WORK WITH A VETERAN WHO IS DEDICATED AND ALREADY HAS ONE OF THOSE DOGS.

SINCE THE NONPROFIT WAS FOUNDED IN 2014, HONORING AMERICA'S WARRIORS HAS HELPED NEARLY 500 VETERANS FROM ALL OVER THE INNER STATE.

>> YES, IT'S EXPENSIVE, BUT WE'RE ABLE TO FUND IT.

>> Reporter: HE HOOKED HORMANN UP WITH THIS LITTLE WHIPER WHIPR SNAPPER NAMED DAISY.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOG AND A SERVICE DOG IS ABOUT 800 HOURS OF TRAINING.

THAT BRINGS US TO JIM AND HIS DOG, BELLA, WHO JIM HAS HAD SINCE SHE WAS SIX WEEKS OLD.

HE WAS DRAFTED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT TO VIETNAM IN 1967.

HOLSHIRE WAS A SHARPSHOOTER AND WAS AWARDED SERVICE MEDAL WITH THREE BRONZE STARS, AMONG OTHERS.

>> I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.

>> WHAT KIND OF STUFF DID YOU SEE?

>> I REALLY DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I SAW OR WHAT I DID.

>> JIMMY FALLON AND BELLA TRAIN AT HONORING AMERICA'S WARRIORS RELIGIOUSLY FOUR OR FIVE TIMES A WEEK.

>> WHEN YOU'VE GOT A DOG WITH YOU AND YOU START GETTING EDGY OR SOMETHING, JUST REACH OVER AND PET YOUR DOG, HE SAID YOU'LL CHILL RIGHT OUT.

AS LONG AS SHE'S GOT FOOD, SHE'S HAPPY.

AND SHE'S GOT A FOOD METHAMPHETAMINE TISSUE.

>> Reporter: NOW THESE VETERANS HAVE HOPE, WHERE BEFORE, IT WAS PROBABLY IN SHORT SUPPLY.

HONORING AMERICA'S WARRIORS GETS THEIR FUNDING FROM A LARGE FEDERAL GRANT AS WELL AS CORPORATE AND PRIVATE DONATIONS.

>> THANKS.

GOVERNOR STITT HAS PUT A STOP TO NON-BINARY BIRTH CERTIFICATES WITH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THIS WEEK SAYING HIS ADMINISTRATION DID NOT GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE SETTLEMENT TERMS AND STATE LAW DOES NOT ALLOW FOR AMENDED BIRTH CERTIFICATES.

HE'S ENCOURAGING LAWMAKERS TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE DURING THE NEXT SESSION.

>>> THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT HAS REVERSED THE VERDICT AGAINST JOHNSON & JOHNSON IN THE STATE'S OPIOID LAWSUIT.

THE 5-TO-1 MAJORITY DECISION SAYS THE COURT'S RULING INCORRECTLY DRAWING COMPANY STATE 465 MILLION BUT IT KEEPS THE OTHER DRUG COMPANY SETTLEMENTS INTACT.

PFIZER VACCINE FOR CHILDREN IS NOW BEING ADMINISTERED IN OKLAHOMA BY BOTH STATE AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS.

THE CHEROKEE NATION BEGAN GIVING OUT THE VACCINE TO KIDS LAST WEEK.

IT IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE AT ALL OF THEIR OUT-PATIENT CLINICS.

THEY'RE OPEN 8:00 A.M. TO 4:00 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND YOU DON'T NEED AN APPOINTMENT.

THE SHOT FOR CHILDREN AGES 5 THROUGH 11 IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT NUMEROUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

OKLAHOMA'S INITIAL ALLOTMENT IS ABOUT 130,000 DOSES.

>>> AS OF FRIDAY, 60% OF OKLAHOMA'S ELIGIBLE POPULATION FIVE YEARS OLD AND UP HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED AND SO FAR, NEARLY 255,000 OKLAHOMANS HAVE RECEIVED A BOOSTER DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

THE ROLLING 7-DAY AVERAGE OF NEW COVID CASES INCREASES FROM 604 TO 646 THIS WEEK.

152 OKLAHOMANS HAVE DIED FROM THE VIRUS IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS AND THE NUMBER OF HOSPITALIZATIONS AND I.C.U.

BEDS HAVE BOTH TICKED DOWN A BIT.

MUSKOGEE NATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TULSA COUNTY HAS TRANSFORMED THE FORMER CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS OF AMERICA BUILDING IN SOUTH TULSA INTO A COVID-19 TREATMENT CENTER THAT SPECIALIZES IN MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY INFUSIONS.

THE TRIBE TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE BUILDING IN SEPTEMBER AND EXPECTS TO HIRE UP TO 300 EMPLOYEES, MAKING IT ONE OF THE LARGEST INFUSION CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY.

HAS CONTRIBUTED $500,000 FOR ITS OPERATING COSTS AND THE CENTER WILL TREAT BOTH NATIVE AND NON-NATIVE PATIENTS.

>> IF DETECTED BETWEEN ONE AND 10 DAYS THEY GET THIS TREATMENT, THERE'S A REALLY GOOD CHANCE, 85% CHANCE THAT THEY STAY OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, SO THAT'S TREMENDOUS FOR OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN THE HOSPITALS THAT ARE SHORT ON LABOR WORK FORCE ANYWAY, SO THAT'S GOING TO HELP THE HOSPITALS AND WE'LL HAVE A FACILITY THAT WE CAN TREAT JUST ABOUT ANYONE IN THE REGION OF GETTING THIS INFUSION AT NO CHARGE.

>> THERE IS 40 EXAM ROOMS ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXPAND ALL KINDS OF SPECIALTY CARE THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING IN TULSA.

WE WILL HAVE NEUROLOGY CLINICS SET UP, WE HAVE HEPATITIS AND H.I.V.

CLINICS GOING RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE IMAGING AND WE HAVE LABS.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT REALLY ALL SPECIALTIES THAT WE CAN BRING INTO THIS AREA.

THERE'S ALSO 25 MEDICAL BEDS UPSTAIRS AS WELL AS SEVEN INTENSIVE CARE BETH.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP.

>> WITH 153 HOTEL ROOMS, WE'LL LET A FAMILY STAY WHILE THEY'RE A FAMILY MEMBER HERE IN THE HOSPITAL OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AND HEALTHY AND HOPEFULLY IN AND OUT.

>> Reporter: SINCE OPENING IN SEPTEMBER, CLOSE A THOUSAND INFUSION TREATMENTS HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED AT THE FACILITY.

>> SIX OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS ARE SUING TO GET THEIR JOBS BACK AFTER THEY WERE FIRED BY THE OKLAHOMA CITY SCHOOL BOARD FOR FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE DISTRICT'S MASK MANDATE FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US WITH MORE ON THE FALL-OUT FROM THAT DECISION.

JASON?

>> THIS STARTED WITH A GROUP OF TEACHERS FILED A LAWSUIT IN SEPTEMBER CHALLENGING THE OKLAHOMA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S MANDATE.

FIVE OF THE SIX TERMINATED TEACHERS ARE INVOLVED WITH THE LEGAL CHALLENGE.

JUST DAYS BEFORE THEY WERE TERMINATED ON NOVEMBER 3rd, THEY GOT NEWS THEIR TEMPORARY INJUNCTION WOULD NOT BE GRANTED.

IT WAS AFTER THE DECISION BY AN OKLAHOMA COUNTY JUDGE THAT THE TERMINATION HEARING WENT FORWARD LAST WEEK.

>> THE SUPERINTENDENT REVISED HIS RECOMMENDATION TO INCLUDE STATUTORY REASON TO TERMINATE THEIR DISWROB WAS MORAL TURPITUDE, WHICH IS GENERALLY RESERVED FOR CRIMES OF DISHONESTY OR FRAUD AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Reporter: THE PROFESSIONAL OKLAHOMA EDUCATORS ORGANIZATION IS REPRESENTING THE TEACHERS WHO CLAIM IT'S THE OKLAHOMA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH IS BREAKING THE LAW.

>> OKLAHOMA CITY IS AN OUTLIER IN THIS SITUATION.

ALL THE OTHER LARGE DISTRICTS AROUND HERE GAVE STATEMENTS TO ALL THEIR SKITS SAYING, LOOK, WE MAY ENCOURAGE MASK-WEARING, YOU CAN MAKE THOSE PERSONAL CHOICES, BUT OKLAHOMA PASSED A LAW AND WE CAN'T MANDATE.

EVERY ONE OF THEM DID THAT.

THE ONLY ONE THAT DIDN'T WAS OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> Reporter: OETA REACHED OUT TO OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT BUT HIS OFFICE DECLINED THE INTERVIEW DUE TO THE LAWSUIT WHICH IS STILL PENDING.

THE FIVE TEACHERS DO HAVE SUPPORT OF GOVERNOR STITT.

>> THEY WERE FIRED BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T FOLLOW AN ILLEGAL MASK MANDATE ISSUED BY THEIR SUPERINTENDENT.

THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHEN TALENTED TEACHERS ARE NEEDED MORE THAN EVER.

>> Reporter: THE GOVERNOR CONTENDS IF OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE ALLOWED TO OPT-OUT-MASK MANDATE, THE TEACHERS SHOULD BE GIVEN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.

>> STUDENTS IN OKLAHOMA CITY HAVE THE FRIEDMAN TO OPT OUT OF SUPERINTENDENT McDANIEL'S MASK MANDATES FOR MEDICAL, RELIGIOUS AND OTHER PERSONAL REASONS.

THESE TEACHERS AND ALL TEACHERS DESERVE THOSE SAME RIGHTS.

>> Reporter: THE CURRENT STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION STITT'S AND MEMBER OF THE OETA BOARD JOY HOFFMEISTER RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING NOT LONG AGO THE GOVERNOR PRAISED OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THEIR MASK POLICY.

NOW HE CRITICIZES THEM FOR ENFORCING THAT SAME POLICY.

THIS POLITICAL FLIP-FLOP IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE CHAOS STITT HAS CREATED THROUGHOUT THIS DEADLY PANDEMIC.

OKLAHOMANS DESERVE STEADY AND DECISIVE LEADERSHIP THAT PROMOTES PUBLIC HEALTH AND PROTECTS OUR FAMILIES.

BEING AWAY FROM THE CLASSROOM HAS BEEN HARD ON FORMER WEBSTER MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER GRACE TRICK.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> IN HER EXPERIENCE, WHEN AUTHORITY FIGURES DON'T FOLLOW THE LAW THEMSELVES, IT'S TIME TO TAKE A STANCE.

>> IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT COMING FROM ARGENTINA, I GREW UP WITH A LOT OF POLITICIANS BELIEVING THAT HAPPEN THEY WERE ABOVE THE LAW AND WHEN THE SUPERINTENDENT DID THIS ORIGINALLY, I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT.

I SAID, NO, I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING.

>> Reporter: HER HUSBAND ALSO MISSES THE STUDENTS AT WEBSTER MIDDLE SCHOOL.

>> I'M A TEACHER AND HERE I AM NOT AND IT'S -- IT'S HAD A LOT OF EFFECT ON US EMOTIONALLY.

I'M STILL TRYING TO BE STRONG FOR MY WIFE, MY FAMILY, BUT IT IS AFFECTING ME NEGATIVELY.

>> Reporter: HE FEELS THAT THE TEACHERS WHO TOOK A STANCE AGAINST WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS AN ILLEGAL MANDATE ARE BEING SLIGHT SOUND BITE DISTRICT.

>> THAT WE DIDN'T CARE IS NOT THE TRUTH AT ALL.

WE LOVE OUR KIDS.

I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MASK.

IT'S NEVER BEEN ABOUT THE MASK.

>> Reporter: DR. TAYLOR TAUGHT AT ROOSEVELT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SAYS HE BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS AS WELL AS STUDENTS AND PARENTS THAT GO BEYOND THE CLASSROOM WHEN THE FAMILIES NEED HELP AND IT'S UNFAIR TO CLASSIFY HIM AND THE OTHER FIRED TEACHERS AS UNCARING FOR STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO WEAR THE MASK.

>> THAT'S KIND OF THE RELATIONSHIP I HAD WITH MY STUDENTS.

I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE IN THE HEARING, THE DISTRICT LAWYER SAID THEY DON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT THE KIDS, THAT WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE KIDS AND I'M -- THAT'S JUST RIDICULOUS.

>> ALL THREE OF THE FIRED TEACHERS WE SPOKE WITH WANT TO RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM.

>> I WANT TO TEACH AGAIN.

I WANT TO GET BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE BEING THERE FOR THE KIDS, ADVOCATING FOR THEM, HELPING PARENTS, HELPING THE COMMUNITY.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> JUST TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM TO TEACH, TO HAVE AN IMPACT UPON THEIR LIVES.

>> IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO FIX THIS.

SEAN McDANIEL SHOULD BRING THESE TEACHERS BACK TO THE CLASSROOM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

IF NOT, I'M CALLING ON OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS ACROSS THE STATE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, DO WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR STUDENTS AND HIRE THESE TALENTED TEACHERS IN YOUR DISTRICT.

>> THOSE FIVE TERMINATED TEACHERS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE LAWSUIT WILL BE AMENDING IT TO INCLUDE WRONGFUL TERMINATION.

A NEW HEARING IS YET TO BE SET AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

RICH?

>> THANK YOU, JASON.

THE GOVERNORS ARTS AWARD CEREMONY WAS HELD AT THE STATE CAPITOL ON TUESDAY AND A PAIR OF TRAIL BLAZING OKLAHOMA WOMEN RECEIVED SPECIAL HONORS.

EMMY AND TONY AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS CHRISTIAN CHEN WIDTH WAS NAMED THE SEVENTH OKLAHOMA CULTURAL AMBASSADOR AND THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN POET LAUREATE WAS NAMED THE 14th OKLAHOMA CULTURAL TREASURE.

>> TO ME, THERE'S NOTHING MORE PRECIOUS OR MORE FRAGILE THAN OUR FREEDOMS, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE ARTISTS WHO ENCOURAGE THAT ESSENCE OF CREATIVITY, OF ORIGINALITY, AND OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS.

SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE BEING HONORED HERE TODAY.

>> BEING NAMED AS AN OKLAHOMA CULTURAL TREASURE IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONORS THAT CONCLUDE BESTOWED UPON AN OKLAHOMA CITIZEN IN THE ARTS.

I ACCEPT THIS HONOR WITH GRATITUDE TO ALL THOSE IN MY PATH WHO ENCOURAGED AND CHALLENGED ME.

I ACCEPT IT ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE ME, WHO KEPT WALKING DESPITE HARDSHIP AND HEARTBREAK, THOSE WHO KEEP GOING.

>> I WAS A LITTLE TINY GIRL FROM BROKEN ARROW.

I DIDN'T REALLY FIT INTO A LOT OF THINGS AND MY VOICE SOUNDED FUNNY, BUT THE ONE PLACE I FELT AT HOME WAS ON STAGE, WHICH IS WHY I'M IN THERAPY, BUT I DO LOVE IT THERE.

>> CHEN WIDTH SANG THE MOST FAMOUS SONG GLENDA IN WICKED.

ALSO ON TUESDAY, HARVEY PRATT, WHO DESIGNED THE NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C., RECEIVED THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD.

>> U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS AWARDED OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY THE LARGEST S.T.E.M.-RELATED GRANT IN ITS HISTORY.

THE 6-MILLION-DOLLAR GRANT WILL BE USED TO BOLSTER MORE PROGRAMS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED OR UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS.

THE MONEY WILL BE PROVIDED OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

IDA'S LAW BECAME LAW ON NOVEMBER 1st.

IN THEORY, IT WILL ENHANCE THE ABILITY TO FIND AND SAVE MISSING INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

TO LEARN MORE, I RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH TWO REPORTERS WITH OUR CONTENT PARTNER OKLAHOMA WATCH.

>> WE'RE JOINED BY REBECCA AND WHITNEY.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE WOMAN THIS LAW IS NAMED AFTER.

TELL ME THE STORY OF IDA BEARD.

>> SO IDA BEARD IS A CITIZEN OF THE CHEYENNE AND ARAPAHO TRIBES.

SHE WAS A STAY AT HOME MOTHER AND SHE ALSO LIVED WITH HER MOTHER, WHO WAS BLIND, SO SHE WAS HER CARETAKER.

SHE ALSO REGULARLY ATTENDED THE INDIAN METHODIST CHURCH WHERE SHE PUT ON ACTIVITIES AND VOLUNTEERED AND WHAT NOT.

ONE NIGHT IN 2015 SHE WENT OUT WITH FRIENDS AND NEVER CAME BACK AND HASN'T BEEN SEEN SINCE THEN.

>> WHITNEY, MANY TIMES CRIMES AGAINST NATIVE-AMERICANS GO UNREPORTED.

WAS THIS CRIME REPORTED, AND WHY IS THAT THAT SO MANY GO UNREPORTED?

>> WELL, RICH, THIS CRIME WAS REPORTED.

HER FAMILY REPORTED HER MISSING TO EL RENO POLICE.

IDA'S LAW WAS INSPIRED BY THE DIFFICULTY THEY HAD IN GETTING AN INVESTIGATION OPEN ON IDA'S MISSING.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REPORT MISSING OR CRIMES AGAINST NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE BECAUSE OF BAD RELATIONSHIPS AND JUST MISTRUST BETWEEN AUTHORITIES AND NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE NATIVE COMMUNITY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND THAT'S DEFINITELY WHAT IDA'S FAMILY EXPRESSED TO US WHEN THEY REPORTED HER MISSING TO AUTHORITIES.

>> SO, REBECCA, IDA'S LAW NOW IN EFFECT.

SO WHAT CHANGES?

HOW DO WE IMPROVE THAT SITUATION?

>> IT SETS UP A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR NATIVE FAMILIES WHO NEED TO REPORT THEIR LOVED ONES MISSING.

IT CREATES AN OFFICE FOR THEM TO GO TO AND THEN THAT OFFICE ALSO IS SUPPOSED TO CREATE A DATABASE WHERE THOSE PEOPLE CAN BE ENTERED IN.

>> Reporter: LISTENING TO THAT, I WOULD THINK THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE FUNDING.

RIGHT?

MORE PERSONNEL AND SO FORTH.

DID THE LEGISLATURE TAKE THAT INTO EFFECT WHEN THEY PASSED THIS LAW?

>> WELL, KIND OF.

THEY KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE FUNDING.

EVERYTHING TAKES MORE MONEY.

IN THE CASE OF IDA'S LAW, WHAT THEY DID IS RATHER THAN ACTUALLY PROVIDING ANY STATE FUNDING FOR THIS EFFORT, THEY TOLD THE O.S.B.I., THE STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, TO GO FIND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THIS, SO THEY HAVEN'T PROCURED ANY OF THAT FUNDING YET.

THEY TELL US THEY'RE WORKING ON IT AND ACTUALLY THEY'RE TALKING TO TRIBES AS WELL TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME FUNDING THERE THAT THEY COULD GET BUT FOR NOW, THEY'RE TAKING THE HIT ON THEIR CURRENT BUDGET TO MAKE SOME OF THIS HAPPEN.

>> IS THIS LAW UNIQUE TO OKLAHOMA IN TERMS OF WHAT IT TRIES TO DO OR WITH OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN DOING THE SAME THING?

>> IDA'S LAW WAS IN THE WORKS PRIOR TO COVID.

THAT KIND OF PUT THINGS ON PAUSE, BUT OTHER STATES WERE WATCHING WHAT WE WERE DOING HERE IN OKLAHOMA AND SOUTH DAM ACTUALLY ADOPTED A SIMILAR LAW.

THEY'RE IN THE SAME BOAT AS WE ARE IN TERMS OF NOT HAVING ANY FUNDING.

>> SO HAVING SAID ALL THAT, IDA'S LAW, OF COURSE THERE'S ANOTHER LAW THAT'S TAKEN EFFECT WITH THE SUPREME COURT RULING, HOW IS THAT, YOU MENTIONED COVID, HOW DOES THE McGUTTER DECISION EFFECT THE LAW?

>> ACTUALLY, IT'S INTERESTING.

IT'S SORT OF MORE LIKE IDA'S LAW AFFECTS McGURT RATHER THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

IDA'S LAW IS TRYING TO UNTANGLE THE COMPLEXITIES.

WHEN SOMEONE LIKE IDA GOES MISSING, THE FAMILY DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO REPORT TO AND McGURT IS FURTHER COMPLICATING CRIMES AGAINST NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND ON TRIBAL LAND, SO IDA'S LAW WILL HOPEFULLY PROVIDE THIS ONE-STOP SHOP FOR FAMILIES LIKE IDA'S TO GO TO THIS CAN ONE PLACE, REPORT THAT CRIME, REPORT THAT PERSON MISSING AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT McGURT.

THAT'S FOR THE AUTHORITIES, THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO WORK OUT BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE FAMILIES NEED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT AND THAT'S WHAT FAMILIES SHOULD BE TAKING OFF THEIR PLATE.

>> AS ALWAYS, I LEARN A LOT WHEN I TALK TO YOU TWO.

THANK YOU, REBECCA AND WHITNEY.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

>> LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO OKLAHOMA BUSINESS.

OUR LARGEST COMPANIES CONTINUE TO RELEASE THEIR EARNINGS REPORTS.

STEVE SHAW CRUNCHES THE NUMBERS IN THIS WEEK'S OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> SAND RICH ENERGY RELEASED ENERGY RESULTS FROM THE LAST NINE MONTHS.

THIRD QUARTER NET INCOME WAS 28.6 MILLION DOLLARS OR .78 PER SHARE COMPARED TO A NET INCOME OF 16.3 MILLION OR .45 PER SHARE IN THE PRIOR QUARTER.

AS OF THIS PAST SEPTEMBER, SANDRIDGE RETURNED 106 WELLS TO PRODUCTION THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE COMMODITY PRICE DOWNTURN OF LAST YEAR.

OKLAHOMA-BASED INTERNET PROVIDER BLUE PEAK JUST ANNOUNCED IT'S RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM THE CITY TO BREAK GROUND NEXT SUMMER ON A HIGH-SPEED NETWORK TO MEET WHAT THEY SAY A GROWING NEED.

THE 2.5 MILLION-DOLLAR EXPANSION WILL BRING BLUE PEAK SERVICE TO ABOUT 1,500 RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES IN CONOCO WA.

IT LOOKS LIKE CHALK TAHOE NATION IS POSITIONING ITSELF TO BECOME ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT TRIBAL COURT SYSTEMS IN AMERICA.

PLANO, TEXAS-BASED TYLER TECHNOLOGIES IS WORKING WITH CHOCTAW NATION ON THE NEW SYSTEM THAT THEY SAY WILL IMPROVE ACCESS TO ALL ITS TRIBAL CITIZENS AS WELL AS ENABLING BETTER COLLABORATION ACROSS THE NATION'S JUSTICE AGENCIES AND THEY SAY IT WILL REDUCE THE NEED FOR PAPER FILES TO HELP SAVE TIME AND MONEY.

AND FINALLY, LOVE'S TRAVEL STOPS AND CHESTER'S CHICKEN HAVE COME UP WITH A CREATIVE WAY TO THANK TRUCK DRIVERS.

THEY'RE CALLING THE THURSDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING TRUCKERS GIVING.

ON NOVEMBER 18th, TRUCKERS WHO STOP IN WILL GET ESPECIALLY DESIGNED TRUCKER HAT AND A FREE SIDE OF CHESTER'S NEW MAC AND CHEESE.

STEVE SHAW, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> STEVE, THANK YOU.

TRUCKERS DESERVE IT.

THIS YEAR MARKS THE 70th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MISS U.S.A. PAGEANT AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, IT'S GOING TO BE HELD RIGHT HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

TAYLOR JACKSON HAS THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO MISS OKLAHOMA U.S.A. AND SHE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TWO WEEKS FROM NOW IN TULSA.

TAYLOR?

>> RICH, OKLAHOMA CITY WILL RECHT OUR STATE WHEN THE COMPETITION BEGINS NOVEMBER 26th AT THE RIVER SPIRIT CASINO.

MISS TEEN U.S.A. WILL ALSO BE CROWNED THAT WEEKEND AND BRIANNA TOLD ME COMPETING IN HER HOME STATE MAKES THIS COMPETITION VERY SPECIAL.

>> Reporter: MISS OKLAHOMA U.S.A. AL BRIANNA WAS SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY LAST WEEK IN OKLAHOMA CITY AS THEY CELEBRATED HER SEND-OFF TO MISS U.S.A., TAKING PLACE JUST UP THE TURNER TURNPIKE.

>> IS THIS REALLY REAL LIFE?

THIS IS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL EVER GET USED TO IT.

>> Reporter: JOANN HAS EXPERIENCED WATCHING HER NIECE'S JOURNEY TO MISS OKLAHOMA U.S.A. >> WHEN YOU HAVE A DREAM AND YOU GO AFTER IT AND THEN YOU MAKE IT, IT'S HUGE.

>> ALBRIANNA IS NO STRANGER TO PAGEANTS.

HER JOURNEY TO EARNING THE CROWN WAS WELL WORTH THE WAIT.

>> ON MY SITH TRY, I WON AND SO I FEEL LIKE MY STORY IS JUST A TESTAMENT FOR PERSEVERANCE, TO NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS SO ANY YOUNG GIRLS OUT THERE WHO HAVE A DREAM THEY WANT TO PURSUE, I ENCOURAGE THEM TO KEEP GOING.

>> AND TO SEE HER PURSUE HER DREAM OF BEING AND THEN TO LOSE THE FIVE THAT SHE DID AND TO GET BACK UP AND KEEP ON DOING IT WAS INSPIRING.

>> Reporter: THE PHASES OF COMPETITION FOR MISS U.S.

CONSIST OF SWIMSUIT AND QUESTION USUALLY RESERVED FOR THE TOP FIVE OR TOP THREE.

THE U.S. PAGEANT IS NOW UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MISS U.S.A. 2008 CRYSTAL STUART.

SHE HOPES TO CHANGE THE STEREO TYPICAL OF PAGEANTS AND CREATE A SAFE SPACE WHERE WOMEN CAN LEARN LIFE SKILLS TO ENHANCE THEIR PHYSICAL BEAUTY AS WELL AS THEIR INTERNAL PERSONA.

>> KRISTEN STUART WAS AN INCREDIBLE MISS U.S.. SHE'S A LEGEND IN HERSELF.

FOR HER TO TAKE THE LEAD AND FIRST OFF BE THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO DO THIS FOR THIS ORGANIZATION, I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT SHE'S GOING TO IMPLEMENT.

>> Reporter: THIS YEAR, CONTESTANTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A STATE COSTUME SHOW.

AIBREY ANNA'S COS HOMETOWN WAS MADE BY FASHION DESIGNER PAUL PENNSYLVANIA LAJEWEL.

>> IT HAS A LOT OF INTENTION BEHIND IT AND EVERY SINGLE DETAIL THAT WENT INTO IT WAS THOUGHT OUT FOR A PURPOSE.

>> Reporter: FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, MISS OKLAHOMA U.S.A. HAS PLACED IN THE TOP THREE IN THE MISS U.S.A. PAGEANT.

>> IT'S A FEELING I'LL NEVER FORGET AND I HOPE EVERY WOMAN GETS AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT.

GETTING ON THE STAGE CAN BE DIFFICULT TO DO BUT TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO TOP THREE OR EVEN TO WIN A NATIONAL TITLE LIKE THAT, I HOPE EVERYONE GETS THAT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE IT IS A LIFE-CHANGING ONE.

>> Reporter: MISS OKLAHOMA 2019 SHARES WHAT SHE GAINED FROM HER EXPERIENCE.

>> YOUR CONFIDENCE GROWS, YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF MORE THAN YOU'VE EVER BELIEVED IN YOURSELF.

>> THE FIRST TIME I STEPPED ON THE STAGE THREE YEARS AGO, I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF BEING TOP THREE AT MISS U.S.A. >> Reporter: SHE SAYS THE PAGEANT EXPOSES THE WOMEN WHO PARTICIPATE TO NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, BROWN HAS BEEN FEATURED IN SEVEN FILMS, INCLUDING A LIFETIME MOVIE, SINCE COMPETING IN MISS U.S.A. >> BEING IN THE MISS U.S.A. COMPETITION GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK WITH PEOPLE WHO WOULD GET ME INTO THAT FIELD.

>> Reporter: BROWN SAYS PREPARING FOR NATIONALS IS CRUCIAL FOR CONTESTANTS.

>> YOU HAVE TO PREP YOURSELF FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT CAN POSSIBLY HAPPEN ON THAT STAGE.

YOU HAVE TO BE READY FOR THINGS WORKING OUT PERFECTLY AND YOU HAVE TO BE READY FOR THINGS NOT WORKING OUT PERFECTLY AND BEING ABLE TO HOLD YOUR COMPOSURE, TOO.

>> Reporter: SHE STARTED HER PREPARATION MONTHS AGO AND HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO BE AT THE TOP OF HER GAME COME SHOW TIME.

>> MAKING SURE MY NUTRITION IS RIGHT, THAT MY MENTAL HEALTH IS AT THE TOP OF ITS GAME AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT I'M DOING WHAT I NEED TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AROUND ME.

>> Reporter: SHE BEGAN HER JOURNEY TO THE GROUND FIVE YEARS AGO AFTER A ROOMMATE SUGGESTED THAT SHE TRY IT OUT.

>> SHE APPROACHED AUBREY IMRI AND SAID I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD YIKE TO DO AND AUBREY WAS LIKE, MMM, YEAH, I MIGHT, I'LL TRY IT.

BASICALLY SHE HAD TWO WEEKS TO PREPARE.

THE GIRLS USUALLY HAVE A WHOLE YEAR AND SHE JUST -- JUST WENT WITH IT.

>> Reporter: DURING HER REIGN AS MISS CHOKE, YOU CAN FIND HER VOLUNTEERING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND EDGE INDICATING PEOPLE ON ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> ONE THING THAT I DO IS I TAKING COOKING COURSES AS A WAY AND A METHOD FOR YOU TO GET IN TUNE WITH YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND HAVE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK.

>> Reporter: GONZAGA IS THANKFUL FOR HER TEAM OF SUPPORTERS WHO ARE ASSISTING HER IN THIS JOURNEY.

>> ALEX, TRIONNA, MARIAH, ALL THREE OF THEM I COMPETED THEM AND I'M SO EXCITED THAT I HAVE THEM ON MY TEAM TO KIND OF BOUNCE IDEAS AND JUST HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE.

>> Reporter: AND HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE EXCITED TO SEE HER TAKE THE STAGE ONCE AGAIN.

>> YOU REALLY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES, YOU REPRESENT EVERYTHING THE STATE NEEDS AND PLUS THE TIME BEING HELD IN TULSA.

>> WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE IN NUMBERS AND WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT AND SCREAM HER NAME AND REPRESENT OKLAHOMA.

>> THE LAST TIME OKLAHOMA BROUGHT HOME THE MISS U.S.A.

TITLE WAS IN 2015.

WHEN TULSA'S OLIVIA JORDAN WAS CROWNED.

THE FINAL NIGHT OF COMPETITION IS SET FOR NOVEMBER 29th.

>> TAYLOR, THANK YOU.

THE OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE WILL MEET IN SPECIAL SESSION BEGINNING NEXT MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15th, TO ADDRESS THE STATE'S PLAN REDISTRICTING BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 CENSUS.

WHAT WILL THE NEW MAPS LOOK LIKE FOR OKLAHOMA VOTERS?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF OUR WEEKLY IN-DEPTH SEGMENT WITH MODERATOR SUSAN GADOT AND HER GUEST.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

THIS WILL PROBABLY BE AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR OKLAHOMANS AND FOR OUR LAWMAKERS TO WRANGLE WITH IN THE COMING MONTHS, IN THE COMING YEAR AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

EMILY IS A DEMOCRAT FROM NORMAN AND CO-VICE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE FOR STATE AND FEDERAL REDISTRICTING.

WE ALSO HAVE ANNIE MOORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE NOT POLITICIANS, WHICH IS AN ANTI-GERRYMANDERING ORGANIZATION, AND WE HAVE TREVOR BROWN, GOVERNMENT ISSUES REPORTER FOR OUR CONTENT PARTNERS AT OKLAHOMA WATCH.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING WIND GUSTS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I'D LIKE TO DO BEGIN WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES, REPRESENTATIVE BURGESS.

2020'S CENSUS BECAME SOMETHING OF A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC AS THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTED TO CUT THE CENSUS TAKING SHORT.

OKLAHOMA SAID THAT THE NUMBERS, THOUGH, WERE SOLID FOR HOUR STATE.

HOW MUCH CONFIDENCE DO LAWMAKERS HAVE AND DO YOU HAVE IN THOSE NUMBERS FROM THE LATEST CENSUS?

>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF CONFIDENCE.

ANY ISSUES THAT WERE CREATED BY THE PANDEMIC OR THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CREATED BY UNDERCOUNTING, I THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN A CORRECTION IN THAT WITH THE LENGTHENING OF TIME, THAT CENSUS DATA WAS COLLECTED.

>> THANK YOU.

ANNIE, I WANT TO COME TO YOU NEXT.

THOSE NUMBERS SHOWED AID 5.5% GROWTH.

IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND THAT'S ABOUT 200,000 PEOPLE.

WHERE HAVE THOSE PEOPLE LANDED IN OKLAHOMA?

>> SO 200,000 PEOPLE STATEWIDE ARE NEW BUT WE'VE SEEN A BIG SHIFT IN WHERE THOSE NEW PEOPLE HAVE MOVED AND WHERE PEOPLE WITHIN THE STATE MOVED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS AWAY FROM RURAL AREAS AND TOWARDS THE METROPOLITAN CENTERS, THE URBAN AREAS, TULSA IN PARTICULAR AND THE SURROUNDING SUBURBS.

>> TREVOR, I WANT TO COME TO YOU.

THIS YEAR'S REDISTRICTING IS HAPPENING IN A SPECIAL SESSION RATHER THAN DOING IT DURING A NORMAL SESSION.

WHY IS THAT?

>> SO THERE IS A DELAY IN THE CENSUS BUREAU ACTUALLY DELIVERING THE DATA.

SOME TAKES MORE TIME THAN EXPECTED.

IDEALLY, THEY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE WRAPPED THIS UP DURING THE REGULAR SESSION THAT ENDED IN MAY, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE DATA.

THEY HAD SOME DATA FROM THE STATE LEGISLATIVE MASK BUT NOT THE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'LL BE RETURNING TO DO.

>> THE FINAL STEP IN LAYING THIS FOUNDATION FOR VIEWERS TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE, REPRESENTATIVE, WHERE ARE WE IN THE PROCESS?

THERE ARE SEVERAL STEPS IN THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS.

CORRECT?

>> YES.

THERE ARE MANY STEPS BUT, REALLY, ALL THAT'S LAID OUT IN STATUTES AND IN THE CONSTITUTION IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE MUST REDRAW THE DISTRICTS EVERY 10 YEARS, SO ANY OF US THAT ARE IMPOSED BY THE LEGISLATURE ITSELF AND SO THE STEPS THAT WE'VE LAID OUT INCLUDE TOWN HALLS, PUBLIC MASK MISSIONS AND SOME COMMITTEE MEETINGS AS WELL AND WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD BASE FOR WHERE WE'RE AT ON THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, BUT WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> ANNIE, IS THERE ANY CONTROVERSY WITH WHAT'S COMING UP SO FAR FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS?

>> YEAH.

MOST DEFINITELY.

REPRESENTATIVE'S POINT, THE LEGISLATURE HELD 25 TOWN HALL MEETINGS, SOME IN-PERSON AND A FEW VIRTUAL AS THEY PREPARED TO DRAW THE STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.

HOWEVER, ONLY FIVE OR SIX TOWN HALL MEETINGS FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING EVEN THOUGH THERE'S ONLY FIVE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN EACH OF THOSE SPANS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SQUARE MILES AND THE MAP THAT WE'VE SEEN, THEY RELEASED LAST WEEK AND THEY'LL BE VOTING ON NEXT WEEK IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT WHEN POLITICIANS ARE IN CHARGE OF DRAWING THEIR OWN DISTRICTS.

IT'S A MAP THAT REFLECTS NOT THE PUBLIC'S BEST INTERESTS, BUT INCUMBENT POLITICIANS' BEST INTERESTS, THAT BEING GETTING RE-ELECTED.

>> TREVOR, I WANT TO ASK YOU, YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS A LOT.

WHY ARE REPUBLICANS -- WELL, THEY SAY THERE'S NOT MUCH CHANGE.

I THINK OTHERS SAY THERE IS.

YOU SORT IT OUT FOR ME.

>> YES.

SO THE BIG DISTRICT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5.

THAT COVERS OKLAHOMA COUNTY AND SOME OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND AREAS.

THIS IS REALLY THE ONLY COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL RACE IN THE PAST REALLY DECADE.

DEMOCRAT KENDRA HORN WON IT IN 2018 AND NOW STEFANIE CLAIMED IT IN 2020 IS THE REPRESENTATIVE THERE.

BUT AS THE OKLAHOMA CITY AREA HAS GROWN, IT'S ALSO BECOMING MORE OF A PURPLE AREA.

IT'S KIND OF A TOSS-UP.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF NATIONAL FIGHTS, RACES TO WATCH.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A RAZOR THIN POSSIBLY U.S. HOUSE MARGIN.

TOSS-UP BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND THIS COULD GO EITHER WAY BUT REPUBLICANS HAVE STRENGTHENED THEIR CONDITIONS IN IT IN THE PROPOSED MAP THAT WAS RELEASED RECENTLY AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT REALLY HARD FOR DEMOCRATS TO CLAIM IT ONCE AGAIN.

>> SO WE HAVE THIS MAP, I WAS SHOWING YOU ALL MY MAPS I HAD PRINTED OFF EARLIER AND I KNOW WE HAVE A MAP TO SHOW EVERYONE, BUT WHAT'S THE CHANGE IN THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT MIGHT BE TROUBLING FOR SOME?

>> THERE ARE QUITE A FEW CHANGES.

I THINK THAT MOST WHO ARE LOOKING AT THIS INDEPENDENTLY WOULD SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PRETTY DRASTIC CHANGES TO THE FIFTH DISTRICT AND I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE FOR US IS IN THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF OKLAHOMA COUNTIES AND THAT MEANS THAT AREAS LIKE SOUTH OF HOMER CITY, CAPITOL HILL AREA, BILLS ARE BEING SHOVED INTO THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND WHAT THAT DOES IS ESSENTIALLY MAKE THE FIFTH DISTRICT LESS COMPETITIVE, SO THAT'S FROM MY POLITICAL STANDPOINT.

BUT JUST FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THOSE AREAS, THE SOUTH PLATS PORTION OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY AND THEN IT CREEPS UP TO SOME NORTHERN PORTIONS AS WELL, THE PLAZA DISTRICT BEING ONE OF THOSE NOTABLE AREAS BEING PUT INTOED THE SAME CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AS THE PANHANDLE, WHAT FOLKS WHO LIVE THERE ARE SAYING IS THAT THAT MAKES NO SENSE.

>> AND A QUOTE FROM OKLAHOMA WATCH, STATE SENATOR JULIE DANIELS, A REPUBLICAN FROM BARTLESVILLE HAS QUOTED IT, EXPRESSING SIMILAR CONCERNS TO WHAT WE JUST HEARD FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE.

SHE SAYS HER ARGUMENT WOULD BE AGAINST THREE DISTRICTS TOUCHING OKLAHOMA COUNTY AND THE REASON IS THAT YOU CAN END UP WITH FOUR URBAN CONGRESS PEOPLE AND ONLY ONE REPRESENTING RURAL OKLAHOMA.

DOES THAT KIND OF GEL WITH HOW YOU FEEL?

>> YEAH.

THESE MAPS ARE NOT GOOD.

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OKLAHOMA CITY OR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS.

THE CONTRAST WOULD BE THE FIRST DISTRICT, THE DISTRICT BY TULSA, WHICH THE LEGISLATURE HAS MADE MORE COMPACT AND THAT DISTRICT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

BUT HERE IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT, THEY MADE IT MUCH LARGER THAN IT HAS BEEN.

YOU CAN DRAW THE FIFTH DISTRICT WITH JUST ONE SINGLE COUNTY.

IT COULD BE CONTAINED WITHIN OKLAHOMA COUNTY BY ITSELF.

THE MAP THAT MY ORGANIZATION THAT I SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE DID JUST THAT.

WE DREW IT WITH JUST PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY AND THAT IS ARGUABLY THE MOST COMPACT AND MOST COMMON SENSE DISTRICT YOU COULD HAVE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

THAT PORTION OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY, THE SOUTHWEST PORTION OF OKLAHOMA CITY THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO MOVE INTO THE THIRD DISTRICT IS ALMOST ENTIRELY LATINO.

IN FACT, IT INCLUDES HALF OF THE LATINO OR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY.

AND SO TO CUT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN HALF SIMPLY TO SCORE A FEW POLITICAL POINTS, REGARDLESS OF YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION, IT'S THE WRONG THING TO DO.

>> TREVOR, I WANT TO ASK YOU ON THIS ONE MAP, I HAVE SEVERAL.

HOW MANY MAPS HAVE COME INTO PLAY ON THIS AND WHY HAS THIS BECOME THE PREVAILING MAP THUS FAR?

>> YES.

SO IN THIS PROCESS, THE LEGISLATURE DID SOMETHING NEW IN ALLOWING THE PUBLIC SO THAT -- THERE'S A PROGRAM CALLED DISTRICTING APP THAT PRETTY MUCH JUST PLAY AROUND, MAKE YOUR OWN MAPS.

NOT THAT HARD TO DO.

I THINK THERE WAS NINE OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE THAT SUBMITTED MAPS.

THE MAP THAT WE SEE NOW IS THE OFFICIAL PROPOSAL FROM THE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE, WHICH IS REPUBLICAN LED, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S CO-CHAIRS SUCH AS REPRESENTATIVE HERE.

REPUBLICANS ARE IN THE DRIVING SEAT IN THIS.

THEY HAVE SUPER GENEROSITY IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND THEN GOVERNOR STITT.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THEIR SAY.

SO THIS IS THE MAP THAT THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT WHEN THEY RETURN TO THE SPECIAL SESSION NEXT WEEK.

IT'S POSSIBLE THERE COULD BE AMENDMENTS, CHANGES.

I WOULDN'T HOLD MY BREATH ON THAT PERSONALLY.

WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE THAT MAP BE THE MAP THAT'S VOTED ON ULTIMATELY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, WHEN ABILITY MAPS COME IN, WHO SEES THOSE MAPS AND WHO DECIDES WHAT'S MOVING FORWARD FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE WHO IS WONDERING HOW THIS WORKS, WHO IS DOING IT?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY HERE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE PROCESS OF THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS, OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT AND THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT MOSTLY HERE IN THIS DISTRICT.

WE'VE HAD A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS THAT INVOLVES COMMITTEES THAT WERE MADE UP OF LEGISLATORS FROM EACH REGION AND THERE WERE SEVERAL MEETINGS HELD WITH THOSE LEGISLATORS AND THEN, AS ANDES MENTIONED, MANY, MANY TOWN HALLS AND I THINK THAT I HAVE A HIGHER DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE AND THE PUBLIC PROBABLY HAS A HIGHER DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE IN THAT PROCESS, AS IMPERFECT AS IT WAS.

BUT WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, WHAT WE SAW WAS REALLY NEW THIS AFTERNOONIVE NONE OF THAT.

WE SAW A FEW TOWN HALOS, WE SAW A FEW IMPLEMENTS AND SOME MAP -- PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SOME MAP SUBMISSIONS, BUT I, AS THE FIRST TIME AS THE VICE CO-CHAIR OF THE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE, SAW THESE MAPS WAS WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

>> WOULD THEY GIVE THE MAPS TO REPRESENTATIVES THAT SHE DIDN'T SEE THEM UNTIL THE PUBLIC SAW THEM, WHO HAS REALLY SEEN THE MAPS?

WHO GIVES THE REPRESENTATIVES THE MAPS?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT?

>> IF YOU GO BACK AND WATCH THE EARLY COMMITTEE MEETINGS BACK IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, YOU'LL SEE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE RULE, WHO WAS ACCESS TO THE OFFICES WHERE THE MAPS ARE HELD.

WE KNOW THAT THE STAFF BEHIND IT ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DRAWING THE MAPS, LEADERSHIP UNDOUBTEDLY HAS INPUT IN THAT.

WE KNOW THAT CITY AND CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES HAVE INPUT IN THAT, BUT NOT MOST OKLAHOMANS AND NOT EVEN ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WE'VE SEEN THE SAME KIND OF JERRY MANGD BY DEMOCRATS AND OTHER STATES.

MAP IN ILLINOIS IS EGREGIOUS EXAMPLE OF GERRYMANDERING UP THERE.

GERRYMANDERING IS NOT IS JUST A PARTISAN ISSUE; IT IS A POWER ISSUE.

WHICHEVER PARTY IS IN POWER WILL DO IT AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED SOO CHANGE THE SYSTEM IN OKLAHOMA.

>> EVERY ANSWER YOU GUYS GIVE, LEADS TO SEVERAL MORE QUESTIONS SO TREVOR, I'M GOING TO COME TO YOU.

ANDY BROUGHT UP GERRYMANDERING.

FIRST, EXPLAIN TO OUR VIEWERS WHAT GERRYMANDERING IS IN CASE SOMEONE DOESN'T KNOW, AND SECOND, DOES OKLAHOMA HAVE LAWS TO PREVENT IT.

>> GERRYMANDERING IS BASICALLY REWRITING A MAP UNFAIRLY, GIVING ONE PARTY POWER OR MORE POWER OVER ANOTHER ONE.

NOW, THERE'S NOTHING INHERENTLY ILLEGAL ABOUT -- THERE'S NO LAW SAYING YOU CAN'T GERRYMANDER.

THAT MEANS IT'S PRETTY MUCH UP TO THE POLITICIANS, LIKE ANNIE SAID, TO REWRITE THE RULES.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF STATES THAT HAVE DEVELOPED INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING PANELS TO AVOID THIS WHERE THERE'S REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

HERE, LIKE IN MANY OTHER STATES, IT'S JUST THE PARTY THAT'S IN POWER.

20 YEARS AGO, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE DEMOCRATS.

NOW IT'S REPUBLICANS.

>> AND IS THIS BY DEFINITION GERRYMANDERING?

I'LL LET ANYONE ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

>> YES, THIS IS JERRY MANGD.

DRAWING MAPS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES IS THE DEFINITION OF GERRYMANDERING.

AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE ELSE HAS SAID IT, BUT THE PERSON IN THE STAT STAFF THAT'S POSSIBLE FOR DRAWING THE MAPS IS THE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO TODD LAMB WHEN HE WAS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND WAS HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER, I BELIEVE, WHEN HE RAN IS FOR GOVERNOR.

THEN, YEAH, WE'VE SEEN A REPUBLICAN CONSULTANT, WE'VE SEEN THE FORMER POLITICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY, UNDOUBTEDLY PEOPLE THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT ARE IN POWER.

ONE PERSON WHO SUBMITTED A MAP IS A BUSINESSMEN OF THE CONGRESS.

THESE ARE NOT JUST EVERYDAY OKLAHOMAN CITIZENS THAT ARE SUBMITTING MAPS, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN RECRUITED OR ASKED TO SUBMIT MAPS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD.

WHEN IT COMES TO REDISTRICTING, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN THIS YEAR, OR IF IT'S TOO LATE THIS YEAR, 10 YEARS FROM NOW WHEN ALL OF THIS GOES AROUND AGAIN?

>> WELL, IT'S REALLY NOT TO LATE THIS YEAR.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR IS FOR OKLAHOMANS TO CONTACT THEIR MEMBERS OF THE LAURA IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND LET THEM KNOW HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THESE MAPS BECAUSE WE'LL BE VOTING ON THEM NEXT WEEK, BUT THAT VOTE IS NOT FINAL, BY ANY MEANS.

WE CAN STILL REDRAW THESE MAPS IN A MAR FAIR AND OPEN PROCESS.

IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, THOUGH, I THINK THAT WHAT WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN WHEN DEMOCRATS WERE IN CHARGE IN THE LEGISLATURE WAS ALL THE CASE YOU NEED TO PROVE THAT INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING IS WHAT WE NEED IN THIS STATE BECAUSE, FRANKLY, POLITICIANS CAN'T BE TRUSTED TO TAKE THEIR SELF-INTEREST OUT OF THE PROCESS.

>> I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THREE OF YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL INFORMATION AND FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR NEXT STORY WOULD HAVE PLAYED WELL AT HALLOWEEN, BUT SINCE SOME FOLKS STILL HAVEN'T EATEN ALL THEIR CANDY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND SHARE IT WITH YOU NOW.

WE GO TO THE PINE TREE STATE AND THE UNSETTLING TILL OF A GRAVEYARD IN PORTLAND, MAINE, THAT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 1600s.

THIS IS A LINK IN PORTLAND'S HISTORY.

EVERY SINGLE STONE REALLY HAS A STORY TO TELL.

>> THE OLDEST CEMETERY IN PORTLAND AND IT HAS A LOT OF HISTORY RIGHT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, LIKE THE EARLY 1600s.

>> THIS CEMETERY WAS ACTUALLY CALLED THE BURYING GROUND FOR THE FIRST 200 YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE, AND IT STARTED AS THE BACKYARD GRAVESITE OF ONE OF OUR EARLIEST SETTLERS.

>> PEOPLE FOR CENTURIES HAVE BEEN COMING INTO THE HARBOR GETTING OFF THE SHIP, SETTLING HERE ON THE HILL, DYING HERE AFTER LIVING AND WORKING HERE AND THEY'RE BURIED HERE.

>> IT WAS COMMON IN OLDER CEMETERIES, WHEN ANYBODY PASSED AWAY, THEY BROUGHT THEM HERE.

THAT'S HOW THIS AREA BECAME USED AS A CEMETERY AND ORIGINALLY PEOPLE WOULD JUST COME UP HERE AND FIND A SOFT SPOT OF EARTH AND LAY THEIR LOVED ONES TO REST.

>> IT WAS FROM THE MIDDLE 1600s UNTIL ABOUT 1800, IT WAS OPEN SPACE SO THAT ANYBODY WHO LIVED HERE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DIGGING A GRAVE AND PUTTING THEM IN THE GRAVE.

SO IT TRULY WAS A PUBLIC SPACE.

THE ORIGINAL MARKERS MIGHT HAVE BEEN WOODEN AND THE WOODEN MARKERS MIGHT HAVE ROTTED AWAY OR PEOPLE USED ROCKS, UNMARKED ROCKS TO MARK THE GRAVES AND THEY SAID, WELL, HERE'S A ROCK, THIS IS MY SISTER, MARY, AND THIS IS MY UNCLE FRED, WHICH WORKED FINE UNTIL MOTHER FAMILY CAME OUT AND SAID WE NEED A COUPLE OF ROCKS TO MARK OUR GRAVE SO THEY PICKED UP MARY AND FRED AND MOVED THEM ALL OVER THE PLACE AND NOBODY EVER KNEW.

>> Reporter: IT WASN'T UNTIL AROUND 1800 THAT RECORD KEEPING IMPROVED RULES AROUND THE CEMETERY IMPROVED SO THAT WE HAD A BETTER SENSE OF THE ORDER OF THE PLACE, WHO WAS HERE.

BY 1830, IT CHANGED ITS NAME FROM THE BURYING GROUND TO EASTERN CEMETERY.

>> MARY GREEN IS THE OLDEST MARKED STONE.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN ANOTHER MARKER THERE BEFOREHAND AND THEN AFTER SHE WAS LAYING SIDE BY SIDE WITH SAMUEL MOODY, IT WAS HER SISTER, WHO HAD THEM LAID SIDE BY SIDE AND PROBABLY HAD THE STONES CARVED FOR THEM.

>> BARTLETT ADAMS WAS THE FIRST GRAVE STONE CARVER.

700 OF THE STONES IN THE CEMETERY WERE CARVED BY HIM AND IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE THE THREE GRAVE STONES OF HIS FIRST THREE CHILDREN.

SUCH A SAD THING TO HAVE YOUR CHILDREN DIE AND YOU HAVE TO CARVE THE GRAVE STONES FOR THEM.

>> I JUST LOVE LEARNING ABOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE.

LIKE THE SPIRITS, I APPEAR HERE ONCE A YEAR TO HELP WITH WALK AMONG THE SHADOWS.

EVERY YEAR, THE LAST TWO WEEKENDS OF OCTOBER, SEVEN SPIRITS COME FORWARD, SPIRITS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE BURIED HERE, FOR THE MOST PART, AND TELL THEIR STORY.

LAST YEAR'S ANEMIA WOMEN SUFFRAGE.

IT WAS THE 100th ANNIVERSARY.

I WAS ONE OF THE CHARACTERS OF PROHIBITION SUPPORTER.

I WAS IN FAVOR OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD IMPROVE THE LOT OF POOR WOMEN.

>> I'M BILLY HAHN, 1757 TO 1831.

I WAS AT VALLEY FORGE WITH GENERAL WASHINGTON AND IT WAS A WICKED COLD WINTER AND I WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THREE OF ME TOES JUST FELL RIGHT OFF, SO EVERY YEAR WE WOULD GET PEOPLE LINED UP HERE TO SEE OUR WALK AMONG THE SHADOWS, I BRING MY BOX OUT AND I ASK PEOPLE IF THEY WANT TO SEE MY TOES.

>> TO ME, IT'S SO IMPRESSIVE TO HAVE THE AUDIENCE WALK THROUGH IN SMALL GROUPS AND STOP AT SIX DIFFERENT PLACES AND HEAR SIX DIFFERENT STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE ATTACHED TO THIS GRAVEYARD IN A SPOOKY SETTING.

IT'S JUST GREAT ENTERTAINMENT.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN PORTLAND HISTORY, REALLY, THE FIRST 200 YEARS CAN BE TOLD RIGHT HERE AMONGST ALL OF THESE PEOPLE.

>> I LIVED FOR YEARS ON MUN JOY HILL AND I NEVER EVEN WALKED IN AND SO I TRIED TO TELL AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE HOW INCREDIBLE IT IS AND HOW IT'S RIGHT IN TOWN, IT'S CONVENIENT AND BEAUTIFUL AND I HAVE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL.

>> ON THE NEXT OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, OKLAHOMA KIDS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES GETTING THE COVID-19 VACCINE RIGHT NOW.

THE BIG CATS AND PRIMATES ARE, TOO.

TAYLOR JACKSON REPORTS ON OKLAHOMA ZOOS THAT ARE ADMINISTERING COVID-19 VACCINES TO LIONS AND TIGERS, OH MY, THEY BETTER BE CAREFUL.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH A TOUR OF THE BLUE STAGE STUDIOS IN OKLAHOMA CITY PHOTOGRAPHED AND EDITED BY CASEY FERGUSON.

FOR ALL OF US HERE IN THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, I'M RICH LUND.

TO OUR VETERANS, WE SAY A SINCERE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

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