>>> NEW RESTRICTIONS, INCLUDING A RESTAURANT CURFEW ARE NOW IN EFFECT IN OKLAHOMA >> LAWMAKERS RETURN TO THE CAPITOL WITH NEW MEMBERS AND A NEW SALARY.

>> IT'S HUNTING SEASON IN OKLAHOMA- WHY FINDING A DEER MAYBE EASIER THAN FINDING THE AMMUNITION TO HARVEST.

>> PLUS, A MOVING MEMORIAL DEDICATED TO NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS IN D.C.

DESIGNED BY AN OKLAHOMAN.

♪♪ THOSE STORIES PLUS IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON EDUCATION NEXT ON "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

OKLAHOMA AND MUCH OF THE COUNTRY IS CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF A COVID-19 SURGE THAT FAR EXCEEDS THE INTITIAL SURGE BACK IN MARCH.

IN THIS NEWSCAST, WE'LL EXAMINE GOVERNOR STITT'S CURRENT ACTIONS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK AND ALSO TAKE A "BEHIND-THE-SCENES" LOOK AT HIS THINKING EIGHT MONTHS AGO THAT RESULTED IN "STAY AT HOME" ORDERS THAT LASTED WELL INTO APRIL.

>> THE GOVERNOR ISSUED THREE NEW EXECUTIVE ORDERS THIS WEEK: ESTABLISHING AN 11:00 P.M.

CURFEW FOR BARS AND RESTAURANTS THAT TOOK EFFECT ON THURSDAY.

SECONDLY, RESTAURANTS ARE NOW REQUIRED TO SEPARATE TABLES BY AT LEAST SIX FEET OR PROVIDE SANITIZED DIVIDERS BETWEEN GUESTS.

AND, 33,000 STATE EMPLOYEES ARE NOW REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS.

AND THOSE VISITING STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS WILL HAVE TO DO THE SAME.

>> A VACCINE IS ON ITS WAY, BUT WE NEED TO BUCKLE DOWN UNTIL THEN.

I KNOW WE'RE ALL GETTING TIRED, BUT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I NEED YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW TO FLATTEN THIS CURVE.

WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BUT THERE ARE SACRIFICES WORTH MAKING TO KEEP EVERYONE HEALTHY.

KEEP OUR BUSINESSES OPEN SAFELY AND TO KEEP OUR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL IN PERSON.

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS SET THE EXAMPLE BY REQUIRING MASKS FOR HIS STATE EMPLOYEES.

WE WILL FOLLOW THAT EXAMPLE AND ASK AND REQUEST THAT ALL RESTAURANT WORKERS WEAR MASKS DURING THEIR SHIFTS AT WELL AS WELL.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS.

WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP, WHETHER IT'S A DINING IN SAFELY OR ORDERING FOOD TO GO.

>> LIKE ALL OKLAHOMANS, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THANKSGIVING NEXT WEEK.

I LOVE THANKSGIVING.

I LOVE GETTING TOGETHER WITH MY FAMILY.

WE HAVE FAMILY TRADITIONS, AS I'M SURE YOU DO AS WELL.

>> GET A FREE TEST BEFORE GATHERING WITH YOUR FAMILY.

CALL 2-1-1 TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GO TO DO THIS.

SPREAD OUT, SPREAD OUT TABLES AROUND YOUR HOUSE SO YOU CAN DISTANCE APPROPRIATELY, OPEN A WINDOW OR A DOOR, EAT OUTSIDE.

IF WE DON'T ADJUST HOW WE GATHER SAFELY NEXT WEEK, CHRISTMAS COULD BE MUCH WORSE.

>> AND THAT OMINOUS WARNING BASED ON THESE LATEST NUMBERS FROM THE OKLAHOMA HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH, A RECORD 1,434 PEPOPLE WERE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19 IN OKLAHOMA.

COMPARE THAT TO 307 PEOPLE ON APRIL 18TH, WHEN THE STATE WAS BASICALLY LOCKED DOWN.

WE'RE AVERAGING 2,843 NEW CASES PER DAY NOW.

EIGHT MONTHS AGO, IT WAS JUST 94 PER DAY.

SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, OKLAHOMA HAS RECORDED MORE THAN 167,000 CASES OF COVID-19 AND MORE THAN 130,000 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE RECOVERED, HOWEVER, 110 PEOPLE DIED FROM CORONAVIRUS IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS IN OKLAHOMA AND OUR DEATH TOLL NOW STANDS AT 1,603.

OKLAHOMA CITY MAYOR DAVID HOLT SAYS, IF NEED BE, HE WILL UTILIZE THE POLICE TO ENSURE BARS AND RESTAURANTS ADHERE TO THE NEW CURFEW AND PROTOCOLS.

>> I AM ISSUING A NEW EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION TODAY INCORPORATING THOSE RESTRICTIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, WHICH MEANS THERE CAN BE, AND WILL BE ENFORCED UPON BARS AND RESTAURANTS BY THE OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS WAS THE PROTOCOL DURING PAST WAVES OF THIS VIRUS.

>> REPORTER BEN FELDER WITH OUR CONTENT PARTNER, THE FRONTIER, PUBLISHED A FASCINATING BEHIND-THE-SCENES ARTICLE THIS WEEK ON HOW THE STITT ADMINISTRATION DEALT WITH THE INITIAL SURGE OF THE PANDEMIC LAST MARCH.

HE JOINS US NOW TO SHARE WHAT HE LEARNED.

>> BEN, HOW DID YOU GATHER YOUR MATERIAL?

HOW MUCH OF IT WAS THERE?

>> BACK IN MARCH WHEN THE PANDEMIC WAS STARTING TO SPREAD, I THINK A LOT OF AMERICANS PIVOTED THEIR BUSINESS TO VIRTUAL VIDEO CALLS, MAINLY ZOOM AND IT'S ALL BEEN US -- SAME WAS TRUE FOR THE GOVERNOR.

HE WAS HOLDING A LOT OF HIS MEETINGS OVER ZOOM.

1:30 HOURS WORTH OF VIDEO -- 130 HOURS WORTH OF VIDEO CALLS WAS RETURNED TO US FOR OUR RECORDS REQUEST.

WE REQUESTED E-MAILS FROM SENIOR STAFF THAT DEALT WITH THE CORONAVIRUS TOPIC AND THAT PRODUCED MORE THAN 7,000 E-MAILS.

>> SO WHO DID HE RELY ON FOR ADVICE?

IT WAS A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE?

IT WAS A SMALL INNER CIRCLE?

>> WHEN HE WAS TALKING WITH DOCTORS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THE -- THERE'S A CONFUSION THAT CAME ON HIS PART OF NOT QUITE UNDERSTANDING SOMETIMES WHAT HIS EXECUTIVE ORDERS MEANT TO THE HEALTH COMMUNITY.

>> THERE WAS ONE EXECUTIVE ORDER ON ELECTIVE SURGERY.

IT COST SOME CONFUSION.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> AFTER HE ISSUED THAT ORDER, HE WAS TOLD ON ONE CALL BY DOCTORS THAT THEY HAD PATIENTS WHO NEEDED SURGERY TO TREAT CANCEROUS TUMORS AND HEART BLOCKAGES.

THEY HAD TO DELAY THE PROCEDURES BECAUSE OF THAT ORDER.

THE GOVERNOR ADMITTED HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THE SURGERIES WAS COVERED BY HIS ORDER.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS COSMETIC SURGERIES HE WAS TRYING TO BAN.

HE WAS TALKING WITH EVANGELICAL PASTORS -- ANOTHER GROUP HE'S FAMILIAR WITH.

HE'S A CHRISTIAN HIMSELF.

HE'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PASTORAL GROUP.

HE TOLD THEM THAT HE BANNED ELECTED PROCEDURES INCLUDING ABORTIONS.

THAT'S A TAKE-AWAY.

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR STANCE IS ON ABORTIONS, MANY DON'T REFER TO THEM AS COSMETIC PROCEDURES.

>> HOW CLOSELY DID HE FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE COMING FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?

>> THERE WERE OFTENTIMES WHEN THE PRESIDENT WOULD CONTRADICT HIS OWN CORONAVIRUS' TASK FORCE'S INFORMATION OR SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS COMING FROM THE CDC.

SO FOLLOWING THE WHITE HOUSE WAS ON ONE HAND MAYBE A DIFFICULT THING TO DO BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GOVERNOR REGULARLY SAID HE WAS FOLLOWING CDC GUIDANCE AND FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENT.

HE FAMOUSLY TWEETED A PHOTO OF HIMSELF WITH HIS CHILDREN BY THE OKLAHOMA CITY HALL TWEETED IT'S PACKED TRYING TO ENCOURAGE OKLAHOMANS TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMY.

A COUPLE DAYS LATER, THE PRESIDENT WAS ASKED WHAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID, YOU KNOW, HIS ADVICE WAS HE PROBABLY WOULDN'T GO TO CROWDED RESTAURANTS.

>> BEHIND THE SCENES, HOW MUCH WAS THE GOVERNOR GRAPPLING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY VERSUS SAVING THE OKLAHOMAN ECONOMY?

>> PROTECTING OKLAHOMANS' HEALTH WAS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR HIM.

I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNOR EVER MINIMIZED THE SEVERITY OF THE PANDEMIC BUT A CLOSE SECOND OR 1B, IF YOU WILL, WAS PROTECTING THE ECONOMY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR FROM DAY ONE WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON DOING.

>> BEN FELDER, AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NO DOUBT BY NOW, YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS CONTRACTED COVID-19, AND THAT IS CERTAINLY THE CASE IN OUR NEWSROOM.

REPORTER STEVE SHAW IS RECOVERING WELL AFTER TESTING POSITIVE TWO WEEKS AGO.

AND IN THIS REPORT, HE SHARES HIS EXPERIENCE WITH A VIRUS THAT FOR MANY OF US IS HITTING TOO CLOSE TO HOME.

>> ALL OF OUR LIVES CHANGED IN MARCH WHEN THE COVID VIRUS SHUT THINGS DOWN.

I DID MY PART.

I WORE A MASK.

I STAYED AWAY FROM LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE, HOWEVER, ON NOVEMBER 3rd, ELECTION NIGHT, AS PART OF MY JOB, I CAME INTO CONTACT WITH TOO MANY PEOPLE AND I WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

AND LIKE CLOCK WORK, FOUR MORNINGS LATER, I WOKE UP WITH FEVER, CHILLS AND A CONSTANT LEVEL OF PERSPIRATION THAT JUST WASN'T END.

LATER THAT SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7th, THE GOOD FOLKS AT THE CLINIC SHARED WHAT I ALREADY KNEW, THAT COVID AND I WERE ABOUT TO DANCE.

>> DAY FOUR AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED, MY SYMPTOMS ARE FEVER, COUGH AND CONSTANT SWEATING, BUT I COULD STILL TASTE.

>> FORTUNATELY, DAY FIVE WAS AS BAD AS IT GOT FOR ME.

POUNDING SEVERAL DOCTOR-ORDERED MEDICATIONS INCLUDING STEROIDS AND HIGH DOSES OF ZINC AND VITAMIN D, I THINK, HELPED, BUT WHO REALLY KNOWS?

ON OCTOBER 14TH, A FEW YEARS BEFORE I WAS INFECTED, 68-YEAR-OLD DONNA ODEN WAS ALREADY VERY ILL.

>> WE WERE MAKING PLANS FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, HEY, WHO IS GOING TO HOST THANKSGIVING?

DO I NEED TO SMOKE A TURKEY?

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO HELP WITH THANKSGIVING?

WE WERE LITERALLY MAKING PLANS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT GOT PUT ON HOLD.

>> Reporter: DONNA WAS ONR REPORTER AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JASON DOYLE'S MOTHER.

JASON SAYS HIS SISTER SENT THEIR MOM TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT ITEGERS BAPTIST ON OCTOBER 14TH.

SHE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE.

SHE WAS HAVING A HARD TIME BREATHING AND SHE HARBORED A HOST OF CO-MORBIDITY THAT WHEN EXPOSED TO COVID-19 CAN BE LETHAL.

>> HE'S LIKE, MOM PROBABLY WAITED A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG.

SHE WAS NOT COMFORTABLE.

SHE WASN'T FEELING GOOD BUT LIKE I SAID, SHE HAD THOSE TYPES OF FEELINGS BEFORE.

THE COLD.

YOU SAID IT FELT LIKE THE FLU TO YOU.

AS SOON AS THE BREATHING PROBLEMS STARTED, THAT'S WHEN WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE REALLY TAKEN HER IN AND ASSISTED.

>> Reporter: DOYLE, HIS SISTER WHO IS A NURSE AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS KEPT A VIGIL AT THE HOSPITAL.

>> TWO AND A HALF WEEKS OF HELL OF HER BEING IN THE ICU AND FOR US EVERY DAY WONDERING IS SHE GOING TO MAKE IT?

IS SHE GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS?

THERE WERE SOME GOOD DAYS, AND, YOU KNOW, AFTER SHE GOT A LOT OF THE SAME TREATMENT THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP GOT, IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS A CHANCE THAT SHE WOULD RECOVER.

EVERYBODY WAS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.

>> Reporter: BUT THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION BY OCTOBER 30TH WAS DOCTORS NEEDED TO PUT DONNA ON A VENTILATOR IN ORDER TO LIV LIVE, BUT THAT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY ONLY BOUGHT A FEW DAYS.

>> THE ODDS WERE KIND OF STACKED UP AGAINST US AT THAT POINT IN TIME BECAUSE YOU GO ON A VENTILATOR, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM YOUR FAMILY BE ABLE TO COME IN AND BE PART OF THE END-OF-LIFE PROCESS.

>> SO ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30TH, DONNA AND HER FAMILY TOGETHER MADE THE DECISION THAT THERE WOULD BE NO VENTILATOR .

>> WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION AND THE CONVERSATION WAS BASICALLY I'M READY TO GO MEET JESUS.

I'M READY TO GO BE WITH MY HUSBAND AND I LOVE YOU KIDS BUT IT'S TIME.

>> DONNA ODEN DRIFTED OFF PEACEFULLY 1:56 A.M.

ON HALLOWEEN.

>> THE HOSPITAL SET UP AN iPAD FOR US TO WHERE WE HAD A VIDEO STREAM IN HER ROOM TO WHERE WE COULD STILL INTERACTED WITH HER SO THE REST OF US SAT IN MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT STREAMING MY MOM'S END OF LIFE.

THAT'S HOW I SAW MY MOM PASS WAS OFF MY PHONE.

>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR MOM?

>> THAT MY MOM WAS ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO HER KIDS.

SHE PUT HER FAMILY FIRST.

SHE LOVED HER KIDS.

SHE LOVED HER GRANDKIDS.

SHE -- IT WAS -- SHE LIVED A FULL LIFE.

I MEAN, SHE LIVED LIFE UNABASHEDLY.

AND NO MATTER WHAT SHE FACED -- I MEAN, SHE HAD RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, OVERWEIGHT AND ASTHMA.

SHE WAS ALSO BORDERLINE DIABETIC.

ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS BUT IT NEVER STOPPED HER IN LIFE BEFORE COVID CAME ALONG AND THAT LAST PART WAS JUST WHAT STOPPED A BEAUTIFUL LIFE SHORT.

>> Reporter: THIS IS AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST FOR THE OKLAHOMA CITY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THINK PULLED HIS MIND'S HEART STRINGS, IF YOU WILL, IS SITUATIONS LIKE THAT AGAIN, FOR YOU AND FOR MYSELF AND FOR, YOU KNOW, A VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, AGAIN IT WON'T BE THAT BIG OF A DEAL.

IT WON'T BE THIS SEVERE REACTION BUT HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO SOMEONE WHO HAS LOST THEIR MOTHER?

>> Reporter: DR.

DOUGLAS DREVETS IS CHIEF OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT OU HEALTH SCIENCES.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD, GOSH, I'D HAVE TO LOOK UP BUT THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN QUITE A FEW DEATHS IN OKLAHOMA AND IT'S -- AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE ALL KNOW SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN SICK OR WE ALL LOSE SOMEBODY WHO WE LOVE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST -- I THINK IN A SENSE, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME AND, YOU KNOW, COVID-19, IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

IT'LL BECOME SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH I THINK ROUTINELY, AT LEAST THAT'S MY BIAS, MY HUNCH.

>> Reporter: A HUNCH THAT SAYS IS ABOUT TO GET MUCH WORSE.

>> WE COULD BE IN FOR A TOUGH FEW MONTHS WITH THE WAY OUR NUMBERS HAVE BEEN INCREASING THE LAST FEW MONTHS SO IT REALLY MAKES IT IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND TO PROTECT OTHERS, UM, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE LONE RANGER WORE A MASK BUT, UM, WE ALL -- WE'RE -- WE LITERALLY ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> IT'S NOT AN EXPRESSION.

IT'S JUST A THING THAT I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BECOME SO POLITICAL AND NOW WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE FACTS COME OUT AND THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE ENTRENCHED IN THAT IDEAL THAT THESE MASKS ARE SOMETHING THAT IS TAKING AWAY FROM YOUR FREEDOM, UM, I WILL GIVE YOU THIS: I'M A BIG FREEDOM GUY, BUT I WOULD RATHER TRADE SOMEBODY'S LIFE FOR FREEDOM ANY DAY.

BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT ALIVE, YOU CAN'T ENJOY FREEDOM.

>> THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO DO HALF MEASURES.

YOU KNOW, UM, AND WE JUST HAVE TO GET BEYOND THE POLITICS OF MASKING AND SAY THIS IS HEALTH, THIS IS HOW WE KEEP OUR LIVES GOING AND THIS IS HOW WE KEEP OUR ECONOMY GOING.

IT'S NOT ONE OR THE OTHER.

WE HAVE TO DO BOTH AND KEEP IT ALL GOING TOGETHER.

>> STEVE SHAW, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> STEVE AND JASON, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

DR.

DREVETS ALSO STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING A MASK PROPERLY.

HE SAYS MASKS DON'T DO MUCH GOOD, UNLESS THEY COVER BOTH YOUR MOUTH AND YOUR NOSE.

DR.

DREVETS ALSO STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING A MASK PROPERLY.

HE SAYS MASKS DON'T DO MUCH GOOD, UNLESS THEY COVER BOTH YOUR MOUTH AND YOUR NOSE.

>> AN OKLAHOMA MEDICAL LAB IS OFFERING AN AT-HOME COVID-19 TEST KIT THAT IS A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN USING A NOSE SWAB.

WHEELER LABS USES A SAMPLE OF SALIVA TO PERFORM THE TEST, WHICH IS THEN MAILED TO THE LAB WITH RESULTS BACK IN 72 HOURS OR LESS.

>> IT IS THE ONLY AT-HOME SALIVA TEST KIT THAT IS AVAILABLE IN OKLAHOMA, TESTED BY AN OKLAHOMA LAB.

SO OUR PRODUCT IS ESSENTIALLY AN AT-HOME KIT.

IT GOES HOME AND YOU DO YOUR SALIVA COLLECTION AND YOU MARRY THAT UP WITH AN OKLAHOMA LAB RUN BY OKLAHOMANS TO SUPPORT OKLAHOMANS.

>> MCCOOL SAYS STUDIES INDICATE THE ACCURACY OF THE SALIVA TESTS ARE COMPARABLE TO THE NASAL SWAB TESTS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WHEELER-LABS.COM.

>> 20 OF THE 24 NEWLY OR RE-ELECTED SENATORS TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE IN THE SENATE CHAMBER ON MONDAY, AND ALL LEGISLATORS WILL RETURN TO THE STATE CAPITOL THIS YEAR, WITH NEW SALARIES.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO DECADES, A PAY INCREASE OF 35% TAKES EFFECT.

SALARIES WILL INCREASE FROM JUST OVER $35,000 TO $47,500.

THE RAISE WAS APPROVED BY AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION LAST YEAR PRIOR TO THE OUTBREAK OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> THE FRAMERS OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION WERE WISE ENOUGH TO TAKE LEGISLATIVE PAY OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE LEGISLATURE SO, UH, I BELIEVE THAT'S MADE OUT OF A COMMISSION THAT THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND SO, NO, WE HAVE NO SAY WHATSOEVER ABOUT OUR SALARY.

>> THE PAY RAISES ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE BUDGET THAT TOOK EFFECT ON JULY 1ST.

THAT BUDGET INCLUDES 4% CUTS TO ALMOST ALL STATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

THE BIGGEST HURDLE FACING THE NEW LAWMAKERS IS CRAFTING THE NEXT BUDGET THAT MUST INCLUDE FUNDING FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION.

RORY TAYLOR REPORTS THAT WILL BE A TOUGH TASK GIVEN PANDEMIC-INDUCED REVENUE SHORTFALLS.

>> THIS FALL HAS BEEN SOMETHING OF AN ANOMALY IN STATE BUDGET MAKING.

>> GENERALLY BY OCTOBER, THE >> GENERALLY BY OCTOBER, THE 1ST REQUESTS AND, BUT BECAUSE OF COVID AND WE ALLOW THEM TO GO UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST.

AND SO OUR SUB COMMITTEE CHAIRS ARE SIMPLY GOING OUT TO THE AGENCIES, SITTING DOWN WITH THEM.

WHAT ARE YOUR REQUESTS?

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPENSES?

>> ONE SUCH AGENCY, THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND ENTERPRISE SERVICES.

>> OMES HAS REALLY WORKED TO FILL A LOT OF GAPS, UM, IN SUPPORTING OTHER STATE AGENCIES.

WE'RE OBVIOUSLY EXPERIENCING A LOT NEW, A LOT OF, UH, STATE AGENCIES WORKING TELEWORK OMI ASSETS IS HELPING SUPPORT OTHER STATE AGENCIES IN THAT, MAKING SURE THAT OUR STATE'S CYBER SECURE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, AS WE TOOK ON THESE NEW RESPONSIBILITIES, UM, OBVIOUSLY, UM, HAVING A LOT TO HANDLE AT THE SAME TIME, WE JUST HAVE TO LEGISLATURE TO GIVE US A LITTLE MORE TIME TO ORGANIZE EVERYTHING.

>> IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR, YOU KNOW, FROM THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION NUMBER THEY GAVE US IN FEBRUARY.

AND THEN BY THE TIME THAT WE WERE ABLE TO WRITE THE BUDGET, UH, WE WERE DOWN $1.3 BILLION AND, UH, THAT WAS THE ESTIMATE COMING IN, UM, THAT HIT OUR BUDGET REALLY HARD.

AND, UH, WE HAD TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT MOST AGENCY, THEY AVERAGE ABOUT A 4.5% ACROSS THE BOARD CUT, UH, TO MOST AGENCIES.

>> TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT PROJECTIONS WILL DEFINE NEXT YEARS BUDGET, I SPOKE TO A COUPLE OF ECONOMISTS HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> I THINK IT REALLY DEPENDS ON, UM, EVERYTHING RELATED TO THE PATH OF THE VIRUS.

UM, SO, AND NOT NECESSARILY THE VIRUS ITSELF, BUT HOW, UH, CONSUMERS, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTS RESPOND TO TRENDS IN THE VIRUS.

>> THE ANNUAL TAX REVENUE RATE IN OCTOBER SHOWED ONLY $789 MILLION IN LOSSES COMPARED TO 2019'S HIGH POINT, UP $600 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR'S PROJECTION.

BUT THAT'S NOT A SURE-FIRE SIGN OF RECOVERY.

>> SO ULTIMATELY I WANT TO SAY, OKAY, WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF THIS?

AND I'VE IDENTIFIED THAT SOURCE TO BE ENERGY, BIG SURPRISE.

>> YOU TAKE THE DIESEL AND GASOLINE TAX PLUS SEVERANCE TAXES THAT TAKES US DOWN $703 MILLION VERSUS THE ALMOST $800 MILLION THAT WE LOSE OVERALL.

>> AND THAT'S BEEN REFLECTED IN OKLAHOMA'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATES, AS ENERGY JOBS ARE DOWN A LITTLE MORE THAN 25% FROM LAST YEAR.

>> WE DO A SURVEY EACH QUARTER.

WE DID OUR LAST ONE THE END OF SEPTEMBER, AND EXPECTATIONS WERE FOR SOME FURTHER JOB CUTS OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

NO MORE DETERIORATION IN DRILLING OR OVERALL BUSINESS ACTIVITY.

BUT LIKE I MENTIONED, UH, STILL A CONTINUED, UM, CUTTING BACK ON WORKFORCE.

>> WITH SUCH STARK DROPS IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY, POLICY MAKERS ARE ON A MUCH TIGHTER BUDGET AND STILL NEED TO FUND THE NEW MEDICAID EXPANSION, A ROUGHLY $168 MILLION EXPENSE.

>> LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE SHOP THE, UH, THE SUPPLEMENTAL HOSPITAL OFFSET PAYMENT PROGRAM FROM, YOU KNOW, 2.3% TO 4%, PICKED UP $134 MILLION.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED THAT, UH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE APPETITE IS GOING TO BE AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT SAME VOTE.

I THINK THAT'LL BE A HARD VOTE TO GET.

>> AND WITH OIL AND GAS DEPENDENT ON TRAVEL AND COMMERCE, ECONOMISTS EXPECT THAT A TRUE ECONOMIC UPTURN WILL BE WAITING UNTIL A COVID VACCINE IS WIDELY AVAILABLE.

>> THERE'S EVERY INDICATION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY TOUGH WINTER.

AND I THINK THAT WILL PROBABLY LEAD TO MORE BATTING DOWN THE HATCHES BY PEOPLE SEQUESTERING MORE, NOT GOING OUT.

WE'RE LIKELY TO GET SOME KIND OF STIMULUS PACKAGE RESCUING THE 11.4 MILLION PEOPLE THAT ARE ABOUT TO LOSE THEIR BENEFITS AFTER CHRISTMAS.

SO MAYBE SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN THERE FAIRLY SOON TO HELP SHORE UP THE EXPENDITURES, >> RORY TAYLOR, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> THE FIRST ESTIMATES OF A LEGISLATIVE BUDGET WILL BE COMING OUT IN DECEMBER.

>> OKLAHOMA HAS RECEIVED AN "F" ON THE MARCH OF DIMES "HEALTHY MOMS, STRONG BABIES" REPORT CARD.

THAT'S BECAUSE ONE IN 10 BABIES ARE BORN PREMATURE IN OKLAHOMA.

AND FOR EVERY 100 BABIES BORN, SEVEN DIE BEFORE THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY.

THE MARCH OF DIMES ALSO FOUND THAT THE NUMBERS ARE EVEN HIGHER FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

>> WE DO SEE THAT THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE AMONGST BLACK WOMEN, FOR BLACK CHILDREN IS LITERALLY MORE THAN TWICE THAT OF WHITE.

SO, THE UNFORTUNATE FACT REMAINS HERE THAT FOR WHITE BABIES THE 6.2% AND FOR BLACK IT IS 13.6%.

>> THE NATIONAL AVERAGE GRADE WAS A "C MINUS" THE MARCH OF DIMES IS ENCOURAGING CONGRESS TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO HELP BRING DOWN PREMATURE BIRTHS AND INFANT MORTALITY RATES.

>> A RECORD NUMBER OF GUN AND AMMUNITION SALES IN 2020 HAS OKLAHOMA HUNTERS AND SHOOTING SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS HOLDING BACK ON THEIR HOBBY BECAUSE AMMO IS HARD TO FIND.

JASON DOYLE REPORTS ON THE IMPACT THAT'S HAVING ON THE FIREARMS INDUSTRY.

>> IF YOU HAVEN'T STOCKED UP ON TOILET PAPER AND AMMUNITION, YOU'RE NOT READY.

AMERICANS ARE BUYING MORE GUNS AND AMMO THAN EVER.

>> WE'VE SEEN SEVERAL RUNS OF AMMUNITION OVER THE LAST 12 OR 15 YEARS AND IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE EVERY TIME IT'S THE TIME, I STOCK UP THEN.

>>   .

>> THE F.B.I.

GUN PURCHASED BACKGROUND CHECKS IN 2020 HAVE OUTPACED THE ENTIRE YEAR OF 2019 AND EXCEED ANY YEAR SINCE BACKGROUND CHECKS BEGAN IN 1998.

[GUNFIRE] MORE THAN 32 MILLION AMERICANS APPLIED TO BUY A FIREARM FROM JANUARY TO OCTOBER COMPARED TO MORE THAN 28 MILLION FOR ALL OF LAST YEAR.

IN OKLAHOMA, SO FAR IN 2020, THE F.B.I.

PERFORMED MORE THAN 381,000 BACKGROUND CHECKS.

FOR ALL OF 2019, THERE WERE JUST OVER 360,000 IN OKLAHOMA.

>> SINCE THE VIRUS STARTED AND SINCE RIOTS STARTED, WE SAW A QUICK AND DEMANDING INCREASE IN BOTH FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION.

>> OKLAHOMA'S SECOND AMENDMENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT DON SPENCER SAYS INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, HUNTERS MIGHT NOT FEEL THE AMMO SHORTAGE AS MUCH AS HANDGUN OWNERS.

>> YOU WON'T SEE IT AFFECT HUNTING QUITE SO MUCH, UH, UNLESS YOU'RE JUST REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY BAD CAUSE LIKE DEER HUNTING, UH, NOT TO BE BRAGGING, BUT ONE, TWO, THREE ROUNDS IS SUFFICIENT TO FILL YOUR TAG FOR THAT DAY.

UH, DUCK HUNTING, PHEASANT HUNTING, YOU'RE TALKING EIGHT AND 10 SHELLS A DAY ON THOSE TYPES OF THING, MORE FOR QUAIL HUNTING.

>> GUN SHOPS IN OKLAHOMA SAY THEY HAVE SEEN THE SPIKE IN DEMAND FOR FIREARMS AND MUNITION.

>> IT'S BEEN A REALLY STRANGE YEAR SO FAR.

>> MIKE RUST WITH H&H SHOOTING SPORTS IN OKLAHOMA CITY SAYS THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD RUSHES IN THE PAST.

THEY'RE USUALLY ONLY ONE BIG, HUGE RUSH OF PURCHASING IN A YEAR.

AND WE'VE HAD THREE SO FAR THIS YEAR.

WE'VE HAD CORONAVIRUS, AND WE'VE HAD CIVIL UNREST THAT CAUSED A LOT OF FEAR.

AND NOW WE'VE GOT THE FEAR OF THE RESULTS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ALL CAUSING EXTREME BUYING.

LET'S CALL IT THAT, EXTREME BUYING.

>> THE SAME COULD BE SAID FOR DONG'S GUNS, AMMO AND RELOADING IN TULSA.

>> THE WHOLE THING THAT CAUSED THE SHORTAGES, EVERYBODY HAS TO UNDERSTAND ALL MANUFACTURERS WERE SHUT DOWN FOR THREE MONTHS.

SO THAT'S 25% LESS AMMUNITION IN THE PIPELINE THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.

AND THEN YOU TOP THAT OFF WITH A 500% OR 600% INCREASE IN DEMAND.

THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM IS.

>> THE GUN STORE OPERATORS SAY THEY ARE LIMITING HOW MUCH AMMUNITION A PERSON CAN BUY PER DAY AND HAVE A RESERVE FOR THOSE WHO BUY GUNS FROM HIS STORE.

>> BUT THEY ALL UNDERSTAND IF I WASN'T RATIONING, I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY.

I MEAN, I COULD SELL OUT THE HOUSE STORE IN A DAY PROBABLY.

>> WE'RE VERY, VERY SHORT OF AMMO.

WE HAVE HAD TO INSTITUTE RESTRICTIONS ON THE PURCHASE OF AMMUNITION.

IN FACT, RIGHT NOW WE ARE OF SUCH SHORT SUPPLY AND AMMUNITION IS SUCH A VITAL PART OF OUR BUSINESS THAT WE DON'T HAVE AMMUNITION TO SELL ACROSS THE COUNTER TO A PURCHASER OF SIMPLY BUYING AMMO.

>> RUST ADDS THE AMMO SHORTAGE HAS IMPACTED THE GUN RANGE BUSINESS, AS WELL.

>> WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE HOLDING ONTO THEIR AMMO, NOT COMING TO THE RANGE AND SHOOT IT.

SO A RANGED DEMAND HAS SLOWED SOMEWHAT.

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN BUYING MUCH AMMO, BUT I'VE BEEN GETTING INTO MY RESERVES.

>> BUT WHAT YOU JUST SEE IS THE COMMON, UH, GUYS THAT JUST LIKE TO GO OUT AND DO DEFENSIVE PRACTICE SHOOTING COMPETITIONS AND STUFF WHERE YOU CAN GO THROUGH 100 TO 400 OR 500 ROUNDS IN A DAY.

THAT'S WHO IT'S AFFECTING PRETTY FAST.

>> IT SEEMS THE EVENTS OF 2020 HAVE DRIVEN FIRST TIME BUYERS TO "PULL THE TRIGGER" ON A PURCHASE.

BUYERS, UH, SINCE MARCH.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

PROBABLY OH, HALF OF WHAT WE'RE SELLING RIGHT NOW IS THE FIRST-TIME GUN BUYERS.

>> THERE'VE BEEN LOTS OF FIRST-TIME BUYERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE WAS HEAVY RIOTING GOING ON.

LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THEMSELVES, THEIR WELL-BEING AND STUFF.

SO THERE'VE BEEN LOTS OF FIRST-TIME BUYERS.

>> BUT GETTING BULLETS BACK ON THE SHELVES AND TO RESTOCK FIREARMS MIGHT TAKE SOME TIME.

>> SO NOW WE'RE ASKING AN INDUSTRY THAT STOCKED US UP OVER THE COURSE OF MAYBE YEARS, UH, TO FILL US BACK UP IN THE MATTER OF A MONTH AND IT'S -- THEY JUST CAN'T DO THAT.

THE DEMAND IS TOO HIGH FOR THEM TO CATCH UP.

>> I DON'T PERCEIVE ANYTHING CHANGING FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST HALF OF 2021.

IT MAY BE ALL IN 2021.

>> JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

>> HUNTERS MIGHT STILL WANT TO PLAN AHEAD.

DEER GUN SEASON BEGINS SATURDAY.

PHEASANT AND DOVE SEASON START ON DECEMBER 1ST.

>> UN-INSURED DRIVERS TAKE NOTE: OKLAHOMA IS INSTALLING 50 AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO CRACK DOWN ON UN-INSURED MOTORISTS.

IF YOU'RE CAUGHT ON CAMERA, YOU'LL RECEIVE A LETTER IN THE MAIL OFFERING TO ENROLL YOU IN A PROGRAM THAT COSTS $174 DOLLARS AND DEFERS LEGAL ACTION FOR TWO YEARS.

A CITATION FOR DRIVING WITHOUT INSURANCE CAN COST YOU $250 PLUS COURT COSTS.

>> "EDUCATON IN THE TIME OF COVID" IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS WEEK'S "IN-DEPTH" SEGMENT.

SUSAN CADOT VISITS WITH THE HEADS OF OUR THREE BRANCHES OF EDUCATION: COMMON-ED, HIGHER-ED, AND CAREER-TECH.

TO FIND OUT HOW THEY ARE COPING WITH THE EVER-CHANGING CHALLENGES OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

RICH, WE'RE HERE WITH SOME, UH, FOLKS WHO HAVE TAKEN SOME TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY SCHEDULES TO TALK WITH US ABOUT THE STATE OF EDUCATION IN OKLAHOMA RIGHT NOW DURING THESE TRYING TIMES.

AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR PANEL OF GUESTS TO YOU.

FIRST, WE HAVE DR.

MARCIE MACK, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF OKLAHOMA'S DEPARTMENT OF CAREERTECH EDUCATION, SUPERINTENDENT JOY HOFMEISTER WHO IS THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT, UH, OF, UH, OF SCHOOLS FOR OKLAHOMA AND DR.

GLEN JOHNSON, WHO IS THE CHANCELLOR OF THE OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.

THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CHANCELLOR, LET'S START WITH YOU.

UM, CAN YOU GIVE US A STATUS UPDATE OF WHERE THINGS STAND NOW WITH OKLAHOMA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TOO, TO SAY, SUSAN, THAT SINCE WE STARTED IN MARCH, UH, EVERY DECISION, EVERY, UH, DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD IS CENTERED AROUND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO, UH, MAKE OUR CAMPUSES SAFE AND SECURE FOR, UH, CERTAINLY STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND VISITORS ON OUR CAMPUSES.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN, IN EARLY MARCH OF THIS YEAR, UH, WE WERE IN FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION ON ALL OF OUR 25 CAMPUSES, LITERALLY ON A DIME DURING SPRING BREAK.

WE SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION FROM FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION TO ONLINE INSTRUCTION.

WE THAT WITH OVER 173,000 STUDENTS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT GAVE THOSE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION.

SUMMER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION WAS ALSO, A STRICTLY, AN ONLINE ENDEAVOR ON OUR CAMPUSES.

BUT DURING THAT TIME, SUSAN, WE ALSO, WORK TO LOOK AT WAYS TO SUCCESSFULLY AND SAFELY REOPEN FOR THE FALL.

ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES, UH, OPEN FOR THE FALL, OH, TRIPLE C, UH, OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND OKLAHOMA CITY, UH, HAS GONE TO A COMPLETE ONLINE FORMAT, BUT THEIR CAMPUSES ARE STILL OPEN FOR ALL THE SERVICES.

UH, CERTAINLY IN DOING THAT, THERE, THERE ARE SOME PROTOCOLS THAT WE LOOKED AT AS WE REOPENED A TESTING BEFORE STUDENTS CAME TO CAMPUS TESTING OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THEY WERE ON CAMPUS, MANDATORY MASK MANDATES ON ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES, UM, UH, QUARANTINING, UH, ON CAMPUS WHEN STUDENTS DID TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AND THEN LOOKING AT PROTOCOLS WHERE IF CAMP, UH, IF CERTAIN CLASSES WERE OVER A 45 OR 50 TO TRANSITION THOSE INTO ONLINE COURSES, UH, ALL IN AN EFFORT TO, UH, KEEP OUR, OUR STUDENTS AND FACULTY AND STAFF, UM, SAFE DURING, DURING THIS PROCESS.

>> DR.

MACK, HOW ABOUT THE CAREER-TECH ARENA?

HOW ARE THINGS GOING RIGHT NOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME WHEN DEALING WITH COVID AND EDUCATING YOUR STUDENTS?

>> WELL, THE TECHNOLOGY CENTERS, UH, WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE BOTH SECONDARY AND POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT ENVIRONMENT, UH, FOR OUR STUDENTS AS WE WORK WITH OUR COMMON ED PARTNERS AND AS WE WORK WITH OUR HIGHER ED PARTNERS, UM, OUR TECHNOLOGY CENTERS, UM, WORKED DILIGENTLY AT, IN MARCH TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE DISTANCE EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS SO, THEY COULD FINISH OUT THE YEAR THROUGH MAY THE 15TH.

DURING THAT PROCESS, UH, A LOT OF OUR CORE OF WHAT WE DO IN CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IS HANDS-ON.

IT'S VITAL THAT STUDENTS HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AND BE ABLE TO SIMULATE THE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT.

SO, MANY OF OUR INSTRUCTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS STEPPED UP AND PROVIDED VARIOUS SIMULATIONS.

THEY WORKED WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE VIDEO, UH, CONNECT THEM WITH INDUSTRY LEADERS, TO BE ABLE TO OFFER, UM, A CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT THAT PROVIDES THEM WITH, WITH THE WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY WOULD BE TRANSITIONING INTO.

UM, AFTER MAY 15TH IN MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE ONE OF THE COMPONENTS FOR OUR TECHNOLOGY CENTERS IS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY WITH CUSTOMIZED TRAINING.

SO, STARTING IN THE LATTER PART OF MAY, 1ST OF JUNE, SOME OF THAT CUSTOMIZED TRAINING FOR OUR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY THAT WE GET TO PROVIDE ACROSS THE STATE, THEY PROVIDED A SMALL CLASSROOMS, NO LARGER THAN 10 DIVIDING THOSE OUT, MAKE SURE SOCIAL DISTANCE, MASKS, UH, WERE REQUIRED IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS.

THEY MAY DELIVER THEM AT THE WORK SITE, UH, OR DO A COMBINATION WHERE PART OF THE CURRICULUM IS DELIVERED DISTANCE.

AND THEN THE OTHER PART THEY COULD DO THE HANDS-ON IN LIMITED GROUPS.

AND SO, THE TECHNOLOGY CENTERS WORKED THROUGH THAT THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS AND THEN OUR, UH, ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGY CENTERS, UH, OPEN IN AUGUST AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING AUGUST WITH WE'RE MAKING SURE, BECAUSE WE DO GET TO OFFER, AS WELL, FROM OUR STATE AGENCY ASSESSMENT FOR INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS AND CERTIFICATIONS, OUR TESTING SITES THAT ARE OPEN, WE ARE PROVIDING, UH, VARIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS SO THAT STUDENTS CAN STILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN THAT INDUSTRY CREDENTIAL AND ENTER INTO THE WORKFORCE THROUGH VARIOUS MODES, UH, SO, THAT THEY COULD DO THAT VIRTUALLY IF THEY NEED TO BE, UM, IN SMALLER GROUPS IN OUR TESTING SITES.

TOP OF MIND IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR STAFF IS SAFE AND THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAFE.

AND, UM, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH AT THE WORK THAT ADMINISTRATORS AND EDUCATORS HAVE DONE ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA TO BE FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTABLE, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE STILL PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, DR.

MACK.

SUPERINTENDENT HOFMEISTER, I SAVED YOU FOR A LAST.

YOU ARE REALLY UNDER A MAGNIFYING GLASS WHEN IT COMES TO COVID AND EDUCATION IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

NOT THAT OTHERS AREN'T, BUT, YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE YOUNGER CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

I THINK THERE'S REALLY AN AIR OF WANTING TO PROTECT.

SO, WHERE ARE YOU AT?

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN SO, BUSY.

WHERE DO THINGS STAND WITH ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA?

>> WELL, WE HAVE 700,000 STUDENTS PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE.

UH, SOME OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ATTENDING CAREER-TECH CENTERS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AS WELL AS OUR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, UM, THAT ARE PROVIDING CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT.

SO, WE WORK, UH, WITH OUR PARTNERS AT CAREER-TECH AND AT THE, UM, UNIVERSITY LEVELS AS WELL.

BUT WHAT WE ARE ALSO GRAPPLING WITH IS DIFFERENT MODALITY.

UM, SOME OF OUR STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING EDUCATION IN THE HOME, UH, THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING.

UH, SOME FAMILIES DO NOT, UM, CHOOSE TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN BACK INTO AN IN-PERSON SETTING AND THAT OPPORTUNITY IS THERE.

BUT WE DO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, MOST OKLAHOMA STUDENTS ARE IN A CLASSROOM SETTING AND THEY ARE WORKING WITH TEACHERS WHO ARE TRYING TO MEET THE DIFFERENT NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS IN THEIR CLASSROOM.

SOME MAY BE THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING, OTHERS THEY'RE IN THE CLASSROOM AND ALL OF IT HAPPENING ALL AT ONCE.

UM, WHICH CREATES QUITE A CHALLENGE, UM, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS OR FAMILY WHO ARE EDUCATORS, UM, YOU REALIZE THIS IS A TIME WHERE THEY ARE WORKING THEIR HEARTS OUT, UM, STRETCHED VERY, VERY THIN.

UM, YET EVERYONE IS DOING THEIR, THEIR UTMOST TO KEEP SAFETY TOP OF MIND, AND ALSO, CLOSE ANY LEARNING GAPS THAT PRESENTED, UH, LAST SPRING WITH THE CLOSURE OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

AND, UM, THEN COULD HAVE, UH, PERSISTED OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS AND INTO FALL.

>> SO, SUPERINTENDENT, I'M GOING TO START OFF THIS NEXT QUESTION WITH YOU.

I WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER, BUT I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU.

WHEN YOU WERE MAKING THE DECISIONS, WHETHER OR NOT TO LET STUDENTS COME INTO A PHYSICAL BUILDING OR, OR HAVE, UH, AT HOME LEARNING, UM, WHETHER IT'S STATEWIDE OR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE COMING AND TALKING TO YOU, THE STATE, HOW HARD IS THAT DECISION TO MAKE?

BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT PARENTS WHO THEY HAVE TO WORK AT TO PAY THE BILLS, BUT IF THEIR KIDS HAVE TO STAY HOME, THEY CAN'T GO TO WORK TO PAY THE BILLS.

AND IT'S A SERIOUS CATCH-22 FOR MANY OKLAHOMANS.

SO, HOW MUCH DOES THAT WEIGH ON YOU AS A SUPERINTENDENT OF OKLAHOMA AND WHAT GOES INTO YOUR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS?

>> IT IS A GREAT WEIGHT, UM, THAT WE SAW REALLY UNFOLDING LAST MARCH WHEN THE NOVEL VIRUS IS TRULY A VIRUS THAT NO ONE HAD DATA, UM, OR MUCH INFORMATION TO MAKE DECISIONS UPON.

UM, WE KNOW SO, MUCH MORE NOW.

SO, THAT IS A GREAT HELP.

UM, THE DECISION TO TAKE OVER THE OPERATIONS OF ALL SCHOOLS IN THE STATE HAPPENED LAST MARCH, AND IT HAD NEVER HAPPENED, UM, UP TO THAT POINT IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY, UH, THAT EXPIRED AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WHICH IS A SEPARATE BOARD FROM MYSELF.

I AM CHAIRMAN OF THAT BOARD, BUT ONE VOTE.

YET, I DID LEAD THAT EFFORT TO CLOSE SCHOOLS AT THAT TIME, UH, FOR THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF EVERYONE IN THOSE BUILDINGS.

UM, HOWEVER THAT EXPIRED AND, UH, THE RETURN OF OUR NORMAL GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, WHERE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES, RECOGNIZING THAT THE VIRUS LOOKED DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT, IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN OKLAHOMA, IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, BEGAN LAST SUMMER AND CONTINUED INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

SO THAT SAID, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT WHETHER A SCHOOL STARTED OUT IN PERSON, THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE WITH STUDENTS WHO BECOME POSITIVE OR EXPOSED OR, OR STAFF WHO ARE EXPOSED AND THEN ARE ALL IN QUARANTINE.

UM, THEN THAT PRESENTS SOME DISRUPTION AND DISRUPTION THAT, UH, WAS UNEXPECTED BY, UH, HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES, UM, THAT HAD CHILDREN EXPOSED IN, UM, A VARIETY OF SETTINGS, WHETHER THAT WAS AFTER SCHOOL OR, UM, THEY LEARNED OF EXPOSURES, UM, WITH, WITHIN THEIR OWN PEERS IN CLASSROOM SETTINGS.

UM, BUT THIS IS THE CHALLENGE, UM, OF HOW CAN WE KEEP LEARNING GOING WITH DISRUPTIONS THAT PATH OF THE VIRUS PRESENT, UM, AND ALSO ALLOW FOR SOME DIFFERENTIATION IN WHAT, UM, DECISION-MAKING, UH, OCCURS AT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVELS, BUT IT ALL HAS TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE, AND ALIGNED WITH THE CDC AND OUR OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

SO, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

>> I'M SURE IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR ALL OF YOU IN THAT, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE CRITICISM.

AND WE WERE TALKING EARLIER, CHANCELLOR, I WANT TO, I WANT TO GO TO YOU NEXT, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE POWERS OF PROGNOSTICATION THAT YOU MUST POSSESS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL OF A SEMESTER AND TRYING TO GUESS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE NUMBERS IN NOVEMBER FOR THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA HAVE SKYROCKETED WITH POSITIVE CASES.

THAT'S TOWARDS THE END OF A SEMESTER WHERE IT WASN'T THE CASE IN AUGUST WHEN PEOPLE WERE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT THIS.

I LOOKED IT UP ACCORDING TO HIS WEBSITE THIS WEEK, OSU SAW A 10.44% POSITIVITY RATE IN TESTING JUST THIS WEEK ALONE, UH, NEARLY ONE, 1,100 TESTS WERE PERFORMED.

AND SO, THAT'S 113 POSITIVE CASES.

WHAT CAN YOU DO AT THIS POINT, UH, WHEN YOU GET INTO THE MIDDLE OF SEMESTER AND YOU SEE A SPIKE LIKE THIS?

HOW MUCH DOES THAT WEIGH ON YOU MUCH LIKE THE SUPERINTENDENT TALKED ABOUT WITH THE KIDS?

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PARENTS, BUT YOU DO HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.

>> SUSAN, I THINK IT WEIGHS ON ALL OF US AND THE BEST THING TO DO AND WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO DO -- AND I KNOW OUR CAMPUSES DO THIS -- IS TO KEEP THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF EVERYONE ON CAMPUS AS THE TOP PRIORITY, AS THE PRIMARY, UH, CONCERN.

AND REALLY TO LOOK AT THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT'S THE BEST DECISION IN THE INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS IN OUR, IN OUR CAMPUSES, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT NO DECISION IS GOING TO HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORT.

SO I THINK YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU LOOK AT THE OBJECTIVE DATA AND THEN YOU MAKE THE, UH, THE MOST INFORMED DECISION YOU CAN MAKE.

WITH REGARD TO OSU, I MIGHT SAY SPECIFICALLY, THEY HAVE MADE THE DECISION, UH, WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE SPIKE IN COVID CASES, UH, THAT THEY WILL, AFTER THE, UH, THANKSGIVING BREAK, WHICH OF COURSE WILL START EARLY NEXT WEEK, UH, THEIR STUDENTS WILL, WILL BE ONLINE FOR THE BALANCE OF THE SEMESTER.

AND MANY OTHER CAMPUSES ARE DOING THIS AS WELL, SUSAN, AND THEN, SO YOU'LL HAVE A BREAK FROM ESSENTIALLY, UH, NOVEMBER 23RD OR SO ALL THE WAY TO THAT THIRD WEEK IN JANUARY, STARTING LATER IN THE SPRING, NOT HAVING SPRING BREAK, WHICH OF COURSE COULD BE, UH, A SUPER COVID SPREADER AND THEN TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE SPRING SEMESTER.

ALSO, WHEN STUDENTS DO TEST POSITIVE, UH, THERE ARE PROVISIONS ON OUR CAMPUSES WHERE THEY CAN QUARANTINE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CAMPUSES THAT ARE REMOTE AND GO THROUGH THOSE PROTOCOLS, WHATEVER THOSE MAY BE, WHERE THEY'RE SEPARATED FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION.

SO, I WOULD JUST SAY IT LOOKING AT ALL THESE, WE LOOK AT SAFETY, WE LOOK AT MAKING THE BEST DECISION BASED ON THE DATA.

AND FRANKLY, I THINK OUR CAMPUSES AND THE HIGHER ED SYSTEM HAVE REALLY DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB, UH, IN AN ATTEMPT TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 SINCE MARCH.

>> ACCORDING TO THE AARP, 36 STATES, THEIR LATEST NUMBERS, I THINK CAME IN YESTERDAY 36 STATES HAVE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATES.

WHEN WE LOOK AT STUDENTS IN SCHOOL, DID THEY GET COVID FROM A CLASSMATE?

DID THEY GET IT OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AND BRING IT IN?

UH, EFFORTS TO CONTACT TRACE?

UM, WOULD A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE MITIGATE THAT CONCERN OF STUDENTS BRINGING SOMETHING INTO THE CLASSROOM IF THEY DO KEEP, IF THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO DECIDE TO KEEP THEIR SCHOOLS OPEN?

>> WE KNOW MASKS WORK, AND, UM, OUR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES HAVE DONE, UH, I THINK A VERY GOOD JOB OF REINFORCING THAT MESSAGE.

UM, WE NEED TO SEE MASK WEARING UNIFORMLY ACROSS THE STATE.

IT WILL HELP SUPPRESS THE VIRUS, AND THAT IS BASED ON EVIDENCE.

UM, WE CAN SEE THAT THE INFORMATION FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, UH, TELLS US THAT THOSE MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMUNITIES WITH A MASK MANDATE IN PLACE ARE SEEING A LOWER SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

AND SO, KEEPING SCHOOLS OPEN AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO LEARN IS DEPENDENT UPON THE BEHAVIORS OF COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT MASK WEARING, IT IS ONE OF THE SIMPLEST MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO REDUCE TRANSMISSION.

BUT I ALSO, THINK WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE PEDIATRIC RISE IN CASES.

UM, THERE WERE SOME WHO DIDN'T THINK KIDS WOULD GET COVID AT THE SAME RATE, AND CERTAINLY IT'S NOT THE SAME RATE, BUT WE'VE SEEN A CHANGE IN THE NUMBERS, UH, IN NOVEMBER, UH, FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS HAVING MAYBE 30 TO 50 PEDIATRIC CASES A DAY, UH, WE SAW THAT SPIKE AT THIS MONTH IN A SINGLE DAY, 608 CHILDREN, AGES OF FIVE THROUGH 17 YEARS OLD IN THAT COHORT, AND THEN HUNDREDS EACH DAY AFTERWARDS.

SO, WE, WE CAN, AND WE MUST CONTAIN THE VIRUS.

IT'S A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

UM, A PATCHWORK EFFECT ONLY, UM, ALLOWS ROOM FOR INCREASED SPREAD, AND IT CAN BE SLOWED WITH A MORE COLLECTIVE EFFORT.

AND WE ASK OKLAHOMANS TO DO THAT AS, UM, THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO HELP WITH EDUCATING OUR KIDS.

>> ALL RIGHT, DR.

MACK.

FINAL WORDS FROM YOU.

>> APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CONVERSATION AND TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT EDUCATORS ARE DOING ACROSS THE STATE ON ALL OF OUR AGENCIES.

UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT COMMON EDUCATION, UH, REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, AND CAREER-TECH, ONE OF THE THINGS, AND EACH OF US HAVE STATED THAT AS THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE PROVIDE EACH OTHER AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS, BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS, WE SHARE STUDENTS ACROSS, UM, ACROSS ALL OF THE SPECTRUM AND MAKING SURE THAT THEIR SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY.

UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE BEST SUPPORT WE CAN TO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UH, ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS, AND HELPING, UH, TO WORK THROUGH, UH, MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GETTING A QUALITY EDUCATION IN A VARIETY OF WAYS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE FILLING THOSE GAPS SO THAT WE DO NOT, UM, LOSE THAT TIME PERIOD AND THAT WE CAN HELP TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, AND, AND UTILIZING ALL THINGS THAT WE CAN TO HELP MITIGATE, SPREAD, UH, MITIGATE RISK AND CONTINUING TO LEARN AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT, UH, INFORMATION, WHETHER IT BE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OR CDC, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THOSE ACROSS THE BOARD AND PROVIDING THAT SUPPORT, UM, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> AND CHANCELLOR JOHNSON, YOU GET THE FINAL WORD, UH, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT PROGNOSTICATING, AND SOMETIMES YOU JUST DON'T SEE WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIKE.

UH, ANY FINAL WORDS FOR OKLAHOMANS, WORDS OF ADVICE OR, OR, UH, INFORMATION YOU'D LIKE THEM TO KNOW?

>> COUPLE OF QUICK THOUGHTS, SUSAN, I THINK I WANT TO STRESS ALSO, THE, WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A, A UNIQUE AND A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERS WITH A SUPERINTENDENT HOFMEISTER AND K THROUGH 12, CERTAINLY WITH DR.

MACK AND CAREER-TECH, UH, WE ARE FOCUSED.

WE MEET, AND OUR FOCUS IS ALWAYS ON HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN THE EDUCATION PIPELINE, HOW WE CAN ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS, WHETHER THEY'RE IN CAREER-TECH, EDUCATION, I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH, WITH BOTH OF THEM.

UH, I THINK THEY'RE GREAT PARTNERS >> I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THREE OF YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR VERY BUSY SCHEDULES TO, UH, SHARE WITH OKLAHOMANS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOUR VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

I WOULD LIKE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT SUPERINTENDENT HOFMEISTER, UH, CHAIRS THE OETA BOARD AND CHANCELLOR JOHNSON IS A BOARD MEMBER FOR OETA AS WELL.

AGAIN, THANK ALL OF YOU AND TAKE CARE.

>> THE NATIONAL "NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL" OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN WASHINGTON D.C.

LAST WEEK WITH THE HOPE OF BECOMING A "SACRED PLACE" FOR GENERATIONS OF AMERICAN INDIANS, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

JULIA BENBROOK REPORTS FROM OUR NATION'S CAPITOL ON THE MEMORIAL, WHICH WAS DESIGNED BY AN OKLAHOMAN.

>> THIS HONORS A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THEIR UNIQUE SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.

>> NOW THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IT COME TO AN END, IT'S REALLY AN EMOTIONAL THING TO ME TO STAND HERE AND WATCH PEOPLE GO OUT HERE AND SING AND DANCE.

THEIR EMOTION TRANSFERS TO ME.

>> Reporter: PRATT CONNECTS WITH THE MISSION OF THIS MEMORIAL.

AS A NATIVE-AMERICAN VETERAN HIMSELF, HE'S A MEMBER OF THE CHEYENNE AND ARAPAHOE TRIBES AND SERVED IN VIETNAM AS A MARINE.

>> HE REALLY BROUGHT HIS EXPERIENCE AS A NATIVE PERSON WHO HAS GROWN UP IN THIS TRADITION OF SERVICE.

HE'S REALLY CREATED WONDERFUL SPACE FOR GATHERING AND REMEMBRANCE.

>> Reporter: PRATT'S DESIGN WAS CHOSEN AS THE WINNER OF AN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION.

HIS WORK IS NOW PERMANENTLY OUTSIDE THE MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN-INDIAN ON THE NATIONAL MALL.

>> IT'S HARD TO WRAP YOUR BRAIN AROUND THE FACT THAT, THAT, THAT, ME FROM OKLAHOMA WAS ONE OF A NUMBER.

NO NAME, NO -- JUST A NUMBER TO WIN THIS -- TO WIN THIS COMPETITION.

IT WAS REALLY HARD TO THINK THAT HARVEY, YOUR MEMORIAL IS THERE NEXT TO WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN AND JEFFERSON.

>> Reporter: THE WARRIOR'S CIRCLE OF HONOR IS FULL OF SYMBOLISM HE HOPES ALL TRIBES COULD RELATE TO.

>> WHEN THEY STEP INSIDE THAT INNER CIRCLE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN HARMONY WITH THE ELEMENTS, WITH THE DIRECTIONS, WITH THE WATER, THE FIRE, THE EARTH AND THE AIR.

THE STEEL RING IS A HOLE IN THE SKY WHERE THE CREATOR LIVES AND OUR PRAYERS GO THROUGH THERE AND HIS ANSWERS COME BACK THROUGH THERE TO US.

IT'S A PORTAL.

>> Reporter: DATA SHOWS THAT NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA INVOLVEMENT OF ANY POPULATION THAT SERVED IN THE U.S.

MILITARY.

>> FOR ALL OF YOU THAT ARE NATIVE AMERICAN WARRIORS, GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.

WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.

THE COUNTRY IS PROUD OF YOU.

>> FOR DECADES BEFORE THEY WERE GRANTED CITIZENSHIP OR THE RIGHT TO VOTE, UM, NATIVE PEOPLE CAME FORWARD WHEN CALLED TO DEFEND THIS COUNTRY.

THERE'S A LONG, UM, VERY LONG TRADITION OF SERVICE, MANY, UM, FAMILIES HAVE GENERATIONS WHO HAVE SERVED.

>> Reporter: DUE TO THE ONGOING PANDEMIC, THE VETERANS DAY DEDICATION CEREMONY DID TAKE PLACE VIRTUALLY.

WATCH THE FULL PROGRAM IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OR THE AMERICAN-INDIAN WEBSITE.

FOR THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, I'M JULIA BENBROOK.

>> AS JULIA JUST SHOWED YOU, MEMORIALS CAN HELP BRING THE SPIRIT OF A LOVED ONE BACK TO LIFE, AND HELP US CELEBRATE THEIR VIRTUES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

AND, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN DETROIT LAKES, MINNESOTA.

IN THIS WEEK'S "NATIONAL VIEW," PRODUCER MATT OLIEN SHOWS US HOW PEOPLE THERE ARE USING "LIVING HISTORY" TO TELL THE TALES OF THEIR ANCESTORS.

♪♪ >> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THAT INTERESTING A PERSON TO BE REAL HONEST, BUT I'LL TELL, TELL YOU.

UM, MY FAMILY CAME HERE WHEN I WAS FIVE.

WE WERE FARMERS IN THE MIDDLE OF SWEDEN IN VEERLAND, AND WE HAD JUST A TINY LITTLE FARM.

MY FATHER HAD BROTHERS.

THERE WAS NO HOPE FOR A FUTURE THERE.

SO, THEY DECIDED IN 1870 THAT THEY WERE GOING TO COME TO AMERICA.

THEY WERE FOLLOWING A FRIEND OF THEIRS.

AND SO IN 1871, WE BEGAN THE TRIP.

CHRISTINE ANDERSON JOHNSON IS MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER.

>> SO, THE ACTUAL CEMETERY WALK WAS DONE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE -- THOSE THAT WERE BURIED IN THE CEMETERY.

IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE A SCARY EXPERIENCE.

WE WANT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BURIED THERE.

WE ALL HAVE A STORY IN LIFE, AND WE WANT TO FEATURE THAT STORY.

AND IN THE INSTANCE OF EKSJO, THE CHURCH WAS VERY WILLING TO PARTICIPATE AND HELP WITH THE EVENT.

WE DID IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEIR MIDSUMMER CELEBRATION.

AND SO WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE PORTRAYING THOSE THAT WERE BURIED THERE WERE EITHER A RELATIVE OR A FRIEND OR KNEW THEM PERHAPS EVEN WENT TO CHURCH WITH THEM, WHICH GIVES THE PERSON THAT'S COMING TO THE CEMETERY WALK AN EXTRA EXPERIENCE.

IT GOES TO A DEEPER LEVEL OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

EVERYBODY DOES IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

WITH THOSE THAT ARE PORTRAYING CHARACTERS, WE HAVE FOUND THAT SOME REALLY WANT TO BECOME THAT PERSON, BUT USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS YES, THEY DRESS UP TO PORTRAY THAT PERSON TO THE BEST OF THE ABILITY.

AND THEN THEY BECOME THAT PERSON.

SO, YOU COME UP TO THE GRAVE AND THEY WOULD SAY, "I AM OLOF B. ANDERSON.

AND MY STORY IS..." AND THEY START TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

THEY'RE NOT DEAD, SO THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT THE WAY THEY DIE.

>> I WAS BORN IN 1875, JUST OUTSIDE OF LAKE PARK HERE.

I WAS THE PHARMACIST HERE.

>> I WAS BORN ON A MARCH 26, 1911, IN MOREHEAD, MINNESOTA.

MY PARENTS, DR.

LOUIS AND NANNY NELSON, DIED WHEN I WAS A VERY YOUNG BOY.

SO, I WAS RAISED BY MY AUNT AND UNCLE, JOHN AND JULIA NELSON OF LAKE PARK.

>> WELL, IT WAS BROUGHT UP THAT, UH, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO BE PORTRAYED AT THE CEMETERY WALK.

FIRST OFF, IT WAS MY MOTHER WHO WAS A TEACHER IN A ONE ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE.

AND SECONDLY, THE FACT THAT MY FATHER WAS HER STUDENT LATER TO BECOME HER HUSBAND BECAME AN ITEM OF INTEREST.

AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO THE IDEA OF WHO'S GOING TO PORTRAY MY FATHER, I THOUGHT, WELL, IT IS MY JOB.

THAT IS WHAT I SHOULD DO.

I WAS BORN IN DALE TO MARTIN AND HELGA RUSTAD.

AND I LIVED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUFFALO RIVER.

AND I WAS A NORWEGIAN.

I WAS NORWEGIAN.

WHOLE BLOOD NORWEGIAN.

>> I WOULD SAY GENERALLY, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A MIX.

THIS IS THE SECOND CEMETERY WALK WE'VE DONE.

OUR FIRST CEMETERY WALK, WE FOCUSED A LOT ON PEOPLE WHO HAD SETTLED THE DETROIT LAKES AREA.

THIS CEMETERY WALK FOCUSED -- THERE WAS A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD STARTED THE CHURCH AND RAISED MONEY TO START THIS CHURCH.

ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS HAD THE CHURCH START IN THEIR HOME, BUT THEN THERE'S ALWAYS A FEW ALSO THAT WE PORTRAY THAT MAYBE DIDN'T HAVE SUPER GLORIFIED LIVES.

THEY WERE PRETTY AVERAGE CITIZENS.

AND IT'S REALLY TO DRIVE THE POINT HOME THAT WE ALL HAVE A STORY.

>> EVERYONE'S GOT A STORY THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK BIG WHEN THEY THINK OF STORIES, THEY THINK OF LIKE ANNE FRANK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND IT'S LIKE, IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU REALLY WOULDN'T HAVE THE COMMUNITY AS IT IS.

>> I DID NOT REALIZE THAT SHE HAD COME THAT YOUNG AND THAT SHE WAS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE CHURCH UNTIL WE FIRST STARTED THIS PROCESS.

AND MY MOM WAS LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, MY GRANDMOTHER WAS ONE OF THE CHARTER MEMBERS.

THE MOST INTERESTING THING TO ME ACTUALLY WAS THE FACT THAT SHE WAS 31 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE GOT MARRIED AND STARTED HAVING CHILDREN AT 36.

I THINK THAT HAD TO BE FAIRLY REMARKABLE FOR THAT TIME PERIOD.

YOU KNOW, I WAS A HISTORY MAJOR IN COLLEGE.

I'D ALWAYS BEEN AN INTEREST OF MINE.

THAT'S THE PART THAT I LIKED ABOUT IT.

AND WE TRIED WHEN WE FOUND THE PEOPLE FOR OUR CEMETERY WALK TO GET A WIDE VARIETY OF TIME.

SO, WE HAD SOME OF THOSE ORIGINAL MEMBERS, BUT WE ALSO HAD PEOPLE WHO HAD PASSED WITHIN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

>> IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR US TO REPRESENT OUR PAST WITH LIVING WITH US.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE RELATING OUR OWN HISTORY.

AND LIKE YOU SAY, WE'RE LEARNING JUST BY DIGGING INTO THE PAST, BUT ALSO IT SHOWS WHAT A DIVERSIFIED GROUP OF PEOPLE STARTED THIS CHURCH.

AND IT WAS A LOT OF THERE'S PEOPLE THAT WERE BUSINESSMEN.

THEY WERE PHARMACISTS.

THEY WERE FARMERS.

>> THE CEMETERY WALKS IN THE OUTREACH PROGRAM.

AND THE THING THAT WE DO IS A REALLY GREAT WAY FOR US AS A MUSEUM TO GET OUTSIDE OF OUR WALLS AND GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND BRING HISTORY ALIVE IN A NEW WAY THAT IS PERHAPS RELATABLE ON A MORE PERSONAL LEVEL THAN JUST COMING INTO THE MUSEUM AND LOOKING AT EXHIBITS.

>> THE NBA SEASON JUST ENDED IN OCTOBER, BUT WHEN THE NEW 72-GAME SCHEDULE TIPS-OFF ON DECEMBER 22ND, THE THUNDER WILL HAVE A NEW COACH, PROMOTING ASSISTANT MARK DAIGNEAULT TO REPLACE BILLY DOVOVAN WHO LEFT TO BECOME THE HEAD COACH OF THE CHICAGO BULLS.

THE THUNDER ALSO UNVEILING THEIR NEW "CITY EDITION" UNIFORMS ON MONDAY.

TAKE A LOOK!

THEY ARE QUOTE, DESIGNED TO "LEAN INTO INNOVATION, UNITY AND STATE PRIDE."

>>AND ONE OTHER SPORTS NOTE- AND HOPEFULLY THIS DOESN'T JINX IT... FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A DECADE, THE SOONERS, COWBOYS AND GOLDEN HURRICANE ARE ALL NATIONALLY-RANKED IN FOOTBALL AT THE SAME TIME, ON THURSDAY NIGHT, 25TH-RANKED TULSA WHEN TO 5-AND-1 WITH A THRILLING OVERTIME WIN AGAINST TULANE.

AND AS FOR 18TH-RANKED OU, IT'S BEDLAM BABY!

THEY'RE HOSTING 14TH-RANKED OSU SATURDAY NIGHT IN NORMAN.

>> ON THE NEXT ONE-HOUR EDITION OF THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," IT'S OUR ANNUAL THANKSGIVING EDITION.

WE'LL SHARE THE STORIES WE WERE THANKFUL TO COVER THIS YEAR.

AND 2020 BEING 2020, IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE A REMAKE OF THE "GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY."

>> THIS PAST MONDAY, OKLAHOMA CELEBRATED IT'S 113TH BIRTHDAY.

WE OFFICIALLY BECAME A STATE ON NOVEMBER 16TH, 1907.

FOR ALL OF US HERE ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," I'M RICH LENZ.

WE'LL LEAVE YOU WITH A LOOK AT THE SAM NOBLE MUSEUM'S "HALL OF ANCIENT LIFE," PHOTOGRAPHED AND EDITED BY KACI FERGUSON.

GOOD NIGHT!

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