THIS SPECIAL THANKSGIVING EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, WELCOME TO THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION.

WILL RECALL THE REMARKABLE CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT BROUGHT THE THUNDER TO OKLAHOMA CITY.

I'VE LOST EVERYTHING, AND THERE'S NOTHING LEFT BUT THIS RIGHT HERE.

THIS DIRT, THIS ASH.

IT'S ALL MINE.

ONE FAMILY JUST THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE AFTER DEVASTATING WILDFIRES LAST MARCH.

IT IS KIND OF SHOCKING HOW BUSY WE ARE.

WE'VE RECORDING SESSIONS OFTEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK ON AVERAGE, 5 TO 6 DAYS A WEEK.

WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE TULSA ENTREPRENEUR THAT HAS BROUGHT A WORLD FAMOUS RECORDING STUDIO BACK TO LIFE AND POSED THE QUESTION, WAS 2025 THE BEST YEAR EVER FOR OKLAHOMA CITY?

WE ARE CONFIDENT, BUT IT IS NO LONGER THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE SOMETHING.

IT IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE.

AN ENCORE PRESENTATION OF OUR IN-DEPTH SEGMENT DEVOTED TO THE PURSUIT OF PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THE WAR IS NOT OVER.

THOSE STORIES NEXT ON A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

HELLO EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE SPECIAL EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M RICH LENZ.

IT IS TIME TO GIVE THANKS FOR SOME OF THE STORIES OUR STAFF HAS COVERED OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, SOME OF OUR FAVORITE REPORTS.

AND BASED ON YOUR REACTIONS, SOME OF YOURS AS WELL.

WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE NBA CHAMPION OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER.

BACK IN OCTOBER, THEY RECEIVED THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS, THE CULMINATION OF A DREAM SHARED BY SOME OF OKC'S MOST RESPECTED COMMUNITY LEADERS.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON A REPORT THAT AIRED THE WEEK OF THE TEAM'S TRIUMPHANT PARADE THROUGH DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY IN JUNE.

STEVE RICH, WHEN I MOVED HERE TO OKLAHOMA CITY 15 YEARS AGO, THE HUMBLE ORIGINS OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER FASCINATED ME.

IT WAS A VISION THAT WOULD NOT BE DENIED.

THERE WE GO.

CHECK THOSE OUT, MAKE SURE THEY LOOK GOOD.

THUNDER UP BUDDY.

DID YOU DO THIS?

I DID, YEAH.

IN YUKON MONDAY, LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER WON THEIR FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THE NBA CHAMPION RESIDES IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

ZACH OLSON AND HIS SON, BENTLEY STOPPED TO CHECK OUT WHAT JIM CRAIG OF BOULDER DESIGNS HAD.

COOKING GAMES?

NO.

SO AFTER THEY WON GAME THREE, WE STARTED WORKING ON IT.

AND SO WE WENT.

WE WENT ALL IN AND I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH, I HOPE THEY WIN.

BECAUSE IF THEY WIN.

THE ORIGIN OF THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER GOES BACK TO 1993, WHEN MAYOR RON NORICK.

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

I FEEL GOOD, I FEEL GOOD PRESENTED CITY VOTERS WITH A PENNY SALES TAX KNOWN AS METROPOLITAN AREA PROJECTS, OR MAPS.

THE $350 MILLION GENERATED WOULD FUND NINE PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE BRICKTOWN CANAL AND A NEW ARENA.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HEARD ME OR ANYBODY ELSE HAVE GUESSED THAT IT HAD BEEN THAT SUCCESSFUL.

AND THE VOTERS, THAT'S WHO I GIVE ALL THE CREDIT TO THE VOTERS.

THEY BELIEVED WHAT I WAS TELLING THEM ON THE ORIGINAL VOTE.

THEY PASSED IT, AND THEY'VE HUNG IN THERE THE WHOLE TIME THROUGH.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS THANK THE VOTERS FOR THAT.

TWO YEARS LATER, ON APRIL 19TH, 1995, THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING SHOCKED A NATION.

IT LOOKS LIKE PART OF THE BUILDING HAS BEEN BLOWN AWAY.

WE'LL HAVE TO BANK AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE SO I CAN GET A BETTER VIEW OF IT.

THE EXPLOSION.

THE BOMBING DID, OBVIOUSLY WE HAD TO.

THE RESOURCES OF THE CITY IN MY TIME SHIFTED FROM MAPS IMMEDIATELY OVER TO THE BOMBING.

WE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

WE HAD TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT PROPERTY, HAD TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAS BEEN BLOWN OFF, JESSE.

AND THAT'S OVER THERE IS WHERE THE NEW SOCCER STADIUM WILL BE BUILT.

OKAY.

WHEN'S THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?

YEAH, I'M GOING TO GUESS IT'LL OPEN 28 OR 29.

MICK CORNETT, THE LONGTIME NEWS AND SPORTS ANCHOR, WAS ELECTED MAYOR IN 2004.

THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION, DAVID STERN, AND THE MAYOR OF OKLAHOMA CITY, MICK CORNETT.

HE'S OKLAHOMA CITY'S ONLY FOUR TERM MAYOR.

THE THE EMOTIONAL BONDING, THE UNITY THAT WAS CREATED THROUGH THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THE BOMBING.

JUST PUT THIS PUT THIS CITY IN A NEW POSITION EMOTIONALLY.

NOW, THE CITY DIDN'T LOOK ANY DIFFERENT.

BUT PEOPLE KNEW THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS WILL HAPPEN AND MAYBE SOME OF THEM WILL BE NEAT.

CORNETT'S ANTENNA WENT UP IN AUGUST OF 2005.

HURRICANE KATRINA DECIMATED NEW ORLEANS AND THE LOUISIANA SUPERDOME, WHERE THE NBA'S NEW ORLEANS HORNETS PLAYED.

CORNETT ALERTED NBA COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN THAT OKLAHOMA CITY'S FORD CENTER, NOW KNOWN AS PAYCOM CENTER, COULD BE THE HORNETS TEMPORARY HOME.

YOU KNOW, I THINK HE AND I WERE IN SYNC.

AND AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THESE KIND OF SECRET PHONE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE WE COULDN'T, YOU KNOW, NO, I DIDN'T WANT ANYONE IN MY CITY TO KNOW THAT WE WERE I WAS WORKING ON THIS, AND WE DIDN'T WANT ANYONE NATIONALLY TO KNOW THAT THE NBA WAS THINKING ABOUT PULLING A TEAM OUT OF NEW ORLEANS, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST ALL SO NEW.

BUT I THINK HE AND I, ON THAT VERY FIRST DAY, WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS THIS MAY END UP BEING THE NBA'S BEST SOLUTION TO THIS CRISIS THAT THEY WERE ENTERING.

THEY'RE UNDERWAY FROM OKLAHOMA CITY AS BRANDON BASS, THE HORNETS PLAYED IN OKLAHOMA CITY FOR TWO YEARS.

BUSINESSMAN CLAY BENNETT IN 2006 BOUGHT THE SEATTLE SUPERSONICS AND MOVED THE TEAM HERE.

TWO YEARS LATER, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA.

WELCOME TO THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION.

ROY WILLIAMS RECENTLY RETIRED AS PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WITH HIS SPORTS BACKGROUND, MICK CORNETT WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME WITH THE RIGHT JOB, DON'T YOU THINK?

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER PERSON IN OKLAHOMA CITY TO BE THE MAYOR AND TO HAVE THAT BACKGROUND, AS YOU SAID, AND THAT KNOWLEDGE TO REALLY HELP FACILITATE US BEING AN NBA CITY.

WHAT'S HIS NAME?

I'M BEGINNING TO FORGET NAMES.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

YOU'RE 89 YEARS OLD.

RAFAEL ELIAS IS A RETIRED ELECTRICAL ENGINEER WHO WORKED ON ALL NINE OF THE ORIGINAL MAPS PROJECTS 30 YEARS AGO.

ONE OF HIS PRIZED POSSESSIONS IS THIS ARTIST'S RENDERING OF THE ORIGINAL FORD ARENA, WITH SIGNATURES OF EVERY ARCHITECT, DESIGNER AND ENGINEER INVOLVED.

HE TOLD ME WEDNESDAY.

THE LATE AUBREY MCCLENDON ONCE TRIED TO BUY IT FROM HIM.

AUBREY MCCLENDON WANTED TO BUY THAT.

HOW MUCH DID HE OFFER?

NO, I CANNOT TELL YOU.

YOU GUYS DOING OKAY?

YEAH.

OKAY.

GOOD.

GOOD, GOOD.

CHARLES STOUT HAS OPERATED THE BRICKTOWN BREWERY JUST BLOCKS FROM THE ARENA SINCE 1992.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT YOU CAN MEASURE THIS TO.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN MEASURED BY HOW GREAT WE ARE AFTER TERRIBLE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, AFTER THE MURRAH BUILDING BOMBING, AFTER TORNADOES AND PEOPLE.

I THINK WE'VE ALWAYS HANG OUR HAT ON WHAT GREAT HUMAN BEINGS WE ARE AND HOW WE HELP PEOPLE AND WHAT THE CULTURE OF OKLAHOMA IS LIKE.

AND NOW WE WE STILL HAVE THAT, BUT NOW WE'RE CHAMPIONS.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORLD CHAMPIONS.

AND JUDGING BY THE THUNDER'S EARLY SEASON RECORD WINNING TWO NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN A ROW, FOLKS.

HEY, IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE.

RICH STEVE.

THANK YOU.

THAT WAS A GREAT REPORT.

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT ALL OF OUR BEST REPORTS HAVE A HAPPY ENDING.

THAT WAS THE CASE WHEN WILDFIRES SWEPT THROUGH PARTS OF MANNFORD AND STILLWATER BACK ON MARCH 14TH, KILLING FOUR PEOPLE.

NOAH MACK SPOKE WITH ONE FAMILY, LOST MOST EVERYTHING BUT THEIR LIVES, AND HE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THEIR STORY.

NOAH.

YEAH, RICH.

OKLAHOMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSESSED DAMAGES VYING FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP FAMILIES LIKE THE ONE I SPOKE TO BACK IN MARCH.

THEY HAD A HARROWING STORY ESCAPING THE BLAZE, BUT A MURKY PATH FORWARD AS THEY PICKED UP THE PIECES.

WITH SMALL FLAMES STILL GASPING FOR OXYGEN AND A CHARRED SMELL IN THE AIR.

THIS RIGHT HERE WAS MY MOM'S HOUSE.

SHANE FORBES REFLECTS ON WHAT WAS HIS FAMILY'S HOME.

FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

MY DAD ACTUALLY BUILT THAT BY HAND AND IT'S ALL GONE NOW.

SO THIS WAS HIS MOTHER'S HOUSE.

HE DESCRIBED IT AS AN OKLAHOMA OASIS OUTFITTED WITH A VIBRANT GARDEN AND A KOI FISH POND.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AFTER FRIDAY'S WILDFIRE IN LINCOLN COUNTY.

THERE'S SOME STILL ALIVE LOOK.

THAT'S CRAZY.

THOSE ARE STILL ALIVE.

SHANE AND HIS WIFE LIVED NEXT DOOR.

AND THEY RENTED OUT 13 OTHER HOMES ACROSS 40 ACRES, ALL OF IT REDUCED TO ASH, HAS DESTROYED EVERYTHING.

I MEAN, IT DISINTEGRATED.

SHANE'S MOTHER, VIRGINIA MCFARLAND, STARTED THAT DAY WITH CRAFTING.

MY BIGGEST WORRY WAS GETTING THAT LAST SET OF CURTAINS BUILT, AND I WAS SEWING THE LAST SEAM AND IT STARTED GETTING KIND OF SMOKY, I THOUGHT, AND I SAID, I BETTER GO CHECK ON THAT FIRE AND SEE HOW CLOSE IT'S GETTING.

AND IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE WAVES OF FIRE BEGAN CONSUMING THE PROPERTY.

SHANE SUCCESSFULLY EVACUATED EVERYONE FROM THE BLAZE.

WE LOADED THEM UP IN THE TRUCK, FLEW OUT OF HERE AS FAST AS WE COULD TO GET BECAUSE THE FIRE WAS COMING OVER THIS FENCE RIGHT HERE.

I MEAN, IT WAS ALL ORANGE.

EVERYTHING.

SHANE, HIS FAMILY AND HIS TENANTS ARE STUCK.

WE DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE ON THIS.

THAT OR THE 13 RENTALS.

AND ALL THEM FAMILIES DIDN'T HAVE RENTER'S INSURANCE OR NOTHING.

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE MAY BE THEIR ONLY HOPE FOR FINANCIAL AID, BUT THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS.

OKLAHOMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ESTIMATED OVER 400 HOMES WERE DAMAGED ACROSS THE STATE.

THE THRESHOLD FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, 400 UNINSURED HOMES THAT UNINSURED WORD IS VERY IMPORTANT.

FEMA DOESN'T COVER INSURED LOSSES.

THE GOVERNOR ISSUED A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR 12 OKLAHOMA COUNTIES, INCLUDING CREEK COUNTY, WHICH IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS SPENDING THEIR TIME GETTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DAMAGE.

NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN, IT'S ENTIRELY DESTROYED.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE HERE.

130 WILDFIRES ACROSS 44 COUNTIES, ACCORDING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT'S REPORT FROM LAST WEEK.

BUT FIRES HAVE CONTINUED ON THROUGH THIS WEEK.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR ANNIE VEST RIDES AROUND WITH AN ENTOURAGE, VALIDATING DAMAGE ESTIMATES.

WE COME IN AT THE REQUEST OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHEN THEY'RE OVERWHELMED AND THEY'RE TRYING TO USHER IN MORE HELP SOON.

WE'RE STILL WORKING TO SEE IF FEMA CAN COME IN.

THE FEMA ASSISTANCE THAT DOES COME IN WHEN IT DOES IN OKLAHOMA IS ABOUT $5,000 ON AVERAGE, SO IT'S NOT MUCH.

THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, HOWEVER, PROVIDES LOW INTEREST LOANS THAT CAN REALLY HELP REBUILD AN ENTIRE PROPERTY.

SO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR NOW.

STATE GOVERNMENT IS WIELDING THE POWER IT HAS TO EXPEDITE RESOURCES.

A STATE OF EMERGENCY FREES UP A LOT OF STATE RESOURCES.

SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO THAT GIVE US JURISDICTIONAL AUTHORITY TO COME IN AND HELP THAT OTHERWISE WOULDN'T.

AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF OUR SOCIAL SERVICES ARE SNAPPED AT SOME OF THE NUTRITION ASSISTANCE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN LOST THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

THEY CAN RECOUP SOME OF THAT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IS NOT UNLIMITED.

WE CAN NEVER DO ENOUGH.

AND THAT'S THE HARDEST PART.

THE HEARTBREAK IS VERY CHALLENGING FOR US.

AFTER ANY NATURAL DISASTER, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ARE INDISPENSABLE.

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS PERUSES HARD HIT NEIGHBORHOODS DELIVERING FOOD, WATER AND SUPPLIES, AS WELL AS HAVING HUBS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK IN AND RECEIVE ASSISTANCE.

OFTENTIMES CHURCHES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS.

WHEN YOU COME TO A SHELTER, YOU CAN COUNT ON GETTING HOT MEALS DURING THE DAY.

SNACKS AND WATER.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN PROVIDE CRITICAL HEALTH SERVICES.

SAY YOU LOST PRESCRIPTIONS OR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IN A DISASTER, AND YOU NEED TO GET THOSE REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP WITH EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, SPIRITUAL CARE AND THEN JUST HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHAT COMES NEXT AFTER DISASTER.

WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO AREN'T SURE WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY LOSE THEIR HOME TO A TORNADO OR A WILDFIRE OR ANOTHER DISASTER, AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAN HELP THEM WITH, IS WE CAN CONNECT THEM WITH A CASEWORKER WHO CAN START WALKING THEM THROUGH THE RECOVERY PROCESS.

RED CROSS SPOKESPERSON MATT TROTTER SAYS ADMITTING YOU NEED HELP MAY BE THE FIRST HURDLE ANYONE FACES AFTER A DISASTER.

RED CROSS HELP IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS IT DURING A DISASTER.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU NEED HELP, WE'RE THERE FOR PEOPLE.

I TALKED TO A MAN AT THIS SHELTER WHERE HE LOST HIS HOME AND 85 YEARS OLD.

HIS DAUGHTER BROUGHT HIM IN, TALKED ABOUT HOW HE'S THE ONE THAT HELPS PEOPLE ALL THE TIME OVER HERE.

AND IT WAS REALLY TOUGH FOR HIM JUST TO SAY HE NEEDED HELP.

FOR SHANE, RECOVERY LOOKS LIKE A LONG, DAUNTING ROAD.

I'M SURE I'LL GET BY EVENTUALLY, BUT IT'LL PROBABLY TAKE ME YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

I MEAN, THAT'S 15 YEARS WORTH OF MY STUFF.

BUT AS FOR VIRGINIA, NEGATIVITY IS NOT IN HER NATURE.

WELL, YOU GOT TO FIND THE GOOD PART, BECAUSE, I MEAN, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF BAD, YOU KNOW, AND NOTHING IS KEEPING HER AWAY FROM HER HOME, EVEN IF THAT HOME IS JUST TWO COTS IN A CELLAR.

AND I HAD SOMEONE ASK ME, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO STAY IN A HOLE IN THE GROUND?

AND I SAID, BECAUSE IT'S MY HOLE IN THE GROUND.

I'VE LOST EVERYTHING AND THERE'S NOTHING LEFT BUT THIS RIGHT HERE, THIS DIRT, THIS ASH.

IT'S ALL MINE.

WE GOT TO CLEAN IT UP.

SO WE GOT TO STAY OUT HERE AND STAY AFTER IT, YOU KNOW?

SHANE AND HIS WIFE STAYED WITH HIS BROTHER AFTER THE DESTRUCTION, AND THE REST OF HIS TENANTS RECEIVED SUPPORT AND A PLACE TO SLEEP FROM THE RED CROSS.

RICH.

NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL, THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT TAKING SOMETHING THAT'S BROKEN AND PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

EVEN BETTER THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT A TULSA ENTREPRENEUR HAS DONE WITH ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC PIECES OF REAL ESTATE IN OKLAHOMA.

HERE'S MY REPORT ON TERESA KNOX THAT FIRST AIRED ON SEPTEMBER 5TH.

THE CHURCH STUDIO BEGAN LIFE AS THE GRACE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN 1915, JUST EIGHT YEARS AFTER OKLAHOMA BECAME A STATE.

ITS HISTORY IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF A COFFEE TABLE TOME.

WEIGHING A HEFTY 6 POUNDS AND PACKED WITH HUNDREDS OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND A TEXT WRITTEN BY THE VISIONARY RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER LEON RUSSELL'S FAMED RECORDING STUDIO BACK TO LIFE.

SOMEBODY.

WELL, I WROTE THE BOOK SANCTUARY OF SOUND BECAUSE I THINK THE STORY OF THIS BUILDING IS SO IMPORTANT AND REALLY NEEDED TO BE TOLD.

SO I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW OVER 400 PEOPLE.

TERESA AND HER HUSBAND, IVAN, BOUGHT THE DILAPIDATED CHURCH STUDIO IN 2016.

SHE SPENT SIX AND A HALF YEARS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RESTORING THE BUILDING THAT LEON AND HIS FAMOUS FRIENDS RECORDED IN FROM 1972 UNTIL 1976, WE HAD OVER 300 CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS THAT WERE HERE ON SITE.

OF COURSE, WE HAD TO REDO THE PLUMBING AND THE WIRING, ALL THE MECHANICAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE BROUGHT IN 28 MILES OF WIRE TO THE BUILDING, AND ALL OF THAT COMMENCED BEFORE THE STUDIO WAS ADDED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES IN 2017.

CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR, BECAUSE WHEN YOU FOLLOW THOSE BEST PRACTICES SET FORTH BY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, IT YOU KNOW, IT ADDS A WHOLE LAYER OF SCRUTINY AND DIFFERENT THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO.

SO WE WENT WAY OVER BUDGET, BUT THIS HAS BEEN A PASSION PROJECT.

I'VE BEEN A LEON RUSSELL FAN MY ENTIRE LIFE, AND SO IT REALLY NEEDED TO HAPPEN.

RECOUPING THOSE INVESTMENTS IS AN ONGOING PROCESS, BUT THE SUCCESS OF THE REFURBISHED RECORDING STUDIO IS EXCEEDING ALMOST EVERYONE'S EXPECTATIONS.

IT IS KIND OF SHOCKING HOW BUSY WE ARE.

WE'VE RECORDING SESSIONS OFTEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK ON AVERAGE, 5 TO 6 DAYS A WEEK.

PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO COME TO OKLAHOMA TO RECORD WITH US, SO IT'S REALLY GREAT FOR OUR CITY, FOR OUR STATE, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S PART OF THAT TOURISM, PART OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND TOURISM HAS ON OUR STATE.

I LOOK IN THE EYES OF THE DEVIL.

YEAH.

ONE OF THE FIRST ACTS TO BREAK IN THE NEW STUDIO IN 2022 WAS JAKE AND THE IDOLS, A SOUTHERN SOUL FUNK ROCK POWER QUINTET THAT FELT RIGHT AT HOME.

RIGHT AWAY.

WE KIND OF GOT TO BE THE THE GUINEA PIGS HERE BECAUSE IT WAS IT HAD JUST OPENED FOR THE MOST PART, AND THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL OF ARTISTS THAT HAD GOTTEN TO COME IN AND KIND OF TEST OUT THE NEW FACILITY, AS IT HAD BEEN JUST REBUILT AND REVAMPED.

IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SOUND.

ME AND MY HOOLIGANS ARE IN THE ACTUAL ROOM, BANGING ON ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN GET OUR HANDS ON.

COMING IN HERE IS DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER STUDIO.

YOU KIND OF GET A VIBE BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF EVERYTHING, AND IT JUST REALLY LOOKS COOL.

I MEAN, WALKING INTO A CHURCH AND THEN INTO THIS GIANT, GIANT, STINKING ROOM.

IN.

THE CHURCH OPERATES AS A 501 C, THREE NONPROFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.

STANTON DOYLE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHURCH STUDIO MUSIC FOUNDATION.

THE CHURCH STUDIOS ROLE IS TO SUPPORT, EDUCATE AND INSPIRE THOSE MUSIC MAKERS WITH AN INCREDIBLE RECORDING STUDIO.

NUMBER ONE, AND THEN OUR INTERPRETIVE EXHIBITS THAT TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH STUDIO, THE TULSA SOUND, AND THAT EDUCATION INCLUDES ON SITE INSTRUCTION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF SOUND ENGINEERS.

I COME FROM CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

THAT WAS MY CAREER BEFORE EMBARKING ON THIS CHAPTER AND NEVER THOUGHT I'D START ANOTHER SCHOOL, BUT WE WENT AHEAD.

SO WE OFFER A SOUND ENGINEERING PROGRAM, AND WE ALSO OFFER LIVE SOUND ENGINEERING, AND WE HAVE A MUSIC VIDEO PRODUCTION COURSE THAT WILL BE OFFERED IN 2026.

WE TAKE SIX STUDENTS AT A TIME.

IT'S A HYBRID PROGRAM.

VINTAGE IS ANTIQUE.

THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT BACK UP TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS.

THIS BUILDING IS CHOCK FULL OF REALLY COOL STUFF FROM THIS NEVE 8068 CONSOLE, PURCHASED FROM PRODUCER DANIEL LANOIS AND USED BY BOB DYLAN, NEIL YOUNG, WILLIE NELSON, EMMYLOU HARRIS AND OTHER LUMINARIES.

AND THERE'S THE COMMISSION STAINED GLASS PANELS IN THE CHURCH'S BELFRY.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE LEON RUSSELL, WE HAVE WILLIE NELSON, WE HAVE GEORGE HARRISON, WHO WAS HERE, WE HAVE BOB DYLAN, WE HAVE TOM PETTY.

TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS GOT THEIR START HERE.

ERIC CLAPTON HAD A ROLE IN THE STUDIO IN THE 1970S, SO HE HAS A STAINED GLASS PORTRAIT AS WELL.

AND CLAPTON'S ROADCASE GUARDS THE TOP OF THE STAIRS TO JUST ABOVE THE LENTICULAR IMAGE OF A YOUNG AND AN OLDER LEON RUSSELL.

BUT THIS HAS TO BE MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE.

CHECK OUT THIS SCULPTURE.

NOT FROM THAT ANGLE.

FROM THAT ANGLE.

YEP, THE CHURCH STUDIO IN 3D.

LIKE I SAID, PRETTY COOL.

1972 IS WHEN LEON WAS SITTING ACROSS THE STREET AND HE DECIDED HE WANTED TO BUY THE BUILDING.

YEAH, THERE'S ABOUT TEN EMPLOYEES AND APPROXIMATELY 150 VOLUNTEERS.

ABOUT 50 OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS ARE DOCENTS, SO THEY ACTUALLY PROVIDE TOURS ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.

MARK ZELTNER, A RETIRED MUSIC PROFESSOR, IS ONE OF THEM.

AND THOUGH HER OFFICIAL TITLE IS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT HEART, THIS ENTREPRENEUR IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, A LIFELONG FAN OF THE TULSA SOUND AND THE MUSICIANS WHO CREATED THE MUSIC THAT DEFINED THE TERM.

I'VE BEEN COLLECTING LEON RUSSELL MEMORABILIA, AND REALLY A LOT OF OTHER TULSA ARTISTS LIKE JJ KILL AND DAVID GATES, AND I STARTED COLLECTING WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD, ACQUIRED MY FIRST PIECE, AND THEN STARTED COLLECTING RECORDS.

I HAVE PROBABLY 8000 VINYL RECORDS, I HAVE OVER 40 TURNTABLES, AND I'M JUST REALLY PROUD OF ALL THE ARTISTS THAT CAME FROM MY HOME STATE OF OKLAHOMA, AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING I REALLY CLING TO AS A CHILD.

IT MOTIVATED ME AND INSPIRED ME, AND STILL TO THIS DAY.

WELL, TULSA ISN'T THE ONLY CITY THAT HAS SOMETHING TO CHEER ABOUT.

BY JUST ABOUT ANY MEASUREMENT, 2025 WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL AND POSITIVE YEARS IN OKLAHOMA CITY'S HISTORY.

HOME TO AN NBA CHAMPION, SOON TO BE HOME OF SUMMER OLYMPIC EVENTS.

AND THERE'S EVEN A RECENTLY PASSED NEARLY $3 BILLION BOND ISSUE TO HELP KEEP THE PROGRESS ROLLING.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THAT.

JASON RICH, WHEN THIS STORY AIRED OVER THE SUMMER, THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY WAS GEARING UP TO PROMOTE THAT MAJOR BOND ISSUE, AND IT WILL HELP MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AHEAD OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES.

AS OKLAHOMA CITY CONTINUES TO GROW INTO HIS ROLE AS A MAJOR LEAGUE CITY.

THE STATE OF OUR CITY IN 2025 IS ASSURED.

OKLAHOMA CITY MAYOR DAVID HOLT TAKES CENTER STAGE AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY CONVENTION CENTER ON WEDNESDAY TO GIVE HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS, OUTLINING RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE GOALS CITY LEADERS ARE SETTING FOR THE FUTURE.

WE ARE CONFIDENT, BUT IT IS NO LONGER THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE SOMETHING.

IT IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE.

OF COURSE, HOLT AND MUCH OF OKLAHOMA CITY, STILL IN THE AFTERGLOW OF THE THUNDER WINNING THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP, HELPING TO POINT THE CITY IN A NEW DIRECTION.

OUR CHAMPIONS PARADE WASN'T JUST A CELEBRATION OF HAVING SCORED MORE POINTS THAN THE OTHER TEAM, IT WAS A RECOGNITION THAT THIS IS OUR TIME FOR HALF A MILLION PEOPLE THERE, AND MANY MORE WATCHING AT HOME.

JUNE 24TH WAS A COLLECTIVE EMOTIONAL RELEASE FOR A CITY THAT HAD LABORED FOR THREE DECADES TO REALIZE THAT MOMENT.

IT'S BEEN 33 YEARS SINCE OKLAHOMA CITY VOTERS APPROVED THE MAPS PROGRAM TO INVEST INTO MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, PUTTING THE CITY ON THE PATH TO TODAY.

BEFORE THE MOST ANTICIPATED PART OF HOLT'S SPEECH, THE TWO TERM MAYOR ENCOURAGED VOTERS TO CONSIDER APPROVING A MAJOR GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PACKAGE THIS FALL.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14TH, OUR FIRST SUCH BOND ISSUE PACKAGE SINCE 2017.

THIS NEW BOND ISSUE PUTS $2.7 BILLION TOWARDS CORE INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE CITY, AND IT DOES SO WITHOUT INCREASING PROPERTY TAX RATES, AS IT WILL SIMPLY EXTEND THE TAXATION THAT HAS EXPIRED FROM PREVIOUS BOND ISSUES.

IF APPROVED, PART OF THE BOND ISSUE WILL HELP PREPARE OKLAHOMA CITY FOR ANOTHER MAJOR SPORTING EVENT, THE 2028 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES.

THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY, OUR STATE AND THIS ENTIRE REGION OF THE COUNTRY.

ON MONDAY OF THIS WEEK, WE PASSED THE THREE YEAR COUNTDOWN TO THE OPENING CEREMONY ON JULY 14TH, 2028.

ONE OF THOSE EVENTS WILL BE OLYMPIC SOFTBALL, SO IT'S SAFE TO SAY IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, OKLAHOMA CITY COULD BE ON THE SAME LEVEL AS ATHENS AND TOKYO AND AND BEIJING.

AND ABSOLUTELY, WE WILL BE ONE OF SIX CITIES TO HAVE EVER HOSTED OLYMPIC SOFTBALL.

CHERYL BOND WITH USA SOFTBALL IS EXCITED TO HOST THE EVENT AT DEVON PARK, HOME OF THE WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES.

COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED FOR OUR FANS, OUR SPORT, TO BE BACK ON THE OLYMPIC PROGRAM AND THEN TO HAVE IT HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY AS A NATIVE OKLAHOMAN, AS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME, BOND SAYS SOFTBALL FANS SHOULD ONLY SEE A MINOR CHANGE TO THE FIELD IN 2028.

I THINK ONE THING THE FANS WILL NOTICE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'VE BEEN TO THE WORLD SERIES BEFORE, IS THE FIELD IS BIGGER.

THE WORLD SERIES IS PLAYED 200FT DOWN EACH LINE AND 220FT IN CENTER FIELD.

FOR INTERNATIONAL SOFTBALL, IT'S 220FT ALL THE WAY AROUND, SO IT'S A BIGGER OUTFIELD.

OTHER THAN THAT, THE GAMES ARE THE SAME, SHE ADDS.

USA SOFTBALL, HEADQUARTERED IN OKLAHOMA CITY, WILL HAVE PLENTY OF PRACTICE TO GET READY FOR THE OLYMPICS IN THREE YEARS.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL EVENTS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

WORLD SERIES WE CONTINUE TO GROW EVERY YEAR WITH WHAT WE PLAY OUT HERE.

WE HOST OVER 1500 GAMES THIS SUMMER OUT HERE, SO COME ON OUT AND WATCH SOME SOFTBALL.

THE OTHER EVENTS FOCUSED ON WATER SPORTS AND WILL TAKE PLACE AT RIVER SPORT ALONG THE OKLAHOMA RIVER, JUST OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HOST THE CANOE SLALOM PORTION OF THE OLYMPICS, AND THIS WILL BE NINE DAYS OF COMPETITION IN 2028.

THE CANOE SLALOM PORTION IS A TOTAL OF SIX MEDAL EVENTS.

YOU'LL SEE KAYAKERS AND CANOEISTS GOING THROUGH THE SLALOM COMPETITIONS DOWN OUR WHITEWATER COURSE, REALLY ONE OF THE BEST WHITEWATER COURSES IN THE WORLD.

AND THEN WE'LL ALSO GET TO SEE KAYAK CROSS.

AND THAT'S A NEW DISCIPLINE THAT WAS THAT DEBUTED IN PARIS.

AND IT'S REALLY FAST PACED, SUPER EXCITING FOR BOATS GO OFF A RAMP AT ONE TIME AND IT'S IT'S KIND OF FULL CONTACT ALL THE WAY DOWN THE COURSE.

SO SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SHOWCASE ALL OF THAT IN 2028.

HOSTING THESE OLYMPIC EVENTS IS A GOLD MEDAL OPPORTUNITY FOR OKLAHOMA CITY.

OKLAHOMA CITY IS THE ONLY CITY OR THE ONLY LOCATION OUTSIDE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO ACTUALLY HOST MEDAL EVENTS.

SO THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND REALLY ALLOWS US TO BRING THE OLYMPICS TO MIDDLE AMERICA.

OKLAHOMA CITY'S COURSE WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM WHERE THESE ATHLETES ARE USED TO COMPETING.

WHAT MAKES THIS SO UNIQUE AND AND REALLY DIFFERENTIATING FROM EVERY COURSE OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD IS THAT IT'S URBAN, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT A DOWNTOWN SKYLINE AS YOU'RE GOING DOWN THE COURSE AND, AND THE VIEWS THAT, THAT WILL, THAT WILL CREATE IN TERMS OF ON THE GLOBAL TELEVISION IS JUST GOING TO BE AMAZING.

THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY, OUR STATE AND THIS ENTIRE REGION OF THE COUNTRY.

ON MONDAY OF THIS WEEK, WE PASSED THE THREE YEAR COUNTDOWN TO THE OPENING CEREMONY ON JULY 14TH, 2028.

WHILE THE OLYMPICS GOT THE SOLD OUT CROWD EXCITED, IT WAS THE UNVEILING OF THE NEW DOWNTOWN ARENA'S DESIGN THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR.

OUR CURRENT ARENA IS TOO SMALL BY SQUARE FOOTAGE, LACKS THE AMENITIES OF A MODERN AND MORE EXPENSIVE ARENA, AND IT IS GROWING TOO OLD.

THIS NEW ARENA WILL ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE ISSUES.

AND FINALLY, THE UNVEILING.

THE ARCHITECT WHO DESIGNED THE NEW PLANS FOR THE ARENA WAS ON HAND TO DESCRIBE WHAT TO EXPECT.

ONE OF THE MOMENTS IN THAT VISIONING SESSION THAT STRUCK ME SOMEWHERE REALLY DEEP INSIDE, AND A MOMENT I WILL NEVER FORGET, WAS ACTUALLY CLAY BENNETT'S COMMENT TO ME DIRECTLY IN THAT ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE.

HE SAID, DAVID, WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO DESIGN THE NEXT GREAT ARENA OF THIS GENERATION.

WE'RE DESIGNING THE FIRST GREAT ARENA OF THE NEXT GENERATION.

NO PRESSURE THERE, BY THE WAY, AT ALL.

BUT WHAT I IMMEDIATELY UNDERSTOOD WAS WHAT HE MEANT.

THIS BUILDING HAD TO BE ALL OF THESE THINGS TOGETHER, SIMPLE AND YET SOPHISTICATED, COMPLETELY UNIQUE, BUT ALSO FAMILIAR AND TIMELESS.

BEAUTIFUL BUT ALSO HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL AND ABOVE ALL, SPECTACULAR ENOUGH TO BRING THE EYES OF THE WORLD TO OKC AGAIN.

AND FOR OKC AND ALL OF ITS PEOPLE TO BE PROUD OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE HERE TOGETHER.

DEMOLITION OF THE OLD MYRIAD CONVENTION CENTER IS UNDERWAY, WITH THE NEW ARENA EXPECTED TO OPEN IN ITS PLACE IN 2028.

DAVID, YOU HAVE GIVEN OUR CITY AN AMAZING GIFT.

THIS DESIGN IS TRULY ONE OF ONE, AND IT WILL COME TO DEFINE OKLAHOMA CITY.

AND DEMOLITION CONTINUES OF THE OLD MYRIAD CONVENTION CENTER TO MAKE WAY FOR THAT NEW STADIUM.

PART OF THAT PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

RICH, JASON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW, IN LATE AUGUST, RIVER SPORT OKC WAS THE SITE FOR A COMPETITION INVOLVING FIRST RESPONDERS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD, SOME AS FAR AWAY AS NEW ZEALAND.

THAT EVENT, HOSTED BY OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, WAS A WEEK LONG CONFERENCE TO TEACH AND TEST WHITEWATER RESCUE SKILLS.

TAYLOR JACKSON CHECKED IT OUT AND JOINS US NOW WITH HER REPORT.

TAYLOR.

WELL, RICH, THE RIVER SPORT REALLY PROVIDED A GREAT CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT FOR THESE FIRST RESPONDERS TO LEARN AND PRACTICE.

ALL OF THOSE SWIFT WATER SKILLS.

BY ALL MEANS.

SELF-RESCUE MORE THAN 121ST RESPONDERS SPENT THIS WEEK GAINING NEW SKILLS AT THE 2025 RIVER SPORTS SWIFT WATER CONFERENCE.

THIS IS OUR FOURTH ONE WITH OSU HERE AT RIVER SPORT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PREMIER SWIFT WATER FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE DOING THE KAYAKS FOR THE OLYMPICS.

THE 2028 OLYMPICS WILL BE HERE AND SO CAN'T FIND A BETTER PLACE TO TRAIN.

AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

MICHAEL HARVEY IS ONE OF THEM.

HE LIVES IN NEW ZEALAND AND TRAVELED MORE THAN 7500 MILES TO BE HERE.

I'M FOREVER LEARNING, PICKING WEE BITS AND PIECES OUT AND BEING ABLE TO TAKE THEM BACK TO NEW ZEALAND TO TEACH THE OTHER FIREFIGHTERS AND KEEP MY GUYS SAFE, AND MORE TOOLS FOR THE TOOLBOX THAT THEY CAN PICK OUT IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS AND AFFECT PROPER RESCUES.

HARVEY SAYS.

DUE TO WEATHER PATTERNS, CHANGING, LEARNING SWIFT WATER RESCUE SKILLS IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE BACK HOME.

WE'RE GETTING A LOT MORE FLOODING AND GETTING TURNED OUT SO SWIFT.

WATER RESCUE IS ONLY A NEW THING IN NEW ZEALAND.

FIRE SERVICE HAVE ONLY BEEN DOING IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND AND SO YEAH, IT WE'RE FRESH OFF THE BOAT.

WE'RE JUST WE'RE LEARNING STUFF HARD AND FAST AND COPING WITH ALL THESE WEATHER PATTERNS AS THEY COME IN BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE A MARINE ENVIRONMENT.

WE'RE TWO SMALL ISLANDS REALLY.

AND THE WEATHER COMES IN FROM THE SEA AND HITS PRETTY FAST, DOES A LOT OF DAMAGE.

OSU'S LEAD, TECHNICAL RESCUE AND WATER INSTRUCTOR GREG MERRILL SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO BRUSH UP ON THEIR SWIFT WATER RESCUE SKILLS.

THE MOST COMMON TECHNICAL RESCUE THAT ANYBODY WILL MAKE WILL BE A FLOOD WATER SWIFT WATER RESCUE, AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.

SOME ATTENDEES COME FROM SMALL TOWNS WITH LIMITED RESCUE OPTIONS.

WATER IS A VERY DYNAMIC, VERY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT AND THEY JUST HAVE TO BE READY FOR ANYTHING.

EACH GROUP OF RESPONDERS ROTATED THROUGH NINE DIFFERENT SKILL SET STATIONS, LIKE ANIMAL WATER RESCUE AND WADE CROSSING.

WE HAVE VICTIMS COMING THROUGH THAT WE ALL KNOW AND WE TELL THEM, ARMS UP, ARMS UP, GRAB THAT ROPE.

THESE GUYS ARE USING ATTENTION DIAGONAL.

THIS IS A CATCH.

IT'S A IT'S A SAFETY NET FOR THESE GUYS.

FOR ANYBODY THAT'S DOWN THAT'S THAT.

THEY'RE DOING OPERATIONS UPSTREAM.

THIS IS A SAFETY NET FOR DOWNSTREAM TO CATCH ANY VICTIMS.

EITHER THAT OR RESCUERS THAT COULD BE FALLEN TO THE WATER AND BE PUT IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

WATER MOVING GREATER THAN 1.5MPH IS CONSIDERED SWIFT WATER.

WE RUN INTO THIS A LOT.

PEOPLE MAY BE FLUSHED DOWNSTREAM AND AGAINST A BRIDGE PILLAR, SO THEY'RE PINNED UP AGAINST A BRIDGE PILLAR AND THEY'RE BARELY HANGING ON.

WE HAVE A RAPID SYSTEM WHERE BASICALLY, ONCE THE FIRST RESPONDERS SHOW UP ON SCENE, WE CAN MAKE PATIENT CONTACT THAT VICTIM AND SECURE THEM WITHIN ABOUT 30S OF ARRIVING ON SCENE.

JUST DO A SIMPLE ROPE SYSTEM DOWN TO THE VICTIM, THEN TIE THEM OFF, BRING THEM, AND THEN IT'LL BE A LONGER PROCESS TO BUILD THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

BRING THEM BACK TO UP TO US.

JOSH FORSMAN IS ONE OF THE INSTRUCTORS THIS WEEK.

HIS STATION FOCUSES ON FLAT WATER BASICS.

SO IN THESE LAKES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO OUT AND SWIM AND THEY GET CAUGHT, WHETHER IT'S AN ENTRAPMENT OR JUST DROWNING OR THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM, WE'RE TEACHING THEM BASIC WATER RESCUE TO BE ABLE TO PULL THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF THE WATER, HE SAYS.

A LOT OF FIRST RESPONDERS ATTENDING THE EVENT COME FROM STATES LIKE OKLAHOMA AND ARKANSAS THAT HAVE FLAT WATER AREAS, SUCH AS LAKES.

WE'RE TEACHING GUYS WHAT WE DO DAILY WITH THE RESCUES THAT WE GO ON IN THE WATER FOR, AND THEN WE TRY AND SPECIALIZE WITH THE KIND OF EQUIPMENT THAT THESE FIREMEN WILL CARRY ON THEIR RIGS.

HE SAYS.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILLS A WATER RESPONDER NEEDS IS THE ABILITY TO SWIM WELL.

I'D SAY SWIM CONFIDENCE.

BEING ABLE TO SWIM, THAT'S DEFINITELY A HUGE PART OF IT AND KNOWING YOUR EQUIPMENT.

SO A LOT OF THESE GUYS WEAR DRY SUITS THAT RESTRICT THEIR MOVEMENT IN THE WATER OR THE PFDS.

PPFD STANDS FOR PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE'RE GOING FOR RESCUES, WE DON'T WEAR PFDS AT ALL.

WELL, WE HAVE SOME RIVERS BY US THAT YOU HAVE TO WEAR A PHD IN, BUT FOR PEOPLE THAT GO IN THE WATER WITH THEM EVERY DAY, WITH THE DRY SUITS AND ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND THE BOOTS, THAT DEFINITELY LIKE HOLDS THEM DOWN, AND JUST KNOWING YOUR EQUIPMENT AND KNOWING THE STRENGTHS THAT YOU CAN USE IN THOSE TYPE OF RESCUES.

ANOTHER SYSTEM FIRST RESPONDERS LEARNED THIS WEEK INVOLVED A RESCUE FROM A BRIDGE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE SWEPT DOWNSTREAM.

WE'RE UNABLE TO JUST REPEL OFF A BRIDGE OR A HIGH POINT.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO USE WHAT WE CALL A HIGH LINE.

IT'S OVER THE WATER, MANIPULATING PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE AND THEN ACTUALLY LOWERING TO THE VICTIM, PICKING THEM OFF CARS, ROCKS OR OFF A TREE.

MERRILL SAYS OKLAHOMA FIRST RESPONDERS PUT THESE SKILLS INTO ACTION OFTEN.

WE DO MAKE SEVERAL SWIFTWATER RESCUES HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND OKLAHOMA ITSELF.

THE WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME INCIDENTS AS THEY MIGHT HAVE ON COASTAL.

THEY HAVE THE HURRICANE RESPONSE, WHICH WE GO TO AS A TASK FORCE, SO OBVIOUSLY NEED TRAINING FOR THAT.

FIRST RESPONDERS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE 2026 OKLAHOMA SWIFT WATER RESCUE CONFERENCE SHOULD MARK THEIR CALENDARS FOR AUGUST 24TH THROUGH THE 28TH.

RICH EXCITING STUFF.

TAYLOR.

THANK YOU.

THE CEREMONIAL SIGNING OF WHAT IS NOW OFFICIALLY REFERRED TO AS THE TRUMP DECLARATION FOR ENDURING PEACE AND PROSPERITY OCCURRED IN EGYPT ON OCTOBER 13TH.

THAT SAME WEEK, WE DEVOTED OUR INDEX SEGMENT TO HOW THE AGREEMENT WAS BEING PERCEIVED BY MEMBERS OF THE JEWISH AND PALESTINIAN COMMUNITIES HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

HERE'S THAT ENLIGHTENING CONVERSATION BETWEEN MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD AND HER SPECIAL PANEL OF GUESTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION IS RABBI ED HARRIS OF THE TEMPLE B'NAI ISRAEL AND IMAM AHMAD IN CHELSEA WITH THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE ON IN DEPTH.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

OF COURSE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO LET'S START WITH YOUR REACTIONS TO THE RELEASE OF THE ISRAELI HOSTAGES AND THE PALESTINIAN DETAINEES.

RABBI HARRIS, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

WE'RE OVERJOYED THAT THE HOSTAGES ARE HOME AND STARTING TO RECEIVE THE TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED, THAT THEIR FAMILIES CAN HOLD THEM IN THEIR ARMS AGAIN?

OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE STILL PRAYING FOR AND WAITING FOR THE DECEASED HOSTAGES TO ALSO BE RETURNED HOME.

BUT JUST OVERJOYED.

OVERJOYED.

AND IMAM, HOW DID YOU FEEL SEEING THOSE VIDEOS OF REUNIFICATION AND HEARING FROM YOUR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT THIS JOY?

AGAIN, THE THE THE I THINK I TOLD MY WIFE FOR THE FIRST TIME AS I'LL BE ABLE TO GET A FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP.

I'VE BEEN A NEWS JUNKIE ALMOST TWO LAST TWO YEARS, WATCHING AND ANTICIPATING CRYING.

BUT WHEN THEY WHEN THEY WHEN THEY DECLARED THAT THE WAR IS OVER AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXCHANGE AND AND THE HOSTAGES ARE COMING OUT AND THE PALESTINIANS ARE COMING OUT, IT WAS IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WATCHING WATCHING PEOPLE BEING REUNITED WITH THEIR WITH THEIR FAMILY IS JUST A FEELING THAT I KNOW VERY, VERY, VERY WELL.

TEARS MIXED WITH LAUGHS MIXED WITH JUMPING UP AND DOWN MIXED WITH CAUTION.

OPTIMISM.

BUT OVERALL A FEELING OF JOY THAT THIS WAR HAS STOPPED.

AND IMAM, WE'VE SPOKEN BEFORE AND YOU JOINED US RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS, AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS, ALL TWO YEARS AGO.

WE'VE SPOKEN BEFORE ABOUT HOW YOUR FAMILY HAS BEEN DEEPLY, DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THIS.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THEM NOW?

WELL, THEY'RE HAPPY THEY'RE GOING BACK HOME, BUT THERE'S NO HOME.

THEY'RE HAPPY.

THEY'RE GOING BACK TO THEIR STREET.

I GOT A I GOT A MESSAGE.

WHENEVER THEY GET INTERNET.

AND THEY SHOW ME THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY HAVE THAT IS NO LONGER THERE.

ONE OF MY RELATIVES ACTUALLY HAVE A THREE HOUSE, A THREE STORY HOUSE THAT HAVE PANCAKED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

AND SHE HAVE THAT THE VERY ENTRANCE OF THAT HOUSE.

AND SHE WAS VERY GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS WHERE HER AND, AND 11 MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY IS GOING TO BE STAYING FOR RIGHT NOW.

SO MANY OF THEM WERE VERY HAPPY THAT THE WAR IS OVER AND THAT THE BOMBING IS OVER.

AND AND THEY ARE GOING TO GET TO GO BACK HOME, BUT ALSO WELL AWARE THAT THERE'S NO SIGN OF LIFE, NO WATER, NO ELECTRICITY, NO INTERNET, NO HOSPITALS TO GO TO.

AND DESPITE ALL OF THAT, I'VE NEVER SEEN MORE RESILIENT PEOPLE THAN THIS, THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE ERECTING A TENT AND AND SITTING THERE ON TOP OF THEIR HOUSES.

RABBI HARRIS, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NEXT STEP SHOULD BE TO KEEP PEACE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS?

WELL, I THINK THAT HAMAS NEEDS TO STEP UP AND UPHOLD THEIR END OF THE DEAL.

YOU KNOW, WITH WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THE WAR IS NOT OVER.

WAR IS A LEGAL STATUS.

IT WAS THERE'S A WAR THAT WAS DECLARED.

AND UNTIL THE WAR IS ENDED IN EVEN IF IT'S A FORMALITY TO HAVE THE KNESSET SAY, OKAY, WELL, WE'RE NOT IN WAR ANYMORE.

THERE ARE THERE'S STAGE ONE, STAGE TWO OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS PEACE AGREEMENT.

AND I THINK THAT PEACE SEEKING PEOPLE NEED TO STEP UP AND UPHOLD EACH OF THEIR ENDS OF THE BARGAIN.

THERE IS THIS THERE IS THIS BRUTAL OCCUPATION THAT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ENDURING SINCE 1948.

AND THIS LAST ROUND IS JUST, JUST JUST AS TERRIBLE AS IT IS.

IF IT'S IF WE DON'T LOOK AT STAGE NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS THE IDEA OF A STATEHOOD AND THE IDEA OF THE PALESTINIAN SELF-DETERMINATION.

I'M AFRAID THIS IS GOING TO BE CONTINUING FOREVER AND EVER.

RABBI.

YEAH, PLEASE.

WELL, I'M CURIOUS, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OCCUPATION, WHAT ARE THE BORDERS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

ARE YOU SAYING THAT EVERYTHING THAT WAS PALESTINE UNDER THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE UP UNTIL WORLD WAR ONE?

WE WE'RE LOOKING IN 1967 BORDERS.

THAT'S WHAT THE OSLO AGREEMENT WAS, THAT THE PALESTINIANS GET THEIR OWN STATE.

AND NOW EVEN YOU SAID, OH, LET HIM FINISH HIS THOUGHTS REALLY QUICK SINCE 1948.

SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE OCCUPATION WAS IN 1948.

THE NAKBA STARTED IN 1948.

BUT WHAT THE PALESTINIANS HAVE AGREED TO IS THE 1967 BORDERS, WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN STATE, WHICH IS 22% OF OF THE LAND.

AND SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN SETTLEMENTS AFTER SETTLEMENTS, AFTER SETTLEMENTS, AS WE SPEAK, THERE ARE MORE SETTLEMENTS BEING BUILT.

ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS ARE BEING BUILT ON, ON PALESTINIAN PALESTINIAN LAND.

AGAIN, THE POINT, THE POINT IS NOT THE IS NOT THE YOU KNOW, THE PALESTINIANS ARE ARE READY TO HAVE A STATE THAT IS THAT IS 20% OF THEIR LAND.

AND THAT IS NOT HAPPENING.

AND ACTUALLY THE PUBLIC SENTIMENT OF, OF, OF THIS, THIS CURRENT GOVERNMENT IS THERE WILL BE NO PALESTINIAN STATE.

SO IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND LOOK OVER THOSE PLANS.

WILL GOING BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT.

RABBI, YOU BROUGHT THIS UP AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATION.

ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PACE OF THE REMAINS OF OUR HOSTAGES WHO HAVE PASSED GETTING THOSE BACK?

ABSOLUTELY.

BECAUSE IF HAMAS AGREED AS A PART OF THIS DEAL, TO RETURN THE DECEASED BODIES, THEN THAT IS A PART OF THIS PROMISE.

FAMILIES ARE STILL WAITING.

AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOT SKIRT AROUND, THOUGH THIS QUESTION OF OCCUPATION 1948 AND PALESTINIAN LAND.

BECAUSE IF WE ONLY START WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN 1948, THEN I THINK THAT WE GIVE THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT THERE WAS A AN AUTONOMOUS, SELF-GOVERNED PLACE CALLED PALESTINE.

BUT THE ATTEMPT FOR A TWO STATE SOLUTION GOES BACK TO 1947.

AND BEFORE THAT, THERE WASN'T AN AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT FOR EITHER OF THE PEOPLES.

SO AND THAT GOES BACK, OF COURSE, TO THE OTTOMANS AND THAT GOES BACK, YOU KNOW, BRITISH MANDATE OTTOMANS, ETC.

AND I THINK THAT IF WE LEAVE THAT OUT OF THE EQUATION, THEN WE END UP WITH PEOPLE CHANTING ABOUT FREE PALESTINE FROM OCCUPATION.

AND IT GETS VERY CONFUSING AS TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

CONNECTING THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACKS AND THE WAR THAT ENSUED AFTER THE GOVERNMENT OF GAZA, HAMAS WAGED A TERROR ATTACK INTO ISRAEL, CONNECTING THAT TO FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND SAYING THAT THAT HAS TO DO WITH LOOKING FOR AUTONOMOUS GOVERNANCE BECOMES A VERY, I THINK, SLIPPERY SLOPE OF CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT SENDS THEIR MILITARY INTO.

THE ROOMS OF BABIES TO CUT THEIR HEADS OFF.

WELL, IMAM, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT SIMPLE AS WELL ON EITHER SIDE.

IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED, COMPLICATED.

BUT, IMAM, PLEASE.

THE TWO STATE SOLUTION THAT WAS AGREED UPON IN OSLO.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

THE TWO STATE SOLUTION?

YES.

IN 1948, THE UNITED NATIONS SAID ESTABLISHED GAZA, WHICH WAS A LOT BIGGER PIECE OF LAND THAN THAT.

AND THE AND THE WEST BANK, THERE WAS A COHESIVE PIECE OF LAND.

BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE 1967 BORDERS AND THE OSLO AGREEMENT FOR, BY THE WAY, WHEN WE SAY TWO STATE SOLUTION, THE STATE OF ISRAEL ALREADY EXISTS.

SO THE ONLY THE ONLY STATE THAT DOESN'T EXIST IS A PALESTINIAN STATE.

THAT'S WHAT I MEAN BY BY BY THE IDEA OF, OF OF TWO STATE SOLUTION.

AND YOU KNOW, I AM NOT I'M SPEAKING OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND THE SUFFERING OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

I'M NOT SPEAKING ABOUT A SPECIFIC GROUP OR ANYBODY ELSE.

AND, RABBI, WHEN WE SPOKE BEFORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC, WE TALKED ABOUT REPEATING NARRATIVES.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM JOURNALISTS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS CONFLICT?

AND WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE HERE IN OKLAHOMA TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON?

BUT THERE IS NO DISTINCTION MADE BETWEEN A 17 YEAR OLD WHO'S A CHILD VERSUS A 17 YEAR OLD WHO'S CARRYING A AUTOMATIC OR SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPON.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE REPEATED THAT ARE IN THE CATEGORY OF POWERFUL HEADLINES.

AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN SUPER SUCCESSFUL WITH USING OUR CRITICAL THINKING TO REALLY PULL THOSE APART.

ALSO, THE IDEA OF OF COLONIZING, WHICH AGAIN, WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT HISTORY LIKE COLONIZING FOR WHOM?

WHO'S THE MONARCH THAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE COLONIZED FOR.

SO A LOT OF THOSE KINDS OF WORDS MATTER TO US.

IMAM, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

I DON'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT UP WITH WITH I, WITH, YOU KNOW, WORDS AND TERMINOLOGY AND AND IDENTIFICATION, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I COULD VERY CLEARLY TELL YOU THAT SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS CAME FROM THE UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.

THE THING IS, JUST FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING'S HAPPENING IN GAZA.

MY OWN FAMILY THAT LIVED IN GAZA ARE 76 PEOPLE.

17 HAVE BEEN MURDERED.

OUT OF THE 17 HAVE BEEN MURDERED, THERE ARE SEVEN CHILDREN.

THEY WERE LIVED IN TENTS.

THEY ARE NOW TEN MISSING, PRESUMED TO BE UNDER RUBBLE.

WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO CALL THAT COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT GENOCIDE, WHATEVER IT IS, THERE IS A CLEAR SUFFERING OF INNOCENT PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN WAR.

APPARENTLY, COMBATANTS CAN HIDE.

COMBATANTS CAN GO UNDERGROUND.

COMBATANTS HAVE TANKS.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHO LIVED IN DURING THE INVASION OF LEBANON, ISRAELI INVASION OF LEBANON, THAT THE SUFFERING OF THE YOU COULD CALL IT WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

BUT THERE IS A REAL SUFFERING OF THE PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THE NUMBER IS 70,000 PEOPLE OR NUMBER 100,000 PEOPLE, WHATEVER, WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS, ONE IS TOO MANY THOUGHTS MOVING FORWARD, RABBI, WHAT DO YOU THINK MOVING FORWARD?

MOVING FORWARD, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN NEXT?

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE REMAINING HOSTAGES RELEASED TO THEIR FAMILIES.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAMAS DISARMED AND GIVE UP CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT.

I THINK THAT A GOVERNMENT'S JOB IS TO PROTECT ITS PEOPLE.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ISRAEL HAVE PARTNERS THAT ACTUALLY RECOGNIZE AND HONOR, RESPECT ISRAEL'S EXISTENCE AND ARE INTERESTED IN MOVING FORWARD FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE.

AND, MOM, SAME QUESTION TO YOU GOING FORWARD, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN?

AND THEN, YEAH, I'D LIKE INTERNATIONAL LAW TO BE APPLIED.

THAT'S WHAT THE PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW, INTERNATIONAL LAW, INTERNATIONAL LAW.

THEY SUBMITTED AND SURRENDERED TO INTERNATIONAL LAW.

AND I'D LIKE TO SEE MY PEOPLE FREE.

I'D LIKE TO SEE MY PEOPLE WITHOUT OCCUPATION, WHETHER THAT'S IN THE WEST BANK OR IN GAZA.

I'D LIKE TO SEE MY PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN SELF-DETERMINATION, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE A PLACE CALLED THE STATE OF PALESTINE THAT IS RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED NATIONS.

WELL, AS THIS THESE PHASES CONTINUE ON.

WE'LL BE KEEPING UP WITH BOTH OF YOU.

WE'LL BE PRAYING VERY HARD.

VERY, VERY WE'LL BE PRAYING VERY, VERY HARD.

THAT'S THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I DO EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THIS TO HOLD, FOR THE CEASEFIRE TO HOLD AND FOR THIS WAR TO BE OVER AND FOR THE PEOPLE OF GAZA TO TO REBUILD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU.

AND FINALLY, EACH WEEK WE END THE NEWSCAST BY ROLLING OUR CREDITS OVER VIDEO CREATED BY OUR PRODUCTION TEAM.

THEY'RE ALL GREAT, BUT WE REALLY LIKE ONE CALLED BIRDIE.

SHOT AND EDITED BY LEGACY HOTEL.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

UNTIL THEN, KEEP IN MIND YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE, WETA-TV.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

BERT IS HERE.

DID YOU SAY BIRDIES HERE?

ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW I'M GOING TO BE THE BAD GUY HERE, BUT WORKING WITH BIRDIE, IT'S SO UNTENABLE.

I MEAN, SHE JUST DRAWS EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION.

I CAN'T GET ANY WORK DONE AROUND HERE.

WHEN SHE'S IN THE ROOM.

SHE JUST TAKES EVERYBODY'S TIME AROUND HERE.

THEY.

THEY'VE GOT TO CATER TO EVERY NEED THAT SHE HAS.

AND I'M JUST SIMPLY TRYING TO PUT ON A TV SHOW.

YEAH.

SO I, I AM THE TELEVISION DIRECTOR.

BUT TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST WITH YOU, BIRDIE'S THE REAL DIRECTOR.

HEY, COMING TO YOU IN FIVE FOR BIRDIE WANTS EVERYTHING PERFECT.

THE CAMERAS HAVE TO BE PERFECT IF YOU MOVE THE CAMERA WRONG BY JUST A LITTLE BIT BY A CENTIMETER, SHE WILL YELL AT ME.

YEAH, YOU KNOW, BIRDIE'S AWESOME.

I REALLY LIKE BIRDIE.

WORK WITH HER FOR A LONG TIME.

LEARNED A LOT FROM HER.

BUT MAN, IT'S JUST NOT MUCH OF A TEAM PLAYER.

HEY, BIRDIE, DO YOU THINK MAYBE YOU COULD HELP ME OUT A LITTLE BIT?

OH, OKAY.

OKAY.

NO, I GET IT.

I GET I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO BE I DON'T WANT TO BAD MOUTH ANYBODY, BUT SOMETIMES I JUST FEEL LIKE I'M KIND OF ON MY OWN, YOU KNOW?

SO BIRDIE IS, I WOULD SAY, OUR ALL AROUND BEST TEAM MEMBER.

SHE IS THE BEST.

HI.

MY NAME IS JENNIFER MULLINS.

I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS HERE AT OITA.

AND THE GENTLEMAN WITH ME NEEDS NO