>> AS ISRAEL'S WAR WITH HAMAS ESCALATES, JEWISH AND MUSLIM PEOPLE LIVING IN OKLAHOMA ARE EXPERIENCING MORE THREATS TO THEIR SAFETY.

>> ANY TIME THERE'S CONFLICT IN ISRAEL, THE ANTISEMITISM ALWAYS RISES, AND WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 388% YEAR OVER YEAR.

>> THE CLOSING OF A MAJOR FACTORY ROCKS THE CITY OF ARDMORE.

>> THE ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECT THAT WE'LL HAVE THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA AND THROUGH THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IS HARD TO IMAGINE.

>> OUR SERIES ON OKLAHOMA'S REMAINING BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS CONTINUES AT THE GUMBO FESTIVAL IN GRAYSON.

>> I'M TRYING TO ENJOY A DELICIOUS BOWL OF GUMBO AND WATCH MY SOONERS BEAT THE LONGHORNS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.

(LAUGHTER).

>> THAT 18-WHEELER PULLING UP NEXT TO YOU ON THE HIGHWAY MIGHT BE DRIVING ITSELF.

>> IF I HAD TO GIVE AN OPINION, THIS IS GOING TO MAKE THE ROADS SAFER.

THAT'S WHAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS FOR.

>> AN DEPTH DISCUSSION DISCUSSION OF THE MORE THAN 200 NEW LAWS THAT TOOK EFFECT IN THIS WEEK IN OKLAHOMA.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY, THE HISTORY OF OUR WORLD, AND SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS ARE INCREDIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> THOSE STORY STORIES AND MORE.

>> HELLO, EVERYONE.

AND WELCOME TO OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M RICH LENZ.

AS ISRAEL'S WAR WITH HAMAS ENTER THE SECOND PHASE THAT INCLUDES A GROUND INCURSION INTO GAZA, TENSIONS AROUND THE WORLD ARE INCREASING.

IS THAT TRUE HERE IN OKLAHOMA AS WELL?

JOEL FILOMENO JOINS US NOW TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

JOEL.

>> RICH, AT THIS POINT, OKLAHOMA HAS NOT SEEN THE TYPE OF THREATENING ANTISEMITIC PROTESTS TAKES PLACE IN CITIES AND COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT BOTH THE JEWISH AND MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN OUR STATE ARE EXPERIENCING A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN HATE CRIMES AND THREATS SINCE OCTOBER 7th.

>> GOOD MORNING, JEWISH FEDERATION.

>> RACHEL JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY, SAYS ANTISEMITISM HAS RISEN EXPONENTIALLY IN THE LAST MONTH.

>> ANY TIME THERE'S CONFLICT IN ISRAEL, THE ANTISEMITISM ALWAYS RISES, AND WEAN SEEN AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 388% YEAR OVER YEAR.

>> THE ANTIDEFAMATION LEAGUE REPORTS A NEARLY 400% INCREASE IN PRELIMINARY ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A REPORT OF, I THINK, 313 ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE OCTOBE.

THAT IS RANGING FOR THE ENTIRE U.S., NOT JUST FOR OUR REGION.

>> SHE NOTES THE PAIN THAT MANY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ARE FEELING AT THE CURRENT SITUATION.

1400 CIVILIANS IN ISRAEL WERE KILLED DURING THE HAMAS TIRRER R ATTACKS ON OCTOBER 7th.

>> LOTS OF HURT AND UNSETTLED EMOTIONS OF FEELING HELPLESS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THERE.

>> ACCORDING TO THE ANTIDEFAMATION LEAGUE, THERE WAS A NEAR 1,000% INCREASE IN VIOLENT MESSAGES ABOUT JEWS AND ISRAEL IN WHITE SUPREMACIST AND RIGHT WRING EXTREMIST SOCIAL MEDIA SITES SINCE THE WAR BEGAN.

>> OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE SEEN THIS HISTORY FROM JUST PEOPLE BEING ANTI-ISRAEL OR ANTISEMITIC TO SOME THAT ARE ANTI-ISRAEL ARE ALSO ANTISEMITIC BECAUSE THEY'RE AGAINST ISRAEL.

>> JOHNSON ADDS THAT HATE AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ANY ETHNIC GROUP OR RELIGION IS UNACCEPTABLE.

>> WE STRONGLY SPEAK OUT AND STAND UP AGAINST HATE AND BIGOTRY TOWARDS ANY GROUP AND ANY PERSON.

>> A RALLY FOR PEACE TOOK PLACE ON A COLD, RAINY DAY AT OKLAHOMA CITY'S SCISSORTAIL PARK ON OCTOBER 28th.

>> NO MORE VIOLENCE, NO MORE KILLING, NO MORE BLOODSHED.

>> ADAM SOLANTI, WITH THE CHAIR ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS OKLAHOMA COORDINATED THE EVENT.

>> WE OUTRIGHT CONDEMN ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTISEMITISM, ANY ACTS OF HATE OR VIOLENCE TARGETING ANY PEOPLE.

THIS IS NOT A RELIGIOUS WATER, AND WE'RE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PRODUCT MUSLIMS, JEWS, AND THEIR PLACES OF WORSHIP.

>> HE SAYS MANY IN THE ISLAMIC COMMUNITY ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THE TYPE OF THREATS CURRENTLY AIMED AT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY.

>> WE ARE ONCE AGAIN, LIKE WE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO DECADESO HIGH ALERT, INCREASING SECURITY AND DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.

>> THE F.B.I.

REPORTED 158 CASES OF ANTI-MUSLIM INCIDENTS AND 92 REPORTED ANTI-ARAB INCIDENTS IN 2022.

>> IN OKAYO THANKFULLY WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THOSE YET, BUT WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN HATE RHETORIC TARGETING ISLAMIC INSTITUTIONS AND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.

>> WE CAN EXPECT IT TO GET WORSE IF THE CONFLICTS EXPANDS.

>> F.B.I.

DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY WARNED OF AN ALARMING RISE IN ATTACKS IN THE COUNTRY DURING A HEARING ON TUESDAY.

>> IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE F.B.I.

'S 56 FIELD OFFICES, WE ARE ADDRESSING THESE THREATS WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY.

>> THAT MEANS WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS THROUGH OUR F.B.I.

LED JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCES TO ENSURE THAT TOGETHER WE STAY LASER FOCUSED ON MITIGATING THREATS.

>> THE F.B.I.

OKLAHOMA CITY OFFICE RELEASED A STATEMENT ON THE RISING THREATS.

>> WE TAKE ALL POTENTIAL THREATS SERIOUSLY AND ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS TO DETERMINE THEIR CREDIBILITY, SHARE INFORMATION.

>> AND APPROPRIATE INVESTIGATIVE ACTION.

WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT ALL HOUSES OF WORSHIP AND PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE ASK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO IMMEDIATELY REPORT ANYTHING THEY CONSIDER SUSPICIOUS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CONTACT OUR LOCAL F.B.I.

OFFICE.

TIPS CAN ALSO BE SUBMITTED TO TIPS.F.B.I..GOV.

>> WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

>> ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS REJECTED CALLS FOR A CEASE FIRE, SAYING HAMAS MUST BE DESTROYED.

THIS WEEK, DEADLY AIRSTRIKES TARGETED GAZA'S LARGEST REFUGEE CAMP, KILLING HUNDREDS OF CIVILIANS.

>> AFTER THE HORRIFIC ATTACKS OF OCTOBER 7th, CALLS FOR A CEASE FIRE, OR CALLS FOR ISRAEL TO SURRENDER TO HAMAS TO, SURRENDER TO TERRORISM.

>> ADAM SOLANTI SAYS THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND THAT HUMANITARIAN AID MUST BE THE PRIORITY FOR THE PEOPLE TRAPPED IN GAZA.

>> WE NEED OUR COUNTRY, OUR PRESIDENT, OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES, OUR SENATORS TO STAND UP AND DEMAND THAT WE FIGHT ON THE RIGHT OF HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE SUFFERING AND THAT WE OPEN UP FOR HUMANITARIAN AID AND RELIEF AGENCIES TO GET IN RIGHT NOW.

>> RACHEL JOHNSON SAYS THE SEARCH FOR A RESOLUTION WILL NOT BE EASY.

>> I WISH I HAD A GOOD ANSWER.

THE THING THAT I HAVE BEEN HOLDING ON TO AND I KEEP TELLING EVERYONE TO HOLD ON TO IS HOPE.

>> SOLANTI HOPES TO SEE A CEASE FIRE AND A PEACEFUL RESOLVE TO A WAR THAT HAS ALREADY CLAIMED MORE THAN 9,925 LIVES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CONFLICT.

>> LET'S STOP THE BLOOD SHED.

LET'S STOP THE CONFLICT, AND THEN LET'S GET THE INTELLIGENT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE PEACE IN THIS WORLD TOGETHER.

>> ACCORDING TO THE F.B.I., HATE CRIMES ROSE 7% BETWEEN 2021 AND 2022.

AND ALMOST 40% OF THEM WERE ANTISEMITIC.

RICH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOEL.

>> MORE THAN 200 NEW OKLAHOMA LAWS TOOK EFFECT THIS WEEK.

WHICH ONES WILL HAVE THE MOST IMPACT ON THE GREATEST NUMBER OF OKLAHOMANS?

THAT'S THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION.

MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD AND HER SPECIAL PANEL OF GUESTS, AND HERE'S A PREVIEW.

>> ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS THE FOREIGN LANDOWNER SHIP, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO REALLY WONDER HOW THAT REALLY PLAYS INTO PATIENT SAFETY.

BUT IN REALITY, WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ILLEGALLY OPERATE OR LEGALLY OPERATING, FOR THAT MATTER, THAT ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY'RE PRODUCING, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

>> WHAT WILL BE INTERESTING OVER TIME, IF CHALLENGES COME UP RELATED TO SENATE BY 404 TO SEE HOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RESPONDS, BECAUSE HE'S KIND OF DRAWN A LINE IN THE SAND DISTINGUISHING WHETHER YOU'RE SIMPLY PARTICIPATING IN A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, LIKE OFFERING FOSTER CARE SERVICES, OR WHETHER YOU'RE BECOMING A TRUE AGENT OF THE STATE BY OPERATING A PUBLIC SCHOOL SUCH AS A CHARTER SCHOOL.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY, THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, AND SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS ARE INCREDIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE.

I THINK THEY MAKE ADULTS UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT WE HAVE TO TEACH CHILDREN HISTORY AND THE FACTS, AND WE ALWAYS NEED TO TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO HAVE DIALOGUE.

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

>>> THE CITY OF HARD MORE IS REELING FROM THE NEWS THAT MITCH LYNN IS CLOSING ITS TIRE PLANT THERE, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF 1400 JOBS, A BIG HIT FOR A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF LESS THAN 25,000 PEOPLE.

JASON DOYLE TRAVELED TO ARDMORE THIS WEEK AND JOINS US NOW WITH HIS REPORT.

JASON.

>> RICH, I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE IN ARDMORE ABOUT MICHELIN'S CLOSURE.

WHILE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GO ON CAMERA WITH THEIR THOUGHTS, THEY DID HAVE CONCERNS MIXED WITH HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THEIR SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> THE TRAINS ARE STILL RUNNING, AND TRICK OR TREATERS STILL GOT THEIR BAGS FILLED WITH CANDY THIS WEEKS ON THOSE IN ARDMORE ARE DIE -- DIGESTING THE NEWS THAT A MAJOR EMPLOYER WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS IS LEAVING TOWN.

>> SHOCK.

>> THE PEOPLE I SPOKE WITH IN ARDMORE DID NOT WANT TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON CAMERA, BUT THE MICHELIN PLANT CLOSURE IS ON THEIR MIND, AND WHILE THE TOWNSPEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK, LAWMAKERS, LIEUTENANT GOVERNORENER MATT PINNELL, OFFICIALS ARE ARDMORE AND THE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DID TALK ABOUT IT AT THE CAPITOL ON TUESDAY ALONG WITH MAKING SURE THE STATE IS DOING WHAT IT CAN TO KEEP EXISTING BUSINESSES.

>> AND SO THAT IS WHAT BRINGS US HERE TODAY, JUST TO LOOK AT OUR SYSTEM, NOT TO BASH DECISIONS MADE BY COMPANIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT JUST TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT, HOW IS OKLAHOMA DOING IN THE BUSINESS OF RETENTION.

>> HOWEVER, ARDMORE CITY MANAGER KEVIN BOATWRIGHT SAYS THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT MICHELIN WAS CONSIDERING THIS MOVE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

SO I THINK THAT WAS WHERE SOME OF THE CONFUSION WAS AND QUESTIONS WERE ABOUT, HEY, DID YOU KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO COME?

DID THEY HAVE A CONVERSATION?

OR DID SOMETHING GO WRONG?

YOU KNOW.

AND THE ANSWER IS NO ON ALL OF THOSE.

>> WHAT WE EXPERIENCED IN SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA OVER THE LAST WEEK HAS BEEN TRAGIC.

IT IS AN ECONOMIC EARTHQUAKE.

>> SENATOR JERRY ALVORD, WHO REPRESENTS THE ARDMORE AREA, AND SAYS IT'S TOO SOON TO KNOW THE FULL IMPACT OF MICHELIN'S DECISION TO CLOSE THE TIRE PLANT.

>> THE ECONOMIC RIPPLE EFFECT THAT WE'LL HAVE THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN OKLAHOMA AND THROUGH THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IS HARD TO IMAGINE.

>> ALVORD NOTED THAT MICHELIN HAS PUT IN APPROXIMATELY $400 MILLION INTO THE COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS.

THE CITY MANAGER BOATWRIGHT SAYS THE PAIN WILL GO BEYOND JUST FINANCIAL ISSUES.

>> A LOT OF THEIR LEADERSHIP, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WERE BIG MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> FOR ARDMORE'S PART, THEY DO HAVE SOME ASSETS IN WHICH THE STATE HAS PREVIOUSLY INVESTED THAT WILL HELP ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS TO THE AREA.

>> FOR THE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN OUR ARDMORE INDUSTRIAL PARK, THESE INITIAL VESTMENTS, THE $47.3 MILLION, I THINK IS GOING TO POSITION OUR COMMUNITY FOR FURTHER GROWTH, AND AS IMPORTANT, AID US AS THE MITCH LYNN PROJECT UNWINDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> ARDMORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PRESIDENT BILL MURPHY BELIEVES THAT EVEN IF THE CITY OF ARDMORE AND THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA NEW MICHELIN WOULD DECIDE TO SHUT ITS FACILITY, THERE WOULDN'T BE MUCH THEY COULD DO TO PREVENT IT.

>> THE CASE OF MICHELIN CERTAINLY AS A GLOBAL COMPANY, SOMETIMES THE BEST EFFORTS CAN'T PREVENT DECISIONS OF A CORPORATE, PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITY FROM CLOSING A FACILITY.

>> MICHELIN IS OFFERING TRANSFERS TO OTHER FACILITIES, EARLY RETIREMENT PACKAGES, AND INCENTIVES TO STAY UNTIL THE FIRE PLANT'S OPERATIONS ARE WINDING DOWN OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.

ARDMORE PLANS TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS.

MURPHY SAYS MICHELIN IS EVEN PITCHING IN ON THAT EFFORT.

>> THEY WERE VERY KEEN ON PROVIDING ANY ASSISTANCE THAT WE MIGHT NEED AS WE ESTABLISH THIS TASK FORCE AND BEGIN TO IDENTIFY THOSE SIGNIFICANT BLOCKS OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON AS A COMMUNITY.

>> WHILE LAWMAKERS WANTED TO CHECK IN WITH ARDMORE OFFICIALS, THEY ALSO TURNED THEIR ATTENTION TO WHAT THE STATE COULD HAVE DONE AND WHAT IT SHOULD DO TO RETAIN BUSINESSES IN THE FUTURE.

>> THAT LEADS THE WAY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.

I'D SAY 70% OF THE TIME OF THE CURRENT STAFF IS SPENT ON EXISTING BUSINESSES IN OKLAHOMA.

A LOT OF WHAT GETS THE ABOVE THE FOLD HEADLINES ARE COMPANIES CERTAINLY LOOKING AT RELOCATING TO OKLAHOMA OR EXPANDING IN OKLAHOMA.

>> PINNELL WAS RECENTLY NAMED AS GOVERNOR STITT'S SECRETARY OF WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

HE SAYS THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NEEDS SOME HELP FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS BUSINESS RETENTION.

SENATOR KRISTIN THOMPSON COCHAIRED THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS RETENTION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'S HEARING ON MICHELIN.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE STATE IS DOING TO BETTER PREPARE FOR THESE SUDDEN SHIFTS IN BUSINESS CONDITIONS FOR CURRENT OKLAHOMA EMPLOYERS.

>> I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE OUR EXPERIENCES AND FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE -- IF, WHERE, AND WHEN BREAKDOWNS OCCUR TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN RESPOND VERSUS REACT.

>> THOSE ARE THE CHANGES IN STRUCTURING ISSUES THAT I'M GOING TO BE TACKLING OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU KNOW, THIS DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT THE LEGISLATURE MOVING FORWARD, SPECIFIC TO YOUR POINT OF ARE WE ON DEFENSIVE AS A DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE OR ARE WE BEING PROACTIVE AND STRATEGIC.

>> WHILE THE MICHELIN PLANT'S EVENTUAL CLOSURE WEIGHS HEAVILY ON ARDMORE, JUST LIKE A KID WITH A BRAND NEW COSTUME, THEY'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT SWEETER TIMES ARE AHEAD.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT ARDMORE HAS GOING FOR IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AND WORK THERE.

I MEAN, I'LL BE HONEST ABOUT IT.

I THINK IT'S A UNIQUE PLACE.

>> THE WIND DOWN OF THE ARDMORE TIRE PLANT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN NEXT YEAR, BUT MICHELIN HAS YET TO RELEASE DETAILS OF WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THE FUTURE OF THAT FACILITY WILL BE.

RICH.

>> THANK YOU.

GETTING PEOPLE TO VISIT AND SPEND THEIR MONEY IS AN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC GOAL FOR OKLAHOMA'S REMAINING HISTORIC PLAQUE TOWN.

RENTIESVILLE HAS THE POLLUTION FESTIVAL AND BOLEY HAS THEIR RODEO, AND GRAYSON IS FAMOUS FOR ITS ANNUAL GUMBO FESTIVAL.

OUR YEARLONG SERIES REPORTS OF OKLAHOMA'S BLACK FRONTIER TOWNS TAKES US TO OKMULGEE COUNTY THIS MONTH TO ENJOY A GOOD TIME AND A GREAT MEAL.

>> ♪♪ >> WELL, ACTUALLY I THINK THIS IS ABOUT OUR 7th TIME.

>> WE'VE BEEN COMING EVER SINCE.

>> WHAT FOR?

>> THE GUMBO.

>> IS IT GOOD?

>> YOU BETTER BET.

>> I'M ACTUALLY SAVORING MINE.

>> SHE'S SAVORING, MITCH.

I'M EATING.

>> THE 21st ANNUAL GRAYSON GUMBO FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER 7th WAS A ROUSING SUCCESS FOR LUMPS OF GUMBO AND SOONER FOOTBALL.

>> TODAY I'M TRYING TO ENJOY A DELICIOUS BOWL OF GUMBO AND WATCH MY SOONERS BEAT THE LONGHORNS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.

(LAUGHTER).

>> A WIN-WIN FOR KEVIN AND FOR AN EVENT MANY MONTHS IN THE MAKING, INCLUDING THE HOT, STICKY MONTH OF JULY, WHEN I HAD THE PLEASURE OF FIRST MEETING MAYOR JAMES LEON ANDERSON.

>> THIS IS THE SECRET TO OUR WORLD FAMOUS GUMBO RIGHT HERE.

>> MAYOR ANDERSON KNOWS A GOOD GUMBO STARTS WITH A GOOD FILE, AND A GOOD FILE IS GROUND FROM THE LEAVES OF A SASSAFRAS TREES THAT GROW THROUGHOUT THIS SMALL TOWN IN OKMULGEE COUNTY.

>> THIS IS A YOUNG ONE, THE STRAIGHT ONE HERE, AND THEN IT IS MATURITY AS IT GROWS HERE.

>> ON THAT SULTRY SUMMER MORNING, THE MAYOR TOOK US ON A TOUR OF GRAYSON, POPULATION 139 IN THE 2020 CENSUS.

WE STARTED IN THE MUSEUM GIFT SHOP LOCATED IN THE GRAYSON TOWN HALL.

>> SO THESE ARE THE COLORS?

YES, SIR.

THAT'S OUR SCHOOL COLORS OF BLUE AND GOLD.

>> ESTABLISHED IN 1897.

>> YES, SIR, HOMETOWN.

>> BACK THEN, THE TOWN WAS KNOWN AS WILDCAT.

IT WAS CHANGED TO GRAYSON AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

>> 1902, THE GOVERNMENT POAND A POST OFFICE HERE, AND WE HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF BURL GRAYSON WHO WAS THE FIRST POSTMASTER.

104 YEARS LATER, IN 2006, ANDERSON WAS ELECTED MAYOR.

IT'S AN UNPAID POSITION WITH PLENTY OF DUTIES, INCLUDING TIDYING UP ONE OF THE TOWN'S TOURIST HOTSPOTS, AT ABANDONED TWO-ROOM JAIL.

>> THIS IS WHERE YOU DON'T WANT TO GO.

>> ANDERSON ALSO OVERSEES GRAYSON'S VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HE'S PARTICULARLY PROUD OF HIS F 350 WATER TRUCK.

HIS ONGOING GOAL IS TO REPLACE THE OLD WITH THE NEW WHEN IT COMES TO CITY SERVICES.

>> I WAS RETIRED, SO WHATEVER I COULD DO TO MAKE MEETINGS AND GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE STATE AGENCIES OR WHATEVER THE PROGRAMS ARE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, FOR ASSISTANCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> THAT'S RESULTED IN $1.3 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING FOR A NEW WASTE, STORM AND FRESH WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

ANDERSON IS ALSO SEEKING FUNDING TO RESTORE THE TOWN'S PUBLIC SCHOOL, WHICH CLOSED FOR GOOD IN 1967.

>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH THIS BUILDING?

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO REFURBISH THIS BUILDING AS A HISTORICAL MARKER FOR MISS CLARA LUPER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

OKLAHOMA'S ICONIC CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST LIVED IN ADJACENT HOFFMAN AND GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL FROM THIS FACILITY BEFORE MONKS ON TO LANGSTON UNIVERSITY IN THE 1940S.

>> PROUD OF THE FACT THAT SHE WAS FROM HOFFMAN, OKLAHOMA AND WOULD TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, I GRADUATED IN THE TOP FIVE OF MY CLASS, BUT THERE WERE ONLY FIVE IN THE CLASS.

>> IN 1958 AT HER DAUGHTER'S URGING, CLARA LUPER PARTICIPATED IN ONE OF THE FIRST SIT-INS AT THE KATZ DRUGSTORE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> I MADE THE MOTION THAT WE WOULD GO DOWN TO KATZ DRUGSTORE AND JUST SIT THERE UNTIL THEY SERVED US.

I WAS ASKING HER TO COME AND GO ALONG WITH US AS A YOUTH COUNCIL ADVISOR.

>> MER MOTHER'S OLD SCHOOL HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS, BUT IT'S GOT GOOD BONES, AND MAYOR ANDERSON SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT RESTORED AND REPURPOSED AS A WEDDING VENUE AND COMMUNITY CENTER.

>> THEY'RE SAYING THAT IT'S A SOLID BUILDING, SO NOW MY TASK IS THE FUNDING.

>> BACK IN THE EARLY 30s, CITY FUNDING CAME FROM ANOTHER MORE INFAMOUS SOURCE.

OKLAHOMAN CHARLES ARTHUR FLOYD, NICKNAMED PRETTY BOY BY A GIRLFRIEND, STOPPED IN ON OCCASION TO HIDE FROM THE LAW AND SHARE SOME OF THE ILL-GOTTEN GAINS FROM 30 SUCCESSFUL BANK ROBBERIES.

>> PRETTY BOY FLOYD USED TO COME IN HERE, COME IN HERE AND GIVE EVERYBODY MONEY, EAT RIGHT IN OUR HOUSES AND EVERYTHING.

HE HAD A HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL, WOULDN'T GIVE HIM -- ARTHUR DILLINGHAM IS 98 YEARS OLD AND THE STEPFATHER OF MAYOR LEON ANDERSON WHO BACKS UP HIS STORY OF FLOYD'S GENEROSITY DURING THE DEPRESSION.

>> THE GANGSTER WOULD DO THEY THING AND COME AND HANG OUT IN THE BLACK TOWNS BECAUSE THEY BROUGHT MONEY AND PLACE TO EAT AND PLACE TO SLEEP, YOU KNOW, LITTLE SECURITY AND WHATEVER IT IS, YOU KNOW KIND OF THING.

SO IT WAS KIND OF A COMMON THING ACROSS THE STATE THAT GANGSTERS WOULD DO THOSE THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW.

>> FLOYD'S NOTORIOUS CRIME SPREE DID NOT LAST LONG.

HE WAS GUNNED DOWN BY THE F.B.I.

IN OHIO IN 1934.

HIS FUNERAL BACK IN OKLAHOMA WAS ATTENDED BY 20,000 PEOPLE, THE LARGEST BURIAL SERVICE IN STATE HISTORY.

>> HE DIDN'T LAST LONG.

HE LEFT GRAYSON THE DAY HE DIED.

HE WANTED TO GET BACK.

HE DIDN'T GET BACK.

>> HE GOT AMBUSHED, RIGHT?

>> WELL, YEAH, HE ASKED FOR IT.

>> HE ASKED FOR IT?

>> LAUGHS LAUGHS.

>> ARTHUR LEFT GRAYSON TOO, RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME AT THE AGE OF 11.

HE WENT TO CALIFORNIA, LATER JOINED THE ARMY AND MARRIED HIS WIFE ICEOLA IN 1948.

THEY LIVED IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON TO BEFORE RETURNING TO GRAYSON IN 1990 TO LIVE IN THIS LOVELY RANCH HOME OO STONE'S THROW AWAY FROM TOWN HALL.

ALONG THE WAY, THEY RAISED 12 CHILDREN.

>> IT WAS A WHOLE DOZEN OF US.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN.

>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED?

>> WELL, WE JUST HAD OUR ANNIVERSARY LAST MONTH, 75 YEARS.

>> 75 YEARS?

>> YES, SIR.

>> LIKE HIS STEPFATHER, LEON ANDERSON IS A MILITARY VETERAN AND ICEOLA'S SON.

TOGETHER THEY COOKED UP A UNIQUE IDEA FOR A FUNDRAISER IN 2002.

>> WELCOME TO GRAYSON'S GUMBO FESTIVAL, THE BEST THING YOU EVER HAD.

>> DENISE BARSH IS ONE OF THOSE 12 CHILDREN COMING ALL THE WAY FROM TACOMA TO HELP OUT HER MOM AND DAD.

>> IT MAKES YOU APPRECIATE IT MORE THAT IT'S GOING TO STILL BE STANDING FOREVER.

SO YES, THE HERITAGE HERE IS AMAZING, AND TO KNOW THAT MY PARENTS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, IT MAKES IT BETTER.

>> OH, THE GUMBO FESTIVAL.

THAT'S A GREAT DAY.

THAT'S A GOOD DAY.

WE STARTED IN 202.

THAT'S WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THE GUMBO FESTIVAL.

AND THERE WERE ONLY FOUR LADIES OF US THAT DECIDED TO START.

SO EVERY YEAR THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE, AND IT'S ALWAYS THE FIRST SATURDAY IN OCTOBER.

>> ONE OF THOSE FOUR WOMEN IS GLADYS PAYNE.

SHE AND ICEOLA ARE BOTH 92 YEARS YOUNG AND THOUGH MOVING A TAD SLOWER, STILL KNOW THEIR WAY AROUND A GUMBO POT.

>> IT'S NICE.

IT'S GOOD.

I WOULD HAVE A BIG BOOTH DOWN THERE WITH JELLIES, CAKES, PIES, AND JUST MAKE MY MONEY DOWN THERE.

>> ARE THOSE SECRET SPEES OR YOU DON'T MIND SHARING?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK I'LL SHARE.

JUST BEING A LITTLE SELFISH.

>> YOU KNOW THE RECIPE FOR A GOOD GUMBO?

KIND OF LIKE THE RECIPE IF A GREAT COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS, THE RIGHT PEOPLE, SOME SPICE, SOME GOOD PERSONALITIES, CAN'T BE AFRAID TO STIR THE POT A LITTLE BIT.

YOU'VE GOT TO LET IT SIMMER LOW AND SLOW, AND WHEN IT'S JUST RIGHT, YOU INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME ON DOWN AND HAVE A TASTE.

>> MMMM.

>> IN ITS HEYDAY, GRAYSON BOASTED A POPULATION OF ABOUT 1200, AND ABOUT THAT MANY PEOPLE OR MORE SHOW UP FOR THE GUMBO FESTIVAL EACH YEAR WHICH CAN PRESENT A CHALLENGE.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE HAVE ONE PERSON THAT WE HAVE TO TELL THAT WE HAVE RUN OUT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE, WELL, SEE, THAT'S NOT GOOD ON OUR PART.

THESE LAID NEWS THIS TOWN, THEY BE HUSTLING TO KEEP UP, TRY TO STAY OPEN, YOU KNOW, SELLING GUMBO AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> GOD WILLING, AND ANOTHER SOLID CROP, THEY'LL DO IT AGAIN NEXT OCTOBER.

>> THAT'S OUR ONLY FUNDRAISER THAT WE HAVE FOR THE TOWN.

WE DON'T HAVE THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST ANYMORE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY HARD TO KEEP THE GUMBO FEST GOING.

>> A LOT OF THE SMALL TOWNS, THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF REVENUE, AND SOMETHING LIKE THIS BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE US FROM OUT OF TOWN TRY TO SUPPORT THAT.

YOU GET SOME FELLOWSHIP.

YOU KNOW, YOU LEARN SOME THINGS.

YOU LEARN SOME HISTORY, AND I THINK THAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT IT.

>> THIS WAS AN INTERESTING TOWN, THE OLD SCHOOL HERE, AND I WAS TELLING BILL JUST ON THE WAY OVER HERE THAT THIS IS -- GRAYSON IS ONE OF 50 ALL BLACK TOWNS THAT WE HAVE IN OKLAHOMA.

SO IT'S KIND OF GOT A UNIQUE HISTORY.

>> TRUST ME, I LIVED IN LOUISIANA FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

I'VE EATEN LOTS OF GUMBO.

AND GRAYSON MAKES GREAT GUMBO.

OKAY.

COMING UP NEXT MONTH, TAELYR JACKSON WILL SHARE THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE CLEARVIEW, OKLAHOMA.

>> LAST SATURDAY, MOST OF THE MAYORS FROM THE REMAINING BLACK TOWNS GATHERED AT A DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY HOTEL TO DISCUSS ON-GOING EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE THESE COMMUNITIES.

>> THEY'VE BEEN WELL RECEIVED.

>> I HAVE TO ADMIT MY WIFE IS FROM BOLEY, OKLAHOMA.

SO THAT WAS MY FAVORITE.

I'M A LITTLE BIASED THERE, BUT I DID LEARN A LOT MORE.

I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.

I CAN'T SAY LOUD ENOUGH OR OFTEN ENOUGH BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN PRESENTING THE BLACK TOWNS IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY, NOT IN A NEGATIVE WAY, WHEN YOU ANNOUNCE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO A BLACK TOWN, I ALWAYS PUT IT ON MY CALENDAR TO MAKE SURE I'M AVAILABLE TO WATCH THAT EPISODE.

SO I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

I ALSO SHARED WITH YOU THAT I ALWAYS MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO OETA EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A GOOD PROGRAM TO WATCH.

THEY'RE NOT BIASED IN ANY WAY.

>> WELL, ALL WE CAN SAY IS THANK YOU, MR. LEWIS, WHO BY THE WAY IS A GRADUATE OF LANGSTON UNIVERSITY AND RECENTLY HAD THE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE NAMED AFTER HIM.

>>> A FULLY LOADED 18-WHEELER CAN WEIGH AS MUCH AS 80,000 POUNDS, AND IF YOU TRAVEL OKLAHOMA'S HIGHWAYS AND TURNPIKES, THERE'S A CHANCE THAT A SEMI-TRUCK HAS OR WILL ROLL UP BY OF BESIDE YOU WITH NO HANDS ON THE WHEEL.

DRIVERLESS TRUCKS ARE BEING TESTED AS WE SPEAK ON OKLAHOMA ROADS AND NOT EVERYBODY IS ON BOARD WITH IT.

WITH MORE ON THAT, HERE'S STEVE SHAW.

>> FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW WHAT ARE CALLED AUTONOMOUS OR DRIVERLESS SEMI TRUCKS HAVE BEEN RUNNING IN TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA.

DURING WHAT IS BEING CALLED THE TESTING PERIOD, EACH OF THOSE SEMIS STILL HAS A HUMAN DRIVER ON BOARD, BUT A YEAR FROM NOW IN SOME STATES THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE.

>>> TALKED TO TOP OFFICIAL DAN GOFF LAST WEEK.

>> WE'RE WORKING TO BUILD TECHNOLOGY THAT IN THE FUTURE WILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE DRIVERLESSLY.

SO IMAGINE A LONG HAUL TRUCK OPERATING ON THE ROAD WITH NOBODY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

>> THAT SCARES SOME PEOPLE, DAN.

>> IT DOES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> SO SEVERAL WEEKS, KODAK TRUCKS HAULING CARGO HAVE BEEN RUNNING FROM A FACILITY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, WHERE CONSUMER PRODUCTS ARE LOADED ON TO 53-FOOT TRAILERS AND THEN HAULED TO A DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

KODAK SAYS THAT ROUND IS BEING RUN 24 HOURS A DAY 4 DAYS A WEEK.

GOFF SAYS THESE TRUCKS ARE OPERATING ON THEIR OWN, BUT THERE IS A DRIVER IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHOSE ROLE IS NOT TO DRIVE, BUT TO MONITOR EVERYTHING.

>> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SENSORS ON THE VEHICLE.

THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SENSORS, CAMERAS, RADAR, AND THEN WHAT'S CALLED LIE-DAR, WHICH IS BASICALLY A LASER RADAR, A LASER THAT SHOOTS OUT, AND BASED ON WHAT IT BOUNCES OFF OF BUILDS A REALLY DETAILED THREE DIMENSIONAL VIEW OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE TRUCK, AND THAT'S HAPPENING 10 TIMES AT SECOND AT A RATE MUCH FASTER THAN A HUMAN BEING CAN DO.

>> GOFF SAYS DRIVERLESS TRUCKS AREN'T SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.

>> I'VE BEEN TO OKLAHOMA CITY THREE OR FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF TO EXPLAIN THE TECHNOLOGY AND SHOW WHAT WE'RE DOING TO PEOPLE IN THE STATEHOUSE, IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AT HIGHWAY PATROL, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A BAD MEETING.

ANYBODY WHO SEES THE TECHNOLOGY, WHO HAS A CHANCE TO KICK THE TIRES, CLIMB INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, TALK TO OUR TEAM, TALK TO OUR DRIVERS, TALK TO OUR ENGINEERS, 100% OF THEM, EVERY SINGLE ONE, UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND UNDERSTANDS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE DRIVING SAFER.

>> STATE REPRESENTATIVE NICOLE MILLER IS ONE OF THE OKLAHOMA LAWMAKERS KODAK HAD TO SELL, AND SHE SAYS SO FAR THEY HAVE.

>> SO I KIND OF SEE IT AS, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO A TRANSPORTATION KIND OF -- A BIG MONUMENTAL CHANGE THAT HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY IF YOU THINK WHEN WE WENT FROM THE HORSE AND BUGGY TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE, RIGHT?

WE ARE GOING THROUGH A RENAISSANCE, AND WE ARE GOING THROUGH ANOTHER MAJOR, MAJOR CHANGE, AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH, AGAIN, TECHNOLOGY ADVANCING, SO IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN, JUST LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

>> CAPTAIN BRIAN ORE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY SAYS YOU BETTER BELIEVE HIS PEOPLE HAVE STUDIED WHAT KODIAK AND MARES HAVE BEEN UP TO, AND SO FAR THEY'VE PASSED EVERY SAFETY TEST, AND HE BELIEVES DRIVERLESS SEMI TRUCKS COULD ENHANCE SAFETY.

>> I BELIEVE IT COULD, ABSOLUTESLY.

THE ADVANCEMENTS THAT THEY'RE MAKING, AND I'LL USE THE EXAMPLE, WE WORK CRASHES, UNFORTUNATELY, ALL THE TIME, WHERE A DRIVER HAS FALLEN ASLEEP AND HAS RAN INTO THE BACK END OF SOMEONE.

THIS TECHNOLOGY THEY HAVE, IT'S GOING TO PICK THAT UP.

IT WILL KNOW THAT THERE'S A HAZARD OR SOMETHING IN THE ROADWAY, AND THAT VEHICLE WILL START BRAKING OR START MAKING MANEUVERS WHERE YOU WON'T HAVE THAT.

SO IN MY OPINION, IF I HAD TO GIVE AN OPINION, THIS IS GOING TO MAKE THE ROADS SAFER.

THAT'S WHAT THIS TECHNOLOGY IS FOR.

>> DAN GOFF FROM KODIAK SAYS BY LATE NEXT YEAR OR IN 2025, WILL YOU SEE DRIVERLESS TRUCKS ON THE HIGHWAYS, AND THERE WON'T BE A REAL PERSON ON BOARD.

>> WELL, HONESTLY, I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE.

>> JEROME REDMOND IS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF AMERICAN TRUCK TRAINING IN OKLAHOMA CITY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST TRUCK DRIVER SCHOOLS IN THE SOONER STATE.

>> IT'S JUST THAT I KNOW THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE A SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS WITH DRIVERSLESS TRUCKS, AND I DO KNOW THAT ALL THE MAJOR PLAYERS IN TRUCKING, ALL THE BIG COMPANIES WE ALL HAVE HEARD OF, HAVE SAID IN SO MANY WORDS THAT DRIVERSLESS TRUCKS IS NOT GOING TO BE A THING JUST YET OR IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE A WAYS DOWN THE ROAD, BECAUSE JUST THE SAFETY -- THE THOUGHT OF HAVING SOMEONE THERE JUST IN CASE.

>> REDMOND SAYS REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS, TECHNOLOGY-WISE ACROSS THE NEXT 10, 20, EVEN 30 YEARS, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO NEED TRUCK DRIVERS.

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE PLENTY OF GOOD PAYING WORK.

>> JIM NEWPORT IS PRESIDENT OF THE OKLAHOMA TRUCKING ASSOCIATION.

HE SAYS RIGHT NOW IN THE U.S., THERE IS ACTUALLY A SHORTAGE OF ABOUT 80,000 TRUCK DRIVERS.

>> THE ASSUMPTION THERE IS THAT ALMOST EVERY COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE WILL BECOME AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S LIKELY, NOT ANY TIME SOON.

I'M TALKING ABOUT YEARS, AND THIS IS JUST ME SPECULATING, BUT I DON'T -- IT COULD BE DECADES.

I DON'T KNOW.

THE REASON IS, THERE'S SO MANY OBSTACLES ONCE YOU GET OFF OF THE MAIN THOROUGHFARES.

THE TECHNOLOGIES ARE COMING.

WILL IT TAKE SOME ADJUSTMENT ON THE PART OF THE PUBLIC?

YES.

WILL IT BE INSTANTANEOUSLY?

I THINK NOT.

I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EVOLUTION OVER TIME.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

I'M NOT CERTAIN.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE IT COME OVERNIGHT, BUT WE DO THINK THAT IT CAN HELP KIND OF FILL IN SOME OF THE GAPS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE BEING A TRUCK DRIVER, THERE ARE GOING TO BE TRUCKING JOBS FOR A REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME.

>> DAN GOFF ALSO POINTS TO THE FACT THAT RIGHT NOW IN MAJOR CITIES ALL OVER THE U.S., THERE ARE DRIVERLESS CABS OPERATING.

LET THAT SINK IN.

RICH.

>> I WILL.

THANK YOU.

A PAIR OF AMBITIOUS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONIES LEADS THIS WEEK'D OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY ON MONDAY IN VINITA HAROLDING THE FIRST PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION IT ON WHAT IS PLANNED TO BE A 2 BILLION-DOLLAR DISNEY STYLE THEME PARK.

THE 1,000-ACRE DEVELOPMENT WILL EVENTUALLY INCLUDE A 125-ACRE THEME PARK, WATER PARK AND 300 ROOM HOTEL.

DEVELOPERS SAY WHEN COMPLETED, THE AMERICAN HEARTLAND RESORT WILL ATTRACT BETWEEN 4 AND 5 MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR.

>> OKLAHOMA NOW RANKS 19th IN THE COUNTRY FOR BUSINESS FRIENDLY CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO THE 2024 STATE BUSINESS TAX CLIMATE INDEX.

THAT'S UP 4 PLACES FROM A YEAR AGO.

THE ANNUAL RANKINGS ARE COMPILED BIT NONPROFIT, TAX FOUNDATION, WHICH SINGLED OUT OKLAHOMA'S COMPETITIVE INDIVIDUAL AND PROPERTY TAX RATES.

BUSINESS LEADERS SAY REFORMS TO OKLAHOMA'S CURRENT STATE INCOME TAX SYSTEM COULD RESULT IN A TOP 10 RANKING IN THE YEARS TO COME.

>>> THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY HAS AWARDED CHOCTAW NATION NEARLY $1.6 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT MONEY TO IDENTIFY AND REMEDIATE BROWN FIELD SITES ON TRIBAL LAND AND AN ADDITIONAL $400,000 TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE INVESTING IN AMERICA LEGISLATION.

>> 16 OKLAHOMA COMMUNITIES WILL RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.

THE SUPPORTING INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION AND ECONOMIC SUCCESS OR SITES PROGRAMS WAS CREATED TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EXISTING BUSINESSES AS WELL AS THOSE CONSIDERS RELOCATION TO OKLAHOMA.

THE 16 CITIES HERE WILL EACH RECEIVE A PORTION OF THE AVAILABLE $30 MILLION IN FUNDING.

>>> AND FINALLY, GROUNDBREAKING IN NORTH TUESDAY THIS WEEK FOR THE HARVARD APARTMENTS.

THE FIRST NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE RENTAL PROPERTY IN THE AREA SINCE THE 1980S.

THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT REPRESENTS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN BOOM TOWN DEVELOPMENT, GREEN COUNTRY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND THE CITY OF TULSA.

THE TWO BEDROOM SINGLE FLOOR UNITS WILL INCLUDE PAID UTILITIES AND FENCED BACKYARD.

THIS IS THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>>> WELL, THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT THE 200 PLUS NEW LAWS TAKING EFFECT IN OKLAHOMA THIS WEEK, THE MORE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO USE THEM TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

SO THIS WEEK, WE GATHERED TOGETHER A PANEL OF EXPERTS TO HIGHLIGHT AND EXPLAIN SOME OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL NEW LAWS.

THAT'S THE FOCUS OF THIS WEEK'S IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MODERATOR CASSIDY MUDD.

CASSIDY.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

TODAY WE'RE JOINED BY PUBLISHER SHAWN ASHLEY AND HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER REPRESENTATIVE CINDY MUNSON, ALSO JOINED BY JESSICA GARVIN VIA ZOOM.

AS ATTORNEY GENERAL WORKS FOR THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL TO BECOME THE FIRST NATION'S FIRST PUBLICLY FUNDED CHARTER SCHOOL, SENATE BILL 404, DOES IT CLEAR THE WAY FOR MORE STATE FUNDED GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THAT ANSWER IS YES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE BROUGHT UP WHEN THE BILL CAME OVER TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND I SPECIFICALLY ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP AN ARTICLE I HAD READ IN THE OKLAHOMAN ABOUT THE ARCHDIOCESE MAKING A COMMENT SAYING THEY WANTED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN RURAL OKLAHOMA.

AND WE KNOW IN RURAL OKLAHOMA, OUR FAMILIES PREDOMINANTLY LEAN ON OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THERE ARE NOT CHARTER SCHOOLS OR MANY PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THOSE AREAS, AND SO OUR FEAR IS CONCERN IS THIS MOVEMENT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS THE NATION BUT ALSO IN OKLAHOMA TO PUT PUBLIC DOLLARS TOWARDS PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND THAT SENATE BILL 404 WOULD CREATE A PATHWAY.

OF COURSE THERE IS STILL THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, OKLAHOMA CONSTITUTION, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS COMING FROM, BUT THAT'S A FEAR WE HAD AND WE'RE SEEING THAT PLAY OUT RIGHT NOW IN OKLAHOMA.

>> SENATOR GARVIN, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT OPENING THE DOOR TO PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH THOSE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS?

>> WELL, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY I'M A HUGE PROPONENT OF PARENT CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION.

YOU KNOW, RURAL OKLAHOMA, WHICHS WHERE I'M FROM, WE PREDOMINANTLY HAVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND SO WHILE I AM A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, MY KIDS ARE ENROLLED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, I GRADUATED FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION, I DO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE HAVING OPTIONS.

AS FAR AS IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR BILL OR THIS ATTORNEY GENERAL PURSUING LITIGATION ABOUT THAT, AND SO I DON'T REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE MAKING A COMMENT ABOUT THAT SINCE THERE IS OPEN LITIGATION.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I EXPECT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OKLAHOMA, AND I THINK THAT SHE'S DOING THAT LIKE SHE THINKS IS THE RIGHT THING TO.

>> SHAWN.

>> , IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT?

>> WELL, THIS BILL IS RATHER INTERESTING, BECAUSE IT COMES FROM THREE U.S. SUPREME COURT CASES THAT HAVE BEEN DECIDED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND YOU MENTION THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S LAWSUIT INVOLVING THE ST. ISADORE SCHOOL.

THERE IS A REFERENCE SORT OF -- DIRECT REFERENCE TO THOSE SUPREME COURT CASES, AND INDIRECTLY, THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN HIS COURT FILING.

THE DISTINCTION THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ATTEMPTS TO MAKE IS DIFFERENT IN THAT THESE CASES DEAL WITH ENTITIES, RELIGIOUS ENTITIES RECEIVING GRANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

THEY DON'T BECOME AGENCY OF THE STATE, AND HE SAYS THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

IN THE ST. ISADORE CASE, THEY WOULD BE OPERATING A CHARTER SCHOOL, WHICH IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

THEY WOULD BE AN AGENT OF THE STATE, AND SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING OVER TIME, IF CHALLENGES COME UP RELATED TO SENATE BILL 404, TO SEE HOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RESPONDS, BECAUSE HE'S KIND OF DRAWN A LINE IN THE SAND DISTINGUISHING WHETHER YOU'RE SIMPLY PARTICIPATING IN A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM LIKE OFFERING FOSTER CARE SERVICES, OR WHETHER YOU'RE BECOMING A TRUE AGENT OF THE STATE BY OPERATING A PUBLIC SCHOOL, SUCH AS A CHARTER SCHOOL.

>> SHAWN, TO FOLLOW WITH THAT, STATE SENATE BILL 516 ABOLISHES THE STATEWIDE VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD AND REPLACES IT WITH A STATEWIDE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS MOVE BY LAWMAKERS?

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH UNWIND OVER THE NEXT PART OF THE YEAR.

PART OF THE BILL TOOK EFFECT ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1st.

PART OF THE BILL TAKES EFFECT ACTUALLY JANUARY 1, 224 AND 202R PART LATER IN THE YEAR ON JULY 1st.

CURRENTLY OKLAHOMA HAS A STATEWIDE VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD THAT OVERSEES THOSE SCHOOLS THAT OFFER EDUCATION SOLELY OR PREDOMINANTLY ONLINE.

WHAT THIS WILL DO WILL BE TO COMBINE THOSE ONLINE SCHOOLS WITH OTHER CHARTER SCHOOLS UNDER ONE STATEWIDE CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD.

WITH A NEW BOARD, SOME OF THOSE MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, I BELIEVE, AND THEY WILL BEGIN THEIR WORK IN 2024 TO OVERSEE THOSE BRICK AND MORTAR CHARTER SCHOOLS AS WELL AS THE VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOLS.

>> SENATOR GARVIN, WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ON ALL OF THIS?

>> AGAIN, I THINK WITH THE PENDING LITIGATION, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

AGAIN, I TRUST THE ATTORNEY GENERAL KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING AND I TRUST THAT THE COURT SYSTEM WILL DECIDE WHAT'S BEST FOR OKLAHOMA AND WHAT'S CONSTITUTIONAL ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND THE STATE CONSTITUTION, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE WAIT AND SEE HOW EVERYTHING IS DETERMINED IN THE COURT SYSTEM AND MOVE FORWARD ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AFTER WE HAVE THE FINAL RULING.

>> SENATOR GARVIN, WE'LL ACTUALLY STICK WITH YOU.

HOUSE BILL 1397 REQUIRES PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE THE U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT FROM 1954 TO 1968.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT HOUSE BILL 1775, WHICH RESTRICTS INSTRUCTION CONCERNING RACE AND GENDER, COULD IMPACT HOW THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IS TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL.

I MEAN, I THINK AS LONG AS EDUCATORS ARE DOING WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING AND STICKING TO THE STATE CURRICULUM, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS LED BY A REPUBLICAN.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS ARE LEARNING ALL ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS AND ALL ABOUT OUR NATION'S HISTORY AND OUR STATE'S HISTORY, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T SINGLE OUT A PARTICULAR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AND MAKE THEM FEEL ANYTHING LESS THAN IMPORTANT, JUST LIKE OTHER KIDS.

I WOULD ALSO NOTE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THIS IS A VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE.

AS THE VERY FIRST HISPANIC PEOPLE EVER ELECTED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT PEOPLE LEARN FROM HISTORY AND LEARN HOW BLACK AND BROWN INDIVIDUALS LIKE MYSELF WERE TREATED YEARS AGO.

I MEAN, MY GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT GRANDPARENTS OBVIOUSLY LIVED THROUGH A LOT OF THIS.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT ERA IS TAUGHT IN A NON-BIASED WAY.

I HAVE FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN MORE URBAN AREAS, AND ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAS SAID THAT THEIR CHILD WAS SINGLED OUT FOR BEING A WHITE MALE IN A SCHOOL SETTING AND WAS TOLD THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT STRUGGLE IS BECAUSE HE'S A WHITE MALE, AND I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S WRONG.

WHILE WE DO WANT TO INSURE THAT EVERYONE IS TREATED EQUALLY, WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE LEARNING THAT THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA IS IMPORTANT, THAT WE CAN'T REPEAT IT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE LEARNING THAT WITH AN OPEN MIND AND NOT A TARGETED APPROACH AT A PARTICULAR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MUNSON, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

>> I WOULD ACTUALLY ARGUE THAT HOUSE BILL 1775 HAS ALREADY IMPACTED OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, BEFORE THE BILL WAS EVER SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR AND THEN BEFORE THIS NEWEST LEGISLATION REGARDING THE CIVIL RIGHTS CURRICULUM IN OUR SCHOOLS, JUST TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATION IMPACTED OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND IMPACTED TEACHERS, BECAUSE TEACHERS WANTS TO DO RIGHT BY THEIR STUDENTS, AND THEY WANT TO DO RIGHT BY THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

THEY ARE TRAINED TO BE INCLUSIVE AND TO BE HONEST AND TRUTHFUL ABOUT OUR HISTORY AND ABOUT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HAPPEN TODAY, PRESENT DAY, THAT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FACE.

YOU KNOW, THE EXAMPLE OF SINGLING OUT A STUDENT, THAT IS NEVER ACCEPTABLE, AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING ANYBODY WOULD SAY THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND IF THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, MY HOPE IS THAT THE PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF THOSE SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND SUPERINTENDENTS WOULD ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

BUT HOUSE BILL 1775 AND OTHER LEGISLATION THAT I THINK WE'LL SEE COME FROM THAT BILL IS ROOTED IN PARTISAN DIVIDE, AND THIS MOVEMENT ACROSS THE NATION OF WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T TEACH AND WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T TALK ABOUT IN OUR CLASSROOMS.

YOU KNOW, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY, THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, AND SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS ARE INCREDIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE.

I THINK THEY MAKE ADULTS UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT WE HAVE TO TEACH CHILDREN HISTORY AND THE FACTS, AND WE ALSO NEED TO TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO HAVE DIALOGUE AND HOW TO ABSORB THAT INFORMATION AND HAVE DIFFERENCES AND DISCUSSION SIMILAR TO SENATOR GARVIN, I'M THE FIRST AND ONLY ASIAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO BE ELECTED TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND THERE ARE THINGS EVEN IN MY OWN HISTORY I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW OR UNDERSTAND BUT THROUGHOUT ADULTHOOD I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEARN ON MY OWN, BUT I'M GRATEFUL FOR.

BUT I WONDER AS A CHILD IF I HAD MORE ACCESS TO LEARNING ABOUT ASIAN HISTORY OR LEADENERS GENERAL WHAT THAT MIGHT HAVE DONE FOR ME.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR TEACHERS HAVE THE SKILL SETS AND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO TEACH OUR SCHOOLS.

THIS BILL SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING CIVIL RIGHTS CURRICULUM, THAT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY THE FINAL SAY OF DEVELOPING THE CURRICULUM AND WHAT WOULD BE TAUGHT.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE LIVING THROUGH TODAY, WE HAVE A STATE SUPERINTENDENT WHO IS POLITICALLY CHARGED, AND SO IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THAT CURRICULUM WOULD BE FAIR, THAT IT WOULD HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT TEACHERS NEED TO TEACH STUDENTS, AND THAT IT WOULDN'T BE BIASED.

INSTEAD, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WHAT CURRICULUM OUR TEACHERS ARE USING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS OPPOSED TO JUST HAVING ONE PERSON BE IN CHARGE OF THAT.

>> SHAWN, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK THE SENATOR AND THE REPRESENTATIVE HAVE MADE AN INTERESTING POINT IN A WAY THAT MAYBE THE TIME PERIOD OF THIS NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED.

AS WE'RE SITTING HERE WITH TWO HISTORY-MAKING MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, IT SEEMS LIKE 1968 MAY BE TOO EARLY A TIME TO CUT OFF DISCUSSIONS OF CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND OKLAHOMA.

>> SENATOR GARVIN, LET'S JUMP BACK TO YOU.

IN RESPONSE TO A GROWING NUMBER OF FOREIGN OWNED ILLEGAL MAWRS MARIJUANAOPERATIONS, DO YOU THIS BILL WILL STOP IT AND MAKE IS T SAFE?

>> SO THE LAST 15 PLUS YEARS IN MY LIFE, I'VE WORKED IN THE HEALTH CARE SPACE.

IT'S ALL I'VE EVER DONE REALLY SINCE I GRADUATED, AND I GREW UP IN A HOME WITH A PHYSICIAN.

MEDICAL EDUCATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PATIENTS TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN THEIR BODY, NO MATTER IF IT'S A HOLISTIC OPTION LIKE CANNABIS OR IF IT'S A PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION THAT COMES FROM A PHARMACY.

IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE FOCUS ON PATIENT SAFETY, AND I'VE KIND OF LED THE CHARGE IN THE SENATE TO INSURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT.

AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS THE FOREIGN LANDOWNER SHIP, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO REALLY WONDER HOW THAT REALLY PLAYS INTO PATIENT SAFETY, BUT IN REALITY, WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE ILLEGALLY OPERATING OR LEGALLY OPERATING, FOR THAT MATTER, THAT ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY'RE PRODUCING, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE FOREIGN LANDOWNERSHIP THAT'S HAPPENED ACROSS THE STATE HAS NEGATIVELY IMPACTED NOT ONLY THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY, BUT THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY, LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVING A LARGE PROBLEM WITH ENFORCEMENT AS IT RELATES TO GUNS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND THERE'S VIOLENCE THAT OCCURS EVERY DAY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MUNSON, HOW DO YOU FEEL THIS LEGISLATION WILL WORK TO CHANGE THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY?

>> YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S COME UP A LOT IN RURAL OKLAHOMA, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE LAND IS.

BUT IT DOES COME UP IN URBAN AREAS.

I HEARD ABOUT IT THROUGHOUT THE ELECTION CYCLE.

I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIPARTISAN BILLS THAT PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US WANT TO INSURE THAT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, THE STATE QUESTION THAT WAS PASSED, THAT PEOPLE GET WHAT THEY VOTED FOR.

THE OTHER PIECE IS MAKING SURE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIORITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE LEGITIMIZE THE INDUSTRY.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF THEIR OWN SAVINGS AND MONEY AND CHANGED CAREERS TO GET INTO THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA INDUSTRY, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE LAWS ARE IN COMPLIANCE AND THEY HAVE A FAIR SHOT AT HAVING THEIR BUSINESS AND MAKING A LIVING AND TAKING CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.

AND SO HOPEFULLY THIS LEGISLATION WILL HAPPEN.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, AND SOMETHING I TRIED TO ELEVATE WITH MY CONSTITUENTS THAT THE OKLAHOMA STATE CONSTITUTION ALREADY SAYS THAT FOREIGN ENTITIES OR INDIVIDUALS CANNOT OWN LAND IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

>> SHAWN, ANY LAST THOUGHTS?

>> WELL, WE SAW RECENTLY THAT SENATOR MICHAEL BROOKS ANNOUNCED HE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL DRUMMOND TO CLARIFY SOME OF THAT LANGUAGE, TO MAKE SURE INDIVIDUALS MIGHT FALL UNDER THE NONCITIZEN BUT ARE LEGAL RESIDENTS IN THE US U.S. OR STATE OF OKLAHOMA, ARE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO OWN THAT LAND AND INVEST IN THESE BUSINESSES, AND IT JUST SORT OF SHOWS HOW THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND THESE BILLS WORK.

THE BILLS WERE PASSED TOWARDS THE END OF MAY, TAKING EFFECT NOVEMBER 1st, AND BEFORE THAT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD TO DO A LOT OF WORK, AND HE WORKED WITH A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE AT TIMES TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED.

THAT SORT OF EXPLAINS THE DELAY BETWEEN WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY PASSED AND WHEN IT ACTUALLY BECOMES IMPLEMENTED AND ENFORCED.

>> THAT'S JUST ABOUT ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

ONCE AGAIN, SHAWN ASHLEY, REPRESENTATIVE CINDY MUNSON AND VIA ZOOM SENATOR JESSICA GARVIN.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOININGS US.

>> CASSIDY, THANK YOU.

GREAT CONVERSATIONS.

>>> A SAN DIEGO ARTIST KNOWN AS A WORLDWIDE LEADER IN THE LIGHT AND SPACE MOVEMENT IN CONTEMPORARY ART HAS DIED.

ROBERT IRWIN PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 95.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW, WE HEAD TO CALIFORNIA WHERE REPORTER JULIA DIXON-EVANS SHOWS US SOME OF HIS MOST ICONICS WORKS AND INSPIRATION BEHIND HIS ART.

>> ROBERT IRWIN CHANGED THE WAY PEOPLE LOOK AT ART.

>> IT'S ABOUT PERCEPTION.

IT'S ABOUT GETTING YOU TO TUNE IN TO YOUR PLACE AND THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND YOU.

>> CATHARINE IS DIRECTOR AND CEO OF THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ARTISAN DAIG.

ART IN SAN DIEGO.

IN THE 1960'S A GROUP OF ARTISTS DEVELOPED THE LIGHT AND SPACE MOVEMENT.

THEY WORKED WITH LIGHT, WHETHER WITH ACTUAL LIGHTBULBS, AMBIENT LIGHT, SHADOWS OR THEIR PERCEPTION OF LIGHT.

TAKE ROBERT IRWIN'S DISC, FOR EXAMPLE, ON VIEW.

THE WAY THE LIGHT PLAYS AT THE OBJECT ALMOST MAKES ITS EDGES DISAPPEAR.

HIS MOST FAMOUS WORK IN SAN DIEGO IS 1 DEGREES, 2 DEGREES, H FEATURES THREE SQUARE HOLES CUT DIRECTLY THROUGH THE MUSEUM'S WINDOWS.

THE HOLES LET THE BREEZE IN, FRAME NEARBY PALM TREES AND THE COAST LINE AND BLUR THE LINES BETWEEN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.

IN AN INTERVIEW IN 2007, IRWIN SAID HE WANTED TO LEAN INTO THE IDEA THAT WHAT PEOPLE MAY SEE OUT THE WINDOW IS AS GOOD AS ANY ART.

>> ACTUALLY, WHEN I STOPPED BEING A STUDIO ARTIST, I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THE IDEA OF DEALING WITH SPACES, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO OBJECTIFY THEM.

I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT THINGS IN THEM.

I WANTED YOU TO DEAL WITH THE EQUAL OF THE SPACE ITSELF.

>> OTHER IRWIN WORKS REFLECT LIGHT AND BLEND INTO THE WALL OR DRYER GAZE TO THE BEAUTY OF THE LANDSCAPE.

MORE OF IRWIN'S WORK IS ON VIEW AT THE NEARBY GALLERY IN LA JOLLA, SOME USE LIGHT TUBES THAT TRANSFORM AND CAPTIVATE WHEN LIT UP.

OTHERS REMAIN INTENTIONALLY UNLIT.

THE GALLERY OWNER SAID IRWIN HAD A HERO PERSONALITY TO HIM.

>> I THINK BOB, AS A LOT OF PEOPLE DO, PROBABLY HAS A PHILOSOPHER'S ARTIST.

THERE ARE ARTIST'S ARTISTS.

BOB WAS MORE CONCERNED WITH THE IDEA OF LOOKING AND SEEING AND BEAUTY, AND HIS LEGACY WOULD BE ONE OF SAYING TAKE A LOOK, LOOK CLOSELY.

>> HE IS AN ARE THEIST FOR THE GENERATIONS, BUT HE COMES OUT OF OUR MOMENT.

>> JULIO -- >>> THE 10th COIN IN THE AMERICAN WOMEN QUARTERS PROGRAM WAS UNVEILED AT THE TULSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM LAST SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

IT FEATURES PRIMA BALLERINA MARIA TALLCHIEF.

IT ALSO FEATURED THE UNVEILING OF A BRONZE STATUE OF MARIE'S SISTER, MARJORIE TALLCHIEF.

MARIA TALLCHIEF DIED IN CHICAGO IN 2013.

>> IT IS OUR DISTINCT PLEASURE TODAY TO CONNECT AMERICANS TO MARIA TALLCHIEF.

SHE BROKE BARRIERS AS A NATIVE AMERICAN BALLET DANCER AND SHE EXHIBITED STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE BOTH ON STAGE AND OFF.

>> I DON'T THINK OUR OLD PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH THEY WOULD BE PROUD OF US, WOULD BELIEVE ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING.

WE HAVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE EXPRESSING THEMSELVES THROUGH DANCE AND THROUGH ART.

AND RIGHT THERE WITH THEM IS OUR TRADITIONAL SINGERS SINGING SONGS THAT ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD.

AND IT'S A BLESSING TO BE HERE.

>> TALLCHIEF IS THE SECOND OKLAHOMA NATIVE AMERICAN TO BE FEATURED ON THE QUARTERS, FOLLOWING FORMER CHEROKEE PRINCIPAL CHIEF WILMA MAN KILLER.

>>> ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, TOBACCO USE AMONG YOUNG OKLAHOMANS.

A NEW REPORT SAYS IT'S ON THE DECLINE.

BUT OTHERS SAY THE ILLEGAL USE OF VAPING PRODUCTS BY MINORS IS ON THE RISE, AND WE'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS WEEK WITH A SHOT OF THE GARDEN EDITED.

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

EACH WEEK, I'M RICH LENZ.

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