>> AN IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT.

>> I BELIEVE THAT I STAND WHERE OKLAHOMANS STAND.

WE DO NOT WANT TO GO BACKWARDS.

>> WE'LL HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES VYING TO FILL THE SHOES OF SENATOR AINHOFE.

>> THE NEED FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM HAS DECIDED TO PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS, JUST LIKE THE WHITE HOUSE HAS DONE.

THEY DECIDED WHO WILL BE CENSORED AND WHO WON'T.

>> OKLAHOMA CALLS IN THE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP ERADICATE ILLEGAL MARIJUANA FARMS.

>> IT WILL BE BURNED IN A PIT.

SO, IT IS A SAFE WAY TO GET RID OF IT.

IT'S DESTROYING WEEDS.

THAT IS WHAT MARIJUANA IS.

>> HOW THE BUFFALO IS ONCE AGAIN BECOMING AN INTEGRAL PART OF NATIVE CULTURE AND PROGRESS.

>> WE IDENTIFIED A NEED FOR AN AFFORDABLE, LOCALLY SOURCED PROTEIN.

>> THOSE STORIES PLUS A DISTURBING REPORT ON THE PREVALENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN OKLAHOMA, NEXT, ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

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

I'M RICH LENZ.

THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS ARE DAYS AWAY, BUT THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMANS HAVE ALREADY VOTED, EITHER UTILIZING ABSENTEE MAIL-IN BALLOTS OR EARLY VOTING AT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

IT WILL END AT 2:00 P.M. ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

AS OF THURSDAY, ABOUT 69,000 PEOPLE HAD CAST IN-PERSON, ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

38,000 OF THEM WERE REGISTERED REPUBLICANS AND 23,000 WERE DEMOCRATS.

INDEPENDENT AND LIBERTARIANS NUMBERED ABOUT 6400.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES AT STAKE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS ELECTION THAT IT'S VITAL THAT EVERYBODY VOTES.

>> THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TIME IN OUR HISTORY.

>> YES, IT IS.

ON ANY NUMBER OF LEVELS, IT IS.

>> I THINK IT'S OUR CIVIC DUTY TO VOTE.

SO MANY PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES, SHED THEIR BLOOD FOR THIS PRIVILEGE, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT IS AFFORDED TO US AS AMERICAN CITIZENS TO HAVE A VOICE IN HOW OUR COUNTRY IS RUN AND FOR DEMOCRACY.

>> INDEED.

THE LAST FOUR WEEKS, WE'VE DEVOTED OUR IN-DEPTH SEGMENT TO EQUAL-TIME INTERVIEWS TO THE FOUR CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR HEARING FROM ERVIN YEN, LIBERTARIAN NATALIE BRUNO, DEMOCRAT JOY HOFMEISTER AND TODAY WE INCLUDE WITH THE INCUMBENT, REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT WHO SAT DOWN WITH MODERATOR SUSAN CADOT IN OUR O.E.T.A.

STUDIOS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING.

>> RICH, WE HAVE INVITED EVERY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE IN OKLAHOMA TO OUR STUDIOS FOR A 15-MINUTE, IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW.

NOW, TO KEEP THINGS FAIR, WE HAVE THE SAME LIST OF TOPICS FOR EACH CANDIDATE, BUT WE'LL ASK FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS IF MORE EXPLANATION IS NEEDED.

WITH THAT SAID, LET'S GET STARTED ON THIS WEEK'S INTERVIEW WITH REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, THE CURRENT SITTING GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, KEVIN STITT.

GOVERNOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME AND GETTING OUR MESSAGES OUT ACROSS THE STATE.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS STATEWIDE.

AND SO IT'S A GREAT AVENUE TO SHARE.

THE FIRST QUESTION, TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF THAT FOLKS MAY NOT KNOW.

LET'S GET TO KNOW YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, I'M A FOURTH-GENERATION OKLAHOMA.

I GREW UP IN NORMAN AND WENT TO SCHOOL IN STILLWATER, MET MY WIFE IN TULSA WHEN I GOT MY FIRST JOB OVER THERE.

WE'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 24 YEARS.

>> WOW.

>> WE HAVE SIX CHILDREN, SO BIG FAMILY.

I'VE GOT TWO KIDS IN COLLEGE AND FOUR STILL AT HOME.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE OUR STATE, BUT I LOVE THE WESTERN WAY OF LIFE, TOO.

I LOVE RIDING HORSES.

AND AN INTERESTING FACT I TELL PEOPLE IS I CAN RIDE A UNICYCLE.

>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT.

>> YES, YES.

>> YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME TIME WE CAN GET SOME VIDEO OF THAT.

>> OCCASIONALLY PEOPLE WILL PULL IT OUT AND I HAVE TO PROVE IT.

ONCE YOU LEARN TO RIDE A UNICYCLE, IT'S LIKE RIDING A BIKE, YOU NEVER FORGET.

>> WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE GOVERNOR?

LET'S GO BACK.

WHAT WAS IT THAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> FIRST OFF, OUR FOUNDERSER IN ENVISIONED POLITICS WOULD BE A CAREER PROFESSION.

I WAS IN TULSA RAISING MY FAMILY AND RUNNING MY BUSINESS.

FOUR YEARS AGO, OUR STATE WAS IN TROUBLE.

WE WERE HAVING TEACHER WALKOUTS, FOUR-DAY SCHOOL WEEKS, BUDGET DEFICITS, AND I GOT INSPIRED TO RUN.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR FOUNDERS ENVISIONED, YOU'D SERVE YOUR STATE.

TODAY WE HAVE THE LARGEST SAVINGS ACCOUNT WE'VE EVER HAD, WE'VE INVESTED MORE IN EDUCATION THAN ANY OTHER GOVERNOR BEFORE ME.

OUR ECONOMY SEEMS TO BE REALLY DIVERSIFYING.

WE ACTUALLY HIT LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY A FEW MONTHS AGO.

SO, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE MOMENTUM WE HAVE.

THAT'S WHY I RAN.

I KNEW MY STATE WASN'T LIVING UP TO ITS POTENTIAL, I WANTED A BUSINESS APPROACH AND A FRESH SET OF EYES RUNNING A $25 BILLION BUSINESS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION FOR A MINUTE.

THAT'S ON OUR LIST OF TOPICS.

YOU MENTIONED THE SURPLUS FUNDS, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WHY AREN'T WE PAYING TEACHERS MORE?

WHAT SAY YOU?

>> NUMBER ONE, WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE, THAT WAS HAPPENING; THE LEGISLATURE WOULD SPEND EVERY DIME THEY HAD AND INCREASE THE BASE-LEVEL EXPENSES ALL ACROSS GOVERNMENT.

WE KNOW REVENUE DOESN'T GO UP IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

THE MOMENT YOU HAVE A DOWNTURN, YOU HAVE TO CUT AND CHAOS IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

YOU NOTICE IT HASN'T BEEN LIKE THAT FOR FOUR YEARS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN FISCALLY DISCIPLINED.

I'VE PUT MORE MONEY IN EDUCATION THAN ANY OTHER GOVERNOR IN HISTORY.

WE PUT MORE MONEY IN RURAL SCHOOLS AND CUT TAXES FOR OKLAHOMANS.

WE HAVE TO BE DISCIPLINED AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND INVEST STRATEGICALLY ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

THE OTHER THING I REMIND PEOPLE IS I GAVE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT A 30% PAY INCREASE IN YEAR, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME AND OKLAHOMANS THAT WE ALL LIVE IN SAFE COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE GOING TO BACK THE BLUE AS LONG AS I'M GOVERNOR.

>> I WANT TO SWITCH TO THE ENERGY SECTOR RIGHT NOW.

THE ECONOMY, AS YOU MENTIONED IN OKLAHOMA, THE FOUNDATION IS ENERGY IN OKLAHOMA.

THESE DAYS WE'RE FACED WITH ENERGY VERSUS ENVIRONMENT.

I KNOW YOU'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST.

IS THE ENVIRONMENT IMPORTANT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR COMPANIES ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, WE TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, AND WE TAKE CARE OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT OKLAHOMA, WE HAVE REDUCED OUR CARBON EMISSIONS BY THREE TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE JUST SINCE 2005.

AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF CLEAN-BURNING NATURAL GAS.

BUT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ATTACKING OUR WAY OF LIFE IN OKLAHOMA, THEY'RE ATTACKING THE OIL AND GAS, THEY'RE TAXING IT, THEY'RE CANCELING THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE, THEY'RE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GET NEW PERMITS IN A LOT OF CASES.

HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH THAT: DEMAND IS THE SAME.

WE'RE ALL STILL HEATING OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES, WE'RE DRIVING TO WORK AND TAKING OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL AND FOOTBALL PRACTICE AND PIANO LESSONS.

WHEN YOU CHOKE OFF SUPPLY, DEMAND'S THE SAME, THEN PRICES ARE GOING TO GO UP.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING 40-YEAR HIGH INFLATION, THINGS ARE COSTING MORE AT THE GROCERY STORE AND THE GAS PUMP.

OKLAHOMA DOES IT SO WELL.

>> WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO THAT, THEN?

>> THE ANSWER IS TO UNLEASH AND TAKE YOUR THUMB OFF OF TRYING TO PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS.

OKLAHOMA, I BRAG ON OKLAHOMA WHEN I MEET WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND I MEET WITH THEIR SECRETARY OF ENERGY.

WE'RE NUMBER FOUR IN OIL PRODUCTION, NUMBER THREE IN NATURAL GAS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

HERE'S WHAT THEY DON'T REALIZE.

WE'RE NUMBER TWO IN WIND ENERGY PRODUCTION.

OKLAHOMA, WE BELIEVE IN MORE OF EVERYTHING.

WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT RENEWABLES.

I SIGNED AN MOU WITH THE GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS AND LOUISIANA TO BRING A HYDROGEN HUB HERE TO OKLAHOMA.

WE WANT MORE WIND AND OIL AND GAS.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND THAT PARTY WON'T HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NEED FOR OIL AND NATURAL GAS BECAUSE WHAT THEIR SOLUTION IS ISN'T WORKING BECAUSE THEY'RE SIMPLY ASKING RUSSIA AND OPEC TO PRODUCE MORE OIL.

WE NEED TO UNLEASH OKLAHOMA COMPANIES.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO EDUCATION BECAUSE I FORGOT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING THAT I'VE ASKED EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE, VOUCHERS.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT VOUCHERS.

I BELIEVE ONE OF YOUR OPPONENTS CALLED IT A SCHEME.

IS IT A SCHEME?

>> FIRST OFF, I WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO OKLAHOMANS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL OKLAHOMA.

THE LIES AND CHAOS THESE SPECIAL INTERESTS HAVE BEEN MAILING YOU FLYERS SAYING I'M GOING TO DEFUND YOUR RURAL SCHOOL.

THAT'S NONSENSE.

I WILL CONTINUE TO PUT MORE MONEY IN EDUCATION THAN ANY OTHER GOVERNOR IN HISTORY.

THE BILL ACTUALLY SPECIFICALLY FUNDED MORE MONEY TO RURAL SCHOOLS.

AGAIN, IT'S JUST CHAOS.

THEY'RE TWISTING IT.

IN NORTH TULSA, SOUTH OKLAHOMA CITY, IF THERE ARE SCHOOLS THAT WERE CLOSED DOWN LIKE DURING COVID FOR 355, PARENTS NEED MORE OPTIONS.

WE ALREADY HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS IN OKLAHOMA.

IT'S CALLED THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND, IT'S CALLED THE HENRY SCHOLARSHIP, LINDSEY NICOLE HENRY, IF YOU HAVE AN EIP AND NOT GETTING YOUR NEEDS MET.

EIP?

>> IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN.

IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS LEARNING DISABILITY OR NOT REALLY A DISABILITY, BUT A DIFFERENT WAY TO LEARN, WITH SIX CHILDREN, NOT ALL OF MY KIDS LEARN THE SAME WAY.

>> YEAH.

>> SO, SOMETIMES KIDS NEED DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

BUT AS FAR AS OUR RURAL SCHOOLS, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DOLLAR GOES TO THOSE RURAL SCHOOLS, AND WE LOVE OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

THEY'RE SO CLOSE TO THE; THEY'RE TEACHING KIDS, NOT INDOCTRINATING.

SOME PARENTS IN OTHER SCHOOLS NEED MORE OPTIONS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING FOR.

>> OUR NEXT TOPIC IS ABORTION, THAT'S BEEN A BIG ISSUE IN OKLAHOMA, AND OKLAHOMA HAS GARNERED ATTENTION FOR YOUR STANCE ON ABORTION.

YOU'VE BEEN HIGHLY CRITICIZED FOR THAT STANCE.

WHY DO YOU TAKE THAT STANCE?

>> WELL, FIRST OFF, I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN CRITICIZED BY OKLAHOMANS.

I MIGHT HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED BY THE LIBERALS ON THE EAST COAST OR THE WEST COAST, BUT MY OPPONENTS WON'T GIVE AN ANSWER.

THE MOST EXTREME POSITION IS MY OPPONENT, SHE'S SIDING MORE WITH NORTH KOREA AND CHINA THAN OKLAHOMANS BECAUSE SHE WILL NOT ADMIT WHEN LIFE BEGINS.

THEY WANT TO ABORT BABIES ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL BIRTH, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE.

THE OTHER LIE THAT PEOPLE TELL YOU IS THAT THE SUPREME COURT BANNED ABORTION IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

IT SIMPLY PUSHED THAT BACK TO THE STATES WHERE IT BELONGS.

EVERY STATE WILL DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

WE WANT TO BE A PRO-LIFE STATE, PROTECTS MOMS, PROTECTS BABIES, IS THE EASIEST ADOPTION STATE.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS I'M WORKING ON.

MY OPPONENT WANTS TO SIDE WITH CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, COLORADO, AND ABORT BABIES TO BIRTH.

>> IS THAT EXTREME?

>> YES.

DURING OUR TV DEBATE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, SHE WOULD NOT ANSWER WHEN SHE BELIEVES THAT LIFE BEGINS, AND WHEN WOULD SHE STOP ABORTION?

WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS EVERY STATE WILL DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

SOME STATES MIGHT DO A 15-WEEK BAN.

FRANCE BANS ABORTION BETWEEN 12 AND 14 WEEKS.

YOU KNOW, SOME STATES WILL DO A HEARTBEAT BILL AT MAYBE SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS, SO WE CAN HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, BUT WE CERTAINLY KNOW THAT LIFE BEGINS BEFORE THE MOMENT OF BIRTH.

>> DURING THAT DEBATE, YOU SAID SOMEONE PUT SOMETHING ON YOUR DESK ABOUT RAPE OR INCEST, YOU'D ALLOW ABORTION IN THOSE INSTANCES.

>> YEAH, WE DO.

I WOULD, I DID SAY THAT, AND WE WOULD SIGN THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS, WE ALREADY HAVE LIFE OF MOTHER.

THESE ARE TOUGH SITUATIONS.

WE WILL SUPPORT OUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS FOR THESE, YOU KNOW, DIRE SITUATIONS WHEN THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER'S AT RISK, AND WE LET OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS DECIDE THAT.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT POLLING.

EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE POLLS IN THIS RACE.

NATIONALLY, EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE POLLS IN EVERY RACE BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A BIG ISSUE FOR AMERICA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE POLLS THAT HAVE YOUR MAIN OPPONENT, DEMOCRAT JOY HOFMEISTER CREEPING UP ON YOU OR EVEN BEING AHEAD OF THE YOU IN THE POLLS?

>> YOU KNOW, THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS IS WE WILL ALL KNOW ON NOVEMBER 8th, BECAUSE IT WILL BE UP TO OKLAHOMANS TO VOTE.

I STAND WHERE OKLAHOMANS STAND.

WE DO NOT WANT TO GO BACKWARDS.

THE TURNAROUND THAT OKLAHOMANS ELECTED ME TO DO FOUR YEARS AGO, IT'S WORKING.

AND I BELIEVE THAT OKLAHOMANS OVERWHELMINGLY WILL SUPPORT ME ON ELECTION DAY.

SO, I DON'T PUT MUCH CREDENCE IN POLL.

I DON'T POLL BEFORE I MAKE DECISIONS FOR OKLAHOMANS.

I KNOW WHAT OKLAHOMANS ARE THINKING AND WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR STATE.

WE WANT TO BE A TOP 10 STATE IN EVERYTHING DO, SMALLER GOVERNMENT, LOWER TAXES, TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES.

THAT'S HOW I WILL LEAD.

THAT'S WHY I LOVE THESE PROGRAMS, SHOWING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND MY OPPONENT.

AND THEN I'M HAPPY WITH WHATEVER OKLAHOMA DECIDES.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO POLLING, SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

THEY FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND THERE'S BEEN CRITICISM, SOME OF THE DEALINGS THEY SEE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT.

>> YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE DEAL, WE'VE AUDITED MORE STATE AGENCIES THAN ANY OTHER GOVERNOR.

WE'VE GOT THE LARGEST SAVINGS ACCOUNT IN STATE HISTORY.

I HAVE LOWER TAXES.

I'M TRYING TO GET A TAX DONE FOR OKLAHOMANS WHICH IS REALLY A REGRESSIVE TAX.

PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES OR HAVE LOWER INCOME, SPEND MORE MONEY ON GROCERIES THAN PEOPLE IN THE HIGHER INCOMES.

AGAIN, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE'S SOME DARK MONEY GROUPS SPENDING UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF MONEY IN OKLAHOMA, $25 MILLION TO SPREAD LIES AND CHAOS TO TRY TO BUY THIS ELECTION AND CONFUSES OKLAHOMANS.

SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON, REPORT IT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, REPORT IT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

I WILL HOLD EVERY VENDOR ACCOUNTABLE, EVERY STATE AGENCY.

PEOPLE ARE TOO SMART FOR IT.

THEY KNOW MY OPPONENT IS WORKING WITH THE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS TO BUY THIS ELECTION.

>> THE McGIRT DECISION, THE FALLOUT IS STILL GOING ON.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH OKLAHOMA'S TRIBES?

>> WELL, FIRST OFF, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE AND OUR TRIBAL FOLKS IN OKLAHOMA.

I'M ACTUALLY A TRIBAL MEMBER, SO IS MY MOM, ALL SIX OF MY CHILDREN, ALL MY COUSINS IN THE INDIAN RODEO ASSOCIATION.

I'M SO PROUD OF OUR NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE, AND THAT'S PART OF WHO WE ARE AS OKLAHOMANS.

WHEN THEY RUN ADS AND THEY TRY TO CONFUSE THE PUBLIC TO SAY I DON'T LIKE INDIAN TRIBES, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

I'M PRO OKLAHOMA, AND I WILL NOT FEDERALIZE MY STATE.

THE McGIRT DECISION TRIED TO KICK OKLAHOMA OUT OF EASTERN OKLAHOMA ON LAW AND ORDER, TO BE ABLE TO PROSECUTE CRIMES THE SAME WAY.

DON'T ASK ME, ASK THE CITY OF TULSA AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE AND THE POLICE AND THE CHAOS THAT HAS ENSUED.

I'M NOT GOING TO FEDERALIZE EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

WE'RE ALL ONE STATE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE SET OF RULES, REGARDLESS OF YOUR RACE, HERITAGE OR WHERE YOU LIVE.

WE CAN'T TREAT DIFFERENT RACES DIFFERENTLY.

MY OPPONENT SAID SHE WAS FOR FEDERALIZING EASTERN OKLAHOMA.

SHE THINKS YOU SHOULD HAVE TWO RULES.

SHE THINKS THAT PEOPLE WITH NATIVE HERITAGE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TAXES AND EVERYBODY ELSE SHOULD.

I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

>> OKAY.

OUR LAST TOPIC, AS WE WIND DOWN OUR TIME IS GOING TO BE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE CRIME RATE IN OKLAHOMA.

YOU SAY YOU BACK THE BLUE, YOU'RE FUNDING POLICE.

WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE?

>> WELL, FIRST OFF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO PROSECUTE ALL BAD GUYS, WE'RE KEEP -- WE'RE GOING TO BE A LAW-AND-ORDER STATE, WE WILL FUND OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS PROPERLY.

WHEN I TOOK OVER, WE WERE LAST PLACE IN INCARCERATION RATES IN OKLAHOMA.

I'VE CLOSED DOWN TWO PRIVATE PRISONS.

WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY IN LOWEST RECIDIVISM RATE, THAT MEANS PEOPLE GOING BACK INTO PRISON, WE'RE LEADING THE COUNTRY IN FEWER PEOPLE GOING BACK INTO PRISON.

WE'VE DONE SOME GREAT POLICY ITEMS TO DO SECOND CHANCES.

AGAIN, THIS IS WHERE MY OPPONENT TRIED TO MAKE THIS AN ISSUE.

AND, AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL BE AN LAW-AND-ORDER STATE.

IF YOU NOTICE, I GIVE ALL OF OUR LAW AND ORDER ALL THE TOOLS THEY NEED, ALL THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE WE LOCK UP THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE AFRAID OF AND WE GIVE SECOND CHANCES TO PEOPLE MAYBE WE'RE JUST MAD AT.

>> ALL RIGHT, GOVERNOR, THAT'S OUR TIME.

I'D LIKE TO THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING TO OUR STUDIOS AND SPEAKING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THAT WRAPS UP OUR SERIES OF INTERVIEWS WITH EVERY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ON THE BUILT IN OKLAHOMA ON NOVEMBER 8th.

WE HOPE IT WAS INFORMATIVE AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOTE.

>> SUSAN, GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT JASON DOYLE HAS PREVIEWED THE RACES FOR STATE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE U.S. SENATE AND THIS WEEK HE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THE PERSON WHO WILL REPLACE JIM INHOFE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., EITHER KENDRA HORN OR MARKWAYNE MULLIN.

JASON SAT DOWN WITH BOTH CANDIDATES THIS WEEK FOR EQUAL-TIME INTERVIEWS.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN HORN, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES YOU COULD BE FACING IF YOU WIN THE UNEXPIRED U.S. SENATE SEAT THAT IS CURRENTLY HELD BY SENATOR INHOFE.

FIRST OF ALL, INFLATION CONTINUES TO GO HIGHER AND HIGHER.

AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO HELP AMERICAN FAMILIES AFFORD THAT FOOD, FUEL, AND HOUSING THAT HAS SKYROCKETED OVER THE LAST YEAR?

>> JASON, IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW I, ALONG WITH FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, ARE REALLY FEELING THE IMPACTS OF INFLATION FROM WHEN WE FILL UP AT THE GAS STATION TO THE GROCERY STORE TO PET FOOD.

I MEAN, IT'S EVERYWHERE.

THE SOLUTION IS ENERGY.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING WE HAVE TO TACKLE.

FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY POLICY THAT ENSURES THAT WE HAVE ABUNDANT, AFFORDABLE DOMESTIC ENERGY.

ACROSS THE BOARD, WE NEED DIFFERENT SOURCES, INCLUDING OIL AND GAS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT AMERICAN MANUFACTURING.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH OUR GLOBAL ECONOMY RIGHT NOW THAT WE SAW IN THE PANDEMIC WAS WE HAD THIS BREAK IN OUR SUPPLY CHAINS, AND WE HAVE BEEN OVERLY DEPENDENT ON CHINA AND OTHER PLACES FOUR OUR SUPPLY CHAINS.

THERE WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT PASSED THAT MY AS OPPOSED TO VOTED AGAINST TO REVITALIZE HIGH-TECH MANUFACTURING.

THAT'S CREATING GOOD-PAYING JOBS AND HELPING US SECURE THE SUPPLY CHAIN SO WE'RE LESS VULNERABLE TO THOSE THINGS.

>> WELL, YOU KIND OF GOT INTO MY NEXT QUESTION, OKLAHOMA'S AN ENERGY STATE.

HOW CAN YOU BRING YOUR EXPERIENCE AS AN OKLAHOMAN TO HELP SET NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY?

>> ENERGY POLICY IS SO IMPORTANT, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE FACT THAT I'M A FIFTH-GENERATION OKLAHOMAN, THE FACT THAT I UNDERSTAND OKLAHOMA IS AN ENERGY STATE AND ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY STATE.

WE PRODUCE THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY WE CONSUME.

WE HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF EXPERTISE.

WE'RE THIRD IN THE NATION IN WIND PRODUCTION, TOP FIVE IN OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION, AND WE HAVE A LOT WE CAN BRING TO THE TABLE.

WHEN I SERVED ON ARMED SERVICES, WORKING WITH THE DOD, A TOP CONCERN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OUR JOBS AND ECONOMIC FUTURE IS CLIMATE CHANGE AND AFFORDABLE, ABUNDANT DOMESTIC SOURCES OF ENERGY.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE UNNECESSARY AND AWFUL INVASION OF UKRAINE BY PUTIN AND THE RELIANCE IN EUROPE OF ONE TYPE OF ENERGY AND RELYING ON RUSSIA FOR THAT ENERGY IS WE CANNOT RELY ON OTHER COUNTRIES FOR OUR ENERGY PRODUCTION.

WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE THAT HERE.

THAT'S WHY I PUT OUT MY ALL-IN ENERGY PLAN, ALL THE ABOVE APPROACH, AND WE NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND HAVE LONG-TERM STRATEGIES.

>> OBVIOUSLY, THE AGRICULTURE AND THE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IS IMPORTANT.

WHAT COULD CONGRESS DO TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE BOLSTER THE ECONOMY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES?

>> I GREW UP IN RURAL OKLAHOMA.

I LOVE IN RURAL OKLAHOMA.

MY PARENTS STILL LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE I GREW UP IN.

THIS SUBJECT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.

BECAUSE RURAL OKLAHOMA AND RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY BRING SO MUCH.

YES, AGRICULTURE AND, YOU KNOW, OUR FOOD SUPPLY AND SO MANY THINGS, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF INNOVATION, A LOT OF RICHNESS, AND COMPANIES THAT COME UP IN RURAL OKLAHOMA.

BUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE STRENGTHS OF RURAL OKLAHOMA AND THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL OKLAHOMA ARE DIFFERENT THAN OUR URBAN AREAS.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

BUT WHAT I CAN DO IS TO BE A VOICE FOR OKLAHOMA ACROSS THE BOARD, AND I WILL DO THAT.

I THINK WE NEED MORE PEOPLE SPEAKING UP FOR THE NEEDS OF RURAL OKLAHOMA.

>> AS YOU KNOW, SEVERAL SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES HAVE MADE THE NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND TECH COMPANIES ARE GETTING A LOT MORE SCRUTINY FROM CONGRESS BECAUSE OF THE MISINFORMATION, DISINFORMATION THAT'S BEEN MAKING THE ROUNDS THERE.

WHAT SHOULD CONGRESS DO, IF ANYTHING, TO REGULATE THAT INDUSTRY?

>> WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING THOUGHTFUL AND INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT WE PUT FORWARD, WHETHER THEY'RE FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE OR HEALTH CARE OR SOCIAL MEDIA AND TECH COMPANIES.

SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT THIS WAY.

FIRST AMENDMENT ENSURES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION, ALL THOSE THINGS.

BUT THERE'S ALSO THINGS THAT ARE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

SO, MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE KINDS OF COMPANIES AND THE MISINFORMATION AND THE DISINFORMATION, WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE NEED FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH WITH PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> WELL, LET'S MOVE ON THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINE CONFLICT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS NOW.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS THE U.S. SHOULD TAKE IN THAT CONFLICT?

>> WHAT WE'RE FACING WITH THE UKRAINE IS SOMEONE WHO JUST WANTS TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD AS AN DICTATOR.

I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO HELP THE UKRAINE.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME, BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR ALLIES IN EUROPE AND WE HAVE TO FIND THAT RIGHT BALANCE.

BUT WE CANNOT LET WANNA-BE DICTATORS LIKE PUTIN AND XI JINPING DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.

IT'S CALLED ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> LET'S RETURN BACK HERE TO HOME AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HEALTH CARE, SOMETHING VITAL TO EVERY AMERICAN.

RIGHT NOW, FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

WHAT SHOULD CONGRESS DO TO HELP PEOPLE AFFORD DRUGS?

>> HEALTH CARE IS BROKEN IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TAKE ACTION TO MAKE SURE DRUG COMPANIES ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, THEY CAN'T JUST CHARGE WHATEVER THEY WANT.

WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE INSURANCE COMPANIES BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

WHEN I WAS IF THE HOUSE, I INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO CAP INSULIN PRICES AT $35 A MONTH, SOMETHING THAT JUST GOT PASSED, SOMETHING THAT MY OPPONENT SUPPOS -- OPPOSES.

TYPE ONE DIABETICS ARE BORN WITH THIS CONDITION, THIS IS NOT LIFESTYLE.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT THIS IS JUST A DISEASE THEY WERE BORN WITH AND WILL LITERALLY DIE WITHOUT INSULIN.

>> CONGRESSWOMAN KENDRA HORN, THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF JIM INHOFE.

>> JASON SPOKE WITH KENDRA HORN AT THE STATE CAPITOL ON WEDNESDAY.

ON THURSDAY MORNING, HE TRAVELED UP THE TURNER TURNPIKE TO MEET WITH CONGRESSMAN MARKWAYNE MULLIN IN TULSA.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT YOUR ASPIRATIONS OF THE U.S. SENATE.

FIRST OF ALL, WE ALL KNOW INFLATION IS HIGH AND HAS REMAINED HIGH.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

>> LISTEN, YOU CAN'T HAVE HIGH ENERGY COST AND LOWER INFLATION AT THE SAME TIME.

AND SO, THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO TO BECOME ENERGY INDEPENDENT.

ENERGY IS THE BEGINNING OF EVERY PRODUCT BEING MADE, AND IT IS THE END OF EACH COST WHEN IT'S BEEN DELIVERED.

WITH HIGH ENERGY COSTS WE WILL HAVE INFLATION.

IT'S THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY.

WE NEED TO BECOME ENERGY INDEPENDENT.

WE CAN'T RELY ON OPEC, THE CARTELS IN SAUDI ARABIA CONTROLLING OUR OIL PRICES.

WE CAN'T ALLOW RUSSIA TO DICTATE OUR PETROLEUM AND OIL PRODUCTS WHEN WE COULD BE ENERGY DEPENDENT RIGHT HERE INSIDE THE UNITED STATES.

WE NEED TO ROLL BACK THE DISASTROUS POLICIES THAT BIDEN PUT IN CONTROL BY PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS AND FORCING US TO RENEWABLES.

>> RELATED TO THAT, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ENERGY POLICY BECAUSE OKLAHOMA IS AN ENERGY STATE.

WE DO VERY WELL IN OIL AND GAS, AS WELL AS WIND, AND WE'RE STARTING TO DEVELOP SOLAR.

HOW DO WE TAKE OUR EXPERIENCES -- HOW DO YOU TAKE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN OKLAHOMA AND TRANSFER TO NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY?

>> WELL, OKLAHOMA'S REALLY GOOD ABOUT ALL THE ABOVE ENERGY.

I MEAN, WE HAVE SOLAR, WE HAVE WIND, WE HAVE HYDRO, AND WE HAVE FOSSIL FUELS.

WE SHOW THAT WE CAN DO IT RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE SHOW THAT IN OKLAHOMA, IT CAN BE DONE IN AN EFFECTIVE MANNER AND STILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ENVIRONMENT TO WHICH WE WALK AROUND AND ENJOY OURSELVES, SAME THING WITH OUR KIDS.

SO, ALL THE ABOVE ENERGY APPROACH IS THE BEST THING AND THE BEST APPROACH TO HAVE.

SO, IN OKLAHOMA WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INFLUENCING WASHINGTON, D.C.

THESE INDIVIDUALS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THESE BUREAUCRATS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, THE LIFELONG POLITICIANS THAT LIVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO FORCE THEIR IDEAS AND POLICIES ON US.

THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS WANTED US TO DO.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO INFLUENCE THEM, INSTEAD OF THEM TRYING TO INFLUENCE US.

>> RURAL OKLAHOMA IS VITAL TO OUR ECONOMY BECAUSE OF AGRICULTURE AND ENERGY.

HOW CAN WE MAKE OUR RURAL ECONOMIES STRONGER?

>> WE NEED TO HIGHLIGHT OUR WORKFORCE.

THERE'S THIS HUGE NEED FOR A WORKFORCE RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAVE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.

IN THE COUNTRY, WHAT IS THE SONG, COUNTRY BOYS KNOW HOW TO SURVIVE.

WE KNOW HOW TO WORK.

A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S A LOT LESS COMPETITION.

SOMETIMES YOU SEE FACTORIES POPPING UP RIGHT BESIDE FACTORIES AND THEY'RE ALL COMPETING FOR THE SAME EMPLOYEES.

IN RURAL OKLAHOMA, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

THAT FACTORY CAN BE THE LIFEBLOOD AND THE BACKBONE OF THAT ECONOMY, WHICH PEOPLE ARE PROUD TO HAVE THERE.

FOR INSTANCE, WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE BALDOR.

BALDOR EMPLOYS 600 PEOPLE IN A TOWN THAT'S JUST OVER 1200.

WE'RE PROUD TO HAVE THEM.

THAT SAME MODEL CAN BE USED.

>> SOCIAL MEDIA AND TECH COMPANIES HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF SCRUTINY LATELY FROM CONGRESS BECAUSE OF MISINFORMATION, DISINFORMATION.

SO, SHOULD CONGRESS TAKE ACTION TO REGULATE THAT INDUSTRY?

>> I TAKE ISSUE WITH MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION.

WHAT THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM HAS DONE IS DECIDED TO PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS, THEY DECIDED WHO WILL BE CENSORED AND WHO WON'T.

JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE YOUR OPINION, THEY THROW YOU OUT.

THEY CALL ONE THING VIOLENT AND THE OTHER NOT.

WHO'S MAKING THOSE DECISIONS?

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM AND YOU WANT TO ENJOY THE PROTECTIONS THAT YOU HAVE OUT THERE, THAT KEEP YOU FROM BEING SUED BECAUSE YOU'RE PUTTING THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE, THEN YOU SHOULDN'T BE CENSORING IT.

HAVE AN OPEN PLATFORM OR RUN IT LIKE A BUSINESS AND YOU CAN CHOOSE THE INFORMATION YOU SEND OUT THERE.

MEDIA CHOOSES WHAT TYPE OF INFORMATION IS OUT THERE.

>> LET'S TURN TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ESPECIALLY THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT.

WHAT SHOULD THE U.S. BE DOING RIGHT NOW, IF ANYTHING AT ALL?

>> WE SHOULDN'T BE THE ONE LEADING THIS FIGHT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT OUR BACKYARD.

WE NEED TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION AND SUPPORTING UKRAINE HOWEVER WE CAN, HOWEVER, I DON'T SUPPORT PUTTING OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN HARM'S WAY AND WE NEED TO SHORE UP OUR OWN BACKYARD, TOO.

WE NEED TO HAVE GERMANY, WE NEED TO HAVE FRANCE, WE NEED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, U.K. AND THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE IN THAT REGION TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS.

THEY SHOULD SEE HOW DANGEROUS THIS COULD BE IF RUSSIA FOLLOWS THROUGH WITH THE RHETORIC THAT PUTIN IS PUTTING OUT THERE.

AND WHAT WOULD REALLY HAPPEN IF THEY ACTUALLY GOT CONTROL OF UKRAINE.

I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT.

IF THEY GOT CONTROL OF UKRAINE, THEY'LL CONTROL 25% OF THE FOOD SUPPLY FOR THAT ENTIRE REGION.

THEY'VE ALREADY WEAPONIZED ENERGY, YOU DON'T THINK THEY'D WEAPONIZE FOOD, TOO.

>> PRESCRIPTION PRICES.

THOSE STRUGGLING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THOSE PRICES.

>> WE NEED TO OPEN THE DOORS AND COMPETE.

WE'VE REGULATED THE INDUSTRY SO HEAVY, SO HARD, THAT WE'VE CAUSED INDUSTRIES TO CONSOLIDATE AND NO ONE IS COMPETING.

WE ONLY HAVE A FEW PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES LEFT.

WANT TO BRING DOWN PRICES?

LET PEOPLE COMPETE.

IF WE WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS -- TELL ME SOMETHING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THAT HAS MADE IT BETTER.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

GOVERNMENT'S DESIGN IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GO-GETTERS TO CREATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND JOBS.

WE NEED TO GO BACK TO OUR BASICS.

LET'S SEE WHY THE INDUSTRY -- WHY IS THE INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATED.

?

IT WASN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY.

THERE USED TO BE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS AND NEW INVENTIONS AND NEW COMPETITION FOR NEW DRUGS TO DEAL WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS.

>> IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD LUCK IN THE RACE.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD.

WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US HERE ON O.E.T.A.

ON ELECTION NIGHT, NOVEMBER 8th, FOR OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF OKLAHOMA VOTES 2022: THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

OUR TEAM WILL PROVIDE UP-TO-THE-MINUTE RESULTS AND ANALYSIS OF ALL THE KEY RACES, GOVERNOR, SENATE, CONGRESSIONAL SEATS, AS WELL AS STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION.

JOIN US AND OUR SPECIALS FROM 8:00 TO 10:00 P.M. FOR ELECTION COVERAGE YOU CAN TRUST.

OKLAHOMA VOTES 2022.

THE RESPIRATORY VIRUS KNOWN AS RSV HAS MADE ITS WAY TO OKLAHOMA EARLIER THAN EXPECTED THIS YEAR AND CAUSING MAJOR PROBLEMS IN NEIGHBORING STATES.

TEXAS IS EXPERIENCING A LARGE SPIKE IN RSV WITH PEDIATRIC BEDS FILLING UP WITH SICK CHILDREN.

THE GOOD NEWS SO FAR, OKLAHOMA IS MANAGING ITS CASES, BUT RSV CAN SEVERELY IMPACT YOUNG KIDS, SO HEALTH CARE LEADERS ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON CONDITIONSES AND THE NUMBER OF PEDIATRICS BEDS AVAILABLE.

>> RSV HAS BEEN TALKED A LOT NATIONALLY AND HERE IN THE STATE.

I'M WATCHING OUR NUMBERS, AND THEY'RE STARTING TO CLIMB.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE AT A CRISIS STAGE YET, BUT WE WANT TO BE PROACTIVE INSTEAD OF REACTIVE.

>> ALMOST 50% OF THE KIDS ADMITTED TO OKLAHOMA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ARE ADMITTED BECAUSE OF RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS.

10% ARE FLEW, BUT 40% IS RSV.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THE NUMBER OF CASES IS GOING UP SUBSTANTIALLY.

THIS IS ABOUT TWO TO FOUR WEEKS EARLY FOR US.

>> OVERALL TRENDS RIGHT NOW SHOW RSV PERCENT POSITIVITY IS RISING, AND IT'S CURRENTLY ABOVE BASELINE LEVELS, WHICH MEANS IT IS ACTIVELY CIRCULATING IN ALL PARTS OF THE STATE.

RIGHT NOW, ALL REGIONS, EXCEPT FOR THE SOUTHWEST REGION OF THE STATE, ARE SEEING THE PERCENT POSITIVITY ABOVE 10%, AND WE CONSIDER 10% TO BE OUR BASELINE.

>> CHILDREN UNDER 2 ARE AT THE GREATEST RISK FOR RSV BUT CAN TARGET PEOPLE WITH HEART AND LUNG DISEASE AND THOSE WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS.

>> WELL, WHEN YOU GOT A BIG JOB TO DO, YOU CALL IN THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THAT'S WHAT THE OKLAHOMA BUREAU OF NARCOTICS DID RECENTLY WHEN THEY WANTED TO GET A GRIP ON A GROWING PROBLEM, ILLEGAL MARIJUANA GROW FARMS.

>> RICH, IN AN EFFORT TO DISMANTLE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LUSHING WITHIN THE STATE'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM, THE OBN CALLED IN THE NATIONAL GUARD TO SEIZE AND DESTROY MORE THAN 79,000 POT PLANTS AND MORE THAN 3,000 POUNDS OF PROCESSED MARIJUANA.

FOR TWO WEEKS, STARTING IN LATE SEPTEMBER, THE OKLAHOMA BUREAU OF NARCOTICS EXECUTED SEARCH WARRANTS ON 10 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL GROW FARMS.

IN THESE EIGHT COUNTIES, CANADIAN, CLEVELAND, GARVIN, KAY, OFUSKY AND OTHERS.

IT CAPPED TWO YEARS OF INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING.

>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S, RIGHT NOW, 8500 LICENSED MARIJUANA GROWERS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

POTENTIALLY 25-30% OF THOSE 5800 GROWS ARE LEGITIMATE ON TO SURFACE AND HIDING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

BEHIND THE SCENES, THEY'RE 100% CRIMINAL MOVING MARIJUANA TO THE BLACK MARKET.

>> WOODWARD SAYS THAT MEANS THERE'S ABOUT 3,000 ILLEGAL GROW FARMS IN THE STATE.

WOODWARD SAYS, IN SOME CASES, BLACK MARKET MARIJUANA IS PRODUCED HERE FOR AS LITTLE AS $100 A POUND.

THEN IT SELLS ON THE STREETS, ON THE EAST OR WEST COAST FOR AS MUCH AS $4,000 A POUND.

A TIDY $3900 PROFIT PER POUND.

>> IT IS LIKE HOLDING BACK THE OCEAN WITH A BROOM.

>> WOODWARD SAYS LAST MONTH'S OPERATION WAS DONE WITH THE HELP OF 30 NATIONAL GUARD VOLUNTEERS.

IT WAS A VERY BIG OPERATION THAT ALSO INCLUDED SHERIFF'S OFFICES, DRUG TASK FORCE PERSONNEL, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND EVEN COUNTY WORKERS.

>> IT'S LIKE AN ARMY THAT WE SEND OUT THERE.

BECAUSE OFTENTIMES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SEVERAL DOZEN ACRES.

YOU COULD BE TALKING ABOUT AS MANY AS 200 DIFFERENT STRUCTURES THAT HAVE TO BE CLEARED.

ANY ONE OF THEM COULD HAVE A THREAD.

HEY, THIS IS A METH HOUSE, WE GO TO THE FRONT DOOR AND SECURE THE HOUSE.

IMAGINE DOING THAT AT 200 POTENTIAL GROW HOUSES AND TRAILERS YOU HAVE TO DO ON ONE FARM.

>> IT WILL BE BURNED IN A PIT.

AND SO, IT IS A SAFE WAY TO GET RID OF IT.

IT'S JUST DESTROYING WEEDS.

ESSENTIALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, MARIJUANA IS A WEED.

IT'S DESTROYED IN A PIT AT A COUNTY FACILITY.

>> I CAME FROM THE INFANTRY BRIGADE, THE 45th DOWN AT NORMAN.

>> Reporter: COLONEL SHANE RILEY DIRECTS OPERATIONS FOR THE MILITARY SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND HE COORDINATED THE MISSION LAST MONTH, WHICH WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR THE GUARD HELPED THE OBN TO DO THIS.

>> SO, WE PULLED SOME DUMP TRUCKS AND A LOT OF SOLDIERS THAT COULD GET IN AND OUT OF THOSE TIGHT SPACES AND RAPIDLY GRAB AND ERADICATE THE ILLEGAL AND BLACK MARKET MARIJUANA WE WERE SEIZING.

>> GUARD VOLUNTEERS DON'T CARRY GUNS OR MAKE ARRESTS.

OBN AGENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL HANDLE THAT BEFORE THE GUARD GETS THERE.

>> DID YOU SEE ANYTHING YOU DIDN'T THINK YOU'D SEE?

>> I DID.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THESE ARE BLACK MARKET AND ILLEGAL OR UNREGISTERED GROW SITES, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF OVERSIGHT THERE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, IN A LOT OF CASES.

AND THE CLEANLINESS, THE -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO FDA OVERSIGHT.

THE EPA WOULD PROBABLY NOT LIKE WHAT THEY FIND WHEN THEY GO ON THESE SITES.

I WAS REALLY SURPRISED BY JUST THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PROPERTY, OF THE LAND THAT YOU COULD SEE THAT SOMEBODY -- THEY'RE VERY, OBVIOUSLY, COMING IN TO MAKE A BUNCH OF MONEY, STRIP THE SITE DOWN, GROW A BUNCH OF BLACK MARKET MARIJUANA.

>> SOME OF THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS, AGAIN, ON THE SURFACE, THEY GET THEIR LICENSE, FENCE UP, LOOK LIKE THE POSTER CHILD FOR DOING IT RIGHT.

ONCE YOU DO INSPECT THE PROPERTY, 16 MEN LIVING IN A TRAILER WITH NO RUNNING WATER OR ELECTRICITY, DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS.

WE CAN'T FILE HUMAN TRAFFICKING BECAUSE THEY WON'T COMPLAIN.

YOU AND I MAY SEE IT AS DEPLORABLE, LOOK, YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING DEPLORABLE, YOU SHOULD SEE HOW OUR FAMILY HAS TO LIVE BACK IN FAMILY.

>> WOODWARD SAYS BLACK MARKET OPERATORS LEAVE GROW SITES IN TOXIC RUIN.

>> WE HAVE FOUND DEAD ANIMALS THAT WERE DRINKING -- JUST SEEN THE PREVIOUS DAY DRINKING WATER, DRINKING THE RUNOFF FROM THE GROW HOUSES.

YOU IMAGINE THAT GOING INTO THE CREEKS SHARED BY FARMERS AND NEIGHBORS THROUGHOUT THAT COUNTRY.

>> A LOT OF FOREIGN AGENTS.

MY OWN EXPERIENCE OVER THE YEARS WITH COUNTERTERRORISM, YOU KNOW, OVERSEAS, I WOULD SAY THIS IS VERY MUCH PROBABLY TIED BACK TO OVERSEAS CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE IN SOME WAY GOING TO BE BAD FOR AMERICA OR BAD FOR OKLAHOMA IN THE LONG RUN.

THERE'S PROSTITUTION, THERE'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THERE'S DRUG TRAFFICKING THAT ALL GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES, AND NOT JUST MARIJUANA, BUT THIS FEEDS INTO OTHER THINGS.

SO, THIS BECOMES A LARGER-SCALE PROBLEM OVER TIME.

>> MARK, DID I HEAR YOU SAY THERE ARE LEGITIMATE ATTORNEYS IN OKLAHOMA WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THIS CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAD GO DIFFERENT LAW FIRMS TIED TO THE GROUPS THAT ALLOWED THEM TO GET LICENSES IN OUR STATE.

GRAND JURIES HAVE ALREADY RETURNED INDICTMENTS AGAINST THEM.

>> Reporter: MARK WOODWARD SAYS SO FAR, 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED SINCE THOSE 10 SEIZURES A MONTH AGO.

16 GUNS WERE CONFISCATED.

THIS PAST MONDAY, THE OBN MADE A BUST IN GARFIELD COUNTY.

>> THANK YOU.

OKLAHOMA STATE'S REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ARE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE.

IT WILL BE CONSIDERED DURING THE SESSION IN FEBRUARY.

THE REGENTS ARE ASKING FOR $986 MILLION, THAT'S $105 MILLION MORE THAN THEIR FISCAL YEAR 2023 APPROPRIATION OF $881 MILLION.

>> THE WEBSITE "SMART ASSET" HAS RELEASED THE EIGHTH ANNUAL STUDY OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT GIVES STUDENTS THE BEST RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT AND OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY COMES IN AT NUMBER ONE.

THE REPORT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION TUITION, GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS, LIVING EXPENSES, THE STARTING SLARS OF GRADUATES AND OTHER FACTORS.

OSU'S OVERALL COLLEGE EDUCATION VALUE INDEX IS 50.92, SECOND IS THE PRIVATE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA.

TU'S TUITION FAR EXCEEDS OKLAHOMA STATE'S BUT SO DOES THEIR AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT FUNDING.

TULSA TOPS THE LIST WITH AN AVERAGE STARTING INSTALLER OF JUST OVER $64,000 FOR ITS GRADUATES.

ROUNDING OUT THE TOP FIVE OU IN NORMAN, CAMERON UNIVERSITY, AND NORTHEASTERN STATE IN TAHLEQUAH.

THE TOP THREE SCHOOLS ALL RETAIN AT LEAST 84% OF THEIR STUDENTS.

>> OKLAHOMA TRIBES ARE MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT AND INVESTMENT IN BEING ABLE TO FEED THEIR CITIZENS, AND A BIG PART OF THAT INCLUDES RAISING BISON AND BUILDING THEIR OWN MEATPACKING FACILITIES.

OUR NATIVE AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT KENNEDY SEPULVADO HAS OUR REPORT.

>> Reporter: THE TAHLEQUAH NATION BUILT THE FIRST MEAT-PROCESSING FACILITY IN 2017.

THE MUSKOGEE, CREEK, OSAGE AND CHEROKEE NATIONS FOLLOWED SUIT.

>> THAT REALLY CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE FOOD SYSTEM'S BREAKDOWN THAT HAPPENED DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

WE WERE SEEING SITUATIONS WHERE SPECIFICALLY WE COULDN'T GET MEAT TO OUR TRIBAL PROGRAMS.

>> WE REALLY IDENTIFIED A NEED FOR AFFORDABLE, LOCALLY SOURCED PROTEIN WITH EMERGENCY FOOD SHORTAGES AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES.

>> Reporter: BOTH THE CHEROKEE AND OSAGE NATIONS RECEIVED CARES ACT MONEY.

>> WE USED FUNDING FROM THE CARES ACT UNDER A PROGRAM CALLED RESPOND, RECOVER, REBUILD.

IT WAS PART OF A FOOD PLAN FOR THE CHEROKEE NATION THAT INCLUDED A NEW FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTERS AND NEW REFRIGERATED TRUCKS AND THIS MEAT PROCESSING PLANT.

>> WE JUST TOOK THE INITIATIVE AND MOVED FORWARD VERY QUICKLY ON GETTING A PLAN TOGETHER TO HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE FOOD SYSTEM BREAKDOWNS, WHICH INCLUDING THE FARMS, SPECIFICALLY INDOOR FARMING.

>> Reporter: THE OSAGE NATION BUILT THIS 40,000-SQUARE FOOT GREENHOUSE FOR YEAR-ROUND FARMING, CORN, TOMATOES, PEPPERS AND VARYING HERBS FROM THE GREENHOUSE ARE SOLD AT THE MONTHLY FARMERS AND HARVESTLANDS DURING BUSINESS HOURS.

SOMETIMES THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE KITCHEN FOR CANNING.

>> THE BEST FARMERS WAS THE BEST TURNOUT WE'VE EVER HAD.

WE SOLD OUT OF ALMOST EVERYTHING WITH 300 PEOPLE.

THAT WAS THE FIRST FARMERS WE WERE ABLE TO BRING OUR OWN BEEF TO THE FARMERS TO BRING ANOTHER SOURCE OF FOOD FOR OUR PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: IN MAY, THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT" REPORTED ON THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS OF THE OSAGE RANCH AND THE 200 PLUS BISON THAT ROOM THE PASTURES.

THE BISON HEARD IS NOW UNDER THE OSAGE NATION NATURAL RESOURCES PROGRAM.

>> WE WANTED TO DO BIG-PICTURE LAND MANAGEMENT FOR THE HERD AND USE THEM -- AND TREAT THEM LIKE THEY WERE HISTORICALLY.

SO, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED AND EXCITED ABOUT THE CULTURAL ASPECT.

WE CAN USE THE ANIMALS, WORK WITH OUR LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT, OUR TRULY DEPARTMENT AND REALLY USE THE ANIMAL AS OUR PEOPLE HISTORICALLY USED THEM AS.

>> Reporter: HISTORICALLY, AREA PART OF THE BISON WAS USED.

>> THEY USED ALL THE INTERNAL ORGANS, THEY USED THE HIGHS, THEY USED THE HORN CAPS.

EVERY PIECE OF IT IS IN CULTURAL IN SOME WAY.

WHEN WE PROCESS THEM THROUGH THE MEAT FACILITY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, YES, WE HAVE THE MEAT, YOU KNOW, TO SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE, BUT WE'RE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OF THE OTHER PIECES OF THE PUZZLE THAT I DON'T THINK REALLY UNTIL NOW WERE AVAILABLE TO OUR PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THE OSAGE NATION BISON AND CATTLE ARE NOT THE ONLY HERDS BEING PROCESSED THROUGH THE OSAGE NATION FACILITIES.

>> THE MEAT FACILITY AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE BISON HAS STRENGTHENED THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER NATIONS.

IT'S REALLY BEEN A GREAT THING THAT'S COME OUT OF THE MEAT FACILITY.

>> Reporter: THE CHEYENNE AND ARAPAHOE TRIBES' HERDS HAVE 700.

THE DELAWARE, PAWNEE, AND POTTAWATOMIE ALSO USE THE MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY AND, UNTIL RECENTLY, SO DID THE CHEROKEE NATION.

[ Applause ] JUST LAST WEEK ON OCTOBER 25th, THE 1839 CHEROKEE MEATCO OPENED ITS DOORS.

THE PRODUCE CAN BE PURCHASED BY ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH OR WITHOUT TRIBAL MEMBERSHIPS.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING QUALITY MEAT PRODUCTS FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, THAT INCLUDES RURAL AREAS, AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE SUPER ACCESS TO LARGE GROCERY STORE AND FOOD CHAINS.

>> WE'RE OPERATING UNDER RETAIL RIGHT NOW TO SUPPLY THESE COOLERS HERE THAT ARE IN OUR STORE.

WE HAVE ABOUT SIX EMPLOYEES HIRED IN THE BACK AS BUTCHERS.

>> Reporter: USDA INSPECTORS ARE AT THE FACILITY EVERY DAY DURING OPERATIONS.

>> YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HERE TO HELP US MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING A GOOD, CLEAN PRODUCT AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> Reporter: THE CHEROKEE NATION PARTNERED WITH THE OSAGE NATION WHILE PLANNING THE NEW OPERATIONS IN THE 12,000.

SQUARE FOOT FACILITY, SIMILAR TO HOW THE OSAGE NATION PARTNERED WITH THE OTHER NATIONS DURING THEIR EIGHT-MONTH CONSTRUCTION PROCESS OF THE 19,000-SQUARE FOOT OSAGE MEAT FACILITY.

FOOD SOVEREIGNTY EFFORTS BY OKLAHOMA TRIBES ARE ADDRESSING FOOD DESERT ISSUES IN RURAL OKLAHOMA.

>> ON AVERAGE, IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN THE TOWN THAT A GROCERY STORE IS LOCATED IN, YOU'RE DRIVING 30, 40 MINUTES IN ONE DIRECTION TO GET FOOD.

>> Reporter: THERE'S ONLY THREE GROCERY STORE LEFT IN OSAGE COUNTY.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO UTILIZE GRANT FUNDING TO HAVE A MOBILE FARMERS TO BE ABLE TO REACH THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE A GROCERY STORE.

>> Reporter: KENNEDY SEPULVADO, THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> KENNEDY, THANK YOU.

THE IS IT A -- HEART DISEASE IS NUMBER ONE.

VIOLENCE NUMBER TWO.

TAELYR JACKSON HAS MORE ON THE VERY DISTURBING REALITY.

>> Reporter: RICH, EACH YEAR, AT THE STATE CAPITOL, THE YWCA HOLDS A COMMEMORATE CEREMONY TO REMEMBER THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AND EACH YEAR SINCE 2020, THE NUMBER OF WOMEN BEING ABUSED HAS INCREASED.

>> ONE IN THREE WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPERIENCED SOME FORM OF MENTAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE BY THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHER.

ONE OF THOSE WOMEN IS KYLIE McCRACKEN-HOWARD.

>> IN THE BEGINNING, HE WAS VERY CHARMING.

HE WAS A PEOPLE PLEASER.

>> Reporter: KYLIE IS DESCRIBING HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER EX-HUSBAND THAT STARTED 14 YEARS AGO.

MANY ABUSES SHOW NO RED FLAGS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RELATIONSHIP, BUT THEIR GOOD BEHAVIOR CHANGES OVER TIME.

>> AT THE BEGINNING, IT STARTED OUT WITH SMALL THINGS, LIKE, HE LIED ABOUT BEING COLOR-BLIND.

NOBODY NEEDS TO LIE ABOUT THAT.

>> Reporter: THE YWCA IS ONE OF SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA THAT HELPS WOMEN LIKE KYLIE LEAVE VIOLENT RELATIONSHIPS.

HE IS THE CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER FOR YWCA.

HE SAYS THAT WHILE THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS MULTIPLE RESOURCES FOR WOMEN, THEY'RE MOST KNOWN FOR THEIR EMERGENCY SHELTER.

>> WE HAVE A 30- 60-DAY EMERGENCY SHELTER THAT SERVES OKLAHOMA COUNTY.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE RECEIVE SO MANY REQUESTS THAT WE LILL HAVE TO SET THE BAR AT PEOPLE SEEKING SHELTER AND CURRENTLY IN DANGER.

>> Reporter: IN 2020, OKLAHOMA SAW A RECORD-BREAKING NUMBER OF TODAY CASES.

>> IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, WE HAVE OUR OWN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REVIEW BOARD.

THOSE NUMBERS HAVE NOW GONE BEYOND WHAT THEY'VE EVER BEEN BEFORE.

WE HAD 118 VICTIMS IN 2020.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ON A SINGLE DAY IN 2020, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOT LINES RECEIVED MORE THAN 21,000 CALLS.

MORE THAN 200 WOMEN AND CHILDREN SEEK REFUGE AT AN EMERGENCY SHELTER OR HOUSING PROVIDED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS IN OKLAHOMA.

>> IN SHORT, WHEN ONE MAN KILLS ONE WOMAN, OKLAHOMA HAS BEEN IN THAT TOP 10 MANY TIMES.

WE'VE BEEN THIRD IN THE NATION THREE TIMES.

AS OF RECENTLY, VIOLENCE POLICY CENTER ISSUED ITS REPORT AND WE ARE NOW NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT'S EVER HAPPENED.

>> Reporter: ABUSERS USE FEAR, ISOLATION, AND MANIPULATION TO CONTROL THEIR VICTIMS.

>> WE HAD MOVED TO A TINY LITTLE TOWN 11 HOURS AWAY FROM ANY OF MY FAMILY.

I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE FRIENDS.

I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME.

SO, I KNEW NOBODY THERE.

AND I HAD TWO TODDLERS THAT I WAS TO CARE FOR ON MY OWN.

>> Reporter: McCRACKEN-HOWARD WAS GIVEN A SMALL ALLOWANCE TO BUY MUCH-NEEDED SUPPLIES FOR HER AND HER TWO CHILDREN.

I MADE THE GIRLS' CLOTHES BECAUSE I WAS NOT GIVEN MONEY TO GO OUT AND BUY THEM CLOTHING.

I HAD NO VEHICLE.

HE TOOK MY VEHICLE.

HE GAVE IT TO ANOTHER WOMAN.

>> Reporter: McCRACKEN-HOWARD'S ABUSERS CONTROLLED HER EVERY MOVE AND MADE IT HARD FOR HER TO LEAVE THE 10-YEAR RELATIONSHIP.

>> WE COULDN'T LEAVE.

HE MONITORED.

HE HAD TRACKS DEVICES ON MY PHONE, SO HE WOULD MONITOR WHERE I WAS.

SO, EVEN IF I HAD A WAY TO REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY FOR HELP, HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THERE FIRST.

>> Reporter: HE EVEN USED THEIR CHILDREN AS LEVERAGE FOR HER TO STAY.

>> I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN.

IF YOU TRY TO LEAVE ME, I WILL TAKE THEM, AND YOU WILL NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN.

AND SO YOU DON'T LEAVE.

IN THE MOMENT, IT FEELS LIKE THAT'S YOUR ONLY CHOICE.

THERE ISN'T A RIGHT CHOICE AND A WRONG CHOICE.

THIS IS WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW TO STAY ALIVE AND KEEP MY CHILDREN ALIVE.

>> Reporter: McCRACKEN-HOWARD SAYS EVENTUALLY SHE KNEW SHE HAD TO LEAVE THE RELATIONSHIP.

I REACHED A POINT WHERE I KNEW I COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF MY CHILDREN ANY MORE.

AND WHEN I WAS SCARED FOR THEIR SAFETY, WE WERE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE BEING BROUGHT INTO THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WERE BEING PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE TO MY CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: THE ACT WAS MADE TO ASSIST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS.

>> WE ARGUABLY HAVE SOME PRETTY GOOD VICTIM-FRIENDLY LAWS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

THE ISSUES ARE, HOWEVER, OUR LAWS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THEIR INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT.

>> Reporter: HOWEVER, KYLIE SAYS MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

>> THE STATE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

YOU CAN FIND SOME PRIVATE SHELTERS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WILLING TO HELP, AND THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD ONES, BUT THEY'RE HARD TO FIND.

AND THEY ARE VERY LIMITED CAPACITY.

AND THEY'RE USUALLY FULL.

>> Reporter: PAISLEY SAYS YWCA IS ACTIVELY WORKING TO IMPROVE THEIR EFFORTS IN HELPING VICTIMS.

>> AND WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH LEGISLATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAT REALLY HAVE PRIORITIZED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS.

AND SO, WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF LEGISLATIVE FORUMS HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

>> Reporter: McCRACKEN-HOWARD IS GRATEFUL TO BE A SURVIVOR AND HOPES HER STORY WILL INSPIRE OTHER WOMEN.

>> LEAVING IS THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME.

[ SNIFFLING ] AND IT IS.

BUT IT'S ALSO YOUR ONLY CHANCE BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE IS THE SAME.

IF YOU STAY, THEY AREN'T GOING TO STOP.

>> Reporter: THE YWCA SAYS 40% OF OKLAHOMA WOMEN EXPERIENCE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE FROM THEIR INTIMATE PARTNER.

IF YOU BELIEVE YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS IN A VIOLENT RELATIONSHIP AND NEEDS HELP CALL 1-800-522-SAFE.

>> TAELYR, THAT WAS A VERY POWERFUL STORY.

THE OKLAHOMA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS AWARDED PURPOSE STAR STATUS TO ALTUS, CACHE, ENID, LAWTON, MID-DEL AND TIPTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE OKLAHOMA VIRTUAL CHARTER ACADEMY.

THE PURPLE STAR DESIGNATION RECOGNIZES SCHOOLS FOR MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS WHO FACE THE CHALLENGE OF TRIGGERING TO NEW SCHOOLS.

OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SERVED NEARLY 30,000 MILITARY-CONNECTED CHILDREN.

COMING UP ON THE NEXT "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," A COMPLETE AND THOROUGH RECAP OF THE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN TUESDAY'S ELECTION.

PLUS, A REPORT ON THE MORE THAN 200 NEW LAWS THAT TOOK EFFECT IN OUR STATE THIS WEEK.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU FOR NOW WITH A LOOK AT OKLAHOMA CITY BELOW GROUND, THE TUNNELS OF OKC PHOTOGRAPHED AND EDITED BY O.E.T.A.

'S JONATHAN THOMPSON.

IF YOU ENJOY OUR NEWSCAST, IN-DEPTH AND UNBIASED, INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO WATCH.

I'M RICH LENZ.

STAY TUNED TO O.E.T.A.

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