>>> WITH NEW RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE, TEXAS TRAVELS NORTH TO OKLAHOMA TO SEEK ABORTION SERVICES.

>> FRANKLY, IT'S BEEN BUSY SINCE SB 8 HAS COME INTO EFFECT.

>> HOW OKLAHOMA MAINTAINS ITS 2100 CONSERVATION DAMS TO SAVE HOMES AND FARMS IN THE EVENT OF A FLOOD.

>> WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM AND PROTECT THEM AT THE SAME TIME.

>> NEW PROGRAMS TO GIVE THE HOMELESS HOPE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> IT GIVES YOU A PLACE TO HEAL AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH OR HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THEMSELVES.

>> A ROCK N' ROLL HALL OF FAMER RETURNS TO THE SCENE OF HIS GREATEST WORK.

>> WANTED TO SAY WELCOME TO START WITH, AND PRIMARILY WANTED TO BE THE ICONIC FIGURE.

>> THOSE STORIES PLUS IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON CRIMINAL SENTENCING REFORM NEXT ON "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>>> HELLO.

WELCOME TO "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

I'M JASON DOYLE.

RICH LENZ IS TAKING SOME TIME OFF.

TEXAS HAS BECOME THE EPICENTER FOR DEBATE OVER WOMENS REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS WITH SENATE BILL EIGHT IN EFFECT.

TEXAS WOMEN SEARCHED OUT FOR ABORTION SERVICES IN OKLAHOMA AND OTHER STATES, JUST AS A NEW SLATE OF ABORTION LAWS ARE SET TO TAKE EFFECT HERE IN OKLAHOMA ON NOVEMBER 1st.

ABORTION CLINICS IN OKLAHOMA ARE SEEING MORE TEXAS PATIENTS THAN EVER BEFORE SINCE THAT STATE SENATE BILL EIGHT WENT INTO EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1st.

>> FRANKLY, IT'S BEEN BUSY SINCE SB 8 HAS COME INTO EFFECT, WE'VE SEEN A HUGE INFLUX OF PATIENTS.

>> Reporter: THE STAFF PHYSICIAN FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN TULSA, AND OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> SINCE IT WENT INTO EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1st, LITTLE LESS THAN A MONTH AGO, WE HAVE SEEN MORE PATIENTS FROM TEXAS THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN ALL OF 2020 FROM TEXAS.

AND THAT'S OVER 550 PATIENTS JUST IN THAT TIME PERIOD ALONE.

>> SO ABORTION CARE IN TEXAS HAS HALTED BY ABOUT 90%.

SO KNOWING THAT TEXAS GAVE ROUGHLY 53,000 ABORTIONS LAST YEAR, THOSE PATIENTS WHO HAVE THE MEANS WILL GO SOMEWHERE TO GET CARE.

SO THEY ARE GOING TO SURROUNDING STATES.

NEW MEXICO, LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA, BUT REALLY PREDOMINANTLY OKLAHOMA BECAUSE WE ARE CLOSEST.

>> ACCORDING TO THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IN 2020 OUR STATE SAW THE LOWEST NUMBER OF ABORTIONS SINCE THE STATE STARTED TRACKING THEM IN 2000.

THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ABORTIONS IN THAT TIME FRAME HAPPENED IN 2006.

DR. YAP SAYS THOSE NUMBERS ARE PUSHED HIGHER BY THE TEXAS PATIENTS COMING TO THE PROVIDERS IF YOU ASK WE ARE SEEING THE LARGE INFLUX OF TEXAS PATIENTS.

SO WE ARE GAINING A HUGE PERCENTAGE FROM THIS -- >> THE TULSA PLANNED PARENT HOOD CLINIC IS DEALING WITH THE FALLOUT FROM THE TEXAS ABORTION LAW.

STARTING ON NOVEMBER 1st IT COULD BE DEALING WITH OKLAHOMA'S NEW SLATE OF ABORTION LAWS.

>> I DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO OVERTURN THAT DECISION.

I BELIEVE FULLY THAT IT VIOLATES THE TENTH AMENDMENT.

SO WITH THE AUTHORITY I HAVE BEEN GIVEN, I WILL WORK TIRELESSLY TO LIMIT ABORTION IN THIS STATE UNTIL THE DAY COMES THAT THAT WRONGLY DECIDED DECISION IS OVERTURNED.

>> BACK IN APRIL SENATOR DANIELS VOICED OPPOSITION TO THE LANDMARK ROE V. WASDE SUPREME COURT DECISION.

SHE IS THE CO-AUTHOR OF FOUR ABORTION RELATED BILLS WHICH MADE IT INTO OKLAHOMA LAW THIS SESSION, AND ARE SET TO GO INTO EFFECT ON NOVEMBER 1st, UNLESS A JUDGE DELAYS IMPLEMENTATION WHILE A LEGAL CHALLENGE IS UNDERWAY.

WE INVITED DANIELS TO SPEAK WITH US ABOUT THE PENDING LAWS, BUT SHE WAS ADVISED NOT TO SPEAK WITH THE MEDIA WHILE THE LAWSUIT IS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.

WE REACHED OUT TO THE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

THEY STOPPED RESPONDING AFTER THE INITIAL INVITATION.

BACK IN APRIL, THE OKLAHOMA SENATE PASSED HOUSE BILL 1102.

LISTING ABORTIONS WHICH ARE NOT PERFORMED TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER AS UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

>> THIS BILL ADDS TO THE LIST OF UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT FOR A PHYSICIAN, THE PERFORMANCE OF ABORTION EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES, AND REQUIRES AT LEAST A SUSPENSION OF THEIR MEDICAL LICENSE FOR ONE YEAR.

>> ON THAT SAME DAY, THE SENATE PASSED HOUSE BILL 2441, WHICH BANS ABORTIONS.

IF A FETAL HEARTBEAT IS DETECTED.

>> THIS BILL PROPOSES TO LIMIT THE PERFORMANCE OF ABORTIONS AFTER FETAL HEARTBEAT IS DEFECTED.

IT DEFINES THE REASONABLE MEDICAL JUDGMENT THAT WOULD BE USED BY A PHYSICIAN TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT TO PROCEED WITH AN ABORTION IN CERTAIN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MARK PACK IS DANIEL'S COAUTHOR.

THOSE BILLS ALIGN STATE LAW WITH FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CHEMICALLY INDUCED ABORTIONS.

>> THEY'RE COMPANION BILLS REQUESTED BY OKLAHOMANS FOR LIFE.

PURPOSE IS TO PLACE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AND REGULATIONS IN STATE LAW MEANT TO REPLICATE CURRENT FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THESE CHEMICAL ABORTIONS.

>> AND SO I GET WORRIED WHEN WE HAVE BILLS LIKE THIS IN OKLAHOMA BECAUSE AS WE SEE IT HURTS PATIENTS.

ABORTIONS DON'T HURT PATIENTS, BAD BILLS DO.

>> BACK AT THE TULSA PLANNED PARENTHOOD TEXAS PATIENTS WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ABORTIONS.

THE DOCTOR SAYS MANY OF THEM ARE FACING HURDLES TO REACH OKLAHOMA LIKE A PATIENT WHO ARRIVED FROM THE LONE STAR STATE JUST AS THE CLINIC WAS CLOSING.

>> LUCKILY THE PATIENT COULD STAY OVERNIGHT BUT THE RIDE COULDN'T.

SO THEY DISCUSSED AND THE RIDE WENT BACK HOME TO TEXAS AND THE PATIENT STAYED, AND LUCKILY WE SQUEEZED THEM IN NEXT DAY FOR ABORTION, BUT AFTER THAT HOW WERE THEY GOING TO GET HOME?

THEY HAD A PATIENT WHO WAS ABLE TO GET FUNDING AND HELP THE PATIENT FIND A WAY TO GET BACK HOME TO TEXAS.

>> I WOULD LIKE PATIENTS FROM TEXAS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS.

WE ARE HERE.

WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER.

AND OUR CENTERS ARE OPEN AND READY FOR YOU.

>> OKLAHOMA SENATOR NATHAN DAHM IS PLANNING TO INSERT LANGUAGE INTO A BILL WHEN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS IN FEBRUARY.

AS THE FIRST OF THE BOOSTER VACCINES BEGIN AROUND THE COUNTRY, OKLAHOMA COVID NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO DOWN.

OUR SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE FOR NEW CASES CONTINUES TO GO IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION DROPPING BY MORE THAN 200 CASES COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST WEEK.

HOSPITALIZATIONS REFLECTING FEWER CASES, AS WELL.

NEARLY 100 FEWER PEOPLE ARE OCCUPYING HOSPITAL BEDS TO GET TREATMENT.

THAT COUNT STANDS AT 1,077.

AS OF THIS FRIDAY, WE HAD 307 DEATHS BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 10,332.

VACCINATIONS CONTINUE TO CLIMB AS NEARLY 47% OF THE STATE'S TOTAL POPULATION HAVE NOW BEEN FULLY VACCINATED FOR COVID-19.

>>> THE OKLAHOMA BLOOD INSTITUTE IS TESTING ITS DONORS FOR COVID-19 ANTIBODIES ONCE AGAIN.

THE TEST MEASURE FOR SIGNS OF NATURAL COVID INFECTION AND WILL NOT MEASURE THE RESPONSE TO THE VACCINE.

OBI BELIEVES FINDING OUT ABOUT A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN COVID INFECTION WILL BENEFIT INDIVIDUALS AS THEY ADDRESS FUTURE HEALTH CONCERNS.

PREVIOUSLY OBI WAS TESTING DONORS FOR ANTIBODIES TO SEE IF THEY WERE CANDIDATE TO DONATE CONVALESCENT PLANNED PARENTHOODD AS MORE EFFECTIVE THERAPIES BECAME AVAILABLE.

OUT OF 300,000 TESTS ABOUT 16% SHOW NATURAL COVID INFECTION.

>>> GOVERNOR STITT WILL NOT MAKE A DECISION ON THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD RECENT RECOMMENDATION TO COMMUTE THE SENTENCE OF DEATH ROW INMADE JULIUS JONES TO LIFE WITH POSSIBILITY OF PAY R INSTEAD THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE FAVORS THE MATTER BEING DECIDED AT THE CLEMENCY HEARING.

JONES IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO DIE ON NOVEMBER 18th, AT THE OKLAHOMA STATE PENITENTIARY IN MCALESTER.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS A CLEM ISN'T HEARING NOT COMMUTATION HEARING IS THE PROPER VENUE TO CONSIDER DEATH ROW CASES.

>>> COMING UP IN OUR IN-DEPTH SEGMENT LATER IN NEWSCAST, WE'LL DISCUSS CRIMINAL SENTENCING REFORM WITH SUSAN CADOT, AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS.

>>> THE FIRST OF AN EXPECTED 1800 AFGHAN REFUGEES ARRIVED IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE FAMILIES HAVE COME THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM THEIR WAR TORN HOME TO START OVER HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

OKLAHOMA IS ONE OF THE STATES TAKING A LARGE NUMBER OF THE REFUGEES IN.

CATHOLIC CHARITY, THE COUNCIL AND AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS, AND OTHER NONPROFITS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO COLLECT ITEMS THE FAMILIES WILL NEED TO BEGIN THEIR NEW LIFE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> WE KNEW THAT THE REFUGEES COMING IN WOULD NEED ITEMS TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS, EVEN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAVING EVERYTHING BEHIND.

WE ASKED FOR CLOTHING DONATION, PPE ITEMS AND MANY THINGS THEY COULD USE TO GET SETTLED IN AND TRANSITION TO THEIR NEW LIFE.

HERE IN THIS ROOM WE HAVE ITEMS FOR OUR WELCOME KIT, WHICH INCLUDES COPY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE THE KORAN, A PRAYER RUG, PEOPLE PPE ITEM, HYGIENE ITEMS AND OTHER ESSENTIALS THAT WILL GET TO THEM RIGHT WHEN THEY LAND HERE IN OKLAHOMA.

>> A LITTLE MORE THAN A DOZEN AFGHAN REFUGEES HAVE ARRIVED THIS WEEK.

>>> OKLAHOMA SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR BELIEVES PRESIDENT BIDEN IGNORED THE ADVICE OF MILITARY ADVISERRING DURING THE AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL.

DURING TUESDAY SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE HEARING WITH THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL MARK MILLEY AND U.S. CENTRAL COMMANDER GENERAL McKENZIE INHOFE WANTED TO KNOW IF THEY AGREED WITH THE HANDER OF THE U.S.

FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN ASSESSMENT THAT MORE TROOPS WERE NEEDED TO SECURE THE WITHDRAWAL.

>> EMPHASIZED TO US FROM GENERAL MILLER THAT WE -- THAT WE -- HE WAS RECOMMENDING 2500 TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN.

GENERAL McKENZIE DID YOU AGREE TO THE RECOMMENDATION THAT GENERAL MILLER HAD TWO WEEKS AGO?

>> SENATOR, AGAIN, I WON'T SHARE MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PRESIDENT, BUT I WILL GIVE YOU MY HONEST OPINION AND MY HONEST OPINION SHAPED MY RECOMMENDATION.

I RECOMMENDED WE MAINTAIN 2,500 TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN.

AND I ALSO RECOMMENDED EARLIER IN THE FALL OF 2020 THAT WE MAINTAIN 4,500 AT THAT TIME.

THOSE WERE MY PERSONAL VIEWS.

I HAVE A FEW THAT WITHDRAWAL OF THOSE FORCES WOULD LEAD TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE AFGHAN MILITARY FORCES AND EVENTUALLY THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT.

>> GENERAL MILLES I ASSUME YOU AGREE WITH THAT IN TERMS OF THE RECOMMENDATION OF 2500.

>> WHAT I SAID IN MY OPENING STATEMENT AND MEMORANDA THAT I WROTE BACK IN THE FALL OF 2020 REMAINED CONSISTENT AND I DO AGREE WITH THAT.

>> INHOFE ASKED HOW MANY AMERICANS WERE ESTIMATED TO STILL BE IN AFGHANISTAN.

THE PANEL DEFERRED TODD THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR THOSE FIGURES.

>>> DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE MORE CONTROL FLOOD DAMS IN OKLAHOMA THAN ANY OTHER STATE?

THAT'S RIGHT.

THE SOONER STATE HAS 2107 THAT ARE STRETCHED ACROSS 61 OF THE STATES 77 COUNTIES.

STEVE SHAW IS HERE TO TELL US WHY THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT AND THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE.

STEVE.

>> THEY'RE KNOWN AS FLOOD CONTROL DAMS, OR CONSERVATION DAMS.

WHAT THEY DO IS STAY OFF DISASTER.

WHEN HEAVY RAINS LEFT UNCHECKED WOULD JEOPARDIZE LIVES AND VALUABLE LAND.

THIS PICTURESQUE LAKE AND DAM AT THE GOLF CLUB OF OKLAHOMA IS MORE THAN EYE CANDY FOR THOSE WHO LIVE AND PLAY NEARBY.

IT'S THE LARGEST OF FIVE UPSTREAM WATERSHED DAMS BUILT IN WAGNER COUNTY NEARLY FIVE DECADES AGO.

>> IT'S MADE PRODUCTIVE LAND OF WETLAND IS WHAT IT HAS DONE, AND WETLANDS ARE GOOD, I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE NOT, BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE A LIVING OFF OF FARMS.

>> BOARD MEMBER AND LANDOWNER GEORGE STUNKARD SAYS THESE DAMS BUILT ALL THOSE YEARS AGO ARE WHY HIS FAMILY EATS.

>> IT'S BEEN GOD SEND.

WE CAN GET IN FIELD NOW AND WORK THE GROUND.

>> THIS MAP SHOWS HOW DELICATE A BALANCE FLOOD CONTROL ALL ACROSS THE SOONER STATE REALLY IS.

MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS OF THESE WERE BUILT 50 TO 70 YEARS AGO.

NOW THAT BILL SOME SAY IS COMING DUE.

>> USED TO BE A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN FLOODS.

>> OKLAHOMA CONSERVATION COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TRAY LAM OVERSEES THE JOB IT IS TO KEEP THESE DAMS FROM FAILING.

WITH A $1 MILLION ANNUAL DAM MAINTENANCE BUDGET, THAT'S GETTING MUCH HARDER TO DO.

>> NOW THOSE HUNDRED YEAR CONVENIENTS ARE COMING EVERY FIVE YEARS, YOU KNOW, IN ILLINOIS RIVER WE SEEN ONE EVERY YEAR FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

SO THEY'RE COMING MORE FREQUENTLY.

THE LITTLE BIT OF DAMAGE THEY CAUSE WE DON'T HARDLY HAVE TIME TO GET THOSE FIXED BEFORE THE NEXT FLOOD COMES ALONG.

>> THREE YEARS AGO HEAVY RAIN INUNDATED WAGNER COUNTY.

>> ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO GO ON WITH WATER.

>> WAGNER AND MUSKOGEE COUNTY MANAGER SAYS THE REASON AREA FARMERS WERE DECIMATED WERE THESE DAMS.

>> IF A CROP IS GONE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THEIR WHOLE YEAR.

SO YOU KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S A BIG POCKET, BIG TIME IN YOUR WALLET BUT IT'S THE GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, OCC, IT'S SOME OF US, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO HELP SAVE LIVES AND HELP SAVE PRODUCTION.

>> THE MAIN THING IS CONTROLLING THE WATER GOING OUT AND CONTROLLING THE EROSION GOING OUT, AND NOT WIPING ALL THE TIME FARMERS OUT.

>> WE JUST FINISHED REHABBING A CHANNEL HERE, ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AGO.

AND WE ALREADY HAVE A LITTLE ISSUE WITH IT, THAT WE HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN WITH NATURAL RESOURCES SERVICE TO WORK ON THE EROSION.

>> THAT'S WHY MAINTAINING ALL OF IT IS TRICKY BECAUSE HEAVY RAINS CAN CHANGE THINGS IN AN INSTANT.

>> WHEN THIS DAM WAS BUILT HERE, 60 SOMETHING YEARS AGO, NONE OF THESE HOMES WAS OUT HERE.

NOW HOMES ARE EVERYWHERE.

>> WHICH ADDS MORE LAYERS OF IMPORTANCE TO ALL OF THIS ALL OVER THE STATE.

WHAT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT WATERSHED AGENT BRAD MARTIN SAYS IS KEEPING UP WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, BECAUSE MANY OF THESE DAMS ACTUALLY SIT ON PRIVATE LAND.

>> BECAUSE YOUR LANDOWNERS CAN WARN YOU OF PROBLEMS IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT IN A DIFFERENT COUNTY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ALONG THE WAY, AND THEY CAN TELL YOU I'VE SEEN WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE SOME WAY DAMAGE ON THE FRONT OF THE DAM OR SPILL WAY ARE STARTING TO ERODE AWAY, AND LITTLE PROBLEMS LIKE THAT.

THEY'LL -- IF YOU HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM THEY CAN WARN YOU OF STUFF LIKE THAT WHEN YOU CAN'T CATCH IT ALL.

>> WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW?

>> MONEY AND PEOPLE.

>> TAMMY SAWATZKY DIRECTS CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FOR THE STATE CONSERVATION COMMISSION.

SHE SAYS BESIDES THE INCREASED SEVERITY OF FLOODS THE FACT MOST OF THESE ARE NOW 50 TO 70-YEARS-OLD HAS BECOME A BIG ISSUE.

>> THE OLDER THEY GET, THE MORE LIKELY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE COMPONENTS IN THAT DAM THAT ARE GOING TO BE -- THAT WILL FAIL.

WE DO HAVE SEVERAL DAMS ACROSS THE STATE THAT WHEN THEY WERE BUILT, THEY WERE -- THEY USED A CORRUGATED METAL PIPE AS THE OUTLET PIPE, AND THE SPILL WAY PIPE, AND A LOT OF THOSE ARE -- THERE'S SOME -- THEY WEREN'T ORIGINALLY MEANT TO -- THAT MATERIAL WASN'T MEANT TO LAST 50 YEARS.

AND SO WE'RE FINDING A LOT OF THOSE ARE RUSTED AND FALLING APART.

>> TREY LAM SAYS THE STATE RECEIVED A $3 MILLION FEDERAL BOOST TO ADDRESS THAT FAST EMERGING CORRUGATED METAL PIPE CRISIS.

HE SAYS THE FIRST PRIORITY IS ALWAYS TO SAVE THESE DAMS, NOT TO REPLACE THEM.

>> TO REHABILITATE ONE OF THESE DAMS CAN COST -- USED TO COST 2007 ABOUT $750,000.

NOW IT CAN COST FROM THREE TO $13 MILLION.

THAT'S HOW MUCH THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS IS ESCALATED.

>> JOHN BELLY IS THE TECHNICIAN RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE DAMS ON I-35 FROM TEXAS TO KANSAS.

HE HAS BEEN AT IT FOR 34 YEARS, AND REMOTE LEARNING IS NOT PART OF THE JOB.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PHYSICAL LABOR TO IT.

THERE IS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT IS EASY, SOME OF IT IS PRETTY HARD, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ON GROUND, YOU KNOW.

YOU CAN'T DO ALL THE REPAIRS FROM THE TRUCK OR FROM THE OFFICE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

YOU HAVE TO BE OUT HERE TO ACTUALLY DO THE WORK.

>> THEY REALLY WORK MIRACLES TO KEEP THESE THINGS GOING.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST AN OVERWHELMING THING ALL THE TIME.

>> GEORGE MOORE OVERSEES 1100 DAMS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA.

HE SAYS THAT IS INCREASINGLY HARD TO DO.

>> MONEY.

WE NEED MONEY TO HELP BRING MORE EQUIPMENT IN AND MORE HANDS.

IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY JUST TO OPERATE ON A DAILY BASIS.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A REHABILITATION PROCESS ABOVE ELK CITY.

IF WE DON'T KEEP THOSE DAMS UP, THEY SAW STREET FLOODING IN ELK CITY, BUT THEY DIDN'T LOSE HOMES, THEY DIDN'T LOSE LIVES, SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO PREVENT, THOSE MAJOR CATASTROPHES.

>>> THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION GETS ITS DAM MAINTENANCE FUNDING FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

TREY LAM SAYS BECAUSE MANY IN THE LEGISLATURE REPRESENT RURAL COUNTY, THEY KNOW THERE'S A BIG ISSUE HERE.

AND BY THE WAY, THE STATE WITH THE NEXT LARGEST NUMBER OF FLOOD CONTROL DAMS IS TEXAS.

>> THANK YOU, STEVE.

>>> OKLAHOMA NEXT CHANCELLOR FOR HIGHER EDUCATION WILL BE EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT ALLISON GARRETT.

SHE IS FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE IN THAT LEADERSHIP POSITION.

THE OKLAHOMA STATE REGENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY FOR GARRETT WHO WILL SUCCEED GLEN JOHNSON.

GOVERNOR STITT IS IMPRESSED WITH GARRETT'S PUBLIC SERVICE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IMPRESSED ME WAS HER CORPORATE EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW.

SHE WAS THE GENERAL COUNSEL AND VICE PRESIDENT AT WALMART.

THEY DON'T GIVE THOSE JOBS AWAY.

>> I MADE A CAREER PIVOT REARS AGO BECAUSE EDUCATION OPENS DOORS FOR PEOPLE.

IT ENSURES VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, AND IT HELPS TO ENSURE A ROBUST ECONOMY.

>> GARRETT WILL OFFICIALLY TAKE THE REINS AS THE STATE'S NINTH HIGHER EDUCATION CHANCELLOR ON NOVEMBER 8th.

>>> AS OF JANUARY 2020, ALMOST 4,000 OKLAHOMANS WERE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

WITH THE HELP OF FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.

TAELYR JACKSON REPORTS ON THE EFFORTS TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND INTO A WELCOMING PLACE TO LIVE.

>> WHEN THE CITY OF TULSA ANNOUNCED A PROGRAM TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS IN A HOTEL IT WAS EXPECTED TO BE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO A BIG PROBLEM.

THE CITY OF LIFE FOUNDATION WAS CHOSEN TO OVERSEE THE 66 ROOM FACILITY.

>> SO THE CITY CAME AND SAID WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN RUNNING A HOTEL, AT THAT TIME IT WAS THREE MONTHS, WE'VE NOW BEEN HERE 16 MONTHS.

>> CITY MUCH LIGHTS FOUNDATION CEO SARA GROUNDS SAYS THE HOTEL IS SPECIFICALLY AIMED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT ARE EITHER IN NEED OF COVID ISOLATION, THEY HAVE A POSITIVE TEST OR THEY'RE MEDICALLY VULNERABLE AND NEED TO ISOLATE IN A BETTER, MORE EFFECTIVE WAY.

>> THUS FAR THEY HAVE WELCOMED MORE THAN 155 PEOPLE.

HERE THEY ARE KNOWN AS NEIGHBORS.

>> ENDED UP HERE BY THE GRACE OF GOD.

IT WAS BASICALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.

>> RESIDENT BRIAN MASON HAS BEEN AT THE CITY OF LIGHTS HOTEL FOR 11 MONTHS.

>> WHAT HAD HAPPENED IS MY LEASE RUN OUT WHERE I WAS LIVING AND THEY WERE DOING REMODEL, AND WHILE I WAS LOOKING FOR A NEW PLACE I HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, AND BASICALLY COLLAPSED IN A PARKING LOT.

>> MASON SAYS THE FOUNDATION HAS ASSISTED HIM WITH MORE THAN JUST HOUSING.

>> A BLESSING, THEY'VE HELPED ME GET MY I.D., AND EVERYTHING TAKEN CARE OF.

I BASICALLY LOST EVERYTHING I HAD.

OTHER THAN A FEW THINGS I HAD IN STORAGE.

BUT THEY HELPED ME GET YOU KNOW MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE, EVERYTHING I NEEDED.

>> RESIDENTS PROVIDED THREE MEALS A DAY DONATED BY LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

WHEN NEW RESIDENTS ARRIVE TO THE CITY LIGHTS HOTEL THEY ARE GREETED WITH A WARM SMILE, A GIFT BAG, AND THEIR VERY OWN QUILT.

>> WHEN WE WALK SOMEBODY INTO THIS ROOM IT IS POWERFUL, REALLY IMPACTFUL.

I THINK THEY'RE REALLY NOT SURE WHEN THEY COME WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET AND WHAT THEY'RE SIGNING UP FOR AND SO WHEN WE BRING THEM INTO THE ROOM, WE GET ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT EMOTIONS.

>> THIS HOTEL IS CONSIDERED A LOW BARRIER SHELTER WHICH MEANS PETS ARE ALLOWED, ONE WAY THE HOTEL HELPS REBUILD THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

>> GAVE ME A SAFE PLACE TO HEAL, WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOU KNOW TAKING CARE OF GETTING TO A DOCTOR OR GETTING IN MY MEDICATION.

AND JUST THE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY AMAZING AS FAR AS EVEN THE COMMUNITY, AS FAR AS THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.

>> THE CITY LIGHTS TEAM FEELS GRATEFUL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN EACH PERSON'S LIFE.

>> IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOMENTS WHERE YOU KNOW YOU'RE REALLY MAKING AN IMPACT ON SOMEBODY'S LIFE.

>> EMOTIONAL FOR YOU.

>> YES, IT IS.

I LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS HERE, LOVE EVERY ONE OF THEM.

I KNOW EVERYONE OF THEM BY NAME, KNOW EVERY STORY.

>> IN OKLAHOMA CITY, THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION HAS PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY TO DEVELOP THE BETTER WAY PROGRAM, WHICH FOCUSES ON HELPING PANHANDLERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING LOAMSNESS.

>> OKLAHOMA CITY LAUNCHED ON SEPTEMBER 13th.

WE ACTUALLY STARTED A BETTER WAY IN TULSA IN 2018, AND WERE THRILLED TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY TO BRING IT TO OUR RESIDENTS.

>> DURING THE WEEK THE PROGRAM PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION TO A JOB SITE FOR PARTICIPANTS.

>> WHAT THE BETTER WAY PROGRAM DOES SPECIFICALLY IT MEETS PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, AND IF THEY GET ON THE VAN, THEY'RE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LUNCH, AND THEY'RE INTRODUCE TODD A CASE MANAGER WHO CONNECTS THEM WITH SERVICES, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THEY WORK ALL DAY EXCEPT FOR THAT LUNCH BREAK AND EARN $65 CASH THAT DAY TO BASICALLY BEAUTIFY CITY PARKS.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM CONNECTS PARTICIPANTS WITH RESOURCES TO HELP THEM TRANSITION INTO A BETTER LIFE.

>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT THEM TO HOUSING SERVICES, BECAUSE NOT ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PANHANDLING ARE HOMELESS BUT MANY ARE.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT THEM TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICE, WHICH MANY ARE IN NEED OF.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO START BUILDING RELATIONSHIP TO HELP THEM MOVE TOWARDS COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT.

>> AND WHILE THE PROGRAM HAS ONLY BEEN RUNNING IN OKLAHOMA CITY FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, PARTICIPANT RAITS WERE HIGHER THAN EXPECTED.

>> SO IN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE PROGRAM, THE LAUNCH OF THE VAN, WE PICKED UP 18 INDIVIDUALS WHO WANTED TO WORK THAT WEEK.

WHO WANTED A FULL DAY'S WORK.

AND OF THOSE 18 INDIVIDUALS WHO GOT ON OUR VAN AND WENT TO WORK THAT WEEK, 17 OF THEM, 17, HAVE ALREADY REQUESTED AND FOLLOWED UP TO BE CONNECTED TO SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

>> CHANCE LORE WOERNER IS GETTING HELP FROM A GOODWILL PROGRAM.

HE HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM FROM A FRIEND AND DECIDED TO CHECK IT OUT.

>> I WAS TELLING THEM WE GOT TO TALKING I WAS TELLING THEM HOW YOU KNOW I'M ABOUT TO BE LOAMS, BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO LOSE MY APARTMENT, THEY WOULDN'T LET ME RESIGN MY LEASE THERE AND NOBODY ELSE WOULD ACCEPT ME, SO I WAS KIND OF LIVING IN THE WALMART PARKING LOT IN THE BACK OF MY CAR FOR COUPLE WEEKS.

>> THE GOODWILL PROGRAM HELPING CHANDLER IS CALLED SUPPORTIVE SERVICE FOR VETERAN FARM FAMILY PROGRAM.

>> WE'RE A GRANT BASED PROGRAM.

THE GRANT COMES FROM THE VA AND IS HELD BY GOODWILL, AND OUR MISSION IS TO ASSIST VETERANS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR WHO ARE RISK OF HOMELESSNESS TO STABILIZE THEIR HOUSING.

>> THE FOUNDATION TEAM WORKS QUICKLY TO STABILIZE VETS THROUGH TEMPORARY FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND EMPLOYMENT.

>> IT'S BEEN GREAT.

I MEAN THEY GOT ME A JOB.

THEY GOT ME WHAT'S CALLED FRIDGE FILL WHERE THEY BRING YOU FOOD FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AND I MEAN THEY JUST BEEN BY MY SIDE ALL THE WAY HELPING ME GET INTO SCHOOL.

>> WOERNER ENCOURAGES OTHERS TO REACH OUT TO SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS.

>> THEY STICK WITH YOU ALL THE WAY.

THEY'RE ALZHEIMER'S IN CONTACT WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING GOOD AND DON'T SLIP BACK INTO LOSING RENT AGAIN AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY, VERY HELPFUL.

>> TAELYR JACKSON, "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> THANKS.

>>> NEW GROUP HAS FORMED IN OKLAHOMA AND AT THE SAME TIME A MAJOR ENERGY COMPANY HAS AGREED TO SETTLE A ROYALTY CASE.

THE STORIES LEAD OFF THIS WEEK'S OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> FIVE AGRICULTURE AND MINERAL OWNER GROUPS ARE COMING TOGETHER TO FORM THE ROYALTY OWNER COALITION OF OKLAHOMA.

THE COALITION WILL WORK WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TO HELP CRAFT LAWS WHICH IMPACT ROYALTY OWNER RIGHTS, THE NEWLY FORMED ORGANIZATION REPRESENTS ABOUT 150,000 INDIVIDUALS.

THE GROUPS MAKING UP THE ROYALTY OWNER COALITION ARE THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ROYALTY OWNERS OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU, AMERICAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS, AND THE OKLAHOMA CATTLE MAN'S ASSOCIATION.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND DEVON ENERGY CAME TO A SETTLEMENT OVER CLAIMS THE COMPANY UNDERPAID AND UNDERREPORTED ROYALTIES FROM FEDERAL NATURAL GAS LEASES IN WYOMING AND NEW MEXICO.

DEVON AGREED TO PAY $6.15 MILLION BUT DOES NOT ADMIT LIABILITY AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT.

AUSTIN TEXAS BASED SANA IS NOW OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE PLANS TO SMALL BUSINESSES IN OKLAHOMA.

THE COMPANY SAYS IN MOST CASES WHEN IT OPEN IN A NEW MARKET 35% OF ITS NEW CLIENTS DID NOT OFFER HEALTH BENEFITS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES.

SANA'S PLANS INCLUDE FULL MEDICAL, DENTAL AND VISION COVERAGE.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED HALL CAPITAL HAS SOLD ITS NASHVILLE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT $78.5 MILLION.

THE BUILDING FEATURED 136,000 SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE SPACE.

IT WAS PURCHASED BY AEW CAPITAL MANAGEMENT.

HUMAN RESOURCE MAGAZINE IS NAMED OKLAHOMA CITY BASED PAYCOM APP AS THE 2021 TOP HR PRODUCT.

THE SOFTWARE ALLOWS EMPLOYEES TO MAKE SURE THEIR PAYROLL INFORMATION IS CORRECT BEFORE IT IS USED TODD ISSUE PAYCHECKS.

THIS IS THIRD YEAR IN A REPAY COME HAS BEEN GIVEN AN AWARD FOR PRODUCT AND SERVICES.

OKLAHOMA CITY BASED HAS ATTRACTED AN ITALIAN INVESTOR, NEVA SGR IS PUTTING $4 MILLION INTO THE SOLAR POWERED AIRCRAFT DEVELOPER.

THE INVESTMENT FIRM SAYS SKY DWELLER DEVELOPED A UNIQUE AND EXTRAORDINARY TECHNOLOGY THAT GOES IN THE DIRECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

THE $4 MILLION INVESTMENT IS PART OF SKY DWELLER PUSH TO RAISE 40 MERCHANDISE FROM INVESTORS.

>>> TULSA CHURCH STUDIO UNDERGOING MULTIMILLION DOLLARS TRANSFORMATION THAT TONERS BELIEVE WILL MAKE IT ONE OF THE TOP FIVE RECORDING STUDIOS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

ONCE OWNED BY THE LEGENDARY LEON RUSSELL, THE STUDIO HAS HOSTED A WHO'S WHO OF ROYALTY AND LEON IS NOW BACK TO GREET VISITORS AT THE FRONT DOOR.

>> SCULPT TORE JAIL FRANKLIN AND HIS CREW ARE WORKING TO GET THE MOUNTING JUST RIGHT.

AFTER ALL, A LARGER THAN LIFE LEON RUSSELL IS LOOKING DOWN TO MAKE SURE THEY DO.

>> WANTED TO SAY WELCOME TO START WITH, AND PRIMARILY I WANTED TO BE THE ICONIC FIGURE OF LEON, THE MAN WHO IS A LEGEND IN THE MUSIC WORLD, AND WE WANT HIM TO BE THE LEGEND THAT HE IS AND THE PERSON THAT HE WAS, AND THAT EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE.

>> FRANKLIN HALES FROM PERRY, OKLAHOMA, AND RESUME INCLUDES A BRONZE OF SOONER RUINING BACK BILLY SIMMS.

FRANKLIN DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT RUSSELL BEFORE HE BEGAN THIS PROJECT BACK IN 1970 AND FOR HIM THAT'S THE FUN PART.

>> THE BEAUTY PART OF WHAT I DO IS THE HISTORY.

AND IT'S GOING BACK AND FINDING OUT WHO IS THIS GUY.

WHERE DID HE COME FROM.

WHY IS HE SUCH A ICON.

WHY IS HE SUCH A REVERED FIGURE IN THE MUSIC WORLD.

AND FINDING THAT OUT.

YEAH, IT'S WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD.

>> IN THIS CASE, BRONZE.

500 POUNDS OF IT BEING LOWERED OH SO CAREFULLY INTO PLACE ON MONDAY AFTERNOON.

UNDER THE WATCHFUL AND EXCITED OF THE CHURCH STUDIO LATEST OWNER, THERESA KNOX.

>> I AM A HUGE LEON RUSSELL FAN AND I'M A COLLECTOR OF LEON RUSSELL MEMORABILIA, AND LITTLE OVER FIVE YEARS AGO I SAW THE CHURCH IN THE CONDITION IT WAS IN AND I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GREAT PROJECT.

IT'S MY FOURTH PROPERTY TO RESTORE.

AND SO THAT'S HOW I GOT THE IDEA AND EARLY ON IT TOOK A LIFE OF ITS OWN, INCLUDING FIGURING OUT HOW TO HAVE A LIFE-SIZED LEON GREET ALL THE VISITORS THAT COME TO SEE US.

>> KNOX IS SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR WHO INVESTED $10 MILLION TO RESTORE AND REIMAGINE THE ICONIC PROPERTY THAT SHE SUCCEEDED IN GETTING LISTED ON NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

>> IT IS IN A SMALL COHORT OF OTHER HISTORIC RECORDING STUDIOS.

THERE AREN'T THAT MANY HERE IN AMERICA, SO WE HAVE MOTOWN, WE HAVE RCA STUDIO B, WE HAVE MUSCLE SKOALS AND CAPITAL RECORDS.

WE'RE SO HONOR THE CHURCH STUDIO IS IN THAT GROUP OF HISTORIC RECORDING STUDIOS.

>> WITH THAT RECOGNITION CAME THE MANDATED CHALLENGES OF HISTORICAL PRESERVATION.

>> WE WANTED TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF THE ORIGINAL CHURCH THAT IS OVER AS YOU SAY OVER 100-YEARS-OLD, BUT ALSO WHAT LEON DID SO IT HAD TO HAVE THE '70S VIBE, LOOK THE WAY LEON HAD IT IN 1972.

BUT WE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT RECORDING STUDIOS AND A LOT OF CHANGES HAVE HAPPENED WITH HOW RECORDINGS HAPPEN AS FAR AS ACOUSTIC DESIGN AND ENGINEERING, SO WE'RE TRYING TO SATISFY ALL OF THOSE.

>> THE STATUTE 1972 WORLD TOUR.

WHEN HE WASN'T ON THE ROAD, RUSSELL WAS INVITING HIS MANY FAMOUS FRIENDS TO COME TO TULSA TO RECORD IN HIS NEW STATE OF THE ART STUDIO.

>> WE HAD ONE OF THE TOP ARTISTS IN AMERICA IN 1972, AND THAT IS WHEN HE CAME BACK TO HIS HOMETOWN AND HE BOUGHT THE CHURCH AND TURNED IT INTO THIS AMAZING WORLD CLASS RECORDING STUDIO.

LEON WAS A MUSICIAN'S MUSICIAN.

SO MANY PEOPLE DESCENDED UPON TULSA DURING THAT MAGICAL 1970S TIME PERIOD.

I THINK TOM PETTY GOT HIS START HERE, AND SIGNED A RECORD WITH LEON.

GEORGE HARRISON, ERIC CLAPTON, BOB DYLAN, BONNIE RAIT, PETER TOSH, THE WAILERS, KANSAS, WILLIE NELSON WAS HERE FOR ALMOST A YEAR WITH HIS SISTER RECORDING.

>> LEON RUSSELL WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ROCK N' ROLL HALL OF FAME.

THE COMPLETELY RENOVATED CHURCH STUDIO WHICH INCLUDES A LARGE NEW ADDITION IS EXPECTED TO OPEN SOMETIME EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR.

AND WELCOME NOT ONLY WORLD CLASS MUSICIANS LOOKING FOR AMAZING SPACE IN WHICH TO RECORD, BUT IT WILL ALSO HOST SMALL CONCERTS AND OTHER EVENTS.

AND EVERYBODY WHO VISITS WILL PASS BY OKLAHOMA'S GREATEST ROCK STAR AS THEY ENTER.

>> IT'S A FEELING OF RELIEF, THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE, AND IT'S A FEELING OF YEAH FOR I CAN'T BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO SAY YEAH, GOOD JOB, I LIKE IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE LEON.

THAT'S THE PAY OFF RIGHT THERE.

>> THAT'S RICH LENZ REPORTING.

>>> SINCE VOTERS APPROVED CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM FIVE YEARS AGO OKLAHOMA SEEN ITS PRISON POPULATION TREND DOWNWARD, RELIEVING THE PRESSURE ON THE CROWDED DETENTION CENTERS.

NEXT PHASE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM WILL BE CONSIDERED DURING THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AS THOSE WHO PROSECUTOR CRIMES DEVELOP NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SENTENCING.

THAT'S WHERE WE GO IN DEPARTMENT WITH SUSAN CADOT AND HER GUESTS TO SEE HOW FAR WE'VE COME AND THE ROAD AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU, JASON.

I'M HERE WITH A COUPLE SPECIAL GUESTS TO HELP US SORT THROUGH WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THESE MEASURES WENT INTO EFFECT.

WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND POLICY FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

AND WE HAVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORTER WITH "OKLAHOMA WATCH."

I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'RE GOING TO DIVE IN TO REFRESH EVERYONE'S MEMORY.

780 BECAME EFFECTIVE IN JULY OF 2017, AND BASICALLY WHAT IT DID IT MADE POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES MISDEMEANOR AND LOWERED THE LARCENIES THRESHOLD FROM 500 TO $1,000.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

WHAT IMPACT HAVE THESE CHANGES IN THE LAW MADE IN OKLAHOMA SO FAR?

>> 780 HAS HAD A REALLY GREAT IMPACT IN OKLAHOMA PRIOR TO THIS PASSING WAS NUMBER ONE CRIME FOR WHICH PEOPLE WENT TO PRISON IN OKLAHOMA, SO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE SITTING IN PRISON JUST BECAUSE MOST CASES THEY HAD AN ADDICTION PROBLEM.

AND NOW THAT HAS BEEN CHANGED.

SO FIRST IT WAS CHANGED PRO SPECK OF THELY AND THEN THE GOVERNOR ENACTED THAT RETROACTIVELY IN 2019, SO A LOT OF FOLKS GOT TO GO HOME.

THAT HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON REUNITING FAMILY, NOT PUNISHING PEOPLE FOR A DECK SHUN.

AT THE SAME TIME WE SEEN CRIME RAITS GO DOWN ACROSS THE STATE.

WE SEEN PROPERTY CRIME.

>> WHAT ABOUT YOU?

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN SO FAR?

>> THOSE REFORMS TOOK EFFECT BACK IN 2017.

SINCE THEN WE'VE SEEN PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DROP IN OUR STATE'S PRISON POPULATION, ESPECIALLY BEGINNING BACK AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC BACK IN MARCH 2020.

OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS OUR POPULATION HAS DROPPED ABOUT 13%.

AND, OF COURSE, SOME OF THAT IS DUE TO DELAYS CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC, COURT CASES BEING DELAYED, COUNTY JAIL TRANSFERS, SUSPENDED THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY GROUPS CERTAINLY ATTRIBUTE SOME OF THAT TO THE REFORMS WE'VE SEEN, SUCH AS STATE QUESTION 780.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PART THAT RAISES THE FELONY THRESHOLD FROM 500 TO $1,000.

THERE WAS A COMMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE OKLAHOMA RETAIL CRIME ASSOCIATION, THEY PRESENTED DATA TO THE COUNCIL, AND THE COUNCIL I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THE OKLAHOMA CRIMINAL JUSTICE RECLASSIFICATION COORDINATION COUNCIL, A LONG NAME.

BUT THE COUNCIL HIS REPORT SHOWS THAT SHOPLIFTING CASES JUMPED 11% IN THE LAST YEAR, WHILE TOTAL DOLLARS LOST HAS INCREASED BY 37%.

EXPLAIN TODD THE GROUP THAT STATE QUESTION 780 AND 781 HAVE EMBOLDLED SHOPLIFTERS.

HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?

HAVE YOU SEEN A TREND THERE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HEARD THAT.

BUT ALL THE DATA GOES IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.

SO WE THINK IT'S REALLY PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM THAT'S NOT REALLY THERE.

SO ALL OF THE DATA SHOWS THAT CRIME IS DOWN.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHOPLIFTERS, THEY'RE USUALLY WEREN'T SHOPLIFTING OVER $500 WORTH OF GOODS BEFORE 780 SO SEEMS STRANGE TO THINK ABOUT THAT CHANGING A LOT OF BEHAVIOR.

YOU HAVE SOMEONE GOING INTO A QUICK TRIP, YOU KNOW, SNACKS OR WHATEVER THEY'RE STEALING, THAT'S NOT GOING TO ADD UP TO $500.

THE FACT THAT CHANGED FROM $500 TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS IS REALLY NOT PROBABLY YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIOR OF THOSE KIND OF SHOPLIFTERS.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THE SYSTEM THAT COULD CHANGE BEHAVIOR, SOME OF WHAT WE HEAR FROM THE RETAILERS IS THEY DON'T REPORT THE CRIMES ANYMORE BECAUSE THE POLICE DON'T RESPOND.

THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 780.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE SOLVED IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN RECRIMINALLIZING BEHAVIOR AND SENDING PEOPLE TO PRISON, WHICH ACTUALLY MAKES THEM MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT CRIME IN FUTURE AND DOESN'T HELP ANYBODY.

>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING FROM FOLKS WHO DON'T LIKE 780 AND 781?

WHY DON'T THEY LIKE IT?

>> I'VE HEARD SIMILAR THINGS AS YOU MENTIONED, THE PRESIDENT OF THE RETAIL CRIME ASSOCIATION POINTING HIS ARGUMENT IS BASICALLY THAT WHILE THE NUMBER OF CRIMES HASN'T INCREASED PEOPLE ARE STEALING MORE VALUABLE GOODS AND THEY'VE BEEN EMBOLDENED TO TAKE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF STUFF WHEN THEY OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT HAVE BECAUSE OF THESE CHANGES.

WE'VE SEEN A SLIGHT UPTICK IN THE AMOUNT OF GOODS STOLEN, BUT OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT STUFF THAT IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO, DUE TO INFLATION, AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN DATA THAT SUGGESTS THERE HAS BEEN A RETAIL CRIME EXPLOSION SINCE 780 PASSED.

>> ORGANIZED SHOPLIFTING, FOLKS ORGANIZED HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT GO IN, NOT TO CONVENIENCE STORES BUT TO MAYBE DEPARTMENT STORES, AND REALLY CAN PULL OFF SOME HIGH EXPENSIVE SHOPLIFTING CAPERS, IS THAT NOT TRUE?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THOSE REALLY EXIST OR NOT, BUT THAT IS STILL A FELONY IN OKLAHOMA.

SO IF YOU HAVE AN ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT RING THERE ARE OTHER LAWS BESIDES SHOPLIFTING THAT THEY CAN BE PROSECUTED UNDER.

THEY CAN BE PROSECUTED FOR CONSPIRACY, WHICH IS A FELONY.

SO I DON'T THINK THE SENTENCING LAW IS THE PROBLEM FOR HOLDING THOSE FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE.

>> WHAT IS THE RECLASSIFICATION COUNCIL, WHAT IS THAT AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

>> THAT COUNCIL WAS FORMED IN 2018, AND TO LOOK AT FELONY SENTENCING IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

THEY WERE GIVEN MANDATE TO COME UP WITH A NEW FELONY SENTENCING SYSTEM THAT WOULD HOLD NEUTRAL OR REDUCE THE PRISON POPULATION.

SO SUPPOSED TO BE A NEXT STEP IN REFORM AND REALLY LOOKING AT SENTENCING ACROSS THE BOARD IN OKLAHOMA.

THEY'VE COME OUT AFTER THREE YEARS WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND READY TO MOVE THOSE PAST THE LEGISLATURE FOR CONSIDERATION.

HOWEVER, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY MADE DO NOT MEET THEIR MANDATE OF REDUCING OR HOLDING THE PRISON POPULATION, THEY'RE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THE PRISON POPULATION.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

>> SO HOW DO YOU FIGHT AGAINST THAT?

AND EITHER ONE OF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT, BECAUSE HOW DO YOU FIGHT AGAINST THE MEASURES COMING OUT OF THIS PARTICULAR GROUP?

THERE ARE HEAVY HITTERS IN THIS GROUP.

>> YEAH, I MEAN CERTAINLY THE GROUP IS COMPOSED OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, FORMER JUDGES, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SO THERE IS SEVERAL DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND CERTAINLY SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH INFLUENCE IN THE STATE.

AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN OKLAHOMA.

I THINK CERTAINLY WE'LL SEE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD BEFORE THIS IS PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATURE THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR CERTAINLY ADVOCACY GROUPS SPEAKING OUT AND YOU KNOW PRESENTING THEIR RESEARCH AND TRYING TO SPEAK OUT ON HOW THEY SEE THIS WILL AFFECT THE STATE'S PRISON POPULATION AND THINGS GOING FORWARD.

CERTAINLY I WOULD EXPECT SOME BACK AND FORTH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY WOULD THIS NEGATE WHAT 780 DID, AND DO YOU EXPECT THE LEGISLATURE TO JUST GO ALONG WITH IT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK FELICITY?

>> IT WOULD PARTIALLY NEGATE WHAT 780 DID.

WHAT THIS PROPOSAL DOES IS IT REORGANIZES EVERY CRIME INTO ONE OF 14 FELONY CLASSES, AND IT DOESN'T CHANGE SENTENCES VERY MUCH FOR MOST CRIMES.

THEY STAY PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY ARE NOW.

IT INCLUDES ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR PEOPLE THAT WILL LEAD TO THEM SPENDING LONG IN PRISON FOR THE SAME THING WHICH FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE IS JUST A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY BECAUSE YOU'RE BASICALLY TAKING SOMEONE WHO IS SERVING A VERY LONG SENTENCE, OKLAHOMA HAS SOME OF THE LONGEST PRISON SENTENCES IN THE COUNTRY, AND THEN SAYING OKAY, YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE FIVE EXTRA MONTHS ON YOUR SENTENCE.

AND YOU CAN'T EARN LESS CREDIT, NOT GOING TO GET ON PAROLE EARLY, SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE STUCK THERE FOR LONGER AND TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT.

THAT'S PRIMARILY FOR PEOPLE WITH NONVIOLENT CRIMES THAT THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT IN THAT WAY.

WE'RE BASICALLY TAKING BACK SOME OF WHAT THE TAXPAYERS SAID THEY WANTED SHALL WHICH WAS TO REDUCE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING TO PRISON, AND SAYING NOW WE'RE GOING TO HOLD PEOPLE IN PRISON JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER SO WE CAN GET THE INCREASE -- IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY GOOD EFFECT.

>> STATE QUESTION 781 WHICH WAS PACED SIMULTANEOUSLY 780 CREATED A COUNTY COMMUNITY SAFETY INVESTMENT FUND WHICH IS INTENDED TO HOLD COST SAVING CREATED.

HOWEVER, THAT SAVINGS IS NOT YET MATERIALIZED.

WOULD EITHER ONE OF YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> I HAVEN'T DONE ANY IN-DEPTH REPORTING ON IT PERSONALLY BUT THE FRONTIER ANOTHER OUTLET SIMILAR TO US REPORTED ON IT, AND LAWMAKERS TOLD THEM AND HAVE BEEN SAYING IS THAT THEY'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT OF 781 AND TRYING TO ALLOCATE MORE MONEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS TO COUNTY JAILS, BUT A LOT OF THOSE COUNTY JAILS ARE SAYING WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH THESE INFLUX OF PEOPLE COMING IN WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

CERTAINLY THERE'S, YOU KNOW, AS THESE CRIMES ARE, YOU KNOW, CHANGE FROM FELONY TO MISDEMEANORS, THAT CAN OFTEN FALL BACK ON THE COUNTY JAILS AS THEY'RE AWAITING SENTENCING, AND FOR THEIR CASE TO PROCEED.

SO THERE'S DEFINITELY STILL A STRUGGLE STATEWIDE TO PROPERLY TREAT PEOPLE IN JAIL WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

>> OVERCROWDING IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE.

>> JUST ON 781, THE LEGISLATURE, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, EVERYONE AGREES THE LAST YEAR THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SAVINGS FROM 780 AND THEY IDENTIFIED ABOUT TEN TO $11 MILLION THAT HAVE BEEN SAVED BECAUSE OF THE REDUCTION OF PEOPLE GOING TO STATE PRISON.

THE PROBLEM IS APPROPRIATING THE DOLLARS AND GETTING THEM TO WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO.

IN 781 ALL THOSE DOLLARS WERE SUPPOSED TO GO BACK TO THE COUNTIES TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO WITH THEM.

BUT THIS YEAR THE LEGISLATURE INSTEAD DECIDED TO PUT THEM TOWARDS SPECIFIC STATE PROGRAMS THAT THEY THOUGHT MAYBE WERE GOING TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE, BUT YOU KNOW THAT WASN'T REALLY WHAT THE VOTERS SAID THEY WANTED.

THE VOTERS WANTED THAT MONEY TO GO BACK TO THE COUNTY, FOR THE COUNTIES TO DECIDE WHAT THEY NEED TODD HELP THAT POPULATION, AND THAT'S WHAT HASN'T HAPPENED.

THERE ARE SAVINGS.

THERE'S SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ANNUAL SAVINGS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING OR NOT GOING.

>> DO YOU SEE ANY PUSH BACK COMING FOR THAT, FROM THE COUNTIES OR FROM VOTERS, DO VOTERS EVEN KNOW?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK POSSIBLY THERE HAS BEEN EXPECTATION THAT THE LAW PAST FIVE YEARS AGO AND EVERYONE'S BEEN DOING WHAT THE LAW SAID AND WHAT THE VOTERS DECIDED ON, SO I THINK CERTAINLY THAT PUBLIC PERCEPTION REGARDING WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COUNTY JAILS MIGHT NOT QUITE BE THERE.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO HAPPEN NEXT?

>> WELL, IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THAT FUNDING DOES GET BACK TO THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND WHO NEED IT.

IT WAS MENTAL BE FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

I HOPE THAT MONEY CAN GET DOWN ON THE GROUND TO THOSE FOLKS FOR THE RECLASSIFICATION COUNCIL, GOING BACK TO THAT BRIEFLY, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE PUTTING FORWARD THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEM BETTER.

THERE IS SOME GOOD THINGS IN THERE.

AND I JUST REALLY HOPE THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THEM, THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AREN'T SET IN STONE.

THEY CAN CHANGE THEM.

AND THEY COULD CHANGE THEM TO MAKE THEM WORK BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA.

MANY AND REDUCE THE PRISON POPULATION RATHER THAN INCREASING IT AGAIN.

>> AS A JOURNALIST I'M NOT GOING TO ASK WHAT YOU THINK BUT WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE HAPPEN WITH ALL OF THIS IN THE NEXT SESSION?

>> LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER I THINK WE'LL CERTAINLY SEE SOME BACK AND FORTH AS FAR AS YOU KNOW THE -- AS LAWMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC DIVE INTO WHAT EXACTLY THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AND WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE, I CERTAINLY THINK WE'LL SEE SOME BACK AND FORTH AND DIFFERING SIDES ON YOU KNOW HOW EXACTLY IS THIS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND WHAT IMPACT IS IT GOING TO HAVE.

I THINK WE'VE CERTAINLY GOT TO THE POINT WHERE YOU KNOW VAST MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE IS ONBOARD WITH YOU KNOW A LOT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS AS FAR AS HELPING PEOPLE GET OUT OF PRISON AND REINTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY, GET JOBS.

WE'VE SEEN LEGISLATION RECENTLY MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE RELEASED FROM PRISON TO GET IDENTIFICATION AND DRIVER'S LICENSES.

SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S YOU KNOW A WILL TO LOCK MORE PEOPLE UP, BUT AS FAR AS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE YOU KNOW WHAT DIFFERENT SIDES ARGUE AND WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS LAW WILL BE.

>> RIGHT.

YOU KNOW THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF PUSH ON THIS.

AS WE WIND DOWN I WANT TO ASK, YOUR ORGANIZATION, IT'S FORWARD -- US AND FWD, RIGHT?

WHAT CAN YOU DO IN RELATION TO THIS ISSUE?

>> YEAH, WE'RE A NATIONAL POLITICAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS DIRECTLY IN STATES WITH REALLY HIGH INCARCERATION RATES LIKE OKLAHOMA.

THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS HAVE OKLAHOMA AT NUMBER THREE.

SO THERE IS AN IMPROVEMENT SLIGHTLY BETTER, BUT YOU KNOW A LONG WAY TO GO.

OKLAHOMA IS STILL LOCKING UP A LOT OF FOLKS COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

>> I WANT THE THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR THIS VALUABLE INFORMATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> SUSAN, THANK YOU.

>>> DRINKING A BEER ON A COLD HOT DAY, SOMETHING THAT MANY OKLAHOMANS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO ENJOY.

AND WE CERTAINLY HAD OUR FAIR SHARE OF HOT DAYS LATELY.

IN FACT, 73% OF OUR STATE IS NOW ENDURING DROUGHT CONDITIONS DUE TO LACK OF RAIN.

BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT THE YEAR INGREDIENT IN MAKING BEER DOES WELL IN DRY CONDITIONS AS LONG AS YOU KEEP THE PEST AT BAY.

WE TRAVEL SOUTH DAKOTA WHERE REPORTER LAURA JOHNSON CHECKS OUT THE HOP CROP.

>> THE OWNER GROWS FIVE ACRES OF HOPS.

>> THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SPIDER MIGHT DAMAGE IN ADVANCED STAGES.

THE LEAVES GET VERY LIGHT SPECKLING AND BROWNING AND BROWN THINGS, AND ON THE UNDERSIDE YOU CAN SEE VERY, VERY FINE LITTLE WEBBS.

>> HE SHOWS YELLOWING LEAF FROM A THIN HOP PLANT.

>> THAT IS SPITER MITE DAMAGE, THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR TOUGH CHALLENGES THIS YEAR.

>> TWO SPOTTED SPIDER MITES THRIVE IN HOT CONDITIONS.

THEY ARE A HUGE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEY SUCK THE NUTRIENTS FROM THE LEAVES.

>> YOU WON'T NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE OFTEN.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN EVERY DAY OUT HERE SCOUTING AND TRYING TO CHECK EVERY -- A LOT OF LEAVES AND LOOKING FOR JUST THIS LITTLE SIGN BEFORE THE LEAVES TURN YELLOW AND BROWN, BECAUSE IF YOU START TO REACT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT HAPPEN, THEN YOU'RE ALREADY TOO LATE AND THEY CAN QUICKLY DESTROY HALF THE PLANT.

>> MITE DAMAGE CAN STUNT THE PLANT AND AFFECT THE CONE.

THAT'S THE PART OF THE HOPS PLANT USED TO BREW BEER.

INTENSE IRRIGATION HELPED HIS PLANTS DO WELL.

>> HERE WE HAVE HAD LESS THAN TWO INCHES OF RAIN RECORDED HERE FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER, AND WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING IRRIGATION I THINK ONLY ONE OR TWO DAYS THROUGH THE WHOLE SUMMER THAT WE DIDN'T RUN IRRIGATION.

>> WITH SO MUCH USE THIS YEAR HIS DIRECT IRRIGATION SYSTEM REQUIRES MORE MAINTENANCE.

OWNS HOPPY TRAIL HOPS FARM IN IOWA.

HE'S ALSO ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA HOPS GROWERS ASSOCIATION.

HE ALSO INCREASED HIS IRRIGATION USE THIS YEAR.

>> I WOULD RATHER HAVE TOO HOT AND DRY THAN TO HAVE TOO WET AND CLOUDY AND THE PLANTS ARE DISEASED AND CAN'T GROW WELL.

>> DOWNY MILDEW IS A PROBLEM DURING WETTER CONDITIONS.

THIS YEAR THERE HASN'T BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE DISEASE.

ONE CONCERN IS HOW THE WEATHER IS AFFECTING THE ACID LEVELS IN HIS CROP.

>> I DID NOTICE LAST YEAR THAT MY ALL IN A ACID, IT WAS LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED OR EXPECTED LAST YEAR.

>> HE RESEARCHED THE EFFECTS OF HOT AND DRY CONDITIONS ON ALFA ACIDS LAST YEAR.

HE FOUND HOPS AREN'T AS BITTER IN A DRAW.

SOUTH DAKOTA HOP INDUSTRY IS SMALL, ONLY SIX FARMS LICENSED TO GROW THE CROP COMMERCIALLY.

JASON CURRY OLSON IS ONE OF THE OWNERS AND BREWERS OF WOOD GRAIN BREWERY.

HE SAYS CONSISTENT ACID COUNTS ARE IMPORTANT FOR A STABLE BEER FLAVOR.

>> HOW IT WILL AFFECT IS IS GOING BACK TO WILL WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE HOPS WE'VE BEEN USING AND MAKE A CONSISTENT BEER, BECAUSE OF THE USE OF -- THE LACK OF THIS.

>> WOOD GRAIN BREWERY USES LOCAL HOPS WHENEVER POSSIBLE BUT OFTEN THEY HAVE TO PURCHASE OUT OF STATE HOPS.

CURRY OLSON SAYS LOCAL GROWERS CAN'T SUSTAIN THE DEMAND OF LOCAL BREWERIES.

>> WE USE HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF HOPS EVERY YEAR, AND THE VARIETIES THAT CAN BE GROWN IN SOUTH DAKOTA ARE GREAT, AND THEY'RE USED A LOT IN ESPECIALLY LIKE IPA, THAT KIND OF STUFF.

BUT THERE ARE SOMEHOW DO I CALL THEM DESIGNER HOPS STILL UNDER PATENT, THAT LOCAL FARMERS DON'T.

>> CURRY OLSON IS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE DROUGHT IS AFFECTING HIS LOCAL SUPPLIERS.

>> THE HOP PROVIDERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT HAPPENS SOUTH DAKOTA BEER AND WE'RE CONCERNED FOR OUR FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY'RE PART OF THAT AND WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT WE DON'T GET TO MAKE THE PRODUCTS WE'RE SO PROUD OF SHARING WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> IN PARTS OF THE STATE, HOPS HARVEST IS UNDERWAY.

ONCE THE CONES ARE COLLECTED, THEY'RE PROCESSED INTO DRY PALLET AND USED BY AT HOME AND COMMERCIAL BREWERS.

I'M LAURA JOHNSON.

>>> ON THE NEXT OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT, RESULTS FROM STATEWIDE TESTING CONFIRMING THAT OKLAHOMA STUDENTS HAVE SUFFERED ACADEMICALLY SINCE THE START OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

STATE EDUCATION LEADERS WEIGH IN ON THE DISAPPOINTING RESULTS.

>>> WE LEAVE YOU WITH SOME OF THE BEST GLASS ART IN THE WORLD BY ARTIST DALE CHUHULY, FEATURED AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART AS PHOTOGRAPHED AND EDITED BY KACI FERGUSON.

ALL OF US HERE AT "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT" I'M JASON DOYLE.

STAY SAFE.

STAY HEALTHY.

AND AS ALWAYS, STAY TUNED TO OETA.

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