Saturday at 5:00 on OETA.

>> Rich: IN PART TWO OF OUR SERIES ON ROMEO SCAMS, WE'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO AN OKLAHOMA FAMILY TORN APART BY ONLINE FRAUD.

>> THESE FRAUDSTERS ARE SO GOOD AT THAT MANIPULATION GAME.

THEY'RE SO GOOD AT TELLING US THOSE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO HEAR.

>> Rich: AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION.

>> IT'S A SAD SITUATION HERE, THE WORST THE THING I'VE SEEN.

>> Rich: 1500 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS GATHER FOR THE ANNUAL SPEED CONFERENCE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> YOU CAN STILL DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS YOU LOVE AND BE A SCIENTIST AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Rich: OETA HOSTING THE OEBA STUDENT DAY, HELPING TO AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF OKLAHOMA JOURNALISMS.

>> SO IN FIVE YEARS, I WOULD LIKE TO BE A REPORTER AT A STATION THAT VALUES IN LINE WITH OUR MORALS.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE DOING INVESTIGATIVE STORIES BY THEM.

>> Rich: NATIVE WORKERS ARE BOOSTING THE RATE ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

>> YOUR WORTHY GO TO THAT SCHOOL YOU WANT TO GO TO AND YOU'RE WORTHY TO GET THE FUTURE YOU DESERVE.

>> Rich: THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE NEXT ON "THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

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

I'M TAELYR JACKSON.

ROMEO SCAMS TARGET SOME OF OKLAHOMA CITIZENS RUINING LIVES EAR SOMETIMES DESTROYING FAMILIES.

STEVE SHAW JOINS US WITH THE ONLINE FINANCIAL SCAMS.

>> Steve: THE BIGGEST HURDLE IS THE FACT MOST OF THESE VICTIMS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE BEEN RIPPED OFF FOR HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OR MORE, THEY WON'T ADMIT TO THEIR FAMILIES OR THEMSELVES.

THEY'VE BEEN HAD.

>> SHE'S CUT ALL TIES WITH US BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> SHE'S IN TROUBLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SHE TRULY IS HOMELESS AND BROKE AND DOESN'T REALIZE IT.

♪♪ >> Steve: JOHN CRAFT SPENT 32 YEARS IN THE FIRE SERVICE IN OKLAHOMA AND THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OF HIS CAREER, HE WAS BRIDGE CREEK's FIRE CHIEF.

CRAFT SAYS EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE CAUGHT WIND THAT A FAMILY MEMBER HAD GOTTEN CAUGHT UP IN AN ONLINE ROMEO SCAM.

CRAFT SAYS THAT FAMILY MEMBER THINKS SHE'S INVOLVED WITH A WELL-KNOWN TELEVISION ACTOR.

>> IT STARTED WITH HER HAVING SOME TASKS.

THEY TASKED HER WITH SCOURING THE INTERNET TO FIND FAKE WEBSITES AND THROUGH THAT, A RELATIONSHIP, IF YOU WILL GREW.

THEY'VE BEEN GROOMING HER FOR QUITE SOMETIME AND SHE'S BRAINWASHED.

>> SO SHE THINKS SHE'S SOME KIND OF INVESTIGATOR FOR THIS MOVIE STAR?

>> YES, AND SCOURING THE INTERNET TO SHUT DOWN THESE FAKE WEBSITES.

>> Steve: WE'RE NOT IDENTIFYING CRAFT's FAMILY MEMBER, BUT WE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO HER FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

I'M NOT IDENTIFYING THAT ACTOR EITHER.

>> SUPPOSEDLY, HE WAS GETTING DIVORCED AND COMING TO GET HER AND THEY'LL MOVE OFF BACK TO WHERE HE IS IN CALIFORNIA.

BUT IT'S OVER THE COURSE OF THE MONTHS, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING COME UP.

WELL, I CAN'T GET THERE THIS WEEK OR CAN'T GET THERE THIS MONTH AND IT'S JUST ALWAYS AN EXCUSE.

>> Steve: HOW MUCH MONEY HAS SHE SENT HIM?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT MONTH.

SHE SOLD HER MONTH AND EVERY MONTH SENDS THEM HER SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK, BUT I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY IT'S OVER 50,000 AND APPROACHING CLOSER TO 100,000.

>> Steve: DOES SHE HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE?

>> YES.

SHE'S CURRENTLY WITH FRIENDS.

>> Steve: CAST SAYS THAT HOLLYWOOD ACTOR IS AWARE SCAM ARTISTS ARE USING HIM TO RIP PEOPLE OFF AND DISAVOWS ANY INVOLVEMENT.

TARA HARDIN IS A SHERIFF's DEPUTY WHO TEACHES SCAM PREVENTS TO OLDER ADULTS.

SHE SAYS THE JOHN CRAFT FAMILY SITUATION ISN'T UNUSUAL.

PEOPLE, MOSTLY SENIORS, ARE GETTING SCAMMED BY PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS AND MANY WHO ARE NOT EVEN IN THE UNITED STATES.

SHE'S LOST EVERYTHING.

SHE'S LIKE BORROWING MONEY TO DO WHATEVER.

SHE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

THAT'S HOW BAD IT'S GOTTEN FOR HER.

BUT THAT'S COMMONPLACE, ISN'T IT?

>> IT'S BECOMING, UNFORTUNATELY, MORE COMMONPLACE, AND YOU POINTED OUT IT'S NOT JUST MEN.

IT'S WOMEN, ALSO AND IT'S ALSO NOT JUST SINGLE PEOPLE AND THIS ISN'T JUST HAPPENING ON DATING WEBSITES.

THIS IS HAPPENING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACT.

IT'S HAPPENING THROUGH A TEXT MESSAGE, A WRONGLY DIALED PHONE CALL AND THEY'RE MAKING CONTACT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH A WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO REPORT IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT, SHE LOST EVERYTHING, AS WELL.

SHE WAS A MARRIED WOMAN AND IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY A COUNTRY AND WESTERN STAR THAT SHE WAS TALKING TO ONLINE.

IT WAS NOT THIS INDIVIDUAL.

BUT SHE HAD SENT EVERYTHING, HAD MAXED OUT THEIR CREDIT CARDS, DRAINED THEIR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.

>> Steve: JOHN CRAFT SAYS WHILE THE REST OF HIS FAMILY TOOK A HARD LINE, HE TRIED TO GO EASY, HOPING TO REACH THE FAMILY MEMBER.

HE BELIEVES IS STILL GETTING SCAMMED.

>> WE ASKED TO TRIAL TO TRY TO L THE MONEY SHE INVESTED AND SHE WON'T DO IT.

>> IT GOES BACK TO THE MASLOW's HIREKY OF NEEDS.

>> LAST WEEK I TOLD YOU ABOUT A 77-YEAR-OLD TULSA COUNTY MAN WHO DIED FROM CANCER IN MAY.

HIS SON TOLD US HIS DAD DIED BROKE BECAUSE HE GAVE HIS LIFE SAVINGS TO SOMEONE HIS FATHER THOUGHT WAS THIS YOUNG WOMAN.

>> TELL ME HOW A 77-YEAR-OLD MAN COULD EVER THINK THAT SHE WANTS TO BE WITH HIM?

>> AGAIN, IT GOES TO THAT EGO.

WHEN SHE TEMS THAT -- WHEN THE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG 25-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TELLS A 77-YEAR-OLD MAN WHAT A WONDERFUL MAN HE IS, HOW MUCH HIS FAMILY MUST APPRECIATE HIM, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT MAYBE HE HEARD WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER BUT HASN'T HEARD FOR A FEW YEARS IN HIS LIFE, IT STRIKES A CORD AND IT DOES WITH ALL OF US.

THERE'S NO ONE THAT IS IMMUNE TO THESE MANIPULATIONS.

>> THERE WERE $33 MILLION IN ELDER REPORTED FRAUD.

HOWEVER, THAT'S JUST 20% OF WHAT THE TRUE NUMBER IS.

>> IT WILL EVENTUALLY RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING THE BULK OF OUR ASSET BASE WHICH LIES IN OUR OLDER POPULATION AND WE ARE TRANSFERRING IT THROUGH THESE FRAUDS OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

>> Steve: MEN AND WOMEN ARE SHOWING UP IN SOME CASES EVERY OTHER DAY AT TULSA AND EVEN WILL ROGER's INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS THINKING THEY'RE HOOKING UP WITH A LOVE INTEREST BUILT ON FRAUD.

A OFTENTIMES, THEY'RE SENDING MONEY TO THESE FOLKS VIA THE INTERNET AND NEVER SEEN A PICTURE.

THEY CAN'T CONFIRM IF THAT'S THE PERSON OR NOT BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER SEEN A LIVE VIDEO FEED OR FACETIME.

THEY'RE SENDING MONEY VIA APPLE PAY, BITCOIN AND HOWEVER IT WORKS TO SEND MONEY TO SOMEONE, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> HOPEFULLY THIS KIND OF THING IS BIGGER THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE AND UNTIL YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE TRULY AFFECTED BY THIS.

SO IF I CAN HELP ONE PERSON TO MAYBE GIVE THEM INFORMATION TO WHATEVER FAMILY MEMBER THEY'RE DEALING WITH OR I'M HEARING THE SAME THING FROM SOMEBODY LIVING THROUGH THIS, MAYBE I DO NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS.

>> Steve: AGAIN, I'VE TRIED TO REACH JOHN CRAFT's FAMILY MEMBER BY PHONE AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

I WANT TO GET HER SIDE AND CRAFT SAID HE'S STILL ON THAT SIDE.

>> UNTIL THAT PERSON IS REALLY WILLING TO ACCEPT THE FACT THEY'VE BEEN SCAMMED, THERE'S A TERM FOR IT THAT WE LEARN AND IT'S "PIG SLAUGHTERING SCAM."

THEY'RE TRULY BLEEDING AND DON'T KNOW IT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.

♪♪ >> Steve: LAW ENFORCEMENT ALSO TELLS ME ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OR A.I.

HAS CHANGED THE GAME IN THIS FRAUD.

THEY CAN EASILY CHANGE THEIR PHYSICAL APPEARANCE ONLINE.

THINK ABOUT THAT ONE.

>> THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ARRESTED A MAN FOR PLOTTING AN ELECTION DATE TERROR ATTACK.

FBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY WAS WORKING WITH AN UNDERAGED ACCOMPLICE.

THEY BELIEVE HE LEFT AFGHANISTAN IN 2021.

>>> FIRST HELENE AND NOW MILTON, TWO MONSTER HURRICANES IN LESS THAN A MONTH LEFT PARTS OF FLORIDA DEVASTATED AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA STRUGGLING TO RECOVER.

IN THIS WEEK's IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION, WE'LL SPEAK WITH THOSE IN NORTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERING TO HELP.

HERE IS A PREVIEW.

>> THE MUDSLIDES, OF COURSE, HAVE ERASED ENTIRE TOWNS AND WAYS OF LIFE.

THIS IS THE MOST CHILLING IT PART, THE SMELL OF DEATH IS IN THE AIR.

WE HAVE SCORES OF PEOPLE MISSING.

IT'S HARD TO DEFINE FULLY IN WORDS THE TRAGEDY, THE HUMAN TRAGEDY OF IT ALL, THE LITERAL SWEEPING AWAY OF HUMAN LIVES.

THEY'LL FIND BODIES.

THE FIRST RESPONDERS, INNOCENT BYSTANDERS AND INNOCENT MEMBERS OF COMMUNITIES WILL FIND BODIES FOR WEEKS.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA RIGHT NOW.

>> DON'T HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF HOW SERIOUS IT IS HERE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED AND HOW BROAD OF A SPECTRUM IT IS.

FOR HOURS AND HOURS, YOU CAN DRIVE AND THERE WILL BE VICTIMS WHEN YOU STARTED AND WHEN YOU FINISHED.

IT'S REALLY A TRAGIC SITUATION HERE, THE WORST THING I'VE SEEN IN MANY, MANY YEARS.

>> THE REST OF THAT CONVERSATION COMING UP LATER IN THE NEWSCAST.

>>> OKLAHOMA RANKS SIXTH IN THE NATION IN EVICTION RATES ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT FROM SHELTER WILL, AN OKLAHOMA CITY NONPROFIT.

IT'S A PROBLEM IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND TO TULSA AS IS A LACK OF LOW-INCOME HOUSING.

TO GET MORE DETAILS, WE SPOKE WITH HEATHER WARLICK WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE ISSUE FOR OUR PARTNERS AT THE OKLAHOMA WATCH.

>> THERE WAS A FORMER MORATORIUM ON EVACATIONION THAT RETIRED RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THEN IN RELATION TO OKLAHOMA's EVICTION RATES?

>> SINCE THE MORATORIUMS ENDED, OKLAHOMA HAS RESUMED ITS EVICTION AND THE STATE IS EXCEEDING PRE-PANDEMIC EVICTION LEVELS.

THIS YEAR, THE STATE IS ON TRACK TO EXCEED THE NUMBER.

>> Rich: HOW DO OKLAHOMA CITY AND TULSA COMPARE?

>> TULSA WAS RANKING NUMBER SIX, I BELIEVE IT WAS, FOR EVICTIONS AND OKLAHOMA CITY WAS RANKING NUMBER 22.

AND THAT IS FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

THIS YEAR, 2024, THE STOUT REPORT FROM LEGAL AID SHOWED THAT OKLAHOMA IS ON TRACK TO HAVE MORE EVICTIONS THAN LAST YEAR AND MORE THAN BEFORE.

>> Rich: WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS RECEIVED A NOTICE OF EVICTION?

>> MY STRONGEST ADVICE IS TO OPEN UP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR LANDLORD BECAUSE THAT IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM I SEE ACROSS THE BOARD, IS THAT TENANTS AND LANDLORDS ARE NOT COMMUNICATING.

A LOT OF LANDLORDS HAVE A POLICY WHERE YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO EXTEND YOUR PERIOD FOR 15 DAYS OR SO, PAY A LATE FEE AND YOU COULD PAY YOUR RENT WITHIN 15 DAYS BEING LATE.

IF YOU DO GET AN EVICTION FILING AGAINST YOU, THAT WILL STAY ON YOUR COURT RECORDS.

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU WERE ACTUALLY EVICTED, IF THERE WAS A JUDGMENT AGAINST YOU OR IF THE CASE WAS DISMISSED, THAT RECORD IS STILL GOING TO BE ON YOUR COURT RECORD.

SO IT SUPER IMPORTANT TO TRY TO AVOID THAT HAPPENING ALL TOGETHER.

>> Rich: YOU'VE DONE EXCELLENT REPORTING ON STOCK OF LOW-INCOME HOUSING.

DEFINE FOR US WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSING.

>> YOU KNOW, LOW-INCOME HOUSING IS JUST A WAY TO DESCRIBE HOMES THAT ARE PRICED LESS THAN MARKET RATE.

BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING VOUCHERS KNOWN AS SECTION 8, YOU KNOW, YOU QUALIFY IF YOU ARE A FAMILY OF FOUR MAKING A CERTAIN INCOME LIMIT.

SO FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, THAT INCOME LIMIT IS, BELIEVE BELIEVR NOT, $76,100.

WE HAVE SUCH A SHORTAGE OF HOMES IN OKLAHOMA THAT WILL ACCEPT THE SECTION 8 VOUCHER THAT WE FIND MANY TIMES TENANTS WHO HAVE A VOUCHER CAN'T FIND AN APPROPRIATE UNIT TO ACCEPT THAT HOUSING VOUCHER.

THEY ONLY HAVE TWO MONTHS TO USE THAT VOUCHER BEFORE IT EXPIRES.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO USE IT.

HOUSING AUTHORITIES HAVE STOPPED TAKING APPLICATIONS BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT A THREE-YEAR RATE FOR FOR PEOPLE TO GET APPROVED FOR SECTION 8 VOUCHERS.

>> Rich: IN YOUR RECENT ARTICLE ABOUT THE MEGALANDLORDS, TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> MILLENNIALS HAVE RENTALS IN LOW-INCOME STATES AND KATE TOREA CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOME ARE CATERED TO ELDERLY RESIDENTS.

MILLENNIA SCORED EXTREMELY LOW AND THEY'VE HAD FIRES THAT HAVE KILLED PEOPLE, GAS EXPLOSIONS AND GAS LEAKS.

EIGHT PEOPLE ARE DEAD FROM MILLENNIUM DISASTERS.

I VISITED DUNCAN AND SAW THAT BURNED OUT APARTMENTS NEXT DOOR TO PEOPLE ARE OCCUPYING.

THEY HAVE CONDEMNED BUILDINGS AND JUST ROACHES AND PETS AND HOLES IN THE WALL, WATER DAMAGE, MOLD.

I MEAN, YOU NAME IT.

>> Rich: HAVING HEARD ALL OF THAT, IS THERE ANY PROGRESS BEING MADE IN TERMS OF THESE RATES IN OKLAHOMA AND MORE LOW-INCOME HOUSING?

>> NET 4 ALLOCATED $55 MILLION FOR HOUSING IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND THAT'S GREAT.

THE SIMILAR PROGRAM IN TULSA, PATHWAYS TO HOME, IS ALLOCATING MONEY TOWARD LOW-INCOME HOUSING TO BE BUILT.

THERE MAY BE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, BUT IT TAKES YEARS TO REMEDY THAT PROBLEM.

>> Rich: HEATHER WARLICK, GREAT REPORTING AND GREAT INFORMATION, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, RICH.

ALWAYS GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

>> MORE DESERVING COLLEGE STUDENTS WERE HONORED AT THIS YEARS OKLAHOMA BROADCAST EDUCATION ASSOCIATION DAY HELD EAST YEAR AT OETA STUDIOS IN OKLAHOMA.

>> SOMETIMES I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S ME SOMETIMES.

SO SOMETIMES IT'S KIND OF HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT WHEN PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME YOU DESERVED IT, I THINK, WOW, I DID PUT IN A LOT OF WORK TO BE WHY I AM RIGHT NOW.

>> RIGHT NOW I RUN ALL OF MY OWN SOCIALS, TIKTOK AND ALL OF THAT.

AND I GET EVERYTHING DONE MYSELF AND I KIND OF TURN THAT NO INTO INTO AFULL-TIME JOB.

>> IT'S HIGHLIGHTED ON THE EVER-CHANGING INDUSTRY WE'RE IN.

THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS TO ADAPT.

SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE SEEN AS SCARRY AND I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET NEWS OUT THERE.

>> SO I WOULD BE EXTREMELY HAPPY WORKING FOR ESPN, NFL, ANYTHING WITH SPORTS.

I WANT THAT FUN PART OF LIFE AND I WANT TO SHOW OTHER PEOPLE HOW FUN SPORTS CAN BE AND YOU MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING HARD, BUT, HEY, THERE'S A SPORT's GAME ON.

>> JASON DOYLE, IN-DEPTH MODERATARY CASSIDY MUDD PARTICIPATED IN A DISCUSSION.

>>> MORE THAN 1500 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE GATHERED AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM OF OKLAHOMA.

THE CONFERENCE IMMERSES STUDENTS IN HANDS-ON AND STEM ACTIVITIES IN ADDITION TO GIVE THEM TO MEET REPRESENTATIVES FROM OKLAHOMA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITY.

THIS WEEK SIXTH THROUGH 12 GRADERS FROM AROUND THE STATE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO AFFORD NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED IN THE STEM INDUSTRY.

>> REALLY, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO EXPOSE THEM TO SCIENCE CAREERS, ENGINEERING CAREERS, TECHNOLOGY, THINGS THAT CAN GET THEM EXCITED, HOPEFULLY, DOWN A PATH TO GET THEM INTO THIS SPACE.

>> SCIENCE OKLAHOMA MUSEUM SAYS THEY WELCOMED 43 PARTNERS TO THE EVENTS THIS YEAR.

>> EACH OF THEM PROVIDE A HANDS-ON ACTIVITY THAT STUDENTS CAN ENGAGE IN AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THOSE PROGRAMS.

THEY DO INCLUDE UNIVERSITIES, ORGANIZATIONS, COMPANIES, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY ONE DAY SHOW THEM SOME CAREER OPTIONS THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE AS THEY DECIDE ON WHAT DO AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

>> WHAT WE'RE HAVING THE STUDENTS DO, WE HAVE THEM GO NEXT TO US AND THERE WE HAVE A LOT OF WATER VERTEBRAES AND PRETTY MUCH OUR STATEMENT IS FOR REPRESENTING SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW STUDENTS IS IMPORTANT TO WATER QUALITY.

SO EVEN THOUGH THESE CRITTERS MIGHT SEEM SMALL, THEY DO CONTRIBUTE INTO OUR WATER ECOSYSTEM.

>> SHE'S A STUDENT AT THE SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND HOPES TO INSPIRE STUDENTS WHO HAVE SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS LIKE HERS.

>> I COME FROM AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY SO ALL OF MY PARENTS AND MY BROTHERS, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION.

SO MY PARENTS CAME HERE TO THE UNITED STATES TO SEEK BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.

SO THAT REALLY INSPIRED ME TO WANT TO DO BETTER THINGS AND TO HELP ENCOURAGE OTHER STUDENTS.

SO ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGE STUDENTS WHO ARE LIKE IN A MINORITY WHO DON'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> THE EVENT IS PUT ON BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION OKLAHOMA ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO SIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH.

>> OUR ORGANIZATION IS A NONPROFIT THAT ALLOWS WOMEN TO COME TOGETHER TO DO NETWORKING AND LEARNING EVENTS.

OUR BIGGEST GOAL IS TO DO FUNDRAISING FOR THE SCIENCE MUSEUM IN OKLAHOMA AND THE DISCOVERY LAB IN TULSA.

WE RAISED ENOUGH FOR THE SCIENCE MUSEUM.

WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE AND TO GET GIRLS EXCITED ABOUT STEM.

>> EVEN THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN A PUSH FOR MORE WOMEN TO WORK IN STEM, WOMEN STILL ONLY MAKE UP ROUGHLY ABOUT 30% OF THE INDUSTRY.

>> I THINK JUST THERE'S A HUGE GAP IN GIRLS THAT MAYBE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BEFORE OR THAT DIDN'T HAVE A PROGRAM AT THEIR SCHOOL BECAUSE IT WASN'T FUNDED.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO TEACHERS THAT HAVE LOW FUNDS, TO GET THAT IN THE CLASSROOM AND TO BE EXPOSED TO IT.

>> JUST YEAR JOHNSTON REMEMBERS THE IMPACT IT HAD ON HER STUDENTS.

>> I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AND I BROUGHT STUDENTS HERE AND IT WAS COOL TO GET TO SEE THEM INTERACT WITH THE PANELISTS AND TO HELP THEM DECIDE IF THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO AND GET THEM TO EXPLORE AND BE EXCITED ABOUT SCIENCE AND REALIZE THAT IT'S NOT JUST FOR BOYS.

IT'S NOT JUST FOR OTHER PEOPLE, THAT THEY LOOK LIKE THEM AND YOU CAN STILL BE GIRLY AND DO ALL OF THE THINGS YOU LOVE AND BE A SCIENTIST AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S GREAT CONVERSATIONS DRIVING BACK TO THE SCHOOL.

>> STUDENTS ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN ON A PANEL THAT CONSISTED OF SIX WOMEN FROM THE STEM INDUSTRY.

>> SO WE HAVE A METEOROLOGIST.

WE HAVE AN ENGINEER AND AN ARCHITECT, A COMPUTER SOFTWARE ENGINEER, AS WELL.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED THEY'RE HERE.

WE EVEN HAVE A RESEARCH SCIENTIST FROM OMRS AND THEY VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME.

>> EACH PANELIST SHARED ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS FROM STUDENTS.

>> SO ON A TYPICAL DAY THAT I'M WORKING WITH PATIENTS WHO WILL GO DOWN TO WHATEVER CLINIC WE NEED TO GO TO AND WE WILL CONSENT THE PATIENTS AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS OK IN OUR RESEARCH.

WE WILL DRAW THEIR BLOOD AND THEN WE TAKE THEIR BLOOD BACK TO OUR LAB AND USE A BLOOD BATH TO GET CELLS.

>> GEORGE IS PROOF THIS CAN LEAD STUDENTS TO THEIR CAREER PATH.

>> I WAS PART OF THIS IN THE NINTH GRADE WHERE I WENT TO THE SCIENCE MUSEUM FOR THE FIRST PART OF MY DAY EVERY DAY FOR THE FIRST PART OF NINTH GRADE.

I WAS EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF SCIENCE IN A TYPICAL CLASS.

SO GEOLOGY WAS ONE OF THEM AND IT SPARKED MY INTEREST FOR PURSUING A CAREER IN THAT FIELD.

>> THE ADVANCED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CHARTER SCHOOL KNOWN AS ASTEC IS EXPANDING ITS CAMPUS IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

THE NEW FACILITY WILL INCLUDE A NEW HIGH SCHOOL ADJACENT TO THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL.

MORE THAN 1400 STUDENTS CURRENTLY TAKEN ASTEC.

THE NEW 150,000 SQUARE FOOT CAMPUS WILL FEATURE 46 CLASSROOMS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABS, A LIBRARY AND AUDITORIUM.

>> WE STRIVE TO PUT IN BEST PRACTICES, WHETHER IT'S OUR BUSINESS PRACTICES, OUR CLASSROOM PRACTICES, WE HAVE ATTEMPTED AND I THINK WE'VE SUCCEEDED IN CREATING A SMALL SCHOOL ATMOSPHERE IN A BIG CITY IN A SCHOOL WHERE IT IS LIKE A COMMUNITY.

>> CONSTRUCTION ON THE NEW FACILITY IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE IN 2026.

THE OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL FOUNDATION HAS HIRED FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN KENDRA HORN AS THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO.

HORN WILL REPLACE MARY MELON-TULLY WHO IS RETIRE AG ATT THE END OF THE YEAR.

SHE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO LEADING THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH WORKS TO SUPPORT OKCPS.

>> WHEN I WAS IN CONGRESS, I WAS ADVOCATING FOR FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND POLICIES THAT SUPPORTED OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THIS, I SEE, IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT.

I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE.

THEY WERE TO ME AND THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMY AND JOBS AND BUSINESSES AND I AM JUST INCREDIBLY THRILLED ABOUT THE WORK THE FOUNDATION DOES.

>> THE OKLAHOMA CITY PUBLIC FOUNDATION WAS CREATED IN 1984.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, OKLAHOMA's WORKFORCE RATE HAS EXCEEDED THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

JASON DOYLE JOINS US NOW TO EXPLAIN HOW AND WHY THAT'S HAPPENED.

JAY SON.

>> IT MEANS MORE PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO THE AREA BUT IN OKLAHOMA's CASE, IT'S OUR TRIBAL NATIONS POWERING THE GROWTH OF WORKERS.

>> OUR PROGRAM IS CALLED "WORKFORCE AND SOCIAL SERVICES."

>> MARGARET IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CITIZEN POTTAWATOMIE NATION AND WORKED FOR THAT DIVISION MORE THAN 27 YEARS NOW AND HAS SEEN HER TRIBE GROW.

>> STARTED OUT WITH OUR FORMER RESERVATION AND EXPAND IT.

WE HAVE POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY AND CLEVELAND COUNTY.

NOW WE SERVE SIX COUNTIES HERE IN CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

>> THE CITIZEN OF POTTAWATOMIE NATION INCREASED WORK FOR PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA.

THAT'S LATEST FINDING FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANKS, OKLAHOMA BRANCH.

>> TO SEE THAT THE SHARE OF PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA WHO ARE EITHER WORKING OR ENCOURAGED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IS NOW HIGHER THAN THE NATION AND IT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL.

>> THIS IS BELOW THE NATIONAL RATE, BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

>> OUR RATE IS 63.1% AND WE HAD GOTTEN DOWN BELOW 60% DURING THE PANDEMIC.

FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES, CONSISTENTLY, WE'VE BEEN BELOW THE NATIONAL RATE BY TWO TO THREE PERCENTAGE RATES.

>> THE NATIONAL WORKFORCE RATE IS 672.7%.

NATIVE AMERICANS RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING TWO OUT OF THREE NEW WORKERS IN OKLAHOMA.

>> IT'S A BIGGER SHARE OF POPULATION IN OUR STATE THAN MOST STATES, BUDS IT ABOUT 14% OF THE POPULATION, NOT 70%.

SO 14% OF POPULATION WILL DRIVE WELL OVER THE HALF OF THE INCREASE IS A POSITIVE FOR THAT GROUP.

>> IF YOU APPROACH THE CITIZEN POTTAWATOMIE NATION FOR A SKILL's PROGRAM, YOU'LL GET MORE THAN THAT.

THEY'RE LOOKING TO HELP FOLKS TO ELIMINATE THOSE OBSTACLES WHICH PREVENT THEM FROM BEING SUCCESSFUL.

>> WE FOCUS HOLISTICALLY AND WHEN A PERSON WALKS US IN, IT'S THE WHOLE SITUATION.

AN INDIVIDUAL WALKING IN THAT MAY NEED -- MAYBE THEY NEED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD AN ISSUE.

MAYBE THEY'RE COMING OUT OF PRISON OR THEY'RE ON A DIVERSIONARY PATH.

>> WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THEIR GOALS WHERE, WHAT THE BARRIERS ARE AND IT'S REALLY INDIVIDUALIZED AND SO WE TALK ABOUT BARRIERS.

>> THE BARRIERS CAN VARY FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

>> SOMETIMES THEY JUST LET EXTRA STUFF COME OUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN AFFORD THIS AND I COULDN'T GET OUT BECAUSE I HAVE ALL OF THESE FINES.

WELL, WHY DO YOU HAVE FINES?

SO WE MAY GET TO MAYBE THEY'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, PAY FOR THEIR DUI.

OH, GUESS WHAT?

WE HAVE A PROGRAM FOR THAT.

SO OUR APPROACH IS TO HELP THEM WITH THAT.

IF THEY HAVE CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN NEED SCHOOL SUPPLIES, THEY CAN BE GETTING THAT FROM US, AS WELL.

>> THE PROGRAM EVEN HELPS CHILDREN PREPARE FOR FUTURE WORKPLACES BY TEACHING SOFT SKILLS.

>> THAT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF KIDS 12 AND UNDER WANTING TO PRE-SEND PRETENDTO BE THAT DIVINE INDIVI.

IT WAS MORE THAN JUST THAT.

>> PAYNE TEACHES THE ETIQUETTE CLASS.

>> THOSE LITTLE KIDS WERE THEIR TRUE GENUINE SELF.

THEY LEARNED HOW TO SIT AT A TABLE AND CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN CONVERSATION.

>> SPECIFICALLY THE TRIBE USES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT's NATIVE AMERICAN CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM TO HELP THEIR MEMBERS OBTAIN A DEGREE THAT LEADS TO HIGHER PAYING JOBS.

>> THAT PARTICULAR TRAINING GETS THEM IN A HIGH WAGE, HIGH GROWTH INDUSTRY.

>> THE OVERALL WORKFORCE AND SOCIAL SERVICE's PROGRAM HAS SERVED MORE THAN 550 CLIENTS WHICH ENDED ON SEPTEMBER 30th FOR THE TRIBE.

THE DEVELOPMENT IS WORKING AND HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

THEY OFTEN TESTIFY ABOUT WHAT HER TRIBE IS DOING TO ENTER AND REENTER THE WORKFORCE.

THE TRIBE HIRES SOME GOING THROUGH THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

>> WE FOCUS ON HELPING OUR PEOPLE AND BEING CULTURALLY SENSE.

CULTURAL SENSITIVE TO IT.

WE TRY HARD TO PUT OUR PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE TO HELP SEE THE ONES INVOLVED IN THAT BUILDING.

>> PROGRAMS LIKE THIS CAN BE FELT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> THE BIGGEST INCREASES INTEREST BEEN IN THE TWO BIG METROS AND THAT INCLUDES NATIVE AMERICAN AND NONNATIVE AMERICAN IN THE METROS, BUT THE OTHER BIG PART HAS BEEN IN KIND OF THE SOUTHEASTERN CORNER AND EASTERN EDGE OF THE STATE WHICH, OF COURSE, HAVE HIGHER NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATIONS.

>> IF YOU ASK GEM ELL PAYNE, HE BELIEVES IT LEADS TO GOOD THINGS LIKE A STEADY JOB AND FRUITFUL LIFE.

>> WE ALL HAVE IT IN US TO BE THE BEST VERSION AND WE SOMETIMES NEED TO SAY YOU'RE WORTHY TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS AND GO TO THAT SCHOOL YOU WANT TO GO TO.

YOU'RE WORTHY TO GET THE FUTURE YOU DESERVE.

>> ONE OF THE COUNTIES BENEFITING FROM MORE NATIVE AMERICAN WORKFORCE IS POTTAWATOMIE NATION.

>> THE COMBINED COMPANY CHESAPEAKE ENERGY IS EXPAND ENERGY IN NATURAL GAS AND EXPLORATION.

THE MERGER MAKING THE ENTITY THE LARGEST IN THE U.S.

EXPAND ENTITY HEADQUARTERS WILL REMAIN IN OKLAHOMA CITY WITH A MAJOR PRESENCE IN HOUSTON AND ASSETS IN LOUISIANA, PENNSYLVANIA, WEST VIRGINIA AND OHIO.

OKLAHOMA-CITY BASED WHEELER HAS NAMED THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

LUCY HAS MORE THAN 32 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN BIOTECH AND SERVED AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CT U.S.

THIS IS A MANUFACTURER FOR THE BIOTECH ENERGY.

>>> FEWER HOMEOWNERS ARE FACING FORECLOSURE.

THIS IS A NATIONWIDE TREND.

OKLAHOMA RANKS AT 24th AMONG STATES WITH THE MOST FORECLOSURES.

THERE'S BEEN A 9.5% DECREASE FROM THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

>>> CANOO'S LDV 190 NAMED THE OVERALL ELECTRICAL VEHICLE OF THE YEAR BY AUTO-TECH BREAKTHROUGH.

THE ORGANIZATION SAYS THE CANOO'S LDV 190 IS RECOGNIZED FOR PERFORMANCE AND SLEEK DESIGN.

THE EPA ESTIMATES THE VEHICLES RANGE TO BE 200 MILES.

THE FIRST COMMERCIAL USE OF CANNO's 190 IS BY THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE.

>>> NOKIA AND CENTRNET DEMONSTRATED THIS CAN CONNECT THE RURAL AREAS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET.

THIS PROVIDES SERVICES INDOOR CENTRAL OKLAHOMA.

JASON DOYLE, THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> TULSA MAYOR G T BYMUM IS OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR.

HE WILL LEAVE AFTER EIGHT YEARS.

ON NOVEMBER 5th, TULSA WILL CHOOSE ITS SUCCESSOR.

>>> HURRICANE MILTON MADE LANDFALL AS A DEVASTATING CATEGORY 3 STORM ON FLORIDA's WEST COAST.

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER HURRICANE HELENE SCOURED NORTHERN FLORIDA TO PRODUCE DEADLY FLOODING IN THE SOUTHEAST.

>>> IN THIS WEEK's IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION, CASSIDY MUDD SPEAKS TO PEOPLE FROM OKLAHOMA ON THE GROUND HELPING WITH RECOVERY EFFORTS.

>> JOINING US A ANCHORRARY ANCHOR ANDREPORTER BASED OUT OFH CAROLINA.

WE'RE JOINED BY THE DIRECTOR OF DISASTER RELIEF AND LONG-TERM RECOVERY FOR MERCY CHEFS.

LISA IS VOLUNTARYING IN ASHVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

LISA, HOW DO YOU FIND YOURSELF HELPING WITH RELIEF IN NORTH CAROLINA?

>> WELL, WHEN THE TORNADO HIT 12 YEARS AGO, I FOUND MERCY CHEFS IMMEDIATELY.

(INAUDIBLE).

>> I LATER BECAME STAFFED WITH THEM.

>> MICHAEL, TWO WEEKS AFTER HELENE MADE LANDFALL, DESCRIBE THIS TO US.

>> THE WETNESS OF THE MUD HAS TURNED TO DUST AND CONCRETE.

THE MUDSLIDES HAVE ERASED ENTIRE TOWNS AND WAYS OF LIFE.

THE CHILLING PART, THE SMELL OF DEATH IS IN THE AIR.

WE HAVE SCORES OF PEOPLE MISSING.

IT'S HARD TO DEFINE THE HUMAN TRAGEDY OF IT ALL, THE LITERAL SWEEPING AWAY OF HUMAN LIVES.

THEY WILL FIND BODIES.

THE FIRST RESPONDERS, INNOCENT BYSTANDERS, INNOCENT MEMBERS OF COMMUNITIES WILL FIND BODIES FOR WEEKS AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA RIGHT NOW.

>> MICHAEL, IS THE DEATH TOLL CONTINUING TO RISE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL CONSIDERED MISSING?

>> IT DEPENDS ON YOUR SOURCE.

IT'S SO EMORE FOCUS, I SAW 600 AND HOPING THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN TEMPERED.

I READ SOMETHING THAT SAID THERE WERE A THOUSAND PEOPLE MISSING JUST IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY EARLY ON IN THE AFTERMATH.

SOME FINDING BODIES IN CARS AND NOW THE WATER RECEDES AND THE MUD IS EVERYWHERE AND NOW IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING THE PLACES THROUGH THE TANGLES OF TREES AND DEBRIS AND ENTIRE HOMES HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO STICKS.

YOU CAN IMAGINE A WHAT THAT MEANS TO GET TO THESE REMOTE AREAS.

THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THAT SMELL IS COMING FROM AND, OF COURSE, WE'RE RIFED WITH RUMORS.

THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IS TRYING TO ELIMINATE THAT.

THE RUMORS THAT THE CHARITIES INTERCEPTED WITH GOVERNMENT, NOT TRUE.

THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE TURNED AWAY, THAT VOLUNTEERS ARE NOT WELCOME, NOT TRUE.

THIS IS NOT AN EASY CLEANUP.

THIS IS GOING TO BE YEARS IN THE MAKING AND THAT WORK IS VERY, VERY SLOW TO TRY TO, FIRST OF ALL, RESTORE HUMAN DIGNITY AND TO RESTORE A CIVILIZED WAY OF LIFE.

THAT WORK IS GOING ON IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

THAT'S HOW CATACLYSMIC IS WAS.

>> LISA, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE RECOVERY TASKS AND ANY SPECIFIC MOMENTS THAT STAND OUT TO YOU?

>> ONE OF THE LARGEST THINGS WE WERE INVOLVED IN WITH HURRICANE MICHAEL IN PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA.

WHEN HURRICANE MICHAEL HIT, WE SAW SUCH A NEED THAT WAS LONG-LASTING.

WE CREATED OUR FIRST, WHAT WE CALL A BEACON OF HOPE.

THIS HELPS IN THE DISCOVERY PROCESS OF GETTING THE TOWN BACK TOGETHER.

>>> WHAT IS THE MOOD LIKE ON THE GROUND?

IT'S PROBABLY STILL SHOCK, HORROR AND HOW ARE PEOPLE FOLLOWING RIGHT NOW.

>> MASH SHALL HAD A WALL OF WATER 20 FEET HIGH GO THROUGH.

MANY BUILDINGS ARE STILL THERE AND WON'T BE THE SAME, BUT PEOPLE LIKE THAT, THEY ARE MOUNTEERS AND PEOPLE OF FORTITUDE.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE PULLING TOGETHER OF AMERICANS, PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND PEOPLE COMING AWAY FROM NOT NORH CAROLINA AND BEYOND AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING BUSY TAKING CARE OF ONE ANOTHER.

CHURCHES SETTING UP TENTS AND PHILANTHROPISTS COMING IN AND SETTING UP THINGS LIKE DISTRIBUTION FOR DIAPERS.

ASHVILLE SITS UP HIGH AND THE CITY IS OK. DOWN LOW, I MEAN, JUST A COUPLE OF MILES, YOU GET TO BILTRONEMO.

THE ESTATE IS FINE AND THE PATHWAY, YOU WON'T GET THERE.

IT'S STEEPED IN TRAGEDY RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE PULLING TOGETHER AND THAT IS THE TRUTH AND REALITY OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA RIGHT NOW.

IT'S ONE OF THE BEST REALITIES OF THESE UNITED STATES.

>> SEEING PEOPLE COME TOGETHER FROM -- WE'RE HAVING PEOPLE FROM OKLAHOMA COMING OUT THERE AND HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS HELP FOR PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA RIGHT NOW?

>> IT IS VITAL THAT WE CANNOT HAVE ENOUGH RIGHT NOW.

THE MORE HANDS, THE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO COME IN THERE AND GET THEIR FEET DIRTY AND HANDS DIRTY, THE MORE, THE BETTER.

NORTH CAROLINA, THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE ENCOURAGING THAT.

THERE'S A PLACE TO GO.

YOU CAN GO AND VOLUNTEER OFFICIALLY IN NORTH CAROLINA.

IT'S NC.GOV/VOLUNTEER.

THE STATE IS WELCOMING THAT AND THAT DOES DISPEL ONE OF THE RUMORS THE STATE IS DISCOURAGING DONATION IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE, ABSOLUTELY NOT!

IF YOU HAVE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE BILLY GRAHAM ORGANIZATION AND THEY'RE ON THE GROUND.

MANY CHURCHES, IT'S SO VAST, THIS DESTRUCTION IS SO, SO BIG, IT'S HARD TO GET FULLY A REPORTER's NOTEBOOK AROUND IT, IF YOU WILL.

THAT STORY WILL EMERGE WEEKS INTO MONTHS, THE HUMAN TRAGEDY.

>> JUST AFTER WE'RE SEEING THE AFTERMATH FROM HURRICANE HELENE, WE'RE SEEING HURRICANE MILTON HEADING TO THE SAME AREA.

I MEAN, HOW ARE YOU SEEING PREPARATIONS AND ALL OF THAT GETTING READY?

>> PEOPLE ARE EVACUATED.

A GOOD FRIEND IN FLORIDA EVACUATING TO MIAMI AND THIS PROMISES TO BE AN ALL NEW DEVASTATION.

IT'S A CAT 5 HURRICANE, LAST I LOOKED.

EVEN IF IT WEAKENS SOMEWHAT, IT'S GOING TO HIT THAT COAST VERY, VERY HARD BETWEEN NAPLES ALL THE WAY UP TO TAMPA.

YOU HAVE TO FIGURE PEOPLE COMINGTHIS WAY WHERE HOTELS ARE FILLED.

WE'RE IN GREENVILLE, WE HAVE IT GOOD AND THEY HAVE IT BAD NORTH OF US.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN, THAT EVACUATION WILL AFFECT THE CAROLINAS BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE AND MORE REFUGEES OF STORM, IF YOU WILL COMING THIS WAY AND WE STILL HAVE THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM UPON US, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH CAROLINA.

DON'T TRY TO GO TO THE MOUNTAINS.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GO FROM WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA INTO TENNESSEE ON I-40 SIMPLY BECAUSE I-40 COLLAPSED INTO THE RIVER.

IT'S GONE.

AND IT WILL BE MONTHS, MAYBE A YEAR BEFORE THAT IS FIXED.

>> LISA, HOW IS YOUR TEAM AND OTHER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS COORDINATING EFFORTS TO MANAGE HURRICANE HELENE's AFTERMATH AND NOW HURRICANE MILTON's DEVASTATION.

>> WELL, WE WERE IN FLORIDA AND SENT PART OF OUR TEAM TO NORTH CAROLINA ONCE DANGER WAS OUT OF THE WAY.

AND THEN THAT TEAM, THEY FOLDED UP IN FLORIDA AND JOINED US HERE.

AND THEN YESTERDAY, PART OF THE TEAM AGAIN.

FLORIDA IS NOW GETTING READY FOR ONE OF THE RESPONSES.

>> MICHAEL, WE WERE TALKING A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE, BUT YOU SAID THIS IS HISTORIC.

WHAT MAKES THIS STORM SO DIFFERENT THAN OTHER HURRICANES AND SYSTEMS WE'VE SEEN BEFORE?

>> I HAVE STILL GOOD FRIENDS IN TELEVISION NEWS AND ONE IS A METEOROLOGIST, A MASSIVE FOLLOWING AND INTO THE CARIBBEAN.

HE AND I WERE TALKED ABOUT IT JUST BEFORE IT CAME ASHORE AND HE WAS SAYING THIS IS GOING TO BE A THOUSAND-YEAR EVENT.

NOT A HUNDRED-YEAR EVENT BUT A THOUSAND-YEAR EVENT.

THE HUNDRED-YEAR EVENT WAS IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE MANY FARMS WERE WASHED AWAY, LIVES WERE WASHED AWAY.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THE DEVELOPMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THOSE 100 YEARS.

NOW YOU HAVE 20 PLUS INCHES OF RAIN FROM THE REMNANTS OF A HURRICANE THAT RAINED DOWN ON THIS LANDSCAPE.

MILTON WILL CREATE A STORM SURGE.

BUT THAT WATER COMES ASHORE AND THEN IT HAS A PATHWAY OUT, THE SAME PATHWAY OUT.

IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, YOU HAVE PEAKS RISING FIVE THOUSAND FEET.

A LITTLE TOWN UP THERE IS GONE.

THE TOWN WAS LEGISLATURELY LITERALLY WATCHEDAWAY AND WILL E AND TAKE WHATEVER IN ITS WAY WITH IT AND THAT INCLUDES HUMAN LIVES AND WAYS OF LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

>> WOULD YOU SAY RESOURCES ARE STRETCHED THIN FOLLOWING HURRICANE HELENE AND PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING HURRICANE OR ARE SUPPLIES SUFFICIENT?

>> I HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY I ORDER FOOD.

I'M ONE OF THE LARGEST FEEDERS.

THIS CREATES A DIFFERENT KIND OF SUPPLY CHAIN, BUT I HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT I'M WORKING WITH.

I DON'T HAVE A CRITICAL NEED THAT I CAN'T GET, BUT WE ARE RUNNING WITHOUT WATER.

WE HAVE A WATER CONCERN.

THEY TEST THE WATER EIGHT TIMES A DAY BECAUSE WE ARE HELPING THE HOSPITALS WITH ALL OF THEIR WORKERS.

THEY'RE BEING EXTRA CAUTIOUS OF THE WATER.

>> MICHAEL, YOU TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER, BUT VERY BRIEFLY, WHAT ARE WE SEEING -- ARE WE SEEING FEMA ON THE GROUND OR ARE THERE RESOURCE DIFFICULT TO GET TO?

>> FEMA IS ON THE GROUND AND NORTH CAROLINA FIRST RESPONDERS ARE ON THE GROUND WITH THE STATE.

OF COURSE, YOU HAVE THE COUNTY AND THE LOCALS.

AS MANY PEOPLE AS THEY CAN GET ON THE GROUND ARE THERE AND THEY NUMBER IN THE THOUSANDS.

THREE THERE ARE RUMORS ARE THINGS ARE SEIZED AND THE DELIVERED SABOTAGE GOING ON AND THAT IS JUST NOT THE CASE, FOLKS.

ONE OF THE GREAT TRAGEDIES OF THIS IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED A VOICE IN THIS AND ARE NOT HELPING ARE TALKING.

AND THEY'RE SPEAKING LIVES.

THE TRUTH IS, THERE ARE PEOPLE -- AS BIG AS IT SEEMS, IT'S BIGGER.

AS BIG AS IT SEEMS ON YOUR TELEVISION, IT IS MORE VAST.

IT'S MORE TRAGIC.

EVEN A CHOPPER SHOT -- MY FORMER EMPLOYER HAS THE CHOPPER UP THERE AND THE CHOPPER CAN ONLY SEE SO MUCH.

EVEN DAYS AND DAYS AND DAYS OF THAT KIND OF COVERAGE, WE STILL, AGAIN, CAN'T GRASP THE VASTNESS OF IT ALL.

AND WHEN YOU START SEEING THESE A.I.-GENERATED IMAGES THAT ARE COMPLETELY FALSE, I WANT TO SAY, TRUST ME, FOLKS, THE REALITY IS FAR MORE TRAGIC THAN ANYTHING A.I.

CAN CREATE.

I JUST WANT TO URGE PEOPLE TO LEAN TOWARDS THE RELIABLE AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU, TOWARDS SOURCES LIKE THIS THAT ARE FACTUAL.

IT'S A MESSINESS TRYING TO GET THE TO TRUTH AND A MESSY ENDEAVOR TRYING TO CLEAN UP A MESS AND RESTORE ORDER.

>> WE'RE ABOUT OUT OF TIME, BUT DO EITHER OF YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON THIS VERY SERIOUS UNDERSTANDING?

>> I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A GRASP OF WHAT IT'S LIKE HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED AND HOW BROAD OF A SPECTRUM IT IS.

FOR HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS, THERE WILL BE VICTIMS WHEN YOU STARTED AND WHEN YOU FINISH.

IT'S A SAD SITUATION HERE.

THE WORST THING I'VE SEEN IN MANY, MANY YEARS.

>> IF YOU'RE IN OKLAHOMA RIGHT NOW AND THE FLATLANDS OF OKLAHOMA, I KNOW YOU'RE THANKFUL.

I ALMOST WENT TO WORK IN OKLAHOMA.

KFOR IN OKLAHOMA CITY, I GOT A TASTE OF THE HOMETOWN FEEL OF OKLAHOMA.

THAT MIDDLE AMERICA BEAUTY, THAT GENEROSITY.

PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA KNOW BAD WEATHER AND TEAM TOGETHER AND PULL TOGETHER.

THE CHURCHES AND COMMUNITIES, IF YOU CAN GET TO WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, WE NEED YOU.

IT'S HARD TO COME FROM WEST TO EAST, BUT THE PEOPLE NEED YOU AND WILL NEED YOU MONTHS FROM NOW.

IF YOU CAN'T COME NOW, COME LATER.

PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA BECAUSE THEY ARE SUFFERING AS THEY NEVER EXPECTED TO IN THEIR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF THEIR FOREBEARERS.

A THOUSAND-YEAR EVENT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE AND MANY, MANY YEARS TO SEE THOSE LIVES RESTORED.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> YOU'RE SO WELCOME.

HONORED TO HERE.

>> YOU MIGHT THINK MOTORIZED BOAT RACING BECOME POPULAR IN FLORIDA, BUT IT WAS DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

WE LEARN HOW TO RACE ON THE WATER.

THAT'S COURTESY OF OUR PARTNERS AT WCNU PUBLIC MEDIA.

>> THIS IS A PART OF A PRESENCE.

>> A REAL QUICK HISTORY OF POWER BOAT RACING IN MICHIGAN, YOU GUESSED IT!

IT INVOLVES DETROIT.

IT WAS THE EPICENTER IN THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS.

DETROIT BUSINESSMAN WOOD BECAME A SUPER STAR WINNING FIVE GOLD CUPS AND THE FIRST MAN TO HIT 100 MILES PER HOUR ON WATER.

WORLD WAR II PAUSED MUCH OF THE POWER BOAT RAISING IN THE 1940S.

.IT MADE WAY FOR NEW DESIGN AND BOATS.

MANY BEST DESCRIBED AS BACKYARD JOBS.

THE POPULARITY OF POWER BOAT RACING LEAD COMPETITIVE ON THE MAIN CIRCUIT.

MICHIGAN HYDROPLANE IS HOME TO POWER BOAT ENTHUSIASTS WHO GATHER AND RACE IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WE HAVE EVERYONE FROM 9-YEAR-OLDS TO PEOPLE IN THEIR 70's RACING AND PEOPLE COME FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS.

SOME PEOPLE ARE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION RACERS AND SOME PEOPLE DECIDED THEY LIKED IT AND STARTED RACING.

>> THIS IS A SAFE, CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT FOR US TO PUT SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN OUTBOARD HYDROPLANE BEFORE ON THE WATER TO LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE IT AND TO ULTIMATELY, HOW TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE AND RACE IN ONE OF THE EVENTS.

A RACE FOR US CONSISTS OF TWO, THREE-LAP HEATS.

>> THIS IS DESIGNED TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE SPORT.

>> THIS ATTRACTS CHANGE AND YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

>> WHAT WE LIKE YOU TO DO IS GET ON PLANE AS NEAR PARALLEL WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING.

>> THE IDEA IS TO TEACH NEWCOMERS THE FUNDAMENTALS OF RACING AND AFTER AN HOUR OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, THEY HEAD TO THE WATER IN A SAFE AND CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT.

>> HERE WE'RE STIMULATING RACE CONDITIONS AND WE HAVE PEOPLE ON THE WATER IN BOATS IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS.

>> THEY GET ACCLIMATED TO THE CONTROLS AND ONCE THAT MOTOR STARTS, THEY'RE OFF.

THIS IS ON PLANE WHERE THE BOAT IS TRAVELING ABOVE THE WATER.

AFTER A FEW SOLO LAPS, THEY GO HEAD-TO-HEAD FOR THE TOP RACERS IN THE CLUB.

AT THE COMPLETION, STUDENTS WALK AWAY TO COMPETE IN THE RACE.

>> TO ME, IT'S MUCH MORE EXCITING THAN TO WATCH.

UNLESS YOU GET IN ONE OF THE BOATS, YOU WON'T REALIZE IT.

IT'S LIKE DRIVING A CAR ON ICE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DRIVING 10E EXCITING.

WHEN YOU'RE ON WATER AND THE WHOLE BOAT IS OUT OF THE WATER AND JUST MOVIN' AND DANCIN' EVERY WHY, 70 FEELS FAST ENOUGH WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT COULD GO IN ANY DIRECTION AT ANY SECOND.

>> SPENDING AN AFTERNOON ON THE SHORES, ONE DOES GET SECURUOUS S ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RACE.

IT'S A SMALL INVESTMENT AND AN AFTERNOON OF YOUR TIME.

>> ON THE NEXT EDITION, A $100-YEAR-OLD POWER PLANT IS ABOUT TO GET A REDUCER, REDUCING A CARBON FOOTPRINT WHILE RISING ELECTRICITY DEMANDS IN OKLAHOMA.

JASON DOYLE REPORTS NEXT FRIDAY.

>>> WE'LL LEAVE YOU WITH A LOOK AT THIS FARM PUT TOGETHER BY THE OETA PRODUCTION TEAM.

YOU CAN ACCESS ADDITIONAL NEWS CONTENT BY VISITING OETA.TV AND FINE US ON INSTAGRAM AND X BY SEARCHING OETAONR AND ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE, SEARCH THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

I'M TAELYR JACKSON.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!