>>> PROPONENTS AND OPPONENTS OF DEATH PENALTY TAKE NOTE AS OKLAHOMA CARRIES OUT ITS FIRST EXECUTION IN SIX YEARS.

>> WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE AND POSSIBLY TWO THAT ARE INNOCENT OF CHARGES AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A MECHANISM TO GET THEM OFF OF DEATH ROW.

>> POLITICAL AND PERSONAL BATTLE OVER THE INCLUSION OF NONBINARY OPTION.

>> ALL THESE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, FOR SOME REASON IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AND THEY MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT INTENTIONALLY.

>> A NATIONWIDE TRUCKER SHORTAGE IS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW DRIVERS, AND THE OKLAHOMA SCHOOL THAT TEACHES THEM.

>> THE DEMAND IS CRAZY.

AND THE DEMAND IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A WHILE, IT JUST HASN'T BEEN KNOWN.

>> AS THE PEOPLE WHO KNEW HER BEST REFLECT ON HER ENDURING LEGACY.

>> I SAID IT'S GOING TO BE HARD.

SHE SAID YOU BETTER CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.

>> IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ON HOW AMERICA SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS IS IMPACTING OKLAHOMA.

AND MIGHT ULTIMATELY BENEFIT OUR STATE.

NEXT ON THE "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT."

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2015 A MANE HAS BEEN EXECUTED IN MCALESTER.

JOHN MARION GRANT WAS ADMINISTERED LETHAL DOSE OF DRUGS THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

HE STRUGGLED AND CONVULSED BEFORE BEING DECLARED DEAD AFTER 21 MINUTES.

HIS DEATH FOLLOWING SEVERAL DAYS OF LEGAL MANEUVERING THAT ENDED WITH THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULING THE EXECUTION COULD PROCEED >> JOHN MARION GRANT WAS CONVICTED OF STABBING AND MURDERING GAY CARTER IN 1998 AND SENTENCED TO DIE FOR THE CRIME IN 2000.

HE WAS DENIED CLEMENCY BY THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD IN OCTOBER AND WAS ADMINISTERED A LETHAL DOSE OF DRUGS THAT RESULTED IN HIS DEATH AT 4:21 PM THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

ON MONDAY, A FEDERAL JUDGE IN OKLAHOMA RULED THE STATE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH FIVE EXECUTIONS.

THAT RULING WAS IMMEDIATELY APPEALED.

ON WEDNESDAY, THE 10TH CIRCUIT HALTED THE EXECUTIONS OF GRANT AND JULIUS JONES.

LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, THE SUPREME COURT RULED THE EXECUTIONS COULD PROCEED.

A CLEMENCY HEARING FOR JONES WAS SET TO TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY, BUT THAT'S BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL THIS COMING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST.

>> HE'S BEEN ON DEATH ROW FOR 19 YEARS AND IS FACING EXECUTION BY THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA BECAUSE OF FUNDAMENTAL BREAKDOWNS IN THE SYSTEM THAT WAS TASKED WITH DECIDING HIS GUILT, INCLUDING THE QUESTION OF WHETHER HE DESERVES TO LIVE OR DIE.

THOSE BREAKDOWNS INCLUDE THINGS LIKE INEXPERIENCED UNDER-RESOURCED OVERWORKED, PUBLIC DEFENSE COUNSEL.

THOSE BREAKDOWNS ALSO INCLUDE JUNK SCIENCE, RACIAL PREJUDICE, AND PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT.

SO IT'S THOSE SYSTEMIC BREAKDOWNS THAT HAVE ALSO BROUGHT US HERE TODAY.

>> ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, THE PAROLE BOARD VOTED 3 TO 1 TO COMMUTE JONES' SENTENCE TO LIFE IN PRISON WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE, FOLLOWING TESTIMONY FROM SUPPORTERS AS WELL AS FAMILY MEMBERS OF PAUL HOWELL, THE MAN HE WAS CONVICTED OF MURDERING IN 1999.

EYEWITNESSES, THE WISDOM OF 14 JUDGES, UNANIMOUS DECISION OF 12 JURORS, THE RESULTS OF MULTIPLE APPEALS, COURT HEARINGS, SWORN TESTIMONIES, THE EVIDENCE, THE DNA, THE FACTS, THE TRUTH OF THIS CASE LIES IN THE FACTS AND THE EVIDENCE.

IT IS EASY TO SEE IF YOU JUST LOOK PAST THE LIES, THE GUILT OF JULIUS JONES FOR THE MURDER OF PAUL HOWELL IS SO OVERWHELMING BECAUSE IT'S THE TRUTH.

>> GOVERNOR STITT DECLINED TO ACCEPT THE COMMUTATION RULING, SAYING A CLEMENCY HEARING WAS THE PROPER FORUM TO DECIDE JONES' FATE.

JONES IS ONE OF 46 INMATES ON DEATH ROW.

RICHARD GLOSSIP IS ANOTHER.

BOTH MEN HAVE RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE THEIR LIFES.

LAST FRIDAY, LEGISLATOR KEVIN MCDUGLE, HOSTED A "WATCH PARTY" FOR THE DR. PHIL SHOW, WHERE THE OKLAHOMA STATE REPRESENTATIVE PLEADED GLOSSIP'S CASE ON NATIONAL TELEVISION.

>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT I'VE GOT THAT I WANT TO CREATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T PUT AN INNOCENT MAN TO DEATH.

ONE OF THEM WOULD CREATE AN INVESTIGATIVE UNIT TO WHERE, IF THERE'S EVER A QUESTION, THE INVESTIGATIVE THIRD-PARTY UNIT COULD STAND UP AND LOOK AT BOTH SIDES OF THE EVIDENCE, INCLUDING NEW EVIDENCE AND OLD EVIDENCE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T ALLOW IS ONCE YOU'VE GONE THROUGH TWO TRIALS, YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH DONE.

AND SO IF YOU'RE GUILTY OR PERCEIVED TO BE GUILTY AND NEW EVIDENCE COMES IN LATER ON, IT'S REALLY HARD TO PRESENT THAT EVIDENCE.

IN FACT, IF YOU FIND A NEW PIECE OF EVIDENCE, YOU HAVE TO PRESENT IT WITHIN 90 DAYS.

>> THE 58-YEAR OLD GLOSSIP WAS CONVICTED OF MURDERING BARRY VAN TREESE IN 1997.

HE'S BEEN ON DEATH ROW FOR 23 YEARS AND BEEN ON DEATH WATCH AWAITING EXECUTION THREE SEPARATE TIMES.

MCDUGLE SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE DEATH PENALTY, BUT NOT IN THIS CASE.

>> I THINK THE STATE RIGHT NOW HAS DONE WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE WITH DEATH ROW.

BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COSTING THE STATE, A LOT OF MONEY THAT ARE DUE TO DIE AND THEY'RE GUILTY.

BUT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE AND POSSIBLY TWO THAT ARE, THAT ARE INNOCENT OF CHARGES.

AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A MECHANISM TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM OFF THE DEATH ROW.

>> IN ADDITION TO GRANT AND JONES, THREE OTHER DEATH ROW INMATES, DONALD GRANT, GILBERT POSTELLE AND WADE LAY, ARE SCHEDULED TO DIE WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, BUT THEY TOO, ARE APPEALING FOR A STAY OF EXECUTION.

IN THE MEANTIME, REPRESENTATIVE MCDOUGAL SAYS THERE HAS TO BE BETTER WAY TO ENSURE JUSTICE FOR BOTH INMATES AND THE VICTIMS OF THEIR CRIMES.

>> WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS PROLONG THE DEATH FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S GUILTY.

SO IT WOULD LITERALLY HAVE TO COME FROM A RECOMMENDATION OF THE GOVERNOR OR A VOTE OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE IN ORDER TO HAPPEN.

>> ONE LAW REQUIRED ALL DOCTORS WHO PERFORM ABORTIONS TO BE BOARD CERTIFIED AND THE OTHER TWO INVOLVE MEDICATION INDUCED ABORTIONS.

EARLIER THIS MONTH A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE BLOCKED TWO OTHER ABORTION LAWS FROM TAKING EFFECT.

WHICH MEANS NONE OF THE FIVE ABORTION LAWS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE WILL TAKE EFFECT PENDING FURTHER LITIGATION.

>>> WHEN THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUED FIRST GENDER-NEUTRAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE EARLIER THIS MONTH, GOVERNOR STITT WAS QUICK TO REACT.

>> BOTH BOTH SIDES KNOW CHALLENGES ARE COMING, IT'S A MATTER OF FIGURING OUT IF THAT CHALLENGE WILL COME FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE LEGISLATURE, OR ANOTHER COURT.

WHEN LAST WEEK'S NEWS OF A SETTLEMENT TO ISSUE REVISED BIRTH CERTIFICATE TO NONBINARY PEOPLE REACHED, THEY BECAME EXCITED AT WHAT IT COULD MEAN IN THEIR LIFE.

>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY AWESOME PERSONALLY, LIKE MY VIEWS ON IT IS IF ANYONE HAS A WAY THAT THEY WANT TO IDENTIFY, IT'S RESPECTFUL JUST TO RESPECT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, IT'S AS EASY AS THAT.

>> BENDURE IS TAKING PART IN A NAME AND GENDER MARKER CHANGE CLINIC CREATED BY LGBTQ PLUS ADVOCATES FREEDOM OKLAHOMA.

HE SAYS JUST PREPARING TO ASK FOR THE STATE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS TRANS OR NON-BINARY IS DAUNTING.

>> AS SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER DEALT WITH ANY OF THAT STUFF BEFORE, IT'S OVERWHELMING.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO START.

>> THE NAME AND GENDER MARKER CHANGE CLINIC, IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER WITH THE FOLKS AT OU SCHOOL OF LAW, AND THE DIVERSITY CENTER AND AN ATTORNEY, HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> ELIZABETH HORN IS THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING FOR FREEDOM OKLAHOMA.

>> THE PROCESS IS INTENSE AND CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE.

I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN QUOTED 1500, $2,000 FOR AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT THEM IN THIS PROCESS.

AND IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY CHANGE THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

THEY GET A COURT ORDER, THAT WILL CHANGE THEIR NAME AND CHANGE THEIR GENDER MARKER.

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS OFFERED BEFORE THE SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND OREGON RESIDENT KIT LORELIED, WHO WAS BORN IN OKLAHOMA.

LORELIED WANTED TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THEIR HOME STATE AS NON-BINARY AND TO HAVE THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE REFLECT THAT.

THE PROSPECT OF BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THE PERSON THEY ARE IS SOMETHING BENDURE LOOKS FORWARD TO.

>> ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT LIKE OTHER PEOPLE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.

BUT FOR SOME REASON IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR TRANS PEOPLE AND THEY MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT INTENTIONALLY.

>> HOWEVER, THE NEWS OF THE SETTLEMENT DID NOT SIT WELL WITH REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, SAYING THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH LEFT THEM OUT OF THE PROCESS, WHICH HAS CREATED A NEW POLICY WITHIN A GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER CHARLES MCCALL AND, AND SPEAKER PRO TEM TERRY O'DONNELL POINTED TO A STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES AGENCIES TO APPROACH THE LEGISLATURE AND INFORM THEM WHENEVER THEY'RE ENTERING A LEGAL SETTLEMENT THAT WILL HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON THOSE AGENCIES.

IN THE CASE OF SENATE PRO TEM GREG TREAT, HE NOTED THAT THE AGENCY AGAIN WAS TAKING THIS ACTION ON ITS OWN WITHOUT APPROACHING THE LEGISLATURE AT ALL.

AND, THEREFORE, HE SUGGESTED THAT IT MIGHT BE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OVERREACH, THAT THIS WAS AN AREA BETTER LEFT TO THE LEGISLATURE.

>> ECAPITOL'S SHAWN ASHLEY SAYS MCCALL WANTS THE GOVERNOR TO ADDRESS WHY THE SETTLEMENT WAS NOT BROKERED WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.

>> HOUSE SPEAKER CHARLES MCCALL SUGGESTED THAT GOVERNOR STITT TAKE ACTION TO REVERSE THE SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE PLAINTIFF IN THIS CASE, KIT LORELIED, AND, HOWEVER, THUS FAR, GOVERNOR STITT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THAT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.

>> OETA REACHED OUT TO MCCALL, TREAT, LORELIED AND THEIR ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS THE SETTLEMENT, BUT ALL FOUR DECLINED OUR INTERVIEW REQUESTS.

EITHER WAY, EXPECT CHALLENGES TO THE NON-BINARY BIRTH CERTIFICATE SETTLEMENT.

>> YOU COULD HAVE A LEGISLATIVE CHALLENGE, YOU COULD HAVE AN EXECUTIVE BRANCH ISSUE.

AND FOR THAT MATTER, YOU COULD HAVE A CITIZEN OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA FILE A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE AGENCY'S ACTION IN THIS CASE.

>> I DON'T REALLY EXPECT ANYTHING LESS FROM THEM, BECAUSE OUR ACTIONS SHOW WHO WE ARE.

RIGHT.

AND WE'VE SEEN THEM MAKE ATTACKS LIKE THIS, OR MAKE STATEMENTS LIKE THIS FOR YEARS.

SO, I THINK, I MEAN, IT'S REALLY HEARTBREAKING.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MAUREE TURNER SAYS AS THIS AND OTHER LQBTQ PLUS ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED AND CHALLENGED, TO REACH OUT TO THOSE WHO ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY CHANGES IN POLICY AND LAW.

>> JUST LIKE CHECK ON YOUR NON-BINARY FRIENDS, YOUR GENDER NONCONFORMING FRIENDS, RIGHT, YOUR GENDER DIVERSE FRIENDS.

LIKE A POLICY IS VERY ISOLATING POLICIES, VERY ISOLATING.

RIGHT.

AND IF YOU'RE IN TUNE TO IT AND YOU CAN REALLY GO KIND OF GET ENTRENCHED IN IT.

SO I WANT TO STRESS, RIGHT, THE IMPORTANCE OF CALLING YOUR FRIENDS AND CHECKING ON THEM BECAUSE OKLAHOMA IS AS ON A ROLL RIGHT NOW.

>> NON-BINARY PEOPLE AND TRANS PEOPLE HAVE EXISTED ALL THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND ALL DIFFERENT CULTURES HAVE EMBRACED THE NON-BINARY PEOPLE AND TRANS PEOPLE IN INCREDIBLE WAYS.

AND WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW IS NOT -- NOT THERE IN AMERICAN CULTURE ANYWAY.

>> AS OF FRIDAY, 717, ALMOST 300 FEWER CASES THAN A WEEK AGO HOSPITALIZATIONS DROPPED BY 121 WEEK DO WEEK, AND JUST 168 PEOPLE ARE OCCUPYING ICU BEDS.

THAT NUMBER HASN'T BEEN BELOW 200 SINCE JULY, AS WELL.

MORE THAN 50 FEWER PEOPLE HAVE DIED FROM COVID IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS, THOUGH THAT NUMBER IS STILL TOO HIGH, 220.

AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO 50% OF OKLAHOMA POPULATION BEING FULLY VACCINATED BUT NOT QUITE THERE YET.

>>> THE STATE INCOMING PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER IS WARNING OKLAHOMA IS FACING AN INCREASING SHORTAGE OF STATE TROOPERS.

>> TIPTON SAYS THE NUMBER OF NEW CADETS ENTERING THE TROOPER ACADEMY IS NOT KEEPING PACE AND THAT IT COSTS ABOUT $150,000 PER RECRUIT TO COMPLETE THAT PROCESS.

>>> OKLAHOMA SENATOR JIM INHOFE IS COSPONSORS THE BIPARTISAN INDIAN BUFFALO MANAGEMENT ACT WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH A PROGRAM OVERSEEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AMERICAN BISON MANAGED BY THE TRIPS.

GUS EARLS IS 214 MUSTANG HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE HE ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT BEING A TRUCK DRIVER.

I WAS GOING TO DO IT WHEN I WAS 18, BUT I WANTED TO HIT THE ROAD AND WELD A LITTLE BIT AND MAKE BIG MONEY.

SO I JUST DECIDED TO COME BACK TO IT, BECAUSE THE OIL FIELD IS SLOWING DOWN.

>> GUS GOT THAT EXTRA PUSH A MONTH AGO, WHEN HIS DAD RALPH EARLS PASSED AWAY.

RALPH HAD CRISSED CROSSED THE COUNTRY AS A LONG-HAUL TRUCK DRIVER FOR 23 YEARS.

>> JUST THE NOSTALGIA OF IT, YOU CAN GET TO SEE THINGS.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN LIFE MOST PEOPLE DON'T GET TO SEE, AND YOU TRAVEL THE COUNTRY WORKING ON THE ROAD, YOU SEE THINGS PEOPLE DREAM OF SEEING.

>> WE'RE 60 TO 80,000 DRIVERS SHORT NATIONWIDE RIGHT NOW.

>> CARL LEVINGSTON HAS HELD A COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE OR C-D-L SINCE RICHARD NIXON WAS PRESIDENT.

AND DIRECTS TRAINING AT AMERICAN TRUCK TRAINING IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

>> WE GRADUATED ALMOST 400 PEOPLE LAST YEAR FROM OUR OTHER FACILITY THAT WAS HALF THIS SIZE.

THERE WAS A LITTLE OVER FOUR ACRES.

OVER HERE THIS IS 8 ACRES.

>> OH, YEAH, BEING OUT ON THE ROAD IT GETS ADDICTIVE FOR SURE, IT GETS IN YOUR BLOOD, LIKE THE EQUIPMENT WE'RE PLAYING WITH, IT'S JUST FUN.

>> WITH PLANS TO OPEN TWO NEW OFFICES IN TULSA AND HOUSTON, TEXAS IN JANUARY, AMERICAN TRUCK TRAINING SAYS THEY'RE THE BIGGEST IN THE SOONER STATE.

>> VERY HANDS ON.

YOU GOT A PROBLEM, THEY SHOW YOU ANY WHICH WAY TO FIX IT.

EVERY POSSIBLE WAY TO FIX IT.

YOU GET A LOT OF TIME IN THE TRUCK.

>> HONESTLY, WE GET CALLS WEEKLY IF NOT DAILY FROM COMPANIES THAT ARE NEEDING TRUCK DRIVERS.

>> DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS KRYSTAL EAVES SAYS IF YOU'RE DEDICATED, YOU CAN EARN A CDL HERE IN LESS THAN SIX WEEKS.

>> RIGHT NOW, THE DEMAND IS CRAZY, AND THE DEMAND IS NOT GOING AWAY.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A WHILE, BUT IT JUST HASN'T BEEN KNOWN.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAS PLAYED A ROLE IN THE DEMAND FOR TRUCK DRIVERS, BUT NOT IN A WAY YOU'D PROBABLY THINK.

>> WITH THE PANDEMIC IT HAS MADE IT EVEN MORE LIKE WHERE THEY ARE ADVERTISING IT MORE LIKE, HEY, WE NEED MORE DRIVERS BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOB.

SO THEY THINK NOW IS THE TIME TO GET PEOPLE STARTED IN A NEW CAREER, SO WE CAN FULFILL ALL OF THESE TRUCKING POSITIONS, WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE.

MOST OF THE STARTING PAY FOR AN OVER THE ROAD JOB IS ABOUT $75,000 A YEAR.

A LOCAL JOB YOU ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 50- TO $65,000 A YEAR.

I MEAN, THEY GET 401K, THEY GET HEALTH INSURANCE, THEY GET THE SIGN-ON BONUS, THEY GET TUITION REIMBURSEMENT.

SO JUST BETWEEN YOUR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT AND SIGN-ON BONUS, IT MEAN THAT'S OVER TEN GRAND.

>> ENROLLMENT AT THE SCHOOL COSTS JUST OVER $5,100 IF YOU PAY UP FRONT.

EAVES SAYS THE DIRE NEED HAS PROMPTED TRUCKING COMPANIES TO GET CREATIVE.

>> AS A MATTER OF FACT, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO COMPANIES WHO ARE WILLING TO PAY 100% FOR THESE PEOPLE TO COME THROUGH SCHOOL TO WORK FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY NEED THEM SO BAD.

>> YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 33 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN DEMAND SO GREAT.

>> ANGELA HOROWITZ IS A VICE PRESIDENT WITH DALLAS-BASED STEVENS TRANSPORT, WHICH IS THE FOURTH LARGEST PRIVATELY HELD REFRIGERATED TRUCKLOAD CARRIER IN THE U.S. SHE SAYS TUITION REIMBURSEMENT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DO TO GET NEW DRIVERS IN THE DOOR.

>> AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IT'S A DOMINO EFFECT.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE AT THE PORTS, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DRIVERS TO PICK UP THE COMMODITIES AT THE PORTS, AND AGAIN WE'RE FEELING THE AFFECTS ACROSS THE NATION.

>> THAT BRINGS US TO KAYLA SMITH.

SMITH IS A 1999 MIDWEST CITY BOMBER GRADUATE, WHO PLAYED COLLEGE BASKETBALL AT ROSE STATE AND OVER AT LANGSTON UNIVERSITY.

>> I WAS ACTUALLY LAID OFF DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND SO I SAID LET'S TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW.

AND IT FELL INTO SOMETHING I LIKED NOW.

WE OUT HERE EVERYDAY PRACTICING.

IT'S NOT EASY.

IT'S A DIFFERENT VEHICLE THAN A CAR.

YOU ARE DRIVING, YOU ARE TAKING SAFETY IN YOUR OWN HANDS.

THIS IS A LOT MORE WEIGHT.

>> AND YOU GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR MOTORISTS OUT THERE THAT AREN'T DOING WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING OUT ON THE ROAD.

>> DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW.

AND THAT'S THE THING ABOUT SAFETY, YOU HAVE TO DRIVE FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

>> SHE STARTED AT AMERICAN TRUCK TRAINING BACK IN SEPTEMBER AND TOOK HER FINAL DRIVING TEST TODAY.

>> HEY, IT PAYS GOOD.

>> IT DOES.

IT DOES.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING CONSISTENT AT THE TIME, AND THAT'S WHAT LED ME TO HERE.

>> ARE YOU GONNA STAY LOCAL OR DO YOU WANT TO GO SEE THE COUNTRY?

>> I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

PLAYING BASKETBALL GROWING UP, YOU ARE USED TO SEEING THE COUNTRY.

NOW I GET TO DO IT IN A TRUCK.

>> DO YOU ALREADY HAVE A JOB?

>> THEY'RE CALLING.

>> SHE PASSED THE FIRST PART OF THAT DRIVING TEST.

COMING UP A LITTLE LATER IN THE NEWSCAST, WE'LL CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS AND EXPLAIN WHY OKLAHOMA COULD EVENTUALLY BENEFIT FROM THE PROBLEMS OCCURRING IN OUR MAJOR PORTS RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S A TOPIC OF OUR IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH SUSAN CADOT AND PANEL OF EXPERTS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> HERE IS JASON DOYLE WITH COMPREHENSIVE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW.

>> OKLAHOMA FARMERS UNION PRESIDENT SCOTT BLUBUAGH APPEARED BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE DURING A RECENT HEARING EXAMINING THE STATE OF THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY.

BLUBAUGH POINTED OUT THAT FOUR MAJOR CORPORATIONS CONTORL 85 PERCENT OF THE BEEF PACKING RESOURCES, WHICH WAS DISRUPTED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

CREATING EMPTY STORE SHELVES WHILE CAUSING PRICES TO SKYROCKET.

TO RELIEVE SOME OF THAT PRESSURE, BLUBAUGH SAYS CONGRESS NEEDS TO ESTABLISH MANDATORY REPORTING OF BEEF PRICES, ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF USDA INSPECTORS.

>> CHESAPEAKE ENERGY IS LOOKING TO IMPROVE ITS DRILLING PERFORMANCE AND HAS HIRED NABORS INDUSTRIES AS ITS PREFERRED DRILLING CONTRACTOR.

THE TWO COMPANIES WILL WORK TOGETHER TO ENHANCE DRILLING TECHNOLOGY USED IN CHESAPEAKE ENERGY'S OIL AND GAS ASSETS.

THIRD QUARTER NET INCOME FOR OKLAHOMA CITY BASED BANCFIRST ROSE TO $38.8 MILLION IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, COMPARED A NET INCOME OF $20.9 MILLION IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2020.

THE BANKING COMPANY SAY AN INCREASE OF $6.1 MILLION IN FEE INCOME BECAUSE OF THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM HELPED CREATE THE GROWTH IN EARNINGS.

>> OUR STATE'S LOWER COST OF LIVING HELPED PROPEL OKLAHOMA CITY AS ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE MARKETS FOR NEW HOMES.

DIGITAL REAL ESTATE PLATFORM KNOCK RANKS OKLAHOMA CITY AS THE SECOND MOST AFFORDABLE MARKET IN THE COUNTRY WITH THE AVERAGE NEW HOME COST OF APPROXIMATELY $293,000.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, WAS RANKED NUMBER ONE, WHILE THE MIAMI, FORT LAUDERDALE, WEST PALM BEACH AREA WAS RANKED THE LEAST AFFORDABLE.

>> A BLACK-OWNED CALIFORNIA BANK IS COMMEMORATING TULSA'S GREENWOOD DISTRICT WITH A SPECIAL DEBIT CARD.

ONE-UNITED BANK IS OFFERING THE BLACK WALL STREET CARD.

IT HAS AN ARTIST'S RENDERING OF LIFE BEFORE THE 1921 TULSA RACE MASSACRE HAPPENED.

ONE-UNITED BANK'S CHAIRMAN AND CEO KEVIN COHEE HAS AN OKLAHOMA CONNECTION.

HIS GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER CHARLES COHEE, JR. WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHICKASAW FREEDMEN.

JASON DOYLE.

"THE OKLAHOMA BUSINESS REVIEW."

>> THANK YOU.

THIS WEEK TAELYR JACKSON SAT DOWN TO DISCUSS WHAT THE FUTURE OF THE HIGH STAKE TESTS MIGHT BE.

>> WHAT IS THE CURRENT TESTING POLICY OF MOST OF EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS?

>> A LOT OF THEM ARE HE TEST OPTIONAL.

BOTH UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THEY DID THAT AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF STUDENTS WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH TESTS BEING CANCELED, TEST SITES BEING CLOSED, THAT SORT OF THING >> IF TEST SCORES AREN'T BEING REQUIRED, WHAT OTHER CRITERIA IS BEING USED TO BASE ADMISSION ON?

>> SO A LOT OF UNIVERSITIES WILL USE THINGS LIKE GPA OR GRADES, CLASS RANK, CLASS RIGOR.

SO THAT'S LIKE IF THEY TOOK ADVANCED COURSES OR FOUR YEARS OF MATH AND EXTRACURRICULARS.

>> BESIDES DIFFICULTIES POSED BY THE PANDEMIC SOME EDUCATORS ARE SAYING THE ACT AND SAT ARE DISCRIMINATORY.

HOW SO, AND IS THAT VIEW GAINING ANY TRACTION IN HIGHER EDUCATION?

>> SO ONE THING WE'VE SEEN IS, YOU KNOW, WITH A LOT OF EDUCATION, DATA POINTS IS, YOU KNOW, THEY KIND OF TRACK WITH FAMILY INCOME.

AND THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE WITH ACT SCORES.

YOU KNOW, STUDENTS FROM FAMILIES THAT ARE HIGHER INCOME, WEALTHIER, THEY TEND TO SCORE BETTER.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE IDEA IS GAINING TRACTION, BUT I DO KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR MAJOR UNIVERSITIES HERE IN OKLAHOMA HAVE SEEN MUCH MORE APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR, A MUCH MORE DIVERSE POOL OF APPLICANTS.

AND THESE ARE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS OF COLOR AND FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS.

>> AFTER BEING CANCELED BY THE PANDEMIC IN 2020 TESTINGS RETURNED THIS YEAR, HOW ARE OKLAHOMA STUDENTS FAIRING IN TERMS OF THEIR TEST SCORES?

>> SO OUR ACT SCORE OR STATEWIDE AVERAGE FOR THE CLASS OF 2021 DID GO UP A POINT A TO 19.7 LAST YEAR, THE CLASS OF 2020 WAS 18.7.

AND, YOU KNOW, A BIG PART OF THAT THOUGH IS FEWER STUDENTS TOOK THE TEST.

WE NORMALLY GET AROUND A HUNDRED PERCENT.

WE REQUIRE AN ACT OR SAT FOR OUR JUNIORS.

AND, IN 2020, OF COURSE, THOSE JUNIORS WERE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT AT -- RIGHT AT THE PANDEMIC AND THE TESTS WERE CANCELED STATEWIDE.

A LOT OF THEM STRUGGLED TO GET THAT TEST IN.

AND SO THOSE WERE THE KIDS WHO ARE NOW SHOWING, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE THE CLASS OF 2021.

>> SO ARE WE LOOKING AT A FUTURE WHERE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OR DIFFERENT STATES HAVE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION OR HAS THAT ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE?

>> OKLAHOMA'S ONE OF ABOUT 20 STATES THAT REQUIRES AN ACT OR SAT FOR HIGH SCHOOL.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T REALLY PERCEIVE THAT CHANGING.

EVEN THE UNIVERSITIES THAT HAVE GONE TEST OPTIONAL, SOME OF THEM STILL REQUIRE SCORES FOR THINGS LIKE SCHOLARSHIPS.

AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'LL STILL BE A PLACE FOR THOSE TESTS.

>> JENNIFER, IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THESE TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS COULD COMPLETELY GO AWAY ALTOGETHER?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A CENTURY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL GO AWAY.

THERE'S CERTAINLY STILL A PLACE FOR IT.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME CRITICISMS OF THE OTHER MEASURES THAT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES USE SUCH AS CLASS RANK AND GPA.

SOME SAY THOSE ARE INFLATED.

YOU KNOW, A STUDENT'S CLASS RANK AT A VERY SMALL HIGH SCHOOL MIGHT NOT MEAN AS MUCH, AT A LARGER, YOU KNOW, MORE COMPETITIVE SCHOOL.

>> JENNIFER PALMER WITH OKLAHOMA WATCH.

EXCELLENT REPORTING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE OKLAHOMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION INTRODUCED THE 2022 FINALISTS FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR IN PERSON.

SUPERINTENDENT JOY HOFMEISTER ANNOUNCED PLANS TO RUN TO GOVERNOR WAS JOINED BY JESSICA ESCHBACH.

>> I HAVE TRAVELED ACROSS THE STATE AND I MET WITH MORE TEACHERS AND MORE ADMINISTRATORS THAN I CAN COUNT AND REALLY LEARNED WHAT OKLAHOMA EDUCATION NEEDS IN ORDER TO GIVE EVERY STUDENT THE BEST OPPORTUNITY LOOKING FORWARD, AND HONESTLY SEEING THESE FINALISTS I AM PROUD TO PASS IT ON TO ANY OF THEM, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY MISS MY STUDENTS.

BUT THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO ENCOURAGE TEACHERS AROUND THE STATE, TO BE ABLE TO POUR INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS AND MOTIVATE THEM AND KEEP THEM GOING DURING SUCH A ROUGH TIME.

>> WOW.

OVERJOYED, EXCITED, JUST A LOT OF HAPPINESS FLOWING, JUST SO HAPPY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

I'M STILL PINCHING MYSELF TRYING TO BELIEVE THAT I MADE IT.

>> THEY ALL DESERVE A LITTLE SHOUT OUT ON OUR STATE-WIDE NEWSCAST.

BIXBY HIGH SCHOOL'S SHANNON ALTOM.

TINA DEWEY, EMILY FREISE FROM TAHLEQUAH AND KERRY INGERSOLL FROM BETHEL.

THEY ARE JOINED BY COLLINSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL'S CINDY JOHNSON.

REBECKA PETERSON FROM UNION.

NORMAN'S JUAN RENTERIA AND DONNA ROSS FROM TULSA.

AND ROUNDING OUT THE DAZZLING DOZEN, SHELLEY SELF FROM COWETA, KORTNI TORRALBA.

SHEILA TREADWELL FROM SNYDER AND LAUREN VANDEVER FROM BRISTOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CONGRATULATIONS ALL.

>>> THE U.S. MEN REVEALED THE NAMES OF FIVE DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN WOMEN WHO WILL BE FEATURED ON A NEW SERIES OF QUARTERS.

THEY ARE THE AMAZING LEGACY THAT LED TO THIS RARE HONOR.

>> I HAD NEVER MET ANYBODY THAT WAS ALSO SO INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> WIDOWER CHARLIE SOAP DESCRIBES THE WOMAN HE WAS MARRIED TO FOR 24 YEARS, WILMA MANKILLER.

>> SHE FIT RIGHT IN AS FAR AS SHE AND I WORKING TOGETHER.

>> SOAP SAYS SHE ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR IMPROVING THE COUMMUNITY.

>> WHAT I REALLY LIKED ABOUT HER WAS SHE WAS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE AND HELPING PEOPLE.

AND I THINK THE WAY SHE GREW UP, SHE KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE POOR AND TO BE HELPFUL.

SHE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT AND BLACK PANTHERS.

JUST ALWAYS OUT THERE HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE.

>> MANKILLER AND HER FAMILY RELOCATED TO CALIFORNIA DUE TO THE INDIAN RELOCATION ACT, WHICH CAUSED NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILIES TO MOVE OUT OF INDIAN TERRITORY IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY.

HISTORIAN DR. BOB BLACKBURN SAYS THIS RELOCATION HELPED SHAPED WILMA INTO AN ACTIVIST.

>> SHE LEARNS THIS PAN TRIBAL CULTURE AND LOOKING BEYOND YOUR OWN CLAN RELATIONSHIPS AND THEN TO SAN FRANCISCO IN THE 1960 WAS THIS CAULDRON OF UNREST.

>> WILMA MANKILLER MADE HISTORY IN 1985 WHEN SHE BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE ELECTED PRINCIPAL CHIEF OF THE CHEROKEE NATION.

PRINCIPAL CHIEF CHUCK HOSKIN, JR., SAYS THE CHEROKEE NATION CHERISHES HER LEGACY.

>> CHEROKEE NATION HAD NOT HAD A FEMALE PRINCIPAL CHIEF, AND SHE IS THRUST INTO THAT POSITION.

PREVIOUS CHIEF HAD DONE AND REALLY SET A STANDARD ACROSS, AND THEN DOES THINGS THAT NON INDIAN COUNTRY FOR LEADERSHIP AND REALLY PUSHING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO LIVE UP TO COMMITMENTS THAT IT HAD FOR GENERATIONS NOT LIVED TO.

>> WILMA MANKILLER WAS INVOLVED IN MANY PROJECTS THAT HELPED IMPROVE THE WAY OF LIFE FOR THE CHEROKEE NATION.

ONE PROJECT THAT PEOPLE STILL TALK ABOUT TODAY WAS THE BELL PROJECT IT HELPED BRING RUNNING WATER TO THE BELL COMMUNITY.

>> SHE SAW THAT THERE WASN'T RUNNING WATER OR SUFFICIENT RUNNING WATER FOR PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

SHE KNEW THAT WAS WRONG.

SHE WANTED TO TAKE ACTION.

>> MANKILLER, ALONG WITH OTHER LEADERS, PUT TOGTHER A PLAN TO BUILD A 16-MILE WATER PIPELINE THROUGH SELF-HELP.

>> ONCE WE GOT THE WATER LINE IN, HOUSES CAME UP WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD HOMES AND REBUILD HOMES.

>> THIS PROJECT LED TO MAKILLER MEETING HER FUTURE HUSBAND, CHARLIE SOAP.

>> WHEN WE GOT IN IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET THEM TO BELIEVE IN US OR TRUST US AND SEE THAT WE REALLY MEAN WHAT WE SAY ABOUT BRINGING WATER TO THE COMMUNITY.

SHE SAID, YOU THINK WE CAN DO IT?

I SAID, IT'S GONNA BE HARD.

SHE SAID WELL, YOU BETTER CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING CAUSE WERE GONNA DO IT.

I THOUGHT WHO THE HECK IS THIS LADY TO TELL ME.

>> SOAP SAYS THE BELL PROJECT WAS THE STARTING POINT OF HER CAREER >> IT WAS THEN THAT WILMA'S LEADERSHIP REALLY CAME OUT AND JUST INSPIRED HER TO DO MORE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO MOTIVATED PEOPLE, AND IT ENCOURAGED OTHER PEOPLE TO KEEP ENCOURAGING HER TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

>> AND EVEN THOUGH THE COMMUNITY RESPECTED MANKILLER, HER TRANSITION INTO OFFICE WAS NOT EASY.

SOAP DESCRIBES HER FIRST MEETING WITH TRIBAL LEADERS FROM OTHER NATIONS.

>> SO THERE WERE ALL MEN AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHAIR FOR HER, AND SHE WAS CHIEF, IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TRIPS SHE HAD WENT ON.

AND SO SHE SAID WELL, I JUST DECIDED THAT I WAS GOING TO GO GET MY OWN CHAIR AND SIT WITH THEM.

SO SHE WENT AND GOT HER OWN CHAIR AND MOVED IN ON THEM AND SAT THERE AND ENGAGED.

>> SHE EARNED A LOT OF RESPECT, AND I THINK AS A WOMAN IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION IN THE 1980S, UNFORTUNATELY SHE HAD TO CLIMB A PRETTY STEEP HILL TO EARN THAT RESPECT, BUT EARN IT SHE DID.

>> WILMA IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR HELPING THE CHEROKEE NATION DEVELOP WHAT IS NOW ONE OF THE LARGEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS IN INDIAN COUNTRY.

>> HER GOING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ESSENTIALLY TELLING THE GOVERNMENT, YOU NEED TO PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES, YOU NEED TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES AND GET OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE THE CHEROKEE PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF RUNNING THEIR OWN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

>> IF SHE WAS AROUND, I THINK SHE'D BE VERY PROUD BECAUSE SHE WOULD SEE A HEALTH CAMPUS IN TAHLEQUAH THAT WAS GROWING.

IT HAS A MEDICAL SCHOOL, HAS THE LARGEST OUTPATIENT FACILITY IN THE COUNTRY FOR NATIVE AMERICANS.

>> SHE IS A PART OF THAT LONG LINE OF CHEROKEE LEADERS WHO SAY WE CAN DO BETTER IF WE WORK TOGETHER, IF WE SHARE RESOURCES.

>> CHIEF HOSKIN JR SAYS MANY CHEROKEE WOMEN WERE INSPIRED BY HER STORY.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF WOMEN THAT ARE IN GREAT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE CHEROKEE NATION RIGHT NOW, HALF OF MY CABINET IS FEMALE.

WE HAVE FEMALES IN LEADERSHIP ON OUR BUSINESS SIDE.

BUT I THINK AT CHEROKEE NATION, WE'RE REALLY GETTING BACK TO OUR ROOTS IN THAT WE REVERE WOMEN.

WE WERE A MATRILINEAL SOCIETY IN WHICH WOMEN HAD A PROMINENT LEADERSHIP ROLE GENERATIONS AGO.

>> SOAP SAYS HE IS GRATEFUL THE U.S. MINT CHOSE MANKILLER TO BE ONE OF FIVE AMERICAN WOMEN TO BE FEATURED ON A NEW SERIES OF QUARTERS.

>> IN GETTING RECOGNITION FOR HER WORK, SHE SAID I REPRESENT PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE, BUT I ALSO REPRESENT WOMEN AND I HAVE TO WORK TWICE AS HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT I LEAVE A GOOD MAKE FOR A WOMAN LEADER.

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

>>> EARLIER IN THE NEWSCAST WE DISCUSSED HOW OKLAHOMA ADDRESSING THE NATION'S SHORTAGE OF TRUCK DRIVERS, A KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO THE CURRENT SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER FACTORS INVOLVED AND COULD OKLAHOMA ECONOMY WIND UP BENEFITING FROM IT IN THE FUTURE?

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

HERE IS SUSAN CADOT AND HER PANEL OF GUESTS.

>> WE HAVE A PANEL WITH ALL THE INFORMATION OKLAHOMA NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE ALL OF THEM TO YOU RIGHT NOW.

FIRST WE HAVE TED WASHINGTON, A PROFESSOR OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND CORPORATE BUSINESS AT OSU.

WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE OF THE COUNTRY.

AS THINGS SLOW DOWN AND PRICES CRIME HOW ARE RETAILERS AFFECTED?

>> THAT IS A GREAT POINT THERE.

AND NOT ONLY DID THE SHIPPING DEMAND INCREASE, BUT THEN IT SHORTLY THEREAFTER DECREASED DRAMATICALLY.

SO REALLY, IN OKLAHOMA, WE SAW FIRST A SPIKE IN THE ABUNDANCE OF PRODUCT, RIGHT?

THE LONGER THE COVID PANDEMIC WENT ON, RETAILERS, AND WHOLESALERS BEGAN TO DEPLETE INVENTORY, BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T SURE HOW LONG THIS WAS GOING TO GO ON, SO THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BUY INVENTORY AND HAVE IT JUST SIT, RIGHT?

SO FIRST WE HAD A PLETHORA OF PRODUCT.

AND THEN IT DEPLETED.

AND IF WE THINK BACK WE CAN ALL REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN THERE WAS A RUSH ON TOILET PAPER, AND WATER AND ALL THOSE COMMON PRODUCTS THAT WE USED TO HAVE AS A COMMODITY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SANITIZERS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAD SELFS DEPLETED, RIGHT?

THEN FOLLOWED BY MANUFACTURERS TRYING TO RUSH AND CREATE NEW PRODUCT.

IF THEY WERE DOMESTIC THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THAT PRODUCT OUT TO US.

BUT WHEN YOU GO BACK AND YOU TALK ABOUT OVERSEAS WHERE WE RECEIVE A LOT OF PRODUCT FROM ASIA, WE REALLY STARTED TO RUN INTO A SHORTAGE.

>> A LOT IS GOING ON THIS YEAR, AND THIS IS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ANSWER.

WHAT ARE SHIPPING PRICES LOOKING LIKE NOW?

>> SHIPPING INVOLVES THIS DELICATE WELL CHOREOGRAPHED DANCE IF YOU WILL OF EVERY LINK THAT IS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE COSTS, IT'S NOT JUST TRUCKING THAT IS PART OF IT, SO I REALLY WHEN YOU HAVE THIS GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN THAT IS WORKING WELL, THEN ALL THINGS ARE RUNNING WELL.

PRICES ARE NORMAL, SUPPLY AND DEMAND IS NORMAL.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS NOW A PLACE WHERE EVERY LINK OF THAT CHAIN THAT'S STEAMSHIPS, PORT TERMINALS, PORT LABOR, DISTRIBUTION AND WAREHOUSING, TRUCKING, SOMETIMES RAILS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE LOOKED RIGHT NOW AT OPTIMIZATION.

HOW CAN WE DO BETTER.

WHAT IF ANY BARRIERS ARE THERE.

AND TO YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, THAT DISRUPTION HAS INCREASED PRICES ON SHIPPING.

>> I WANT TO COME TO YOU QUICK SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHIPPING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THAT OKLAHOMA HAS PORTS, FIRST OF ALL IF YOU COULD BRIEFLY EXPLAIN THAT AND LET US KNOW HOW THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTED, IF IT HAS BEEN.

>> YEAH.

SO YOU KNOW TULSA PORTS IS AN INLAND PORT ON THE INLAND RIVER SYSTEM.

WE CAN MOVE GOODS FROM TULSA, OF COURSE TO PITTSBURGH, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE GULF ON THE INNER COASTAL SYSTEM ON A BARGE.

WE HAVE ACCESS AT THE SHORELINE, AND A CLASS ONE RAILROAD.

YOU KNOW, FOR US, FOR OUR PORT, WE DON'T HANDLE PREMIUM CARGO AND OR INTERMODAL, SO WE DON'T SEE THE CONSUMER SIDE ON THAT.

WE'RE A LARGE EXPORTER.

THE PRODUCTS WE HANDLE CHEMICAL, WE WERE WORKING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE WERE SHIPPING.

WE WERE RECEIVING.

THOSE PRODUCTS ARE -- WE ARE A LARGE AGRICULTURAL EXPORTER HERE AT THIS PORT.

SOYBEANS, WHEAT, LIQUID FERTILIZER, AND THEN WHAT WE BRING IN IS STILL PRODUCTS, COIL, BEAMS, DISTRIBUTES TO THE MULTISTATE REGION.

BUT YOU KNOW FOR US SHIPPING WE'RE SEEING OTHER ISSUES CONTRIBUTING THAT COMES TO FACTOR THAT WASN'T COVID RELATED, THAT NOW BRINGS IN TO THAT COMPLICATION OF WHAT WAS ALREADY A PROBLEM BEFORE COVID IS NOW IMPACTING GOING FORWARD.

>> BRENT, YOU -- HOW IS OKLAHOMA COMMERCE BEING AFFECTED BY ALL OF THIS?

>> WHATEVER PANDEMIC FIRST HIT, WE WERE STRUGGLING TO TRY TO PURCHASE PPE.

WE HAD ONE DAY'S WORTH OF PPE, WITH MASKS, HAND SANITIZER.

SO WE CREATED A DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE OF ALL OF OUR MANUFACTURERS IN OKLAHOMA THAT MADE PPE OR HAD THE CAPACITY TO MAKE IT.

AND WE PROVIDED THAT TO THE OKLAHOMA HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHO USED IT TO KEEP THE DOLLARS HERE IN OKLAHOMA, AS WE PURCHASED PRODUCT.

THEN AS WE STARTED REOPENING IN JUNE AND JULY OF LAST YEAR, WE TURNED THAT PORTAL OUT WARDS, SO THAT PRICES OF WORSHIP AND SCHOOLS AND THAT KIND OF THING COULD PURCHASE OKLAHOMA PRODUCT, SHORTENING THAT SUPPLY CHAIN.

MOST OF THAT SUPPLY WAS COMING OUT OF CHINA, INDIA OR PLACES LIKE THAT, WHERE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET IT.

AS WE BEGAN CATAPULTING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE REALIZED WHY CAN'T WE DO THIS WITH OTHER INDUSTRIES?

EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO SHORTEN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.

LET'S CREATE SOME KIND OFF LINE PORTAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND SO WE CREATED WHAT'S CALLED CONNECTS OKLAHOMA, CONNEX, WE ARE ALMOST 500 MANUFACTURERS NOW THAT ARE ON THIS NEWPORTLE, AND IT ALLOWS FOR THOSE WHO MAKE PRODUCTS WITHIN THE STATE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER AND TO FIND OUT WHAT THOSE CAPACITIES ARE RIGHT HERE WITHIN OUR BORDERS AND KEEP THOSE DOLLARS HERE MORE CLOSELY TIED TO WHERE THE BUSINESSES ARE.

>> THEY SAY NECESSITY WHAT IS IT, BREATHES INVENTION.

I WANT TO COME TO YOU.

YOU WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT SEEING -- I THINK DANIEL HAD SEEN ALL THE SHIPS OUT IN -- WHERE WAS THAT, DANIEL?

>> LONG BEACH.

>> LONG BEACH.

AND WE HAVE THE WORKER SHORTAGE.

WHAT ABOUT THE WORKER SHORTAGE?

LET'S GET MORE INTO THAT.

AND WHAT MIGHT THIS MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY IN AMERICA?

>> YES, THAT IS SUCH A GREAT QUESTION.

SO I'LL COME BACK TO WHAT BRENT WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.

HE CAPTURED THOSE NICELY.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT TRANSPACIFIC TRANSPORT ON INTERMODALS, CARGO VESSELS, WE'RE SEEING PRICES TEN TIMES WHAT THEY NORMALLY WOULD BE.

AND IT HAS TO BE PAID, OTHERWISE THERE IS NO TRANSPORT.

AND YOU HEARD IN THE NEWS ABOUT POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS AROUND EVEN THE NATIONAL GUARD HELPING WITH THE DRIVING.

THAT LEADS TO -- THAT SPEAKS TO THE SHORTAGE THAT WE HAVE WITH DRIVERS TO MOVE CONTAINERS FROM THE PORT, RIGHT?

YOU GET ONE INFLUX THAT WAY, BUT WHEN THOSE CONTAINERS ARE MOVED FROM THE PORTS, THEY HAVE TO GO TO A DISTRIBUTION CENTER OR TO A FULFILLMENT CENTER OR YARD TO RECEIVE THAT AS THE VENDORS.

THEY ONLY HAVE SO MUCH CAPACITY.

THERE WAS ALREADY A MAJOR SHORTAGE IN THE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK AND THEN THE FULFILLMENT NETWORK OF MOST COMPANIES WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING EMPLOYEES TO ACTUALLY WORK THOSE OPERATIONS.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE -- IF WE DID HAVE THAT BIG PUSH OF CONTAINERS OUT OF THE PORTS, MANY OF THE DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES ON THE WEST COAST WHERE WE RECEIVE A LOT OF PRODUCT FROM ASIA DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING YET TO REALLY MANAGE THAT FLOW.

>> YOU SAID THIS WAS A DELICATE DANCE.

>> YES.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT IN THE HEART OF IT.

>> WE -- ALL THE WAY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE ABOUT OPENING THE PORTS 24/7, THE GENTLEMAN WHO HAD BEEN THERE MORE RECENT THAN I I BELIEVE ONE OF THOSE PORT OPERATORS SAID THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING THAT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.

SO I JUST WANT TO COME ALONG BESIDE THE COMMENTS AND SAY YES, LIKE A LOT OF AMERICA WE HAVE WORKFORCE ISSUES.

WE COULD USE 80,000 DRIVERS TOMORROW MORNING, SAFELY CERTIFIED WITH CDL, WE COULD PUT THEM IN A DRIVER'S SEAT.

THAT'S EXPECTED TO GO TO ABOUT 100 TURN THOUGH PER YEAR OVER THE NEXT DECADE.

>> BEFORE I LEAVE YOU QUICKLY, IS THERE A SUPPLY AND DEMAND ISSUE WHERE DRIVERS ARE CONCERNED IN OKLAHOMA, AND FROM WHAT YOU JUST SAID NEED FOR MORE DRIVERS, ARE DRIVERS LEAVING THE INDUSTRY?

>> SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION, SUSAN.

THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE DRIVER IN THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT 58-YEARS-OLD.

UNFORTUNATELY THEIR RETIREMENT AND OPTIONS TO GO TO MORE HIGH PAYING POSITIONS IS NOT BEING FULFILLED ON THE FRONT END.

THE FRONT END OF A DRIVER BECOMING CDL CERTIFIED TODAY IS ABOUT 35 YEARS OF AGE.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS ANYONE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE IS PROBABLY GOING TO LOOK AT THAT AROUND 18 TO EARLY 20s YEARS OF AGE.

SO THAT MEANS FOR THE TRUCK DRIVER COMING IN AT AGE 35, THEY PROBABLY ALREADY TRIED TWO OR THREE OTHER CAREERS BEFORE WE SEE THEM.

>> I'M HEARING THAT, AS WELL, AS WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH TRUCKING COMPANY, A LOT OF STANDARDS HAVE BEEN CHANGING, MET WITH ONE LAST WEEK THAT EVERYBODY THEY HAVE EVER HERRED HAD TO BE AT LEAST 25-YEARS-OLD WITH THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND THEY BUMPED THAT DOWN TO 23 YEARS.

TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE.

WE HAVE GREAT CDL TRAINING PROGRAM AS CROSS THE STATE, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONVINCE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE JUST LIKE JIM SAID TO GET INVOLVED.

>> DOES THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT HAVE CONTROL OVER SOME OF THAT?

>> WE DON'T.

THE CAREER TECH SYSTEM DOES A FANTASTIC JOB WITH CDL TRAINING BUT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF FOR PROFIT TRAINING FACILITIES LOCATED ACROSS THE STATE.

AND SOME OF THEM, SEVERAL OF THEM, HAVE CAPACITY RIGHT NOW.

IF SOMEBODY IS INTERESTED IN MAKING 50, 60, $70,000 PER YEAR FIRST DAY ON THE JOB, THAT IS A GREAT PROFESSIONAL LOOK.

>> WITH BENEFITS.

>> WITH BENEFITS, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> I UNDERSTAND IT'S A LUCRATIVE FIELD TO GET INTO.

UNIQUELY INLAND PORT IN THE U.S. AS OTHER CHAIN OF SUPPLY AN ARE INTERRUPTED DOES OKLAHOMA STAND TO FIND ECONOMIC BENEFIT AND FINDING NEW ROOTS INLAND FOR LARGE SHIPPING CONTAINERS NEAR THE GULF OF MEXICO?

>> YES, I MEAN THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE.

AND DISCUSSIONS ARE BEING HAD CURRENTLY.

IT'S ALL ABOUT CHANGING WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST AND GOING TO A NEW DIRECTION.

WE FIND IT'S COMFORTABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THING ALWAYS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND NOW WITH WHAT'S HAPPENED AND ALL THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE, PEOPLE ARE NOW REEVALUATING WHY DID WE ALWAYS DO IT THAT WAY.

SO CONVERSATIONS ARE BEING HAD.

OKLAHOMA IS A GREAT PLACE, RIGHT SMACK-DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY WITH ACCESS.

YOU HAVE MAJOR INTERSTATES, EVERYTHING HAS TO CROSS EAST AND WEST, MAJOR INTERMODAL LINES FOR CLASS ONE, AND WE SIT RIGHT FLEX TO BNSF MAIN LINE INTERMODAL LINE THAT GOES EAST WEST FROM LONG BEACH TO CHICAGO.

I MEAN, DAILY, I SEE CONTAINERS ON BNSF TRAINS GO RIGHT BY MY FRONT DOOR.

SO IT'S REALLY JUST GETTING CONTACTS, HAVING THE RIGHT COMPANIES TO REALIZE OKLAHOMA HAS THE CAPABILITY OF DOING IT.

WE JUST NEED TO SHOW THEM AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

>> I WANT TO HAVE THE LAST QUESTION FOR YOU.

IF INDEED NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION, IS THIS A TURNING POINT, ESPECIALLY MAYBE A STATE LIKE OKLAHOMA, ALL THE REASONS JUST MENTIONED, POSITIONED TO MAKE THE MOST OF?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE U.S. ECONOMY, WE SAW THE INTERNET EXPLODE, RIGHT.

MANY BUSINESSES TOOK OFF THAT WERE INTERNET BASED, DOT COME BASE.

YOU SEE SOME OF THAT MOVE FORWARD.

AMAZON I BELIEVE THIS SUMMER MOVED TO FORTUNE ONE, RIGHT?

BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH IN INTERNET SALES.

I LISTENED TO WHAT BRENT WAS TALKING ABOUT, AND THE WAY OKLAHOMA HAS CREATED INNOVATIVE WAYS TO CONNECT COMPANIES TO REPURPOSE THEIR CAPABILITIES, AND IT'S TREMENDOUS.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THOSE PORTS THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

IF WE HAVEN'T CHANGED, IF WE AREN'T IN A POSITION TO CHANGE THE LAWS TO ALLOW DRIVERS TO MOVE PRODUCT ACROSS STATE LINES, WHICH THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING TO BE AT LEAST CONSIDERED, WE CAN MOVE IT WITHIN OKLAHOMA.

>> YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO ADD.

>> SURE, SUSAN.

I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT ONE OF THE THINGS YOUR VIEWERS ARE AWARE OF IS THAT THIS SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTION IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY ANYTIME SOON.

WE'RE GOING TO LIVE WITH THIS FOR A LITTLE BIT.

IF EACH OF US HAD A MAGIC WAND, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE WELL INTO NEXT YEAR, MAYBE EVEN NEXT HALF OF NEXT YEAR, AND THAT IS IF WE START DOING THOSE EFFORTS NOW.

>> GREAT INFORMATION FOR ALL OF US.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR JOINING US WITH THIS GREAT INFO AND YOUR EXPERTISE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>>> GREAT CONVERSATION.

IN THIS WEEK'S NATIONAL VIEW WE'RE GOING TO TRAVEL DOWN DO ONE OF MY FAVORITE CITIES, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

A SAFE PLACE FOR BLACK PEOPLE LIVING IN THE JIM CROW SOUTH.

THAT WAS THEN AND THIS IS NOW.

THE DUE DROP IS RENOVATED AND ENJOYING NEW LIFE.

LET'S DROP IN AS THE HISTORIC JAZZ CLUB PREPARES TO BRING BACK THE MUSIC.

>> IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THE I WERE TO TRAVEL 70 YEARS AGO THIS LITTLE GUIDE COULD SAVE MY LIFE.

THIS IS SAFE HAVEN.

IN 1947, TRAVELING THROUGH THE JIM CROW SOUTH WAS DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

YET MUSICIANS WERE SPREADING GREAT MUSIC EVERYWHERE, THANKS TO THE CIRCUIT.

INFRASTRUCTURE OF VENUES THAT KATERED TO TRAVELING BLACK MUSICIANS.

NEW ORLEANS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC OF ANY NIGHTCLUB WAS THE DEW DROP INN, NICKNAMED THE -- JUST ABOUT EVERY FAMOUS BLACK MUSICIAN YOU CAN THINK OF WALKED THROUGH THESE DOORS.

JAMES BOOKER, JOE TURNER, JAMES BROWN, RAY CHARLES, LITTLE RICHARD, AND ARETHA FRANKLIN.

THAT'S JUST TO NAME A FEW.

BUT THE LEGEND OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT LIES WITH WILD STORIES THAT BROKE THE STATUS QUO OF THE TIME.

LIKE THE DRAG PERFORMANCES, THE SNAKE CHARMERS, THEY EVEN LET WHITE PEOPLE IN.

I'M DRIVING THROUGH CENTRAL CITY, CULTURALLY RICH AND HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE HEART OF NEW ORLEANS.

BLACK BUSINESSES PROSPERED HERE.

IT'S LARGELY AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD BUT NOT MUCH FOR COMMERCIAL DISTRICT.

WE'RE MEETING KENNETH JACKSON AT THE DEW DROP INN.

HIS GRANDFATHER IS THE OWNER.

>> HEY.

>> HOW YOU DOING?

>> ALL RIGHT, KEN JACKSON.

WHERE ARE WE AT RIGHT NOW?

>> WE ARE IN CENTRAL CITY, NEW ORLEANS, IN FRONT OF THE DEW DROP INN.

THIS WAS A PRESCHOOL FOR ME.

MY GRANDMOTHER CAME HERE EVERY DAY.

WHEN SHE CAME TO DO HER SHIFT, WE WOULD RIDE WITH HER, AND COME DOWN HERE WHILE SHE WAS DOING HER WORK AROUND, WE WOULD BE IN THE BAR PLAYING WITH A DIFFERENT INSTRUMENT ON THE STAGE.

WE WOULD BE GOING BEHIND THE BAR AND EATING THE CHERRIES AND THE BARN WHERE MY UNCLE WAS AND GETTING SOMETHING TO EAT, JUST LIKE A FUN PLACE, YOU KNOW.

EVERYBODY WAS JUST HAPPY, YOU KNOW.

AND IT WAS JUST NEVER A WHOLE LOT OF NEGATIVITY AROUND HERE, YOU KNOW.

IT WAS ALWAYS PEACEFUL.

EVERYBODY JUST KIND OF ENJOYED THEMSELVES KIND OF MOOD.

>> IT WAS LISTED AS A NIGHTCLUB BUT IT WAS ALSO A HOTEL, BARBERSHOP, AND RESTAURANT.

>> YOU COULD COME HERE, COULD ENJOY A SHOW, COULD HAVE A MEAL, YOU COULD DRINK IF YOU GOT TOO DRUNK YOU COULD SPEND THE NIGHT, GO AND GET YOUR SHOES SHINED, YOUR HAIRCUT, YOUR PROCESS, THEY USED TO CALL THEM BACK IN THE DAY.

>> THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE HAD THE SUITS AND THE BIG -- >> THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED THEM.

>> A LOT OF PLACES YOU KNOW BACK THEN WE COULDN'T GO, YOU KNOW, DUE TO SEGREGATION, AND YOU KNOW THE WAY THAT THE TIMES WERE.

THIS WAS A PLACE WHERE YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY OF THAT.

IT WAS A PLACE WHERE ANYBODY COULD COME, REGARDLESS OF RACE.

MY GRANDFATHER GOT IN BIG TROUBLE AS A RESULT OF THAT.

THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES WHERE HE ACTUALLY WENT TO JAIL BECAUSE HE WOULD ALLOW WHITE PEOPLE TO COME IN TO THE HOTEL, COME IN TO THE BAR, RESTAURANT, NO PROBLEM.

I HAD NO IDEA AS A KID THAT IT WAS A AGAINST THE LAW FOR WHITE PEOPLE TO BE IN HERE BECAUSE IT WAS, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS WHITE PEOPLE HERE, YOU KNOW.

THEY WERE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW.

WASN'T NO BIG DEAL.

FOR ANYBODY AROUND HERE.

MY GRANDFATHER ACTUALLY HAD A BATTLE THAT THERE WERE TIMES WHERE THE POLICE WOULD COME UP DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE SHOW, COME IN, AND RAID THE PLACE, AND EVERYBODY WHO WAS IN THERE THEY WOULD TAKE AND PUT THEM OUTSIDE, COME OUT AND PUT THEM IN WHAT THEY CALLED PADDY WAGONS BACK THEN, AND CHARGE THEM WITH RACIAL MIXING.

THIS IS WHERE ALL OF THE LAST SHOWS TOOK PLACE IN THIS AREA HERE.

BACK IN THE DAY, THERE WAS A WHOLE ANOTHER SECTION BEHIND HERE THAT WAS CALLED A GROOVE ROOM.

YOU COULD COME HERE.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NOBODY HATING YOU BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU DRESSED OR WHO YOU LIKED, THAT WAS ALSO PART OF THE DEW DROP, THAT BROUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN.

>> THIS PLACE I CAN HEAR THE MUSIC.

I CAN SEE THE VIBRANT CHARACTERS THAT PROBABLY CAME THROUGH HERE.

>> IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK.

>> I WONDER WHAT THEY WOULD SAY.

>> THEY WOULD HAVE A HELL OF A STORY TO TELL.

>> AFTER 31 YEARS IN BUSINESS, THE DEW DROP INN CLOSED DOWN IN 1970.

THE DEVELOPER IS PLANNING TO REOPEN IT, SIMILAR TO WHAT IT ONCE WAS.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

>> I THINK THERE IS A STRONG CHANCE THAT IT WILL BE BACK ON THE MAP BEFORE TOO LONG AND PEOPLE WILL BE PULLING UP HERE THE WAY THEY WERE BACK IN THE DAYS.

>> THAT WAS A GREAT STORY.

BACK IN 1999, TULSA'S FIRST SISTER CITY IN MEXICO PRESENTED A GIFT TO THE TULSA FIRE DEPARTMENT.

A HAND CARVED FOUNTAIN.

THAT WAS PLACED AT THE DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS UNTIL 2008.

AT THAT TIME, IT WAS DISMANTLED AND STORED AWAY BUT NOT ANYMORE.

ON THURSDAY THE MAYOR WAS JOINED BY DIGNITARIES TO OFFICIALLY REDEDICATE THE FOUNTAIN IN ITS NEW HOME TULSA FIRE MUSEUM ON MAIN STREET.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT," AS WE WRAP UP BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH STEVE SHAW HAS A STORY YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS.

HE'S GOING DO PROFILE A MOTHER AND SON AND REMARKABLE RELATIONSHIP THEY FORGED WHILE DEALING WITH THE ILLNESS.

WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH A TASTE TO LOOK BACK AT THE WINE FESTIVAL, PHOTOGRAPHED AND EDITED BY OETA.

FOR ALL OF US, I'M RICH LENZ.

STAY SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, AND AS ALWAYS STAY TUNED TO OETA.

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